Minor inscriptions

On the relief at Behistun, we can read several minor texts, which you can read on this page.

DBa

Inscription on top of the Behistun relief, to the left of the flying figure ofAhuramazda.

1. \ adam \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ vazraka \ xšâya
2. thiya \ xšâyathiyânâm \ xšâyathiya \ Pârsaiy \ xš
3. âyathiya \ dahyunam \ Vištâspahyâ \ puça \
4. Aršâmahyâ \ napâ \ Haxâmanišiya \ thâtiy \ Dâra
5. yavauš \ xšâyathiya \ manâ \ pitâ \ Vištâspa \ Vi
6. štâspahyâ \ pitâ \ Aršâma \ Aršâmahyâ \ pi
7. tâ \ Ariyâramna \ Ariyâramnahyâ \ pitâ \
8. Cišpiš \ Cispaiš \ pitâ \ Haxâmaniš \
9. thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ avahya
10. râdiy \ vayam \ Haxâmanišiyâ \ thahyâ
11. mahy \ hacâ \ paruviyata \ âmâtâ
12. \ amahy \ hacâ \ paruviyata \ hyâ \ amâ
13. xam \ taumâ \ xšâyathiyâ \ âha \ thâ
14. tiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ VIII \ ma
15. nâ \ taumâyâ \ tyaiy \ paruva
16. m \ xšâyathiyâ \ âha \ adam \ na
17. vama \ IX \ duvitâparanam \ vayam \ x
18. šâyathiyâ \ amahy \

I amDarius, the great king, king of kings, king in Persia, king of all nations, the son ofHystaspes, the grandson ofArsames, theAchaemenid.

King Darius says: My father is Hystaspes. The father of Hystaspes is Arsames. The father of Arsames is Ariaramnes. The father of Ariaramnes is Teispes. The father of Teispes is Achaemenes.

King Darius says: That is why we are called Achaemenids; from antiquity we have been noble; from antiquity has our dynasty been royal.

King Darius says: Eight of my dynasty were kings before me; I am the ninth. Nine in succession, in two lines, we have been kings.;

DBb

Inscription on the Behistun relief, below the figures of Darius andGaumâta.

1. \ iyam \ Gaumâ
2. ta \ hya \ maguš \ a
3. durujiya \
4. avathâ \ athaha \ adam \ Ba
5. rdiya \ amiy \ hya \ K
6. ûrauš \ puça \ adam \ xš
7. âyathiya \ amiy \

This is Gaumâta, theMagian.
He lied, saying "I amSmerdis, the son ofCyrus, I am king."

DBc

Inscription on the Behistun relief, above the figure ofššina.

1. \ iyam \ Âç
2. ina \ adu
3. rujiya \
4. avathâ
5. \ athaha \ a
6. dam \ x
7. šâyath
8. iya \ am
9. iy \ Û
10. vjaiy \

This is ššina.
He lied, saying "I am king ofElam."

DBd

Inscription on the Behistun relief, above the figure ofNidintu-Bêl.

1. \ iyam \ Naditabaira \
2. adurujiya \ ava
3. thâ \ athaha \ adam \ Nab
4. ukudracara \ ami
5. y \ hya \ Nabunaita
6. hya \ puça \ adam \ x
7. šâyathiya \ amiy \ B
8. âbirauv \

This is Nidintu-Bêl.
He lied, saying "I am Nebuchadnezzar, the son ofNabonidus. I am king ofBabylon."

DBe

Inscription on the Behistun relief, on the figure ofPhraortes.

1. \ iyam \ Fra
2. vartiš \
3. aduru
4. jiya \ ava
5. thâ \ athaha \ adam \
6. Xšathrita \ amiy
7. \ Uvaxštrahya
8. \ taumâyâ \ adam
9. \ xšâyathiya \ amiy
10. \ Mâ
11. daiy \

This is Phraortes.
He lied, saying: "I am Khshathrita, of the dynasty ofCyaxares. I am king inMedia."

DBf

Inscription on the Behistun relief, below the figure ofMartiya.

1. \ iyam \ Martiya \ a
2. durujiya \ a
3. vathâ \ athaha \ a
4. dam \ Imaniš \ am
5. iy \ Ûvjaiy \ x
6. šâyathi
7. ya \

This is Martiya.
He lied, saying "I am Ummanniš, king of Elam."

DBg

Inscription on the Behistun relief, below the figure ofTritantaechmes.

1. \ iyam \ Ciça
2. taxma \ ad
3. urujiya
4. \ avathâ \ a
5. thaha \ adam \
6. xšâyathi
7. ya \ ami
8. y \ Asaga
9. rtaiy \ Uva
10. xštrahya
11. \ taumây
12. â

This is Tritantaechmes.
He lied, saying "I am king ofSagartia, from the family ofCyaxares."

DBh

Inscription on the Behistun relief, below the figure of Vahyazdâta.

1. \ iyam \ Vahya
2. zdâta \ adu
3. rujiya \ ava
4. thâ \ athaha \ ada
5. m \ Bardiya \ a
6. miy \ hya \ K
7. ûrauš \ puça
8. \ adam \ xšâ
9. yathiya \ amiy

This is Vahyazdâta.
He lied, saying "I am Smerdis, the son of Cyrus, I am king."

DBi

Inscription on the Behistun relief, below the figure ofArakha.

1. \ iyam \ Arxa
2. \ aduruj
3. iya \ avathâ \
4. athaha \ adam \
5. Nabuku[d]ra
6. cara \ amiy \
7. hya \ Nabuna
8. itahya \ pu
9. ça \ adam \ xšâ
10. yathiya \ amiy
11. \ Bâbarauv \

This is Arakha.
He lied, saying: "I am Nebuchadnezzar, the son ofNabonidus. I am king in Babylon."

DBj

Inscription on the Behistun relief, below the figure ofFrâda.

1. \ iyam \ Frada \
2. aduruji
3. ya \ avathâ \ athaha
4. \ adam \ xšâyath
5. iya \ amiy \ Marga
6. uv \

This is Frâda.
He lied, saying "I am king ofMargiana."

DBk

Inscription on the Behistun relief, above the figure ofSkunkha.

1. \ iyam \ Sku
2. xa \ hya \ Saka

This is Skunkha theSacan.

• Behistun, Persian Text
• Behistun, minor inscriptions

Author

• Ancient author

Country

• Iran

Category

• Persia

Subdisciplines

• Archaeology
• Epigraphy
• Oriental studies

Tag

• Inscription

See also

• Behistun(article)
• Darius I the Great(article)