Iran / Persia: Bas relief of King Darius I or Darius the Great (r. 522-486 BCE) seated on his throne

Darius I (550 – 486 BCE), also known as Darius the Great, was the fourth king of kings of the Achaemenid Empire. Darius held the empire at its peak, then including Egypt, Balochistan, Kurdistan and parts of Greece. The decay and eventual downfall of the empire commenced with his death and the ascension of his son, Xerxes I.

This is a relief of the Persian King Darius I seated on a cushioned throne and holding a staff and flower, two traditional symbols of royal power in Persia. The subject approaching Darius to offer tribute stands behind two incense burners, which were intended to keep visitors a respectful distance from the king.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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Pictures From History