Mount Behistun
Mountain Mountain in Kermanshah with ancient Behistun inscription
At Behistun in Kermanshah province, the cliff bears the Behistun Inscription and reliefs of Darius the Great. Visitors study the multilingual carvings, archaeological context and the site’s role in deciphering cuneiform.
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Mount Behistun (also Bisotun) is a limestone cliff site in Kermanshah province, Iran, famous for a large rock relief and trilingual cuneiform inscription commissioned by King Darius I in the early 5th century BCE. The inscription records events of Darius’s reign and is carved in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian.
The site includes a prominent relief of the king with attendants and captured enemies and multiple inscription panels incised into the cliff face. These texts provided the key to deciphering cuneiform scripts in the 19th century and remain a primary source for Achaemenid history.
The Behistun complex lies near the modern town of Bisotun, along the slopes of the Zagros mountains, and is accessible from the regional city of Kermanshah.
- Historical importance: The inscription and relief date to the reign of Darius I in the early 5th century BCE and were crucial to the 19th-century decipherment of cuneiform scripts.
- UNESCO status: Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding archaeological and epigraphic value.
What to See #
- Royal rock relief: A large carved rock relief showing King Darius I standing with attendants and defeated figures, positioned above the associated inscription panels on the cliff face.
- Inscription panels: The multilingual cuneiform inscription carved into the limestone records Darius I's account of events and is presented in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian languages across several panels.
How to Get to Mount Behistun #
Behistun is about 30 km north of the city of Kermanshah along the road toward Harsin; the site sits beside the main highway and is visible from the road. The nearest city with regular rail and air links is Kermanshah.
Tips for Visiting Mount Behistun #
- Hire a licensed guide for the Behistun cliffs - the inscription sits on a steep limestone escarpment and some replicas require ropes to examine closely.
- Avoid mid‑day in summer; heat combined with the limestone exposure makes the site tiring - aim for morning or late afternoon.
- Bring binoculars and a camera with a long lens; the original cuneiform panel sits above the road and is easier to study from below than on the cliff itself.
Best Time to Visit Mount Behistun #
Best visited in spring or autumn to avoid high summer heat and winter winds; permissions and local conditions should be checked in advance.
Weather & Climate near Mount Behistun #
Mount Behistun's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental (Dry Summer) - Hot-Summer Continental (Dry Summer) climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -7°C to 31°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 3°C and lows of -7°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of 4°C and lows of -6°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -3°C. The wettest month with 90 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 10°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 15°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is mild with highs of 31°C and lows of 14°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 26°C and lows of 9°C. The driest month with just 1 mm and clear sunny skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 4°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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