ancientart:Detail of the Heracles rock relief at Behistun, city of Izeh, Khuzestan province, Iran.Ph

ancientart:Detail of the Heracles rock relief at Behistun, city of Izeh, Khuzestan province, Iran.Photo taken by dynamosquito:According to its Greek inscription, the rock relief representing Heracles at Behistun was carved in 148 BC , being dedicated to a local Seleucid governor. After the collapse of the first Persian Empire following the Macedonian invasion, following the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek dynasty of the Seleucids (from Seleukos, former general of Alexander) were the main rulers of the western part of the Iranian plate. The Seleucids were dominating the cities and the main commercial roads, but failed to impose their power in the rural lands.However, their artistic influence began to penetrate the Iranian plate and will remain for centuries, through the Parthian then the Sasanian dynasties. The presence of a statue showing Heracles there testify of such artistic influence, as for the often seen Greek inscriptions or representations of Nike in the later carved rock relieves all over the country. -- source link

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