The Lady Represented in Narseh s Relief:Shapurdokhtak or Anahita?

Among the various of Sasanian kings, Narseh (293-302 A.D.) is the one whoseimportant and striking rock relief remained at Naqsh-i Rustam in Iran s Farsprovince. This relief records investiture ceremony from Anahita ( known as Goddessof fertility and protector of water).Until now, various views and interprations have been put forwarded about the realidentity and historical theme of this relief. But the attribution of a lady toShapurdokhtak II (Narsehs wife) is the latest and most controversial view given byAlireza Shapur Shahbazi, who has conducted excavations and archaeological studiesat Takht-i Jamshid for several years.In fact, tins attribution has also provoked the authors of the present article hence;he has tried to highlight the depiction through opinions of various researches. Thepresent study supports the accuracy and validity of the attributed lady to watergoddess Anahita and refuses other theories.