Ber. P. 13447 = Pl. Kol. I (+) Pl. Kol. II (+) Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. IV) (+) Pl. "Frag. zu P. 13447"
Darius Inscription and Fragmentary Memorandum Record Roll
TAD C.2.1 and TAD C.3.13
Metadata
- Collection
- Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung, Berlin, Germany | ÄMP (Public)
- Genres
-
- Literature
- Record Roll
- Inscription | Royal
- list
- Memorandum
- Language
- Aramaic
- Script
- Aramaic
- Find Type
- Excavation
- Acquired
- Otto Rubensohn and Fredriech Zucker [1906–1907]
- Created by
- James D. Moore
- Material
- papyrus
- Text Direction Side 1
- parallel (∥) to the material's lines
- Text Direction Side 2
- perpendicular (⟂) to the material's lines
- Updated by
- James D. Moore, 2026-01-18
- References
-
- Greenfield, Jonas C. and Porten, Bezalel 1982. Greenfield and Porten.
- Moore, James D. 2025. no. 3.
- Porten, Bezalel and Yardeni, Ada 1986. TAD C.2; TAD C.3.13.
General Notes
Surprisingly this is not a palimpsest.
Greenfield, Jonas C., and Bezalel Porten. Corpus Inscriptionum Iranicarum. Pt. 1 Vol. 5 [1]. Texts 1: Inscriptions of Ancient Iran The Aramaic Versions of the Achaemenian Inscriptions, Etc. The Bisitun Inscription of Darius the Great, Aramaic Version. Edited by University of London. London: Lund Humphries [u.a.], 1982.
Moore, James D. “The Legality of Persian Period Memoranda.” In The Dynamics of Early Judaean Law, edited by Sandra Jacobs, 153–80. De Gruyter, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110532807-008.
Porten, Bezalel, and Ada Yardeni. Textbook of Aramaic Documents from Ancient Egypt. 4 vols. Jerusalem: Hebrew University, 1986.
Textual Notes
Readings following TAD C.2 and C.13 with the exception of occassional variant readings of fragments or restorations, e.g., [Dar 04] Frag. e Pl. Kol. I ln. 03; [Dar 04] Frag. a Pl. Kol. I ln. 01; [Dar 04 ln. 11] Pl. Kol. In. 04; [Dar 04] Frag. e Pl. Kol. I ln. 02; [Mem ln. 50] Pl. Kol. II. verso. ii. 07; [Mem ln. 57] Pl. Kol. I. verso. 05; 12394. Ber. P. 13447 (Darius) = Pl. Kol. I (+) Pl. Kol. II (+) Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. IV) (+) Pl. "Frag. zu P. 13447". [Dar 07 ln. 51] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. i. 16.; 12394. Ber. P. 13447 (Darius) = Pl. Kol. I (+) Pl. Kol. II (+) Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. IV) (+) Pl. "Frag. zu P. 13447". [Dar 07 ln. 52] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. i. 17. The translatation also closesly follows TAD with some changes line-by-line. The syntax and word choice of the inscription is unique in both Aramaic and Akkadia, therefore some irregular English prose have been used at times, such as begining sentences with participial clause to mimic the inscriptions inition infinitive forms.
Significant deviances in the Aramaic from the Behsitun inscription:
–12394. Ber. P. 13447 (Darius) = Pl. Kol. I (+) Pl. Kol. II (+) Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. IV) (+) Pl. "Frag. zu P. 13447". [Dar 07 ln. 43] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. i. 08: פרתו for תרוא (Tarava).
–12394. Ber. P. 13447 (Darius) = Pl. Kol. I (+) Pl. Kol. II (+) Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. IV) (+) Pl. "Frag. zu P. 13447". [Dar 07 ln. 37] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. i. 02.: פרתו for מרגנ (Margiana).
12394. Ber. P. 13447 (Darius) = Pl. Kol. I (+) Pl. Kol. II (+) Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. IV) (+) Pl. "Frag. zu P. 13447". [Dar 05 ln. 29] Pl. Kol. II. recto. 12.: והמוס is and error for והומס
[Dar 07 ln. 37] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. i. 02: Error for מרגנ. This would be considered parablepsis by some. But I am not sure about this since it may be the same problem on [Dar 07 ln. 37] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. i. 08
[Dar 07 ln. 37] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. i. 08: Spells וידזת for ויזדת
[Dar 07 ln. 37] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. i. 12: why restore ראש rather than רב for commander?
[Dar 07 ln. 37] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. i. 16: posible errasure
[Dar 08 ln. 58] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). recto. ii. 04/05: Scribal line section divider.
12394. Ber. P. 13447 (Darius) = Pl. Kol. I (+) Pl. Kol. II (+) Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. IV) (+) Pl. "Frag. zu P. 13447". [Dar 11 ln. 82] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). verso. i. 12.: The reconstuction may be incorrect since Gaumata is not identified as Barzaya throughout the text. Check Akk. and OP.
[Mem ln. 08] Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. V). verso. ii. 09/10: scribal section divider
Text and Translation
Choose alternative texts and translations from the filter. Click individual words in a text for more details.
James Moore
James Moore
[...]◦[...]◦◦[...]◦◦[...]
[Darius the king thus says: This is what ]I did with the protection [of ˀAhûramazda after which I]
[became (2) king. (3) A man, Cambyses son of] Cyrus, among [our] lineage, [here became king ...].
[Darius the king thus says: From our lineage the kingship] belonging to us was taken. That (kingship) I[ restored as (it) formerly (was). In its place] ⸢I⸣ (re)established (it). The houses]
[of the gods which that Gaumata overthrew I (re)built. Their fields, slaves], goods, and houses[ that of the people which that Gaumata, the Magian, took from the]m — I r[estored.]
[The people in their places I (re)established. With the protection of ˀAhûramazda ]this I did. I[ was abundantly diligent until our house]
[I (re)established in its place (3) a]s (it) [formerly (was). (4) I was abundantly dilig]ent, with the protection of ˀAhû[ramazda, so that that Gaumata, the Magian, did] not [take] our [house].
[...]Yˀ ˀḤ[...]
{[...]DW [...]RW} which is not […]
[... Then, king in Media he]
[became. The Per]sian[ and Median troop that (was) with me was small. Then I sent the] troop[ to Media. The one named Vidarna, my servant, a Persian]
[was (2) commander (3) over] ⸢it⸣. [I] s[aid, “Go, kill the troop of Media which does not] ⸢li⸣sten to me.”[ Then, Vidarna with the troop went to Media. Reaching Marû]
[in Media], ⸢there⸣ [the] ⸢battle⸣[ he made with the troop of Media over which there was no] commander[ of the Med]es. [ˀAh]ûra[mazda helped me. With the protection]
[of ]ˀAhûramazda [my] tr[oop killed those rebels. On the 27th of Tebeth they did battle. They killed]
[of] them 5,⸢8⸣[27, and alive they seized 4,329. Then, Vidarna in Media] did not d[o any]thing.
[In] ⸢Ḥa⸣nba⸢n⸣[ which is in] ⸢Me⸣dia, [there] they were [wai]⸢t⸣ing ⸢for me⸣ [until I was going to Media. Then, they went to me at ˀEcbatana].
[Dari]us the King [thus] ⸢s⸣a⸢ys: Da⸣daršu, an ⸢U⸣[rartian, my servant, to ˀUrarṭu {went |I sent}. Reaching ˀUrarṭu, the rebels a]ssembled;
[They went] to meet [Da]daršu to do ⸢ba⸣[ttle. Then, Dadaršu did battle at the (place) named Zûzu, the city] in ˀUrar⸢ṭu⸣.
[ˀAhûra]⸢mazda⸣ helped me. With the protection of ˀAhûrama[zda my troop killed the rebel troops. On the] ⸢8th⸣ [of Iy]yar [they did]
[…]NY[…]
[...]◦◦◦[...]
{[...]MD[...] |[...]MR[...]}
[...]Ṭ[...]
[...]◦[...]
[...]301[...]
[...]◦◦◦[...]
{[...]BMD[...] |[...]BMR[...]}
[...]◦[...]
[battle. They killed of them ⸢8⸣27, and alive ⸢they⸣ seized [1]06. With a second march, the rebels assemb[led. They went]
[meet Dadaršu ]to do batt⸢le. Th⸣en, they did battle at the (place) named Tigra, the fortress in ˀUrarṭu. ˀAhûramazda helped[ me. With the protection]
[of ˀAhûramazda my troop] killed the rebels. ⸢On⸣ the 18th of Iyyar they did battle. They killed of them 5,04⸢6⸣/5,050,
[and alive they seized 520.]
With a third march, the rebels ]⸢a⸣ssembled. They went meet Dadaršu to do battle. Then, they did battle at [the (place) named] Huyawa
[the fortress in ˀUrarṭu. ˀAhû]ramazda helped me. With the protection of ˀAhû[ramazda ]my troop [k]illed the re⸢b⸣el⸢s⸣. On the ⸢9th⸣[ of Sivan]
[they did battle. They killed of] them 4⸢7⸣2, ⸢and⸣ alive [they] sei⸢z⸣ed [2]02/[3]02. ⸢Th⸣en, Dadaršu did n[ot] do any[thing]. He was wai⸢t⸣[ing for me]
[until I was coming to ]Me[dia.
[Darius the King thus say]s: the one [na]med Vahûmisa, my servant, a Persian, [I] se⸢n⸣[t to ˀUrarṭu]. I said, “Go, that rebel ⸢t⸣[roo]p, [which does not]
[listen to me — kill (them)!]” Then, Vahûmisa went to ˀUrarṭu. Reaching it, the rebe⸢l⸣[s] assembled. [They] went[ to meet] Vah[ûmisa to do]
[battle. Then, they did batt]le. He killed of them 2,034.
[With a second march], the[ reb]els assembled. They we[n]t to meet Vahimûsa (i.e. Vahûmisa) to do battle. They [d]id battle.[ On the 30th] of Iyyar [they] d⸢i⸣[d battle.]
[They killed of them 204]6, [and] ⸢ali⸣ve they seized 157⸢8⸣. Then, Vah[ûmi]sa [did] n[ot do] anything. He [was w]aiting for me[ until]
[I was going to Media.]
[Darius the King thus says: Then, from Babylo]n I[ depa]⸢rt⸣ed, going (to) Me[dia]. Reaching Media, at the (place) named Kundûr in Med[ia], that [Fraû]⸢r⸣ata ⸢wi⸣[th the troop]
[came to meet me to do battle. We did battle. ˀAhûra]⸢ma⸣[zda he]lped ⸢me. With⸣ the pro[tec]tion of ˀAhûramazda] I [ki]⸢l⸣led the troop of [Fraûrata] On[ the 25th]
[of Nisan we did battle. I killed of them 34,42⸢5⸣,[ and alive] I seized 18,01[X ...]
[...] ḤY[...]
[... Then], the land ⸢be⸣came mine. This is what in Parthû I did.
[Darius the King thus says: The land by name of] Parthû rebelled against me. A Margian they made (as) king over them—
[one named Frada. Then, I sent the] one named [Dadaršu, my servant, a Per]sian, the governor o[f Baḥtr]iya. I said, “Go, ⸢ki⸣ll
[the troop which does not listen to] me. Then, Da[daršu w]ent doing battle with the Marg[i]ans. ˀAhûramazda helped me.
[With the protection of ˀAhûramazda my] troop [ki]⸢l⸣led those rebel[s]. On the 23rd [of] Kislev they did battle.
[They killed of them 5]5,2⸢4⸣[3], and alive [they] seiz[ed] 6,972.
[Then, the land be]came [mine]. This is what I [did against the Ma]rgians
[Darius the King thus ]say[s]: [The one] na[med] ⸢Va⸣hyadazta (i.e. Vahyazdata), in Parth[û in] ⸢the⸣ (place) named [Ya]ûtiya, a Persian residing in Persia, ⸢aro⸣[se (and) said]
[to the people, “I am Barzaya (i.e. Smerdis) the so]n of Cyrus.” Then, the tr[oo]p o[f Persia], as many as (were) in the houses in ʾLwk which is/are in [ˀA]nza(n),
[rebelled against me. They went [to] him. He [be]came the k[ing] in [Persia]. Then, I, (45) sent (44) the smal⸢l⸣ troop [wh]ich was in Persia
[which against me had not rebe]lled and the troop of Media which [wa]s with [me]. The one named ˀArtavarziya, a Persian,
[the servant of mine, as the]ir [chief] I sent. And the rem⸢ain⸣[der of the troop of] Persia and Med[ia] wen[t] with me. Then, ˀArtava⸢r⸣[ziya]
[went with the] tro[op to Persia. Rea]ching the (place) named Rakha [in Persia, that Vahyazda]ta who sai[d], “I am Ba[r]zaya (i.e. Smerdis),” came [w]ith [the troop]
[to me]⸢e⸣t ˀArtavarziya ]to d[o] ba[tt]le and [they did] ba[ttle. ]ˀAh⸢û⸣ramazda [he]⸢l⸣ped me. With the ⸢pro⸣tection of ˀAh⸢û⸣[ramazda]
[m]y[ troo]p ki[lled ]the troop[ of Vahyazdata. On the 12th of Iyyar ]they did battle. They [ki]lled of them
3[4,404]/3[5,404]/3[6,404] and alive [they seized #. Then, that Vahyazdata, with] the sma[ll] troop mounted on horses, fle[d.]
He went [to Piši]ḥ[uvada]. [From that place the troop he assembled]. He came to mee[t ˀA]rtavar[z]iya to do[ battle.]
[At Par]gaˀ, the[ moun]tain [in Persia, there they did battle. My troop killed the] troop [o]f [Vahyazda]ta. In the month of Ta[mmuz]
[...] which ◦[...]
they did the battle. They killed of th[em #, and alive they seized #].
They seized Vahyazdata and the nobles who (were) with [him. Then, in Huvadaišaya in Persia (56) I put (55) Vahyazdata and the nobles who (were) with him, all (of them) on the stake]
The total of the killed and [the] li[ving which the troop of mine killed and seized was ...]
(...)52. This is what I [did] in Persia.
Darius the King thus says: [That] Va[hyazdata who had said, “I am Barzaya (i.e. Smerdis) son of Cyrus,”] (59) had sent (58) [the troop to Harawḥatiya (i.e. Arachosia).]
And one man as the[ir] chief [he sent to meet the one named Vivama, my servant, a Persian, the governor]
who is in Harawḥatiya (i.e. Arachosia) saying, “Go, [kill Vivama and] (61) kill (60) [the troop which listens to Darius the king]
The troop which Vahyazdata [had sent to meet Vivama went] to ◦◦[...]
ˀAhû⸢r⸣amazda helped me. ⸢With⸣[ the protection of ˀAhûramazda] ⸢m⸣y [troop killed the rebel] tr[oop. They killed]
of them ⸢4,5⸣7[9], and alive they seized [3]76(+). [On the 13th of Tebeth]
they did battle. ˀAhûramazda he[lped me. With the protection of ˀA]hûramazda [my] troop [killed]
the rebel (57) [troop]. (58) They killed of them [4,579 and] ⸢ali⸣ve they seized 376(+). Then],
that man who was ⸢comm⸣ander ⸢o⸣[f the troop which Vahyazdata had sent, with] the [s]mall troop [mounted on horses],
[f]led. He went (to) ˀAr⸢šada⸣ the [fo]rtress in [the] la[nd of Harawḥatiya (i.e. Arachosia). Then, V]ivana ⸢with⸣ [the] troop [went meet them.
There that man he sie]⸢z⸣ed. [He] ki⸢l⸣[led him, and they ki]lled [the nobles who were with him. The total of the ki[lled and the living of
Vahyazdata which] my [troo]p killed[ and seized was #+]5. Then, [the] land [was mine. This is
what I in Hara]⸢w⸣ḥatiya (i.e. Arachosia) di[d].
[Darius the king thus says: Whoever yo]u are O king who will ⸢b⸣e after me, a man who lies
[... withdr]⸢aw⸣ from great/many lies. Beware! A ⸢li⸣[a]⸢r⸣ who lies
[...] make known how you are made and how your conduct is.
[... which in] your[ e]⸢a⸣r one may say. Hear what openly one will say.
[... will d]o. What a poor man will do. Look (upon) that! Moreover, before you
[... and do not in] your goodness be remiss. Your {[◦]DKLY |[◦]RKLY} {not |to} {YLˀN |YLKN}
◦◦[...]◦◦[ {...]ḤDY |...]ḤRY} the true [...] SWDTˀ all [...]◦◦◦[...]◦ that I
did. To [...] ◦NH [le]st you hide [...]
ˀAhûramazda will b[less you (and) love you and your lineage will be ab]undant and your days will be longlasting. But if you do hide it,
ˀAhûramazda will c[urse you and you will not have a lineage].
Darius [the king thus says: These are] the [men] who for⸢me⸣rly were with me wh⸢ile⸣ I ⸢killed⸣ Gauma⸢ta⸣,
[that] ⸢Ma⸣gian, [who lied, saying, “I am Barzaya (i.e. Smerdis).” These] were abundantly diligent ⸢wi⸣th [me]:
[The one named] ⸢V⸣[in]⸢da⸣far⸢na⸣ [son of Vayaspara, a Persian;] the one [na]⸢med⸣ [Vitana son of Suḥra], a ⸢Pe⸣[r]⸢s⸣ian; the one [na]⸢med⸣[Gûbarû] son of Mard[ûn]iya,
a Persian; [the one named] ⸢Vida⸣[rna son of Bagabigna, a Pe]⸢r⸣sian. Whoever yo[u are O king ...]◦ who(is) af⸢t⸣er ⸢me⸣,
[the] line[age of those men abundantly with rati]on support[ ...]
BR◦[...]◦
Memorandum: cups of bronze which
Ḥanan son of Ḥaggay (1) ga[ve] (2) (in)to the hand of Yedanyah son of [PN]:
21 cups of bron⸢ze⸣,
1 silver cup,
4 ⸢t⸣l⸢p⸣ḥ[n],
[# r]od⸢s⸣, [1] rod [o]f [...]
⸢7⸣ zlw⸢ḥ⸣-vessel[s] to pour libations, ⸢si⸣[lver]
which in [s]taters is 2,
6 kni[v]⸢es⸣ for eating/as a food-ration/offering, 3 LT◦[◦]-s.
Memorandum: [ve]ssels of ˀAḥ[... ] which she/I gave [(in)to the hand of]
Menaḥem son of ˁAzarya⸢h⸣[ ...]
in the month of Epiph, year[ x of Dar]i⸢u⸣[s the king]:
21 cups of bronze,
1 silver cup,
15 rods,
5 tlpḥn,
7(+) zlw[ḥ-vessels],
8 kniv[es], [...]⸢B⸣ for Tqs[
BY◦[◦◦◦]⸢YH⸣◦ [◦]◦◦◦[...]
[#] rods,
[#] zlw⸢ḥ⸣-vessel[s],
in it ◦[...]
B⸢Ḥ⸣◦[...]
Memo⸢ra⸣ndum:[ ...]
[#] zl[wḥ-vessels]
[#] saucer[s],
◦[...]◦◦ ◦[...]
2(+) ◦[... ]
⸢YS⸣L[... ]◦
5(+)[ ...]
4(+)[ ...]
3(+)[ ...]
⸢9⸣(+)[ ...]
[Memorandum: On the # of the month of ...], year ⸢7⸣, the river covered LT⸢ˁ⸣[...]
6(+) [...] Tavyaˀ wife of ˀAḥertays: b(arley), 4 p(eras).
[...]◦
[... Menaḥe]met/[Mešulle]met daughter of Zekaryah: b(arley), 2 p(eras), 4 seahs.
[...] to Meshullemeth: b(arley), 4 [p(eras)].
[...] 1 p(eras).
[... ]⸢4⸣(+), to Yahôyišmaˁ son of Ḥaggay: b(arley), 1 p(eras).
[...] ⸢1 p(eras)⸣.
[...]◦ which she/I gave (in)to[ the hand of].
[PN ...] which is ⸢in⸣ it {in(to) the hand of[ PN] |MṢ◦[...]}, 2(+).
Memorandum: in Ph[armuth]i/P[ayn]i, year 6(+)
ˁAzaryah the servitor ... ⸢which⸣[ ...]
Memorandum concerning Menaḥem son of Šallûm[ ...
length, 3 cubits, 2 h(ands), in wi[dth, # ...].
Memorandum concerning ˁAza[r]yah the servitor of/who [...]
second, the wood ˀ[...], the great [...]◦◦ ⸢which ◦ˀ◦[...]
Memorandum: the ro⸢ds⸣ which he sent and
Ye[da]nyah son of ˀOšeˁa (51) t⸢ook⸣ (50) in Epiph, year 13(+)
but did not give to Ramnadayna in the month of Mesore[ ...]
Ḥanan
The century of Nabûˁaqab ...[
Memorandum: Ḥanan son of ˁAzaryah[
sayi[ng], “On account of PT[...]
\⸢but⸣ not Šezibˀel/ [Mešu]llam s[on of] ... ([...])
[...]◦◦◦
[...]⸢K⸣L Šammûˁa
[...]◦ in Kislev L◦◦◦⸢N⸣◦[...]
[...]◦ 2 q(uarters)
Moore, James D.. 'Ber. P. 13447 = Pl. Kol. I (+) Pl. Kol. II (+) Pl. Kol. III/IV (= Pl. Kol. IV) (+) Pl. "Frag. zu P. 13447".' DEAPS. 29 Dec, 2025. https://deaps.osu.edu/text_objects/12394. Accessed: 19 Jan, 2026.