Haman (Hebrew: הָמָן, Modern: Haman, Tiberian: Hāmān) is a central antagonist in the biblical Book of Esther, a Jewish scribe who served King Ahasuerus of Persia. Haman is best known for his plot to exterminate the Jewish people, which ultimately backfires due to the intervention of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai. In the Hebrew Bible, Haman is described as an Agagite, a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites, a group traditionally viewed as enemies of the Israelites. The story of Haman is commemorated annually during the Jewish festival of Purim, which celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's genocidal plot. The name "Haman" is also found in other languages, such as Arabic (همان, Haman) and Persian (همان, Haman).