Vol. V, No. 8.] Some Persian Folk-lore Stories. 295 
(W.S.] 
Everyone who disobeyed their rule was at once cast under a 
spell and changed into some strange form other than his own. 
It is believed that the two great stone figures of strange shape 
with the body of a beast and the head of a man, at the main 
entrance, are those of two such persons who had offended and 
were immediately changed from their true forms into those of 
stone which are still to seen of all. 
a. 
THe Takut-1-Taus, oR Peacock THRONE. 
(Situated in the plain at a short distance from the great 
platform of Persepolis.) 
It is said that the platform of the Takht-i-Taus was built 
before the construction of the Takht i-Jamshid, and that up to 
that time it had been the residence of the Persian kings. Itis 
supposed to have been constructed by Kiumurs, who had two 
sons, one named Taus, and the other Siamak. The former was 
he was shortly afterwards killed in battle. The inhabitants of 
Mervdasht say that there is much buried treasure in the neigh- 
as 
Toe Naqgaren KHANEH, OR THE SUPPOSED Fire TEMPLE 
AT THE NaAQsH-I-RusTAM. 
The story told about this building is that, after the death 
of Tahmurs, his nephew, Jamshid, came to the throne and built 
the Takht-i-Jamshid. Later, having become absolute ruler 
over the country far and wide, Jamshid proclaimed himsel 
a god, and issued orders that his subjects should fall down and 
Worship him at a certain appointed time each day. In order 
to mark the time for this reverence, drums were beaten in the 
building at the Nagqsh-i-Rustam, which thereby became known 
as the Nagqareh Khaneh, or drum house. 
