HAJIABAD ii. THE TEXTS

 

HAJIABAD

ii. THE TEXTS

“This (is) the bowshot of me, the Mazda-worshipping god Shapur, king of kings of Eran and Non-Eran, whose descent (is) from the gods, son of the Mazda-worshipping god Ardashir, king of kings of Eran, whose descent (is) from the gods, grandson of the god Papak, king. And when we shot this arrow, then we shot it before the kings and princes and magnates and nobles. And we put (our) foot in this cleft [on this rock] and we cast the arrow beyond that cairn. But that place [there] where the arrow was cast [fell], there the place was not such [was not that kind of place] that, if a cairn had been erected, it would have been visible outside. Then we commanded that the cairn be erected more in this direction. [Now] whoever may be strong of arm, let them put (their) foot in this cleft [on this rock] and let them shoot an arrow to(wards) that cairn. Then whoever casts [sends] an arrow (as far as) to that cairn, they are [indeed] strong of arm.”

ii. Tang-e Borāq. This version differs from that of Ḥājiābād only at the end, ll. 13-15:

"(And we) cast the arrow from this cairn [stone] to that cairn. [Now] whoever may be strong of arm, let them shoot an arrow from this cairn [stone]. Then whoever casts [sends] an arrow to that cairn, they are [indeed] strong of arm.” Tr. by D. N. Mackenzie, “Shapur’s Shooting,” BSO(A)S 41/3, 1978, 499-507.

(EIr)

Originally Published: December 15, 2002

Last Updated: March 1, 2012

This article is available in print.
Vol. XI, Fasc. 5, p. 555