A grand historical painting shows Darius the Great on his throne in a Persepolis palace, receiving tribute from kneeling subjects and foreign delegations, including a lion, under sunlight.

At the Nowruz festival in the spring of 488 BCE, the time in which the Persians celebrated their New Year with feasting, partying, and gift-giving, Darius, Great King, King of Kings, King of All Lands, the Achaemenid, sat on his throne in the heart of his palace-city of Persepolis and magnanimously received the homage of his empire. Huge bronze trumpets ripped the air with triumphant fanfares and an orchestra of drums, cymbals, and sistra, accompanied by harps and lyres, created a rhythmic march which heralded the commencement of the glittering ceremonies that were central to the joyful festival. Foreign diplomats had travelled from far and wide to Persepolis in order to bring Darius their tribute: from Libya they came, from Pakistan, from the southern Eurasian Steppe, Egypt, Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Syria, and India; they came carrying gold, turquoise, lapis lazuli, wool tapestries, silk coats, cotton tunics, and spices, and leading horses, camels, sheep, and even lions into the lofty throne room. They prostrated themselves on the floor in abject humility in front of the Great King, grasped the hem of his robe, and loyally kissed his feet See more