Stateira

(Στάτειρα).

1. Wife of Artaxerxes II., king of Persia, was the daughter of a noble Persian named Idernes. She was married to Artaxerxes (then called Arsaces) during the lifetime of his father Ochus, and it was only by the urgent entreaties of her husband that the queen-mother Parysatis was prevailed upon to spare her life, when she put to death all her brothers and sisters on account of the revolt of their eldest brother Terituchmes (Ctesias, Pers. §§ 53-56; Plut. Artax. 2). The enmity thus originated between Parysatis and Stateira was aggravated by many successive circumstances. Parysatis, while she exercised great influence over Artaxerxes, still preferred her son Cyrus, while Stateira was warmly attached to her husband, who appears to have requited her affection with equal ardour. Hence, when the rebellion of Cyrus became known, B. C. 401, Stateira was one of the loudest in the clamour raised against the queenmother, who by her ill-timed favour to her younger son had involved the empire in these dangers. Again, after the defeat and death of Cyrus, the cruelty with which Parysatis on the one hand pursued all who had any personal share in his death, and on the other the favour shown by her to Clearchus, and her efforts to induce the king to spare his life, were bitterly reproached her by Stateira, who did not scruple to attribute them to their true motive, and persuaded Artaxerxes to put Clearchus to death. But though she was successful in this instance, she could not long maintain her ground against the increasing influence of Parysatis : and the latter at length became so confident in her power over the mind of her son, that she determined to remove Stateira by poison, a purpose which she at length effected, notwithstanding the vigilance of the young queen. Artaxerxes, though deeply affected at her death, did not venture to punish his mother, but put to death her maid Gigis, who had been her accomplice in the plot. (Plut. Artax. 5, 6,17-19 ; Ctesias, Pers. §§ 60, 61.)

2. The sister and wife of Dareius Codomannus, celebrated as the most beautiful woman of her time. She accompanied her husband on his march to the battle of Issus (B. C. 333), and was taken prisoner, together with her mother-in-law Sisygambis and her daughters, after that battle. They were all treated with the utmost respect and courtesy by the generous conqueror, but Stateira died shortly before the battle of Arbela, B. C. 331. She was honoured by Alexander with a splendid funeral, and he sent a special envoy to apprise Dareius of her fate. (Curt. 3.3.22, 11.24-26, 12. §§ 11,15,22, 4.10. §§ 18-34; Arrian. Anab. 2.11, 12, 4.19, 20; Plut. Alex. 21, 30 ; Just. 11.9, 12.)

3. The eldest daughter of Dareius Codomannus, who was offered by him in marriage to Alexander the Great, before the battle of Arbela, and whom the conqueror actually married at Susa (B. C. 324), is called by Diodorus, Plutarch, Curtius, and Justin, Stateira, but according to Arrian her real name was Barsine (Diod. 17.107; Curt. 4.5.1; Plut. Alex. 70 ; Just. 12.10; Arrian, Arr. Anab. 7.4.5.) For her subsequent fortunes, see Barsine.

4. A sister of Mithridates the Great, who was put to death by his orders at Pharnacia, together with her sister Roxana, and his two wives Berenice and Monima, for fear of their falling as captives into the hands of Lucullus. Stateira met her fate with a dignity and composure worthy of her royal birth. She was about forty years of age, but unmarried. (Plut. Lucull. 18.) [E.H.B]