2. Iran

Persepolis, Darius the Great

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  • Ancient gate
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  • Gate of all Nations
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  • When Alexander the Great captured Persepolis in 330 BC his troops sacked the ancient site and destroyed much of it. Some of the massive doorways surveyed the destruction. This doorway leading into The Throne Hall (Hall of 100 Columns) still has some well preserved bas relief figures caved into the interior of the doorway.
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  • On four places, we can see the struggle between a bull and a lion. This is a very ancient Iranian motif, known from the fourth millennium BCE, and therefore belonging to the age before the invasion of the Indo-Iranians (the "Aryans").<br /> It symbolizes (probably) eternity. The same message is more or less implied in the representation of the sun. It is an excellent theme for this place. The people who visited the Apadana offered tribute to the great king and received presents in return. This reciprocity strengthened the ties between the ruler and the subjects, and contributed to the continuation of the empire.
  • The eastern stairs of the Apadana at Persepolis show a procession of people bringing tribute to the Achaemenid king, Darius the Great (r.522-486). The relief consists of three parts: the northern wall, with representations of Achaemenid dignitaries; the center, with eight soldiers; and the southern wall, showing representatives of all subject nations (picture above). The relief miraculously survived the sack of Persepolis by the soldiers of Alexander the Great in 330 BCE.<br /> The Bactrians are easily recognizable because they are accompanied by a Bactrian (or double-humped) camel. They are dressed like Median cavalry men, but their trousers are different.<br /> The camel. Notice the little bell. The other presents for the great king are two deep and two shallow bowls.<br /> This Bactrian has a wreath in his hair, which is tied in a knot. He also has earrings, which is unusual. The only people with these jewelry are Bactrians, Arachosians (below) and very important court officials like the mayor of the palace. This may or may not indicate that the Bactrians had a special position in the Achaemenid empire, as the apanage of the crown prince (mathišta).<br /> The top people are probably Gandarans, or, alternatively, Gandarans and Sattagydians - the problem is that the location of Sattagydia ("land of hundred cows") is unclear. However, they certainly lived in the far east, near the Gandarans, who lived in the valley of the river Cophen.<br /> Their tribute is a buffalo, five lances and a shield. These weapons are probably just ornamental, because the real power of the armies of the Punjab was the archery. The people are dressed in short, armless tunics and capes.
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