Kul-e Farah
Encyclopedia
Kul-e Farah is the site of six Elamite
rock reliefs that are located in a gorge on the plain's east side. Kul-e Farah is located near the city of Izeh
in Khuzestan, southwest Iran
. The reliefs were first visited in European research by Austen Henry Layard
in 1841. Layard copied the 24-line cuneiform
inscription on relief I, and five of the short epigraphs on some of the figures.
It has been suggested that this is a kind of open sanctuary for religious ceremonies involving the sacrifice of animals. Three are on rock faces, while the other three are on large boulders. They depict scenes of sacrifice, processions and a banquet, and three show groups of musicians. The inscription on relief I mentions Hanni, the son of Tahhi, and is therefore dated to Hanni's time (7th century BCE?). But the reliefs may belong to several periods, with reliefs III, IV, and VI dated to the end of the 2nd or the beginning of the 1st millennium BCE.
Elam
Elam was an ancient civilization located in what is now southwest Iran. Elam was centered in the far west and the southwest of modern-day Iran, stretching from the lowlands of Khuzestan and Ilam Province, as well as a small part of southern Iraq...
rock reliefs that are located in a gorge on the plain's east side. Kul-e Farah is located near the city of Izeh
Izeh
Izeh is a city in and the capital of Izeh County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 103,695, in 20,127 families....
in Khuzestan, southwest Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The reliefs were first visited in European research by Austen Henry Layard
Austen Henry Layard
Sir Austen Henry Layard GCB, PC was a British traveller, archaeologist, cuneiformist, art historian, draughtsman, collector, author, politician and diplomat, best known as the excavator of Nimrud.-Family:...
in 1841. Layard copied the 24-line cuneiform
Cuneiform
Cuneiform can refer to:*Cuneiform script, an ancient writing system originating in Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC*Cuneiform , three bones in the human foot*Cuneiform Records, a music record label...
inscription on relief I, and five of the short epigraphs on some of the figures.
It has been suggested that this is a kind of open sanctuary for religious ceremonies involving the sacrifice of animals. Three are on rock faces, while the other three are on large boulders. They depict scenes of sacrifice, processions and a banquet, and three show groups of musicians. The inscription on relief I mentions Hanni, the son of Tahhi, and is therefore dated to Hanni's time (7th century BCE?). But the reliefs may belong to several periods, with reliefs III, IV, and VI dated to the end of the 2nd or the beginning of the 1st millennium BCE.
Kul-e Farah I (Offering Scene of Hanni)
Kul-e Farah Neo-Elamite rock relief is cut in the rock and is about 1.10 - 1,30 m high and about 1.66 m wide. The field is dominated by a person named Hanni, who looks to the right. Behind her stand two officials. It is the first minister of the army and vizier Schutruru Schutrurura, both of which are identified by incised inscriptions. The right side of the field is divided into two registers. At the top you will find musicians in the lower sacrificial scenes. The upper part of the field is covered with a long inscription of 24 lines, which is partly about the characters. The text is therefore by Hanni, son of Tahhi. The text is difficult to understand, but a Shuttir-Nakhkhunte(or Shutur-Nahhunte), son of Indada can be identified .Hanni describes himself as king, kutur or governor of Ayapir, who was a subordinate of a "king Shutur-Nahhunte". In the following the submission of riots and the building of temples are called.Kul-e Farah II (Offering Scene)
Kul-e Farah II represents a single person probably a ruler or priest, standing and looking right side. Behind him are four little people, cattle are slaughtered before him. The whole scene is probably showing a victim. There will be no explanatory inscriptions.Kul-e Farah III (Offering Scene)
Kul-e Farah III is located on a detached rock, which bears a relief decoration on all sides. The south side measuring about 4.9 x 3 meters. Right turn is a major figure, perhaps a king. Behind and in front of him are found in four rows of numerous small figures that look all right. On the north side there is a similar view, only that now all people look to the left, then to the east. On the east side one finds the representation of cattle. On the west side turn people into four tabs, which look to the right.Kul-e Farah IV (Procession)
Kul-e Farah IV is not well preserved. It is again a rock, which is decorated on several pages. On one side we see a number of people who look to the right or turn to march. On another page you can see five tabs. Above sits a king or priest, while several persons including his turn.Kul-e Farah V (Offering Scene)
Kul-e Farah V represents a single person, which is again turned to the right and apparently sacrificed.Kul-e Farah VI (Adoration Scene)
Kul-e Farah VI shows a large left facing person who is surrounded by smaller figures.External links
- Atlas of Kul-e Farah (In Persian)
- List of Elamite Rock Reliefs (Livius.Org)