The Behistun Inscription


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	*The Behistun inscription*

The Behistun relief	Behistun or Bisotun: town in Iran, site of several ancient monuments, including a famous inscription by the Persian king Darius I the Great (522- 486 BCE), the great organizer of the Achaemenid empire. On these pages, you can find drawings, a translitteration and an adapted version of the King/Thompson translation of the inscription.

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	yavauš \ xšâyathiya \ imâ \ dahyâva \ tyâ \ manâ \ patiyâita \ vašnâ \ Au ramazdâha \ manâ \ badakâ \ âhatâ \ manâ \ bâjim \ abaratâ \ tyašâm \ hacâma \ athahya \ xšapava \ raucapativâ \ ava \ akunavayatâ \ thâtiy \ Dârayava uš \ xšâyathiya \ atar \ imâ \ dahyâva \ martiya \ hya \ âgariya \ âha \ avam \ u bartam \ abaram \ hya \ arika \ âha \ avam \ ufrastam \ aparsam \ vašnâ \ Auramazdâ ha \ imâ \ dahyâva \ tyanâ \ manâ \ dâtâ \ apariyâya \ yathâšâm \ hacâma \ athah ya \ avathâ \ akunavayatâ \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ Auramazdâ maiy \ ima xšaçam \ frâbara \ Auramazdâmaiy \ upastâm \ abara \ yâtâ \ ima \ xšaçam \ hamadârayaiy \ vašnâ \ Auramazdâha \ ima \ xšaçam \ dârayâmiy \ thâ
	(7) King Darius says: These are the countries which are subject to me; by the grace of Ahuramazda they became subject to me; they brought tribute unto me. Whatsoever commands have been laid on them by me, by night or by day, have been performed by them. (8) King Darius says: Within these lands, whosoever was a friend, him have I surely protected; whosoever was hostile, him have I utterly destroyed. By the grace of Ahuramazda these lands have conformed to my decrees; as it was commanded unto them by me, so was it done. (9) King Darius says: Ahuramazda has granted unto me this empire. Ahuramazda brought me help, until I gained this empire; by the grace of Ahuramazda do I hold this empire.

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