Home > Historic > Ancient civilizations > Ancient Egypt > Rosetta Stone
Trilingual relief of Darius, Bisitun, Iran
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Heritage Images
Trilingual relief of Darius, Bisitun, Iran
Detail of trilingual relief of Darius, Bisitun, Iran. This relief is the equivalent to cuneiform of what the Rosetta Stone represents to the understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Carved into a cliff above an ancient road in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains, it tells the story of the reign of Darius I, who ruled Persia from 521 to 486 BC. The same text is repeated in three languages, Old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian. In the 1830s and 1840s A British army officer, Sir Henry Rawlinson, had the inscriptions transcribed and was able to translate first the Persian, and later with the help of others, the Elamite and Babylonian texts. The carvings are high above the road and are in fact illegible from it. It is believed that Darius main concern was to make the reliefs proof from tampering by siting them in a relatively inaccessible position
Heritage Images features heritage image collections
Media ID 15063814
© Vivienne Sharp/Heritage Images
5th Century Bc 6th Century Bc Ancient Site Cliff Cliffs Cuneiform Darius I Darius The Great Henry Rawlinson Inscription Iran Iranian Persia Persian Rawlinson Relief Rock Face Sharp Sir Henry Rawlinson Story Translation Vivienne Vivienne Sharp
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Arts
> Artists
> B
> Babylonian Babylonian
> Asia
> Iran
> Related Images
> Historic
> Ancient civilizations
> Ancient Egypt
> Egyptian hieroglyphics
> Historic
> Ancient civilizations
> Ancient Egypt
> Rosetta Stone
> Historic
> Medieval architecture
> Sculptures, reliefs, and carvings
> Stone carvings
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the trilingual relief of Darius, a significant archaeological find in Bisitun, Iran. Similar to the Rosetta Stone's importance in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics, this relief holds immense value for understanding cuneiform. Carved into a cliff above an ancient road nestled amidst the Zagros Mountains' foothills, it narrates the reign of Darius I during 521-486 BC in three languages: Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian. Although located high above the road and illegible from it, these carvings were deliberately placed there by Darius to safeguard them from tampering. The intricate inscriptions remained enigmatic until Sir Henry Rawlinson, a British army officer in the 19th century, transcribed and translated them with assistance from others. Initially decoding the Persian text and later unraveling both Elamite and Babylonian texts became possible through Rawlinson's efforts. The photograph captures not only the artistic beauty of this rock face sculpture but also its historical significance as a testament to ancient Persia's royal lineage. Its vibrant colors bring life to every intricately carved detail while conveying a sense of awe-inspiring grandeur. As we gaze upon this image print today, we are reminded of how invaluable archaeological discoveries like these contribute to our understanding of past civilizations. This remarkable relic serves as a bridge between eras long gone and modern times—a tangible link that connects us with our rich cultural heritage.
MADE IN AUSTRALIA
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Cart.
