(539 B. C.-332 B. C.)

THE ROCK-INSCRIPTIONS OF THE
CONQUERORS

"Says Xerxes, the great King: 'What was done by me here and what was done by me afar, all this I did by the grace of Ahura Mazda.'”

THE ROCK-INSCRIPTIONS OF THE

CONQUERORS

(INTRODUCTION)

EVERAL of these Persian inscriptions from the king

SEVE

dom founded by Cyrus are known to-day. By far the most celebrated is the great rock-carved inscription of Behistan. High upon the precipitous side of a mountain, King Darius Hystaspes, the third Persian "world ruler," ordered this enormous record of his triumphs to be chiseled for all men to see forever. The carving includes not only five long columns of inscriptions such as are here translated, but also huge figures in bold relief of King Darius, his attendants, and his prisoners. Moreover, the five columns of text are duplicated on one side in the Elamite tongue and on the other in the Babylonian.

The carvings are much worn by more than two thousand years of the rough assault of all the elements. So that, especially at the bottom of the columns, it is not easy to read them. Neither is it easy to scale the cliffs, so as to get close enough for a careful examination. This was, however, accomplished by the great English explorer Major Rawlinson, in 1844, and again in our day by Professor Jackson. The Rawlinson reading of the columns has thus received its final confirmation and correction.

The full romantic story of King Darius we must leave to Persian history. Briefly, the direct royal line of Cyrus ended with his half-mad son Cambyses, and the world-wide Persian Empire was left without a ruler. Claimants to its many thrones sprang up in every country; but the Persian chiefs selected as their leader Darius, a relative of the royal line, and Darius subdued every rebel and re-established the Empire. His severest struggle was against Gomates, or Gaumata, who was upheld by the Magian priests. Appar

ently this was a religious war-Magians against Zoroastrians; and hence comes Darius's devotion to the god Ahura Mazda. Darius thoroughly reorganized the Empire and became its greatest ruler.

THE INSCRIPTION OF DARIUS 1

COLUMN I

1. I am Darius, the great King, the King of kings, the King in Persia, the King of countries, the son of Hystaspes, the grandson of Arsames, the Achaemenian.

2. Saith Darius the King: My father was Hystaspes; the father of Hystaspes was Arsames; the father of Arsames was Ariaramnes; the father of Ariaramnes was Teispes; the father of Teispes was Achaemenes.

3. Saith Darius the King: Therefore we are called the Achaemenides; from long ago we have been of ancient lineage; from long ago our family have been kings.

4. Saith Darius the King: Eight of my family there were who were formerly kings; I am the ninth, we nine in two lines are kings.

5. Saith Darius the King: By the grace of Ahura Mazda I am King; Ahura Mazda gave me the kingdom.

6. Saith Darius the King: These are the countries which came to me; by the grace of Ahura Mazda I became King of them: Persia, Susiana, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, the lands which are on the sea, Sparda [Sardes], Ionia [Media], Armenia, Cappadocia, Parthia, Drangiana, Aria, Chorasmia, Bactria, Sogdiana, Gandara, Scythia, Sattagydia, Arachosia, the Macae [part of Baluchistan]; in all, 23 countries.

7. Saith Darius the King: These are the countries which came to me; by the grace of Ahura Mazda they became subject to me; they bore tribute to me; what was commanded to them by me night or day, this they did.

8. Saith Darius the King: Within these countries what man was watchful, him well esteemed I esteemed; who was an enemy, him well punished I punished; by the grace of 1 A newly revised translation by Prof. A. V. W. Jackson.