An Inscription in the Shadow (DNF: The Newly Founded Achaemenid Inscription)

Naqsh-e Rostam is among preservers of the most important monuments from the ancient era’s regions. In addition to Ka’aba-ye Zardosht, the stone monument, there are four more royal tombs among which, only Darius I’s tomb has cuneiform inscription. Based on the content analysis by researchers, those tombs are known as DNa, DNb, Dnc, DNd, and Dne. A new inscription of this complex was recognized on the tomb surface on October 23, 2018, which can be named DNf according to its recognition order. Beside the inscription’s introduction and its recognition status, this article interprets the relation between the inscription and the related sculptured figure by analyzing and translating all three versions. Also observation on why the inscription was not recognized by previous researchers until the discovery’s official announcement, has been discussed in this article.