Shapur I's Ka'ba-ye Zartosht inscription (shortened as Shapur-KZ, ŠKZ,[1]SKZ[2]), also referred to as The Great Inscription of Shapur I,[2][3] and Res Gestae Divi Saporis (RGDS),[2][1] is a trilingual inscription made during the reign of the Sasanian king Shapur I (r. 240–270) after his victories over the Romans.[1] The inscription is carved on the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht, a stone quadrangular and stepped structure located in Naqsh-e Rustam, an ancient necropolis located northwest of Persepolis, in today's Fars Province, Iran.[1] The inscription dates to c. 262.[2]
The inscription is written in Middle Persian, Parthian, and Greek,[2][1] containing 35, 30, and 70 lines, respectively. The Middle Persian variant is partially damaged, while the Greek and Parthian versions are better preserved, although they are not exactly the same as the Middle Persian text. In this inscription, Shapur introduces himself, mentions his genealogy, enumerates the provinces of his empire, describes his campaigns against the Roman Empire and talks about the fire temples he built.[1] The inscription is considered the most important inscription from the Sasanian era.
The relevant passage enumerating the territories part of Shapur I's empire :[2][1][4]
Parthian version of the Shapur I inscription at Ka'ba-ye Zartosht.
In the inscription, Shapur I mentions his victories over Gordian III, Philip the Arab and Valerian.[1] He relates that Gordian departed from Antioch and was killed in a decisive battle at Misiche in 242/4 on the border of Sasanian-ruled Mesopotamia. Shapur mentions that Misiche was subsequently renamed Misiche-Peroz-Shapur, which translates as "Misiche-(where)-Shapur-is-victorious".[1] In relation to Philip the Arab; Shapur mentions that negotiations in 244 resulted in Philip being forced to pay 500,000 denarii to the Sasanians.[1] In addition, the Romans promised that they would surrender Armenia to Shapur. However, Shapur relates that the Philip the Arab did not keep his promise and tried to reinvade Armenia.[1] As a result, another battle was fought in 252-256 at Barbalissos, against a 60,000-strong Roman army.[1] Shapur was victorious, and he mentions that he captured 36 Roman cities.[1] Shapur also mentions his major victory at the Battle of Edessa, which resulted in Valerian being captured by the Sasanian ruler, "along with the Praefectus Praetorio, senators, and chiefs of the army".[1] He furthermore relates that Roman captives were settled in the province of Pars (i.e. Persis).[1] The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity notes that this particular part of the inscription, where Shapur mentions the capture of Valerian and his deeds in general, is reminiscent of the "Persian epic tradition".[1]
In the following part of the inscription, Shapur mentions the Zoroastrian sacred fires he established under his rule to honor each member of the royal family.[1] He also mentions detail of "sacrifices and ceremonies".[1] The final part of the inscription contains valuable content about the Sasanian administration as well as the courtiers and nobles during the lifetimes of Papak, Ardashir I in addition to Shapur I himself.[1]
Full English translation of the inscription in Frye, Richard Nelson (1984). The History of Ancient Iran. C.H.Beck. p. 371. ISBN978-3-406-09397-5.
Rapp, Stephen H. (2014). The Sasanian World through Georgian Eyes: Caucasia and the Iranian Commonwealth in Late Antique Georgian Literature. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN978-1472425522.
Yarshater, E. (1983). The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 3: The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanid Periods, Part 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0521200929.
External linksedit
"The Inscription Of Shapur I At Naqsh-E Rustam In Fars", Warren Soward (English translation)
"The trilingual inscription of Šābuhr at “Kaaba i Zardušt” (ŠKZ)" 2021-01-14 at the Wayback Machine (transcription of full text with English translation)
"Third Century Iran: Sapor and Kartir", Martin Sprengling (letter-by-letter transliteration of full text with English translation)
May 01, 2024
shapur, inscription, zartosht, shapur, zartosht, inscription, shortened, shapur, Škz, also, referred, great, inscription, shapur, gestae, divi, saporis, rgds, trilingual, inscription, made, during, reign, sasanian, king, shapur, after, victories, over, romans,. Shapur I s Ka ba ye Zartosht inscription shortened as Shapur KZ SKZ 1 SKZ 2 also referred to as The Great Inscription of Shapur I 2 3 and Res Gestae Divi Saporis RGDS 2 1 is a trilingual inscription made during the reign of the Sasanian king Shapur I r 240 270 after his victories over the Romans 1 The inscription is carved on the Ka ba ye Zartosht a stone quadrangular and stepped structure located in Naqsh e Rustam an ancient necropolis located northwest of Persepolis in today s Fars Province Iran 1 The inscription dates to c 262 2 Ka ba ye Zartosht The inscriptions Contents 1 Content 2 See also 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksContent editThe inscription is written in Middle Persian Parthian and Greek 2 1 containing 35 30 and 70 lines respectively The Middle Persian variant is partially damaged while the Greek and Parthian versions are better preserved although they are not exactly the same as the Middle Persian text In this inscription Shapur introduces himself mentions his genealogy enumerates the provinces of his empire describes his campaigns against the Roman Empire and talks about the fire temples he built 1 The inscription is considered the most important inscription from the Sasanian era The relevant passage enumerating the territories part of Shapur I s empire 2 1 4 I am ruler of Eranshahr and I possess the lands of provinces Greek ethne Pars Persis Pahlav Parthia Huzestan Khuzestan Meshan i e Maishan Mesene Asorestan Mesopotamia Nod Ardakhshiragan i e Adiabene Arbayistan Adurbadagan i e Atropatene twrp tkn Armenia Armin lmny Iberia Wiruzan Wrucan wlwc n i e K art li Segan or Machelonia i e Mingrelia Arran ld nm i e Caucasian Albania Balasagan up to the Caucasus mountains Kafkōf and the Gates of Albania of the Alans and all of the mountain chain of Pareshwar Padishkwar gar Mad i e Media Gurgan i e Hyrcania Merv i e Margiana Harey i e Aria and all of Abarshahr Kirman Sakastan Sistan Turgistan Turan Makuran Pardan Paradene Hind India i e Kushano Sasanian Kingdom the Kushanshahr up to Peshawar Pashkibur and up to Kashgar ia Sogdiana Sogdia and to the mountains of Tashkent Chach and on the other side of the sea Oman i e Mazonshahr nbsp Parthian version of the Shapur I inscription at Ka ba ye Zartosht In the inscription Shapur I mentions his victories over Gordian III Philip the Arab and Valerian 1 He relates that Gordian departed from Antioch and was killed in a decisive battle at Misiche in 242 4 on the border of Sasanian ruled Mesopotamia Shapur mentions that Misiche was subsequently renamed Misiche Peroz Shapur which translates as Misiche where Shapur is victorious 1 In relation to Philip the Arab Shapur mentions that negotiations in 244 resulted in Philip being forced to pay 500 000 denarii to the Sasanians 1 In addition the Romans promised that they would surrender Armenia to Shapur However Shapur relates that the Philip the Arab did not keep his promise and tried to reinvade Armenia 1 As a result another battle was fought in 252 256 at Barbalissos against a 60 000 strong Roman army 1 Shapur was victorious and he mentions that he captured 36 Roman cities 1 Shapur also mentions his major victory at the Battle of Edessa which resulted in Valerian being captured by the Sasanian ruler along with the Praefectus Praetorio senators and chiefs of the army 1 He furthermore relates that Roman captives were settled in the province of Pars i e Persis 1 The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity notes that this particular part of the inscription where Shapur mentions the capture of Valerian and his deeds in general is reminiscent of the Persian epic tradition 1 In the following part of the inscription Shapur mentions the Zoroastrian sacred fires he established under his rule to honor each member of the royal family 1 He also mentions detail of sacrifices and ceremonies 1 The final part of the inscription contains valuable content about the Sasanian administration as well as the courtiers and nobles during the lifetimes of Papak Ardashir I in addition to Shapur I himself 1 See also editBehistun inscription List of Sasanian inscriptionsReferences edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Daryaee 2018 pp 1294 1295 a b c d e f Rapp 2014 p 28 Yarshater 1983 p 126 Wiesehofer 2001 p 184 Sources editDaryaee Touraj 2018 Res Gestae Divi Saporis In Nicholson Oliver ed The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 866277 8 Full English translation of the inscription in Frye Richard Nelson 1984 The History of Ancient Iran C H Beck p 371 ISBN 978 3 406 09397 5 Rapp Stephen H 2014 The Sasanian World through Georgian Eyes Caucasia and the Iranian Commonwealth in Late Antique Georgian Literature Ashgate Publishing Ltd ISBN 978 1472425522 Wiesehofer Josef 2001 Ancient Persia I B Tauris ISBN 978 1860646751 Yarshater E 1983 The Cambridge History of Iran Volume 3 The Seleucid Parthian and Sasanid Periods Part 1 Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0521200929 External links edit The Inscription Of Shapur I At Naqsh E Rustam In Fars Warren Soward English translation The trilingual inscription of Sabuhr at Kaaba i Zardust SKZ Archived 2021 01 14 at the Wayback Machine transcription of full text with English translation Third Century Iran Sapor and Kartir Martin Sprengling letter by letter transliteration of full text with English translation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shapur I 27s inscription at the Ka 27ba ye Zartosht amp oldid 1183405781, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
