Persian satrapies
Picture by Marco Prins and Jona Lendering (http://www.livius.org/). With permission granted by the authors to download, copy, re-format and redistribute the pictures for use on computers, computer networks or as a printed publication, provided that no fees are charged for their distribution
(492 – 449 BC) Series of wars between Greek states and Persia, particularly two invasions of Greece by Persia (490, 480 – 479). http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/a/a3/300px-Persian_empire_490bc.gif
larger: http://www.peymanmeli.org/Images/IranMapEmpire1.jpg
This is Iran (Persia) map up to the end of Sassanid era
http://www.bangitout.com/uploads/15megillahesther.jpg (illuminated megillah)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satrap
Satrap (Persian: ساتراپ) was the name given to the governors of the provinces of ancient Median and Persian empires, including the Achaemenid Empire and in several of their heirs, such as the Sassanid Empire and the Hellenistic empires.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Esther#Origin_and_meaning_of_her_name
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vashti
persian word وَ شتی آ
According to the Midrash, Vashti was the great-granddaughter of King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, the granddaughter of King Amel-Marduk and the daughter of King Belshazzar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordecai The Talmud says Mordecai prophesied in the second year of Darius.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahasuerus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haman_(Bible)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Esther
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Esther#Historical_reading
Those arguing in favour of an historical reading of Esther, most commonly identify Ahasuerus with Artaxerxes II (ruled 405 - 359 B.C.E.) although in the past it was often assumed that he was Xerxes I (ruled 486 - 465 B.C.E.).
Jewish tradition relates that Esther was the mother of a King Darius and so some try to identify Ahasuerus with Artaxerxes I and Esther with Kosmartydene.
in Hamadan: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.farsinet.com/hamadan/images/esthertomb_s.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.farsinet.com/hamadan/esther.html&h=152&w=106&sz=3&hl=en&start=17&tbnid=YYxkkvXvkYxgfM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=67&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtomb%2Bof%2Besther%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26suggon%3D0%26sa%3DG
http://www.payvand.com/news/07/mar/1199.html movie to be produced about Esther and Xerxes
"shirini haman" a European treat http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/hamantashen.jpg
purim spiel:
I. hands, feet, clothes refuse to appear at the banquet; then the crown herself
II. bye, dohiye man. kalimat ghalbi.
here's take this cell phone. The palace is in the network; it will be easier to get in touch."
III. befamarid through door; ampule de coca cola; batman to the rescue via cell phone
IV. Ester alerts A. kitaab khube ; mard hafan
V. H gets his way. esme u chieh? mmmm A drunk and book falls open
Resources:
Sarshar 2002 Esther's Children at SDSU library
