For a long time, our picture of the Achaemenid great kings and their empire was primarily shaped by Greek sources. These paint a differentiated but largely negative picture of the Persian great kings. But how did the rulers see themselves or did they want to be seen? What were their intentions? Our own Persian sources play a decisive role in answering these questions, including the Bisotun rock monument and two cuneiform archives from the royal seat of Persepolis. These sources provide information about how the great kings defined themselves and legitimized their rule, but also provide insights into the function of the empire, the everyday life of the population and the elites.