The principal building also, which is thought to have been a palace, was a
temple; but of a different sort. The travellers above say, that it is
called Istachar: and Hyde repeats it, and tells us, that it signifies e
rupe sumptum, seu rupe constans saxeum palatium: and that it is derived
from the Arabic word sachr, rupes, in the eighth [691]conjugation. I am
sorry, that I am obliged to controvert this learned man's opinion, and to
encounter him upon his own ground, about a point of oriental etymology. I
am entirely a stranger to the Persic, and Arabic languages; yet I cannot
acquiesce in his opinion. I do not think that the words e rupe sumptum, vel
rupe constans saxeum palatium, are at any rate materials, out of which a
proper name could be constructed. The place to be sure, whether a palace,
or a temple, is built of stone taken from the quarry, or rock: but what
temple or palace is not? Can we believe that they would give as a proper
name to one place, what was in a manner common to all; and choose for a
characteristic what was so general and indeterminate? It is not to be
supposed. Every symbol, and representation relates to the worship of the
country: and all history shews that such places were sacred, and set apart
for the adoration of fire, and the Deity of that element, called Ista, and
Esta.[692] Ista-char, or Esta-char is the place or temple of Ista or Esta;
who was the Hestia, [Greek: Hestia], of the Greeks, and Vesta of the
Romans. That the term originally related to fire we have the authority of
Petavius. [693]Hebraica lingua [Hebrew: ASH] ignem significat, Aramaea
[Hebrew: ASHTA] qua voce ignem a Noemo vocatum Berosus prodidit: atque inde
fortassis Graeci [Greek: Hestias] originem deduxerunt. Herbert, therefore,
with great propriety, supposes the building to have been the temple of
[694]Anaia, or Anais; who was the same as Hanes, as well as Hestia.
Procopius, speaking of the sacred fire of the Persians, says expressly,
that it was the very same which in aftertimes the Romans worshipped, and
called the fire of Hestia, or Vesta. [695][Greek: Touto esti to pur, hoper
Hestian ekalounto, kai esebonto en tois husterois chronois Romaioi.] This
is farther proved from a well known verse in Ovid.

[696]Nec tu aliud Vestam, quam vivam intellige flammam.

Hyde renders the term after Kaempfer, Ista: but it was more commonly
expressed Esta, and Asta. The Deity was also styled Astachan, which as a
masculine signified