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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 4, lines 31-39
  1. içiyam \ akunauš \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ imaiy \
  2. IX \ xšâyathiyâ \ adam \ agarbâyam \ atar \ imâ \ hamaranâ
  3. \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ dahyâva \ imâ \ tyâ \ hamiçiy
  4. â \ abava \ drauga \ diš \ hamiçiyâ \ akunauš \ tya \ imaiy \ kâram \ adur
  5. ujiyaša \ pasâva \ diš \ Auramazdâ \ manâ \ dastayâ \ akunauš \ yathâ \ mâm \ k
  6. âma \ avatha \ diš \ akunavam \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathi
  7. ya \ tuvam \ kâ \ xšâyathiya \ hya \ aparam âhy \ hacâ \ draugâ \ daršam \
  8. patipayauvâ \ martiya \ hya \ draujana \ ahatiy \ avam \ ufraštam \ parsâ \ ya
  9. diy \ avathâ \ maniyâhaiy \ dahyâušmaiy \ duruvâ \ ahati
  (53) King Darius says: These nine king did I capture in these wars.

(54) King Darius says: As to these provinces which revolted, lies made them revolt, so that they deceived the people. Then Ahuramazda delivered them into my hand; and I did unto them according to my will.

(55) King Darius says: You who shall be king hereafter, protect yourself vigorously from lies; punish the liars well, if thus you shall think, 'May my country be secure!'
to Column 4, lines 40-49
 
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