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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.

 
 

Column 3, lines 38-48

  1. šnâ \ Auramazdâha \ kâra \ hya \ manâ \ avam \ kâram \ tyam \ Vahya
  2. zdâtahya \ aja \ vasiy \ Thûravâharahya \ mâhyâ \ XII \ raucabiš \ thaka
  3. tâ \ âha \ avathâšâm \ hamaranam \ kartam \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xsâyathi
  4. ya \ pasâva \ hauv \ Vahyazdâta \ hadâ \ kamnaibiš \ asabâraibiš \ a
  5. mutha \ ašiyava \ Paišiyâuvâdâm \ hacâ \ avadaša \ kâram \ âyasa
  6. tâ \ hyâparam \ âiš \ patiš \ Artavardiyam \ hamaranam \ cartana
  7. iy \ Parga \ nâma \ kaufa \ avadâ \ hamaranam \ akunava \ Auramazdâma
  8. iy \ upastâm \ abara \ vašnâ \ Auramazdâha \ kâra \ hya \ manâ \ ava
  9. m \ kâram \ tyam \ Vahyazdâtahya \ aja \ vasiy \ Garmapadahya \ mâh
  10. yâ \ V \ raucabiš \ thakatâ \ âha \ avathâšâm \ hamaranam \ kartam \ utâ \ ava
  11. m Vahyazdâtam \ agarbâya \ utâ \ martiyâ \ tyaišaiy \ fratam
  (41b) by the grace of Ahuramazda my host utterly overthrew the army of Vahyazdâta. On the twelfth day of the month Thûravâhara [24 May 521] was the battle fought by them.

(42) King Darius says: Then that Vahyazdâta fled thence with a few horsemen unto Pishiyâuvâda. From that place he went forth with an army a second time against Artavardiya to give him battle. At a mountain called Parga they fought the battle. Ahuramazda brought me help; by the grace of Ahuramazda my host utterly overthrew the army of Vahyazdâta. On the fifth day of the month Garmapada [15 July 521] was the battle fought by them. And they seized that Vahyazdâta, and the men who were his chief followers were also seized.

to Column 3, lines 49-57
 
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