Xerxes I
Also known as: Xerxes the Great · Xerxes I of Persia · Xerxes
- 1Xerxes I ruled as the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire.
- 2His reign lasted from 486 BC to 465 BC.
- 3He was the son of Darius the Great and Atossa.
- 4His life ended due to assassination in 465 BC.
Xerxes I was a Persian ruler who reigned as the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 486 BC until his assassination in 465 BC.
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historical archetype of hubristic behavior
Ancient Greek historians like Herodotus portrayed Xerxes' failed invasion of Greece as a classic example of hubris, where his overconfidence led to a disastrous defeat.
Xerxes I was a prominent Persian ruler who served as the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire. His reign spanned from 486 BC until his death by assassination in 465 BC.
Engraving of Babylon by H. Fletcher, 1690Wikimedia Commons: File:Histoire_universelle_depuis_le_commencement_du_monde_jusqu'à_présent_(1742)_(14598039057).jpgThe soldiers of Xerxes I, of all ethnicities, [ 37 ] on the tomb of Xerxes I, at Naqsh-e Rostam [ 38 ] [ 39 ]Wikimedia Commons: File:Xerxes_all_ethnicities.jpgAchaemenid king killing a Greek hoplite. Impression from a cylinder seal, sculpted c. 500–475 BC, at the time of Xerxes I Metropolitan Museum of ArtWikimedia Commons: File:Achaemenid_king_killing_a_Greek_hoplite.jpgFoundations of the Old Temple of Athena, destroyed by the armies of Xerxes I during the Destruction of Athens in 480 BCWikimedia CommonsThe rock-cut tomb at Naqsh-e Rustam north of Persepolis, copying that of Darius, is usually assumed to be that of Xerxes.Wikimedia CommonsThis cuneiform text mentions the murder of Xerxes I by his son. From Babylon, Iraq. British Museum.Wikimedia CommonsXerxes being designated by Darius I. Tripylon, Persepolis. The ethnicities of the Empire are shown supporting the throne. Ahuramazda crowns the scene.Wikimedia CommonsTrilingual inscription of Xerxes at Van (present-day Turkey)Wikimedia Commons As a member of the royal lineage, he was the son of Darius the Great and Atossa. His rule represents a significant period in the history of the Achaemenid Empire, marked by his position as a central authority figure in the ancient Near East.