Xerxes Plans His Invasion

In the year 486 BC. the conquered Egyptians rose up against their Persian masters. Enraged by this action King Darius raised "an uproar for three years, with the best men being enrolled in the army (VII, 1)" to put down the rebellion and to invade Greece. His plans however were cut short by his own death in that same year. His son Xeres took over and assumed the throne. "Xerxes at first was not at all interested in invading Greece but began his reign building up an army for a campaign against Egypt (VII, 5)." Subject to the influence of his cousin Mardonius, Xerxes eventually changed his mind and decided to invade Greece. Certain events helped Mardonius' cause, namely that "messengers arrived from the Aleudae in Thessaly...with an invitation to Xerxes, promising zealous assistance; at the same time the Pisistratidae in Susa spoke to the same purpose and.. had arranged and edited the oracles at Musaeus. . . choosing for quotation only those that promised the brightest triumphs, describing to Xerxes how it was fore-ordained that the Hellespont should be bridged by a Persian (VII, 6,7)."

Xerxes did not immediately set out for Greece but followed his plan to take Egypt and in 487 BC. crushed the revolt. Once done with that Xerxes called a council of the leading men of Persia to gather their opinions on the proposed invasion. Mardonious was the first to speak at the meeting again encouraging Xerxes to march "with the millions of Asia at [his] back (VII, 9,c)" and to invade Greece. Following the patriotic speech of Mardonious it took several minutes before another would step forward to speak.. Finally, Artabanus, the uncle of the King came forward asking Xerxes " to abandon th[e] plan; take my advice and do not run the terrible risk when there is no necessity to do so... often a great army is destroyed by a little one. . . for God tolerates pride in known but himself (VII, 10d-f)." Xerxes was greatly angered by the speech of Artabanus announcing that the Persian's would immediately invade Greece ending the meeting. However, "later on that evening Xerxes began to be worried about what Artabanus had said, and during the night, as he turned it over in his mind, he came to the conclusion that the invasion of Greece would not after all, be a good thing (VII, 12)."

That night Xerxes had a fitful sleep with a phantom coming to visit him. The ghost's message was that he was " wrong to change; and that there is one who will not forgive you for doing so. Continue to tread the path which you choose yesterday (VII, 12)." The following morning Xerxex again summoned the leading men of Persia and related his change of heart. The young King realized his mistake and to the great happiness of most ordered that the "peace [was] to continue (VII, 13)." Again that night the phantom visited Xerxes and upbraided him for changing his mind promising that "just as in a minute you rose to greatness and power, so in a moment will you be brought low again (VII, 14) ." Terrified Xerxes went to Artabanus and ordered him to dress in his clothes and sleep in his bed to test if it was truly God's will that they invade Greece. Xerxes assumed if the phantom appeared for both men then it was truly a messenger from God. After much convincing Xerxes got Artabanus to masquerade as King and that night "the very same figure which had twice visited the king stood over him (VII, 17)." Now both Xerxes and Artabanus were convinced that the figure spoke the truth and again called the council of leaders to declare war. Xerxex then had a third dream where he was "crowned with olive, of which the branches spread all over the earth; then the crown suddenly vanished from his head (VII, 19)." The Magi's favorably interrupted the dream saying that it meant the "conquest of the world, and its total subjection to Persia (VII, 19)." With all signs in favor of war, the Persian began to prepare. . .