Page 259 - The Art & Architecture of the Ancient Orient_Neat

PART TWO: THE PERIPHERAL
REGIONS

Another group of reliefs covers the parapets of the stairs leading to the separate plat­
forms of the buildings. Tire residential palace ofDarius (Figure no, I) is merely dccor-
ated wrtlr an antithetical arrangement of guardsmen. The stairs leading to the Tripylon
’ 1 latcs,I7Sli, a"d *79A) also show on the outer parapet guardsmen, and the group of
lion attacking bull which is a standard filling for comers; the remaining space is filled
with stylized plants. On the inner parapet ‘Immortals’ mount the stairs, conversing and
holding hands, and tribute-bearers from outlying parts of the empire arc led in by ushers
(Plate 179B).
The same themes recu r, displayed on a huge scale, on the two stairways leading to the
Audience Hall ofDarius (J; Plates 181-3). The width covered is about 300 feet.90 The
outer parapet again shows the guardsmen; and these appear also, on a small scale on the
inside, forming an oblique border against which the three main bands of figures abut,
their triangular ends filled with some trees of diminishing sizes. On the right of the cen­
tral stair (Plate 181) stands a crowd of guardsmen at attention, holding their spears, a dull
design, but intended, perhaps, as a demonstration of the king’s power. Farther on, be­
yond the right-hand edge of plate 181, the design becomes more interesting (Plate 182).
The king’s horses and chariots are shown in the upper register, and underneath it officers
of the Guards, Medes and Persians alternating. They carry flowers, and it has been sup­
posed that this indicates a celebration of the Nauroz or New Year’s Festival. O11 tills
occasion, the nations of the empire brought their obligatory presents. This is, in­
deed, shown on the left side of the central staircase, part of which is reproduced in plate
183. Lydians (centre, bottom register) bring precious vases and woven stuffs; Scytliians,
above, bring a set of their characteristic clothing - trousers and coat - bracelets, and a
splendid stallion. Bactrians bring a two-humped camel, Cilicians rams, skins, clodis, and
precious bowls. Each group is led by a Persian or Median usher carrying a wand of
office. The vessels, armlets, and other gifts of precious metals are, on the whole, purely
Achaemenian in type. Whether the different peoples bought or made such tilings for the
f presentation to the king, or whether the Persepolitan artists simply dcpictc
purpose o
the type of valuables with which they were familiar, we cannot say.
It is difficult to realize that these sculptures glittered in bright colours. Traces o tur
quoisc blue, scarlet, emerald-green, lapis-lazuli blue, purple, and yellow have ecu o
gilded.91 A figure of Darius had crown and necklace
served. Metal trappings were
a beard inset with imitation lapis-lazuli. Something simi ar
covered with gold-foil and
has been observed at Pasargadae.92
At Susa glazed bricks supplied the colour.93 Some panels have been reconstructed (
t88b) buttheir place in the buildings cannot be determined. One section showe •
of guardsmen with their tall spears* The design is much coarser than that
f nfbSame it is produced indirectly by clay being pressed m a mould, perhaps
KIT top®* period, fe. rf*— M„en,o» («

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