DAR-ERENZIO, NICOLA. — Musician, b. in Naples on Dec. 22, 1842, d. there on Apr. 25, 1915.
From 1875 to 1904 he taught at the conservatory of S. Pietro a Maiella. He composed numerous operas and orchestral works, including a Stabat Mater for five voices with chorus and strings, which has some very interesting parts; a Miserere for five voices; Cristo sulla Croce, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra. He wrote didactic works, including Introduzione del sistema tetracordale nella musica moderna (Milan 1878), as well as studies and essays.
DARIUS I (424-405 B.C.). — Illegitimate son (N6b0c) of Artaxerxes I (465-424), whom he succeeded on the throne of Persia after his brothers Xerxes II (424: 1 month) and Sogdianus (6 months). A weak man, he left the affairs of the kingdom in the hands of his extremely ambitious and scheming wife Parysatis, who worked especially to secure the throne for her younger son Cyrus.
The most important of the papyri of the Jewish garrison, on behalf of Persia, stationed at Elephantine (v.), and about half of the cuneiform tablets, documenting the activity of the great commercial house of the Jews “sons of Murašu,” based in Nippur, are dated to the years of the reign of Darius II.
DARIUS III CODOMANNUS (335-330). — Last king of Persia, placed on the throne by the powerful eunuch Bagoas. He seems not to have lacked ability; but changed historical conditions rendered ineffective his attempts to defend the old empire against the aggression of Alexander of Macedon, which was quickly subdued through a series of defeats. Darius III was killed by his satrap Bessus, as the invading army swept into the heart of Persia. In the Bible he is mentioned precisely as the last “king of the Persians and the Medes” (1 Macc. 1:1).