Analytical mythology of the capitals of Takhte Jamshid; allegories and symbols of identity in Achaemenid architecture

All of the palaces in Takhte Jamshid citadel are decorated with special ornaments which each of them refers to a meaning and among these ornaments the column capitals can be grouped in four types; bull, lion, winged bull-man and bird with a lion's paw. This study with the help of allegorical mythology method of Georg Friedrich Creuzer showed that the meaning behind these forms are influenced by the mythological narratives of the Indo-Iranian peoples on the one hand, and on the other hand by astronomy and myth of the Mesopotamia. Therefore the column capital in the form of the lion in the east is connected with Mitra, and also with the sun that rises from the east, the column capitals in the form of the bull in the main halls are associated with blessing and life, and in the west with the bull in front of the lion as an astronomical phenomenon which indicates the beginning of spring, and, with the killing of the bull by the hands of Mitra, which is an allegory of creation and blessing, and finally, the winged bull-man is both indicative of the Indo-European tripartite actions and also protection of the blessing of life, and it can also be related to Mesopotamian Enki.