“ Hamadān also has the grave of the celebrated physician and philosopher Abu Ali ibn Sina, better known as Avicenna (d. 1036) . It is now generally admitted that Hamadān is the Hagmatana (of the inscriptions) , Agbatana or Ecbatana (q.v., of the Greek writers) , the “treasure city” of the Achaemenian kings which was taken and plundered by Alexander the Great, but very few ancient remains have been discovered. ”

“ The principal industries are tanning leather and the manufacture of saddles, harnesses, trunks, and other leather goods, felts and copper utensils. The leather of Hamadān is much esteemed throughout the country and exported to other provinces in great quantities. ”

“ Orontes) , whose granite peak rises W. of it to an altitude of 11,900 ft. It is a busy trade centre with about 40,000 inhabitants (comprising 4000 Jews and 300 Armenians) , has extensive and well-stocked bazaars and fourteen large and many small caravanserais. ”