Imitatio Dei, Imitatio Darii: Authority, Assimilation and Afterlife of the Epilogue of Bīsotūn (DB 4:36–92)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author is clearly an expert in this field if not the expert. My only suggestion is that he include illustrations and pictures particularly in the sections discussing the visual messaging. It would make the paper much easier to understand. 

Author Response

Comments 1: My only suggestion is that he include illustrations and pictures particularly in the sections discussing the visual messaging. It would make the paper much easier to understand. 

Response 1: I added two illustrations - one of the full center-relief of the Bisotun inscription and another of Darius I's crown with the "eight-pointed stars of Shamash."

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This is an excellent work.

Two observations:

1) It would be good to quote G. Gnoli's “Politica religiosa e concezione della regalità sotto i Sassanidi,” in La Persia nel Medioevo, Roma, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, 1971, pp. 225-53. although it's an old work (in Italian), it still contains some valuable considerations on Achaemenid religious politics.

2) (more important): on p. 4, in talking about the expression aniyāha bagāha tayaiy hantiy, which you identify as yazatas, you should mention, and give references, on different hypotheses expressed in the history of scholarship on the identity of these "other bagas"

Author Response

Comments 1: It would be good to quote G. Gnoli's “Politica religiosa e concezione della regalità sotto i Sassanidi,” in La Persia nel Medioevo, Roma, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, 1971, pp. 225-53. although it's an old work (in Italian), it still contains some valuable considerations on Achaemenid religious politics.

Response 1: I thank the reviewer for this reference with which I was not previously familiar. Most of Gnoli's paper is not relevant to my article but I added his suggestion that the "other gods who are" might be a reference to Mithra and Anahita in footnote 8 of the revised version where I discuss the other options for understanding this expression. 

Comments 2: on p. 4, in talking about the expression aniyāha bagāha tayaiy hantiy, which you identify as yazatas, you should mention, and give references, on different hypotheses expressed in the history of scholarship on the identity of these "other bagas"

Response 2: Thank you—good point. I added footnote 8 which reviews the main hypotheses offered thus far with references—incl. as per above, Gnoli's—but also Kellens' and Skjærvø 2014. In this footnote, I also explain why understanding these "other gods" as yazatas is to be preferred on contextual grounds.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I do not agree with everything, but I found your article interesting. Thank you!

Author Response

Comments 1: I do not agree with everything, but I found your article interesting. Thank you!

Response 1: Thank you. (No response necessary).