Vashti, Queen of the Ancient Medes: The Airyanem Civilization

by Hamma Mirwaisi and Alison Buckley

In this narrative fictionalised tale of Vashti, Queen of the Medes, Alison Buckley and Hamma Mirwaisi deftly explore the courage of a woman facing an untenable moral dilemma. Facing betrayal from enemies in the palace she had a desperate choice-conform to her husband's outrageous wishes or face the consequences of defying the King. Refusing his request, Vashti is banished, left alone with the comforting presence of her fravashi spirit angel. The book is rich in the culture and customs of the time, and gives insight into the historical place of women. Alison and Hamma weave a seamless narrative that is full of imagery, depth and sensitivity. Hopefully, as the destiny of families, communities and the nations hung in the balance in the time of Queen Vashti, the revelation of her story will have significant lessons for individuals and societies today. An episode occurring in the Old Testament book of Esther records a brief story involving Vashti, Queen of the Medes that raises more questions than answers. Who was King Astyages (Ahasuerus)? Why did he order his wife Queen Vashti to summarily appear before his guests? Why did she refuse to obey? Still bearing his father's honourable name, the faltering, alcoholic, Median Emperor Astyages commanded the exposure of his beloved wife Queen Vashti to the lecherous gaze of his drunken guests. Her resistance set an unwavering example for women down through the ages. Queen Vashti risked her life to uphold her right to live as an equal to her powerful husband. She has long been regarded as a trailblazer in challenging the curse of gender oppression, and deserving of the place of honour in world history today that she was accorded in her own country so many centuries ago. In 625 BCE Shahan Shah Cyaxares the Great overthrew the illegitimate ruler of the Median Empire the Scythian King Madius who had dethroned him in 633 BCE. The revolt firmly established the power of the Medes, the forbears of today's Kurds, over territories from the Halys River in the west to Sattagydia in the east.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1483983919
• ISBN13: 9781483983912
• Release Date: March 2013
• Publisher: Createspace
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.0" x 10.0"