PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

IRDABAMA

(Late 5th Century B.C.E.)

Unlike many places in the ancient world, Persia allowed women to make their mark on history. Irdabama was one of many women who found her place among the Persian elite. As a wealthy landowner, Irdabama used her land to make money, creating wine and grain businesses that employed nearly 500 men and women. Irdabama did not let other people run her businesses; she operated them herself and even had her own official seal.

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Today, Irdabama is remembered for her powerful influence on ancient Persian history and remains a strong example of women’s leadership and independence.

BARDIYA

(D. 522 B.C.E.)

This royal prince is behind one of the greatest mysteries in Persian history. Bardiya was the younger son of Cyrus the Great and became king in 522 B.C.E. He ruled the mighty Achaemenid Empire for only eight months, or so we think. According to Darius the Great, the man who claimed to be king wasn’t Bardiya at all, but an impostor named Gaumata.  However, many historians question Darius’s story. 

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He may have invented it because he wanted to take the crown for himself. To this day, it’s still unknown whether the man who ruled in 522 B.C.E. was the real Bardiya or just a pretender. Because of this, Bardiya is often remembered as the Lost Prince of Persia.