Dr. Roel Konijnendijk

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.

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.

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.

So nowhere is this really an East-West war as has been sold to us for generations now. It's simply not about that whatsoever.

So nowhere is this really an East-West war as has been sold to us for generations now. It's simply not about that whatsoever.

So nowhere is this really an East-West war as has been sold to us for generations now. It's simply not about that whatsoever.

And exhaust the Greeks while they're doing so.

And exhaust the Greeks while they're doing so.