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==Arguments for Cyaxares II==

==Arguments for Cyaxares II==

In Xenophon's historical narrative, some time after the natural death of his grandfather [[Astyages]], [[Cyrus II 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]].  In this narrative, it must be noted that all conquests are officially in the name of the alliance which was 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 II 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 II the Great|Cyrus]] campaigns with [[Cyaxares II]] at the first and then by himself until his eventual conquest of [[Babylon]].  This is position that Cyrus began in the employ of the Medes is consistent with [[Megasthenes]] retelling of an alleged prophetic utterance of [[Nebuchadnezzar II]] that at least seemed true enough to [[Megasthenes]] that "A Persian mule shall come, [and] shall impose upon you [Babylonians] the yoke of slavery: the author of which shall be a Mede."<ref>[[Megasthenes]], from [[Abydenus]], of Nebuchadnezzar,<br /> I.P. Cory ''The Ancient Fragments'', London, UK, 1873</ref>

This position when combined with Josephs' assertion that [[Darius the Mede]] was the son of [[Astyages]] but known to the Greeks by another name, it makes it only natural to conclude that:

* Darius the Mede is Cyaxares II.

 

* "Darius the Mede received (Aramaic: ''qabel'') the kingdom" (Dan. 5:31) despite being actually conquered by Cyrus" (Dan. 5:31) as  

This position of [[Xenophon]] which is consistent with [[Megasthenes]], when combined with [[Josephs]]' assertion that [[Darius the Mede]] was the son of [[Astyages]] but known to the Greeks by another name, it makes it only natural to conclude that:

* Darius the Mede is [[Cyaxares II]].

* "Darius the Mede received (Aramaic: ''qabel'') the kingdom" (Dan. 5:31) despite 'the kingdom' being actually conquered by Cyrus" (Dan. 5:31) as  

* Cyrus at that point was simply heir of Persia and the greatly loved General of the Coalition Army.

* Cyrus at that point was simply heir of Persia and the greatly loved General of the Coalition Army.