Persepolis

 

March to Persepolis (winter 330)

      Unexpected winter march

      Logistical problems with winter operations

 

Uxians

      Mountain tribesmen

      Extorting money

      Alexander ambushes them and receives tribute

 

Parmenio’s expedition

      sent with main force on south, easy route to Persepolis

 

Susian Gates

      Ariobarzanes fortifies mountain pass

            25,000 inf 700 C

      Assault on fortifications fail

      Alexander learns of secret mountain path from herdsmen

      Takes commandos over the mountain

      Attacks in rear, Persians are defeated

 

Forced march to Persepolis

      Get there before they have a time to evacuate or plunder treasure

      Meeting of the mutilated Greek prisoners

 


Significance of Persepolis

      Holy city

      Site of New Year’s festival

      Palace and temple complex

      Burial place of Achaemenid kings

 

Alexander the demon

      Persian apocalyptic

      Daniel 7:7

      Sibylline Oracle

 

Alexander at Persepolis

      Entered 31 Jan 330

      Speech on the evils of Persia

      Permission to plunder Persepolis

            Mass slaughter, rape and plunder

      The Persian treasure

            120,000 talents

            national income of Athens for 300 years

 

The Palace[D 17.71-2]

      The problem of the Nuh-ruz (Akitu) festival in April

            Magians don’t submit

      The hardening of Zoroastrian spiritual resistance

      Destruction of the Palace

            Drunken orgy

            Blame on the courtesan Thais

            Revenge for the burning of the Acropolis at Athens