Achaemenid Empire
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The Achaemenid Empire was an ancient Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC. At peak, its territorial extent was roughly 5.5 million square kilometres, making it
Family tree of the Achaemenid rulers.
Cyrus the Great's tomb, located at Pasargadae
The Achaemenid Empire at its greatest extent c. 500 BC
The Persian queen Atossa, daughter of Cyrus the Great, sister-wife of Cambyses II, Darius the Great's wife, and mother of Xerxes the Great
Seleucid Empire
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The Seleucid Empire was a Greek state in West Asia during the Hellenistic period. It was founded in 312 BC by the Macedonian general Seleucus I Nicator, following the division of the Macedonian Empire
Bronze bust of Seleucus I Nicator.
"Chandra Gupta Maurya entertains his bride from Babylon": a conjectural interpretation of the "marriage agreement" between the Seleucids and Chandragupta Maurya, related by Appian.
Coin of Seleucus I Nicator, showing the king wearing a helmet decorated with leopard skin and bull's horn and ear.