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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 4, lines 21-30

  1. gartiya \ hauv \ adurujiya \ avathâ \ athaha \ adam \ xšâyath
  2. iya \ amiy \ Asagartaiy \ Uvaxštrahya \ taumâyâ \ hauv
  3. \ Asagartam \ hamiçiyam \ akunauš \ I Frâda \ nâma \
  4. Mârgava \ hauv \ adurujiya \ avathâ \ athaha \ adam \
  5. xšâyathiya \ amiy \ Margauv \ hauv \ Margum \ hamici
  6. yam \ akunauš \ I Vahyazdâta \ nâma \ Pârsa \ hauv \ a
  7. durujiya \ avathâ \ athaha \ adam \ Bardiya \ amiy \ hya \ Kû
  8. rauš \ puça \ hauv \ Pârsam \ hamiçiyam \ akunauš \ I Ar
  9. xa \ nâma \ Arminiya \ hauv \ adurujiya \ avathâ \ athaha \ adam \ Nab
  10. ukudracara \ amiy \ hya \ Nabunaitahya \ puça \ hauv \ Bâbirum \ ham
  Another was Tritantaechmes, the Sagartian; he lied, saying: 'I am king in Sagartia, of the dynasty of Cyaxares.' He made Sagartia to revolt.

Another was named Frâda, of Margiana; he lied, saying: 'I am king of Margiana.' He made Margiana to revolt.

Another was Vahyazdâta, a Persian; he lied, saying: 'I am Smerdis, the son of Cyrus.' He made Persia to revolt.

Another was Arakha, an Armenian; he lied, saying: 'I am Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabonidus.' He made Babylon to revolt.




to Column 4, lines 31-39



 
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