THE MEDIAN AND THE CYROPAEDIA OF XENOPHON. 



15 



give of the fusion of the Medes and Persians into one people 

 to be absolutely unhistorical. 



And now we come to the history of the career of Cyrus as 

 recorded by Xenophon in the Cyropaedia. He relates that 

 Cyrus was the son of Cambyses, King of Persia, and Mandane 

 daughter of Astyages, King of Media. This Astyages was son 

 of that Cyaxares who was joined in the confederacy composed 

 of Scythians, Egyptians, Medes, Babylonians, and other States 

 of Western Asia, who by the siege and capture of Nineveh 

 brought to such a sudden and tragic end the mighty Empire 

 of Assyria. Thus on his father's side Cyrus was descended from 

 the royal line of the Achaemenian kings of Persia, and on his 

 mother's side from the royal line of Media. This pedigree on 

 the father's side, as we have seen, is abundantly confirmed by 

 the Inscriptions. 



Xenophon gives a very interesting and natural account of the 

 boyhood of Cyrus, when at twelve years of age he went on a visit 

 with his mother, Mandane, to his grandfather's court in Media. 

 There to his great delight he learned to ride, and by his boyish 

 charms became a special pet and favourite of his grandfather— 

 Astyages. After his return home to his father, Cambyses King of 

 Persia, he became conspicuous, first amongst his boyish com- 

 panions, and later on amongst the youth of Persia for his pro- 

 ficiency in horsemanship, and all other manly and warlike 

 exercises. In process of time, Xenophon relates, Astyages, 

 King of Media, died ; and his son Cyaxares succeeded to the 

 throne of Media. Shortly after his accession Cyaxares found 

 himself threatened by a powerful confederacy of enemies, of 

 whom the king of Babylon was the chief, and in view of this 

 attack which was about to be made upon him, Cyaxares sent a 

 message to his brother-in-law, Cambyses, requesting him to 

 despatch a force of Persian troops to assist him in the war ; and 

 making ifc a special request that his nephew Cyrus — who had 

 already become renowned for his prowess in arms — should be 

 sent in command of the contingent. 



His request was acceded to, and Cyrus was given a force of 

 30,000 Persians, which included 200 of the ruling caste of the 

 chief nobles of Persia — " the ofjuorlfMot " (or Peers) as they were 

 called, because they were all of equal rank. Cyrus having thus 

 been chosen to command the contingent, says Xenophon, 

 returned to his house, and having prayed to the goddess of 

 his paternal hearth ('Eo-Tta irarpcoa) and to the Supreme 



