Kul-e Farah relief I

The relief of Kul-e Farah I was sculpted within a vertical niche about 5.50m above ground level. It represents the last link in a long tradition of Elamite highland relief carving and incorporates multiple elements of elite representation from earlier reliefs in the valley. Its importance is magnified by a long, generally well preserved, but still poorly understood, inscription carved inside 24 horizontal registers by a local ruler named Hanni, son of Tahhi, “caretaker, protector, ruler” (kutur) of Ayapir and vassal of the Elamite king Shutur-Nahhunte, son of Indada. The latter ruler is thought to have reigned sometime within the period 625-585 BC. The relief also bears nine epigraphs, mostly inscribed over the skirts of the figures.