'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.' [‎270] (301/582)

270 vrsit t0 the ruins of persepolis.
the surrounding plain, the effect of which is increased by the
mountains in the distance. Difficult, however, as is the task of
describing such remains in any connected or striking manner, and
brief and hurried as was my view of the whole, I shall lay before
the reader the notes penned on the spot, from which he will be
able probably to form some tolerably accurate idea of the place
described ; and then follow it by a consideration of some of the
ancient descriptions left us of this place, when in its glory, which
were also examined on the spot, and there compared with the
existing remains.
The natural rock was hewn down to form the platform on
which the temple of Persepolis stood, and this platform was then
faced round with masonry. There are small quarries of the same
stone near it; but the smoothing away of the original rock most
probably furnished the greater part of the stone. The facing of
the platform is of extremely solid work, the stones being every
where large and well-hewn; but there is great irregularity in the
general form of the whole, and large and small pieces are often let
into each other by a sort of dovetailing in the work. The flight
of steps for ascending the platform is regular, easy, and of noble
appearance. The two entrance-gates were guarded by sphynxes,
forming the portals of a sanctuary: these animals are very
finely executed, and both their attitudes and the details of their
sculpture are excellent. The masonry is also as fine as could be
executed at the present day : the blocks are large, closely united,
and regular in size and shape ; they are of a bluish marble. The
two columns now standing erect between these gates of entrance
have for their base a plinth, which resembles an inverted lotus
flower. The shaft is marked by very shallow flu tings, and each
pillar is formed of three pieces. This is covered by another
inverted lotus flower; and above this rises a capital, like the
palm-leaved capital of ancient Egyptian temples. Above this,
again, are four scrolls; then a square fluted plinth, with Ionic