Parthian bas-relief at Mydan Mishan
The Parthian bas-relief at Mydan Mishan is a Parthian-era carving located about 10 kilometers southwest of Hamadan, near the well-known Ganjnameh inscriptions. It sits in a small stone niche measuring about 90 by 60 by 20 centimeters, and shows a man lying on the upper part of a klinē. He holds a drinking bowl in his left hand close to his chest. Near his raised right hand are four flower-like motifs and what seems to be a second drinking vessel. To the left is a small globe, which may represent a celestial sign.
The figure wears a simple conical hat typical of Parthian art, though the exact type is unclear. He is dressed in Parthian clothes, including a belt with floral motifs and plaques similar to those worn by Vologases on other reliefs, and he has Parthian riding boots. The carving suggests he might be a wealthy person or dignitary, but the relief’s low quality indicates he may not have been a prominent figure in Hamadan at the time, perhaps a middle-class man seeking a leisure scene.
The Mydan Mishan relief shares many elements with the nearby Parthian relief in the Yakhchal Valley, though there are notable stylistic and preservation differences. It also has many common features with the Tang-e Sarvak rock carvings. The leg position seen here is a common Parthian motif and is similar to the stance of the Hercules figure at Behistun.
Dating is uncertain. Some scholars suggest a Late Parthian date (2nd to early 3rd century AD) due to similarities with Tang-e Sarvak, while a broader date after 141 BC is also considered.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:24 (CET).