BAS-RELIEF OF THE BOAR HUNT. 
175 
these relics remain; so near a great city, and in the high way to 
the usual great fields of combat between the Persians and the 
western rivals of their empire. The details of this equestrian 
figure, are beautifully executed; and, together with the groups 
above, present to present times very accurate and valuable spe¬ 
cimens of the regal and military costume of the day. 
The sides of the arch are covered with representations of the 
sports of the field, wild boar and stag hunts, &c. Many of the 
persons engaged in the sport are mounted, some on horses, and 
others on elephants, while boats also appear in the chase. The 
scene seems to be a watery ground, intersected by ponds, where 
the boats may move, and from which the sportsmen discharge 
their arrows; while the ponderous elephants, with their riders, 
plunge through the marshy bushes in every direction. Two of 
the boats are filled with women playing on harps, and in another 
men are playing on pipes and other instruments. One vessel, 
larger than the rest, occupies the centre of this bas-relief; and 
in it stands a personage, in stature gigantically beyond that of 
the other figures. He is richly habited in a short vest, wrought 
like that of the bearded chief under the arch ; a costume which 
appears to be adopted by both royal personages. He is in the 
act of drawing his arrow to the head, directed towards a herd of 
boars. A little lower in the line of hunt is another boat, con¬ 
taining a second figure in an ornamented dress, and little in¬ 
ferior in stature to the first. Round his head shines a large 
circle, not unlike the halo of the moon; a sort of saintly at¬ 
tribute to be found on the coins of the lower empire. He is 
receiving an arrow from one of his attendants, and a woman sits 
near him in the boat, playing on a harp, while other figures 
