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Topic

Power and Portrayal: Reimagining Persia in Classical Greek Thought

Department of Greek and Roman Studies

Date & location

• Tuesday, July 8, 2025
• 10:00 A.M.
• Virtual Defence

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Geoffrey Kron, Department of Greek and Roman Studies, ßÉßɱ¬ÁÏ (Supervisor)
• Dr. Gregory Rowe, Department of Greek and Roman Studies, UVic (Member)

External Examiner

• Dr. Evanthia Baboula, Department of Art History and Visual Studies, UVic

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Darlene Clover, Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, UVic

Abstract

Classical sources—particularly those authored by Greek historians—have frequently been misused by some modern scholars to emphasize antagonism between Greeks and Persians, framing their interactions as a civilizational conflict between a rational, free “West” and an irrational, despotic “East.” This binary opposition has endured through successive historical periods, serving as a foundational narrative for constructing enduring dichotomies between East and West.

These representations have functioned ideologically, not only to highlight cultural and political differences but also to justify colonial ambitions and military interventions, especially in the Middle East. By casting the East as a timeless “Other”—barbaric, autocratic, and fundamentally incompatible with Western values—Western discourses have legitimized domination and conquest under the guise of civilizational superiority. This orientalist legacy continues to inform contemporary geopolitical rhetoric, where historical enmities are revived or exaggerated to serve modern foreign policy goals.

However, this thesis contends that Greek-Persian relations were far more complex and multifaceted than this traditional narrative suggests. While the Persian Wars undoubtedly represented a period of significant conflict, they did not reflect a perpetual state of enmity, nor do they align neatly with modern ideological oppositions of “West” versus “East.” On the contrary, Greek and Persian societies maintained enduring trade relations, engaged in cultural exchange, and occasionally enjoyed amicable diplomatic interactions.

Additionally, rather than viewing Greek depictions of Persia solely as expressions of xenophobia or ideological propaganda, this thesis argues that many of these portrayals reflect a broader framework of intercultural familiarity, mutual influence, and intellectual exchange. Greek authors did not merely caricature their Persian counterparts; they frequently acknowledged the complexity of Persian governance, administrative sophistication, and cultural practices—often situating Persia within a shared imperial and global discourse. Nonetheless, Greek literary representations often reveal not only hostility but also admiration, curiosity, and deep engagement with Persian society, politics, and customs.