'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.' [‎284] (315/582)

284
VISIT TO THE RUINS OF PEKSEPOLIS.
sures of which the Persians carried off into Asia, where they led
away with them the workmen and architects of Egypt, whom
they caused to build the famous palace of Persepolis, of Susa, and
of several other cities. If, then, there be any vestiges of striking
resemblance to Egyptian architecture in the ruins of Persepolis
now, we may safely fix on this period for its construction by these
captive workmen so brought away.
The difficulties against this supposition are not insurmountable
It is true that Cambyses himself, who is said to have died at
Ecbatana, on Mount Carmel, in Syria, (Herod. 1. 3.) could neither
have begun nor finished these works in person, as he did not return
home after his conquests ; but his representatives in Persia might
have done so in his absence after the arrival of the Egyptian
workmen. Darius, the son of Hystaspes, who succeeded him,
might have completed them.
Cicero says, that Xerxes, his son, at the instigation of the
To which Alexander made answer, that he was resolved to revenge the ancient injuries his
country had received by the Persians, who, when they arrived with the army in Greece, sub
verted Athens, burned their temples, and committed many other barbarous devastations there.'
—Rooke's Arrian, lib. 3. c. 18.
In a note on this the translator says, < The burning of Persepolis, Curtius has given us at
large, (1. 5. c. 7.) and affirms that Thais, a noted harlot, was the first proposer of setting it
on fire. Plu tarch gives us an account of Thais, but he tells it as a story which in all likelihood
he gave little credit to. That the royal palace there was set on fire, none doubt; and that it
was done by design, all authors agree ; but the story of Thais is delivered as a truth by none
ut himself and Diodorus (c. 17.) Curtius adds, that no less than one hundred and twenty
thousand talents in money were found there (1. 5. c. 6. 9); though Plutarch seems not to allow
this booty in money to be richer than the former at Susa; but adds, that of other movables
and treasures there were seized as much as a thousand pair of mules and five hundred camels
could well carry away (Vide Plut. Steph. p. 24). That the name of Persepolis was given
this place by the Greeks, is unquestionable. Curtius is guilty of a gross error (lib. 5. c. 7. 9.)
m saying, that ' the city of Persepolis was so far from being rebuilt, that unless the river
A axes ra t) there are not left the ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
burT Di0d0rUS ' CurtiuS COmrnonl y copies, acquaints us with the
burning of any thing but the royal palace.'
mentor' 8 71^" hiS aCC0 ' mt 0f the of Persepolis (except that he
palace is from"crt 0 h ^ 6 0f th ' S courtezan Persuading Alexander to hum the
palace, is from Clitarchus.-^Wtfs, lib. 13. c. 5.