Saturday, April 4, 2009

Esther the Queen

King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) held a big feast in his capital Susa. But when he wanted his queen, Vashti, to appear and show her beauty, she refused to do so. Because of that she was banished and the king looked for a new women. After a long selection he chose Esther because of her great beauty. Esther was a Jew but didn't tell this the king. Later Haman a powerful prince plotted against the Jews in the Empire and tried to convince the king to kill them all. At last Esther suceeded in convincing the king of the plot and to save the live of all the Jews in Persia.

As a result of Esther's intervention and her influence, the Jews lived in Persia untill our time.

Esther (1844) by the French painter Francois Leon Benouville (1821-1859) .

The painting is typically classical renouncing perspective. But its as well an orientalistic painting. Esther is presented as one of the fancied odaliques with her black slave.

1 comment:

  1. this is great! love the story of esther dressing up like esther for a purium party!! was trying to get ideas on the dress then.
    keep on keeping on!!!

    kelly

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