| Achaemenid Rule | Reliefs and Inscriptions | Persepolis Building Programs | Persian Society | Destruction of Persepolis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
550 to 330BC
When did the Arcaemenids rule over the Persian Empire?
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Functions in society, instructions, political, religious, information, record of events, commemorations, laws, labels etc.
What can reliefs and inscriptions reveal about ancient society? (Four points)
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Susa, Ecbatana, Pasargadae, Persepolis
Name the four capital cities that were used throughout Persian history.
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Ahuramazda
Who did the Persians worship?
|
Alexander the Great
Who destroyed Persepolis?
|
|
Cyrus the Great, Cambyses, Darius the Great, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, Artaxerxes II, Darius II, Artaxerxes III
Name the first eight Achaemenid kings of Persia
|
A type of sculpture that involves raising material from the background through chiselling it away.
What are reliefs?
|
The staircase.
What is the most famous architectural feature of the Apadana at Persepolis?
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Twenty-three
How many different peoples of the empire were represented on the Apadana staircase?
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Diodorus, Quintus Curtius Rufus, Plutarch, Arrian,
Name two ancient historians that write about the destruction of Persepolis
|
|
Satraps
Darius the Great reorganised the empire into provinces ruled by Persian what?
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Show the power and extent of influence over many different peoples in the Persian empire.
Lydians brought vases filled with gold, Armenians brought wine, Scythians brought horses.
What do reliefs of tribute tell us about Persian society? Provide one example
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Xerxes palace, Harem of Xerxes, Central Building, The Throne Hall, The Treasury.
Name three of Xerxes additions to Persepolis
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That they were 'Fed from horse blood'
What did Herodotus write about the Scythians?
|
He described the Persians as their 'worst enemy among the cities of Asia'. The burning of Persepolis was an act of revenge for when Xerxes invaded Greece and destroyed temples and other buildings at Athens in 480C
Why did Alexander want to defeat the Persians?
|
|
Battle of Marathon
Darius was defeated at what battle in 490BC?
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Authored by Darius the Great, it was an inscription at Persepolis that declared all his victories in dedication to Ahuramazda.
What it the Behitsun Inscription?
|
An ancient Necropolis south-west of Persepolis which includes the tombs of Cyrus the Great, Darius, Artaxerxes and Darius II.
What is Naqsh-i-rustam?
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Extremely religious and militaristic
What kind of a society was Persepolis?
|
She was the lover of the Macedonian commander Ptolemny. She may have suggested to Alexander that in burning down Persepolis it would glorify him.
Who was Thais?
|
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Cyrus
Who conquered Babylon and gained its Empire including Syria, Palestine, Phoenecia and North Africa?
|
Probably not. Most inscriptions and reliefs would have been commissioned by the king in commemoration of good deeds or victories. It would be rare to see an inscription referring to a defeat.
Can we trust the inscriptions and reliefs to portray true accounts?
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Intimidation, showcase wealth and power, administraion, ceremonial, symbolic of their empire.
Why was Persepolis built so illustriously? (Three points)
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The bodies are exposed until all the flesh is gone. The bones are covered in wax and they are buried.
How did the Persians bury their dead?
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He states that Persepolis was 'condemned to total destruction'. The Macedonians spent the whole day in pillage and dragged the women away and enslaved many. Alexander took 2500 tons of gold and silver and celebrated to the gods. Alexander was convinced by
How did Diodorus explain the event?
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