Finally, there are a few coins of Artaxerxes, belonging to the very close of his reign, where he is represented with the tiara of the third period, looking to the right; while in front of him, and looking towards him, is another profile, that of a boy, in whom numismatists recognize his eldest son and successor, Sapor.

[PLATE XV., Fig.

1].
[Illustration: PLATE 15.] It is remarkable that with the accession of Artaxerxes there is at once a revival of art.

Art had sunk under the Parthians, despite their Grecian leanings, to the lowest ebb which it had known in Western Asia since the accession of Asshur-izir-pal to the throne of Assyria (B.C.
886).

Parthian attempts at art were few and far between, and when made were unhappy, not to say ridiculous.