Artabanus of Persia
- Artabanus of Persia
Artabanus the Hyrcanian was a Persian political figure during the
Achaemenid Dynasty who was reportedlyRegent of Persia for a few months (465 BC - 464 BC).Artabanus probably originated from the province of
Hyrcania and reportedly served as the chief official ofXerxes I . He is considered to have served either as hisvizier or as his headbodyguard .According to
Aristotle , Artabanus was responsible for the death ofCrown Prince Darius. He then became afraid that Xerxes would seekrevenge and proceeded to assassinate the King. On the other handJunianus Justinus reported that Artabanus had personal ambitions for the throne. He first secretly murdered Xerxes and then accused Darius ofparricide , resulting in his execution. The order of events remain uncertain but Xerxes and Darius certainly left the throne vacant.Artabanus' course of action is also uncertain. Some accounts have him usurping the throne for himself. Others consider him to have named young
Artaxerxes I as King and to have acted asRegent andpower behind the throne . This state of affairs would not last more than a few months. Artaxerxes reportedly slew him with his own sword, either in battle or by surprise. Artabanus is occasionally listed among the Kings of the Achaemenid dynasty though he was not related to them. As Artaxerxes is believed to be the inspiration for King Ahasuerus in the story ofPurim , Artabanus may have been the inspiration forHaman in the same story.Classical sources
*
Aristotle , "Politics" 5.131Ib
*Diodorus Siculus , "Historical Library" 11.69 [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084]
*Justin , "Epitome of Philipic Histories ofPompeius Trogus " III 1 [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/justinus_03_books01to10.htm] [http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/justin/english/trans3.html]
*Photius, "Epitome of Persica ofCtesias " 20 [http://www.livius.org/ct-cz/ctesias/photius_persica.html]
*Plutarch , "Life of Themistocles" 27
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