Darius the Great was one of the kings of the Achaemenid dynasty who came to the throne in 522 BCE. He is considered one of the greatest monarchs in Persian history. To manage the vast Achaemenid Empire and collect taxes, Darius established a well-organized and efficient administrative system that was unprecedented at the time. The construction of major roads, a swift courier system, minting of a gold coin known as the Daric, and the building of grand palaces in Persepolis, Susa, and Ecbatana are among the remarkable achievements of this statesman king (See: Sami, 2013 [1392 AHS], vol. 2, p. 264)
“May Ahuramazda (The Great God) protect this people from the army of the enemy, from famine, and from the lie (disorder and evil). Let the army of the enemy, famine, and the lie not prevail over this people...”
(DPd,3 – Lecoq, 2010 [1389 AHS], p. 272)
“My law causes them [= the rebels] to be so fearful that the strong no longer strikes the weak... nor mistreats him.”
(DSe,4 – Lecoq, 2010 [1389 AHS], p. 279)
“It is not my desire that the weak should suffer injustice at the hands of the strong... It is not my desire that the strong should suffer injustice for the sake of the weak.”
(DNb,2 – Lecoq, 2010 [1389 AHS], p. 265)
“O young man... even listen to what your enemy says [so that you may distinguish the truth]…”
