Behistun Inscription, Rock relief and inscription in Harsin County, Iran.
The Behistun Inscription sits on a limestone cliff in Harsin County and displays Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian script alongside a large rock relief. The relief runs horizontally across the rock face and combines sculptural figures with long passages of cuneiform text.
Darius I commissioned the inscription between 522 and 486 BCE to record his military victories and establish his claim to the Persian throne. Later, in the 19th century, the inscriptions were systematically documented and contributed to deciphering cuneiform script.
The multilingual inscription communicated royal messages across trade routes through three major languages of the ancient world. This choice of languages made the text accessible to travelers and merchants of different backgrounds.
The relief is only visible from a distance with binoculars or telephoto lenses, as it sits high on the rock face and is not publicly accessible. The best time for photography is morning, when light brings out the script and relief more clearly.
The inscription served as a key to decoding ancient cuneiform writing systems through its parallel texts in three different languages. Scholars were able to compare the three versions and work out the meaning of individual characters.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
Heracles statue
132 m
Bisotun Cave
107 m
Farhad Tarash
438 m
Bisotun Old Caravanserai
436 m
Shah Abbasi Caravanserai of Bisotun
675 m
Vologases relief
247 m
Bisotun Spring
126 m
Median Fortress
14 m
Behistun
289 mMardodar Cave
423 mSasanian-Safavid Bridge in Behistun
1.5 kmMaraftab Cave
517 m
Khosrow Bridge
839 mMarkharal Cave
1.2 km
Gotarzes I relief (Bisotun)
75 mTepe Naderi (Bisotun)
2.5 kmReliefs of Mithridates II and Gotarzes II in Behistun
153 mMartarik Cave
601 m
Gotarzes II relief (Bisotun)
74 m
Bisotun Stone Blocks
560 m
Bisotun Bridge
1.5 km
Sheikh Ali Khan Zanganeh inscription
75 mFree-standing Parthian rock relief in Behistun
263 mUnfinished Sasanian relief in Behistun
417 mFarhad Tarash
439 mHercules statue
65 mپل خسرو
831 mIllkhanid caravanserai
431 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes