Persepolis written sources

Question 1

Persepolis inscriptions

Answer 1

1. Trilingual inscription on Gate of All Nations columns: Xerxes built the Gate with the grace of Ahuramazda
2. Grand Staircase inscription: Xerxes built the staircase with the blessing of Ahuramazda → use of religion as a tool to affirm political power
3. Trilingual inscriptions in the Tachara (Palace of Darius): Darius built the palace
4. Trilingual inscriptions in the Hadish (Palace of Xerxes): Xerxes built it
5. “Harem inscription”: Xerxes ascended to the throne despite having rival princes because Ahuramazda willed it
6. Behistun trilingual inscription: story of how Darius was chosen by Ahuramazda to dethrone the usurper Gaumata and defeat foreign enemies, becoming king

Question 2

Diodorus of Siculus - Bibliotheca Historica

Answer 2

• Thais, a courtesan, declared that “women’s hands [should] extinguish the famed accomplishments of the Persians”
• Thais led Alexander’s drunken army to destroy Xerxes’ palace with flaming torches
• Her motivation was to take vengeance for the destruction of Greek temples
• Blame for destruction of Persepolis placed solely on Thais; Alexander innocent

Date: 36-30 BC

Diodorus was a Greek historian

Question 3

Plutarch - Life of Alexander

Answer 3

• Thais incited the buring of Persepolis by arguing that the “greater pleasure [would be] to set fire to the house of the Xerxes who burned Athens” (vengeance)
• Alexander’s companions were enthused by this speech and urged him to burn the city
• Notes that some writers argue the burning was premeditated instead of spontaneous, and there was a consensus that Alexander “speedily repented” the burning and ordered the fire to be put out
• Alexander’s motive was spontaneous to please his companions with this act of revenge. However, he soon regretted this and ordered the burning and plunder to stop

Date: 100 CE

Plutarch was a Greek historian

Question 4

Arrian of Nicomedia - The Anabasis of Alexander

Answer 4

• Burning of Persepolis was an act of vengeance to gain retribution for the Persians razing Athens in their invasion of Greece a century ago
• Alexander’s general Parmenio suggested not destroying Persepolis as it was Alexander’s own property
• Alexander’s motive was to avenge Greece by burning the symbol of Persian culture and power, Persepolis

Date: 100 CE

Greek historian and philosopher
Bias: known to be a great admirer of Alexander the Great

Question 5

Reliability of Greek sources

Answer 5

Questionable because
- All 3 written centuries after Alexander the Great burned Persepolis
- Greek people were known to antagonise Persians because they were invaded by the Persians, and the Persians’ luxury and wealth made them seem effeminate to the Greeks and thus repulsive

Question 6

Treasury tablets

Answer 6

Revealed the origins of workers who worked on the construction of Persepolis and the amounts they were paid → shows geographic extent of empire