'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOL. III. PART II: L to Z' [‎165r] (334/988)

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all constructed of calcareous limestone, resembling marble, hewn from the
neighbouring mountain. These ruins, for which the name Chehil Minar
can be traced back to the 13th century, are now known as the Takht-i-Jam-
x- 11 th e y represent the Istakhr or Persepolis, captured and par
tially destroyed by Alexander the Great, is beyond dispute. It has been
ascertained from the inscriptions that some of the edifices are the work of
D / n ^ I ^ XerXeS l an ^ rtexerxes IIL The ruins on the P^tform consist
of—(!) The porch of Xerxes; ( 2 ) Hall of Xerxes; ( 3 ) Palace of Darius; ( 4 )
^ w f T S III; i, 5) Palace of Xer *es; ( 6 ) South-east edifice
. (7) Hall of 100 columns. Behind the Takht-i-Jamshid are three tombs
•lT n of ^6 rock in the hillside, the faCades being rifchly ornamented
lh 7 are . Probably those of Artaxerxes II, B.C. 361, Artaxerxes
III B.C. 338 and Darius III, B.C. 330. Beneath the ruins are a large
number of underground passages, which, it is conjectured were oriffinally
used as water-channels. J
About 2 miles distant from the Takht-i-Jamshld, near the north-eastern
extremity of the plain and close to the post-house of Piizeh-i-Takht-i-
Jamshid, m a small natural recess in the base of the cliff, are situated the
sculptures of the Naksh-i-Rajab. They were mutilated by order of the
bhah Safi I to discourage European visitors. The tablets consist of (11
and ( 2 ) Ormuz and Ardeshir, (3) Shapur and body-guard.
On the opposite side of the Pulvar and at the western extremity of the
Husmn Kun rises a perpendicular wall of rock, called by the Persians the
- iNaksh-i-Rustam. The sculptures can be seen from the post-house of
Puzeh, which is about 1± miles distant. There are seven bas-reliefs at the
?o a n kS ^ RU S I Sr (1) Ver 1 a t ian and queen; (2) and (3) Equestrian combats,
390 A.R; ( 4 ) Shapur and Valerian, 260 A.D.; (5) Equestrian combat; ( 6 )
Verahan II ami his courtiers; (7) Ormuz and Ardeshir. Hewn out of the
rock of the cliff are four tombs. From the inscription it is known that the
second from the east is that of the Great Darius, B.C. 485. The others are
probably the tombs of Xerxes, B.C. 465, Artaxerxes I, B.C. 424 and
Darius II, B.C. 405. Opposite the third and fourth tombs,’ on a slight
elevation, rises a square building called at various times the Naqqareh
Jkhaneh and the Kaa beh-i-Zardusht. Its origin is problematical.
The surviving, ruins of Istakhr, in which were the bazars, etc., fall into two
groups—those on the banks of the Pulvar, a little before it emerges into the
plam of Marvdasht between Persepolis and the Naksh-i-Rustam, and
those of the hill fortress on the central, pointed hill of the Seh Gumbadan
situated some 7-8 miles north-west of the Takht-i-Jamshld, on the adjoining
plain of Khafrak. The former consist of a great gateway, and the remains
li a i Vl 6 6 ^ Hajiabad, which was used in later times as a mosque •
the lattCT of the rums of the citadel, a gateway, and three reservoirs. In
tlm 10 th century Istakhr had become an utterly insignificant place and
during the following centuries it gradually declined until, as a city it leased
to exist. J ’
One mile north of Hajiabad the cliff is pierced by several natural ca
verns. In the entrance of one of these, known as the Tang-i-Shah-Sar-van
are five tablets, two of which bear inscriptions, containing the celebrated
bi-hngual epigraph of Shapur I.— ( (-urzon—Ar but knot, 1905)