Women's place in society

Position of women in Hakhamanishian society

Cassandane Shahbanu(Old Persian name: Creation of glory,

daughter of Pharnaspes, sister of Otanes)

Cassandane, Cyrus’ revered, treasured, prized, adored wife,

Cyrus married her long after death of Amitis, his first wife.

21-26 March, 538 B.C, Babylon mourned, the King’s wife,

Cyrus never recovered, demise of his venerated second wife.

Cyrus, a shell of a man for next 10 years life would remain,

Secluding himself at Pasargad, Cyrus, in such agony, pain,

Disinterested, apathetic to expansion of empire, campaign,

Emperor ascetic, hermetic till end of his life would remain.

Atossa Shahbanu(Old Persian: beautiful, daughter of Cyrus the

Great and Queen Cassandane, wife of Darius the Great, mother

of Xerxes (Khashayar Shah). (550-475 B.C)

Atossa’s power, influence, domination at the court is documented,

Old Persian script, she is believed, attributed, credited. invented.

Intelligence, wisdom, judgement, shrewdness, acumen possessed.

A personal army, much wealth, fortune, opulence, she possessed.

shahbanu cassandane was the much loved, TREASURED QUEEN of emperor cyrus, whom he married after untimely, PREMATURE death of his first love, SHAHBANU amitis. unfortunately she passed away soon after his greatest triumph, capture of babylon. the ancient nabodinus chronicle records, documents nation-wide lamentation, mourning declared after the tragedy. the empress wept on her deathbed, knowing how sad, sorrowful,woeful, disconsolate cyrus would be after her demise. the griefstricken, ANGUISHED cyrus never recovered from HER loss. he lived isolatalone at pasargad, a recluse, monastic, secluded, TORMENTED AND PAINED till his end. HE NEVER EMBARKED ON ANY MILITARY VENTURE OR CAMPAIGN again. ATOSSA SHAHBANU WAS A POWERFUL, IMPERIOUS, DOMINEERING WOMAN, THE DAUGHTER OF THE GREAT CYRUS AND WIFE OF EMPEROR DARIUS. SHE ENSURED HER SON, XERXES BE CROWNED AS HE WAS BORN WHEN DARIUS WAS ALREADY THE EMPEROR, ALTHOUGH HE HAD SONS BORN EARLIER.

Statiera Shabanu, wife of Ardeshir the second(? -400 B.C)

Be more popular'n king, only for queen, Statiera, possible,

Rode, chariot curtains opened, to all reachable, accessible.

Mother-in-law Parysatis'd Statiera loathe, detest, despise,

Parysatis obsessed, plan for Stateira's destruction, demise.

Parysatis, Statiera, ostensibly cast aside vitriol, ill wishes,

Wary in distrust, suspicion ate together from same dishes.

Tho' Ardeshir, for his mother, Parysatis did bother, care,

Love, devotion for wife, Statiera, she couldn’t accept, bear.

Maid Gigis' knowledge of poisons, unrivalled, unequalled,

Parysatis, for malicious, malevolent, evil service recalled.

Persia, the exquisite bird rhyntaces is a delicacy thought,

Its belly has a ball of fat, survive on dew, air it’s thought.

Gigis, bird sliced with knife, painted with venom, one side,

Unwary, Statiera was served sliced bird’s envenomed side.

Agony, convulsions, ill-fated, hapless, Stateira perished,

As heartless, depraved, wicked Parysatis, years'd wished.

Ardeshir, convinced Parysatis’ role needed, investigated.

Maids, minions, staff examined, interrogated, castigated.

Parysatis keep secure, from king’s ire, view,

Fateful night, she left for home, Ardeshir, informed, knew.

Gigis was apprehended, imprisoned and sentenced to death,

Head, face crushed by stones, well-justified, deserved death.

Ardeshir banished, exiled Mother, Parysatis to Babylon.

Until her death, unforgiving king never entered Babylon.

queen Statiera, daughter of the hydarnes, was the wife of ardeshir the second, son of darius the second and parysatis. statiera was possibly the most popular, adored AND well-loved Hakhamanishian queen. She was gentle, genial, kind, charitable, sympathetic and benevolent. she would ride with the curtains of the chariot open, so people could approach her with pleas, petitions and supplications. her mother-in-law, parysatis, a vile, malicious,spiteful woman was envious and resentful of her acclaim and approval. she employed a black-hearted, VILE maid, Gigis, to poison statiera. Gigis performed the foul, heinous act, using a knife smeared with poison on one side. ardeshir, aware of his mother's wicked, brutal, vicious temperament was convinced that she had been responsible for the untimely and painful demise of his cherished, TREASUred, compassionate wife. parysatis kept the maid, gigis secure from ardeshir's wrath till one night she left for her village. the odious, vile, DIABOLIC maid was apprehended, tried and put to death. ardeshir exiled his sinful, ungodly, ignoble, DEPRAVED mother to babylon and never set foot there as long as she lived.

Banu Artemsia/ Grand admiral Artemesia

Artemesia, Queen of Halicarnassus, Kos, Nisyros ruled,

Darius, Xerxes’ Persian empire as a Satrap she’d ruled.

During Xerxes’ war with Athens, Persian side fought,

Commanded five ships, personally committed, brought.

Great distinction, eminence, admiral for Xerxes served,

Bravery, cunning matched, fame, renown well deserved.

Athenians incensed, enraged, woman, fight them’d dare,

Her head,10,000 drachmas bounty they would declare.

According to expediency, pragmatism, she flew a flag,

Pursuing flew Persian, if pursued, chased, Greek flag.

Before Salamis, Xerxes, commanders council’d convene,

To decide, in the proceedings, should the navy intervene.

Hubristic council, only voice of sanity, prudence, reason,

For a naval engagement, she saw no conceivable reason.

Xerxes’ aim, penalizing Athens, been attained, achieved,

By naval battle trifle more’d be accomplished, achieved.

Greeks on water held dominance, superiority, advantage,

They had been sea-faring, maritime people since an age.

“As men’re stronger’n women our ships surely will be lost,

Land Army shall also crucial support, assistance have lost.

Keep ships, laden with resources, secure, close to shore,

Moving soldiers towards Peloponnese shall achieve more.

QUEEN ARTEMESIA WAS THE SUBJECT OF MANY LEGENDS and folklore. ALTHOUGH GREEK, SHE SERVED AS GRAND ADMIRAL IN XERXES' NAVY. THE ENRAGED, LIVID, INFURIATED ATHENIANS DECLARED A BOUNTY ON HER HEAD. SHE WAS AS CUNNING, ASTUTE AS SHE WAS COURAGEOUS AND VALIANT. IN XERXES' COUNCIL BEFORE SALAMIS, SHE WAS SANE, FORESIGHTED ENOUGH TO ADVISE XERXES TO AVOID PUTTING THE FLEET OUT TO SEA, WHERE THE SEA-FARING GREEKS HELD THE ADVANTAGE OF EXPERIENCE. XERXES' AIM OF VENGEANCE, RETRIBUTION HAD BEEN ACHIEVED BY THE BURNING OF ATHENS. IT WOULD BE JUDICIOUS, SAGACIOUS TO KEEP THE SHIPS CLOSE TO LAND TO SUPPORT THE LAND ARMY. AT SEA, THE PERSIAN FLEET WOULD CERTAINLY, UNDOUBTEDLY , ASSUREDLY BE DESTROYED. EVENTS WERE TO PROVE HER JUDGEMENT RIGHT AND FLAWLESS. ARTEMESIA WOULD CARRY BOTH PERSIAN AND GREEK FLAGS TO BE USED AS GAINFUL AND EXPEDIENT. THUS SHE WOULD USE THE PERSIAN FLAG IF PURSUING BUT A GREEK FLAG WHEN SHE HERSELF WAS HUNTED. SHE EVEN RAMMED A PERSIAN ALLY CALYNDIAN SHIP WHEN CHASED BY THE GREEK AMEINIAS, WHO MISTAKENLY, ERRINGLY GAVE UP THE CHASE.

Egyptians, Cyprians,Kilikians,Pamphylians, with us,

Are undependable, unreliable, erratic, faithless, capricious.

Greeks do not, food for a protracted war possess, I know,

Voices to depart, protect, the individual cities shall grow.”

Ill-fated, starred moments, judicious advice is superseded,

Words of hubristic, unwise, conceited, impulsive, heeded.

Her sage words Xerxes, from catastrophe didn’t dissuade,

But the advice of the impetuous, majority would persuade.

Salamis, Athenian ship captain, Ameinias, in her pursuit,

Ameinias of Pallene erroneously, wrongly ended pursuit.

Mistakenly, incorrectly thinking that she was a Greek ship,

When he saw, she rammed a Persian ally, Calyndian ship.

His wrecked ship, Admiral Ariamnes’ body she'd retrieve,

So Xerxes could his brother with ceremony lament, grieve.

“Our women of man’s material forged,” Xerxes, remarked,

Her courage, by gift of Greek armour, honoured, marked.

Xerxes after Salamis, commanders would collect, gather,

Make a decision, decide a course to take the war further.

"Give Marduniye resources",Xerxes, She'd advise, entreat,

Before the onset of winter, towards Persia return, retreat.

If Marduniya would defeat, conquer Greeks, glory is yours,

His failure’s no humiliation, they defeated servant of yours.” .

SHE DISAPPROVED, DESPISED, DISLIKED AND HAD A POOR OPINION OF various PERSIAN ALLIES, CONSIDERING THEM DUBIOUS, FICKLE AND SUSPECT. SHE ADVISED XERXES THAT GREEKS HAD INSUFFICIENT, SCANT, SCARCE PROVISIONS FOR A PROLONGED WAR. THE MEN'S CLAMOUR, OUTCRY FOR RETURN TO THEIR CITIES WOULD BECOME PERSUASIVE AND OVERWHELMING. SHE PREFERRED TO STARVE THEM INTO SUBMISSION. BUT XERXES WAS PERSUADED, coaxed, INFLUENCED,coerced , SWAYED BY THE RECKLESS, RASH MAJORITY TO EMBARK ON A SEA CAMPAIGN, WHICH PROVED TO BE CATASTROPHIC, RUINOUS AND CALAMITOUS. DESPITE HER RESERVATIONS, SHE DISPLAYED REMARKABLE VALOR AND GALLANTRY IN BATTLE, WHICH XERXES ACCLAIMED, COMMEMORATED BY GIFTING HER A SUIT OF GREEK ARMOUR. SHE ALSO RECOVERED THE BODY OF XERXES' BROTHER ARIAMNES. IN THE WAR COUNCIL, AFTER SALAMIS, SHE ADVISED XERXES TO RETURN TO PERSIA, LEAVING CONDUCT OF FURTHER OPERATIONS TO THE IMPETUOUS HEEDLESS, HASTY MARDUNIYE.

Arteshbod/General Pantea

Her name befittingly meant, “Powerful, immortal.

Privileged leader of Cyrus the great’s Immortals.

The wife of General Aryasb , another commander,

Cohorts of women soldiers had woman commander.

Unit formed in Babylon consisted, 10,000 soldiers,

One was killed, replaced by another of the soldiers.

Cyrus’ landmark, historic entry, in Babylon born,

Its members essentially in homeland, Persia, born.

Tutelage strenuous, exacting, boys, zealous, eager,

Trained, march all day, subsist on rations, meager.

Training started at age 7, respect for life instilled,

Surrendering enemy combatant must not be killed.

Peacetime, Imperial guard duty entrusted, charged

Coup-de-grace, end blow, victorious, battle charged.

Famed both, beauty, in battle, fearlessness, courage,

Face masked, men’s undesired attention, discourage.

The extensive estates of Lady Irtašduna( Artystone)

Irtašduna, Darius’ wife, personal estates possessed,

To administer a workforce, her own seal possessed.

She could enter in business contracts, negotiations

Make payments for, disburse, dispense out rations.

after cyrus the great conquered babylon in 539 b.c, the illustrious, exalted, famous military unit of the immortals was born, created. IT consisted of 10,000 all hand-picked soldiers, born in persia. THE NUMBER stayed CONSTAnT, IF ONE WAS KILLED, ANOTHER took HIS PLACE instantly. training was hard, intense, harsh and vigorous. THE BOYS WERE TAUGHT TO MARCH ALL DAY WITH RESTRICTED RATIONS AND SHOOT STRAIGHT. IT BEGAN FROM THE AGE OF 7 AND SOLDIERS WERE instilled TWO salient foremost requisites IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL SKILLS, NEVER TO LIE AND RESPECT LIFE OF surrendering, submitting ENEMY COMBATANTS. THE UNIT WAS USED TO DELIVER THE COUP DE GRACE AT THE terminal stage OF ENGAGEMENT.ONE OF THE GENERALS OF THE ELITE UNIT WAS ARTESHBOD PANTEA, FAMED BOTH FOR HER BEAUTY AND COURAGE, SHE WAS WIFE OF ANOTHER SERVING GENERAL. HER BEAUTY WAS SO CAPTIVATING AND BEWITCHING, SHE WOULD COVER HER FACE WITH A FIERCE BATTLE MASK TO DISSUADE, deter any UNWANTED, UNDESIRABLE ATTENTION FROM MESMERIZED MEN.

Khashayarshah/ Emperor Xerxes and Esther Shahbanu

Xerxes from an arduous, gruelling Greek campaign returned,

Thoughts, organizing revelry, merrymaking, festivity turned.

At Susa arranged, six months long festival, carnival, delight,

Xerxes asked his Queen Vashti to present herself one night.

So guests could her beauty, elegance, gracefulness admire,

But pretentious, egotistic, Vashti refused, arousing his ire.

He asked advisors for a response to discourtesy, disrespect,

Memucain said,“No woman’d henceforth a husband respect.”

To be the queen she was unsuited, unbecoming, unsuitable,

She must be replaced, one more suitable, eligible, amicable.

Queen Vashti, a woman, proud, narcissistic, conceited, vain,

Babylonian king, Nabodinus’ family,last survivor to remain.

Heralds, couriers dispatched, 127 provinces ruled by king,

Seek worthy, fitting, desirable, new consort queen for king.

Suitable young virgins, summoned, invited king’s harem,

Beauty treatment under care of Hegai, eunuch of harem.

Esther born Hadassah was Jewish girl, who at Susa lived,

Orphaned, with kind, compassionate uncle Mordecai lived.

One day, palace gates, Mordecai heard the eunuchs of king,

Conspiring, devising scheme, assassinate Xerxes, the king.

Mordecai relayed the news of conspiracy, scheme, the king,

Palace records documented, Mordecai, saved, rescued king.

EMPEROR XERXES HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A demanding, EXHAUSTING GREEK CAMPAIGN. HIS MIND WAS OCCUPIED BY THOUGHTS OF MERRY MAKING, fun AND FEASTING. A joyous, merry, glad SIX MONTH LONG CARNIVAL WAS ORGANIZED AT THE CAPITAL SUSA FOR ALL HIGH OFFICIALS AND SATRAPS OF THE COURT. ONE NIGHT XERXES, IN AN INEBRIATED STATE SENT THE EUNUCHS TO SUMMON, beckon HIS WIFE, QUEEN VASHTI. SHE WAS A proud, imperious, HAUGHTY, VAIN, ARISTOCRATIC WOMAN, DAUGHTER OF THE ERSTWHILE KING OF BABYLON. SHE DECIDED NOT TO HEED THE KING'S COMMAND. THE LIVID OFFICERS ADVISED THE KING THAT SUCH OVERT, FLAGRANT CONTEMPT, DISDAIN AND DISREGARD FOR THE KING'S ORDERS COULD NOT BE DISREGARDED AND FORGIVEN. THE KING MUST SEEK A MORE DEFERENTIAL AND AMENABLE WIFE TO REPLACE HER. HERALDS WERE THUS SENT TO ALL THE 127 PROVINCES/ SATRAPIES TO FIND A more DECOROUS AND COMPLIANT BRIDE. IN SUSA LIVED A GENTLE JEWISH GIRL, HADASSAH, WHICH MEANS THE MYRTLE TREE IN HEBREW. SHE WAS THE ADOPTED DAUGHTER OF HER UNCLE MORDECAI, WHO HAD ONCE SAVED THE KING'S LIFE FROM Assassination by his eunuchs.

THE CROWNING OF ESTHER

When her turn came, Esther also, the king’s harem moved,

Her humility, meekness Hegai, affected, influenced moved.

Beauty, cosmetic treatment lasted demanding, 12 months,

Oil of myrrh, six months, perfumes, cosmetics, six months.

After that, each girl would be to king’s presence be called,

Only if the king desired, would the young girl, be recalled.

Xerxes, attracted by her beauty, elegance, charm, grace,

On Esther’s head, the queen’s crown Xerxes would place.

Courtier Hamman, deceitful, unscrupulous, cunning man,

Shrewdly became kingdom’s second most powerful man.

Mordecai never respected, regarded him, Hamman'd hate,

Decided, Mordecai, his people, he’d annihilate, eliminate.

Hamman, son of Hamedatha the Agagite however knew,

Distasteful, loathsome, abhorrent, Mordecai, was a Jew.

To king said,“In your subjects there’s a particular people,

Whose laws,way of life, loyalty differs from other people.”

Much maleficence, malignity he would to them attribute,

Royal treasury he would 10,000 talents silver contribute.

Hamman extracted king’s orders, his state of inebriation,

Claimed would be preferable for the betterment, nation.

Which destruction of entire Jewish community permitted,

Xerxes’ orders, all the 127 provinces, swiftly transmitted.

ALL SUITABLE virgins WOULD BE TRANSPORTED TO THE KING'S HAREM in susa FOR BEAUTY TREATMENT BEFORE PRESENTATION BEFORE THE KING. HADASSAH, ALSO CALLED ESTHER WON OVER THE CHIEF EUNUCH HEGAI WITH HER MODESTY AND HUMILITY. XERXES WAS PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCED BY HER CHARM, SIMPLICITY, ELEGANCE, DIGNITY, POISE IN A SIMPLE WHITE DRESS. HE PLACED THE CROWN ON HER HEAD. A SENIOR COURT OFFICIAL WAS HAmMAN THE AGAGITE, WHO LOATHED THE JEWS NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS A direct DESCENDANT OF AGAG BUT ALSO AS MORDECAI REFUSED TO BOW TO HIM. HAMMAN DEVISED A PLOT FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION. WHEN THE KING WAS IN AN INTOXICATED STATE, HE SPOKE THAT THE JEWS WERE WICKED, TREACHEROUS, DECEITFUL AND UNFAITHFUL TO HIM. IF XERXES ISSUED A PROCLAMATION FOR EXTERMINATION AND DESTRUCTION OF all THE JEWS OF THE EMPIRE, HAMMAN HIMSELF WOULD CONTRIBUTE A handsome SUM OF 10,000 TALENTS TO THE ROYAL TREASURY. hamman ensured THE OMINOUS, SINISTER ORDER PROMPTLY reachED ALL THE KING'S 127 SATRAPIES.

Mordecai'd woeful, disturbing, distressing news heard,

Wearing sackcloth, ash on face, queen’s gate appeared.

Mordecai'd begged Esther for arbitration, intervention,

Esther preferred to seek divine mediation, intervention.

Esther decided that for three days, she would pray, fast,

All the townspeople would also join her veneration, fast.

In weakened, starving state, her maids'd Esther bring,

Presence,the daunting, intimidating, formidable king.

Seeing maid supported, fainted queen, Xerxes, touched,

Xerxes with golden sceptre, Esther’s shoulder touched.

Gently, he’d ask,“ Queen Esther, what is it, you want?

Say without fear, to half of my kingdom, I can grant.”

Esther humbly said,“You’ll give great pleasure, delight,

If you with Hamman join me for dinner tomorrow night.”

That night Xerxes was uneasy, unsettled in his mind,

Failed assassination attempt recalled, came his mind.

Was Mordecai rewarded for his services, he thought,

Ordered Hamman, the palace records to be brought.

He read, Mordecai had not been given any honour.

Asked Hamman, how a king should bestow honour.

“In the king’s robe, horse, walking him across town.”

Xerxes told Hamman, “Take Mordecai across town.”

WHEN THE DISMAL, dire, ALARMING DISTURBING NEWS REACHED MORDECAI, HE CAME TO ESTHER BEGGING FOR HER INTERVENTION AND HELP. ESTHER DECIDED TO PLACE HER FAITH IN GOD AND FASTED FOR THREE DAY. THEN SHE BATHED AND IN A WEAK, FEEBLE, DEBILITATED STATE SHE PRESENTED HERSELF TO XERXES, WHERE SHE FAINTED AND WOULD HAVE FALLEN TO THE GROUND IF NOT SUPPORTED BY HER MAID. XERXES, PERTURBED AND MOVED, GENTLY TOUCHED HER WITH HIS GOLDEN SCEPTER AND INQUIRED WHAT THE MATTER WAS, PROMISING HE WOULD GRANT HER EVEN HALF THE KINGDOM. ALL THAT ESTHER DESIRED WAS HIS PRESENCE ALONG WITH HAMMAN AT A DINNER. XERXES, UNEASY, Agitated, RESTIVE THAT NIGHT ASKED HAMMAN TO ACCESS THE ROYAL RECORDS TO SEE IF MORDECAI HAD BEEN GRANTED REWARD OR RECOMPENSE FOR HIS SERVICES IN SAVING THE KING'S LIFE. HE ASKED HAMMAN'S ADVICE , HOW SHOULD A KING BESTOW HONOUR ON SOMEONE? HAMMAN responded THAT HE SHOULD BE WALKED ACROSS TOWN IN ROBES, THE KING HAD WORN. AND THAT IS WHAT XERXES ORDERED HAMMAN TO DO FOR MORDECAI.

The festival of Purim and Xerxes' contrition

Hamman, day of destruction of the Jews had decided,

Throwing of pur, lot, 13th of month of Adar, decided.

Presumptuously had gallows, 50 cubits high installed,

Hoping to hang Mordecai, before he was court called.

Dinner time Esther was picture of modesty, humility,

Claimed someone conspired, destroy her community.

Her faith’d conquered Hamman’s animosity, hostility,

Xerxes angrily asked her, reveal miscreant’s identity.

Xerxes, angered, enraged, Esther's garden went out,

Returning saw Hamman, queen’s couch passed out.

King said, “My palace, assault queen he can dare!”

Esther had laid Hamman’s diabolical scheme bare,

The eunuch covered Hamman’s head in a sacking,

On gallows, he himself made, was led for hanging.

Esther begged, king’s pardon, mercy for her people,

Jews permitted to fight, who attacked their people.

13th of Adar became day of, salvation, celebration,

The day of deliverance of the entire Jewish nation.

Xerxes expressed his heartfelt remorse, contrition,

Mordecai’d saved nation from subversion, sedition.

Hamman desired, to Greeks deliver Persian nation,

Be more careful, circumspect in future his intention.

Comment: Composition of verses based on the

Book of Esther.

The Old Testament.

The Holy Bible.

VILLAINOUS, BLACK-HEARTED HAMmAN PRESUMPTUOUSLY DECIDED THE DAY FOR DESTRUCTION OF JEWS BY CASTING PUR, LOT TO BE ON THE 13TH OF THE MONTH OF ADAR. HE EVEN BRAZENLY, IMPETUOUSLY HAD GALLOWS SET UP TO HANG MORDECAI. god's will, desire was however different. after dinner, when xerxes was in a gracious mood, she begged him to be merciful to her people, who were the victims of a conspirator. enraged AND INFURIATED he demanded to know his identity and stepped out into esther's garden. Hamman, realizing his SORRY, PITIFUL, abject, WOEFUL predicament threw herself on her bed, begging for clemency. xerxes, seeing hamman on her bed, further ENRAGED and incensed, said," how dare he assault my queen in my own palace." The eunuchs covered hamman's head and took him to be hung on the very gallows he had installed for mordecai. esther implored xerxes for pardon for her people. messages were sent to all the satrapies. 13th of adar is thus celebrated as a day of jewish deliverance and salvation. xerxes expressed his remorse, regret for being hasty, impulsive in his judgement. he would, in future be more cautious, prudent, guarded while issuing any GRAVE, SIGNIFICANT AND CRUCIAL ORDERS .

Banu Artemesian of Caria/ Grand Admiral in Xerxes' Navy. Die Seeslacht Bei Salamis. Wilhelm von Kaulbach. 1868

Banu Artemsia/ Grand admiral Artemesia

Shahbanu Esther, queen of Khashayarsaha/Xerxes at Niavaran palace. Tehran. Tapestry of Jean Francois Detroy.

THE CROWNING OF ESTHER

The festival of Purim and Xerxes' contrition

1-5.Tomb of Shahbanu Esther and her adopted father/uncle Mordechai. Hamedan. 6.Esther by Edwin Long. 1878.National Gallery.Victoria