Greek Perspectives of the Achaemenid Empire: Greek Perspectives on the Achaemenid Empire: Persia Through the Looking Glass (Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia)

## Traces the historic development of responses to the Achaemenids and their Empire The Greek’s view of Persia and the Persians changed radically throughout the archaic and classical period as the Persians turned from noble warriors to peacock-loving cross-dressers. This book traces the development of a range of responses to the Achaemenids and their empire through a study of ancient texts and material evidence from the archaic and classical periods. Janett Morgan investigates the historical, political and social factors that inspired and manipulated different identities for Persia and the Persians within Greece. She offers unique insights into the role of Greek social elites and political communities in creating different representations of the Achaemenid Persians and their empire. ## Key Features: * The interdisciplinary approach investigates cultural contact and cultural exchange to explore the Greek response to Persia * Includes 74 illustrations This title looks at the development of a range of responses to the Achaemenids and their Empire. Through a study of ancient texts and material evidence from the archaic and classical periods, Morgan investigates the historical, political and social factors that inspired and manipulated different identities for Persia and the Persians within Greece. How did the Greek view of Persia and Persians change so radically in the archaic and classical Greek sources that they turned from noble warriors into peacock-loving cross-dressers with murderous mothers? This book looks at the development of a range of responses to the Achaemenids and their Empire. Through a study of ancient texts and material evidence from the archaic and classical periods, Janett Morgan investigates the historical, political and social factors that inspired and manipulated different identities for Persia and the Persians within Greece. Key Features: an interdisciplinary approach to investigating cultural contact and cultural exchange to explore the Greek response to Persia offers unique insights into the role of Greek social elites and political communities in creating different representations of the Achaemenid Persians and their EmpireKeywords Greek views of the Achaemenids and their Empire. How did the Greek view of Persia and Persians change so radically in the archaic and classical Greek sources that they turned from noble warriors into peacock loving cross dressers with murderous mothers? This book looks at the development of a range of responses to the Achaemenids and their Empire. Through a study of ancient texts and material evidence from the archaic and classical periods, Janett Morgan investigates the historical, political and social factors that inspired and manipulated different identities for Persia and the Persians within Greece. It features an interdisciplinary approach to investigating cultural contact and cultural exchange to explore the Greek response to Persia and offers unique insights into the role of Greek social elites and political communities in creating different representations of the Achaemenid Persians and their Empire. "In the aftermath of the Greco-Persian Wars, Greek communities produced a variety of images of the Achaemenids and their Empire in texts and on vases and architecture. These perspectives have traditionally been explained as responses to victory in wars. However, Janett Morgan shows that these responses fit into wider patterns of Greek engagements with the east and reflect dialogues of elite identity rather than hubristic celebration. Through a study of ancient texts and material evidence from the archaic and classical periods, she investigates the historical, political and social factors that inspired and manipulated different identities for Persia, and the Persians within different Greek communities"-- Back cover Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Note on Abbreviations and Style Series Editor’s Preface Maps Introduction: Perspectives, Looking Glasses and the Achaemenid Empire 1 Journeys of the Mind: Greek Perspectives on the ‘East’ before the Achaemenid Empire 2 Journeys through the Looking Glass: Early Perspectives on the Achaemenid Empire 3 Facing the Gorgon: Reactions to the Achaemenid Empire in Classical Athens 4 What the Butler Saw: Intimate Perspectives on King and Court in Classical Ionian Texts 5 The Mirror Crack’d: Spartan Responses to the ‘East’ and to the Achaemenid Empire 6 Entering the Hall of Mirrors: Macedonia and the Achaemenid Empire Conclusion: Travelling with Eunuchs Bibliography Index