In Herodotus’ The Histories, after Xerxes pours a libation in a golden cup before crossing the bridge, Herodotus states: “But I cannot judge for certain whether he let these sink…as offerings to the sun…or whether he presented them to the sea in repentance” (7.54.3). Herodotus refuses to offer his definite opinion of Xerxes. By giving these two options, Herodotus leaves it to the audience to judge whether Xerxes offered the libations to the sun or to the sea in repentance. Further, by neither condemning nor praising Xerxes explicitly, Herodotus urges the reader to closely consider whether Xerxes is merely offering the libations to the gods as an act of worship or as a sign of regret for abusing the Hellespont. Moreover, by mentioning the Persian
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Despite the fact that water is a divinity among the Persians, Xerxes orders his men to verbally and physically abuse the river completely disregarding that custom. Moreover, the Persians believe that no one should even urinate or spit into the river, yet Xerxes, blinded by his rage, thinks it is acceptable to whip and curse the river. Despite his inferiority to the gods as human being, rage rapidly rushes into Xerxes causing him to think that he can penalize the divine river for raising the storm against his men. Furthermore, by claiming that he is the master of the river, he essentially considers himself to be greater than a Persian divinity, which evidently shows the extremity of his rage. Ignoring the superiority that Persians give to water, Xerxes allows himself to oppose the gods, whom he especially should respect as a Persian. Thus, his rage makes him unreasonably defy the highly regarded element of water among the …show more content…
After Pythios asks: “Please, sire…release one of my sons from the army…the eldest one” (VII. 38.3), Xerxes violates this custom because he “ thought Pythios would ask for anything but what he actually requested, so he told him he would grant this favor…Xerxes became enraged… ‘you are my slave and should be following me with your entire household’” (VII. 39.1). Although lying is a sin among the Persians, the king himself violates this custom. Instead of calmly dealing with the situation, Xerxes becomes uncontrollable angry at Pythios’ request because he thinks that Pythios is his slave who should be following Xerxes with his household rather than being concerned for his own family. Moreover, rather than hastily telling his son to leave without Xerxes’ permission, Pythios politely asks Xerxes for this one favor. Yet, with utter carelessness, Xerxes makes a blind promise and then, out of rage that Pythios asked to release his son, he immediately breaks that promise committing the sin of lying. Furthermore, Xerxes’ anger blinds him to such an extent that he calls his guest-friend a slave and shows dishonesty simultaneously. Thus, Xerxes’ rage cause him to disregard the Persian custom of never
Despite the fact that water is a divinity among the Persians, Xerxes orders his men to verbally and physically abuse the river completely disregarding that custom. Moreover, the Persians believe that no one should even urinate or spit into the river, yet Xerxes, blinded by his rage, thinks it is acceptable to whip and curse the river. Despite his inferiority to the gods as human being, rage rapidly rushes into Xerxes causing him to think that he can penalize the divine river for raising the storm against his men. Furthermore, by claiming that he is the master of the river, he essentially considers himself to be greater than a Persian divinity, which evidently shows the extremity of his rage. Ignoring the superiority that Persians give to water, Xerxes allows himself to oppose the gods, whom he especially should respect as a Persian. Thus, his rage makes him unreasonably defy the highly regarded element of water among the …show more content…
After Pythios asks: “Please, sire…release one of my sons from the army…the eldest one” (VII. 38.3), Xerxes violates this custom because he “ thought Pythios would ask for anything but what he actually requested, so he told him he would grant this favor…Xerxes became enraged… ‘you are my slave and should be following me with your entire household’” (VII. 39.1). Although lying is a sin among the Persians, the king himself violates this custom. Instead of calmly dealing with the situation, Xerxes becomes uncontrollable angry at Pythios’ request because he thinks that Pythios is his slave who should be following Xerxes with his household rather than being concerned for his own family. Moreover, rather than hastily telling his son to leave without Xerxes’ permission, Pythios politely asks Xerxes for this one favor. Yet, with utter carelessness, Xerxes makes a blind promise and then, out of rage that Pythios asked to release his son, he immediately breaks that promise committing the sin of lying. Furthermore, Xerxes’ anger blinds him to such an extent that he calls his guest-friend a slave and shows dishonesty simultaneously. Thus, Xerxes’ rage cause him to disregard the Persian custom of never