Identifier: historyofallnati02wrig Title: A history of all nations from the earliest times; being a universal historical library Year: 1905 (1900s) Authors: Wright, John Henry, 1852-1908 Subjects: World history Publisher: [Philadelphia, New York : Lea Brothers & company Contributing Library: University of California Libraries Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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Text Appearing Before Image: d was thence imported to Persia. Inthe fifth century Chinese junks sailed directly to Hirah; but afterthe eighth century the trade was confined once more to Ceylon,whither the Persians and Arabians were in the habit of makingvoyages. The endeavor to introduce life into the representationled to an unnecessary multiplication of figures without action. Thehorses have an elephantine character, and are far behind the noblesteeds represented at Persepolis. Yet there are a few reliefs, as, forexample, the two tourneys under the Tomb of Darius, that showgreat power and animation. The sculptures are without exceptionthe work of Persian artists. The inscriptions are sorely weather-worn and damaged, which is greatly to be lamented, because severalof them apparently contain much explanatory historical information;this is the case with the inscription on the fire-temple at Pä-i-Kuli,near Zohab, north of Khanikin, of which only fragments are known. Vol. II.—17 258 THE EMPIRE OF THE SASSAXIAJSfS,

Text Appearing After Image: Fig. 65. — Palace of Firuzabad. In Sassanian architecture, Graeco-Roman elements are noticeable.Certain monuments, as, for example, that of Tak-i-Bostan, are direct imitations of Roman works ; likewisethe construction of the palace ofKhvarnak in Hirah is ascribed to aRoman or Byzantine architect withthe Babylonian name of Sinimmar,Here the Parthians had set the exam-ple, as can be seen by the temple ofArtemis at Konkobar, which, to judgefrom its style, must belong to the timeof Phraates IV. Along side of theseexotic works of Roman architects,there are memorials which betray indigenous art in their Asiaticforms, cupolas, and ancient Persian door-frames. In this categorybelongs the palace at Firuzabad (Figs. 65, 66), which was perhapserected in the fifth century, on the site of the one built by Ar-dashir. Here we find the ancient Persian doors and window-frameswith subordinated round arches, while domes and half-domes are builtin ovulate form. This form of construction,with domes on p

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