ABSTRACT
In this chapter, an attempt has been made to trace potential motivations for activating memory, as well as the mechanisms of this activation. The existence of such images of old Persia in popular memory is evidenced by the abundance of Persian motifs in vernacular literature. Consequently, a certain image of ancient Persia pre-existed in the cultural memory of the audience and could be modified under the influence of contemporary realities. With the transition to a new language and the break with ancient culture, it became impossible for Greek-speakers to reproduce the living memory of the Persians and Persia as a part of the Hellenic Self: 'Persian' maxims ceased to be entirely comprehensible to most participants in verbal communication. The precedents, discussed in this chapter, allow us to sketch out the pattern of more or less standard associations activating memory motifs related to Persia.
