Xenophanes of Colophon was a traveling poet and sage with philosophical leanings who lived in ancient Greece during the sixth and the beginning of the fifth centuries BCE. There are a significant number of surviving fragments for such an early figure, and the poetic verses available to us indicate a broad range of issues. These include comments on religion, knowledge, the natural world, the proper comportment at a banquet, as well as other social teachings and commentary. He satirized traditional religious views of his time as human projections.

Xerxes was king of Persia in 485-465 BC. The first part of his reign was marked by the famous campaign into Greece, beginning in 483. After the defeat at Salamis in 480 Xerxes himself withdrew from the expedition and it was finally discontinued in the next year. During the remainder of his reign, Xerxes seems to have spent a listless existence, absorbed in intrigues of the harem, and leaving the government to be carried on by his ministers and favorites (often slaves). He was finally murdered by his vizier and left an unenviable reputation for caprice and cruelty. According to the Bible, Esther, was his Jewish queen. Even if you don’t read the Bible, this is a really fascinating story about how Esther saved the Jewish people. I also enjoyed the movie, “One Night with the King,” based on the story of Esther and Xerxes.

And Bishop Leo Michael of the Holy Catholic Church, Anglican Rite, has an excellent post today about X times. Check it out! I think he’s pretty fantastix! And so is his Epsicoblog!