The Behistun Rock
The Behistun Rock
The Behistun Rock
The Behistun Rock
The Behistun Rock
The Behistun Rock
The Behistun Rock
The Behistun Rock
Darius I the Great
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I am Darius, the great king, king of kings,
king in Persia, king of all nations, the son
of Hystaspes, the grandson of Arsames,
the Achaemenid.
King Darius says: My father is Hystaspes.
The father of Hystaspes is Arsames. The
father of Arsames is Ariaramnes. The
father of Ariaramnes is Teispes. The father
of Teispes is Achaemenes.
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King Darius says: That is why we are called
Achaemenids; from antiquity we have
been noble; from antiquity has our dynasty
been royal.
King Darius says: Eight of my dynasty were
kings before me; I am the ninth. Nine in
succession, in two lines, we have been
kings.
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Ahuramazda:
The 'wise lord',
the supreme
god of the
ancient
Persians,
whose beliefs
were spread by
the prophet
Zoroaster.
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This is Gaumata, the
Magian.
He lied, saying 'I am
Smerdis, the son of
Cyrus, I am king.'
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This is ššina.
He lied, saying 'I am
king of Elam.'
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This is Nidintu-Bêl.
He lied, saying 'I am
Nebuchadnezzar, the
son of Nabonidus. I
am king of Babylon.'
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This is Phraortes.
He lied, saying: 'I am
Khshathrita, of the
dynasty of Cyaxares.
I am king in Media.'
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This is Martiya.
He lied, saying 'I am
Ummanniš, king of
Elam.'
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This is Tritantaechmes.
He lied, saying 'I am
king of Sagartia, from
the family of
Cyaxares.'
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This is Vahyazdâta.
He lied, saying 'I am
Smerdis, the son of
Cyrus, I am king.'
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This is Arakha.
He lied, saying: 'I am
Nebuchadnezzar, the
son of Nabonidus. I
am king in Babylon.'
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This is Frâda.
He lied, saying 'I am
king of Margiana.'
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• This is Skunkha the
Sacan.
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Henry Rawlinson:
• Cadet in British East
India Company
• Persia to train the
Shah of Persia’s army
• Interested in
undeciphered
cuneiform characters
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Babylonian
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Elamite
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Persian
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King Darius says: This is what I have done, by the grace of
Ahuramazda have I always acted. Whosoever shall read
this inscription hereafter, let that which I have done be
believed. You must not hold it to be lies.
King Darius says: I call Ahuramazda to witness that is true
and not lies; all of it have I done in a single year.
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King Darius says: By the grace of Ahuramazda I did much
more, which is not graven in this inscription. On this
account it has not been inscribed lest he who shall read
this inscription hereafter should then hold that which has
been done by me to be excessive and not believe it and
takes it to be lies.
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