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Media

Homeland of the Medes in the western Iranian plateau, before and after 550 BCE

In the game: Level 2: The Spear-bearer, Level 3: The Lie

Media was the land of the Medes, around Ecbatana in the hills of the western plateau. Cyrus took over its kingdom from Astyages, usually dated to about 550, and the Persians afterwards kept Median rank, horses and court practice. Its revolt under Fravartish in 522-521 was one of the risings Darius had to put down at the start of his reign.

In the game: The game names Media in the Chronicle and in event articles, including the revolt of Fravartish and the Nisaean horse. It is not a level or place of its own and has no mechanic.

Land and capital

Ancient account

Herodotus says Deioces gathered the Medes under one king and founded Ecbatana as his capital. This is a Greek account written long after the events, and it is partly a moral tale about kingship. The archaeology of the Median homeland is thin, so the size and organisation of the kingdom are not well known.

Herodotus 1.96-98

Cyrus and the end of Astyages

In the record

The Nabonidus Chronicle records that Astyages' army revolted against him and delivered him to Cyrus, and that Cyrus took Ecbatana and carried off its silver, gold and goods. This is the contemporary record of the end of Median rule, usually dated to about 550.

Nabonidus Chronicle (Babylonian Chronicles)

Herodotus on the fall of Astyages

Ancient account

Herodotus gives a longer story in which Harpagus, wronged by Astyages, helped Cyrus to win. The tale is told from the Greek side and its details cannot be checked against Persian documents.

Herodotus 1.108-130

Was there a Median empire?

Disputed

Herodotus speaks of Median rule over much of Asia before Cyrus, and some modern historians have imagined a Median empire. Others, such as Briant, doubt that the Medes ruled an organised empire of that kind. Darius's inscriptions list Media among the lands, and Medes served the Persian kings in high posts.

P. Briant, From Cyrus to Alexander, 2002

The revolt of Fravartish

In the record

Darius's Behistun inscription says Fravartish claimed to be Khshathrita of the family of Cyaxares and made himself king in Media. Darius says he sent Hydarnes, a Persian, with an army, and that Fravartish was later captured and taken to Ecbatana, where he was mutilated and impaled. The revolt belongs to the series of risings in 522-521.

DB §24-25

Nisaean horses

Ancient account

Herodotus says that large horses called Nisaean drew the sacred chariot in Xerxes' procession, and he names a plain of that name in Media. Where Nisaea lay is still uncertain.

Herodotus 7.40