ABSTRACT
This chapter re-examines the relationship between peace and monumental building and looks more closely at the question of whether monumental building programs illustrate the existence of peace and can be viewed as symbols of communal unity and reconciliation. Ratte offers a clear model of Athenian motives for building in the fifth century bc that links the structures to peace and reconciliation. The 'Periclean' building programme certainly began after peace had been confirmed with Persia at around 450 bc. In the mid-sixth century bc, the army of Cyrus II defeated Astyages and the Medes, leaving Achaemenid rulers as the pre-eminent power in antiquity until the second half of the fourth century bc. Achaemenid Kings were builders of great renown. First Cyrus II and later Darius I built huge monumental structures at Pasargadae and at Persepolis. Darius is linked to the construction of the Treasury, Apadana and the 'Palace of Darius'.
