ANTIQUITIES. 
269 
On the site of the castle is a small square platform, which the Per¬ 
sians call the Takht Ardeshir. It has an exterior facing of white square 
stones, backed by masonry of common stone and mortar, and has the 
appearance of a building of the Sassanides, of which dynasty Ardeshir 
Babegan was the founder. This will lead to the supposition, that 
from the time of the Sassanides at least, to the present day, this spot 
has been regarded as the situation of the fortress. 
Of Mahomedan antiquities Hamadan contains a great variety, consist¬ 
ing of sepulchral stones, towers, old mosques, old bazars, and Cuffick in¬ 
scriptions, which are met with at every turn. The burial-place of Avi¬ 
cenna is to be seen here. We were overwhelmed by Arsacean and Sas- 
sanian coins, which are found in great quantities at Hamadan, as well 
as at a village three fursungs off; and we also got several intaglios on 
cornelian, and numerous Mahomedan talismans. One cylindrical stone 
with Persepolitan figures and character upon it, fell into our hands; and 
several coins of the Seleucides were brought to us, but none of them rare, 
or of a remarkably good preservation. On the whole, we found that 
Hamadan presented more objects of research to the antiquary than any 
other city that we had visited in Persia; and there is every probability 
that excavations, particularly on the site of what I suppose to be the 
ancient palaces of the kings, would lead to valuable discoveries. 
The principal manufacture of this place is a particular sort of felt 
carpet called nummud^ highly esteemed among the Persians, a pair of 
which cost about fifty reals^ or five pounds sterling. It is also famous 
for its leather, of which the inhabitants cure large quantities, for 
the coverings of trunks, saddles, binding of tents, &c. &c. Few 
merchants are established here, but it is the great thoroughfare 
from the north for the trade to Bagdad, by the road of Kerman- 
shah, and large caravans are constantly passing and collecting here. 
This was the case in Alexander’s time, for he found great quantities of 
Persian and Median merchants collected at Ecbatana.'^ Among other 
strangers, we here found a Greek, a native of the isl and of Zante, who, 
* Arrian, lib. iv. c. 2. 
