Flashcards
Xerxes: Religious Policy
Cards in this deck (8)
- 1What was the 'sacred book'?The sacred book was the "avesta".
- 2What were 'magi'?Magi were hereditary priests.
- 3What was the 'Holy Arta', and what did it emphasise?The Holy Arta was Xerxes' own personal form of religion, which emphasised truth and righteousness.
- 4What did Xerxes attribute to Ahura Mazda?Xerxes attributed his ascension to King, and his building program of Persepolis, to Ahura Mazda.
- 5What was Xerxes an "adversary" of, and what evidence is there to prove it?Xerxes was adversary/destroyer of the 'daevas' (demons). This can be seen in a stone tablet in Persepolis, in which the inscription states "By the favour of Ahura Mazda, I destroyed the sanctuary of the demons".
- 6Which historian describes Xerxes' devotion to Ahura Mazda, and what do they say about it?Herodotus says that Ahura Mazda was worshipped as "the wide sky above the earth".
- 7What evidence is there of foreign cults in Persepolis, and when was it discovered?In 1968, several damaged 'stone-horned' altars were found in Persepolis. It is suggested that Xerxes had them destroyed to keep a foreign cult out (in favour of Ahura Mazda).
- 8What was Xerxes' attitude towards other religions?Xerxes tolerated other religions, but strictly for political reasons.
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- Secondary Ancient History (III - Personalities In Their Times: Xerxes) Flashcards on Xerxes: Religious Policy, created by Hunter Lynch on 26/06/2014.
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- Hunter Lynch
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