174 
EQUESTRIAN FIGURE. 
The compartment below, is bordered by a frieze of tendrils 
and vine-leaves ; and on each side stand a couple of fluted 
pilasters, surmounted with capitals more resembling the Corin¬ 
thian, than any other order. The wide place between, is almost 
wholly occupied by a colossal equestrian figure in alto-relievo. 
He is crowned like the bearded personage above. A shirt of 
mail, most beautifully carved (which seems to unite with the 
crown or helmet) falls nearly as low as the knees; and from 
under it appears a richly embroidered skirt, adorned with dra¬ 
gons, crosses, flowers, &c. ; from the hip hangs a large quiver. 
The warrior’s foot is broken off considerably above the ankle. 
On his shoulder is poised a large and long lance, the arm which 
supported it being also broken away: on the other is a small 
round shield, half covering the breast; it appears to be partially 
studded. The horse has been lamentably mutilated, the head 
being almost entirely gone, together with the right leg as high 
as the flank. The animal is caparisoned for war, with a chaffron 
and poitrinal, formed of small plates of metal, additionally orna¬ 
mented with innumerable tassels. Two very large ones, like 
those on the bas-reliefs of a much anterior age *, hang on either 
side of the horse. On his flank I observed a mark, as if made 
in his skin; probably indicative of his breed ; and if so, it is a 
curious document of the care that was then taken to ascertain 
the purity of blood in this noble animal. The slight traces of 
both a Greek and a Pehlivi inscription, were also visible, but so 
very indistinctly, I could make out only a letter or two in each 
language. The whole of these dilapidations are ascribed to the 
Arabs and the Turks. But the wonder with me is, how any of 
* See Plate XXIII. Vol. I. 
