Page:History of Art in Persia.djvu/321

 The Hypostyle Hall of Xerxes. 305 We have described, after the most exact of witnesses, all that exists of the magnificent buildings of Xerxes, and noted pari passu the dispositions that are still to be read on the ground.* These, no matter how patent and dear, are not enough for us ; at least, they do not seem adequate in every instance to tell us how to represent the building. The colonnades were certainly roofed in ; for the beds cut in the capitals, between the heads of die bulls, could have no other use save to carry wood architraves ; but if the structure was covered, was it walled as well, either throughout or in parts only ? With any other architecture but that of Persia the question would not even be asked; and from the fact that no trace of walls is found we should at once conclude that none were built Here^ however, the case is somewhat different, Inasmuch as we have proofs that thick walls of not a few Persian edifices have entirely disappeared. Those walls were brick, and in the course of time unbaked clay turns to dust, whilst baked bricks are re-used in new buildings. When, therefore, we have to deal with Persia and the reconstruction of her edihces we may boldly put a wall at a given point, though no signs of it are visible. Are we justified to take so great a liberty in this instance ? We wot not, and here follow our reasons. If in the remains of the royal buildings grouped about the Persepolitan platform we no longer iind vestiges of the massive walls that once surrounded the state-rooms, their tracing is indicated by the stone antae of the fa9ade in which the doors and windows of the structures were enframed. Between nearly all the door- ways are still the marks of the foundation stones which once carried both door-cases and the brick masonry which connected them (I'igs. 14, 21).'^ The very peculiar and strange aspect of the Persepolitan ruins is chiefly due to this mingling of elements, some of which have maintained themselves nearly intact everywhere, whilst others are represented by the voids they have left behind. It was a mode of construction familiar to the Persian architect from the day of Cyrus, and applied at Persepolis to every style of building, whether Propykea, palaces, or throne-rooms. The only exception to this general rule is found in the hypostyle hall of Xerxes. The ground between the central colonnade and the lateral porches, where walls might be sujpposed to have been, Fi.ANDiN and Coste, Perse ancwine, pp. 8i-foa. X
 * Jfi4/. of Art^ torn. v. pi>. 474-479.