Day 4 - Behistun Inscription Columns 3 and 4

On day 4, we will delve further into the Behistun Inscription and cover the verbal system of Old Persian in greater depth. A few more script conventions will be discussed.

Script - The spelling conventions regarding the consonants y- and v- will be discussed.

Grammar - The verbal system, including all tenses, will be discussed in depth. The tenses (present, past [imperfect], and perfect), the moods (indicative, subjunctive, imperative, optative, and injunctive), and voices (active, middle, and passive) will be covered. Pronouns and the various uses of the accusative will also be discussed in more depth. 

Reading - Skjaervo, Chapter 4

Vocabulary - 

aita

this (neut.)

abi-jāvaya- < √jav

to add (to: + abiy + acc.) 

abiy

to, over to, toward (+ acc.)

adīnam

I took + 2 acc.: sth. from. sb.

akunau- < √kar

made

aniya-

other

aniya- … aniya-

one … another

arašni-

a cubit

Armina-

Armenia 

aruvasta- neut.

physical ability, agility 

antar

among, in (+ acc.) 

avahạya-rādiy

for this (the following) reason

bara- < √bar: to carry 

To carry

baršnā (< *barzan-)

in height, depth 

dāraya- < √dar

To hold, have

duvarθi-

Gate, portal

duvitīyam

A second time

fraišaya-

To send

frābara-

he gave 

hauv: he (nom. sing. masc.) 

He (nom. sing. masc.)

haya-, taya-

Relative pronoun

hu-bạrtam bara-

To treat well

hu-martiya-

with good men, having good men 

isuvā-

battle-axe

jadiya-

I ask for sth.

jan- 

to strike 

kunau- 

To do

-maiy: my (gen.-dat.) 

My (gen.-dat.)

maθišta-

greatest

-mā 

me (acc.) 

mām

me (acc.)

miθah- kunau-

To do wrong to (+ acc.)

nipadiy

After, in pursuit (of) 

niyasaya

He bestowed

paišiyā

Before, in the presence of

parah

Beyond

pariy

About, concerning

pasā

after

patiy

Also, too, in addition

patiš

against

šiyāti- 

Peace, happiness

škauθi- 

poor

tanū- 

Body, self

tarah

Through, via

tāvaya- 

To be able, capable

tunuvant-

mighty

θahạya- 

To be said, be announced, be called

θakata-

Passed 

upariy: in, on (+ acc.)

In, on

upā

Under, during the reign of

vaina-

To see

vi-kan-

To destroy

visa-dahạyu-

Of all nations

xraθu- (xratu-): wisdom, intelligence 

Wisdom, intelligence

yāna-

Boon, favor, gift

zūrah-

Bad deed