kingship

Question 1

why does darius identify as an Achaemenid

Answer 1

before darius this connection was not explicit you made - ethnic emphasis created

persian and aryan as a legitimising mechanism - particularly important for darius who seizes power in an unconventional manner (not directly dynastic)

Question 3

evolution of the behistun relief

Answer 3

ORDER OF CARVING: relief, elomite, babylonian, old persian

final figures added to relief, addition destroys/disrupts the original elamite inscription - reinscribed in top right to bottom left

events of the third and second year added - beard made longer on Darius - figures named in each language

both a planned monument and also under constant development

Question 4

inscription of ‘cyrus’ at pasargadae

Answer 4

old persian, elamite, akkadian

‘i am cyrus the king, an achaemenid’

OR

‘cyrus the great king, son of cambyses the king, an achaemenid’

Question 5

darius’ legitimacy through genealogy

Answer 5

repeats on most monumental inscriptions that he is an achaemenid

in behistun relief, claims lineage through achaemenes (related to cyrus) - no way to verify this claim and cyrus does not mention this

married wives of Bardiya - daughter of Cyrus to further integrate into the family

Question 7

body guards and personal attendants at court

Answer 7

Hazarapatis - commander of thousands of - head of the bodyguards - more than one with that title in the empire at large but seems a very significant one at court

Question 8

figure fighting a lion on a doorframe, persepolis

Answer 8

potentially a heroising portrayal of a king - demonstrates aspects of individual physical prowess and Darius does style himself as the archer on his seal

could also be a random hero / protective presence but even if it isn’t him it is similar to the attributes emphasised in the inscriptions of darius and xerxes - represents these values if not on his individual basis but still valuable to understanding expectation of great men at the time

Question 9

guardian of justice (Darius Naqsh-e Rostam inscription b)

Answer 9

Guardian of justice and righteousness
Proclaims Darius the King: By the favour of Ahuramazdā I am of such a kind that I am well-disposed to the just
(but) not well-disposed to the unjust. (It is) not my wish that the weak is treated unjust(ly) due to the strong, (and
it is) not my wish that the strong is treated unjust(ly) due to the weak.

DNb 5–11 = XPl 5–11 (trans. Livius).

similar imagery of defending weak from strong in mesopotamian royal inscriptions - persian element is the fixation on lie and truth