tians, and Babylonians among those who built and decorated the
palace. Under the single-minded direction of its Persian masters, this
heterogeneous workforce, with a widely varied cultural and artistic
background, created a new and coherent style that perfectly suited
the expression of Persian imperial ambitions.
SASANIAN CTESIPHON Alexander the Great’s conquest of
Persia in 330 BCEmarked the beginning of a long period of first
Greek and then Roman rule of large parts of the ancient Near East,
beginning with one of Alexander’s former generals, Seleucus I
(r. 312–281 BCE), founder of the Seleucid dynasty. In the third cen-
tury CE, however, a new power rose up in Persia that challenged the
Romans and sought to force them out of Asia. The new rulers called
themselves Sasanians. They traced their lineage to a legendary figure
named Sasan, said to be a direct descendant of the Achaemenid
kings. Their New Persian Empire was founded in 224 CE, when the
first Sasanian king, Artaxerxes I (r. 211–241), defeated the Parthians
(another of Rome’s eastern enemies).Neo-Babylonia and Persia 492-25Aerial view (looking west) of Persepolis (apadana in the background), Iran, ca. 521–465 bce.
The heavily fortified complex of Persian royal buildings on a high plateau at Persepolis contained a royal audience hall, or apadana, 60 feet high and
217 feet square with 36 colossal columns.
2-26Processional frieze (detail) on
the terrace of the apadana, Persepolis,
Iran, ca. 521–465 bce.Limestone,
8 4 high.
The reliefs decorating the walls of
the terrace and staircases leading up
to the Persepolis apadana included
depictions of representatives of 23
subject nations bringing tribute to
the Persian king.1 ft.