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Astyages
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Astyages (left) spearing a lion, detail of a gold scabbard; in the British Museum
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Astyages (left) spearing a lion, detail of a gold scabbard; in the British Museum
Astyages (left) spearing a lion, detail of a gold scabbard; in the British Museum

Astyages

king of Media
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Also known as: Ishtumegu
Written and fact-checked by
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Article History
Quick Facts
Akkadian:
Ishtumegu
Flourished:
6th century bc
Also Known As:
Ishtumegu
Flourished:
600 BCE - 501 BCE
Title / Office:
king (585BC-550BC), Media
See all related content

Astyages (flourished 6th century bc) was the last king of the Median empire (reigned 585–550 bc). According to Herodotus, the Achaemenian Cyrus the Great was Astyages’ grandson through his daughter Mandane, but this relationship is probably legendary. According to Babylonian inscriptions, Cyrus, king of Anshan (in southwestern Iran), began war against Astyages in 553 bc; in 550 the Median troops rebelled, and Astyages was taken prisoner. Then Cyrus occupied and plundered Ecbatana, the Median capital. A somewhat different account of these events is given by the Greek writer Ctesias.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.