The persian king xerxes

The other king who some historians believe to be the ahasuerus of the book of esther is the persian king xerxes. He is best known for his massive invasion of greece from across the hellespont 480 bce, a campaign marked by the battles of thermopylae, salamis, and plataea. A terrace connected the two royal mansions, which are not very far apart. In matthew, noble pilgrims followed a star to israel to pay homage to the newborn christ child. He was the son of the former persian king darius i he is traditionally considered to be the persian king ahasuerus referred to in the biblical story of esther. Xerxes was born in the royal persian family around 518 bc to the king of persia, darius i and atossa. It was the religious perspective in which xerxes would have been coming from when he was getting to know esther. Apr 18, 2020 xerxes i, persian king 486465 bce, the son and successor of darius i.

In the septuagint, the book of esther refers to this king as artaxerxes ancient greek. An ancient king whipped the ocean to protect his troops. Mar 22, 2016 xerxes, the great king who lived before christ, a legendary demigod is seen here in his glory. An ancient king whipped the ocean to protect his troops and. Xerxes 486465 bc, darius eldest son by queen atossa, was born after his father had come to the throne. He inherited the throne from his father darius i and attained kinghood without proving himself worthy of it. As son and successor of darius i, xerxes inherited the persian empire at the height of its power. Highlights of life in a persian harem during the time of.

By the grace of ahuramazda these are the countries of which i was king apart from persia. With gerard butler, lena headey, david wenham, dominic west. The book of esther tells us that esther married king xerxes ahasuerus of persia and became queen, but the story ends with both xerxes and esther still alive so the question is unanswerable. Artaxerxes, the son of xerxes, reigned for forty years after his death and is beyond doubt the king of that name who stood in such a friendly relation toward ezra, ezr 7. The harem was a tradition with iranian persian dynasties and aristocracy as well. Upon ascending the throne, xerxes mercilessly put down rebellions in egypt and babylon, demanding that all. Persian king 486465 bc, the son and successor of darius i. An inscription, known as xpe, written in old persian, elamite and babylonian, says. Yes, this is the same xerxes seen in the movie 300, but before the persian army could get to thermopylae, they had to cross the hellespont, what we call the dardanelles today. He is best known for leading the massive invasion of greece, marked by the battles of thermopylae, salamis and plataea.

The story of esther happened after cyrus, the first persian king, called for all deported jews to return to jerusalem to build the house of god 538 b. He is best known for his massive invasion of greece from across the. He wanted to rule the entire world and conquer greece, especially sparta. He is the last of the persian kings who had any special connection with. Xerxes 518 bceaugust 465 bce was a king of the achaemenid dynasty during the mediterranean late bronze age. Persian kings did not marry outside a restricted number of persian noble families and it is impossible that there was a jewish queen esther. The palace of xerxes at persepolis, called hadis in persian, dwelling place, was twice as large as the palace of darius.

This chart reveals the kings of the persian empire achaemenid. The persian empire succeeded the babylonian empire and it was cyrus, who issued the famous decree for the jews to return to their homeland to rebuild their temple. The book of esther deals only with one period of his reign. Having dealt with rebellions relatively near at hand. He is most well known for bravely leading a small force of greeks, including the famous 300 spartans, along with a few hundred thespians and thebans against the much larger persian army of xerxes, at the pass of thermopylae in 480 b. How many children did queen esther and king xerxes have answers. Xerxes the great king of kings of all nations youtube. Immediately preceding artaxerxes i in the line of persian kings, ahasuerus is evidently to be identified with xerxes. It tells us that he ruled over one hundred and twentyseven provincesfrom india, even unto ethiopia esth. His reign is most marked by the persian campaigns against greece and the battles of thermopylae, salamis, and plataea, which may explain part of the reason why the persian king has been heavily criticized by writers especially the ancient greek ones over the years.

Some learned such skills as horsemanship and archery. Xerxes i commonly known as xerxes the great, was the fourth king of kings of the achaemenid empire, ruling from 486 to 465 bc. He is identified as the ahasuerus of persia in the biblical book of esther although his son, artaxerxes i, is also a. Apr 18, 2020 ahasuerus, a royal persian name occurring throughout the old testament. Persian kings in the bible iran in the bible cyrus charter of human rights cyrus the great iran in the bible history of persia and cambysses, darius the great, xerxes, artaxerxes i persian kings according to the bible. Mar 14, 2018 xerxes i ruled 486465 bce, also known as xerxes the great, was the king of the persian achaemenid empire. That is to say, he always brought enough men and material to get the job done. King leonidas of sparta and a force of 300 men fight the persians at thermopylae in 480 b. Ascending the throne upon the death of his father, he subdued a rebellion in egypt, and then spent three years preparing a great fleet and army to punish the greeks for aiding. Did esther have sex with xerxes before they were married. Persian kings in the bible iran in the bible cyrus. When the king is disarmed and thus helpless against his. The book of esther says that vashti was the wife of king xerxes when he first became king of persia, followed three years later by queen esther.

The persian empire entered a period of decline after a failed invasion of greece by xerxes i in 480 bc. His mother was the daughter of cyrus the great, which played a big role in his coronation as the king, despite not being the eldest son of darius. Those knowledgable in the bible and torah will know xerxes as ahasuerus, the persian king who marries a jewish woman named esther. In the third year of his reign he made a feast to show his riches and splendor. A group of beautiful young virgins from the city of susa was selected verse 3. Artaxerxes had to face a revolt in egypt in 460454 bc led by inaros ii, who was the son of a libyan prince named psamtik, presumably descended from the twentysixth dynasty of egypt. Most of the jews preferred the comfortable life of the persian empire to an arduous life rebuilding their devastated homeland. He ruled from 486 bc until his assassination in 465 bc at the hands of artabanus, the. Of course, in these holy texts, xerxes is a mercurial man who replaces his queen when she wont arrive at a party to show off her beauty to the king s drinking companions.

Xerxes, the great king, the king of kings, the son of king darius, an achaemenid. He is best known for his massive invasion of greece from across the hellespont 480 bc, a campaign marked by the battles of thermopylae, salamis, and plataea. Xerxes is familiar to students of the bible since he appears in two books. The king of the achaemenid dynasty of persia, xerxes i 519465 bc, in 483 bc second persian invasion of greece built the xerxes canal, navigable canal through. Some royal and aristocratic women received an arduous education. During this time the enemies of israel hired counselors to bring false accusations to the ears of the different persian kings. I am xerxes, the great king, king of kings, king of countries containing many kinds of men, king in this great earth far and wide, son of king darius, an achaemenian, a persian, son of a persian, an aryan, of aryan stock. Mar 20, 2014 i am xerxes, the great king, king of kings, king of countries containing many kinds of men, king in this great earth far and wide, son of king darius, an achaemenian, a persian, son of a persian. Esther 2 describes king xerxes or ahasuerus search for a new queen of persia. The persian king is the man who led the massive siege upon attica using many men and a basilisk to bring greece down by the persian empire. In the bible, daryavesh of medea precedes koresh, but he daryavesh of medea is almost certainly not a historical figure. Apr 22, 20 the story of esther happened after cyrus, the first persian king, called for all deported jews to return to jerusalem to build the house of god 538 b. Xerxes is the greek name of the achaemenid king of persia, famous for failing to gain greece for his enormous persian empire. How many children did queen esther and king xerxes have.

Nov 26, 2012 king xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the persian empire around 486 b. Aug, 2012 the harem was a tradition with iranian persian dynasties and aristocracy as well. He is the main antagonist of 300 spartans film series. Xerxes was darius the greats eldest son by queen atosa daughter of cyrus the great. In the bible, daryavesh of medea precedes koresh, but he daryavesh of. His father was the former king xerxes and he ruled the persian empire from 465 b. Finally, greek warriors won the battle of salamis against. Xerxes i 519 bc son of darius i 485465 bc 465 bc most likely is the king ahasuerus of the book of. A royal cubit is assumed to be a bit more than 20 eng. Say what you want about persian king xerxes i, he knew how to fight a battle.

They are listed, at least as it seems, in chronological dating order. Artaxerxes i of persia was the fifth king of the achaemenid dynasty. Xerxes, the great king who lived before christ, a legendary demigod is seen here in his glory. After threatening a pair of helpless women who were trapped in a cell, he is confronted by kratos, in the stronghold of attica, who battles him. In modern popular culture, xerxes is perhaps best known as the main antagonist in frank millers 300, a film based on the. As we will see in many ways, their religions were very similar. King xerxes of persia was the worlds most powerful monarch who ruled the persian empire around 486 b. Most commentators equate esthers king with xerxes i 485465 bc, son of darius i, the fourth emperor of the achaemenid empirethus the translation in some modern versions. Xerxes khashayar was born around 520 bce in the southern province of persis fars. He is traditionally considered to be the persian king ahasuerus referred to in the biblical story of esther. Aug 08, 2017 king of kings xerxes was the oldest son of darius i, and the offspring of the kings first wife, atossa, daughter of cyrus ii. He is big badmain antagonist of the film 300 spartans and bigger badsecondary antagonist of the sequel 300 spartans. Xerxes i, also known as xerxes the great, was a 5th century achaemenid king of the persian empire.

Artabanus, who was commander of the royal bodyguard and the most powerful of xerxes officials. Ahasuerus, a royal persian name occurring throughout the old testament. Xerxes i of persia biography facts, childhood, life history. He was a powerful king who ruled achaemenid persian empire from 486465 bce. I am xerxes, the great king, king of kings, king of countries containing many kinds of men, king in this great earth far and wide, son of king darius, an achaemenian, a persian, son of a persian. Like his father and predecessor darius i, he ruled the. Xerxes i xerxes the great was the fourth and probably the most famous king of the archaemenid dynasty of persia.

His motivation was to make himself ruler, putting his sons in charge as well. More realistic estimates place its strength at 500,000more than adequate to do the job. Nothing is known of a king named ahasuerus from secular sources, and the names of all the persian kings from this time period are known. Apr, 2019 xerxes ruled the achaemenid empire from 486465 bc.

The book of esther unfolds, however, with the two intertwining. Crown prince, xerxes and the rebellions after his accession. Xerxes i of persia biography facts, childhood, life. Xerxes i the great, king of persia geni family tree. His ultimate defeat spelled the beginning of the decline of the achaemenid empire. Herodotus states that the persian army numbered 5 million men and drank rivers dry as it passed. King xerxes was murdered shortly before king artaxerxes ascended the throne. The costly defense of persias lands depleted the empires funds, leading to heavier. His rule came at the height of the persian empire, and he is welldocumented by the greeks, who described him as a passionate, cruel, selfindulgent womanizerbut much of that may well have been slander.

The persians retreated to memphis, and the athenians were. Xerxes i, persian king 486465 bce, the son and successor of darius i. If achashverosh is xerxes, is esther his wife amestris. He is the last of the persian kings who had any special connection with the jews, and the last but one mentioned in scripture. King leonidas of sparta and the battle at thermopylae. Three people were involved in xerxes assassination in 465 bc. Wise men of the east, also called magi, or three kings of the orient. List of the kings of the persian empire old testament. At the battle of thermopylae, xerxes defeated greek warriors. Khshayarsha, esfandiyar or isfendiyadh in arabic records, ahasuerus in jewish records. In 460 bc, inaros ii revolted against the persians with the help of his athenian allies, and defeated the persian army commanded by satrap akheimenes. Among this group was esther, a jewess who kept her ethnic background hidden verse 8. His ultimate defeat spelled the beginning of the decline of the achaemenian empire. Artaxerxes of persia amazing bible timeline with world history.

He is best known for leading the massive invasion of. Artaxerxes of persia amazing bible timeline with world. Xerxes was coming right off of victories over uprisings against persian rule in egypt and babylon and had acquired a massive army, asthenunheardof in ancient times. Esther and mordecai under xerxes of persia amazing bible. Xerxes i was a persian ruler of the achaemenid empire, who ruled from 486 to 465 bce. The persian fleet was said to consist of 1,207 triremes. Some 300,000 troops were ready to pour into greece to avenge the asskicking the greeks perpetrated on xerxes father, darius. Xerxes the great was a shah of iran 485465 bc of achaemenid empire. Xerxes was son of darius i and atossa, the daughter of cyrus the great. Xerxes was the oldest son of darius i, and the offspring of the king s first wife.

I firmly believe this is a historical account of this part of esther and xerxes life, but i also believe it is a book of prophecy. Xerxes i persian khshayarsha circa 519465 bc, king of persia 486465 bc, the son of darius i and atossa flourished 6th century bc, daughter of cyrus the great. Xerxes i was born around 520 bce under the persian name kyshayarsa xerxes is the greek iteration, as a member of a proud dynasty. He was the son of the former persian king darius i. Killed by persian aristocrats the great king, king of kings, pharaoh of egypt.

In modern popular culture, xerxes is perhaps best known as the main antagonist in frank millers 300, a film based on the comic series of the same name. Nov 28, 2012 artaxerxes i of persia was the fifth king of the achaemenid dynasty. On the other hand, prophetic writings are often introduced as having occurred in the days of king. He had been designated official heir perhaps as early as 498 bce, and while crown prince he had ruled as the kings governor in babylon. The persian empire was founded by cyrus the great who conquered babylon in 536 bc. After winning at thermopylae, xerxes then took control of athens with his army.