Page:History of Art in Persia.djvu/218

 Tub Built Tomb. 207 saw it in its pristine state, may be gained from the iurbths of the Osmanlis at Eyub, which form so picturesque a group at the head of the Golden Horn, and the trndms-sadeh encountered from one end of Persia to another.* Around the tombs of the Muslims, as of old at Pasargadz, the branches of great plane trees dip into fountains that serve for ablutions, whilst their grateful shade and cool atmosphere predispose and attune the mind to meditation. If from without we pass within the chamber, we shall find that a subdued light pervades the scene and mellows the splendour of the gorgeous drapery, behind which we divine the relief of the coffin. The dimensions of the latter are sometimes colossal, so as to induce the belief that the saint or hero which it contains was above man's stature. The cupola arrangement that characterizes these modern funerary memorials is about their only point of dif- ference between the edifices to which we have juxtaposed them. To return : the building that may have sheltered the mortal remains of Cyrus was well fitted for its probable destination. The outline of its base, which rises pyramidically, is continued by the pedimented roof. Great prominence and value was imparted to the grave- chamber, situated on a pedestal, constructed of huge solid blocks so admirably joined together as to have defied the action of time. Several travellers have recorded the impression produced by the severe simplicity of style of the Gabre, of what one of them calls its " majesty."' If we admit as highly probable the identity of the tomb of Cyrus with the Gabre, the question as to the true site of Pasargadae will settle of itself, and render superfluous further discussion on a geographical point which could lead to no satisfactory or certain results. The map of this region is very imperfectly known, and little is to be gathered from Arrian's dry and vague account re- lating to the march of Alexander, in which Carmania, Gedrosia, Pasargads, and PersepoUs are consecutively named. Dieulafoy, to be the tombs or one of the twelve imams, the descendants of Ali, whoaie held in great veneration by the Shiites. The Gabre, writes Te'xler, reminded him of the sepulchre of Shih-Riza, near Kum-Shah. The vault of the son of Ah is situated in the middle of a garden, with an abundant supply of running water. A number of cells qifinlded about are reserved for the guardians of the tomb {Dtscription, vol ii. p. 156),
 * In Persia the word imAm-tadek, son of imam, is applied to monttments supposed
 * It is Ker Porter's expression.