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Darius the Great seated on the royal throne, with his son Xerxes standing behind him. Part of the northern wall of Persepolis, 518–460 BC, housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Darius the Great seated on the royal throne, with his son Xerxes standing behind him. Part of the northern wall of Persepolis, 518–460 BC, housed at National Museum of Iran.

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The personal bowl of Xerxes the Great , inscribed in Old Persian with "I am Xerxes, the Great King." Housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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The personal bowl of Xerxes the Great , inscribed in Old Persian with "I am Xerxes, the Great King." Housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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Statue of Empress Atossa , who was the daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius the Great, and mother of Xerxes the Great, making her connected to the entire Achaemenid dynasty. The lapis lazuli statue was discovered in Persepolis, and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Statue of Empress Atossa , who was the daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius the Great, and mother of Xerxes the Great, making her connected to the entire Achaemenid dynasty. The lapis lazuli statue was discovered in Persepolis, and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Part of the wall of Darius the Great's palace in Susa , which still retains its color after more than 2,500 years. Only two examples of this wall remains in the world today, one housed at the National Museum of Iran, and the other at Louvre.

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Part of the wall of Darius the Great's palace in Susa , which still retains its color after more than 2,500 years. Only two examples of this wall remains in the world today, one housed at the National Museum of Iran, and the other at Louvre.

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An Achaemenid plaque, the only surviving artifact bearing the emblem of the Empire’s flag. Dating to 550–330 BC, it was discovered in Persepolis and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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An Achaemenid plaque, the only surviving artifact bearing the emblem of the Empire’s flag. Dating to 550–330 BC, it was discovered in Persepolis and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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The only remaining plaque with the symbol of the Achaemenid flag , discovered at the Persepolis, kept at National Museum of Iran.

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The only remaining plaque with the symbol of the Achaemenid flag , discovered at the Persepolis, kept at National Museum of Iran.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Then and Now: Apadana Palace of Persepolis in ancient Iran was started construction by the order of Darius the Great and finished by his son Xerxes. Today, several of the palace's columns stands, its stairways remains in place and the walls contains countless of well-preserved reliefs.

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Then and Now: Apadana Palace of Persepolis in ancient Iran was started construction by the order of Darius the Great and finished by his son Xerxes. Today, several of the palace's columns stands, its stairways remains in place and the walls contains countless of well-preserved reliefs.

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The tomb of Darius the Great is one of the four tombs for Achaemenid kings at the historical site of Naqsh-e Rostam, located about 12 kilometres northwest of Persepolis in Iran

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The tomb of Darius the Great is one of the four tombs for Achaemenid kings at the historical site of Naqsh-e Rostam, located about 12 kilometres northwest of Persepolis in Iran

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A pedestal-shaped pottery vessel, found at Tall-e Jari in Iran, depicting dancing men. 5000-4000 BCE, now housed at the National Museum of Iran

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A pedestal-shaped pottery vessel, found at Tall-e Jari in Iran, depicting dancing men. 5000-4000 BCE, now housed at the National Museum of Iran

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During an invasion of Naghadeh around 1200 BC, one of the soldiers grabbed a golden bowl from the treasury and tried to escape with it. He fell and died clutching it, bending the bowl under his weight. Discovered beneath his skeleton in 1958, it’s now housed at National Museum of Iran.

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During an invasion of Naghadeh around 1200 BC, one of the soldiers grabbed a golden bowl from the treasury and tried to escape with it. He fell and died clutching it, bending the bowl under his weight. Discovered beneath his skeleton in 1958, it’s now housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A bronze openwork plaque with winged mythical creatures, unearthed at Kalmakareh in Iran. 800 BCE, now housed at the National Museum of Iran

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A bronze openwork plaque with winged mythical creatures, unearthed at Kalmakareh in Iran. 800 BCE, now housed at the National Museum of Iran

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A conical bowl with interior of fish swimming amid waves. Yaozhou ware, Northern Song Dynasty , now housed at the National Museum of China

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A conical bowl with interior of fish swimming amid waves. Yaozhou ware, Northern Song Dynasty , now housed at the National Museum of China

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A visitor standing in front of the Colossal Bull Capital from the Achaemenid Empire , related to the Audience Hall of Darius the Great at Persepolis.

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A visitor standing in front of the Colossal Bull Capital from the Achaemenid Empire , related to the Audience Hall of Darius the Great at Persepolis.

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A silver disc with spirals, made by the Moche civilization in Peru. Now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru

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A silver disc with spirals, made by the Moche civilization in Peru. Now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru

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A mantle with bird motifs, made of wool and cotton, found at Wari Kayán necropolis in Peru. 200 BCE-50 CE, Paracas culture, now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru

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A mantle with bird motifs, made of wool and cotton, found at Wari Kayán necropolis in Peru. 200 BCE-50 CE, Paracas culture, now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru

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