134 
SHIRAZ TO PERSEPOLIS. 
Niebuhr's name is written in red chalk, and seems to have been 
done but yesterday. 
A square reservoir of water, broken in many places, yet still ap¬ 
pearing to have been of one single block, was in the space, between 
the portals and the staircase which led to the grand hall of columns. 
The breadth of that staircase is fifteen feet four inches. It has two 
corresponding flights, the front of which, though now much mutilated, 
was originally highly carved and ornamented with figures in bass- 
relief. The stones which support the terrace of the columns are all 
carved in the same style, and are as perfect as when Le Brun made 
his drawings. On comparing indeed his designs with the originals, I 
found that he had given to some of the figures a mutilation which does 
not exist; for I discovered on a close inspection many interesting 
details of dress, posture, and character, which are omitted in his 
plates. One great defect pervades this part of his collection ; in order 
to elucidate by the human form the comparative dimensions of the 
buildings, he has introduced figures so small, that, measured by them 
as a standard, the actual size of the objects represented would be three 
times their real magnitude. In fact, a man who stands close to the 
sculptured wall touches the summit with his chin, though the figures 
in the drawings of Le Briust would not reach half way. 
Immediately on ascending this staircase, stands a single column, 
but on closer observation I counted the bases (or spots at least where 
once bases were) of eleven more columns of two rows ; forming, with 
the first, six in each row. They are quite distinct from the great cluster 
in the centre of the hall, and were therefore probably a grand en¬ 
trance to it. 
Passing forwards through this double range, we observed large blocks 
of stone, placed at symmetrical distances (to correspond with the 
arrangement of the columns at the entrance, and those in the centre), 
and forming, probably, the bases of sphinxes or other colossal figures. 
Having taken some pains to ascertain the real plan and the original 
number of the columns in the great hall, I came to the following con- 
