He is the tallest and most physically prominent figure, and stands on top of Gaumata, a man who falsely claimed authority; His back is erect, and his beard is well maintained, much like his empire. The captives before the king wear different clothing, indicating that they come from varying regions. While the depiction emphasizes Darius' physical dominance over the Persian court, the inscription characterizes Darius as a ruler and asserts his claim to the throne. .
The beginning of the inscription is Darius' introduction. In the introduction, Darius establishes the lineage of kings from which he derives his authority. By recounting the lineage of kings, Darius establishes that he is the rightful ruler of Persia. He also claims divine assistance saying, "Ahuramazda has granted unto me this empire. Ahuramazda brought me help, until I gained this empire; by the grace of Ahuramazda do I hold this empire (9). The claim of divine intervention declares his rule to be the will of God, and further establishes his claim to the throne. It is also the basis from which the kings, including Xerxes, claim divinity, which is a crucial characteristic as it validates the reign and emphasizes the king's authority. The next line in the inscription lists the territories under Darius' rule, evoking an image of an empire so massive it stretches across the Earth. In the following sections, Darius recounts his ascension to power and the numerous trials he faced. The temples which Gaumta, the Magian, had destroyed, I restored to the people, and the pasture lands, and the herds and the dwelling places, and the houses which Gaumta, the Magian, had taken away. I settled the people in their place, the people of Persia, and Media, and the other provinces. I restored that which had been taken away, as is was in the days of old. This did I by the grace of Ahuramazda, I labored until I had established our dynasty in its place, as in the days of old; I labored, by the grace of Ahuramazda, so that Gaumta, the Magian, did not dispossess our house (14).