The Death of Cyrus
The Massagetae were then governed by a queen: she was a widow, and her name Tomyris. Cyrus sent ambassadors to her with overtures of marriage: the queen, concluding that his…
From: 529 B.C.E. To: 530 B.C.E.
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From Herodotus translated by William Beloe, 1830.
CCIV. Caucasus terminates that part of the Caspian which extends to the west: it is bounded on the east by a plain of prodigious extent, a considerable part of which forms the country of the Massagetae, against whom Cyrus meditated an attack. He was invited and urged by many strong incentives. When he considered the peculiar circumstances of his birth, he believed himself more than human. He reflected also on the prosperity of his arms, and that wherever he had extended his incursions he had been followed by success and victory.
CCV. The Massagetae were then governed by a queen: she was a widow, and her name Tomyris. Cyrus sent ambassadors to her with overtures of marriage: the queen, concluding that his real object was the possession, not of her person, but her kingdom, forbade his approach.
Cyrus, on finding these measures ineffectual advanced to the Araxes, openly discovering his hostile designs on the Massagetae. He accordingly threw a bridge of boats over the river for the passage of his forces, which he also fortified with turrets.
CCVI. Whilst he was engaged in this difficult undertaking Tomyris sent by her ambassadors this message: 'Sovereign of the Medes! uncertain as you insist be of the event, we advise you to desist from your present purpose. Be satisfied with the dominion of your own kingdom, and suffer us to retain what is certainly our own. You will not, however, listen to this salutary counsel, loving any thing rather than peace: if, then, you are really impatient to encounter the Massagetae, give up your present labor of constructing a bridge; we will retire three days' march into our country, and you shall pass over at your leisure; or, if you had rather receive us in your own territories, do you as much for us.'
On hearing this Cyrus called a council of his principal officers, and laying the matter before them, desired their advice how to act. They were unanimously of opinion that he should retire, and expect Tomyris in his own dominions.
CCVII. Croesus the Lydian, who assisted at the meeting, was of a different sentiment, which he defended in this manner: ‘I have before remarked, Ο king! that since Providence has rendered me your captive it becomes me to exert all my abilities in obviating whatever menaces you with misfortune. I have been instructed in the severe but useful school of adversity. If you were immortal yourself, and commanded an army of immortals, my advice might be justly thought impertinent; but if you confess yourself a human leader of forces that are human, it becomes you to remember that sublunary events have a circular motion, and that their revolution does not permit the same man always to be fortunate. On this present subject of debate I dissent from the majority. If you await the enemy in your own dominions, a a defeat may chance to lose you all your empire; the victorious Massagetae, instead of retreating to their own, will make farther inroad into your territories. If you shall conquer, you will still be a loser by that interval of time and place which must be necessarily employed in the pursuit. I will suppose that after victory you will instantly advance into the dominions of Tomyris; yet can Cyrus the son of Cambyses, without disgrace and infamy, retire one foot of ground from a female adversary? I would therefore recommend that having passed over with our army, we proceed on our march till we meet the enemy; then let us contend for victory and honor. I have been informed the Massagetae lead a life of the meanest poverty, ignorant of Persian fare, of Persian delicacies. Let these therefore be left behind in our camp: let there be abundance of food prepared, costly viands, and flowing goblets of wine. With these let us leave the less effective of the troops, and with the rest again retire towards the river. If I err not, the foe will be allured by the sight of our luxurious preparations, and afford us a noble occasion of victory and glory.'
CCVIII. The result of the debate was, that Cyrus preferred the sentiments of Croesus: he therefore returned for answer to Tomyris that he would advance the space into her dominions which she had proposed. She was faithful to her engagement, and retired accordingly. Cyrus then formally delegated his authority to his son Cambyses: and above all, recommended Croesus to his care, as one whom, if the projected expedition should fail, it would be his interest to distinguish by every possible mark of reverence and honor. He then dismissed them into Persia, and passed the river with his forces.
CCIX. As soon as he had advanced beyond the Araxes into the land of the Massagetae, he saw in the night this vision: he beheld the eldest son of Hystaspes having wings on his shoulders; one of which overshadowed Asia, the other Europe. Hystaspes was the son of Arsamis, of the family of the Achaemenides; the name of his eldest son was Darius, a youth of about twenty, who had been left behind in Persia as not yet of an age for military service.
Cyrus awoke, and revolved the matter in his mind: as it appeared to him of serious importance, he sent for Hystaspes to his presence, and dismissing his attendants, 'Hystaspes,' said the king, 'I will explain to you my reasons why I am satisfied beyond all dispute that your son is now engaged in seditious designs against me and my authority. The gods, whose favor I enjoy, disclose to me all those events which menace my security. In the night just passed I beheld your eldest son having wings on his shoulders, one of which overshadowed Asia, the other Europe; from which I draw certain conclusions that he is engaged in acts of treachery against me. Do you therefore return instantly to Persia, and take care that when I return victorious from my present expedition your son may give me a satisfactory explanation of his conduct.'
CCX. The strong apprehension of the treachery of Darius induced Cyrus thus to address the father; but the vision in reality imported that the death of Cyrus was at hand, and that Darius should succeed to his power. 'Far be it, Ο king!' said Hystaspes in reply, 'from any man of Persian origin to form conspiracies against his sovereign: if such there be, let immediate death be his portion. You have raised the Persians from slavery to freedom; from subjects, you have made them masters: if a vision has informed you that my son designs anything against you to you and to your disposal I shall deliver him.’
Hystaspes after this interview passed the Araxes on his return to Persia, fully intending to watch over his son, and deliver him to Cyrus.
CCXI. Cyrus, advancing a day's march from the Araxes, followed in all respects the counsel of Croesus; and leaving behind him the troops on which he had least dependence, he returned with his choicest men towards the Araxes. A detachment of about the third part of the army of the Massagetae attacked the Persians whom Cyrus had left, and after a feeble conflict put them to the sword. When the slaughter ceased they observed the luxuries which had artfully been prepared; and yielding to the allurement, they indulged themselves in feasting and wine till drunkenness and sleep overcame them. In this situation the Persians attacked them: several Avere slain, but the greater part were made prisoners, among whom was Spargapises, their leader, the son of Tomyris.
CCXII. As soon as the queen heard of the defeat of her forces, and the capture of her son, she despatched a messenger to Cyrus with these words: 'Cyrus, insatiable as you are of blood, be not too elate with your recent success. When you yourself are overcome with wine, what follies do you not commit? By entering your bodies, it renders your language more insulting. By this poison you have conquered my son, and neither by your prudence nor your valor. I venture a second time to advise what it will be certainly your interest to follow. Restore my son to liberty, and satisfied with the disgrace you have put on a third part of the Massagetae, depart from these realms unhurt. If you will not do this, I swear by the Sun, the great god of the Massagetae, that, insatiable as you are of blood, I will give you your fill of it.’
CCXIII. These words made but little impression on Cyrus. The son of Tomyris, when, recovering from his inebriated state, he knew the misfortune which had befallen him, entreated Cyrus to release him from his bonds: he obtained his liberty, and immediately destroyed himself.
CCXIV. On the refusal of Cyrus to listen to her counsel, Tomyris collected all her forces: a battle ensued, and of all the conflicts which ever took place amongst the barbarians, this was I believe by far the most obstinately disputed. According to such particulars as I have been able to collect, the engagement began by a shower of arrows poured on both sides, from an interval of some distance; when these were all spent, they fought with their swords and spears, and for a long time neither party gained the smallest advantage: the Massagetae were at length victorious, the greater part of the Persians were slain; Cyrus himself also fell; and thus terminated a reign of twenty-nine years.
When after diligent search his body was found, Tomyris directed his head to be thrown into a vessel filled with human blood, and having insulted and mutilated the dead body, exclaimed, 'Survivor and conqueror as I am, thou hast ruined my peace by thy successful stratagem against my son; but I will give thee nοw, as I threatened, thy fill of blood.'—This account of the end of Cyrus seems to me most consistent with probability, although there are many other and different relations.
Herodotus. Translated by William Beloe, Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1830.
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