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 338 History of Art in Antiquity. an oi&et or hollow below the lower limb of the cross, the efTect of which was not good, in that it produced an impression of instability. Hence a wall of polygonal masonry was built under the vault, which replaces the escarp, furnished, moreover, by the vertical section of the cliff (Fig. 112). If care was everywhere taken to interpose a smooth wall, built or rock-cut, between the level of the plain and the entrance to the tomb, it was for the purpose of making the latter inaccessible. There are no ramps or staircases, by means of which the Persian architect knew so well how to combine commodious ascent and monumental aspect Even now, after centuries of neglect, during which a path has been worn in the rock by treasure-seekers and idlers, the porch can only be reached by scrambling and holding on the projections of the rock; but in many instances Coste was obliged to be hauled up by ropes, whilst we have shown in what manner MM. Babin and Houssay managed to get at the inscriptions and sculptures of the tomb of Darius (Fig. 106). Examination of the sites has, therefore, fully confirmed the assertion of Diodorus as to the mode the bodies were got into the vault This is also incidentally proved by Ctesias, who thus wrote : * " Darius gave orders to have a tomb excavated in the Double Mount' His wishes were carried out He then declared his intention to visit the monument, but the Chaldees and his near relatives persuaded him against it The latter undertook to go in his stead; they were raised in the air, pulled up by priests stationed at the top of the rocky cliff, but these taking fright at the sight of serpents, they let go the ropes, and the hapless people were precipitated and killed by the fall. Darius was deeply grieved at the catastrophe, and he forthwith had the forty culpable Magi beheaded." The tomb where this accident took place is situated at Naksh- i-Rustem (Figs. 106, 109). The long inscription between the pillars and in the upper section is written in the three languages employed in the Persian Chancellery, and is well calculated to ' § 15, from extracts of Ctesias found in Phodus, entitled H*iA^ ■ The chain which overhangi FenepoUs and Naksh^-Rustem is said to be still dewgnatcd by Persians as Dufa (Double). See Ch. Mullet's notes on Ctesias, pp. 64, 65. A glance at the map (Fig. 103) will show the justness of the appella- tion. The mountaiu in question, which bounds the plain of Mervdasht to the north, and in n^ose soathem side are excavated the twin groups of royal tomb^ is cat into two masses, forming a pendant one to the other, by the gorge at the bottom of which flows the Polvar. Digitized by Google