5428 x 3574 px | 46 x 30,3 cm | 18,1 x 11,9 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
1974
Ubicazione:
Bishapur, Fars province, Iran
Altre informazioni:
Questa immagine potrebbe avere delle imperfezioni perché è storica o di reportage.
in this relief, we see just a triumphant king, adored by his subjects. The only sign of divine help is a winged figure that brings the ring of power (cydaris) and the diadem. Shapur had already defeated a Roman army, which he had commemorated on the first relief. In 244, the emperor Gordian III had been killed, and his successor Philippus Arabs owed the throne to Shapur. On the second relief, we can see the dead Gordian underneath the victor's horse. In front of this horse, we can see Philip, Gordian's praetorian prefect, kneeling and begging to be spared. Indeed, he was recognized as emperor by Shapur and the Senate. On his second relief, Shapur reminded the viewers of his earlier success. However, in 260, the Sasanian king had defeated another Roman emperor, Valerian, and had even taken him captive. The main theme of the second relief was the glorification of this second victory. In the central scene, two important courtiers can be seen to the right. One of them may be the high priest Kartir, who made Zoroastrianism the state religion and organized persecutions of adherents of other faiths. The other one, who carries a large sword, may or may not be the Surena, an important commander. On both sides of the central scene, subjects of the king are depicted: two groups of cavalry to the left, five groups of infantry to the right. They salute the king with their right fist and a pointed index finger. This gesture can be seen on many Sasanian rock reliefs, and is still made by Bakhtiari nomads.
