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Glite Dictionary
apadana

apadana

9.9
A large hall where people meet in ancient Persian palaces like Persepolis
  • noun
  • /ˌæpəˈdɑːnə/
  • Specialized
: apadana
  • The ruins of the apadana at Persepolis display a forest of massive stone columns.

Examples

  • Visitors marveled at the intricate reliefs that once adorned the walls of the apadana.

  • Archaeologists have studied the apadana to better understand ancient Persian architecture.

  • The apadana is impressive.

  • Look at the apadana!

  • Archaeologists have studied the apadana to better understand ancient Persian architecture.

  • The ruins of the apadana at Persepolis display a forest of massive stone columns.

  • Visitors marveled at the intricate reliefs that once adorned the walls of the apadana.

Synonyms

durbar
vsapadana
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A large room in a palace where a ruler meets guests and holds formal meetings

is a larger ancient ceremonial audience hall in Persian palaces
megaron
vsapadana
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A large rectangular hall in ancient Greek palaces with a central hearth

is used for public ceremonial audiences rather than a domestic hearth space

Surface Forms

apadana singular
apadanas plural

Etymology

The word apadana comes from an old Persian word apadāna that meant 'audience hall' or 'place to meet the king'. So an apadana is the large hall in a Persian palace where people came before the ruler, which is why the name is used for those big stone halls at Persepolis and Susa.