Strolling through the historical terrain of Western Iran is not just going on a leisurely walk but actually placing oneself in the middle of history itself. The path up the steep mountain slopes towards these hallowed stone faces creates a feeling of perspective, where the dry earth meets limestone mountains that have been witness to many empires.
Steps on the Path
The Ground Beneath Your Feet: The trip starts out along dry, rocky trails running through fields of bright yellow wild grasses and loose rocks. The process of walking uphill must be taken with caution in the midst of the warm, dry mountain air.
BISOTUN CAVE (Shekarchian cave) Creation date: The Middle Paleolithic period Unique features: First Neanderthal (homo Neanderthalensis) habitat in Iran Area: 35 m2 Term of use: Hunters hideout Neanderthal In the fall of 1949 for the first time in Iran, remains of Neanderthals were discovered in Bisotun cave by Carlton S. Coon. The Middle Palaeolithic broadly spanned from 250,000-200,000 to 40,000 years ago. It was coincides with some short warm period and long glacial periods. According to studies in Iran, average temperature in last glacial Alborz and Zagros was 5c below the average emperature in present time.
Rock Carvings in the Wild: On the pathway, weathered rocks lie silent amidst the scenery with faint reliefs on them. Rock carvings in the form of figures carved into the rock reveal the historicity of the region which dates back to ages past your arrival at the cliff.
Balash Relief
In the skirts of Bisotun 400 meters away from the Gotarzes relief towards north-west, a cubic slab stands with carved figures on its three faces. The middle figure illustrates "Balash" -the Parthian king- in the height of 180 cm. He has a necklace and a belt around the waist. He wears a simple cloth with a loose skirt. He has a round beard and swinging moustache and long hair decorated with a snood. This is the famous snood of the Parthian king that is well known in the relics of this period.
Balash has a cup in his left hand and has stretched his right hand toward a hearth probably pouring something into it. A Parthian inscription has been written on the hearth in nine lines stating: "This is the figure of Balash, king of kings, son of Balash, king of kings, grandson of ..." The ending of this relief is indistinct and it is unclear which Balash this figure belongs to, since there have been six Parthian kings entitled with Balash until the third century.
On the left side of Balash placed on the other surface of the stone, another man has been illustrated with the height of 163 cm who has worn same as Balash. He has his right hand up and holds an object in his left hand. He seems to be stepping towards Balash.
On the right side of Balash figure, a third person has been illustrated on the other side of the stone stepping towards Balash as well. He has worn a simple jacket reaching his knees, a belt on his waist and a necklace on his neck. He has also an object In his right hand while his left hand is not clear. Some of the archaeologists suggest that this is a religious scene which is a common theme of the Parthian art.
Journey to the Inscriptions: As you climb up with the cliff in front of you, rock faces become more visible. It is an experience beyond compare when you finally arrive at the carved niches and the Persian inscriptions carved into the walls of the mountain.
THE RELIEF OF HERACLES Date of Creation: 148 BCE- Antiochus V Length of the Statue: 147 cm
This relief represents the most known Greek hero, Heracles, whom is shown nude, with curly hair and beard, resting on a lion pelt. On his back, an olive tree is carved on the wall and a quiver full of arrows is hanging from it. A cudgel is also near the tree. Behind the head of Heracles is an inscription in seven lines in old Greek written on a smooth face with a Greek temple-like frame. According to this inscription, the figure was created in year 164 of Seleucid reign equivalent to 148 BCE on the occasion of Greek conquest of Parthian Empire.
Relief of Gotarzes conquest
In the eastern side of the Mithradates II relief another relief has been carved on the same rock with the dimension of 5.44" 3.1m illustrating Gotarzes II who is conquering a prince of Parthians namely Mithradates. Romans encouraged Mithradates for invasion to Iran but he was defeated by Gotarzes II near the Bisotun Mountain. Gotarzes governed in Parthia from 38 A.D till 51 A.D. This empire might be descendent of Gotarzes greatest Satrap who has been depicted in Mithradates II relief.
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