628 
CASTLE OF TIRIDATES. 
the friezes, &c. are composed of twisting tendrils, honeysuckles, 
and many other leafy twining flowers, divided at intervals by 
lions’ heads. Such, indeed, appears to have formed the character 
of the frieze which surrounded the whole structure, but the 
latter ornaments do not occur amongst the decorations of the 
pediments. 
From the foregoing observations, I am led to conclude that 
the platform, and its columned appendages, constituted a temple, 
and not any habitable part of the palace. There are considerable 
masses of stones, foundations, &c., near it, and which stretch to 
the north and west, but no ornamented fragments are visible 
amongst them. A singular circumstance in forming any 
portion of what we are told was the magnificent palace of the 
Armenian king. The whole area within the embattling walls 
is not very extensive, extending from south to north not more 
than a hundred yards, and from west to east about a hundred 
and twenty. Here is certainly space enough for a royal resi¬ 
dence, to be literally a stronghold in case of a siege, but not 
enough for an established palace suitable to the usual splendour 
of Tiridates ; and, probably, in the former character we must 
regard it. As this prince, who was contemporary with the 
Emperor Dioclesian, (about the latter end of the third century 
of our era,) is said to have employed Roman artists in the re¬ 
building of the overthrown Artaxata, it is likely the present 
highly adorned temple-remains, were the work of the same 
hands. Moses of Chorone particularly mentions, that Tiridates 
built a castle on the river Gurney ; which, he adds, was strongly 
fortified ; and in the midst of it, he raised a splendid palace for 
his favourite sister, while he caused the embattled walls of the 
place to be marked with his own name in Roman characters. 
