An ancient realm, wealthy and strong The largest empire the earth had seen Stretching across the whole known world The most advanced society there had been Under the rule of the king of kings Many nations subjugated by its might For centuries the empire throve Until on Greece the kings set their sight ♪ Darius the Great conquered many lands Made many Greek cities part of his domain But rebellion broke out in 499 BC The Greeks fighting the Persian chains The Persians were defeated at Marathon But war would continue for many a year Darius' son Xerxes once again invaded Yet his massive army the Greeks did not fear Xerxes managed to sack and loot Athens But his massive invasion was ill-fated The Persian navy crushed at Salamis At Plataea and Mycale his army obliterated ♪ The tides of war had decisively turned The empire's territory in Europe gone Through shifting and uneasy alliances To their influence in Greece they held on Xenophon's march opened many Greek eyes To the wealth and weakness of the empire The Greeks boldly went on the offensive Soon the Persian realm to go down in fire Rebellion weakened the once great realm While the Greeks for once stood as one United behind the Macedon king The last king of kings soon to be gone Glory at Granicus and Gaugamela The capital city fell in 330 BC Alexander crushed all the foe's forces Of the Persian yoke the Greeks now free