Ancient Persian Kina: on liis Throne. (From the Per- sepolitan Moiniments.)
that the king might relent towards a favorite, they pressed upon him this constitutional maxim, "Sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not." As the king solemnly admitted the maxim, he was again pressed with it : " Know, 0 king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree or statute which the king establisheth may be changed" (Dan. vi, 15). We are not to infer from such language that a royal decree was in every sense irrevocable, or bc}'ond the power of modification or repeal. But the words imply that edicts could not be capriciously altered, and that the despot was bound and regulated b}' past de- cisions and precedents. The book of Esther shows, moreover, how a decree, though it could not be re- versed, might easily be neutralized. The Jews marked out for assassination got warrant to defend themselves, and to become assassins in turn (Esth. viii, ix). The satrapian form of administration necessitated the em- ployment of posts and means of conveyance. A vivid picture of such an organization — scribes, translators, and couriers — is given in Esth. viii, 9, 10. The system is described by Herodotus (viii, 98). " Nothing mor- tal," he says, "travels so fast." Relays of men and horses were stationed at due distances, and license was
PERSIA
978
PERSIA
given to the couriers to preFS men, horses, and ships into their service. Tliis service \vas called uyyapifiov
a Tatar word meaning "work without pay." Raw-
linson, however, suggests other derivations. The verb dyyapii'w came to signify to press into service like a Persian (iyyapoc;; and Persian domination brought the wo:d into Palestine. Compare Matt, v, 41 ; Mark xv, 21, where the verb is rendered in the first instance "compel thee to go," and in the second is applied to the soldiers forcing Simon to carry Christ's cross. The Persian revenues were raised partly in monej^ and parth' in kind. The queen's wardrobe and toilet were provided for by certain districts, and they were named according to the article which they were taxed to fur- nish— one being called the Queen's Veil and another the Queen's Girdle. The court, according to Ctesias, con- sisted of an immense retinue. The only water which the king drank was that of the Choaspes ; the salt on his table was imported from Africa, and the wine from Syria. Athenoeus (iv) depicts at length the roj'al eti- quette and extravagance, such as we have it in the first chapter of Esther. The surveillance of the ha- rem was committed to eunuchs, and the seraglio was often the real governing power. The residences of the monarchs of Persia (who called themselves "king of kings ;" see Gesen. Jesa. i, 392 ; comp. Berfej', Peis. Keilinschr. p. 54, 57, 02) were various. Pasargada,"with its royal tombs, was most ancient. Persepolis rose not verv' far from it, and became a treasure-city. After the overthrow of the 13al>\-lonian kingdom, Cjtus, while preserving a regard for the more ancient cities of the empire, seems to have thought Babj'lon a more suitable place for the metropolis of Asia; but as it might not be politic, if it were possible, to make a strange place the centre of his kingdom, he founded a new city, Susa, where he was still on Persian ground, and yet not far distant from Babylon. There was also Ecbatana, the Median capital. These several royal abodes seem to have been occupied bj- the later mon- archs, according to the season of the year.
Among the people there were minute distinctions of rank and formal salutations. When two persons of equal station met, they kissed on the lips ; if one was of slightly lower rank, the kiss was on the cheek ; and where the difference was great, the inferior prostrat-
ed himself on the ground. Thcv' drank wine in large quantities, and often under its infjiience formally de- liberated on public affairs. Polygamj' was freelj' prac- ticed. No one was put to death for a first oflence, but ferocity was often shown to captives or rebels. Darius himself says of Phraortes, " I cut off his nose and his ears. He was chained at m}' door; all the kingdom be- held him; afterwards I crucified him" (Inscri{(tion at Behistun, col. iii). The severity of masters towards
Ancient Pevsian King putting his Foot on an Euemy. (From the Sculptures of Behistun.)
slaves was wiselj' restrained (Herod, i, 133, etc.). The Persian youth were taught three things — itt—iviii', Kai Tu^ti'tir, Kai dXij^i^taiai — "to ride, to shoot, and to speak truth" (Herod, i, 13G). The Persians had made no small progress in the fine arts, especially in archi- tecture, as the ruins of Persepolis testify. These state- h' and imposing ruins stand on a levelled platform, raised above several terraces — the ascent being by a stair, or double flight of steps the grandest in the world, and 3'et so gradual in its rise that the traveller may ride up on horseback. The stones are of dark gray marble, often exquisitely polished. Colossal bulls guarded the front of the portals, and the sculptures are not unlike those of Assyria. The space on the upper platfoim stretches north and south 350 feet, and east and west 380 feet, and is now covered with broken cap-