WIJDON

Afghanistan is one country that is the most rich in history.

The more and more one knows about Afghanistan the more one knows about history. 

Formerly called Aryana (land of the Aryans) Afghanistan has been intertwined with the history of the Greeks, Persians (which Afghans are considered a part of), Indians, Russians, and now Americans. 

It is almost impossible to document the history of Afghanistan in a book. 

The history section will be updated shortly.

 1/30/09

 So I came across a few documents about the Persian Queen Amestris.

Greek researcher Herodotus wrote very negatively about her.

He write:

I am informed that Amestris, the wife of Xerxes, when she had grown old, made return for her own life to the god who is said to be beneath the earth by burying twice seven children of Persians who were men of renown.

Herodotus, Histories 7.114.

  Realistically, making a deal with the devil is far fetched.

In the Persian culture, including the religion Islam and Zoroastrianism, human sacrifices are not permitted. Not only are they not allowed but they are punishable.

After Xerxes (Amestris's husband) died, her son Artaxerxes reigned over Persia during the wars with the Greeks.

She was very influential and was upset that Megabyzus(Persian leader) did not punish the Greeks that killed her son Achaemenes (her other son).

Eventually she worked hard enough to get her revenge.

Her reigning son did not allow her to have revenge but eventually allowed her to execute Inarus, the Egyptian leader, and about 50 or so Greeks and anyone else she felt.

She impaled Inarus on three stakes and eventually decapitated the rest of the Greeks.

Obviously she wanted revenge for her murdered son and thought she would ease her pain by getting back.

Herodotus is not the only historian to write about her but he is the most credible.

This is why she is viewed so negatively by the Greeks and people who read Herodutus's opinion about her.

The reason this interested me so much was because everyone always makes it seem as if Persians (including Afghans) never allow the women to have any power, rights, or rule. Who says that women of Persian (including Afghanistan) do not have any say so in matters of politics?

In Persian history there have been women leaders that reigned over the kingdom if their son or husband was unable to. Women went into battle with men at their sides and were educated as extensively as any man was allowed. It is only now where we only see one side of a story and see ignorant people push their ignorant ideals on the uneducated.

Amestris is interesting because she clearly has power, clearly has influence, and was clearly a threat to her enemies.