f loose trousers descending to the feet and sometimes even covering
them. A belt or girdle encircled his waist. His feet were encased in
patterned shoes, tied with long flowing ribbons. Over his pelisse he
wore occasionally a long cape or short cloak, which was fastened with
a brooch or strings across the breast and flowed over the back and
shoulders. The material composing the cloak was in general exceedingly
light and flimsy. The head-dress commonly worn seems to have been
a round cap, which was perhaps ornamented with jewels. The vest and
trousers were also in some cases richly jewelled. Every king wore
ear-rings, with one, two, or three pendants. A collar or necklace was
also commonly worn round the neck; and this had sometimes two or more
pendants in front. Occasionally the beard was brought to a point and had
a jewel hanging from it. The hair seems always to have been worn long;
it was elaborately curled, and hung down on either shoulder in numerous
ringlets. When the monarch rode out in state, an attendant held the
royal parasol over him.

In war the monarch encased the upper part of his person in a coat of
mail, composed of scales or links. Over this he wore three belts; the
first, which crossed the breast diagonally, was probably attached to his
shield, which might be hung from it; the second supported his sword;
and the third his quiver, and perhaps his bow-case. A stiff, embroidered
trouser of great fulness protected the leg, while the head was guarded
by a helmet, and a vizor of chain mail hid all the face but the eyes.
The head and fore-quarters of the royal charger were also covered with
armor, which descended below the animal's knees in front, but was not
carried back behind the rider. The monarch's shield was round, and
carried on the left arm; his main offensive weapon was a heavy spear,
which he brandished in his right hand.

One of the favorite pastimes of the kings was hunting. The Sassanian
remains show us the royal sportsmen engaged in the pursuit of the
stag, the wild boar, the ibex, the antelope, and the buffalo. To this
catalogue of their beasts of chase the classical writers add the lion,
the tiger, the wild ass, and the bear. Lions, tigers, bears, and wild
asses were, it appears, collected for the purpose of sport, and kept in
royal parks or paradises until a hunt was determined on. The monarchs
then engaged in the sport in person, either singly or in conjunction
with a royal ambassador, or p