Xerxes I and Ahasuerus

FOR PURIM: Persian King Xerxes thought to be Biblical Ahasuerus ‘famous example of arrogance.’ The story of Esther would have taken place in the third year of Xerxes’ reign in 483 BCE, noted Dr. Yigal Bloch, curator of the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem (JUDITH SUDILOVSKY, Jerusalem Post).

“This doesn’t mean the story is real, but it gives a chronological anchor for when it should have taken place,” he said.

For more on the historical Xerxes I, see here. A couple of posts on legends about Ahasuerus inspired by the Book of Esther are here and here.

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