Shapur Cave, Limestone cave with ancient statue in Kazerun County, Iran
Shapur Cave is a limestone cave in the Zagros Mountains of Kazerun County, Iran, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entrance opening stands about 30 meters tall, and the interior is laid out across several terraced levels that go deeper into the rock.
The cave was used as a sacred site during the Sasanian Empire, when ruler Shapur I controlled the region and commissioned grand monuments. A 7-meter tall statue of Shapur I had fallen over the centuries and was raised back to standing position in 1957.
Two stone inscriptions flank the entrance, one carrying an original text and the other recording the modern restoration work carried out here. Together they give visitors a sense of how this place has been regarded across different eras.
The cave sits at around 800 meters in elevation and can only be reached by a steep climb along mountain paths. Sturdy footwear is strongly recommended, as the trails follow the natural terrain without any paving or handrails.
Behind the statue, three ancient water basins are carved into the rock, and no one knows for certain whether they were used for ritual or everyday purposes. The walls of the fourth terrace level also show unfinished relief carvings, left in place by artisans who never completed them.
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