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, a region which roughly corresponded to the present-day Fars province. To build a visual and architectural tradition for their new empire, early Sasanian monarchs borrowed heavily from Achaemenid sculptural styles.

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.

List of Sasanian rock reliefs + Table of Sasanian rock reliefs Image Relief Patron Location Size in m (l x h) Subject matter Site features Firuzabad 1 Ardashir I () Fars 19.80 x 4 equestrian triumph Located within a river canyon close to the city Firuzabad 2 Ardashir I () Fars 4.90 x 3.90 divine investiture Located within a river canyon close to the city Naqsh-e Rajab 3 Ardashir I () Fars 4.90 x 3.04 divine investiture Beside a spring and close to the city Salmas Ardashir I () 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 () 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 () Fars 7 x 4.17 support of nobles Beside a spring and close to the city Naqsh-e Rajab 4 Shapur I () Fars 6.40 x 2.9 divine investiture Beside a spring and close to the city Naqsh-e Rostam 6 Shapur I () 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 () Fars 9.20 x ? divine investiture and triumph Located within a river canyon close to the city Bishapur 2 Shapur I () Fars 12.46 x 4.52 triumph and support of nobles Located within a river canyon close to the city Bishapur 3 Shapur I () 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 () 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 () Fars 9.40 x 5.04 / 4.90 divine investiture and triumph Located within a river canyon close to the city Naqsh-e Rostam 2 Bahram II () 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 () Fars 4 x 2.60 support of family and nobles Beside a spring Tang-e (or Sarab-e) Qandil Bahram II () Fars 2.75 x 2.23 divine investiture (king receiving flower from the goddess Anahita) Beside a river Barm-e Delak 1 Bahram II () Fars 2.1–2.6 x 1.80 courtly scene, king giving flower to queen Beside a spring Barm-e Delak 2 Bahram II () 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 () Fars 1.6 x 2.60 king making gesture of reverence Beside a spring Bishapur 4 Bahram II () Fars 7.45 x 3.40 triumph Located within a river canyon close to the city Sar Mashhad Bahram II () Fars 4.65 x 2.14 hunting Set against the cliffside, close to the city Naqsh-e Rostam 3 Bahram II () 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 () 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 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 () 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 () 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 () 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 () 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 () 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 () Kermanshah 5.75 x 5.50, 3.80 deep dynastic continuity Located by a spring, a mountain, and a hunting ground Taq-e Bostan 3 (Great Ayvan) Khosrow II () 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

+ Additional Sasanian reliefs, either unfinished and/or with uncertain patrons 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 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

See also List of Sasanian inscriptions

References

Sources

Further reading