Iran (Naqsh-e Rustam)

Close-up Relief Fragment of a Winged Mythical Beast and Royal Hero (Naqsh-e Rustam)

2383

Late 6th to early 5th century BC (approx. 522–486 BC), created during the Achaemenid Period under the reign of King Darius I the Great.

This image is a detailed close-up fragment of a high-precision low relief (bas-relief) sculpted directly from the natural, dense dark-grey marmoreal limestone cliff face. It specifically captures the upper portion of a composite winged and horned mythical creature (resembling a leonine sphinx or griffin-beast) being grasped and subdued by a royal hero or king who plunges a dagger into its neck. The carving utilizes meticulous chisel work and fine incisions to define textures.