Photos

The "Taq-e-Bostan" (Bostan Arch) or "Taq-e-Vostan" (Vostan Arch) is situated to the right of the city entrance of Kermanshah, and is to the north east of this city.

This aggregate which comprises of engravings and epigraphs is related to the Sassanide era(266 - 651 AD). The same is located in the mountain, and together with the natural surroundings, a gorgeous landscape comes into view.

On entering this area, the first epigraph -on the right- is related to Ardeshir II. Ardeshir stands between Ahouramazda and Mitra. His face turned towards Ahouramazda, and his left hand receiving a wreath of friendship from Ahoura Mazda. Under their feet lies the enemy or "Ahriman".

The first vault- in the middle of the shot- which is the small one has been carved in the mountain during the reign of Shapur and includes two relief sculptures and two inscriptions in the Sassanid Pahlavi.
According to the inscriptions the two pictures belong to Shapur the second.
The smaller vault is of greater significance since the two inscriptions have remained intact from events and act as introductions to the demonstrations of the vault.

The bigger vault -on the left- which contains more demonstrations and delicate carvings, has attracted the attention of historians.
The mouth of the bigger vault is 7.4 meters; it is 7.17 meters deep and 9 meters high. This bigger vault belongs to the era of Khosrow the second known as Parviz.