Dr. Roel Konijnendijk

And there were a myriad of brothers and half-brothers around Xerxes who were more than happy to take on the mantle of kingship and sit on the throne as well. So it was very important for Xerxes to get himself a family and get himself some victories.

At one point in one inscription, which we found at Persepolis, he actually states, my father had other sons older than I, but I was the greatest. Mathishta is the word he uses. So yeah, you're like my father, see what I'm going to do.

At one point in one inscription, which we found at Persepolis, he actually states, my father had other sons older than I, but I was the greatest. Mathishta is the word he uses. So yeah, you're like my father, see what I'm going to do.

At one point in one inscription, which we found at Persepolis, he actually states, my father had other sons older than I, but I was the greatest. Mathishta is the word he uses. So yeah, you're like my father, see what I'm going to do.

I think it's also important to add to this that while our literary sources might not be as forthcoming as we'd like, we can turn to archaeology for a bit more evidence of the continued presence of Persia, at least in the Greek mind. Because from late in the reign of Darius, we found within Athens, hordes of Persian coinage, for instance. both gold, derricks, and silver sigloy.

I think it's also important to add to this that while our literary sources might not be as forthcoming as we'd like, we can turn to archaeology for a bit more evidence of the continued presence of Persia, at least in the Greek mind. Because from late in the reign of Darius, we found within Athens, hordes of Persian coinage, for instance. both gold, derricks, and silver sigloy.

I think it's also important to add to this that while our literary sources might not be as forthcoming as we'd like, we can turn to archaeology for a bit more evidence of the continued presence of Persia, at least in the Greek mind. Because from late in the reign of Darius, we found within Athens, hordes of Persian coinage, for instance. both gold, derricks, and silver sigloy.

The Persians, of course, had minted coins in Asia Minor and parts of the Levant. And these were kind of being hoarded by wealthy Athenians for a rainy day, essentially. And they carried on them, of course, a very important image, and that is the kind of preordained Persian image of the great king as a warrior.

The Persians, of course, had minted coins in Asia Minor and parts of the Levant. And these were kind of being hoarded by wealthy Athenians for a rainy day, essentially. And they carried on them, of course, a very important image, and that is the kind of preordained Persian image of the great king as a warrior.

The Persians, of course, had minted coins in Asia Minor and parts of the Levant. And these were kind of being hoarded by wealthy Athenians for a rainy day, essentially. And they carried on them, of course, a very important image, and that is the kind of preordained Persian image of the great king as a warrior.

And he often shows himself, you know, armed with his spear and bows and arrows, or even on horseback as well. There's that that goes on. We know that they're aware of the Persian king's image, but also we find in this period, and this really is thanks to the work of Meg Miller in Australia, she showed how from late in the reign of Darius into the reign of Xerxes,

And he often shows himself, you know, armed with his spear and bows and arrows, or even on horseback as well. There's that that goes on. We know that they're aware of the Persian king's image, but also we find in this period, and this really is thanks to the work of Meg Miller in Australia, she showed how from late in the reign of Darius into the reign of Xerxes,

And he often shows himself, you know, armed with his spear and bows and arrows, or even on horseback as well. There's that that goes on. We know that they're aware of the Persian king's image, but also we find in this period, and this really is thanks to the work of Meg Miller in Australia, she showed how from late in the reign of Darius into the reign of Xerxes,

we get Persianisms entering into Athenian culture. So we should think of these as kind of like the chinoiserie that entered into Europe in the 17th and 18th century. So elite Athenians were collecting Persian goods. So we find very, very stylish Persian-formed tableware, for instance, drinking cups, bowls, jugs.

we get Persianisms entering into Athenian culture. So we should think of these as kind of like the chinoiserie that entered into Europe in the 17th and 18th century. So elite Athenians were collecting Persian goods. So we find very, very stylish Persian-formed tableware, for instance, drinking cups, bowls, jugs.

we get Persianisms entering into Athenian culture. So we should think of these as kind of like the chinoiserie that entered into Europe in the 17th and 18th century. So elite Athenians were collecting Persian goods. So we find very, very stylish Persian-formed tableware, for instance, drinking cups, bowls, jugs.

But also from this same period, we start to see Athenian potters emulating those precious silver metal tableware in clay as well. So there's a vogue for Persian things. So, you know, we should never think of the world in bipartisan terms as at war or at peace. there's always elements of the both swirling around, you know.

But also from this same period, we start to see Athenian potters emulating those precious silver metal tableware in clay as well. So there's a vogue for Persian things. So, you know, we should never think of the world in bipartisan terms as at war or at peace. there's always elements of the both swirling around, you know.

But also from this same period, we start to see Athenian potters emulating those precious silver metal tableware in clay as well. So there's a vogue for Persian things. So, you know, we should never think of the world in bipartisan terms as at war or at peace. there's always elements of the both swirling around, you know.

And now Greece is very much within the orbit of the huge cultural sphere that is Persia. And to show that you were anybody in Athens, you wanted Persian things too. So that trade that Raoul talks about is certainly very apparent in the wealthy houses of Athens and permeating now down into lower echelons of Athenian society as well.