530 
ANCIENT BAS-RELIEFS. 
that country, professing himself of the blood of Cyrus, drove 
the Parthians from the throne; and established a new line, 
under the title of the Sassanian dynasty. His Persian name 
was Ardashir Babigan; his Greek, Artaxerxes the First; and 
he was in every way worthy of the noble blood he claimed. 
Hence, if any of these bas-reliefs be of Parthian origin, some 
centuries are between them and those of undoubted Sassanian 
design. At present, the whole number consists of six, in dif¬ 
ferent degrees of preservation, and situated nearly in a line ; 
some even with the ground, and others a few feet above it. The 
entire six, I have faithfully delineated ; neither adding grace, 
nor restoration, where either might be wanting. 
The first under consideration (Plate XIX.) presents itself 
soon after we pass the tomb in the most eastern direction. 
Much of it is buried in the earth; the three figures, which are 
its subject, being now only visible as high as the upper part of 
the thighs. The two principal are engaged in grasping, with 
their outstretched arms, a wreath or twisted bandeau, from which 
hang a couple of waving ends. The first figure, which holds it with 
his right hand, stands in the right of the sculpture, and appears 
to be a king. He is crowned with a diadem of a bonnet-shape, 
round which runs a range of upward fluted ornaments, sur¬ 
mounted with a high balloon-like mass, rising from the middle 
of the crown. From the imitation of folds in the stone, it is 
evidently intended to be a decoration of some sort of stuff. A 
fillet binds the bottom of the head-dress round the forehead; 
appearing to tie behind, amongst a redundancy of long flowing 
hair, whence it streams in two waving ends, resembling those 
from the wreath he is clasping. These loose ribband-like ap¬ 
pendages, seem badges of Arsacedian and Sassanian sovereignty; 
