(Hebrew: star, happiness)
Queen of Persia and wife of Assuerus, who is identified with Xerxes (485-465 B.C.). She was a daughter of Abihail of the tribe of Benjamin, her Jewish name being Edissa. She had been adopted by her father's brother, Mardochai, and her beauty caused Assuerus to choose her as his queen instead of his divorced wife Vasthi. In this position she was able to protect her people against the plots of Aman, a royal favorite, the feast of Purim being observed by the Jews in commemoration of their delivery.