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I. I am Darius, the great king, the king of kings, the king of II. (Thus) saith Darius, the king : My father is Hystaspes ; the III. (Thus) saith Darius, the king : On that account are we called V. (Thus) saith Darius, the king : By the grace of Auramazda VI. (Thus) saith Darius, the king : These are the provinces
Darius the Great (Old Persian :Dārayawuš - "He Who Holds Firm the Good"), was the son of Hystaspes and Persian Emperor from 521 to 485 BC. His name in Modern Persian is داریوش (Dâriûsh), and the ancient Greek sources call him Δάρειος (Dareios). Sources for Darius' biography The principal sources for the life of Darius are his own inscriptions, especially the great inscription of Behistun, in which he relates how he gained the crown and put down many rebellions. In modern times his veracity has often been doubted, but without any sufficient reason or suggestion of alternatives. The accounts given later by |