Introduction to Ancient History: The Medes

Practice vocabulary flashcards on the history, kings, archaeological sites, Assyrian cuneiform treaties, and historiography of the Medes.

Medes

A northern group of pastoralists who migrated into the region of Iran over an extended period, first appearing in Assyrian records in the eighth century BCE.

Deioces

The ruler who, according to Herodotus, united the Median tribes and ruled for fifty-three years (c. 700–c. 647 BCE).

Phraortes

Son of Deioces who succeeded to the throne (c. 647–c. 625 BCE), conquered Persia as Media's first subject state, and campaigned against Asia tribe by tribe.

Six Median Tribes

The tribes identified by Herodotus (1.101) as constituting the entire Median people: the Busae, Paretacenians, Struchates, Arizanti, Budians, and Magi.

Cyaxares

The Median king identified in Herodotus's Median King List as reigning from c. 624 to c. 585 BCE.

Astyages

The Median king identified in Herodotus's Median King List as reigning from c. 585 to c. 549 BCE.

Median Political Structure (Archaeological Evidence)

The political reality indicated by sites such as Tepe Nush-i Jan, Godin Tepe, and Baba Jan, demonstrating the presence of multiple local rulers rather than a single unified empire.

Tepe Nush-i Jan Silver Hoard

A collection of silver objects dating to the seventh century BCE discovered during excavations at Tepe Nush-i Jan.

Tepe Nūsh-i Jān Summit Complex

An excavated seventh-century BCE Median architectural complex consisting of the Western Building, the Fire Temple, and the Fort.

Godin Tepe (Phase II)

An excavated Median archaeological site in western Iran displaying multiple architectural phases (Phase II:2a through Phase II:2d) with columned halls and fortifications.

Baba Jan (Baba Jan Tepe)

An excavated Median Iron Age archaeological site located in western Iran near Nahavand and Kangavar.

Esarhaddon Cylinder (673/2 BCE)

An Assyrian cuneiform text describing remote Median chieftains (including Uppis of Partakka, Zanasana of Partukka, and Ramatea of Urakazabarna) bringing horses and lapis lazuli to Nineveh to request an alliance and military protection.

Mount Bikni

A mountain referred to in the Esarhaddon Cylinder as the border of distant Media and the mountain of lapis lazuli.

Succession Treaty of Esarhaddon (672 BCE)

A clay tablet treaty measuring $7.5\text{ inches} \times 11\text{ inches}$ with seal impressions, imposed on Humbaresh of Nashshimarta to enforce sworn loyalty and defense for crown prince designate Ashurbanipal.

T. Cuyler Young Jr.'s Historiographical Assessment of Herodotus

The historical analysis concluding that Herodotus's account of Media is a national folk epic and potpourri of legends that is mainly unhistorical, though vital for understanding how the Medes perceived their own cultural history.