Naqsh-e Rostam
Location
About
A cliff face 12 km northwest of Persepolis containing the rock-cut tombs of four Achaemenid kings — Darius I, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, and Darius II — each with a cross-shaped facade carved high into the limestone cliff. In the valley below, the Sassanid kings later carved giant rock reliefs celebrating their victories, including Shapur I's famous capture of the Roman Emperor Valerian in 260 CE.
Significance
Naqsh-e Rostam encapsulates 800 years of Iranian royal and religious history in one cliff face — from Achaemenid Zoroastrian royal tomb iconography to Sassanid military triumphs. The tomb of Darius I contains the Darius inscription (DNa), one of the most important Achaemenid texts, declaring his duties as king under Ahura Mazda. Shapur I's relief of Valerian kneeling before him is the most dramatic image of Roman defeat in any medium.
History & Historical Arc
Darius I (486-522 BCE) built his tomb here as a cross-shaped structure in the cliff face. Three subsequent Achaemenid ki…
Archaeological Notes
The Ka'ba-ye Zartosht stone tower contains a trilingual inscription of the Sassanid king Shapur I listing the empire's t…
Key Features & Structures
- Four Achaemenid rock-cut royal tombs
- Ka'ba-ye Zartosht stone tower
Visitor Information
Open daily. 12 km north of Persepolis. Usually combined with Persepolis visit. UNESCO-listed area.
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Darius Inscription DNa
- Shapur I Inscription (Ka'ba-ye Zartosht)