Behistun T 13

Behistun or Bisotun: town in Iran, site of several ancient monuments, including a famous inscription by the Persian king Darius I the Great (r.522-486 BCE), the great organizer of the Achaemenid Empire.

On these pages, you can find drawings, a transliteration and an adapted version of the King/Thompson translation of the inscription.

Column ii, lines 9-17

  1. ma \ Cicixrâiš \ puça \ Kuganakâ \ nâma \ vardanam \ Pârsaiy \ avadâ \ adâraya \
  2. hauv \ udapatatâ \ Ûvjaiy \ kârahyâ \ avathâ \ athaha \ adam \ Imaniš \ amiy \ Û
  3. vjaiy \ xšâyathiya \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ adakaiy \ adam \ ašna
  4. iy \ âham \ abiy \ Ûvjam \ pasâva \ hacâma \ atarsa \ Ûvjiyâ \ avam \ Marti
  5. yam \ agarbâya \ hyašâm \ mathišta \ âha \ utâšim \ avâjana \ thâtiy \ D
  6. ârayavauš \ xšayathiya \ I martiya \ Fravartiš \ nâma \ Mâda \ hauv \ udapatat
  7. â \ Mâdaiy \ kârahyâ \ avathâ \ athaha \ adam \ Xšathrita \ amiy \ Uvaxštrah
  8. yâ \ taumâyâ \ pasâva \ kâra \ Mâda \ hya \ uithâpatiy \ hauv \ hacâma \ hamiçiya \ a
  9. bava \ abiy \ avam \ Fravartim \ ašiyava \ hauv \ xšâyathiya \ abava \ Mâdaiy \

(22) King Darius says: A certain man named Martiya, the son of Zinzakriš, dwelt in a city in Persia called Kuganakâ. This man revolted in Elam, and he said to the people: 'I am Ummaniš, king in Elam.'

(23) King Darius says: At that time, I was friendly with Elam. Then there were Elamites afraid of me, and that Martiya, who was their leader, they seized and slew.

(24) King Darius says: A certain Mede named Phraortes revolted in Media, and he said to the people: 'I am Khshathrita, of the family of Cyaxares.' Then did the Medes who were in the palace revolt from me and go over to Phraortes. He became king in Media.