TEHRAN – Kermanshah is to celebrate World Wood Day by organizing a special festival at Taq-e Bostan, which is a magnificent Sassanid site situated in the western Iranian province.

It would be the fifth edition of the festival which will be attended by artisans and craftspeople from other provinces to showcase the rich variety of wood-related handicrafts, the provincial tourism chief said on Thursday.

The event will be held in the near future concurrent with a provincial handicrafts event, Dariush Farmani said.

World Wood Day is an annual cultural celebration aimed at showcasing wood as an eco-friendly and renewable biomaterial while raising awareness of its vital role in fostering biodiversity and forest conservation for a sustainable world.

Taq-e Bostan encompasses a range of historical properties spanning from prehistoric to historical periods, including Morad-Hassel Tepe, an ancient village, a Parthian graveyard, and a Sassanid hunting ground. However, the most significant feature of the complex is its Sassanian component, which includes two porticos (large and small Ivans) adorned with remarkable bas-reliefs from the same era.

Opinions on the site's extraordinary Sassanian bas-reliefs, depicting ancient victorious kings, are divided among travelers. While some may feel disappointed by the Taq-e Bostan experience due to the relatively high admission price for a few stone carvings and a duck pond, both visible from outside the fence, Iranians often view a visit as a joyous celebration of their rich Persian heritage. Whether you choose to immerse yourself in the experience or observe from a distance is entirely up to you.

Originally a Parthian royal hunting garden, Taq-e Bostan was later embellished by the Sassanians with their own regal embellishments. The largest alcove features elephant-mounted hunting scenes on the sidewalls, highlighting the coronation of Khosrow II (r 590–628), depicted riding off in full armor and chain mail, half a millennium before the European Black Prince made such attire fashionable.

AM