From the August 15, 1936, issue
By Science News
PALACES OF KING DARIUS YIELD MAGNIFICENT ART
Magnificent sculptures portraying King Darius the Great on his throne have been unearthed from the ruins of his famous palaces at Persepolis.
Word of the discovery has just been received at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. The institute’s expedition to Persepolis reports that the sculptures are among the finest examples of ancient art yet found.
The sculptured scenes adorned two porticos of a courtyard and represented King Darius giving audience to some petitioner, says Dr. Erich F. Schmidt, field director of the expedition. King Darius and his son and heir, Xerxes, are shown giant-size, 7 feet tall, to increase their majesty. The petitioner and the courtiers are ordinary life-size. Attendants include the carrier of the royal bow and mace, two lance carriers, and a man believed to be the food taster, who is holding a napkin.