Achaemenid persia - History · Persia from Cyrus II to the Death of Darius III. YEAR 11 (NSW)...
Transcript of Achaemenid persia - History · Persia from Cyrus II to the Death of Darius III. YEAR 11 (NSW)...
ACHAEMENID PERSIAAN UNSUNG HERO FOR HISTORY TEACHERS
YEAR 12 (NSW) SYLLABUS
Ancient Societies:
Persian Society at the Time of Darius and Xerxes
Personalities in Their Times:
Xerxes
Historical Periods:
Persia from Cyrus II to the Death of Darius III
YEAR 11 (NSW) SYLLABUS
The Nature of Ancient History:1. The Investigation of Ancient Sites and Sources2. Historical Authentication and Reliability3. The Representation of the Ancient Past4. Preservation, Conservation and/or Reconstruction of Ancient Sites5. Cultural Heritage and the Role of Museums
Case Studies List B:Persepolis
Key Features of Ancient Societies:Women, Art and Architecture, Weapons and Warfare, Death and Funerary Customs, Power and Image, Trade and Cultural Contact
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4hwCz06Qlg
THE EVIDENCE
Greek Persian
WOMEN IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
WOMEN IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
WOMEN IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
DEATH AND BURIAL IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
DEATH AND BURIAL IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
DEATH AND BURIAL IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
Arrian
Cyrus was placed in a gold sarcophagus, “a couch
stood by its side with feet of wrought gold… and a table
stood there.”
Quintus Curtius
The king was buried with his weapons. Alexander
discovered “the king’s modering shield, two Scythian
ows, and a scimitar (akinakes).”
Herodotus
Speaking of secret rites, states that “a male Persian is
never buried until the body has been torn by a bird or a
dog.”
Strabo
Only the corpses of the magi “were never interred
without first being stripped by the birds or the dogs.”
DEATH AND BURIAL IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
Herodotus, on Scythian burial practices: “Everyone with great enthusiasm sets about raising a great mound, each
competing with his neighbor to make it as big as possible.”
Susa: an Achaemenid burial that dates to be beginning of the fourth century has been discovered. The body of a
woman had been placed in a bronze casket along with much jewellery belonging to the deceased, as well as
various Egyptian alabaster vases
Cemetery in Syria: earliest tombs go back to the eighth century, allowing for an understanding of the change in
practice from cremation to burial in the Achaemenid period
Strabo, on the punishment inflicted on anyone who makes an attempt on the life of the king: He “has his head
and arms cut off and his body cast forth [to the beasts].”
Ctesias: the body of the king was returned to Persia for burial and “by the ascent to the tomb itself there as a small
building put up for the Magians who used to guard Byrus’ tomb…. The king used to give them a sheep a day, a fixed
amount of meal and wine, and a horse each month to sacrifice to Cyrus.”
Persepolis Fortification Texts: provide quantitative information on the materials delivered to the caretakers of
different religions, including the Magi guarding Cyrus’ tomb → more than 360 sheep each year (no mention of
horses)
DEATH AND BURIAL IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
Magi would keep alight the eternal flame →
extinguished when the king died
Symbol of life being temporarily suspended until a
new king was proclaimed → not complete until after
the coronation ceremony
Plutarch: the successor “went to Pasargadae to have
the ceremony of his inauguration consummated by the
Persian priests.”
Diodorus: the body of a deceased king was carried
to the place of interment on a sumptuously
ornamented chariot → crown prince would
accompany the body to assert himself as the heir and
successor
WEAPONS AND WARFARE IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
WEAPONS AND WARFARE IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
Scythian Soldier Persian Immortals
WEAPONS AND WARFARE IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
WEAPONS AND WARFARE IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
Magi Akinakes detail
TRADE AND CULTURAL CONTACT ACROSS ACHAEMENID PERSIA
TRADE AND CULTURAL CONTACT ACROSS ACHAEMENID PERSIA
TRADE AND CULTURAL CONTACT ACROSS ACHAEMENID PERSIA
TRADE AND CULTURAL CONTACT ACROSS ACHAEMENID PERSIA
TRADE AND CULTURAL CONTACT ACROSS ACHAEMENID PERSIA
TRADE AND CULTURAL CONTACT ACROSS ACHAEMENID PERSIA
POWER AND IMAGE IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
POWER AND IMAGE IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA
POWER AND IMAGE IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA