If I Perish by Paula K. Parker
Interesting tidbits about King Xerxes from my research for IF I PERISH: A Queen’s Sacrifice.
When I began pondering writing a novel about Queen Esther, I read the Book of Esther multiple times, writing down questions I had about the story. Then I began researching biblical, archaeological, and cultural experts for answers. I found many interesting tidbits that answered my questions as well inspired other parts of the novel. Below are a few of these morsels.
Xerxes Kiapur Cyrus, King of the Medes and the Persians
Xerxes I was the son of Darius the Great and Atossa dokhtar Cyrus. Xerxes was the fourth King of the Medes and the Persians, which was also known as the Achaemenid Empire. He was also the first King to inherit the Persian throne and not attain it by assassinating his predecessor.
Atossa doktar Cyrus, Malekeh Jahaan (the Mother of the World)
Xerxes’ mother, Atossa doktar Cyrus, was the daughter of Cyrus the Great and his Queen Cassandane after Cyrus defeated Babylon and established the Achaemenid Empire. Due to a series of coups, Atossa was married to three kings of Persia, the last being Darius the Great, who would become Xerxes’ father.
Due to being born a royal princess, Atossa convinced Darius of Xerxes’ double primogeniture. She reminded Darius that Xerxes was his first son after he became King, and that Xerxes was the eldest grandson of Cyrus the Great. Therefore, Xerxes had the best claim to inherit the throne. Darius agreed. When Xerxes took the throne, Atossa became the Malekeh Jahann, the Mother of the World. Think of Atossa as becoming the Queen Mother.
Atossa was the Persian Empire’s first Malekeh Jahann. She was the first Persian woman to live her whole life as imperial royalty and to see her son on the throne. She had rights few women of that time experienced. While other women in the King’s harem lived restricted lives, Atossa had more freedom. She owned a large estate with over 100 servants including a Grecian physician-in-resident. When Xerxes was away from Persia—such as when he was fighting the Persian-Greek War—she acted as his regent. When Xerxes was at home, she was one of his most important advisors, with the prerogative to intervene in cases of treason. Scholars consider Atossa to be one of the most important Queens of the Persian Empire. A sign of her importance: she is buried in the tomb of Darius the Great.
Interesting note: According to scholars, Atossa died the same year Haman cast the dice to determine what date to annihilate the Jews. This suggested to me why, when Haman approached the King about the people who refused to follow the Persian law and advised their annihilation, Xerxes—who would have been in deep mourning—would not have inquired further.
Beyond the Pages of the Book of Esther
In the Book of Nehemiah, it mentions he was the Cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes, who inherited the throne after his father Xerxes’ death. According to scholars, Nehemiah was a contemporary with Esther, and they believe she was responsible for his becoming the Cup-bearer.
According to these scholars, the Cup-bearer of the Achaemenid Kings was not some lowly servant who tasted everything before the King ate or drank it. The Cup-bearer was a close advisor, one whom the King trusted enough to not question taking any beverage or food from him. Haman was promoted to this position in Esther 3:1 and—according to Nehemiah 2:1–9—Nehemiah became the Cup-bearer during the reign of King Artaxerxes.
After Artaxerxes questioned why his Cup-bearer was sad, Nehemiah 2:6 states, “Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him…” According to scholars, this was not Artaxerxes’ wife; this was Queen Esther, his step-mother and the Malekeh Jahann.
Esther’s “for such a time as this,” went beyond being saving the Jewish people from Haman’s heinous plans for annihilation. She was instrumental in Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple where—approximately 500 years later—Jesus would ride into the Holy City to the accolades of “Hosannah! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Paula K. Parker is a Pulitzer Prize nominee, award-winning, best-selling, and internationally acclaimed author, playwright, magazine writer, entertainment writer, devotional writer, curriculum writer, and corporate copywriter. She writes books, articles, plays, reviews, curriculum, and inspirational devotions. Paula lives near Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Mike, who is also a writer and a professional actor.
Her biblical novel, IF I PERISH; A Queen’s Sacrifice reachedmultiple best-selling charts and was nominated for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize and was a Finalist in the 2025 Storytrade Book Awards. Her biblical novel, THE CARPENTER AND HIS BRIDE; The Birth of Hope, also reached multiple best-selling charts and won the Bronze Level in the Inspirations Christian Book Awards. Her biblical Sisters of Lazarus trilogy—BEAUTY UNVEILED, GLORY REVEALED, and GRACE EXTENDED—reached multiple best-selling charts.
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