When you’re within Sardis, Xerxes fell deeply in love with brand new spouse away from their sibling Masistes

When you’re within Sardis, Xerxes fell deeply in love with brand new spouse away from their sibling Masistes

The brand new Greek historians Herodotus and Ctesias refer to Xerxes’ wife because the Amestris. While some slight linguistic relationship involving the identity Amestris additionally the label Vashti (Persian “sht” so you can Greek “st”) seems possible, a healthier union is present between the Greek Amestris as well as the Hebrew Esther:

  • The newest “is” in the bottom is just a good Greek suffix put into change this new foreign identity into best Greek grammatical mode (exactly as “es” try extra at the end of “Xerxes”).
  • Title Amestris would depend around the consonants Meters, S, T, and you may R, and also the title because the submitted from the Megillah would depend to the fresh new consonants S, T, and you will R.

Most likely, this is simply not coincidence; possibly her Persian title are composed of the new consonants Meters, S, T, and you will Roentgen, together with Yards wasn’t managed on the Hebrew.

Amestris: Wife regarding Xerxes – Herodotus

  • In the in depth account of Xerxes’ intrusion push up against Greece, the new Persian contingent of your own military is actually required because of the Otanes, who had been the father out-of Xerxes’ wife Amestris (VII:61).
  • Just after mentioning one to Xerxes’ invasion push entered a town entitled 9 Indicates, the guy writes:

Indeed there, reading you to definitely 9 Suggests was title of one’s set, it [=the Persians] hidden real time you to amount of boys and you may maidens, children of those of the country. To help you bury real time is a good Persian custom; I have read whenever Xerxes’ spouse Amestris hit so you’re able to old many years she buried fourteen sons of distinguished Persians, because the a many thanks-providing on her behalf own account for the fabled jesus of the nether business (VII:114).

(Sardis try in which Xerxes lived briefly shortly after the guy began their haven of his attack regarding Greece before he returned to Susa.) New spouse away from Masistes rejects his improves. Xerxes following organizes a married relationship anywhere between his young man Darius plus the daughter regarding Masistes, believing that this will sooner assist him seduce the caretaker. The storyline continues on in the Susa, on the right time of the continuation unspecified. Throughout the continuation, Amestris brings Xerxes a pleasant gown you to definitely wove with her very own give. From this date, Xerxes got directed his affections towards child, today hitched to their young buck Darius, and you can Xerxes had an event along with her. Xerxes turns out providing the daughter this new gown.

Whenever Amestris finds out, she requires revenge with the mom. She sends into troops of your royal bodyguard and has now mom mutilated. Many of their own parts of the body are ordered stop and therefore are thrown to your pet. When Masistes sees that was completed to his wife, the guy chooses to stir up an effective revolt against Xerxes. Ultimately, Xerxes’ forces destroy Masistes, their sons, and all of new guys below his order (IX:108-113).

Amestris: Partner away from Xerxes – Ctesias

An afterwards Greek historian, Ctesias (creating immediately following eight hundred B.C.Age.) just who supported since the a health care provider to help you Artaxerxes II and writes regarding the Amestris. Of him, i learn the following the.

  • Amestris outlives Xerxes and becomes deceased once this lady has “grown very old.”
  • Immediately following many years of pestering, Amestris try in the long run in a position to convince their unique young man Artaxerxes to let their avenge the death of a different sort of son Achaemenides. She’s in a position to have fifty Greeks decapitated in addition to their commander Inarus impaled, for the revenge to have Inarus along with his guys which have killed Achaemenides four decades prior to, whenever Inarus had added good revolt.
  • This woman is because of the authority from the Artaxerxes so you can penalize a doctor who ytis on the which have sexual relationships having your; she purchases him stored in chains and punished for a few weeks, and eventually tucked real time.

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