The New Student's Reference Work/Athaliah

Athaliah (ăth-ȧ-lī' ȧ), the daughter of Ahab, king of Israel, married Jehoram, king of Judah, and brought the worship of Baal into Judah. After the death of her son, Ahaziah, who succeeded Jehoram but reigned only one year, she tried to pave her way to the throne by destroying all the members of the royal family. But Ahaziah's son, Joash, was hidden by his aunt, and after Athaliah had reigned six years, the high priest, Jehoiada, placed Joash on the throne and caused Athaliah to be killed. Handel, in an oratorio, has told this story, and Racine also, in his drama Athalie, for which Mendelssohn composed the music.