Persians

Question 1

Issues with their presentation

Answer 1

Everything we hear about is from the Greek view (what they believe about the Persians) => not entirely accurate
–> Greeks believe the Persians to be soft, luxury loving, overly emotional

Question 2

Overly emotional

Answer 2

“oriental mourning”
-believe their defeat in battle is the end of Persia forever (v dramatic)

“why have we lived so long?”

Question 3

Luxury loving

Answer 3

“soft-skinned Lydians” (A not keen on Lydians - not how Persian men would talk about themselves”

“rich and golden flower” => soft (about youth though)

“royal chariot” “gold-clad” “finest thread” “armament” “left the golden-furnished chamber” - Atossa mocked slightly by A (‘oh no poor you’ - sarcasm)

Atossa continually emphasises clothing “finely dressed”
-> v concerned with Xerxes torn clothes after battle (mocked for love of luxury -> SOFT)

“silken beds”

Question 4

Weapons

Answer 4

cowardly according to Greeks: A continually mentions Persians being “masters of bow and bridle”
bow and arrow = distance -> cowardly

Question 5

Exotic

Answer 5

Persian catalogue of names creates exotic and impressive atmosphere => unusual (idea of Persians as other)

necromancy -> not v Greek (unusual and disturbs dead who deserve deep respect)

Atossa = woman

woman’s role to be the monster
“frenzied groans of women for their dead”
“weeps out her lonely life”

Question 6

Monarchy

Answer 6

monarchy -> love it
-religious respect for Darius (won’t even speak to him)

“reverence forbids us”

prostrate to Atossa “himself the peer of gods” “Great king”

chorus call Xerxes a dragon -> deep respect for monarchy unusual to Greeks -> weird

Xerxes surrounded by ‘yes men’ -> not proper democracy as people too afraid of him (make poor military and tactical decisions

“the king’s dread word is spoken, a million sabres hear” -> no one to say no to him (fault of monarchy)

Question 7

Hubris

Answer 7

“crossed Helle’s channel” with “hempen cords road that floats”
-A mentions Hellespont a lot => perhaps believes Persians go against nature & natural laws of world (over emphasises)

too much pride (X hubris)
“man is mortal and must learn to curb his pride”
-believe they will win

Question 8

Mad

Answer 8

Persians = mad

Darius mentions “folly” “madness” in relation to X during war & Hellespont etc.
-> do too much which is mad (attempting naval battle against Greeks = mad)