Discussing Sasanian royal reliefs this week, and I have to say, Sasanians knew that the best way to convey the idea that they trample on their foes... was to literally depict themselves trampling on their fallen foes. 1/4

The motif appears in the 1st Sasanian king Ardashir's investiture relief, where not only does he trample on the last Parthian king, but the god Ohrmazd similarly tramples on the evil spirit Ahriman! King & god are symmetrical, as by implication are the earthly and divine realms.2

A few years later, in a number of reliefs, Shapur depicts the emperors Philip and Valerian kneeling before him, as his horse tramples on the fallen Gordian III. 3/4

Over a century later, Ardashir II again employs this motif in his investiture relief, this time to depict the fall of Julian (the apostate!), who died while on campaign against the Persians.

The message of these inscriptions is clear: don't mess with the Sasanians! 4/fin