Cyrus and Astyages in Herodotus
The account given by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus relates that Astyages had a dream in which his daughter, Mandane, gave birth to a son who would destroy his empire. Fearful of the dream's prophecy, Astyages married her off to Cambyses I of Anšan, who had a reputation for being a "quiet and thoughtful prince" and whom Astyages believed to be no threat. Herodotus correctly names Cyrus' parents, though he does not know that Cambyses was a king. cf. How, W. W., & Wells, J. (1991). A commentary on Herodotus with introduction and appendixes. Oxford : Oxford University Press. i.107 When a second dream warned Astyages of the dangers of Mandane's offspring, Astyages sent his general Harpagus to kill the child, who was none other than Cyrus himself. Modern scholarship generally rejects his claim that Cyrus was the grandson of Astyages. cf. How and Wells i.107 Harpagus, unwilling to spill royal blood, gave the infant to a shepherd, Mitridates, whose wife had just given birth to a stillborn child. Mitridates, or Mithridates, is connected to Mithra, cf. Faustulus, who discovered Romulus and Remus, and his connection with Faunus. Cyrus was raised as Mitridates' own son, and Harpagus presented the stillborn child to Astyages as the dead Cyrus. When Cyrus was found alive at age ten, Astyages spared the boy on the advice of his Magi, returning him to his parents in Anshan. Harpagus, however, did not escape punishment, as Astyages is said to have fed him his own son at a banquet. Cyrus succeeded his father in 559, and in 553, on the advice of Harpagus, who was eager for revenge for being given the "abominable supper," Cyrus rebelled against Astyages. After three years of fighting, Astyages' troops mutinied during the battle of Pasargadae, and Cyrus conquered the Median's empire. Astyages was spared by Cyrus, and despite being taunted by Harpagus, Herodotus says he was treated well and remained in Cyrus' court until his death. Rather than giving the popular mythology that Cyrus was suckled by a dog,The dog was sacred to Persians. cf. also the legend of Sargon, or the similar legend of Romulus and Remus, suckled by a she-wolf. (Latin: Lupa) Herodotus explains that the herdsman Mitridates lived with another of Astyages' slaves, namely a woman named 'Spaco,' which he explains is Median for "dog."Herodotus i.110, Justin (i.4) gives both the legend and Herodotus' rationalized version. cf. How and Well, i.110
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