Sometimes--perhaps most commonly--they held office; but they rather conferred a lustre on the position which they consented to fill, than derived any additional splendor from it.
It does not appear that the chiefs of the seven great families had any peculiar insignia.

Officers of the Court, on the contrary, seem to have always carried, as badges marking their position, either wands about three feet in length, or an ornament resembling a lotos blossom, which is sometimes seen in the hands of the monarch himself.

Such officers wore, at their pleasure, either the long Median robe and the fluted cap, or the close-fitting Persian tunic and trousers, with the loose felt [Greek name].

All had girdles, in which sometimes a dagger was placed; and all had collars of gold about their necks, and earrings of gold in their ears.

The Median robes were of various colors--scarlet, purple, crimson, dark gray, etc.