The Burning of the The Burning of the Palace of Palace of

PersepolisPersepolis

330BC330BC

BackgroundBackground

Alexander remained in Persepolis for FOUR Alexander remained in Persepolis for FOUR months initially allowing his men to loot months initially allowing his men to loot and kill many of the natives.and kill many of the natives.

A large amount of money and treasures A large amount of money and treasures were gained at Persepolis. It was used to were gained at Persepolis. It was used to reward his troops and a lot of it went to reward his troops and a lot of it went to Ecbatana where it was looked after by the Ecbatana where it was looked after by the Imperial Treasurer, Harpalus.Imperial Treasurer, Harpalus.

After being there THREE months, After being there THREE months, Alexander set fire to the palace. There are Alexander set fire to the palace. There are two versions as to how and why:two versions as to how and why:

THE OFFICIAL VERSION THE OFFICIAL VERSION (Arrian(Arrian))

To punish the Persians for sacrilege To punish the Persians for sacrilege committed in Greece in 480 BC by committed in Greece in 480 BC by Xerxes/Persians. Xerxes/Persians.

This was to please the Greeks and to This was to please the Greeks and to signal that the war was over. signal that the war was over. (Propaganda)(Propaganda)

Issues with this versionIssues with this version

Why would he destroy his own Why would he destroy his own palace? palace?

Why wait 3 months? Why wait 3 months? He intended to continue onHe intended to continue on It was a step back for the policy It was a step back for the policy

of fusion, he wanted to combine of fusion, he wanted to combine and rule this area.and rule this area.

THE VULGATE VERSION THE VULGATE VERSION (Plutarch)(Plutarch)

At a drinking party, Thais, a courtesan At a drinking party, Thais, a courtesan (mistress of Ptolemy, said that she would (mistress of Ptolemy, said that she would like to set fire to the palace of Xerxes to like to set fire to the palace of Xerxes to pay him back for burning the city of Athens pay him back for burning the city of Athens – this would be the ultimate act of revenge.– this would be the ultimate act of revenge.

She would like to set fire to it so that She would like to set fire to it so that history recorded that a woman inflicted a history recorded that a woman inflicted a more terrible revenge on the Persians on more terrible revenge on the Persians on behalf of the Greeks, than all the famous behalf of the Greeks, than all the famous generals of the past.generals of the past.

Issues with this versionIssues with this version

Alexander soon regretted his actions Alexander soon regretted his actions and ordered the fires to be put out and ordered the fires to be put out straight away.straight away.

Which version is most plausible? Which version is most plausible? Why?Why?

This event tells us many This event tells us many things about Alexander’s things about Alexander’s

naturenature He was easily swayed when drunk, or acted He was easily swayed when drunk, or acted

uncontrollably when drunk (unpredictable)uncontrollably when drunk (unpredictable) He may be seen to have been seeking gloryHe may be seen to have been seeking glory He may be seen to be serious about revengeHe may be seen to be serious about revenge He may be foolish in destroying his own property He may be foolish in destroying his own property

and one of the most beautiful palaces of all timeand one of the most beautiful palaces of all time

This was a set back for the Policy of Fusion.This was a set back for the Policy of Fusion.

What does this event tell us What does this event tell us about his treatment of the about his treatment of the

Persians?Persians? Wanted to conquer the Persian EmpireWanted to conquer the Persian Empire Wanted to Rule the empireWanted to Rule the empire Killed Persians but treated captured Killed Persians but treated captured

royal family wellroyal family well Appointed Macedonian satraps to take Appointed Macedonian satraps to take

over but kept Mazeus at Babylonover but kept Mazeus at Babylon Let looting happen at PersepolisLet looting happen at Persepolis Inconsistent?Inconsistent?