The Drunken Night When Alexander the Great Burned Persepolis

Alexander the Great burned Persepolis to the ground during a night of drunken revelry, after being encouraged to do so by a Greek courtesan named Thaïs. It's said she told Alexander torching the royal palace would be among his crowning achievements, and it's said she inspired his soldiers and followers to take up torches. That is, at least, according to legend. Let's talk about the downfall of the Persian Empire and why anyone would have wanted to torch Persepolis. Executive Producers: Maria Trimarchi and Holly Frey Producer & Editor: Casby BiasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.