Xerxes I and the Greeks Flashcards
Are there many non-Greek sources on Xerxes. How does this reflect his father?
There are few non-Greek sources on Xerxes
This contrasts his father’s many inscriptions
How is Xerxes presented in the non-Greek sources
as continuing his father’s legacy,
as completing his father’s building projects
as creating his own building projects
What building project did Xerxes commission at Persepolis
The Gate of All Lands
Where was the Gate of All Lands
Persepolis
What does the inscription accompanying the Gate of All Lands tell us?
- That Xerxes takes credit for the new gate
- That Xerxes presents himself as following his father
* He says both he and his father built the city of Parsa
* He says it is by the ‘favour of Ahuramazda’ that they built all the good construction seen
Does Xerxes ever mention Ahuramazda
Yes
What does the inscription at Lake Van in eastern Turkey say about Xerxes?
What tradition does it follow?
That Xerxes was appointed by Ahuramazda and that he is an Achaemenid
It follows the same formula as other inscriptions across Persia
How is Xerxes presented in Persians?
As a hot headed ruler who lacks his father’s wisdom and maturity
What does Persians focus on?
When was it published?
Focuses on battle of Salamis and reaction when news is brought to Susa
Published in 472BC
Why is Xerxes shown as a hot head
Popular theme of ‘pride before the fall’
Many Greek myths tell of mortals who are over-confident towards the gods, but end up coming off much worse
Who wrote the play Persians?
Aeschylus, an Athenian
hubris
Greek for pride or arrogance
Usually with relation to the gods
nemesis
Greek for retribution
Was Persians younger than Herodotus’ Histories
No, it was older by a few decades
What does Herodotus focus on with Xerxes
Dangers of great wealth and success, which he believed make the gods jealous and vengeful
What are Aeschylus’ and Herodotus’ sources useful for
telling us the Greek perception of Xerxes, not as a reliable insight to his character
Demaratus
A deposed Spartan king. Defected to the Persians in c. 490 and acted as a trusted adviser to both Darius and Xerxes
Years of Demaratus’ reign
c. 515 to c. 491
was Xerxes Darius’ eldest son?
No
How did Xerxes becom heir to the throne
Herodotus
Darius asked Demaratus for advice on who should be his heir, and he told him to use the Spartan method, whereby the first born after the father became king is heir
What does Herodotus say would have happened if Demaratus had not suggested to make Xerxes the heir
That Atossa would have made sure Xerxes became heir, but there is no evidence in the Persian sources that the wives of the king could wield such power
Persian sources on the accession of Xerxes
An inscription tells us
* He had to prove himself ahead of his brothers
* That Xerxes was the greatest after Darius
* That it was Ahuramazda’s desire that he become king
Hints that there was opposition to win the kingship
Xerxes’ brothers
Three full brothers, probably who he had to prove himself ahead of
Outline some reasoning for the Egyptian rebellion
Had not revolted in 522
Revolted in last year of Darius’ reign
May have seen Darius was close to death and been inspired by Marathon, and resented paying for the fleet that Darius was assembling to attack Greece
Who did Xerxes put in control of Egypt
Achaemenes (his brother)
What does Herodotus say of the Egyptian revolt
Not much, just that Xerxes crushed them and reduced them to worse servitude before moving on to Greece
Who probably led the expedition against Egypt
Xerxes
Where were other revolts
Babylon
Babylonian revolt
484
Meagre sources
Persians succeeded swiflty
probably caused by new legislation
Sources on Xerxes’ invasion on Greece
Herodotus: final third of his histories
Persian: None
Herodotus
A personal motivation for invading Greece
Needs to gain territory to live up to standards of previous kings
Mardonius’ reasons for invading Greece
Revenge against Athens
Some Greeks wanted Persia to invade
Reap the economic benefits
What does Xerxes’ personal motive echo
Formula of royal inscriptions
Who puts forward the arguement not to attack Greece
Artabanus, Xerxes’ uncle
What does Artabanus argue
Darius’ invasions of Scythia and Greece failed
Xerxes should at least not accompany the invasion
This fits a character type of the wise man being ignored, but probably contains seeds of truth