Haman

E64502

Haman is the villain in the biblical Book of Esther, known for plotting to annihilate the Jews of the Persian Empire and serving as the antagonist whose defeat is commemorated by the Jewish festival of Purim.

All labels observed (6)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Book of Esther character
Persian royal official
biblical figure
villain
action built a gallows for Mordecai
cast lots (pur) to determine the date for the destruction of the Jews
persuaded King Ahasuerus to issue a decree against the Jews
plotted genocide against the Jews of the Persian Empire
appearsIn Book of Esther
linked to: Megillat Esther
associatedEvent Purim
associatedFood hamantaschen (symbolically linked to him in Ashkenazi tradition)
associatedRitual making noise at the mention of his name during Purim
reading of the Megillah (Book of Esther)
commemoratedBy Purim
culturalImpact central negative figure in Purim customs and storytelling
describedAs antagonist in the Book of Esther
the Agagite
employer King Ahasuerus
Persian Empire
linked to: Achaemenid Empire
ethnicOrigin Agagite
familyBackground descendant of Agag (according to Jewish tradition)
fate executed by hanging
hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai
genreContext biblical narrative
languageOfName Hebrew
literaryRole embodiment of hubris and downfall
motivatedBy desire to destroy the Jews
hatred of Mordecai
nameInHebrew הָמָן
linked to: Haman
narrativeFunction foil to Esther and Mordecai
notableFor being defeated in the narrative commemorated by Purim
plotting to annihilate the Jews of the Persian Empire
opponent Esther
Mordecai
linked to: Mordechai

the Jews of the Persian Empire
placeOfDeath Susa
positionHeld high official in the Persian court
vizier of King Ahasuerus
religion Judaism
rememberedFor his downfall and reversal of fortune
roleInText antagonist to the Jews of the Persian Empire
scripturalBook Esther
scripturalCanon Hebrew Bible
linked to: Tanakh

Old Testament
linked to: Bible
symbolism archetype of an enemy of the Jews
symbol of antisemitism in Jewish tradition
timePeriod Achaemenid Persian Empire (traditional setting)
linked to: Achaemenid Empire

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (17)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Purim associatedFigure Haman
Esther hasCharacter Haman
King Ahasuerus fatherInLawOf Haman (in rabbinic tradition, via Esther’s lineage interpretations)
linked to: Haman
King Ahasuerus employerOf Haman
Mordechai opposed Haman
Mordechai enemyOf Haman
Haman nameInHebrew הָמָן
linked to: Haman
Shabbat Zachor conceptualLinkToPurim Amalek is seen as the ancestor of Haman
linked to: Haman
Qarun associatedWith Haman
Agagite isAssociatedWith Haman
Agagite notablyAppliedTo Haman the son of Hammedatha
linked to: Haman
the Agagite refersTo Haman
the Agagite associatedWith Haman the son of Hammedatha
linked to: Haman
Zeresh spouse Haman
Shushan associatedWith Haman
Gerbrand van den Eeckhout notableWork Haman Recognizes His Fate
linked to: Haman