I went over to Bisotun, which is a city in somewhere in the Kermanshah Province in Iran, and the town is actually situated right near the Bisotun mountain, the edge of which is located near an important historical site (as you already know as the Behistun Inscription). I was also able to get one or two snaps of other historical pieces on the site, such as the Herakles statue (left from the Seleucid era), and a relief of the two horses with guys riding on their backs which was left unfinished because of an oncoming invasion also somewhere on site (late Sasanian rulers had commanded it to be built).

Let’s talk a bit on clothing because it is a very important aspect in Iran. I’ve already learned that I needed to have my hair covered (for all the time I’m outside in public anyways) and to cover skin (with the exception of feet), as that’s proper cultural etiquette in Iran, there were days when it was super difficult to wear all that clothes when it was really hot outside (summer in Vancouver was hard enough for my cold, frozen heart) but really, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been—the headscarf kept me cool from the sun. Overall, I give Iran a 10/10, it was safe and fun, and the people were awesomely nice, check it out if you haven’t already!


Photos:

1. This a view of the valley below the Behistun Inscription/near the mountain. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ensiematthias/1348528727)
2. The photo of the bridge I took on our way to the Behistun site, surviving through the Safavid times and still standing to this day. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ensiematthias/1348524537/in/photostream/)
3. The group I’m touring with on the Bisotun mountain. (http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Achaemenid/Bistun/Bistun7.jpg)
4. What my guide tells the group, ‘two side by side Parthian era rock relieves known as Behistun I (aka Mithridate II’s audience) (Left), and Behistun II (aka Gotarzes II’s victory over Meherdate) were carved down the rocky cliff already hosting Darius’s the Great's stone record.’ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/dynamosquito/3948706622/in/album-72157604336865786/)
5. A shot up at the Behistun Inscription. (http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Achaemenid/Bistun/Bistun12.jpg)
6. The Behistun Inscription at another (closer) angle. (http://www.livius.org/a/iran/behistun/behistun.JPG)
7. The cuneiform inscription I took as the group walked farther upwards, the damage visible at lower right was probably caused by bullets fired by British soldiers stationed near there during the Second World War (or so my guide as told me) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behistun_Inscription#/media/File:BehistunInscriptiondetail.jpg)
8. Again, another view of the valley below the Behistun Inscription/near the mountain at a different entrance/exit way. (http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Achaemenid/Bistun/Bistun_view.jpg)
9. Emperor Ardashir I at Naqsh-e Rostam. (http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Misc/ardashir_invstiture.jpg)
10. Herakles statue. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/dynamosquito/4000748339)