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, Parthian and Greek. Since the rule of Narseh, Greek was omitted. Book Pahlavi script replaced Inscriptional Pahlavi in late Middle Persian inscriptions.
PhotoNameDedicated/attributed toLocationLanguageNotesSource

Investiture of Ardashir I Ardashir INaqsh-e Rostam, FarsPersian, Parthian, Greek
Shapur IFrom Nasrabad, FarsPersian?Dating to after 243/4

 Shapur INaqsh-e RostamPersian
Šābuhr I's inscription at the Kaʿba-ye Zardošt Šābuhr IKaʿba-ye Zardošt, Naqš-e RostamPersian?, Parthian?, Greek?Dating to 260–262
Shapur I's inscription at Naqsh-e RostamShapur INaqsh-e RostamPersian, Parthian, GreekOnly part of the Greek inscriptions remains
Shapur I inscription in HajiabadShapur IHajiabad, near IstakhrPersian, Parthian

Shapur I inscription in Naqsh-e Rajab Shapur INaqsh-e RajabPersian, Parthian, Greek

 KartirSar MashhadPersian
? Šābuhr IBīšāpūrPersian?, Parthian?
Kartir's inscription at Naghsh-e Rajab KartirNaqsh-e RajabPersian
Paikuli inscription NarsehBarkal village, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, IraqPersian, Parthian

Narseh
Shapur SakanshahTachara Palace, Persepolis, FarsPersian

 Shapur IINear MeshginshahrPersian
Inscription of Shapur II and Shapur III at Taq-e Bostan Shapur II, Shapur IIITaq-e BostanPersian
Inscription in the fire-temple of AbruwanMihr-NarsehAbruwanLost; attested in al-Istakhri's work
Mihr-NarsehGor, FarsPersian
Bandian complex inscriptionsPeroz I /Kavad IBandian complexPersian?
Sasanian relief discovered in England-Early 3rd century?-
Zarindasht, Darab InscriptionZarindasht, DarabPersianDiscovered in 2020-