Final answer:
The Audience Hall (Apadana) of the Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I in Persepolis, Iran, served as a palace for reception and a throne room. It was a grand ceremonial building where the king of the Achaemenid Persian empire received guests and tribute. The hall was decorated with sculptures and had column capitals representing royal authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Audience Hall (Apadana) of the Palace of Darius I and Xerxes I in Persepolis, Iran, served as a palace for reception and a throne room. It was a large ceremonial building used by the king of the Achaemenid Persian empire to receive guests and tribute. The hall had an associated portico and a hypostyle plan, meaning that its roof was supported by columns.
The Apadana was decorated with a sculptural program on its stairways, depicting representatives of 23 subject nations bearing gifts to the king. The columns in the hall had column capitals in the form of twin-headed bulls, eagles, or lions, representing royal authority and kingship.
Overall, the Apadana played an essential role in the political and ceremonial activities of the Persian empire, serving as a grand space for receiving important guests and showcasing the empire's wealth and power.