(architects unknown, located at the ancient site of Dur Sharrikun) (721 to 706 bc). Citadel and palace complex of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin [masonry and stone]. Reproduced image from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.

The citadel and palace complex of Sargon II, capital complex of Darius and Xerxes in Persepolis and housing complex of Senusret II in Kahum share grid-like planning with structures organized at perpendicular angles. To over generalize, they all plan for political authority as well as religious. They deal with defense, class organization and façade decoration in different ways. The three complexes also differed in the materials used to build the bulk of their structures. It should be noted that the development of these mini-cities spans 1500 years.

The citadel of Sargon II elevates political and religious authority by placing their respective complexes (palace and temple) in the center of the citadel on a raised platform. This is the technique used in the palace of Persepolis, but not at Kahum, due to the purpose of the expanded camp being housing the labor force of a nearby pyramid, which serves both purposes. Kahum and Persepolis must also have been considered quite secure, within the control of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom and growing Persian empire respectively. Dur Sharrukin, the ancient location of Sargon II’s citadel, was expressly built for defense, and was encased in radiating fortifications. Persepolis and Sharrukin served as capitols, and the palace of Persepolis showed more advanced space-spanning techniques, namely expansive peristyle chambers.

It seems the Assyrian autocrats that based their operations at Dur Sharrukin, or at least Sargon II, believed it was more important to merge their political authority with religious than simply force obedience through absolute secular power. This is because it is believed the ziggurat of Dur Sharrukin more than any other structure dominated the skyline. Dur Sharrukin and Persepolis were amply adorned with political wall reliefs, connecting the character and traits of military and political figures with the qualities of animals. The lasting influence of civic administrative and defensive planning of Egyptian, Assyrian and Persian settlements is evident in the development of Greek base cities and the portable town-camps the Roman army were renowned for.