Tristan Hughes

And of course, the biggest thing many people remember with Xerxes is his massive, ultimately failed invasion of Greece.

We're not going to cover that in detail in today's chat because we've done an episode, a detailed episode with Dr. Raoul Kananadak as well.

Two episodes on both the invasion of Greece by his dad, Darius, and by Xerxes too.

So we'll kind of cover it quickly, but I think an overarching question to cover it will be how much of Xerxes' reign, I mean, how much attention does he really give to the Greeks?

How much would you argue?

This is their victory at the Battle of Thermopylae, isn't it?

So Themistocles as well, which is going to be interesting, the man who wins the Battle of Salamis.

But it is coincidental, isn't it, that his decision to return to Asia does happen right after the Athenian victory at the Battle of Sanimus, the naval victory.

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?