Archeologists plan to study why Shapour’s sculpture, Iran’s biggest historical statue, was built in the first place.

The 7-meter-tall sculpture is chiseled out on the front face of the Shapour’s cave, located 6km north of the historical city of Bishapour southwest of Iran, and has always remained a national marvel.

 

Iranian experts have submitted different theories on the purpose of creating such a grueling masterpiece, the most verifiable of which contends it was meant to reflect the power of Shapour I, a Sasanid King.

“Some claim Shapour ordered his subjects to build it in order to highlight grandiose of his reign while others contend he wanted to show off his religious inclinations,” said Mosaib Amiri, head of the historical project of Bishapour.

Bishapour was built on the Imperial Road in Fars province, at the time of Shapour I (241-272) in the third century A.D. The beautiful scenery of the Shapour plain and river as well as the new architecture style of Bishapour buildings distinguished the city in the whole Iranian civilization at the time of Sasanid dynasty.