Darius the Great: A Usurper?

EXISTENTIALIST MEETUP - Melbourne, Australia.

Our monthly online Meetup presentation on the History of Religion.
The presentations are followed by questions, comments and discussion.
All viewpoints welcome.

Early Religion: An Alternative History
What do the historians and archaeologists think of the veracity of religious legends? Legends are an amalgamation of history and mythology.
But how much of each?

"DARIUS THE GREAT: A USURPER?"

We are all aware of the importance of the Rosetta Stone for the decipherment of Egyptian demotic and hieroglyphics.
But how many of us are aware of the equally important Behistun Inscription of Darius the Great (519 BC)? It was written in triplicate in languages from three separate language-families: Old Persian (Indo-European), Babylonian/Akkadian (Semitic) and Elamite (Elamo-Dravidian). By utilising the Behistun Inscription the scholars were able to begin deciphering the cuneiform of those ancient civilisations.

The Jerusalem Temple was rebuilt by 516 BC by the returning Babylonian Exiles.
Did Darius the Great help fund its reconstruction in order to gain legitimacy because he was a usurper? (Ezra: 5&6).

We will be looking at A History of Zoroastrianism Vol.2 by Mary Boyce,
Emeritus Professor of Iranian Studies, University of London.

David Miller will present the topic and lead the discussion.

Background information for those interested:
World History Encyclopedia: Behistun Inscription

The Zoom link will appear for those who RSVP.
Meeting ID: 872 7087 6688 - - Passcode: 419951

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