---
title: Xerxes' Inscription, Van
author: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8272/xerxes-inscription-van/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Xerxes' Inscription, Van

_Authored by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen_

## Image File

[![Xerxes' Inscription, Van](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8272.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8272.jpg)

## Image Caption

The [cuneiform](https://www.worldhistory.org/cuneiform/) inscription of [Xerxes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Xerxes_I/) (486-465 BCE) on the rock cliffs of Van, a [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) on the shores of Lake Van, eastern [Turkey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/). Written in the three official languages of the [Achaemenid Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Achaemenid_Empire/): Old Persian, [Elamite](https://www.worldhistory.org/elam/) and Babylonian, it proclaims the right to rule of the Persian king over his [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/).

## Cite This Work

### APA
Tørrissen, B. C. (2018, March 08). Xerxes' Inscription, Van. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8272/xerxes-inscription-van/>
### Chicago
Tørrissen, Bjørn Christian. "Xerxes' Inscription, Van." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 08, 2018. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8272/xerxes-inscription-van/>.
### MLA
Tørrissen, Bjørn Christian. "Xerxes' Inscription, Van." *World History Encyclopedia*, 08 Mar 2018, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8272/xerxes-inscription-van/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xerxes_Cuneiform_Van.JPG) by [**Bjørn Christian Tørrissen**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xerxes_Cuneiform_Van.JPG). Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 08 March 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon a work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.