Darius And Xerxes Research Paper

The Persians had originally worshipped many minor gods before the teaching of Zoroaster were adopted by Darius and the Xerxes. These minor gods were called Daevas. Darius and Xerxes had replaced the Daevas with Ahuramazda as the Persian god to worship. From the leadership of Darius and Xerxes, the Persian was Zoroastrian religion, this religion believed in rituals such as Lan-sacrifice which was cantered on making offering to a god or traditional cult. The Persepolis tablet gives evidence that these rituals were supported with regular rations every month. Ration such as grain, flour, wine, beer, fruit and royal rams from the royal warehouse. Other type of rituals involves a special drink called Haoma. Persian believed in good and evil spirits.
Xerxes followed the same pattern of appointing a mixed government of local and Persian rulers and to grant local independence to the rulers. However, in his religious policies Xerxes differed from Darius. Darius was a strict follower of Zoroastrianism and constantly reminds the will and favour of Ahuramazda and Arta behind his every action. There is no evidence that Darius ever tried to force his beliefs on the people of his empire, and he is generally considered a generous ruler in the matters of religious freedom. On the other hand, Xerxes, in one of his inscriptions, says “… and in one of these countries, there places where false gods were worshipped. Afterward, with the favour of Ahuramazda, I destroyed the sanctuaries of the demons and I declared that demons should not be worshipped. Where before demons were worshipped, I worshipped Ahuramazda...” (Kent, XPh). This says this Xerxes was forcing his beliefs on part of his population. The Daevas inscription gave strong evidence that Xerxes was a follower of Zoroastrian teaching and the god Ahuramazda. Xerxes was against the Daevas, he had no tolerance towards people who worshiped