BABYLON AND PERSIA

402 MEDIA, BABYLON, AND PERSIA.which, of mighty cedar and cypress beams, was upborneby one hundred columns:ten rows of tenof that peculiar and matchlessty fanciful typewhich is the most distinctive feature of Akhaemen¬ian architecture. Tall and slender, they restedlightly on their invertedflower-base, carrying theraftered ceiling j^roudly and with ease on thestrongbent necks of the animals which adornedtheir capitals. (See ills. 49-51). We have here thethrone and audience hall, the reception and ban¬queting hall of the great Dareios. If nothingelse, the sculptures in the eight doorways would as¬sure us of the fact.Here we see the king seated onhis throne, which is supported by rows of warriors,in the flowing Median garb or the tight-fitting Per.sian doublet and hose, or of figures personating sub¬ject nations. (See ill. 54-) Here he receives ambas¬sadors or visitors bringing presents.His figure islarger than nature, to elevate him above commonhumanity, and the attendant who stands behind thethrone with the fly-flapper wears the paitiddna, asthough officiating before the sacred fire (see p. 114),while the master of ceremonies holds his hand beforehis mouth, and all who approach the royal presencekeep their hands in their long sleeves in token ofpeaceful intentions.There again the king is pre¬sented to us as the earthly image of Ahura-Mazda,fulfilling his god-given mission of warring with andannihilating the evil creation of Angra-Mainyu, by ,stabbing an ugly Daeva in the shape of a monstrouscomposite animal, after the manner of the Chaldeanwicked demons*the "Ahrimanian Beast," as it* See " Story of Chaldea," ills. 54 and 55, 72, 73, and 74.