Text, Inscription, plaster cast from palace of Darius

This inscription is written in an ancient script called cuneiform. It records that King Artaxerxes III (ruled 359 -338 B.C.) rebuilt the staircase on which this inscription was carved. The staircase was a later alteration to the Palace of Darius. Nineteenth-century plaster cast taken from sculptures on the Palace of Darius at Persepolis, Iran. "A great god is Ahura Mazda who created this earth, who created yonder sky, who created man, who created happiness for man, who created me, Artaxerxes... This stone staircase was built by me in my time. Saith Artaxerxes the King: Me may Ahura Mazda and the god Mithras protect, and this country, and what was built by me." Extract from inscription. The are three rows of figures walking towards the center. On the left a man in Median dress leads each group and on the right men in Persian dress lead the groups. The Median dress is a trouser suit which was convenient for horse riding. The 'Persian robe' worn by the king, courtiers an