CIMRM 7, 8, 9 - Three Old Persian Inscriptions - Persia

A number of Achaemenid inscriptions mention the name of "Mithra".

Much fuller details on thes items may be found at the Livius.org site. Pictures by Jona Lendering.

CIMRM 7. (Ecbatana) Artaxerxes II See Livius.org Artaxerxes, the great king, the king of kings, the king of all nations, the king of this world, the son of king Darius [II Nothus], Darius the son of king Artaxerxes [I Makrocheir], Artaxerxes the son of king Xerxes, Xerxes the son of king Darius, Darius the son of Hystaspes, the Achaemenid, says: this hall [apadana] I built, by the grace of Ahuramazda, Anahita, and Mithra. May Ahuramazda, Anahita, and Mithra protect me against evil, and may they never destroy nor damage what I have built. CIMRM 8 (Susa) Artaxerxes II See Livius.org Artaxerxes, the great king, the king of kings, the king of all nations, the king of this world, the son of king Darius [II Nothus], Darius the son of king Artaxerxes [I Makrocheir], Artaxerxes the son of king Xerxes, Xerxes the son of king Darius, Darius the son of Hystaspes, the Achaemenid, says: My ancestor Darius [I the Great] made this audience hall [apadana], but during the reign of my grandfather Artaxerxes, it was burnt down; but, by the grace of Ahuramazda, Anahita, and Mithra, I reconstructed this audience hall. May Ahuramazda, Anahita, and Mithra protect me against all evil, and may they never destroy nor damage what I have built. CIMRM 9 (Persepolis, Palace of Darius) Artaxerxes III See Livius.org King Artaxerxes says: This stone staircase was built by me in my reign. King Artaxerxes says: May Ahuramazda and the god Mithra preserve me, my country, and what has been built by me.

Note that other inscriptions of the same kind exist at the Livius site:

Column bases from Susa. Artaxerxes II. See Livius.org. (3-4) By the grace of Ahuramazda, I built this palace, which I have built in my lifetime as a pleasant retreat [paradise]. May Ahuramazda, Anahita, and Mithra protect me and my building against evil.

Bibliography

• Pierre Lecoq, "Les inscriptions de la Perse achaemenide" (1997 Paris)
• R.N. Sharp, "The Inscriptions in Old Persian Cuneiform of the Achaemenian Emperors"

CIMRM entry

SUSA 7. Weissbach-Bang, Altpers. Keilinschr.1, 44; MMM II 87 No. 1; Scheil, Mém. Perse, 95; Lagrange, Le Judaisme, 391. Thâtiy / Artakhshatrâ / KHSN / vazraka KHS / KHS yânâm ...... Imam Apadâna Dârayavaush / apanyâkama / akunash / ab[i]ypara? pâ / Arta(khshatrâ / nyâkama ...... Ana)h[i]ta ...... Anah[i]ta / ut(a / Mi)thra ..... . (Ainsi) parla Artaxerxes, le grand roi, roi des rois ...... Cet Apadâna a (ete) bati (par) mon ancetre Darius ...... Arta[ xerxes mon grand pere ...... ] [Ana]hita ...... Anahita et Mithra ..... . Meant is Artaxerxes Memnon (408-358 B.C.) as well as in the next inscription. HAMADAN 8. Weissbach-Bang, Altpers. Keilinschr., 46; MMM II 88 No, 2. Thâtiy / Artakhshatrâ / KHSH / vazraka / KHSH / KHSH(yânâm ...... ) Imam / Apadâna / vashn(â Auramazdâhâ / Anah/i/tahyâ / utâ / M/i/trahyâ / akunâ / m)âm Auramazdâ / Anah[i]ta / utâ / M[i]tra / mâ(m /patuv / hacâ / gastâ ...... ut)â / imam / tya / akunâ / mâ ..... . (Ainsi)parla Artaxerxes le grand roi, roi [des rois ...... ] J'ai bati( ?)cet Apadana suivant la volonte [d'Ahuramazda, d'Anahita et de Mithra]. (Qu)' Ahuramazda, Anahita et Mithra me gardent du mal .... et ce que j'ai bati, de peur que ..... . PERSEPOLIS 9. Weissbach-Bang, Altpers. Keilinschr., 46; MMM II No. 3. 3. Thâtiy / Artakhshatrâ khshâyathiya / imam / ustashanâm / athâganâm / mâm / upâ / mâm / kartâ. 4. Thâtiy / Artakhshatrâ / khshâyathiya / mâm / Auramazdâ / utâ / M[i]thra / baga / pâtuv / utâ / imâm / DAHyum / utâ / tya / mâm kartâ. -(Ainsi) parla le roi Artaxerxes: Cette construction de pierre(?) a ete elevee par moi pour moi. (Ainsi) parla le roi Artaxerxes: (Qu)'Ahuramazda et le dieu Mithra me protegent (moi) et ce pays et ce qui (a ete) fait par moi. Meant is Artaxerxes Ochus.