Originally part of the Treasury structure at Persepolis, this bas relief is now in the National Archaeological Museum in Tehran. As for when it was removed from Persepolis or where it was before it arrived at the Museum, I do not know.

According to Donald N. Wilber, in his book Persepolis, The Archaeology of Parsa, Seat of the Persian Kings, the relief depicts "Xerxes enthroned, with crown prince Darius behind the ruler."

"Before the throne are two very elaborate incense burners on tall stands; chains attach the covers of the burners to their stands. Just behind them appears an individual, his hand to his mouth so that his breath should not pollute the the air before his ruler. It has been suggested that his is the . . . commanders of the royal bodyguard and that he may actually be Artapanes, who held the post during the last years of Xerxes' reign. Two Persian guards appear at the right end of the relief."

"Behind Darius appears the royal chamberlain, a very important official of the court: he may be Aspamitres, a relative of Artapanes. Possibly he is a eunuch. His chin - bearded or beardless - is concealed by an elaborate headdress . . ., which is the same headdress worn by servants carrying food on the reliefs of the palaces. In his right hand, the chamberlain holds his badge of office, a piece of cloth that has been erroneously described as a napkin. Actually, it is a towel. In ancient times food was eaten with the fingers. Before and after meals a basin was passed around with a towel with which to dry wet hands. Napkins for use during meals were still unknown."

"The towel bearer is followed by the personal weapon carrier of the ruler, who carries the battle-axe and bow case. The objects carried by this official are carved with great delicacy and fine detail. His left hand holds the strap of the bow case, which hangs over his shoulder and ends in a bird's head. His right hand holds a Scythian battle-axe; one side of the metal head is in the shape of a fish coming out of the mouth of a duck and the other is anvil shaped. On his right thigh is a short sword, the scabbard hanging by a leather strap from the sagging double belt fastened by a rosette; a huge rivet holds the weapon to a projecting attachment ornamented by lotus blossoms. The handle of the sword is a flattened oval, the grip marked by two horizontal grooves and by square and triangular incisions. The blade is hidden in the scabbard, which is elaborately ornamented. The upper third of the scabbard, bow shaped, is adorned with two rampant griffins, back to back but with faces turned and glaring at each other; the face is that of a hawk and the body and forepaws are those of a lion; the feet are clawed. The remaining two thirds [of the scabbard] illustrate nine male ibexes prancing within a highly decorated border. At the tip of the scabbard is a bull's head, its horns forming a heart-shaped blossom within nine petals; below it is the conventionalized lion. The scabbard is prevented from swinging by a braided leather strap that passes around the right knee."