Post on 15-Jan-2016
Persian Kings550 – 530: Cyrus the Great530 – 522: Cambyses
Son of Cyrus – but nothing of his caliber
Cambyses of Persia capturing Pharaoh Psammetichus III (from Persian seal, 6th Century b.c.
Mentioned in Ezra 4:6 by throne name Xerxes
Temple construction remained stalled during his reign
530 – 522: Cambyses
530: Assassinated his brother Smerdis
525: Attacked Egypt – took Memphis
(Egypt remained under Persian control until Alexander)
530 – 522: Cambyses
530: Assassinated his brother Smerdis
525: Attacked Egypt – took Memphis
524-522: Three disastrous campaigns
530 – 522: Cambyses
530: Assassinated his brother Smerdis
525: Attacked Egypt – took Memphis
524-522: Three disastrous campaigns
522: Cambyses outraged the Egyptians killing the Apis Bull
The Apis Bull of the Egyptians, one of their most sacred objects of worship
530 – 522: Cambyses
530: Assassinated his brother Smerdis
525: Attacked Egypt – took Memphis
524-522: Three disastrous campaigns
522: Cambyses outraged the Egyptians killing the Apis Bull
Commited suicide returning home – following coup in Ecbatana
Persian Kings550 – 530: Cyrus the Great
530 – 522: Cambyses
522: Pseudo-Smerdis
Gaumata was a Mede, a Magi, and pretended to be Smerdis
Killed in conspiracy led by Darius, a military commander
Gaumata (throne name: Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:7-24)), keeps temple construction at standstill
Hoped to reinstate Median religion and dominance
Persian Kings550 – 530: Cyrus the Great
530 – 522: Cambyses
522: Pseudo-Smerdis
522 – 486: Darius the Great
Darius the Great (521 – 486)Brilliant consolidator of the Persian Empire
Darius the Great (521 – 486)Brilliant consolidator of the Persian Empire
Reinstated Persian mono-theistic religion
Faravahar (or Ferohar), one of the primary symbols of Zoroastrianism, believed to be the depiction of a Fravashi (guardian spirit)
Darius the Great (521 – 486)Brilliant consolidator of the Persian Empire
Reinstated Persian mono-theistic religion
Established universal currency – the Daric
Gold darics such as this one (with a purity of 95.83%) were only issued by the king himself.
Darius the Great (521 – 486)Brilliant consolidator of the Persian Empire
Reinstated Persian mono-theistic religion
Established universal currency – the Daric
Undertook expansive building projects in Persepolis and elsewhere
The ruins of Persepolis. In the foreground is the treasure house, right behind the
Palace of Darius.
Persepolis ruins
Darius the Great (521 – 486)521 – 515: Put down minor revolts after Cambyses
520: Reauthorizes the temple project (Ezr. 5:3 – 6:12)
Haggai encouraged the people to work (520)
Zechariah preached his “night visions” (519)
1) Four Horses (1:7-17): The world was at peace under Darius
2) Four Horns (1:18-21): Disruptive powers now under control
3) Measuring Line (2:1-13): Jerusalem protected though unwalled
4) Priest Joshua (3): High Priest purified for his duties
Zechariah’s Night Visions
5) Zerubbabel (4): Zerubbabel told “not by might…but by my spirit”
6) Flying Scroll (5:1-4): A judgment intended to purge the land
7) Wicked Woman (5:5-11): Symbolized by wickedness banished
8) Four Chariots (6:1-8): Call God’s people from all places to return
Darius the Great (521 – 486)521 – 515: Putting down minor revolts after Cambyses
520: Darius reauthorizes the temple project (Ezr. 5:3 – 6:12)
Haggai encouraged the people to work (520)
Zechariah preached his “night visions” (519)
516: Second Temple is completed (Ezra 6:13 – 22)
514: Darius Launched his western campaign
514-512: Darius consolidates control of Asia Minor
510-500: Darius largely taken with building projects in his major cities
514-512: Darius consolidates control of Asia Minor
510-500: Darius largely taken with building projects in his major cities
498: Athenians sack Sardis – and provoke Ionian rebellion
514-512: Darius consolidates control of Asia Minor
510-500: Darius largely taken with building projects in his major cities
498: Athenians sack Sardis – and provoke Ionian rebellion
494: Darius puts down the Ionian rebellion
514-512: Darius consolidates control of Asia Minor
510-500: Darius largely taken with building projects in his major cities
498: Athenians sack Sardis – and provoke Ionian rebellion
494: Darius puts down the Ionian rebellion
490: Darius defeated at the famous Battle of Marathon
Tomb of Darius the Great (d. 486 b.c); located next to other Achaemenian kings at Naqsh-e Rustam