The Horse and the Lion in Achaemenid Persia: Representations of a Duality

This paper explores the ambiguous Persian Achaemenid attitude towards horse and lion. It examines way these animals appear in imperial official presentations, local artifacts throughout empire Greek textual representations. In case of stallion, it looks at imagery riding or place society religion alongside employment steeds chariots. Images lion are addressed instances where appears to be respected as having a significant protective power prey chase. attempts show that this ambiguity corresponds roughly dual image Persians both pre-imperial/nomad imperial/sedentary (and hence allegedly luxurious), schism is manifest self-presentation Achaemenids texts.