(16) [Apadana Hall Eastern Stairway, Persepolis, Fars] 1840 - 1869

This is a photograph taken by Luigi Pesce of the Apadana Hall Eastern Stairway in Persepolis. The image captures the intricate bas-relief carvings, a visual language of power and cultural identity in ancient Persia. Pesce, an Italian photographer working in the 19th century, documented the archaeological site, reflecting Europe’s fascination with antiquity and the colonial gaze that often framed these encounters. The photograph, sepia-toned and textured, presents a scene of dignitaries ascending the stairs, a procession frozen in stone. Each figure, rendered in careful detail, is a testament to the Achaemenid Empire's reach and the diversity of its subjects. Consider the contemporary viewer, then and now: What does it mean to witness this display of ancient power, mediated through the lens of a 19th-century European photographer? How does the photograph invite us to contemplate the narratives inscribed in stone and the complex layers of history, representation, and cultural encounter?