Apame (concubine)

Apame was first mentioned in 1 Esdras 4:29

Yet I have seen him with Apame, the king's concubine, the daughter of the illustrious Bartacus; she would sit at the king's right hand^[1]

The preceding quotation is part of the Darius Contest interpolation.^[2]: 20 Versions of the story, which include Apame are found in Josephus^[3] and John Gower's Confessio Amantis.^[4][5] Alcuin Blamire describes the "Darius Contest" as important in "the discourse of anti-misogyny."^[6] The ""Darius contest" includes three versions which omit Apame.

Scholars differ as to the identity of the king mentioned in 1 Esdras 3.4 and other sources. Josephus 3.1 says the king is the son (Darius I) of Hystaspes. Vanderkam^[7] also favours Darius I. Gower (vii.1889) changes the king’s name to Cirus (Cyrus the Great). Cook suggests the names may not refer to historical characters.^[8]: 5 If real characters are the source, the candidates are Darius I ^[7] or Darius III^{[8]: 31 [9]} or Darius III.^[2]: 41 There are two theories as to the source for Apame. Coggins and Knibb^[10] suggest a Persian name such as Apama or Apama II. Torrey suggests "we must look either to Egypt or Antioch."^[2]: 41

Apame and Darius are portrayed in Hendrick Goltzius’s painting Apame usurps the king’s crown. ^[11][12]