The six reliefs in the Tang-e Chowgan
this monument is a copy of a relief
made by Shapur's father Ardašir I (224?-241) at Naqš-i
Rustam. Two horsemen are facing each other. From the left, the supreme
hands over the symbol of power, the cydaris ring, to Shapur, to
the right. Ahuramazda's horse tramples upon the devil (Ahriman), whereas
the horse of Shapur steps on the body of the Roman emperor Gordian
III, who died during his campaign against the Sasanian capital Ctesiphon
(244). The central, kneeling figure is the emperor Philippus
Arabs, who paid a large ransom and was allowed to take back the remains
of the Roman army.
In 260, Shapur defeated another Roman emperor, Valerian. Although our relief is damaged, we can be certain that
he was not depicted. Therefore, this monument was made between 244 and
260. The defeat of Valerian necessitated the creation of a new
Louis Vanden Berghe, Reliefs
rupestres de l' Iran ancien (1983 Brussels), #59.