Sequence of colours (1)

Text
The sequence of colours on the ziggurat of Dur-Šarruken corresponded to the colouring of the seven concentric walls of Ecbatana as described by Herodotus.

Herodotus 1.98:
(Dioces, the king of Medes) built the great and mighty circles of walls within walls which are now called Ecbatana. The fortress is so planned that each circle of walls is higher than the next outer circle by no more than the height of its battlements; to which end the site itself, being on a hill in the plain, somewhat helps, but chiefly it was accomplished by art. There are seven circles in all; within the innermost circle are the king’s dwellings and the treasuries; and the longest wall is about the length of the wall that surrounds the city of Athens. The battlements of the first circle are white, of the second black, of the third circle purple, of the fourth blue, and of the fifth orange: thus the battlements of five circles are painted with colours; and the battlements of the last two circles are coated, these with silver and those with gold.

Source (list of abbreviations) (source links will open in a new browser window)
Herodotus 1.98

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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