12 - Xerxes Becomes King

I n the modern Western literary tradition, the name Xerxes has become shorthand for despotism, arrogance, and impiety. If Cyrus is revered as the good king of ancient Persia, Xerxes is “Oriental despotism” gone wild. This view is rooted in the writings of the Greeks. For example, The Persians, the famous play of Aeschylus, played a signi¿ cant role in shaping Western visions of Xerxes. In our own time, Hollywood has taken the stereotype of Xerxes to extremes in such ¿ lms as 300. Interestingly, the Jewish tradition, particularly the historian Josephus, presents a more favorable view of Xerxes. In this lecture, we will go beyond these stereotypes and get a more balanced view of Xerxes. To do so, we’ll explore the upbringing and education of the Persian elite, examine life at the imperial court, trace the transition from Darius to Xerxes, and look at imperial policies in two key provinces—Egypt and Babylonia. Finally, we’ll see how Xerxes continued his father’s plans at home and abroad.