Darius itemised the provenance from various parts of his dominions of all materials used in the
buildings. The Persians themselves are not included, but it was they who effected this
cosmopolitan synthesis of styles and probably contributed elements from their own tradition.
Architectural ornamentation symbolised the extent of his dominion - the royal winged discs of
Egypt, the Lamassu of Assyria. The terraced walls perpetuate the annual ceremonies of New
Year conceived as a kind of sermon in stone representing eternally in sculpture. The reliefs depicts the long procession of representatives of subject peoples, dress in different
style and bear different kind of gift. All move to the same slow, regimental march, with
expressionless faces.