Tristan Hughes

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.

Yeah, exactly.

So, for instance, this is for another example.

And I find it interesting how over the course of Xerxes' reign, you see his extended family get cut down one way or another.

Oh, constantly, absolutely.

Either by Greek troops.

Yes, it's Mardonius, isn't it?

That's right.

One of his brothers who's killed at the end of the Persian Wars.

Absolutely.

And that could potentially be, of course, the infamous end, but maybe Xerxes' policies later on, which maybe were looked upon very unfavorably.

Lloyd, this has been such a fantastic chat.

I mean, how would you say, how should we view Xerxes today?