The Queen Who Ruled Empires, Relieved Famine, and Tamed the Aristocracy

Nir Topper
20 hours ago
3 min read

In northern Mesopotamia during the first century CE, nestled between the Parthian and Roman Empires, flourished the Kingdom of Adiabene. Its local dynasty brought about a rare historical phenomenon when the entire royal house converted to Judaism. Queen Mother Helena stood at the heart of this revolution. Together with her sons, Kings Izates II and Monobazus II, she wove deep religious and charitable ties with Jerusalem. Despite being vassals of Parthia, they contributed to the Temple, assisted residents during times of famine, and even participated in the defense of the city against the Romans.

Queen Helena demonstrated powerful leadership from the very beginning. She wisely managed the succession crisis following the death of her husband, Monobazus I. To prevent bloodshed and ensure the ascension of her preferred son, Izates II, she rejected the nobles' advice to execute potential rivals. Instead, she appointed her eldest son, Monobazus, as a temporary regent and confronted the council of nobles with firmness and wisdom. This diplomatic maneuver prevented a civil war and established her status as an influential Queen Mother, whose word carried weight among the nobility and the common people alike.

The royal family's conversion to Judaism was a gradual process, influenced by Jewish merchants in Mesopotamia. Izates was exposed to Judaism through Ananias the merchant, while Helena grew closer to the faith simultaneously through an unknown figure. Despite fears regarding their subjects' reaction, Izates underwent circumcision following the firm stance of Eleazar the Galilean, a sage from the Land of Israel. Eleazar clarified that theoretical study is no substitute for practical observance—chief among them the commandment of circumcision. Eventually, the conversion was completed when his brother, Monobazus II, also joined and fully embraced Judaism.

The reign of Helena and Izates is considered the "Golden Age" of Adiabene, characterized by internal stability and high international standing. The kingdom's power was evidenced by the assistance Izates provided to the Parthian King Artabanus II to restore him to his throne. As a token of gratitude, Izates received unprecedented rewards, including control over the strategic region of Nisibis and the unique right to wear the "upright tiara" and sleep on a golden couch—status symbols usually reserved exclusively for the Kings of Parthia.

The pinnacle of Helena’s activity in Jerusalem was recorded during the Great Famine that struck Judea around 46 CE. The Queen did not remain indifferent to the residents' plight, using her vast resources to import shipments of wheat from Alexandria and dried figs from Cyprus, which were distributed to the city's poor. This display of grace and humanitarian aid left an indelible mark on Jewish collective memory, as documented by Josephus Flavius, expressing a complete sense of shared destiny with the Jewish people in their darkest hour.

Helena’s piety was also reflected in her wondrous devotion to commandments and vows. Accounts tell of her magnificent contributions to the Holy Temple, including a golden candelabra. When the sun's rays hit the candelabra, the reflection signaled to the residents of Jerusalem that it was time for the morning Shema prayer. She also donated a golden tablet inscribed with the Sotah passage—a testament to the magnificent royal dynasty's humility before the sanctity of the Temple.

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Archaeology confirms the dynasty's presence in Jerusalem. Excavations at the Givati Parking Lot revealed a monumental structure identified as the Palace of the Kings of Adiabene, which includes ritual baths (mikva'ot) and prestigious decorations. North of the city walls stands the family burial estate, the "Tombs of the Kings," among the most magnificent from the Second Temple period. The site has been managed by France for about 150 years, though its ownership remains a subject of legal and religious dispute with Jewish entities. This controversy perpetuates the wondrous legacy of Queen Helena, who converted and tied her fate to Jerusalem.

Image 1 - "Tombs of the Kings," Jerusalem - Late 19th-century photograph. Source: Wikipedia, Helena of Adiabene. See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Image 2 - "Tombs of the Kings," Jerusalem. View from outside the compound, French government territory. Source: By Claude Truong-Ngoc / Wikimedia Commons - cc-by-sa-4.0.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85069009