On the Rocks: The Unfinished Story of the Babylonian Version of the Bīsotūn (Behistun) Inscription (Db Bab.)

A critical re-examination of the Babylonian (Akkadian) version of the Bīsotūn (Behistun) Inscription reveals that the surviving text is approximately two-thirds longer than previously recorded, challenging the reliability of the standard edition. The study, led by Hackl, scrutinizes new readings from Von Voigtlander's work, supported by correspondence with George G. Cameron and Matthew W. Stolper, which significantly expand our understanding of this ancient inscription. This research sheds light on the inscription's editorial history and its implications for interpreting Babylonian historical records.

Hackl, J. (2025). ON THE ROCKS: THE UNFINISHED STORY OF THE BABYLONIAN VERSION OF THE BĪSOTŪN (BEHISTUN) INSCRIPTION (DB BAB.). Iraq, 87, 143–162. https://doi.org/10.1017/irq.2025.10033