The monuments and the Old Testament : evidence from ancient records . edas a basis for investigation the names Darius, Xerxes,and Hystaspes. These same names occurred on anumber of inscriptions, and by ingenious guesses hediscovered some of the letters of which the names wereconstituted. Then by testing the values of these let-ters in other words the meanings of which wereknown to him as a modern Persian scholar, Eawlinsonsucceeded finally in translating the five columns ofold Persian cuneiform writing—nearly 400 years after his discovery at Behistun, he sent histranslation to Europe
The monuments and the Old Testament : evidence from ancient records . edas a basis for investigation the names Darius, Xerxes,and Hystaspes. These same names occurred on anumber of inscriptions, and by ingenious guesses hediscovered some of the letters of which the names wereconstituted. Then by testing the values of these let-ters in other words the meanings of which wereknown to him as a modern Persian scholar, Eawlinsonsucceeded finally in translating the five columns ofold Persian cuneiform writing—nearly 400 years after his discovery at Behistun, he sent histranslation to Europe. In 1847, the text, transla-tion, and a commentary appeared in the Journal ofthe Royal Asiatic Society. Eawlinson tells us that these inscriptions were cuthere by order of Darius I., king of Persia, about 515B. C. They relate how, while Darius was still oc-cupied in the reformation of the national faith, aninsurrection broke out in Susiana; that the rebel ring-leader was seized without the emplojrment of anymilitary force; that there was also a revolt in Babylon. HENRY CRESWICKE RAWLINSON DECIPHERER OF THE BEHISTUN INSCRIPTIONS THE BEMATNINQ LANGUAGES READ 59 of such a determined character that Darius wasobliged to lead his own troops to put it dovm. Othervaluable historical information is also contained inthis old document. 38. On the supposition that the other two inscrip-tions told the same story, scholars began to attempt toread them. Very soon the second tongue, the Medianor Susian, began to yield its secrets. Then the thirdseries of columns, the Babylonian, was forced to giveup its hidden treasures. This Behistun group wasfound to sustain the same relation to the cuneiformlanguages of Babylonia that the Eosetta stone sus-tained to the tongues of ancient Eg}^t. It was thekey to its ancient life, people, and government. But, as in all cases of great advance in any onedepartment, there were doubters and sceptics. Tomake a final test of scholars ability to read andinterpre
Size: 1311px × 1906px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbible, bookyear1900
