Fragment of a Stele attributed to Darius I found in Southern Russia

[Imperial Dave]

http://tass.ru/en/science/892592

interesting find. Almost a interesting as how/why it made its way from Miletus to Southern Russia

[Patrick Waterson]

Indeed, Dave.

The article conjectures that the stele fragment made its way as part of a ship's ballast, possibly following the Peace of Callias c.450 BC when the Persians withdrew from the Mediterranean littoral and the Ionian Greeks were free to dismantle anything Persian without repercussions.

The alternative - not mentioned in the article - would be that the stele makes reference to Darius' campaign in Scythia and the loyalty of Histaeus the Milesian, who, by refusing to destroy the bridge the Persians were relying upon to return, saved Darius and his army (Herodotus IV.137-142).  As only an estimated 15% of the inscription is present on the fragment and little of this has been translated, we shall have to wait and see whether the content points in this direction.  If so, the stele may have been erected on the borders of Scythia and subsequently have been carried off following the defeat of Xerxes' invasion of Greece, in which case more fragments may emerge in and around Phanagoria.

[Swampster]

The article does say that the stone from which it was carved isn't local to Phanagoria. It doesn't say whether it is more in common with that found/used in Miletus though.

[valentinianvictor]

Having objects carved from stone from location that is not local to where the stone was erected was not that uncommon, it may have been the case that the stone was carved in one place and then transported and placed where it was going to be erected.