Script - Some script conventions will be discussed in order for the class to better understand why certain things are spelled the way they are in Old Persian, and why scholars transcribe them in different ways, including the ha- sign, word-initial u-, and the Indo-Iranian vocalic r.

Grammar - The basic features of Old Persian nouns and adjectives will be discussed. Grammatical gender in Old Persian will be covered (masculine, feminine, and neuter). The three numbers will be discussed (singular, plural, and dual). Two of the six cases will be covered more in-depth (nominative and genitive-dative).

Reading - Skjaervo, Chapter 2

Vocabulary -

Ariya-ciça-	of Aryan stock (lit. “seed”)
Ariyāramna-	Ariaramnes
Ạršāma-	Arsames
ạrštika-	spearman
Ạrtaxšaçā- masc.	Artaxerxes
asa-bāra-	a rider, on horseback
aspa-	horse
Aspacanāh (nom.)	Aspathines
Aθurā-	Assyria
Aθuriya	Assyrian
āhat, āhan	he was, they were
Bābiru-	Babylon, Babylonian
dāta- neut.	law
duruxta-	false (lit. “lied up”)
hainā-	(enemy) army
hamarana-kara-	a fighter
hamiçiya-	rebellious, inimical
hašiya-	true
hạzānam	tongue
Hindu-	India
Hinduya-	Indian
huš-hamaranakara-	A good fighter
hu-θanuvaniya-	A good archer
huv-arštika-	A good spear-thrower
huv-asabāra-	A good rider
hUvaxšatara-	Cyaxares
hŪvja-	Elam, Elamite
ima	This (dem. pron., nom, -acc. neuter)
iyam: this (dem. pron., nom. masc. and fem.)	This (dem. pron., nom., masc., and fem.)
kapautaka-	blue
kāra-	The people, army
kāsaka-	glass
martiya-	man
Māda-	Media, Median, Mede
naiba-	Good, beautiful
naiy	not
Parθava-	Parthia, Parthian
paru-	Much, plur. many
pasti-	foot-soldier
Pārsa-	Persia, Persian
rāsta-	right
taxma-	brave
θanuvaniya-	archer
utā	and
utā ... utā	Both … and
vasiy	Much, greatly, mightily
vaçabara-	shield-bearer
Xšayaạršā- masc.	Xerxes

Day 2 - Behistun Inscription Column 1