Soon after having finished our visit to the archaeological site of Persepolis we headed to an open air restaurant, which was quite "refreshing" taking into account the extremely high temperatures we had endured throughout the whole morning. The shade of the multiple trees that surrounded the actual "eating area" together with the fountains provided the ideal atmosphere to have us "recover" before the next visit.
Exactly why the important Sassanid investiture reliefs dating back to the time of Ardashir (224-39) and his son Shapur (238-70) we visited after lunch (just three kilometres away from the Persepolis site) are carved in a cleft of rocks (Koo-e Ramat hill) is unclear, though I must say I was particularly impressed and not exclusively with the actual rock carving but the fact that its location highlighted that aspect creating "raw" beauty.
Said to have been created almost certainly after the prototype of Artaxerxes's investiture in Naqsh-i Rostam, the relief to be seen underneath is nevertheless without any accompanying figures.
The relief that stood right in front of us was the one of Shapur I mounted on his charger possibly followed by the crown King Hormuzd I and the king's other sons with nobles walking up behind. The King still stands out despite the fact that his face has been destroyed. The horse is richly adorned and particularly well carved. A bilingual inscription on the sovereign's chest seems to reaffirm him as King.
The relief underneath depicts the investiture of Ardashir I being handed the "Farshang" ring of authority by Ahura Mazda, who holds the "barsom" for the sacred fire. Between them there are two small scale figures, one believed to be Prince Bahram, Ardahsir's grandson, the other Izad Bahram. The Iranian Divinity of warriors appears in Hellenistic guise as Heracles. Behind the King stand a senior officer wih a fly whisk and Prince Shapur, heir to the throne. Behind the Ahura Mazda stand the Queen and her attendant, both making a gesture of reference, though there has been some mystery surrounding the fact that they are depicted apparently leaving the scene.
To the right of the previous rock-cut relief is the investiture of Shapur by Ahura Mazda. Both of them are on horseback as the King receives the diadem ring of kingship handed by Ahura Mazda. Although the relief is visibly damaged its workmanship is still to be acknowledged as superb, particularly if one looks at certain details such as the King's curly hair.
I dare assume I was speechless as I left Naqsh-i Rajab ... no words would ever be able to describe what we had just see ...
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