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Achaemenid Empire
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Relief of three Achaemenid warriors, known as the Ten Thousand Immortals, depicted in profile on glazed bricks with patterned robes and bows, from the Palace of Artaxerxes at Susa.
Why Was Cyrus the Great So “Great”?
Map showing the extent of the Achaemenid Empire during the 6th and 5th centuries BC, shaded in light green and spanning from the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt through the Middle East to parts of Central Asia and the Indus Valley. Major regions, cities, and trade routes such as the Royal Road are labeled within the empire's boundaries. Engraving of Cambyses II on horseback, sword raised, attacking the sacred bull Apis as armored figures and soldiers look on, from an 1882 illustrated history book. Bas-relief detail showing Xerxes I standing and Darius I seated, both with beards and elaborate robes, from the treasury at Persepolis, now in the Archaeological Museum in Tehran. Bas-relief detail of Xerxes I wearing a robe and crown, holding a flower, from the north courtyard of the treasury at Persepolis, now in the Archaeological Museum in Tehran. Peloponnesian War Painting showing chaotic retreat of Greek soldiers and horses through rocky terrain at the Battle of Cunaxa, with mountains and sky in the background. Engraving of Parysatis interceding for Cyrus the Younger before a group of Persian courtiers, with Cyrus standing at the center holding a sword. Alexander and Darius
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Temple ruins of columns and statures at Karnak, Egypt (Egyptian architecture; Egyptian archaelogy; Egyptian history)
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Achaemenid Empire: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • T. Cuyler Young
  • J.M. Munn-Rankin
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Contributors

  • Christian Betancur

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: Encyclopaedia Iranica - Achaemenid Dynasty. Aug 24, 2026
Article expanded. May 22, 2026
Add new Web site: Academia - The Achaemenid Empire and the North-Western Aegean. Feb 04, 2025
Add new Web site: The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies - The Empire of Achaemenid Dynasty (550-333 BCE). Nov 18, 2024
Add new Web site: Humanities LibreTexts - The Achaemenid Empire. Feb 13, 2024
Add new Web site: Penn Museum - The Achaemenid Empire. Dec 04, 2023
Add new Web site: The Met - Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History - The Achaemenid Persian Empire (550�330 B.C.). Aug 14, 2023
Add new Web site: Iran Chamber Society - Achaemenid Empire. Jul 05, 2023
Add new Web site: GlobalSecurity.org - 550 BC - 330 BC - Achaemenid / Persian Empire. Apr 27, 2023
Corrected display issue. Dec 03, 2018
Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - Achaemenid Empire. Nov 22, 2018
Add new Web site: Encyclopaedia Iranica - Achaemenid Dynasty. Apr 08, 2014
Added The Rise and Organisation of the Achaemenid Empire: The Eastern Iranian Evidence to the bibliography. Sep 10, 2012
Article revised. Nov 26, 2003
Article revised. Apr 12, 2002
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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