# Xerxes — Dialogues character guide

> Xerxes in Dialogues by Seneca.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0001-i

## Who they are

Persian king, used as an example of hubris and military overreach.

## In the story

### [Book III: On the Control of Anger and the Path to Liberty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dialogues_2_se/chapters/book-iii)

Mentioned as a king who, when Pythias begged for one son to be excused from service, tore the chosen son in half as a propitiatory victim.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dialogues_2_se/chapters/xvi)

King who, in a cruel display of anger, tore apart the son chosen by Pythias and was later defeated and humiliated.

### [The Restlessness of Joy and the Futility of Ambition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dialogues_2_se/chapters/xvii)

The Persian king wept at the thought that none of his vast army would be alive in a hundred years, yet he himself would soon destroy them.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dialogues_2_se/chapters/xxxi)

The Persian king who, swollen with flattery, declares war on Greece and is warned by Demaratus.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dialogues_2_se/chapters/endnotes)

Mentioned in a note as the Persian king.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dialogues_2_se/characters/xerxes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dialogues_2_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dialogues_2_se/characters