Character

• Became king in 486 BC
• Battles against Greece: Marathon, Artemisium, Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea, Mycale
• Xerxes had anger issues - reaction to the storm - irrational nature of behaviour when he hears of the destruction of the bridge
• arrogance demonstrated by the whipping/branding of the Hellespont (Herodotus implies is sacrilegious act and deserving of particular condemnation)
• gives order to troops to refer to the sea as the servant of Xerxes, and for him to be referred to as ‘your master’ demonstrating nature of his autocratic leadership
• regards himself as unstoppable and superior, and so shows his hubris in the way in which his troops rebuke the Hellespont and reject making sacrifices to it
• vengeful and merciless side of Xerxes’ leadership is shown by execution of the builders - undertaken despite Xerxes blaming the Hellespont for the storm and destruction of the bridge