son of Cyaxares, the last king of the Medes. He dreamed that from the womb of his daughter Mandane, married to Cambyses king of Persia, there sprung a vine that spread itself over all Asia. She being with child, he resolved to kill the infant as soon as born. Its name was Cyrus; and Harpagus, being sent to destroy it, preserved it: which Astyages after a long time hearing of, he caused Harpagus to eat his own son. Harpagus called in Cyrus, who dethroned his grandfather, and thereby ended the monarchy of the Medes. See Media and Persia.