Part 4: Achaemenid Empire: Haxāmaniš Empire

Achaemenid Empire, or Haxāmaniš, in Airyan (Old Parsi), was the second Parsua Empire. The Empire has been referred in the West as the Persian Empire.

Haxāmaniš is from combining two Airyan words, haxā- “friend”, and manah “thinking power”.

In around 480 BCE, the Empire accounted for approximately 49.4 million of the world's 112.4 million people of the world population. It was the first world superpower (Fig. 1). It included a great segment of Eurasia, Central Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent.

Persian Leopard

Figure 1: The Haxāmaniš Empire 500 BCE.

Parsua is located in the southwestern part of the Iranian plateau, corresponding to the modern region of Pars (Fig. 2); Shiraz is the provincial capital of Pars (Fars). One of the Airya tribes inhabiting Parsua was the Haxāmaniš. The tribe lived near Anshan. The town was located at Tepe Malyan about 36 km northwest of modern Shiraz (Fig. 2). The town was one of the early capitals of Elam. A number of Elamite dynasties originated from this town.

Teispes a member of Haxāmaniš tribe freed Anshan from Elam. He became the king of Anshan and a subject of Median Empire.

Figure 2: Iran is subdivided into thirty-one provinces (‎Ostān)

Teispes was born 675 BCE and died 640 BCE. The kingdom of Anshan was divided between his two sons, the northern part of Ariaramnes and the southern part to Kourosh (Cyrus). Cyrus is the Latinized form of the Greek Κῦρος, Kȳros, from Old Persian Kūruš.

Cambyses was the younger son of Cyrus I (600 BC – 559 BC) and also king of Anshan from about 580 to 559 BCE. His wife Mandana was the daughter of Astyages, the Emperor of Media.

Figure 3: kūruš Cyrus, the Haxāmaniš King.

Cyrus II, son of Cambyses I, became the king of Anshan.

Cyrus II (Fig. 3) United Pasargadae, Maraphii, and Maspii tribes into a federation against Astyages. After 3 years of war, Cyrus II defeated Media and dethroned his grandfather and ended the Median Empire (in 550 BCE). Elam became a part of the new Parsua Empire in 548 BCE. Parthia, Hyrcania, and Armenia were also part of his grandfather’s Media Empire, and they became a part of Parsua's Empire. Hyrcania or Verkâna is the present-day regions of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan.

Cyrus II defeated Lydian kingdom and captured Sardis on May 547 BCE. Lydia became a satrapy of Parsua. The capital of Lydia was Sardis.

Cyrus II united the Medes and the Parsua. Cyrus borrowed the traditions of the Medes, consulted with them on the affairs of the Empire (Fig 4). The reliefs at Persepolis frequently depict a Mede together with the Emperor. Haxāmaniš rulers borrowed and adapted Median’s organizations to suit the new empire. Cyrus II undoubtedly had guided the creation of the great empire, culture and Airya civilization (Figs. 5, 6).

Figure 4: Parsua and Mede Costumes and hats

Figure 5: Frieze statues depicting Parsua and Median nobleman in friendly conversation, Persepolis.

Figure 6: Painting of Cyrus the Great in battle at the Palace of Versailles by Claude Audran the Younger

Cyrus Cylinder, Proclamation of the Human Rights

Figure 7: Cyrus Cylinder is the first charter of the right of nations in the world. It is a baked-clay cylinder in Akkadian language with cuneiform script.

The Cyrus Cylinder (Fig. 7) is a declaration in the name of Cyrus the Great; it was written in Akkadian cuneiform^. It was created about 539-538 BCE. It was discovered by Hormuzd Rassam in March 1879 among the ruins of Babylon in Mesopotamia. Presently, the cylinder is in British Museum, London.

The translation of the script indicates that Cyrus II captured Babylon in 539 BCE and freed the Captive Jews. In the Old Testament 2 Chronicles 36:22–23and Ezra 1:1–11, says that Cyrus decreed that any captive Jews in Babylonia could return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Jewish temple. Cyrus returned the vessels of gold and silver stolen by Nebuchadnezzar’s troops.

The translation says:

“From [Babylon] to Aššur and (from) Susa, Agade, Ešnunna, Zamban, Me-Turnu, Der, as far as the region of Gutium, the sacred centers on the other side of the Tigris, whose sanctuaries had been abandoned for a long time, I returned the images of the gods, who had resided there, to their places and I let them dwell in eternal abodes. I gathered all their inhabitants and returned to them their dwellings. In addition, at the command of Marduk, the great lord, I settled in their habitations, in pleasing abodes, the gods of Sumer and Akkad, whom Nabonidus, to the anger of the lord of the gods, had brought into Babylon.”

Professor Richard Frye indicated:

"In short, the figure of Cyrus has survived throughout history as more than a great man who founded an empire. He became the epitome of the great qualities expected of a ruler in antiquity, and he assumed heroic features as a conqueror that was tolerant and magnanimous as well as brave and daring. His personality as seen by the Greeks influenced them and Alexander the Great, and, as the tradition was transmitted by the Romans, may be considered to influence our thinking even now."

The Royal road

The Royal Road was an ancient highway rebuilt by Darius the Great (Darius I). The road allowed rapid travel and communication from Susa to Sardis. Mounted couriers could travel 1677 miles (2699 km) in seven days; the journey from Susa to Sardis took ninety days on foot (Fig. 8). Figure 9 shows one of the bridges on the Royal Road at Amida (modern Diyarbakir in Turkey).

Figure 8: Map of the Royal Roads

Herodotus wrote:

"There is nothing in the world that travels faster than these Parsua couriers. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds".

Figure 9: The ancient bridge at Amida of Royal Road

Parsua Military

The bulk of soldiers in Parsua army represented tribes in each segment of the vast Empire. They spoke many different accents of Airya language. They were sent based on a quota assigned to landowners. They were dressed, equipped, and trained in the local fashion. They were lightly armed foot soldiers, archers, javelin-men, and cavalry.

The Achaemenid infantry consisted of three groups: the Immortals (the Companions), the Sparabara, and the Takabara.

The Immortals:

Herodotus defined the Immortals as being heavy infantry, led by Hydarnes. They were kept constantly at a strength of 10,000 men. They had wicker shields, short spears, swords or large daggers, bow and arrow. Underneath their robes, they wore scale armor coats.

The Sparabara:

The units were usually the first to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy (Fig. 10). They were the backbone of the Parsua army. They formed a shield wall to protect archers from the enemy (Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13).

Figure 10: The Sparabara soldier

Figure 11: Apadana Hall, 5th-century BC carving of Persian archers and Median soldiers in traditional costume (Medians are wearing rounded hats and boots)

Figure 12: Archers’ frieze from Darius' palace at Susa (Louvre Museum).

Figure 13: The Haxāmaniš Archers (glazed brick from Susa, 500 BCE)

Sparabara were representative of Airya society. They were not professional soldiers but trained using martial arts techniques. But, when they were not on a war campaign, they were hunters, farmers, and herders. They carried large rectangular wicker shields as a form of light maneuverable defense.

Takabara:

They were stationed in a fortress or town to defend it; they were not the front line fighters. They used their own native weapons, shield, axes as and leather.

The archers used a superior composite bow; it was adopted from Scythian Tribes (Fig. 14).

Figure 14 shows an archer’s position and equipment.

Figure 14: Haxāmaniš Archer

Figure 15: Haxāmaniš soldier and shield

Most soldiers wore little armor but used body shields (Figs. 16).

The Parsua Cavalry

The cavalry carried javelins and a sword, but not a body shield. They had incorporated mounted archery tactics of the Scythian Tribes. As horse archers, the cavalry were expert fast riders. Their task was to attack and destroy the infantry. They were mobile and had superior firepower. Massed archery used their superior power to break up the enemy formation. Their massed cavalry attack the enemy flanks. The cavalry uniform and shielding had improved by Sasanian period (Fig. 16)

Figure 16: Sassanian Clibanarius and the Standard Bearer from 700 AD

The cavalry played a significant contribution to the success of the Achaemenid army. The cavalry was separated into four groups: The Chariot Archers, Horse cavalry, Camel cavalry, and Elephant Cavalry.

The Chariot archers were armed with Spears, Bows, Arrows, Swords, and scale armor. The horses were also suited with scale armor. The cavalry riders had wicker shields, short spears, swords or large daggers, bow and arrow and scale armor coats.

Imperial Airya Navy

The Parsua Empire had a strong land army. Darius the Great (Darius I) was the first Achaemenid king to establish a naval fleet. The navy personnel was often Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Greeks. The ships were fabricated by the Phoenicians. Parsua naval forces created a strong maritime operation in the Persian Gulf (Fig.17). Their ships monitored Karun (Shatt-al-Arab), Tigris, Nile and Indus River.

The fleet was used for peacekeeping along the Karun (Shatt al-Arab) river. The naval ships allowed secure trades with cities on the Indian coasts, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean.

Figure 17: Replica of a Parsua Navy trireme, a warship with three rows or tiers of oars on each side, one above another.

Pasargadae

Cyrus II built his capital at Pasargadae. Pasargadae (Fig.18) remained the capital of the Haxāmaniš Empire until Cambyses II moved the capital to Susa. Susa is one of the oldest cities in the world. The site was continuously inhabited from 4200 BCE. Elamites called the city Susan or Susun. The city was an important Airya cultural center. It was sacked and destroyed by Muslim armies in 638 CE. The city was rebuilt and prospered until invading Mongols completely destroyed it in 1218 CE.

Figure 18: Pasargadae, the capital of Haxāmaniš Empire

Persepolis

Figure 19: Persepolis

Figure 20: Reconstruction of Persepolis: The royal ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire

Darius I built his new capital at Persepolis (Figs.19, 20) about 30 miles (48 km) to the southwest of Pasargadae. The remains of the tomb of Cyrus' son and successor, Cambyses II, are near the fortress of Toll-e Takht. This Pictures of Persepolis shows grandeur and creativity in creating a masterpiece of architecture.

Susa

The modern Iranian town of Shush is located at the site of ancient Susa. Susa was the capital of Šušanstate. Susan had approximately the same territory as the modern Khuzestan Province. During Pre-Haxāmaniš period, the control of Šušan shifted between Elam, Sumer, and Akkad. Elamite called the town Ŝuŝan or Susana.

The Old Testament in Esther, Nehemiah, and Daniel referred to Susa using the name Shushan. The first traces of inhabited Neolithic villages at Susa discovered by archaeologists were dated to the period of about 7000 BCE. Evidence of a painted-pottery civilization has been dated to about 5000 BCE.

In 647 BCE, the Assyrian king Assurbanipal leveled the city. Ashurbanipal as an "avenger" in retribution for his humiliations by the Elamites destroyed the city (Fig. 21).

Assurbanipal said:

"Susa, the great holy city, the abode of their gods, the seat of their mysteries, I conquered. I entered its palaces, I opened their treasuries where silver and gold, goods and wealth were amassed. . . .I destroyed the ziggurat of Susa. I smashed its shining copper horns. I reduced the temples of Elam to naught; their gods and goddesses I scattered to the winds. The tombs of their ancient and recent kings I devastated, I exposed to the sun, and I carried away their bones toward the land of Ashur. I devastated the provinces of Elam and, on their lands, I sowed salt."

Assyrian rule of Susa began in 647 BCE and lasted till the Median capture of Susa in 617 BCE.

Figure 21: Ashurbanipal's brutal campaign against Susa in 647 BCE is recorded in this relief. Flames rise from the city as Assyrian soldiers topple it with pickaxes and crowbars and carry off the spoils.

Under Cambyses II, son of Cyrus II, Susa became a center of political power as one of 4 capitals of the Haxāmaniš Parsua Empire. Darius the Great rebuilt Susa and Persepolis (Fig. 20)

Darius the Great:

"This palace which I built at Susa, from afar its ornamentation was brought. Downward the earth was dug until I reached the rock in the earth. When the excavation had been made, then rubble was packed down, some 40 cubits in depth, another part 20 cubits in depth. On that rubble, the palace was constructed."

Susa continued as a winter capital and residence for Haxāmaniš kings succeeding Darius the Great, Xerxes I, and their successors.

Figure 22: Alexander of Macedonia sacked Persepolis in 330 BCE. He ordered the opulent city to be burned.

Death of Cyrus

Cyrus the Great died on in December 530 BC. Xenophon's Cyropaedia indicates that Cyrus died peaceably at his capital. His body was interred in his capital city of Pasargadae. Today a limestone tomb built around 540–530 BCE marks the place of his burial. Though the city itself is now in ruins, the burial place of Cyrus the Great (Fig. 23) has remained largely intact; and the tomb has been partially restored to counter its natural deterioration over the centuries. According to Plutarch, his epitaph said:

O man, whoever you are and wherever you come from, for I know you will come, I am Cyrus who won the Persians their empire. Do not, therefore, begrudge me this bit of earth that covers my bones.

Within this edifice (Fig. 23) was a golden coffin, resting on a table with golden supports, inside of which the body of Cyrus the Great was interred. His resting place was covered with tapestry and drapes made from the best available Babylonian materials and using workmanship of Media. Below his bed was a fine red carpet, covering the narrow rectangular area of his tomb. Translated Greek accounts describe the tomb as having been placed in the fertile Pasargadae gardens, surrounded by trees and ornamental shrubs; a group of Haxāmaniš protectors was stationed near the tomb to protect the edifice from theft or damage.

Figure 23: Pasargadae, Tom of Cyrus the Great

Years later, in the ensuing chaos created by the defeat of Darius III, the Cyrus the Great's tomb was broken into and most of its luxuries were looted.

The procedure for interring had followed the Zoroastrian practice. Figures 24 and 25, the tombs of Achaemenid' Emperors

Figure 24: The tombs of five Achaemenid kings is located at Naqsh-e Rustam, located about 12 km northwest of Persepolis

Figure 25: The tombs of 5 Achaemenid' kings

The graves of five Parsua Achaemenid Emperors are located at Naqsh-e Rustam. One of the tomb's inscriptions indicates to be the tomb of Darius I. The other three tombs are believed to be those of Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, and Darius II. The fifth tomb might be that of Artaxerxes III, who reigned only for two years. This tomb also could have been the burial site of the last Achaemenid king, Darius III.

The tombs were looted following the conquest of the Achaemenid Empire by Alexander the Great.

The archaeological discovery of artifacts, especially cemeteries and graves, has been significantly influenced by the Airya religion and the procedures for processing corps for burial. Those who adhered to Zoroastrianism used Tower of Silence (disambiguation) and had not left behind any artifacts from their graves. Scythians used burial mound, the kurgans of the steppe nomads have provided the most valuable archaeological relics of Scythian cultures and tribes.

Herodotus wrote, Athens carried out a terrorist attack on Sardis, a major Persian city, about 498 BC. The Athenians, set fire to the outlying parts of Sardis trapping most of its population and killing a large portion of its population.