The Behistun Inscriptions of Darius

Darius I

OVERVIEW
The road from Babylon to Media passes through a mountainous region. It was here, in 516
B.C., that Darius had carved on a towering rock face some 1,700 feet high an account of his
deeds as king of Persia. The Behistun inscriptions, as they are now called, were written in
three languages: ancient Persian, Babylonian, and Elamite. They are arranged in columns, of
which the first two are included here.
GUIDED READING As you read, consider the following: Each paragraph of this
historical account is similar in structure. The battles that are recounted are described
in the same way, again and again.
What effect does this have?
Why do you think the king wrote each account of battle in the same way?

OLUMN I
1. I (am) Darius, the great king, the king of kings, the king of Persia,
the king of the provinces, the son of Hystaspes, the grandson of Arsames, the
Achaemenian.
2. Says Darius the kingMy 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. Says Darius the kingOn that account we have been called
Achaemenians; from antiquity we have descended; from antiquity our family
have been kings.
4. Says Darius the king(There are) eight of my race who have been kings
before (me); I (am) the ninth; nine of us have been kings in succession.
5. Says Darius the kingBy the grace of Ormazd I am king; Ormazd has
granted me the empire.
6. Says Darius the kingThese are the countries which have come to me;
by the grace of Ormazd I have become king of them: Persia, Susiana,
Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, those which are of the sea, Saparda, Ionia,
Media, Armenia, Cappadocia, Parthia, Zarangia, Aria, Chorasmia, Bactria,
Sogdiana, Gandaria, the Sacae, Sattagydia, Arachotia, and Mecia; in all
twenty-three provinces.
7. Says Darius the kingThese (are) the provinces which have come to
me; by the grace of Ormazd they have become subject to me; they have
brought tribute to me. That which has been said to them by me, both by night
and by day, it has been done (by them).

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The Behistun Inscriptions of Darius

8. Says Darius the kingWithin these countries, the man who was good,
him I have right well cherished. Whoever was evil, him have I utterly rooted
out. By the grace of Ormazd, these are the countries by whom my laws have
been observed. As it has been said to them by me, so (by them) it has been
done.
9. Says Darius the kingOrmazd granted me the empire. Ormazd
brought help to me, so that I gained this empire. By the grace of Ormazd I
hold this empire.
10. Says Darius the kingThis (is) what (was) done by me after that I
became king. (A man) named Cambyses, son of Cyrus, of our race, he was
here king before me. Of that Cambyses (there was) a brother, Bardes was his
name; of the same mother, (and) of the same father with Cambyses.
Afterwards Cambyses slew that Bardes. When Cambyses had slain Bardes, it
was not known to the people that Bardes had been slain. Afterwards Cambyses
proceeded to Egypt. When Cambyses had proceeded to Egypt, then the state
became wicked. Then the lie became abounding in the land, both in Persia,
and in Media, and in the other provinces.
11. Says Darius the kingAfterwards there was a certain man, a Magian,
named Gomates. He arose from Pissiachada, the mountain named Aracadres,
from thence. On the 14th day of the month Vayakhna, then it was that he
arose. He thus lied to the state, "I am Bardes, the son of Cyrus, the brother of
Cambyses." Then the whole state became rebellious. From Cambyses it went
over to him, both Persia, and Media, and the other provinces. He seized the
empire. On the 9th day of the month Garmapada, then it was he so seized the
empire. Afterwards Cambyses, unable to endure, died.
12. Says Darius the kingThe empire of which Gomates, the Magian,
dispossessed Cambyses, that empire from the olden time had been in our
family. After Gomates the Magian had dispossessed Cambyses both of Persia
and Media and the dependent provinces, he did according to his desire: he
became king.
13. Says Darius the kingThere was not a man, neither Persian, nor
Median, nor any one of our family, who would dispossess that Gomates the
Magian of the crown. The state feared him exceedingly. He slew many people
who had known the old Bardes; for that reason he slew them. "Lest they
should recognise me that I am not Bardes, the son of Cyrus." No one dared to
say anything concerning Gomates the Magian, until I arrived. Then I prayed
to Ormazd; Ormazd brought help to me. On the 10th day of the month
Bagayadish, then it was, with my faithful men, I slew that Gomates the
Magian, and those who were his chief followers. The fort named Sictachotes in
the district of Media called Nisaea, there I slew him. I dispossessed him of the
empire. By the grace of Ormazd I became king: Ormazd granted me the
sceptre.
14. Says Darius the kingThe empire which had been taken away from
our family, that I recovered. I established it in its place. As (it was) before, so I

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The Behistun Inscriptions of Darius

made (it). The temples which Gomates the Magian had destroyed, I rebuilt.
The sacred offices of the state, both the religious chants and the worship, (I
restored) to the people, which Gomates the Magian had deprived them of. I
established the state in its place, both Persia, and Media, and the other
provinces. As (it was) before, so I restored what (had been) taken away. By the
grace of Ormazd I did (this). I arranged so that I established our family in its
place. As (it was) before, so I arranged (it), by the grace of Ormazd, so that
Gomates the Magian should not supersede our family.
15. Says Darius the kingThis (is) what I did, after that I became king.
16. Says Darius the kingWhen I had slain Gomates the Magian, then a
man named Atrines, the son of Opadarmes, he arose; to the state of Susiana
thus he said, 'I am king of Susiana.' Then the Susianians became rebellious;
they went over to that Atrines; he became king of Susiana. And a man, a
Babylonian, Nidintabelus by name, the son of Anires, he arose. To the state of
Babylonia he thus falsely declared, 'I am Nabochodrossor, the son of
Nabonidus.' Afterwards the whole state of Babylon went over to that
Nidintabelus. Babylon became rebellious. He seized the kingdom of
Babylonia.
17. Says Darius the kingThen I sent to Susiana; That Atrines was
brought to me a prisoner. I slew him.
18. Says Darius the kingThen I went to Babylon against that
Nidintabelus, who was called Nabochodrossor. The people of Nidintabelus
held the Tigris; there they were posted, and they had boats. There I
approached with a detachment in rafts. I brought the enemy into difficulty. (I)
carried the enemy's position. Ormazd brought help to me. By the grace of
Ormazd I crossed the Tigris. There I slew many of the troops of that
Nidintabelus. On the 26th day of the month Atriyata, then it was we so
fought.
19. Says Darius the kingThen I went to Babylon. When I arrived near
Babylon, at the city named Zazana, on the Euphrates, there that Nidintabelus,
who was called Nabochodrossor, came with his forces against me, to do battle.
Then we fought a battle. Ormazd brought help to me. By the grace of Ormazd
I slew many of the troops of that Nidintabelusthe enemy was driven into
the waterthe water destroyed them. On the 2nd day of the month
Anamaka, then it was we so fought.
COLUMN II
1. Says Darius the kingThen Nidintabelus with the horsemen (that
were) faithful (to him) fled to Babylon. Then I went to Babylon. By the grace
of Ormazd I both took Babylon, and seized that Nidintabelus. Then I slew
that Nidintabelus at Babylon.
2. Says Darius the kingWhile I was at Babylon, these (are) the countries
which revolted against me: Persia, Susiana, Media, Assyria, Armenia, Parthia,
Margiana, Sattagydia, Sacia.

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The Behistun Inscriptions of Darius

3. Says Darius the kingA man, named Martius, the son of Sisicres, (in)
the city of Persia named Cyganaca, there he dwelt. He arose: to the state of
Susiana thus he said, 'I am Imanes, king of Susiana.'
4. Says Darius the kingI was moving a little way (?) in the direction of
Susiana. Then the Susianians, fearing from me, seized that Martius. He who
was their chief slew him.
5. Says Darius the kingA man, named Phraortes, a Mede, he rose up. To
the state of Media thus he said, 'I am Xathrites, of the race of Cyaxares.' Then
the Median troops who were at home revolted from me. They went over to
that Phraortes: he became king of Media.
6. Says Darius the kingThe army of Persians and Medes that was with
me, that was faithful to me. Then I sent forth troops. Hydarnes by name, a
Persian, one of my subjects, him I appointed their leader. Thus I addressed
them, 'Go forth (and) smite that Median state, which does not acknowledge
me.' Then that Hydarnes marched with his army. When he reached Media, a
city of Media, named Marus, there he fought a battle with the Medes. He who
was the leader of the Medes could not at all resist him. Ormazd brought help
to me; by the grace of Ormazd, the troops of Hydarnes entirely defeated that
rebel army. On the 27th day of the month Anamaka, then it was the battle
was thus fought by them. Then that army of mine at (a place) called Capada, a
district of Media, waited for me until I arrived in Media.
7. Says Darius the kingThen (a man), Dadarses by name, an Armenian,
one of my subjects, him I sent to Armenia. Thus I said to him, 'Go forth; the
rebel state, which does not acknowledge me, smite it.' Then Dadarses
marched. When he reached Armenia, then the rebels, having collected, came
again before Dadarses, to do battle. Zoza by name, a village of Armenia, there
they fought a battle. Ormazd brought help to me; by the grace of Ormazd, my
forces entirely defeated the rebel army. On the 8th day of the month
Thuravahara, then it was a battle was thus fought by them.
8. Says Darius the kingFor the second time the rebels, having collected,
returned before Dadarses, to do battle. The fort of Armenia named Tigra,
there they fought a battle. Ormazd brought help to me; by the grace of
Ormazd, my troops entirely defeated that rebel army. On the 18th day of the
month Thuravahara, then it was the battle was thus fought by them.
9. Says Darius the kingFor the third time the rebels, having collected,
returned before Dadarses, to do battle. The fort of Armenia named Uhyama,
there they fought a battle. Ormazd brought help to me; by the grace of
Ormazd, my forces entirely defeated the rebel army. On the 9th day of the
month Thaigarchish, then it was the battle was thus fought by them.
Afterwards Dadarses waited for me there until I reached Media.
10. Says Darius the kingThen (a man) named Vomises, a Persian, one of
my subjects, him I sent to Armenia. Thus I said to him, 'Go forth; the rebel
state which does not acknowledge me, smite it.' Then Vomises went forth.
When he reached Armenia, then the rebels, having collected, came again

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The Behistun Inscriptions of Darius

before Vomises, to do battle. A district of Assyria, named Achidus, there they

fought a battle. Ormazd brought help to me; by the grace of Ormazd my
troops entirely defeated that rebel army. On the 15th day of the month
Anamaka, then it was the battle was thus fought by them.
11. Says Darius the kingFor the second time the rebels, having collected,
came before Vomises, to do battle. A district of Armenia, named Otiara, there
they fought a battle. Ormazd brought help to me; by the grace of Ormazd my
troops entirely defeated that rebel army. In the month of Thuravahara, upon
the festival (?), the battle was thus fought by them. Afterwards Vomises waited
for me in Armenia, until I reached Media.
12. Says Darius the kingThen I went out from Babylon. I proceeded to
Media. When I reached Media, a city of Media named Kudrusia, there that
Phraortes, who (was) called king of Media, came with an army against me, to
do battle. Then we fought a battle. Ormazd brought help to me; by the grace
of Ormazd, I entirely defeated the army of Phraortes. On the 26th day of the
month Adukanish, then it was we thus fought the battle.
13. Says Darius the kingThen that Phraortes, with his faithful
horsemen, fled from thence to a district of Media, called Rhages. Then I sent
an army, by which Phraortes was taken (and) brought before me. I cut off
both his nose, and his ears, and his tongue, and I put out his eyes. He was kept
chained at my door; all the kingdom beheld him. Afterwards I crucified him at
Agbatana. And the men, who were his chief followers, I slew within the citadel
at Agbatana.
14. Says Darius the kingA man, named Sitrantachmes, a Sagartian, he
rebelled against me. To the state thus he said, 'I am the king of Sagartia, of the
race of Cyaxares.' Then I sent forth an army of Persians and Medes. (A man)
named Tachamaspates, a Mede, one of my subjects, him I made their leader.
Thus I said to them, 'Go forth, (and) smite that rebel state which does not
acknowledge me.' Then Tachamaspates set forth with his army. He fought a
battle with Sitrantachmes. Ormazd brought help to me; by the grace of
Ormazd, my troops defeated the rebel army, and took Sitrantachmes, and
brought (him) before me. Then I cut off both his nose and his ears, and I put
out his eyes. He was kept chained at my door. All the kingdom beheld him.
Afterwards I crucified him at Arbela.
15. Says Darius the kingThis is what (was) done by me in Media.
16. Says Darius the kingParthia and Hyrcania revolted against me. They
declared for Phraortes. Hystaspes, my father, . Afterwards Hystaspes, with
the troops under his orders, set forth. (At a place) called Hyspaostes, a town of
Media, there he fought a battle. Ormazd brought help to me; by the grace of
Ormazd, Hystaspes entirely defeated that rebel army. On the 22d day of the
month Viyakhna, then it was the battle (was) thus fought by them.

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The Behistun Inscriptions of Darius