The Punishment of Haman, by Michaelangelo.

Haman (or Haman the Agagite המן האגגי) (possibly Persian "magnificent") was a 6th Century BC Persian noble and vizier of the empire under Persian King Ahasuerus, generally identified as Xerxes I. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (592x793, 167 KB) Source: http://keptar. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (592x793, 167 KB) Source: http://keptar. ... Michelangelo (full name Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni) (March 6, 1475 - February 18, 1564) was a Renaissance sculptor, architect, painter, and poet. ... An Agagite denotes decendants of king Agag who was the king of the Amalekites (see 1 Samuel 15). ... Persian (Local names: فارسی Fârsi or پارسی Pârsi)* is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan as well as by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the old Persian homeland, and beyond in Western Asia, Central Asia and the Caucasus. ... A Vizier (Arabic,وزير - wazÄ«r) (sometimes also spelled Vazir, Vizir, Vasir, Wazir, Vesir, or Vezir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many oriental languages), literally burden-bearer or helper, is a term, originally Persian, for a high-ranking political (and sometimes religious) advisor or minister, often to a Muslim monarch... Ahasuerus or Ahasverus (Hebrew אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, Standard Hebrew AḥaÅ¡veroÅ¡, Tiberian Hebrew ʾĂḫaÅ¡wÄ“rôš) is a name used several times in the Hebrew Bible and related legends and apocrypha. ... Xerxes I (خشایارشاه), was a Persian king (reigned 485 - 465 BC) of the Achaemenid dynasty. ...

Haman in the Hebrew Bible

Haman is the antagonist in the Book of Esther. He is described as the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, presumably indicating his descent from Agag, king of Amalek. (His existence was intended as a possible revenge for the Jews allowing any of the Amalekites to survive.) The Book of Esther is a book of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and of the Old Testament. ... Agag - flame, the usual title of the Amalekite kings, as Pharaoh was of the Egyptian. ... According to the Book of Genesis and 1 Chronicles, Amalek (עֲמָלֵק; Standard Hebrew , Tiberian Hebrew ) was the son of Eliphaz and the grandson of Esau (Gen. ...

In the story, Haman and his wife Zeresh instigate a plot to kill all the Jews of ancient Persia. Haman attempts to convince Ahasuerus to order the killing of Mordechai and all the Jews of the lands he ruled. The plot is foiled by Queen Esther, the king's recent wife, who is herself a Jew. Haman and his 10 sons are hanged from the gallows that had originally been built to hang Mordechai. Mordecai or Mordechai (מָרְדֳּכַי, Standard Hebrew Mordoḫay, Tiberian Hebrew Mordŏḵay: Persian origin Contrition) - the son of Jair, of the tribe of Benjamin. ... Esther (אֶסְתֵּר, Standard Hebrew Ester, Tiberian Hebrew ʾEstēr) was a woman in the Hebrew Bible, the queen of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), and heroine of the Biblical Book of Esther which is named after her. ... These gallows in Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park are maintained by Arizona State Parks. ...

After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. And all the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, bowed, and did obeisance to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordechai did not bow, or do him obeisance. (Esther, 3:1-2)

And When Haman saw that Mordechai did not bow or do him obedience, then Haman was full of wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordechai alone; for they had told him of the people of Mordechai; so that Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordechai. (Esther, 3:5-6)

Queen Esther, learning that her people are in danger, risks her own life to spare the Jews living in Ancient Persia.

King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, "Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?" 6 Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman." Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, "Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?" 9 As soon as the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, "A gallows seventy-five feet [b] high stands by Haman's house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king." 10 The king said, "Hang him on it!" 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided. (Esther, 7:6-10)

Haman in other Judeo-Christian sources

Midrash

In Rabbinical tradition, Haman is considered an archetype of evil and persecutor of the Jews. Having attempted to exterminate the Jews of Persia, and rendering himself thereby their worst enemy, Haman naturally became the center of many Talmudic legends. Being at one time in extreme want, he sold himself as a slave to Mordechai (Meg. 15a). He was a barber at Kefar Karzum for the space of twenty-two years (ib. 16a). Haman had an idolatrous image embroidered on his garments, so that those who bowed to him at command of the king bowed also to the image (Esth. R. vii.). Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש; plural midrashim) is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text. ...

Haman was also an astrologer, and when he was about to fix the time for the massacre of the Jews he first cast lots to ascertain which was the most auspicious day of the week for that purpose. Each day, however, proved to be under some influence favorable to the Jews. He then sought to fix the month, but found that the same was true of each month; thus, Nisan was favorable to the Jews because of the Passover sacrifice; Iyyar, because of the small Passover. But when he arrived at Adar he found that its zodiacal sign was Pisces, and he said, "Now I shall be able to swallow them as fish which swallow one another" (Esth. R. vii.; Targ. Sheni iii.). An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. ... Nisan (Hebrew: נִיסָן, Standard Nisan Tiberian Nîsān ; from Akkadian , from Sumerian nisag First fruits) is the first month of the civil year and the seventh month (eighth, in leap year) of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. ... This article is about the Jewish holiday. ... Iyar (Standard Hebrew אִייָּר Iyyar, Tiberian Hebrew אִיָּר ʾIyyār: from Akkadian ayyaru Rosette; blossom) is the eighth month of the ecclesiastical year and the second month of the civil year on the Hebrew calendar. ... Adar (אֲדָר, Standard Hebrew Adar, Tiberian Hebrew ʾĂḏār: from Akkadian adaru) is the sixth month of the religious year and the twelfth month of the civil year on the Hebrew calendar. ... Symbol of Pisces Pisces is an astrological sign, which is associated with the constellation Pisces. ...

Haman had 365 counselors, but the advice of none was so good as that of his wife, Zeresh. She induced Haman to build a gallows for Mordechai, assuring him that this was the only way in which he would be able to prevail over his enemy, for hitherto the just had always been rescued from every other kind of death. As God foresaw that Haman himself would be hanged on the gallows He asked which tree would volunteer to serve as the instrument of death. Each tree, declaring that it was used for some holy purpose, objected to being soiled by the unclean body of Haman. Only the thorn-tree could find no excuse, and therefore offered itself for a gallows (Esth. R. ix.; Midr. Abba Gorion vii., ed. Buber, Wilna, 1886; in Targum Sheni this is narrated somewhat differently).

Josephus

Haman is mentioned by Josephus in his Antiquities of the Jews. Josephus' account of the story is drawn from the Septuagint translation of the Book of Esther and from other Greek and Jewish sources, some no longer extant. A fanciful representation of Flavius Josephus, in an engraving in William Whistons translation of his works Josephus (years 37 – shortly after 100 AD)[1], who became known, in his capacity as a Roman citizen, as Flavius Josephus[2], was a 1st-century Jewish historian and apologist of priestly and... Antiquities of the Jews was a work published by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in the year A.D. 93. ... The Septuagint: A page from Codex vaticanus, the basis of Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brentons English translation. ...

Qur'an

Main article: Haman (Islam)

The name Haman is also mentioned six times in the Qur'an, as an intimate of Pharaoh in the time of Moses. However, Islamic scholars tend to agree that the Qur'anic Haman refers to a different person than the one mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. While they are obviously different, elements of the Qur'an's version of Haman may come from the Persian Haman including his name and position as a royal builder. In the Quran, Haman was a notable companion of the Pharaoh in Moses time, whom he asked to build him a tower so he could go up to the heavens and try to see the god of Moses, in whom he disbelieved. ... This article or section seems to contain too many quotations for an encyclopedia entry. ... Pharaoh was the ancient Egyptian name for the office of kingship. ... Moses with the Tablets, 1659, by Rembrandt This article is about the Biblical figure. ...

Purim traditions

Main article: Purim

The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the story of the deliverance of the Jews and the defeat of Haman. On that day, the Book of Esther is read publicly and much noise and tumult is raised at every mention of his name. A special noisemaker called a Gragger is used to express disdain for Haman. Pastry known as Oznei Haman (hamentashen) are traditionally eaten on this day. Purim (Hebrew: פורים Pûrîm lots, from Akkadian pūru) is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance from Hamans plot to annihilate all the Jews of the Persian Empire, who had survived the Babylonian captivity, after Persia had conquered Babylonia who in turn had destroyed the First Temple... A Jewish holiday or Jewish Festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. ... Purim (Hebrew: פורים Pûrîm lots, from Akkadian pūru) is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance from Hamans plot to annihilate all the Jews of the Persian Empire, who had survived the Babylonian captivity, after Persia had conquered Babylonia who in turn had destroyed the First Temple... The Book of Esther is a book of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and of the Old Testament. ... A hamentashen is a Jewish ethnic food. ...

Modern usage

To "hang higher than Haman" is a phrase that has come to mean someone who has committed an act so egregious as to be destined for a very terrible punishment.

Haman is also mentioned in South Park episode #309, Jewbilee. South Park is an American, Emmy Award-winning[1] animated television comedy series about four fourth-grade school boys who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. ... Jewbilee is the third and final part of the Meteor Shower story arc and episode 309 of Comedy Centrals animated series South Park. ...

A major antagonist of Zeta Gundam, and the main antagonist in its sequel series, Gundam ZZ, is Haman Karn, a Zeon regent who usurps the power of the rightful ruler. One-time rivals Amuro Ray and Char Aznable, new hero Kamille Bidan and the Zeta Gundam. ... The anime TV series Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ or Mobile Suit Gundam Double Zeta ) aired on Japanese TV from 1986–1987, was the third Gundam series, and a direct followup to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. ... Haman Karn (pronounced ha-mon kahn(dub)) is a fictional character from the anime series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and its sequel Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, voiced by Yoshiko Sakakibara. ... Zeons Emblem In the TV anime Mobile Suit Gundam (Universal Century series) universe, Zeon can refer to the Republic of Zeon, the Principality of Zeon or Neo-Zeon. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, a publication now in the public domain.