1-271-148 - Vivienne Sharp/Heritage Images

Tomb of Xerxes I, Naqsh-i-Rustam, Iran. The son of Darius I the Great, Xerxes ruled Persia from 485 to 465 BC. Determined to avenge his father's defeat at the Battle of Marathon, he raised a huge army to conquer Greece, but was forced to withdraw after his fleet was destroyed at Salamis and his army was defeated at Plataea. In the latter part of his reign Xerxes became embroiled in palace intrigues and he was eventually murdered by members of his court. Xerxes' is one of four tombs of Persian kings carved into a rock face 13 kilometres north-east of the ancient Persian capital of Persepolis.