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Firuzabad (reliefs)

Unless otherwise indicated, pictures on this page © Marco Prins and Jona Lendering. Photos can be downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes, but you have to acknowledge Livius.
The equestrian relief of Firuzabad is hard to distinguish, because it is far from the road and badly damaged. Even when you know that it is near a bridge, even when you are looking for something no less than twenty meters wide, and even though there is a sign near the road, you will find it difficult to recognize. Here's a picture to help you:
 
The relief shows three stages in Ardašir's fight against the Parthian king Artabanus V in 224. The Persian leader had built Ardašir Khureh or Firuzabad and the palace, and Artabanus was worried about Ardašir's increasing power. When he arrived with an army, he was defeated by his rebellious vassal and the Persian became the new "king of kings". This was the beginning of the rule of the Sasanians, which was to last until the seventh century.
On the first scene (above), a Persian seizes his Parthian opponent and has his arm around his enemy's head. This scene, in the center, shows how Ardašir's son unseats Artabanus' vizier. Note the fine armor of the rider and the horse.
Finally, the fight between the two kings: Ardašir defeats Artabanus, whose horse turns a somersault.

This relief is the oldest and largest of all Sasanian rock reliefs.
The second relief is about a kilometer to the north, in the canyon of the river, very close to the Qalah-e Dokhtar castle, and shows Ardašir's investiture.
From left to right, you see Ahuramazda, a little altar, Ardašir, a page, and three Persian noblemen.
The Persian supreme god Ahuramazda gives a diadem, the symbol of royal power, to Ardašir. 
Behind the king is a page with a fly whisk, and are three men. They may be Ardašir's sons, in which case the first of them will be the crown prince, Shapur.
part 1 (main structures)  :   part 2 (palace)
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