Editing Behistun Inscription (section)

==Content==
{{wikisource|1=The Sculptures and Inscription of Darius the Great on the Rock of Behistûn in Persia/Annotated/The Persian Text|2=Full translation of the Behistun Inscription}}
[[File:Lineage of Darius the Great.jpg|thumb|Lineage of [[Darius the Great]] according to the Behistun inscription.]]

===Lineage===
{{see also|Achaemenid family tree}}
In the first section of the inscription, Darius the Great declares his ancestry and lineage:

{{Blockquote|
King [[Darius I of Persia|Darius]] says: My father is [[Hystaspes (father of Darius I)|Hystaspes]] [Vištâspa]; the father of [[Hystaspes (father of Darius I)|Hystaspes]] was [[Arsames]] [Aršâma]; the father of [[Arsames]] was [[Ariaramnes]] [Ariyâramna]; the father of [[Ariaramnes]] was [[Teispes]] [Cišpiš]; the father of [[Teispes]] was [[Achaemenes]] [Haxâmaniš].
King [[Darius I of Persia|Darius]] says: That is why we are called Achaemenids; from antiquity we have been noble; from antiquity has our dynasty been royal.
King [[Darius I of Persia|Darius]] says: Eight of my dynasty were kings before me; I am the ninth. Nine in succession we have been kings.
King [[Darius I of Persia|Darius]] says: By the grace of [[Ahuramazda]] am I king; [[Ahuramazda]] has granted me the kingdom.}}

===Territories===
[[File:Map of the Achaemenid Empire.jpg|thumb|Achaemenid empire at its greatest extent]]
Darius also lists the territories under his rule:

{{quote|
King [[Darius I of Persia|Darius]] says: These are the countries which are subject unto me, and by the grace of [[Ahuramazda]] I became king of them: [[Persia]] [Pârsa], [[Elam]] [Ûvja], [[Babylonia]] [Bâbiruš], [[Assyria]] [Athurâ], [[Arabia]] [Arabâya], [[Egypt]] [Mudrâya], the countries by the Sea [Tyaiy Drayahyâ ([[Phoenicia]])], [[Lydia]] [Sparda], [[Ionia|the Greeks]] [Yauna ([[Ionia]])], [[Medes|Media]] [Mâda], [[Armenia]] [Armina], [[Cappadocia]] [Katpatuka], [[Parthia]] [Parthava], [[Drangiana]] [Zraka], [[Aria (satrapy)|Aria]] [Haraiva], [[Chorasmia]] [Uvârazmîy], [[Bactria]] [Bâxtriš], [[Sogdia]] [Suguda], [[Gandhara]] [Gadâra], [[Skudra|Scythia]] [Saka], [[Sattagydia]] [Thataguš], [[Arachosia]] [Harauvatiš] and [[Maka (satrapy)|Maka]] [Maka]; twenty-three lands in all.}}

===Conflicts and revolts===

Later in the inscription, Darius provides an eye-witness account of battles he successfully fought over a one-year period to put down rebellions which had resulted from the deaths of Cyrus the Great, and his son Cambyses II:
<gallery widths="150px" heights="180px">
Behistun Relief, Assina.jpg|{{center|Relief of [[Âššina]] {{circa|519 BC}}: "This is Âššina. He lied, saying ''"I am king of [[Elam]]."''"<ref name=DB>{{cite book|title=Behistun, minor inscriptions DBb inscription- Livius|url=https://www.livius.org/sources/content/behistun-persian-text/behistun-minor-inscriptions/|access-date=2020-03-26|archive-date=2020-03-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310112440/https://www.livius.org/sources/content/behistun-persian-text/behistun-minor-inscriptions/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
Behistun Relief Nidintu-Bêl.jpg|{{center|Relief of [[Nidintu-Bêl]]: "This is Nidintu-Bêl. He lied, saying ''"I am [[Nebuchadnezzar III|Nebuchadnezzar]], the son of [[Nabonidus]]. I am king of [[Babylon]]."''"<ref name=DB/>}}
Behistun Relief, Tritantaechmes.jpg|Relief of [[Tritantaechmes]]: "This is Tritantaechmes. He lied, saying ''"I am king of [[Sagartians|Sagartia]], from the family of [[Cyaxares]]."''"<ref name=DB/>
Behistun relief Arakha.jpg|Relief of [[Arakha]]: "This is Arakha. He lied, saying: ''"I am [[Nebuchadnezzar IV|Nebuchadnezzar]], the son of [[Nabonidus]]. I am king in Babylon."''"<ref name=DB/>
Behistun relief Frada.jpg|Relief of Frâda: "This is Frâda. He lied, saying ''"I am king of [[Margiana]]."''"<ref name=DB/>
Behistun relief Skunkha.jpg|Behistun relief of [[Skunkha]]. Label: "This is Skunkha the [[Saka|Sacan]]."<ref name=DB/>
</gallery>