Persian Relief Figure in Procession in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, February 2008

Relief Figure in Procession
Limestone
Southwestern Iran, excavated at Persepolis, Palace of Darius I, Western Stairway Facade
Achaemenid period, reign of Artaxerxes II, 405-360 BC

Accession # 39.133

This relief comes from the stairway added by Artaxerxes II to the western side of the palace of Darius I. Facing the expanse of plain below the terrace, the sculptures in this location depicted foreign subjects in procession. In theme, they echo the spectacular procession of twenty-three delegations of the empire bearing tribute that was displayed on the stairways of the great Audience Hall, the most imposing building of Persepolis (see image on the nearby text panel "Persepolis, City of the Persians.")

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.