Behistun T 33

Behistun or Bisotun: town in Iran, site of several ancient monuments, including a famous inscription by the Persian king Darius I the Great (r.522-486 BCE), the great organizer of the Achaemenid Empire.

On these pages, you can find drawings, a transliteration and an adapted version of the King/Thompson translation of the inscription.

Column iv, lines 1-11

  1. \ thâtiy \ Dârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ ima \ t
  2. ya \ manâ \ kartam \ Bâbirauv \ thatiy \ D
  3. ârayavauš \ xšâyathiya \ ima \ tya \ adam \ akuna
  4. vam \ vašna \ Auramazdâha \ hamahyâyâ \ thar
  5. da \ pasâva \ yathâ \ xšâyathiya \ abavam \ XIX \ hamaran
  6. â \ akunavam \ vašnâ \ Auramazdâha \ adamšiš \ a
  7. janam \ utâ \ IX \ xšâyathiyâ \ agarbâyam \ I Gaumâta \
  8. nâma \ maguš \ âha \ hauv \ adurujiya \ avathâ \ athaha \ adam \
  9. Bardiya \ amiy \ hya \ Kûrauš \ puça \ hauv \ Pârsam \ ha
  10. miçiyam \ akunauš \ I Âçina \ nâma \ Ûvjiya \ hauv \ adu
  11. rujiya \ avathâ \ athaha \ adam \ xšâyathiya \ amiy \ Ûvjaiy

(51) King Darius says: This is what was done by me in Babylon.

(52) King Darius says: This is what I have done. By the grace of Ahuramazda have I always acted. After I became king, I fought nineteen battles in a single year and by the grace of Ahuramazda I overthrew nine kings and I made them captive.

One was named Gaumâta, the Magian; he lied, saying 'I am Smerdis, the son of Cyrus.' He made Persia to revolt.

Another was named ššina, the Elamite; he lied, saying: 'I am king the king of Elam.'