Sisygambis

Sisygambis (Ancient Greek: Σισύγαμβις; died 323 BCE) was the mother of Darius III of Persia, whose reign was ended during the wars of Alexander the Great.

[1] After Darius was killed shortly following his defeat at Gaugamela, Alexander sent his body to her, so that she could give him dignified funeral honors.

[4] She was left at Susa with tutors to teach her and her family Greek, while Alexander pursued his conquests towards India.

On hearing of the latter's death, Sisygambis, overwhelmed with pain and despairing of the fate that loomed over her family,[6] had herself sealed into her rooms and refused to eat.

[1] The scene of Sisygambis mistakenly kneeling before Hephaestion has been a popular subject in Western art, represented by Charles le Brun, Paolo Veronese, Justus Sustermans, and many others.