formerly the capital of Persia, situated in N. Lat. 30° 30' E. Long. 84° now in ruins, but remarkable for the most magnificent remains of a palace or temple that are to be found throughout the world.—This city stood in one of the finest plains in Persia, being 18 or 19 leagues in length, and in some places two, in some four, and in others six leagues in breadth. It is watered by the great river Araxes, now Bendemir, and by a multitude of rivulets besides. Within the compass of this plain, there are between 1000 and 1500 villages, without reckoning those in the mountains, all adorned with pleasant gardens, and planted with shady trees. The entrance of this plain on the west side has received as much grandeur from nature, as the city it covers could do from industry or art. It consists of a range of mountains steep and high, four leagues in length, and about two miles broad, forming two flat banks, with a rising terrace in the middle, the summit of which is perfectly plain and even, all of native rock. In this there are such openings, and the terraces are so fine and so even, that one would be tempted to think the whole the work of art, if the great extent, and prodigious elevation thereof, did not convince one that it is a wonder too great for ought but nature to produce. Undoubtedly these banks were the very place where the advanced guards from Persepolis took post, and from which Alexander found it so difficult to dislodge them. One cannot from hence descry the ruins of the city, because the banks are too high to be overlooked; but one can perceive on every side the ruins of walls and of edifices, which heretofore adorned the range of mountains of which we are speaking. On the west and on the north this city is defended in the like manner: so that, considering the height and evenness of these banks, one may safely say, that there is not in the world a place so fortified by nature.

The mountain Rahumut, in the form of an amphitheatre, encircles the palace, which is one of the noblest and most beautiful pieces of architecture remaining of all antiquity. Authors and travellers have been exceedingly minute in their descriptions of these ruins; and yet some of them have expressed themselves so differently from others, that, had they not agreed with respect to the latitude and longitude of the place, one would be tempted to suspect that they had visited different ruins. These ruins have been described by Garcia de Silva Piqueroa, Pietro de la Valle, Charpin, Le Brun, and Mr. Franklin. We shall adopt the latest description, as being exceedingly distinct, and given by a traveller intelligent and unassuming. The ascent to the columns is by a grand staircase of blue stone containing 104 steps.

"The first object that strikes the beholder on his entrance, are two portals of stone, about 50 feet in height each; the sides are embellished with two sphinxes of an immense size, dressed out with a profusion of bead work, and, contrary to the usual method, they are represented standing. On the sides above are inscriptions in an ancient character, the meaning of which no one hitherto has been able to decipher.

"At a small distance from these portals you ascend another flight of steps, which lead to the grand hall of columns. The sides of this staircase are ornamented with a variety of figures in basso relievo; most of them have vessels in their hands: here and there a camel appears, and at other times a kind of triumphal car, made after the Roman fashion; besides these are several led horses, oxen, and rams, that at times intervene and diversify the procession. At the head of the staircase is another basso relievo, representing a lion seizing a bull; and close to this are other inscriptions in ancient characters. On getting to the top of this staircase, you enter what was formerly a most magnificent hall; the natives have given this the name of chebul minar, or forty pillars; and though this name is often used to express the whole of the building, it is more particularly appropriated to this part of it. Although a vast number of ages have elapsed since the foundation, 15 of the columns yet remain entire; they are from 70 to 80 feet in height, and are masterly pieces of masonry: their pedestals are curiously worked, and appear little injured by the hand of time. The shafts are enfluted up to the top, and the capitals are adorned with a profusion of fretwork.

"From this hall you proceed along eastward, until you arrive at the remains of a large square building, to which you enter through a door of granite. Most of the doors and windows of this apartment are still standing; they are of black marble, and polished like a mirror: on the sides of the doors, at the entrance, are bas-reliefs of two figures at full length; they represent a man in the attitude of stabbing a goat: with one hand he seizes hold of the animal by the horn, and thrusts a dagger into his belly with the other; one of the goat's feet rests upon the breast of the man, and the other upon his right arm. This device is common throughout the palace. Over another door of the same apartment is a representation of two men at full length; behind them stands a domestic holding a spread umbrella: they are supported by large round staffs, ap- At the south-west entrance of this apartment are two large pillars of stone, upon which are carved four figures; they are draped in long garments, and hold in their hands spears 10 feet in length. At this entrance also the remains of a flint axe of blue stone are still visible. Vast numbers of broken pieces of pillars, shafts, and capitals, are scattered over a considerable extent of ground, some of them of such enormous size, that it is wonderful to think how they could have been brought whole, and set up together. Indeed, every remains of these noble ruins indicate their former grandeur and magnificence, truly worthy of being the residence of a great and powerful monarch.

These noble ruins are now the shelter of beasts and birds of prey. Besides the inscription above-mentioned, there are others in Arabic, Persian, and Greek. Dr Hylde observes, that the inscriptions are very rude and unartful; and that some, if not all of them, are in praise of Alexander the Great; and therefore are later than that conqueror. See the article Ruins.