As a figurative defender of democracy in Greek literature, the Otanes of "Histories" 3.68-3.87 has been used as a point of reference in a number of subsequent political discussions. Jean-Jacques Rousseau refers to Otanes in his notes to "Discourse on the Origin of Inequality". Otanes is also mentioned in Isaiah Berlin's seminal lecture "Two Concepts of Liberty": "As for Otanes, he wished neither to rule nor to be ruled — the exact opposite of Aristotle's notion of true civic liberty". Otanes has his own conception of freedom. Otanes also appears in certain works of fiction and drama. James Baldwin fictionalizes the childhood of Otanes in his short story, "The Boy and The Robbers" from his book, "Fifty Famous People — A book of short stories". In addition, the Dutch TV movie "Volk en vaderliefde" ('People and Fatherly Love', 1976) is about Otanes and the coup.