Esther and Ahasuerus Ahasuerus (Xerxes)

Esther
and
Ahasuerus (Xerxes)
(Esther 1:1 – 2:16)
486 – 465 BC
THE EMPIRE
FROM LIBYA TO INDIA (Esther 1:1)
SUSA
(Esther 1:2)
ALSO DANIEL’S
ALLEGED TOMB
THE PALACE RUINS ON THE PLATEAU – CIRCA 1935
(Esther 1:2)
The Susa Palace
(Esther 1:2)
SUSA PALACE (Close View)
ARTIST’S CONCEPTION OF THE PALACE
PALACE RUINS TODAY
PALACE GATE
QUITE POSSIBLY GATE WHERE MORDECAI SAT (Esther 2:19, 21)
PERSIAN SOLDIERS FROM SUSA
(EXAMPLES OF ARTISTIC DECORATION IN THAT TIME)
(Esther 1:3)
The Archers of Darius, Susa
around 500 BCE (Esther 1:3)
TOP OF PALACE COLUMNS (Today in the Louvre)
MODERN LEBANESE SINGER
THAT COULD BE
REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT
ESTHER LOOKED LIKE
(Esther 2:7)
EXAMPLE OF JEWELRY FROM THAT TIME
(Esther 2:9, 12, 15)
Achaemenid Gold Earring with inlays
of turquoise, carnelian,
and lapis lazuli, 5th-4th Century BCE
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF JEWELRY FROM THAT TIME
NECKLACE WITH PENDANT
(Esther 2:9, 12, 15)
Vessels for Pouring Ritual Libations
(Could also have been used in the elaborate banquets)
(Esther 1:7)
ESTHER 1:1 – 2:16
TIME
REMEMBER:
REMEMBER:
IT’S
IT’SAASTORY!
STORY!
A PRACTICAL APPLICATION
• What traits do you see in
the character of ______
and the events involving
him or her?
• What spiritual lessons do
you draw from those traits
and events?
• Characters: King, Vashti,
Esther, Mordecai, Seven Wise
Men, Hegai
SAQQARA (EGYPT) – STEPPED PYRAMID
(FIRST PYRAMID BUILT IN EGYPT - ABOUT 2500 BC)
STEP 6
STEP 5
STEP 4
STEP 3
STEP 2
STEP 1
VISUAL APPLICATION TO ESTHER: WE OFTEN LEARN IN STAGES,
INCREMENTALLY, BUILDING ON WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY LEARNED STEP BY STEP. AS YOU STUDY EACH WEEK IN ESTHER, CAREFULLY
EXAMINE HOW GOD IS LEADING YOU TO BUILD UPON EACH WEEK AND
LEARN STEP BY STEP AS ESTHER’S STORY UNFOLDS.