Artystone

Who is Artystone?

Artistun Artystone was a Persian princess, daughter of king Cyrus the Great, and sister or half-sister of Atossa and Cambyses II. Along with Atossa and her niece Parmys, Artistun married king Darius I. It is argued that by marrying the female offspring of Cyrus, the founder of the empire, the new king aimed to prevent his rule from being contested.

Artistun and Darius had at least two sons, Arsames and Gobryas, and a daughter, Artistun. According to the Greek historian Herodotus Artistun was Darius' favourite wife. She is also mentioned in the Persepolis Fortification Tablets, an administrative archive from Persepolis.