By definition, a king is the supreme leader of state. He's an executive in a governing body who inherits his power from birth; part of a royal lineage of rulers. In most ancient civilizations, the king was the utmost important figure in society and an unquestioned leader. One such civilization was the Persian Empire. For the Persians, the king was the very embodiment of perfection. In artistic reliefs, the Persians depicted his eminence in such a way that visitors to the royal court palace would see and recognize his supremacy. .
While other civilizations submitted to the will of the Persian king, one group that maintained sovereignty was the divided city-states of Greece. Through works such as Aeschylus' Persians, it is evident that the Greeks utilized Persian perspective and customs, while incorporating their own political beliefs, to reinforce democratic sentiments within Greece.
The Persian king was the supreme figure in Persian society. To assert this claim, Persian kings ordered the construction of reliefs along palace walls that depicted images of their greatness. One of the greatest examples of this still in existence is the Behistun Monument. Located in modern-day Iran, the inscription was completed during the reign of Darius I, between 522 BC and 486 BC. The inscription is etched into the side of a mountain and depicts Darius standing before a line of defeated kings who revolted against his rule. Above Darius and the captives, the deity Ahuramazda oversees the proceedings. Among the images, numerous inscriptions are scattered throughout the relief. These inscriptions recount Darius' rise to power and his retention of the throne through a multitude of victorious conquests. The Behistun Inscription is a valuable source as it provides a description of the king.
The image and inscriptions of the Behistun monument provide great detail of the king's physical attributes. In the depiction, Darius asserts his dominance by placing himself above the captives and other members of his court.
