Xerxes' hubris

Question 1

What is hubris?

Answer 1

excessive pride towards (or defiance of) the gods, leading to nemesis

‘going too far’ against nature

Question 2

Example of Xerxes showing hubris

Answer 2

plundered the temple and set fire to the acropolis (no respect for other cultures)

continually overconfident and full of himself (e.g. “he sat watching the battle on a hill” -> believes his presence will encourage army to win) “thinking they had fought badly at Euboea because he had not been there”

shows Greek scouts all his ships/army and allows the grain ships to continue ‘for Persia’ (full of himself)

whips the water due to his overweening pride -> Barbarian

bridges the Hellespont

Question 3

Significance of Xerxes whipping the water

Answer 3

Persians = worshipped the elements and through whipping water Xerxes is being impious
-> Greeks valued religion & therefore view Xerxes as barbaric

goes against nature

presents Xerxes as disturbed, unstable, mad(water = inanimate) & Greeks confused as to why Persians would want him leading them

Question 4

Significance of Xerxes bridging the Hellespont

Answer 4

going against nature by using manmade boats to bridge it

gods did not intend for the two continents to be brought together but Xerxes does it anyway to expand empire

brings Persia down by trying to extend beyond his bounds

Question 5

Impact of Xerxes’ hubris

Answer 5

leads Persia to defeat as he is punished by the gods for trying to extend beyond his boundaries

Persian failure can be blamed on Xerxes’ pride and ambition

Xerxes’ pride made him blind to danger

Question 6

Greek view of Xerxes’ hubris

Answer 6

Greeks hated anyone who showed hubris (Greeks viewed themselves as humble etc.)