‘Gazetteer of Kermanshah.’ [‎195r] (394/504)

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the spot is still known by some of the Kurds by the very title of Shahr-i*
Holwan (the city of Holwan). Holwan continued a large and populous
town long after the Arab invasion of Persia. It was often partially des
troyed in the conflicts of the Abasside Kaliphate^ but it again rose from its
ruins, and it was not until the visiting of the desolating hordes of Hulakn
in their descent on Baghdad in 1258 A.D., that it received its final blow and
sank before the exterminating hand of war never again to be inhabited.”
The river is supposed to be the ancient Gozan.
Mr 0 E. L, Mitl'ord, E.R.G.S. (Erom England to Ceylon forty years ago,
1881) writes : “The ruins are called by the (Ilyats) Kaleh Afrasiab ;
according to D’Herbelot, there were two of this name; the first of these was
Afrasiab, a Turkish leader and King of Touran and Transoxiana, who
conquered Persia in the time of the ninth Sovereign of Assyria of the
Pishdadian dynasty. Erom this King the Seljukians and the present
Turkish Sultans pretend to derive their descent; another of the name was
conquered and slain by Rustam, son of Zabzer, general of Kai Khosroe,
third of the Kaianian dynasty. ”
The following is a precis from Mr. De Morgan^ book, 1892. During the
Elamite epoch, Khalman (Khilmi, Khamanu or Hamanu) was the most
important place in the country; it gave its name to the whole district
situated to the South and West of Mount Dalahu. There are very few
elamitic ruins remaining and it is scarcely, if at the first aspect of the country,
one recognizes in Sar-i-pol-i-Zohab the site of the important strong-hold
which was besieged by Teglatphalasar, Sargon, Sennacherib, Assurbanipal
and many other Kings of Niniva.
Behind the modern caravanserai A roadside inn providing accommodation for caravans (groups of travellers). at the foot of the mountain Mr. De
Morgan found some queerly cut stones which he believes to be altars or tables
ior offerings of the Elamite period*
Apart from its strategical situation the town and district of Khalman
offered for Chaldea a special interest. At the foot of its mountains (Kuh-i-
Bozinan) not far from the Kuretu river are rich sheets of naphtha,
whence the people of Mesopotamia got supplies. These springs are scarcely
worked nowadays but the numerous ancient cemeteries adjoining these
localities show without doubt that in former times they were the object of
greater care.
In the valley on the left bank of the Hoi van near the village of
Mollah Golam are to be seen the ruins of a fortress which Mr. De Morgan
believes to be Sassanian. Further on are the ruins of a palace also of the
• Sassanian period. These ruins are not isolated, near the village of
Sheikh Aman the villagers discovered the lower parts of a hall which was
ornamented with square pillars.
^ Of the tumuli which are numerous in the Holvan valley many are of the
Elamite period but most of them are of the Sassanian epoch.
Bas-reliefs and inscriptions—
The great panel of Hezar Jeri is situated on a vertical rock at a height
of about 30 metres above the ground. The rock is formed of a very hard
yellowish marble.
Beneath the great panel of Hezar-Jeri is another panel, much more recent
and greatly damaged by exposure. It represents a figure on horseback