xanthanotus
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Why Did He Decide To Invade Greece?
It would appear that when Xerxes first came to throne he had no desire to invade Greece. According to Herodotus ‘Xerxes at first was not at all interested in invading Greece...But Mardonius – the son of Gobryas and Darius’ sister and thus cousin to the king – who was present in court and had more influence with Xerxes then anyone else in the country, used constantly to talk to him on the subject.... he would say, “the Athenians have done us great injury, and its only right that they should be punished for their crimes”.’ (Herodotus, The Histories, 7, 5).
It seemed that Xerxes prior to the departure of the expedition, ‘called a conference of the leading men in the country, to find out their attitude towards the war and explain to them his own wishes.’ (Herodotus, The Histories, 7, 8). It become visible the Xerxes had a desire to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors ‘and to add as much power and territory to his empire as possible was the main motivating factor’ (Ancient Greece- using evidence, Pamela Bradley, 131) for his invasion of Greece. It can be assumed revenge against Athens was not the major reason for the invasion, as Xerxes had sent out for submission to most of the Greek cities.
It would appear the most significant aspect in deciding to go to war against Greece, was a dream had be Xerxes. According to Herodotus god came to Xerxes in his dream and said ‘now let me tell you what the result will be, if you do not at once undertake this war: just as in a moment you rose to greatness and power, so in a moment will you be brought low again.’ (Herodotus, The Histories, 7, 14). After this dream is would appear the Xerxes had made his mind up, Persia was going to invade Greece, it was god wish for it to happen.
It would appear that when Xerxes first came to throne he had no desire to invade Greece. According to Herodotus ‘Xerxes at first was not at all interested in invading Greece...But Mardonius – the son of Gobryas and Darius’ sister and thus cousin to the king – who was present in court and had more influence with Xerxes then anyone else in the country, used constantly to talk to him on the subject.... he would say, “the Athenians have done us great injury, and its only right that they should be punished for their crimes”.’ (Herodotus, The Histories, 7, 5).
It seemed that Xerxes prior to the departure of the expedition, ‘called a conference of the leading men in the country, to find out their attitude towards the war and explain to them his own wishes.’ (Herodotus, The Histories, 7, 8). It become visible the Xerxes had a desire to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors ‘and to add as much power and territory to his empire as possible was the main motivating factor’ (Ancient Greece- using evidence, Pamela Bradley, 131) for his invasion of Greece. It can be assumed revenge against Athens was not the major reason for the invasion, as Xerxes had sent out for submission to most of the Greek cities.
It would appear the most significant aspect in deciding to go to war against Greece, was a dream had be Xerxes. According to Herodotus god came to Xerxes in his dream and said ‘now let me tell you what the result will be, if you do not at once undertake this war: just as in a moment you rose to greatness and power, so in a moment will you be brought low again.’ (Herodotus, The Histories, 7, 14). After this dream is would appear the Xerxes had made his mind up, Persia was going to invade Greece, it was god wish for it to happen.