Statue of Hercules

The statue of Hercules is located in the archaeological site of Bisotun (Kermānshāh region). Regarding the date of construction of this stone sculpture that is located next to the Silk Road and close to the inscription of Darius, in his epigraph the year 153 BC is mentioned - at the height of the Arsacid fights led by Mehrād I and the Seleucids led by Demetrius I.

This one-and-a-half-meter long statue in relief has been made from polished mountain stone and is attached to it from behind. Hercules lies on a long platform 2,20 meters on the semi-bent left flank resting on the elbow and in the left hand has a cup that holds close to the face; the right hand is resting on the respective leg while the left is the support of the other.

 Behind the statue have been made stone drawings depicting an olive tree, a door arch, an arrow holder, a circular spike club and an inscription in ancient Greek of seven lines on a plate.

Under the body of Hercules one also sees the image of a lion. Of the parts of this statue that were discovered by chance during the year 1985 and during the construction of a road, they have been the subject of theft and have been destroyed.

The original head of this statue is preserved among the treasures of the cultural heritage of the Kermānshāh region. The whole world heritage of Bisotun with the important inscription of Darius the Great, the statue of Hercules and dozens of other historical monuments together with the suggestive natural environment, is one of the tourist attractions of the area.