Day 1143 #MyCuneiformTablets

I (am) Darius, the great king, king of kings, king in Persia, king of nations, Hystaspes’ son, Arsames’ grandson, an Achaemenid.
And Darius the king says: My father (was) Hystaspes, and Hystaspes’ father (was) Arsames, and Arsames’ father (was) Ariaramnes, and Ariaramnes’ father (was) Teispes, and Teispes’ father (was) Achaemenes.
And Darius the king says: For that reason we call (our) family Achaemenids. From long ago (we) have been noble and from long ago our family has been kings.
And Darius the king says: 8 kings in my family held kingship before me. I held the 9th kingship. One after the other, we were kings.
And Darius the king says: (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, I exercised kingship. Ahuramazda gave me the kingship.
And Darius the king says: These (are) the nations who called (themselves) mine (and by) the intercession of Ahuramazda, I established (my) kingship over them: The Persians and the Elamites and the Babylonians and the Assyrians and the Arabians and the Egyptians and the Sea-People and the Sardians and the Ionians and the Medes and the Armenians and the Cappadocians and the Parthians and the Drangians and the Areians and the Chorasmians and Bactria and the Sogdians and Parauparisana(?) and the Scythians and Sattagydia and Arachosia and Maka, a grand(?) total (of) 23 nations.
And Darius the king says: These nations who call (themselves) mine, (by) the intercession of Ahuramazda, performed service unto me, brought me tribute, (and) whatever I commanded, night and day, they accomplished.
And Darius the king says: Throughout these nations, the man who(?) was(?) …, him (I) upheld; whoever injured, him greatly (I) investigated. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my law was upheld throughout these nations; whatever I commanded, that they accomplished.
And Darius the king says: Ahuramazda gave me this kingship and Ahuramazda sent me aid, until I strengthened this kingship, and (by) the intercession of Ahuramazda, I held kingship.
And Darius the king says: This is what I did (by) the intercession of Ahuramazda, after (I) received the kingship. Cambyses by name, Cyrus’ son, of our family, formerly(?) held kingship. That Cambyses, his brother was Smerdis by name, and (Cambyses from) mother (and) father was together with him and that Cambyses killed Smerdis. When Cambyses killed Smerdis the people didn’t know that Smerdis was dead. Then Cambyses went to Egypt. Then the people caused destruction; furthermore, the lies grew throughout the nations, both in Persia and in Media, and throughout other nations. And then, a man, a Magus Gaumata by name, he, from Naširma, a mountain, Harakkatarriš by name, from there 14 days of month Mikannaš had passed, thus (he) rose up. He lied to the people: I am Smerdis, Cyrus the son, Cambyses the brother. Then all the people rebelled against Cambyses and went (over) to him, both the Persians and the Medes and the other nations and(?) he held kingship. 9 days of month Karmabataš had passed, thus (the kingship) was seized(?) from Cambyses. And then Cambyses died of natural causes.
And Darius the king says: This kingship that Gaumata the Magus took away from Cambyses, this kingship for a long time belonged to our family. Accordingly, Gaumata the Magus took it away from Cambyses, both the Persians and the Medes and the other nations, he took them away from him and made (them) his possessions. He held kingship.
And Darius the king says: There was no man, no-one(?), not a Persian or a Mede or (anyone) from our family, who received the kingship from Gaumata the Magus. The people greatly feared him. (He) slaughtered the people, (those) who formerly knew Smerdis. For that reason (he) slaughtered the people: lest (they) know me that I am not Smerdis, Cyrus, his son and no-one (with) anything related to Gaumata Magus came forth, until I came. After that I prayed to Ahuramazda. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, 10 days of month Bakeyatiš had passed, thus with a few men I killed Gaumata Magus and his accompanying men, his foremost followers, in a fortress, Shikkaumatiš by name, (in) Nušaya by name, a district in Media, there I killed him and I took away his kingship. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, I held kingship. Ahuramazda gave me the kingship.
And Darius the king says: The kingship that had been taken away from our family, that I brought back and I set in its place as it was formerly. Accordingly, and(?) I made the temple(s) of the gods that Gaumata the Magus had destroyed, and I restored to the people, to them, pasture lands(?) and herds and workers and the houses, as seized(?) (by people) that Gaumata the Magus had taken away from them, and I place the people in their places, both the Persians and the Medes and the other nations, and(?) accordingly as it was formerly. I, what had been taken away, that brought back. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, this I made. I exerted effort until (I) restored our house as it was formerly and I exerted effort, (by) the intercession of Ahuramazda, that Gaumata the Magus hadn’t taken away our house.
This is what was accomplished by me as formerly (I) held kingship.
And Darius the king says: When I killed Gaumata the Magus, then Hašina by name, an Elamite, Ukbatarranma, his son, rose up in the Elamites’ (land and he) said: I held kingship of the Elamites. Then the Elamites rebelled against me and went (over) to that Hašina. Then he held kingship of the Elamites and both, one man Nidintu-Bēl by name, a Babylonian, Ḫanara, his son, he rose up in Babylon and (to) the people, thus, to them lied (and) said: I (am) Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nabonidus. Then all the Babylonian people went (over) to that Nidintu-Bēl. Then the Babylonians rebelled. He held kingship of the Babylonians.
And Darius the king says: Then I sent a messenger to Elam that Hašina was seized and in shackles (he) was brought back to me. Then I killed him.
And Darius the king says: Then I went to Babylon, to that Nidintu-Bēl, who said: I (am) Nebuchadnezzar. The troops of that Nidintu-Bēl, at the river Tigris by name, there, were deployed(?). (They) sized the bank(?) of the Tigris and that river was navigable. Then I supplied the troops with leather-skins; (another) remaining part, (I) placed them on camels, (for another) remaining part, on horses was placed. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, (we) went across the Tigris there, (I) killed the troops of that Nidintu-Bēl. 26 days of month Hashiyatiyasš had passed, thus (we) made battle. (I) killed many of his(?) troops there.
And Darius the king says: then I went to Babylon. Before I arrived in Babylon, a town, Zazzan by name, situated on the Euphrates, there that Nidintu-Bēl, who said: Nebuchadnezzar attacked me together with troops in battle. Then (we) made battle. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) intercession of Ahuramazda, (I) killed the troops of that Nidintu-Bēl there. 2 days of month Hanamakaš had passed, thus we made battle. I slaughtered the troops of Nidintu-Bēl, and (others) who were fleeing to the river were carried away by this river.
And Darius the king says: Then that Nidintu-Bēl together with several horsemen fled and went to Babylon. Then I went forth to Babylon and (by) the intercession of Ahuramazda, (I) seized Babylon and that Nidintu-Bēl. Then I killed that Nidintu-Bēl in Babylon.
And Darius the king says: While I was in Babylon these nations rebelled against me: The Persians and the Elamites and the Medes and the Assyrians and the Egyptians and the Parthians and the Margians and Sattagydia and the Scythians.
And Darius the king says: One man, Martiya by name, Zinzakriš, his son, a town, Kukkannakan by name, in Persia, dwelt. He rose up in Elam and the people thus to them (he) said: I (am) Ummannuš, king of the Elamites, and at that time I was near Elam. Afterwards, the Elamites feared me; (they) seized that Martiya who called himself their chief, and killed him.
And Darius the king says: One man, Phraortes by name, rose up in Media, thus to the people said: I am Šattarrida of the family of Cyaxares. Then the Mede troops who were in the palace rebelled against me (and) went (over) to him. (He) held kingship in Media. The Persian and the Median troops with me were few. Then I sent forth the troops to Media. Hydarnes by name, a Persian, my servant, I made their chief, thus I said to them: Go forth! The Median troops who do not call themselves mine, kill them! Then Hydarnes together with the troops went off to the Media. When he went to Media, in the town, Maruš by name, in Media, there (he) did battle. (He) who was chief among the Medes wasn't present at that time. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops. 27 days of the month Hanamakaš had passed, thus (they) did battle. Then my troops did not accomplished anything. (In a) district, Kampantaš by name, in Media, there he awaited for me until I came to Media.
And Darius the king says: Daturšiš by name, an Armenian, my servant, I sent to the Armenia, thus I said to him: Go forth! The troops who (are) rebels (and) do not call themselves mine, kill them! Then Daturšiš went off. When (he) went to Armenia, the rebels assembled (and) came against Daturšiš: let us do battle! Then Daturšiš battled them in a village, Suzza by name, in Armenia. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops. 8 days of the month Turmar had passed, thus (they) did battle. And again (for) the 2nd (time) the rebels assembled (and) came against Daturšiš: let us do battle! Then at a fortress, Tigra by name, in Armenia, (they) did battle. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops. 18 days of the month Turmar had passed, thus (they) did battle. And again (for) the 3rd (time) the rebels assembeled (and) came against Daturšiš: let us do battle! In a fortress, Wiyama by name, in Armenia (they) did battle. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops. 9 days of the month Sakurriziš had passed, thus (they) did battle, and then Daturšiš did not accomplished anything. (He) awaited me until I came to Media.
And Darius the king says: Maumiša by name, a Persian, my servant, I sent forth to Armenia, thus (I) said him: Go forth! The troops who are rebels (and) don’t call themselves mine, kill them! Then Maumiša went (off). When (he) went (off) to Armenia, the rebels assembled (and) came against Maumiša: let us do battle! In Izzila by name in Assyria (they) did battle. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops. 15 days of the month Hanamakaš had passed, thus (they) did battle. And again (for) the 2nd (time) the rebels assembled (and) came against Maumiša: let us do battle! In a district, Hautiyaruš by name, (they) did battle. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops. The month Turmar, at its end thus (they) did battle. Then Maumiša waited in Armenia until I came to Media.
And Darius the king says: Then I came forth from Babylon and went to Media. When I went to Media, the town, Kuntarruš by name, in Media, that Phraortes, who said: I held kingship of the Medes, came to do battle. Then (we) did battle. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, I slaughtered the troops of Phraortes. 25 days of the month Hadukannaš had passed, thus (we) did battle. Then that Phraortes together with several horsemen fled and went to Rakkan. Then I sent the troops after him. From there (he) was seized and brought (back) to me. I cut off his nose and tongue and ears and I put out one eye, (and) at my gate (he) was bound and seized. All people saw him and then at Ecbatana I impaled him and the men who were his foremost followers. At a fortress in Ecbatana I cut off their heads. I displayed(?) all of them together.
And Darius the king says: One man, Zišantakma by name, a Sagartian, rebelled against me and the to the people thus said: I held kingship. (I) am of the family of Cyaxares. Then I sent forth the Persian and the Median troops. Takmašbada by name, a Mede, my servant, I made him their chief, thus (I) said to them: Go forth! Rebellious troops (who) do not call themselves mine, kill them! Then Takmašbada together with troops went (off and) did battle with Zišantakma. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops and (they) seized Zišantakma (and) brought him to me. I cut off his nose and ears and put out one eye, and at my gate (he) was bound and seized. All people saw him. Then at Harbera by name, I impaled him.
And Darius the king says: This is what I accomplished in Media.
And Darius the king says: The Parthians and the Hyrcanians rebelled against me and called themselves those of Phraortes. Hystaspes, my father, was in Parthia. The troops abandoned him and rebelled and then Hystaspes together with troops at his side went (off and) in the town, Mišbauzatiš by name, in Parthia, (he) did battle (with) rebels. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, Hystaspes slaughtered the rebellious troops. 22 days of the month Miyakannaš had passed, thus (he) did battle.
And Darius the king says: Then I sent the Persian troops from Rakkan to Hystaspes. When that troops went to Hystaspes, then Hystaspes together with troops went (off) to a town, Pattigrabban by name, in Parthia, (where he) made battle. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, Hystaspes slaughtered the rebellious troops. 1 day ot the month Karmabataš had passed, thus (he) made battle.
And Darius the king says: Then the nation became mine. This is what I accomplished in Parthia.
And Darius the king says: a nation, Margiana by name, rebelled against me, and one man, Pirrada by name, a Magian, made their kingship and then to Daturšiš by name, a Persian, my servant (who) had a satrapy in Bactria, I sent a messenger and (I) told (him) to go forth (and) kill the rebellious troops (who) do not call themselves mine. Then Daturšiš went (off) together with troops (and) did battle with the these Margians. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops. 23 days of the month Hašiyatiyaš had passed, thus (he) made battle.
And Darius the king says: Then the nation became mine. This is what I accomplished in Bactria.
And Darius the king says: One man, Mišdada by name, (in) the town, Turrauma by name, (in) Yautiyaš by name, in Persia, dwelled. He again(?) a second time(?) rose up in Persia and to the people said: I (am) Smerdis, the son of Cyrus. Then the Persian troops who were in the palace, formerly assembled from Anzan, they rebelled against me and went over to him. He held kingship in Persia.
And Darius the king says: Then I sent forth the few Persian troops, who were in the palace (and) didn’t rebel against me, and the Mede troops who (were) mine. Irdumartiya, a Persian, my servant, I made their chief and the other Persian troops followed me in Media, and Irdumartiya went (off) to Persia. When he went to the Persia a town, Rakkan by name, … in Persia, that Mišdada who says I am Smerdis came together with troops against Irdumartiya to do battle and then did battle. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the troops of Mišdada. 12 days of the month Turmar had passed, thus (he) did battle. And that Mišdada fled and together with several horsemen went to Naširma. From there again he came (with?) troops against Irdumartiya to do battle. In a mountain, Parrakka by name, (he) did battle. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the troops of Mišdada. 5 days of the month Karmapadaš had passed, thus (he) did battle and (Irdumartiya) seized that Mišdada and seized the men who were his foremost followers.
And Darius the king says: Then (I) impaled that Mišdada together with the men who were his foremost followers in Mateziš by name(?).
And Darius the king says: This is what I did in Persia.
And Darius the king says: That Mišdada who said: I am Smerdis, sent forth the troops to Arachosia (and) made a man their chief. Mimana by name, a Persian, my servant, (he) made the satrapy of Arachosia. Thus he said to them: Go forth! Kill Mimana and that troops who call themselves of Darius! Then that troops went forth to Arachosia to Mimana. (They) whom Mišdada sent forth at the fortress, Kappišakanuš by name, did battle with him. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops. 13 days of the month Hanamakaš had passed, thus (they) did battle. And again (for) the 2nd (time) the rebels assembled and did battle with Mimana in a district, Irdumaka by name, in Arachosia. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, my troops slaughtered the rebellious troops. 7 days of the month Miyakannaš had passed, thus (they) made battle. And then the man whom Mišdada made the chief of troops fled together with several horseman and went (off). He came to a fortress, Iršada by name, in Arachosia, a dwelling of Mimana. Then Mimana together with troops was set after him, and went. They seized and killed that man who called himself the chief of troops and the men who were his foremost followers.
And Darius the king says: Then (this) nation became mine. This is what I accomplished in Arachosia.
And Darius the king says: While I was in Persia and Media, again (for) the 2nd (time) the Babylonians rebelled. A man, Harakka by name, an Armenian, the son of Haltida, in the town, Dubbala by name, in Babylon, rose up. Thus (he) lied and to the people said: I am Nebuchadnezzar the son of Nabonidus, and then the Babylonian people rebelled against me and went (over) to that Harakka, and he seized Babylon and he held kingship of Babylonia. And then I sent forth the troops to Babylon. Mindaparna by name, a Persian, my servant, I made their chief, thus I said them: Go forth! The Babylonian troops who don’t call themselves mine, kill them! And then Mindaparna went to Babylon together with troops. Ahuramazda sent me aid. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, Mindaparna slaughtered the Babylonians (and) led their troops shackled. 22 days of the month Markazanaš had passed, thus that Harraka who said I am Nebuchadnezzar was seized and the men who were his foremost followers together with him seized and bound. Then I ordered that Harraka and the men who were his foremost followers together with him imapled in Babylon.
And Darius the king says: This is what I accomplished in Babylon.
And Darius the king says: This is what I accomplished (by) the intercession of Ahuramazda; one year after that I held kingship. (I) did 19 battles. (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, I killed them and seized 9 kings: A Gaumata by name, a magus, lied (and) said: I am Smerdis the son of Cyrus. He caused the Persians to rebel and Hašina by name, an Elamite, caused these Elamites to rebel and said: I held kingship of the Elamites and Nidintu-Bēl by name, a Babylonian, lied (and) said: I am Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabonidus. He caused the Babylonians to rebel and Martiya by name, a Persian, lied (and) said: I am Ummannuš, the king of the Elamites. He caused the Elamites to rebel and Phraortes by, name, a Mede, lied (and) said: I am Šattarida of the family of Cyaxares. He caused the Medes to rebel and Zišantakma by name, a Sagartian, lied (and) said: I held kingship. (I am) of the family of Cyaxares. He cause the Sagartians to rebel and Pirrada by name, a Margian, lied (and) said: I held kingship of Margians. He cause the Margians to rebel and Mišdada by name, a Persian, lied (and) said: I am Smerdis the son of Cyrus. He caused the Persians to rebel and Harakka by name, an Armenian, lied (and) said: I am Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabonidus. He caused these Babylonians to rebel.
And Darius the king says: These are the 9 kings whom I seized in these battles.
And Darius the king says: The nations who rebelled, the lie caused them to rebel, they lied to the people and then Ahuramazda put them into my hands, as I desired(?) I did (unto) them.
And Darius the king says: Whosover shall be king hereafter, guard yourself greatly from the lie! The man (who) lies, (greatly) investigate him! If thus you think: my nations are secure.
And Darius the king says: This is what I accomplished in a year (by) the intercession of Ahuramazda, and whosoever shall hearafter read the inscription that I made, believe in what is written therein, lest you think (it is) a lie!
And Darius the king says: (I as a) devotee(?) of Ahuramazda, as to the fact that this is truth, not a lie, (what) I accomplished in one year.
And Darius the king says: (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, much else has been done by me that (has) not been written in this inscription; for that reason may whoever reads this inscription hereafter think much that has been done by me, dand not believe (and) think, a lie.
And Darius the king says: Those who were formerly kings, as long as they lived, accomplished nothing like it (by) the intercession of Ahuramazda, in one year.
And Darius the king says: Now, believe in what I accomplished! Thus speak to the people! Don’t conceal! If (you) don’t conceal this record (and) speak to the people, may Ahuramazda befriend you and your family and may you live for a long time. And if you ever conceal this record, do not speak to the people, may Ahuramazda kill you and may (you) not pour out your seed.
And Darius the king says: This is what I accomplished (by) the intercession of Ahuramazda, (I) accomplished in one year. Ahuramazda, the god of Aryans, sent me aid and the other gods;
and Darius the king says: For that reason Ahuramazda, the god of Aryans, sent me aid and the other gods, because I wasn’t hostile and wasn’t a liar and wasn’t a transgressor, neither I nor my family. I proceed (according to) the right and neither the strong (person) nor weak (person) I did transgress against. The man who coorporated with my house, him I greatly upheld and who injured, him I greatly investigated. (I) didn’t transgress against anyone.
And Darius the king says: Whosover shall be king hereafter, the man (who) lies, don’t befriend him, neither (the man) who transgressed.
And Darius the king says: Whosover shall hereafter see the inscription that I wrote down, don’t destroy these sculptures (and) the sculptured likeness(?). Protect them as long as you have strength! And if (you) see this inscription (and) these sculptures and don’t destroy them, as long as you have strength, protect (them), may Ahuramazda befriend you and your family and may you live for a long time, and whatever you do, may Ahuramazda make that successful, but if (you) destroy this inscription and (these) sculptures (and) don’t protect (them), may Ahuramazda kill you and may (you) not pour out your seed! And whatever you do, may Ahuramazda destroy it.
And Darius the king says: Mindaparna by name, Mišparra, his son, a Persian and Huttana by name Dukkurra, his son a Persian and Kambarma by name Mardunuya, his son, a Persian, and Mitarna by name, Bakapikna, his son, a Persian, and Bakapukša by name, Dadumanya, his son, a Persian, and Irdumannuš, Mawukka, his son, a Persian. These men were helpful (for) me when I killed Gaumata the Magus, who said: I am Smerdis the son of Cyrus, and in that time these men brought me help. Whosover shall be king hereafter, protect the family of these men!
I (am) Darius, the king, Hystaspes, his son, an Achaemenid, king of kings, I (am) …, king in Persia.
And Darius the king says: I, my father (was) Hystaspes, and Hystaspes, his father (was) Arsames, and Arsames, his father (was) Ariaramnes, and Ariaramnes, his father (was) Teispes, and Teispes, his father (was) Achaemenes.
And Darius the king says: For that reason we, (our) family, Achaemenids are called. From long ago (we) have been noble and from long ago our family have been kings.
And Darius the king says: 8 kings in my family formerly held kingship, I was the 9th king. One after another(?), we were kings.
This is Gaumata the Magus, (who) lied (and) said: I (am) Smerdis, the son of Cyrus. I held kingship.
This is Hasšina (who) lied (and) said: I held kingship of the Elamites.
This is Nidintu-Bēl (who) lied (and) said: I (am) Nebuchadnezzar son of Nabonidus. (I) held kingship of the Babylonians.
This is Phraortes (who) lied (and) said: I am Šattarridda of the family of Cyaxares. I held kingship of the Medes.
This is Martiya (who) lied (and) said: I (am) Ummanuš. (I) held kingship of the Elamites.
This is Zišantakma (who) lied (and) said: I (am) of the family of Cyaxares. I held kingship of the Sagartians.
This is Mišdada (who) lied (and) said: I (am) Smerdis, the son of Cyrus. I held kingship.
This is Harakka (who) lied (and) said: I (am) Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nabonidus. (I) held kingship of the Babylonians.
This is Pirrada (who) lied (and) said: I held kingship of the Margians.
This is Iškunka, who is Scythian.
Darius the king says: (By) the intercession of Ahuramazda, I created a text elsewhere in Aryan that did not formerly exist, neither on clay (tablets) nor on parchment, (and) both the name and lineage(?) (I) created, so that it was written down and read before me. Then I sent this text throughout all nations. The people copied (it).

https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/429858