an, Yezd,
and fifteen others. The general character of the coinage is rude and
coarse, the reverse of the coins showing especial signs of degradation.
[PLATE XXI., Fig. 6.]

Besides his coins, one other memorial of the reign of Perozes has
escaped the ravages of time. This is a cup or vase, of antique and
elegant form, engraved with a hunting-scene, which has been thus
described by a recent writer: "This cup, which comes from Russia, has
a diameter of thirty-one centimetres, and is shaped like a ewer without
handles. At the bottom there stands out in relief the figure of a
monarch on horseback, pursuing at full speed various wild animals;
before him fly a wild boar and wild sow, together with their young, an
ibex, an antelope, and a buffalo. Two other boars, an ibex, a buffalo,
and an antelope are strewn on the ground, pierced with arrows. The king
has an aquiline nose, an eye which is very wide open, a short beard,
horizontal moustaches of considerable length, the hair gathered behind
the head in quite a small knot, and the ear ornamented with a double
pendant, pear-shaped; the head of the monarch supports a crown, which
is mural at the side and back, while it bears a crescent in front; two
wings surmounting a globe within a crescent form the upper part of the
head-dress. On his right the king carries a short dagger and a quiver
full of arrows, on his left a sword. Firuz, who has the finger-guard
of an archer on his right hand, is represented in the act of bending a
large bow made of horn." There would seem to be no doubt that the work
thus described is rightly assigned to Perozes.

CHAPTER XVII.

_Accession of Balas or Palash. His Relationship to Perozes. Peace made
with the Ephthalites. Pacification of Armenia and General Edict of
Toleration. Revolt of Zareh, Son of Perozes, and Suppression of
the Revolt with the help of the Armenians. Flight of Kobad to the
Ephthalites. Further Changes in Armenia. Vahan made Governor. Death of
Balas; his Character. Coins ascribed to him._

Perozes was succeeded by a prince whom the Greeks call Balas, the Arabs
and later Persians Palash, but whose real name appears to have been
Valakhesh or Volagases. Different accounts are given of his relationship
to his predecessor, the native writers unanimously representing him
as the son of Perozes and brother of Kobad, while the Greeks and the
contemporary Armenians declare with one voice that he was Kobad's uncle
and Perozes's