TEHRAN – The only surviving Parthian-era stone relief in Fars province has been recently restored to preserve its historical significance, the province’s tourism director announced on Monday.
Mohammad Sabet Eklidi visited the site of the bas-relief overlooking the ancient city of Kiel and announced the completion of the restoration, ISNA reported.
Officials said the relief aid was in an open environment and suffered both human and chemical damage. After a thorough evaluation and initial documentation, a restoration plan for the relief was implemented.
This relief depicts a Parthian soldier shooting arrows with a quiver strapped to his back.
He added that the ancient artwork had suffered damage such as cracking, weathering and biological deterioration. Initial cleaning, including using restoration materials to remove dust and graffiti from surfaces, was carried out in accordance with precise documentation, officials said.
Sabet Eklidi also said that in accordance with established conservation principles, stone restoration experts carefully repaired cracks and other damaged areas using special reinforcing materials.
Previous reports revealed the deterioration of the reliefs, with structural cracks and partial collapse due to years of neglect and exposure to environmental factors.
The relief, carved into a mountainside near Kiir, about 20 kilometers from Firzabad, measures approximately 1.20 x 2.40 meters and was included in Iran’s National Heritage List in 1975 with registration number 939.
A glimpse into the Parthian era
The Parthian Empire, also known as the Arsacean Empire, was a major Iranian political and cultural power centered in ancient Iran from 247 BC to 224 AD. Its name comes from its founder, Arsasses I, who led the Parni tribe to conquer Parthia in northeastern Iran. At that time, Parthia was a satrapy (province) under the rule of Andragoras, a rebel against the Seleucids.
Under Mithridates I (r. 171-132 BC), the empire expanded significantly, capturing Media and Mesopotamia from the Seleucids. At its peak, the Parthian Empire stretched from north of the Euphrates River (present-day central-eastern Turkey) to present-day Afghanistan and western Pakistan. Located along the Silk Road, this empire flourished as a trading and commercial hub connecting the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean and the Han Dynasty in China.
The Parthians assimilated various elements of the empire’s diverse cultures, including Persian, Hellenistic, and regional influences. Initially, the Arsakeid court adopted many aspects of Greek culture, but gradually Iranian traditions were revived. The Parthian rulers adopted the title “King of Kings”, claiming a tradition from the Achaemenids. Unlike the Achaemenids, who ruled through centrally appointed satraps, the Parthians often allowed local kings to serve as vassals. The Arsacids appointed a small number of satraps, especially outside Iran, but these territories were smaller and less autonomous than the Achaemenid model. As the empire expanded, the central government moved from Nyssa to Ctesiphon, near modern-day Baghdad, although other cities also served as capitals.
morning