The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-06-15

INTERESTING Discoveries IN THE
EAsT-Perhaps not many of our readers
are aware Of the researches which have
been carried on in various parts of the
Eastern world within few years, and of
the important discoveries which have re-
suited there from. We allude particularly
to those OF ancient Assyria and Persia, in
Guiding the explorations at Nineyeh and
babylon. The French Government has
had, for several years, a scientific CORDS
engaged IN these researches, and several
distinguished scholars from England and
Germany are on the same ground, though
not under the orders of their Govern
pents, occupied upon the inscriptions and
sculptures, of which great numbers have
been brought to view. The results of
these explorations are of importance, as
they throw much light on the ancient
history of countries hitherto involved
IN darkness. Without speaking of
the monuments that make known the
state OF the arts 6 or 200 years before the
Christian car, and consequently the state
OF civilization, we will speak of some of
the historical facts disclosed by decypher-
ing the mysterious arrow headed charac-
tiers IN which all ancient inscriptions Of
Assyrla are written.
AT Behistum, midway between Babylon
and Ecbatana, is an inscription cut in
several large tablets OH rock at the base
OF a mountain, extending to 400 lines, in
the arrow-headed character. The great
Work has been fully decyphered by Maj
Rawlinson, of the British army, who has
employed much of his time during the
last ten years IN effecting ii. Professors
Groteiend, Lassen and Westerguard have
also been diligently employed on the same
inscription, and have contributed much TO
ITS complete decypherment and grammat-
zeal translation. 1t is a memorial of the
time of Darius Hystaspes, who lived in
the sixth century B. c., the purport of
which, to the historian, must be of equa!
interest with the pecuI iarites of the lam
guage to the philologist. For the follow
ing extracts, which are translations of
portion of this great inscription, we are
indebted to work by our townsman -
Mr. John X. Bartlett.*
l. am Darius, the great King, the King,
OF hlngs, the King ofPersia, the King of
tine dependant provinces, the son ofHys-
tasPes. the grandson of Arsames the A.
chemenian.
Says Darius the King My father was
Hystaspes; of Hystaspes, the father was
Arsames, of Arivaramnes, the father was
IeIspes; of Teispes, the father was Ar
chGments
Says Darius the King On that ac
count we have been called Acbamenians;
from Antiquity we have been ubsubdued
IRON antiquity those of our race have been
kings.
Says Darius the King There are
eight oil my race who have been kings be-
fore me; am the ninth; for very long
time we have been kings.
Says Darius the King BY the grace
of Qrmuzd, l am King; Ormuzd has
granted me the empire.
'SaysDarlus the King These are the
countries which have fallen into my hands
by the grace of Ormuzd have become
the king OF them-Persia, Susiana, Bah
ylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt; those
which are of the sea, Sparta and Ionia
Armenia, Cappadocia, Parthia, Zarangea.
Aria. Chorasmia, Bactria, Sogdiana; the
Sace, the Sattagydes, Arachosta. and the
Medians; the total amount being twenty
one countries.
Says Darius the King These are the
countries which have come TO me by the
grace of Ormuzd, they have became SUBJ
Ject to me-they have brought tribute TO
me. That which has been said unto them
by me, both by night and by day, it has
been performed by them.
Says Darius the King :-Ormuzd has
granted me the empire. Ormuzd has
brought help to me until | have gained this
empire. By the grace of Ormuzd, | hold
this empire.
Says Darius the King -
He who has named Cambyses, the son Of
Cyrus of our race, he was here king be-
lore me. There was of that Cambyses a
brother named Bartius; he was of the
same father and mother as Cambyses.
Cambyses slew this Bartius. When Cam
oyses slew that Bartius, the troubles of
he state ceased which Bartius had ex-
cited. Then Cambyses proceeded to E.
gyPt When Cambyses had gone to Egyp.
he state became heretical; then the lie |
became Astounding in the land, both in
Persia and in Media, and in other provin-
,es.'
He then goes on to speak of the rebell-
ons In his dominions after the death of
Cambyses, of the Magian who declared |
king, and that no one dared to re-
list him. He continues