A large section of the horse relief in Bahram II’s Sasanian rock carving, commonly referred to as “Rustam’s Mace,” at Tang-e Chogan, Kazeroon, has collapsed once again. This section, which had previously been damaged and restored, recently gave way.
According to ISNA, Siavash Arya, a researcher and cultural heritage activist, provided images of the rock relief to the news agency and commented on the incident. He stated:
“In Azar 1390 (December 2011), news surfaced that caused significant concern among cultural heritage enthusiasts. Reports revealed that unidentified individuals had used a hammer-like tool to damage the Sasanian rock relief of Bahram II at Tang-e Chogan, shattering a large part of the mace carried by the king’s horse. The perpetrators fled after their act of vandalism.
Following public outcry, expert concerns, and media attention, the provincial cultural heritage organization at the time-initiated restoration work on the damaged section in Dey 1390 (January 2012). Fortunately, the broken fragments of the relief were still present and were collected for repair. However, the restoration process was heavily criticized.
Cultural heritage activists in Kazerun noted that the restoration had been conducted by a local stonemason with no formal training or expertise in historical preservation, rather than by skilled restoration specialists. This unprofessional approach ultimately compromised the stability of the repaired section. Now, more than a decade later, the restored area has once again collapsed.”
The relief portrays Bahram II, a Sasanian king, mounted on a horse. He is depicted with long hair, a beard, and a winged crown resembling eagle wings. A heavy quiver hangs from his belt on his right side, and his horse is ornately adorned. As seen in many Sasanian rock reliefs, a tassel (kompeleh) is attached to the right side of the saddle.
He stated: “Through investigations and inquiries with experts from the Cultural Heritage Department, I have confirmed that the collapse of the mace on Bahram II Sassanid’s horse in Tang-e Chogan was undoubtedly due to improper restoration efforts in the past and not caused by any individual or group. Fortunately, the broken and fragmented stones have been collected and cataloged by the Bishapur World Heritage Site team. These will eventually be restored and reassembled by skilled stone and historical artifact restoration specialists from the Fars Province Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department.”
This cultural heritage activist added: “What is being criticized and raises questions is why the Bishapur World Heritage Site and the Fars Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department have not publicly addressed this significant matter in the two months since it occurred. Such silence could provide an opportunity for opponents of cultural heritage and Iran to exploit the situation. More importantly, why hasn’t urgent action been taken to restore the damaged section? Tang-e Chogan is a nationally and globally significant site that attracts many visitors. Additionally, those who had previously seen this bas-relief might mistakenly assume that the damage was caused by profiteers or vandals targeting historical and cultural artifacts, leading to concerns that the Cultural Heritage Department has been negligent. This could tarnish the reputation of the Bishapur World Heritage Site and the Cultural Heritage Department.”
In conclusion, he said: “I hope that this time, the damaged and collapsed section will be properly restored using scientific and expert techniques by skilled stone and artifact restoration specialists so that we won’t witness its collapse again in the future or in the years to come.”
This cultural heritage researcher explained that the part of the bas-relief commonly referred to today as the “horse’s mace” in Sassanid art is originally known as a manguleh—a term recognized in Sassanid artistry.
He added: “The bas-relief of Bahram II in Tang-e Chogan depicts his victory over desert-dwelling Arabs. It is one of the most unique and invaluable Sassanid bas-reliefs in the country, holding great significance for experts and archaeologists.”
Aria stated: “The historic and world-renowned site of Tang-e Chogan was, in ancient times, a venue where Sassanid kings and courtiers played polo. It is considered one of the most remarkable and unparalleled historical and archaeological complexes in the country. Today, the site features four bas-reliefs on the left side of the gorge and two on the right. Tang-e Chogan is part of the Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars, which includes Bishapur, Shapur Cave, Qal’eh Dokhtar (The Maiden Castle) in Kazeroon, the Sassanid Palace in Sarvestan, and other Sassanid-era monuments in Firuzabad. This collective heritage was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site during the Bahrain session on Tir 9, 1397 (June 30, 2018).”
The global site of Tang-e Chogan is located 19 kilometers from the city of Kazeroon, adjacent to the Shapur River, and approximately 120 kilometers from Shiraz, the provincial capital of Fars.
