Final answer:
The author's motives for writing about Persepolis could be to narrate the magnificence and downfall of the Persian Empire, specifically the burning of Persepolis, often attributed to Alexander the Great, with Thaïs being considered a scapegoat in the event.
Step-by-step explanation:
The motives for writing Persepolis are not expressly stated by the author within the provided information, but the historical context can provide some insight. If we are referring to the graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, the motives could include portraying a personal account of the impacts of political turmoil in Iran and correcting Western misconceptions about Iranian society. If, however, the reference is to historical texts about the ancient city, the motives could lean more towards documenting the grandeur of the Persian Empire and the events leading to its downfall, notably the burning of Persepolis by Alexander the Great.
Regarding who was responsible for the burning of Persepolis, the primary suspect remains Alexander the Great. While the courtesan Thaïs is mentioned by some ancient sources as having instigated the fire, most historians view her as a scapegoat or the focus on her as an attempt to vilify a woman's influence on great men in history.
Persepolis was a significant imperial center and included a massive terraced platform with residential quarters, a treasury, ceremonial palaces, and fortifications. Debates continue over whether the site had a sacred connection or was solely an administrative and economic hub of the empire.