Susa F (DSf) is quite an interesting text that reveals a lot about the Achaemenid “World Empire” that Darius believed he deserved to control. It also talks about the construction of the palatial complex of Darius at Susa, including how he brought wood from Lebanon - again a very Mesopotamian theme here, as I am sure many people recall the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu having an adventure in the forests of Lebanon. Additionally, many Mesopotamian royal inscriptions from even two thousand years prior to this inscription mention expeditions to Lebanon to get wood for construction. The Suez C inscription talks about the construction of a canal in occupied Egypt. Egypt had been conquered earlier by Cambyses II, the son of Cyrus the Great. While Egypt remained a satrapy of the Achaemenids for a significant amount of time, it was also a hot spot for rebellions and did gain independence a few times over the course of the Achaemenid Empire’s history up to the conquests of Alexander the Great.
Script - The consonant phonemes will be discussed in more detail, including an explanation of the way the phonemes w and y are spelled in Old Persian. The unique and enigmatic Old Persian ç phoneme will also be discussed as well as phonetic developments in the Achaemenid period.
Grammar - The instrumental-ablative case will be discussed in more detail. The enclitic pronouns will also be covered.
Reading - Skjaervo, Chapter 9
Vocabulary
|
ahmatah |
From there |
|
akumā |
We did |
|
anuv |
along(side) |
|
avadaš |
thence |
|
ā-bara- |
Bring about, perform |
|
ā-jamiyā |
To come to |
|
cartanaiy |
To do (infinitive form) |
|
dušiyāra- |
Bad year (famine) |
|
huvāmạršiyu- |
“self-dead” |
|
kaufa- |
mountain |
|
mạriya- |
To die |
|
mā |
Let not |
|
māhi/ī- |
month |
|
munθa- |
To flee |
|
ni-çāraya- |
To restore |
|
pari-bara- |
To reward |
|
maškā- |
Inflated hide (used for ferrying) |