At Naqsh-e Rostam, history stands still in a mᴀssive rock relief, capturing the moment when the mighty Roman Empire bowed before Persia. Carved into the stone by order of Shapur I, the second king of the Sᴀssanian Empire, this engraving—measuring approximately 7 meters wide and 3 meters high—depicts the dramatic defeat of the Romans in the 3rd century CE.
In this masterpiece, Shapur I, mounted on his grand steed, receives the surrender of Valerian, the Roman emperor—the only emperor in history to be captured alive. Meanwhile, another Roman figure, likely Emperor Philip the Arab, kneels in submission, marking Rome’s earlier treaty with Persia.
This is not just an image; it is a declaration of Persian power, a moment of triumph chiseled into eternity. Here, the East stood victorious, and the West was humbled.
