List of Sasanian inscriptions

This is a list of Sasanian inscriptions, which include remaining official inscriptions on rocks, as well as minor ones written on bricks, metal, wood, hide, papyri, and gems. Their significance is in the areas of linguistics, history, and study of religion in Persia. Some of the inscriptions are lost and are known only through tradition.

List of Sasanian inscriptions

Early royal Sasanian inscriptions were trilingual: Middle Persian (in Inscriptional Pahlavi), Parthian (in Inscriptional Parthian) and Greek. Since the rule of Narseh, Greek was omitted. Book Pahlavi script replaced Inscriptional Pahlavi in late Middle Persian inscriptions.

Sasanian inscriptions
Photo Name Dedicated/attributed to Location Language(s) Notes Source
Inscriptional Parthian, Greek, and Pahlavi

Investiture of Ardashir I (KNRm) Ardashir I Naqsh-e Rostam, Fars Persian, Parthian, Greek
Nasrabad fire altar (ABD) Shapur I From Nasrabad, Fars Persian? Dating to after 243/4 [1][2]: 68 
 Dura-Europos (scratched and ink 'dipinti') inscriptions Shapur I Dura-Europos, Syria Persian, Parthian 211/212 (Parthian), 252–253 (Persian) [3][4][5]

 Shapur I's victory relief at Naqsh-e Rostam (BŠm) Shapur I Naqsh-e Rostam Persian
Inscriptional Parthian, Greek, and Pahlavi Šābuhr I's inscription at the Kaʿba-ye Zardošt (ŠKZ, RGDS?) Šābuhr I Kaʿba-ye Zardošt, Naqš-e Rostam Persian?, Parthian?, Greek? Dating to 260–262 [2]: 64 
Shapur I's inscription at Naqsh-e Rostam Shapur I Naqsh-e Rostam Persian, Parthian, Greek Only part of the Greek inscriptions remains
Shapur I inscription in Hajiabad[6] Shapur I Hajiabad, near Istakhr Persian, Parthian

Shapur I inscription in Naqsh-e Rajab (ŠNRb) Shapur I Naqsh-e Rajab Persian, Parthian, Greek

Kartir's inscription at Sar Mashhad (KSM) Kartir Sar Mashhad Persian
Inscriptional Pahlavi and Parthian Inscription of Apasa the Scribe? (ŠVŠ) Šābuhr I Bīšāpūr Persian?, Parthian? [2]: 64 
Kartir's inscription at Naghsh-e Rajab (KNRb) Kartir Naqsh-e Rajab Persian [7]
Inscriptional PahlaviInscriptional Parthian Paikuli inscription (NPi) Narseh Barkal village, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraq Persian, Parthian [8]
Inscriptional Pahlavi

Inscriptional Pahlavi

 Inscription of Narseh at Bishapur Narseh (formerly Bahram I)
Inscription of Shapur Sakanshah Shapur Sakanshah Tachara Palace, Persepolis, Fars Persian

Sasanian inscription in Meshginshahr (ŠMŠ, MeSh) Shapur II Near Meshginshahr Persian
Inscriptional Pahlavi Inscription of Shapur II and Shapur III at Taq-e Bostan (ŠTBn-I & II) Shapur II Taq-e Bostan Persian
Inscriptional Pahlavi Shapur III
Inscription in the fire-temple of Abruwan Mihr-Narseh Abruwan Lost; attested in al-Istakhri's work
Inscription on Gor's bridge (MNFd) Mihr-Narseh Gor, Fars Persian

Bandian complex inscriptions Peroz I /Kavad I Bandian complex Persian?
Darband fortification inscriptions Ḵosrow I; Dariuš (āmārgar); Mōšīg, Ādurgušnasp, and Rašn (architects); unknowns Darband Persian Mid-6th century [9]
Darab Inscription Zarindasht, Darab Persian Discovered in 2020[10][11][12][13]
Sasanian relief discovered in England None Early 3rd century?

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lerner, Judith A. (2006). "The Seal of a Eunuch in the Sasanian Court" (PDF). Journal of Inner Asian Art and Archaeology. 1: 114, 118. doi:10.1484/J.JIAAA.2.301928. ISSN 1783-9025.
  2. 1 2 3 Emmerick, Ronald E.; Macuch, Maria (2008-10-31). The Literature of Pre-Islamic Iran: Companion Volume I. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85773-653-6.
  3. ↑ Brunner, Christopher J.; Frye, R. N. (1972). "The Iranian Epigraphic Remains from Dura-Europos". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 92 (4): 492. doi:10.2307/599959.
  4. ↑ "DURA EUROPOS ii. The Inscriptions". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
  5. ↑ "Middle Persian Inscriptions | The Synagogue of Dura Europos". Retrieved 2026-08-02.
  6. ↑ "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica".
  7. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-29. Retrieved 2017-12-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ "Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica".
  9. ↑ "DARBAND EPIGRAPHY i. MIDDLE PERSIAN INSCRIPTIONS". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2026-08-02.
  10. ↑ Hassani, Mirza Mohamad; کلانی, Reza Kalani رضا (1 January 2020). "Final Report of the Newly Discovered Pahlavi Inscription in Darvā Village-Zarindasht (Dārāb)".
  11. ↑ کلانی, Reza Kalani رضا; Hassani, Mirza Mohamad (1 January 2020). "Discovery of a New Pahlavi Inscription in Darab of Fars".
  12. ↑ "Zarindasht, Darab Inscription – Sasanika: Late Antique Near East Project". E-Sasanika. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "گزارشی مصور از کتیبه نویافته پهلوی در روستای دروا-زرین‌دشت". همشهری آنلاین (in Persian). 12 September 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
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