Naqsh-e Rostam

Naqsh-e Rostam is an ancient archaeological necropolis carved into a high limestone cliff in Fars province of Iran, containing monumental royal tombs and monumental reliefs. The site holds rock-cut tombs of Achaemenid rulers and large Sassanian rock reliefs carved into the cliff face.

Visitors encounter four large cross-shaped tomb facades above ground level attributed to Achaemenid kings, and lower relief panels that celebrate Sassanian emperors and military victories. A distinct square stone tower known locally as the Ka’ba-ye Zartosht stands nearby and carries inscriptions and later modifications.

The Achaemenid tombs date from the first millennium BCE while the Sassanian reliefs were executed in the third century CE and later. The site has been visited and recorded since antiquity and is an important source for studying Persian imperial iconography and funerary architecture.

Naqsh-e Rostam lies northwest of the ancient ceremonial capital of Persepolis and close to the modern city of Marvdasht in Fars province, set against a stark cliff in a largely agricultural plain.

• Proximity to Persepolis: The monument cluster sits close to Persepolis and is frequently visited on the same trip; access is via the town of Marvdasht to the east.

What to See#

• Achaemenid royal tombs: Four royal Achaemenid rock-cut tombs carved into the cliff face, commonly attributed to Darius I, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I and Darius II; each tomb has a cross-shaped facade with an entrance chamber above ground level.
• Sassanian reliefs: Large Sassanian-period rock reliefs carved lower on the cliff showing imperial investiture scenes and battle triumphs, including the famous depiction of Shapur I’s victory over the Roman emperor Valerian.
• Ka’ba-ye Zartosht (tower): A freestanding square stone tower often called the Cube of Zoroaster, a stepped platformed structure near the cliff whose purpose is still debated but which carries inscriptions and later modifications.

Naqsh-e Rostam is near Marvdasht/Persepolis in Fars province. The site is most commonly reached by car from Shiraz - the drive from Shiraz to the Persepolis/Marvdasht area is about an hour (roughly 50-70 km depending on route), and Naqsh-e Rostam lies a short drive northwest of the Persepolis complex. There is a visitor car park and the rock-cut tombs and reliefs are reached on foot from the parking/entrance area (a few minutes’ walk). Organized day trips and private taxis from Shiraz are the usual public options.

• Visit early in the morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures and raking light that brings out the carved reliefs; the site is close to Persepolis so combining both early gives better light for both.
• Go before the main tourist buses arrive-weekdays and early hours are best-there's a small parking area and limited shade, so the quieter times let you study the inscriptions and reliefs without crowds.
• Hire a local guide or take a detailed guidebook to interpret the Achaemenid tomb façades and the later Sassanian reliefs; these carved panels and inscriptions are easy to miss unless you know what to look for.