'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎304] (413/496)

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nature of this sculpture, from the deplorable state it is now in. It
is probably a relic of the times of the Parthian Gotarzcs, and from the
superior elegance of the forms of the figures, whose contour is just
traceable in the colossal group, I am inclined to assign its execution to a
more recent date than those of Darius Hystaspes. Its prominent situa
tion, and easiness of approach, will sufficiently account for its effaced
appearance, without attributing to it a greater antiquity. It may,
however, if we make a due allowance for oriental hyperbole, mark the
position on which Semiramis caused herself and a hundred of her guards
to be represented but to this representation, if it really existed, I
think we must appoint a contiguous site, which I will presently mention.
On the debris of the mountain, about 300 yards farther to the north,
a singular isolated stone, of a triangular shape, was discovered ; this I
believe has before been noticed. It bears, carved on its sides, in basso-
relievo, a rough but-well defined design of three figures a little under
the natural size. The principal bas-relief exposes a front view of a
clumsy human form, with the right arm extended, the hand grasping a
globe or ball,f resting on the summit of an “ incus” shaped block. The
left arm is supported close to the body, and bears in the hand a cup-
shaped utensil, probably representing the “ Patera” of the sacrifices, or
the a Havan” of the Zend-Avesta, and the firstnamed may, therefore,
denote the “ Ara” of the Zoroastrian doctrines ; a second figure on the
face of the stone nearest the mountain, represents a foot-soldier, in the
act of advancing with a bow in his hand, executed in the same clumsy
style ; the third is so much worn by time that no peculiarity is distin
guishable.
This stone, on the whole, is a venerable vestige of a former age: any
attempt to assign a date to it would, however, be but an idle speculation.
Immediately above the khan of Behistan, and about a quarter of a
mile separated from the tablets of Darius, a work of greater magnitude
than any of those described has evidently been designed. The face of
the hill, for 200 feet in length and about sixty in height, has been
scarped to some depth, and retains at the present day a freshness of
* Diodorus Siculus, Book II., Chap. I., states—“She cut out a piece of the
lower part of the rock, and caused her own image to be carved upon it, and a hnn
dred of her guards, that were lanceteers, standing round about her.”
The tablet under reference could not have contained above seven figures.
t Perhaps symbolical of Mithra.