1883.] 
A. Cunningham —Relics from Ancient Persia. 
65 
that it was of ancient Persian origin. Its use is a puzzle. It is too small 
for the neck and rather too large for the arm, and the inward bend of 
the smooth portion seems to preclude all idea of such a purpose. Its in¬ 
trinsic value is between 600 and 700 Rupees. Major Burton, the owner 
of this very fine piece of ancient Persian art, kindly showed it to me, and 
at the same time permitted me to have a photograph of it. The tips of 
the horns have been flattened, which I take to be a proof that the orna¬ 
ment was intended for actual use. It may have been a handle for the lid 
of a box, a purpose for which the inward bend of the smooth portion would 
specially fit it. The bend might have played in a ring fastened in the 
middle of the lid, and the handle, when not required for lifting, would have 
lain flat on the lid. 
The principal object in Plate YI, marked A, is a small figure of 
solid gold, weighing 518 grains, or about 5^ Darics. It is two inches and 
one-tenth in height, and is very minutely and neatly wrought. It 
represents a Magus in full costume, with the barsom , or holy wand in his 
right hand. On comparing this figure with that of the larger one in my 
previous account (Vol. L, Plate XIV), it will be seen that they mutually 
illustrate each other, and at the same time confirm the accuracy of Strabo’s 
description of the Magus. 
“ The Persians, “ he says “ have also certain large shrines called 
“ Pyrsetlieia. In the middle of these is an altar an which is a great quan- 
“ tity of ashes, where the Magi maintain an unextinguished fire. They 
“ enter daily, and continue their incantation for nearly an hour, holding 
“ before the fire a bundle of rods, and wear round their heads high tiaras of 
“felt, reaching down on each side, so as to cover the lips and the sides of 
“ the cheeks.” ■* 
In the large figure the upper part of the tall head dress is thrown 
back behind the head, thus showing that it must have been made of a soft 
material like felt, as stated by Strabo. In the two views of the present 
small figure which I have given, we see the tall head dress of felt represent¬ 
ed erect, like that worn by the horseman in the Plate of Statuettes of my 
previous account (Vol. L, Plate XIII, fig. 1). Here also the lappets cover 
the cheeks, and apparently also the lips. The lappet over the mouth, how¬ 
ever, is embroidered, and as the head dress is almost quite plain, the mouth 
lappet may not have been attached to the cap. The small figure also carries 
the barsom, or wand of twigs, in the right hand of the larger figure. The 
dress also is different, as the tunic of this small figure reaches quite down to 
the feet, while that of the other only came down to the knees. The long 
tunic was the old Sarapis or Median dress, while the shorter tunic was the 
Kandys or Persian dress of a later date. The smaller figure is therefore of 
an earlier date than the larger one, and it may perhaps represent a Mayas 
l 
