n all in such communities, his sayings, doings, and
character, not only determine, but constitute, the annals of the State.
In the second period of his reign, that which followed on the time of
trouble and disturbance, Darius (as has been already observed)
appears to have pursued mainly the arts of peace. Bent on settling and
consolidating his Empire, he set up everywhere the satrapial form of
government, organized and established his posts, issued his coinage,
watched over the administration of justice, and in various ways
exhibited a love of order and method, and a genius for systematic
arrangement. At the same time he devoted considerable attention to
ornamental and architectural works, to sculpture, and to literary
composition. He founded the royal palace at Susa, which was the main
residence of the later kings. At Persepolis he certainly erected one
very important building; and it is on the whole most probable that he
designed--if he did not live to execute--the Chehl Minor itself--the
chief of the magnificent structures upon the great central platform. The
massive platform itself, with its grand and stately steps, is certainly
of his erection, for it is inscribed with his name. He gave his works
all the solidity and strength that is derivable from the use of huge
blocks of a good hard material. He set the example of ornamenting the
stepped approached to a palace with elaborate bas-reliefs. He designed
and caused to be constructed in his own lifetime the rock-tomb at
Nakhsh-i-Rustam, in which his remains were afterwards laid. The
rock-sculpture at Behistun was also his work. In attention to the
creation of permanent historical records he excelled all the Persian
kings, both before him and after him. The great Inscription of Behistun
has no parallel in ancient times for length, finish, and delicacy
of execution, unless it be in Assyria or in Egypt. The only really
historical inscription at Persepolis is one set up by Darius. He was the
only Persian king, except perhaps one, who placed an inscription upon
his tomb. The later monarchs in their records do little more than repeat
certain religious phrases and certain forms of self-glorification which
occur in the least remarkable inscriptions of their great predecessor.
He alone oversteps those limits, and presents us with geographical
notices and narratives of events profoundly interesting to the
historian.

During this period of comparative peace, which may have exten