'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎262] (371/496)

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more extensive, but, in my opinion, the more modern, remains to the N
W., by either a fosse or a natural ravine. On the south of it is a miser
able hamlet, inhabited by a few wretched Kurds, built on the debris of
the former buildings, supported on solid arches, which are here and there
exposed by the Holwan having encroached on the right bank. N.N.W.
of the Kasr, or mound abovementioned, about half a mile distant, the
remains of a square brick building are still standing, but roofless, having
an arched doorway on each side. This I presume to have been a fire-
temple, from the remains of one, in all respects similar, which I had saen
near Humaniyeh* on the Tigris. A large oblong enclosure extends from
this edifice, the area of which may be two miles. Its walls are from ten
to fifteen feet high at present, very thick and solid, and composed of
large unhewn boulders of a reddish-black stone, similar to basalt,
embedded in a coarse mortar of a very hard and durable nature. These
walls present a singular appearance in their present state, but may have
been coated with plaster when originally built. We had not time to exa
mine thoroughly the whole of the interesting remains in this neighbour
hood. Rich, however, who spent some days both here and at Haoush
Kerek, a similar ruin, has entered more into details. In our short survey
we could trace no remains of buildings, excepting a quadrangle, which
has been termed “ the palace,” within the enclosure, but were inclined to
consider it as having been constructed as a receptacle for wild animals.
The native tradition assigns its erection to Khusru Parviz,f who here is
* Kubeh’t-ebNar, about five miles W est of the remains of a Saracenic city, built
upon the site of a Babylonian town on the peninsula of Humaniyeh, close to the
right bank of the Tigris. Its name implies “ Temple or apartment of Fire.’’
t A note in Rich’s Kurdistan and Nineveh, vol. IL, page 264, on this subject,
is worth transcribing :—
“ Khusru Parviz, King of Persia, of the Sassanian dynasty, was the grandson
of Chosroes Amishirwan. He married a daughter of the Emperor Mauricis, who
is generally supposed to be the same person as the heroine of the eastern romances
of Khusru and Shirin.
“ This eastern heroine has likewise had the honor of being sung in German verse
by M. Joseph Yon Hammer, in his poem of c Sheran,’ and whoever may be desir
ous of knowing more of this lady, and of the poets who have treated of her im-
tory, will find ample details on the subject in a work just published by ,s ,
tinguished and indefatigable Orientalist, entitled ‘ The history of Ottoman Pootiy-
of
“ The town, which is supposed to have been built by Khusru Parviz, inhonor^
Shirin, and to have been called after her, is described as situated between ^
towns of Holwan and Khanakin. He is reported to have said to Shirin ‘ A . fc
would be a glorious thing, if it endured for ever’: to which she answered-—. ^
had endured for ever, it would never have come to us.’ Khusru Parviz lS
Chosroes IL of the Greeks. By the Byzantine writers he is said . ia ' Ve
ried a daughter of the Emperor Mauricis, named Irene, which the Peisians