Naqsh-e Rostam

A cliff face north of Persepolis carries four Achaemenid royal tombs cut high into the rock, each with a cross-shaped facade and a carved relief above the door showing the king on a platform borne by the peoples of the empire. One is identified by inscription as that of Darius the Great, and the others are generally assigned to Xerxes, Artaxerxes I and Darius II. Below them, cut into the same cliff seven centuries later, are Sassanid reliefs celebrating royal victories and investitures, including a famous panel showing the Roman emperor Valerian kneeling before Shapur I. In front of the cliff stands the Kaaba-ye Zartosht, a square stone tower of the Achaemenid period whose function remains disputed.

What you actually see

• Four cliff-cut royal tombs - cross-shaped facades high in the rock.
• Sassanid victory reliefs - carved below the tombs seven centuries later.
• The Kaaba-ye Zartosht - a square stone tower of unresolved purpose.
• The relief of Shapur and Valerian - a Roman emperor shown kneeling.

When to go

March to May and September to November. One to two hours, usually combined with Persepolis a short drive south. Morning light falls on the cliff face and is best for the reliefs.

Honest expectations

The tombs are high in the cliff and cannot be entered, so they are seen from below; binoculars help considerably. There is no shade at all in front of the rock face. Signage is limited and the reliefs need explanation to read.

Nearby

Persepolis is a short drive south; Pasargadae lies north on the same road.