acter of his reliefs, found
at present in one locality only, viz., at Takht-i-Bostan, where they
constitute the main decorations of the great triumphal arch of this
monarch. [PLATE XLII.]

[Illustration: PLATE XLII.]

These reliefs consist of two classes of works, colossal figures and
hunting-pieces. The colossal figures, of which some account has been
already given, and which are represented in PLATE XLI., have but little
merit. They are curious on account of their careful elaboration, and
furnish important information with respect to Sassanian dress and
armature, but they are poor in design, being heavy, awkward, and
ungainly. Nothing can well be less beautiful than the three overstout
personages, who stand with their heads nearly or quite touching the
crown of the arch, at its further extremity, carefully drawn in detail,
but in outline little short of hideous. The least bad is that to the
left, whose drapery is tolerably well arranged, and whose face, judging
by what remains of it, was not unpleasing. Of the other two it is
impossible to say a word in commendation.

The mounted cavalier below them--Chosroes himself on his black war
horse, Sheb-Diz--is somewhat better. The pose of horse and horseman has
dignity; the general proportions are fairly correct, though (as usual)
the horse is of a breed that recalls the modern dray-horse rather
than the charger. The figure, being near the ground, has suffered much
mutilation, probably at the hands of Moslem fanatics; the off hind
leg of the horse is gone; his nose and mouth have disappeared; and the
horseman has lost his right foot and a portion of his lower clothing.
But nevertheless, the general effect is not altogether destroyed.
Modern travellers admire the repose and dignity of the composition, its
combination of simplicity with detail, and the delicacy and finish of
some portions. It may be added that the relief of the figure is high;
the off legs of the horse were wholly detached; and the remainder of
both horse and rider was nearly, though not quite, disengaged from the
rock behind them.

The hunting-pieces, which ornament the interior of the arched recess
on either side, are far superior to the colossal figures, and merit
an exact description. On the right, the perpendicular space below the
spring of the arch contains the representation of a stag hunt, in which
the monarch and about a dozen other mounted horsemen take part, assisted
by some ten or twelve f