Classical Greek J292,02 November 2020

1. Herodotus′ Accounts of Foreign Customs: The “Table of the Sun,“ Ethiopian longevity, Persian diet, and the sacred properties of water sources.

2. The King of Ethiopia′s Defiance: His mockery of the Persian military, his confidence in his own people’s strength, and his warning to Cambyses.

3. Cross-Cultural Misunderstandings: The Ethiopian king’s reaction to Persian gifts, his interpretation of golden jewelry as shackles, and the Persian misunderstanding of Ethiopian customs.

4. Herodotus’ Narrative Techniques: The use of wonder and skepticism, exaggeration in storytelling, and the blending of fact and myth to engage the audience.

5. Persian Overconfidence and Recklessness: Cambyses’ impulsive campaign against Ethiopia, his lack of preparation, and his emotional response to Ethiopian resistance.

6. Darius and the Power of Custom: The experiment with Greek and Indian funeral rites, Herodotus’ perspective on cultural relativism, and the broader commentary on the rigidity of Persian rulers.