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The Behistun inscription



Relief at Behistun. Photo Ab Langereis. 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.
Ancient-Warfare.com, the online home of Ancient Warfare magazine
 

 

Column 2, lines 64-70

  1. \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ pasâva \ adam \ nijâyam \ hacâ \
  2. Bâbirauš \ ašiyavam \ Mâdam \ yathâ \ Mâdam \ parârasam \ Kuduruš \ nâma \
  3. vardanam \ Mâdaiy \ avadâ \ hauv \ Fravartiš \ hya \ Mâdaiy \ xšâyathiya \ a
  4. gaubatâ \ âiš \ hadâ \ kârâ \ patiš \ mâm \ hamaranam \ cartanaiy \ pasâva \ hamarana
  5. m \ akumâ \ Auramazdâmaiy \ upastâm \ abara \ vašnâ \ Auramazdâha \ kâram
  6. \ tyam \ Fravartaiš \ adam \ ajanam \ vasiy \ Adukanaišahya \ mâhyâ \ XXV \ ra
  7. ucabiš \ thakatâ \ âha \ avathâ \ hamaranam \ akumâ \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ x
  (31) King Darius says: Then I went forth from Babylon and came into Media. When I had come to Media, that Phraortes, who called himself king in Media, came against me unto a city in Media called Kunduruš [Kangavar?] to offer battle. Then we joined battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda did my army utterly overthrow that rebel host. On the twenty-fifth day of the month Adukanaiša we fought the battle [8 May 521].




to Column 2, lines 71-78



 
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