Valerian before Shahpur, 241 to 272 AD, Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Buddhist caves, living quarters of the monks, in rock-carved stupa-monastery complex dating from the Kushano-Sasanian period, Takht-I-Rustam (Rustam's Throne), near Haibak, Samangan Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Corridor off which monks' living quarters were carved in cave 2, Takht-I-Rusam (Rustam's throne), part of a Buddhist stupa-monastery complex dating from the Kushano-Sasanian period 4th-5th century AD, Samangan Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Buddhist stupa carved out of rock at Takht-I-Rustam (Rustam's throne) an early burial mound that contained relics of the Buddha, part of a stupa-monastery complex dating from the Kushano-Sasanian period 4th-5th century AD, near Haibak,Samangan Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Buddhist stupa carved out of rock at Takht-I-Rustam (Rustam's throne) an early burial mound that contained relics of the Buddha, part of a stupa-monastery complex dating from the Kushano-Sasanian period 4th-5th century AD, near Haibak,Samangan Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Ka'ba Zardusht (Cube of Zoroaster), Naqsh-e-Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Ka'ba Zardusht (Cube of Zoroaster), Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Triumph of Shapur I, Sassanid ruler, Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

The Investiture of Narse by the goddess Anahit at Naqsh-e-Rustam dating from 3rd century AD, Iran, Middle East

Tombs of Artaxerxes I (left), Xerxes (centre), and Darius the Great (right), Naqsh-i-Rustam, Iran, Middle East

From left to right the tombs of Artaxerxes I, Xerxes and Darius the Great, Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Corridor off which are monks' living quarters, Cave 2 of Buddhist caves in rock-carved stupa-monastery complex dating from the Kushano-Sasanian period, Takht-I-Rustam (Rustam's Throne), near Haibak, Samangan Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Corridor off which monks' living quarters were carved in cave 2, Takht-I-Rusam (Rustam's throne), part of a Buddhist stupa-monastery complex dating from the Kushano-Sasanian period 4th-5th century AD, Samangan Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Investiture of Ardeshir I, Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Tombs of Darius II and Artaxerxes (left to right), Naqsh e Rustam (Naqsh-i-Rustem), Iran, Middle East

The Investiture of Ardeshir I by the god Ahura Mazda, Naqsh-E-Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Rock cut tomb of Darius II, Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Tomb of Darius at Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Rock cut tomb of Xerxes, Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

View of man riding horse along road, taken from army checkpoint at remains of a Buddhist stupa, Top-I-Rustam, Balkh (Mother of Cities), Afghanistan, Asia

Reliefs at Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Rock cut tombs at Naqsh-e-Rustam, Iran, Middle East

Sassanid relief of the triumph of King Shapur I. over the Roman Emperor Valerian and Philip the Arab at the Achaemenid burial site Naqsh-e Rostam, Rustam near the archeological site of Persepolis, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Persia, Iran, Asia

Royal tomb of King Artaxerxes I. at the Achaemenid burial site Naqsh-e Rostam, Rustam, near the archeological site of Persepolis, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Persia, Iran, Asia

Sassanid relief at the Achaemenid burial site Naqsh-e Rostam, Rustam near the archeological site of Persepolis, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Persia, Iran, Asia

Royal tomb of King Darius I. at the Achaemenid burial site Naqsh-e Rostam, Rustam, near the archeological site of Persepolis, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Persia, Iran, Asia

Kaba-ye Zardosht and tomb of Darius II. at the Achaemenid burial site Naqsh-e Rostam, Rustam near the archeological site of Persepolis, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Persia, Iran, Asia

Tomb of King Darius II., Achaemenid burial site Naqsh-e Rostam, Rustam near the archeological site of Persepolis, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Persia, Iran, Asia

Historic Sassanid relief of the triumph of King Shapur I. over the Roman Emperor Valerian and Philip the Arab and tomb of King Darius, Dareios I. at the Achaemenid burial site Naqsh-e Rostam, Rustam near the archeological site of Persepolis, UNESCO World

Kaba-ye Zardosht at the Achaemenid burial site Naqsh-e Rostam, Rustam near the archeological site of Persepolis, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Persia, Iran, Asia

Tomb of Darius II. and of Artaxerxes I., Achaemenid burial site Naqsh-e Rostam, Rustam near the archeological site of Persepolis, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Persia, Iran, Asia