Changes

== Original Sources ==

== Original Sources ==

The son of [[Astyages]], [[Cyaxares II]] (not to be confused with [[Cyaxares I]], father of [[Astyages]]) does not ''specifically'' exist in any surviving or currently available extant cuniform tablets or the likes; but he does possibly exist with a potential dual reference in the monumental [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]].  Meanwhile the strongest ''specific'' literary evidence for his existence lies within the pages [[Xenophon|Xenohon's]] ''[[Cyropaedia]]'', who as a Greek military commander served in [[Cyrus the Younger|Cyrus']] army.  This work was so highly prized by [[Alexander the Great]], that he made it his perpetual study; by extension it was obviously also recommended to him by his mentor and tutor [[Aristotle]].  This combined with a possible identity match with Josephus' [[Darius the Mede]] "who is known to the Greeks by another name" creates a good case.  Compoundingly, two of the rebels listed in [[Darius I|Darius I's]] [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] claimed "to be of the family of Cyaxares": which has naturally created debate if these are references to [[Cyaxares I]] or to the possible [[Cyaxares II]].

The son of [[Astyages]], [[Cyaxares II]] (not to be confused with [[Cyaxares I]], father of [[Astyages]]) does not ''specifically'' exist in any surviving or currently available extant cuniform tablets or the likes; but he does possibly exist with a potential dual reference in the monumental [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]].  Meanwhile the strongest ''specific'' literary evidence for his existence lies within the pages [[Xenophon|Xenohon's]] ''[[Cyropaedia]]'', who as a Greek military commander served in [[Cyrus the Younger|Cyrus']] army.  This work was so highly prized by [[Alexander the Great]], that he made it his perpetual study<ref>Xenophon, 'Cyropaedia'', Introduction, Delphi Classics, 2013, Hastings, UK</ref>; by extension it was obviously also recommended to him by his mentor and tutor [[Aristotle]]. Likewise did [[Julius Caesar]] and [[Scipio Africanus]] is reported to have carried it with him everywhere<ref>Xenophon, 'Cyropaedia'', Introduction, Delphi Classics, 2013, Hastings, UK</ref>.  This combined with a possible identity match with Josephus' [[Darius the Mede]] "who is known to the Greeks by another name" creates a good case.  Compoundingly, two of the rebels listed in [[Darius I|Darius I's]] [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] claimed "to be of the family of Cyaxares": which has naturally created debate if these are references to [[Cyaxares I]] or to the possible [[Cyaxares II]].

Alternitively, [[Cyaxares II]] does not appear in Ptolemy's Canon<ref>Livius, Ptolemy's Canon; https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/ptolemys-canon/</ref> or the Uruk King List<ref>Livius, Uruk King List;https://www.livius.org/sources/content/uruk-king-list/</ref>, but neither of these feature [[Belshazzar]] who became effective king of Babylon after his father [[Nabonidas]] capture: now confirmed to us by the Nabonidus Cylinder (from Ur)<ref>Livius, ''Nabonidus Cylinder from Ur'',https://www.livius.org/sources/content/nabonidus-cylinder-from-ur/</ref><ref>Livius, ''ABC 7 (Nabonidus Chronicle)'', Column iii.16, https://www.livius.org/sources/content/mesopotamian-chronicles-content/abc-7-nabonidus-chronicle/</ref>.

Alternitively, [[Cyaxares II]] does not appear in Ptolemy's Canon<ref>Livius, Ptolemy's Canon; https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/ptolemys-canon/</ref> or the Uruk King List<ref>Livius, Uruk King List;https://www.livius.org/sources/content/uruk-king-list/</ref>, but neither of these feature [[Belshazzar]] who became effective king of Babylon after his father [[Nabonidas]] capture: now confirmed to us by the Nabonidus Cylinder (from Ur)<ref>Livius, ''Nabonidus Cylinder from Ur'',https://www.livius.org/sources/content/nabonidus-cylinder-from-ur/</ref><ref>Livius, ''ABC 7 (Nabonidus Chronicle)'', Column iii.16, https://www.livius.org/sources/content/mesopotamian-chronicles-content/abc-7-nabonidus-chronicle/</ref>.

=== In the works of Xenophon ===

=== In the works of Xenophon ===

According to [[Xenophon]], ''Cyaxares II'' ruled as king after the natural death of [[Astyages]] and sought to defended [[Media|Medes]] from Assyrian/[[Babylonia|Babylonian]] aggression, promoting his yet unascended nephew [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] as General/leader of the allied forces.  Furthermore, [[Xenophon]] in great detail records the history of [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus']] pre-emptive strike and campaign with ''Cyaxares II'', the first battle of which the king of Babylon (probably [[Neriglissar]]) was decisively defeated and slain.  During the plunder of this battle [[Cyaxares II]] and [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] were seperated and Cyrus continued to campaign alone with Cyaxares II presumably returning to [[Ecbatana]].  The volume records how Cyrus fused the alliance of nations under his banner until after several years Cyrus stands at the very gates of [[Babylon]] itself.  Xenophon then very significantly records how after the conquest of [[Babylon]], [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] gifted travelled to [[Ecbatana]] wherein he met [[Cyaxares II]], gifting him a palace in Babylon and accepted the hand of his daughter with the Kingdom of Media as her dowry.  [[Xenophon]] then records how [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] travelled to Persia after the death of his father [[Cambyses I]] to receive his father's office.

According to [[Xenophon]], ''Cyaxares II'' ruled as king after the natural death of [[Astyages]] and sought to defended [[Medes|Media]] from Assyrian/[[Babylonia|Babylonian]] aggression, promoting his yet unascended nephew [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus]] as General/leader of the allied forces.  Furthermore, [[Xenophon]] in great detail records the history of [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus']] pre-emptive strike and campaigns with ''Cyaxares II'', the first battle of which the king of Babylon (probably [[Neriglissar]]) was decisively defeated and slain.  During the plunder of this battle [[Cyaxares II]] and [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] were separated and Cyrus continued to campaign alone with [[Cyaxares II]] eventually returning to [[Ecbatana]].  The volume records how Cyrus fused the alliance of nations under his banner until after several years Cyrus stands at the very gates of [[Babylon]] itself.  [[Xenophon]] then very significantly records how after the conquest of [[Babylon]], [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] travelled to [[Ecbatana]] wherein he met [[Cyaxares II]], gifting him a palace in Babylon and accepted the hand of his daughter with the Kingdom of Media as her dowry.  [[Xenophon]] then records how [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] travelled to Persia after the death of his father [[Cambyses I]] to receive his father's office.

This record stands in direct contrast with the [[Nabonidus Chronicle]] but offers a satifactory reason why the [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] twice has rebels claiming to be "of the family of Cyaxares" and not "of the family of Astyages".  It further sits in harmony with Josephus claim that "Darius the Mede" was the son of Astyages but known to the Greeks by another name. This furthermore makes the Book of Daniel's claim that Darius the Mede "took the kingdom" at the conquest of Babylon perfectly logical.  

This record stands in direct contrast with the [[Nabonidus Chronicle]], [[Herodotus]], [[Ctesias]], [[Canon of Ptolemy]] and the [[Uruk King List]] on the one side.  But on the other, it alone offers a satisfactory reason as to why the [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] twice has rebels claiming to be "of the family of Cyaxares"<ref>[[Darius I]], Behistun Inscription, Rebellion of  Phraortes, https://www.livius.org/sources/content/behistun-persian-text/behistun-t-13/</ref><ref>[[Darius I]], Behistun Inscription, Rebellion of Tritantaechmes, https://www.livius.org/sources/content/behistun-persian-text/behistun-t-21/</ref> and not "of the family of Astyages"; while it must also be noted that if these rebels were referring to [[Astyages]] father [[Cyaxares I]], then claims to the throne that are over a hundred years old does not make for a strong case! It must also be noted that this inscription is the dictate of [[Darius I]] himself, who in turn is the son of one [[Cyrus II the Great|Cyrus']] right hand men who lived these events. Now when one considers the [[Book of Daniel|Book of Daniel's]] claim that Darius the Mede "took the kingdom" (rather than the Cyrus) despite known physical history, this claim is harmonized when [[Josephus]] records that "Darius the Mede" "was the son of Astyages" but "known to the Greeks by another name".

 

Herein, historians are forced to make a choice between the account of [[Xenophon|Xenophon's]] [[Cyropaedia]], backed by the immensely authoritative [[Behistun (insription)|Behistun Inscription]], or these contrary works.

=== In the works of Josephus ===

=== In the works of Josephus ===