Dr. Roel Konijnendijk

Yeah. So we have a lot of I mean, actually, all from Greek sources, these ideas that, you know, the king demands earth and water. And I do believe that if if that was the case, and this is probably symbolically given to a king by a diplomat, you know, we have all these scenes of diplomatic tribute being brought to a king.

Yeah. So we have a lot of I mean, actually, all from Greek sources, these ideas that, you know, the king demands earth and water. And I do believe that if if that was the case, and this is probably symbolically given to a king by a diplomat, you know, we have all these scenes of diplomatic tribute being brought to a king.

Yeah. So we have a lot of I mean, actually, all from Greek sources, these ideas that, you know, the king demands earth and water. And I do believe that if if that was the case, and this is probably symbolically given to a king by a diplomat, you know, we have all these scenes of diplomatic tribute being brought to a king.

And I wouldn't be surprised that at an initial point when a diplomat first arrives, then as his kind of diplomatic calling card, he possibly would have brought a bowl of earth and a dish of local water. It is an important part of the ideology of it. We get spins on that as well. I think this story is in Herodotus. I might be wrong.

And I wouldn't be surprised that at an initial point when a diplomat first arrives, then as his kind of diplomatic calling card, he possibly would have brought a bowl of earth and a dish of local water. It is an important part of the ideology of it. We get spins on that as well. I think this story is in Herodotus. I might be wrong.

And I wouldn't be surprised that at an initial point when a diplomat first arrives, then as his kind of diplomatic calling card, he possibly would have brought a bowl of earth and a dish of local water. It is an important part of the ideology of it. We get spins on that as well. I think this story is in Herodotus. I might be wrong.

But there's one occasion where Xerxes is proffered a dish of dates. And he said, oh, where does this come from? And he's told, oh, these are from Greece. And he says, oh, well, we will not eat them. not until we own it, and then I'll eat Greek dates. So there's something there about actually the produce of the land itself and the king's right and access to it.

But there's one occasion where Xerxes is proffered a dish of dates. And he said, oh, where does this come from? And he's told, oh, these are from Greece. And he says, oh, well, we will not eat them. not until we own it, and then I'll eat Greek dates. So there's something there about actually the produce of the land itself and the king's right and access to it.

But there's one occasion where Xerxes is proffered a dish of dates. And he said, oh, where does this come from? And he's told, oh, these are from Greece. And he says, oh, well, we will not eat them. not until we own it, and then I'll eat Greek dates. So there's something there about actually the produce of the land itself and the king's right and access to it.

But I suppose in the theological term, then the idea of the land being under the control and the rivers being under control is important. There was a kind of like a strange nature connection between the great king and the earth. He was seen very often as a gardener king, you know, letting the earth blossom. You know, the Persian word for a garden is paradisa, from which we get paradise.

But I suppose in the theological term, then the idea of the land being under the control and the rivers being under control is important. There was a kind of like a strange nature connection between the great king and the earth. He was seen very often as a gardener king, you know, letting the earth blossom. You know, the Persian word for a garden is paradisa, from which we get paradise.

But I suppose in the theological term, then the idea of the land being under the control and the rivers being under control is important. There was a kind of like a strange nature connection between the great king and the earth. He was seen very often as a gardener king, you know, letting the earth blossom. You know, the Persian word for a garden is paradisa, from which we get paradise.

But, you know, the earth itself is a paradise. When the Persian kings created their gardens at places like Pasagidae and Susa and Persepolis, they basically planted their gardens with the produce from across the whole of their empire, bringing the empire into miniature here. And also the same with waters as well, of course, which were paramount importance to this kind of nomadic desert peoples.

But, you know, the earth itself is a paradise. When the Persian kings created their gardens at places like Pasagidae and Susa and Persepolis, they basically planted their gardens with the produce from across the whole of their empire, bringing the empire into miniature here. And also the same with waters as well, of course, which were paramount importance to this kind of nomadic desert peoples.

But, you know, the earth itself is a paradise. When the Persian kings created their gardens at places like Pasagidae and Susa and Persepolis, they basically planted their gardens with the produce from across the whole of their empire, bringing the empire into miniature here. And also the same with waters as well, of course, which were paramount importance to this kind of nomadic desert peoples.

So I think there is something real in this demand for earth and water, which would have been played out in court ceremonial, I think.

So I think there is something real in this demand for earth and water, which would have been played out in court ceremonial, I think.

So I think there is something real in this demand for earth and water, which would have been played out in court ceremonial, I think.

But I do think that in those stories, there is, if we scratch the surface, something of the Persian version that goes underneath as well. And that goes back to what I was just saying about the great king being in harmony with nature as well. It's kind of it's kind of set on its head by Herodotus and other Greek writers as well.

But I do think that in those stories, there is, if we scratch the surface, something of the Persian version that goes underneath as well. And that goes back to what I was just saying about the great king being in harmony with nature as well. It's kind of it's kind of set on its head by Herodotus and other Greek writers as well.