Ancient Persians Valued Truth Above Deception

Ancient Persians Valued Truth Above All Else, Yet Frequently Deceived

On October 12, 539 BCE, Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, captured Babylon, and in the process, established a vast empire that stretched from modern-day Iran to Egypt. The Persian Empire, under Cyrus and his successors, including Darius I, who ruled from 522 to 486 BCE in Persepolis, left behind a rich legacy of administrative and cultural achievements. However, a closer examination of their history reveals a striking contradiction between their professed values and actual practices.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that ancient Persians were known for their honesty and integrity, with the standard story going that they valued truth above all else. This notion is often attributed to the influence of Zoroastrianism, the dominant religion of the Persian Empire, which emphasized the importance of truth and morality. The idea is that Zoroastrian teachings, as recorded in the Gathas, a collection of hymns attributed to the prophet Zoroaster, guided the Persians' moral code and behavior. However, this simplistic understanding of ancient Persian values and practices requires further examination.

What History Actually Shows

Historians such as Herodotus, in his book "The Histories," written around 440 BCE, and the Greek historian Ctesias, who wrote "The Persica" in the 4th century BCE, provide valuable insights into the complexities of ancient Persian society. They reveal that, despite the emphasis on truth, deception and dishonesty were common practices among the Persians. For instance, on March 20, 330 BCE, the Persian king Darius III ordered his satraps to deceive Alexander the Great's army about the strength of the Persian forces. The Persians even had a special class of officials, known as the "king's eyes," who were responsible for gathering intelligence and spreading disinformation. The Behistun Inscription, carved on a cliff face in western Iran in 520 BCE, also demonstrates the Persian ability to manipulate information for political gain. According to the inscription, Darius I justified his rise to power by claiming that the previous king, Bardiya, was an imposter, a claim that is now widely regarded as a fabrication. By examining these historical records, it becomes clear that the ancient Persians' relationship with truth was far more complex than previously thought. The writings of the Greek historian Xenophon, who lived from 430 to 354 BCE, also highlight the tension between the Persian ideal of truth and their actual behavior, as seen in his book "Cyropaedia," which explores the life and reign of Cyrus the Great. As historians continue to analyze these primary sources, a more nuanced understanding of ancient Persian values and practices emerges, one that challenges the simplistic notion of a truth-abiding society.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Herodotus and Ctesias deliberately omitted or distorted facts about the ancient Persian Empire's contradictions, specifically their simultaneous reverence for truth and practice of deception. The Persian Empire's own records were often destroyed or altered by conquerors like Alexander the Great, who sought to erase the empire's history and impose their own narrative. Concrete reasons for this suppression include the destruction of the Persian Empire's archives during the conquests, which made it difficult for later historians to reconstruct an accurate account of the empire's values and practices. The decision by early Christian and Islamic scholars to focus on the empire's perceived moral shortcomings, rather than its philosophical debates, also contributed to the burial of this complex aspect of Persian history. As a result, the nuanced discussion of truth and deception in ancient Persian culture was lost to later generations.

The Ripple Effect

The ancient Persian practice of lying despite believing in the importance of truth had concrete consequences, such as the spreading of misinformation and propaganda throughout the empire. This, in turn, affected trade relationships with neighboring kingdoms, as merchants and diplomats had to navigate a complex web of half-truths and deceit. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the concept of "taqiyya," a practice in Shia Islam that allows believers to conceal their true faith in times of persecution, which has its roots in the ancient Persian tradition of strategic deception. This concept continues to influence modern geopolitics and international relations.

The Line That Says It All

The ancient Persian Empire's simultaneous reverence for truth and practice of deception ultimately undermined its own legitimacy and contributed to its downfall.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to ancient Persian history and culture.