The Persians and the Greeks, Part III: Xerxes and the Road to Thermopylae

Emily and Cam dive into Xerxes’ decision to invade Greece, and tell the story of his expedition as far as the Battle of Thermopylae. (Featuring a very brief digression on "300".)

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Links

1. The first episode in this series (The Persians and the Greeks, Part I: The Rise of the Persian Empire).
2. The second episode in this series (The Persians and the Greeks, Part II: Darius, Great King, King of Kings).
3. Our episode on Aeschylus’ Persians (Aeschylus’ “Persians”: The OG Greek Tragedy).
4. Our episode on heroes in the ancient Greek world (Holding Out for a Hero—in Ancient Greece).

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00:12 - Introduction

01:18 - The Last Years of Darius

02:38 - Xerxes, King

1. 02:59 - Xerxes and the Many Sons of Darius
2. 04:57 - Xerxes Quells Rebellions in Egypt and Babylon

05:39 - Xerxes’ Project: The Invasion of Greece

1. 06:08 - Herodotus’ Understanding of Xerxes’ Motivations
2. 08:47 - A Persian Perspective?

10:31 - Planning Xerxes’ Campaign

1. 11:00 - The Mt Athos Canal and Supply Depots in the Northern Aegean
2. 12:39 - Ships and Cables
3. 14:07 - Mustering the Army

14:28 - Xerxes Travels from Susa to Sardis

1. 16:59 - Early Greek Responses to Xerxes’ Plans
2. 17:15 - Initial Rumors
3. 18:02 - Xerxes Demands Earth and Water
4. 20:00 - The Range of Greek Responses: Submission, Accommodation, Resistance
5. 25:35 - Greek Spies in Sardis
6. 26:04 - Strategy and the Problems of Interstate Rivalries

27:28 - The Coming Storm

1. 27:54 - Xerxes Crosses the Hellespont: the Pontoon Bridges
2. 29:51 - Xerxes Counts his Forces (and why we should doubt Herodotus’ numbers)
3. 34:27 - The March to Therma and the Kingdom of Macedonia
4. 37:14 - The Greeks at Tempe and the Submission of the North

39:46 - Thermopylae and Artemision: Greek Plans and Preparations

1. 40:10 - The Geography of Thermopylae and Artemision (with a digression on “300”)
2. 43:04 - The Greek Forces

48:33 - Thermopylae and Artemision: The Battles

1. 48:58 - Spartan Hairstyles and Xerxes’ Frustrations
2. 51:56 - The First Day of Fighting: Stalemate
3. 43:30 - The Second Day of Fighting: Xerxes, Ephialtes, and the March of the Immortals
4. 57:23 - The Third Day of Fighting: The Last Stand

65:12 - Wrap-up