In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Xerxes I, the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, who reigned from 486 to 465 BC. Born to Darius the Great and Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great, Xerxes inherited a massive, multi-ethnic empire and cemented his power by crushing revolts in Egypt and Babylon,,.

We examine his complex legacy, which in Western history is defined by his massive invasion of Greece in 480 BC. We discuss the famous military campaigns, including his victory at Thermopylae and the capture and burning of Athens, as well as his ultimate defeat at the Battle of Salamis,,.

Tune in to learn about:

• The Hellespont Incident: Why Xerxes ordered the sea to be whipped three hundred times after a storm destroyed his pontoon bridges.

• The Builder King: His co ...