Why King Xerxes Whipped the Sea | Ancient History

Why King Xerxes Whipped the Sea | Ancient History

In 480 BCE, Persian King Xerxes I ordered the sea itself to be punished.

As his army crossed the Hellespont (modern Dardanelles) on massive pontoon bridges, a violent storm destroyed them. Furious, Xerxes commanded that the waters be whipped 300 times, branded with hot irons, and “cursed” by his men.

To the ancient Persians—and many other ancient cultures—nature was something a great king could command. Punishing the sea was a symbolic act, showing that even the elements were expected to obey imperial authority.

Greek historians like Herodotus later mocked this act as madness and arrogance, using it to portray Xerxes as a tyrant blinded by hubris.

In reality, the act was political theatre—a public display of power meant to restore morale and assert control after a humiliating setback.

Jeanne de Clisson

Jeanne de Clisson — 

Jeanne de Clisson was a medieval noblewoman from Brittany.

In 1343, her husband, Olivier IV de Clisson, was executed by the French king on disputed treason charges.

She believed the execution was unjust and planned revenge.

Jeanne sold her property to raise money for warships.

With support from England, she became a privateer during the Hundred Years’ War.

For about 13 years, she attacked French ships in the English Channel.

Qasr Al-Farīd, Al-'Ula, Saudi Arabia

Qasr Al-Farīd, Al-'Ula, Saudi Arabia

2,000-Year-Old Qasr Al-Farīd, Al-'Ula, Saudi Arabia.

Carved from a single sandstone monolith, this unfinished Nabataean tomb-known as "The Lonely Castle"-stands isolated in the desert near Mada'in Salih.

The Longyou Caves

The Longyou Caves, also known as the Longyou Grottoes, are a series of man-made underground caverns located in Zhejiang Province, China. These caves are considered to be one of the largest ancient underground excavation sites in the world.

Discovery:

The Longyou Caves were discovered in 1992 by a local villager who accidentally came across a small pond. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the pond was actually connected to a large underground cavern. This discovery led to the subsequent exploration and excavation of the site.

Cave Complex:

The Longyou Caves consist of at least 24 separate chambers carved out of solid sandstone. The chambers are large, with the average floor area being over 1,000 square meters (approximately 10,764 square feet) and the ceiling heights reaching up to 30 meters (98 feet). The caves are interconnected through corridors and passageways, forming a complex underground structure.