214 
KESR A-SHIRENE. 
manding rise of ground, stand ruins of a stronger character ; the 
massiveness, and form of the work, proving them to be the re¬ 
mains of a fortress. The building is of stone and brick; the latter 
being of a large square surface, not very thick. Various lofty arched 
chambers, as well as deep subterraneous dungeons, compose this 
noble ruin. In ranging over the rest of the ground contained 
within the circuit of the great interior walls, we found it covered 
with every indication, that there had once stood the busy streets 
of a great and populous city. While making these observations, 
and comparing what I then saw, with the vast barriers of ma¬ 
sonry I had remarked in the earlier part of the day shutting up 
the mountain-passes, I could not doubt that they were the outer 
bulwarks of this ancient place. 
We are told that the city of Dustajerd was the most stationary 
royal residence of Khosroo Purviz, and that it contained his 
most superb palace, treasury, and public buildings. There he 
passed his winters with the beautiful object of his idolatry ; and 
thence he fled with her, from the conquering arms of the Em¬ 
peror Heraclius. After that monarch had overthrown the Persian 
army near the site of Nineveh, he hastened to the capital of Khos¬ 
roo, stormed and plundered it, taking away with him, amongst 
other spoil, the sacred cross, which the generals of Khosroo had 
torn from the altars of Jerusalem. If we compare the movements 
of the vanquished king, after the celebrated battle I have just men¬ 
tioned, with the situation of these immense remains, I should 
think no doubt can exist of their being those of Dustajerd. The 
long traditionary name given to them, of Kesra-Shirene, (Khosroo- 
Shirene,) certainly designates some favourite residence of that 
royal pair ; and, as we find it attached to walls of such extent, 
they could be nothing less than those of a city. We know that 
