The document discusses different perspectives on how the Persian Wars should be remembered. It mentions Herodotus' account that emphasizes the Athenian role in resisting the Persians at crucial battles like Marathon, Salamis, and Plataea, which ultimately saved Greece from Persian domination. However, others argue the Spartans played the largest role as brave warriors who sacrificed themselves at Thermopylae. The document also raises the prospect of remembering the perspective of the Persians themselves or how the wars are depicted in modern works like the movie 300.

1. To what extent should Athens be
remembered as a great city-state?

2. The Persian Wars

3. Frank Miller’s 300

5. Empires in Western Asia, c. 600 BCE

6. Cyrus the Great

7. The Cyrus Cylindar:
First Charter of Human Rights?
“…Ex[alted Marduk, Enlil-of-the-Go]ds, relented. He changed
his mind about all the settlements whose sanctuaries were in
ruins…and took pity on them. He inspected and checked all
the countries, seeking for the upright king of his choice. He
took the hand of Cyrus, king of the city of Anshan, and called
him by his name, proclaiming him aloud for the kingship over
all of everything….All the people of Tintir, of all Sumer and
Akkad, nobles and governors, bowed down before him and
kissed his feet, rejoicing over his kingship and their faces
shone.

8. The Cyrus Cylindar:
First Charter of Human Rights?
I am Cyrus, king of the universe, the great king, the
powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad,
king of the four quarters of the world…
My vast troops were marching peaceably in Babylon, and
the whole of [Sumer] and Akkad had nothing to fear. I
sought the safety of the city of Babylon and all its
sanctuaries….I collected together all of their people and
returned them to their settlements, and the gods of the
land…at the command of Marduk, the great lord, I
returned them unharmed to their cells, in the sanctuaries
that make them happy…

9. The Persian Empire under Darius

12. Clay Tablet with Foundation
Inscription of Darius I
• The founding of
Persepolis:
• 'The goldsmiths who
wrought the gold, those
were Medes and Egyptians.
The men who wrought the
wood, those were Sardians
and Egyptians. The men
who wrought the baked
brick, those were
Babylonians. The men who
adorned the wall, those were
Medes and Egyptians.'

13. Local Coinage is Introduced
Gold “Daric” Silver “shekel”

15. c. 500 BCE

16. 499-493 BCE: Ionian Revolt

17. Darius’ Invasion: 490 BCE
MARATHON

18. Xerxes: Herodotus, Histories, 7.8
Xerxes, being about to take in hand the expedition against Athens,
called together an assembly of the noblest Persians to learn their
opinions, and to lay before them his own designs. So, when the men
were met, the king spoke thus to them:
'Persians, I shall not be the first to bring in among you a new custom
-- I shall but follow one which has come down to us from our
forefathers…Now in all this Ahuramazda guides us; and we, obeying
his guidance, prosper greatly. What need have I to tell you of the
deeds of Cyrus and Cambyses, and my own father Darius, how many
nations they conquered, and added to our dominions? Ye know right
well what great things they achieved.

19. Xerxes: Herodotus, Histories, 7.8
But for myself, I will say that, from the day on which I mounted the
throne, I have not ceased to consider by what means I may rival
those who have preceded me in this post of honor, and increase the
power of Persia as much as any of them. And truly I have pondered
upon this, until at last I have found out a way whereby we may at
once win glory, and likewise get possession of a land which is as
large and as rich as our own nay, which is even more varied in the
fruits it bears- while at the same time we obtain satisfaction and
revenge. For this cause I have now called you together, that I may
make known to you what I design to do.
My intent is to throw a bridge over the Hellespont and march an
army through Europe against Greece, that thereby I may obtain
vengeance from the Athenians for the wrongs committed by them
against the Persians and against my father.'

20. Xerxes Inscription at Persepolis
When my father Darius went away from the
throne, I became king on his throne by the
grace of Ahuramazda. After I became king, I
finished what had been done by my father,
and I added other works.
A great God is Ahuramazda, who created
this earth, who created yonder sky, who
created man, who created happiness for
man, who made Xerxes king, one king of
many, one lord of many.
I am Xerxes, the Great King, King of Kings,
King of countries containing many kinds (of
men), King in this great earth far and wide,
son of King Darius, an Achaemenian

21. Xerxes’ Invasion: 480 BCE

22. “OBfu ailll dthien agrm aa mBernitds gwehe orevofe ran tyh mee nHtioenl lheassp ont
reached us, this was by far the greatest; so much so that
no other expedition compared to this seems of any
account, neither that which Darius undertook against
the Scythians, nor the expedition of the
Scythians…nor, again, that of the sons of Atreus
against Troy, of which we hear in story; nor that of the
Mysians and Teucrians…
All of these expeditions, and others, if such there were,
are as nothing compared with this. For was there a
nation in all of Asia which Xerxes did not bring with
him against Greece? Or was there a river, except those
of unusual size, which sufficed for his troops to
drink?”

23. Why sit you, doomed ones? Fly to the
world’s end, leaving
Athenian Response: Themistocles
Home and the heights your city circles like
a wheel.
The head shall not remain in its place, nor
the body,
Nor the feet beneath, nor the hands, nor
the parts between;
But all is ruined, for fire and the headlong
god of war
Speeding in a Syrian chariot shall bring you
low.
Many a tower shall he destroy, not yours
alone,
And give pitiless fire many shrines of gods,
Which even now stand sweating, with fear
quivering,
While over the rooftops black blood runs
streaming
In prophecy of woe that needs must come.
But rise,
Haste from the sanctuary and bow your
hearts to grief.

24. Not wholly can Pallas win the heart of
Olympian Zeus,
Athenian Response: Though she Themistocles
prays him with many prayers
and all her subtlety;
Yet will I speak to you this other word, as
firm as adamant:
Though all else shall be taken within the
bound of Cecrops
And the fastness of the holy mountain of
Cithaeron,
Yet Zeus the all-seeing grants to Athene’s
prayer
That the wooden wall only shall not fall, but
help you and your children.
But await not the host of horse and foot
coming from Asia,
Nor be still, but turn your back and
withdraw from the foe.
Truly a day will come when you will meet
him face to face.
Divine Salamis, you will bring death to
women’s sons
When the corn is scattered, or the harvest
gathered in.

25. Athenian Trireme

26. Demaratus, a Spartan traitor
Want has at all times been a fellow-dweller with us in our land, while valor is
an ally we have gained through wisdom and strict laws. Her aid enables us to
drive out want and escape slavery. Brave are all the Greeks…but what I am
about to say does not concern all, but only the Spartans. First then, come
what may, they will never accept your terms, which would reduce Greece to
slavery; and further, they are sure to join battle with you, though all the rest
of the Greeks should submit to your will…
When the Spartans fight as a group, they are the bravest of all. For although
they are free men, they are not in all respects free; law is the master whom
they obey, and this master they fear more than your subjects fear you, King
Xerxes. Whatever their law commands, they do; and its commandment is
always the same: it forbids them to flee in battle, whatever the number of
their foes, and requires them to stand firm, and either to conquer or to die.

27. Thermopylae

28. Xerxes Awaits Battle

29. A Traitor Leads to Massacre

30. Inscriptions at Thermopylae
Herodotus 7.228
Here did four thousand men from Pelops’ land
Against three hundred myriads bravely stand.
This was in honor of all. Another was for the
Spartans alone:
Go, stranger, and tell the Lacedaemonians
That here, obeying their commands, we fell.

31. Athens is Abandoned

32. How Should We Remember the Persian Wars?
• Herodotus’ memory
• Athenian role vs. Spartan role

33. And here I feel constrained to deliver an opinion, which most men, I know,
will How dislike, Should but which, We as it seems Remember to me to be true, the I Persian am determined Wars?
not to
withhold. Had the Athenians, from fear of the approaching danger, quitted
their country, or had they without quitting it submitted to the power of
Xerxes, • Herodotus’ there would certainly memory
have been no attempt to resist the Persians by
sea; in which case the course of events by land would have been the
following…• Athenian the Spartans role would vs. Spartan at last have role
stood alone, and, standing alone,
would have displayed prodigies of valor and died nobly….Greece would have
been brought under Persia….If then a man should now say that the
Athenians were the saviors of Greece, he would not exceed the truth. For
they truly held the scales; and whichever side they espoused must have carried
the day. They too it was who, when they had determined to maintain the
freedom of Greece, roused up that portion of the Greek nation which had
not gone over to the Medes; and so, next to the gods, they repulsed the
invader. Even the terrible oracles which reached them from Delphi, and
struck fear into their hearts, failed to persuade them to fly from Greece. They
had the courage to remain faithful to their land, and await the coming of the
foe.

34. How Should We Remember the Persian Wars?
• Diodorus’ memory
• Persian memory?
• The movie 300

35. The New 300