BABYLON AND PERSIA

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XLT II E LATE DISCOVERIES AT SUSA.Or all historical diggings in Western Asia, thoseof Susa had, next to Plamadan (Agbatana), yieldedthe fewest and poorest results up to 1885. NeitherMr. Loftus nor other explorers, although they knewwell enough where the palaces of the Akhaemeniankings were situated, had succeeded in bringing tolight any important relic, owing to the obdurate stu¬pidity and malevolent fanaticism of the Mussulmanauthorities at DiZKUL, a city built near the site ofthe ancient capital of Elam. Early in March, 1885,a P""rench expedition, conducted by Mr. E. DIEU¬LAFOY and his learned and courageous wife, arrivedat the ruins, determined to attempt the impossiblerather than go home disappointed ; and, though theyhad to contend at first with the same difficulties,they were successful in the end. They were re¬warded by a series of " finds " of exceptional value,which are, at this moment, being ordered and placedin the Louvre Museum, where they will form aworthy counterpart to the Sarzec collection.*The place was easy to identify by various unmis¬takable landmarks. " The_city of Susa," writes Mr.See " Story of Chaldea," p. 92.333