06-02-2005, 06:00 AM
The Persian registers are too fragmentary for that period, apparently there is no mention of the Greek campaign. Persian especialists note that it would be unlikely Xerxes commanded himself the expedition, as in 481 he was crushing the revolt of Bel-Shimani, and in 479 he was fighting the revolt of Samas-Eriba in Babylon. This last revolt would be the main reason for the withdraw of the main Persian army before Plataea.
I have collectes a couple of inconsistencies by Herodotus from the Persian point of view
1) From a cuneiform tablet known as Persepolis Fortification tablet 684, we know that Mardonius was married to a woman named Ardušnamuya. This text was written in March 495, which offers a terminus ante quem for the wedding ceremony. This contradicts the words of the Greek researcher Herodotus of Halicarnassus, who states that Mardonius was still 'being a young man and recently married to Artozostre, a daughter of king Darius' in 492 (Histories 6.43). On the other hand, there is no reason to doubt Herodotus' words that Artozostre/Ardušnamuya was the daughter of Darius and his beloved wife Artystone
2) Herodotus has a very strange story to tell about an event that took place after the battle of Plataea
"The body of Mardonius however had disappeared on the day after the battle [...] I have heard the names of many men of various cities who are said to have buried Mardonius, and I know that many received gifts from Artontes, the son of Mardonius, for having done this"
To the Greek audience of Herodotus, this made perfect sense, but a Persian would be shocked to hear this. It was not their custom to bury the dead. Zoroastrianists have their bodies exposed to the vultures.
I have collectes a couple of inconsistencies by Herodotus from the Persian point of view
1) From a cuneiform tablet known as Persepolis Fortification tablet 684, we know that Mardonius was married to a woman named Ardušnamuya. This text was written in March 495, which offers a terminus ante quem for the wedding ceremony. This contradicts the words of the Greek researcher Herodotus of Halicarnassus, who states that Mardonius was still 'being a young man and recently married to Artozostre, a daughter of king Darius' in 492 (Histories 6.43). On the other hand, there is no reason to doubt Herodotus' words that Artozostre/Ardušnamuya was the daughter of Darius and his beloved wife Artystone
2) Herodotus has a very strange story to tell about an event that took place after the battle of Plataea
"The body of Mardonius however had disappeared on the day after the battle [...] I have heard the names of many men of various cities who are said to have buried Mardonius, and I know that many received gifts from Artontes, the son of Mardonius, for having done this"
To the Greek audience of Herodotus, this made perfect sense, but a Persian would be shocked to hear this. It was not their custom to bury the dead. Zoroastrianists have their bodies exposed to the vultures.
AKA Inaki
