118 BAGHDAD TO KERMANSHAH. 



a large panel representing a stag-hunt, while a corre- 

 sponding scene on the left represents a boar-hunt. The 

 back is occupied by two panels, one above the other, 

 the upper showing Khosroe Par viz (590-628 a.d.) in 

 the centre, with Shirin and the Emperor Mauritius on 

 either hand. This is the generally accepted theory, 

 though it must also be said that there is another which 

 assigns a mythical character to all three figures. The 

 lower panel is occupied by a gigantic figure of Khosroe 

 Parviz on horseback. The second arch, 17 feet high, 

 1 9 feet wide, and 1 1 feet deep, contains a panel on which 

 are sculptured the figures of Shapur II. (310-379 a.d.) 

 and Shapur III. (385-390 a.d.), with inscriptions in 

 Pehlevi on either side which leave no room for ingenious 

 conjecture. Here it is set down unmistakably who the 

 figures are, the inscription on the left reading : " Image 

 of the worshipper of Mazda, the king Shapur, king of 

 kings, of Iran and Aniran, whose origin is from the 

 gods, the son of the worshipper of Mazda, the king 

 Shapur, king of kings, of Iran and Aniran, whose origin 

 is from the gods, the grandson of the king Horamazda, 

 king of kings" — and that on the right: "This is the 

 image of the worshipper of Mazda, the king Shapur, 

 king of kings, of Iran and Aniran, whose origin is from 

 the gods, the son of the worshipper of Mazda, the king 

 Horamazda, king of kings, of Iran and Aniran, whose 

 origin is from the gods, the grandson of Narcis, king 

 of kings." 



The third set of sculptures on the right is the most 

 ancient of the three, and represents Shapur I. (241-273 

 A.D.) being invested with half the kingdom by Ardeshir, 

 founder of the Sassanian dynasty (211-241 a.d.) At 

 one side of the panel is a representation of the god 

 Ormuz, while a figure lying prostrate beneath Shapur 

 and Ardeshir is variously described as Artabanus, the 



