The ornamentation
which exists seems to show that the building was altogether of a public
character. Instead of exhibiting attendants bringing articles for the
toilet or the banquet, it shows on its doors the monarch, either engaged
in the art of destroying symbolical monsters, or seated on his throne
under a canopy, with the tiara on his head, and the golden sceptre in
his right hand. The throne representations are of two kinds. On the
jambs of the great doors leading out upon the porch, we see in the top
compartment the monarch seated under the canopy, accompanied by five
attendants, while below him are his guards, arranged in five rows of
ten each, some armed with spears and shields, others with spears, short
swords, bows and quivers. Thus the two portals together exhibit the
figures of 200 Persian guardsmen in attendance on the person of the
king. The doors at the back of the building present us with a still
more curious sculpture. On these the throne appears elevated on a lofty
platform, the stages of which, three in number, are upheld by figures
in different costumes, representing apparently the natives of all the
different provinces of the Empire. It is a reasonable conjecture that
this great hall was intended especially for a throne-room, and that in
the representations on these doorways we have figured a structure which
actually existed under its roof (probably at t in the plan)--a platform
reached by steps, whereon, in the great ceremonies of state, the royal
throne was placed, in order that the monarch might be distinctly seen at
one and the same time by the whole Court.

[Illustration: PLATE XLVIII.]

The question of the lighting of this huge apartment presents some
difficulties. On three sides, as already observed, the hall had (so
far as appears) no windows--the places where windows might have been
expected to occur being occupied by niches. The apparent openings are
consequently reduced to some fifteen, viz., the eight doorways, and
seven windows, which looked out upon the portico, and were therefore
overhung and had a north aspect. It is clear that sufficient light could
not have entered the apartment from these--the only visible--apertures.
We must therefore suppose either that the walls above the niches were
pierced with windows, which is quite possible, or else that light was in
some way or other admitted from the roof. The latter is the supposition
of those most competent to decide. M. Flandin c