Ancient Relief of Lydians Tribute Bearers With Lotus Border Persepolis Apadana FG270

Relief of Syrians or Lydians, the Apadana, Persepolis, Iran. The capital of Achaemenid Persia, Persepolis was predominantly built during the reigns of the dynasty’s founder, Darius I (522-485 BC) and his son Xerxes I (485-465 BC). One of the main, and earliest, buildings of the city was the great audience hall, the Apadana. Every year the king would receive tribute in the form of gifts from representatives of all the poples of the Achaemenid empire, which at its greatest extent stretched from Libya in the west to the Indus valley in the east. The eastern entrance to the Apadana was decorated with reliefs of the empire’s subject peoples.

Babylonians and Lydians

Below is the Babylonian embassy, wearing conical caps with odd tassels. In his Histories, the Greek researcher Herodotus of Halicarnassus tells us that Babylonia was very wealthy and paid an immense tribute – enough to pay a third of the Persian army. The Babylonians offer shallow bowls and a garment with a netted and tasseled border. The last man leads a humped bull. These are small presents, which seems to contradict the literary sources. On the other hand, the relief is a piece of art and not an account book.

The Lydian embassy is at the beginning of the lower register, suggesting the importance of their country. Their king Croesus, proverbially rich, had been defeated by Cyrus the Great in or after 547 BCE. The Lydian presents are two metal phials, two bowls, two beautifully decorated metal rings with griffins’ heads, and a chariot, drawn by two stallions. The chariot seems to be a bit too small to be used in warfare, but this may, again, be the artist’s liberty. The Lydians are dressed in long garments with horizontal stripes. They also have remarkable, conical hats that are not otherwise known. Their shoes are remarbably pointed.

Persepolis, Apadana, East Stairs, Southern part, Babylonians

Persepolis, Apadana, East Stairs, Southern part, Babylonians

Persepolis, Apadana, East Stairs, Southern part, Lydians

Persepolis, Apadana, East Stairs, Southern part, Lydians

Lydians with a two-horsed chariot, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis	Lydian delegation, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis	Lydian with horses, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis	Lydian Armlets with Griffin ends, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis
IMG_2514-08b.jpg	Lydians, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis	Lydian with decorated bowls, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis	Lydian with armlets with Griffin ends, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis
Lydian with two amphora with winged bull handles, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis	Lydian amphora with winged bull handles	IMG_2514-08a.jpg	Lydian horses, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis
Lydians, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis – Levels Adjusted	Original Image – Lydians, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis	Original Image – Lydians with a two-horsed chariot, Apadana Staircase, Persepolis