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 Persian princess, daughter of king Cyrus the Great, and sister of Cambyses II, Atossa and Smerdis (Bardiyā).^[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 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.
^ 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

Queens of Ancient Egypt

Protodynastic Period to First Intermediate Period (<3150–2040 BC)

Period

Dynasty	Pharaoh uncertain

Early Dynastic
(3150–2686 BC)

I	Neithhotep Benerib Khenthap Herneith Nakhtneith Penebui Merneith Seshemetka Semat Serethor Betrest
II	Menka Nimaathap

Old Kingdom
(2686–2181 BC)

III	Hetephernebti Djeseretnebti Djefatnebti Meresankh I
IV	Hetepheres I Meritites I Henutsen Khentetka Meresankh II Hetepheres II Meresankh III Khamerernebty I Persenet Hekenuhedjet Khamerernebty II Rekhetre Bunefer
V	Khentkaus I Neferhetepes Meretnebty Khentkaus II Khentkaus III Reptynub Khuit I Meresankh IV Setibhor Nebet Khenut Nimaethap II
VI	Iput I Khuit II Ankhesenpepi I Ankhesenpepi II Nubwenet Meritites IV Inenek-Inti Nedjeftet Neith Iput II Udjebten Ankhesenpepi III Ankhesenpepi IV Nitocris

Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period (2040–1550 BC)

Period

Dynasty	Pharaoh uncertain

Middle Kingdom
(2040–1802 BC)

XI	Neferu I Neferukayet Iah Tem Neferu II Ashayet Henhenet Sadeh Kawit Kemsit
XII	Neferitatjenen Neferu III Keminub Senet Khenemetneferhedjet I Nofret II Khenmet Khenemetneferhedjet II Neferthenut Meretseger Aat Khenemetneferhedjet III Sobekneferu

2^nd Intermediate
(1802–1550 BC)

XIII	Nofret Nubhetepti Senebhenas Neni Senebsen Tjan Ineni Nubkhaes Aya Abetni Satsobek
XIV	Tati
XVI	Mentuhotep
XVII	Nubemhat Sobekemsaf Haankhes Tetisheri Ahhotep I Ahmose Inhapy Sitdjehuti Ahhotep II

New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period (1550–664 BC)

Period

Dynasty	Pharaoh uncertain

New Kingdom
(1550–1070 BC)

XVIII	Ahmose-Nefertari Ahmose-Sitkamose Ahmose-Henuttamehu Ahmose-Meritamun Ahmose Mutnofret Hatshepsut Iset Satiah Merytre-Hatshepsut Nebtu Menhet, Menwi and Merti Nebsemi Tiaa Nefertari Iaret Mutemwiya Tiye Gilukhipa Sitamun Iset Tadukhipa / Kiya Nefertiti Meritaten Neferneferuaten Ankhesenamun Tey Mutnedjmet Nebetnehat
XIX	Sitre Tuya Tanedjemet Nefertari Isetnofret Henutmire Maathorneferure Meritamen Bintanath Nebettawy Merytre Isetnofret II Takhat Twosret Tiaa Anuketemheb
XX	Tiy-Merenese Iset Ta-Hemdjert Tyti Tiye Duatentopet Henutwati Tawerettenru Nubkhesbed Baketwernel Tentamun

3^rd Intermediate
(1069–664 BC)

XXI	Tentamun Mutnedjmet Karimala
XXII	Karomama Penreshnes Maatkare Tashedkhonsu Nesitaudjatakhet Nesitanebetashru Kapes Karomama I Tadibast III
XXIII	Karomama II
XXV	Pebatjma Tabiry Abar Khensa Peksater Arty Qalhata Tabekenamun Takahatenamun Naparaye Atakhebasken Malaqaye

Late Period and Hellenistic Period (664–30 BC)

Period

Dynasty	Pharaoh uncertain

Late
(664–332 BC)

XXVI	Mehytenweskhet Khedebneithirbinet I Takhuit Tentkheta Nakhtubasterau Ladice
XXVII	Atossa Artystone Parmys Amestris Damaspia Parysatis
XXXI	Stateira I

Hellenistic
(332–30 BC)

Argead	Roxana Stateira II Parysatis II Eurydice II of Macedon
Ptolemaic	Eurydice Berenice I Arsinoe I Arsinoe II Berenice II Arsinoe III Cleopatra I Syra Cleopatra II Cleopatra III Cleopatra IV Cleopatra Selene Berenice III Cleopatra V Cleopatra VI Berenice IV Cleopatra VII Arsinoe IV