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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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Tomb of Artaxerxes III in Persepolis, Iran, often considered the most well preserved ancient tomb carved on a mountain.

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Tomb of Artaxerxes III in Persepolis, Iran, often considered the most well preserved ancient tomb carved on a mountain.

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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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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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The Dafineh Museum in Tehran has reopened after 8 years with a new artifact that may be one of the most significant relics of the ancient world: the Scepter of Darius the Great . Crafted from gold and lapis lazuli, it was discovered in 1959 at the Apadana Palace in Persepolis.

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The Dafineh Museum in Tehran has reopened after 8 years with a new artifact that may be one of the most significant relics of the ancient world: the Scepter of Darius the Great . Crafted from gold and lapis lazuli, it was discovered in 1959 at the Apadana Palace in Persepolis.

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The DNa inscription at the tomb of Darius the Great in the ancient Persian necropolis of Naqsh-e Rostam introduces Darius and his empire - 490 BCE, Iran.

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The DNa inscription at the tomb of Darius the Great in the ancient Persian necropolis of Naqsh-e Rostam introduces Darius and his empire - 490 BCE, 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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One of the two Obelisks carved to stand at the sides of the portal of the Temple of Luxor by Ramesses II, c. 1250 BC. The western piece, 75 ft high, was "gifted" by Egypt to France in the 1830s and stands at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The other one remains in Luxor...

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One of the two Obelisks carved to stand at the sides of the portal of the Temple of Luxor by Ramesses II, c. 1250 BC. The western piece, 75 ft high, was "gifted" by Egypt to France in the 1830s and stands at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The other one remains in Luxor...

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A reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate has been on display in the Vorderasiatisches Museum , housed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin , since 1930. The gate was part of the walls of Babylon , which, according to older lists, were among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

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A reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate has been on display in the Vorderasiatisches Museum , housed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin , since 1930. The gate was part of the walls of Babylon , which, according to older lists, were among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

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The Hammerum Girl found in grave 83 at the Hammerum burial site in Denmark, 78-313 CE. All that remain of the deceased was her hair and her clothing, but it was the best-preserved Danish Iron Age textile from an inhumation grave. The picture on the right is a reconstruction of her dress

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The Hammerum Girl found in grave 83 at the Hammerum burial site in Denmark, 78-313 CE. All that remain of the deceased was her hair and her clothing, but it was the best-preserved Danish Iron Age textile from an inhumation grave. The picture on the right is a reconstruction of her dress

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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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A relief of Ereshkigal, the Sumerian goddess of death and the underworld, which was created over 3,800 years ago in what's believed to be present day southern Iraq. It is now on display at the British Museum in London.

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A relief of Ereshkigal, the Sumerian goddess of death and the underworld, which was created over 3,800 years ago in what's believed to be present day southern Iraq. It is now on display at the British Museum in London.

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Over 30 film reels from the Qajar Empire have been discovered at Golestan Palace, dated to 1896–1907. They contain some of the earliest footage in Iran’s history, featuring Persian celebrations during that period, government officials in royal palaces, and the dawn of the country’s cinema.

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Over 30 film reels from the Qajar Empire have been discovered at Golestan Palace, dated to 1896–1907. They contain some of the earliest footage in Iran’s history, featuring Persian celebrations during that period, government officials in royal palaces, and the dawn of the country’s cinema.

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The final edict of Emperor Wu of Han, one of the most significant ancient Chinese emperors, 87 BC. It was an instruction to his crown prince. Preserved by a copy on a piece of wood discovered in 1977. Full translation in the comments.

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The final edict of Emperor Wu of Han, one of the most significant ancient Chinese emperors, 87 BC. It was an instruction to his crown prince. Preserved by a copy on a piece of wood discovered in 1977. Full translation in the comments.

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The top image is a reconstruction of the Medieval Louvre which was built by Philip II in 1190. Between 1528-1660, it was generally demolished to make way for expanding the Louvre Palace, while some parts of the castle's foundations were incorporated in construction of the later palace

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The top image is a reconstruction of the Medieval Louvre which was built by Philip II in 1190. Between 1528-1660, it was generally demolished to make way for expanding the Louvre Palace, while some parts of the castle's foundations were incorporated in construction of the later palace

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The Grand Foyer of the Paris Opera, part of the Palais Garnier, was constructed between 1861 and 1875. Its ceiling was painted by Paul-Jacques-Aimé Baudry and represents various moments in the history of music

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The Grand Foyer of the Paris Opera, part of the Palais Garnier, was constructed between 1861 and 1875. Its ceiling was painted by Paul-Jacques-Aimé Baudry and represents various moments in the history of music

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