Esther, fast of, [397] sq.;

the story of, acted as a comedy at Purim, [364]

——, the book of, its date and purpose, [360];

its Persian colouring, [362], [401];

duplication of the personages in, [400] sq.;

the personages unmasked, [405] sqq.

—— and Mordecai equivalent to Ishtar and Marduk, [405];

the duplicates of Vashti and Haman, [406]

—— and Vashti, temporary queens, [401]

Esthonian mode of transferring bad luck to trees, [54];