Iran on Friday unveiled a statue of Roman Emperor Valerian kneeling in submission before ancient Persian King Shapur after a third century military victory, as Islamic authorities pivot toward nationalism to boost support following a June war.
Videos show the ceremony in Tehran’s Revolution (Enghelab) square, where the statue group was unveiled as part of campaign dubbed by officials “Kneel before Iran."
"The Valerian statue reflects a historical truth that Iran has been a land of resistance throughout history," said Mehdi Mazhabi, head of Tehran's Municipal Beautification Organization. "By implementing this plan in Enghelab Square, we aim to forge a bond between this land's glorious past and its hopeful present."
Following a ceasefire which ended a punishing 12-day war with Israel in June, Iranian officials moved to invoke nationalism and glorifying ancient history of Iran to promote unity. Symbols of the pre-Islamic past had previously been shunned by the theocracy.
Days after the conflict, a mural set up in Vanak square in Tehran depicting Arash the archer firing arrows alongside modern ballistic missiles shot at Israel.
The new statue immortalizes the 260 AD Battle of Edessa, where the second king of the Sassanid Empire Shapur I, 240–270 AD, decisively defeated Roman forces and captured Valerian. The defeat was an unprecedented catastrophe for Rome.
Shapur, son of Ardashir I, expanded Persian territory and clashing repeatedly with the empire that spanned Europe, North Africa and parts of the Middle East. Ancient reliefs at Naqsh-e Rostam show him on horseback, Valerian humbled beneath.
Valerian, 253–260 AD, co-emperor with his son Gallienus, sought to stabilize Rome's eastern frontier.
From murals of Cyrus the Great to patriotic songs at Shi'ite mourning ceremonies, Tehran is now leaning into pre-Islamic imagery it once viewed as anathema.
