626 
HISTORY IN ILLUSTRATION 
Jemsheed, under the name of the Nowroose; and the deep an¬ 
tiquity of the like annual assembling of the chiefs under a 
sovereign power, may be found intimated in the Book of Job, 
(chaps, i. and ii. ver. 6. 2.) The practice of princes and nobles 
appearing before the king with presents, and the homage of 
loyal dependence, is still the great business of the Nowroose in 
Persia. 
But to proceed with the bas-reliefs themselves. We learn 
from Xenophon, how the usual attendants on the Persian so¬ 
vereigns were disposed; and we find that a certain number of 
the chosen guard were always stationed at the different doors of 
the palace. The seven figures, grasping spears, and standing as 
in front of the outer flight of steps, probably represent these 
favourite sentinels; their appearance being military, and their 
situation perfectly unconnected with the train of groups drawn 
along the line of the left wing of the staircase. All the groups 
face that part of the stairs which leads on to the terrace ; and, 
therefore, we must consider this approach as pointing imme¬ 
diately to the presence of the Great King. The procession of 
personages on the left wing, appear to be nobles and high offi¬ 
cers of the empire, whom the sovereign had distinguished with 
different degrees of honour ; those in the Median robe and fluted 
tiara, were probably of the highest order, that which Cyrus deno¬ 
minated the like-honoured ; while collars, bracelets, &c. were dis¬ 
pensed to those whose situations might claim less conspicuous 
distinctions. Not one amongst this succession of persons carries 
the short staff, the badge of royal ushers, as we see it held in 
the hands of their compeers in the opposite wing. Hence, 
I should consider these to be nobles and great officers of the 
empire, present at court, but independent of assisting in its 
