Bahram I
271 – 274 AD
Shahanshah
Wahram I | Warahran I | بهرام یکم | 𐭥𐭫𐭧𐭫𐭠𐭭
Recreation of Bahram I “King of Kings of Iran and Non-Iran” with the Mithra crown, in the shape of sun rays. Download
Bahram I as “King of Kings of Iran and Non-Iran” with a red vest and crown. Red Background. Download
Ver.1 - Last updated: Dec 21st 2021, by Mo. Rasoulipour
A previous version of this reconstruction with an older technique is also available for download. In this version, the headgear was imagined to be of metal (gold in this case). Though it is very likely that it could have been made of leather since the earflaps seem to be of the same material as the top.
Although the oldest of Shapur's sons, Bahram I was not considered a candidate for succession to the throne by his father. During Shapur's reign, Bahram I served as the governor of the newly subjugated region of Gilan, and held the title of Gelan Shah (king of Gilan).
After the death of Hormizd I in 271, Bahram ascended to the throne with the aid of the powerful Zoroastrian priest Kartir. He then made a settlement with his youngest brother Narseh, who agreed to give up his claim to the throne in return for the governorship of Armenia.
Unlike the previous Sasanian shahs who had pursued a policy of religious tolerance towards the non-Zoroastrian minorities in the empire, Bahram had Mani, the founder of Manichaeism, imprisoned and executed.
Bahram I died in September 274 and was succeeded by his son, Bahram II.
- Paraphrased by Mahdi Valian from Wikipedia.
Insignia
References
Bahram is seen in coins and rock reliefs wearing a Mitra inspired crown with sun rays shown as spikes (perhaps not unlike the crown on lady liberty 🗽). The number of spikes is unclear. Five on coins and four on the rock relief, perhaps seven overall. Headgear with ear flaps is seen on coins like his father, Shapur I.
It is worth noting that earflaps were not depicted on the rock relief of Bahram I or Shapur I perhaps due to restrictions of the medium. The other points of difference between the crown and rock reliefs are the beard style and the angles in which the rays extend out of the headgear. For all the differences the coins have been prioritized in informing the image created, except the size of Korymbos. The size of Korymbos (spherical shape above the head) was likely large (size shown on the rock) in official ceremonies and depicted smaller in coins in order to assure that it’ll fit the frame.
Visual Description in Literature
The only evidence found, informing the colors, are the words of Hamzah’s Isfahani, an early Islamic Iranian historian. The reason why the colors are not strictly followed as mentioned by Hamzah’s is that there is an apparent disconnect between the description of the crown by him and what we see in coins and rock reliefs. He speaks of two crests and a crescent for Bahram I and II’s crowns, which we have not seen within any evidence currently found. In fact, this description is a common style of the crown in later years of the Sassanid Kings. This might be a sign that the depictions in his source were either done much later and the exact shapes of the crowns were forgotten, or they were purposefully changed due to the unorthodox nature of Bahram and his lineage, which allegedly diverged from the main traditions of the Sassanids.
“His vest is red and embroidered, … his crown is sky-blue between two crests [!] and a crescent of gold…“ -Hamzah Isfahani
from - The 'History of the Kings of the Persians' in Three Arabic Chronicles: The Transmission of the Iranian Past from Late Antiquity to Early Islam (Translated Texts for Historians LUP) Paperback – September 1, 2018 - by Robert G. Hoyland
Page 64
Likely Accuracy of the Creative Recreation
Weak Guess:
Even though the coins minted at this time of Sassanid Empire are of relative high quality they depict Bahram I in multiple different ways. Lack of one source of dependable likeness makes this guess slightly difficult. There are however features that are common among most coins that have been used for this imagination.
Note: The rock relief of Bahram I has lost significant detail, and therefore was not relied on for construction of the face.
See the latest work in progress:
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