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The Role of Salaries and Religious Donations in Consolidating Achaemenid Political Power: A Documentary Analysis of the Persepolis Tablets

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.A. in History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/jis.2026.408992.1392

Abstract

The present study examines the multifaceted role of wages and religious offerings in consolidating and reinforcing political authority within the Achaemenid Empire, with particular emphasis on the ancient documentary evidence preserved in the Persepolis Fortification Tablets. The primary objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms through which ritual and economic resources were distributed among social, administrative, and religious groups, and to evaluate the impact of these practices on the legitimacy, stability, and durability of the imperial power structure. The research data consist of the extensive corpus of Persepolis Fortification Tablets, which have been meticulously examined and systematically coded using a rigorous documentary analysis methodology. The findings reveal that the system of payments, rations, and ritual allocations functioned not merely as an economic mechanism but also as a strategic instrument for strengthening the loyalty, cooperation, and compliance of court officials, priests, and local elites throughout the empire. Furthermore, a detailed geographical and structural analysis of these documents demonstrates a deliberate and clear correlation between the central authority in Persepolis and the distribution of wages in subordinate regions, reflecting a sophisticated approach to administrative control and political governance. The results highlight the critical role of religious offerings and state-administered wages as essential tools employed by the Achaemenids to legitimize their rule, stabilize social hierarchies, and maintain imperial cohesion. By providing new insights into the interplay between economic, ritual, and political dimensions, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the organizational and ideological foundations of Achaemenid imperial power and offers a valuable perspective for reevaluating the empire’s economic and religious–political structures

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References
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Iranian Studies
Volume 16, Issue 1
May 2026
Pages 1-18
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