Editing Artaxerxes II (section)

== Religious policies ==
Since the reign of [[Darius the Great]] ({{reign|522|486|era=BC}}), Achaemenid inscriptions make mention of unnamed gods alongside [[Ahura Mazda]],{{sfn|Jacobs|Rollinger|2021|p=463}} who was considered the supreme god of the [[Zoroastrian]] pantheon by the royal family.{{sfn|Jacobs|Rollinger|2021|p=1286}} It was first under Artaxerxes II that the identities of these gods were uncovered. In a trilingual inscription at [[Susa]], he invokes the deities [[Anahita]] and [[Mithra]] alongside Ahura Mazda.{{sfn|Jacobs|Rollinger|2021|p=463}}{{sfn|Schmitt|1986b|pp=656–658}}

Artaxerxes II was thus the first known Achaemenid king to recognize Anahita, who was the divinity of "the Waters" and hence associated with fertility, healing and wisdom.{{sfn|Boyce|Chaumont|Bier|1985}} He promoted the worship of Anahita, erecting temples and statues of the goddess across the empire.{{sfn|Olbrycht|2021|p=89}} This included the cities of [[Ecbatana]], Susa, and [[Babylon]].{{sfn|Jacobs|Rollinger|2021|p=463}}

The [[Temple of Anahita, Istakhr|temple of Anahita]] in [[Istakhr]] was also most likely founded by Artaxerxes II. At the start of the 3rd century AD, the temple was repaired and adorned by the Persian [[Sasanian dynasty|Sasanian family]], who acted as the hereditary caretakers of the temple.{{sfn|Boyce|Chaumont|Bier|1985}}