Thread by @iran_antigua

Achaemenid Royal Audience Scene, inside shield of Persian soldier on so-called 'Alexander Sarcophagus'

4th C BCE, from Sidon, @ Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Photos: Fluorescent UV & Reconstruction

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An older drawing without some of the details (1);

There are parallels, precedents to #Achaemenid royal scenes in Assyrian, Elamite, other Near Eastern art. Drawing in photo 2 for example is likely of an older, Elamite seal which continued to be used in Achaemenid court

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We see examples of this royal audience scene @ Persepolis, here reconstructed from the fuller image @ Apadana, and another modern recreation @ Zinat al-Molk House

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A more condensed version is also @ door jambs of the 100 Column Hall, Persepolis

Also see: Le roi imaginaire; An Audience with the Achaemenid King (2005), by Dr. Lindsay Allen @vastarchive among other papers on this subject

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The audience scene, in its more formal manner & also more informal, was used on seals & other media across the Achaemenid empire

See these examples, 4 now @ Buffalo

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al Thani Collection unprovenanced object with a similar scene (cropped)

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Seal from Daskyleion, inscribed "Artaxerxes"

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The unprovenanced seal now @ Louvre shares some of the features and is of a royal woman in an "audience scene"

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And the lower part of "funerary stele of Djedherbes from Saggara", now @ Cairo also shares some of the features, albeit in the less formal, banquet context and not the v formal royal audience scene.