DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26747#0262
198
PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE.
Book IY.
called the Hareem of Jemsheed, which may in reality have been the
residence of the Achgemenian kings. It certainly helongs to their age,
and from the irregularity of its form, and its general proportions,
looks very much more like a residence, properly so called, than any of
the monumental erections on the neighhouring platform of Persepolis.
Susa.
The explorations of Mr. Loftus at Susa in 1850 have laid hare the
foundations of a palace almost identical with the Chehil Minar at
Persepolis. It is, however, much more completely ruined, the place
having long heen used as a quarry hy the inhahitants of the neigh-
houring plains, so that now only the hases of the pillars remain in
situ, and fragments of the shafts and capitals strewed everywhere
ahout, hut no walls or doorways, or other architectural memhers
whicli would enahle us to supply anything wanting at Persepolis.
The hases seem to he of the sarne form and style as those at Perse-
polis, hut rather more richly carved, though the hull capitals do not,
appear to have heen so well executed.
Inscriptions round the hases of the pillars inform us that it was
erected hy Darius and Xerxes, hut repaired or restored hy Artaxerxes
Mnemon, who added the inscriptions. In all prohahility it is the
identical hall in which the scenes descrihed in the hook of Esther
took place. The foundations of other parts of this palace might he no
douht laid hare hy further excavations ; hut the ruin of the place has
heen so eomplete, tliatlittle of interest in an architectural point of view
can be looked for. Below these Persian ruins are prohahly huried
the remains of long-preceding dynasties, which deeper excavations
would lay hare, and afford a rich harvest to the historical explorer.
Fire Temples.
Xear the town of Istakr, and opposite the tomhs of Xaksh-i-
Bustam, stands a small tower-like huilding,
represented in tke woodcut. The lower
part is solid; the upper contains a small
square apartment, roofed hy two great flat
stone slahs : access to this is ohtained from
a doorway situated at some distance from
the ground.
Both the traditions of the place, and the
knowledge we have of the forms of the
Magian religion, point to this as one of the
fire temples of the ancient Persians. Its
roof is internally stiil black, prohahly with
the smoke of ancient fires, and, though
simple and insignificant as an architectural
monument, it is interesting as the only form of a temple apart from
regal state which the ancient Persians possessed.
U2. Kaabah at Istakr. No scale.
PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE.
Book IY.
called the Hareem of Jemsheed, which may in reality have been the
residence of the Achgemenian kings. It certainly helongs to their age,
and from the irregularity of its form, and its general proportions,
looks very much more like a residence, properly so called, than any of
the monumental erections on the neighhouring platform of Persepolis.
Susa.
The explorations of Mr. Loftus at Susa in 1850 have laid hare the
foundations of a palace almost identical with the Chehil Minar at
Persepolis. It is, however, much more completely ruined, the place
having long heen used as a quarry hy the inhahitants of the neigh-
houring plains, so that now only the hases of the pillars remain in
situ, and fragments of the shafts and capitals strewed everywhere
ahout, hut no walls or doorways, or other architectural memhers
whicli would enahle us to supply anything wanting at Persepolis.
The hases seem to he of the sarne form and style as those at Perse-
polis, hut rather more richly carved, though the hull capitals do not,
appear to have heen so well executed.
Inscriptions round the hases of the pillars inform us that it was
erected hy Darius and Xerxes, hut repaired or restored hy Artaxerxes
Mnemon, who added the inscriptions. In all prohahility it is the
identical hall in which the scenes descrihed in the hook of Esther
took place. The foundations of other parts of this palace might he no
douht laid hare hy further excavations ; hut the ruin of the place has
heen so eomplete, tliatlittle of interest in an architectural point of view
can be looked for. Below these Persian ruins are prohahly huried
the remains of long-preceding dynasties, which deeper excavations
would lay hare, and afford a rich harvest to the historical explorer.
Fire Temples.
Xear the town of Istakr, and opposite the tomhs of Xaksh-i-
Bustam, stands a small tower-like huilding,
represented in tke woodcut. The lower
part is solid; the upper contains a small
square apartment, roofed hy two great flat
stone slahs : access to this is ohtained from
a doorway situated at some distance from
the ground.
Both the traditions of the place, and the
knowledge we have of the forms of the
Magian religion, point to this as one of the
fire temples of the ancient Persians. Its
roof is internally stiil black, prohahly with
the smoke of ancient fires, and, though
simple and insignificant as an architectural
monument, it is interesting as the only form of a temple apart from
regal state which the ancient Persians possessed.
U2. Kaabah at Istakr. No scale.