Statue of Hercules in Behistun

Statue of Hercules in Behistun

Herakles at Behistun, sculpted for a Seleucid Governor in 148 BCE.

City of Kushinagar in the 5th century BCE according to a 1st-century BCE frieze in Sanchi Stupa 1 Southern Gate.

Statue of Hercules (Persian: تندیس هرکول) is located on Mount Behistun, Iran. It was discovered in 1958. The statue was sculpted in 148 BC for a governor of the Seleucid Empire or the Parthian Empire. Hercules is lying on a 2 m long platform and holds a bowl in his left hand. Hiss right hand is on his foot. The statue is 1.47 m long and is attached to the mountain. The head of the statue was stolen twice, but was recovered in 1996. The current head is a replica. The original head is held by the Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization. At the time it was discovered, the sculpture had a penis, but after the Islamic Revolution (1979) it was destroyed by locals.

Dedicatory inscription of Herakles
(Behistun, 153 BCE)

Translation	Inscription (original Greek script)	Original inscription
In the year 164 (of the Seleucid era) in the month of Panemos (June) [set this statue of] Herakles Kallinikos ("Hercules glorious in victory") did Hyakinthos, son of Pantauchos, for the safety of Kleomenes, Commander of the Upper Satrapies, of the satraps.	ἔτους δξρ᾽, μηνὸς Πανήμου, Ἡρακλῆν Καλλίνικον Ὑάκινθος Πανταύχου ὑπὲ[ρ] τῆς Κλεομένου τοῦ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄνω σ[ατρ]απειῶν σωτηρίας τῶν σατραπῶν	Herakles inscription at Behistun

References

• Persian Wikipedia