THE PERSIANS IN LYCIA. 43 



gleaned from the inscriptions, even with the slight 

 knowledge already attained of the language. 

 From the form of worship, the names of indivi- 

 duals, and other words mentioned or alluded to 

 in the inscription on the Xanthian Obelisk, the 

 nation who constructed it appears to have been 

 the Mede or Persian. This we shall further dwell 

 upon, taking our proofs from Mr. Sharped eluci- 

 dation of the language in the Appendix B. to Sir 

 Charles Fellows's second volume. 



Our opinion with respect to the Persian origin 

 of the monuments and language now existing in 

 Lycia, was first formed during our sojourn at 

 Xanthus, and it daily became more convincing 

 to us, as the several sculptured fragments now 

 in the British Museum were brought to light 

 from beneath the accumulated rubbish of ages. 

 New facts were thus added to those pre- 

 viously known, showing the great influence and 

 interest which the Persian conquerors must at 

 one time have had in the country. Some of 

 these fragments displayed subjects wholly con- 

 nected with the conquest of the country, such 

 as the besieging of the city ; in others, the figures, 

 horses and chariots are recognised to be Persians ; 

 and in one bas relief of great interest, a king or 



