AT BE-SITOON. 
155 
guards at Persepolis *; his hair is in a similar fashion, and bound 
with a fillet. The second figure holds a bent bow in his left 
hand; he is in much the same dress, with the addition of a quiver 
slung at his back by a belt that crosses his right shoulder, and 
his wrists are adorned with bracelets. The third personage is of 
a stature much larger than any other in the group ; a usual dis¬ 
tinction of royalty in oriental description; and, from the air and 
attitude of the figure, I have no doubt he is meant to designate 
the king. The costume, excepting the beard not being quite so 
long, is precisely that of the regal dignity, exhibited in the bas- 
reliefs of Nakshi-Boustam and Persepolis ; a mixture of the pon¬ 
tiff-king, and the other sovereign personages, f The robe, being 
the ample vesture of the one, and the diadem, the simple band 
of the other ; a style of crown which appears to have been the 
most ancient badge of supremacy, on either king or pontiff. 
But as persons of inferior rank also wore fillets, it seems the 
distinction between theirs and the sovereign’s, consisted in the 
material, or colour ; for instance, the band or cydaris, which 
formed the essential part in the old Persian diadem, was com¬ 
posed of a twined substance of purple and white; and any person 
below the royal dignity, presuming to wear those colours unsanc¬ 
tioned by the king, was guilty of a transgression of the law, 
deemed equal to high treason. The fillets of the priesthood, 
were probably white, or silver; and the circlets of kings, in 
general, simple gold. Bracelets are on the wrists of this person¬ 
age, and he holds up his hand in a commanding, or admonitory 
manner, the two fore-fingers being extended, and the two others 
doubled down in the palm; an action, also, common on the tombs 
* See Plate XLVI. Vol. I. f See Plates XVII., XLVIIL, LIL, Vol. I. 
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