The answer is: Zeresh

Esther 5:10

Haman, the infamous villain of the Book of Esther, had a wife named Zeresh. But who was she really? While we don't get a lot of details about her in the biblical narrative, we can gather quite a bit from her role. Zeresh is often viewed as a cunning character in her own right. Her advice to Haman, including the original plot to hang Mordecai, shows she's not just a passive figure standing in the background.

Think about it — it’s quite unusual for a woman in the ancient Near East to have such a direct influence over her husband's ambition and schemes. You can imagine the dynamic between the two of them in their household, which must have been quite ostentatious given Haman’s position as the king's advisor. Also, it’s interesting to note that while much of the human drama in Esther unfolds in the realm of power and politics, Zeresh’s name also whispers immigrant resilience; her story reflects how complex family relations could unfurl under the weight of ambition and jealousy.

And let’s not forget Haman’s notorious downfall, which makes Zeresh's uneventful end rather tragic. Historical and folkloric echoes arise when one considers that for hundreds of years afterward, Jewish people remembered the tale of their persecution in Persia. Vows such as, “May Haman be cursed,” flared lively during Purim celebrations in reminder of this very story, transformed by an astounding turn of events where the downtrodden ultimately triumphed.