SCULPTURED PORTALS. 
667 
opposite side; but the apparent variation arises wholly from our 
seeing the same arrow-hood in different views ; and I cannot pass 
it without drawing my reader’s attention to the nicety with which 
it closes over the feathers. These five ranges of guards, evidently 
placed in regular rotation over each other, some way to represent 
their lines of station near the person of the king in the real 
scene, give me an impression that the platform on which the 
royal chair stood, was placed on an elevation of five steps, with 
the same number of ranks in the guards which stood before it; 
and who, probably, might occasionally leave a space between 
the files of leaders for an approach to the throne. 
Just beyond the great northern front of this building, are two 
portals, (d d) pointing to the east and west; their sides are 
sculptured with the double guard, (Plate XLVI.) in so gigantic 
a style, that were the earth cleared away that encumbers their 
base, the figures would be twelve feet high. They are visible 
from a little below the knee, from which to the top of the head, 
they measure ten feet ten inches. The length of each face is 
two feet seven inches, of a beautiful contour, and admirably 
executed. I have attempted to copy its character with the 
strictest accuracy. The spear, as far as is seen, measures 
fourteen feet seven inches; and if we allow three feet to be 
hidden in the ruins, it will extend to seventeen feet seven inches. 
When we reduce the guard who holds it to the common size of 
nature, and proportion the spear to that reduction, we then find 
it no more than seven feet eight inches long; a weapon of no 
extraordinary dimensions, and which agrees perfectly with 
Herodotus, “ <5e /3pa%L? %x ov ” Indeed, every other in the 
various bas-reliefs appear no longer. The whole way between 
these portals is thickly scattered over with fragments of columns, 
4 q 2 
