1881 .] 
A. Cunningham —Relies from Ancient Persia. 
161 
larger one weighing 176 grains, and the smaller one only 77 grains. Of the 
seal rings there are three specimens. 1st, A king seated on a chair, Plate 
XII, fig. 2, weighing 272 grains in my possession. 2nd, An animal run¬ 
ning to left, Plate XV, fig. 5, weighing 60 grains, also in my possession. 
3rd, Human-headed and winged bull walking to left, with an inscription of 
4 letters, which will be discussed when I come to describe the coins. This 
seal is in the British Museum. 
Bracelets and Armlets are by far the most numerous of the ornaments 
found on the Oxus. There are no less than six specimens in Plate XVI, and 
I have seen several others. They are all of gold from one-eighth to one-sixth 
of an inch in thickness, and invariably terminate in animal’s heads, such as 
goats, rams, lions and griffins. See Plate XVI, figs. 5 to 10. The horned 
heads are very skilfully arranged for actual wear, the horns being always 
thrown on the back of the head, or joined together behind the head so as 
not to catch in the dress. Bracelets are mentioned by both Herodotus and 
Xenophon as parts of the usual ornaments of the Persians. 
Torques, or Collars are represented by only two specimens. All the 
principal figures in the sculptures at Persepolis are represented wearing 
neck-chains or collars. They formed part of the royal ornaments deposited 
in the tomb of Cyrus, # and they formed part of the spoil which the Greeks 
stripped from the dead Persians after the battle of Platsea.f The larger 
specimen, fig. 12, Plate XVI, is nearly one quarter of an inch in diameter. 
When complete it must have weighed about 7 ounces, as this fragment 
weighs 336 grains. It is of excellent workmanship. 
The throne of the king would appear to have been a single high-backed- 
chair. The only representation amongst the Oxus find is on the gold ring 
Plate XII, fig. 2. But other seats of a similar kind are found on the coins 
of the Satrap Datames or Tiridames. Plate XVII, fig. 5. 
The Boyal Chariot is well represented in Plate XII, both on the coins* 
and in an actual model chariot from the Oxus find. In this example there 
are two shafts or poles, each with a cross bar for two horses. The Koyal 
chariot must therefore have had four horses as shown on the coins. The 
king is sitting in the chariot on a seat running fore and aft, and not across, 
while the charioteer is standing. 
I have lately seen a small silver horse, which, from a hole on one side, 
would appear to have been attached to a chariot. It was solid, and came 
from the Oxus. It was a little larger than the horse in the Plate. 
Animals. 
The animals represented amongst the Oxus relics are the horse, the 
lion, the stag, a fish, a pigeon, a small bird like an eagle, and two snakes. 
* Arrian, Exped. Alexandri, VI, 21. f Herodot. IX, 80. 
