Page 162 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol IV

persian empire 1463

The Inscription of Darius on the Rock of Behistun

The inscription of Persian ruler Darius (written c. 7 (Thus) saith Darius, the king: These are the
520 BCE) on a rock in Behistun recounts his exploits provinces which are subject unto me; by the
and triumphs in coming to power.The extract below grace of Auramazda they became subject unto
contains the first ten items of text. All told, there are me; they brought tribute unto me. Whatsoever
five columns, containing seventy-six points. commands have been laid on them by me, by
night or by day, have been performed by them.
1 I am Darius, the great king, the king of kings, the
8 (Thus) saith Darius, the king: Within these lands,
king of Persia, the king of the provinces, the son
whosoever was a [friend], him have I surely pro-
of Hystaspes, the grandson of Arsames, the
tected; whosoever was hostile, him have I utterly
Achaemenian.
destroyed. By the grace of Auramazda these lands
2 (Thus) saith Darius, the king: My father is Hys-
have conformed to my decrees; even as it was
taspes; the father of Hystaspes was Arsames; the
commanded unto them by me, so it was done.
father of Arsames was Ariyaramnes; the father of
9 (Thus) saith Darius, the king: Auramazda hath
Ariyaramnes was [Teispes]: the father of Teispes
granted unto me this empire.Auramazda brought
was Achaemenes.
me help, until I gained this empire; by the grace
3 (Thus) saith Darius, the king: On that account
of Auramazda do I hold this empire.
are we called Achaemenians; from antiquity are
10 (Thus) saith Darius, the king: This is what was
we descended; from antiquity hath our race
done by me after I became king. He who was
been kings.
named Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, one of our
4 (Thus) saith Darius, the king: Eight of my race
race, was king here before me. That Cambyses
were kings before (me); I am the ninth. In two
had a brouther, Smerdis by name, of the same
lines have we been kings.
mother and the same father as Cambyses. After-
5 (Thus) saith Darius, the king: By the grace of
wards Cambyses slew this Smerdis.When Cam-
Auramazda am I king; Auramazda hath granted
byses slew Smerdis, it was not known unto the
me the kingdom.
people that Smerdis was slain.Thereupon Cam-
6 (Thus) saith Darius, the king: These are the prov-
byses went into Egypt.When Cambyses had de-
inces which are subject unto me, and by the grace
parted into Egypt, the people became hostile,
of Auramazda became I king of them: Persia,
and the lie multiplied in the land, even in Persia,
Susiana, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, the
as in Media, and in the other provinces.
(Islands) of the Sea, Spards, Ionia, [Media],
Armenia, Cappadocia, Parthia, Drangiana,Aria, Source: King, L.W., & Thompson, R. C. (1907). The sculptures and inscription of Behis-
Chorasmia, Bactria, Sogdiana, Gandara, Scythia, tun (p. 1). London: Trustees of the British Museum.
Sattagydia, Arachosia and Maka; twenty-three
lands in all.

his winter residence in Susa (southwestern Iran) to rials from all the satrapies to symbolize the coming
Sardis; it was just one of the many roads that were con- together of all parts and peoples of the empire. Persepo-
structed in the Achaemenid period. Darius also instituted lis was a ceremonial capital, at which during the Persian
a postal system along the royal road; through a system New Year Darius received guests and ambassadors, who
of 111 stops and hostels, men and fresh horses trans- came to pay homage and tribute to the King of Kings.
mitted royal decrees and proclamations. Another major Darius also finished an Egyptian project, the building of
public works program was the building of a new capital, a Suez canal that connected the Mediterranean to the
known to the Greeks as Persepolis (City of the Persians). Red Sea more than two thousand years before the British
Darius brought together craftsmen, engineers, and mate- accomplished the same task in 1866. He then set out to