Artigo Acesso aberto Revisado por pares

La « décadence » du grand roi et les ambitions de Cyrus le Jeune : aux sources perses d'un mythe occidental?

2001; Association of Greek Studies; Volume: 114; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3406/reg.2001.4464

ISSN

2260-8079

Autores

Dominique Lenfant,

Tópico(s)

Eurasian Exchange Networks

Resumo

We undertake to study the development of the Persian decadence myth. The image of the decadent king was based upon a specific ruler, Artaxerxes II, who was said by his brother and rival Cyrus the Younger to be the opposite of the ideal Achaemenid king. The mercenaries who had served Cyrus played a part in conveying this image to the Greek world. It was at first used by Athenian rhetors and philosophers, who changed its meaning. Greek accounts on Persia played only a minor part at the beginning, but their interpretation was later influenced by Athenian views.

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