Sisygambis

Sisygambis (Greek Σισύγαμβις; * around 400 BC; † 323 BC) was the mother of originating from the Achaemenid dynasty of the Persian King Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great..

Life

Sisygambis was probably the daughter of Ostanes, a younger brother of the Persian king Artaxerxes II, as well as the sister and wife of Arsames ( Arsanes ). She gave birth except Darius III. another son Oxyathres and probably a daughter Stateira and four other children.

When Darius III. to 333 BC in person to the fight against sunken into his kingdom Alexander opened the Great, he was according to Persian custom of family members, namely his mother, his sister Stateira wife, his two daughters and his young son, accompanied. This came after the Persian defeat at the Battle of Issus in the captivity of the victorious Macedonians king, while Darius III. could escape themselves. Sisygambis and the other captive women of the Persian royal family initially thought incorrectly that Darius III. had fallen, and raised loud lamentations, to them Alexander was insured by his comrades Leonnatos that the Persian rulers still alive. The next day, Alexander personally went with his friend Hephaestion in their tent. Sisygambis first believed due to the body size of Hephaestion that this is the king, and threw himself at his feet, but was then informed of their error. The episode of Alexander's personal visit to the Persian queen mother was not mentioned, according to Arrian of the Alexander historians Ptolemy and Aristobulus.

Alexander treated Sisygambis as well as the other is in its violence royal women very courteous and respectful. During the Battle of Gaugamela (October 1, 331 BC), the Persians were able to initially break through on the right wing and plunder the Macedonian camp. The Sisygambis allegedly located there could not be persuaded to try to escape. After Alexander had won the day and at Gaugamela and was then pulled through, inter alia, Babylon and Susa, he let Sisygambis back in Susa, where they should acquire Greek knowledge. The Macedonian conqueror moved under its beginning in 330 BC against the Persis resident, warlike mountain people of Uxians and it could submit with difficulty. Sisygambis should have stood up for the Uxians and whose princes Madates, who was married to her niece, Alexander. The subdued crowd remained unmolested in any case substantially. After Darius III. was murdered in July 330 BC, probably in Susa Sisygambis received the returns sent by Alexander body of her son, who was buried with full honors.

By the time Sisygambis had made to the Macedon king a deep maternal affection and to have been touched so painfully over his in June 323 BC death happened that they put their lives through voluntary fast to an end.