Perhaps the Assyrians and Persians in their continued use of the custom, to some extent followed a fashion, elevating their royal residences, not so much for security or comfort, as because it had come to be considered that a palace ought to have a lofty site, and to look down on the habitations of meaner men; but, however this may have been, the custom certainly prevailed, and at Persepolis we have, in an almost perfect condition, this first element of a Persian palace.

[PLATE XXXIX.] [Illustration: PLATE XXXIX.] The platform at Persepolis is built at the foot of a high range of rocky hills, on which it abuts towards the east.

It is composed of solid masses of hewn stone, which were united by metal clamps, probably of iron or lead.

The masses were not cut to a uniform size, nor even always to a right angle, but were fitted together with a certain amount of irregularity, which will be the best understood from the woodcut overleaf.

Many of the blocks were of enormous size; and their quarrying, transport, and elevation to their present places, imply very considerable mechanical skill.