ABSTRACT
North-east of Persepolis the Medus (modern Polvar), descends through a rocky gorge from Murghâb, the site of the ancient Pasargadæ. It is true that Strabo places this historic city on the river Araxes (modern Bandi-i Amîr) called also Cyrus (Kur), but this name applies to the stream only after its confluence with the Kamfiruz below Persepolis. The Greek geographer has transferred the name of the latter to the upper tributary (cf. Curzon, Persia, II. 86). The broad plain of Murghâb is guarded by low lying hills and is even to-day luxuriant in vegetation. The ruins lie at some distance from each other and include the massive stone platform on the side of the hill, a square tower like that at Naksh-i Rustam, traces of a palace structure, a pilaster adorned with a winged relief, and the gable-roofed building standing on its stone pyramid with outline of a peribolos.
