Page:History of Art in Persia.djvu/249

 The Subterranean Tome. 239 artist whom Darius entrusted with the erection of his tomb sought abroad the elements of a type which he bequeathed to successive generations, he went to Egypt for them, to that Egypt whence the kings of Persia, as Diodonis affirms, drew their cosUy materials and skilful artificers. But these elements were quite distin.ct in such edifices as suggested to him the principal designs of his creation. His merit is to have united and woven them into a whole, truly expressive and imposing; hence it is that, though an imitator, he has given proof of invention and taste, and produced a work instinct with originality.