‘Esther and the King’ distorts Iranian king’s clothing

Iranian historian has revealed facts on the distortion of an Iranian King’s clothing in ‘Esther and the King’ (1960).

The historian, Khosrow Motazed, who talks in an ifilm show discusses a series of evidence in ‘Esther and the King’ to show that the filmmakers have falsely featured the clothes of an ancient Iranian King ina deliberate manner. 

He reveals evidence one by one and helps the viewers understand the malicious act by the filmmakers to tarnish Iran’s great history and deep-rooted civilization.

In fact, they have depicted ancient Iranian King, Xerxes, as a Roman officer by altering the Persian ruler’s dress code to reduce the grand royal status of the Achaemenid emperor.

Motazd believes that ‘Esther and the King’ has not been successful in rendering even a fake picture of Iran’s history, introducing ancient Iranian people as a nation that wears clothes similar to those of the Greeks and Romans.

Directed and produced by Raoul Walsh and Mario Bava, ‘Esther and the King’ is an American-Italian so-called religious epic film.

Walsh and Michael Elkins wrote the screenplay based on the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament. It forges the origin of the Jewish celebration of Purim.

The film is set in the 5th century BC. After the king’s wife is murdered, Esther comes to the attention of the recently widowed king.

The king has been trying to stifle and defeat the campaign of hatred against the Jews by his evil minister Haman.

MG/AG