HOW THE KING OF KINGS MARCHED HIS ARMY “THROUGH” A MAN
 ARMAN NAVASARDYAN Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary But the Greeks would soon find out how "pleasant” the Persians were, especially when they were conquering their country. Pythius was one of the wealthiest Lydians. Although he was Greek, he helped the Persians to conquer Greece. In other words, he was a traitor. He gave Darius I of Persia a tree made of pure gold. And when Xerxes I, son of Darius I started a campaign against Greece, Pythius visited the king of kings, and declaring his loyalty to Xerxes, offered his readiness to pay the expenses of the campaign. Touched by this gesture, the king in his turn gave expensive gifts to the Greek benefactor and offered to his five sons high-level positions in the Persian army.  Later Pythius, alarmed at a solar eclipse and predictions of soothsayers, visited Xerxes again and asked him to release his eldest son from the army. The anger of Xerxes was unimaginable, his decision—terrible. How could a slave (for he called all the Greeks serving him slaves) dare to ask him such a thing, when all of his family members without exception were going to war? Xerxes’ decision was not only beyond reason, but it can’t even be called sadistic, as sadism is too mild to describe such an act. The king of kings ordered that they cut Pythius’ eldest son in half and marched his army away between the two halves. The order was carried out in front of the father’s eyes . . . Xerxes’ cruelty knew no nationality. He did the same with his own men. Retreating from Athens, the king sailed to Asia on a Phoenician ship. A terrible storm occurred during the journey and the shipwreck was unavoidable. The king, whom everyone had thought a model of courage, was terrified. The captain of the ship told him that the only way to save the ship was by lessening its weight. The king addressed his huge royal suite: "Now you can show your devotion to your king—my life depends on you.” The Persians kissed his feet and jumped into the sea in groups. The ship was saved and safely reached the shore. Stepping on land, Xerxes gave the captain a golden crown for saving his life, then he ordered to behead the captain for causing the drowning of so many Persians. | |
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| 1493 reads | 27.04.2013 |
