the court Herod. I. 192. Xenoph. Anab. IV. 5.]

The palace-gates were reached without hindrance, the way being kept clear
by lines of soldiers and whipbearers stationed on either side of the
street.

If the royal progress to the place of sacrifice, when five hundred
richly-caprisoned horses had been led behind the king's chariot, could be
called magnificent, and the march of the envoys a brilliant spectacle,
the great throne-room presented a vision of dazzling and magic beauty.

In the background, raised on six steps, each of which was guarded, as it
were, by two golden clogs, stood the throne of gold; above it, supported
by four golden pillars studded with precious stones, was a purple canopy,
on which appeared two winged discs, the king's Feruer.

[The Feruer or Ferwer is the spiritual part of every man-his soul
and reason. It was in existence before the man was horn, joins him
at his birth and departs at his death. The Ferwer keeps up a war
with the Diws or evil spirits, and is the element of man's
preservation in life. The moment he departs, the body returns to
its original elements. After death he becomes immortal if he has
done well, but if his deeds have been evil he is cast into hell. It
is right to call upon the Ferwer and entreat his help. He will
bring the prayer before God and on this account is represented as a
winged disc.]

Fan-bearers, high in office at the court, stood behind the throne, and,
on either side, those who sat at the king's table, his relations and
friends, and the most important among the officers of state, the priestly