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.

24 - Cyrus the Great

"O man, whoever you are and wherever you come from, for I know you will come, I am Cyrus who won the Persians their empire. Do not therefore begrudge me this bit of earth that covers my bones."
Epitaph of Cyrus from Plutarch's: The Life of Alexander

In this recently uncovered 4th century pixel art, we see a young prince Cyrus battling his grandfather Astyages for control of the kingdom. Gosh, things were so lifelike back then!
(source: Prince of Persia THE ORIGINAL OF COURSE)

We're mooooving right along with our next exciting chapter of podcast history! As we take a look at Cyrus' great life (see what I did there) you'll be sure to notice a theme in his birth - very similar to other kings like Oedipus and Romulus. Not that Cyrus is legendary mind you, but when the details of your birth are a bit of a mystery, you get to spread some pretty cool rumors and get away with it!


MP3 Download

Music Credits
http://persia.org/audio.html
Artist unknown! All I know it's a sample called KCD104.wav but it sounds like it came from a record. I hate using copyright risky music, but I love this sound so much!

Resources:
The four great empires post-Assyria
So you want to learn Old Persian? Harvard's got just what you need!
Myson Amphora - depicting Croesus about to be immolated
Great essay on Lydian coinage with a fantastically clear photo of an early Lydian gold coin.
Ooo neat Cyrus woodcuts!
The Cyrus Cylinder - a nice article from the Iran Chamber Society

~~~ The Cyrus Cylinder is coming to the US for 2013! ~~~

Cyrus' tomb: still standing today!
Engineering an Empire : The Persians (one of the BEST History Channel shows ever)

Queen Tomyris (Tahm-Rayish)
A very popular motif in art! Although I think her status as warlord is lessened a bit when she's made to wear an oversized poofy medieval dress.
Andrea del Castagno
Head of Cyrus Brought to Queen Tomyris - Peter Paul Rubens
The Revenge of Tomyris - Michiel Coxcie ($78,000? A steal!)
Tomyris - Alexander Zick (yeah! on the battlefield!)
Tomyris Medieval Woodcut (Johannes Zainer?) totally anachronistic but love it!