Persians

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Persians

play by Aeschylus

Also known as: “Persai”

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Greek:: Persai

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Persians, one of a trilogy of unconnected tragedies presented in 472 bce by Aeschylus. Persians is unique among surviving ancient Greek tragedies in that it dramatizes recent history rather than events from the distant age of mythical heroes. The play treats the decisive repulse of the Persians from Greece in 480, in particular their defeat at the Battle of Salamis. It is set in the Persian capital, where a messenger brings news to the Persian queen of the disaster at Salamis. The play attributes the defeat of Persia to Greek independence and bravery and to the gods’ punishment of Persian folly for going outside the bounds of Asia, and it ends with the return of the broken and humiliated Persian king, Xerxes.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.

Persis

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Persis

ancient region, Iran

Also known as: Pārs, Parsa

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 17, 2025 • Article History

Persian:: Parsa

Key People:: Sasanian dynasty

Related Places:: Iran; ancient Iran

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Persis, ancient country in the southwestern part of Iran, roughly coextensive with the modern region of Fārs. Its name was derived from the Iranian tribe of the Parsua (Parsuash; Parsumash; Persians), who settled there in the 7th century bc. Herodotus lists the leading Persian tribes as the Pasargadae, to which the Achaemenians, the royal family of Persia, belonged; the Maraphii; and the Maspii. It was these three that Cyrus II the Great assembled to approve his plans for his revolt against Astyages, his Median overlord, in 550 bc.

The inhabitants of Persis were considered to be the rulers of the Achaemenian Empire and were exempt from taxation. As the homeland of the Achaemenian dynasty, Persis was closely associated with the monarchy. Cyrus built his capital at Pasargadae, and about 30 miles (48 km) to the southwest Darius I founded his new capital of Parsa, known to the Greeks as Persepolis (“Persian City”).

The history of Persis after the fall of the Achaemenian Empire in 330 bc is obscure. Lying apart from the main strategic and economic highways of Iran, it preserved its ancient culture, language, and religion under the Seleucids and enjoyed considerable autonomy during the Parthian period. In the 3rd century ad its rulers, heirs of the Achaemenian tradition, founded the Sāsānian empire.

Marble bust of Alexander the Great, in the British Museum, London, England. Hellenistic Greek, 2nd-1st century BC. Said to be from Alexandria, Egypt. Height: 37 cm.

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