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The Burning of the Palace of Persepolis

The Burning of the Palace of Persepolis. 330BC. Background. Alexander remained in Persepolis for FOUR months initially allowing his men to loot and kill many of the natives.

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The Burning of the Palace of Persepolis

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  1. The Burning of the Palace of Persepolis 330BC

  2. Background • Alexander remained in Persepolis for FOUR months initially allowing his men to loot and kill many of the natives. • A large amount of money and treasures were gained at Persepolis. It was used to reward his troops and a lot of it went to Ecbatana where it was looked after by the Imperial Treasurer, Harpalus. • After being there THREE months, Alexander set fire to the palace. There are two versions as to how and why:

  3. THE OFFICIAL VERSION (Arrian) • To punish the Persians for sacrilege committed in Greece in 480 BC by Xerxes/Persians. • This was to please the Greeks and to signal that the war was over. (Propaganda)

  4. Issues with this version • Why would he destroy his own palace? • Why wait 3 months? • He intended to continue on • It was a step back for the policy of fusion, he wanted to combine and rule this area.

  5. THE VULGATE VERSION (Plutarch) • At a drinking party, Thais, a courtesan (mistress of Ptolemy, said that she would like to set fire to the palace of Xerxes to pay him back for burning the city of Athens – this would be the ultimate act of revenge. • She would like to set fire to it so that history recorded that a woman inflicted a more terrible revenge on the Persians on behalf of the Greeks, than all the famous generals of the past.

  6. Issues with this version • Alexander soon regretted his actions and ordered the fires to be put out straight away. Which version is most plausible? Why?

  7. This event tells us many things about Alexander’s nature • He was easily swayed when drunk, or acted uncontrollably when drunk (unpredictable) • He may be seen to have been seeking glory • He may be seen to be serious about revenge • He may be foolish in destroying his own property and one of the most beautiful palaces of all time • This was a set back for the Policy of Fusion.

  8. What does this event tell us about his treatment of the Persians? • Wanted to conquer the Persian Empire • Wanted to Rule the empire • Killed Persians but treated captured royal family well • Appointed Macedonian satraps to take over but kept Mazeus at Babylon • Let looting happen at Persepolis • Inconsistent?

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