The Coronation of Ardashir I

There is a depiction of coronation of Ardashir I, the founder of Sassanid, in Tangab-e Firouzabad in which the royal ring is given to the Sassanid king by Ahuramazda. The symbol of Ahuramzda and the Sassanid kings (Ardashir) have been carved on the relief on two sides of a small fireplace. Shapur I is also seen in the scene as the successor of the king raising magnificently his hand as the symbol of respect.  

The second relief of Ardashir I in Firouzabad is depicted on a rock behind Tangab. Although damaged by rain and wind, it is still standing in form of a seven-in-3.70-meter rock relief, showing a scene related to 226 AD, when Ardashir came to power in Ctesiphon (near the current city of Baghdad). We can see the coronation of Ardashir on the left side, in which Ahuramzda is giving royal ring by his right hand to the king. He has something in his left hand which is often called Dedos, however it is in fact the holly Barsam (Barsaman), a significant element in Zoroastrianism. 

Ardashir I, with a crown which is restrictively his, consisting of his helmet and a certain turban, is standing in front of Ahuramazda. King is receiving the diadem by his right hand while raising his left hand with forefinger bending forward as a respecting tradition among Sassanians. Ardashir’s courtier is also standing behind him as his hand fan holder. Three bearded men are visible on the right half of the scene wearing similar cloths. They are raising their right hands to show respect while their left hands are put on the sword hilt. The immediate person standing next to the courtier on his right side might be Shapur I, as obvious by his hat. Two other faces are nor recognizable.