The Persian Empire

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Old Testament
Biblical Backgrounds

• The Persian Empire

Maps by David P. Barrett, used by permission
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Medes
Persians
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Babylon
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Belshazzar
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Medes
Persians
Cyaxeres
Teispes
Amyhia
Astyages
Ariramnes
Cyrus I
Mandane
Cambyses
Arsames
Hystaspes
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Daniel 531 says that Darius the Mede received
the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two

• Darius the Mede was an early governor of Babylon
  under Cyrus
• Darius the Mede was another name for Cyrus

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2 Chronicles 3622

• Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia -
  in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the
  mouth of Jeremiah - the Lord stirred up the
  spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a
  proclamation throughout his kingdom...

Cyrus the Great
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Cyrus Prism

• Discovered in 1879 by Rassam

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What happened to the Ark?

• Destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar
• Carried to Egypt
• Hidden for protection

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Cambyses

• Temple construction halted
• Murder of Smerdis
• Invasion of Egypt
• Established himself as the beginning of the27th
  Dynasty
• Attempted invasion of Carthage

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Tomb of Cambyses
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Medes
Persians
Cyaxeres
Teispes
Amyhia
Astyages
Ariramnes
Cyrus I
Mandane
Cambyses
Arsames
Cyrus II (the Great)
Hystaspes
Darius Hystaspes
Cambyses
Smerdis
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Darius
the Great

• Capture of Babylon
• Reorganization of government
• Completion of temple
• Palaces at Susa Persepolis

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Persepolis
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Photo by Todd Ulbrich Louvre
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The Empire of Darius
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These are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor
heat nor darkness from accomplishing their
appointed courses with all speed (Herodotus 896).
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Behistun Inscription

• Persia
• 1842

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• Sir Henry Rawlinson - 1835
• George Cameron made further copies in 1946

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Behistun Inscription

• Old Persian
• Elamite
• Akkadian

Photo by Kendall Down, 1967
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Scythians
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Ionian
Revolt
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(486-464 B.C.)
Xerxes

• Rebellion in the Empire
• Egypt
• Babylon
• Invasion of Greece

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(486-464 B.C.)
Xerxes

• Rebellion in the Empire
• Invasion of Greece

• Esther
• Assassinated

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Tomb of Xerxes
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Darius
Xerxes
Artaxerxes I
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Reigned 465 424 B.C.
Artaxerxes I

• New policy toward Greeks Financially support
  enemies of Athens.
• Gave sanctuary to Themistocles, Athenian hero of
  Salamis, after he was ostracized by Athens.
• Ezras commission.
• Nehemiahs commission

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Darius
Xerxes
Artaxerxes I

• Murdered by Secydianus after a 45 day reign

• Killed by Darius II

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Elephantine
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Elephantine Papyri

• Written in Aramaic
• Papyrus -- written on both sides
• Official letter of petition -- request to rebuild
  place of worship
• Written 407 B.C.
• Discovered January 1, 1907

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431 - 404 B.C.
Peloponnesian
War

• Athens vs. Sparta
• Sea vs. land war
• Spartan victory

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Darius
Xerxes
Artaxerxes I
(Xenophon)
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? Cunaxa
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Darius II
(Xenophon)
Artaxerxes III (Ochos)
(Bagoas)
Arses
Darius III
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Alexander the Great
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Discuss the three types of freedom
Group Project

• National Freedom
• Individual Freedom
• Political Freedom

Which types were found in Persia?Which types
were found in Greece?Which types were found in
Israel?
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