Esther

Esther, also known as Hadassah, is the brave main character of the Book of Esther. She lived a long time ago in a big empire called the Achaemenid Empire. Esther became the queen of the Persian king Ahasuerus.

There was a man named Haman who was very angry at Esther's cousin and guardian, Mordecai. Haman wanted to hurt all the Jews in Persia because of Mordecai. He even convinced the king to let him do it.

Esther showed great courage when she told the king about Haman's bad plans. The king did not want anyone to get hurt, so he stopped Haman and allowed the Jews to protect themselves. Because of Esther's bravery, many people were saved. The story of Esther helps explain why people celebrate a special holiday called Purim.

Name

When Esther is first introduced, she is called Hadassah, which means "myrtle tree." This name shows that she is Jewish. The name Esther might come from an old goddess named Ishtar or from a Persian word that means "star." Some people think it could also mean "woman" or "myrtle."

Narrative

Main article: Book of Esther

In the third year of King Ahasuerus of Persia, he removed his queen, Vashti, for not following his command and searched for a new queen. Many beautiful young women were brought to the palace in Susa, including Esther, who was from the Jewish community. Esther was chosen as the new queen because the king fell in love with her.

After becoming queen, Esther learned that Haman, one of the king’s advisers, wanted to harm all Jewish people because her cousin Mordecai refused to bow to him. Esther asked the Jewish people to fast and pray for three days. Then she went to see the king to ask him to stop Haman’s plan. With the king’s help, Haman was stopped, and the Jewish people were allowed to protect themselves. They celebrated their safety with a special feast called Purim.

Historicity

Many experts believe the story of Esther is made up, even though some parts could have happened in real life. Persian kings usually married only from noble families, so it is unlikely a Jewish queen like Esther existed. The name Ahasuerus might actually mean Xerxes, a real king who ruled long ago. However, his real queen was named Amestris, which shows the story is not true.

Some thinkers think the story was created to explain why Jewish people celebrate a special holiday called Purim. This holiday's name comes from a Babylonian word meaning "lot." Some believe the story connects to old Babylonian myths or Persian traditions, while others argue it might have some real history behind it. But most scholars think finding real facts in the story is very difficult.

Interpretations

The Book of Esther shows Esther as a kind and respectful person who starts off quietly and later becomes very brave. She helps protect her people by speaking wisely to the king. Some thinkers say her story shows how people who are different can still succeed and stay safe in new places. Others see her clever words as a way to help those who don’t have much power.

Persian culture

Today, many Persian Jews are known as "Esther's Children." There is a special building in Hamadan, Iran, that people honor as the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai. Also, a village called Kafr Bir'im in northern Israel says it is where Queen Esther is buried.

Artistic depictions of Esther

See also: Book of Esther § Modern retelling

Throughout history, many artists have created paintings depicting Esther. Important early examples include the Heilspiegel Altarpiece by Konrad Witz and Esther Before Ahasuerus by Tintoretto (1546–47, Royal Collection). These show Esther appearing before the king to ask for help for her people, even though it was very dangerous to come before the king without being called.

Esther’s feeling of becoming weak was not often shown in art before Tintoretto. It appears in scenes from the Life of Esther that are thought to be by Sandro Botticelli or Filippino Lippi from the 1470s. In some of these scenes, Esther’s brave decision to see the king is shown differently from another queen’s choice not to appear before others.

Esther was seen in Catholic teachings as a figure who came before the Virgin Mary in her role as someone who helps others. As Esther became queen of Persia, Mary became queen of heaven. Esther’s fainting became a popular subject in paintings in the following century. A well-known example from this time is Esther Before Ahasuerus by Artemisia Gentileschi.

In Christianity

Esther is honored as an important woman in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod on May 24. She is also recognized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, remembered on the Sunday before Christmas. The version of Esther's story used in Greek translations includes extra parts not found in the Hebrew Bible. These additions mention God and were likely added to give the story a clearer religious meaning. The story of Esther is also mentioned in a book important to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Music

Several famous musicians have created works inspired by the story of Esther. In 1677, Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed Historia Esther. Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre wrote a piece called "Esther" in 1708. The well-known composer George Frideric Handel also created a work titled Esther, using a script from a play by Jean Racine. Alessandro Stradella composed Ester as an oratorio in 1673.