BABYLON AND PERSIA

DAREIOS I. : CIVIL WARS. 369which is known to us only by its Greek name, PER¬SEPOLIS, there is a perpendicular rock called Nakh-SHI-RUSTEM, in which are hewn the tombs, orrather sepulchral chambers, of Dareios and three ofhis immediate successors, representing the front ofpalaces, after the manner of the Lycian rock-tombs.(See Chap. VIIL) They are richly adorned with. sculptures, among which we especially note thefrieze representing a procession of dogsthe sacredanimal of the Avesta ;the king, standing on a plat¬form, leaning on his bowunstrung, for the work oflife is done,in adoration before the blazing firealtar,the sun-disk, and the hovering emblem ofAhura-Mazda. (See ill. 56).Of the three tombs in the row, that of Dareiosalone has aninscription, which in some ways com¬pletes the record of Behistun, having been inditedseveral years later.It begins with the most solemnprofession of faith, which affects one like the farswellingpeal of some great organ :" A great god is Ahura-Mazda ; he has created this earth, he hascreated yonder heaven, he has created man, and all pleasant thingsfor man, he has made Darayavush king, the only king of many."Then follows a brief review of his deeds and ofhis conquests, piously referred to "the grace ofAhura-Mazda."No Hebrew monotheist could bemore absolute and emphatic :" That which I have done, I have all done through the grace ofAhura-Mazda. Ahura-Mazda brought me help, till I had performedthe work. May he protect me and my clan and this land. ..."The same statement is repeated several times in2 B