Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther: Achaemenid Court Culture in the Hebrew Bible
Esther is the most visual book of the Hebrew Bible and largely crafted in the Fourth Century BCE by an author who was clearly au fait with the rarefied world of the Achaemenid court. It therefore provides an unusual melange of information which can enlighten scholars of Ancient Iranian Studies whilst offering Biblical scholars access into the Persian world from which the text emerged.

In this book, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones unlocks the text of Esther by reading it against the rich iconographic world of ancient Persia and of the Near East. Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther is a cultural and iconographic exploration of an important, but often undervalued, biblical book, and Llewellyn-Jones presents the book of Esther as a rich source for the study of life and thought in the Persian Empire. The author reveals answers to important questions, such as the role of the King's courtiers in influencing policy, the way concubines at court were recruited, the structure of the harem in shifting the power of royal women, the function of feasting and drinking in the articulation of courtly power, and the meaning of gift-giving and patronage at the Achaemenid court.
"1141822994"
Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther: Achaemenid Court Culture in the Hebrew Bible
Esther is the most visual book of the Hebrew Bible and largely crafted in the Fourth Century BCE by an author who was clearly au fait with the rarefied world of the Achaemenid court. It therefore provides an unusual melange of information which can enlighten scholars of Ancient Iranian Studies whilst offering Biblical scholars access into the Persian world from which the text emerged.

In this book, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones unlocks the text of Esther by reading it against the rich iconographic world of ancient Persia and of the Near East. Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther is a cultural and iconographic exploration of an important, but often undervalued, biblical book, and Llewellyn-Jones presents the book of Esther as a rich source for the study of life and thought in the Persian Empire. The author reveals answers to important questions, such as the role of the King's courtiers in influencing policy, the way concubines at court were recruited, the structure of the harem in shifting the power of royal women, the function of feasting and drinking in the articulation of courtly power, and the meaning of gift-giving and patronage at the Achaemenid court.
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Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther: Achaemenid Court Culture in the Hebrew Bible

Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther: Achaemenid Court Culture in the Hebrew Bible

by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther: Achaemenid Court Culture in the Hebrew Bible

Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther: Achaemenid Court Culture in the Hebrew Bible

by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones

eBook

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Overview

Esther is the most visual book of the Hebrew Bible and largely crafted in the Fourth Century BCE by an author who was clearly au fait with the rarefied world of the Achaemenid court. It therefore provides an unusual melange of information which can enlighten scholars of Ancient Iranian Studies whilst offering Biblical scholars access into the Persian world from which the text emerged.

In this book, Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones unlocks the text of Esther by reading it against the rich iconographic world of ancient Persia and of the Near East. Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther is a cultural and iconographic exploration of an important, but often undervalued, biblical book, and Llewellyn-Jones presents the book of Esther as a rich source for the study of life and thought in the Persian Empire. The author reveals answers to important questions, such as the role of the King's courtiers in influencing policy, the way concubines at court were recruited, the structure of the harem in shifting the power of royal women, the function of feasting and drinking in the articulation of courtly power, and the meaning of gift-giving and patronage at the Achaemenid court.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781786726292
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: 03/09/2023
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 280
Sales rank: 778,591
File size: 43 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones is Professor of Ancient History in the School of History, Archaeology and Religion at Cardiff University, where he is also the Director of Civic Mission and Innovation. His publications include the books, Aphrodite's Tortoise: the Veiled Woman of Ancient Greece, Ctesias' History of Persia: Tales of the Orient and King and Court in Ancient Persia. He has worked with the BBC, Channel 4 and the History Channel as an historical advisor.
Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones is Professor in Ancient History at Cardiff University, UK. He is the author of King and Court in Ancient Persia (2013), The Hellenistic Court (2016), Persians: the Age of the Great Kings (2022), Kleopatra Thea and Kleopatra III: Sister-Queens in the High-Hellenistic Period (2022), and Ancient Persia and the Book of Esther: Achaemenid Court Culture in the Hebrew Bible (I.B. Tauris, 2023).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Why Iconography?
The Book of Esther: A New English Translation
Exegesis
i: The Persian Empire
ii: Jews in a Persian world
iii: The Book of Records: Persian perceptions of their past
iv: Persian Kingship
v: Susa and the palaces of Persia
vi: Laws and Governance; tax and tribute
vii: Banquets: drinking and feasting
viii: Gardens – Paradeisoi
ix: Couches and cups ; thrones and sceptres
x: Courtiers
xi: Vashti and her women
xii: Elite women at the Persian court
xiii: Royal concubinage
xiv: Beauty and sexuality
xv: Eunuchs
xvi: The royal gate
xvii: Royal protocol: audiences and formality
xviii: The royal robe and gift-giving
xix: Persian horses
xx: Signet rings and seals
xxi: Communications
xxii: Peace and rebellion
xxiii: Punishments and execution
Epilogue: Visualising Esther in the post-Persian world (5,000 words)
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