Naqsh-e Rajab

A small Sasanian-era rock-relief site in Fars province, Iran, containing carved royal images from the early 3rd century CE. It is one of a set of Sasanian carved panels in the region and is important for the study of early Sasanian royal iconography.

The principal features are the cliff-carved reliefs that portray Sasanian rulers in ceremonial and triumphal poses; visitors examine these panels and their inscriptions at close range. The site is compact and typically visited as part of a wider archaeological route in the Persepolis area.

The reliefs were cut in the early Sasanian period as a form of royal propaganda and memorialization and have been the subject of archaeological and epigraphic study. They survive on exposed rock and have been subject to conservation efforts due to weathering and human impact.

Naqsh-e Rajab lies in the plains of Fars province near the ancient ceremonial complexes around Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rustam, making it accessible as a short stop when touring the region.

• Date and subjects: The reliefs date to the early Sasanian period in the 3rd century CE and depict rulers such as Ardashir I and Shapur I.
• Combined visits: The site is frequently visited together with nearby Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rustam on archaeological itineraries in Fars province.

What to See #

• Sasanian relief panels: A carved rock panel showing royal figures and ceremonial scenes from the early Sasanian period; the reliefs are carved into a cliff face and are the primary features visitors come to see.