) the Medo-Persian empire, and the Semitic tribes
Cyrus met with his death, according to Ctesias, by under the king of Babylon, for the supremacy of
a wound received in battle with a nation called the Asia.
Cyrus met with his death, according to Ctesias, by under the king of Babylon, for the supremacy of
a wound received in battle with a nation called the Asia.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
The best is that of the Benedic- Hales, who have followed the guidance, not of the
tine monk, A. A. Touttee, Paris, 1720, fol. The laws of historical evidence, but of their own
preface contains a very elaborate dissertation on notions of the right interpretation of Scripture.
the life and writings of Cyril. (See Touttee's Herodotus, within a century after the time of
preface ; Care's Historia Literaria, vol. i. pp. 211, Cyrus, found his history embellished by those of
212, Oxford, 1740; Schröck, Kirchengeschichte, the Persians who wished to make it more imposing
vol. xii. p. 313, &c. ; Theodoret, Ilistor. Eccle- (oi Boulbuevou oeuvoûv tà nepi Kúpov), and had to
siast. libb. ii. and v. ; Tillemont, Eccles. Mem. vol. make his choice between four different stories, out
viii. ; Guerike, Hundbuch der Kirchenyeschichte, of which he professes to have selected the account
vol. i. pp. 344, 345, note 3, fünfte Aufiuge; Mur- given by those who wished to tell the truth (Tòv
dock's Alosheim, rol. i. p. 241, note 16. ) (S. D. ] eóvta néyev nízov, i. 95). Nevertheless his nar-
CYRILLUS (Kúpiados), of SCYTHOPOLIS, a rative is evidently founded to some extent on
Palestine monk, belonging to the sixth century. In fabulous tales. The authorities of Ctesias, even
the sixteenth year of his age he made a profession the royal archives, were doubtless corrupted in a
of the monastic life in his native place. Prompted similar manner, besides the accumulation of errors
by a desire to see sacred places, he visited Jerusa- during another half century. Xenophon does not
lem, and, by the advice of his mother, put himself pretend, what some modern writers have pretended
under the care of John the Silentiary, by whom for him, that his Cyropaedeia is anything more than
he was sent to the famous monastery of Laura. an historical romance. In such a work it is always
Leontius, prefect of the monastery, received him impossible to separate the framework of true his-
into the order of the monks. The time of his tory from the fiction : and even if we could do
birth and death is alike unknown. About A. D. this, we should have gained but little. Much
557, he wrote the life of St. John the Silentiary. reliance is placed on the sources of information
This is still extant, having been published in which Xenophon possessed in the camp of the
Greek and Latin by Henschenius and Papebro- younger Cyrus. No idea can be more fallacious;
chius in the Acta Sanctorum, 13th of May. He for what sort of stories would be current there,
also wrote the life of Euthymius the abbot, who except the fables which Herodotus censures, but
died 472, which is extant, but in an interpolated which would readily and alone pass for true in the
form by Simeon Metaphrastes. It was published camp of a prince who doubtless delighted to hear
by Cotelerius in Greek and Latin in his Monu- nothing but what was good of the great ancestor
menta Ecclesiae Graecae, vol. ii. , Paris, 1681, 4to. whose name he bore, and whose fame he aspired
It is also in the Acta Sanctorum, January 20. In to emulate ? And even if Xenophon was aware of
addition to these, be wrote the life of St. Sabas, the falsity of these tales, he was justified, as a
the ancient Latin version of which, before it was writer of fiction, in using them for his purpose.
corrupted by Simeon, was published by Bollandus Xenophon is set up against Herodotus. The
in the Acia Sanctorum belonging to the 20th of comparative value of their authority, in point of
January. It is given in Greek and Latin in Co- time, character, and means of information, is a
telerius's Monumenta, vol. iii. p. 220. (Care, His question which, by itself, could never have been
tor. Literar. vol. i. p. 529. )
[S. D. ] decided by a sober-minded man, except in favour
CYRNUS (Kúpvos), two mythical personages, of Herodotus. But it is thought that the account
from the one of whom the island of Cyrus or of Xenophon is more consistent with Scripture
Cyre (Corsica) derived its name (Serv. ad Virg. than that of Herodotus. This is a hasty assump-
Eilog. ix. 30; Herod. i. 167), and the other was tion, and in truth the scriptural allusions to the
regarded as the founder of Cyrus, a town in time of Cyrus are so brief, that they can only be
Caria. (Divd. 1. 60. )
interpreted hy the help of other authorities. In
[L. S. )
## p. 921 (#941) ############################################
CYRUS.
CYRUS.
921
the accounts of the modern Persian writers it is impaled the Magians who had deceived him,
impossible to separate the truth from the false- armed the youths and old men who were left in
hood.
the city, led them out to fight the Persians, and
The account of Herodotus is as follows: In was defeated and taken prisoner, after a reign of
the year B. c. 594, Astyages succeeded his father, 35 years, in B. c. 559. The Medes accepted Cyrus
Cyaxares, as king of Media. He had a daughter for their king, and thus the supremacy which they
whom he named Mandane. In consequence of a had held passed to the Persians. Cyrus treated
dream, which seemed to portend that her offspring Astyages well, and kept him with him till his
should be master of Asin, he married her to a death. The date of the accession of Cyrus is fixed
Persian named Cambyses, of a good house, but of by the unanimous consent of the ancient chrono-
a quiet temper. A second dream led him to send logers. (African. ap. Euseb. Pruep. Evan. x. 10;
for his daughter, when she was pregnant; and upon Clinton, Fust. llel. ii. s. a. 559. ). It was proba-
her giving birth to a son, Astrages committed it to bly at this time that Cyrus received that name,
Harpagus, his most confidential attendant, with which is a Persian word (Kohr), signifying the
orders to kill it. Harpagus, moved with pity, and Sun.
fearing the revenge of Mandane, instead of killing In the interval during which we hear nothing
the child himself, gare it to a herdsman of Astvages certain of Cyrus, he was doubtless employed in
named Mitmdates, who was to expose it, and to consolidating his newly-acquired empire. Indeed
satisfy Harpagus of its death. But while the there are some notices (though not in Herodotus)
herdsman was in attendance on Astyages, his from which we may infer that a few of the cities
wife had brought forth a still-born child, which of Media refused to submit to him, and that he
they substituted for the child of Mandane, who only reduced them to obedience after a long and
was reared as the son of the herdsman, but was obstinate resistance (Xen. Anal. iii. 4. § 7. )
not yet called Cyrus. The name he bore seems The gradual consolidation and extension of the
from a passage of Strabo (xv. p. 729) to have been Persian empire during this period is also stated
Agradates, 'Aypaðárns. When he was ten years incidentally by Herodotus in introducing his ac-
old, his true parentage was discovered by the fol- count of the conquest of Lydia, which is the next
lowing incident. In the sports of his village, the event recorded in the life of Cyrus. It took place
boys chose him for their king, and he ordered them in 546 B. C. (CroESUS ]
all exactly as was done by the Median king. One The Ionian and Aeolian colonies of Asia Minor
of the boys, the son of a noble Median named now sent ambassadors to Cyrus, offering to submit
Artembares, disobeyed his commands, and Cyrus to him on the same terms as they had obtained
caused him to be severely scourged. Artembares from Croesus. But Cyrus, who had in vain in-
complained to Astyages, who sent for Cyrus, in vited the Ionians to revolt from Croesus at the
whose person and courage he discovered his beginning of the war, gave them to understand,
daughter's son. The herdsman and Harpagus, by a significant fable, that they must prepare for
being summoned before the king, told him the the worst. With the Milesians alone he made an
truth. Astyages forgave the herdsman, but re-alliance on the terms they offered. The other
venged himself on Harpagus by serving up to him Ionian states fortified their cities, assembled at
at a banquet the flesh of his own son, with other the Panionium, and, with the Aeolians, sent to
circumstances of the most refined cruelty. As to Sparta for assistance. The Lacedaemonians re-
his grandson, by the advice of the Vagians, who fused to assist them, but sent Cyrus a message
assured him that his dreams were fulfilled by the threatening him with their displeasure if he should
boy's having been a king in sport, and that he meddle with the Greek cities. Having sent back
had nothing more to fear from him, he sent him a contemptuous answer to this message, Cyrus re-
back to his parents in Persia
turned to the Median capital, Ecbatana, taking
When Cyrus grew up towards manhood, and Croesus with him, and committing the government
shewed himself the most courageous and amiable of Sardis to a Persian, named Tabalus. He him-
of his fellows, Harpagus, who had concealed a self was eager to attempt the conquest of Babylon,
truly oriental desire of revenge under the mask of the Bactrian nation, the Sacae, and the Egyptians.
most profound submission to his master's will, sent He had no sooner left Asia Minor than a revolt of
presents to Cyrus, and ingratiated bimself with the states which had lately formed the Lydian
him. Among the Medians it was easy for Har- empire was raised by Pactyes, a Persian ; but,
pagus to form a party in favour of Cyrus, for the after a long and obstinate resistance, the whole of
tyranny of Astyages had made him odious. Hav- Asia Minor was reduced by Harpagus. (HARPA-
ing organized his conspiracy, Harpagus sent a GUS; PACTYES. ] In the mean time, Cyrus was
leiter secretly to Cyrus, inciting him to take re- engaged in subduing the nations of Upper Asia,
venge upon Astyages, and promising that the and particularly Assyria, which since the destruc-
Medes should desert to bim. Cyrus called to- tion of Ninus had Babylon for its capital. Its
gether the Persians, and having, by an ingenious king was Labynetus, the Belshazzar of Daniel.
practical lesson, excited them to revolt from the [LABYNETUS] Cyrus marched against Baby-
Median supremacy, he was chosen as their leader. lon at the head of a large army, and in great
Upon hearing of this, Astyages summoned Cyrus, state. He carried with him a most abundant
who replied that he would come to him sooner supply of provisions for his table ; and for his
than Astyages himself would wish. Astynges drink the water of the Choaspes, which flows by
armed the Medes, but was so infatuated (9061a- Susi, was carried in silver vessels.
He passed
6nis éav) as to give the command to Harpagus, the river Gyndes, a tributary of the Tigris, by
forgetting,” say's Herodotus, “ how he had treat- diverting its water into a great number of rills,
ed him. ” In the battle which ensued, some of the and arrived before Babylon in the second spring
Medes deserted to Cyrus, and the main body of from the commencement of his expedition. Hlav-
the army tied of their own accord. Astyages, having | ing defeated in battle the whole forces of the La-
## p. 922 (#942) ############################################
922
CYRUS.
CYRUS.
bylonians, he laid siege to the city, and after a dotus; but he says, that Cyrus was taken prisoner
long time he took it by diverting the course of the by the Scythian queen (evidently meaning To-
Euphrates, which flowed through the midst of it, myris), and that she crucified or impaled him.
so that his soldiers entered Babylon by the bed of Other variations, not worth specifying, are given
the river. So entirely unprepared were the Baby, by the chronographers and compilers.
Jonians for this mode of attack, that they were To form a complete and consistent life of Cyrus
engaged in revelry (év evrabeiro), and had left out of these statements is obviously impossible;
the gates which opened upon the river unguarded. but the leading events of his public life are made
This was in B. C. 538.
out with tolerable certainty, namely, the dethrone-
After Cyrus had subdued the Assyrians, he un- ment of Astyages, the conquest of the Lydian and
dertook the subjugation of the Massagetac, a peo- Assyrian empires, his schemes to become master
ple dwelling beyond the Araxes. Cyrus offered of all Asia and of Egypt, and his death in a battle
to marry Tomyris, the widowed queen of this peo- with one of the Asiatic tribes which he wished to
ple; but she refused the offer, saying that he subdue. His acquisition of the Median empire
woocd not her, but the kingdom of the Massagetac. was rather a revolution than a conquest. Hero-
The details of the war which followed may be read dotus expressly states, that Cyrus had a large
in Herodotus. It ended in the death of Cyrus in party among the Medes before his rebellion, and
battle. Tomyris caused his corpse to be found that, after the defeat of Astyages, the nation vo-
among the slain, and having cut off the head, luntarily received him as their king.
This was
threw it into a bag filled with human blood, that very natural, for besides the harshness of the
he might satiate himself (she said) with blood. government of Astyages, Cyrus was the next
According to Herodotus, Cyrus had reigned 29 | heir to the throne, the Medes were effeminate,
years. Other writers say 30. He was killed in and the Persians were hardy. The kingdom
B. C. 529. (Clinton, F. II. vol. ii. sub anno. ) remained, as before, the united kingdom of
The account of Ctesias differs considerably in “the Medes and Persians," with the difference,
some points from that of Herodotus. According that the supremacy was transferred from the for-
to him, there was no relationship between Cyrus mer to the latter; and then in process of time it
and Astvages. At the conquest of Media by Cy- came to be generally called the Persian empire,
rus, Astyages fled to Ecbatana, and was there though the kings and their people were still, even
concealed by his daughter Amytis, and her hus- down to the time of Alexander, often spoken of as
band, Spitamas, whom, with their children, Cyrus Medes. If Cyrus had quietly succeeded to the
would have put to the torture, had not Astyages throne, in virtue of his being the grandson of the
discovered himself. When he did so, he was put Median king Astyages, it seems difficult to ac-
in fetters by Oebaras, but soon afterwards Cyrus count for this change. The mere fact of Cyrus's
luimself set him free, honoured him as a father, father being a Persian is hardly enough to explain
and married his daughter Amytis, haring put her it.
husband to death for telling a falsehood. (Asty- With regard to the order of Cyrus's conquests
AGE. ] Ctesias also says, that Cyrus made war in Asia, there seems much confusion. It is clear
apon the Bactrians, who voluntarily submitted to that there was a struggle for supremacy between
him, when they heard of his reconciliation with Cyrus and the king of Babylon, the latter having
Astyages and Amytis. He mentions a war with become master of Mesopotamia and Syria by the
the Sacae, in which Cyrus was taken prisoner and conquests of Nebuchadnezzar. It was in fact a
ransomed. He gives a somewhat different account struggle between the Zend tribes, which formed
of the Lydian war. (Ctesias, Pers. c. 5; Croesus.
) the Medo-Persian empire, and the Semitic tribes
Cyrus met with his death, according to Ctesias, by under the king of Babylon, for the supremacy of
a wound received in battle with a nation called the Asia. We can scarcely determine whether Cyrus
Derbices, who were assisted by the Indians. conquered Lydia before making any attack on
Strabo also mentions the expedition against the Babylon, and perhaps in this matter Xenophon
Sacae, and says, that Cyrus was at first defeated may have preserved something like the true suc-
but afterwards victorious. He also says, that Cy- cession of events. That Croesus was in alliance
rus made an expedition into India, from which with Babylon is stated also by Herodotus, who
country he escaped with difficulty.
however, makes Croesus entirely the aggressor in
The chief points of difference between Xeno- the Lydian war. No clear account can be given of
phon and Herodotus are the following : Xenophon his campaigns in Central Asia, but the object of
represents Cyrus as brought up at his grandfather's them was evidently to subdue the whole of Asia
court, as serving in the Median army under his as far as the Indus.
uncle Cyaxares, the son and successor of Astyages, With respect to the main points of difference
of whom Herodotus and Ctesias know nothing ; between Herodotus and the Cyropaedeia, besides
as making war upon Babylon simply as the general what has been said above of the historical value of
of Cyaxares, who remained at home during the Xenophon's book, if it could be viewed as a his-
latter part of the Assyrian war, and permitted tory at all, its real design is the great thing to be
Cyrus to assume without opposition the power and kept in view; and that design is stated by Xeno-
state of an independent sovereign at Babylon; as phon himself with sufficient clearness. He wished
marrying the daughter of Cyaxares; and at length to shew that the government of men is not so dif-
dying quietly in his bed, after a sage and Socratic ficult as is commonly supposed, provided that the
discourse to his children and friends. The Lydian ruler be wise ; and io illustrate this he holds forth
war of Cyrus is represented by Xenophon as a the example of Cyrus, whom he endows with all
sort of episode in the Assyrian war, occasioned by virtue, courage, and wisdom, and whose conduct is
the help wbich Croesus had given to the Assyrians meant for a practical illustration and his discourses
in the first campaign of Cyrus against them. for an exposition of the maxims of the Socratic
Diodorus agrees for the most part with lero- | philosophy, so far as Xenophon was capable of
## p. 923 (#943) ############################################
CYRUS.
923
CYRUS.
understanding it. Of course it would not have | In the passage of Aeschylus, which is sometimes
done to have represented this beau ideal of a phi- quoted as confirming Xenophon (Astrages), the
Josnpliic king as the dethroner of his own grand- two kings before Cyrus are clearly Phraortes and
father, as the truc Asiatic despot and conqueror, Cyaxares, or Cyaxares and Astynges. At all
and as the victim of his own ambitious schemes. events, no room is left for Cyaxares Il. The most
It seems incredible that any one should rise from natural explanation seems to be, that Phraortes, in
the perusal of the Cyropacdcia without the firm whose reign the Persians were subjected to the
conviction that it is a romance, and, moreover, Viedes, and who was therefore the first king of
that its author never meant it to be taken for any the united Medes and Persians, is meant in the
thing else ; and still more incredible is it that any line
one should have recognized in the picture of Xeno- Μήδος γαρ ήν ο πρώτος ηγεμών στρατού.
phon the verisimilitude of an Asiatic conqueror in the next line admirably describes Cyaxares, who
the sixth century before Christ. That Cyrus was took Ninus, and consolidated the empire.
a great man, is proved by the empire he establish-
'Αλλος δ' εκείνου παίς τόδ' έργον ήνυσε.
ed; that he was a good man, according to the
virtues of his age and country, we need not doubt; If so, Astyages is omitted, probably because he
but if we would seek further for his likeness, we did not complete his reign, but was dethroned by
must assuredly look rather at Genghis Khan or Cyrus, who is thus reckoned the third Media
Timour than at the Cyrus of Xenophon.
Persian king, Tρίτος δ' απ' αυτού Κυρos. For the
It has, however, been supposed, that the state- d' ait où surely refers to the person who is called
ment of Xenophon about Cyaxares II. is confirmed pŵTos. On the other hand, the account which
by Scripture ; for that Dareius the Mede, who, ac- Herodotus gives of the transference of the Median
cording to Daniel, reigns after the taking of Baby- empire to the Persians is in substance confirmed by
lon (for two years, according to the chronologers) Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Anaximenes, Dinon,
and before the first year of Cyrus, can be no other Ctesias, Amyntas, Strabo, Cephalion, Justin, Plu-
(this is the utmost that can be asserted) than tarch, Polyaenus, and even by Xenophon himself
Cyaxares II. This matter seems susceptible of a in the Anabasis, as above quoted. (See Clinton,
better explanation than it has yet received. i. pp. 262, 263. ) Much light would be thrown
1. Xenophon's Cyaxares is the son of Astyages; on the subject if the date of Cyrus's birth could be
Dareius the Mede is the son of Ahasuerus. Now, fixt; but this is impossible. Dinon says, that he
it is almost beyond a doubt that Ahasuerus is the was seventy at his death ; but this is improbable
Hebrew form of the Persian name or title which for various reasons, and Herodotus evidently con-
the Greeks called Xerxes, and Cyaxares seems to sidered him much younger.
be simply the form of the same word used in the None but the sacred writers mention the edict
Median dialect. Cyaxares, the son of Phraortes, of Cyrus for the return of the Jews. A motive
is called Ahasuerus in Tobit xiv. 15. It is granted for that step may be perhaps found in what Hero-
that this argument is not decisive, but, so far as it dotus says about his designs on Egypt. The very
goes, it is against the identification.
remarkable prophecy relating to the destruction of
2. After the taking of Babylon, Dareius the Babylon and the restoration of the Jews by Cyrus
Mede receives the kingdom, and exercises all the is in Isaiah xliv. xlv. , besides other important
functions of royalty, with great power and splen- passages in Isaiah and Jeremiah, which predict
dour, evidently at Babylon. But in Xenophon the fall of Babylon without mentioning the name
it is Cyrus who does this, and Cyaxares nerer of Cyrus, and the corresponding history is in the
comes near Babylon at all after its capture, but books of Daniel, Ezra, and 2 Chron. xxxvi. 22,
remains in Media, totally eclipsed and almost su- 23. The language of the proclamation of Cyrus,
perseded by Cyrus. There are other arguments as recorded both in Ezra i. 2 and Chron. xxxvi.
which seem to shew clearly that, whoever Dareius 22, seems to countenance the idea that he was
the Mede may have been (a point difficult enough acquainted, as he might easily be through Daniel,
to decide), he was not the Cyaxares of Xenophon. with the prophecy of Isaiah. “The Lord God of
The matter cannot be further discussed here, but heaven. . . hath charged me to build hin an house
the result of a most careful examination of it is, at Jerusalem, which is in Judah” (compare Isaiah
that in some important points the statements of xliv. 28, xlv. 13); but beyond this one point there is
Xenophon cannot be reconciled with those of nothing to sustain the notion of Hales and others,
Daniel; and that a much more probable explana- that Cyrus was more than an unconscious instru-
tion is, that Dareius was a noble Median, who held ment in accomplishing the designs of Providence.
the sovereignty as the viceroy of Cyrus, until the The contrary is intimated in Isaiah xlv. 5.
latter found it convenient to fix his court at Baby-
In the East Cyrus was long regarded as the
lon ; and there are some indications on which a greatest hero of antiquity, and hence the fables by
conjecture might be founded that this viceroy which his history is obscured. The Persians remeni-
was Astyages. It is quite natural that the year bered him as a father (Herod. iii. 89, 100), and
in which Cyrus began to reign in person at Baby- | his fane passed, through the Greeks, to the Euro-
lon should be reckoned (as it is by the Hebrew peans, and the classical writers abound with allu-
writers) the first year of his reign over the whole sions to him. His sepulchre at Pasargadae was
empire. This view is confirmed by the fact, that visited by Alexander the Great. (Arrian, vi. 29 ;
in the prophecies of the destruction of Babylon it Plut. diex. 69. ) Pasargadae is said to have been
is Cyrus, and not any Median king, that is spoken built on the spot where Cyrus placed his camp
of. Regarding this difficulty, then, as capable of when he defeated Astyages, and in its immediate
being explained, it remains that Xenophon's state- neighbourhood the city of Persepolis grew up.
ment about Cyaxares II. is entirely unsupported. The tomb of Cyrus has perished, but his name is
Xenophon seems to have introduced Cyaxares found on monuments at Murghab, north of Perse-
simply as a foil to set off the virtues of Cyrus. polis, which place, indeed, some antiquarians tako
## p. 924 (#944) ############################################
924
CYRUS.
CYRUS.
for Pasargadae. (IIerodotus, lib. i. ; Ctesias, ed. | mect him. The numbers of the two armies aro
Lion; Xenophon, Cyropaedcia ; Diodorus ; Justin; variously stated. Artaxerxes had from 400. 000
Sirabo; and other ancient authors; Clinton, Fast. to a million of men ; Cyrus had about 100,000
Dell. i. ii. supplements; Heeren, Iileen (Asiatiche Asiatics and 13,000 Grecks. The battle was at
scurches); Schlosser, Univ. Geschich. d. alt. Welt; first altogether in favour of Cyrus. His Greek
Hockh, Vet. Ved, ei Pers. Alonum. ) [P. S. ] troops on the right routed the Asiatics who were
CYRUS, THE YOUNGER, the second of the four opposed to them; and he himself pressed forward
sons of Dareius Nothus, king of Persia, and of Pa- in the centre against his brother, and had even
fysatis, was appointed by his father commander (ka- wounded him, when he was killed by one of the
pavos or otpathyós) of the maritime parts of Asia king's body-guard. Aruxcrxes caused his head
Minor, and satrap of Lydia, Phrygia, and Cappadocia. and right hand to be struck off, and sought to
(B. C. 407. ) He carried with him a large sum of have it believed that Cyrus had fallen by his
money to aid the Lacedaemonians in the Pelopon- hand. Parysatis took a cruel revenge on the
nesian war, and by the address of Lysander he was suspected slayers and mutilators of her son. The
induced to help them even more than his father details of the expedition of Cyrus and of the
had commissioned him to do. The bluntness of events which followed his death may be read in
Cillicratidas caused him to withdraw his aid, but Xenophon's Anabusis. This attempi of an ambi-
on the return of Lysander to the command it was tious young prince to usurp his brother's throne
renewed with the greatest liberality. (Callicra- led ultimately to the greatest resulis, for by it
TIDAS; LYSANDER; TissAPHERNES. ] There is the path into the centre of the Persian empire
no doubt that Cyrus was already meditating the was laid open to the Greeks, and the way was
attempt to succeed his father on the throne of prepared for the conquests of Alexander. The
Persia, and that he sought through Lysander to character of Cyrus is drawn by Xenophon in the
provide for aid from Sparta. Cyrus, indeed, be- brightest colours. It is enough to say that his
trayed his anıbitious spirit, by putting to death ambition was gilded by all those brilliant qualities
tivo Persians of the blood royal, for not observing in which win men's hearts.
his presence a usage which was only due to the (Xenophon, llellen. i. 4, 5, ii. 1, jii. 1, Anab.
king. It was probably for this reason, and not i. , Cyrop. viii. 8. § 3, O con. iv. 16, 18, 21;
only on account of his own ill health, that Dareius Ctesias, Persica, i. 44, 49, Fr. li. , lii. , liii. , liv. ,
summoned Cyrus to his presence. (B. C. 405. ) Be | lvii. , ed. Lion; ap. Phot. p. 42, b. 10, 43, b. 10,
fore leaving Sardis, Cyrus sent for Lysander and 44, a. 14, ed. Bekker; Isocr. Panath. 39 ; Plut.
assigned to him his revenues for the prosecution of Lys. 4, 9; Artur. 3, 6, 13–17; Diod. xij. 70,
the war.
He then went to his father, attended | 104, xiv. 6, 11, 12, 19, 20, 22. ) [P. S. ]
by a body of 500 Greek mercenaries, and taking CYRUS, a rhetorician, of uncertain age, is the
with himn Tissaphernes, nominally as a mark of author of a work Tepi Alaoopas stáoewy in the
honour, but really for fear of what he might do in Aldine collection of the Greek orators, reprinted,
his absence. He arrived in Media just in time to more correctly, in Walz's Greek Orators, viii. p.
witness his father's death and the accession of his 386, &c. Fabricius suspects that the anonymous
elder brother, Artaxerxes Mnemon (R. C. 404), work entitled Mpobaríuata 'PnTopinà eis Etdoels
though his mother, Parysatis, whose favourite son was written by the same person. (Fabric. Bibl.
Cyrus was, had endeavoured to persuade Dareius to Graec. vi. pp. 102, 128 ; Walz, l. c. ; Wester-
appoint him as his successor, on the ground that he mann, Geschichte der Griech. Bercutsamkeit, S
had been born after, but his brother Artaxerxes 101. )
[P. S. ]
before, the accession of Dareius. This attempt, of CYRUS(Kúpos), the name of several physicians.
course, excited the jealousy of Artaxerxes, which 1. Cyrus (called also in some editions Syrus), a
was further enflamed by information from Tissa- native of Alexandria, who lived in the fifth cen-
pheres, that Cyrus was plotting against his life. tury after Christ. He was first a physician and
Artaxerxes, therefore, arrested his brother and philosopher, and afterwards became a monk. He
condemned him to death; but, on the intercession is said to have been an eloquent man, and to have
of Parysatis, he spared his life and sent him back written against Nestorius. (S. Gennadius, de
to his satrapy: Cyrus now gave himself up to the Illustr. l'ir. c. 81. )
design of dethroning his brother. By his affability 2. A physician at Edessa, one of whose medi-
and by presents, he endeavoured to corrupt those cines is quoted by Aëtius (ii. 2. 91, p. 292), and
of the Persians who past between the court of who attained the dignity of Archiater. He must
Artaxerxes and his own; but he relied chiefly on have lived between the second and fifth centuries
a force of Greek mercenaries, which he raised on aſter Christ, as the office of Archiater was first
the pretext that he was in danger from the hostility conferred on Andromachus, the physician of Nero.
of Tissaphernes. When his preparations were (Dict. of Ant.
tine monk, A. A. Touttee, Paris, 1720, fol. The laws of historical evidence, but of their own
preface contains a very elaborate dissertation on notions of the right interpretation of Scripture.
the life and writings of Cyril. (See Touttee's Herodotus, within a century after the time of
preface ; Care's Historia Literaria, vol. i. pp. 211, Cyrus, found his history embellished by those of
212, Oxford, 1740; Schröck, Kirchengeschichte, the Persians who wished to make it more imposing
vol. xii. p. 313, &c. ; Theodoret, Ilistor. Eccle- (oi Boulbuevou oeuvoûv tà nepi Kúpov), and had to
siast. libb. ii. and v. ; Tillemont, Eccles. Mem. vol. make his choice between four different stories, out
viii. ; Guerike, Hundbuch der Kirchenyeschichte, of which he professes to have selected the account
vol. i. pp. 344, 345, note 3, fünfte Aufiuge; Mur- given by those who wished to tell the truth (Tòv
dock's Alosheim, rol. i. p. 241, note 16. ) (S. D. ] eóvta néyev nízov, i. 95). Nevertheless his nar-
CYRILLUS (Kúpiados), of SCYTHOPOLIS, a rative is evidently founded to some extent on
Palestine monk, belonging to the sixth century. In fabulous tales. The authorities of Ctesias, even
the sixteenth year of his age he made a profession the royal archives, were doubtless corrupted in a
of the monastic life in his native place. Prompted similar manner, besides the accumulation of errors
by a desire to see sacred places, he visited Jerusa- during another half century. Xenophon does not
lem, and, by the advice of his mother, put himself pretend, what some modern writers have pretended
under the care of John the Silentiary, by whom for him, that his Cyropaedeia is anything more than
he was sent to the famous monastery of Laura. an historical romance. In such a work it is always
Leontius, prefect of the monastery, received him impossible to separate the framework of true his-
into the order of the monks. The time of his tory from the fiction : and even if we could do
birth and death is alike unknown. About A. D. this, we should have gained but little. Much
557, he wrote the life of St. John the Silentiary. reliance is placed on the sources of information
This is still extant, having been published in which Xenophon possessed in the camp of the
Greek and Latin by Henschenius and Papebro- younger Cyrus. No idea can be more fallacious;
chius in the Acta Sanctorum, 13th of May. He for what sort of stories would be current there,
also wrote the life of Euthymius the abbot, who except the fables which Herodotus censures, but
died 472, which is extant, but in an interpolated which would readily and alone pass for true in the
form by Simeon Metaphrastes. It was published camp of a prince who doubtless delighted to hear
by Cotelerius in Greek and Latin in his Monu- nothing but what was good of the great ancestor
menta Ecclesiae Graecae, vol. ii. , Paris, 1681, 4to. whose name he bore, and whose fame he aspired
It is also in the Acta Sanctorum, January 20. In to emulate ? And even if Xenophon was aware of
addition to these, be wrote the life of St. Sabas, the falsity of these tales, he was justified, as a
the ancient Latin version of which, before it was writer of fiction, in using them for his purpose.
corrupted by Simeon, was published by Bollandus Xenophon is set up against Herodotus. The
in the Acia Sanctorum belonging to the 20th of comparative value of their authority, in point of
January. It is given in Greek and Latin in Co- time, character, and means of information, is a
telerius's Monumenta, vol. iii. p. 220. (Care, His question which, by itself, could never have been
tor. Literar. vol. i. p. 529. )
[S. D. ] decided by a sober-minded man, except in favour
CYRNUS (Kúpvos), two mythical personages, of Herodotus. But it is thought that the account
from the one of whom the island of Cyrus or of Xenophon is more consistent with Scripture
Cyre (Corsica) derived its name (Serv. ad Virg. than that of Herodotus. This is a hasty assump-
Eilog. ix. 30; Herod. i. 167), and the other was tion, and in truth the scriptural allusions to the
regarded as the founder of Cyrus, a town in time of Cyrus are so brief, that they can only be
Caria. (Divd. 1. 60. )
interpreted hy the help of other authorities. In
[L. S. )
## p. 921 (#941) ############################################
CYRUS.
CYRUS.
921
the accounts of the modern Persian writers it is impaled the Magians who had deceived him,
impossible to separate the truth from the false- armed the youths and old men who were left in
hood.
the city, led them out to fight the Persians, and
The account of Herodotus is as follows: In was defeated and taken prisoner, after a reign of
the year B. c. 594, Astyages succeeded his father, 35 years, in B. c. 559. The Medes accepted Cyrus
Cyaxares, as king of Media. He had a daughter for their king, and thus the supremacy which they
whom he named Mandane. In consequence of a had held passed to the Persians. Cyrus treated
dream, which seemed to portend that her offspring Astyages well, and kept him with him till his
should be master of Asin, he married her to a death. The date of the accession of Cyrus is fixed
Persian named Cambyses, of a good house, but of by the unanimous consent of the ancient chrono-
a quiet temper. A second dream led him to send logers. (African. ap. Euseb. Pruep. Evan. x. 10;
for his daughter, when she was pregnant; and upon Clinton, Fust. llel. ii. s. a. 559. ). It was proba-
her giving birth to a son, Astrages committed it to bly at this time that Cyrus received that name,
Harpagus, his most confidential attendant, with which is a Persian word (Kohr), signifying the
orders to kill it. Harpagus, moved with pity, and Sun.
fearing the revenge of Mandane, instead of killing In the interval during which we hear nothing
the child himself, gare it to a herdsman of Astvages certain of Cyrus, he was doubtless employed in
named Mitmdates, who was to expose it, and to consolidating his newly-acquired empire. Indeed
satisfy Harpagus of its death. But while the there are some notices (though not in Herodotus)
herdsman was in attendance on Astyages, his from which we may infer that a few of the cities
wife had brought forth a still-born child, which of Media refused to submit to him, and that he
they substituted for the child of Mandane, who only reduced them to obedience after a long and
was reared as the son of the herdsman, but was obstinate resistance (Xen. Anal. iii. 4. § 7. )
not yet called Cyrus. The name he bore seems The gradual consolidation and extension of the
from a passage of Strabo (xv. p. 729) to have been Persian empire during this period is also stated
Agradates, 'Aypaðárns. When he was ten years incidentally by Herodotus in introducing his ac-
old, his true parentage was discovered by the fol- count of the conquest of Lydia, which is the next
lowing incident. In the sports of his village, the event recorded in the life of Cyrus. It took place
boys chose him for their king, and he ordered them in 546 B. C. (CroESUS ]
all exactly as was done by the Median king. One The Ionian and Aeolian colonies of Asia Minor
of the boys, the son of a noble Median named now sent ambassadors to Cyrus, offering to submit
Artembares, disobeyed his commands, and Cyrus to him on the same terms as they had obtained
caused him to be severely scourged. Artembares from Croesus. But Cyrus, who had in vain in-
complained to Astyages, who sent for Cyrus, in vited the Ionians to revolt from Croesus at the
whose person and courage he discovered his beginning of the war, gave them to understand,
daughter's son. The herdsman and Harpagus, by a significant fable, that they must prepare for
being summoned before the king, told him the the worst. With the Milesians alone he made an
truth. Astyages forgave the herdsman, but re-alliance on the terms they offered. The other
venged himself on Harpagus by serving up to him Ionian states fortified their cities, assembled at
at a banquet the flesh of his own son, with other the Panionium, and, with the Aeolians, sent to
circumstances of the most refined cruelty. As to Sparta for assistance. The Lacedaemonians re-
his grandson, by the advice of the Vagians, who fused to assist them, but sent Cyrus a message
assured him that his dreams were fulfilled by the threatening him with their displeasure if he should
boy's having been a king in sport, and that he meddle with the Greek cities. Having sent back
had nothing more to fear from him, he sent him a contemptuous answer to this message, Cyrus re-
back to his parents in Persia
turned to the Median capital, Ecbatana, taking
When Cyrus grew up towards manhood, and Croesus with him, and committing the government
shewed himself the most courageous and amiable of Sardis to a Persian, named Tabalus. He him-
of his fellows, Harpagus, who had concealed a self was eager to attempt the conquest of Babylon,
truly oriental desire of revenge under the mask of the Bactrian nation, the Sacae, and the Egyptians.
most profound submission to his master's will, sent He had no sooner left Asia Minor than a revolt of
presents to Cyrus, and ingratiated bimself with the states which had lately formed the Lydian
him. Among the Medians it was easy for Har- empire was raised by Pactyes, a Persian ; but,
pagus to form a party in favour of Cyrus, for the after a long and obstinate resistance, the whole of
tyranny of Astyages had made him odious. Hav- Asia Minor was reduced by Harpagus. (HARPA-
ing organized his conspiracy, Harpagus sent a GUS; PACTYES. ] In the mean time, Cyrus was
leiter secretly to Cyrus, inciting him to take re- engaged in subduing the nations of Upper Asia,
venge upon Astyages, and promising that the and particularly Assyria, which since the destruc-
Medes should desert to bim. Cyrus called to- tion of Ninus had Babylon for its capital. Its
gether the Persians, and having, by an ingenious king was Labynetus, the Belshazzar of Daniel.
practical lesson, excited them to revolt from the [LABYNETUS] Cyrus marched against Baby-
Median supremacy, he was chosen as their leader. lon at the head of a large army, and in great
Upon hearing of this, Astyages summoned Cyrus, state. He carried with him a most abundant
who replied that he would come to him sooner supply of provisions for his table ; and for his
than Astyages himself would wish. Astynges drink the water of the Choaspes, which flows by
armed the Medes, but was so infatuated (9061a- Susi, was carried in silver vessels.
He passed
6nis éav) as to give the command to Harpagus, the river Gyndes, a tributary of the Tigris, by
forgetting,” say's Herodotus, “ how he had treat- diverting its water into a great number of rills,
ed him. ” In the battle which ensued, some of the and arrived before Babylon in the second spring
Medes deserted to Cyrus, and the main body of from the commencement of his expedition. Hlav-
the army tied of their own accord. Astyages, having | ing defeated in battle the whole forces of the La-
## p. 922 (#942) ############################################
922
CYRUS.
CYRUS.
bylonians, he laid siege to the city, and after a dotus; but he says, that Cyrus was taken prisoner
long time he took it by diverting the course of the by the Scythian queen (evidently meaning To-
Euphrates, which flowed through the midst of it, myris), and that she crucified or impaled him.
so that his soldiers entered Babylon by the bed of Other variations, not worth specifying, are given
the river. So entirely unprepared were the Baby, by the chronographers and compilers.
Jonians for this mode of attack, that they were To form a complete and consistent life of Cyrus
engaged in revelry (év evrabeiro), and had left out of these statements is obviously impossible;
the gates which opened upon the river unguarded. but the leading events of his public life are made
This was in B. C. 538.
out with tolerable certainty, namely, the dethrone-
After Cyrus had subdued the Assyrians, he un- ment of Astyages, the conquest of the Lydian and
dertook the subjugation of the Massagetac, a peo- Assyrian empires, his schemes to become master
ple dwelling beyond the Araxes. Cyrus offered of all Asia and of Egypt, and his death in a battle
to marry Tomyris, the widowed queen of this peo- with one of the Asiatic tribes which he wished to
ple; but she refused the offer, saying that he subdue. His acquisition of the Median empire
woocd not her, but the kingdom of the Massagetac. was rather a revolution than a conquest. Hero-
The details of the war which followed may be read dotus expressly states, that Cyrus had a large
in Herodotus. It ended in the death of Cyrus in party among the Medes before his rebellion, and
battle. Tomyris caused his corpse to be found that, after the defeat of Astyages, the nation vo-
among the slain, and having cut off the head, luntarily received him as their king.
This was
threw it into a bag filled with human blood, that very natural, for besides the harshness of the
he might satiate himself (she said) with blood. government of Astyages, Cyrus was the next
According to Herodotus, Cyrus had reigned 29 | heir to the throne, the Medes were effeminate,
years. Other writers say 30. He was killed in and the Persians were hardy. The kingdom
B. C. 529. (Clinton, F. II. vol. ii. sub anno. ) remained, as before, the united kingdom of
The account of Ctesias differs considerably in “the Medes and Persians," with the difference,
some points from that of Herodotus. According that the supremacy was transferred from the for-
to him, there was no relationship between Cyrus mer to the latter; and then in process of time it
and Astvages. At the conquest of Media by Cy- came to be generally called the Persian empire,
rus, Astyages fled to Ecbatana, and was there though the kings and their people were still, even
concealed by his daughter Amytis, and her hus- down to the time of Alexander, often spoken of as
band, Spitamas, whom, with their children, Cyrus Medes. If Cyrus had quietly succeeded to the
would have put to the torture, had not Astyages throne, in virtue of his being the grandson of the
discovered himself. When he did so, he was put Median king Astyages, it seems difficult to ac-
in fetters by Oebaras, but soon afterwards Cyrus count for this change. The mere fact of Cyrus's
luimself set him free, honoured him as a father, father being a Persian is hardly enough to explain
and married his daughter Amytis, haring put her it.
husband to death for telling a falsehood. (Asty- With regard to the order of Cyrus's conquests
AGE. ] Ctesias also says, that Cyrus made war in Asia, there seems much confusion. It is clear
apon the Bactrians, who voluntarily submitted to that there was a struggle for supremacy between
him, when they heard of his reconciliation with Cyrus and the king of Babylon, the latter having
Astyages and Amytis. He mentions a war with become master of Mesopotamia and Syria by the
the Sacae, in which Cyrus was taken prisoner and conquests of Nebuchadnezzar. It was in fact a
ransomed. He gives a somewhat different account struggle between the Zend tribes, which formed
of the Lydian war. (Ctesias, Pers. c. 5; Croesus.
) the Medo-Persian empire, and the Semitic tribes
Cyrus met with his death, according to Ctesias, by under the king of Babylon, for the supremacy of
a wound received in battle with a nation called the Asia. We can scarcely determine whether Cyrus
Derbices, who were assisted by the Indians. conquered Lydia before making any attack on
Strabo also mentions the expedition against the Babylon, and perhaps in this matter Xenophon
Sacae, and says, that Cyrus was at first defeated may have preserved something like the true suc-
but afterwards victorious. He also says, that Cy- cession of events. That Croesus was in alliance
rus made an expedition into India, from which with Babylon is stated also by Herodotus, who
country he escaped with difficulty.
however, makes Croesus entirely the aggressor in
The chief points of difference between Xeno- the Lydian war. No clear account can be given of
phon and Herodotus are the following : Xenophon his campaigns in Central Asia, but the object of
represents Cyrus as brought up at his grandfather's them was evidently to subdue the whole of Asia
court, as serving in the Median army under his as far as the Indus.
uncle Cyaxares, the son and successor of Astyages, With respect to the main points of difference
of whom Herodotus and Ctesias know nothing ; between Herodotus and the Cyropaedeia, besides
as making war upon Babylon simply as the general what has been said above of the historical value of
of Cyaxares, who remained at home during the Xenophon's book, if it could be viewed as a his-
latter part of the Assyrian war, and permitted tory at all, its real design is the great thing to be
Cyrus to assume without opposition the power and kept in view; and that design is stated by Xeno-
state of an independent sovereign at Babylon; as phon himself with sufficient clearness. He wished
marrying the daughter of Cyaxares; and at length to shew that the government of men is not so dif-
dying quietly in his bed, after a sage and Socratic ficult as is commonly supposed, provided that the
discourse to his children and friends. The Lydian ruler be wise ; and io illustrate this he holds forth
war of Cyrus is represented by Xenophon as a the example of Cyrus, whom he endows with all
sort of episode in the Assyrian war, occasioned by virtue, courage, and wisdom, and whose conduct is
the help wbich Croesus had given to the Assyrians meant for a practical illustration and his discourses
in the first campaign of Cyrus against them. for an exposition of the maxims of the Socratic
Diodorus agrees for the most part with lero- | philosophy, so far as Xenophon was capable of
## p. 923 (#943) ############################################
CYRUS.
923
CYRUS.
understanding it. Of course it would not have | In the passage of Aeschylus, which is sometimes
done to have represented this beau ideal of a phi- quoted as confirming Xenophon (Astrages), the
Josnpliic king as the dethroner of his own grand- two kings before Cyrus are clearly Phraortes and
father, as the truc Asiatic despot and conqueror, Cyaxares, or Cyaxares and Astynges. At all
and as the victim of his own ambitious schemes. events, no room is left for Cyaxares Il. The most
It seems incredible that any one should rise from natural explanation seems to be, that Phraortes, in
the perusal of the Cyropacdcia without the firm whose reign the Persians were subjected to the
conviction that it is a romance, and, moreover, Viedes, and who was therefore the first king of
that its author never meant it to be taken for any the united Medes and Persians, is meant in the
thing else ; and still more incredible is it that any line
one should have recognized in the picture of Xeno- Μήδος γαρ ήν ο πρώτος ηγεμών στρατού.
phon the verisimilitude of an Asiatic conqueror in the next line admirably describes Cyaxares, who
the sixth century before Christ. That Cyrus was took Ninus, and consolidated the empire.
a great man, is proved by the empire he establish-
'Αλλος δ' εκείνου παίς τόδ' έργον ήνυσε.
ed; that he was a good man, according to the
virtues of his age and country, we need not doubt; If so, Astyages is omitted, probably because he
but if we would seek further for his likeness, we did not complete his reign, but was dethroned by
must assuredly look rather at Genghis Khan or Cyrus, who is thus reckoned the third Media
Timour than at the Cyrus of Xenophon.
Persian king, Tρίτος δ' απ' αυτού Κυρos. For the
It has, however, been supposed, that the state- d' ait où surely refers to the person who is called
ment of Xenophon about Cyaxares II. is confirmed pŵTos. On the other hand, the account which
by Scripture ; for that Dareius the Mede, who, ac- Herodotus gives of the transference of the Median
cording to Daniel, reigns after the taking of Baby- empire to the Persians is in substance confirmed by
lon (for two years, according to the chronologers) Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Anaximenes, Dinon,
and before the first year of Cyrus, can be no other Ctesias, Amyntas, Strabo, Cephalion, Justin, Plu-
(this is the utmost that can be asserted) than tarch, Polyaenus, and even by Xenophon himself
Cyaxares II. This matter seems susceptible of a in the Anabasis, as above quoted. (See Clinton,
better explanation than it has yet received. i. pp. 262, 263. ) Much light would be thrown
1. Xenophon's Cyaxares is the son of Astyages; on the subject if the date of Cyrus's birth could be
Dareius the Mede is the son of Ahasuerus. Now, fixt; but this is impossible. Dinon says, that he
it is almost beyond a doubt that Ahasuerus is the was seventy at his death ; but this is improbable
Hebrew form of the Persian name or title which for various reasons, and Herodotus evidently con-
the Greeks called Xerxes, and Cyaxares seems to sidered him much younger.
be simply the form of the same word used in the None but the sacred writers mention the edict
Median dialect. Cyaxares, the son of Phraortes, of Cyrus for the return of the Jews. A motive
is called Ahasuerus in Tobit xiv. 15. It is granted for that step may be perhaps found in what Hero-
that this argument is not decisive, but, so far as it dotus says about his designs on Egypt. The very
goes, it is against the identification.
remarkable prophecy relating to the destruction of
2. After the taking of Babylon, Dareius the Babylon and the restoration of the Jews by Cyrus
Mede receives the kingdom, and exercises all the is in Isaiah xliv. xlv. , besides other important
functions of royalty, with great power and splen- passages in Isaiah and Jeremiah, which predict
dour, evidently at Babylon. But in Xenophon the fall of Babylon without mentioning the name
it is Cyrus who does this, and Cyaxares nerer of Cyrus, and the corresponding history is in the
comes near Babylon at all after its capture, but books of Daniel, Ezra, and 2 Chron. xxxvi. 22,
remains in Media, totally eclipsed and almost su- 23. The language of the proclamation of Cyrus,
perseded by Cyrus. There are other arguments as recorded both in Ezra i. 2 and Chron. xxxvi.
which seem to shew clearly that, whoever Dareius 22, seems to countenance the idea that he was
the Mede may have been (a point difficult enough acquainted, as he might easily be through Daniel,
to decide), he was not the Cyaxares of Xenophon. with the prophecy of Isaiah. “The Lord God of
The matter cannot be further discussed here, but heaven. . . hath charged me to build hin an house
the result of a most careful examination of it is, at Jerusalem, which is in Judah” (compare Isaiah
that in some important points the statements of xliv. 28, xlv. 13); but beyond this one point there is
Xenophon cannot be reconciled with those of nothing to sustain the notion of Hales and others,
Daniel; and that a much more probable explana- that Cyrus was more than an unconscious instru-
tion is, that Dareius was a noble Median, who held ment in accomplishing the designs of Providence.
the sovereignty as the viceroy of Cyrus, until the The contrary is intimated in Isaiah xlv. 5.
latter found it convenient to fix his court at Baby-
In the East Cyrus was long regarded as the
lon ; and there are some indications on which a greatest hero of antiquity, and hence the fables by
conjecture might be founded that this viceroy which his history is obscured. The Persians remeni-
was Astyages. It is quite natural that the year bered him as a father (Herod. iii. 89, 100), and
in which Cyrus began to reign in person at Baby- | his fane passed, through the Greeks, to the Euro-
lon should be reckoned (as it is by the Hebrew peans, and the classical writers abound with allu-
writers) the first year of his reign over the whole sions to him. His sepulchre at Pasargadae was
empire. This view is confirmed by the fact, that visited by Alexander the Great. (Arrian, vi. 29 ;
in the prophecies of the destruction of Babylon it Plut. diex. 69. ) Pasargadae is said to have been
is Cyrus, and not any Median king, that is spoken built on the spot where Cyrus placed his camp
of. Regarding this difficulty, then, as capable of when he defeated Astyages, and in its immediate
being explained, it remains that Xenophon's state- neighbourhood the city of Persepolis grew up.
ment about Cyaxares II. is entirely unsupported. The tomb of Cyrus has perished, but his name is
Xenophon seems to have introduced Cyaxares found on monuments at Murghab, north of Perse-
simply as a foil to set off the virtues of Cyrus. polis, which place, indeed, some antiquarians tako
## p. 924 (#944) ############################################
924
CYRUS.
CYRUS.
for Pasargadae. (IIerodotus, lib. i. ; Ctesias, ed. | mect him. The numbers of the two armies aro
Lion; Xenophon, Cyropaedcia ; Diodorus ; Justin; variously stated. Artaxerxes had from 400. 000
Sirabo; and other ancient authors; Clinton, Fast. to a million of men ; Cyrus had about 100,000
Dell. i. ii. supplements; Heeren, Iileen (Asiatiche Asiatics and 13,000 Grecks. The battle was at
scurches); Schlosser, Univ. Geschich. d. alt. Welt; first altogether in favour of Cyrus. His Greek
Hockh, Vet. Ved, ei Pers. Alonum. ) [P. S. ] troops on the right routed the Asiatics who were
CYRUS, THE YOUNGER, the second of the four opposed to them; and he himself pressed forward
sons of Dareius Nothus, king of Persia, and of Pa- in the centre against his brother, and had even
fysatis, was appointed by his father commander (ka- wounded him, when he was killed by one of the
pavos or otpathyós) of the maritime parts of Asia king's body-guard. Aruxcrxes caused his head
Minor, and satrap of Lydia, Phrygia, and Cappadocia. and right hand to be struck off, and sought to
(B. C. 407. ) He carried with him a large sum of have it believed that Cyrus had fallen by his
money to aid the Lacedaemonians in the Pelopon- hand. Parysatis took a cruel revenge on the
nesian war, and by the address of Lysander he was suspected slayers and mutilators of her son. The
induced to help them even more than his father details of the expedition of Cyrus and of the
had commissioned him to do. The bluntness of events which followed his death may be read in
Cillicratidas caused him to withdraw his aid, but Xenophon's Anabusis. This attempi of an ambi-
on the return of Lysander to the command it was tious young prince to usurp his brother's throne
renewed with the greatest liberality. (Callicra- led ultimately to the greatest resulis, for by it
TIDAS; LYSANDER; TissAPHERNES. ] There is the path into the centre of the Persian empire
no doubt that Cyrus was already meditating the was laid open to the Greeks, and the way was
attempt to succeed his father on the throne of prepared for the conquests of Alexander. The
Persia, and that he sought through Lysander to character of Cyrus is drawn by Xenophon in the
provide for aid from Sparta. Cyrus, indeed, be- brightest colours. It is enough to say that his
trayed his anıbitious spirit, by putting to death ambition was gilded by all those brilliant qualities
tivo Persians of the blood royal, for not observing in which win men's hearts.
his presence a usage which was only due to the (Xenophon, llellen. i. 4, 5, ii. 1, jii. 1, Anab.
king. It was probably for this reason, and not i. , Cyrop. viii. 8. § 3, O con. iv. 16, 18, 21;
only on account of his own ill health, that Dareius Ctesias, Persica, i. 44, 49, Fr. li. , lii. , liii. , liv. ,
summoned Cyrus to his presence. (B. C. 405. ) Be | lvii. , ed. Lion; ap. Phot. p. 42, b. 10, 43, b. 10,
fore leaving Sardis, Cyrus sent for Lysander and 44, a. 14, ed. Bekker; Isocr. Panath. 39 ; Plut.
assigned to him his revenues for the prosecution of Lys. 4, 9; Artur. 3, 6, 13–17; Diod. xij. 70,
the war.
He then went to his father, attended | 104, xiv. 6, 11, 12, 19, 20, 22. ) [P. S. ]
by a body of 500 Greek mercenaries, and taking CYRUS, a rhetorician, of uncertain age, is the
with himn Tissaphernes, nominally as a mark of author of a work Tepi Alaoopas stáoewy in the
honour, but really for fear of what he might do in Aldine collection of the Greek orators, reprinted,
his absence. He arrived in Media just in time to more correctly, in Walz's Greek Orators, viii. p.
witness his father's death and the accession of his 386, &c. Fabricius suspects that the anonymous
elder brother, Artaxerxes Mnemon (R. C. 404), work entitled Mpobaríuata 'PnTopinà eis Etdoels
though his mother, Parysatis, whose favourite son was written by the same person. (Fabric. Bibl.
Cyrus was, had endeavoured to persuade Dareius to Graec. vi. pp. 102, 128 ; Walz, l. c. ; Wester-
appoint him as his successor, on the ground that he mann, Geschichte der Griech. Bercutsamkeit, S
had been born after, but his brother Artaxerxes 101. )
[P. S. ]
before, the accession of Dareius. This attempt, of CYRUS(Kúpos), the name of several physicians.
course, excited the jealousy of Artaxerxes, which 1. Cyrus (called also in some editions Syrus), a
was further enflamed by information from Tissa- native of Alexandria, who lived in the fifth cen-
pheres, that Cyrus was plotting against his life. tury after Christ. He was first a physician and
Artaxerxes, therefore, arrested his brother and philosopher, and afterwards became a monk. He
condemned him to death; but, on the intercession is said to have been an eloquent man, and to have
of Parysatis, he spared his life and sent him back written against Nestorius. (S. Gennadius, de
to his satrapy: Cyrus now gave himself up to the Illustr. l'ir. c. 81. )
design of dethroning his brother. By his affability 2. A physician at Edessa, one of whose medi-
and by presents, he endeavoured to corrupt those cines is quoted by Aëtius (ii. 2. 91, p. 292), and
of the Persians who past between the court of who attained the dignity of Archiater. He must
Artaxerxes and his own; but he relied chiefly on have lived between the second and fifth centuries
a force of Greek mercenaries, which he raised on aſter Christ, as the office of Archiater was first
the pretext that he was in danger from the hostility conferred on Andromachus, the physician of Nero.
of Tissaphernes. When his preparations were (Dict. of Ant.
