Naqš-e Rajab

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Naqš-e Rajab: place in Fars, close to Naqš-e Rustam, Persepolis, and Istakhr, well-known for its Sasanian rock reliefs.

Naqš-e Rajab

The archaeological site known as Naqš-e Rajab is just 3 kilometers north of the ruins of Persepolis, along the road to the Sasanian city Istakhr. The name means something like "The carvings of Rajab", and is a little joke about the nearby Naqš-i Rustam, the carvings of the great hero Rustam. Rajab was an inn-keeper. The site was also called Naqš-e Qahraman, "Carvings of the heroes".

The carvings referred to were made by the two first Sasanian kings, Ardašir I (r.224-241) and Shapur I (r.241-272).

  1. Investiture Relief of Ardašir I (center; with a later addition by Kartir, the high priest)
  2. Investiture Relief of Shapur I (right)
  3. Equestrian Relief of Shapur I (left)

Literature

Louis Vanden Berghe, Reliefs rupestres de l' Iran ancien (1983 Brussels) Table XII, #52, 55, 56, 73.