Darius I

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winged lion from Susa

Ruins of the royal residence (looking south) at Persepolis, Iran, begun by Darius I and completed during the reigns of Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I, Achaemenian period, late 6th–4th century bc.

Darius I seated before two incense burners, detail of a bas-relief of the north courtyard in the Treasury at Persepolis, late 6th–early 5th century bc; in the Archaeological Museum, Tehrān

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Darius I seated before two incense burners, detail of a bas-relief of the north courtyard in the Treasury at Persepolis, late 6th–early 5th century bc; in the Archaeological Museum, Tehrān

Darius I summary

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Darius I: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Darayavaush • Darius the Great
Born	550 BCE
Died	486 BCE
Title / Office	king (522BC-486BC), Egypt • king (522BC-486BC), Persia
Founder	Persepolis
House / Dynasty	Achaemenian dynasty • Achaemenid dynasty
Notable Family Members	father Hystaspes • son Xerxes I
Role In	Greco-Persian Wars

Photos

winged lion from Susa

Ruins of the royal residence (looking south) at Persepolis, Iran, begun by Darius I and completed during the reigns of Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I, Achaemenian period, late 6th–4th century bc.

Darius I seated before two incense burners, detail of a bas-relief of the north courtyard in the Treasury at Persepolis, late 6th–early 5th century bc; in the Archaeological Museum, Tehrān

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