1. The Burning of the Palace of Persepolis 330BC

4. Background Alexander remained in Persepolis for FOUR months initially allowing his men to loot and kill many of the natives. Alexander remained in Persepolis for FOUR months initially allowing his men to loot and kill many of the natives. A large amount of money and treasures were gained at Persepolis. It was used to reward his troops and a lot of it went to Ecbatana where it was looked after by the Imperial Treasurer, Harpalus. A large amount of money and treasures were gained at Persepolis. It was used to reward his troops and a lot of it went to Ecbatana where it was looked after by the Imperial Treasurer, Harpalus. After being there THREE months, Alexander set fire to the palace. There are two versions as to how and why: After being there THREE months, Alexander set fire to the palace. There are two versions as to how and why:

5. THE OFFICIAL VERSION (Arrian) To punish the Persians for sacrilege committed in Greece in 480 BC by Xerxes/Persians. To punish the Persians for sacrilege committed in Greece in 480 BC by Xerxes/Persians. This was to please the Greeks and to signal that the war was over. (Propaganda) This was to please the Greeks and to signal that the war was over. (Propaganda)

6. Issues with this version Why would he destroy his own palace? Why would he destroy his own palace? Why wait 3 months? Why wait 3 months? He intended to continue on He intended to continue on It was a step back for the policy of fusion, he wanted to combine and rule this area. It was a step back for the policy of fusion, he wanted to combine and rule this area.

7. THE VULGATE VERSION (Plutarch) At a drinking party, Thais, a courtesan (mistress of Ptolemy, said that she would like to set fire to the palace of Xerxes to pay him back for burning the city of Athens – this would be the ultimate act of revenge. At a drinking party, Thais, a courtesan (mistress of Ptolemy, said that she would like to set fire to the palace of Xerxes to pay him back for burning the city of Athens – this would be the ultimate act of revenge. She would like to set fire to it so that history recorded that a woman inflicted a more terrible revenge on the Persians on behalf of the Greeks, than all the famous generals of the past. She would like to set fire to it so that history recorded that a woman inflicted a more terrible revenge on the Persians on behalf of the Greeks, than all the famous generals of the past.

8. Issues with this version Alexander soon regretted his actions and ordered the fires to be put out straight away. Alexander soon regretted his actions and ordered the fires to be put out straight away. Which version is most plausible? Why?

9. This event tells us many things about Alexander’s nature He was easily swayed when drunk, or acted uncontrollably when drunk (unpredictable) He was easily swayed when drunk, or acted uncontrollably when drunk (unpredictable) He may be seen to have been seeking glory He may be seen to have been seeking glory He may be seen to be serious about revenge He may be seen to be serious about revenge He may be foolish in destroying his own property and one of the most beautiful palaces of all time He may be foolish in destroying his own property and one of the most beautiful palaces of all time This was a set back for the Policy of Fusion. This was a set back for the Policy of Fusion.

10. What does this event tell us about his treatment of the Persians? Wanted to conquer the Persian Empire Wanted to conquer the Persian Empire Wanted to Rule the empire Wanted to Rule the empire Killed Persians but treated captured royal family well Killed Persians but treated captured royal family well Appointed Macedonian satraps to take over but kept Mazeus at Babylon Appointed Macedonian satraps to take over but kept Mazeus at Babylon Let looting happen at Persepolis Let looting happen at Persepolis Inconsistent? Inconsistent?