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Document Details : Title: Ira del barbaro, giustizia del Re Subtitle: La punizione dell'Ellesponto fra immaginario greco ed ideologia regale achemenide Author(s): RUBERTO, Antonella Journal: Ancient Society Volume: 41 Date: 2011 Pages: 31-44 DOI: 10.2143/AS.41.0.2129563 Abstract : In order to cross the Hellespont, Xerxes ordered to build a bridge, which was destroyed by a storm. Herodotus relates that the King got angry, and commanded his soldiers to flagellate the sea and to pronounce 'barbaric and impious' words. The explanation, according to which Xerxes’ behaviour was due to an outburst of anger, seems to correspond to Aeschylus’ representation of Xerxes: in the Persae he actually looks like an insane young man. Nevertheless, the text of one of Xerxes’ inscriptions in Persepolis suggests a different interpretation of the flogging of the Hellespont: it was probably an act of propaganda coherent with Persian royal ideology. |
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