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'''Darius the Mede''' is a character appearing thrice in the biblical [[Book of Daniel]] and remains the subject of heated debate representing the last great hurdle to the contextually historical authenticity of book: skeptics claim him to be fictional while "historical harmonizers" suggest that the he is simply another name for an already known individual in history.

'''Darius the Mede''' is a character appearing thrice in the biblical [[Book of Daniel]].  The exact identity of "Darius the Mede" remains the subject of heated debate representing "the last great hurdle to the contextually historical authenticity of book" with skeptics claiming him to be fictional and "historical harmonizers" suggesting that this is simply another name for a real historical individual.

This subject is further complicated by [[Josephus]] simply stating that [[Darius the Mede]] was the son of [[Astyages]] king of the Medes and that he was known to the Greeks by another name.  While [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] ''Histories'' dramatic recount does not record [[Astyages]] son at all, but rather the kingdom passing directly to [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] by force of arms.

This subject is further complicated by [[Josephus]] simply stating that [[Darius the Mede]] was the son of [[Astyages]] king of the Medes and that he was known to the Greeks by another name, without qualifying what that was.  Meanwhile the broadly used "[[Herodotus|Father of History]]" also oft called "the Father of Lies" in his ''Histories'' dramatic recount, does not record [[Astyages]] having a son at all, but rather tells how the kingdom passed directly to [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] by force of arms.  Yet [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] account stands in direct opposition to [[Xenophon|Xenophon's]] far more extensive and detailed book on the subject known as the [[Cyropaedia]] (which does actually provide a natural solution to the subject).  But with the only extant clay tablets ''seeming'' to support the direct passage of power to [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus II]] and the [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] references to Cyaxares being questionable if they are [[Astyages]] father or [[Xenophon|Xenophon's]] claim of [[Cyaxares II]], the academic community remains divided.

Until further edits can be made, this subject is extensively covered on the page [[Ahasuerus]] under ''In the Book of Daniel''.

 

Until further edits can be made, this subject is somewhat extensively covered on the related page [[Ahasuerus]] under ''In the Book of Daniel''.