Dr. Roel Konijnendijk

There's a bigger divine concept that's going on here, fate that can't be overlooked or can't be overcome.

There's a bigger divine concept that's going on here, fate that can't be overlooked or can't be overcome.

There's a bigger divine concept that's going on here, fate that can't be overlooked or can't be overcome.

Yeah, I agree with all of that. And I also think that that splendid description we have in Herodotus of the kind of multi-ethnic army that's been put together and all this wonderful description of the clothing and armaments, I really get a feeling that what Herodotus is drawing on here is the visual propaganda that the Achaemenids put forward themselves.

Yeah, I agree with all of that. And I also think that that splendid description we have in Herodotus of the kind of multi-ethnic army that's been put together and all this wonderful description of the clothing and armaments, I really get a feeling that what Herodotus is drawing on here is the visual propaganda that the Achaemenids put forward themselves.

Yeah, I agree with all of that. And I also think that that splendid description we have in Herodotus of the kind of multi-ethnic army that's been put together and all this wonderful description of the clothing and armaments, I really get a feeling that what Herodotus is drawing on here is the visual propaganda that the Achaemenids put forward themselves.

So, for instance, on his tomb, Xerxes shows himself on this takht or this kind of divan throne being uplifted by representatives of the whole empire. And underneath in an inscription, he says, if you want to know how many are the people who represent my empire, look at these people below and they are named, you know.

So, for instance, on his tomb, Xerxes shows himself on this takht or this kind of divan throne being uplifted by representatives of the whole empire. And underneath in an inscription, he says, if you want to know how many are the people who represent my empire, look at these people below and they are named, you know.

So, for instance, on his tomb, Xerxes shows himself on this takht or this kind of divan throne being uplifted by representatives of the whole empire. And underneath in an inscription, he says, if you want to know how many are the people who represent my empire, look at these people below and they are named, you know.

I am from Macca, I am from Macedonia, I am from Sogdia, I am from Parthia, and so forth. And I think what Herodotus is doing is just picking up on a very popular Achaemenid motif of the display of the empire in that way. So I don't think it was as multi-ethnic as that, or if it was, they were bits and pieces, but not this vast force that Herodotus conjures up for us.

I am from Macca, I am from Macedonia, I am from Sogdia, I am from Parthia, and so forth. And I think what Herodotus is doing is just picking up on a very popular Achaemenid motif of the display of the empire in that way. So I don't think it was as multi-ethnic as that, or if it was, they were bits and pieces, but not this vast force that Herodotus conjures up for us.

I am from Macca, I am from Macedonia, I am from Sogdia, I am from Parthia, and so forth. And I think what Herodotus is doing is just picking up on a very popular Achaemenid motif of the display of the empire in that way. So I don't think it was as multi-ethnic as that, or if it was, they were bits and pieces, but not this vast force that Herodotus conjures up for us.

You know, I've just had sent to me from a colleague in Iran who's been digitally photographing Bissetan relief right up high, right next to it, because they're scaffolding that for restoration at the moment. And I've been able to do some line drawings of them, real sort of up close and personal.

You know, I've just had sent to me from a colleague in Iran who's been digitally photographing Bissetan relief right up high, right next to it, because they're scaffolding that for restoration at the moment. And I've been able to do some line drawings of them, real sort of up close and personal.

You know, I've just had sent to me from a colleague in Iran who's been digitally photographing Bissetan relief right up high, right next to it, because they're scaffolding that for restoration at the moment. And I've been able to do some line drawings of them, real sort of up close and personal.

And while Darius and his two Persian officers, you know, look handsome and beautifully chiseled, it's really interesting to see how they portray the foreign kings, the liar kings in front of them. They are really grotesque. Which we don't really see from far away. They've got snub noses and thick lips and big sunken eyes. And they're all wearing collars around their neck.

And while Darius and his two Persian officers, you know, look handsome and beautifully chiseled, it's really interesting to see how they portray the foreign kings, the liar kings in front of them. They are really grotesque. Which we don't really see from far away. They've got snub noses and thick lips and big sunken eyes. And they're all wearing collars around their neck.

And while Darius and his two Persian officers, you know, look handsome and beautifully chiseled, it's really interesting to see how they portray the foreign kings, the liar kings in front of them. They are really grotesque. Which we don't really see from far away. They've got snub noses and thick lips and big sunken eyes. And they're all wearing collars around their neck.

And a little detail in this collar shows that there's a metal stud that actually presses into their throats as well. So it's quite remarkable, the detail, you know. So yes, just really that emphasizes the fact that the Persians were very observant about peoples and they liked to portray them accurately. And I think that's what Herodotus is picking up.

And a little detail in this collar shows that there's a metal stud that actually presses into their throats as well. So it's quite remarkable, the detail, you know. So yes, just really that emphasizes the fact that the Persians were very observant about peoples and they liked to portray them accurately. And I think that's what Herodotus is picking up.