Xerxes

I was reminded yesterday of one of the exploits of Xerxes, the ruler of Persia from 485-465BC. He was preparing to invade Greece in 483BC and built two bridges across the Hellespont (Dardanelles strait) so that his army could march in. Herodotus, the Greek historian known as "the father of history", reports that both bridges were destroyed in a storm which caused Xerxes to be so furious that he ordered his men to give the water 300 lashes, to brand it with red hot irons and to shackle it (ie to throw some iron shackles into it). He also ordered the men who'd built the bridges to be beheaded.