Modern Persia | Page 9

Minor
(forty pillars,) also called Tokhtie-Jamshid, or throne of Jamshid. Some
suppose that Jamshid was the founder of the city. Next in order is
Nakhshie-Rustum, to the northwest. Near each of these palaces are the
mounds of the tombs. The east building is the Harem of Jamshid,
situated on a vast terrace of Cyclopean masonry, at the foot of a lofty
mountain range. By far the most important is the first group, situated at
the foot of a lofty mountain range. The extent of this terrace is about
1500 feet from north to south and 800 feet from east to west, and was
once surrounded by triple walls 16, 32 and 60 feet in height
respectively. The internal area is further divided into three terraces, the
lowest one to the south; the central being about 800 feet square and
rising 45 feet above the plain; and the third, the northern, about 550
feet long and 35 feet high. On the northern is the "Propyleum of
Xerxes," but most distinguished here is the "Great Hall" of Xerxes,
called Chehly Minor by way of eminence. The palace of Xerxes and
that of Darius towering one above the other in successive elevation are
also on this terrace. The stones used for this building are of dark gray
marble, cut into gigantic square blocks, and in many cases exquisitely
polished. The ascent from the plain to the great platform is made by
two flights, the steps being nearly 22 feet wide, 3-1/2 inches high and
15 inches in tread so that travelers have been able to ascend on
horseback. The Propyleum of Xerxes is composed of two masses of
stone work which probably formed an entrance for foot passengers. The
steps are paved with gigantic slabs of polished marble. The portal is
still standing and bears figures of animals 15 feet high. The building
itself is conjectured to have been a hall 82 feet square, closely
resembling the Assyrian halls of Nineveh. It bears the following
inscription: "The great God Ahroomazda, He it is who has given this
world and who has given life to mankind, who has made Xerxes both
king and lawgiver of the people. I am Xerxes the King and Great King,
the King of Kings, the King of the many peopled countries, the

supporter of the great world, the son of King Darius, the
Achoemenian."
"Says Xerxes the King, by the grace of Ahroomazda I have made this
gate of entrance. There is many another nobler work besides
this,--Persepolis which I have made and which my father has
executed."
An expanse of 162 feet divides this platform from the center one which
bears many of those columns of the Hall of Xerxes, from which the
ruins have taken their names. The stairs leading up to the Chehly Minor
are still magnificent according to the statement of Prof. Jooseph whose
residence was near this historic palace. The walls are superbly
decorated with sculptures, representing colossal warriors with spears,
gigantic bulls, combats with wild beasts, processions, and the like,
while broken capitals, shafts, pillars and countless fragments of
buildings with cuneiform inscriptions cover the whole extent of the
platform, 350 feet from north to south and 380 feet from east to west.
The great Hall of Xerxes, perhaps the largest and most magnificent
structure the world has ever seen, is computed to have been a rectangle
of about 300 to 350 feet and to have consequently covered two and a
half acres. The pillars were arranged in four divisions consisting of a
central group six deep every way and an advanced body of twelve in
two ranks, the number flanking the center. Fifteen columns are all that
now remain of the number. Their form is very beautiful. Their height is
60 feet, the circumference of the shaft 16 feet, the length from the
capital to the turrets 45 feet. Next along the west front stood the palace
of Darius and to the south the palace of Xerxes measuring about 86 feet
square, similarly decorated with lions, birds, heroes, kings and
warriors.
Of course the present architecture of Persia is not equal to the old for
the evident reason that the country is not so rich as it was. However the
work in some cities is equivalent to ancient buildings. In modern times
some splendid palaces have been erected of brick, either of raw or
hardened by fire. These tower to a considerable height. The custom of
Persia is to beautify without rather than within, so the exterior is

painted with different colors. Blue, red and green are favorites. The
walls are adorned with the pictures of flowers, birds, lions and many
verses of Al-Kuran. Favorite poems also appear. Inside it is more plain,
whitened by chalks. But the roof is wonderfully decorated with delicate