[2.11] Says Darius the king: A second time the rebels came together (and) went against Vaumisa to engage in battle; there (is) a region Autiyara by name in Armenia—here they engaged in battle; Ahuramazda bore me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army smote that rebellious army utterly; at the end of the month Thuravahara—thus the battle (was) fought by them; afterwards Vaumisa awaited me in Armenia until I came to Media.
[2.12] Says Darius the king: Afterwards I went from Babylon; I went away to Media; when I went to Media—there (is) a town Ku(n)durush by name in Media—here this Phraortes who called himself king in Media went with (his) army against me to engage in battle; afterwards we engaged in battle; Ahuramazda bore me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda I smote the army of Phraortes utterly; 25 days in the month Adukanisha were in course—we thus engaged in battle.
[2.13] Says Darius the king: Afterwards this Phraortes with a few horsemen fled; there is a region Raga by name in Media—along there he went; afterwards I sent forth my army in pursuit; Phraortes was seized (and) led to me; I cut off (his) nose and ears and tongue, and I put out his eyes; he was held bound at my court; all the people saw him; afterwards I put him on a cross at Ecbatana, and what men were his foremost allies, these I threw within a prison at Ecbatana.
[2.14] Says Darius the king: One man, Citra(n)takhma by name, a Sagartian, he became rebellious to me; thus he said to the people; I am king in Sagartia, of the family of Cyaxares; afterwards I sent forth the Persian and the Median army; Takhmaspada by name, a Mede, my subject, him I made chief of them, thus I said to them; go, the rebellious army, which does not call itself mine, smite it; afterwards Takhmaspada went away with the army (and) engaged in battle with Citra(n)takhma; Ahuramazda bore me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army smote that rebellious army utterly and seized Citra(n)takhma (and) brought (him) to me; afterwards I cut off his nose and ears, and put out his eyes; he was held bound at my court; all the people saw him; afterwards I put him on a cross in Arbela.
[2.15] Says Darius the king: This (is) what (was) done by me in Media.
[2.16] Says Darius the king: Parthia and Hyrcania became rebellious to me and declared allegiance to Phraortes; my father Hystaspes, he was [in Parthia]; the people abandoned him (and) became rebellious; afterwards Hystaspes [went with his army] which was loyal; there is a town Vish[pa]uz[a]tish [Vishpauzati] by name [in Parthia]—here he engaged in battle with the Parthians; Ahuramazda [bore] me [aid]; by the grace of Ahuramazda Hystaspes smote that rebellious army utterly; [22 days] in the month Viyakhna were in course—thus the battle was fought by them.
[3.1] Says Darius the king: Afterwards I sent forth the Persian army to Hystaspes from Raga; when this army came to Hystaspes afterwards Hystaspes took that army (and) went away; there (is) a town Patigrabana by name in Parthia—here he engaged in battle with the rebels; Ahuramazda bore me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda Hystaspes smote that rebellious army utterly; 1 day in the month Garmapada was in course—thus the battle (was) fought by them.
[3.2] Says Darius the king: Afterwards it became my province; this (is) what (was) done by me in Parthia.
[3.3] Says Darius the king: There (is) a region Margiana by name; it became rebellious to me; one man Frada, a Margian, him they made chief; afterwards I sent forth Dadarshish [Dadarshi] by name, a Persian, my subject, satrap in Bactria against him; thus I said to him; go, smite that army which does not call itself mine; afterwards Dadarshish with the army went away (and) engaged in battle with the Margians; Ahuramazda bore me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army smote that rebellious army utterly; 23 days in the month Atriyadiya [Achiyadiya] were in course—thus the battle (was) fought by them.
[3.4] Says Darius the king: Afterwards it became my province; this (is) what (was) done by me in Bactria.
[3.5] Says Darius the king: One man Vahyazdata by name; there (is) a town Tarava by name; there (is) a region Yutiya [Yautiya] by name in Persia—here he dwelt; he was the second to rise against me in Persia; thus he said to the people; I am Bardiya the son of Cyrus; afterwards the Persian army which (was) in the palace cast aside their loyalty; they became estranged from me (and) went over to that Vahyazdata; he became king in Persia.
[3.6] Says Darius the king: Afterwards I sent forth the Persian and the Median army which was by me; Artavardiya by name, a Persian, my subject, him I made chief of them; the rest of the Persian army went with me to Media; afterwards Artavardiya with the army went to Persia; when he came to Persia—there (is) a town Rakha by name in Persia—here this Vahyazdata who called himself Bardiya went with (his) army against Artavardiya to engage in battle; afterwards they engaged in battle; Ahuramazda bore me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army smote that army of Vahyazdata utterly; 12 days in the month Thuravahara were in course—thus the battle (was) fought by them.
[3.7] Says Darius the king: Afterwards this Vahyazdata with few horsemen fled (and) went to Paishiyauvada; from thence he took an army (and) again went against Artavardiya to engage in battle; there (is) a mountain Parga by name—here they engaged in battle; Ahuramazda gave me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army smote that army of Vahyazdata utterly; 5 days in the month Garmapada were in course—thus the battle (was) fought by them and they seized that Vahyazdata and what men were his foremost allies they seized.
[3.8] Says Darius the king: Afterwards—there (is) a town in Persia Uvadaicaya by name—here, that Vahyazdata and what men were his foremost allies, them I put on a cross.
[3.9] Says Darius the king: This (is) what (was) done by me in Persia.
[3.10] Says Darius the king: This Vahyazdata, who called himself Bardiya, he sent forth an army to Arachosia—there (was) Vivana by name, a Persian, my subject, satrap in Arachosia—against him (he sent an army) and one man he made chief of them; thus he said to them; go, smite Vivana and that army which calls itself of Darius the king; afterwards this army, which Vahyazdata sent forth, went against Vivana to engage in battle; there (is) a stronghold Kapishakanish by name—here they engaged in battle; Ahuramazda bore me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army smote that rebellious army utterly; 13 days in the month Anamaka were in course—thus the battle (was) fought by them.
[3.11] Says Darius the king: Again the rebels came together (and) went against Vivana to engage in battle; there (is) a region Ga(n)dutava by name—here they engaged in battle; Ahuramazda bore me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda my army smote that rebellious army utterly; 7 days in the month Viyakhna were in course—thus the battle (was) fought by them.
[3.12] Says Darius the king: Afterwards this man, who was chief of that army which Vahyazdata sent against Vivana, he fled with a few horsemen (and) went away—there (is) a stronghold Arshada by name in Arachosia—he went thereby; afterwards Vivana, with an army went in pursuit of them; here he seized him and what men were his foremost allies he slew.
[3.13] Says Darius the king: Afterwards the province became mine; this (is) what (was) done by me in Arachosia.
[3.14] Says Darius the king: When I was in Persia and in Media, a second time the Babylonians became estranged from me; one man, Arakha by name, an Armenian son of Haldita, he rose up in Babylon; there (is) a region, Dubala by name—from here he thus lied to the people; I am Nebuchadrezzar, the son of Nabu-na’id; afterwards the Babylonian people became estranged from me (and) went over to that Arakha; he seized Babylon; he became king in Babylon.
[3.15] Says Darius the king: Afterwards I sent forth my army to Babylon; Intaphernes by name, a Persian, my subject, him I made chief of them; thus I said to them; go, smite that Babylonian army which does not call itself mine; afterwards Intaphernes with an army went to Babylon; Ahuramazda bore me aid; by the grace of Ahuramazda, Intaphernes smote the Babylonians; and [he led them bound to me]; 22 days in the month were in course—that Arakha, who called himself Nebuchadrezzar, and the men who [were his foremost allies they seized and bound]; [this Arakha] and what men were his foremost allies were put on crosses at Babylon.
[4.1] Says Darius the kin
g: This (is) what was done by me in Babylon.
[4.2] Says Darius the king: This (is) what I did; by the grace of Ahuramazda it was (done) in every way; after that I became king, I engaged in 19 battles; by the grace of Ahuramazda I waged them and I seized 9 kings; there was one, Gaumata by name, a Magian; he lied; thus he said; I am Bardiya the son of Cyrus; he made Persia rebellious; there (was) one, Atrina [Achina] by name, a Susian [Elamite]; he lied; thus he said; I am king in Susiana; he made Susiana rebellious to me; there (was) one, Nidintu-Bel by name, a Babylonian; he lied; thus he said; I am Nebuchadrezzar the son of Nabu-na’id; he made Babylon rebellious; there (was) one, Martiya by name, a Persian; he lied; thus he said; I am Imanish, king in Susiana; he made Susiana rebellious; there (was) one Phraortes by name, a Mede; he lied; thus he said; I am Khshathrita, of the family of Cyaxares; he made Media rebellious; there (was) one Citra(n)takhma by name, in Sagartia; he lied; thus he said; I am king in Sagartia, of the family of Cyaxares; he made Sagartia rebellious; there (was) one Frada by name, a Margian; he lied; thus he said; I am king in Margiana; he made Margiana rebellious; there (was) one, Vahyazdata by name, a Persian; he lied; thus he said; I am Bardiya the son of Cyrus; he made Persia rebellious; there (was) one, Arakha by name, an Armenian; he lied; thus he said; I am Nebuchadrezzar the son of Nabu-na’id; he made Babylon rebellious.
[4.3] Says Darius the king: These 9 kings I seized within these battles.
[4.4] Says Darius the king: These (are) the provinces which became rebellious; the Lie made them rebellious so that these deceived the people; afterwards Ahuramazda gave them into my hand; as was my will so [I did] unto them.
[4.5] Says Darius the king: O thou who shalt be king in the future, protect thyself strongly from Deceit; whatever man shall be a deceiver, him who deserves to be punished, punish, if thus thou shalt think “may my country be secure.”
[4.6] Says Darius the king: This (is) what I did; by the grace of Ahuramazda I did (it) in every way; O thou who shalt examine this inscription in the future, let it convince thee (as to) what (was) done by me; regard it not as lies.
[4.7] Says Darius the king: I appeal to Ahuramazda that this (is) true (and) not false (which) I did in every way.
[4.8] Says Darius the king: By the grace of Ahuramazda much else (was) done by me that (is) not written on this inscription; for this reason it (is) not written lest whoever shall examine this inscription in the future, to him what has been done by me should seem too much; and it should not convince him but he should think (it) false.
[4.9] Says Darius the king: Who were the former kings, while they lived, by these nothing (was) thus done as (was) done by me through the grace of Ahuramazda in every way.
[4.10] Says Darius the king: Now let it convince thee (as to) what (was) done by me; thus do not conceal this record; if thou shalt not conceal this record (but) tell (it) to the people, may Ahuramazda be a friend to thee and may there be unto thee a family abundantly and mayest thou live long.
[4.11] Says Darius the king: If thou shalt conceal this record (and) not tell (it) to the people, may Ahuramazda be a smiter unto thee and may there not be unto thee a family.
[4.12] Says Darius the king: This (is) what I did in every way; by the grace of Ahuramazda I did (it); Ahuramazda bore me aid and the other gods which are.
[4.13] Says Darius the king: For this reason Ahuramazda bore me aid and the other gods which are, because I was not an enemy, I was not a deceiver, I was not a wrong-doer, neither I nor my family; according to rectitude [I ruled] nor made I my power(?) an oppression to [those who praise me]; the man (who) helped my house, him who should be well esteemed, I esteemed; (the man) who would destroy it, him who should deserve punishment, I punished.
[4.14] Says Darius the king: O thou who shalt be king in the future, whatever man shall be a deceiver or a wrong-doer (be) not a friend to these; punish (them) with severe punishment.
[4.15] Says Darius the king: O thou who shalt see this inscription in the future which I have written or these sculptures, thou shalt not destroy (them) as long as thou shalt live; thus thou shalt guard them.
[4.16] Says Darius the king: If thou shalt see this inscription or these sculptures (and) shalt not destroy them and shalt guard them as long as thy family shall be, may Ahuramazda be a friend to thee and may there be unto thee a family abundantly and may thou live long and whatever thou shalt do, this for thee (let) Ahuramazda make [successful].
[4.17] Says Darius the king: If thou shalt see this inscription or these sculptures (and) shalt destroy; them and shalt not guard them as long as thy family shall be, may Ahuramazda be a smiter unto thee and may there not be unto thee a family and whatever thou shalt do, this let Ahuramazda destroy for thee.
[4.18] Says Darius the king: These (are) the men who were there then when I slew Gaumata the Magian, who called himself Bardiya; then these men cooperated as my allies; Intaphernes by name, the son of Vayaspara, a Persian; Otanes by name, the son of Thukhra, a Persian; Gobryas by name, the son of Mardonius, a Persian; Hydarnes by name, the son of Bagabigna, a Persian; Megabyzus by name, the son of Daduhya, a Persian; Ardumanish by name, the son of Vahauka, a Persian.
[4.19] Says Darius the king: O thou who shalt be king in the future, preserve. …
[4.20] Says Darius the king: By the grace of Ahuramazda this inscription which I made … I have written; this inscription; … me afterwards the inscription … within the provinces. … [By the favor of Ahuramazda this inscription in other ways I made. In addition, it was in Aryan, and has been made in leather. In addition, this inscription as a whole has been confirmed by the impression of a seal. And it was written, and the written document was read off to me. Afterwards this inscription was sent by me everywhere among the provinces; the people universally were pleased.]
[5.1] Says Darius the king: This (is) what I did … [when I became] king; (there is) a province Susiana [Elam] [by name]; this became estranged from me; [one man] … Mamita by name, a Susian [Elamite], him they made chief; afterwards I sent forth (my) army to Susiana; [one man] Gobryas by name, [a Persian] my subject, [him] I made chief [of them]; afterwards this Gobryas with an army went to Susiana; he engaged in [battle] with the Susians; afterwards Gobryas smote … and annihilated them(?) and seized [that … Mamita] their chief and brought him to me and I slew him; afterwards the province [became mine].
[5.2] Says Darius the king: Then the Susians [feared] and Ahuramazda gave them [into my hand]; I offered thanks; by the grace of Ahuramazda, as was my will, thus I did unto them.
[5.3] Says Darius the king: Whoever shall worship Ahuramazda, as long as [his family] shall be, and life. …
[5.4] Says Darius the king: With (my) army I went to Scythia; unto Scythia … the Tigris … unto the sea … I crossed in rafts(?); the Scythians I smote; one part I seized [and they were brought] bound to me and [I slew] them; … Sku(n)kha [Skunkha] by name, him I seized … there another I made chief … there was … by name; afterwards the province became mine.
Source: Herbert Cushing Tolman, trans., The Behistun Inscription of King Darius (Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 1908), http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Persia/Behistun_txt.html.
12. INSCRIPTION OF DARIUS I AT NAQSH-E ROSTAM
Naqsh-e Rostam is an important historical site containing the tombs of the four Achaemenid kings Darius I (Darayavaush I) (r. 522–486 BCE), Xerxes I (Khshayarsha I) (r. 486–465 BCE), Artaxerxes I (Artakhshacha I) (r. 465–424 BCE), and Darius II (r. 423–404 BCE). The site is located approximately 39 miles (63 kilometers) north of the city of Shiraz in the southern Iranian province of Fars and 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) northwest of Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid dynasty (r. 550–330 BCE). The resting tombs of the four Achaemenid kings were designed as cross-shaped tombs cut into the rock. A door in the center of the facade provided access to the interior of each royal tomb. The only tomb identified by an inscription is that of Darius I. In his inscription at Naqsh-e Rostam, Darius I pays homage to the great god A
hura Mazda for creating Earth and the sky as well as happiness for man and bestowing kingship upon him. Darius also speaks of his Persian and Aryan lineage while at the same time listing the countries he ruled.
1. 1–8. A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth, who created yonder sky, who created man, who created happiness for man, who made Darius king, one king of many, one lord of many.
2. 8–15. I am Darius a Great King, and King of Kings, King of countries containing all kinds of men, king in this great earth far and wide, son of Hystaspes [Vishtaspa], an Achaemenian, a Persian, son of a Persian, an Aryan, having Aryan lineage.
3. 15–30. Saith Darius the King: By the favor of Ahuramazda these are the countries which I seized outside of Persia; I ruled over them; they bore tribute to me; what was said to them by me, that they did; my law—that held them firm; Media, Elam, Parthia, Aria, Bactria, Sogdiana, Chorasmia, Drangiana, Arachosia, Sattagydia, Gandara, Sind, Amyrgian Scythians, Scythians with pointed caps, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, Sardis, Ionia, Scythians who are across the sea, Skudra, Petasos-wearing Ionians, Libyans, Ethiopians, men of Maka, Carians.
4. 30–47. Saith Darius the King: Ahuramazda, when he saw this earth in commotion, thereafter bestowed it upon me, made me king; I am king. By the favor of Ahuramazda I put it down in its place; what I said to them, that they did, as was my desire. If now thou shalt think that “How many are the countries which King Darius held?” look at the sculptures (of those) who bear the throne, then shalt thou know, shall it become known to thee: the spear of a Persian man has gone forth far; then shall it become known to thee: a Persian man has delivered battle far indeed from Persia.
5. 47–55. Saith Darius the King: This which has been done, all that by the will of Ahura Mazda I did. Ahuramazda bore me aid, until I did the work. Me may Ahuramazda protect from harm, and my royal house, and this land: this I pray of Ahuramazda, this may Ahuramazda give to me!
The Persian Empire Page 93
