King Artaxerxes - Former Things - Biblical Archaeology and The Bible

Persepolis - Home of the Persian Kings
Persepolis is quite magnificent. Started under Darius I (the Great) in about 518 BC, and built out over 150 years, it is the greatest surviving set of ruins of ancient Near Eastern civilizations, and its scale and grandeur is magnificent. It burned down when Alexander the Great visited in 330BC because, despite being made mostly of stone, the roof had wooden timbers and when the fire raged these burned, melting the iron clamps that held the columns in place.

The remains of Persepolis include bas-reliefs and sculptures that provide an insight into the hearts and beliefs of the ancient Iranians. It can be seen that the buildings at Persepolis are divided into three areas, military quarters, the treasury and the reception and occasional houses for King of Kings. These included the Great Stairway, the Gate of Nations (Xerxes), Apadana palace of Darius, the Hall of a Hundred Columns, the Tripylon Hall and Tachara palace of Darius, the Hadish palace of Xerxes, palace of Artaxerxes, the Imperial Treasury, the Royal Stables and the Chariot house.


The Historian Herodotus - The Histories 484 B.C.
"Darius the son of Hystaspes and Xerxes the son of Darius and Artoxerxes the son of Xerxes" - Book 6 : 98

"The Argives at that time sent envoys to Susa, and these asked Artoxerxes the son of Xerxes, if the friendship still remained" - Book 7:151


The Elephantine Papyris
From Ancient Near East Texts - Volume I - ANET

"On the 21st of Chisleu, that is the 1st of Mesore, year 6 of King Artaxerxes, a Jew of Elephantine, of the detachment of Haumadata, said to Jeziniah.
- Mibtahiah's First Marriage

"On the 25th of Tishri, that is the 6th day of the month Epiphi, year.... of King Artaxerxes" - Contract of Mibahiah's Third Marriage



Scriptures
Ezra 7:12 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest. Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.

Ezra 8:1 These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.

Ezra 6:12 according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.