[ *599 ] 
cannot fo properly be deemed the ruins of Per- 
fepolis, as thofe of another city of a later date. 
For the above-mentioned infcriptions feem evidently 
to prove, that thofe ruins belonged to a very 
fuperb and magnificent place, which either ferved for 
a refidence to feveral of the lower Parthian kings, 
or at lead: was greatly favoured, and on certain re- 
markable occafions vifited, by them. Now theantient 
city of Eflakhr, which fome (37) take to be the fame 
with Perfepolis, though this cannot be ftridHy true, 
as that place is allowed to have been deftroyed (38) 
by Alexander the Great, made a confiderable figure 
even after the Parthian (39) times, and extended, 
without doubt, to the fpot occupied by the aforefaid 
ruins, going at preient under the appellation of Shel- 
manar, (40) or Shahelmanar. NayEftakhr, according 
to the (41) Perfian hiftorians, was the capital of 
Fars, or, as they call it, Pars, that is, Perfia, till 
the royal feat was transferred from thence to A 1 Ma- 
dayen upon the Tigris (42), built by Shabur, fur- 
named Dhu’laktaf, or Sapor III. of the houfe ofSaf- 
fan, after the Parthian monarchy was diflolved j and 
(37) Golii Not. ad Alfragan. ubi fup. D’Herbel. Bibliotb. 
orient, art. Ejlekhar, p. 327. 
(38) Plutarch, in Alexand. Curt. Lib. v. Arrian. Lib. iii. 
Diod. Sic. Lib. xvii. Juftin. Lib. xi. 
(39) Gol. & D’Herbel. ubi fup. Greg. Abu’l Fara.j, in Hijl. 
Dynaji. p. 183. Mirkhond, apud Teixeir. p. 324. En Ambcres, 
1610. 
(40) Golii Not. ad Alfragan. p. 1 1 3. 
(41) D’ Herbel ubi fup. 
(42) Id. j m ibid. 
* 4G 2 
consequently 
