Apame (concubine)

Apame was first mentioned in 1 Esdras 4:29Yet 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.

Scholars differ as to the identity of the king mentioned in 1 Esdras 3.4 and other sources.

Vanderkam[7] also favours Darius I. Gower (vii.1889) changes the king’s name to Cirus (Cyrus the Great).

Bacchus is handling the king a goblet, but at the very same moment the king is being slapped on the cheek by his concubine Apame, who has taken off his crown and is placing it on her own head in illustration of 3 Esdras 4:29.
Apame and Darius are portrayed in Hendrick Goltzius ’s painting Apame usurps the king’s crown . [ 11 ] [ 12 ]