h the ruins
have taken their names. The stairs leading up to the Chehly Minor are
still magnificent according to the statement of Prof. Jooseph whose
residence was near this historic palace. The walls are superbly
decorated with sculptures, representing colossal warriors with spears,
gigantic bulls, combats with wild beasts, processions, and the like,
while broken capitals, shafts, pillars and countless fragments of
buildings with cuneiform inscriptions cover the whole extent of the
platform, 350 feet from north to south and 380 feet from east to west.
The great Hall of Xerxes, perhaps the largest and most magnificent
structure the world has ever seen, is computed to have been a rectangle
of about 300 to 350 feet and to have consequently covered two and a
half acres. The pillars were arranged in four divisions consisting of a
central group six deep every way and an advanced body of twelve in two
ranks, the number flanking the center. Fifteen columns are all that now
remain of the number. Their form is very beautiful. Their height is 60
feet, the circumference of the shaft 16 feet, the length from the
capital to the turrets 45 feet. Next along the west front stood the
palace of Darius and to the south the palace of Xerxes measuring about
86 feet square, similarly decorated with lions, birds, heroes, kings
and warriors.

Of course the present architecture of Persia is not equal to the old
for the evident reason that the country is not so rich as it was.
However the work in some cities is equivalent to ancient buildings. In
modern times some splendid palaces have been erected of brick, either
of raw or hardened by fire. These tower to a considerable height. The
custom of Persia is to beautify without rather than within, so the
exterior is painted with different colors. Blue, red and green are
favorites. The walls are adorned with the pictures of flowers, birds,
lions and many verses of Al-Kuran. Favorite poems also appear. Inside
it is more plain, whitened by chalks. But the roof is wonderfully
decorated with delicate chalk work. Here are sculptured designs of
ladies holding bouquets of flowers, playing with doves on their
shoulders and surrounded by beautiful objects. Usually in the center is
a large mirror. This is all hand work. A single mason may work a month
in completing the roof decorations of one room. All buildings are
square. Village architecture is very poor. Buildings are one story in
height, especially of Moh