Art & Images

Discovering the Gate of All Nations, Persepolis

Persepolis, an ancient city in Iran, holds within its ruins a treasure trove of history and architectural wonders. Among the many impressive structures that adorn this archaeological site is the Gate of All Nations. The Gate of All Nations, also known as the Gate of Xerxes, is a magnificent entrance that once welcomed visitors to the grandeur of t...

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Stone relief from palace of Persopolis

This typical Persian motif draws it wings and central ring from Egyptian and Mesopotamian prototypes. Traditional view is that the figure represents Ahura Mazda...

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Immortal infantry - Lancer and Archer

Frieze of glazed tiles showing Immortal infantry. A lancer and archer....

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Persepolis Bull's Head

Bull's head carving from column capital at Persepolis....

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Griffin's head from column at Persopolis

May reflect a borrowing a Mesopotamian political symbolism....

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Persepolis Lion's head

Lion's head from top of a column at Persepolis....

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Soldiers from Persepolis

Relief of soldiers from Persepolis with wicker shields. 6th c. B.C. (East Berlin: Pergamum Museum)....

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Tomb of Cyrus the Great (c. 550-529)

Near his palace at PasargadÃ". Cyrus, founder of the Persian Empire, won independence from the Media and expanded his control to Mesopotamia. He drew from Mesopotamia some ideological elements for a reconstructed monarchy. Tombs are above ground to prevent the corpse's being defiled....

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Head from a statue of an archer

From the walls of the palace at Persepolis. Typical AchÃ"menid aesthetic interest in repeated patterns....

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Palace of Cyrus Stone Relief

Stone relief from doorway of Cyrus' palace at Pasargadae A winged figure, probably a protective spirit of the royal household. The crown resembles a Near Eastern figure that wards off evil spirits....

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