The scholarly monograph Studies in Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions, authored by Soheil Delshad, a PhD researcher in Iranology at the Freie Universität Berlin, has been under publishing by Zaphon publication in Germany. This volume explores the history of writing and writing systems in ancient Iran, with a particular focus on the Achaemenid period.

The Achaemenid Empire, one of the most significant empires in ancient world history, introduced the Old Persian cuneiform script as part of its administrative and ideological apparatus. The royal inscriptions that have survived from this era serve as crucial primary sources, offering detailed insights into the socio-political and cultural contexts of the time.

The study focuses on the period between 525 and 333 BCE—from the inception of the Old Persian script to the fall of the Achaemenid Empire and the subsequent rise of Alexander III of Macedon. While many of the extant texts are of an economic nature, the work also highlights the presence of literary elements embedded within these inscriptions.

Delshad’s primary objective in this book is to investigate the interplay between three essential dimensions: the technical aspects of writing, the literary traditions of the broader ancient Near East, and the oral traditions indigenous to ancient Iran. The book’s chapters systematically introduce and categorize the royal inscriptions of the Achaemenid kings, examine the institutional role of royal scribes, and provide a detailed analysis of inscriptional corpora from key archaeological sites such as Parseh (Persepolis), Pasargadae, and Naqsh-e Rustam.

Link: