Seven Counsellors,” of the king.  They sat next to him at public festivals; they were privileged to tender him their advice, whenever they pleased; they recommended important measures of state, and were, in part, responsible for them; they could demand admission to the monarch’s presence at any time, unless he were in the female apartments; they had precedence on all great occasions of ceremony, and enjoyed a rank altogether independent of office.  Sometimes—­perhaps most commonly—­they held office; but they rather conferred a lustre on the position which they consented to fill, than derived any additional splendor from it.

It does not appear that the chiefs of the seven great families had any peculiar insignia.  Officers of the Court, on the contrary, seem to have always carried, as badges marking their position, either wands about three feet in length, or an ornament resembling a lotos blossom, which is sometimes seen in the hands of the monarch himself.  Such officers wore, at their pleasure, either the long Median robe and the fluted cap, or the close-fitting Persian tunic and trousers, with the loose felt [Greek name].  All had girdles, in which sometimes a dagger was placed; and all had collars of gold about their necks, and earrings of gold in their ears.  The Median robes were of various colors—­scarlet, purple, crimson, dark gray, etc.  Over the Persian tunic a sleeved cloak, or great coat, reaching to the ankles, was sometimes worn; this garment was fastened by strings in front, and descended loosely from the shoulders, no use being commonly made of the sleeves, which hung empty at the wearer’s side. [PLATE XXXVI., Fig. 1.]

[Illustration:  PLATE XXXVI.]

An elaborate Court ceremonial was the natural accompaniment of the ideas with respect to royalty embodied in the Persian system.  Excepting the “Seven Princes,” no one could approach the royal person unless introduced by a Court usher, Prostration—­the attitude of worship—­was required of all as they entered the presence.  The hands of the persons introduced had to be hidden in their sleeves so long as their audience lasted.  In crossing the Palace Courts it was necessary to abstain carefully from touching the carpet which was laid for the king to walk on.  Coming into the king’s presence unsummoned was a capital crime, punished by the attendants with instant death, unless the monarch himself, as a sign that he pardoned the intrusion, held out towards the culprit the golden sceptre which he bore in his hands.  It was also a capital offence to sit down, even unknowingly, upon the royal throne; and it was a grave misdemeanor to wear one of the king’s cast-off dresses.  Etiquette was almost as severe on the monarch himself as on his subjects.  He was required to live chiefly in seclusion; to eat his meals, for the most part, alone; never to go on foot beyond the palace walls; never to revoke an order once given, however much he might regret it; never to draw back from a promise, whatever ill results he might anticipate from its performance.  To maintain the quasi-divine character which attached to him it was necessary that he should seem infallible, immutable, and wholly free from the weakness of repentance.