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Persians were tolerant and ruled a multi-ethnic empire and acknowledged different faiths, languages, and political organizations. The Persian lifestyle was administration, multicultural, and ceremonial. Persian art included royal and monumental architecture, reliefs and carvings, and monumental statues all made of gold, stone, metal, and glazed bricks. The functions of Persian art were to display imperial power, to legitimize rule, and to be used in ceremony.
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The Cyrus Cylinder is considered to be the first bill of human rights. It is made from baked clay and inscribed with words in Babylonian cuneiform, with text that abolished the labour-service of its population. The cylinder is recognized as an early example of multicultural governance, and ideals global heritage and human rights values. -
The Behistun Inscription is a relief with text carved 330 feet up a cliff. The carved scene shows king Darius trampling over the body of the king he overthrew and facing a line of prisoners. The inscription is regarded as propaganda. The Persian lifestyle is reflected in the art: multi-ethnic culture (accompanying three languages), authority to rule by divine grace (the king's autobiography), and religion (image of the Faravahar that represents supreme god Ahura Mazda).