The Persian Empire 1: A Corpus of Sources from the Achaemenid Period

The Achaemenid dynasty (550-330 BC) ruled over the first and largest 'world empire' in history: the Persian empire extended from the Babylonians in the east to the Jews and Greeks in the west, with fingers of control in the fringes of the Indian subcontinent and elsewhere. Its sheer size was a factor in its destruction by Alexander the Great, yet long after its dismemberment its influence can be seen in the development of Judaism, the Old Testament of the Bible, and the formation of classical Greece. Studying Achaemenid history has therefore been difficult in the past because original sources include texts from hugely disparate origins, many different languages and various periods in history; the risk is to rely too heavily on prejudiced and often inaccurate Greek and Roman sources. Amélie Kuhrt presents here an unprecedented collection of key texts to form a complete and balanced representation of all aspects of the empire, in her own translations from their original Greek, Old Persian, Akkadian, Hebrew, Aramaic, Egyptian or Latin. Kuhrt selects from classical writers, the Old Testament, royal inscriptions, administrative documents and Babylonian historical writing, as well as examining evidence from archaeological sites. All material is accompanied by a detailed introduction to the sources and guidelines to their interpretation. A truly monumental achievement, this collection will prove to be the ultimate resource for any student of Persian history, from undergraduate level to the most advanced scholar. Front Cover......Page 1 The Persian Empire......Page 3 Copyright Page......Page 4 Contents......Page 7 List of illustrations......Page 46 Preface and acknowledgements......Page 50 Introduction......Page 52 (a) The physical environment......Page 53 (b) The political situation preceding the Persian empire......Page 55 (a) Classical writers......Page 57 (c) Royal inscriptions......Page 61 (d) Administrative documents......Page 62 (e) Archaeological sites......Page 64 (f) Implications......Page 65 Part I: Prehistory and formation of the empire (c.750-520)......Page 67 Introduction......Page 68 1. Tiglath-pileser III (745-727)......Page 71 2. Sargon II (722-705)......Page 73 4. Esarhaddon (681-669), Year 5? (676?) (Borger 1956, Nineveh A-F,Ep.15-16)......Page 75 6. Kashtaritu of Karkashshi forms an alliance against Assyria(SAA 4, no.43)......Page 76 8. The Assyrians plan an attack on Kashtaritu (SAA 4, no.62)......Page 77 9. Assyrian tribute-gathering in Media (SAA 4, no.64)......Page 78 10. Babylonians and Medes victorious over Assyria (ABC, no.3)......Page 79 12. Peace negotiations between Assyria and the Scythians (SAA 4, no.20)......Page 82 13. Herodotus' view of the development of Median kingship (Hdt. I,96-101)......Page 83 14. The successors of Deiokes and the Median struggle against Assyria(Hdt. I, 102-7)......Page 84 15. The Lydo-Median conflict (Hdt. I, 73-4)......Page 87 16. Ctesias' story of the fall of Assyria to the Medes (FGrH 688 F 1 b)......Page 88 17. The Median dynasty according to Ctesias (FGrH 688 F5)......Page 92 18. Relations between the Babylonian and Median king according to alate Babylonian writer......Page 93 20. The consolidation of the Lydian conquest (Hdt. I, 141; 153.3-154;156.2-157; 160.1-4; 161-3.1; 168-9; 171.1......Page 117 Introduction......Page 96 1. Cyrus' defeat of the Medes and his conquest of Babylonia (ABC, no. 7)......Page 99 2. A 'Persian' hostage at the Assyrian court? (Weidner 1931-2,Nassouhi Prism, 11.7-13)......Page 102 3. Inscription on cylinder seal of Cyrus I (PFS 93*)......Page 103 5. The Persian tribes (Hdt. I, 125)......Page 104 6. Nabonidus' vision of Cyrus' war against the Medes (VAB 4, Nbn.1)......Page 105 7. Herodotus' story of Cyrus' defeat of Astyages (Hdt. I, 127-8; 130)......Page 106 8. Ctesias' story of Cyrus' defeat of Astyages and its consequences(FGrH 688 F9 (1-3))......Page 107 10. The death of Astyages (FGrH 688 F9(6))......Page 108 12. Croesus plans to make war on Cyrus (Hdt. I, 53-4)......Page 109 13. Croesus attacks Cyrus (Hdt. I, 73; 75-7)......Page 110 14. Croesus defeated and Sardis besieged (Hdt. I, 79-81)......Page 111 15. The fall of Sardis (Hdt. I, 84)......Page 112 16. The Persians in Sardis and the fate of Croesus (Hdt. I, 85-8)......Page 113 17. The fate of Croesus recalled by the poet Bacchylides (Maehler1982/1997,F3)......Page 114 18. The capture of Sardis (FGrH 688 F9 ( 4 ) )......Page 116 21. Marduk leads Cyrus into Babylon (Weissbach 1911 + BIN 2, no.32)......Page 119 22. Cyrus' activities in Babylonian cities......Page 123 23. A poetic condemnation of Nabonidus and paean in praise of Cyrus (BHT, 83-91)......Page 124 24. Cyrus' rule in Babylonia in 'prophetic' perspective (BHLT, 28; 32-3)......Page 129 25. Berossus' account of Cyrus' Babylonian conquest (FGrH 680 F10a)......Page 130 26. Yahweh chooses Cyrus as ruler of the world (Isaiah 41; 42; 44-45)......Page 131 27. Cyrus' decree sanctioning restoration of the Jerusalem temple (Ezra 6.2-5)......Page 133 28. Herodotus' account (Hdt. I, 177-8; 188-92)......Page 134 29. The tomb of Cyrus at Pasargadae (Arr. Anab. VI, 29.4-7)......Page 136 30. Herodotus' story of Cyrus' origins and birth (Hdt. I, 95; 107-13)......Page 141 31. Cyrus restored to his parents (Hdt. I, 114-23)......Page 143 32. Cyrus' family and youth according to Ctesias (FGrH 90 F66(1-7))......Page 146 33. Cyrus' family according to Xenophon (Xen. Cyrop. I, 2.1-3.2)......Page 147 34. Herodotus' moralising tale of Cyrus' death among the nomads(Hdt. I, 201; 205-6; 208; 211-14)......Page 148 35. Cyrus' death in the east according to Ctesias (FGrH 688 F9(7-8))......Page 150 36. Xenophon's picture: Cyrus dies at home surrounded by his familyand officials (Xen. Cyrop. VIII, 7)......Page 151 37. Cyrus' reputation (Hdt. III, 160)......Page 152 Introduction......Page 153 1. Cambyses' parentage (Hdt. II, 1)......Page 155 3. A Persian story (Hdt. III, 1)......Page 156 4. The Egyptian version (Hdt. III, 2)......Page 157 6. Further variants on the story (FGrH 688 F13a)......Page 158 7. The Persian preparations......Page 159 8. The fall of Egypt (Hdt. III, 10-11; 13)......Page 161 9. The fate of the Egyptian king......Page 162 10. Campaigns to consolidate frontiers......Page 164 11. The autobiography of Udjahorresne(t) (Posener 1936, no.1)......Page 166 12. Epitaph of Apis bull from Cambyses' sixth year (Posener 1936, no.3)......Page 171 14. Regulations on the verso of the Demotic Chronicle(BN 215, rev.C-D)......Page 173 16. The Persians curtail the power of Samos (Hdt. III, 120-5)......Page 176 17. The maltreatment of Amasis' mummy (Hdt. III, 16)......Page 178 18. The affair of the Apis bull (Hdt. III, 27-9)......Page 179 20. Cambyses kills his sister (Hdt. III, 32)......Page 180 21. Cambyses' murder of a Persian courtier's son (Hdt. III, 34-5)......Page 181 23. Cambyses' punishment of a corrupt judge (Hdt. V, 25)......Page 182 Introduction (with Appendix on the chronology of Darius I's accession)......Page 184 1. Darius' account of his seizure of the throne (DB)......Page 190 2. Bardiya: the blot on the Achaemenid escutcheon (Aeschylus,Persians, 765-79)......Page 207 3. The murder of Bardiya (Smerdis): Herodotus' version (Hdt. III, 30)......Page 208 4. Bardiya's revolt and Cambyses' death according to Herodotus(Hdt. III, 61-8)......Page 209 5. Ctesias' story of how Cambyses murdered his brother, died and amagus acceded to the throne (FGrH 688 F 13 (11-15) )......Page 212 7. The imposture discovered and the magus denounced (Hdt. III,68-9; 74-5)......Page 214 9. The seven noble conspirators and the killing of the impostor(Hdt. III, 70-3; 76-9)......Page 216 11. The seven conspirators agree privileges among themselves (Hdt. III, 83-4)......Page 219 12. Cyrus the Great dreams of Darius' future kingship (Hdt. I, 209-10)......Page 220 13. Darius wins the kingship (Hdt. III, 84-8)......Page 221 15. The elimination of Oroites (Hdt. III, 126-8)......Page 222 17. The removal of Aryandes (Hdt. IV, 166)......Page 224 18. A new foundation legend? (Ael., NA 12.21)......Page 225 19. Cyrus the Great inscribed into Darius' lineage (CMa; CMb; CMc)......Page 226 Part II: Achaemenid history and its problems......Page 227 Introduction......Page 228 1. Persian reconnaissance in Greece (Hdt. III, 135-6; 138)......Page 232 2. Samos becomes a Persian client principality (Hdt. III, 139-47; 149)......Page 233 3. The conquest of north-western India......Page 235 4. Reassertion of Persian control along the south-western front (Hdt. IV, 165; 167; 200-4)......Page 236 5. Revenge for earlier invasion (Hdt. IV, 1)......Page 240 7. Follow-up to preliminary reconnaissance (FGrH 688 F13(20))......Page 241 8. Gathering the forces (Hdt. IV, 83; 85; 87)......Page 242 9. The Persian advance by land and sea (Hdt. IV, 89; 91-3; 97-8)......Page 243 10. The Scythian response (Hdt. IV, 1 02; 1 20-8)......Page 244 11. A Scythian challenge to the Persians (Hdt. IV, 131-3)......Page 246 12. Darius' withdrawal (Hdt. IV, 133-8; 140-3)......Page 247 13. An abbreviated story of Darius' expedition (FGrH 688 F13(21))......Page 249 16. The Danube as Persia's frontier (Plut. Alex. 36.4)......Page 250 1 8. The Paeonians deported (Hdt. V, 14-15; 17; 98)......Page 252 20. Otanes replaces Megabazus (Hdt. V, 25-6)......Page 253 22. Raw materials and manpower (Hdt. V, 11; 23)......Page 254 23. Precious metal deposits in Thrace......Page 255 25. Persian depots and forts in Thrace (Hdt. VII, 25; 59; 105)......Page 256 29. Local links with the Persian court (Thuc. VI, 59)......Page 257 31. The Naxos debacle (Hdt. V, 28; 30-4)......Page 258 32. The decision to revolt (Hdt. V, 35-8)......Page 260 33. The Ionian rebels appeal for help in Sparta (Hdt. V, 49-51)......Page 262 34. Aristagoras is promised help by Athens and Eretria (Hdt. V, 55;96-7; 99)......Page 263 35. The burning of Sardis (Hdt. V, 100-2)......Page 264 36. Extension of the revolt (498/7) (Hdt. V, 103-5)......Page 265 37. Persian action in Cyprus (Hdt. V, 108-16)......Page 266 38. Persian action in Ionia (Hdt. V, 11 7-23)......Page 267 39. The flight of Aristagoras (Hdt. V, 124)......Page 269 40. Histiaeus' arrival in Sardis (496?) (Hdt. VI, 1-6)......Page 270 42. The Persian fleet delayed at Lindos? (FGrH 532, I)......Page 271 43. The Battle of Lade (494) (Hdt. VI, 6-11)......Page 272 44. The fall of Miletus (494) (Hdt. VI, 18-22)......Page 273 46. Capture and execution of Histiaeus (Hdt. VI, 26; 28-30)......Page 274 47. Reconquest and reprisals (493) (Hdt. VI, 31-3)......Page 275 48. Miltiades, tyrant in the Chersonese, is forced to flee (493) (Hdt. VI, 41.1-2)......Page 276 49. The Persians reorganise affairs in Ionia (493-2) (Hdt. VI, 42-3)......Page 277 51. Preparations for a campaign in the Aegean (Hdt. VI, 94-5)......Page 278 53. Persia establishes control over the islands (Hdt. VI, 98-101)......Page 279 54. Persian patronage of Greek shrines......Page 280 56. Datis' army defeated at Marathon (490) (Hdt. VI, 112-13; 115-16)......Page 281 57. The Eretrian captives resettled (Hdt. VI, 119)......Page 282 59. Darius' last years (Hdt. VII, 1; 4)......Page 283 60. Darius' mortal illness (FGrH 688 F13(23))......Page 284 Introduction......Page 285 1. Darius' choice of successor (XPf)......Page 291 2. Darius' sons compete for the succession (Hdt. VII, 2-3)......Page 292 4. Xerxes' court and family (FGrH 688 F13(24))......Page 293 5. Xerxes' suitability to rule (Hdt. VII, 187)......Page 294 7. Revolt in Babylonia (FGrH 688 F13(26))......Page 295 8. A possible reprisal for Babylon's revolt? (Hdt. I, 183)......Page 296 9. The decision to invade (Hdt. VII, 5-6)......Page 297 11. Securing the route for the army and the fleet (Hdt. VII, 22; 24)......Page 298 12. Bridging the Hellespont (Hdt. VII, 33-5)......Page 299 15. All of Thessaly joins the Persians (Hdt. VII, 1 72; 1 74)......Page 300 17. The contingents gather to set forth (Hdt. VII, 26)......Page 301 20. The crossing of the Hellespont (Hdt. VII, 55)......Page 303 22. The march through Thrace (Hdt. VII, 115)......Page 304 24. The order of marching and the fleet sent ahead (Hdt. VII, 121-2;124; 127)......Page 305 26. Part of the Persian fleet destroyed in a storm (Hdt. VII, 188; 190-2)......Page 306 27. Persian ships captured by Greeks (Hdt. VII, 192-5)......Page 307 29. Persian and Greek forces confront each other at Thermopylae(Hdt. VII, 201; 207; 210-12)......Page 308 30. The Persians circumvent the Pass of Thermopylae (Hdt. VII, 213;215; 217-18)......Page 309 31. The final Persian assault and victory (Hdt. VII, 223-5; 233)......Page 310 32. The Greek and Persian fleets face and engage each other (Hdt. VIII, 4; 6-7; 10)......Page 311 33. The Persian fleet victorious against the Greeks (Hdt. VIII, 15-16; 18; 21)......Page 312 35. Xerxes displays the corpses of the defeated (Hdt. VIII, 24-5)......Page 313 37. The Persian advance through Doris and Phocis (Hdt. VIII, 31-2)......Page 314 40. Athens falls to the Persians (Hdt. VIII, 51-3)......Page 315 41. News of the Persian victory relayed to the royal centre (Hdt. VIII, 54)......Page 316 43. A later account of the Battle of Salamis (D.S. XI, 17-19)......Page 317 45. Mardonius prepares for another offensive in spring (Hdt. VIII, 113)......Page 319 47. Xerxes sails to Ionia (Hdt. VIII, 118)......Page 320 49. Persians encounter setbacks in Mygdonia and Thrace......Page 321 50. Greek attempts to compel islanders to join them (Hdt. VIII, 111-12)......Page 322 51. Persian overtures to Athens (Hdt. VIII, 136; 140)......Page 323 52. Stalemate in the Aegean (Hdt. VIII, 130-2)......Page 324 54. Argos in league with the Persians (Hdt. IX, 12)......Page 325 57. The Persian cavalry charge (Hdt. IX, 20; 22-5)......Page 326 59. Mardonius' death (Hdt. IX, 62-3)......Page 328 60. Artabazus withdraws his forces (Hdt. IX, 66; 89-90)......Page 329 61. A sea-battle at Mycale (Hdt. IX, 90; 96-7; 99; 102)......Page 331 63. A votive statue from Athens dedicated in Sardis (Plut. Them. 31.1)......Page 333 66. The Persians lose control of Sestos (Hdt. IX, 114-16; 118-19; 120)......Page 334 68. Athens forms a league to pursue the struggle (Thuc. I, 96.1)......Page 336 70. The Persians lose forts in Thrace (Hdt. VII, 106; 107)......Page 337 72. A Lycian city tries to resist Cimon (Plut. Cim. 12.4)......Page 338 73. An Athenian victory over the Persian forces on land and sea (466) (D.S. XI, 60.5-61.3)......Page 339 76. Xerxes sets out for Iran after Mycale (D.S. XI, 36)......Page 340 78. A Persian counterattack in Asia Minor?......Page 341 81. Pausanias ingratiates himself with Xerxes and the Persians reorganise Hellespontine Phrygia (Thuc. I, 128.2-131.1)......Page 343 82. Loyal Greeks established as local lords in the Troad (Xen. Hell. III, 1.6)......Page 345 85. Xerxes continues his father's work (XPg)......Page 347 87. Xerxes and Darius: two sides of the same coin......Page 348 88. Xerxes restates and elaborates the imperial ideology (XPh)......Page 351 90. Xerxes' death (BM 32234)......Page 353 92. Three stories about the assassination of Xerxes and Artaxerxes 1'saccession......Page 354 Introduction......Page 357 1. The new king's administrative arrangements (D.S. XI, 71.1-2)......Page 361 3. Court hierarchy and etiquette reformulated? (Plut. Them. 29.5; Plut. Mor. 565a)......Page 362 5. Artaxerxes completes his father's palace (s) at Persepolis......Page 363 6. The course of the Egyptian rebellion as seen by a later historian (D.S. XI, 71.3-6; 74; 77.1-5)......Page 366 7. The Egyptian revolt in Athenian perspective (Thuc. I, 104; 109-10)......Page 368 9. A Persian story of the Egyptian revolt and its outcome (FGrH 688 F14(3 6-9))......Page 370 10. A revolt in the satrapy of Beyond-the-River? (FGrH 688 F14(40-2))......Page 372 12. Erythrae between Persia and Athens (ML, no. 40)......Page 373 13. A peace agreed between Persia and Athens? (450/449) (D.S. XII, 4.4-6)......Page 374 14. The Persians exploit political rivalry on Samos (441/0) (Thuc. I,115.2-5)......Page 375 16. Sparta plans to enlist Persian help in the war against Athens (430) (Thuc.II, 67.1)......Page 376 18. A Persian embassy to Sparta intercepted (424/3) (Th uc. IV, 50)......Page 377 19. Artaxerxes 1's death and his offspring (424/3) (FGrH 688 F14(46); F15(47))......Page 378 20. The struggle for the kingship (FGrH 688 F15(48-50))......Page 379 21. The family and court of Darius II (FGrH 688 F15(51))......Page 380 23. Darius II asserts the legitimacy of his kingship (D2Sb; D2Ha)......Page 381 24. Peace between Athens and Persia, c. 423 ?......Page 382 25. Rebellion by the satrap of Sardis (FGrH 688 F15(53))......Page 383 26. Persia intervenes in the Athens-Sparta conflict (Thuc. VIII, 5.4-6.3)......Page 384 28. The rebel Amorges is taken (Thuc. VIII, 28.2-4)......Page 385 29. A Lycian dynast oversees an agreement between Tissaphernes andSparta (TAM I, 44)......Page 386 31. Pharnabazus comes to terms with the Athenians (409/8?) (Xen. Hell.1,3.8-9)......Page 388 32. The arrival of Cyrus the Younger on the western front (408?)(Xen. Hell. 1,4.1-7)......Page 389 34. Unrest in Egypt (AD, 5)......Page 390 37. Darius campaigns in the northern mountains ofIran (Xen. Hell. II, 1.13)......Page 392 Introduction......Page 394 1. Darius II's death (Xen. Anab. 1,1-2)......Page 400 4. Cyrus summoned to court to explain his behaviour (Xen. Hell. II, 1. 8-9)......Page 401 7. Cyrus builds up his army (Xen. Anab. 1,1.6-7; 9-11)......Page 403 8. Sparta colludes with Cyrus but keeps its options open (D.S. XlV,19.4-5; 21.1-2)......Page 404 10. The Persian king receives an early warning of his brother's plans(D. S. XlV, 1 1. 2 - 3)......Page 405 12. Lycaonia refuses aid (Xen. Anab. I, 2.19)......Page 406 14. The Cilician dynast hedges his bets (D.S. XlV, 20.2-3)......Page 407 17. Two mercenary leaders defect (Xen. Anab. I, 4.7)......Page 408 19. A traitor in Cyrus' camp (Xen. Anab. I, 6.1-3)......Page 409 21. Gathering the royal forces......Page 410 22. Artaxerxes II proclaims his genealogical legitimacy (A2Sa + Mayrhofer 1978, 7.1)......Page 411 23. Cyrus' Greek troops offer their services to Artaxerxes......Page 412 25. The commander of Cyrus' troops changes sides (Xen. Anab. II, 4.1-2;4.9)......Page 413 28. Tissaphernes tries to impose his control (D.S. XlV, 35.6-7)......Page 414 29. A Spartan general recruits the remnants of Cyrus' mercenaries (400-399) (Xen. Hell. III, 1.4-6)......Page 415 31. The Persian king appoints an Athenian to command the navy (398or 397) (D.S. XIV, 39.1-4)......Page 416 34. Con on intercepts Spartan ships returning from Egypt (396) (D.S. XlV, 79.4-8)......Page 417 35. Agesilaus despatched to Asia Minor (396) (Xen. Hell. III, 4.2-6)......Page 418 36. Persian intelligence for the Spartans (Xen. Hell. III, 4.10)......Page 419 38. Artaxerxes' anger and the execution of Tissaphernes (Poly. VII, 16)......Page 420 39. Agesilaus diverted to raid Hellespontine Phrygia and Paphlagonia(autumn 395) (Hell.Oxy. 21.1-3, 5-6; 22.1-3)......Page 421 40. Spithridates and the Paphlagonians abandon Agesilaus (Xen. Hell.IV, 1. 2 6-8)......Page 423 42. Persia ejects Spartan garrisons (394/3) (Xen. Hell. IV, 8.1-2)......Page 424 44. Persians between Athens and Sparta (393-1) (Xen. Hell. IV, 8.12-14, 16-17, 21)......Page 425 46. The perverse behaviour of Athens and Sparta (390-389) (Xen.Hell. IV, 8.24)......Page 427 47. The King's Peace (387/6) (Xen. Hell. V, 1.25, 28, 30-1)......Page 428 48. A panegyrist's view of Evagoras' seizure of power in Salamis (c.415?) (Isoc. Evag. 23-32; 47)......Page 429 49. Friction between Evagoras and Artaxerxes II (before 398)(FGrH 688 F30)......Page 430 50. Kition commemorates its victory over Evagoras (392/1?)(Yon and Sznycer 1991)......Page 431 51. Evagoras' aggressive expansion and the Persian reaction (c.391-386)(D. S. XlV, 9 8.1-4)......Page 433 52. Persian preparations against Evagoras and his allies (c. 3 91-386) (D. S. XlV, 110. 5; XV, 2)......Page 434 54. Evagoras obtains grudging help from Egypt (D.S. XV, 4.3; 8.1)......Page 435 56. The Persians reach a settlement with Evagoras (381?) (D.S. XV, 8.1-3; 9.1-2)......Page 436 57. A late summary of the end of the first period of Persian rule in Egypt (FGrH 609 F3c)......Page 437 58. One of Cyrus' partisans seeks refuge at the Egyptian court (401/0) (D. S. XlV, 3 5 . 3-5)......Page 438 59. Aramaic letter referring to the end of Amyrtaeus' reign and the accession of Nepherites I (398) (BP, 13)......Page 439 60. Amyrtaeus and the rulers of Dynasty XXIX judged in an Egyptiantract on kingship (BN 215, obv.III 18-21; IV, 1-3; 7-12)......Page 440 61. Akoris' allies (FGrH 115 F1 03)......Page 441 63. A Persian commander seeks help from Akoris (384/3?) (D.S. XV, 9.3-4; 18.1)......Page 442 64. Egypt and Persia prepare to face each other......Page 443 65. The rulers of Dynasty XXX according to an Egyptian tract on kingship (BN 215, obv.IV 4-5; 13-18)......Page 444 66. The war against Egypt (374/3) (D.S. XV, 41-43.4)......Page 445 68. Fighting in northern Mesopotamia in 367 (Sachs and Hunger 1988, no.-366)......Page 447 69. The Egyptian king seeks refuge at the Persian court (361/0-359/8)(D.S. XV, 92.2-5)......Page 448 70. The Greek cities affirm their neutrality vis-a.-vis the Persian king (IG IV, 556)......Page 449 71. A new royal palace at Susa (A 2Sd; Vallat 1979)......Page 450 72. The death of Artaxerxes II (359/8) (Plut. Artox. 30)......Page 452 73. Artaxerxes III recites his genealogy (A3Pa)......Page 453 74. Artaxerxes III succeeds his father (D.S. XV, 93.1)......Page 454 75. Artaxerxes Ill's war against Egypt delayed by rebellions in Phoenicia and Cyprus (D.S. XVI, 40.3; 40.5-43.3; 44.1-2, 4; 45.1-6; 46.1-3)......Page 456 76. Sidonian prisoners arrive in Babylon and Susa (345) (ABC, no.9)......Page 459 77. Egypt reconquered (343/2) (D.S. XVI, 46.4-7; 51)......Page 460 78. Two contemporary Egyptian responses to the Persian reconquest......Page 461 79. Artaxerxes III' s reconquest in hostile retrospect......Page 463 80. Artaxerxes III supports Perinthus against Philip II of Macedon (340/339) (D.S. XVI, 75.1-2)......Page 464 Introduction......Page 465 1. Artaxerxes III is succeeded by his son (Hunger 2001: 40-5)......Page 470 3. A tale of assassinations at the Persian court (D. S. XVII, 5.3 -6)......Page 471 4. Babylonian echoes of the struggle for the throne......Page 472 5. A story of Darius' elevation to the throne because of his bravery (Justin X, 3.2-5)......Page 473 6. Philip II of Macedon sends an advance guard to Abydos (spring 336) (D. S. XVI, 9 1 .2)......Page 474 7. Darius III responds to the Macedonian incursion (336-5) (D.S. XVII,7 . 1 -3, 8-1 0)......Page 475 8. Persians and Macedonians meet on the Granicus (May 334)......Page 476 9. Sardis surrenders to Alexander (Arr. Anab. I, 17.3)......Page 477 10. Miletus sits on the fence (summer 334) (Arr. Anab. I, 18.3-4)......Page 478 11. Resistance at Halicarnassus (late summer 334) (Arr. Anab. I, 20.2-3; 23.1-5)......Page 479 12. The Persian counteroffensive in the Aegean (spring-summer 334) (Arr. Anab. II, 1.1-2.3)......Page 480 13. A setback for the Persians in Caria (spring 333) (Arr. Anab. II, 5.7)......Page 481 14. Sparta supports the Persian commanders (summer-November 333) (Arr. Anab. II, 13.4-6)......Page 482 16. Amyntas in Egypt (winter 333-2) (D.S. XVII, 48.2-4)......Page 483 17. Damascus betrayed (winter 333/2) (Q.c. III, 12.27-13.4; 13.17)......Page 485 18. Macedonian successes in Phoenicia (winter 333/2) (Arr. Anab. II, 13.7-8; 15.6)......Page 486 19. The reduction of Tyre (spring-summer 332) (D.S. XVII, 40.2-3; 46.3-4)......Page 487 20. Persian counterattacks and setbacks in Asia Minor and the Aegean (end 333 to early summer 332)......Page 488 21. Persian naval contingents join Alexander (spring 332) (Arr. Anab. II, 20.1-3)......Page 489 22. Local people obstruct Alexander's attack on Tyre (late April 332?) (Q.c. IV, 2.24-3.1)......Page 490 24. The fall of Egypt (late 332 to spring 331) (Arr. Anab. III, 1.1-2)......Page 491 25. Revolt in Samaria (spring 331) (Q.c. IV, 8.9-11)......Page 492 26. Darius' military preparations (D.S. XVII, 53; 55.1-2)......Page 493 27. The Battle of Gaugamela and the surrender of Babylon (18 September to 21 October 331) (Sachs and Hunger 1988, no.-330)......Page 494 28. Darius' retreat to Iran (winter 331/0) (D.S. XVII, 64.1-2)......Page 495 29. Susasurrenders (December 331) (Arr.Anab.III, 16.6-7)......Page 496 30. Resistance, treason and destruction in Fars (January to May 330)......Page 25 31. Darius leaves Ecbatana (Arr. Anab. III, 19.4-5)......Page 498 33. Dissension in the Persian camp (Q.c. v, 9.1, 13-17)......Page 499 34. The plot against Darius (Q.c. v, 10.1-9)......Page 500 35. Darius is arrested and killed (Arr. Anab. III, 21.1, 4-5, 10; 22.1)......Page 501 36. Oligarchs massacred at Ephesus (summer 334) (Arr. Anab. I, 17.11-12)......Page 503 37. Aspendus pays the penalty for not complying with Alexander's terms (winter 334) (Arr. Anab. I, 26.2-3, 5; 27.3-4)......Page 504 38. The autobiography of Somtutefnakht (Tresson 1931)......Page 505 39. The autobiography of Pet osiris (Lefebvre 1924)......Page 507 40. Alexander's entry into Babylon......Page 508 41. Alexander's victory in a Babylonian prophecy (BHLT, 34-5)......Page 509 Part III: Kings and kingship......Page 513 Introduction......Page 514 1. A vision of imperial space (DPh; DH)......Page 521 2. Persia holds Egypt (DSab; Yoyotte 1974)......Page 522 4. The king depicts and enumerates the subjects of his realm (A?P)......Page 528 5. The vast span of the empire (Xen. Anab. I, 7.6)......Page 529 6. Linking centre and periphery (DZc)......Page 530 7. Persian supremacy in the empire (DPe)......Page 531 9. The centrality of Persia (Hdt. I, 134)......Page 532 10. The construction of the Persepolis citadel (DPf)......Page 533 11. A later description of Persepolis (D.S. XVII, 70.1-2; 71.1, 3-8)......Page 534 12. The fortifications of Susa (DSe)......Page 536 13. Darius I's palace at Susa......Page 537 14. Artaxerxes II's palace at Ec batana (?) (A2Hb )......Page 542 15. A later description of Ecbatana (Polyb. X, 27.5-10)......Page 546 16. War and peace (DNa)......Page 547 17. The kingly qualities (DNb; XPl)......Page 548 18. A Greek disquisition on Persian kingship (Xen. Anab. I, 9.1-2, 5-8, 11, 13-20, 22-8)......Page 551 19. Standard features of Persian kingship noted by classical writers......Page 553 20. The king's table supplied by the empire......Page 554 21. The royal gardens......Page 555 22. A royal pageant (Xen. eyrop. VIII, 3.1, 3, 5, 9-19, 24-5, 33-4)......Page 559 24. The king and army in marching order (Hdt. VII, 40-1)......Page 562 25. Staging the empire (Hdt. VII, 61-80; 83-7.1; 89-94.1; 95)......Page 564 26. King and peasant......Page 574 28. The royal dress (Q.c. III, 3.17-19)......Page 576 29. The royal audience......Page 579 30. The king's jewelled bower......Page 584 31. The king dismounts (Athen. XII, 514a)......Page 585 32. The king meets his enemies face to face (Plut. Artox. 11.1-3)......Page 586 33. The royal victor......Page 587 34. The hardy soldier (Plut. Artox. 24.1-3, 10-11)......Page 589 35. A contemporary Greek impression of Persian beliefs and cult (Hdt. I, 131-2)......Page 593 36. A later writer's view of Persian religion (Strabo XV, 3.13-14)......Page 596 37. Divine protection invoked for a royal building (A2Ha)......Page 599 38. God and king entwined (DSk)......Page 600 39. Grain for Auramazda (PF 337)......Page 601 42. Beer for Adad and Napirisha (PF 353)......Page 602 44. Record of grain dispensed for cult in 499/8 (PF 1960, 11.3-4)......Page 603 46. Magi interpret a solar eclipse (Hdt. VII, 37.2-3)......Page 604 49. Cyrus institutes the magi (Xen. Cyrop. VIII, 1. 23)......Page 605 51. 'Guardians of the fire' in Fars (PF 741)......Page 606 53. Xerxes at the Hellespont (Hdt. VII, 54)......Page 607 55. An image of the sun (Q.c. III, 3.8, 11)......Page 609 58. The Persian king at the festival of Mithra (Athen. X, 434e)......Page 610 59. Artaxerxes II and the cult of Anahita (FGrH 680 F 11 )......Page 611 60. The lions of Anahita's shrine (Aelian NA 12.23)......Page 612 63. The king-to-be undergoes a rite de passage (Plut. Artox. 3.1-2)......Page 613 64. The king's birthday (Hdt. IX, 110.2-111.1)......Page 614 66. Mourning for the king......Page 616 67. Alexander's funeral cortege: an impression of Persian royalobsequies (D.S. XVIII, 26.1-28.2)......Page 617 68. Cults at the tombs of royalty......Page 619 Introduction......Page 621 1. The furnishings of the royal tent (Hdt. IX, 82.1-2)......Page 624 2. The royal bathroom (Plut. Alex. 20.12-13)......Page 625 4. The 'Gateway of All Lands' at Persepolis (XPa)......Page 626 5. The royal bodyguard......Page 627 7. The royal cup-bearer (Xen. eyrop. I, 3.8-9)......Page 629 10. The king's drinking water (Hdt. I, 188)......Page 630 1 2. Royal doctors and Persian medicine......Page 631 15. Effeminate creatures......Page 633 16. Naturally loyal and able servants (Xen. eyrop. VII, 5.59-65)......Page 634 19. Eunuchs in lowly positions (Plut. Artox. 17.5-6)......Page 635 21. The care of royal children (Plato, Ale. 121 d)......Page 636 24. From courtesan to royal concubine (Plut. Artox. 26.5-9)......Page 638 26. The life of the concubine (Esther 2.1 2-14)......Page 639 29. Women of the royal family......Page 640 32. Princesses receive provisions for travel......Page 643 33. A Persian lady archer (FGrH 688 F15(55))......Page 644 35. The queen-mother's retinue (D.S. XVII, 38.1)......Page 645 37. Personnel attached to royal women......Page 646 38. Parysatis: a cruel queen or the defender of dynastic integrity?......Page 647 39. 'The king's dinner' (Poly. IV, 3.32)......Page 649 40. Food supplies for the king in Fars......Page 652 41. The Persian meal (Hdt. I, 133.2)......Page 654 42. Dining with the king (FGrH 689 F2)......Page 655 43. The royal banqueting staff (Athen. XIII, 607f-608a)......Page 656 44. Royal tableware......Page 658 45. Royal entertainment......Page 659 46. Satrapal parks......Page 660 47. Audience with the satrap......Page 661 48. Satrapalluxury......Page 663 49. A mirror image of the royal court (Xen. eyrop. VIII, 6.10)......Page 664 Introduction......Page 665 1. Broad distinctions......Page 669 2. Persian marriage and child bearing......Page 670 3. Persian military ethos......Page 671 5. Tribal affiliation (PF 1797)......Page 672 7. Relative ranking (Xen. Anab. II, 2.1)......Page 673 8. Persian education......Page 674 9. Entitlement to, and benefits of, education (Xen. eyrop. I, 2.15)......Page 675 10. A school for future rulers (Xen. Anab. I, 9.3-4)......Page 676 11. Songs and tales of the Persians......Page 677 13. Feeding the princes' mounts (PF 1793)......Page 678 16. Proximity to the king......Page 679 18. The register of benefactors......Page 680 20. Service and reward......Page 681 21. The unmatched quality of royal gifts (Xen. Cyrop. VIII, 2.7-8)......Page 682 22. Types of gifts......Page 684 23. Public conferment of gifts and honours......Page 685 25. Silver distributed at royal command......Page 686 26. Food from the royal table......Page 688 27. The king reaps the benefits of his generosity (Xen. Cyrop.VIII, 2.10-12)......Page 689 29. The limits of reciprocity......Page 690 30. The career of Megabyzus (FGrH 688 F14(34; 43))......Page 692 31. Episodes from the life of Tiribazus......Page 693 32. Orontes' chequered progress......Page 696 34. Execution of a traitor (Xen. Anab. I, 6.10)....

This lavish set of books contains the most complete collection of raw material for reconstructing the history of the Achaemenid Persian Empire to date.

Studying Achaemenid history has been difficult in the past because original sources include texts from hugely disparate origins, many different languages and various periods in history; the risk is to rely too heavily on biased and often inaccurate Greek and Roman sources.

Amelie Kuhrt presents here an unprecedented collection of key texts to form a balanced representation of all aspects of the Empire, in translations from their original Greek, Old Persian, Akkadian, Hebrew, Aramaic, Egyptian or Latin.

Kuhrt selects from classical writers, the Old Testament, royal inscriptions, administrative documents and Babylonian historical writing, as well as the evidence of monuments, artefacts and archaeological sites. All material is accompanied by a detailed introduction to the sources and guidelines to their interpretation.

A truly monumental achievement, this collection will prove to be a major resource for any student of Persian history, from undergraduate level to the advanced scholar.

Bringing together a wide variety of material in many different languages that exists from the substantial body of work left by this large empire, The Persian Empire presents annotated translations, together with introductions to the problems of using it in order to gain an understanding of the history and working os this remarkable political entity. The Achaemenid empire developed in the region of modern Fars (Islam) and expanded to unite territories stretching from the Segean and Egypt in the west to Central Asia and north-west India, which it ruled for over 200 years until its conquest by Alexander of Macedon. Although all these regions had long since been in contact with each other, they had never been linked under a single regime. The Persian empire represents an important phase of transformation for its subjects, such as the Jews, as well as those living on its edges, such as the European Greeks. Introduction. The Sources -- Prehistory And Formation Of The Empire (c.750-520). The Medes ; Cyrus The Great ; The Reign Of Cambyses ; From Cambyses To Darius I -- Achaemenid History And Its Problems. The Empire Under Darius I : Expansion, Revolt, Consolidation ; The Reign Of Xerxes ; From Artaxerxes I To The Last Years Of Darius Ii (465-405) ; Artaxerxes Ii And Artaxerxes Ii (405-338) ; The Fall Of The Achaemenid Empire (338-330) -- Kings And Kingship. Images Of Empire, Visions Of Majesty And The Divine Framework ; The Organisation Of The Court ; Mechanisms Of Power -- Achaemenid Imperial Organisation. Tribute, Tax, Imposts ; Routes And Communication Networks ; Bureaucracy, Production, Settlement ; Unity And Diversity. Amélie Kuhrt. Originally Published: 2007. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.