THE
SCULPTURES AND INSCRIPTION
OF
DARIUS THE GREAT
ON
THE ROCK OF BEHISTÛN IN PERSIA.
INTRODUCTION.
The Rock of Behistûn or Bîsutûn.On the main caravan route between the city of Baghdad and the Persian capital of Teheran, at a distance of about 65 miles from Hamadan, which is built upon the site of the ancient city of Ecbatana, stands the famous Rock now known as "Bîsutûn" or "Behistûn" (see map, Plate V). The name of the Rock is derived from that of the small village of Bîsitûn or Bîsutûn, which lies near its foot. The form of the name "Behistûn" is not used by the modern inhabitants of the country, although it is that by which the Rock is best known among European scholars. The name "Behistûn," more correctly "Bahistûn," was borrowed by the late Major-General Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, Bart., G.C.B., from the Arabic geographer Yâḳût,[1] who mentions the village and its spring, and describes the Rock as being of great height, and refers to the sculptures upon it. The earliest known name of the Rock is that given by Diodorus Siculus, who calls it τὸ Βαγίστανον ὄρος,[2] whence, no doubt, are derived the modern forms of the name.
Description of the Rock and the sacred spring.In the works of many modern writers the Rock of Behistûn is described as an isolated hill, but as a matter of fact it is the last peak of a long narrow range which skirts the plain of