The Immortal Land

 

Item No. I-5

Detail of Darius I's Triumphant Return

Darius was only 29 when his first royal portrait was carved at Bisutun.  The full stiff beard, the thicket of ringlets at the nape of the neck and the flat curls pressed to the forehead are stylistic elements based on rendering of Assyrian sovereigns whose reigns preceded that of Darius. Here the king is shown receiving those who come to honour him.