The Behistun Inscription: A Historical Rosetta Stone
The Behistun Inscription, also known as Bisotun, Bisitun, or Bisutun, is an ancient Achaemenid royal inscription. Located on a cliff at Mount Behistun in Iran’s Kermanshah Province, this monumental work dates back to the reign of Darius the Great (522–486 BC). Renowned for its critical role in deciphering cuneiform script, it stands as the longest known trilingual cuneiform inscription, written in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian (a variety of Akkadian).
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Origins and Purpose
Darius the Great authored the inscription between his coronation in 522 BC and his death in 486 BC. The text begins with a brief autobiography, detailing Darius’s ancestry and lineage. Following this, Darius recounts the events after Cambyses II’s death, during which he fought nineteen battles over a single year to suppress various rebellions across the Persian Empire. He attributed his victories to the divine favor of Ahura Mazda.
The Monumental Inscription
The inscription measures approximately 15 meters high by 25 meters wide and is situated 100 meters up a limestone cliff, near an ancient road linking Babylon and Ecbatana. The Old Persian text comprises 414 lines in five columns, the Elamite text includes 260 lines in eight columns, and the Babylonian text features 112 lines. An Aramaic copy of the text, dated to the reign of Darius II, was discovered in Egypt.
A striking bas-relief accompanies the text, depicting Darius holding a bow, symbolizing kingship. His left foot rests on a figure believed to be the pretender Gaumata. To the left of Darius stand two servants, while to the right, nine one-meter-tall figures with tied hands and ropes around their necks represent conquered peoples. Above them, a Faravahar provides its blessing. Darius’s beard, notably, is a separate stone piece attached with iron pins and lead, indicating it was added later.
Historical Context and Misinterpretations
Following the fall of the Achaemenid Dynasty, the inscription’s true nature faded from memory, leading to various misinterpretations. Englishman Robert Sherley, on a diplomatic mission in 1598, erroneously identified the inscription as Christian in origin. Subsequent explorers, including French General Gardanne and Sir Robert Ker Porter, also misinterpreted its significance, associating it with Biblical and Assyrian narratives.
Decipherment Efforts
The journey to deciphering the inscription began with Carsten Niebuhr’s visit in 1764. His transcriptions aided scholars like Georg Friedrich Grotefend, who deciphered part of the Old Persian script by 1802. Sir Henry Rawlinson, an officer of the British East India Company, made significant strides in 1835 by scaling the cliff to copy the Old Persian text. His work culminated in a full and accurate transcription sent to Europe in 1847.
Modern Research and Conservation
In the 20th century, scholars like A. V. Williams Jackson, Leonard William King, Reginald Campbell Thompson, and George G. Cameron continued to study the site, obtaining photographs and more accurate transcriptions. Despite suffering damage during World War II, efforts to preserve the inscription have persisted. Iranian archaeologists have been documenting and assessing damage since 1999, using advanced techniques to create 3-D images of the texts. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.
The Inscription’s Content
The inscription elaborates on Darius’s lineage, proclaiming his descent from Achaemenes and detailing his succession as the ninth king of his dynasty. Darius credits Ahura Mazda for his rule and lists the territories under his control, including Persia, Elam, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, and more, totaling twenty-three lands.
Darius also narrates his military campaigns to quell rebellions that arose after the deaths of Cyrus the Great and Cambyses II. These detailed accounts provide an invaluable historical record of his reign and the challenges he faced.
Conclusion
The Behistun Inscription stands as a monumental testament to the legacy of Darius the Great and the Achaemenid Empire. Its detailed narrative and multilingual text not only document significant historical events but also played a crucial role in unlocking the mysteries of cuneiform script. Today, it remains a symbol of ancient Persia’s rich history and its enduring influence on the study of ancient languages and civilizations.
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