As a side note by translators of 17th c. French writer Marie de Gournay’s works in “Apology for the Woman Writing and Other Works” (2002), it is noted that in 16th and 17th century Europe, “ancient Persia was sometimes treated…as a source for political lessons”…

[pic The National Library of Israel: The banquet of Persian queen Vashti from the Esther Scroll of Ferrera, Italy (1617)… it should be noted that Esther’s story is viewed as a Hellenistic romance based on infatuation with the glamorous and mighty Persian court…for educational purposes only]