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SILK AND GOLDEN TEXTURES OF THE ANCIENTS. 87
king's relations or cousins, to the number of 15,000, apparelled like women, and
more remarkable for the pomp of their dress than the glitter of their arms ;
and after
these Darius attended by his guards, seated on a chariot, as on a throne. Tho
chariot was enriched, on both sides, with images of the gods in gold and silver
and from the middle of the yoke, which was covered with jewels, rose two statues,
a cubit in height ; the one representing War, the other Peace, having between
them a golden eagle with wings extended. The king was attired in a garment
of purple striped loith silver ; over which was a long robe, glittering with gold
and precious stones, and whereon two falcons were represented as if rushing from
the clouds at each other. Around his waist he wore a golden girdle, from whence
hmig scimitar, the scabbard of which was covered with gems. On each side of
Darius walked 200 of his nearest relations, followed by 10,000 horsemen, whoso
lances were plated with silver, and tipped with gold. After these marched 30,000
foot, the rear of the army, and, lastly, 400 horees belonging to the king.
" About 100 paces from the royal divisions of the army came Sisygambis, the
mother of Darius, seated on a chariot, and his consort on another, with female at-
tendants of both queens riding on liorseback. Afterwards came fifteen chariots,
in which were the king's children, and their tutors. Ne.\t to these were the royal
concubines, to the number of 360, all attired like so many queens. These were
followed by 600 mules, and 300 camels, carrying the king's treasure, and guarded
by a body of bowmen. After these came the wives of the crown officers, and tho
lords of the court ; then the suttlers, servants ; and, lastly, a body of light armed
troops, with their commanders."
At the nuptials of Alexander purple and scarlet cloths, in-
terwoven with gold, were expanded over the guests : and a
pall of the same description covered the golden sarcophagus
made to contain his body. Among the splendid ornaments of
the tent erected not long after at Alexandria by Ptolemy Phil-
and in the
adelphus, there were tunics interwoven with gold :
procession on the same occasion, the colossal statues of Bacchus
and his nurse Nysa were attired ; the former in a shawl ; the
latter in a tunic variegated with gold. Probably we may refer
to the same country and age the " golden tunic" mentioned in
one of the Arundle marl^les (No. xxii. 2.).
Also the tent pitch-
ed by Arsace with hangings of gold and purple tissues, and
the robe of similar materials worn by Arsace herself, as de-
scribed by Hehodorus {JEthiop. vii.), relate to the customs of
the same country.
Another of the successors of Alexander, viz. Demetrius
Poliorcetes, wore purple garments with borders of gold*.
* Plutarch, Demet. 41.
;