Atossa

Atossa (Old Persian: Utauθa, or Old Iranian: Hutauθa; 550–475 BC) was an Achaemenid empress. She was the daughter of Cyrus the Great, the sister of Cambyses II, the wife of Darius the Great, the mother of Xerxes the Great and the grandmother of Artaxerxes I. Atossa was undoubtedly the most prominent woman in the history of Iran. During her husband's reign, she had a direct role in state affairs as queen. She played an important role in the history of Iran, serving at the court of Darius the Great. She was a poet and a scholar, teaching Persian literature to young people, and played a leading role in state affairs. Atossa continued to be the foremost lady of the court during the reign of her son, Xerxes. As long as she lived, Xerxes obeyed his mother, and Atossa was the true ruler of the Achaemenid Empire.