Nitocris of Babylon facts for kids
Nitocris of Babylon was a queen of Babylon who lived around 550 BC. We know about her mostly from the writings of an ancient Greek historian named Herodotus. He wrote about her in his famous book, Histories.
According to Herodotus, Nitocris was the wife of King Nabonidus. Herodotus also suggested that she might be the queen mentioned in the famous story of Belshazzar's feast. In this story, a mysterious hand writes on a wall during a big party. This idea is also used in Handel's opera Belshazzar.
Stories About Queen Nitocris
In his Histories, Herodotus mentioned that only two women ruled Babylon as queens: Semiramis and Nitocris. He gave Nitocris credit for many important building projects in Babylon. These projects helped protect the city and make it stronger.
Nitocris's Clever Trick
Herodotus also told a story about how Nitocris tricked Darius I, a Persian king. She supposedly built her tomb right above a main gate of Babylon. This meant that no Persian soldier could pass through the gate without going under her tomb.
The story says that Darius was curious about a mysterious message on the tomb. This message was a trap for greedy kings. It warned anyone not to open the tomb unless they were in great need of money. Darius, thinking he would find treasure, opened it. Instead, he found only a message from Nitocris, scolding him for his greed.
Who Was Nitocris Really?
Historians have tried to figure out who Nitocris really was, as her name isn't found in other ancient records from Babylon. They have suggested a few ideas:
- Some thought she might be Naqi'a, the wife of King Sanherib, who was also known for building things.
- Others wondered if she was Adad-happe, who was the real mother of King Nabonidus.
- The most common idea today is that Nitocris was either a wife or a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar II. Nebuchadnezzar II was a very powerful king of Babylon. This view is the one most historians agree on.
