Enter a player name to begin or load your saved progress.
Astyages was the first king of the Median kingdom, establishing its power in the ancient Near East.
Answer: False
Explanation: Astyages was the *last* king of the Median kingdom, succeeding his father Cyaxares. The Median kingdom's power was established prior to his reign.
According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, Astyages' reign as King of Media lasted for exactly 35 years.
Answer: True
Explanation: Herodotus explicitly states that Astyages reigned for 35 years, from 585 BCE to 550 BCE.
Astyages' father, Cyaxares, was his successor on the Median throne.
Answer: False
Explanation: Cyaxares was Astyages' *predecessor*, not his successor. Cyrus the Great overthrew Astyages and became his successor.
Astyages died in 550 BCE within the Achaemenid Empire, which was established by Cyrus the Great.
Answer: True
Explanation: Astyages died in 550 BCE, the same year his reign ended, within the Achaemenid Empire established by Cyrus the Great.
Astyages was married to Amytis, and his known children included Mandane and Aryenis.
Answer: False
Explanation: Astyages was married to Aryenis, not Amytis. His known children included Mandane and Amytis, while Aryenis was his spouse.
Astyages belonged to the Median dynasty and practiced Zoroastrianism.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Astyages belonged to the Median dynasty, he practiced the Ancient Iranian religion, which predates Zoroastrianism.
Astyages' succession to the throne in 585 BCE was immediately preceded by the Battle of Halys, which concluded a five-year war.
Answer: True
Explanation: Astyages succeeded his father in 585 BCE, directly following the Battle of Halys, which marked the end of a five-year conflict.
After inheriting his empire, Astyages ruled in alliance with Croesus of Lydia and Darius of Persia.
Answer: False
Explanation: Astyages ruled in alliance with Croesus of Lydia and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, not Darius of Persia.
Astyages' sister, Amytis, was married to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and is associated with the Hanging Gardens.
Answer: True
Explanation: Astyages' sister, Amytis, was indeed married to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and is famously associated with the Hanging Gardens.
Who was Astyages' predecessor as King of Media?
Answer: Cyaxares
Explanation: Astyages' predecessor on the Median throne was his father, Cyaxares.
According to Herodotus, how long did Astyages reign as King of Media?
Answer: 35 years
Explanation: Herodotus states that Astyages reigned for 35 years, from 585 BCE to 550 BCE.
In what century was Astyages born?
Answer: 7th century BCE
Explanation: Astyages was born in the 7th century BCE in Media.
Which of the following was Astyages' spouse?
Answer: Aryenis
Explanation: Astyages was married to Aryenis, who was the sister of Croesus, King of Lydia.
What significant event immediately preceded Astyages' succession to the throne in 585 BCE?
Answer: The Battle of Halys
Explanation: Astyages succeeded his father in 585 BCE, following the Battle of Halys, which concluded a five-year war.
With which two rulers did Astyages rule in alliance after inheriting his empire?
Answer: Croesus of Lydia and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon
Explanation: Astyages ruled in alliance with his brothers-in-law, Croesus of Lydia and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
Which of Astyages' children is explicitly mentioned as being married to Cambyses I of Anshan?
Answer: Mandane
Explanation: Astyages married his daughter Mandane to Cambyses I of Anshan to prevent the prophecy of his dream.
What was the religious tradition Astyages belonged to?
Answer: Ancient Iranian religion
Explanation: Astyages practiced the Ancient Iranian religion, which predates Zoroastrianism.
Which of Astyages' family members is associated with Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Hanging Gardens?
Answer: Amytis (his sister)
Explanation: Astyages' sister, Amytis, was married to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and is famously associated with the Hanging Gardens.
Which of the following is NOT a known child of Astyages, according to the source?
Answer: Croesus
Explanation: Mandane, Amytis, and the disputed Cyaxares II are listed as Astyages' children. Croesus was his brother-in-law, not his child.
Astyages' first dream, as recounted by Herodotus, involved his daughter Mandane giving birth to a son destined to destroy his empire.
Answer: True
Explanation: Herodotus describes Astyages' first dream as a prophecy that Mandane's son would destroy his empire, causing him great fear.
To prevent the prophecy of his first dream, Astyages married his daughter Mandane to a powerful Persian king.
Answer: False
Explanation: Astyages married Mandane to Cambyses I of Anshan, a prince he considered unthreatening, not a powerful king, to prevent the prophecy.
Astyages sent his general Harpagus to kill the infant Cyrus after a second dream warned him of potential dangers.
Answer: True
Explanation: A second dream prompted Astyages to order Harpagus to kill the infant Cyrus, Mandane's son, due to perceived dangers.
Harpagus directly killed the infant Cyrus to fulfill Astyages' command.
Answer: False
Explanation: Harpagus, unwilling to shed royal blood, gave the infant Cyrus to a shepherd to be raised, rather than killing him directly.
Harpagus presented Astyages with the stillborn child of the shepherd Mitridates as proof of Cyrus's death.
Answer: True
Explanation: Harpagus deceived Astyages by presenting the stillborn child of the shepherd Mitridates as the deceased Cyrus.
When Cyrus's true identity was discovered at age ten, Astyages immediately had him executed.
Answer: False
Explanation: Upon discovering Cyrus's identity, Astyages, advised by his Magi, spared the boy and sent him back to his parents in Anshan.
The 15th-century French artwork titled 'Astyages's dream' illustrates the Battle of Pasargadae.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 15th-century French artwork titled 'Astyages's dream' depicts one of Astyages' prophetic dreams, not the Battle of Pasargadae.
What was the central prophecy of Astyages' first dream, as recounted by Herodotus?
Answer: His daughter Mandane would give birth to a son who would destroy his empire.
Explanation: Astyages' first dream, as told by Herodotus, prophesied that his daughter Mandane's son would destroy his empire.
How did Astyages initially attempt to prevent the prophecy of his first dream from coming true?
Answer: He married his daughter Mandane to Cambyses I of Anshan, a prince he considered unthreatening.
Explanation: Astyages married Mandane to Cambyses I of Anshan, a prince he believed posed no threat, in an effort to circumvent the prophecy.
Who raised the infant Cyrus after Harpagus avoided killing him?
Answer: A shepherd named Mitridates
Explanation: Harpagus gave the infant Cyrus to a shepherd named Mitridates, who raised him as his own son.
What did Harpagus present to Astyages as proof of Cyrus's death?
Answer: A stillborn child from the shepherd Mitridates' family.
Explanation: Harpagus presented the stillborn child of the shepherd Mitridates to Astyages, deceiving him into believing it was Cyrus.
When Cyrus's true identity was discovered at age ten, what did Astyages do, based on the advice of his Magi?
Answer: He sent Cyrus back to his parents in Anshan.
Explanation: Upon the advice of his Magi, Astyages spared Cyrus and sent him back to his biological parents in Anshan.
Astyages punished Harpagus severely by reportedly feeding him his own son at a banquet.
Answer: True
Explanation: Astyages' gruesome punishment for Harpagus's disobedience involved reportedly serving Harpagus his own son at a banquet.
Harpagus played a crucial role in advising Cyrus to rebel against Astyages.
Answer: True
Explanation: Seeking revenge for the murder of his son, Harpagus advised Cyrus to rebel against Astyages in 553 BCE.
Astyages' empire fell to Cyrus the Great after a decisive victory by Astyages' loyal troops at the Battle of Pasargadae.
Answer: False
Explanation: Astyages' empire fell because his own troops mutinied during the Battle of Pasargadae, leading to Cyrus's victory, not a victory by Astyages' loyal troops.
Harpagus's family's high positions in Cyrus's empire after Astyages' overthrow suggest his involvement in the mutiny.
Answer: True
Explanation: Harpagus's subsequent high status and his family's positions in Cyrus's empire are circumstantial evidence suggesting his involvement in the mutiny.
The immediate consequence of Astyages' overthrow was the capture of Babylon by Cyrus.
Answer: False
Explanation: The immediate consequence of Astyages' overthrow was Cyrus's capture of Ecbatana, the Median capital, not Babylon.
Croesus of Lydia marched against Cyrus to avenge Astyages and successfully defeated Cyrus.
Answer: False
Explanation: Croesus did march against Cyrus to avenge Astyages, but he was defeated by Cyrus, not victorious.
What severe punishment did Astyages inflict upon Harpagus for his disobedience?
Answer: He reportedly fed Harpagus his own son at a banquet.
Explanation: Astyages' brutal punishment for Harpagus's failure to kill Cyrus was reportedly feeding him his own son at a banquet.
In what year did Harpagus advise Cyrus to rebel against Astyages?
Answer: 553 BCE
Explanation: Harpagus advised Cyrus to rebel against Astyages in 553 BCE, three years after Cyrus succeeded his father.
How did Astyages' empire ultimately fall to Cyrus the Great?
Answer: Astyages' troops mutinied during the Battle of Pasargadae.
Explanation: Astyages' empire fell when his own troops mutinied during the Battle of Pasargadae, leading to Cyrus's victory.
What was the immediate consequence of Astyages' overthrow by Cyrus?
Answer: Cyrus captured Ecbatana, the Median capital.
Explanation: Immediately after Astyages' overthrow, Cyrus captured Ecbatana, the capital city of the Median empire.
What action did Croesus, King of Lydia, take after Astyages' overthrow?
Answer: He marched against Cyrus to avenge Astyages.
Explanation: Croesus, Astyages' brother-in-law, marched against Cyrus to avenge Astyages' overthrow, though he was ultimately defeated.
What was the primary reason Harpagus advised Cyrus to rebel against Astyages?
Answer: Harpagus was seeking revenge for Astyages feeding him his own son.
Explanation: Harpagus's primary motivation for advising Cyrus to rebel was his desire for revenge after Astyages brutally punished him by feeding him his own son.
According to Herodotus, Cyrus executed Astyages immediately after his defeat.
Answer: False
Explanation: Herodotus states that Astyages was spared by Cyrus and remained in his court until his death, not executed.
Theodotion's translation of Daniel 14 mentions Astyages' death preceding Cyrus the Great's accession.
Answer: True
Explanation: Theodotion's translation of Daniel 14 begins with Cyrus's accession following Astyages' death.
The original Douay-Rheims Bible identifies Nebuchadnezzar as another name for Astyages.
Answer: False
Explanation: The original Douay-Rheims Bible identifies *Darius the Mede* as another name for Astyages, not Nebuchadnezzar.
Ancient sources agree that Astyages was executed after his capture by Cyrus.
Answer: False
Explanation: Ancient sources agree that Astyages was treated with clemency, not executed, though they differ on the specifics of his later life.
An 18th-century tapestry depicts King Astyages in chains, submitting to Cyrus the Great.
Answer: True
Explanation: An 18th-century tapestry visually represents Astyages in chains, symbolizing his submission to Cyrus the Great.
According to Herodotus, how was Astyages treated by Cyrus after his defeat?
Answer: He was spared and remained in Cyrus's court until his death.
Explanation: Herodotus states that Cyrus spared Astyages and allowed him to remain in his court until his death.
In Theodotion's translation of Daniel 14, what event immediately precedes the accession of Cyrus the Great?
Answer: The death of Astyages
Explanation: Theodotion's translation of Daniel 14 states that Cyrus the Great's accession followed the death of Astyages.
Who is identified as another name for Astyages in the original Douay-Rheims Bible?
Answer: Darius the Mede
Explanation: The original Douay-Rheims Bible identifies Darius the Mede as another name for Astyages.
How do Herodotus and Ctesias differ regarding Astyages' fate after his capture by Cyrus?
Answer: Herodotus says he remained at Cyrus's court, Ctesias says he was made a governor and later murdered.
Explanation: Herodotus states Astyages remained at Cyrus's court, while Ctesias claims he was made a governor and later murdered, showing a divergence in accounts of his fate.
The 18th-century tapestry referenced in the source material depicts Astyages in what state?
Answer: In chains, submitting to Cyrus the Great.
Explanation: The 18th-century tapestry depicts King Astyages in chains, symbolizing his submission to Cyrus the Great.
Ancient sources consistently portray Astyages as a cruel and despotic ruler, making it easy to judge his character.
Answer: False
Explanation: Ancient sources provide conflicting accounts of Astyages' character, with Herodotus portraying him as cruel, Ctesias favorably, and Xenophon as kindly, making a consistent judgment difficult.
Modern scholarship widely accepts Herodotus's claim that Cyrus the Great was Astyages' grandson.
Answer: False
Explanation: Modern scholarship generally rejects Herodotus's claim of Cyrus being Astyages' grandson, viewing it as a narrative embellishment rather than historical fact.
Herodotus explains the mythology of Cyrus being suckled by a dog by stating that 'Spaco' was the Median word for 'dog'.
Answer: True
Explanation: Herodotus rationalizes the legend by explaining that 'Spaco,' the name of the herdsman's wife, was the Median word for 'dog,' providing a linguistic explanation for the myth.
The contemporary Nabonidus Chronicle explicitly names Harpagus as the leader of the mutiny that overthrew Astyages.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Nabonidus Chronicle attributes Astyages' overthrow to a battlefield mutiny but does not explicitly name Harpagus.
The article's side-box mentions cuneiform script to explain the origin of the Median language.
Answer: False
Explanation: The side-box mentions cuneiform script to advise readers about potential placeholder symbols if rendering support is lacking, not to explain the origin of the Median language.
Herodotus clarified that 'Spaco' was a Median word for 'shepherd's wife', explaining the legend of Cyrus.
Answer: False
Explanation: Herodotus clarified that 'Spaco' was the Median word for 'dog', which he used to rationalize the legend of Cyrus being suckled by a dog, not 'shepherd's wife'.
A map illustrating the geographical extent of the Median Empire during both Cyaxares' and Astyages' reigns provides visual context for their rule.
Answer: True
Explanation: The image caption refers to a map that visually depicts the geographical extent of the Median Empire during the reigns of both Cyaxares and Astyages.
Which ancient historian portrays Astyages as a cruel and despotic ruler?
Answer: Herodotus
Explanation: Herodotus is the ancient historian who portrays Astyages as a cruel and despotic ruler, contrasting with other accounts.
What is modern scholarship's general view on Herodotus's claim that Cyrus was Astyages' grandson?
Answer: It is considered a narrative embellishment rather than a historical fact.
Explanation: Modern scholarship generally views Herodotus's claim of Cyrus being Astyages' grandson as a narrative embellishment, not a historical fact.
What is the Median word for 'dog' that Herodotus uses to rationalize the legend of Cyrus being suckled by a dog?
Answer: Spaco
Explanation: Herodotus explains that 'Spaco' is the Median word for 'dog,' which he uses to provide a rational explanation for the legend of Cyrus being suckled by a dog.
What does the contemporary Nabonidus Chronicle state was the cause of Astyages' overthrow?
Answer: A mutiny on the battlefield.
Explanation: The Nabonidus Chronicle attributes Astyages' overthrow to a mutiny that occurred on the battlefield.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic attributed to Astyages by ancient sources?
Answer: A wise and benevolent philosopher king
Explanation: While ancient sources offer conflicting portrayals (cruel, favorable, kindly old gentleman), none describe Astyages as a wise and benevolent philosopher king.
What does the image caption 'The Median Empire during both Cyaxares' and Astyages' reigns' illustrate?
Answer: A map showing the geographical extent of the Median Empire.
Explanation: The image caption refers to a map that illustrates the geographical extent of the Median Empire during the reigns of Cyaxares and Astyages.
Which of the following is considered historical fiction and unreliable regarding Astyages' character?
Answer: Xenophon's Cyropaedia
Explanation: Xenophon's *Cyropaedia* is generally considered historical fiction and unreliable for factual accounts of Astyages' character.
What does the article's side-box advise readers about regarding cuneiform script?
Answer: It suggests that without proper rendering support, placeholder symbols might appear.
Explanation: The side-box warns that without proper rendering support for cuneiform script, readers might see placeholder symbols instead of the actual script.