Behistun

American  

[bey-hi-stoon] / ˌbeɪ hɪˈstun /

noun

1. a ruined town in W Iran: site of a cliff that bears on its face a cuneiform inscription in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian that provided a key for the decipherment of cuneiform in other languages.

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Behistun British  

/ ˌbeɪhɪˈstuːn /

noun

1. a village in W Iran by the ancient road from Ecbatana to Babylon. On a nearby cliff is an inscription by Darius in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian describing his enthronement

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Example Sentences

He carved the stone of Behistun into a staircase—one step at a time—all the while dreaming that he’d reach the peak of the mountain and by then he’d have changed the world.

From Literature

“Sculptors can’t be rivals to kings,” said Khosrou, so he sent Farhad into exile to a mountain called Behistun and told him he couldn’t return until he carved a staircase into the stone cliffside—all the way up the mountain.

From Literature

He had reached the top of Behistun.

From Literature

Karaj is a mountainous city so far away from Behistun—where Farhad carved his love letter to Shirin—that you could fit fifteen Edmond, Oklahomas in between.

From Literature

It is to his favour that Darius, inscribing upon the rock of Behistun the narrative of his nineteen victories, ascribes both his elevation and his triumphs.

From Project Gutenberg