Page 255 - The Art & Architecture of the Ancient Orient_Neat

PART TWO: THJE
PERIPHERAL REGIONS
ipHlisiisii

llouIi s°r 50 Pfla,SCl" a trca^lcnt of a body as that of the camel in plate i84b,« even
*. teSziXrb,,t Mc ”dv”"d ^ *• -1- - on

The earliest Achaemcnian rehef is that of the demoi
i on a door-jamb of the gatc-
house of Pasargadae (Fig urc n6). It is purely Oriental, in desig a as well as in style. The

fl

mmyW

Figure 116. Winged genius on doorjamb at Pasargadae

body is flat; there is no modelling of the limbs through the clothing, and the long,
fringed shawl-like gown recalls those worn by the courtiers of Sargon of Assyria (Plate
96).76 The four wings, elaborately engraved, are also known in Assyria (Plate 83). The
beard, on the other hand, is short and round, after the Persian fashion. Upon the cap,
which is without known parallel, is placed the most elaborate of the divine crowns o
Egypt* This may be copied directly from imported Egyptian bronzes or from P 10cm-
cian work, hi fact, the closest parallel to our figure occurs on a Phoenician or Syrian
stele representing a fertility god.” The figure is hybrid but predominantly Assyrian, not
only in its design but also in its function as guardian of the gate. The inscription a os
is the building inscription of Cyrus which has been quoted: it has led to ic errone
view that the figure represents Cy rus. also found. It may date from the
At Pasargadae a relief in the later, mature style was
226