SPLENDID RUINS OP PERSEPOLIS. 513 



southward of that is another, in like manner on (he mountain's 

 surface ; between both (and just on that point where the ascent 

 from the plain commences) is a reservoir of water. 



These constitute the sum of the principal objects among the 

 ruins of Persepolis, some of which I will now endeavour to de. 

 scribe in more detail. The grand staircase consists of a northern 

 and a southern ascent, which spring from the plain at the distance 

 of forty-six feet from each other. Each again is divided into two 

 flights; the first, terminated by a magnificent platform, contains 

 fifty-four steps on a base of sixty-six feet six inches, measured 

 from the first step to a perpendicular dropt from the highest at the 

 landing place : the second, to the extreme summit of the whole, 

 consists of forty.eight steps on a base of forty. six feet eight inches. 

 Each step is in breadth twenty-six feet six inches, and in height 

 three inches and a half. So easy therefore is the ascent, that tho 

 people of the country always mount it on horseback. The plat- 

 form, where the two grand divisions meet, is thirty-four feet from 

 the ground, and in length seventy. From the front of this plat- 

 form to the portals behind it is likewise seventy feet. 



The portals are composed of immense oblong blocks of 

 marble : their length is twenty-four feet six inches, breath five feet, 

 and distance from one another thirteen feet. The two first are 

 faced by spinxes ; the remaining parts of whose bodies are deline. 

 ated in a basso-relievo on the interior surface of the portal. In , 

 passing through these, the next objects before the more distant 

 portals are two columns, but (as there is a sufficient space for two 

 others, and as the symmetry would be defective without such an 

 arrangement) I presume that the original structure was completed 

 by four columns. The second portals correspond in size with the 

 former, but differ from them not only in presenting their fronts 

 towards the mountain, but in the subject of the sculptures with 

 which they are adorned. The animals on the two first portals are 

 elevated on a base. From the contour of the mutilation, the 

 heads appear to have been similar to those of horses, and their feet 

 have hoofs ; on their legs and haunches the veins and muscles are 

 strongly marked. Their necks, chests, shoulders, and backs, are 

 encrustaled with ornaments of roses and beads. 



The sphinkes on the second portals appear to have had human 

 heads, with crowned ornaments, under which are collected mas. 

 sive curls, and other decorations of a head-dress, which seems to 



VOL. vi. 2 r. 



