Page:History of Art in Persia.djvu/86

 72 History of Art in Antiquity. found on the esplanade, where they served to keep together the slabs of the pavement (Fig. 19). The masonry, then, in both instances was executed by bricklayers whose traditions and methods were identical ; neverthdess there are differences which should be noticed. Thus, at Persepolis, the face of the wall is smooth and dressed «rith care, but its enormous dimensions made a chiselled border impossible.* To have attempted channelling every block contained in a wall 1000 metres long and 10 or 1 2 metres high would have enormously added to the complication of a work which even now, in its dilapidated state, fills us with wonder when we reflect on the stupendous efforts and the expenditure of manual labour it represents (Fig- 20). To this circumstance also should doubt- less be ascribed, save here and there, the general irregularity of its Fig. aa— Penqwiis. SuppMlfiv ««U o( the platform on the face of ihe great tiairoue. Flanoin ttd Co»TC, rttne aueimtif, Fbuc LXVIII. courses. The only exception is found on the south side, where a section of the wall exhibits stones dressed to a smooth surface with channelled edge, very similar to those in the monument of the Polvar valley. Everywhere else there is a decided determination to utilize as quickly as possible the materials brought to their hand. The stones were not cut to a uniform size, or even always at right angles; some few are square, others rectangular or trapezoidal, others again are more or less irregular ; yet all were fitted together to an even front. All the beds and the joints are good, and of such precision as to make it difficult at times to detect their point of junction. This explains why the structures have lasted so long and are almost intact after so many centuries. The masonry is polygonal— a style deliberately chosen by masons skilled in all the resources and refinements of their art, because thereby greater cohesion and power of resistance was ensured to the whole wall. Digitized by Google
 * DiEULArov, £'Ar/ aiUifue, etc, torn I p. i(k