'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎266] (297/582)

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TOMBS OF THE ANCIENT PERSIAN KINGS.
twelve feet high from the ground, and is extremely difficult to get
at. The figures are larger than life; they are sculptured in full
relief, and are well executed.
Beyond this, a few paces east, is a chief, with a globe on his
head, standing, and leaning on a staff. On the right of him are
several persons, apparently in Roman dresses; and, on the left,
some with helmets, curled beards and hair. The lower parts of the
bodies of all these, except the chief, are covered by a blank, left
high in the stones; and below the whole is a concave tablet,
apparently prepared for an inscription, which w T as never finished.
The design is well executed, but its meaning is not easily dis
covered.
Beyond this, a few yards further on, are the tombs of the
ancient Persian kings. There are three of these facing the south,
and one facing the west. The entrance to them is twenty feet
high from the ground, and they are nearly all alike in their
design : there is, first, a square space, next an oblong one, and
then a square above, forming a sort of Greek cross. The lower
portion is blank. In the central portion is the door of entrance,
with a closed portico of four pillars in front: the capitals have
double rams' heads facing outward, and the frieze is decidedly
Greek, while the door is perfectly Egyptian in every respect.
The upper space has also an Egyptian design—a sort of throne,
supported by pillars, with a horned head on each side, and two
rows of slaves, who, with extended arms, support the middle.
Above is a priest with a bow, standing before an altar of fire ; and
over all is the sun, or the full moon, with what I should take to
be the winged globe of Egypt, but in a stiffer form. Beneath the
first tomb is a bas-relief, representing a combat between two
horsemen; and opposite to this is a square isolated building, also
an ancient tomb. Its entrance on the north, and facing the caves,
is midway up its height, or from twelve to fifteen feet from the
ground: the masonry of this is excellent, and the stones large ;
but the whole has a very singular appearance, from the deep