Längerer Beitrag – schneller Überblick:
Today we're looking at Gerd's pretty much only wish in Iran. It's really rare that he puts a pin on our wish list, but this place seems to fascinate him a lot. We suspect that his love of Indiana Jones has led him to the rock tombs. On site, however, we realise that the tombs look very similar to those from his beloved Indy films, but were not used for filming.
Nevertheless: let's go. And as these tombs are on our way to Shiraz, we are both looking forward to the visit. Naqsh-e Rostam, a place with even more secrets and mysteries, lies in the shadow of the ancient Persian capital Persepolis, which we will of course also visit these days.
The rock-cut tombs bear witness to the artistic and architectural achievements of two powerful dynasties: the Achaemenids and the Sassanids. We've heard so much about them, but we still don't know exactly who lived where and when.
So short:
The Achaemenid Empire (also known as the Old Persian Empire) was the first Persian empire. It extended from the late 6th to the late 4th century BC. over the territories of the present-day states of Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Egypt.
The Sassanid Empire was the second Persian empire of antiquity. It existed from 224 or 226 to to the battle of Nehawend in the year 642 or until the death of the last great king, Yazdegerd III, in 651.
The eternal tombs of the Achaemenids
The tombs of four Achaemenid kings are carved into the steep rock faces of Naqsh-e Rostam, including that of Darius I, who can be clearly identified by an inscription. The other tombs are attributed to the kings Artaxerxes I, Darius II and Xerxes I.
Sassanid art in stone
Below these royal resting places are eight rock reliefs commissioned by various Sassanid kings. The scenes depicted, often with the kings wearing magnificent crowns, are a fascinating testimony to Sassanid art and their desire to honour and perpetuate the greatness of their predecessors.
Unfortunately, you can't enter the tombs, okay, maybe I wouldn't find that so cool either. But it was so long ago and there's a bit of Indy in all of us. So we admire the huge tomb fronts from the outside, wonder how it was all built in the past, take a close look at the details and are still amazed that it was all hewn out of (one!) rock. Simply impressive. And last but not least, I listen to Gerd tell me the whole story of how Indy has to go through secret doors, drink magic potions and eat adventurous things.
I have a strong suspicion that an Indiana Jones film evening is about to follow. And I'm going to cook something sensible as a precaution, because I don't fancy monkey's eye soup and the like.
Sources: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/iran/naqsh-e-rostam-naqsh-e-rajab/attractions/naqsh-e-rostam/a/poi-sig/1124176/1332598 & https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqsch-e_Rostam & https://www.sachmet.ch/sachmet/bildergalerie/iran-persien-achaemeniden-sassaniden-islam/die-felsreliefs-von-naqsh-e-rostam-und-naqsh-e-radjab/
Merci for "travelling with us
We are thinking about taking another break from travelling in the summer and visiting our families in Germany and Switzerland. One of the ideas is to organise a Lecture about our long journey to the Persian Gulf to prepare. If you would like to, what would interest you the most? We will also tell stories here that don't find a place here on the blog. We're thinking of the Bern and Berlin area - simply because we have family there. But other places are also conceivable. Feel free to write to us.
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