Persia-CYRUS Flashcards
When was Cyrus born?
580BCE
When did Cyrus rule?
559-530 BCE
Who was Cyrus’ mother?
Mandane
Who was Astyages and what did he do?
Cyrus’ grandfather.
~The Magi predicted that Cyrus would become the greatest king
~He told Harpagus to kill Cyrus
~Harpagus couldn’t so he gave him to a shepherd
~Astyages found out and fed Harpagus his son as a consequence.
What did Astyages dream about?
Mandane, his daughter, having a son who becomes king by force.
What did Astyages do after this dream?
Exiled Mandane to Anshan (Persia) and married her to marry King Cambyses I.
What was Astyages’ second dream?
That Cyrus would overthrow him and take over the Medes
How did Astyages realise Cyrus was his grandson?
Cyrus possessed kingly qualities, meaning he couldn’t have just been a shepherds boy.
What was Harpagus’ punishment for not killing Cyrus?
Astyages fed him his son. He only found out when his head, hands and feet were on a platter.
How did Harpagus get revenge?
~Became general of the Median army ~persuaded soldiers to mutiny and defect to Cyrus.
What did Cyrus do with Astyages?
~spared his life
~adopted Astyages as his grandfather to legitimise his succession
Who was the king of Lydia during Cyrus’ conquest?
Croesus (he lived in Sardis)
Why did Croesus attack first?
1) Fears of the expanding Persian Empire
2)Oracle at Delphi said a great empire would fall. He thought this meant Persia.
3)Revenge for his brother in law, Astyages
4)Lydian expansion
Why was Croesus’ fear of Persia plausible?
Media borders Lydia, meaning that Lydia was a suitable target.
When was Cyrus’ conquest of Lydia?
546BCE
Where was the first battle in Cyrus’ conquest of Lydia?
Pteria
Which people did Cyrus request help from during his conquest of Lydia?
The Ionians (They refused)
Why did Croesus retreat after the Battle of Pteria?
~Suffered many losses
~almost winter
~fell back to the capital, Sardis, to get more troops
Which people did Croesus intend on asking for help?
~Babylon (king Nabonidus)
~Egypt (king Amasis)
~Sparta (orcale suggested this)
3 points
How did Cyrus win at the battle of Sardis?
second battle with Lydia after battle of Pteria
1) attacked during winter (unexpected as support hadn’t arrived yet)
2) Harpagus used camels in the front line to scare cavalry
3) Lydians were outnumbered
Why didn’t Cyrus give the Ionians and Aeolians the same terms as Croesus did?
They refused to rebel against Croesus at the battle of Pteria so he was less lenient with them.
pyre
How did Croesus become Cyrus’ advisor?
~Cyrus put him on a pyre
~Croesus calls out to Solon (Greek politician who warned him about Cyrus)
~Cyrus respects Solon so he tries to put out flames but can’t
~Croesus prays to Apollo and the flames are put out.
What was Cyrus doing between 546 and 539 BCE?
campaigning in the east
When was Cyrus’ conquest of Babylon?
539 BCE
How did Cyrus enter Babylon according to Herodotus?
He diverted the river Euphrates and the soldiers waded into Babylon.
Who was the main Babylonian God?
Marduk
How did Cyrus claim legitimacy during his conquest of Babylon?
He said that he conquered the city by the will of Marduk
How did Cyrus overthrow Nabonidus?
~Nabonidus worshiped moon goddess,Sin rather than Marduk
~Babylonains were angry for this reason
~Nabonidus fled when he realised that Cyrus’ conquest was seen as peaceful
Who did Cryus free from Babylon and what did they call him?
The Jews.
They called him a ‘messiah’
What was the significance of pasagardae?
It was a microcosm of Cyrus’ empire and a grand display of his wealth and power
What were the features of Pasagardae?
~Paradaiza
~winged guardian of pasagardae
~Zenden
~Cyrus’ tomb
Who ruled over the Massagatae?
Queen Tomyris
What happened between Cyrus and Tomyris?
~He offered a marriage proposal
~she rejected it and decided to invade Cyrus’ empire
~Croesus suggested that Cyrus should invade her land before she attacks
What offer did Tomyris make and what did Cyrus’ advisors say?
~She let him decide what side of the river Araxes to fight on
~Harpgagus suggested they fight on her soil so if they lost it’d be harder for her to progress into the heart of Persia and conquer the rest of the empire
Who was captured in the first battle against the Messagatae?
Spargapsies, Tomyris’ son who killed himself in captivity.
How does Herodotus say Cyrus died?
In battle. Other sources say he died of old age.
What did Tomyris allegedly do to Cyrus’ corpse?
Decapitated his head and put it in blood.
