Shapur I Writes His Own Victories
Caption
Shapur I writes his own victories. His trilingual inscription on the Ka’ba-ye Zartosht at Naqsh-e Rostam, in Middle Persian, Parthian and Greek, names the emperors Gordian III, Philip the Arab and Valerian. #ShapurI #Sasanian #NaqshERostam
Short takes
The Ka’ba-ye Zartosht at Naqsh-e Rostam stands opposite the Achaemenid royal tombs. On its walls Shapur I had his account cut in Middle Persian, Parthian and Greek.
Shapur’s inscription names three Roman emperors: Gordian III, Philip the Arab and Valerian. Philip, he says, paid 500,000 dinars.
Shapur I’s city of Bishapur has rock reliefs in the Tang-e Chowgan gorge and a colossal statue of the king in a cave above it.
Image description
Infographic titled Shapur I Writes His Own Victories. A photograph of the rock relief of Shapur I on horseback, with Roman figures before him, fills the left side. Five numbered panels cover the Ka’ba-ye Zartosht at Naqsh-e Rostam, the three languages, three Roman emperors, Valerian in 260, and forts and cities named from Syria to Cappadocia. Cards read 3 emperors and 500,000 dinars. A dark panel describes Bishapur, Shapur’s city with rock reliefs and a colossal statue.
