From Babylon, Alexander went to Susa, one of the Achaemenid capitals, and captured its legendary treasury.[88] Sending the bulk of his army to the Persian ceremonial capital of Persepolis via the Royal Road, Alexander himself took selected troops on the direct route to the city. However, the pass of the Persian Gates (in the modern Zagros Mountains) had been blocked by a Persian army under Ariobarzanes, and Alexander had to storm the pass. Alexander then made a dash for Persepolis before its gar (more...)rison could loot the treasury.[89] At Persepolis, Alexander stared at the crumbled statue of Xerxes and decided to leave it on the ground.[90][91] During their stay at the capital, a fire broke out in the eastern palace of Xerxes and spread to the rest of the city. Theories abound as to whether this was the result of a drunken accident, or a deliberate act of revenge for the burning of the Acropolis of Athens during the Second Persian War. (less)