Darayan I
Coin of Darayan I,Persepolis mint. Reverse:Aramaic legend: 𐡃‬𐡀𐡓𐡉‬𐡅‬ 𐡌𐡋‬𐡊‬d’ryw mlk’ "Darius the King".
King of Persis
Reign	after 132 BC
Predecessor	Wadfradad II
Successor	Wadfradad III
Died	after 132 BC
Religion	Zoroastrianism

Darayan I (also spelledDarew I,Darev I andDarius I;Aramaic: 𐡃‬𐡀𐡓𐡉‬𐡅‬d’ryw) was the firstking of Persis, most likely invested with kingship of the region by his overlord, theParthian monarchPhraates II (r. 132–127 BC) sometime after 132 BC.[1]

Although Darayan I's name was usually read as "Darew" by numismatics, an engraving of his name on a silver bowl has led to his name being read as "Darayan" by most recent studies. The name is derived fromOld Persiandaraya-vahauš, the name of the prominentAchaemenidKing of KingsDarius the Great (r. 522–486 BC).[2]^[a] Darayan I, unlike his predecessors—thefratarakas—used the title ofshah ("king"), and laid foundations to a new dynasty, which may be labelled the Darayanids.^[1] The title for "king" he uses on his coinage ismalik, whilst the legend on the reverse isd’ryw mlk’ ("Darius the King").^[4] The reason behind his adoption of the title of Darayan was seemingly because he felt strong enough to do so, and in spite of the difficulties that he and his successors faced, they did not renounce the title until the fall of the kingdom.^[5]

The style of the silverdrachmas under Darayan I was a continual of the one under the fratarakas.^[5] On the obverse, the king is wearing a soft cap (bashlyk) with a crescent.^[4] On the reverse, the king is facing afire temple with theZoroastrian supreme deityAhura Mazda above, and holding a scepter, and on the other side of the temple an eagle mounted on a pedestal. The reverse has an inscription in theAramaic script: 𐡃‬𐡀𐡓𐡉‬𐡅‬ 𐡌𐡋‬𐡊‬d’ryw mlk’ ("Darius the King").^[4] Parthian influence was notable on the coinage of Darayan I and his successors.^[6] Darayan I was succeeded byWadfradad III.^[6]

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• Shayegan, M. Rahim (2011).Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic and Late Antique Persia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–539.ISBN 9780521766418.
• Sellwood, David (1983)."Minor States in Southern Iran". InYarshater, Ehsan (ed.).The Cambridge History of Iran. Vol. 3(1): The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press. pp. 299–322.ISBN 0-521-20092-X.
• Wiesehöfer, Josef (2000)."Frataraka".Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. X, Fasc. 2. p. 195.
• Wiesehöfer, Josef (2009)."Persis, Kings of".Encyclopaedia Iranica.

• 2nd-century BC Iranian people
• History of Fars province
• 2nd-century BC monarchs in Asia
• Kings of Persis

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