510 SPLENDID RUINS OF PERSEPOLIS. 



city j a city not more remarkable for its stately buildings, than for 

 the extraordinary personages who once flourished in it, among 

 whom the renowned Zenobia, and the incomparable Longinus, 

 must foreve^be remembered with admiration and regret. 



{Wood. Phil. Trans. Ancient Univ. Hist: 



SECTION XI. 



Splendid Ruins of Persepolis. 



As we had still two hours of day.light before us, we rode to 

 Persepolis, and took a cursory view of the ruins. Our first, and 

 indeed lasting impressions were astonishment at the immensity, 

 and admiration at the beauties of the fabric. Although there was 

 nothing, either in the architecture of the buildings, or in the 

 sculptures and reliefs on the rocks, which could bear a critical 

 comparison with the delicate proportions and perfect statuary of 

 the Greeks, yet, without trying Persepolis by a standard to 

 which it never was amenable, we yielded at once to emotions the 

 most lively and the most enraptured. 



At the distance of about five miles is a conspicuous hill, on 

 the top of which, and visible to the eye from Persepolis, are the 

 remains of a fortress. This hill is now called Istakhar, and is 

 quite distinct from Persepolis. Persepolis itself is commonly 

 styled by the people of the country " Takht Jemsheed," or the 

 throne of Jemsheed : it is also called " Chehel Minar," or the 

 Forty Pillars. Le Brim has given a drawing of this hill of Istak. 

 har; and the original must strike every traveller the moment he 

 enters the plain of Merdasht, as it has all the appearance of hav- 

 ing been much fashioned by the hand of man. 



Jan. 15th. After reading prayers to our society, I hastened 

 to the ruins. I went on this principle, that I would endeavour 

 to draw and ascertain all that former travellers had omitted ; and 

 for that purpose I took Cardin and Le Brun in my hand, that I 

 might complete all that I found wanting in their views and notices. 

 Finding, however, that they differed from each other (and one of 

 course therefore from the reality) in many essential points, I 

 thought that an entire description of the ruins in their present state 

 Would answer my purpose better than a partial and unconnected 

 account, referring only to the mistakes or omissions of others. 



The most striking feature, on a first approach, is the stair- 



