268 
ANTIQUITIES. 
a discovery of more importance; for adjacent to this fragment is a large 
but irregular terrace or platform, evidently the work of art, and perhaps 
the ground plan of some great building ; of the remains of which, its 
soil must be the repository. The situation of this spot agrees with that 
which Polybius* would assign to the palace of the kings of Persia, 
which he says was below the citadel. Now the position of the ruins 
of the modern castle, which is most likely the site of that of the 
ancient, is much more elevated than the platform, and sufficiently 
near for the latter to be said to be below the former. 
We were conducted to the castle by the Persians ; and from the 
height called the mmellah^ we had a complete view of the whole ex¬ 
tent of the city, which like the palace, might be said to be below it. 
A strong Persian fort formerly crowned this eminence, but it was de¬ 
stroyed by Aga Mahomed Khan, who has left only one large round 
tower to attest its former strength. If Ecbatana was situated where 
Hamadan now is, on this place must have been the fort mentioned by 
Arrian f, in which Alexander ordered all the treasures of Persia to be 
secured ; because common sense points it out as the only spot fit for such 
a building; and I can credit Polybius, who says, that its fortifications 
were of wonderful strength ; and can also imagine the seven circles of 
walls, mentioned by Herodotus §, in the innermost of which the royal 
treasury was placed. 
* Lib. X. 24. 
t Exp. of Alex. lib. iii. c. 7* 
§ Clio, ys. 
