Changes

==Arguments for Fictional==

==Arguments for Fictional==

It is sufficient to say on this subject that without a clear clay tablet on the subject, skeptics hold the character of [[Darius the Mede]] to be purely fictional and therefore the entire chapter as fiction.  This is generally presented as evidence that the entire book is not considered to be of any historical value and to be disqualified entirely.

It is sufficient to say on this subject that without a clear clay tablet on the subject, skeptics hold the character of [[Darius the Mede]] to be purely fictional and therefore the entire chapter as fiction.  This as Barnes notes<ref>Barnes Commentary, ''Daniel 6:1, Section 2'' - "Considerable importance is to be attached to the question who was Darius the Mede, as it has been made a ground of objection to the Scripture narrative, that no person by that name is mentioned in the Greek writers."

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/daniel/6.htm</ref> is generally presented as evidence that the entire book is not considered to be of any historical value and to be disqualified entirely.

 

==Arguments for Cyaxares II==

==Arguments for Cyaxares II==

In Xenophon's historical narrative, some time after the natural death of his grandfather [[Astyages]], [[Cyrus the Great]], while still a youth and not yet king of Persia, entered into the employ of his uncle [[Cyaxares II]] as general of the army in a mutual defence pact against Assyria (Babylon).  In this capacity [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] campaigns with [[Cyaxares II]] at the first and then by himself until his eventual conquest of [[Babylon]] itself.  In this narrative, it must be noted that all conquests are officiall in the name of the alliance and ultimately at the expense and direction of the king of the Medes.  After which [[Cyrus the Great]] returns to the capital city of [[Ecbatana]] in Media and presents [[Cyaxares II]] with a palace in Babylon as a token of victory and receives [[Cyaxares II]]'s daughter as his wife with the kingdom of Media as her dowry.  Xenophon's account then details Cyrus' trip home to Persia where he receives the title of King upon the death of his father [[Cambyses I]].

In Xenophon's historical narrative, some time after the natural death of his grandfather [[Astyages]], [[Cyrus the Great]], while still a youth and not yet king of Persia, entered into the employ of his uncle [[Cyaxares II]] as general of the army in a mutual defence pact against Assyria (Babylon).  In this capacity [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] campaigns with [[Cyaxares II]] at the first and then by himself until his eventual conquest of [[Babylon]] itself.  In this narrative, it must be noted that all conquests are officiall in the name of the alliance and ultimately at the expense and direction of the king of the Medes.  After which [[Cyrus the Great]] returns to the capital city of [[Ecbatana]] in Media and presents [[Cyaxares II]] with a palace in Babylon as a token of victory and receives [[Cyaxares II]]'s daughter as his wife with the kingdom of Media as her dowry.  Xenophon's account then details Cyrus' trip home to Persia where he receives the title of King upon the death of his father [[Cambyses I]].