Haman denounced by Queen Esther, Illustration from the Dore Bible 1866. In 1866, the French artist and illustrator Gustave Dore (18321883), published a series of 241 wood engravings for a new deluxe edition of the 1843 French translation of the Vulgate Bible, popularly known as the Bible de Tours. This new edition was known as La Grande Bible de Tours and its illustrations were immensely successful. Haman (also known as Haman is the main antagonist in the Book of Esther, who, according to the Hebrew Bible, was a vizier in the Persian empire under King Ahasuerus, traditionally identified as Xerxes I. In the story, Haman instigates a plot to kill all of the Jews of ancient Persia. Haman attempts to convince Ahasuerus to order the killing of Mordecai and all the Jews of the lands he ruled. The plot is foiled by Queen Esther, the king's recent wife, who is herself a Jew. Haman is hanged.