DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0137
RELIEF AT BEHISTAN.
105
to the feet unbroken by folds. An inscription above the figure reads, " I am
Cyrus the king, the Achaemenid ; " and it would be possible to refer this strange
figure to that king without hesitation, were it not for the Egyptian head-dress,
the crown of Egypt being first attained by Cyrus's successor, Cambyses. But,
whoever this being represents, we see foreign features, chiefly Assyrian, are
prominent in this earliest known sample of Persian sculpture.
At Behistan, on the great high-road from Babylon, through the Koordish
defiles to the east, is a relief of more developed character.'33 In the precipi-
tous mountain side, and more than fifty meters above the road, this gigantic
relief is carved, seven meters and a half in length, a work of marvellous bold-
ness and difficulty. Here a king treads with one foot on a fallen enemy, and
vWVyv
Fig. 54. Most ancient known Persian
Relief. Pasargadce.
Fig. 55. King on Throne, with Attendant. Portal Relief.
Persepo/is.
raises his hand towards a row of nine approaching prisoners. Behind him are
two attendants ; and above floats a winged human-headed disk, like that often
seen accompanying Assyrian kings. A rope binds the prisoners together by
their necks, their hands are fastened behind them, and their bent posture gives
them an expression of great distress. Their different nationalities are indicated
by costumes such as are still to be seen in those parts of the Orient. From
the accompanying inscription, we learn that the great renovator of the king-
dom, and re-establisher of the religion of Zoroaster, Darius Hystaspes, here
triumphs over rebels, the most dangerous one, the impostor known in history
as the "false Smerdis," now lying with outstretched arms under the monarch's
feet. The date of this remarkable sculpture is therefore placed by Rawlinson
at about 516 B.C., when, after quelling rebellions in different parts of his king-
dom, Darius enjoyed a short peace. While, in general, the order and arrange-
105
to the feet unbroken by folds. An inscription above the figure reads, " I am
Cyrus the king, the Achaemenid ; " and it would be possible to refer this strange
figure to that king without hesitation, were it not for the Egyptian head-dress,
the crown of Egypt being first attained by Cyrus's successor, Cambyses. But,
whoever this being represents, we see foreign features, chiefly Assyrian, are
prominent in this earliest known sample of Persian sculpture.
At Behistan, on the great high-road from Babylon, through the Koordish
defiles to the east, is a relief of more developed character.'33 In the precipi-
tous mountain side, and more than fifty meters above the road, this gigantic
relief is carved, seven meters and a half in length, a work of marvellous bold-
ness and difficulty. Here a king treads with one foot on a fallen enemy, and
vWVyv
Fig. 54. Most ancient known Persian
Relief. Pasargadce.
Fig. 55. King on Throne, with Attendant. Portal Relief.
Persepo/is.
raises his hand towards a row of nine approaching prisoners. Behind him are
two attendants ; and above floats a winged human-headed disk, like that often
seen accompanying Assyrian kings. A rope binds the prisoners together by
their necks, their hands are fastened behind them, and their bent posture gives
them an expression of great distress. Their different nationalities are indicated
by costumes such as are still to be seen in those parts of the Orient. From
the accompanying inscription, we learn that the great renovator of the king-
dom, and re-establisher of the religion of Zoroaster, Darius Hystaspes, here
triumphs over rebels, the most dangerous one, the impostor known in history
as the "false Smerdis," now lying with outstretched arms under the monarch's
feet. The date of this remarkable sculpture is therefore placed by Rawlinson
at about 516 B.C., when, after quelling rebellions in different parts of his king-
dom, Darius enjoyed a short peace. While, in general, the order and arrange-