Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions: XPf (Harem inscription)

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	Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions: XPf ("Harem inscription")
	In ca.521, the Persian king Darius I the Great ordered that a new alphabet, the Aryan script, was to be developed. This was used for a small corpus of inscriptions, known as the Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions. An overview of all inscriptions can be found here.

XPf, the "Harem inscription", in the Persepolis museum	The "Harem inscription", a slab of limestone that looks like a large clay tablet, was discovered in the queen's apartments of the palace of Persepolis. Its contents are rather stereotypical, but on the reverse is an interesting reference to the accession of Xerxes. There are four copies and there is a Babylonian version (below).
XPf, the "Harem inscription" (National Archaeological Museum, Tehran)	baga \ vazraka \ Auramazdâ \ hya \ imâ m \ bumim \ adâ \ hya \ avam \ asm ânam \ adâ \ hya \ martiyam \ adâ \ hya \ šiyâtim \ adâ \ martiyahy â \ hya \ Xšayâršâm \ xšâyathiyam \ akunauš \ aivam \ parunâm \ xš âyathiyam \ aivam \ parunâm \ fram âtâram \ adam \ Xšayâršâ \ xšâ yathiya \ vazraka \ xšâyathiya \ xšâ yathiyânâm \ xšâyathiya \ dahyû nâm \ paruv \ zanânâm \ xšâyath iya \ ahyâyâ \ bumiyâ \ vazrak âyâ \ dûraiy \ apiy \ Dârayavaha uš \ xšâyathiyahyâ \ puça \ Haxâ manišiya \ thâtiy \ Xšayâršâ \ xšâyathiya \ manâ \ pitâ \ Dâraya vauš \ Dârayavahauš \ pitâ \ Viš tâspa \ nâma \ âha \ Vištâspahy â \ pitâ \ Aršâma \ nâma \ âha \ u tâ \ Vištâspa \ utâ \ Aršâma \ ubâ \ ajivatam \ aciy \ Auramaz dâm \ avathâ \ kâma \ âha \ Dârayava um \ hya \ manâ \ pitâ \ avam \ xš âyathiyam \ akunauš \ ahyâyâ \ bumiyâ \ yathâ \ Dârayavahauš \ xš âyathiya \ abava \ vasiy \ tya \ frathara m \ akunauš \ thâtiy \ Xšayâršâ [1-8] A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth, who created heaven, who created man, who created happiness for man, who made Xerxes king, one king of many kings, commander of many commanders. [8-15] I am Xerxes, the great king, the king of kings, the king of all countries and many men, the king in this great earth far and wide. [15-27] King Xerxes says: My father was Darius; Darius' father was named Hystaspes; Hystaspes' father was named Arsames. Both Hystaspes and Arsames were living at the time -thus was Ahuramazda's desire- when my father Darius was made king of this earth. When Darius became king, he did much that was excellent. [King] Xerxes says ...
XPf, reverse (Chicago Oriental Institute; ©!!!)
The Babylonian version of XPf. (National Archaeological Museum, Tehran)	\ xšâyathiya \ Dârayavauš \ puçâ \ aniyaiciy \ âhatâ \ Auramazdâm \ avatha \ kâma \ âha \ Dârayavauši \ hya \ manâ \ pitâ \ pasâ \ tanûm \ mâm \ mathištam \ akunauš \ yathâmaiy \ pitâ \ Dârayavauš \ gâthavâ \ a šiyava \ vašnâ \ Auramazdahâ \ ada m \ xšâyathiya \ abavam \ piça \ gâ thavâ \ yathâ \ adam \ xšâyathiya \ a bavam \ vasiy \ tya \ fratharam \ aku navam \ tyamaiy \ piça \ kartam \ âha \ ava \ adam \ apayaiy \ utâ \ ani ya \ kartam \ abijâvayam \ tyapati y \ adam \ akunavam \ utamaiy \ tya \ pitâ \ akunauš \ ava \ visam \ vašnâ \ Auramazdahâ \ akumâ \ th âtiy \ Xšayâršâ \ xšâyathiya \ mâm \ Auramazdâ \ pâtuv \ utama iy \ xšaçam \ utâ \ tya \ manâ \ kar tam \ utâ \ tyamaiy \ piça \ kartam \ avašciy \ Auramazdâ \ pâtuv [28-43] Darius had other sons, but -thus was Ahuramazda's desire- my father Darius made me the greatest [mathišta] after himself. When my father Darius went away from the throne, by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king on my father's throne. When I became king, I did much that was excellent. What had been built by my father, I protected, and other I added other buildings. What I built, and what my father built, all that by the grace of Ahuramazda we built. [44-48] King Xerxes says: May Ahuramazda protect me, my kingdom, and what was done by my father. May Ahuramazda protect this. Babylonian text [1-8] A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth, who created heaven, who created humanity, who gave prosperity to man, who made Xerxes king, one among numerous kings, commander of many commanders. [8-15] I am Xerxes, the great king, the king of all countries and all languages, king of this great and wide world. [15-27] King Xerxes says: My father was Darius; Darius' father was named Hystaspes; Hystaspes' father was named Arsames. Both Hystaspes and Arsames were living at the time -thus was Ahuramazda's desire- when my father Darius was made king of this earth. When Darius became king, he did much that was excellent. [King] Xerxes says ... [28-43] Darius had other sons, but -thus was Ahuramazda's desire- my father Darius made me the greatest after himself. When my father Darius went away from the throne, by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king on my father's throne. When I became king, I did much that was excellent. What had been built by my father, I protected, and other I added other buildings. What I built, and what my father built, all that by the grace of Ahuramazda we built. [44-48] King Xerxes says: May Ahuramazda protect me, my kingdom, and what was done by my father. May Ahuramazda protect this.

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Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions: XPf ("Harem inscription")

Babylonian text