Artystone

Artystone (Old Persian: *R̥tastūnā;^[1] Ancient Greek: Ἀρτυστώνη Artustṓnē; Elamite Ir-taš-du-na, Ir-da-iš-du-na) also known as Irtašduna in the Fortification tablets, was a Achaemenid princess, daughter of king Cyrus the Great, and sister of Cambyses II, Atossa and Smerdis.^[2] Along with Atossa and her niece Parmys, Artystone married king 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 James Ussher, Artystone may have been another name for the biblical queen Esther, since Herodotus also called her Artystone the Virgin.^[7] While Esther is commonly known as the wife of Xerxes or Artaxerxes, the Book of Esther lists her cousin Mordecai as present during Nebuchadnezzar's capture of Jeconiah^[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.
^ Herodotus (1921). The Histories. Vol. 2. Translated by Godley, A. D. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp. 3.88.2–3. ISBN 978-0674991309. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
^ Brosius 1998, pp. 60, 62.
^ Ussher, 1650, Annals of the World, 1007
^ Herodotus (1921). The Histories. Vol. 2. Translated by Godley, A. D. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 7.69–72. 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

[1] Smith 1849, p 368; Schmitt 1987, p. 665.

[2] Schmitt 1987.

[3] Herodotus (1921). The Histories. Vol. 2. Translated by Godley, A. D. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. pp. 3.88.2–3. ISBN 978-0674991309. Retrieved 2023-06-15.

[4] Brosius 1998, pp. 60, 62.

[5] Ussher, 1650, Annals of the World, 1007

[6] Herodotus (1921). The Histories. Vol. 2. Translated by Godley, A. D. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 7.69–72. 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.

[7] Ussher, 1650, Annals of the World, 1036

[8] Esther 2:5-6

[9] Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 11:4:9

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