Sasanian rock reliefs
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The concept of kingship in the early Sasanian Empire (224–651) was heavily influenced by rock reliefs, which had already existed as a major artistic style and royal tradition within ancient Iran and the rest of West Asia for centuries. The Sasanians deeply respected the old tomb sculptures built by the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC) in Pars,[1] a region which roughly corresponded to the present-day Fars province.[2] To build a visual and architectural tradition for their new empire, early Sasanian monarchs borrowed heavily from Achaemenid sculptural styles.[1]
The Sasanian Empire produced a massive quantity of large outdoor rock reliefs prior to its collapse. Combined with the royal court's strict monopoly over the craft, these factors made rock relief carving a unique royal and Iranian tradition. Pars contained most Sasanian rock reliefs, particularly in areas surrounding Persepolis.[2]
List of Sasanian rock reliefs
| Image | Relief | Patron | Location | Size in m (l x h) | Subject matter | Site features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Firuzabad 1 | Ardashir I (r. 224–242) | Fars | 19.80 x 4 | equestrian triumph | Located within a river canyon close to the city |
 | Firuzabad 2 | Ardashir I (r. 224–242) | Fars | 4.90 x 3.90 | divine investiture | Located within a river canyon close to the city |
 | Naqsh-e Rajab 3 | Ardashir I (r. 224–242) | Fars | 4.90 x 3.04 | divine investiture | Beside a spring and close to the city |
 | Salmas | Ardashir I (r. 224–242) | Azerbaijan | 10.0 x 3.50 | investiture of governors | Set against the cliffside, close to the city by Lake Urmia |
 | Naqsh-e Rostam 1 | Ardashir I (r. 224–242) | Fars | 6.75 x 4.28 | divine investiture and triumph | Set against a cliffside near Achaemenid burial sites and a tower, this area functioned as an important Sasanian cult site |
 | Naqsh-e Rajab 1 | Shapur I (r. 240–270) | Fars | 7 x 4.17 | support of nobles | Beside a spring and close to the city |
.jpg) | Naqsh-e Rajab 4 | Shapur I (r. 240–270) | Fars | 6.40 x 2.9 | divine investiture | Beside a spring and close to the city |
 | Naqsh-e Rostam 6 | Shapur I (r. 240–270) | Fars | 7 x 4.17 | triumph | Set against a cliffside near Achaemenid burial sites and a tower, this area functioned as an important Sasanian cult site |
 | Bishapur 1 | Shapur I (r. 240–270) | Fars | 9.20 x ? | divine investiture and triumph | Located within a river canyon close to the city |
.jpg) | Bishapur 2 | Shapur I (r. 240–270) | Fars | 12.46 x 4.52 | triumph and support of nobles | Located within a river canyon close to the city |
 | Bishapur 3 | Shapur I (r. 240–270) | Fars | 9.20 x 6.80 | triumph and support of nobles | Located within a river canyon close to the city |
| Rag-i-Bibi | Shapur I (r. 240–270) | Baghlan (Afghanistan) | 6.50 x 5.90 | hunting | Situated on a cliffside close to a major north-south travel route linking Bactria to India | |
 | Bishapur 5 | Bahram I (r. 271–274) | Fars | 9.40 x 5.04 / 4.90 | divine investiture and triumph | Located within a river canyon close to the city |
.JPG) | Naqsh-e Rostam 2 | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | 4.58 x 2.1–2.3 | support of family and nobles | Set against a cliffside near Achaemenid burial sites and a tower, this area functioned as an important Sasanian cult site |
 | Sarab-e Bahram | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | 4 x 2.60 | support of family and nobles | Beside a spring |
 | Tang-e (or Sarab-e) Qandil | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | 2.75 x 2.23 | divine investiture (king receiving flower from the goddess Anahita) | Beside a river |
 | Barm-e Delak 1 | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | 2.1–2.6 x 1.80 | courtly scene, king giving flower to queen | Beside a spring |
 | Barm-e Delak 2 | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | left panel 1.25 x 2.75; right panel 1.25 x 2.08 | king making gesture of reverence, courtier offering diadem | Beside a spring |
 | Guyom | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | 1.6 x 2.60 | king making gesture of reverence | Beside a spring |
 | Bishapur 4 | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | 7.45 x 3.40 | triumph | Located within a river canyon close to the city |
 | Sar Mashhad | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | 4.65 x 2.14 | hunting | Set against the cliffside, close to the city |
 | Naqsh-e Rostam 3 | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | 9.35 x 3.52–3.90 | equestrian triumph | Set against a cliffside near Achaemenid burial sites and a tower, this area functioned as an important Sasanian cult site |
 | Naqsh-e Rostam 7 | Bahram II (r. 274–293) | Fars | upper panel: 6.85 x 5.80 | equestrian triumph | Set against a cliffside near Achaemenid burial sites and a tower, this area functioned as an important Sasanian cult site |
.jpg) | Naqsh-e Rajab 2 | Kartir | Fars | 1.64 x .87 | bust portrait with gesture of respect with inscription | Beside a spring and close to the city |
 | Naqsh-e Rostam 6 | Kartir | Fars | 6.40 x 1.9 | bust portrait making gesture of respect with inscription | Set against a cliffside near Achaemenid burial sites and a tower, this area functioned as an important Sasanian cult site |
 | Naqsh-e Rostam 8 | Narseh (r. 293–303) | Fars | 5.65 x 3.50 | divine investiture | Set against a cliffside near Achaemenid burial sites and a tower, this area functioned as an important Sasanian cult site |
 | Naqsh-e Rostam 4 | Hormizd II (r. 303–309) | Fars | 7.97 x 3.52 | equestrian triumph | Set against a cliffside near Achaemenid burial sites and a tower, this area functioned as an important Sasanian cult site |
 | Naqsh-e Rostam 5 | Shapur II (r. 309–379) | Fars | c.1 x 3.5 | king enthroned | Set against a cliffside near Achaemenid burial sites and a tower, this area functioned as an important Sasanian cult site |
 | Bishapur 6 | Shapur II (r. 309–379) | Fars | 11 x 4.40–4.60 | king enthroned, triumph | Located within a river canyon close to the city |
 | Taq-e Bostan 1 | Ardashir II (r. 379–383) | Kermanshah | 4.60 x 3.44 | divine investiture and triumph | Located by a spring, a mountain, and a hunting ground |
 | Taq-e Bostan 2 | Shapur III (r. 383–388) | Kermanshah | 5.75 x 5.50, 3.80 deep | dynastic continuity | Located by a spring, a mountain, and a hunting ground |
  _Sassanid_Period.JPG) | Taq-e Bostan 3 (Great Ayvan) | Khosrow II (r. 591–628) | Kermanshah | vault: 7.5 x 8.90–9.2, 6.78 deep; left side panel 5.95 x 4.30, relief 5.74 x 3.85; right side panel 5.74 x 4.30, relief 5.74 x 3.85 | divine investiture, bravery, hunting | Located by a spring, a mountain, and a hunting ground |
| Image | Site | Location | Description | Patron |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Cave of Shapur I | Fars | Prepared rock panels inside the cave remain unfinished, surrounding a colossal statue of Shapur I | Shapur I |
_before_its_destruction.jpg) | Sorsoreh | Ray | A now destroyed Sasanian rock relief | Shapur II (?) |
| Naqsh-e Rostam | Fars | Unfinished rectangular surface above cistern | ||
| Naqsh-e Rostam | Fars | Small unfinished figure of a male figure with raised right hand to the left of Narseh's relief | ||
 | Naqsh-e Rostam | Fars | Small unfinished figure of a lion to the left of Narseh's relief | |
| Naqsh-e Rostam | Fars | Unfinished rectangular frame, deep relief, to right of Narseh's relief | Khosrow II (?) | |
| Naqsh-e Rostam | Fars | Unfinished rectangular panel between the cistern and Bahram II's Relief 2 | ||
| Naqsh-e Rostam | Fars | Unfinished square panel to the lower left of Shapur I's relief | ||
| Darabgerd | Fars | Small panel of female figure | ||
 | Terash-e Farhad | Kermanshah | Large unfinished rectangular panel, 20 x 30 m | Khosrow II (?) |
| Boşat | Diyarbakır (Turkey) | Horseman and standing figure |