Dr. Roel Konijnendijk

And you really get a sense of The fear in Athens from the archaeological record in particular, it's amazing, you know, that all of those beautiful marble statues we have of Kourai, these beautiful sort of naked males and beautifully dressed female figurines, which were possibly grave markers.

All of these were deliberately buried at the top of the Acropolis in order to save them from the Persian attack. The Athenians were just bracing themselves for the kind of annihilation that they'd seen elsewhere. And of course, this is why the population took ship, went over to the island of Salamis as quickly as they possibly could. And when Xerxes got there, yes, he did exactly as was forecast.

All of these were deliberately buried at the top of the Acropolis in order to save them from the Persian attack. The Athenians were just bracing themselves for the kind of annihilation that they'd seen elsewhere. And of course, this is why the population took ship, went over to the island of Salamis as quickly as they possibly could. And when Xerxes got there, yes, he did exactly as was forecast.

All of these were deliberately buried at the top of the Acropolis in order to save them from the Persian attack. The Athenians were just bracing themselves for the kind of annihilation that they'd seen elsewhere. And of course, this is why the population took ship, went over to the island of Salamis as quickly as they possibly could. And when Xerxes got there, yes, he did exactly as was forecast.

I mean, he razed the city to the ground. And I suppose the the population of the city in exile on Salamis, they would have seen their city burn. It's quite clear.

I mean, he razed the city to the ground. And I suppose the the population of the city in exile on Salamis, they would have seen their city burn. It's quite clear.

I mean, he razed the city to the ground. And I suppose the the population of the city in exile on Salamis, they would have seen their city burn. It's quite clear.

Yes, absolutely. But only a Greek could write that. I doubt if he ever sacrificed to Athena.

Yes, absolutely. But only a Greek could write that. I doubt if he ever sacrificed to Athena.

Yes, absolutely. But only a Greek could write that. I doubt if he ever sacrificed to Athena.

But he certainly offered a sacrifice.

But he certainly offered a sacrifice.

But he certainly offered a sacrifice.

You know, that's why I think in the long run, you know, it's often been presented as, you know, the sack of Athens is, And then the ultimate victory that comes after it over the Persians is the idea that we're saving democracy, we're saving world freedoms and all of this kind of thing. I don't think the Persians would have had any problem with the burgeoning democratic state there.

You know, that's why I think in the long run, you know, it's often been presented as, you know, the sack of Athens is, And then the ultimate victory that comes after it over the Persians is the idea that we're saving democracy, we're saving world freedoms and all of this kind of thing. I don't think the Persians would have had any problem with the burgeoning democratic state there.

You know, that's why I think in the long run, you know, it's often been presented as, you know, the sack of Athens is, And then the ultimate victory that comes after it over the Persians is the idea that we're saving democracy, we're saving world freedoms and all of this kind of thing. I don't think the Persians would have had any problem with the burgeoning democratic state there.

And in fact, some of the cities of Asia Minor were already sort of miniature democracies going on anyway. And I don't think there would have been the end of Persia. Greek culture, I think sculpture and art would have continued. Probably tragedy and comedy would have continued with slightly different themes, perhaps.

And in fact, some of the cities of Asia Minor were already sort of miniature democracies going on anyway. And I don't think there would have been the end of Persia. Greek culture, I think sculpture and art would have continued. Probably tragedy and comedy would have continued with slightly different themes, perhaps.

And in fact, some of the cities of Asia Minor were already sort of miniature democracies going on anyway. And I don't think there would have been the end of Persia. Greek culture, I think sculpture and art would have continued. Probably tragedy and comedy would have continued with slightly different themes, perhaps.

But this idea that Xerxes at that time threatened the entire beginnings of European culture is simply not true at all.