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Line 11: − + − 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 name was. − Meanwhile the broadly used "[[Herodotus|Father of History]]" also oft called "the Father of Lies" in his dramatic recount, records that [[Astyages]] had no son, but rather tells how the kingdom passed directly to [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] by force of arms <ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'' 1.109.3, 1.129.4</ref>.+ + − Thus [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] account stands in direct opposition to [[Josephus|Josephus']] statement and [[Xenophon|Xenophon's]] far more extensive and detailed book on the subject which extensively relates how [[Astyages|Astyages']] son was [[Cyaxares II]], which when combined with Josephus provides a natural solution on the subject.+ − But with the only extant clay tablets, the [[Uruk King List]] and [[Ptolemy's Canon]] (of which, both of the latter are known not to be perfect) ''seeming'' to support the direct passage of power to [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus II]], the grounds for debate have been established. Meanwhile the most authoritative [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] of [[Darius I]] does reference "Cyaxares" twice, but it remains questionable if these refer to [[Astyages]] father [[Cyaxares I]] or son [[Cyaxares II]]. Therefore the academic community remains divided.+ − + + + + + + + + + + + + + Line 77:
Line 89: − ==In Daniel 5==+ − ==In Daniel 10 through 11==+ − ==External Links==+ + + + − ==Resources==+ +
Grammatical rework and some extra structure improvements
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</TABLE>
'''Darius the Mede''' is a character appearing thrice in the biblical [[Book of Daniel]]. Meanwhile 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": leading skeptics to claim ''Darius the Mede'' is nothing more than an easily dismissed fictional character, while reversely the class of "historical harmonizers" suggesting that ''Darius the Mede'' is simply another name for an existing historical figure.
'''Darius the Mede''' is a character appearing thrice in the biblical [[Book of Daniel]]. Meanwhile 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": leading skeptics to claim ''Darius the Mede'' is nothing more than an easily dismissed fictional character, while reversely the class of "historical harmonizers" suggest that ''Darius the Mede'' is simply another name for an existing historical figure which is debated, but favours [[Cyaxares II]].
=Summary of the Debate=
The subject is debated because the source documents are contrary one to another. Below is an overview of the situation.
The most natural secondary source to any biblical story is [[Josephus|Josephus']] ''History of the Jews''. But when [[Josephus]] touches on ''Darius the Mede'', he simply states that Darius the Mede was the son of [[Astyages]] king of the [[Medes]] and that he was known to the [[Greek|greeks]] by another name, without qualifying what that name was.
Meanwhile turning the pages of the third centuary BC [[Greek]] author and [[Mercenary|mercenary]] [[Xenophon]] in his ''Cyropedia'', he (with great detail) records the history of [[Astyages|Astyages']] son [[Cyaxares II]] and that he inherited the kingdom upon his father's aged death.
It must also be noted that while a host of other individuals have been proposed for the identity of ''Darius the Mede'', the case for synergy with [[Cyaxares II]] remains the most historically plausible outcome.
But the broadly used "[[Herodotus|Father of History]]" also oft called "the Father of Lies" in his dramatic recount, records that [[Astyages]] had no son, but rather tells how the kingdom passed directly to [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus]] by force of arms <ref>[[Herodotus]], ''Histories'' 1.109.3, 1.129.4</ref>.
Thus [[Herodotus|Herodotus']] account stands in direct opposition to [[Josephus|Josephus']] statement and [[Xenophon|Xenophon's]] far more extensive and detailed book on the subject. Yet however, when [[Xenophon]] is combined with [[Josephus]], the two provide a natural and complete solution on the subject.
As a further complication, since the only extant clay tablets (the [[Uruk King List]] and [[Ptolemy's Canon]]) ''seem'' to support the direct passage of power from [[Astyages]] to [[Cyrus the Great|Cyrus II]]. Yet these lists are commonly already known to not be perfect which reduces their academic value to that of a guide only.
Meanwhile the most authoritative [[Behistun (inscription)|Behistun Inscription]] of [[Darius I]] does reference "Cyaxares" twice, but it remains questionable if these refer to [[Astyages]] father [[Cyaxares I]] or [[Xenophon|Xenophon's]] account of [[Astyages]] son [[Cyaxares II]]
Therefore the academic community remains divided.
It must also be noted that a host of other individuals have been proposed for the identity of ''Darius the Mede''.
We shall now examine the different positions:
[[Harpocration]] was associated with [[Library of Alexandria|the great library in Alexandria]], and so he had access to many ancient works that were lost when the library was burned. In his work ''The Lexicon of the Ten Orators'', under the entry “Daric,” (being a coinage) [[Harpocration]] wrote, “But darics are not named, as most suppose, after [[Darius I|Darius]] [i.e. Darius I Hystapses, 522-486 BC] the father of [[Xerxes I the Great|Xerxes]], but after a certain other more ancient king.” This is thus a second historical reference to the existence of an earlier Darius, who must have been the supreme authority in his time, since he had authority to issue coinage in his name. These two references from ancient authors of this earlier king Darius can be taken as independent of the remembrance of [[Cyaxares II]] in [[Xenophon]], although the force of evidence implies that [[Xenophon|Xenophon’s]] [[Cyaxares II|Cyaxares]] was the same person as this “earlier” Darius, and both were the personage identified as “Darius the Mede” in the book of Daniel.
[[Harpocration]] was associated with [[Library of Alexandria|the great library in Alexandria]], and so he had access to many ancient works that were lost when the library was burned. In his work ''The Lexicon of the Ten Orators'', under the entry “Daric,” (being a coinage) [[Harpocration]] wrote, “But darics are not named, as most suppose, after [[Darius I|Darius]] [i.e. Darius I Hystapses, 522-486 BC] the father of [[Xerxes I the Great|Xerxes]], but after a certain other more ancient king.” This is thus a second historical reference to the existence of an earlier Darius, who must have been the supreme authority in his time, since he had authority to issue coinage in his name. These two references from ancient authors of this earlier king Darius can be taken as independent of the remembrance of [[Cyaxares II]] in [[Xenophon]], although the force of evidence implies that [[Xenophon|Xenophon’s]] [[Cyaxares II|Cyaxares]] was the same person as this “earlier” Darius, and both were the personage identified as “Darius the Mede” in the book of Daniel.
=In Daniel 5=
Herein [[Darius the Mede]] seizes the kingdom and rules as king at the fall of Babylon. This narrative has historically presented problems for Biblical scholars as it is an undisputed historical fact that Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon. While many positions exist on the subject, we shall examine each below in separate sections.
Herein [[Darius the Mede]] seizes the kingdom and rules as king at the fall of Babylon. This narrative has historically presented problems for Biblical scholars as it is an undisputed historical fact that Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon. While many positions exist on the subject, we shall examine each below in separate sections.
=In Daniel 10 through 11=
=External Links=
https://www.bitchute.com/video/r9npZoqtD4HA/
https://www.bitchute.com/video/r9npZoqtD4HA/
=Resources=
*J. B. Pritchard, ed., ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament'' (3rd ed.; Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press, 1969). Abbreviated ''ANET''.
*J. B. Pritchard, ed., ''Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament'' (3rd ed.; Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press, 1969). Abbreviated ''ANET''.
*[https://www.academia.edu/22476645/Darius_the_Mede_A_Reappraisal]Steven D. Anderson, ''Darius the Mede: A Reappraisal'' (Steven D. Anderson: Grand Rapids, 2014).
*[https://www.academia.edu/22476645/Darius_the_Mede_A_Reappraisal]Steven D. Anderson, ''Darius the Mede: A Reappraisal'' (Steven D. Anderson: Grand Rapids, 2014).