New “Valerian submitting” statue in Iran

[guy]

 

Iran has unveiled a statue of the Roman Emperor Valerian kneeling before the Sasanian King of Kings Shapur I.  This is meant to represent the Persians’ resisting Western domination.

In 260 AD, Roman Emperor Valerian was captured by Persian King Shapur I at the Battle of Edessa—marking the only time a Roman emperor was taken alive by an enemy. This humiliating defeat was unprecedented in Roman history and had lasting symbolic and strategic effects.

Valerian ruled from 253 to 260 AD, co-ruling with his son Gallienus during a period of internal chaos and external threats. Shapur I, who reigned from 240 to 270 AD, led multiple campaigns against Rome, culminating in the Battle of Edessa in 260, where Valerian was captured. According to Persian sources, Shapur used Valerian as a trophy of victory—some accounts say he was paraded, forced into servitude, or even used as a human mounting block.

 Roman sources, especially Christian and Byzantine writers, later depicted Valerian’s fate as divine punishment for his persecution of Christians.

This event followed earlier Roman defeats: Gordian III died in battle (244 AD), and Philip the Arab signed a peace treaty ceding Mesopotamia to Persia. The capture of Valerian marked a major shift in East-West power dynamics and was immortalized in Persian reliefs at Naqsh-e Rustam, where Shapur is depicted triumphant over Roman emperors.

 

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/520146/A-stone-of-pride-The-story-behind-Tehran-s-new-statue-of-a-Roman

 

 

Edited November 9, 2025 by guy

[caesar novus]

On 11/9/2025 at 6:59 AM, guy said:

Valerian ruled from 253 to 260 AD, co-ruling with his son Gallienus during a period of internal chaos and external threats.

His son continued ruling an additional 8 or 9 years with moderate success, so Rome plodded onward: