CY RUS, the founder of the Persian monarchy, commonly called C. Tim ELDER, was, according to Herodotus, the son of Cambyses. a Persian noble, and of Mandane, daugh ter of Astyages, the 3iedo-Persian king. His birth was a source of alarm to his grand father Astyages, who had previously had a dream, the interpretation of which portended that the offspring of Mandane would one day be the ruin of the Median supremacy and the ruler of all Asia. He therefore contrived to get the infant into his own hands, and gave it to Harpagus, his chief servant, with orders to put it to death. Harpagus prom ised to do so, but intrusted it privily to the care of a herdsman, who brought it up along with his own children. The young C. quickly distinguished himself among thecountry lads by his superior daring and dignity. On one occasion he was elected king in some boyish game by his companions, and in the exercise of his regal authority, caused a nobleman's son to be severely scourged. The father complained to Astyages, who caused the culprit to be brought before him, and recognizing in his person and mien his own grandson, sent C. back to Persia—the magi having in some way satisfied him that his dream had already received its fulfillment. C. himself, however, did not think so, and as he grew up to manhood, began to meditate ambitious schemes. All writers testify to his courage, amiability, and address. He was exactly the kind of man to gather round him brave, venturesome, loyal followers. The Astyages had made him hate_ ful to his subjects, and by the help of the crafty Harpagus, C. soon formed a party among the Modes favorable to his designs. Putting himself at the head of his Persian troops, C. advanced into Media, and overthrew the forces of Astyages (559 n.e.). After
consolidating his new dominions, which seems to have cost him many years' labor, he proceeded in his career of conquest. The kingdom of Lydia first yielded (546 n.e.). and its king, the famous Crcesus, fell into his hands. Ultimately, the whole of Asia Minor was subdued. But the crowning triumph of C. was his capture of the city of Babylon, the metropolis of Assyria (538 n.c.), whose king was Labynetus, the Belshazzar of Dan iel. Through the instrumentality of C., the Jews were delivered from their captivity, and allowed to return to Palestine. His vast ambition, however, proved his ruin. He wished his power to overshadow all Asia, in harmony with the dream of his grand father; and although his dominions already extended from the Hellespont almost to the Indus, he resolved to subjugate the Scythian peoples, and began an unjust war with the Massagetme, a nation or tribe who dwelt to the n.e. of the Caspian, beyond the Araxes, whose queen was called Tomyris. At first C. was successful, but in a second engagement he was defeated and slain (529 n.c.).
Such is the account given by Herodotus, and although we are unable to affirm that it rests on absolutely historical ground, it is unquestionably to be preferred to any other. The work of Xenophon, entitled the Cyropcedeia, is not a history; it is a historical romance, and was manifestly intended by the author for such. Xenophon wished to picture a great and wise king, and finding the elements both of greatness and wisdom in C., he took advantage of his historic personality, and engrafted upon it whatever, according to his own notion, would ennoble and dignify it.