The sculptural program on the stairs leading to the apadana reflect the function of the Audience Hall as the seat of the Persian king by depicting - portraits of the king combined with bodies of mythological creatures to show the divine nature of the king as a living god - an important deity handing the insignias of law and authority to the king to demonstrate his legitimacy to rule over the empire - foreign representatives in various regional attire carrying offerings to represent the various subjugated people who paid tribute to the empire - a mythological battle between gods and monsters to underscore the role of the king as protector of civilization against barbarism