Naqsh-e Rajab is an archaeological site just east of istakhr and about 12 km north of perspolis in fars province, Iran. Together with Naqsh e rostam, which lies less than a kilometer away, the site is part of the Marvdasht cultural complex. Together, the two sites are a tentative candidate for UNESCO world heritage status. Naqsh-e Rajab is the site of four limestone rockface inscriptions and bas-reliefs that date to the early Sassanid era. One of the carvings is the investiture inscription of Ardeshir 1 (r. 226 – 241), the founder of the dynasty. The second investiture inscription is Ardeshir’s successor, Shapour 1 (r. 241 – 272). A third bas-relief, known as ‘Shapur’s Parade’ celebrates the king’s military victory in 244 over the Roman emperor Valerian and Philip the Arab. A fourth bas-relief and inscription is attributed to Kartir, high priest under Shapur I and his sons Hormizd1(r. 272 – 273) and Bahram1(r. 273 � 276).
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