Medism

Friendly behaviour towards Persia in Ancient Greece

Medism (Greek: μηδισμός, medismos) in ancient Greece referred to the act of imitating, sympathizing with, collaborating with, or siding with the Persians. While the term "Mede" was commonly used by Greeks to refer to the Persians, strictly speaking, the Medes were a distinct Iranian people who were co-rulers with the Persians in the Medo-Persian (Achaemenid) Empire. The Greeks began using the term "Persians" around the 470s, as evidenced by Aeschylus' play The Persians in 472.[1]

Medism was generally considered unacceptable and even criminal in many ancient Greek city-states. However, it was not specifically outlawed. In Athens, individuals suspected of medism were charged with treason.[1] Similar attitudes can be observed in other Greek city-states as well. For instance, in Teos, a law from the classical period stipulated that anyone who betrayed the city would face the death penalty, without differentiating between betrayal to the Persians or any other group.[1]

Prominent historical figures were implicated in medism-related controversies. Themistocles, an Athenian statesman, was ostracized for his alleged medism. Pausanias, the leader of the Hellenic League during the Battle of Plataea, was accused of medism by other member states, leading to Athens seizing control of the league. Herodotus mentioned instances of "state medism" in Aegina, Thessaly, Argos, Thebes, and other Boeotian cities. In Athens, astute politicians exploited popular sentiments against medism for personal gain, which resulted in a conflict between poets Timocreon of Rhodes and Simonides of Ceos, who supported and opposed Themistocles, respectively.[2]

## See also

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* Persophilia

## References

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1. ^ a b c Graf, David F. (1984). "Medism: The Origin and Significance of the Term". Journal of Hellenic Studies. 104: 18–19\. doi:10.2307/630277. JSTOR 630277. S2CID 162284062.
2. ^ Rachel M. McMullin, 'Aspects of Medizing: Themistocles, Simonides and Timocreon of Rhodes', The Classical Journal, Vol. 97, No. 1 (Oct.-Nov. 2001), page 55

## Further reading

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* Medism: Greek collaboration with Achaemenid Persia by David Frank Graf
* Medism in the Sixth and Fifth Centuries B.C. by Helen Harriet Thompson
* "The Medism of Thessaly", Henry Dickinson Westlake

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Median topics

Language|

* Median language, Iranian language

Cities|

* Ecbatana (Hamadan)
* Rhagae (Shahre Rey, Tehran)
* Laodicea (Nahavand)

Battles involving Lydia|

* Eclipse of Thales

Battles involving Persia|

* Persian Revolt
* Battle of Hyrba
* Battle of the Persian Border
* Siege of Pasargadae Hill
* Battle of Pasargadae
* Fall of Ecbatana

Kings/Satraps|

* Deioces
* Phraortes
* Madyes
* Cyaxares
* Astyages
* Cyaxares II
* Darius the Mede

Other Medians|

* Amytis of Babylon
* Artembares
* Datis
* Gubaru
* Mazares
* Harpagus
* Aryenis
* Mandane

Lists|

* Monarchs of the Median dynasty

Related|

* Medism

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