Synopsis of the Herodotus’ Tale of Xerxes
The final story in Herodotus’ Histories tells of Xerxes, a king who lusts for his brother’s wife. Xerxes cooks up an elaborate scheme to obtain his brother’s wife, having his son marry his brother Masistes’ daughter Artaÿnte. Artaÿnte pleases Xerxes and he offers her a gift of her choosing. She decides on the mantle [robe] made by his wife, Amestris. Amestris is angered that the mantle is gone and blames Artaÿnte‘s mother (Masistes’ wife). Amestris waits until the king’s birthday when he is obliged to grant requests and Amestris uses the opportunity for revenge, asking for Masistes’ wife so that she can abuse her. Xerxes grants the request after just previously trying unsuccessfully to persuade Masistes to give him his wife. When Masistes learns of what has happened to his wife, he travels to Bactra with intent to raise up a rebellion against Xerxes. Xerxes learns of the plot and kills Masistes.
Being then at Sardis he [Xerxes] became enamoured of Masistes’ [his brother’s] wife…(Herodotus, Histories Book 9, ch.108)
[Herod] did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. (Mark 6:17)
Xerxes’ wife, Amestris, wove and gave to him a great gaily-coloured mantle, wondrous to behold. Xerxes was pleased with it, and went wearing it to Artaÿnte; and being pleased with her too, he bade her ask for what she would have in return for her favours, for he would deny nothing at her asking. Thereat — for she and all her house were doomed to evil — she said to Xerxes, “Will you give me whatever I ask of you?” and he promised and swore it, supposing that she would ask anything but that; but when he had sworn, she asked boldly for his mantle. Xerxes strove hard to refuse her, for no cause save that he feared lest Amestris might have plain proof of his doing what she already guessed; and he offered her cities instead, and gold in abundance, and an army for none but herself to command. Armies are the properest of gifts in Persia. But as he could not move her, he gave her the mantle; and she, rejoicing greatly in the gift, went flaunting her finery. (ch.109)
When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. (Mark 6:22-26)
Amestris heard that she had the mantle; but when she learnt the truth her anger was not with the girl; she supposed rather that the girl’s mother was guilty and that this was her doing, and so it was Masistes’ wife that she plotted to destroy. She waited therefore till Xerxes her husband should be giving his royal feast. This banquet is served once a year, on the king’s birthday; the Persian name for it is “tukta,” which is in the Greek language “perfect”; on that day (and none other) the king anoints his head, and makes gifts to the Persians. Waiting for that day, Amestris then desired of Xerxes that Masistes’ wife should be given to her. Xerxes held it a terrible and wicked act to give up his brother’s wife, and that too when she was guiltless of the deed supposed; for he knew the purpose of the request. (Ch.110)
On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. (Mk 6:21)
“What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. (6:24)
“Masistes, you are Darius’ son and my brother, yea, and a right good man; hear me then; you must live no longer with her who is your wife. (Ch.111)
Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. (Mk 6:20)
Hearing that, Masistes said nought but this: “Nay, sire, you have not destroyed me yet!” and so departed. (Ch. 111)
“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” (Mk 6:14)
Amestris sent for Xerxes’ guards and used Masistes’ wife very cruelly; she cut off the woman’s breasts and threw them to dogs, and her nose and ears and lips likewise, and cut out her tongue, and sent her home thus cruelly used. (Ch. 112)
The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. (6:27-28)
Comparing and Contrasting the Two Stories
Herod, like Xerxes, desires his brother’s wife, but though Xerxes did not obtain her, Herod did. Herodias, like Amestris, desires to kill John the Baptist just as Amestris desires to abuse Masistes’ wife and ultimately both succeed. Amestris’ believed Masiste’s wife put her daughter up to the task of extracting a favor from Xerxes to obtain his mantle, though Amestris was mistaken in her suspicion. On the other hand, Herodias actually did instruct her daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist as a favor. Just prior to Masistes’ wife’s abuse, he tells Xerxes, “You have not destroyed me yet!” After John’s beheading, it would seem Herod doesn’t quite believe he has destroyed John, as he remarks Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead. The insinuation in Mark’s gospel is that Herod will perhaps target Jesus (the true king of Israel) next, just as Xerxes is forced to kill Masistes for trying to overthrow him after the unjust abuse of his wife. It is perhaps significant that the gospel of Peter and gospel of Luke (23:6-12) involve Herod in Jesus’ trial.
Coincidence?
With all this said, let us address a final question: Are all these parallels (granting the ample differences) between the stories no more than coincidences? Intuitively I don’t find this believable, but it becomes even less believable when you realize that Herodotus also has a couple of stories similar to Jesus’, the first being Aristeas and the second Zalmoxis.
