This battle forms the centrepiece of book viii of herodotus histories. What are artabanus two main arguments against xerxes plan to invade greece. Xerxes, darius successor, pursues his fathers ambition and assembles a massive invasion force with which he intends to subdue all of europe after conquering the athenians and peloponnesians. Herodotus claims that dieneces made many such sayings, and if this is the case it would make him especially spartan, for the spartans valued the laconic phrase dry wit, expressed in as few words as possible.
The activity itself engages students in attentive reading of key passages from book 7 of herodotus histories 7. Here are presented the results of the enquiry carried out by herodotus of halicarnassus. In book 3, herodotus tells of the arrival of a samian embassy to. Greek researcher, often called the worlds first historian. Mythical origins of conflict between greeks and asiatic peoples. Mordecai, esthers cousin, had foiled a plot against the life of king ahasuerus esther 2. When these had so done, the army proceeded to pass between. Herodotus, a native of halicarnassus now bodrum in western turkey active during the mid5 th century bc, wrote in greek a history of the conflicts between the greek world and the persian empire that came to a head in the invasion by xerxes in 480479 bc. November 19 book 7 all what is the attitude of herodotus towards xerxes and how is this similar or different from other leaders. Histories book 7, the battle of thermopylae summary share. Mar 14, 2019 herodotus the histories, book 7 persians cross into europe 567 once the 7 process of crossing over into europe was over, xerxes looked at his army.
Artemisia advises that he leave mardonius in command, since then xerxes will have nothing to lose even if mardonius fails. What role does herodotus see the gods and fate as playing in xerxes decision to invade greece. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated and edited by a. The dream of xerxes and the nomoi of the persians in book 7 of his history, herodotus describes how xerxes makes up his mind to attack greece after he succeeds darius as king of persia. For there was enslaved, as also previously has been clear by me, the whole land up to thessaly and. Xerxes consults artemisia about mardonius offer 101. By 480 bc, xerxes had amassed a massive army and navy and set out to conquer all of greece. When the bridge is destroyed by a storm, xerxes orders the straits waters to be whipped 300 times, and the men responsible for. King xerxes lay encamped in trachis in malis and the hellenes in the pass. But mardonius son of gobryas, xerxes cousin and the son of darius sister, was. It can be assigned as homework or as a classroom exercise in which students.
At the beginning of the histories, herodotus sets out his reasons for writing it. Having been overpersuaded to send an expedition against hellas, xerxes first marched against the rebels, in the year after darius death. The seventh book of the histories, called polymnia 1. Herodotus is called the father of history, since rather than write history as an epic, he approached his work as a research project. The battle of thermopylae was fought between an alliance of greek citystates, led by king. Herodotus and the persian wars the organization of herodotus histories is discursive main thrust. In book 7, herodotus examines xerxes hubris and how this trait leads the persian empire into destruction because xerxes tried to extend beyond his bounds. In its first logos, we witness the naval engagement on the sea between aphetae and artemisium. Herodotus believes xerxes did this simply to show his power. Nov 24, 2016 herodotus once again draws the readers attention back to solons words in book one.
Thoughts on book seven of the histories of herodotus. Reginald walter macan, herodotus, the seventh, eighth. At first, xerxes is not eager for the expedition, but he is urged on by his cousin mardonius, and by the aleuadae of thessaly and the pisistratids from. The young king inherited a solid empire, which was greater than. Darius i, the great, darayavahush, 522486 bce in books 3, 4, 5 and 6. The asiatic great king xerxes, who followed in the footsteps of cyrus and darius an. According to herodotus, the spartans claim that they should not fear xerxes since the greater the man, the greater his fall will be when his luck runs out. In book 3, herodotus tells of the arrival of a samian embassy to sparta. The battle of salamis was the first great and unexpected victory of the greeks over the persian forces under xerxes, whose defeat had important consequences for the subsequent history and selfimage of europe. His complex account is a rich source not only for the events of the persian wars, but also for greek cultural values, particularly greek. Midway between sestos and madytus in the hellespontine chersonese, and right over against abydos, there is a rocky tongue of land which runs out for some distance into the sea. Having been overpersuaded to send an expedition against hellas, xerxes first. Xerxes has not manifested any intention of asking about the number. Herodotus adequately foreshadows what is going to occur in the future through artabanus speech.
Herodotus notes that while xerxes ostensibly meant to punish athens, his real intent was to conquer all of greece. Herodotus covers the empires geography, social structure, and history before describing the events which led to xerxes invasion of greece and the greek citystates uniting to defeat his army. So xerxes was beset by onomacritus with his oracles, and by the pisistratidae and aleuadae with their counsels. Xerxes i khshayarsha, 486466 bce in books 7, 8, and 9. What occurred from this affair, i believe, along with the riggers of war, helped to turn xerxes mind back to vashti. These kings are the same exact kings which daniel the prophet speaks of in daniel 11. Herodotus excerpts from book vii of the histories translated.
He is identified as the ahasuerus of persia in the biblical book of esther although his. The planned invasion of greece is postponed while dareios prepares to down a rebellion in egypt. Xerxes then from doriscus was making his way to greece and those who were coming to be on each and every occasion at his feet he was compelling to join in advancing with the army. Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary course hero. Herodotus histories book viii classical literature. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and. Demaratus, the exking of sparta, supports the claim of xerxes.
He explains his theory that it is the athenians who ensured the freedom of greece by taking the course of action he is about to describe. The internet classics archive the history of herodotus. After xerxes comes home we know of one major event in his life from the writings of herodotus, the greek historian, his affair with his daughterinlaw. My lydian friend, gave him 7000 gold darics, making his fortune 4 million what xerxes called pythius originally after offering to pay for the war, and how much money xerxes gave him they built a pontoon bridge on the hellespont, but it was swept away by a storm xerxes next order for the army. Herodotus and the persian wars utah state university. The narrative that herodotus offers in the histories relates how and why persia and. The quarrel over succession by two of darius sons, artabazanes and xerxes 2. Xerxes then following demaratus advice, darius judged his plea to be just and declared him king. His goal no longer is the punishment of athens, but the subjugation of europe.
Here begins book vii called polymnia of herodotus histories, being the continuation of the narative from book vi. Now xerxes was at first by no means eager to march against hellas. Herodotus the histories, book 7 persians cross into. Except for his long description of egypt in book 2, and his other forays into the past, herodotus gave the history of persia covering the reign of five kings. Xerxes at the hellespont mid 5th century bce november 10, 2016 elizabeth. Xerxes, after this, made preparations to advance to abydos, where the bridge across the hellespont from asia to europe was lately finished. Quote from mardonius on xerxes hesitance to fight greece. In book 7, herodotus describes darius organization of a new military campaign against mainland greece after the persian defeat at marathon. Histories book 7 the battle of thermopylae summary.
We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Thoughts on book seven of the histories of herodotus first. Immortality of the soul through a 3000 yr cycle 185. These being not of the same mother were at strife with one another, artobazanes contending that he was the eldest of all the sons, and that it was a custom maintained by all men that the eldest should have the rule, and xerxes arguing that he was the son of atossa the daughter of cyrus. Book 7 xerxes decision and preparation to invade greece the anger of darius king of persia, 521486 b. In fact, herodotus account of the battle, in book vii of his histories, is such an important source that paul. But herodotus total of 3000 there is only partly composed of fiftyoared ships. Artabanus wants nothing more than for xerxes to heed his words, but this does not come to pass as is evidenced by xerxes reply, you are a coward and spiritless 7.
Herodotus the persian wars godleybook vii wikisource, the. Xerxes succeeds dareios as king of persia chapters 14 dareios king of persia, hearing the victory of the athenians at marathon and of their attack on sardis, assembles a huge force to attack greece both by land and sea, 490 b. Does he portray xerxes as a simple despot, or is there more to him. Herodotus s history is an account of the grecopersian wars 499479 bce and the story of the growth and organization of the persian empire. Now when the report came to dareios the son of hystaspes of the battle which was fought at marathon, the king, who even before this had been greatly exasperated with the athenians on account of the attack made upon sardis, then far more than before displayed indignation, and was far more desirous of making a march. Herodotus, the histories, book 7, chapter 165, section 1. Why did the persian empire invade greece in 480 bce.
Xerxes according to herodotus encyclopaedia iranica. Mar 07, 2016 herodotus was a greek historian who was born in halicarnassus, caria modernday bodrum, turkey and lived in the fifth century bc c. Xerxes in herodotus histories 199 who are yet to come 7. While xerxes mentions the ionian revolt and the defeat of datis and artaphrenes as unjust deeds which await requital, mardonius adduces. And the generals of those and the whole foot army together were mardonius, gobryes son, tritantaechmes, artabanus son, who had put forth for himself as an opinion that they should not advance with an army against greece, and smerdomenes, otanes sonthose both as children of darius brothers and as cousins to xerxes were bornmasistes, darius and atossas child. Xerxes and his land army journeyed through thessaly and achaea, and it was three days since he had entered malis. But to my thinking xerxes would have been made king even without this advice. If achashverosh is xerxes, is esther his wife amestris.
The greek struggle for freedom simon fraser university. Even as herodotus sometimes offers more than one version of events, his own perspectives and views are clearly the ones that guide his narrative. This place is called thermopylae by most of the hellenes, but by the natives and their neighbors pylae. To get his army into greece, xerxes uses a bridge constructed over the hellespont. In the histories, he describes the expansion of the achaemenid empire under its kings cyrus the great, cambyses, and darius i the great, culminating in xerxes expedition to greece 480 bce, which met with disaster in the naval engagement at salamis and the battles at plataea and mycale. Herodotus claims to have traveled extensively around the ancient world, conducting interviews and collecting stories for his book, almost all of which covers territories of the persian empire. According to herodotus, the size of xerxes expeditionary force was over two million. Herodotus the persian wars godleybook vii wikisource.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. To read the history herodotus only book is to seek ones roots as a member of western democratic civilization. Now when the report came to dareios the son of hystaspes of the battle which was fought at marathon, the king, who even before this had been greatly exasperated with the athenians on account of the attack made upon sardis, then far more than before displayed indignation, and was far more desirous of making a march against hellas. When the great king reaches the hellespont a few weeks later, he sacrifices to the god, leaving herodotus confused about his intentions. The persian king xerxes with his mighty army bridges the hellespont and invades greece, killing the spartans arrayed against him at thermopylae. Jove, youve taken on the form of a persian named xerxes to lead the entire human race to destroy greece. Xerxes was to occupy cythera with 3,000 boats and tie up the spartan forces there 7. The story of xerxes eunuch hermotimus, and the horrible revenge he got on the man who castrated him 1046. In persia a mans wives sleep with him in their turns iii. The asiatic great king xerxes, who followed in the footsteps of cyrus and darius and. Thus saying he did not convince xerxes, who let four days go by, expecting always that they would take to flight. Once again the words of solon about chance, success and leadership come back to haunt xerxes. The sole ancient narrative we possess of the persian decisionmaking process, herodotus 7.
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