History of the Peloponnesian War · Character
Xerxes
Persian king who invaded Greece in the earlier war.
minor
Also known as King Xerxes
First appearance: book i
Xerxes shows up with force in Second Congress at Lacedaemon: Preparations for War and Diplomatic Skirmishes. The page is where that presence becomes real.
Received Pausanias's letter and responded by sending Artabazus to the coast.
Xerxes first appears in 0002 book i.
In Second Congress at Lacedaemon: Preparations for War and Diplomatic Skirmishes: Received Pausanias's letter and responded by sending Artabazus to the coast.
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Character Web
8 connectionsA slice of how Xerxes sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Persian Wars Figures
- Spartan and Athenian Leaders
- Diverse Figures of the War
+3 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it captures the Athenians' fateful psychological peak of hubris…
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Xerxes appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Xerxes unlock in the free preview.
See Xerxes in book i