'This is a very important contribution not only to Achaemenid studies but also to the wider literature on royal courts in general. It is very well written and ably supported by source material which will render it invaluable for students and scholars alike.' St John Simpson, Curator, The British Museum An exploration of monarchy and elite society at the political and cultural hub of the vast Persian Empire The Persians established the biggest land empire the world had seen, and seated at the heart of its vast dominions, in the south of modern-day Iran, was the person of the Achaemenid Great King, immortalised in Greek literature as a despotic tyrant. However, a new vision of Persian kingship is now emerging from Iranian and other Near Eastern sources - literary, visual, and archaeological - which shows the monarchs in a very different light. Inscriptions of Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, and their heirs, present a propagandistic image of Persian rulers as liberators, peace-makers, valiant warriors, righteous god-fearing judges, and law-makers. Around about them, the kings established a lavish and sophisticated court, the centre of political decision-making and the hub of cultural achievements in which the image of monarchy was endorsed and advanced by an almost theatrical display of grandeur and power. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones explores the representation of Persian monarchy and the court of the Achaemenid Great Kings from the point of view of the ancient Iranians themselves (as well as other Near Eastern peoples) and through the sometimes distorted prism of Classical and Biblical sources. Key Features - Draws on rich Iranian and Classical sources and exposes new evidence and interpretations - Accesses the rarefied but dangerous world of Persian palace life - Includes a comprehensive timeline, further reading, and web resources to encourage research Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones is Senior Lecturer in Ancient History at the University of Edinburgh. Cover image: Esther Denouncing Haman, Ernest Normand c. 1915. Cover design: [EUP logo] www.euppublishing.com