606 
ANCIENT BAS-RELIEFS AT THE 
almost invariably worn with it, that the entire dress presented 
by the figure who wears it, is the genuine Persian habit; I mean 
the dress of the people of Persia Proper, not of the empire in 
general. The robe and tiara described above, are evidently the 
Median fashions. The strap which binds the body of this 
ancient Persian is very distinctly marked. He wears a second, to 
which depends, on the right side, a dagger of a quite different 
shape from that of the robed courtier. This is very broad in the 
blade, and the point of its sheath seems fastened to the right 
thigh, near the knee, by a thong. Though not much larger than 
the common dagger of the time, used by other nations, still I look 
upon this stout little weapon to have been the actual Persian 
sword of that early age ; which all the ancient accounts describe as 
“ extremely short, and worn on the right side.” Some of these 
figures carry the cased bow, some are decorated with ear-rings, 
collars, and bracelets, and others have a long cloak hanging 
from their shoulders, and attached by strings to the breast. 
All carry the lotos. Twenty-eight robed Persians, armed with 
spears, and every one in the same attitude, close this line. These 
do not wear the fluted cap, but have each a fillet round his head, 
on which are the traces of leaves. Ten or a dozen sculptured 
cypress-trees, complete this bas-relief, and terminate near the 
stairs. The height occupied by the line of figures is only two 
feet ten inches. 
The third and lowest bas-relief presents the same procession 
of robed and tiara-capped Persians, alternately arranged with 
their tunicked brethren, to the number of thirty-two; and, in 
like manner as above, followed by a train of twenty-one guards, 
in the same uniform as those in the upper bas-relief. Time, 
assisted by the destroying mallets to which I have referred 
