The Pronunciation of Ancient Persian Names: Xerxes, Darius, and Cyrus

The names of ancient Persian kings, such as Xerxes, Darius, and Cyrus, have often been simplified or transliterated when recorded by Greek historians. These names, as they appear in ancient texts, differ significantly from their original pronunciation and modern Persian pronunciations. To understand how these names sounded in their original context, it is essential to examine the phonetics and linguistic context of Old Persian.

Phonetic System of Old Persian

The phonetic system of Old Persian, which was spoken by the Achaemenid Empire from the 6th to the 4th century BCE, differs significantly from modern Persian Farsi and other languages. Understanding the phonetic components of these names can provide valuable insights into how they would have been pronounced in their original context.

Pronunciation of Xerxes

The name Xerxes is derived from the Old Persian 'Khashayarsha'. According to scholarly research, the ancient Persian pronunciation of this name would be Khash-ayar-sha.

Pronunciation of Darius

The name Darius originates from the Old Persian 'Dārayavahush'. Its pronunciation in ancient Persian would be approximately Dah-rah-yah-vah-ush.

Pronunciation of Cyrus

The name Cyrus is derived from the Old Persian 'Kūrush'. It is believed that this name would have been pronounced as Koo-roosh in ancient Persian.

Greek Transliteration and Pronunciation

When Greek historians recorded these names, they often approximated the phonetic sounds they heard. In doing so, they simplified or guessed the pronunciation, which can lead to significant differences from the original sounds. For instance, Greek often used the letter 'X' to represent sounds similar to 'kh', based on how they perceived the name Xerxes. This approximation can be seen in the name Darius and Cyrus as well.

Transliteration of Names According to Greek Approximations

Below are the transliterations of each name as approximated by the Greeks, alongside their original Old Persian forms and their modern Persian pronunciations:

Xerxes: Old Persian: Xayārā (Modern Persian: Awar) - Greek: Xerxes Darius: Old Persian: Dārayavahu (Modern Persian: Dāriu) - Greek: Darius Cyrus: Old Persian: Kuru (Modern Persian: Kuro) - Greek: Cyrus

These approximations highlight the complexity of translating ancient sounds into a different alphabet and linguistic system.

Understanding the Evolution of Pronunciation

It is worth noting that the phonetic system of Old Persian has changed over time, leading to different pronunciations in contemporary Persian. For example, the name Cyrus is still pronounced 'Kourosh' in modern Persian, reflecting the evolution of the language.

The names Xerxes, Darius, and Cyrus remain significant in history and culture, but their original pronunciation is often lost to us. By understanding the phonetic nuances of Old Persian, we can better appreciate the true sounds of these ancient kings and leaders.

Conclusion

While the names Xerxes, Darius, and Cyrus have been translated and transliterated over time, their original pronunciations in Old Persian are of great historical interest. By examining the phonetic systems of the past and the linguistic approximations made by ancient scribes, we can gain a deeper understanding of how these names sounded in their original context. This knowledge not only enriches our historical understanding but also provides valuable insights into the linguistic evolution of the Persian language.