Investiture Relief of Bahram I

This stone relief is carved on the rocks of the right bank of the Shapur River, and its theme is about the reception of the the royal ring by Bahram I (271-274) from Ahura Mazda. In this stone relief, Ahura Mazda is seen mounted on the left side of the picture (from the viewer's perspective) while wearing a crenelated crown and holding the royal ring toward Bahram. On the right side of the image, Bahram I is shown riding a beautiful horse. He wears a crown that has several beam-like blades, and also, unlike the Ahura Mazda, is armed with a long sword on his waist. Accouterments of both Ahoura Mazda’s and Bahram’s horses are similar to each other. This image is one of the most beautiful reliefs belonging to the Sasanian period. Stonecuts are quite artistic and harmonious, and the wrinkles and movement of clothes and other details (even the veins on the horse's foot) are finely shown. The written inscription on the image of Bahram was originally as follows: "This is the image of the praiser of Ahoura Mazda, Bahram the king of kings of Persia and beyond." However, for the first time, the German archaeologist Ernst Hertzfeld has discovered that during the rule of Narseh (293-302 AD), due to family disputes between Narseh and Bahram over the succession of their father, Shapur I, the name of Bahram was removed and was substituted by Narseh in the inscription.