I am inclining towards ψυχομαντεῖον as the meaning behind Ἐκβάτανα and 𐤀𐤇𐤌𐤕𐤀 ( ̓Αχαιμενίδες?) since it appears Josephus is using Ἐκβάτανα to really mean Περσέπολις and it near there the Persian Kings are entombed.Ἐκβάτανα is Persian, not Greek, and the various transliterations are attempts at representing the Persian. No need to bring in ἐκβαίνω/ἀποβαίνω at all.
Josephus 10.264
θάπτουσι δ᾽ ἐν τῇ βάρει τούς τε Μήδων βασιλέας καὶ Περσῶν
"And they bury in this mound the kings of Media and Persia"
Then βάρει is the Naqsh-e Rostam?
In Herodotus 3.62 there is another Ἐκβάτανα in Συρία and its whereabouts is not known.
Hdt 3.62
The herald appointed to go to Egypt, finding Cambyses and his army at Ecbatana in Syria
Notes (W. W. How, J. Wells)
No Ecbatana is known in Syria, and the attempts to explain the name (see Rawlinson ad loc.) are unconvincing. The religious coincidence is more than suspicious.
Statistics: Posted by Saboi — Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:48 pm