Xerxes

Also known as: Xer. · Family: Persian · Role: king of Persia · First appears: Aeschylus, The Persians — Scene 1

Xerxes, also known as Xer, is the Persian king who came to the throne of Persia with Atossa as his mother and Dareios as his parent. He employed Armistres, Artaphernes, Megabates, and Astaspes, mighty leaders who served the great king. He gathered a host from the nations under his dominion, led it against Hellas, crossed the Hellespont, defeated the Spartans at Thermopylæ, and took Athens after most of its citizens had fled.

At Salamis, however, Xerxes and his army suffered utter defeat. He ordered his admirals to blockade the straits and surround the isle of Aias, but the Persian host was destroyed in the naval encounter; “Xerxes still lives and sees the light of day.” After sending elite troops against the Hellenes, he witnessed their destruction from a high cliff, tore his robes, and ordered a retreat. He barely escaped through Thrace, crossed the bridge to the mainland with only a few companions, and later appeared before the elders in torn robes. Dareios condemned his attempt to fetter the Hellespont and master the gods, including Poseidon.

In the aftermath, Xerxes’s forces were defeated by Ionian seamen, and Persia’s imperial power was broken. At the Salaminian shores he asked after his companions, including Pharandakes, Susas, Pelagon, Psammis, Dotamas, Agdabatas, Susiskanes, Pharnuchos, Ariomardos, Sevalkes, Lilaeos, Memphis, Tharybis, Masistras, Artembares, Hystaechmas, Alpistos, Parthos, Oebares, Xanthes, Anchares, Arsakes, Diaexis, Kigdagatas, Lythimnas, Tolmos, Sesames, and Megabates. Alpistos, Batanôchos, Sesames, Megabates, Parthos, and Oebares were lost with the defeated army.