"By the favour of Ahuramazda these are the countries which I seized outside of Persia; I ruled over them; they bore tribute to me; they did what was said to them by me; they held my law firmly; Media, Elam, Parthia, Aria, Bactria, Sogdia, Chorasmia, Drangiana, Arachosia, Sattagydia, Gandara, India, the haoma drinking Scythians, the Scythians with pointed caps, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, Lydia, the Greeks, the Scythians across the sea, Thrace, the sun hat-wearing Greeks, the Libyans, the Nubians, the men of Maka and the Carians"
Through the various inscriptions from the Nasq-e Rustam, Darius emphasises different characteristics that he wishes to be remembered as having. He paints himself as 'chosen' by God "By favour of Ahura Mazda", righteous "I am a friend of the Right", diplomatic "Does not convince me, until I hear the testimony of both", skilled/confident "good horseman", "good bowman", "good commander" and "good spearman", intelligent "bestowed wisdom and courage upon Darius the king", collected "I am not hot tempered" and renowned "the spear of the Persian has gone far"
No comments:
Post a Comment