Punishment in Sasanian culture

[1] The purpose of punishment in Zoroastrian law was to save the condemned's soul from the supernatural consequences of lawbreaking.

[1] The chronicle of Matigan-i Hazar Datistan ("Book of a Thousand Judgements") makes mention of punishments in Zoroastrian law.

[1] Bandits and Christians were stomped by elephants, the most notable occurrence being during the reign of king (shah) Shapur II (r. 309–379), who had the city of Susa destroyed with 300 elephants in order to suppress a rebellion.

[1][2] The same punishment methods did not apply to the Sasanian royal family, whose blood was considered clean.

[1] Thus asphyxiation in ashes or garroting were the favoured techniques for the execution of princes.