Tristan Hughes

So I was going to ask, is this idea of Xerxes back in Asia and he's a defeated monarch, but what you were saying there sounds like it's not.

Well, shall we elaborate on this Themistocles-Xerxes link?

Because we do think of Themistocles fighting the Persians, which he did.

You know, he's the great admiral who wins the Battle of Salamis.

Please.

We won't go down that route anymore.

We won't delve more into the Greco-Persian wars for now.

We very much know your allegiance, Lloyd.

But can we explore this relationship between Xerxes and Themistocles because it doesn't end with them fighting.

How does this actually become a bit of a friendship as time goes on?

Well, it's bizarre, isn't it?

Does Prutarch mention that as well?

Yes, yes, yes.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You don't hear about that part of history.

So what do we know about Xerxes' rule after he returns to Persia, to Asia?

So he puts down the Babylonian revolt, and then how does he promote himself?

Given the amount of different cultures within the Persian Empire at that time, the superpower, such an inscription, if they try and enforce it and dare they try and do persecutions almost, I mean, that is going to cause his reputation to absolutely plummet.

So 20 years or so after the invasion of Greece.

Or the Astronomical Diaries.