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, preferred it; which Astyages after a long time hearing of, he caused Harpagus to eat his own son. Harpagus called in Cyrus, who de-throned his grandfather, and thereby ended the monarchy of the Medes. See MEDIA and PERSIA.