The king ordered the whipping of the sea as punishment
Xerxes I, also known as Xerxes the Great, was king of Achaemenid in the Persian Empire in the 5th century. He was known for leading large-scale invasions of Greece, marked by the Battles of Thermos Pass, Salamis, and Platya. He was also known for some of the more bizarre acts, including ordering punishment at sea.
Xerxes had just triumphed over the revolt against Persian rule in Egypt and Babylon, and now his eyes were set on Greece, eager to avenge his father's defeat at their hands.
In 480 BC, his massive army expeditioned to the Dardanelles (Helles), separating Asia from Europe. In order to allow his army to quickly enter Greece, Xerxes ordered the construction of a pontoon bridge spanning 1.2 kilometers of the strait. But before his army could cross the river, a storm swept in and destroyed the bridge.
The arrogant Xerxes, annoyed by the sea's actions, ordered his soldiers to punish it by whipping it 300 times with chains and poking it with fiery iron. The handcuffs were also thrown into the water, symbolizing the submission of the sea to his authority. Finally, he ordered the beheading of the engineers behind the bridge construction.
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus described in his History that the bridge was later rebuilt. More than 600 ships were tied together with papyrus and linen rope, which eventually bridged the gulf between the continents and crossed the strait in seven days and seven nights for Xerxes' army.
Sadly, for Xerxes, it was all in vain. The Persians suffered a crushing defeat, and when they retreated, they found that the bridge had once again been destroyed.
