Xerxes as a whole

• Xerxes

  Continuing his father's legacy in inscriptions
• Xerxes constructed a new gate in Persepolis
• Trireme is why the Persians have a good fleet
• Battle of Thermopylae

  • 1/4 of a million Greek men, Greek land and navy superiority for Persia
• Xerxes' big aim was to destroy Athens
• Sparta and Athenians tried to stop Xerxes
• Slaves did work if you are a middle class Spartan, then you train
• Oracles said Greece must fall or Spartan king must die for success
• Xerxes had a throne on a hill to watch the battle
• Artabazanes


  Xerxes' half-brother, oldest son of Darius but his mother was not a daughter of Cyrus, so Xerxes is king
• Harem inscription found in Persepolis palace said Xerxes was put in charge by Ahura Mazda
• Darius chose Xerxes as his successor
• Frieze shows Xerxes had power even when Darius was in charge
• Xerxes became king at 36 years old, crowned in Pasargadae
• Xerxes crushed a revolt in Babylon
• Xerxes dealt with Egypt harshly, made his brother Achaemenes the pharaoh/satrap
• Xerxes continued Darius' buildings in Persepolis
• Xerxes followed Darius' policies - religious, government etc.
• Greek play 'Persians' by Aeschylus talked about Persians, Marathon from Persian point of view, imagined reaction at Susa when news of defeat arrives
• Hubris


  Arrogance or pride
• Nemesis


  Retribution the gods bring to anyone who shows hubris
• Demaratus was a Spartan king who defected to Persians and acted as supervisor to Darius and Xerxes
• Xerxes led expedition to Egypt
• Xerxes reigned 486-465BC
• Sources: Herodotus, Persian Sites and Royal Inscriptions, Aeschylus (Greek playwright)
• Atossa was the mother of Xerxes, wife of Darius, and daughter of Cyrus
• Harem Inscription


  A type of source
• Herodotus doesn't like Xerxes more than Cambyses
• Greeks believe what goes around comes around
• Failure at Salamis and Plataea known as tragic narrative - gods punished him for it
• Bridge of ships destroyed in storm, so Xerxes whipped the sea
• They made a canal that cut through Mount Athos
• Persepolis is a good site for Darius and Xerxes
• Demaratus recommended the Persians use the Spartan system: the heir should be first son born after the king becomes king
• Xerxes became king after Darius' death - smooth transition
• Xerxes' campaign for Greece took 4 years
• Xerxes spent 4 years getting ready for the campaign, so he could be prepared for almost everything
• Xerxes got a gigantic army, bigger than Darius' army when he fought Scythians, because he thought it would be easier to beat the Greeks
• Xerxes spent 3 years on preparation at Mount Athos, including building a canal to help his ships
• Xerxes forced Persians and locals to build the canal, showing his power and the capabilities of the Persian Empire