AnoBanini

 The Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Sar-e Pole Zahab is determined to clarify the vicinity of the 4500-year-old Anobanini relief.

In the near future the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Sar-e Pole Zahab will start the operation for separating the wall of a school which is located on the way of the 4500-year-old Anobanini historical relief.
 

Cultural heritage experts believe that Anobanini is one of the most ancient Persian releifs which dates back to 4500 years ago and can be inscribed in list of UNESCO's World Heritage sites as the adjacent relief of Bisotun inscription.
 

Anobanini bas relief belongs to Anobanini, king of the Lolobi tribes. To choose Bisotun as the site for his triumphal rock relief, Darius, the Achaemenid king, was presumably inspired by a relief from Anobanini, king of the Lolobi tribes (3rd millennium BC) at Sar-e Pole Zahab and has portrayed himself and his allies Gobryas and Arta Phernes clearly distinguished from the small size rebels. Lolobi tribes inhabited in Zagros area and their existence goes back to 4500 years ago and before the formation of Aryan tribes (Medes and Parthian).
 

According to Saeed Farmani, director of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Qasr-e Shirin and Sar-e Pole Zahab, since Anobanini relief is currently located in the vicinity of a school, tourists face some problems to visit this historical site. "The visitors have to get certificate from the Education Department for visiting this bas relief. Therefore, 40,000 dollar is dedicated to the project to clarify the vicinity of the relief and separate the wall of the school from the visiting area of this historical site," said Farmani.
 

Farmani explained that preparing the moulage of Anobanini relief, restoration and preservation operations, and documenting this relief are the other programs of this department, however he has not announced an exact time for starting the Anobanini bas relief salvation project. "With the approval of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization to pay the expenses the project will be started as soon as possible," added Farmani.
 

While 30 percent of Anobanini bas relief has damaged during the 8-year-old war between Iran and Iraq, no restoration activity has been started yet for reviving this relief.

Anobanini bas relief is located 120 kilometers of Kermanshah in city of Sar-e Pole Zahab. This relief was carved during the third millennium BCE at the height of 16 meters from the ground. The relief is consisted of the figures of Anobanini, Nini Goddess and nine prisoners. The surface on which the relief was carved is divided into two parts. The figure of Anobanini with his left leg on the chest of a war prisoner can be seen on the left part of the relief.
 

Many historians believe that Darius, the Achaemenid king, was inspired by Anobanini relief in creating Bisotun inscription in the heart of Bisotun Mountain. .