602 
ANCIENT BAS-RELIEFS AT THE 
Xenophon adds, that in his day, the royal guard was still kept 
on the same footing. These men had already received the 
distinguishing mark of honour, the Median robe, (the Kaliant 
of that time, and probably the origin of the custom ;) and also 
the high cap worn by Cyrus himself. This description of the 
great King’s munificence, and equalizing his general appearance 
with that of his immediate followers, fully accounts for the 
similitude of the caps and robes, in these ranges of figures, to 
the head-dress and raiment of the royal personage in the bas- 
reliefs which express himself. Rut with regard to the high cap, 
or tiara, when mentioned as a universal costume with the 
Persians, we should recollect it was of many varieties, and not 
always to be considered as resembling the royal turban, or tiara. 
On examining the bas-reliefs, it will be found that none of the 
figures wear the same-shaped high cap with the sovereign’s, but 
those who are distinguished by the same full robe ; hence, all 
who appear in that garb, though stationed where modern 
refinement would only place a guard of rank and file, may be 
esteemed the kinsmen and friends of the king, to whom alone 
he gave the privilege of wearing the form of the royal tiara. 
The diadem of Cyrus is described by Xenophon, in two parts; 
the turban or high cap, and the wreath or cydaris ; but the 
materials alone, seemed what he held sacred to the kingly 
dignity. Mons. Favine describes the cydaris as “ round, yet 
pointed above like a sugar-loaf,” quoting several authorities to 
that effect; and indeed the ancient writers, to whom alone we 
can look for information on the subject, speak so confusedly of 
the forms and fashions of the royal Persian head-dress, that it is 
almost impossible to obtain any clear notion about the matter. 
Probably that which they so frequently name the curved tiara, 
