Various History

...[temple offerings], and from the statue of Zeus he took away the robe and the ornaments, which they say were of gold, weighing eighty-five talents A talent was a massive unit of weight; eighty-five talents of gold would be an astronomical fortune.. When the craftsmen were afraid to touch it, he himself was the first to strike the statue. He also despoiled the statue of Apollo, which had golden curls, ordering them to be shorn off entirely. After sailing to Boeotia original: βοίζωίσιον (boizōision); likely an OCR error for "Βοιωτίαν" (Boeotia) or a specific town like Orchomenus., he plundered all the treasures of Apollo and those of Lycoreia. He ordered the silver table standing next to Apollo to be removed, [mocking the custom] of people who dedicate a cup to the "Good Spirit" original: ἀγαθοῦ δαίμονος (agathou daimonos); the "Good Spirit" was a traditional toast offered at the end of a meal or during a libation. before they drink.

How Ismenias bowed before the King of the Persians without shame.

I would not wish to hide the clever and Greek spirit of Ismenias the Theban. While serving as an ambassador for his homeland to the King of the Persians, he arrived and wished to meet with the King personally regarding the purpose of his mission. The Chiliarch term: Chiliarch (χιλίαρχος); literally a "commander of a thousand," but in the Persian court, this official served as the King’s gatekeeper or Grand Vizier., who brought messages to the King and introduced those seeking an audience, spoke to him. This man, named Tithraustes, said playfully through an interpreter: "O Theban guest, there is a local law for Persians that anyone coming into the King’s sight may not be granted an audience until he has first prostrated himself term: Proskynesis (προσκύνησις); a traditional Persian gesture of deep bowing or prostration which Greeks viewed as a form of worship fit only for gods, and thus humiliating for free men. before him. If you wish to meet with him yourself, you must do what the law requires; otherwise, your business will be conducted through us without you bowing." Ismenias replied, "Lead me in." When he came into the King’s presence and was visible to him, he secretly removed his ring—which he happened to be wearing—and dropped it at his feet. He then quickly bent down as if he were prostrating himself, and picked it up again. Thus, he gave the impression of bowing without actually performing the act. He did nothing to bring shame upon the Greeks, yet he accomplished everything he desired and suffered no ill-will from the Persian.

Gifts given by the Persian King to ambassadors.

The gifts given by the King to those who come to him as ambassadors, whether they arrived from the Greeks or elsewhere, were as follows: To each, a Babylonian talent of minted silver The Babylonian talent was a specific standard of weight.; also two gold bowls. A Babylonian talent is equal to seventy-two Attic minae Attic minae were a standard Greek unit of weight and currency; the Babylonian version was significantly heavier.. Additionally, they received bracelets, a dagger term: Akinakes (ἀκινάκην); a short, straight sword or dagger characteristic of the Persians., and a twisted necklace—these together being worth a thousand darics A daric was a high-purity gold coin of the Persian Empire.. Finally, they were given a Median robe, which is called the "gift-bearing" robe original: δωροφορική (dōrophorikē)..