The fresh new Greek historians Herodotus and you can Ctesias make reference to Xerxes‘ wife while the Amestris. Even though some slight linguistic partnership between the title Amestris plus the name Vashti (Persian “sht” to help you Greek “st”) looks you are able to, a more powerful commitment is present amongst the Greek Amestris while the Hebrew Esther:
- The latest “is” in the bottom is simply a great Greek suffix placed into change the newest international term towards the right Greek grammatical function (just as “es” try extra at the end of “Xerxes”).
- The name Amestris is based in the consonants Yards, S, T, and you may R, additionally the identity since the recorded on Megillah depends doing the consonants S, T, and you may Roentgen.
More than likely, it is not coincidence; perhaps their unique Persian title was composed of the brand new consonants Yards, S, T, and you will R, therefore the Meters wasn’t maintained on the Hebrew.
Amestris: Wife from Xerxes – Herodotus
- In his intricate account regarding Xerxes‘ invasion push facing Greece, brand new Persian contingent of army are commanded from the Otanes, who was the father out-of Xerxes‘ spouse Amestris (VII:61).
- Immediately after bringing up you to definitely Xerxes‘ invasion push inserted an urban area named 9 Suggests, he writes:
Here, discovering one to ColombiaGirl mobil Nine Implies try the name of the lay, it [=brand new Persians] hidden live you to quantity of boys and you may maidens, students of those of the nation. To help you bury live is an effective Persian custom; We have heard that when Xerxes‘ wife Amestris achieved so you’re able to old many years she hidden fourteen sons away from famous Persians, as the a thank you so much-offering on the individual account on fabled god of one’s nether business (VII:114).
- He says to a story depicting new cruelty from Amestris. Let me reveal a short definition of the tale:
(Sardis are where Xerxes existed temporarily just after he first started his haven out-of his attack off Greece before he returned to Susa.) The new partner off Masistes rejects their enhances. Xerxes up coming organizes a wedding anywhere between his young man Darius in addition to daughter regarding Masistes, convinced that this would sooner or later assist him seduce the caretaker. The storyline continues at Susa, for the appropriate time of the extension unspecified. On the continuation, Amestris gets Xerxes an attractive robe that wove with her own hand. By this date, Xerxes got transported his affections on the child, now married to his child Darius, and you may Xerxes had an affair with her. Xerxes ends up providing the daughter the brand new gown.
When Amestris discovers, she requires revenge with the mom. She directs on troops of your own regal bodyguard and has the caretaker mutilated. Many of their particular parts of the body are ordered take off and they are thrown with the pet. When Masistes notices that was done to their partner, he decides to stir up a good revolt facing Xerxes. In the end, Xerxes‘ forces kill Masistes, his sons, and all new guys lower than his demand (IX:108-113).
Amestris: Partner of Xerxes – Ctesias
An afterwards Greek historian, Ctesias (creating immediately after 400 B.C.E.) which supported as a health care provider so you can Artaxerxes II plus produces on Amestris. Away from him, i learn the following.
- Amestris outlives Xerxes and you may passes away once she’s got “grown very old.”
- After numerous years of pestering, Amestris are ultimately in a position to convince their own child Artaxerxes so that their particular avenge the latest loss of a special child Achaemenides. She actually is in a position to have 50 Greeks decapitated in addition to their leader Inarus impaled, in revenge having Inarus with his guys that have slain Achaemenides four decades prior to, when Inarus got contributed an effective revolt.
- This woman is considering the authority from the Artaxerxes so you can discipline a doctor which ytis to your that have sexual connections with him; she requests him kept in chains and punished for a couple of months, and eventually buried live.