Xerxes the Great
Ancient Persia 
Educational Lyrics
Ruler of Persia, his empire divine.
He built mighty bridges and marched with his might,
Across the Hellespont, what a sight!
From Susa to Sardis, his power spread wide,
Conquered the Greeks with his army's great pride.
Xerxes the Great, with his throne made of gold,
A leader of Persia, brave, wise, and bold!
History and Meaning
Xerxes I, also known as Xerxes the Great, was the fourth King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, ruling from 486 BC until his assassination in 465 BC. He was the son of Darius the Great and Atossa, daughter of Cyrus the Great.
Xerxes is best known for his massive invasion of Greece in 480 BC, which included the famous battles of Thermopylae and Salamis. His army is said to have numbered over 2 million soldiers - though modern historians estimate it was more likely around 100,000-200,000.
Despite ultimately failing to conquer Greece, Xerxes accomplished many great feats during his reign, including completing the construction of Persepolis, building the Royal Road, constructing bridges across the Hellespont, and organizing a sophisticated postal system.
This nursery rhyme serves as an educational tool to introduce children to ancient history in a fun, memorable way.