The Medes and the PersiansIndo-Europeans migrated in around 900 b.c.

The Medes and the PersiansIndo-Europeans migrated in around 900 b.c.

Settled in mountainous Zagros Range

Assyrian annals make frequent reference to Medes from about 850 b.c.

History is obscure – most comes from Herodotus

The Medes and the Persians

Deioces (c. 728 – 675)

United loose tribal groups under his rule at Ecbatana

Media

Esarhaddon (681 – 669) sent in frequent raiding parties

This consolidated Median loyalty to a central leader

The Medes and the Persians

Phraortes (675 – 653)

Deioces (c. 728 – 675)

Son of Deioces

The Medes and the Persians

Phraortes (675 – 653)

Deioces (c. 728 – 675)

Ashurbanipal (669 – 627) continued the policy of attacks

Son of Deioces

The Medes and the Persians

Phraortes (675 – 653)

Deioces (c. 728 – 675)

Phraortes struck back in Ashurbanipal’s “very bad year” (653) – but died in battle leaving son Cyaxeres to rule

Ashurbanipal (669 – 627) continued the policy of attacks

Son of Deioces

The Medes and the Persians

Phraortes (675 – 653)

Deioces (c. 728 – 675)

Cyaxeres (653 – 585)

Tied up in “Scythian Interregnum” (653 – 625)

Cyaxeres recovered throne in 625 – as Nabopolassar claimed Babylon and Saracus scrambled in civil war

The Medes and the Persians

Cyaxeres (653 – 585)

Rebuilt Median power (626 – 616)

615 – Arrapakha fell to Cyaxeres

614 – Ashur fell to Cyaxeres – treaty with Nabopolassar

612 – Fall of Nineveh to Medes and Babylonians

The Medes and the Persians

Cyaxeres (653 – 585)

Rebuilt Median power (626 – 616)

615 – Arrapakha fell to Cyaxeres

614 – Ashur fell to Cyaxeres – treaty with Nabopolassar

612 – Fall of Nineveh to Medes and Babylonians

612 – 585: Cyaxeres campaigned through Anatolia

The Medes and the Persians

Cyaxeres (653 – 585)

Rebuilt Median power (626 – 616)

615 – Arrapakha fell to Cyaxeres

585 – Career ended at the Battle of the Eclipse with Lydians

614 – Ashur fell to Cyaxeres – treaty with Nabopolassar

612 – Fall of Nineveh to Medes and Babylonians

612 – 585: Cyaxeres campaigned through Anatolia

The Medes and the Persians

Astyages (585 – 550)

583: Grandson Cyrus born to Mandane and Cambyses (Persia)

559: Cyrus became ruler of Anshan – in Persia

Persia

Media

556: Nabonidus became ruler of Babylon – wanted Haran

Babylon

551: Cyrus defeated Astyages and united Medes and Persians

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

Mentioned prominently in OT (Isa. 44,45; Ezr. 1)

Statue of Cyrus the Great at Olympic Park in Sydney

The only non-Jew ever called “messiah” in the Old Testament

Authorized the return of Jewish captives to Jerusalem from Babylon

Created the largest empire the world had seen to that time

Was also the most humane ruler the ancients had ever seen

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

CyrusCroesus

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

Cyrus

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

546-540: Campaigns in the East

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

546-540: Campaigns in the East

539: Attack on Babylon

Nabonidus escaped to the south and Belshazzar was killed (Dan. 5)

Cyrus gave Babylon to Gobryas (Darius) the Mede (Dan. 5:31)

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

546-540: Campaigns in the East

539: Attack on Babylon

538: Cyrus authorizes the return of the Jews to Jerusalem (Ezr. 1)

Impressed by reading Isaiah (Josephus)

The Return of God’s People to Jerusalem538: Cyrus authorizes the return of the Jews to Jerusalem (Ezr. 1)

The “Cyrus Cylinder” proclaiming the restoration of temples in conquered lands

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

Cyrus the Great (551 – 530)

550: Helped Nabonidus retake Haran

549-547: Lydian campaign and fall of Sardis of Lydia

546-540: Campaigns in the East

539: Attack on Babylon

Daniel and the Lion’s Den (Dan. 6) and the 70 Weeks (Dan. 9)

538: Cyrus authorizes the return of the Jews to Jerusalem (Ezr. 1)

Impressed by reading Isaiah (Josephus)

The Return of God’s People to Jerusalem538: Cyrus authorizes the return of the Jews to Jerusalem (Ezr. 1)

BabylonJerusalem

536: The first Jewish exiles arrive in Jerusalem

Second Temple reconstruction under way

535: Local opposition causes building project to stall – supported by Cambyses, son of Cyrus (Dan. 10, 11)

The Return of God’s People to Jerusalem538: Cyrus authorizes the return of the Jews to Jerusalem (Ezr. 1)

536: The first Jewish exiles arrive in Jerusalem

Second Temple reconstruction under way

535: Local opposition causes building project to stall – supported by Cambyses, son of Cyrus (Dan. 10, 11)

530: Cyrus died in a battle the East – succeeded by Cambyses

Tomb of Cyrus the Great, in Pasargadae, Iran