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$22 History of Art in Antiquitv. border on the left side ; they it is, who along with rosettes and winged discs, udom the bas-relief representing the royal canopy (Fig. 156). The whole is kept in form by a long feathery fringe and heavy weights in the shape of flowers (Fig. 157). These hangings were not intended always to fall straight down between the pillars, as figured in our restoration ; for, as already remarked, stout pulleys served to regulate them and shift their position as required. It is not to be supposed that costly tissues of this description would be left hanging throughout the year ; moths, damp, and dust would have played havoc with them and ruined them in no time. Hence they were taken down when not needed, and put up again when the king was expected. The operation was not an easy one ; yet workmen had to moimt higher to keep the timber roof in thorough repair, and see that the beds of beaten earth preserved their in- ch'ne, in order that the rain water should flow into the gutters. The latter are figured in our Plates IV. and V. in the shape of a bull, an animal for whom both the architect and sculptor of Persia had so great a predilection. Except the slight incline at the sides, the terrace- roof was level throughout. As the hall was open on the four faces, vertical slits in the roof for lig^htinj^ it were unnecessary. The Palace of Xerxes was the largest and grandest ever built by the hand of man, before the use of iron put at his disposal new resources. The seventy-two pillars supporting the ceilings are nearly of the .same height as the enormous pillars forming the central nave of the famous hypostyle hall at Karnac. The area covered by the Persepolitan building far exceeds that ol the Pharaohs of the nineteenth dynasty. True, the site occupied by the central pavilion is but 25CO m. square, whilst that of the Egyptian colonnade is more than 5000 m. ; but if we count Fic. 15S. -Bia^dfer. Lotivre. Height, 70 c.