'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.' [‎338] (369/582)

338
VISIT TO THE RUINS OF SHAPOOR.
Next follow prisoners bound, executioners with large axes of a
peculiar shape, others bringing vases, and a little boy riding on an
elephant, of excellent shape, but disproportionately small size.
About a hundred yards north-west of this, in the same cliff
and to be got at by going along the channel for water at the foot
of the rock, is a large tablet, excavated in a concave form, and di
vided into seven compartments.
In the first division, beginning on the upper corner on the
left, are about fifteen horsemen, with dresses and helmets as in the
first compartment on the other side, each extending their right
arms, and holding out their fore-fingers.
Opposite to this, on the right, comes, first, one who holds a
ring, and is followed by chiefs and men of distinction, with short
loose shirts and trowsers, short hair, mustachios, and bare heads.
The first of this train holds a sceptre or mace, and has a wide scarf
flowing from behind him; the second holds a cup ; the next, a
sword; the two next are indistinct; the one following has the egg
like emblem of the king, without his crown, held horizontally or
lengthwise on his hand; the last has also a cup;—and all these are
on foot. In the second compartment, on the left, the same de
sign is almost exactly repeated,—the parties, however, are here all
on horseback.
Opposite to this, on the right, are figures with the same dresses
as those above, except that they have close caps on their heads,
while the curly heads of the others are bare. The first of these
figures is indistinct; the three next, by crossing their spears on
each other's shoulders, carry on them a bale packed with two
broad bands; the next carries on his back a bag full of something;
the next holds a basket in his hand; and the last bears a long
package on his head, while a lion walks beside him. This must
evidently relate to the bringing in of spoils from some conquest.
In the centre of a long compartment below these, spreading the
whole breadth of the tablet, is the chief, in the same dress as be
fore, his horse treading on an extended body, a suppliant kneeling