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Persepolis: Apadana, East Stairs
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The eastern stairs |
Persepolis
(Old Persian Pârsa, modern Takht-e
Jamshid): Greek name of one of the capitals of the ancient
Achaemenid empire, founded by the great king Darius (522-486 BCE).
There were several satellite sites, like Naqš-i
Rustam and Takht-e
Rostam.
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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.
The relief miraculously survived the sack of Persepolis by the soldiers
of Alexander
the Great in 330. |
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The central scene of the relief. There are eight soldiers, dressed
like Medes
and Persians. Between them is an empty space, and above them is a traditional
representation of a winged sun, flanked by two sphinxes. It is not a very
striking image and the simple truth is that it does not belong on this
place. It replaces an older relief. |
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This the rather damaged original: the king and the crown prince receiving
an official, who salutes them (proskynesis).
The relief was found in the Treasury.
It is not known why it was replaced. The same happened to the central relief
of the northern
stairs. |
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The original relief makes it possible to interpret the entire monument.
What we see is the king, receiving representations of the various nations
in the Achaemenid Empire. Behind him are the crown prince, the aristocrats,
and the most important courtiers (northern
wall); in front of him is the mayor of the palace, who announces the
arrival of the visitors (southern
wall).
This picture shows four soldiers of the new relief. Behind him is one
of the lion-bull-reliefs, to be discussed below.
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One of the soldiers. He belongs to the regiment of "apple bearers"
or Immortals.
He is ready for battle, carrying a sword, spear, and shield. This is remarkable,
because on other reliefs, we see soldiers dressed as civilians. |
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One of the sphinxes in the upper register. It has the wings of an eagle,
the body of a lion, the ears and tail of a bull, and the head of a man.
A possible interpretation of this symbol (if an interpretation is needed)
is that it represents freedom (the eagle's wings), power (the lion's body),
strength (the bull), and intelligence (the human head).
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©
Jona Lendering for
Livius.Org,
2004
Revision: 14 June 2010 |
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