Ancient Near Eastern kings were thought to be appointed by the will of the gods. Large palaces were built to glorify these rulers and serve the ceremonial needs of the kingdom. One of the best preserved palace complexes is at Persepolis in modern Iran.

The Persian king Darius I (522-486 B.C.) began to build the city of Persepolis, his son Xerxes (486-465 B.C.) continued the construction, and his grandson Ataxerxes (464-425 B.C.) finished it.

The monumental stairways leading up to one of the palaces at Persepolis are decorated with carvings of people from the nations ruled by the Persians. This relief in Rochester shows a member of a foreign delegation bringing a gift to the king.