502 
TOMB OF CYRUS. 
establish his supposition; and for the first accurate accounts of 
the two most corroborating proofs, namely, the general cunei¬ 
form inscription found on the columns, and the details of the 
tomb I have just described. In comparing what has just been 
said of this structure, with the account given by Arrian of the 
Tomb of Cyras at Pasargadas, the resemblance between each is 
too exact not to bear an instant conviction that they are portraits 
of one and the same place. There are some trifling differences, 
which no more contradict the main argument, of place and pe¬ 
culiar form, than painting two pictures of a man, one with his 
hat on, and the other without it, would authorize a spectator to 
assert they were meant for different persons. In order to illus¬ 
trate the small variation between the present remains of the 
tomb, and what it appeared in the time of Arrian, I shall quote 
his own words. He writes from the testimony of Aristobulus, 
who had visited the spot. 
“ The tomb of Cyrus was in the royal paradise of Pasargadse, 
round which a grove of various trees were planted. It was sup¬ 
plied with water, and its fields covered with high grass. The 
tomb below was of a quadrangular shape, built of free-stone; 
above was a house of stone, with a roof. The door that leads 
into it is so very narrow, that a man, not very tall, with diffi¬ 
culty can get in. Within is the golden coffin of Cyrus ; near 
which is a seat with feet of gold; the whole is hung round with 
coverings of purple, and carpets of Babylon.” Then follows an 
account of several other valuable articles it contained ; after 
which he proceeds : “ In the vicinity was built a small house 
for the Magi; to whose care the tomb had originally been en¬ 
trusted, and so continued, since the time of Cambyses, from 
fathers to sons.” (Aristobulus in Arrian, vi.; also Strabo, xv.) 
