Achaemenid Structures > Apadana Eastern Stairs

Apadana Eastern Stairs

Background

The eastern stairs of the Apadana at Persepolis show a procession of people bringing tribute to the Achaemenid king. The reliefs were made in the last years of the sixth century, and probably executed by Yaunâ artists. We are allowed to identify the king on the central scene with Darius the Great (r. 522-486), but the relief is also an idealization: the king who receives the presents is not a particular individual, but embodies Persian rule.The relief, which has miraculously survived the sack of Persepolis by the soldiers of Alexander the Great in 330 BCE, consists of three parts and is flanked by the Old Persian inscription known as XPb:The northern wall: representations of all kinds of Persian dignitaries, horsemen, and chariots.The center: eight soldiers.The southern wall (picture above): all nations of the Persian Empire, in the following arrangement:ThraciansSagartiansBactriansEgyptiansAriansParthiansElamitesMedesCariansArabsSogdiansGandaransSacaeSyriansBabyloniansArmeniansNubiansLibyansLION/BULLIndiansArachosiansGreeksCappadociansLydians

Achaemenid Empire

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