Any discussion of Achaemenid religion is bound to be fascinating, but that discussion isn’t bound to Zoroastrianism. This one’s about all the other gods worshiped in Persia itself.
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68: The Other Gods That Are
Tag: Babylon
67: The Empire of Artaxerxes
At just over 40 years on the throne, Artaxerxes I was the second-longest reigning Achaemenid king. This is an episode for all of the little things and less detailed stories that played out in that time. From a new status quo in the west to dramatic building projects in the east, Artaxerxes was a busy guy.
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59: Holy War
Early in Xerxes’ reign, an infamous and dramatic story of religious conflict was inscribed at Persepolis. When Xerxes became king he put down a rebellion, but in the process encountered a community dedicated to a god or gods he considered false and immoral. As consequence he destroyed their sanctuary and worshiped Ahura Mazda in their place.
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Livius.org
Avesta.org
UT Austin Old Iranian Languages
300: Rise of An Empire Review Part 1
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In The Words of Zarathustra
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58: Persia’s First Family
As the reign of another king draw’s toward a close, it’s time to look at the royal family. Xerxes’ household was like a microcosm of early Achaemenid history. His mother, Atossa, drew a direct connection back to Cyrus, his uncles, cousins, and siblings were woven into the political scene of his reign. Herodotus’ catalog of Persian commander’s is also a catalog of the Great King’s family, and many of them held positions of power as Satraps across the empire. The royal family is also an opportunity to look forward, and introduce the next generation of kings, satraps, generals, and rebels.
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300: Rise of An Empire Review Part 1
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In The Words of Zarathustra
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56: Domestic Affairs
As the war with the Greeks drags on into obscurity, it is time to investigate what was happening inside the empire under Xerxes. In the far west, most territories slipped from Persian control completely. The Mediterranean coastal region was reconfigured and given a new leadership class to carry on the war against Athens. In the royal court, Xerxes dealt with infamous court drama and intrigue, while in Babylon the daily minutia of government wore on and dealt with economic crises.
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57: Xerxes at Home
It’s time to return to the imperial heartland and tour the “city” that Xerxes’ built. The foundations may have been laid by Darius, but Xerxes was the one who turned Persepolis from a construction project into a shining palace complex in the Iranian plateau.
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Join me on The Oldest Stories podcast starting September 8, 2021!
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Interview: Sean Manning
I sat down with Dr. Sean Manning, author of the new book: Armed Force in the Teispid-Achaemenid Empire: Past Approaches, Future Prospects to discuss the military might of the Persian Empire (and why it’s so hard to find anything written about it). That includes both the academic nuances of which sources deserve primacy, and ever exciting topics of arms, armor, and tactics.
Dr. Manning’s research represents an invaluable resource for anyone trying to engage with the military history of Achaemenid Persia – especially when we try to disentangle it from the Greek Wars.
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Armed Force in the Teispid-Achaemenid Empire: Past Approaches, Future Prospects
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Recommended Articles:
> A “Primitive” Battle in Afghanistan
> Gadal-iama, English Translation
PhD Dissertation via the University of Innsbruck
300 Review
In The Words of Zarathustra
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Interview: Uzume Wijnsma
I sat down with an interview with Uzume Wijnsma, a researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Leiden, whose research has proved invaluable to the podcast on a few occasions. Her research focuses on Babylonian and Egyptian resistance to Achaemenid rule, and she is part of the Persia & Babylonia project at Leiden.
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Persia and Babylonia
Prosobab: Prosopography of Babylonia
300 Review
In The Words of Zarathustra
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46: The Persian Emperor
In 486 BCE, Darius the Great died while Egypt was in revolt. Over the following years, Xerxes put his empire back in order. First in Egypt, then twice in Babylon, the new king defeated rebel kings. The traditional nobility of the two most ancient and prestigious satrapies in the empire were punished, and Xerxes asserted himself as the King of Kings.
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50! Q&A Contact
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Oliver Stone’s Alexander (2004) on the Hellenistic Age Podcast
Hey everyone! My first collaborative episode is up! I spent some time chatting with Derek of the Hellenistic Age podcast about Oliver Stone’s Alexander (2004 and all the subsequent re-releases). You can check that out on the Hellenistic Age podcast feed (links below)! .
iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hellenistic-age-podcast/id1377920930?mt=2
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/3OVlqzoNg4KW987igfhskd
Stitcher
http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=225541&refid=stpr
RSS
http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:439067766/sounds.rss
