classics persians

invention of the barbarian

median dress (effeminacy for)

They wear Median dress, deeming it more beautiful than their own

the worth of a man (effeminancy against)

the worth of a man is shown first by his prowess in battle, and then by the number of his sons

killing ants (cruelty for)

they make it an important competition between themselves, killing ants and snakes, and all other creeping or flying creatures

admire the law (cruelty against)

i also admire the law that not even a king may put a man to death for one crime only

pray only for good fortune (rigid hierarchies for)

he may no pray only for good fortune for himself alone, he must instead pray for the sake of all persians and particularly for the king

kiss on the lips (slavishness for)

if they are equals… instead of greeting each other, they kiss on the lips. however, if one is slightly lower than the other then there is a kiss on the cheek. finally, if one is much lower than the other, then he… kisses the ground

they consider themselves (slavishness against)

they consider themselves to be the best of all men in every way by far

wine (slave to passions for)

they are very partial to wine

none may vomit (slave to passions against)

none may vomit or urinate in the presence of another man, such behaviour is not allowed

statues (uncivilised for RELIGION)

they do not set up and use statues, or temples, or alters

of all men (uncivilised for CUSTOMS)

of all men, the persians are the most accepting of foreign customs

adopted (uncivilised against CUSTOMS)

they have adopted pederasty from the greeks