THEMISTOCLES ODYSSEY

                      THEMISTOCLES IN THE ROYAL PALACE OF SUSA

INT. DAYTIME 

SETTING: KING ARTAXERXES, ROYAL PALACE (GREAT PALACE HALL)

AT RISE:   Lysitheides and Themistocles in Susa, Themistocles before Persian acting regent & King’s high guard Artabanos. 

Cast of characters:

THEMISTOCLES, Athenian general (fugitive)

ARTABANOS Persian, King Artaxerxes high advisor

LYSITHEIDES Royal road guide, confidant of Themistocles

ROYAL GUARDS

(Lysitheides advising Themistocles before meeting Persian acting regent Artabanos.)

LYSITHEIDES

Soon, you will enter the royal gates to meet acting Artabanos. The great moment has arrived for you Themistocles, for petitioning your audience before King Artaxerxes and his advisors.

THEMISTOCLES

Thank you, Lysitheides. You realized my entire journey, and now, at a meeting with Regent Artabanos, we have to find out if the king is already in Susa.

LYSITHEIDES

My previous visits to Susa have established strong relationships. The king arrives here during the winter months, now we are at the end of October and near the winter season. The assassination of King Xerxes forced Artaxerxes to be in Susa because the treasury was in Susa. He has to resolve many pending royal issues, and it will be necessary for him to be in Susa.

THEMISTOCLES

Your thoughts are well-constructed, and the reasoning appropriate; my only dilemma is the language.

LYSITHEIDES

Royal protocol circumstances don’t allow me to be next to you, Themistocles. There are many well-trained translators in the royal palace. Your actions should be discreet and cautious.

THEMISTOCLES

Your support is precious and priceless, Lysitheides. I will never forget my true friends.

LYSITHEIDES

My services are equally beneficial to you and to the king.

THEMISTOCLES

My main mission is to present myself as soon as possible directly to the king.

LYSITHEIDES

So far, you have surpassed many obstacles, now you must overcome one more, the personal guardian of the king’s guardian, Artabanos. Some courtiers say that Artabanos has more powers now than before and that he is acting as a regent.

THEMISTOCLES

What do you know about Artabanos?

LYSITHEIDES

Artabanos is a native of Hyrcania, a region southeast of the Caspian Sea, the region is a satrapy of the king. Hyrcania cavalry units fought in the armies of King Xerxes during his expedition to Hellas. Their commander was Megapanos, who now is the governor of Babylon and a close friend to Artabanos. Now Artabanos acts as the administrator and chief commander of the royal palace, and he has great influence upon King Artaxerxes.

THEMISTOCLES

The instigation by Artabanos against Artaxerxes’ brother may have been for other reasons unknown to us.

LYSITHEIDES

Another important person at King Xerxes’s court at that time was a eunuch called Aspamitres. Both of them now advise King Artaxerxes. The throne of King Xerxes was not very stable, and he had many silent enemies at his court. The Babylonians regarded the murder of King Xerxes as a punishment by their god Marduk, whose temple had been destroyed by King Xerxes. Another influential figure you may encounter is Magabyzos, who married the sister of King Artaxerxes.

THEMISTOCLES

Family rivalry and personal ambitions are well-known among rulers. The present turmoil in the royal palace may help my situation, convincing King Artaxerxes to lean in my favor. Now, Artabanos has great powers in his hands and is the only obstacle to my audience with the king. I am thankful for your support and your wise advice, Lysitheides.

LYSITHEIDES

I trust your sagacious persuasion, Themistocles. What makes you believe that King Artaxerxes will be fair to you?

THEMISTOCLES

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I express a truth based on common sense. Previous personal experiences have transformed adversity into friendship, It is to my advantage that I meet with a new, young, and inexperienced ruler. An Athenian would say that “An eagle’s old age is worth a sparrow’s youth”. I may convince King Artaxerxes that it is to his benefit to secure my life, that it is render my punishment. Now, in front of Artabanos, I will reason important matters I know about the Hellenes, and I will keep my anonymity.

(Persian guards order the foreigner Themistocles to appear before regent Artabanos)

ARTABANOS

You were referred to me, foreigner, that you have important news to tell me. Before any discussion, identify yourself and how you came to be here in Susa.

THEMISTOCLES

I traveled on the royal road with a permit to meet with the great king of Persia. I wish to have an audience with the great king about matters of the greatest importance and concern to him.

ARTABANOS

I am the regent of Persia, and you can give me all the information about our empire’s affairs. How did you obtain permission to visit Susa?

THEMISTOCLES

At that time, my travel permit was issued upon King Xerxes' authority, and for my security and protection, the royal authorization was issued unnamed.

 ARTABANOS

Stranger, reveal your identity, your name, and your birthplace?

THEMISTOCLES

I am a Hellene. I know you are a native of Hyrcania, and your people were settled by great King Darius in the Hellenic-named Lydian. Your native people participated bravely with King Xerxes in the expedition against the Hellenes. I know that you are a wise general with great foresight and would understand the value of the information I possess.

ARTABANOS

What is your name, Hellene?

THEMISTOCLES

My name is so important that it can only be announced in front of the king.

ARTABANOS

What information do you possess, Hellene?

THEMISTOCLES

The information I have is so valuable that it can only be revealed to the great king. I am a very important Hellene bearing critical and urgent information for great King Artaxerxes.

ARTABANOS

Has King Artaxerxes been informed about your visit to Susa?

THEMISTOCLES

The Great King Artaxerxes knows and is expecting me, regent Artabanos.

ARTABANOS

Foreigner, the laws and customs of men differ among peoples. What is honorable for us may not be honorable for you. People of various origins uphold and observe their laws. I was told the Hellenes admired, above all, liberty and equality. Among our many excellent laws, the most excellent is to honor our great king; we worship him as the image of the great god who preserves everything. If you consent to our laws and fall before the great king and worship him, you may see him and speak to him, but if your mind is otherwise, you must use a messenger to intercede for you. It is not the Persian custom for the king to give an audience to anyone that does not fall before him.

THEMISTOCLES

I have come, regent Artabanos, to increase the power and the glory of the king. I will submit myself to your laws and please the great King Artaxerxes. You will also benefit from my audience to the great king. Let me, therefore, present myself to him.

ARTABANOS

Who must we tell him that you are? Your words signify that you are not an ordinary person.

THEMISTOCLES

I speak the truth for the glory of the great king.

ARTABANOS

Seven days from now, you will be in front of our great King Artaxerxes.

THEMISTOCLES

Your judgment of my worth is true and honorable, regent Artabanos.

ARTABANOS

Now you can withdraw Hellene.

                                                 (END OF THE SCENE)

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