Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art: The Dinner Party: Heritage Floor: Athaliah

The Old Testament figure Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel. She married King Jehoram of Judah, descendant of King David, a union which sought to secure peace between the two kingdoms. After Jehoram's death, Athaliah ruled as queen of Judah from around 842 to 837 B.C., promoting, during this time, the worship of Baal rather than the Hebrew god Yahweh. Angered by this infidelity, Jehu, the king of Israel, had her son and extended family murdered; she in turn executed all possible descendants of David but one, Joash. He escaped and was raised by a priest, who several years later brought him forward as the rightful heir. A revolt organized in Joash's favor culminated in Athaliah's death.