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Secondary sourceBook1908

The Behistan Inscription of King Darius

1908

A 1908 English scholarly translation of Darius the Great's own Behistun inscription, with critical notes on the Persian text.

This is a translation of Darius's own monumental inscription explaining his rise to power.

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The Behistan Inscription of King DariusPDF · 48 pages
The Behistan Inscription of King Darius: translation and critical notes, 1908. Scanned book, Internet Archive.

About this source

What it is

This is a 1908 scholarly booklet containing an English translation of the Behistun inscription, a text originally carved in rock by order of Darius I. The translation includes critical notes comparing the rendering with recent re-examinations of the rock itself.

Why it matters

The Behistun inscription is one of the most important surviving records from Darius's reign. In it he explains, in his own words, how he became king and defeated rivals. This translation let English-speaking scholars and students study his claims without needing to read Old Persian, Elamite or Babylonian.

Look closer

  • Why might Darius have wanted his story carved permanently into a mountainside?
  • What might be lost or changed when an ancient text is translated centuries later?
  • Whose voice are we really reading here — Darius's, or the translator's interpretation of him?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Darius the Great on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Carved relief on a rock cliff face showing a row of standing figures in fringed robes and tall headdresses, with a winged figure with a crown above them. Inscribed text panels surround the relief. Metal scaffolding is in the foreground.Document

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Photo of a dark stone statue of a standing figure, headless and missing the arms, wearing a long pleated robe with carved inscriptions down the sides. It stands on a rectangular plinth carved with relief scenes.Sculpture

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c. 490 BCE

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