The Paikuli inscription (Kurdish: پەیکوڵی, romanized: Peykulî,[1]Persian: پایکولی, in Arabic: بيكولي) is a bilingual Parthian and Middle Persian text corpus which was inscribed on the stone blocks of the walls of Paikuli tower; the latter is located in what is now southern part of Iraqi Kurdistan near modern-day Barkal village, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraq (35°5′53.91″N45°35′25.95″E / 35.0983083°N 45.5905417°E / 35.0983083; 45.5905417). These inscribed stone blocks are now in the Sulaymaniyah Museum; the field only contains the stones that were used in the construction of the tower.[2] It was set up as a monument to victory, and tells how and why the Sasanian emperor Narseh (also written Narses) ousted his grandnephew from power.[3]
Paikuli inscription
Paikuli Tower.
Paikuli tower
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Location of the Paikuli tower
Show map of West and Central Asia
Paikuli tower
Paikuli tower (Iraq)
Show map of Iraq
In 293 Narses marched from Armenia in open revolt against his nephew with a host of supporters and allies, whose names are recorded on the Paikuli inscription.[4]
The fact of Amr ibn Adi's vassalage to Narses was preserved by the latter in the Paikuli inscription.[6]
Paikuli inscription may be devoid of much historical information because it belongs to the genre of epic literature composed since time immemorial in the ancient Near East.[7]
In the 19th century, when it was visited by several travelers, it consisted of the ruins of a large, square tower that had originally been covered on all sides by stone blocks, some contained inscriptions, but, at the time, lay scattered all around the monument.
SassaniansEdit
In Tabari and sources that follow his work, and also in the Paikuli inscription of Narses, a son of Papak called Shapur is mentioned as his successor, although the text of the inscription of Paikuli in which king Shapur appears is unclear because of long lacunae. Some suggest that Narses in the inscription sought to compare his succession to the throne with that of his grandfather Ardashir, just as Ardashir had succeeded Shapur.
S. Mori contends that the Paikuli inscription is basically relating the traditional Near Eastern story of how a king achieves supremacy with the aid of the gods in the epic form. He also believes that the early Islamic texts, such as al-Tabarī are of little use for the history of the Sasanian period.[8]
GalleryEdit
The Sulaymaniyah Museum in Iraqi Kurdistan opened a new Gallery on June 10, 2019, dedicated to the Paikuli Tower, its inscription, and King Narseh. The Sulaymaniyah Museum is the only Museum which displays relics of the Paikuli Tower.[9]
Recently discovered C2 inscribed stone block, Middle Persian script, from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower, Sulaymaniyah Museum
Recently discovered c12 inscribed stone block, Parthian script, from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower, Sulaymaniyah Museum
A2 inscribed stone block, Middle Persian script, from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower, Sulaymaniyah Museum
d3 inscribed stone block, Parthian script, from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower, Sulaymaniyah Museum
One of the inscribed stone blocks from the Paikuli Tower of Narseh. Late 3rd century AD. Sulaymaniyah Museum
f7 block from the Paikuli Tower inscribed with Parthian language. Sassanian, reign of Narseh, late 3rd century AD. From Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. Sulaymaniyah Museum
Newly discovered f1, Parthian inscription, block from the Paikuli Tower of Narseh, Sulaymaniayh Museum
One of the non-inscribed rounded stone blocks from the Paikuli Tower of Narseh. Sulaymaniyah Museum
Newly discovered fragment of stone block G6, Middle Persian script, Sassanian Paikuli Tower, Sulaymaniyah Museum
One of the busts of the Sassanian king Narseh. Late 3rd century AD. From the Paikuli Tower, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. Sulaymaniyah Museum
Recently discovered fragment of a braid of hair of Narseh's bust, from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower, Sulaymaniyah Museum
Part of Narseh headdress from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower, Iraq
Non-inscribed stone blocks scattered around the Paikuli Tower of Narseh. Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Sulaymaniyah Museum
One of the non-inscribed rounded stone blocks from the Paikuli Tower of the Sassanian king Narseh. Sulaymaniyah Museum
Non-inscribed building stone of the Sassanian Paikuli Tower of Narseh, Sulaymaniyah Museum
Bust of the Sassanian king Narseh, Sulaymaniyah Directorate of Antiquities
ReferencesEdit
^"پەیکوڵی: شوێنەوارێکی گرنگ... دەقێکی لە بیر کراو،". 2011 (in Kurdish): 11–36. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
^Amin, OSM. "Visiting the Paikuli Tower Built by the Sasanian King Narseh". www.ancient.eu. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
^Jacob Neusner, A History of the Jews in Babylonia, Vol. 12, p. 3.
^Alan K. Bowman, Peter Garnsey, and Averil Cameron, The Cambridge Ancient History, p. 494.
^C. E. V. Nixon and Barbara Saylor Rodgers, In Praise of Later Roman Emperors: The Panegyric Latini, p. 69.
^P.O. Skjærvø and H. Humbach, The Sassanian Inscription of Paikuli, Wiesbaden, 1983, p. 44.
^"The narrative structure of the Paikuli Inscription," Orient 30-31 (1995): 182-193.
^"Sapienza in Iraq: Italo-Kurdish Collaboration to Protect the Archaeological Heritage of Paikuli". Sapienza University of Rome. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
Further readingEdit
Cereti, Carlo G. (2021). "Narseh, Armenia, and the Paikuli Inscription". Electrum. 28: 69–87. doi:10.4467/20800909EL.21.007.13365. hdl:11573/1560101. S2CID 243513056.
The complete set of the inscribed Parthian and Middle Persian stone blocks of the Paikuli Tower at the Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraq
October 19, 2023
paikuli, inscription, kurdish, پەیکوڵی, romanized, peykulî, persian, پایکولی, arabic, بيكولي, bilingual, parthian, middle, persian, text, corpus, which, inscribed, stone, blocks, walls, paikuli, tower, latter, located, what, southern, part, iraqi, kurdistan, n. The Paikuli inscription Kurdish پەیکوڵی romanized Peykuli 1 Persian پایکولی in Arabic بيكولي is a bilingual Parthian and Middle Persian text corpus which was inscribed on the stone blocks of the walls of Paikuli tower the latter is located in what is now southern part of Iraqi Kurdistan near modern day Barkal village Sulaymaniyah Governorate Iraq 35 5 53 91 N 45 35 25 95 E 35 0983083 N 45 5905417 E 35 0983083 45 5905417 These inscribed stone blocks are now in the Sulaymaniyah Museum the field only contains the stones that were used in the construction of the tower 2 It was set up as a monument to victory and tells how and why the Sasanian emperor Narseh also written Narses ousted his grandnephew from power 3 Paikuli inscriptionPaikuli Tower Paikuli towerclass notpageimage Location of the Paikuli towerShow map of West and Central AsiaPaikuli towerPaikuli tower Iraq Show map of Iraq In 293 Narses marched from Armenia in open revolt against his nephew with a host of supporters and allies whose names are recorded on the Paikuli inscription 4 Contents 1 Background 2 Sassanians 3 Gallery 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBackground EditThe Paikuli inscription of Narses shows that Asuristan Babylonia at least was in Persian hands but says nothing of Nisibis and Singara 5 nbsp Stone block D3 with Inscriptional Pahlavi middle Persian wrtitingsThe fact of Amr ibn Adi s vassalage to Narses was preserved by the latter in the Paikuli inscription 6 Paikuli inscription may be devoid of much historical information because it belongs to the genre of epic literature composed since time immemorial in the ancient Near East 7 In the 19th century when it was visited by several travelers it consisted of the ruins of a large square tower that had originally been covered on all sides by stone blocks some contained inscriptions but at the time lay scattered all around the monument Sassanians EditIn Tabari and sources that follow his work and also in the Paikuli inscription of Narses a son of Papak called Shapur is mentioned as his successor although the text of the inscription of Paikuli in which king Shapur appears is unclear because of long lacunae Some suggest that Narses in the inscription sought to compare his succession to the throne with that of his grandfather Ardashir just as Ardashir had succeeded Shapur S Mori contends that the Paikuli inscription is basically relating the traditional Near Eastern story of how a king achieves supremacy with the aid of the gods in the epic form He also believes that the early Islamic texts such as al Tabari are of little use for the history of the Sasanian period 8 Gallery EditThe Sulaymaniyah Museum in Iraqi Kurdistan opened a new Gallery on June 10 2019 dedicated to the Paikuli Tower its inscription and King Narseh The Sulaymaniyah Museum is the only Museum which displays relics of the Paikuli Tower 9 nbsp Recently discovered C2 inscribed stone block Middle Persian script from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp Recently discovered c12 inscribed stone block Parthian script from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp A2 inscribed stone block Middle Persian script from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp d3 inscribed stone block Parthian script from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp One of the inscribed stone blocks from the Paikuli Tower of Narseh Late 3rd century AD Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp f7 block from the Paikuli Tower inscribed with Parthian language Sassanian reign of Narseh late 3rd century AD From Sulaymaniyah Iraq Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp Newly discovered f1 Parthian inscription block from the Paikuli Tower of Narseh Sulaymaniayh Museum nbsp One of the non inscribed rounded stone blocks from the Paikuli Tower of Narseh Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp Newly discovered fragment of stone block G6 Middle Persian script Sassanian Paikuli Tower Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp One of the busts of the Sassanian king Narseh Late 3rd century AD From the Paikuli Tower Sulaymaniyah Iraq Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp Recently discovered fragment of a braid of hair of Narseh s bust from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp Part of Narseh headdress from the Sassanian Paikuli Tower Iraq nbsp Non inscribed stone blocks scattered around the Paikuli Tower of Narseh Sulaymaniyah Governorate Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp One of the non inscribed rounded stone blocks from the Paikuli Tower of the Sassanian king Narseh Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp Non inscribed building stone of the Sassanian Paikuli Tower of Narseh Sulaymaniyah Museum nbsp Bust of the Sassanian king Narseh Sulaymaniyah Directorate of AntiquitiesReferences Edit پەیکوڵی شوێنەوارێکی گرنگ دەقێکی لە بیر کراو 2011 in Kurdish 11 36 Retrieved 25 December 2019 Amin OSM Visiting the Paikuli Tower Built by the Sasanian King Narseh www ancient eu Ancient History Encyclopedia Retrieved 19 March 2015 Jacob Neusner A History of the Jews in Babylonia Vol 12 p 3 Alan K Bowman Peter Garnsey and Averil Cameron The Cambridge Ancient History p 494 C E V Nixon and Barbara Saylor Rodgers In Praise of Later Roman Emperors The Panegyric Latini p 69 Joel L Kraemer Israel Oriental Studies p 21 P O Skjaervo and H Humbach The Sassanian Inscription of Paikuli Wiesbaden 1983 p 44 The narrative structure of the Paikuli Inscription Orient 30 31 1995 182 193 Sapienza in Iraq Italo Kurdish Collaboration to Protect the Archaeological Heritage of Paikuli Sapienza University of Rome Retrieved 18 March 2020 Further reading EditCereti Carlo G 2021 Narseh Armenia and the Paikuli Inscription Electrum 28 69 87 doi 10 4467 20800909EL 21 007 13365 hdl 11573 1560101 S2CID 243513056 External links EditThe Sassanian Inscription of Paikuli The Sassanian Inscription of Paikuli by Prods Skjaervo Herzfeld and the Paikuli Inscription at Encyclopaedia Iranica The complete set of the inscribed Parthian and Middle Persian stone blocks of the Paikuli Tower at the Sulaymaniyah Museum Iraq Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paikuli inscription amp oldid 1170047663, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
