Born 484BC, 4 years before 2nd Persian invasion and before Marathon and Ionian revolt
Literary background, related to poet Panyassis
Born in Hallicarnassus in Ionia when Artemisia was Queen
Ionian known for intellectual radition- scientists, theologians
Banished by queen's grandson- fled to Samos and begans travels
Egypt, Babylon, Athens
Histories- reasearch/inquiry
Written in 450x- oral history
Record/preserve achievements ino Greeks
Continuous thread with chronological approach
How events precipitate others
Linkage- events taking place because of previous events
Logoi- ring composition
20-40 years after events, people alive from both accounts
Many people could be survivors- soldiers/sailotys but unaware of straegy and politics
Decision makers- dead or exiled
Babylonian and Egyptian translations
Growing tradition and written histoy
1 of 4
Herodotus
Openly declares bias for Athens
Argues Athens were saviors of Greece, despite knowing this would be unpopular
Athenian Spartan tension 646BC
Favoured democracy
Hostile to Cleomenes, Corinth, Aegina
Travelled to places he writes about
Psyche- what people at time believed
Wye witness accounts
Democratically, allows readers to make up own mind
Factual errors due to oral tradition- influence of Homer?
Thucydides on other hand was travelled soldier
Not military expert
Oracles, dreams, dicine presence
Indiciduals
2 of 4
Aeschylus
Dramatist early 5th Century
Fought at Marathon, probably Salamis and Plataea
Eyewitness at Salamis
Religious glorification of Greeks over Persians
Brother killed at Marathon- Kyneferias
425BC
Athens under Pisistratids
Age 15= start of democracy
472BC=The Persians
Known for military prowness- graph on tomb
Religious/entertainment purposes
Hubris-human pride, arrogance
Xerxes goes beyonf gods crossign Hellespont
not history
Does not mention Athens by name, vivd battle description, dramatic elaboration
No Persian Perspectices
First hand account
Hostile towards Persians- portray Xerxes' poor leadershio
Sparta downplayed over Athenian bias? only mentions Marathon
3 of 4
The Persians
Chorus weigh up situation- when will Xerxes return, Persian numbers, seamen by thousands, name of individuals, Skill with bow Imaeus, all over empire, ie Egypt, Lydians, cavalry
Xerxes crossed Hellespont with Persian youth, anticipate battle, speak of bows, oars, Persian lack of fear but concern if immortal guile is involced, fear they have heard nothing
Did bronze headed spears prevail?
Atossa has anxious thoughts, wealth is no good if king is dead, she tells them of her dream of Asian and Dorian sisters quarelling and one breaking free from Xerxes' yoke (democracy vs despotism) falcon claws Eagles head, no state can hold Xerxes accountable
Chorus tell her to pray to gods and that she must pour libations (Greek), omens will be well, she believes the, and Q and A over Athens- once conquered Xerxes is master of all of Greece, they once defeated Persia, have wealth from silver mines but are not skilled in bow and are masterless
Messenger arrives to deliver news of defeat - grief, fallen youth, bows were no help, strewn with bodies, evils fate, fleet and army are no more, dramatic, the chorus blame fate
Atossa says they must endure grief and is told Xerxes lives
Messenger gives account of battle- thick shaggy yellow beard died blood-red, had fortune favoured numbers they would have won, 300 vessels made up Greek numbers vs 1,207
Reference to Athene's city, Drius claims Zeus chasticises arrogant/boastful men
Comments
No comments have yet been made