Darius i’s inscription links biblical texts to Persian rule
israelhayom.co.il · 15 October 2026
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Darius I of Persia carved a declaration of rule onto a cliff face in Iran, writing it in three languages.
The inscription, now considered the “Rosetta Stone of the Ancient Near East”, connects the books of Ezra and Haggai in the Bible to the political struggles within the Persian Empire. Researchers believe the text provides evidence of the historical context surrounding the construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The message appears tens of meters high on the cliff.
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