The murder of brother, Smerdis Cambyses’ The murder of son Prexapes’ The treatment of Amasis’ mummy Further sacrileges However, independent Egyptian evidence shows that Cambyses may have respected Egyptian religion and played a full role in ceremonies. Perhaps Cambyses was a harsh but fair ruler as depicted in Herodotus 5.25, with treatment of a corrupt judge The events DB §10–15 The Behistun Inscription and Herodotus both say a jealous The nature of the evidence surrounding Cambyses had his brother killed. While Cambyses was in for these events Cambyses death and Herodotus 3.30, 3.61 Egypt, a Median imposter revolted and took the Persian accession throne. This Median was supposedly a magus pretending to Darius’ be brother the one Cambyses had already Cambyses’ – 522 BC killed. Herodotus 3.64 The exact circumstances of death are unclear. Cambyses’ Herodotus 3.67–3.70, 3.74–3.75, (Suggested timings: Herodotus states that he injured himself in the leg when 3.76, 3.78 2 hours) mounting a horse on his journey to deal with the rebellion. Ctesias F13 Photius §11–13 Cambyses died, leaving it up to Darius and 6 other Persian Herodotus 3.83–88 nobles to deal with the usurper. The usurper was unmasked Ctesias F13 Photius §17 and murdered; a course of events in which Darius claimed a leading role. As a saviour of Persia, Darius rises above the fellow 6 nobles to become Great King. Herodotus offer quite so doesn’t glowing a report: Darius tricks his way on to the throne. However it is likely that Gaumata (the pretender to the throne) was in fact Baridiya (the legitimate heir and Cyrus’ other son). In an attempt to control and manipulate information. Darius recast the rebel king as an imposter.
The murder of Cambyses’ brother, Smerdis The murder of Prexapes’ son The treatment of Amasis’ mummy Further sacrileges However, independent Egyptian evidence shows that Cambyses may have respected Egyptian religion and played a full role in ceremonies. Perhaps Cambyses was a harsh but fair ruler as depicted in Herodotus 5.25, with treatment of a corrupt judge The events surrounding Cambyses death and Darius’ accession 522 BC (Suggested timings: 2 hours) The Behistun Inscription and Herodotus both say a jealous Cambyses had his brother killed. While Cambyses was in Egypt, a Median imposter revolted and took the Persian throne. This Median was supposedly a magus pretending to be Cambyses’ brother – the one Cambyses had already killed. The exact circumstances of Cambyses’ death are unclear. Herodotus states that he injured himself in the leg when mounting a horse on his journey to deal with the rebellion. Cambyses died, leaving it up to Darius and 6 other Persian nobles to deal with the usurper. The usurper was unmasked and murdered; a course of events in which Darius claimed a leading role. As a saviour of Persia, Darius rises above the fellow 6 nobles to become Great King. Herodotus doesn’t offer quite so glowing a report: Darius tricks his way on to the throne. However it is likely that Gaumata (the pretender to the throne) was in fact Baridiya (the legitimate heir and Cyrus’ other son). In an attempt to control and manipulate information. Darius recast the rebel king as an imposter. DB §10–15 Herodotus 3.30, 3.61 Herodotus 3.64 Herodotus 3.67–3.70, 3.74–3.75, 3.76, 3.78 Ctesias F13 Photius §11–13 Herodotus 3.83–88 Ctesias F13 Photius §17 The nature of the evidence for these events