Artystone
Artystone (
Darius I.[3] It is argued that by marrying the female offspring of Cyrus, the founder of the empire, the new king aimed to prevent his rule from being contested,[4] since Darius himself was not of royal blood.[5]
Artystone and Darius had at least two sons, Arsames and Gobryas, and a daughter, Artazostre. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, Artystone was Darius' favourite wife.[6]
According to
Artaxerxes, the Book of Esther lists her cousin Mordecai as present during Nebuchadnezzar's capture of Jehconiah[8] in 599 BC, and Josephus referencing him as a contemporary of Darius,[9]
making it impossible for Mordecai to be alive during Xerxes' or Artexerxes' reigns.
Primary sources
- Herodotus, 3.88.2 bis; 7.69.2; 7.72.2.
- The Persepolis Fortification Archive
- Annals of the World by James Ussher, 797; 1036
Notes
- ^ Smith 1849, p 368; Schmitt 1987, p. 665.
- ^ Schmitt 1987.
- ISBN 978-0674991309. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ^ Brosius 1998, pp. 60, 62.
- ^ Ussher, 1650, Annals of the World, 1007
- ISBN 978-0674991316. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
...Artystone daughter of Cyrus, whom Darius loved best of his wives; he had an image made of her of hammered gold.
- ^ Ussher, 1650, Annals of the World, 1036
- ^ Esther 2:5-6
- ^ Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 11:4:9
References
- Brosius, M. (1998): Woman in Ancient Persia.
- "Artystone", in W. Smith (ed.), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology.
- Lendering, J (2007 [1999]): "Artystone Archived 2013-05-24 at the Wayback Machine", in https://www.livius.org/
- Schmitt, R (1987): "Artystone", in E. Yarshater (ed.), Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. II.
- James Ussher (1650): Annals of the World.
- Josephus, F: Antiquities of the Jews, Book 11