Images of Iran: Statue, National Museum of Iran, Tehran
Statue of Darius I in the superb National Museum of Iran in Tehran.
Darius I, commonly known as Darius the Great, was the third 'King of Kings' of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, ruling from 522 BC until his death in 486 BC and overseeing the empire at its territorial height. He came to power after a succession crisis following the death of Cambyses II and used inscriptions such as the Behistun Inscription to legitimize his reign and recount how he quelled widespread revolts across the empire. Darius is renowned for his administrative reforms, dividing the empire into satrapies with standardized taxation, roads, coinage, and weights and measures, which strengthened imperial cohesion and facilitated trade. He also embarked on ambitious building projects, founded the ceremonial capital of Persepolis, and led campaigns across Thrace, Macedonia, and into the Indus Valley, though his attempted invasions of Greece ended in setbacks such as the defeat at Marathon.