Artystone Shahbanu -The favourite wife of King Darius the Great of the Achaemenid Empire

Queen Artystone Shahbanu was queen consort to King Darius the Great of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. She was also the daughter of King Cyrus the Great. Queen Artystone Shahbanu has largely been eclipsed by her more famous sister, Queen Atossa Shahbanu.^[1] This may be because Queen Artystone Shahbanu’s sons did not become kings.^[2] Nevertheless, Queen Artystone Shahbanu was a very powerful and influential figure during her husband’s reign.^[3]

The date of Queen Artystone Shahbanu is unknown.^[4] In the Persepolis Fortifications Tablets, Queen Artystone Shahbanu’s Persian name was Irtasduna,^[5] which means “pillar of Rta, the deified Truth.”^[6] She was the daughter of King Cyrus the Great (r. 559-530 B.C.E.).^[7] Princess Artystone’s mother is unknown.^[8] Princess Artystone was also the sister of King Cambyses II, Prince Smerdis, and Atossa Shahbanu.^[9] Princess Artystone’s early life is mostly unknown.^[10] 

Princess Artystone reemerged in historical records when King Darius the Great ascended the Achaemenid throne.^[11] In 521 B.C.E., Princess Artystone married King Darius the Great. Artystone Shahbanu became Queen.^[12] King Darius the Great also married Queen Artystone Shahbanu’s sister, Queen Atossa Shahbanu and made her Queen for the third time.^[13] Queen Atossa Shahbanu had previously been married to both King Cambyses II and the False Smerdis.^[14] By marrying both of King Cyrus the Great’s daughters, King Darius the Great was legitimising his claim to the Achaemenid throne because he became King after a coup d’état.^[15] King Darius the Great also married Queen Artystone Shahbanu’s niece, Parmys.^[16]

According to the Greek historian, Herodotus, Queen Artystone Shahbanu was King Darius the Great’s favourite wife.^[17] He even erected a golden statue of her.^[18] Queen Artystone Shahbanu bore King Darius the Great three children.^[19] They were Prince Arsames, Prince Gobryas, and Princess  Artazotre.^[20]

There is evidence to suggest that Queen Artystone Shahbanu was one of the most influential figures during the reign of King Darius the Great.^[21] In the Persepolis Fortifications Tablets, she owned many palaces throughout the Achaemenid Empire.^[22] She also hosted many banquets, often together with her eldest son, Prince Arsames.^[23] The rest of Queen Artystone Shahbanu’s life is unknown.^[24] The date of her death is also unknown.^[25] Neither of Queen Artystone Shahbanu’s sons became King of the Achaemenid Empire.^[26] Instead, it was Queen Atossa Shahbanu’s son, Xerxes I, who became the next King of the Achaemenid Empire.^[27]

There is very little known information about Queen Artystone Shahbanu’s life.^[28] She has been largely overshadowed by her sister, Queen Atossa Shahbanu.^[29] However, Queen Artystone Shahbanu held some influence as King Darius the Great’s favourite wife.^[30] She owned many palaces and hosted banquets.^[31] Hopefully, more information about this little-known Persian Queen will be brought to light.

Sources:

Lendering, J. (2019, April 27). “Artystone”. Livius.org. Retrieved on September 29, 2025 from https://www.livius.org/articles/person/artystone/.

Myers, A. (2023). “Atossa”. Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia.

Schmidt, R. (1986, December 15). “Artystone”. Encyclopedia Iranica. Volume II. Fasc. 6. p. 665. Retrieved on September 29, 2025 from https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/artystone-persian-female/.