The Secrets of Engineering and the Splendor of the Achaemenid Empire | How Persepolis Survived 2,500 Years

These reliefs culminate in the most celebrated image of Achaemenid ideology: delegations from 23 nations, each in distinctive attire, bearing gifts unique to their lands. From Indian ivory to Babylonian cattle, from Median horses to Nubian ivory and giraffes, the empire’s vast geography is displayed in stone. Each delegation is accompanied by a Persian or Median guide, symbolizing integration rather than subjugation. The message is clear: diversity enriches the empire, and loyalty binds it.