É. Apor (ed.): Stein, Aurel: Old Routes of Western Iran. (Budapest Oriental Reprints, Ser. B 2.)

Chapter I.—In Westernmost Färs

Sec. v] KÖTAL-I-SANGAR TO BÄSHT 49 a work of Sasanian times. It spanned the river where it emerges from the gorge, with a width of some 60 yards, by a single bold arch. The massive piers of this central arch still rise in impressive strength, flanked by semicircular buttresses (Fig. 34) and triangular breakwaters at their up-stream foot. The height of the pier on the right bank is 45 feet and that of the breakwater as far as exposed above the rubble of the river-bed 5 feet more. In order to give access to this height and to the still greater height of the arch spanning the river, eight subsidiary arches of approach had been built along the foot of the hillside on the left bank (see Fig. 15, on left). On the right bank approach was provided by six high semicircular arches, each with a span of 8 feet. The roadway carried by the approach arches on either side was 10 feet broad. The arches on the left bank have a uniform span of 10 feet and their total length is 57 yards. The two arches next to the main pier on the left bank carry small vaultings meant evidently to reduce the weight above. On the inside these arches still retain a very hard stucco plastering, decorated with a roughly incised volute ornament. The approach on the left bank to the upper bridge was extended at a later date by an arcade of fifteen more arches built along the foot of cliffs to provide access to the lower bridge (Fig. 16). The total length of this extension is 126 yards. The road carried by it is about 15 feet broad and is paved with roughly squared slabs. The pointed arches are built with rough blocks of stone set in mortar, which holds also fragments of bricks. The arches of approach on the right bank have completely fallen, and the four piers still extant which once carried them have badly E