Greek Perspectives of the Achaemenid Empire
Subtitle: Persia Through the Looking Glass
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 224
ISBN-13: 9780748647231
Subjects: Iran, history, to 640
Description: Greek views of the Achaemenids and their Empire. How did the Greek view of Persia and Persians change so radically in the archaic and classical Greek sources that they turned from noble warriors into peacock loving cross dressers with murderous mothers? This book looks at the development of a range of responses to the Achaemenids and their Empire. Through a study of ancient texts and material evidence from the archaic and classical periods, Janett Morgan investigates the historical, political and social factors that inspired and manipulated different identities for Persia and the Persians within Greece. It features an interdisciplinary approach to investigating cultural contact and cultural exchange to explore the Greek response to Persia and offers unique insights into the role of Greek social elites and political communities in creating different representations of the Achaemenid Persians and their Empire.