Who Was Xerxes the Great?

Description

He is one of the most famous rulers of the ancient world, remembered for leading a vast Persian invasion of Greece. Yet Xerxes the Great was far more than just a battlefield king. In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by friend of the show Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones to explore the life and reign of Persia's most revered king, who ruled the largest empire the world had yet seen. From his royal upbringing and court politics to religion, monumental building projects and imperial power, this episode goes beyond Greek battle narratives to uncover who Xerxes really was — and how the Achaemenid empire functioned at the height of his power. 0:00 Introduction to Xerxes I 1:07 The Name 'Xerxes' and Persian Self-Perception 2:01 Sourcing the 'Persian Version' of History 5:03 The Empire Xerxes Inherited from Darius 7:26 Succession and the Power of Queen Mother Atossa 11:22 Building Persepolis: The Gate of All Nations 15:14 Managing the Satrapies and Royal Family 23:04 Inside the Royal Harim and the Role of Eunuchs 28:42 Was the Invasion of Greece Actually a Success? 35:31 Themistocles: The Greek Hero in the Persian Court 37:21 The Religious Revolution and the Daiva Inscriptions 42:13 The Assassination of Xerxes and the Fall of the Old Guard Presented by Tristan Hughes. Producers are Joseph Knight & McKenna Fernandez, senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. Editor is Matthew Wilson. Channel manager is Vilde Øksnes. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. All music from Epidemic Sounds. #HistoryHitPodcast #TheAncients #Xerxes