Aug 5, 2025The palace of Persepolis (Parseh) holds great artistic value, as it incorporates the styles of various peoples and cultures. It reflects the cultural policy of its time—an inclusive approach that encouraged all ethnic groups to view Persepolis as their own and to forge a sense of connection with it.
Richard Frye:
Truly, it must have been a magnificent scene. Delegates from all across the empire ascended the stairs and entered the grand palace to respectfully present their gifts and offerings to the king. Each delegation was led by a Persian or Median nobleman and then introduced to the king to present their gifts. Afterwards, the Nowruz celebration and the New Year ceremony would begin—symbolized by the motif of a lion grappling with a bull, representing the triumph of the new year over the old.
Such was Persepolis... (1)
The palace of Persepolis (Parseh) is of great artistic value, as it incorporates the artistic styles of various peoples and ethnic groups. The monuments we see at Persepolis are the result of the work of many artisans and reflect the accumulated efforts of thousands of years.
But why was there such an effort to include so many different artistic styles in Achaemenid art? We know that following a single, unified artistic method would have been far simpler—so why did the Achaemenids choose this more difficult path?
When we examine how the Achaemenid Empire was governed, we realize that it encompassed many ethnic groups. As seen in the bas-reliefs of Persepolis, people of various appearances and clothing styles are depicted. Considering this, we can say that the integration of so many artistic styles is a sign of the Achaemenids’ respect for the cultures and arts of the empire’s diverse peoples. In other words, it reflects the cultural policies of that era—an approach that encouraged all ethnic groups to see Persepolis as their own and to form a bond with it.
The beauty of this art reflects meticulous study and profound intellectual effort over time, which can rightly be called one of the wonders of Persepolis.
Among these influences, the art of Mesopotamia had a significant impact on Achaemenid art. At the same time, one must not overlook the influence of earlier Iranian Plateau traditions—both on Mesopotamia and on Persepolis itself.
Here we present images that digitally reconstruct Persepolis:
Footnote:
1 – Quoted from an interview with Professor Richard Frye in the documentary The Splendor of Persepolis, produced by Farzin Rezaeian and Hossein Hezratee.
