Xerxes I
You might recall the towering figure of Xerxes, the Persian King, from Zack Snyder’s visually stunning film. However, in the annals of history, Xerxes I is known for more than just his cinematic portrayal. He’s infamous for his unsuccessful invasion of Greece, his military defeats at Salamis and Plataea, stifling rebellions in Egypt and Babylon, and his architectural feats in shaping the cities of Susa and Persepolis.
In the sweltering heat of August 465 BC, a shocking plot unfolded. Xerxes, the mighty ruler of the Achaemenid Empire, was brutally assassinated by his own bodyguard, Artabanus, and a crafty eunuch named Aspamitres. Rumor has it, his younger son may have orchestrated the entire scheme, hungry for power. The empire, already teetering on the brink of collapse due to the costly wars instigated by Xerxes, began its inevitable descent into oblivion.