Greeks vs Persians Flashcards
Organisation
imperatives in Greek speech but not from Persians have no one shouting at them
-> Greeks have everything to loose (land etc.)
“carpeted with wrecks” -> scale of Persian army vs. the Greeks (“300” vs “1000”)
Hear what Greeks feel through speech but only read emotions of Persians at some points (“fear”) active vs passive - diff. management
Greeks = organised “single pulse” vs “manifold clamour” of Persians
-> Greeks better warriors due to size and tactics
Weapons
“masters of bow and bridle” vs “they carry stout shields and light hand-hand combat with spears”
COWARDLY
Greeks = victorious “soldiers who once struck Persian arms a fearful blow” Persians = losers (contrast references to Marathon etc.)
Monarchy vs democracy
Atossa: “and can they master less, resist invasion”
-> Atossa believes in a monarchy not democracy
Persians viewed as barbaric by the democratic Greeks
A draws attention to how Greece & Persia = different in order to criticise it
“they are not called servants to any man” vs “the Great king’s kingly servants”
Women
woman in high position of power (never happens in Greece where role of women = v diff)
Atossa dressed diff. - exotic
Luxury
“soft-skinned Lydians”
-> Greeks putting these words in the mouth of Persians (Greeks think of the Persians as luxurious and soft)
“rich and golden house” vs “frost-bound” “briny” “stones”
Greeks = “silver” Persians = “gold”
(diff. in lifestyle - Greeks believe Persians to be too soft)
“heaven of ample wealth” vs “bulwarks” “courageous hearts”
“splendour and wealth adorned our city”
Madness
Persians take part in necromancy but Greeks believe dead should be left alone
“poor wretch, unburied” - Persians do not mind this but Greeks do
Little vs big
Parados: lots of mentions of Persia by no mentions of Greece (Greeks = little and equal, Persians = big and unequal)
-> also helps to keep focus on Persia and action (no Greeks mentioned by name)
