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 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 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, because she did not follow his command. He then looked 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 found out that Haman, one of the king’s advisers, wanted to harm all Jewish people. This was because her cousin Mordecai refused to bow to him. Esther asked the Jewish people to fast and pray for three days. Then she spoke to 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 think the story of Esther might not be true, even though some parts could have really happened. Persian kings usually married only from noble families, so it is unlikely a Jewish queen like Esther existed. The name Ahasuerus might really mean Xerxes, a king who ruled long ago. But his real queen was named Amestris, which shows the story is not true.

Some thinkers think the story was made up 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 think it might have some real history behind it. But most scholars think it is very hard to find real facts in the story.

Interpretations

The Book of Esther shows Esther as a kind and respectful person. She 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 called "Esther's Children." There is a special building in Hamadan, Iran, that people visit as the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai. A village named 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

Many artists have made paintings depicting Esther. Early examples include the Heilspiegel Altarpiece by Konrad Witz and Esther Before Ahasuerus by Tintoretto (1546–47, Royal Collection). These paintings show Esther asking the king for help for her people, even though it was very dangerous.

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

Esther was seen in Catholic teachings as a figure who came before the Virgin Mary in her role as someone who helps others. Esther’s fainting became a popular subject in paintings later. A well-known example 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

Some famous musicians were inspired by the story of Esther. In 1677, Marc-Antoine Charpentier made a piece called Historia Esther. Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre made a piece named "Esther" in 1708. The composer George Frideric Handel also made a work called Esther. He used a play written by Jean Racine. Alessandro Stradella made Ester as an oratorio in 1673.