Media, Babylon and Persia : including a study of the Zend-Avesta or religion of Zoroaster, from the fall of Nineveh to the Persian war . is supported by rows of warriors,in the flowing Median garb or the tight-fitting Per-sian doublet and hose, or of figures personating sub-ject nations. (See ill. 54.) Here he receives ambas-sadors or visitors bringing presents. His figure islarger than nature, to elevate him above commonhumanity, and the attendant who stands behind thethrone with the fly-flapper wears the paitidana, asthough ofTficiating before the sacred fire (see p. 114),while the master of
Media, Babylon and Persia : including a study of the Zend-Avesta or religion of Zoroaster, from the fall of Nineveh to the Persian war . is supported by rows of warriors,in the flowing Median garb or the tight-fitting Per-sian doublet and hose, or of figures personating sub-ject nations. (See ill. 54.) Here he receives ambas-sadors or visitors bringing presents. His figure islarger than nature, to elevate him above commonhumanity, and the attendant who stands behind thethrone with the fly-flapper wears the paitidana, asthough ofTficiating before the sacred fire (see p. 114),while the master of ceremonies holds his liand beforehis mouth, and all who approach the royal presencekeep their hands in their long sleeves in token ofpeaceful intentions. There again the king is pre-sented to us as the earthly image of Ahura-Mazda,fulfilling his god-given mission of warring with andannihilating the evil creation of Angra-Mainyu, bystabbing an ugly Daeva in the shape of a monstrouscomposite animal, after the manner of the Chaldeanwacked demons*—the Ahrimanian Beast, as it * See Story of Chahk-a, ills. 54 and 55, 72, 73, niid 66. DAREIOS IlGIITING A MONSTER—A DAEVA OK AHRIMANIAN BEAST.(Persepolis, Ilall of the Hundred Columns.) 404 , , and ^ta. has been called. At soinc of the entrances wingedbulls mount their watch, but slightl} altered fromtheir Assyrian prototypes, (see ill. 48). It is easyto imagine the royal throne placed somewheretowards the end of the middle aisle, and the vasthall adorned and, if need be, partitioned by curtainsand hangings of precious stuffs, made priceless bycostly dyes and embroideries, and which, accordingas they were looped up or left to fall to the ground^concealed the royal majesty or allowed it to shineforth on the courtiers and guests. The rings andother appurtenances for regulating the hangingsmust have been somehow attached to the roof-rafters, which, like the ceiling, were almost certainlygilt; indeed, it is very
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