Xerxes I, an Heir of Assyria? The Daiva Inscription in Context.

The article examines the Daiva Inscription, an ancient text from the reign of Xerxes I, which mentions the destruction of temples belonging to a group called daivas. Scholars have debated the identity of the daivas and Xerxes' policy towards them. Some argue that the daivas were false gods and that Xerxes took drastic measures against religions other than his own, while others suggest that the inscription reflects conflicts among worshippers of Auramazdā. The article explores different interpretations of the inscription and its significance in understanding the religious policies of the Achaemenid Empire. It emphasizes that the inscription should be understood in its intellectual and political context, as a proclamation of Xerxes' royal persona and the ideology of legitimate kingship and empire. [Extracted from the article]