PERSIA- XERXES (4) Flashcards
When did Xerxes rule from and to?
486-465 BC
What gate did Xerxes commission?
The Gate of All Lands
What is Xerxes known as having
Hubris
Why did Xerxes become king and not his older brother
Xerxes was apparently chosen by Ahuramazda
Why did the invasion of Greece happen?
Revenge on Athenians, reap the economic benefits, some greeks were urging an invasion of Persia
What did Artabanus tell Xerxes about invading Greece
That he shouldnt accompany the army to save himself the embarrassment- however this is likely not true, as Herodotus probably wouldn’t know about the goings on in Persian courts
How many soldiers does Herodotus say were part of the Invasion of Greece
2.6 million, drawn from 47 nations
How large was the fleet of Persian invaders, according to Herodotus and Aeschylus
1207 ships
What are the modern estimates of the Soldiers and fleet numbers
60000-80000 men, 300-600 ships
How long did Xerxes prepare for the campaign
4 years
How did Xerxes prepare for the campaign
Supply depots through Thrace and Macedonia, Canal through the Athos peninsula, and two bridges built across the Hellespont, imitating the achievement of Darius bridging the Bosporus in 513 BC
Where did the Persian force assemble and when
In Sardis, 481 BC
When did the Persian forces begin their march?
Spring 480 BC
What problem did Xerxes face when crossing the Hellespont?
The bridges he built had been destroyed in a storm, and so Xerxes had it whipped 300 times, branded, and have a pair of chains thrown into it
Who were the Immortals
10,000 men who closely protected the king- called so because as soon as one died, there was another to take his place
What were the greek heavily armoured soldiers called?
Hoplites
What was a phalanx
Closely packed formation of soldiers
what was a trireme
Battle ship used at that time, called so for having three banks of oars on each side
Who was the greek general at Thermopylae
Leonidas
Who told Xerxes of a path around the mountain at Thermopylae
Ephialtes
How did Xerxes portray himself in the royal inscriptions?
Firmly as continuing his father’s legacy, promoting the fact that he had completed his father’s building projects. Following the wishes of Ahuramazda
What was the greek word for ‘retribution’
Nemesis
Who revolted at the start of Xerxes’ reign
Egypt and Babylon
What was the Hellenic League
An alliance made up of 30 or so city states, with Sparta as leaders
How many men fought on the Greek side?
7000, 300 spartans
What happened to Leonidas
He was decaptitated by Xerxes, and his head was driven onto a stake
When was the battle of Salamis
September 480 BC
Why did the Battle of Salamis occur where it did?
The Persians wanted to sack the city of Athens to get revenge on the sacking of Sardis and the battle of Marathon, and did so, leading to a battle near Athens
Who persuaded most of the Athenians to leave Athens?
Themistocles
How many city states provided ships for the Greek navy in the Battle of Salamis?
21
How many ships were there in total on the greek side in the battle of Salamis
380
How many ships did Athens provide in the battle of Salamis
200
Who spoke against fighting at Salamis on the Persian side?
Queen Artemisia, Queen of Halicarnassus
When did the Battle of Eurymedon take place?
late 460s (470-465)
When did Xerxes die?
465 BC
Why were there no more offensives into Greece after Xerxes death?
His son, Artaxerxes, seemed to have accepted the Aegean as the Western limits of the Empire
