The Lady Represented in Narseh s Relief:Shapurdokhtak or Anahita?

Among the various of sasanian kings, narseh (293-302 a.d.) is the one whoseimportant and striking rock relief remained at naqsh-i rustam in iran's farsprovince. this relief records investiture ceremony from anahita ( known as goddessof fertility and protector of water).until now, various views and interprations have been put forwarded about the realidentity and historical theme of this relief. but the attribution of a lady toshapurdokhtak ii (narsehs wife) is the latest and most controversial view given byalireza shapur shahbazi, who has conducted excavations and archaeological studiesat takht-i jamshid for several years.in fact, tins attribution has also provoked the authors of the present article hence;he has tried to highlight the depiction through opinions of various researches. thepresent study supports the accuracy and validity of the attributed lady to watergoddess anahita and refuses other theories.