There are few traces left of the Parthian dynasty. Therefore, every work and every relic from that historical period has immense value. An example of Parthian monuments is the petroglyph “Khong-Azhdar.” Alas, this precious work is on the verge of destruction!
Khong Azhdar is also called Tang Nowrozi by natives. That work is on a stone slab 15 km from Izeh City in Khuzestan province. Khong Azhdar is two raised images (cameos); one survives from the Elamite period, which unfortunately has been more or less erased and is very difficult to identify, and the other is a Parthian work with great historical value. This ancient petroglyph was first discovered by Louis Vanderberg, a Belgian orientalist (who died in 1994 AD) in 1339 AD. Since then, only a little study and research has been done about the Khong Azhdar petroglyph! From the faded Elamite petroglyph, they have found out that it is an image of holding a levee in the Elamite court and those who are standing before the king. But the second image (Parthian image) shows the half-face of a man sitting on a horse with four men standing before him.
Research believes the horseman is a Parthian king (perhaps King Mehrdad) with two birds (maybe doves) carved on his head. One of the birds carries a ring which is a sign of power. One of the four men is a priest with a pine fruit in his hand. The rider has royal glory. This can be better understood from his hat. The first man before him has his left hand on the sword strapped to his waist.
A hypothesis that has been suggested is that one of the men seen in this relief is the same as the bronze statue of a one-armed man kept in the museum of ancient Iran or has a similar design and shape.
The current state of Khong Azhdar raised image
Unfortunately, this ancient relief, that has great value and importance and is a precious relic of the Parthian empire, is not in good condition. In its report on Tir 19, 2018, the ISNA news agency mentioned its “destruction” day by day. An informed person is quoted to have said: “The cultural heritage of Izeh in Khuzestan province is still not reacting to this incident.” Nothing is being done to preserve it, and in the past years, “we have witnessed the oblivion and destruction of most of the ancient reliefs in Izeh areas… even in the past one of the pieces of stone that were on the relief was removed by thieves”.
A year after that the raised image of Khong Azhdar had the same dilapidated condition. On Khordad 17, 1399, the Ilna news agency announced the release of a film that showed the “theft, destruction and pricing of the Khong Azhdar petroglyph.” Imna news agency reported on Azar 15, 1399that this ancient monument is “exposed to natural elements such as snow and rain, which over time may erase the Parthian petroglyphs like the Elamite one.”
However, the heritage lovers of Khuzestan province believe that the general directorate of cultural heritage of Khuzestan province is not protecting this heritage. The report further states: the Parthian stone carving is in a “terrible” condition, and subsidence has weakened the ground. Then it has been requested that “Before disaster occurs (we have witnessed so far in the heritage history of our country), something should be done to protect this petroglyph.”
All those reports and news create the fear that one of the ancient works of Iran will be lost. If we are not aware that few works of the Parthians have been left, we will better understand what a significant loss the loss of Khong Azhdar image will be a great loss for an important part of Iran’s hisktory.
