This site is located about 9km southwest of
Persepolis. It’s name means ‘Picture of
Rostam’ because it was thought that the carvings below the tombs represent scenes from the life of the mythical hero
Rostam.
They actually represent some scenes from the lives of ancient kings.
Four tombs belonging to Achaemenid kings are carved out of the rock face at a remarkable height above the ground.
The tombs are known locally as the 'Persian crosses'.The entrance to each
tomb is at the center of each cross, that opens onto to a small chamber, where the king lay in a sarcophagus.
The horizontal beam of each of the
tomb's facades is believed to be a replica of the entrance of the palace at
Persepolis.
One of the tombs is identified by an accompanying inscription as the
tomb of Darius I the Great .The other three tombs are believed to be those of Xerxes I , Artaxerxes I , and Darius II respectively.
A fifth unfinished one might be that of Artaxerxes
...see more III, who reigned at the longest two years, but is more likely that of Darius III , last of the Achaemenid dynasts.
The tombs were looted following the conquest of the Achaemenid Empire by Alexander the Great.
Seven oversized rock reliefs at Naghsh’e Rostam depict monarchs of the Sassanid period:
1) The investiture relief of Ardeshir I (r. 226-242): The founder of the Sassanid Empire is seen being handed the ring of kingship by Ahura Mazda.
In the inscription, which also bears the oldest attested use of the term 'Iran', Ardeshir admits to betraying his pledge to Artabanus V , but legitimizes his action on the grounds that Ahura Mazda had wanted him to do so.
2) The victory of Shapur I (r. 241-272): This is the most famous of the Sassanid rock reliefs, and depicts Shapur's triumph over two Roman emperors, Valerian and Philip the Arab.
A more elaborate version of this rock relief is at Bishapur.
3) The "grandee" relief of Bahram II (r. 276-293): On each side of the king, who is depicted with an oversized sword, figures face the king. On the left stand five figures, perhaps members of the king's family.On the right stand three courtiers, one of which may be Kartir.
This relief is to the immediate right of the investiture inscription of Ardeshir, and partially replaces the much older relief which gives Naghsh’e Rostam its name.
4 & 5) the two equestrian reliefs of Bahram II (r. 276-293): The first equestrian relief, located below the fourth tomb, depicts the king battling a mounted Roman soldier.
The second equestrian relief, located immediately below the tomb of Darius I, is divided into two registers, an upper and a lower one.
In the upper register, the king appears to be forcing a Roman enemy from his horse.
In the lower register, the king is again battling a mounted Roman soldier.
Both reliefs depict a dead enemy under the hooves of the king's horse.
6) The investiture of Narseh (r. 293-303): In this relief, the king is depicted as receiving the ring of kingship from a female figure that is frequently assumed to be the divinity Aredvi Sura Anahita.
However, the king is not depicted in a pose that would be expected in the presence of a divinity and it hence likely that the woman is a relative, perhaps Queen Shapurdokhtak.
7) The equestrian relief of Hormizd II (r. 303-309): This relief is below tomb 3 and depicts Hormizd forcing an enemy from his horse.
Immediately above the relief and below the tomb is a badly damaged relief of what appears to be Shapur II (r.
309-379) accompanied by courtiers.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.anobanini.com
http://www.megalithic.co.uk
