XPf ("Harem Inscription")

The "Harem inscription", a slab of limestone that looks like a large clay tablet, was discovered in the queen's apartments of the palace of Persepolis. Its contents are rather stereotypical, but on the reverse is an interesting reference to the accession of Xerxes, who claims that his father, chosing from various candidates, made Xerxes "the greatest" (mathišta) after himself. In other words, Darius selected Xerxes as his successor.

There are four copies of this inscription and there is a Babylonian translation as well (below).

1. baga \ vazraka \ Auramazdâ \ hya \ imâ
2. m \ bumim \ adâ \ hya \ avam \ asm
3. ânam \ adâ \ hya \ martiyam \ adâ \
4. hya \ šiyâtim \ adâ \ martiyahy
5. â \ hya \ Xšayâršâm \ xšâyathiyam
6. \ akunauš \ aivam \ parunâm \ xš
7. âyathiyam \ aivam \ parunâm \ fram
8. âtâram \ adam \ Xšayâršâ \ xšâ
9. yathiya \ vazraka \ xšâyathiya \ xšâ
10. yathiyânâm \ xšâyathiya \ dahyû
11. nâm \ paruv \ zanânâm \ xšâyath
12. iya \ ahyâyâ \ bumiyâ \ vazrak
13. âyâ \ dûraiy \ apiy \ Dârayavaha
14. uš \ xšâyathiyahyâ \ puça \ Haxâ
15. manišiya \ thâtiy \ Xšayâršâ \
16. xšâyathiya \ manâ \ pitâ \ Dâraya
17. vauš \ Dârayavahauš \ pitâ \ Viš
18. tâspa \ nâma \ âha \ Vištâspahy
19. â \ pitâ \ Aršâma \ nâma \ âha \ u
20. tâ \ Vištâspa \ utâ \ Aršâma \
21. ubâ \ ajivatam \ aciy \ Auramaz
22. dâm \ avathâ \ kâma \ âha \ Dârayava
23. um \ hya \ manâ \ pitâ \ avam \ xš
24. âyathiyam \ akunauš \ ahyâyâ \
25. bumiyâ \ yathâ \ Dârayavahauš \ xš
26. âyathiya \ abava \ vasiy \ tya \ frathara
27. m \ akunauš \ thâtiy \ Xšayâršâ

[1-8] A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth, who created heaven, who created man, who created happiness for man, who made Xerxes king, one king of many kings, commander of many commanders.

[8-15] I am Xerxes, the great king, the king of kings, the king of all countries and many men, the king in this great earth far and wide.

[15-27] King Xerxes says: My father was Darius; Darius' father was named Hystaspes; Hystaspes' father was named Arsames. Both Hystaspes and Arsames were living at the time -thus was Ahuramazda's desire- when my father Darius was made king of this earth. When Darius became king, he did much that was excellent. [King] Xerxes says ...

28. \ xšâyathiya \ Dârayavauš \ puçâ \
29. aniyaiciy \ âhatâ \ Auramazdâm
30. \ avatha \ kâma \ âha \ Dârayavauši \ hya
31. \ manâ \ pitâ \ pasâ \ tanûm \ mâm
32. \ mathištam \ akunauš \ yathâmaiy
33. \ pitâ \ Dârayavauš \ gâthavâ \ a
34. šiyava \ vašnâ \ Auramazdahâ \ ada
35. m \ xšâyathiya \ abavam \ piça \ gâ
36. thavâ \ yathâ \ adam \ xšâyathiya \ a
37. bavam \ vasiy \ tya \ fratharam \ aku
38. navam \ tyamaiy \ piça \ kartam \ âha
39. \ ava \ adam \ apayaiy \ utâ \ ani
40. ya \ kartam \ abijâvayam \ tyapati
41. y \ adam \ akunavam \ utamaiy \ tya
42. \ pitâ \ akunauš \ ava \ visam \
43. vašnâ \ Auramazdahâ \ akumâ \ th
44. âtiy \ Xšayâršâ \ xšâyathiya \
45. mâm \ Auramazdâ \ pâtuv \ utama
46. iy \ xšaçam \ utâ \ tya \ manâ \ kar
47. tam \ utâ \ tyamaiy \ piça \ kartam
48. \ avašciy \ Auramazdâ \ pâtuv

[28-43] Darius had other sons, but - thus was Ahuramazda's desire - my father Darius made me the greatest [mathišta] after himself. When my father Darius went away from the throne, by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king on my father's throne. When I became king, I did much that was excellent. What had been built by my father, I protected, and other I added other buildings. What I built, and what my father built, all that by the grace of Ahuramazda we built.

[44-48] King Xerxes says: May Ahuramazda protect me, my kingdom, and what was done by my father. May Ahuramazda protect this.

Babylonian text

[1-8] A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth, who created heaven, who created humanity, who gave prosperity to man, who made Xerxes king, one among numerous kings, commander of many commanders.

[8-15] I am Xerxes, the great king, the king of all countries and all languages, king of this great and wide world.

[15-27] King Xerxes says: My father was Darius; Darius' father was named Hystaspes; Hystaspes' father was named Arsames. Both Hystaspes and Arsames were living at the time - thus was Ahuramazda's desire - when my father Darius was made king of this earth. When Darius became king, he did much that was excellent. [King] Xerxes says ...

[28-43] Darius had other sons, but - thus was Ahuramazda's desire - my father Darius made me the greatest after himself. When my father Darius went away from the throne, by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king on my father's throne. When I became king, I did much that was excellent. What had been built by my father, I protected, and other I added other buildings. What I built, and what my father built, all that by the grace of Ahuramazda we built.

[44-48] King Xerxes says: May Ahuramazda protect me, my kingdom, and what was done by my father. May Ahuramazda protect this.

Literature

• Pierre Lecoq, Les inscriptions de la Perse achéménide (1997 Paris)