Statira II (c. 360–331 bce)

Persian queen and warrior. Name variations: Stateira. Born around 360 bce; died in 331 bce; probably the daughter of the Persian noble Arsanes but not the daughter of his wife Sisygambis; sister of a Persian noble named Pharnaces; married Darius III Codomannus (possibly her half-brother), king of Persia; children: two daughters, Statira III and Drypetis; and son, Ochus.

Statira II was the wife and probably half-sister of Darius III, king of the Persian Empire, though many sources claim she was his sister. Like Darius, Statira was likely the daughter of the Persian noble Arsanes, but she was never named as the daughter of Darius' mother Sisygambis . Statira was also the sister of a Persian noble named Pharnaces, who would die during the Persians' defeat at the hands of Alexander III the Great at the Battle of Issus (333 bce).

Statira in her prime was said to have been the most beautiful woman in Asia. She is also the only attested wife of Darius III, who fought his way to the Persian throne in 336. In Persian fashion, Statira II, probably with her two daughters Statira III and Drypetis and young son Ochus, and certainly with her mother-in-law Sisygambis, accompanied Darius in his initial attempt to ward off Alexander the Great's invasion of the Persian Empire. Alexander routed Darius at the Battle of Issus, although the latter escaped. Alexander did, however, capture Darius' camp and entourage, including his mother, wife and children. Alexander treated Darius' family with the utmost respect and maintained them in a royal state just as if they were his own and not Darius' family. It is said that Alexander kept his distance from Statira lest her legendary beauty incite him to some undiplomatic indiscretion.

Statira (with the other members of Darius' family) remained in Alexander's custody until she died in 331. One source attests that she died in childbirth. If so, Alexander may have respected her status as the wife and queen of a rival, but someone did not, since she had remained in the custody of the Macedonians for about two years. Regardless of the cause of her death, Alexander grieved as if Statira were a member of his own family and provided for her such a magnificent funeral that Darius was both impressed and angry that his enemy honored Statira in a manner befitting a husband.

William Greenwalt , Associate Professor of Classical History, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California