ancient history sources

persia:

cyrus:

• herodotus, histories, 1.25-59; 69-216 ToposText
• xenophanes, fragment dk21 b22
• cyrus cylinder (CB)
• nabonidus chronicle
• old testament: isiah 45, ezra 6, 2 chronicles 36
• the archaeological site of pasagardae

cambyses ii, smerdis, darius rising:

• herototus, histories, 2.1; 3.1-38; 3.61-88; 5.25 ToposText
• bisitun inscription (DB) 10-15; 68-69 
• the account of udjahorresne
• epitaph to the apis bull, november 524

darius reigns:

• herodotus, histories, 3.89-160; 4.1-4; 4.46-98; 4.120-144; 5.1-39; 5.97-126; 6.1-49; 6.94-7.3 ToposText
• achaemenid royal inscriptions of darius, including the bisitun inscription
• datiya fortification tablet (PF 1809Q)
• the archaeological site of susa
• the archaeological site of persepolis, in particular the apadana staircase

xerxes i

• herodotus, histories, 7.2-9.121 ToposText
• thucydides, …