Latest / The Achaemenid Empire: Persia's Golden Age of Power — Fexingo History
Artaxerxes II and the Rise of the Anahita Cult
This episode dives into the reign of Artaxerxes II, a lesser-known Achaemenid king who ruled from 404 to 358 BCE. We explore how he broke with tradition by officially promoting the cult of Anahita, a Persian water goddess, alongside Ahura Mazda and Mithra. The conversation covers the political motivations behind this religious shift, the construction of sanctuaries like that at Kangavar, and the lasting impact on Zoroastrian practice. We also touch on the Peace of Antalcidas, which ceded Greek cities in Asia Minor to Persia, and the challenges Artaxerxes faced from revolting satraps and his…
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