'Narrative of a Residence in Koordistan, and on the Site of Ancient Nineveh; with Journal of a Voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an Account of a Visit to Shirauz and Persepolis.' [‎264] (299/450)

264
RUINS OF KIIOSROO'S PALACE.
ruins of the Palace of Kliosroo*, which, by the way,
not a little disappointed me; but I had but too lately
come from Tank Kesra, and I have certainly seen
nothing since which could compare with it. These
ruins are extremely coarse, and ol no grandeur of
design or dimensions. There never could have been
o
a city here, and consequently this is not Dastagerd,
but merely one of the hunting palaces of the Sassa-
nian monarchs.
On the brow of the hill, behind the caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). ,
is a square enclosure, like a fort, and surrounded by
ghhular looking buildings, if I may be allowed the
expression, one of which remains perfect in the in
side. It is of small dimensions, and something like
an inverted cone. The architecture is ot the rudest
* Khosroo Parviz, King of Persia (of the Sassanian dynasty),
■was the grandson of Chosrocs Anushirvan. He married a
daughter of the Emperor Maurice 'sj who is generally supposed to
be the same person as the heroine of the eastern romances of
Khosroo and Shireen, and of Ferhad and Shireen. This eastern
heroine has likewise had the honour of being sung in German
verse by M. Joseph von Hammer, in his poem of " Shireenand
whoever may be desirous of knowing more of this lady, and of the
poets who have treated of her history, will find ample details on
the subject, in a work just published by that distinguished and
indefatigable orientalist, entitled " The History of Ottoman
Poetry."
The town, which is supposed to have been built by Khosroo
Parviz in honour of Shireen, and to have been called after her, is
described as situated between the towns of Holwan and Khana-
keen. He is reported to have said to Shireen, " Royalty would be
a glorious thing, if it endured for everto which she answered,
" If it had endured for ever, it would never have come to us."—Ed-