Dr. Roel Konijnendijk

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.

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

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

What I find interesting about the narrative account of it is actually the use of the lie, liar, kings in this. So Themistocles, of course, tells a whopping great lie, which convinces the Persians that they can win this thing. And I do think that Herodotus is very deliberate in presenting it in that kind of way, because as we know, the whole Persian idea is about truth and lie, okay?

What I find interesting about the narrative account of it is actually the use of the lie, liar, kings in this. So Themistocles, of course, tells a whopping great lie, which convinces the Persians that they can win this thing. And I do think that Herodotus is very deliberate in presenting it in that kind of way, because as we know, the whole Persian idea is about truth and lie, okay?