the treasury of a fortress, either Shapîgân, Shîzîgân, Samarcand, or
Persepolis.***

* The word _Avesta_, in Pehlevi _Apastâk_, whence come the
Persian forms _âvasta, ôstâ_, is derived from the
Achæmenian word _Abasta_, which signifies _law_ in the
inscriptions of Darius. The term Zend-Avesta, commonly used
to designate the sacred book of the Persians, is incorrectly
derived from the expression _Apastâc u Zend_, which in
Pehlevi designates first the law itself, and then the
translation and commentary in more modern language which
conduces to a _knowledge (Zend)_ of the law. The customary
application, therefore, of the name Zend to the language of
the Avesta is incorrect.

** The Dinkart fixes the number of chapters at 1000, and the
Shâh-Nâmak at 1200, written on plates of gold. According to
Masudi, the book itself and the two commentaries formed
12,000 volumes, written in letters of gold, the twenty-one
Nasks each contained 200 pages, and the whole of these
writings had been inscribed on 12,000 cow-hides.

*** The site of Shapîgân or Shaspîgân is unknown. J.
Darmesteter suggests that it ought to be read as _Shizîgân_,
which would permit of the identification of the place with
Shîz, one of the ancient religious centres of Iran, whose
temple was visited by the Sassanids on their accession to
the throne. According to the Ardâ-Vîrâf the law was
preserved at Istakhr, or Persepolis, according to the Shâh-
Nâmak at Samarcand in the temple of the Fire-god.