Mark Gagnon

The Greek invasion was officially over, and Xerxes and his efforts had failed.

But the truth is, Xerxes' Greek invasion, as dramatic as it was, occupied only a few years of a reign that lasted over two decades.

And when you look at what Xerxes actually spent most of his time doing, it wasn't conquest or war.

It was actually building.

You see, Xerxes poured enormous resources into completing and expanding Perzopolis.

Again, this ceremonial capital that his father had actually started to build himself.

And what he built there was truly staggering.

So the Gate of All Nations, sometimes called the Gate of Xerxes, was this massive ceremonial entrance into the complex of Perzopolis.

Two enormous stone bulls flanked the western doorway.

This massive human-headed winged bull thing guarded the eastern entrance.

And this giant inscription was carved into the stone, and it says...

King Xerxes says, by the favor of Ahura Mazda, again, the king of Zoroastrianism, I built this gate of all nations.

Much else that is beautiful was built in the Perzopolis, which I built and which my father built.

So literally just being like, this is fire.

I did it.

My daddy did it.

And that's what it is.

And, you know, like every ancient monarch, you got to throw your name on it.

So every visiting dignitary, every person that brought tribute, you know, if someone was trying to do business, they had to come through and pass through the gate.

And this was a deliberate reminder that they were entering the presence of the big dog, the king of kings, Xerxes himself.