Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/229

 Bk. II. Ch. IV. PERSEPOLIS. 197 ways, which are shaded Liofistft. *:mi- are also indications of a tetrastyle hall, or gate, having existed on its summit, — while that to the west is much simpler. The hall itself had a jDortico of twelve columns, and on each side a range of smaller apartments, the two principal of which had their roofs supported by four pillars each. The building is one of great beauty in itself, but its greatest value is that it enables iis to understand the arrange- ment of the great Hall of Xerxes — the Chehil Minar — the most splen- did building of which any remains exist in this part of the world. From the annexed plan (Woodcut No. 90) it will be seen that the ar- rangement of the Avhole central part is identical with that of the building just described. There can be no possible doubt about this, as the bases of all the 72 columns still exist in situ, as well as the jambs of the two principal door- ]: !]■ 91. Pillar of Western Portico. 02. Pillar of Northern Portico. darker in the plan. The side and rear walls only are restored from the preceding illustration. The only difference is that, instead of the two distyle halls on either side, this had hexastyle porticoes of twelve pillars each, similar to that in front ; the angles between which were, in all probability, filled up with rooms or buildings, as suggested in the plan.^ 1 It is very strange that this similarity. like the plan of the square halls, should hitherto have escaped observation. Had any one looked at the matter as a whole, we shotdd have been spared some restora- tions which are too absurd even to merit exposure.