TAQ-E BOSTAN (GARDEN ARCH)

This sassanide site of the fourth century presents one of the most beautiful ensembles of Western Iran's sculpted bas-reliefs and caves. Note the solemn investiture scenes to the frozen, almost hierarchical characters who will later influence Byzantine art. Designed to exalt the sovereign's majesty and assert the legitimacy of his power, they also evoke royal hunts. Sculpted from the rock, we discovered on the first of them Khosroès II (590-628), receiving the diadem of the hands of the zoroastrian mage and the goddess Anahita. Influenced by Roman art, farohar (adults) dominate the ensemble dominated by Ahura Mazda. This is probably one of the most beautiful testimonies of Sassanide Persian sculpture. The second bas-relief depicts Aurur II sovereign sovereigns (310-379) and his son Shapur III (383-388), supplemented by inscriptions in parthe and pahlavi (Persian medium). See also the last bas-relief retracing Shapur II's victory over the Roman emperor Julien the apostat, and his coronation by Mithra to the left, all under the auspices of Ahura Mazda. At the end of the visit you can visit one of the nearby tea houses.