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Achaemenid Palaces
βασιλεία(Basileia) aka ἡ βᾰσῐλείᾱ (ho Basileia): A literary genre of Akhaemenid-era Hellas, appearing in the late 5th century BC. The first known example is the Basileia of Aphrodisios of Ephesos, written during the reign of Akhaimenes. The palace to which the genre title refers is that of the Akhaemenid kings, sometimes a basileia may name which of the Akhaemenid palaces is involved but even in those examples where it is not ‘the palace’ is always understood to be a place of court for an Akhaemenid king. Each basileia involves a Hellene. He begins the basileia living an ordinary life in his homeland before being whisked away to the Akhaemenid king for some hidden or unappreciated talent that the person possesses. The genre frequently blends fact and fiction, which left its Hellenic audience divided as to which works were celebrated; those that actually portrayed real events, or those which told the most enjoyable story. Some of the most quoted basileia of later periods are those that were entirely fiction.Though they were always written in prose most basileiai were intended to be read aloud, primarily in the symposia of Persian-friendly aristocrats. The genre did find some audience among Western Hellenes but, more frequently, it was the target of comedies (as in Megathenai) or satires (as in Sikelia). The genre morphed with the birth of the Amavadatid state, with the Hellene on his journey instead becoming incidental, a means by which to write a description of ideal estates, palaces, and banquets as the Hellenic character passes them by. In some cases these basileiai became guides used by Amavadatid aristocrats and potentates. By the late Amavadatid era a renewal of the genre had taken place, with the original basileiai taken to be a golden period of quality. The early Amavadatid iterations shifted into literary manuals, still used after the final fall of the Amavadatid dynasty, whilst the cultural reconciliation of Western and Eastern Hellenes shifted the renewed basileiai into the larger genre of historia, forming a large contribution to the anabasis style of historical presentation.
Shall I tell of the family of Monimos? It is known to me that Mousaios of Syrakousai and his wife Artemisia were both of noble blood, if not noble circumstances; they were alike descended from ancient and noble families of Lakonia who fled the dominion of the Lakedaimonians long ago, to grain-rich Sikelia, where scandalous ancestors had long since wasted away their fortune and most of their land. But the virtue and intelligence of their line had not been spent, for Mousaios was a most excellent cook. Now hear me out, listeners, whilst I argue that a cook demonstrates nobility of birth, still your laughter a moment. A cook of the most excellent kind must demonstrate both patience and haste, unparalleled knowledge of edible things, and command legions of staff to create banquets and feasts. All successful poleis find their generals and arkhons from their cooking staff, I hear that only Perikles in Sybaris knows the best way to cook tuna and is planning on writing an epic, Ambrosia, about the best ways in which to gut shellfish. So to Mousaios and Artemisia was born a healthy baby boy, Monimos. Monimos was a stout, firm lad, as excellent a Hellene as could be asked for, raised on the good golden grain of Sikelia. But the sunnier parts of childhood do not often last, and his family was one of many forced to flee in the great stasis that gripped Syrakousai and the Kingdom of the Sikelian Hellenes. This friends, this is no laughing matter. Many good Hellenes died upon Sikelia’s fertile soil in pointless conflict. Like many residents of good character, and firm virtue, Mousaios knew that the time had come to return to his ancestral homeland, for peace was no longer to be found in Sikelia’s fair fields. He, with many thousands and thousands of others, returned to Hellas, the land of their birth and their ancestors, and pleaded with the Great King to have mercy upon them. And the Great King listened.
Mousaios and Artemisia returned to their homeland of Lakonia, and were granted rights of settlement by King Artaxerxes, for though the unjustly enslaved had been freed from the dominion of the Spartans there remained many lands that were empty of people, and Artaxerxes the Great King saw a chance to both return rightful Hellenes to their birthplace and to make the land of the Spartans bloom anew. Mousaios and Artemisia moved to Sellasia, the gate of Lakonia, under the watchful gaze of Mount Parnon. Mousaios’ aristocratic sense of pride and competition soon manifested itself, for he felt that he was certainly the best cook in all of Lakonia, his family having been away for too long for him to realise what little competition he would have for that title. He arrived at Gytheion, where the governor was in residence, and challenged the head chef to a contest of cooking ability. Here was Menelaus, rescuing Helen (and the Hellenes) from the captivity of awful cooking. A thrust here, a crushing blow here, a neat trim here, every ounce of divine might that Mousaios’ possessed was hurled at his opponent. The governor at Gytheion, Oxathres of the belly-laugh, duly rewarded Mousaios’ skills by making him his personal cook. There Mousaios was able to use every ounce of esoteric cooking knowledge that he possessed, and soon began to earn a reputation among those with fine dining habits. Those with keen and sensitive appetites would start to find excuses to visit the governor of Lakonia in order to sample Mousaios’ cuisine. It was in this environment that Monimos was taught everything his father knew about the Hellenic culinary arts, and proved a natural adept. It came to be that Daiobazarnes, the satrap in Thebes, was in need of a cook. However, Mousaios’ had grown old, and was unable to travel to Thebes, and so it was the young Monimos who went north to attend the court at Thebes.
Shall I describe the palace at Thebes to you all, or do you know of the great vaulted Apadane with its thousand coloured vault panelled with glass, rock crystal, agate, and obsidian, with the most magnificent Persian style columns in Hellas, each a hamma in length and made of the finest marbles, of its great tapestries sewn with every colour and fibre found in the known world? Do you already have intimate knowledge of the satrapal gardens, laid out by King Xerxes, filled with fruit from all four corners of the world that no Hellene had ever seen before, scented with fragrance enough to give a man sustenance as though the food was in his very mouth? Are you acquainted with the great hall of Kadmos, founder of Hellenic civilization, uniting as it does all the grandeur of Asia with the vibrancy of Hellenic architecture, containing more mosaics and murals in one building than can be found in the entirety of Ionia, showing every subject of the Great King across the entire world, and every ethnos of the Hellenes, all together in unity? It was this jewel, this paradeisos, that Monimos would have first encountered upon arriving at Thebes, and he was not unmoved by it. He knew at that moment that he was embarking on a very different life to that of his father, and becoming part of a more splendid world.
We shall now turn to the ruling of Hellas by the Haxamanishiya. There were times in which the satrapy of Makedonia was ruled jointly with Hellas, as in the time of Marduniya, and times where it was not. Accounting for this toing and froing with Makedonia proves difficult, particularly given that the Persians at the time did not comprehend fully the differences between Makedonia and the other Hellenes in much the same way that the Hellenes could not at first distinguish the Persians from the Medioi. But for the most part, Makedonia was considered separate to the rest of Hellas for the purposes of governance. So too were the Hellenic colonies of Asia, which were governed within their own particular satrapies, and the Hellenic cities of Krete, as the particularly dense numbers of cities proved too difficult to govern from the far removed capital of Thebes. Now we come to the subject of Thebes, the preferred capital of Hellas. This state of affairs began during King Xshayarsha’s conquest of Hellas, when the Thebans decided to make alliance with the King. Being the largest of the Hellenic cities first taken intact it was the natural location for the initial governance of the area, especially because the Persians found that the innumerable cities and peoples of the Hellenes all had to be dealt with differently. In addition, it was only after the naval victory at Salamis that Athens became an inhabited city again, and it was not thought good to elevate the Athenians after their pretensions to lead the Hellenes that had allied against the king. Likewise, Korinthos had not yet been integrated into the Persian governance of Hellas, with the King’s Peace having made it instead a sovereign ally. Thebes also continued to hold the largest garrison among the newly conquered territories of Hellas, and Marduniya’s presence there, until his rebellion and execution, gave an air of permanence to Thebes. This was not without resistance in Thebes, for the leaders of Thebes had not reckoned with a permanent Persian presence in their polis. Those of the Theban aristokratia not disposed to the new situation thus became the centre of a general insurrection.
After the death of Mardonios and the final defeat of the Great Revolt there came time for a decision- would Thebes remain the capital, or would it be moved elsewhere? It was noted that whilst Thebans had led the revolt they had actually been thrown out of Thebes by their compatriots, and Thebes itself had remained loyal on the whole. Given its strategic location, and after the numerous bloody events of the Great Revolt, the decision was taken to show mercy and to keep Thebes as the capital, though there was now a great fortress built near to Thebes with a significant permanent garrison. It is from this point that the governance of Hellas began to change- several regions formerly independent were now conquered, such as Korinthos and the Argolis, and some communities formerly autonomous now had appointed governors, such as Lakonia and Phokis. King Xshayarsha also began to invest in dedicated Haxamanishiya infrastructure in Hellas. He commissioned strategic forts besides that of Thebes, expanded and improved roads, and increased the garrisons present in Hellas. He also provided funds for the next satrap, Fradafarnah, to beautify those Hellenic cities that had proven most dedicated to the King’s cause. Between the total military defeat of the Great Revolt and these gifts and gestures it came to pass that a number of the Hellenes who had been opposed to the King, to the rule of Persians, came to feel differently. It was also the first experiment to see whether the Hellenes of Hellas were capable of anything other than military prowess and competition.
Thebes was then progressively enhanced by the satraps that followed, particularly by the klerarkhal transplants implemented in the early reign of King Artaxshahya which is discussed elsewhere. Thebes was beautified but also elevated to the point of grand palaces capable of hosting a Haxamanishiya king if need be. The archives attached to Thebes also continued to grow in size, and this in turn created a library curated at the direction of the satrap, though which satrap of Hellas actually founded the library is difficult to prove. Thebes swiftly became one of the intellectual hearts of Hellas, as well as its capital. Its citizens were thoroughly integrated into an Asiatic mode of civilization, and it is the example of Thebes that began to persuade many thinkers over the other side of the sea that Hellenes were a natural component of Asiatic civilization as well, albeit Asians that had been isolated and thus made to become warlike and, at times, barbarous. But Thebes was also, at times, a dangerous city- many competed for the favour of the Great King, and the favour of the satrap as well, and in times of unwatchfullness this made political competition particularly bitter and violent. With places of power comes the desire to control it among many of an avaricious nature, and Thebes had become such a place. Indeed, its sumptuous palaces and great resources, linked as it now was to much of the rest of Hellas, had made it an ideal staging ground for a rebellion against the Haxamanishiya if there was any moment of weakness, and in the time of Amavadata as satrap of Hellas there came precisely that sort of moment, with precisely the kind of person who could take full advantage of the opportunity offered. Thebes had, without anyone realising it, been raised to become capable of housing a king’s habitation.
So word then reached the Great King, for a fisherman told a merchant, who told a butcher, who told a linen-maker, who told the wife of the vinter, who told the vinter, who told the satrap of Babylonia, who told the Great King. Word from such noble lips had reached the King of Persia, telling him of the quality of this Hellene cook, Monimos, and that he had actually been able to make Hellenic cuisine palatable for the rarefied tastes of noble Persians. King Artaxerxes was immediately intrigued by this, having an appreciation for Hellenic culture in general. He sent word to the satrap at Thebes that he desired to meet with this cook, in order to experience more of what his Hellenic subjects had to offer and become closer to Hellas. In other words, he poached him, and Daiobazarnes was pretty miffed about it. Monimos was one of his most favoured retainers, and he was loathe to release him, but Daiobazarnes was a loyal servant of the Great King, and with a heavy heart he released Monimos, who with a giddy heart began to make his way to Babylon accompanied by the royal messenger. He passed through many of the most beautiful lands of Asia on the way, filled with wine, and gentle wheat fields, and heavenly mountains, and gorgeous women, and beautiful boys, and ancient cities built so long ago that Gigantes played there as children. Then he came to the land between the two rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, where Babylon lies. Much like Aigyptos these lands are only fertile where the great rivers run, but these waters are tamed in massive networks of channels through which they run and nourish the soil, the first of these channels being built by Poseidon. There Babylon, once home to Herakles, sat, a city stretching from one horizon to the other. Here the Great King was staying, and to the Great King went Monimos, who presented himself in front of the King.
“My king, what motivates you to reach out your long arm and move such a small one as me?”
“All of creation is made from small ones, who come together to make big ones under the direction of the wise and powerful. You, who provide knowledge of foods from distant lands, are as interesting to me as any Persian, and the Hellenes are one among my many children. I would have you both closer to me.”
“What would you have me do, my king?”
“I would have you prepare a feast as is common in the fashion of your people, so that I may understand them better.”
So Monimos began the preparations for a feast. He sampled all of the beautiful Persian wines whilst valiantly resisting total drunkenness, in order to find that which was most fitting. He tried all of the fruits which were unknown even in Thebes, to see which would be delicious in the dishes he already knew. He tested all the meats, vegetables, and grains that were available in the king’s larder. By the end of his preparations no man alive knew more about different foodstuffs, their properties, and their preparations than Monimos of Syrakousai. Then he gathered his staff together and arranged the feast, with a legion of other staff to help feed the court of the Great King. As with Hellenic feasts this feast was divided into two halves, with the symposion focusing on the wonderful Persian wine that was available. Monimos laboured all day preparing for the feast, and when at last it was ready the Great King experienced what it meant to eat like a Hellene. He was served beautiful prawns from the coast of Persia cooked with honey, olive oil, garon and black pepper, and served with barley grains; baked leeks and apples with honey and anise seeds; many different kinds of mashed beans, the kind that Herakles loved; at least twenty different kinds of fish, served with caper, pepper, and honey sauces; the finest wheat breads and delicate pieces of barley bread made from the finest Babylonian barley; salads of dandelion, turnip, and asparagus with a vinegar sauce; beautiful tender lamb baked and served with pine nuts, wine sauce, and a bean paste; honeycakes with the most delicate texture imaginable; wild boar meat studded with every spice imaginable. After all of this and more Monimos sent out the wine, which was to be moderated at the discretion of Monimos. Accompanying the hours of drinking were fruits, both honeyed and roasted, nuts of all kinds, and cheeses made of the most fat-filled, creamy milks you could imagine. That night, trust me, it is true, King Artaxerxes ate like a Hellene.
Μηδίζω! THE WORLD OF ACHAEMENID HELLAS
CHAPTER 3:XSHAHYAM or BASILEIA
THE LEXICON OF HELLENIC LITERATURE
CHAPTER 3:XSHAHYAM or BASILEIA
THE LEXICON OF HELLENIC LITERATURE
βασιλεία(Basileia) aka ἡ βᾰσῐλείᾱ (ho Basileia): A literary genre of Akhaemenid-era Hellas, appearing in the late 5th century BC. The first known example is the Basileia of Aphrodisios of Ephesos, written during the reign of Akhaimenes. The palace to which the genre title refers is that of the Akhaemenid kings, sometimes a basileia may name which of the Akhaemenid palaces is involved but even in those examples where it is not ‘the palace’ is always understood to be a place of court for an Akhaemenid king. Each basileia involves a Hellene. He begins the basileia living an ordinary life in his homeland before being whisked away to the Akhaemenid king for some hidden or unappreciated talent that the person possesses. The genre frequently blends fact and fiction, which left its Hellenic audience divided as to which works were celebrated; those that actually portrayed real events, or those which told the most enjoyable story. Some of the most quoted basileia of later periods are those that were entirely fiction.Though they were always written in prose most basileiai were intended to be read aloud, primarily in the symposia of Persian-friendly aristocrats. The genre did find some audience among Western Hellenes but, more frequently, it was the target of comedies (as in Megathenai) or satires (as in Sikelia). The genre morphed with the birth of the Amavadatid state, with the Hellene on his journey instead becoming incidental, a means by which to write a description of ideal estates, palaces, and banquets as the Hellenic character passes them by. In some cases these basileiai became guides used by Amavadatid aristocrats and potentates. By the late Amavadatid era a renewal of the genre had taken place, with the original basileiai taken to be a golden period of quality. The early Amavadatid iterations shifted into literary manuals, still used after the final fall of the Amavadatid dynasty, whilst the cultural reconciliation of Western and Eastern Hellenes shifted the renewed basileiai into the larger genre of historia, forming a large contribution to the anabasis style of historical presentation.
EXTRACTS FROM ANAXANDRA’S BASILEIA
By Zeus, Apollo, Artemis, and Athena I say that all of what follows are the true events that transpired in the life of Monimos of Syrakousai, son of Mousaios, in the reign of the Great King Artaxerxes. If others say that things happened differently, or that Monimos is an invention, or that I am a liar, then they speak falsely.Shall I tell of the family of Monimos? It is known to me that Mousaios of Syrakousai and his wife Artemisia were both of noble blood, if not noble circumstances; they were alike descended from ancient and noble families of Lakonia who fled the dominion of the Lakedaimonians long ago, to grain-rich Sikelia, where scandalous ancestors had long since wasted away their fortune and most of their land. But the virtue and intelligence of their line had not been spent, for Mousaios was a most excellent cook. Now hear me out, listeners, whilst I argue that a cook demonstrates nobility of birth, still your laughter a moment. A cook of the most excellent kind must demonstrate both patience and haste, unparalleled knowledge of edible things, and command legions of staff to create banquets and feasts. All successful poleis find their generals and arkhons from their cooking staff, I hear that only Perikles in Sybaris knows the best way to cook tuna and is planning on writing an epic, Ambrosia, about the best ways in which to gut shellfish. So to Mousaios and Artemisia was born a healthy baby boy, Monimos. Monimos was a stout, firm lad, as excellent a Hellene as could be asked for, raised on the good golden grain of Sikelia. But the sunnier parts of childhood do not often last, and his family was one of many forced to flee in the great stasis that gripped Syrakousai and the Kingdom of the Sikelian Hellenes. This friends, this is no laughing matter. Many good Hellenes died upon Sikelia’s fertile soil in pointless conflict. Like many residents of good character, and firm virtue, Mousaios knew that the time had come to return to his ancestral homeland, for peace was no longer to be found in Sikelia’s fair fields. He, with many thousands and thousands of others, returned to Hellas, the land of their birth and their ancestors, and pleaded with the Great King to have mercy upon them. And the Great King listened.
Mousaios and Artemisia returned to their homeland of Lakonia, and were granted rights of settlement by King Artaxerxes, for though the unjustly enslaved had been freed from the dominion of the Spartans there remained many lands that were empty of people, and Artaxerxes the Great King saw a chance to both return rightful Hellenes to their birthplace and to make the land of the Spartans bloom anew. Mousaios and Artemisia moved to Sellasia, the gate of Lakonia, under the watchful gaze of Mount Parnon. Mousaios’ aristocratic sense of pride and competition soon manifested itself, for he felt that he was certainly the best cook in all of Lakonia, his family having been away for too long for him to realise what little competition he would have for that title. He arrived at Gytheion, where the governor was in residence, and challenged the head chef to a contest of cooking ability. Here was Menelaus, rescuing Helen (and the Hellenes) from the captivity of awful cooking. A thrust here, a crushing blow here, a neat trim here, every ounce of divine might that Mousaios’ possessed was hurled at his opponent. The governor at Gytheion, Oxathres of the belly-laugh, duly rewarded Mousaios’ skills by making him his personal cook. There Mousaios was able to use every ounce of esoteric cooking knowledge that he possessed, and soon began to earn a reputation among those with fine dining habits. Those with keen and sensitive appetites would start to find excuses to visit the governor of Lakonia in order to sample Mousaios’ cuisine. It was in this environment that Monimos was taught everything his father knew about the Hellenic culinary arts, and proved a natural adept. It came to be that Daiobazarnes, the satrap in Thebes, was in need of a cook. However, Mousaios’ had grown old, and was unable to travel to Thebes, and so it was the young Monimos who went north to attend the court at Thebes.
Shall I describe the palace at Thebes to you all, or do you know of the great vaulted Apadane with its thousand coloured vault panelled with glass, rock crystal, agate, and obsidian, with the most magnificent Persian style columns in Hellas, each a hamma in length and made of the finest marbles, of its great tapestries sewn with every colour and fibre found in the known world? Do you already have intimate knowledge of the satrapal gardens, laid out by King Xerxes, filled with fruit from all four corners of the world that no Hellene had ever seen before, scented with fragrance enough to give a man sustenance as though the food was in his very mouth? Are you acquainted with the great hall of Kadmos, founder of Hellenic civilization, uniting as it does all the grandeur of Asia with the vibrancy of Hellenic architecture, containing more mosaics and murals in one building than can be found in the entirety of Ionia, showing every subject of the Great King across the entire world, and every ethnos of the Hellenes, all together in unity? It was this jewel, this paradeisos, that Monimos would have first encountered upon arriving at Thebes, and he was not unmoved by it. He knew at that moment that he was embarking on a very different life to that of his father, and becoming part of a more splendid world.
EXTRACT FROM DATIS OF SINOPE'S HISTORIA
A DESCRIPTION OF THEBES AS IT WAS AS CAPITAL OF HELLAS
A DESCRIPTION OF THEBES AS IT WAS AS CAPITAL OF HELLAS
We shall now turn to the ruling of Hellas by the Haxamanishiya. There were times in which the satrapy of Makedonia was ruled jointly with Hellas, as in the time of Marduniya, and times where it was not. Accounting for this toing and froing with Makedonia proves difficult, particularly given that the Persians at the time did not comprehend fully the differences between Makedonia and the other Hellenes in much the same way that the Hellenes could not at first distinguish the Persians from the Medioi. But for the most part, Makedonia was considered separate to the rest of Hellas for the purposes of governance. So too were the Hellenic colonies of Asia, which were governed within their own particular satrapies, and the Hellenic cities of Krete, as the particularly dense numbers of cities proved too difficult to govern from the far removed capital of Thebes. Now we come to the subject of Thebes, the preferred capital of Hellas. This state of affairs began during King Xshayarsha’s conquest of Hellas, when the Thebans decided to make alliance with the King. Being the largest of the Hellenic cities first taken intact it was the natural location for the initial governance of the area, especially because the Persians found that the innumerable cities and peoples of the Hellenes all had to be dealt with differently. In addition, it was only after the naval victory at Salamis that Athens became an inhabited city again, and it was not thought good to elevate the Athenians after their pretensions to lead the Hellenes that had allied against the king. Likewise, Korinthos had not yet been integrated into the Persian governance of Hellas, with the King’s Peace having made it instead a sovereign ally. Thebes also continued to hold the largest garrison among the newly conquered territories of Hellas, and Marduniya’s presence there, until his rebellion and execution, gave an air of permanence to Thebes. This was not without resistance in Thebes, for the leaders of Thebes had not reckoned with a permanent Persian presence in their polis. Those of the Theban aristokratia not disposed to the new situation thus became the centre of a general insurrection.
After the death of Mardonios and the final defeat of the Great Revolt there came time for a decision- would Thebes remain the capital, or would it be moved elsewhere? It was noted that whilst Thebans had led the revolt they had actually been thrown out of Thebes by their compatriots, and Thebes itself had remained loyal on the whole. Given its strategic location, and after the numerous bloody events of the Great Revolt, the decision was taken to show mercy and to keep Thebes as the capital, though there was now a great fortress built near to Thebes with a significant permanent garrison. It is from this point that the governance of Hellas began to change- several regions formerly independent were now conquered, such as Korinthos and the Argolis, and some communities formerly autonomous now had appointed governors, such as Lakonia and Phokis. King Xshayarsha also began to invest in dedicated Haxamanishiya infrastructure in Hellas. He commissioned strategic forts besides that of Thebes, expanded and improved roads, and increased the garrisons present in Hellas. He also provided funds for the next satrap, Fradafarnah, to beautify those Hellenic cities that had proven most dedicated to the King’s cause. Between the total military defeat of the Great Revolt and these gifts and gestures it came to pass that a number of the Hellenes who had been opposed to the King, to the rule of Persians, came to feel differently. It was also the first experiment to see whether the Hellenes of Hellas were capable of anything other than military prowess and competition.
Thebes was then progressively enhanced by the satraps that followed, particularly by the klerarkhal transplants implemented in the early reign of King Artaxshahya which is discussed elsewhere. Thebes was beautified but also elevated to the point of grand palaces capable of hosting a Haxamanishiya king if need be. The archives attached to Thebes also continued to grow in size, and this in turn created a library curated at the direction of the satrap, though which satrap of Hellas actually founded the library is difficult to prove. Thebes swiftly became one of the intellectual hearts of Hellas, as well as its capital. Its citizens were thoroughly integrated into an Asiatic mode of civilization, and it is the example of Thebes that began to persuade many thinkers over the other side of the sea that Hellenes were a natural component of Asiatic civilization as well, albeit Asians that had been isolated and thus made to become warlike and, at times, barbarous. But Thebes was also, at times, a dangerous city- many competed for the favour of the Great King, and the favour of the satrap as well, and in times of unwatchfullness this made political competition particularly bitter and violent. With places of power comes the desire to control it among many of an avaricious nature, and Thebes had become such a place. Indeed, its sumptuous palaces and great resources, linked as it now was to much of the rest of Hellas, had made it an ideal staging ground for a rebellion against the Haxamanishiya if there was any moment of weakness, and in the time of Amavadata as satrap of Hellas there came precisely that sort of moment, with precisely the kind of person who could take full advantage of the opportunity offered. Thebes had, without anyone realising it, been raised to become capable of housing a king’s habitation.
EXTRACTS FROM ANAXANDRA’S BASILEIA
So word then reached the Great King, for a fisherman told a merchant, who told a butcher, who told a linen-maker, who told the wife of the vinter, who told the vinter, who told the satrap of Babylonia, who told the Great King. Word from such noble lips had reached the King of Persia, telling him of the quality of this Hellene cook, Monimos, and that he had actually been able to make Hellenic cuisine palatable for the rarefied tastes of noble Persians. King Artaxerxes was immediately intrigued by this, having an appreciation for Hellenic culture in general. He sent word to the satrap at Thebes that he desired to meet with this cook, in order to experience more of what his Hellenic subjects had to offer and become closer to Hellas. In other words, he poached him, and Daiobazarnes was pretty miffed about it. Monimos was one of his most favoured retainers, and he was loathe to release him, but Daiobazarnes was a loyal servant of the Great King, and with a heavy heart he released Monimos, who with a giddy heart began to make his way to Babylon accompanied by the royal messenger. He passed through many of the most beautiful lands of Asia on the way, filled with wine, and gentle wheat fields, and heavenly mountains, and gorgeous women, and beautiful boys, and ancient cities built so long ago that Gigantes played there as children. Then he came to the land between the two rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, where Babylon lies. Much like Aigyptos these lands are only fertile where the great rivers run, but these waters are tamed in massive networks of channels through which they run and nourish the soil, the first of these channels being built by Poseidon. There Babylon, once home to Herakles, sat, a city stretching from one horizon to the other. Here the Great King was staying, and to the Great King went Monimos, who presented himself in front of the King.
“My king, what motivates you to reach out your long arm and move such a small one as me?”
“All of creation is made from small ones, who come together to make big ones under the direction of the wise and powerful. You, who provide knowledge of foods from distant lands, are as interesting to me as any Persian, and the Hellenes are one among my many children. I would have you both closer to me.”
“What would you have me do, my king?”
“I would have you prepare a feast as is common in the fashion of your people, so that I may understand them better.”
So Monimos began the preparations for a feast. He sampled all of the beautiful Persian wines whilst valiantly resisting total drunkenness, in order to find that which was most fitting. He tried all of the fruits which were unknown even in Thebes, to see which would be delicious in the dishes he already knew. He tested all the meats, vegetables, and grains that were available in the king’s larder. By the end of his preparations no man alive knew more about different foodstuffs, their properties, and their preparations than Monimos of Syrakousai. Then he gathered his staff together and arranged the feast, with a legion of other staff to help feed the court of the Great King. As with Hellenic feasts this feast was divided into two halves, with the symposion focusing on the wonderful Persian wine that was available. Monimos laboured all day preparing for the feast, and when at last it was ready the Great King experienced what it meant to eat like a Hellene. He was served beautiful prawns from the coast of Persia cooked with honey, olive oil, garon and black pepper, and served with barley grains; baked leeks and apples with honey and anise seeds; many different kinds of mashed beans, the kind that Herakles loved; at least twenty different kinds of fish, served with caper, pepper, and honey sauces; the finest wheat breads and delicate pieces of barley bread made from the finest Babylonian barley; salads of dandelion, turnip, and asparagus with a vinegar sauce; beautiful tender lamb baked and served with pine nuts, wine sauce, and a bean paste; honeycakes with the most delicate texture imaginable; wild boar meat studded with every spice imaginable. After all of this and more Monimos sent out the wine, which was to be moderated at the discretion of Monimos. Accompanying the hours of drinking were fruits, both honeyed and roasted, nuts of all kinds, and cheeses made of the most fat-filled, creamy milks you could imagine. That night, trust me, it is true, King Artaxerxes ate like a Hellene.
- Daeres
- Word Count: 3.1k