Xerxes the Uncertain
by Damien F. Mackey Part One: ‘Xerxes’ and Sennacherib The mighty king, Xerxes, favoured by various commentators to represent “Ahasuerus”, the Great King of the Book of Esther, is most likely a composite character, a mix of real Assyrian and Medo-Persian kings. Here, for instance, we consider his likenesses to Sennacherib. Introduction The name ‘Xerxes’ is thought by historians to accord extremely well linguistically with “Ahasuerus”, the name of the Great King of the Book of Esther. There are several kings “Ahasuerus” in the (Catholic) Bible: in Tobit; in Esther; in Ezra; and in Daniel. As Cyaxares The one in Tobit is usually considered to refer to the Cyaxares who conquered Nineveh. See e.g. my: “Ahasuerus” in Book of Tobit https://www.academia.edu/24959960/_Ahasuerus_in_Book_of_Tobit But before [Tobias] died...