Behistun I by Grelot

Behistun I parthian Era rock relief aka Mithridate II’s audience scene. Behistun I (123-88/87 BCE) has been about completely erased in 1684 by a the carving of an inscription written in Persian, paying tribute to a Safavid local governor. From the initial panel, we can just distinguish a character and 2 caped silhouettes on the left, and a Greek inscription above. Fortunately, this unique drawing made by Grelot in 1673 let us know how this relief looked like. Although less famous, Grelot was attached to Jean Chardin’s travel in the near East, and performed many observations and draws. The scene shows on the right, King Mithridate II standing, overlooking 4 noblemen, may be some of his satraps. The king hails his hand up with 2 sticky fingers, some of the other characters hold some objects, one being probably a cup, another being a Nikë, Greek divinity testifying as the above inscription, of the Greek influences the Parthian art included from the Seleucids.