Modern and Ancient Interpretations of Xerxes Essays

Ancient and modern sources present differing views of Xerxes. It’s difficult to make a judgment of Xerxes character and effectiveness as a King since there is a bias in a majority of these sources. Ancient Persian Ancient Persian sources are mostly inscriptions and reliefs found in Persepolis though there are also inscriptions found in other parts of the Persian Empire. An example are the Daiva inscriptions â€Å"A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth †¦ who made Xerxes king, one king of many, one lord of many†. This states that Ahuramazda made Xerxes king and supports Xerxes. It emphasizes his right to rule through divine sanctions. In many bas-reliefs Xerxes is much larger than his counterparts. The size of the king, the robes†¦show more content†¦Xerxes gets angry and has Pythius’ eldest son cut in half and orders the army to march between the two halves. - Another example is Xerxes having the engineers of the Hellespont Bridge executed after the bridge was destroyed. This is contradicted by ancient Persian archaeological sources where Xerxes claims that he is â€Å"not hot tempered†¦I am ruling firmly over my own will† Aeschylus - The Persians Aeschylus’ The Persians is an Athenian tragedy with a moral purpose designed to reaffirm the power of the Greek gods. In the play, Xerxes’ invasion of Greece is presented as an example of hubris or excessive pride, which must be punished by the gods. Xerxes actions lead to the downfall of his empire and the demoralization of Xerxes. The Persians was written for a Greek audience so naturally it is biased and inconsistent. Modern historians present Xerxes in a less biased light however; they share differing opinions on his success as a king and as a military commander. Olmsted states, â€Å"Against one military failure†¦must be placed a whole series of victories†. Victories include Xerxes extensive building programs and swift suppression of Egyptian and Babylonian revolts. Olmsted also presents a negative image of Xerxes toward the end of his reign, stating that his failed expansion into Greece carried â€Å"deadly consequences.† Olmsted presents Xerxes as a good king, planner and architect but a failed military commander. Callender Another modern historian isShow MoreRelatedI See Xerxes As An Effective King Or Bumbling Tyrant1856 Words   |  8 PagesXerxes the Great, King of Persia and Media, Pharaoh of Egypt, the Great King, the King of Kings, and King of Nations. Throughout history, the view of Xerxes has varied, and depending on which historian you spoke to, and their context, you would hear a completely different story. Some said Xerxes signalled the downfall of the Persian empire, but others say he was an effective king marred by plain bad luck. 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Rousseau’s Theory about Education Free Essays

â€Å"The neglected education of my fellow-creatures is the grand source of the misery I deplore.†-Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women. Rousseau and Wollstonecraft believed that children should be allowed to grow freely and learn to use their education practically. We will write a custom essay sample on Rousseau’s Theory about Education or any similar topic only for you Order Now Children would then grow up to be free thinking adults that would keep soceity from becoming materialistic and oppressing. Nonetheless, they vehemently disagreed on who should receive such an education. Rousseau thought that only males, because they are stronger should receive such and education. Wollstonecraft believed everyone, no matter what sex, should be able to be educated to reform and better society as a whole. Though both their works were considered extreme, they are both apparent in the public education system of today. Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) and Rousseau (1712-1778) both agreed that society oppressed human kind, but Wollstonecraft felt that men were oppressing women. They both believed that education should mean letting children grow freely and placing little restrictions. They should protect them from immediate dangers and provide food and shelter. They should not, however, force books and controlled learning upon the children. He thought that children should also develop common sense and each child would choose whatever interests him to study in greater detail. He thought that this method of education would produce a well balanced, free thinking child. Therefore this would lead to a natural society rather than a materialistic one. Rousseau†s theory of natural education was not intended for all children. He felt that girls should be limited motherhood, and how to be a wife. To Rousseau, women exist in order to serve man, because they are weaker. Wollstonecraft stated that women should be taught medicine in order to take care of parents, infants, and husbands properly. She endorsed equal education for all children no matter what the sex. They should not only be taught the same things, but should be taught together, to learn social interaction they would encounter as adults. Girls and boys would attend day school together and then boys would be sent to their apprenticeships and girls would learn how to sew and other skills. Wollstonecraft tried to prove that by denying a woman†s education you are denying her the ability to raise children adequately. Therefore it would benefit both sexes if women were properly educated. Rousseau was applauded for advocating human rights and natural education but when it concerned women he broke no new ground. He actually promoted women†s role as a wife and mother present to serve her husband. He stated that because women were weaker physically that their minds were as well. Wollstonecraft upheld his philosophy of natural education to encourage individual freedom to benefit society. However, she detested his treatment of women. She advised that women and men should both be educated, and educated together. Both of Emile and The Vindication of the Right†s of Women were considered radical, they were both revolutionaries. Emile impacted practical applications, and the exploration of natural curiosity in education. Wollstonecraft†s radical idea of educating boys and girls equally, and together are applied on public education today. How to cite Rousseau’s Theory about Education, Papers

Beowulf Society Essay Example For Students

Beowulf Society Essay Beowulf Society The earliest known manuscript of Beowulf is thought to have been written in the tenth century, however, the poem had most likely been told as an oral tradition for centuries before that. In fact, the poems events date back to the sixth century. However, because there is only one manuscript of Beowulf still in tact very little is known about the poem or its author. The poem does, however, give us great insight into the culture of the people who composed and told this epic tale. Because the poem was performed orally mainly between the eighth and tenth centuries, but dealt with subject matter of centuries earlier, it is difficult to decipher and separate the cultural context involved in the poem from one century to the next. The poem was probably unrecognizable from its original state after two hundred years of oral tradition that would have changed its content drastically. The storyline of the poem, the battles and significant events, probably maintained most of their identity while the cultural context took on another form more suited to the current culture of the people. By the time it was written, in 1000, the poem was probably most representative of the tenth century culture yet it still managed to tell a story similar to the original version. Beowulf, then, gives us a significant insight into the cultural views of the tenth century Anglo-Saxons including their political, social and moral views. The individualistic society was just beginning to replace the tribal system in which no individual had been seen as more important to the success of the tribe than any other. The individuality that Beowulf displayed helped establish new rules in society. Beyond this, Beowulf gives us an even greater insight into middle ages society. Woven throughout almost every aspect of their culture and the poem are very strict moral codes and values. Loyalty, honesty, family ties, courage and even Christianity play a major role in this epic poem. In each of the stories told throughout the poem elements of these values are openly displayed. All three of Beowulfs battles demonstrate qualities deemed virtuous and essential to the people of the middle ages. Beowulf, a godfearing, heroic warrior, first faces a monster that represents all things evil. The monster is a descendant of Cain, a bloodthirsty avenger of man and an outcast. Beowulf confronts this evil figure without any fear and without the aid of any manmade weapons of war. The strength of the wickedness is outmatched by the goodness and purity Beowulf. Only because Beowulf displayed no fear and used no weapon was he able to destroy this wicked force of destruction. The hero, Beowulf, is glorified more for his virtue than for his strength in defeating the monster. For those who displayed no virtue, despite their valor, the consequence was quite different. Ecgtheows son, who displayed no bravery, for example, had been despised for a long while, for the Geats saw no spark of bravery in him (75). The true hero of the middle ages managed to maintain a balance between his personal glory and maintaining the good of his people. As we see in later stories of this period, like the Arthur stories, this is a very delicate balance. Beowulf became a folklore hero because he maintained this balance well. He displayed personal heroism while at the same time keeping his priorities towards the safety of his people. Beowulfs first attack on the monster Grendel displayed many qualities that were significant in a hero of that time. First of all, Beowulf was not called upon to save the Danes from Grendel. Instead, he came on his own accord, out of duty and principle. .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 , .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 .postImageUrl , .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 , .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8:hover , .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8:visited , .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8:active { border:0!important; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8:active , .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8 .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6bfcb5dd394eecf0752152d23dcd73e8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Multiculturalism In Canada Essay He took responsibility upon himself in a situation that required none. The individualistic society did not require that an person remain part of the tribe, but rather encouraged them to seek adventure while doing good. Beowulf recognized his physical strengths and he utilized them for personal gain and glory and the good of the nation. Beowulfs second battle with Grendels mother is quite similar to the first. However, because Beowulf brought along a sword as protection he is seemingly less pure and as he attempts