Cassandane

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Cassandane
Image from page 480 of "Persia past and present; a book of travel and research, with more than two hundred illustrations and a map" (1906) (14595592850).jpg
Queen consort of the Achaemenid Empire
Tenure559–538 BC
Coronation559 BC
Died538 BC
Burial
Pasargad
SpouseCyrus the great
IssueCambyses II
Bardiya
Artystone
Atossa
Roxane
HouseAchaemenid

Cassandane or Cassandana (died 538 BC) was an Achaemenian Persian Shahbanu consort and the "dearly loved" wife of Cyrus the Great.

She was a daughter of . She had four children with Cyrus (it may be 5, including Artystone, based on the documented children listed under Cyrus the Great): Cambyses II, who succeeded his father and conquered Egypt; Smerdis (Bardiya), who also reigned as the king of Persia for a short time; a daughter named Atossa, who later wed Darius the Great; and another daughter named Roxana.[1]

Her daughter Atossa later played an important role in the Achaemenid royal family, as she married Darius the Great and bore him the next Achaemenid king, Xerxes I. Atossa had a "great authority" in the Achaemenid royal house and her marriage with Darius I is likely due to her power, influence and the fact that she was a direct descendant of Cyrus.[2]

When Cassandane died, all the nations of Cyrus' Persian empire observed "a great mourning". This is reported by Herodotus. According to a report in the chronicle of Nabonidus, there was a public mourning after her death in Babylonia lasting for six days. Cassandane reportedly stated that it was more bitter to leave Cyrus's side than to die. [3] Cyrus demanded his kingdom mourn her death: [4] according to the Nabonidus Chronicle, this lasted six days (identified as 21–26 March 538 BC).[5] According to a suggestion by M. Boyce, Cassandane's tomb is located at Pasargadae.[1]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Dandamaev, M. A. (1992). "Cassandane". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Vol. 5. Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation. ISBN 0-933273-67-3. |volume= has extra text (help)
  2. ^ Schmitt, Rüdiger (1989). "Atossa". Encyclopaedia Iranica. vol. 3. Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation. ISBN 0-7100-9121-4. |volume= has extra text (help)
  3. ^ Benjamin G. Kohl; Ronald G. Witt; Elizabeth B. Welles (1978). The Earthly republic: Italian humanists on government and society. Manchester University Press ND. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-7190-0734-7.
  4. ^ Kuhrt 2013, p. 106.
  5. ^ Grayson 1975, p. 111.
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