"دليل كرمانشاه." [ظ‎‎٢‎٠‎٨] (٥٠٤/٤٢١)

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with half the kingdom. To the left is the God Oramzd. Under Ardeshir
and Shapur is a prostrate figure wearing a Roman helmet. Some say this
figure is meant for Artabanus, the last Parthian king, whilst others prefer
to see in it the Emperor Valerian. The figures in the first vault and those
in the second one and on the face of the cliff have been wantonly damaged.
The hind leg of Khosroe’s horse has been broken off, and the head of the
horse mutilated and nearly all the faces have been defaced. The Persians
say that this happened during the Arab occupation. The panels represent^
ing the hunts have also been damaged by Persians, trying to add some
figures, and by a few Europeans who have thought naught of cutting their
names right in the centre of these works of art.
When Nasr-ed*Din Shah visited the place he exclaimed : “ Sightseers
have not left a single blank space without their inscriptions” .
The smooth surface in the lower panel of the first arch, near Khosroe’s
equestrian statue, has been utilized by former travellers to commemorate
their journey through this part of Persia. Amongst other names can i e
deciphered those of Brigadier-General J. Malcolm and of Sir II. Rawlinson.
There are no inscriptions previous to last century.
Over the boar hunt Agha Ghani, chief Eunuch of Mohammed Ali Mirza,
had a panel sculptured representing Mahommed Ali Mirza sitting on a
golden chair with his son Heshmet-ed-Dowleh in front of him and another
of his sons (Emad-ed-Dowleh) behind. To quote Nasr-ed-Din Shah “Agha
Ghani has had his disgraceful figure cut in the rock behind that of
Heshmet-ed-Dowleh and has in reality spoiled the look of this arch by
this atrocious sculpture This addition to the arch is painted in gorgeous
colours.
Close by can be seen another excavation or recess which has bean begun
but was never finished.
Near the large reservoirs opposite the arches are two capitals and what
remains of a large statue the features of which can no more be discerned.
This statue is held in great veneration by the Kurds, who deposit
offerings at its feet when they suffer from fever and other ailments.
The two capitals have on two of their sides, a figure of Ormuzd holding
circlets. They are supposed to be fire-worshippers’ altars. Similar ones
have been found in Bisutun.
We may here mention the well known legend of Farhad and Shirin accord
ing to which Farhad would have undertaken all these works and many
others extending all over Persia for the love of Shirin, and finally com
mitted suicide when Khosroe’s messenger brought him the false news of
Shirin’s death.
Inscription on the left hand side.
Image of the worsliipper of Mazda, the King b hapur, King of Kings of Iran and Aniran
(countries outside of Iran), 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 Hormazda, King of Kings.
Inscription on the right hand side.
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 Kirg
Hormazda, King of Kings of Iran and Aniran, whose origin is from the Gods, the grand
son of Narcis, King of Kings.