Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

XXXII RELIGION AND ARCHITECTURE 399
Finally, from the fact that Pallas, Artemis, Zeus, and
perhaps Apollo appear on the later coins, there are good
reasons for supposing that some Greek deities were at one
period officially recognized by the Parthians.
Literature.—The Parthians possessed no native literature,
It
which proves how backward they were in the arts of
peace.
It is probable that they adopted that of Hellas
when they first seized hellenized provinces, and it must
have profoundly affected their outlook, just as it has
affected that of millions in modern Europe. The fact
mentioned by Plutarch that Greek plays were is
enjoyed
most significant, and there is no doubt that Greek was
and was the written means of communica-
widely taught,
tion throughout the empire.^
Architecture and Art.—
Fergusson, in his well-known
History of Architecture^ lays down that Oriental architecture
is practically a blank from the conquests of Alexander the
Great to the rise of the Sasanian dynasty, and this is generally
true. But at Hatra, situated between the Tigris and
Euphrates, and not many miles west of the old cities of
Assyria, ruins are still extant which are held to be purely
Parthian, as the city did not rise into till importance early
in the second century after
Ammianus Marcellinus,
Christ, and is described by
in a.d. '}^(i'yy^ as long ago de-
serted. Hatra was surrounded by a massive circular wall,
strengthened at intervals with towers, and protected by a
wide and deep ditch. Its circumference exceeded three
miles. In its centre are the remains of a palace.
Its
principal building consisted of seven halls, parallel
to one
another, of various sizes, ranging from 90 feet by 40 to
30 feet by 20. These halls were all vaulted. They were
of various
heights, and were entirely lighted from the
eastern end, which was open. As Miss Gertrude Bell
" The great hall, in which, no matter what its
writes :
size, the interior space was unbroken by pier or column,
was a setting for princely state which could not be enhanced
by any architectural device." This great arch
1 The recent discovery of two ancient Greek documents in Western Media, dated
anno Seleuci 225 (88 B.C.) and 295 (22-21 B.C.) respectively, and dealing with the conveyance
of a vineyard, is of special interest in connexion with this question. Fide
paper by Ellis H. Minni \n tjie journal Hellenic Society, 19 14, Part II.