Bisotun
Situated at a short distance from the city of Kermanshah in western Iran, covering an area of 116 hectares, Bisotun monuments constitute one of the greatest attractions for visitors. Bearing the traces of Ancient Persia, the Bisotun archaeological site is known for containing one of the most important and magnificent artifacts to have survived from the Persian Empire.
On the rocks of Bisotun Mountain overlooking a vast nice plain, there exists some of the most important historical evidence, featuring remains from the prehistoric times to the Median, Achaemenid, Sassanian, and Ilkhanid periods.
A collection of huge rock reliefs and inscriptions, the gigantic statue of Hercules, Median temple, Safavid caravanserai, and hunters’ cave are all witnesses of the ancient Persian glory and years of civilization that along with Bisotun lake offer a memorable sightseeing spot.
The principal monument of this site is the bas-relief and cuneiform inscriptions ordered by the Achaemenid king Darius the Great when he rose to the throne of the Persian Empire in 521 B.C. as an eye-catching example and a fine reminiscence of Darius’s Empire.
The well-preserved bas-relief portrays Darius holding a bow as a sign of sovereignty, and treading on the chest of a figure lying on his back before him. The relief depicts Darius facing nine rebels who objected to his crowning while Faravahar (winged Zoroastrian angel) hovers overhead, giving his blessing to the king.
The wonderful scene is surrounded by the magnificent 1,200 lines of inscriptions, expounding on Darius’s splendor and grandeur in three languages (Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian).
Registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Bisotun sculptures have been attracting the attention of domestic and global tourists and visitors to the art and delicacy which was used in carving these historical relics for centuries.
