26 - Darius the Achaemenid

King Darius says: By the grace of Ahura Mazda, I am of such a sort (that) I am a friend of the right - of wrong I am not a friend. It is not my wish that the weak should have harm done him by the strong, nor is it my wish that the strong should have harm done him by the weak. The right, that is my desire. To the man who is a follower of the lie I am no friend. I am not hot-tempered. What things develop in my anger I hold firmly under control by my thinking power. I am firmly ruling over my own impulses.
- Tomb of Darius at Naqsh-e-Rustam

I miss the days when to be a great ruler you also had to have a great beard. This new beardless future is a bleak one!
(source: Darius The Great from Civilization 5)

Don't look at this episode as our last one with the Persians, look at it as a first for the show where we pause in covering one civilization to go back and catch up with another! But before that happens we've got a lot to talk about with Darius, who takes the silver medal for "Most hated Persian king by the Greeks" (gold medal goes to his son of course!)

Incidentally I'm still on the hunt for some podsafe ancient Greek or something similar to that music. I might be biting the bullet soon and paying for a magnatune subscription, which will actually pay off down the road, but it's also nice to feature other artists!

Anyway, I'll figure it all out. Not to worry!

MP3 Download

Music Credits
http://persia.org/audio.html
Artist unknown! It's the one called avayeh2.wav

Resources
Nice essay on Persian army tactics
Eastern extent of Darius' empire
An example of a gold daric
An amazing list of Darius resources, plus other Persian stuff!
Seal of Darius (that lion took an arrow to the face!)

25 - Prophets and Kings

As the holy one I recognized thee, Ahura Mazda, when Good Thought came to me and asked: "Who art thou? To whom dost thou belong? By what signs wilt thou appoint the days for questioning about thy possessions and thyself?"

I said to him: "To the first question, Zarathustra am I, a true foe to the Liar, to the utmost of my power, but a powerful support would I be to the Righteous, that I may attain the future things of the infinite Dominion, according as I praise and sing thee, o Mazda."

Ushtavaiti Gatha 43:7-8

The picture will make more sense when you listen to the episode...hopefully.
(source: icanhascheezburger.com by way of weruletheinternet.com)

I try not to use vague titles for my episodes because I want you to know exactly what you're in for when you listen to it, but Zarathustra and Cambyses just doesn't sound as cool as Prophets and Kings! Whatever, we'll all get through this somehow. Anyway, yes I know you've been staring at that tank cat for a while now and you're really interested to how it ties into the episode. Well why are you still reading this? Get downloading!

Also I apologize if I sound a bit stuffy in this episode. I'm coming off a head cold that knocked me off my feet this week. It was either delay the episode or be a trooper and do it. So I did! And honestly, it doesn't sound bad. Really. Trust me.


MP3 Download

Music Credits

http://persia.org/audio.html
Artist unknown! It's the sample called mojdeh2.wav

Resources
BBC Video and Robert Winston present: The Story of God (this part's all about Zoroastrianism)
Journeys to the ends of the Earth with David Adams: People of the Flame (I really liked this for the scenery and destinations he visits, but there's actually little on the Zoroastrians! Still, it's beautiful to watch!)
The whole Avesta, in three languages, plus many more Zoroastrian texts. What a fantastic resource!

King Cambyses at the Siege of Pelusium - Paul Marie Lenoir (mrrroowww!)
Have archaeologists found the remains of Cambyses' lost army?
The Inscription of Wedjahorresne (Udjahorresne)

Maps:
Balkh - the ancient city where Zarathustra supposedly died.
Pelusium today!
The Siwa Oasis - water and life is yours...if you can claim it before the desert claims you.