Tony Nguyen
Herodotus bk7
I. Questions
1. By whose help did Xerxes, Darius' younger son, receive the right to inherit the Persian kingdom?
(7.3)
Demaratus, who argued that Darius' oldest son Artobazanes was born before Darius became king
2. Who continuously advised Xerxes not to make an expedition against Greece but then changed his mind after seeing a dream's figure threatened him? (7.17)
Artabanus, Xerxes' uncle
3. What happened when Pythius of Lydia asked Xerxes to release his eldest son from military service? (7.38-9)
Xerxes was outraged and ordered to cut his eldest son in half
4. When the whole Persian army just crossed over into Europe, what were the two omens occurred that Xerxes dismissed? (7.58)
A horse gave birth to a hare and a donkey gave birth to a foal with male and female genitals
5. How did Xerxes get around the pass at Thermopylae and was able to slay Leonidas as a result?(7.213-14)
A Greek traitor Ephialtes from Malis showed Xerxes a mountain path to Thermopylae
II. Quotations
a. "'If you give everything equal weight in every situation you found yourself in, you'd never do anything at all. It's always better to adopt a positive outlook and experience danger half the time than to worry about everything and avoid experience altogether.'" (7.50)
Context and Significance: When the Persian army crossed the Hellenspont into Europe, Artabanus asserted his concern about the size of the army and this is what Xerxes replied. Although Xerxes was ambivalent about leading an expedition against Greece earlier due to Artabanus' influence, this passage adequately indicates the mark of the leadership.
b. "Stranger, tell the people of Lacedaemon that we who lie here obeyed their commands." (7.228)
Context and Significance: This inscription conmemorates Leonidas and the Spartans remained at Thermopylae and fought bravely against the overwhelming Persians. Obeyed the proper order and bravely fought for one's own country is the practical virtue of Greek value.
c. "'I base this assessment not only on previous advice he has given me, but also on the fact that when someone resents a colleague's success, his hostility manifests itself in silence; if his colleague seeks his advice, he wouldn't suggest what seems to him to be the best-unless he is one of those rare individuals, a man of exceptional virtue.'" (7.237)
Context and Significance: Although he took his brother advice, Xerxes here defended Demaratus' intention in giving advice of disarming the power of Greece by first paralyzing the Lacedaemonians. This remark somewhat contradicts Xerxes' leadership ability, he argued well but he was provoked by his brother's argument.
Joshua Cook
1. How did Xerxes punish the Hellespont for destroying his first bridge? (35)
He gave it 300 lashes and sank a pair of shackles into it.
2. Whose squadron was the most famous in Xerxes's navy, next to the Sidonians? (99)
Artemisia, tyrant of Halicarnassus and the only female commander in the expedition
3. Why did Xerxes allow three Greek spies to complete their mission unmolested? (147)
He thought the true report of his forces might frighten the Greeks into submission, saving him the trouble of completing the expedition.
4. The forces of which two Greek cities remained at Thermopylae with the Spartans when everyone else went home? (222)
Thespia and Thebes
5. How did Demaratus advise Xerxes to deal with the Spartans? (235)
By fortifying Cythera, an island near Spartan territory, and thus drawing off the Spartans so that Xerxes could fight the other Greek states one by one
"According to native Thessalian tradition, the ravine through which the Peneius flows was made by
Poseidon. This is not implausible, because the sight of this ravine would make anyone who thinks that Poseidon is responsible for earthquakes, and therefore that rifts formed by earthquakes are caused by him, say that it was the work of Poseidon. For it seems to me that this rift in the mountains was caused by an earthquake." (129)
Speaker: Herodotus
Context: Describing the topography of Thessaly in which the Greeks sought to make a stand.
Significance: An example of Herodotus's rationalization, rejecting the anthropomorphism of the gods but equating them with natural forces.
"The point is that although they're free, they're not entirely free: their master is the law, and they're far more afraid of this than your men are of you. At any rate, they do whatever the law commands, and its command never changes: it is that they should not turn tail in battle no matter how many men are ranged against them, but should maintain their positions and either win or die." (104)
Speaker: Demaratus, an exiled Spartan king, to Xerxes
Context: Demaratus is replying to Xerxes's question on whether or not the Greeks would make a stand. Significance: Herodotus ranks the Spartans' allegiance to impersonal law higher than the Persians' allegiance to their personal authorities.
"I am obliged to record the things I am told, but I am certainly not required to believe them -- this remark may be taken to apply to the whole of my account." (152)
Speaker: Herodotus
Context: He is defending the Argives against an unconfirmed report that they sent a delegation to Persia concerning friendship between the two states.
Significance: Herodotus tells us outright that he envisions himself as a reporter rather than a scientist attempting to prove the facts. However, the standard of proof required for his own belief is more discriminating than his standard for including a story in his work.
Jimmy Cook Book VII
Who had in all of Persia had the most influence on Xerxes?
(Mardonius)
What made Xerxes have compassion on the fighting men?
(He realized how short life really is, and that no of these people would be alive even one hundred years from then.)
When did Xerxesí army finally cross the Hellespont?
(Only after seven hard days.)
Why did Gelon think the Greeks asked him to join them against the Persians?
(Out of self-interest, because they did not come to his aid while he was fighting the Carthaginians.)
What is the reason the Cretans refused to help the Greeks?
(the story that Menelaus received help in the Trojan war, but when the Cretans returned they found their cattle stricken with disease.)
Quote: "This is the grand total of men in Xerxes' expeditionary force; as for women -- cooks and concubines -- and eunuchs, no one can possibly know how many of them there were." H. to reader. After giving the number of fighting men in Xerxes command. It is interesting to note the role of women in war, both as cooks and as prostitutes. It reminds us that an army cannot operate without support.
Quote: "The Lacedaemonians fought a memorable battle; they made it quite clear that they were the experts, and the were fighting against amateurs." H. to the reader. While describing the battle of Thermopylae. The account of the battle is really amazing, and Herodotus notes the military tactic as being really a good battle plan.
Quote: "Apart from this general inscription, the Spartiates have their own separate one: 'Stranger, tell the people of Lacedaemon That we who lie here obeyed their commands.'" H. to reader. Describing the memorials built on the battlefield. This is where the legend of the Spartans comes from.