Maria-Bazhatarnik on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/maria-bazhatarnik/art/Atossa-and-Artystone-2-679347342Maria-Bazhatarnik

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Atossa and Artystone (2)

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Atossa (Old Persian Utauθa, Avestan Hutaosā, Elamite Udusana) was the eldest daughter of Cyrus the Great, the wife of two Achaemenid kings, Cambyses II and Darius, and the mother of Xerxes. She lived ca. 550-475 BC. and is claimed to be one of the most prominent women in the history of Ancient Iran, as well as her sister Artystone (Artistun, from Old Persian ArtastūnāAvestan ArtastūnāElamite Irtašduna). After taking the throne by force in 522 BC., Darius, who belonged to a younger branch of the Achaemenid dynasty, married both Atossa and Artystone in order to prevent his rule from being contested. According to Herodotus, they became Darius' favourite wives. Atossa was highly educated. She personally managed the administration of the royal court and had much influence within Achaemenid imperial house, which enabled her son Xerxes to come to power after his father's death. 

For this illustration I chose the period of time when Atossa had already been taken by her brother, king Cambyses, as his wife, whereas Artystone was still an innocent young girl full of life and joy.
The same couple a few years earlier: Atossa and Artystone (1)
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kiyana2480's avatar

I'm from Iran, and it's great!