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Monumentum

Relief of Mithras, Shapur II and Ardashit II

This monument depicts Mihr/Mithras watching over the transition of power from Shapur II to Ardashit II, which took place in 379.
  • Mihr, Shapur II and Ardashit II at Tāq-e Bostān

    Mihr, Shapur II and Ardashit II at Tāq-e Bostān
    Ho3in1988 

  • Mihr, Shapur II and Ardashit II at Tāq-e Bostān

    Mihr, Shapur II and Ardashit II at Tāq-e Bostān
    Ho3in1988 

  • Detail of Julian's corpse at Tāq-e Bostān I

    Detail of Julian's corpse at Tāq-e Bostān I
    Philippe Chavin 

 
The New Mithraeum
7 Nov 2022
Updated on Jun 2024

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In this scene, Mihr watches over the transition of power from Shapur II to Ardashir II, which took place in AD 379, symbolically represented by the passing over of a ribboned wreath. The ribboned wreath or ring is a common motif in Sasanian art, and in Parthian reliefs before that, used to show the bestowal of divine glory (Middle Persian farr, Avestan khwarneh) when given by gods, or of legitimacy, approval and honour when passed between mortals.

Shapur and Ardashir stand on the fallen figure of the Roman emperor Julian, who died in 363 after a defeat by Shapur near Ctesiphon. Mihr

The…
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