Some thoughts on Xerxes’s “Daiva” inscription and its interpretation

Abstract: The so-called “daiva inscription” of the Persian king Xerxes I (ca. 486–465 BC) is one of the most intriguing documents of the Achaemenid kings, mainly due to the mention of the word that gives this text its name. The sole mention of this word has led scholars to believe that this text marks an unprecedented turning point in Persian history: the one presenting the Great King as a religious fanatic, strengthening the image handed down to us by Greek historiography—especially the one of Herodotus. Four interpretative models have been postulated to understand this word’s function, three of which have identified the Persian daivas with specific historical agents and events. The last one focuses instead on the nature of the textual content in a broader sense. Further problems arise when dealing with the question of when this text was crafted. This conundrum was mainly understood through the view of Greek historiography, disregarding much of the contradictory evidence that will be presented here.