ACHAEMENID PERSIA AN 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 Sources 2. Historical Authentication and Reliability 3. The Representation of the Ancient Past 4. Preservation, Conservation and/or Reconstruction of Ancient Sites 5. 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

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THE EVIDENCE Greek Persian

WOMEN 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

POWER AND IMAGE IN ACHAEMENID PERSIA