For King and God

Photo essay: Sasanian ruins and reliefs in Bishapur

by youngrobv
19-Dec-2009
 

Wikipedia: Bishapur (or Bishâpûr) is an ancient city situated south of modern Faliyan, Iran on the ancient road between Persis and Elam. The road linked the Sassanid capitals Istakhr (very close to Persepolis) and Ctesiphon. Bishapur was built near a river crossing and at the same site there is also a fort with rock-cut reservoirs and a river valley with six Sassanid rock reliefs. According to an inscription, the city itself was founded in 266 by Shapur I (241-272), who was the second Sassanid king, restored the borders of the empire to where they had been in the Achaemenid Persian period, inflicting a triple defeat on the Romans. In his native province of Fars, he built a new capital that would measure up to his ambitions: Bishapur, Shapur's City. The city was not laid out in the circular design inherited from the Parthians, but followed the grid (Hippodamian) plan used by the Greeks. Outside the city, Shapur decorated the sides of the Bishapur River gorge with huge historical reliefs commemorating his triple triumph over Rome. One of these reliefs, in a semicircular shape, has rows of registers with files of soldiers and horses, in a deliberate imitation of the narrative scenes on the Trajan column in Rome. At Bishapur the king also inaugurated the Sassanid imagery of the king's investiture, which would be copied by his successors: the king and the god are face to face, often on horseback, and the god - usually Ahura Mazda - is holding the royal diadem out to the sovereign >>>

>>> More photos from Iran by youngrobv

>>> Video: Shapur the Great

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hamsade ghadimi

great pictures

by hamsade ghadimi on Sat Dec 19, 2009 09:52 PM PST

thanks


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obama

Gorgeous Photos! wondering why no phot0 of Shapur in cave

by obama on Sat Dec 19, 2009 06:24 PM PST

on top of the mountain? it is a largest shapur's statue (10 m high). Of course, it is a hard 45 minute climb. It really is a shame how this regime has let our historical places go to ruin. 4 years ago when i went there it wasn't as deteriorated.

it is amazing what how Thank you very much for the photos and samsam's explanation. I wish i would have read before i went there.


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benross

Thanks SamSam. Appreciated.

by benross on Sat Dec 19, 2009 05:41 PM PST

Thanks SamSam. Appreciated.


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ahmad_

lost for words

by ahmad_ on Sat Dec 19, 2009 05:35 PM PST

I remember watching a TV show on CBC (Canada) about antique objects in Canada. The TV hostes was talking about a wooden carved smoking pipe which was made by a Canadian Indian 400 yrs ago. She was describing it with so much pride. At that time I was thinking about these histoical monuments which go back 2000 yrs and no one there seems to care about them.

What a difference.


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SamSamIIII

Ben, The person lying down

by SamSamIIII on Sat Dec 19, 2009 05:26 PM PST

 

This is a symbolic gesture to celebrate the 3 Roman Emperors who shahpour claime to have defeated. The person lying down is the Roman Emperor Gordian III who fought many battles against Sassanids & here his presence in the relief is a mere symbolic gesture of Sassanid supremacy against Romans .The person kneeling before Shahpour is Emperor Valerian who was captured by Persian Army at the battle of Edessa if I,m not mistaken and died in captivity cteiphoon while in the court of Sassanid king. The last one person whose hand is Shahpour holding as a sign of victory is again another roman emperor, Emperor Maximus who incidently thru spies seek the help of Sassanids to silence his opponents among Pritorian Guards & Senate and incidently was assasinated by the Roman guards & German legions in Gaul later on .

Cheers!!!

btw* Some consider the 3rd Emperor not as Maximus but Emperor Marcus Philip Julius (Philip the Arab) whose mother was said to be a Syrian from Aleppo and his father Julius Marines.

Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia


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benross

facinating

by benross on Sat Dec 19, 2009 04:01 PM PST

I've never been there. Thank you so much. BTW is there any explanation about that person lying down on picture 16 & 17? Or the other one on picture 39 & 41?


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Shazde Asdola Mirza

Very nice! More power to you and the great Iranian traditions

by Shazde Asdola Mirza on Sat Dec 19, 2009 03:28 PM PST

One question: I have been to those ruins some decades ago, but remember them to be near Kazeroon. Where is Faliyan? Is that a new name for Kazeroon - or perhaps my old brain is failing ;-)


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SamSamIIII

Ecstasy

by SamSamIIII on Sat Dec 19, 2009 03:10 PM PST

 

Even after having seen em from every angle and many times in the past, watching these gems over&over&over again is a pure joy like a red wine that gets refiner by time . Give us true Iran or give us nothing . Great photo job & unparalleled artistry dear youngrobv.

Cheers & many thanks pilgram !!!

btw* pic 16 shows the level of ignorance of Ommaties who have managed to let the humidity get a better hold of that stone wall of Valerian & Shahpour since you cant even see Shahpour any more just under 30 yrs later. pity.

 

Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia


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