Shapur Cave in Iran is one of the sights of Fars Province, dating back to pre-Sassanian times. People used to perform religious ceremonies in this cave and 2 other caves nearby. If you want to know more about Shapur Cave, its features and sculptures, join us on the Hey Persia blog.
Where is Shapur Cave?
As mentioned, Shapur Cave is one of the sights of Fars Province. This ancient cave is located near the city of Kazerun and at the end of the Chogan Gorge. The distance from Shapur Cave to Kazerun is to be about 27 kilometers.
If you want to know how far is Kazerun from Shiraz? We must say that two routes have designed to reach Kazerun, one of which is shorter and is 143 kilometers away, and the other is about 174 kilometers.
The Age and History of Shapur Cave in Kazerun
As mentioned, the age of Shapur Cave in Iran dates back to the pre-Sassanian era. People held religious ceremonies in this cave and the two caves of “Babajaber” and “Niasar Cave”. With the beginning of the Sassanid rule, Ardashir and Shapur, the first and second Sassanid kings, tried to create religious unity among the people. Ardashir built a large fire temple near the Niasar Cave to keep people away from superstition. Shapur the Sassanid also ordered a statue of him to be at the entrance to the cave. Thousands of years have passed since then and the statue is 1700 years old!
The statue of Shapur Cave is in a cave located at an altitude of 800 meters above the ground. To visit it, you have to hike for 5 hours. In 1336, the army built 230 steps in the area to make it easier to reach the cave.
The cave mouth has 4 terraces that you can enter the cave by walking through them. The distance between the first and second terraces is 10 steps, the distance between the second and third terraces is 8 steps, and 7 steps connect the third terrace to the fourth. The fourth terrace is the widest of all the terraces, and after walking through 12 steps, you enter the cave.
What are the parts inside the Shapour Kazerun Cave?
Before entering the cave, there is a crypt on the left side, most of which was by hand. Shapur Cave in Iran consists of 4 large passages, 5 small passages, 4 side paths, and 3 large halls.
The first part inside the crypt is an 80-meter path, which is flat, and if you continue it, you will reach a cliff. The walls on both sides of the path smoothed in the past to carve patterns on them. But this work has been abandoned halfway.
At the left end of the crypt, there are 2 cisterns 5 meters apart. The depth of each cistern is to be 1 meter. The dimensions of the cisterns are 3 by 4 and 5 by 2 meters. Water seeps in from the roof of the cisterns and flows into the pools. Shapur Cave in Iran Steps are in both cisterns to guide the person to the water.
On the left side of the cistern, there is a waterfall of mineral stones or stalagmites that nature has artistically created. It is said that the statue of Shapur is also of these stalagmites. Inside the cave, there is a part where the victim was slaughtered. This part is located at the end of the cave.
Shapur Cave Inscription
Inside theShapur Cave in Iran, there are two valuable inscriptions that were there and installed by the army in 1336 AH. One of these inscriptions talks about the restoration of the Shapur statue, and the other is a translation of the Shapur inscription on Naqsh-e Rajab.
The Treasure of Shapur Cave
Researchers thought that there were treasures and valuable artifacts in the cave because religious ceremonies were in it. However, following the excavations that carried out, they realized that there was no treasure in the cave. Some believe that the Arabs looted all its treasures after attacking Iran.
Everything about the Shapur Cave Statue in Kazerun
A unique 7-meter statue is installed 35 meters from the mouth of the cave on the fourth terrace, which, according to the documentation and studies carried out by archaeologists, is the Shapur statue. As you know, this statue was made from cave stones 1700 years ago by order of Shapur, the second most powerful Sassanid king.
According to some historians, an earthquake occurred in this area between the 14th and 18th centuries that caused the statue of Shapur to fall. Others say that the reason for the fall of the statue of Shapur dates back to the time of the Arab invasion of Iran, when the statue was toppled, its arms broken, and many of the works and inscriptions in the cave were looted.
In 1336 AH, the Iranian army put the statue back up after 1,000 years of its collapse. However, since they did not follow the principles of archeology to put it back up, the statue suffered double damage.
When is the best time to visit Shapur Cave in Shiraz?
You can visit Shapur Cave and its magnificent statue in any season of the year. However, late spring to early autumn and in the early hours of the day when the weather is cooler and the day has just begun are more suitable for climbing.
Visiting hours for Shapour Cave in Kazerun are from 8 am to 8 pm in spring and summer, and from 8 am to 6 pm in autumn and winter.
And finally…
finally, The 1700-year-old Shapur Cave in Iran is one of the attractions around Shiraz, which was included in the list of national monuments of Iran in 1310. This 7-meter statue is located in the mouth of a natural cave where ritual ceremonies were held in the past and before the Sassanid rule. To reach the initial mouth of the cave, you have to hike for about 5 hours.
If you have also traveled to this area and have more information about it, you can write it in the comments and suggestions section and provide it to us. We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
The Hey Persia tourism magazine was launched with the aim of getting to know more Iranians who are enthusiastic and interested in this land and water. If you also want to know more about our vast country, you can register on the Hey Persia website and learn about the most important events and tourist places in our country.
