A Himyarite diplomatic mission to the Sasanian court of Bahram II depicted at Bishapur

Author: Overlaet, Bruno

Source: Arabian archaeology and epigraphy, Volume 20, Number 2, November 2009 , pp. 218-221(4)

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Abstract:

Rock relief IV at Bishapur, Iran, depicts the Sasanian king Bahram II (AD 276-293) who meets an Arab diplomatic mission with horses and dromedaries. An inscription from the Mahram Bilqis temple near Marib mentions a diplomatic mission sent by Shammar Yuhar'ish to Ctesiphon and Seleucia. Based on the events mentioned in the inscription, this mission is now dated to the beginning of Bahram II's reign. This date agrees with the stylistic dating that has been proposed for the relief, which suggests that Bishapur IV depicts the reception of this Himyarite diplomatic mission.

Keywords: Himyar; Bahram II; Sasanian relief; Iran; Shammar Yuhar'ish

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0471.2009.00313.x

Publication date: 2009-11-01