Persia from the Earliest Period to the Arab

IOS HISTORY OF PERSIA.
representing guards as before, but this time generally
with the bow and quiver, instead of the shield. Along
the extreme edge of the parapet, externally, was a
narrow border thickly set with rosettes. Again, in the
long spaces between the central stairs and those on
either side of them, are repetitions of the lion and bull
sculpture, while between them and the central stairs,
the face of the wall is divided horizontally into three
bands, each of which has once possessed its continuous
row of figures. The principal subject, both of the
right and left sides, is the bringing of tribute to the
king by various subject nations. Three blank spaces
have been left, probably in each case for inscriptions,
in one instance only, however, has this been carried
into effect, viz. on the right hand or western end of
the staircase, where may be plainly read, " Xerxes
the great king, the king of kings, the son of king
Darius, the Achaemenian." The usual Assyrian and
another
Scythic versions have been here omitted 1 . On
staircase is a tablet with the name of Ochus. Mr.
Rich also noticed another staircase cut out of the
solid rock, and serving as a means of communication
between the southern and central terraces.
The principal buildings on the platform are five in
number, four on the central or upper terrace, and one
at its end towards the mountain. Three of the first
.class may be conveniently named from their respective
" "
founders, the Palaces of Darius, Xerxes, and
Artaxerxes III, Ochus : the fourth, is the great pillared
1 There would seem to be six other staircases with double flights,
two of which belong to the "Palace of Darius" and two to that of
' Xerxes."