Abstract
This paper discusses the image of Daius III, the Persian king who was the adversary of Alexander the Great, in the Alexander Mosaic of the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. The Persian king displays a peculiar gesture, namely, he is extending his right hand and leaning forward passionately. Previous interpretations of this gesture mostly fall into three groups.
The first one, which has been supported by many scholars, regards that the king is here moved with strong sympathy for the Persian soldier killed by Alexander and is extending his right hand out of pity. The second one sees the gesture as a command or order given by the king. However, both theories seem difficult to accept because there are almost no comparable examples in Greek art.
The third interpretation regards that the king is by this gesture begging for his life. He is not taking pity on others, but rather is pleading with the adversary to save his own life. Till now very few have supported this interpretation, but the author feels it is the most probable. There are innumerable similar examples, sufficient to demonstrate that the gesture had belonged to the current visual language since the seven century B.C., and must have been understood as a plea by the con temporary viewer.
In classical Greek art and literature, Persians were typically depicted as cowardly and feminine. Finally, I would like to point out that the theme of a lord followed by numerous subjects, seen in the mosaic and other examples, was also part of the stereotype of the eastern barbarian king in the classical period.
