I /^z Tray els into the L e v a n t. Part II. 
I 
CHAR VIL 
Of TfcheheLminar and Nakfchi Ruftaiié 
Am of their Opinion who will have 7fchehel-Minar to be part of the Ancient 
Perfepolii^ which was built in the place where at prefent ftands the large Bur- 
ïQugh of Mifkjs Chjn\ not only becaufe of the River which Diodoms SkUlui^. 
and others mention to be there utider the name of the little Araxes^ which is 
now called Bendemir^ but alfo of many other marks that cannot be called into 
queftion. 
All 7fchebel-Minar is built upon the skirt of a Hill. The Hrft thing that pre- 
fents to view upon ones arrival, is a great Wallof*bIacki(h ftones four Foot thick, 
which fupports a Jarge Platform or Terrafs, reaching from South to North, about 
five hundred Paces in length to the Weft C\de, it hath the Plain to the Eaji ; 
beyond a great maaiy magniiicent ruins of Buildings (whereof it makes the begins 
ring,) it hath the Hill, which bending into a Semicircle, forms a kind of Amphi- 
theatre that embraces all thofe ftately ruins: to afctnd to the top of this Terrafs, 
you murt go to the farther end of it towards the Norths where at firft you will* 
The firft hnd two Stair-Cafes, or rather one Stair-Gafe of two afcents, or if you pleafe t 
Stairs of r/c;;?. double Stair-Cafe, which on each fide hath fix and fifty ftcps of a greyi(h flone, 
hU-Mtmr. ^nd arc fo eafie that Horfes go up them without any difficulty : having afcended by 
one ot the fides of that double Stair-Cafeup to a fquare Landing-place, where one 
may reft, and which is proportioned to the breadth of the Stairs, you continue 
' to go up by the upper part of the Stair-Cafe, which goes contrary to the lower 
part i tny meaning is, that the upper part of the Stair-Cafe above the Landing 
place, goes North, whereas the lower went Southward » and the upper part of the 
other fide which went North below, goes Southward above i fo that thefc two Stair- 
Cafes which bore off from one another in their firft part, draw near again in the 
fécond, and Land in on the fame place above \ and that upper part of the Stair-Cafe 
has forty fix ftep?. 
Being come to the top of the Stair-Cafe, you find a Walk, and traceing it 
Eafltvards you fee two great Pilafters in Front, which bear nothing at prefent, 
but feem to make the two fides of an Entry, they appear to be but of one fingle flone 
apiece though they be very high; On the infidc of each of thefc Pilafters, you fee 
the Figure of a Beaft cut in Demi-relief ■, but it is hard to tell whether it be à 
Horfe or an Elephant, and I ftiould rather take it to be the latter, at leaft it feems 
to me to refemble that more : however it be, thefe Figures are about three Fathom 
high, and arc (as I faid,) in half body along the infide of the Pilafter, one oppo- 
fite to another, the Head turned towards the Terrafs- Walk and Stair-Cafe, or if 
you will towards the Plain. Beyond thefe two Pilafters , there are two great 
Chamfered Pillars in front, and which in all appearance are what remains of four in 
Square. Then you find two other Pilafters like to the firft,with each a Figure on them 
of an Animal in Demi-relief of the fame height, and oppofite to one another on 
the infide » but the Figures of thefe feem to be Griffons, and they are Back to 
Back with the Elephants, looking Eafiivard to the Hill, whereas the Elephants 
look Weftveard to the Plain: thefe four Pilafters with the Pillars feem to have made 
a Portico. 
Advancing a little forward, you find on the Right Hand a great Oblong Square 
A great Ba- ^^^on, two Fathom and a half in length, almoft as much in breadth, and about 
fon. three Foot deep, it is all of a greyifh ftone. 
Turning from thence to the Right Hand, and going about twenty fteps South" 
rpardy you find a fécond Terrafs higher, which hath a jutting out in the middle, 
with a Stair-Cafe on each fide i there are two others at the two ends of the Ter- 
rafs, but thefe four Stair Cafes are almoft buried under Ground : neverthelefs, 
one may ftill fee feveral Figures upon fo much of the Terrafs- Walls as are above 
Ground. At the leaft which is, (as I faid,) by the jutting out in the middle, you- 
fee 
