The attitude of the Achaemenid kings toward their own longevity and power was deeply rooted in their commitment to documentation. Royal inscriptions, often trilingual in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian, were carved into stone and placed strategically, ensuring their decrees and lineage would be understood and respected across linguistic boundaries. This dedication to a secure and permanent record contrasts sharply with many contemporary empires. Von Busse’s work in the 1930s effectively acted as the final layer of this documentation, using modern photographic technology to re-secure the visual evidence of a legacy that had already survived over two millennia of political turmoil and natural decay.
