The Term Apadana in Achaemenid Palatial Complexes

This paper is a lexicographical and architectural review of the term ‘apadana’ as used in Achaemenid inscriptions. Although there is no consensus on the origins of this term, its usage has been noted in reference to a colonnaded hall. In later periods, it has been used in Persian as âpâtân and adopted in Arabic as al-fadan to denote a palace, building and salutation. This research however argues that this term had a wider connotation in reference to an architectural pattern as seen in Achaemenid palaces such as Persepolis and Susa. It actually referred to the public extrovert part of the Achaemenid palace reserved for royal receptions. This explains its figurative usage in Sassanid period for reference to arched entrance portals of palaces, domed halls, throne chambers and royal reception halls. Nevertheless, its original architectural design was introvert in nature. In the Sassanid period, this design evolved into noh-gonbad (literally nine-dome) compositions of palaces and pavilions. In this composition, a palace with a square plan was placed on one side of a garden exposing three façades and reserving one side for the servants. In later periods, this architectural composition further evolved. The building was placed in the centre of the garden and formed the familiar octagonal design of garden pavilions usually referred to as hasht-behesht (literally eight paradises).