Phraortes

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Phraortes
King of the Median Empire
Reign675 – 653 BC
PredecessorDeioces
SuccessorCyaxares
Died653 BC
DynastyMedian dynasty
ReligionAncient Iranian religion

Phraortes (Old Persian: 𐎳𐎼𐎺𐎼𐎫𐎡𐏁, romanized: Fravartiš;[1][2] Ancient Greek: Φραόρτης, romanizedPhraórtēs; died c. 653 BC), son of Deioces, was the second king of the Median Empire.

Like his father Deioces, Phraortes started wars against Assyria, but was defeated and killed by Ashurbanipal, the king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (668 – c. 627 BC).

All information about him is from Herodotus. According to him (1.102), Phraortes was the son of Deioces and united all Median tribes into a single state. He also subjugated the Persians and Parthians while still a vassal of the Assyrian kings Esarhaddon and Ashurbanipal, and began to conquer other nations of Ancient Iran. After a rule of twenty-two years (c. 675 – c. 653 BC), he fell in battle against the Assyrians, who reasserted their subjugation of the Medes, Persians and Parthians. However, some scholars assume that he ruled for fifty-three years, c. 678 – c. 625. Phraortes is commonly identified with Kashtariti, a chieftain in Media, although some scholars consider such an identification doubtful. He was later succeeded by his son Cyaxares.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Akbarzadeh, D.; A. Yahyanezhad (2006). The Behistun Inscriptions (Old Persian Texts) (in Persian). Khaneye-Farhikhtagan-e Honarhaye Sonati. p. 87. ISBN 964-8499-05-5.
  2. ^ Kent, Ronald Grubb (c. 2006). Old Persian: Grammar, Text, Glossary (in Persian). translated into Persian by S. Oryan. p. 406. ISBN 964-421-045-X.
  3. ^ Medvedskaya, I. (20 July 2004). "PHRAORTES". Encyclopædia Iranica. Retrieved 18 December 2012.

External links[edit]

Phraortes
Preceded by King of Media
c. 675–653 BC
Succeeded by