Persepolis

per-sep'o-lis, an ancient capital of Persia. It was the royal residence of Darius and Xerxes. The city was captured and partly destroyed by Alexander the Great. The vast remains may still be seen far to the southeast of the Euphrates Valley in a vale about 200 miles from the Persian Gulf. The number of palaces and treasure houses must have been very great. So many pillars are still standing that the Arabs have given the locality the name of the "Thousand Pillars." The more notable edifices appear to have been constructed of huge blocks of stone, fitted closely together without mortar, but fastened in many instances, at least, with clamps of iron. These the Arabs long since pried away for spearheads. The principal buildings were placed on artificial, terraced mounds. One of these is ascended by 106 steps wide enough for ten men to walk abreast, and of so easy a grade that it is quite possible for horsemen to ride up. The entrance to one of these terraces, attributed to Xerxes, is approached through a huge gate guarded by four winged bulls resembling similar sculptures found at Nineveh. A room known to explorers as Xerxes' throne room contains thirteen columns, each sixty-four feet in height. Other remains, scarcely inferior, have been surveyed in the most cursory manner. The entire region awaits the antiquarian. No doubt inscriptions to be one day unearthed may add much to our knowledge of Persian history and civilization.