Sisygambis

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Sisygambis (Greek Σισύγαμβις; * around 400 BC; † 323 BC ) was the mother of the Persian king Darius III , who came from the Achaemenid dynasty . who was defeated by Alexander the Great .

Life

Sisygambis was probably the daughter of Ostanes , a younger brother of the Persian king Artaxerxes II , and the sister and wife of Arsames (Arsanes) . Besides Darius III she gave birth. another son Oxyathres and probably a daughter Stateira and four other children.

As Dareios III. 333 BC When he personally set out to fight against Alexander the Great, who had invaded his empire, he was accompanied, according to Persian custom, by family members, namely his mother, his sister wife Stateira, his two daughters and his young son. After the Persian defeat in the battle of Issus , they were captured by the victorious Macedonian king, while Darius III. could escape himself. Sisygambis and the other captive women of the Persian royal family initially mistakenly believed that Darius III. had fallen, and cried loudly until Alexander had assured them through his comrade Leonnatos that the Persian ruler was still alive. The next day, Alexander personally went to their tent together with his friend Hephaistion . Sisygambis first believed, because of the height of Hephaestion that he was the king, and threw himself on the ground in front of him, but was then cleared up of her error. The episode of Alexander's personal visit to the Persian Queen Mother was not mentioned by the Alexander historians Ptolemy and Aristobulus , according to Arrian .

Alexander treated Sisygambis, as well as the other royal women in his power, extremely courteously and respectfully. During the Battle of Gaugamela (October 1, 331 BC), the Persians were initially able to break through on their right wing and plunder the Macedonian camp. The Sisygambis located there allegedly could not be persuaded to make an attempt to escape. After Alexander had also won the Gaugamela and then went through Babylon and Susa , among others , he left Sisygambis in Susa, where she was supposed to acquire knowledge of Greek. The Macedonian conqueror, meanwhile, moved in early 330 BC. Against the warlike mountain people of the Uxians living in the Persis and was able to subdue them with difficulty. Sisygambis is said to have stood up for the Uxians and their prince Madates , who was married to their niece, at Alexander's. In any case, the conquered people remained largely unmolested. After Dareios III. in July 330 BC Sisygambis probably received in Susa the corpse of her son sent to her by Alexander, who was buried with all honors.

Over time, Sisygambis had developed a deep maternal affection for the Macedonian king and is said to have passed on to him in June 323 BC. Chr. Death that occurred so painfully that she put an end to her life by voluntary fasting.

literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ Diodorus mostly uses the name form Σισύγγαμβρις.
  2. ^ Curtius Rufus 10, 5, 23.
  3. ↑ Curtius Rufus 3, 3, 22; Diodorus 17, 31, 2.
  4. ↑ Arrian, Anabasis 2, 11, 9; Curtius Rufus 3, 11, 24; Diodorus 17, 36, 2; Plutarch , Alexander 21, 1; Justin 11, 9, 12.
  5. ↑ Arrian, Anabasis 2, 12, 3ff .; Curtius Rufus 3, 12, 3-12; Diodorus 17, 37, 3; Plutarch, Alexander 21, 1f.
  6. ↑ Arrian, Anabasis 2, 12, 6-8; Curtius Rufus 3, 12, 15-17; Diodorus 17, 37, 4-6.
  7. ↑ Diodorus 17:59, 7; Curtius Rufus 4, 15, 10f.
  8. ↑ Diodorus 17, 67, 1.
  9. ↑ Ptolemaios, The Fragments of the Greek Historians (FGrH), No. 138, F 12 in Arrian, Anabasis 3, 17, 6; Curtius Rufus 5, 3, 12-15.
  10. ↑ Plutarch, Alexander 43, 7.
  11. ↑ Diodorus 17, 118, 3; Curtius Rufus 10, 5, 19-25; Justin 13, 1, 5f.
personal data
SURNAME Sisygambis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Mother of Darius III.
DATE OF BIRTH around 400 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 323 BC Chr.