Trilingual Inscription Surfaces Near Darius the Great’s Tomb

Biblical Archaeology Review ^ | 02/26/2019 | Megan Sauter

[SunkenCiv]

An ancient trilingual inscription has surfaced on a hillside near the tomb of Persian king Darius the Great (Darius I) in Naqsh-e Rustam, the necropolis (“city of the dead”) 4 miles northwest of Persepolis, Iran. Written in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian, the inscription records the title of an official who was close to the royal court. Unfortunately, his name has not been preserved.

Not only does this inscription shed light on the elite families who associated with the Persian kings, some of them even serving as advisors, but it also adds a new verb to all three languages—the act used to describe the gesture of the figure below the inscription. Iranian scholars Mojtaba Doorodi and Soheil Delshad recently discovered the inscription at Naqsh-e Rustam. Hidden by dirt and lichens, it had escaped earlier notice by archaeologists

Another trilingual inscription from Iran—the Behistun Inscription—helped us crack the cuneiform script in the early 1800s. Also written in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian, the Behistun Inscription by King Darius did for cuneiform what the Rosetta Stone did for Egyptian hieroglyphs. Scholars were able to first decipher the cuneiform of the Old Persian part of the inscription and use that to make sense of the Elamite and Babylonian portions.

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This trilingual inscription is written in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian. Photo: M.A. Mosallanezhad.

[Adder]

the act used to describe the gesture of the figure below the inscription.

What verb?

Giving the finger? Twerking?

[waterhill]

I have Iron Maiden to thank for knowing who Darius was.

https://youtu.be/1oTEQf1d9Iw (8 minute + song)

[bgill]

Major fail since it was the main topic of the article.

Don’t tell the Iranians or they’ll blow him up.

[BenLurkin]

StoneCutters

[Robert DeLong]

Not sure how Alexander The Great led you to Darius the Great. 8>)

[KC Burke]

Alexander overthrew Darius the III, not Darius the Great.

[waterhill]

Yes Darius III, not Great. World history in school never took me further than Alexander in passing. Iron Maiden got my mind into gear to learn more about ATG and his conquests. The Darius clan was secondary knowledge.

[Robert DeLong]

Oh okay. Gotcha.

[SunkenCiv]

The "darius" keyword, chrono sort, for me to check later.

• Trilingual Inscription Surfaces Near Darius the Great's Tomb [2019]
• Meet the world's biggest rabbit who is 4ft 4inches and weighs a whopping 3.5 STONE [2012]
• Achaemenid Inscription Names Uncle Of Darius In Old Persian For First Time [2008]
• Eastern Porch of Darius' Palace Discovered in Bolaghi Gorge [2007]
• Lost Achaemenid City Rising from Bam Historic Site [2006]
• Ignorance To Ruin Bisotun's Inscription (Darius) [2006]
• Palace Of Darius The Great Discovered In Bolaghi Gorge [2006]
• Herodutus Life Situation Affected his History [2005]
• Islamic regime to submerge Iran's historical root (Persepolis & Pasargade) [2005]
• Persian Cuneiform Predating Darius [2005]
• Simple Message for the Whole World: "Call Me an Iranian, Not a Moslem" [2005]
• Constitutional Convention (Ca. 520 B.C.) [2005]
• Archaeologists Believe They Have Discovederd Part Of Throne Of Darius [2004]
• Photo Series: Persepolis, Iran - Capital of Persian Empire [History] [2004]
• Archaeologists find signs of ancient advertisements from Sassanid era [2004]
• Ancient Persian fleet surrenders it's mysteries [2004]
• History Channel to air Ancient Battles [Persians-Greeks-Romans - starts 7/23] [2004]
• Persepolis 3d [Virtual 3d tour Capital of Persian Empire] [2004]
• Quarries Providing Stone for Persepolis Discovered [2004]
• Ministers Who Say Moore Acted Improperly Should Tear Daniel Chapter 6 Out Of Their Bibles! [2003]
• Iranians going back to pre-Islamic Days [2003]

[SunkenCiv]

Darius is in here somewhere:

[SunkenCiv]

Darius III, a.k.a. Darius the Not-So-Great.

[SunkenCiv]