Archaeological Evidence of Darius I, King of Persia
Darius 1, king of Persia, is mentioned in the Bible books of Ezra and Haggai. There is also external historical and archaeological evidence of his activities, which supports the Bible record.
BIBLE RECORD OF DARIUS I
“Work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem then ceased, and was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius King of Persia”—Ezra 4:24 NJB. “The second year of Darius’s reign was 520 B. C.”—NLT footnote
“In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of Yahweh by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest”—Haggai 1:1 LSB. “A number of dates in Haggai can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and related accurately to our modern calendar. This event occurred on August 29, 520 B.C.”—NLT footnote on Haggai 1:1