Dr. Roel Konijnendijk

We have some cuneiform evidence now that he had been sent there by his father, probably as a satrap. Again, this is where kings learned their craft, really, was by doing jobs within the satrapies variously around the empire.

We have some cuneiform evidence now that he had been sent there by his father, probably as a satrap. Again, this is where kings learned their craft, really, was by doing jobs within the satrapies variously around the empire.

Yeah, he would have been still quite young at that time. So now he's, you know, into his early 20s, mid 20s, possibly at this point. needing to show himself as a capable king. Because even though, as we said in the last episode, the empire itself was run as a kind of family affair. In fact, there was constant infighting within that family.

Yeah, he would have been still quite young at that time. So now he's, you know, into his early 20s, mid 20s, possibly at this point. needing to show himself as a capable king. Because even though, as we said in the last episode, the empire itself was run as a kind of family affair. In fact, there was constant infighting within that family.

Yeah, he would have been still quite young at that time. So now he's, you know, into his early 20s, mid 20s, possibly at this point. needing to show himself as a capable king. Because even though, as we said in the last episode, the empire itself was run as a kind of family affair. In fact, there was constant infighting within that family.

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.

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.

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,