ARDASHIR, OR ARTAXATA. 
619 
It may be recollected, that this happened near the region of the 
serpent-mountains mentioned in the first volume (p. 211.) In 
six hours we reached the village of Devaloo, distant from 
Noorhasham 24 miles. 
October 24th. — Started this morning at seven o’clock, with 
particular alacrity, being in the direct road for revisiting the 
ruins of Ardashir (Artaxata), which I only briefly noticed in 
my way southward two years before. * They lie near a village 
which takes their name, and at about eighteen miles from De¬ 
valoo. When we reached the ground, I found the usual traces 
of former habitations, — fragments of brick, tiles, &c., stretching 
to a great extent both within and without ridgy lines, marking 
the walls and towers. The entombed ruins of an extensive 
fortress rises to the north, in the form of a wide conical hill, 
standing at present to the height of 100 feet. On the eastern 
quarter of its summit, a yet higher mass shoots up, of a circular 
shape, evidently bearing traces of walls. Its present extent is 
ninety paces, which probably was its original diameter. It slopes 
gradually down eastward, to a level that has formerly been 
inclosed by a line of strong walls and towers. To the west, the 
whole mound commands a considerable area, and is bounded 
by a wide ditch that cuts it off from the town to the south. 
The north of this citadel has been equally well defended by 
walls, towers, and ditch, which run straight east and west; while 
the city at large appears to have been protected by a double 
wall, towers, and also ditches; all of them being easily traced 
round nearly the whole site. To the east, and south, the most 
unbroken masses may be found; but high mounds, and detached 
pieces of wall only, mark the west. The length of these out- 
See Vol. I. pages 203—206. 
4 k 2 
