noble presence of an Achaemenian prince.  The royal robe was either of purple throughout, or sometimes of purple embroidered with gold.  It descended below the ankles; resting on the foot even when the monarch was seated.  A broad girdle confined it at the waist.  Under it was worn a tunic, or shirt, which reached from the neck to the knee, and had tight-fitting sleeves that covered the arm to the wrist.  The tunic was purple in color, like the candys, or robe, but striped or mixed with white.  The lower limbs were encased in trousers of a crimson hue.  On his feet the the king wore shoes like those of the Medes, long and taper at the toe buttoned in front, and reaching very high up the instep:  their color was deep yellow or saffron. [PLATE XXXII., Fig.1.]

[Illustration:  PLATE XXXII.]

Thus far the monarch’s costume, though richer in material than the dress of the Persian nobles, and in some points different in color, was on the whole remarkably like that of the upper class of his subjects.  It was, however, most important that his dress should possess some distinguishing feature, and that that feature should be one of very marked prominency.  In an absolute monarchy the king must be unmistakable, at almost any distance, and almost in any light.  Consequences of the gravest kind may follow from any mistake of the royal identity; and it is therefore essential to the comfort both of prince and subject that some very conspicuous badge shall mark and notify the monarch’s presence.  Accordingly, it appears that the Persian ruler was to be known by his headdress, which was peculiar alike in shape and in color, and was calculated to catch the eye in both respects.  It bore the name kitaris or hidaris, and was a tall stiff cap, slightly swelling as it ascended, flat at top, and terminating in a ring or circle which projected beyond the lines of the sides.  Round it, probably near the bottom, was worn a fillet or band—­the diadem proper—­which was blue, spotted with white.

As the other Persians wore either simple fillets round their heads, or soft, rounded, and comparatively low caps, with no band round them, the king’s headdress, which would tower above theirs and attract attention by its color, could readily be distinguished even in the most crowded Court.

It has been asserted that the kidaris, or tiara of the Persian kings, was “commonly adorned with gold and jewelry;” and this may possibly have been the case, but there is no evidence that it was so.  Its material was probably either cloth or felt, and it was always of a bright color, though not (apparently) always of the same color.  Its distinguishing features were its height, its stiffness, and the blue and white fillet which encircled it.

Among other certain indications of the royal presence may be mentioned the golden sceptre, and the parasol.  The sceptre, which is seen frequently in the king’s hands, was a plain rod, about five feet in length, ornamented with a ball, or apple, at its upper end, and at its lower tapering nearly to a point.  The king held it in his right hand, grasping it near, but not at, the thick end, and rested the thin end on the ground in his front.  When he walked, he planted it upright before him, as a spearman would plant his spear.  When he sate, he sloped it outwards, still, however, touching the ground with its point.