Persia from the Earliest Period to the Arab

HISTORY OF PERSIA. 185
represents two men on horseback meeting, the one
bestowing, the other receiving, the circlet or badge of
the breast of the horses, just above
sovereignty 1
. On
their shoulders, are inscriptions in Greek and Pehlevi.
The length of the excavation is twenty-one feet ; and
the monument is in white marble, its surface being
polished and still well preserved. The general sense
of the inscriptions confirms the attribution of one of
the figures to Ardashir and of the other to Ormazd
or (as De Sacy calls him) Jupiter.
The next sculptures to be noticed are those of
Nakhsh-i-Regib, a portion of the Persepolitan range.
Here a large natural recess is visible, enclosing sculptures
evidently representing historical events. The one
to the right is the same in subject, but smaller in
dimensions, than that at Nakhsh-i-Rusta"m, and exhibits
two horsemen holding between them the royal circlet 2
;
its
style, however, suggests a later age and less
skilful workmen. It has moreover been greatly muti-
lated, probably as Chardin asserts, by the minister of
the son of Shah Abbas, the marks of savage violence
being but too visible. The next slab occupies the centre
1 Mr. Edward Thomas, F.R.S., who has s'udied the details of these
monuments with great care (Asiat. Journal, 1868), thinks this subject
is the bestowal by Ormazd of the imperial cydaris on Ardashir Babekan
for his victory over the last Arsakes, whose prostrate form is identified
by the snake-crested Median helmet he wears, and his view is confirmed
by the attached inscriptions. (Ker Porter, i. PI. 23. Flandin
iv. pi. 182.) There is another sculpture at Nakhsh-i-Rustam, of the
time of Narses, perhars representing a similar investiture. This
inscription is given, but incorrectly, by Morier, PI. xxix. 1812. See
however Flandin, PI. 45, relief E, and Sculpt. PI. 52, relief B.
2
This sculpture seem to have been first noticed by Sir W. Ouseley,
but not to have been recognised by either Morier or Ker Porter. It
may, however, be seen in Flandin, PI. 192, relief B.