Dr. Roel Konijnendijk

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.

So we get, for instance, Xerxes beating the sea with whips and chains and so forth, because it will not kowtow to him at all. But in fact, this is possibly a kind of reminiscence of a Persian water cult where gold and silver and precious metals were thrown into rivers and waters and canals and so forth.

So we get, for instance, Xerxes beating the sea with whips and chains and so forth, because it will not kowtow to him at all. But in fact, this is possibly a kind of reminiscence of a Persian water cult where gold and silver and precious metals were thrown into rivers and waters and canals and so forth.

So we get, for instance, Xerxes beating the sea with whips and chains and so forth, because it will not kowtow to him at all. But in fact, this is possibly a kind of reminiscence of a Persian water cult where gold and silver and precious metals were thrown into rivers and waters and canals and so forth.

Likewise, there's a much later story, of course, very famously about Xerxes falling in love with a plane tree. This is how crazy Xerxes is. He falls in love with this tree and he puts jewelry on it and so forth. Well, it's no coincidence that one of the very rare images we have of Xerxes is a seal that was found at Susa, which shows him decorating a sacred tree with necklaces and jewelry.

Likewise, there's a much later story, of course, very famously about Xerxes falling in love with a plane tree. This is how crazy Xerxes is. He falls in love with this tree and he puts jewelry on it and so forth. Well, it's no coincidence that one of the very rare images we have of Xerxes is a seal that was found at Susa, which shows him decorating a sacred tree with necklaces and jewelry.

Likewise, there's a much later story, of course, very famously about Xerxes falling in love with a plane tree. This is how crazy Xerxes is. He falls in love with this tree and he puts jewelry on it and so forth. Well, it's no coincidence that one of the very rare images we have of Xerxes is a seal that was found at Susa, which shows him decorating a sacred tree with necklaces and jewelry.

It was a Persian thing to do. It was a nature cult. It was a tree cult. So I think, you know, sitting behind some of these Greek stories, which are, you know, frankly, they're laughable because, you know, it's hubris, it's excess, it's just pure craziness, sits perhaps an element of a Persian original. And I find that really fascinating.

It was a Persian thing to do. It was a nature cult. It was a tree cult. So I think, you know, sitting behind some of these Greek stories, which are, you know, frankly, they're laughable because, you know, it's hubris, it's excess, it's just pure craziness, sits perhaps an element of a Persian original. And I find that really fascinating.

It was a Persian thing to do. It was a nature cult. It was a tree cult. So I think, you know, sitting behind some of these Greek stories, which are, you know, frankly, they're laughable because, you know, it's hubris, it's excess, it's just pure craziness, sits perhaps an element of a Persian original. And I find that really fascinating.

Well, they didn't meet much resistance, to be honest. And that's because many of the Greek city-states in the north were pro-Persian and had been for some time. So the Macedonians, in fact, readily joined elements of their army and also entertained Xerxes and his generals. And we know that as they marched right the way down through Boeotia, past Thebes, again, no resistance.

Well, they didn't meet much resistance, to be honest. And that's because many of the Greek city-states in the north were pro-Persian and had been for some time. So the Macedonians, in fact, readily joined elements of their army and also entertained Xerxes and his generals. And we know that as they marched right the way down through Boeotia, past Thebes, again, no resistance.

Well, they didn't meet much resistance, to be honest. And that's because many of the Greek city-states in the north were pro-Persian and had been for some time. So the Macedonians, in fact, readily joined elements of their army and also entertained Xerxes and his generals. And we know that as they marched right the way down through Boeotia, past Thebes, again, no resistance.

And in fact, in the heartland of a pro-Persian world there as well. Herodotus gives us some fascinating insights into how the army is sustained, because here we are thinking, you know, as Xerxes has made this journey down, I mean, we must have thousands of soldiers and thousands upon thousands of camp followers just maintaining this vast juggernaut. which is moving through.

And in fact, in the heartland of a pro-Persian world there as well. Herodotus gives us some fascinating insights into how the army is sustained, because here we are thinking, you know, as Xerxes has made this journey down, I mean, we must have thousands of soldiers and thousands upon thousands of camp followers just maintaining this vast juggernaut. which is moving through.

And in fact, in the heartland of a pro-Persian world there as well. Herodotus gives us some fascinating insights into how the army is sustained, because here we are thinking, you know, as Xerxes has made this journey down, I mean, we must have thousands of soldiers and thousands upon thousands of camp followers just maintaining this vast juggernaut. which is moving through.

And there are great stories that, you know, if Xerxes settles for a night somewhere, then obviously it's the duty of the local inhabitants to feed him and his court and soldiers. And God forfend that he should like the place and stay for a second night because basically they will be stripped of their resources for the next six months.

And there are great stories that, you know, if Xerxes settles for a night somewhere, then obviously it's the duty of the local inhabitants to feed him and his court and soldiers. And God forfend that he should like the place and stay for a second night because basically they will be stripped of their resources for the next six months.

And there are great stories that, you know, if Xerxes settles for a night somewhere, then obviously it's the duty of the local inhabitants to feed him and his court and soldiers. And God forfend that he should like the place and stay for a second night because basically they will be stripped of their resources for the next six months.

And I can see, you know, there's a lot of sense that's being said in that, you know. So here I think Herodotus, you know, understands the soldier's journey and tries to depict for us the scale of the invasion. I think it It's through those kind of anecdotes that it really comes across very clearly.