Vol. V, No. 8.] Some Persian Folk-lore Stories. 293 
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several of which remain standing to this day.. When the sun 
shone on this throne, the whole plain and city of Mervdasht 
was filled with the light of the reflection from its glittering 
surface. Now, since the word Merv signifies ‘‘light,’’ the 
plain became known as Mervdasht, i.e., the ‘‘ Plain of Light.’ 
Vis 
Tue HistoRY OF THE FOUNDATION OF PERSEPOLIS, AND 
THE REASON FOR THE NAME ISTAKHR, BY WHICH 
THE ANCIENT CITY WAS KNOWN. 
According to some of the inhabitants of Mervdasht, there 
was once a demon, by name Arsalan, who ruled over Maz- 
a 
i-Murghab (Pasargadae). A short time after he repented him 
of this deed, and sought for a means whereby to make repara- 
tion. Now the dead king had left a daughter by name Shah- 
naz, whilst the conqueror had a son called Amir Istakhruj. 
an formed the idea of marrying his son to the girl. » Since 
he himself was old and feeble, and realised that he had not 
long to live, he selected the plain of Mervdasht as a site for his 
son’s capital, and there built the Takht-i-Jamshid. When the 
place was completed he set Amir Istakhruj on the throne and 
had € marriage ceremony duly celebrated. The town re- 
ceived the name of Istakhr in honour of his son—the two names 
being simi ar. Arsalan then appointed a Wazir over Fars to 
‘in the improvement of the subjects of his master. The whole 
of the inhabitants were divided into groups, and to each was 
assigned some particular class of work. By his policy he soon 
endeared himself to high and low, rich and 
memorial of their work he ordered that the images of the 
