Cyrus the Great: Childhood and Rise to Power
From Herodotus translated by William Beloe, 1830.
From: 600 B.C.E. To: 559 B.C.E.
Location: Persepolis, Iran
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
From Herodotus translated by William Beloe, 1830.
CVI. After possessing the dominion of Asia for a space of twenty-eight years, the Scythians lost all they had obtained by their licentiousness and neglect. The extravagance of their public extortions could only be equalled by the rapacity with which they plundered individuals. At a feast to which they were invited by Cyaxares and the Medes, the greater part of them were cut off when in a state of intoxication.
The Medes thus recovered their possessions, and all their ancient importance; after which they took Nineveh; the particulars of which incident I shall hereafter relate. They moreover subdued the Assyrians, those only excepted which inhabited the Babylonian district. Cyaxares reigned forty years, and then died; but in this period is to be included the time in which the Scythians possessed the empire.
CVII. His son Astyages succeeded to the throne: he had a daughter whom he called Mandane; she, in a dream, seemed to produce so great a quantity of water, that not only his principal city, but all Asia was overflowed.
The purport of this vision, when explained in each particular by the magi, the usual interpreters, terrified him exceedingly. Under this impression, he refused to marry his daughter, when she arrived at a suitable age, to any Mede whose rank justified pretensions to her. He chose rather to give her to Cambyses, a Persian, whom he selected as being of a respectable family, but of a very pacific disposition, though inferior in his estimation to the lowest of the Medes.
CVIII. The first year after the marriage of his daughter Astyages saw another vision. A vine appeared to spring from his daughter, which overspread all Asia. On this occasion also he consulted his interpreters: the result was, that he sent for his daughter from Persia, when the time of her delivery approached. On her arrival he kept a strict watch over her, intending to destroy her child.
The magi had declared the vision to intimate that the child of his daughter should supplant him on his throne. Astyages, to guard against this, as soon as Cyrus was born sent for Harpagus, a person whose intimacy he used, on whose confidence he depended, and who indeed had the management of all his affairs.
He addressed him as follows: ‘Harpagus, I am about to use you in a business in which if you either abuse my confidence or employ others to do what I am anxious you should do yourself, you will infallibly lament the consequence. You must take the boy of whom Mandane has been delivered, remove him to your own house, and put him to death: you will afterwards bury him as you shall think proper.'
‘Sir,' he replied, 'you have hitherto never had occasion to censure my conduct; neither shall my future behavior give you cause of offence: if the accomplishment of this matter be essential to your peace, it becomes me to be faithful and obedient.'
CIX. On this reply of Harpagus the infant was delivered to his arms in rich apparel, and consigned to destruction. Returning home, he sought with tears the presence of his wife, to whom he related his conference with Astyages. When she inquired what it was his intention to do; 'By no means,' he answered, 'the deed which Astyages enjoins. If he become still more infatuated, more mad than he at present appears, I will not comply with his desires, nor be accessary to this murder. The child is my relation: Astyages is old, and has no male offspring; if, at his decease, the sovereign authority shall descend to this daughter, whose child he orders me to destroy, what extreme danger shall I not incur? It is expedient nevertheless, for my security, that the child should die, not however by the hands of any of my family, but by some other of his servants.’
CX. He instantly sent for a herdsman belonging to Astyages, who, as he knew, pursued his occupation in a place adapted to the purpose, amongst mountains frequented by savage beasts. His name was Mitridates; his wife and fellow-servant was, in the Greek tongue, called Cyno, by the Medes Spaco; and Spaca is the name by which the Medes call a bitch. The place which he frequented with his herds was the foot of those mountains which lie to the north of Ecbatana, near the Euxine.
This part of Media, towards the Saspires, is high and mountainous, and abounding with forests; the rest of the country is a spacious plain. As soon as he arrived in his presence, Harpagus thus addressed him: 'Astyages commands you to take this infant, and expose him in the most unfrequented part of the mountains, that his death may be speedy and unavoidable. I am farther ordered to assure you, that if you evade this injunction, and are by any means accessary to his preservation, you must expect torture and death. I am myself commanded to see the child exposed.'
CXI. When the herdsman had received his orders, he took the child, and returned to his cottage. His wife, who had been in labor all the preceding part of the day, was providentially delivered in his absence. Both had been in a state of solicitude: the situation of his wife gave alarm to the husband; and the woman, on her part, feared for him, from the unusual circumstance of his being sent for to Harpagus.
His return was sudden and unexpected, and his wife discovered much anxiety to know why Harpagus had sent for him in such haste. ‘As soon,' said he, 'as I got into the city, I both saw and heard what I could wish had never befallen the families of our masters: I found the house of Harpagus in extreme affliction; entering which with the greatest terror, I saw an infant panting and screaming on the ground, dressed in rich and splendid clothing. Harpagus, the moment he saw me, commanded me to take the child, and without any hesitation expose it on such part of our mountains as is most frequented by wild beasts; telling me, moreover, that Astyages himself had assigned this office to me, and threatening the severest punishment in case of disobedience. I took the child, conceiving it to belong to one of the domestics, never supposing who it really was. The richness, however, of its dress excited my astonishment, which was increased by the sorrow that prevailed in the family of Harpagus. But on my return, the servant who, conducting me out of the city, gave the infant to my hand, explained each particular circumstance. He informed me that it is the offspring of Mandane, the daughter of Astyages, and of Cambyses, son of Cyrus. This is the infant whose death Astyages commands.'
CXII. The herdsman finished, and produced the child to his wife. Struck with his appearance of beauty and of strength, she embraced the knees of her husband, and conjured him not to expose the child.
He observed, that it was impossible to comply with her request, as Harpagus would send to see that his orders were executed, and had menaced him with a most cruel death if he failed in his obedience. The woman not succeeding by this, took another method. ‘Since,' she replied, 'you are determined in your purpose, and there will be witnesses to see that the child is in reality exposed, attend to what I propose: I have been delivered of a dead child: let this be exposed, and let us preserve and bring up the grandchild of Astyages as our own. You will thus appear faithful to your superiors, without any injury to ourselves; the child which is dead will be honored with a sumptuous funeral, and that which survives will be preserved.'
CXIII. The man approved of the pertinent proposal of his wife, with which he immediately complied. The infant whom he was to have destroyed he gave to the care of his wife: his own child, which was dead, he placed in the cradle in which the other had been brought, dressed it in the other's costly clothing, and exposed it on a desert mountain.
After three days he left one of his domestics to guard the body, and went again to the house of Harpagus in the city, signifying himself ready to show that the child was dead. Harpagus sent some on whose fidelity he could depend to examine into the matter: they confirmed the report of the herdsman, and the child was buried. The herdsman's child was thus interred; the other, who was afterwards called Cyrus, was brought up carefully by the wife of the herdsman, and called by some other name.
CXIV. When he arrived at the age of ten years the following accident discovered who he was: — He was playing in the village, where were the herds of his supposed father, with other boys of the same age with himself. Though reputed to be the son of the herdsman, his playmates chose him for their king. He, in consequence, assigned them their different stations: some were to superintend buildings, others were to be guards; one was to be his principal minister, another his master of the ceremonies; and each had his particular office.
Among these children happened to be the son of Artembaris, who was a Mede of considerable distinction. He, refusing to obey the commands of Cyrus, was, at his orders, seized by his playfellows, and severely beaten. The pride of the boy was vehemently offended; and the moment he was at liberty he hastened to the city to inform his father how much he had suffered from the insolence of Cyrus.
He did not indeed call him Cyrus, which was not then his name; but he described him as the son of the herdsman of Astyages. Artembaris went immediately in great rage to Astyages, taking his son with him. He complained of the indignity which had been offered, and showed what marks of violence his son had received. 'Thus, sir,' said he, 'have we been insulted by the son of a herdsman, your slave.'
CXV. Astyages, on receiving this complaint, which he observed to be justly founded, was anxious to punish the insult which Artembaris had received; he accordingly sent for the herdsman and his reputed child. On their appearance, Astyages, looking at Cyrus, ‘Do you,’ said he, ‘meanly descended as you are, dare to inflict stripes on the son of one of my nobles?’
‘My lord,' said he, in reply, 'what I have done I am able to justify; the boys among whom I live, and this with the rest, did, in play, elect me their king, because, as I suppose, I seemed to them the most proper for this situation. Our other playfellows obeyed my commands; this boy refused, and was punished: if on this account you deem me worthy of chastisement, I am here to receive it.'
CXVI. As soon as the boy had spoken, Astyages conjectured who he was; everything concurred to confirm his suspicions; his resemblance of himself; his ingenuous countenance and manners, and the seeming correspondence of his age. Struck by the force of these incidents, Astyages was a long time silent.
He recovered himself with difficulty, and wishing to dismiss Artembaris, for the purpose of examining the herdsman without witnesses, ‘Artembaris,' said he, 'I will take care that neither you nor your son shall have just reason of complaint.’
When Artembaris retired Cyrus was conducted by attendants into some inner room, and the herdsman being left alone with the king, was strictly interrogated whence and from whom he had the child. He replied, that he was his own child, and that his mother was yet alive: Astyages told him that his indiscretion would only involve him in great dangers. Saying this, he ordered his guards to seize him. Reduced to this extremity, he explained every particular of the business, and concluded with earnest entreaties for mercy and forgiveness.
CXVII. Astyages, convinced that his herdsman had spoken the truth, felt but little with respect to him; but he was violently incensed against Harpagus, whom he sent for to his presence. As soon as he appeared, 'Harpagus,' said he, 'by what kind of death did you destroy the son of my daughter?' Harpagus saw the herdsman present, and was therefore conscious that unless he spoke the truth he should be certainly detected.
'Sir,' he replied, ‘as soon as I received the infant, I revolved in my mind the best method of satisfying your wishes, and of preserving myself innocent of the crime of murder, both with respect to your daughter and yourself: I determined therefore to send for this herdsman, and delivering to him the child, I informed him that it was your command that he should put him to death; in this I used no falsehood, for such were your commands. I farther enjoined him to expose the infant on a desert mountain, and to be himself the witness of his death, threatening him with the severest punishment in case of disobedience. When he had fulfilled his commission, and the child was dead, I sent some of my confidential servants to witness the fact, and to bury the body. This, sir, is the real truth, and the child was thus destroyed.'
CXVIII. Harpagus related the fact without prevarication; but Astyages, dissembling the anger which he really felt, informed him of the confession of the herdsman, and finished his narration in these words:
'The child is alive, and all is well: I was much afflicted concerning the fate of the boy, and but ill could bear the reproaches of my daughter. But as the matter has turned out well, you must send your son to our young stranger, and attend me yourself at supper. I have determined, in gratitude for the child's preservation, to celebrate a festival in honor of those deities who interposed to save him.’
CXIX. Harpagus, on hearing this, made his obeisance to the king, and returned cheerfully to his house, happy in the reflection that he was not only not punished for his disobedience, but honored by an invitation to the royal festival. As soon as he arrived at his house, he hastily called for his only son, a boy of about thirteen, ordering him to hasten to the palace of Astyages, and to comply with whatever was commanded him.
He then related to his wife, with much exultation, all that had happened. As soon as the boy arrived Astyages commanded him to be cut in pieces, and some part of his flesh to be roasted, another part boiled, and the whole made ready to be served at table. At the hour of supper, among other guests, Harpagus also attended. Before the rest, as well as before Astyages himself, dishes of mutton were placed, but to Harpagus all the body of his son was served, except the head and the extremities, which were kept apart in a covered basket.
After he seemed well satisfied with what he had eaten, Astyages asked him how he liked his fare: Harpagus expressing himself greatly delighted, the attendants brought him the basket which contained the head and extremities of his child, and desired him to help himself to what he thought proper. Harpagus complied, uncovered the vessel, and beheld the remains of his son.
He continued however master of himself, and discovered no unusual emotions. When Astyages inquired if he knew of what flesh and of what wild beast he had eaten, he acknowleged that he did, and that the king's will was always pleasing to him. Saying this, he took the remnants of the body and returned to his house, meaning, as I suppose, to bury them together.
CXX. Astyages thus revenged himself on Harpagus; but deliberating about the destiny of Cyrus, he sent for the magi who had before interpreted his dreams. On their appearance, he requested to know their sentiments of the vision he had formerly explained to them. They persevered in their former declaration, that if the boy survived he would infallibly be king.
'The boy is alive and well,' returned Astyages: 'the children of the village where he lived elected him their king, and he has actually performed all the essential duties of the regal office. He appointed his guards, his messengers, and different attendants, and in all respects exercised kingly authority: concerning this, what do you determine?’
‘If,' answered the magi, 'the boy really survives, and has reigned as a monarch, in the accidental manner you describe, rely on this, and dissipate your fears; depend on it he will reign no more: things of trifling moment frequently accomplish what we seriously foretell, and dreams in particular will often prove of little or no importance.'
’I confess,’ replied Astyages, 'that I am of the same opinion; the boy having been nominally a king, has fulfilled the purport of my dream, and I need alarm myself no more about him. Do not you, however, remit your assiduity, but consult both for my security and your own.'
'Sir,' answered the magi, ‘it is of particular importance to us that your authority should continue ; it might otherwise descend to this boy, who is a Persian: in that case we, who are Medes, shall be reduced to servitude; the Persians would despise us as foreigners; but whilst you, who are our countryman, reign over us, we enjoy some degree of authority ourselves, independent of the honors we receive from you: for these reasons we are particularly bound to consult for your safety and the permanence of your power. If any thing excited our apprehension of the future, we would certainly disclose it: but as your dream has had this trifling termination, we feel great confidence ourselves, and recommend you to send the child from your presence to his parents in Persia.'
CXXI. On hearing this Astyages was rejoiced; and sending for Cyrus—'My child,' said he, 'I was formerly induced, by the cruel representation of a dream, to treat you injuriously; but your better genius preserved you. Go therefore in peace to Persia, whither I shall send proper persons to conduct you; there you will see your parents, who are of a very different rank from the herdsman Mitridates and his wife.'
CXXII. Astyages having thus spoken, sent Cyrus away: on his being restored to the house of his parents, they, who had long since thought him dead, received him with tenderness and transport. They inquired by what means he had been preserved: he told them in reply, that he was intirely ignorant of his birth, and had been involved in much perplexity; but that every thing had been explained to him on his journey to them.
He had really believed himself the son of the herdsman of Astyages before his conductors explained to him the particulars of his fortune. He related with what tenderness he had been brought up by the wife of the herdsman, whose name, Cyno, he often repeated with the warmest praise. The circumstance of her name his parents laid hold of to persuade the Persians that Providence had, in a particular manner, interposed to save Cyrus, who, when exposed, had been preserved and nourished by a bitch; which opinion afterwards prevailed.
CXXIII. As Cyrus grew up, he excelled all the young men in strength and gracefulness of person. Harpagus, who was anxious to be revenged on Astyages, was constantly endeavoring to gain an interest with him, by making him presents. In his own private situation he could have but little hope of obtaining the vengeance he desired; but seeing Cyrus a man, and one whose fortunes bore some resemblance to his own, he much attached himself to him.
He had some time before taken the following measure:—Astyages having treated the Medes with great asperity, Harpagus took care to communicate with the men of the greatest consequence among them, endeavoring by his insinuations to promote the elevation of Cyrus, and the deposition of his master. Having thus prepared the way, he contrived the following method of acquainting Cyrus in Persia with his own private sentiments, and the state of affairs.
The communication betwixt the two countries being strictly guarded, he took a hare, opened its paunch, in which he inserted a letter, containing the information he wished to give and then dexterously sewed it up again. The hare, with some hunting nets, he intrusted to one of his servants of the chase, on whom he could depend. The man was sent into Persia, and ordered to deliver the hare to Cyrus himself, who was entreated, to open it with his own hands, and without witnesses.
CXXIV. The man executed his commission: Cyrus received the hare, which having opened as directed, he found a letter to the following purport:
'Son of Cambyses, Heaven evidently favors you, or you never could have risen thus superior to fortune. Astyages meditated your death, and is a just object of your vengeance; he certainly determined that you should perish; the gods and my humanity preserved you. With the incidents of your life I believe you are acquainted, as well as with the injuries which I have received from Astyages for delivering you to the herdsman, instead of putting you to death. Listen but to me, and the authority and dominions of Astyages shall be yours: having prevailed on the Persians to revolt, undertake an expedition against the Medes. If I shall be appointed by Astyages the leader of the forces which oppose you, our object will be instantly accomplished, which I may also venture to affirm of each of our first nobility; they are already favorable to your cause, and wait but the opportunity of revolting from Astyages. All things being thus prepared, execute what I advise without delay.'
CXXV. Cyrus, on receiving this intelligence, revolved in his mind what would be the most effectual weans of prevailing on the Persians to revolt. After much deliberation, he determined on the following stratagem. He dictated the terms of a public letter, and called an assembly of his countrymen.
Here it was produced and read, and it appeared to contain his appointment by Astyages to be general of the Persians: 'And now, Ο Persians!' he exclaimed, 'I must expect each of you to attend me with a hatchet.' This command he issued aloud to the Persians, of whom there are various tribes.
Of those whom Cyrus assembled, and persuaded to revolt from the Medes, the following are the principal: the Arteatæ, the Persæ, Pasargadæ, Maraphii, and Maspians: of these, the Pasargadæ are the most considerable; the Achæmenidæ are those from whom the Persian monarchs are descended. The Panthialæi, Derusiæi, and Germanians, follow laborious employments; the Dai, Mardi, Dropici, and Sargartians, are feeders of cattle.
CXXVI. They all assembled in the manner they were commanded, and Cyrus directed them to clear, in the space of a day, a certain woody inclosure, which was eighteen or twenty furlongs in extent. When they had executed their task, they were desired to attend the following day to feast and make merry: for this purpose Cyrus collected and slew all the goats, sheep, and oxen, which were the property of his father; and farther to promote the entertainment of the Persians, he added rich wines and abundance of delicacies.
The next day, when they were met, he desired them to recline on the grass and enjoy themselves. When they were satisfied he inquired of them which day's fare delighted them the most: they replied, the contrast betwixt the two was strong indeed, as on the first day they had nothing but what was bad, on the second every thing that was good.
On receiving this answer Cyrus no longer hesitated to explain the purpose which he had in view: 'Men of Persia!' he exclaimed, 'you are the arbiters of your own fortune; if you obey me, you will enjoy these and greater advantages, without any servile toils: if you are hostile to my projects, you must prepare to encounter worse hardships than those of yesterday. My voice is the voice of freedom; Providence appears to have reserved me to be the instrument of your prosperity: you are doubtless equal to the Medes in every thing, and most assuredly are as brave: this being the case, decline all future obedience to Astyages.'
CXXVII. The Persians, who had long spurned at the yoke imposed on them by the Medes, were glad of such a leader, and ardently obeyed the call of liberty. Astyages was soon informed of the proceedings of Cyrus, and commanded his attendance. He returned for answer that he should probably anticipate the wish of Astyages to see him. Astyages on this collected his Medes, and urged by some fatal impulse, appointed Harpagus to command his forces, not remembering the injury he formerly had done him. His army was embodied; the Medes met and engaged the Persians: they who were not privy to the plot fought with valor, the rest went over to the Persians: the greater part discovered no inclination to continue the combat, and hastily retreated.
CXXVIII. Astyages hearing of the ignominious defeat of his army, continued to menace Cyrus; and exclaimed, that he should still have no reason to exult. The first thing he did was to crucify the magi, the interpreters of dreams, who had prevailed on him to send Cyrus away. He then armed all his citizens, young and old, without distinction. He led them against the Persians, and was vanquished: he himself was taken prisoner, and the greater part of his army destroyed.
CXXIX. In his captivity Harpagus was present to insult and reproach him. Among other things, he asked him what was his opinion of that supper, in which he had compelled a father to feed on the flesh of his child, a supper which had reduced him from a monarch to a slave. In reply, Astyages requested to know if he imputed to himself the success of Cyrus. He confessed that he did, explained the means, and justified his conduct. Astyages told him that he was then the most foolish and wicked of mankind;—most foolish, in acquiring for another the authority he might have enjoyed himself; most wicked, for reducing his countrymen to servitude, to gratify his private revenge.
If he thought a change in the government really necessary, and was still determined not to assume the supreme authority himself, justice should have induced him to have elevated a Mede to that honor rather than a Persian. The Medes, who were certainly not accessary to the provocation given, had exchanged situations with their servants; the Persians, who were formerly the servants, were now the masters.
CXXX. After a reign of thirty-five years, Astyages was thus deposed. To his asperity of temper the Medes owed the loss of their power, after possessing, for the space of one hundred and twenty-eight years, all that part of Asia which lies beyond the Halys, deducting from this period the short interval of the Scythian dominion.
In succeeding times, from a disdain of their abased situation, they took up arms against Darius: their attempt proved unsuccessful, and they were a second time reduced to servitude. From this period the Persians, who, under the conduct of Cyrus, had shaken off the power of the Medes, remained in undisturbed possession of Asia.
Cyrus detained Astyages in captivity for the remainder of his life, but in no other instance treated him with severity.—Such is the history of the birth, education, and success of Cyrus. He afterwards, as we have before related, subdued Croesus, who had attacked him unprovoked: from which time he remained without competition sovereign of Asia.
Herodotus. Translated by William Beloe, Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1830.
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