the son of Cambyses the Persian, by Mandane the daughter of Astyages king of the Medes. The two chief historians, who have written the life of Cyrus, are Herodotus and Xenophon; but their accounts of him are different, in as much as the latter makes his father a king of Persia, and the former a meaner man. The account of Herodotus, as Dr Pradeaux observes, indeed contains narratives that are much more strange and surprising, and consequently more diverting and agreeable to the reader: and for this reason more have chosen to follow him than Xenophon.

Herodotus informs us, that Astyages king of the Medes dreamed that a vine sprung from the womb of his daughter Mandane, the branches whereof overshadowed all Asia; whereupon having consulted the footfayers, he was told that his dream portended the future power and greatness of a child who should be born of his daughter: and further that the same child should deprive him of his kingdom. Astyages, to prevent the accomplishment of this prediction, instead of marrying his daughter to some powerful prince, gave her to Cambyses, a Persian of mean condition, and one who had no great capacity for forming any important design, nor for supporting the ambition of his son by his own riches and authority. Nor did Astyages stop here: the apprehensions he was under left Mandane's son might perhaps find that assistance in his own courage, or some lucky circumstance which his family was not able to supply him with, induced him to take a resolution of dispatching the child, if there should be any. As soon, therefore, as he understood his daughter was with child, he commanded one of his officers whose name was Harpagus, to destroy the infant as soon as it came into the world. Harpagus, fearing the resentment of Mandane, put the child into the hands of one who was the king's shepherd, in order to expose him. The shepherd's wife was so extremely touched with the beauty of Cyrus, that she desired her husband rather to expose her own son, who was born some time before, and preserve the young prince. After this manner Cyrus was preserved, and brought up among the king's shepherds.

One day, as the neighbouring children were at play together, Cyrus was chosen king; and having punished one of his little playfellows with some severity, for disobeying his commands, the child's parent complained of Cyrus to Astyages. This prince sent for young Cyrus, and observing something great in his air, his manner and behaviour, together with a great resemblance of his daughter Mandane, he made particular inquiry into the matter, and discovered that, in reality, Cyrus was no other than his grandson. Harpagus, who was the instrument of preserving him, was punished with the death of his own son: however, Astyages believing that the royalty which the footfayers had promised to the young prince, was only that which he had lately exercised among the shepherds children, troubled himself no more about it. Cyrus being grown up, Harpagus disclosed the whole secret of his birth to him, together with the manner wherein he had delivered him from the cruel resolution of his grandfather. He encouraged him to come into Media, and promised to furnish him with forces, in order to make him master of the country, and depose Astyages. Cyrus hearkened to these propositions, engaged the Persians to take up arms against the Medes, marched at the head of them to meet Astyages, defeated him, and possessed himself of Media. He carried on many other wars; and at length sat down before Babylon, which after a long siege he took.

The relation of Cyrus's life from Xenophon is as follows: Astyages king of Media married his daughter Mandane to-Cambyles king of Persia, son to Acheomenes king of the same nation. Cyrus was born at his father's court, and was educated with all the care his birth required. When he was about the age of 12 years, his grandfather Astyages sent for him to Media, together with his mother Mandane. Some time after, the king of Assyria's son having invaded Media, Astyages, with his son Cyaxares and his grandson Cyrus, marched against him. Cyrus distinguished himself in this war, and defeated the Assyrians. Cambyses afterwards recalled him, that he might have him near his own person; and Astyages dying, his son Cyaxares, uncle by the mother's side to Cyrus, succeeded him in the kingdom of Media.

Cyrus, at the age of 30 years, was, by his father Cambyses, made general of the Persian troops; and sent at the head of 30,000 men to the affluence of his uncle Cyaxares, whom the king of Babylon, with his allies the Cappadocians, Carians, Phrygians, Cilicians, and Paphlagonians were preparing to attack. Cyaxares and Cyrus prevented them, by falling upon them and dispersing them. Cyrus advanced as far as Babylon, and spread terror throughout the country. From this expedition he retired to his uncle, towards the frontiers of Armenia and Assyria, and was received by Cyaxares in the tent of the Assyrian king whom he had defeated.

After this Cyrus carried the war into the countries beyond the river Halys, entered Cappadocia, and subdued it entirely. From thence he marched against Croesus king of Lydia, beat him in the first battle; then besieged him in Sardis, his capital; and after a siege of fourteen days obliged him to surrender. See Croesus. After this, Cyrus having reduced almost all Asia, repassed the Euphrates, and made war upon the Assyrians. He marched directly to Babylon, took it, and there prepared a palace for his uncle Cyaxares, whither he might retire, if at any time he had an inclination to come to Babylon; for he was not then in the army. After all these expeditions, Cyrus returned to his father and mother into Persia, where they were still living: and going some time after to his uncle Cyaxares into Media, he married his cousin the only daughter and heiress of all Cyaxares's dominions, and went with her to Babylon, from whence he sent men of the first rank and quality to govern all the several nations which he had conquered. He engaged again in several wars, and subdued all the nations which lie between Syria and the Red sea. He died at the age of 70 years, after a reign of 30: but authors differ very much concerning the manner of his death. Herodotus, Justin, and Valerius Maximus relate, that he died in the war against the Scythians; and that falling into an ambush which Queen Tomyrus had laid for him, he ordered his head to be cut off, and cast into a vessel full of blood, saying, "Thou hast always thirsted after human blood, now glut thyself with it." Diodorus the Sicilian says, that he was taken in an engagement and hanged. Ctesias affirms us, that he died of a wound which he received in his thigh: but by Xenophon's account he died peaceably in his bed, amidst his friends and his servants; and certain it is, that in Alexander's time his monument was shown at Pasagarda in Persia.

From all this it is easy to conclude, that we are but imperfectly acquainted with the history of this great prince, the founder of the Persian, and destroyer of the Chaldean, empire. We learn fewer particulars of it from Scripture, but then they are more certain than any that we have produced. Daniel (viii. 3—20,) in the famous vision wherein God showed him the ruin of several great emperors, which were to precede the birth of the Messiah, represents Cyrus to us under the idea of "a ram, which had two horns; and the two horns were high, but the one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. This ram pushed westward, and northward, and southward, so that no beast might stand before him; neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand, but he did according to his will, and became great." The ram's two horns signify the two empires which Cyrus reunited in his person; that of the Medes, and that of the Persians. The last was greater and more powerful than the empire of the Medes; or otherwise, these two horns signify the two branches of Cyrus's successors. His son Cambyses dying, the empire was transferred to Darius the son of Hystaspes, and was continued down to Darius Codomanus, who, as Calmet thinks, is the great horn which the he-goat, that denotes Alexander, run against. In chap. vii. 5, Daniel compares Cyrus to a bear, with three ribs in the mouth of it, to which it was said, "Arise, devour much flesh." Cyrus succeeded his father Cambyses in the kingdom of Perfa, and Daries the Mede, by Xenophon called Cyaxares, and Artayges in the apocryphal chapter (xiii. 1.) of Daniel, in the kingdom of the Medes and empire of Babylon. He was monarch of all the east; or as he speaks (2 Chr. xxxvi. 22, 23, and Ezr. i. 1, 2,) "of all the earth," when he permitted the Jews to return to their own country, in the year of the world 3466, before Jesus Christ 538. The enemies of the Hebrews, making use of this prince's affection to his own religion, prevailed with him to put a stop by his orders to the building of the temple at Jerusalem; (Ezra iv. 5.) The prophets frequently foretold the coming of Cyrus; and Isaiah (xlv. 28.) has been so particular as to declare his name 200 years before he was born. Josephus (Antiq. lib. ii. c. 2,) says, that the Jews of Babylon showed this passage of the prophet to Cyrus; and that this prince, in the edict which he granted them for their return, acknowledged that he received the empire of the world from the God of Israel; and that the fame God had described him by name in the writings of the prophets, and foretold that he should build a temple to him at Jerusalem. Cyrus is pointed out in Scripture under the name of the righteous man and the shepherd of Israel, (Isaiah xlii. 2, 10, xliv. 28.) and xlvii. 11. Notwithstanding this, God says of him (Isaiah xlv. 5,) "I girded thee, though thou hast not known me." And Jeremiah calls Cyrus and his people who overthrew the Babylonian empire, thieves and robbers. The taking of Babylon by Cyrus is clearly set down by the prophets, and may be seen under the articles BABYLON and BELSHAZZAR. Archbishop Usher fixes the birth of Cyrus to the year of the world 3405; his first year at Babylon to 3466, and his death to 3475. The eastern people will have it, that Cyrus by his mother's side was descended from some of the Hebrew prophets: as also that his wife was a Jew, which is the reason (say they) that this prince so attached himself to the Jews, to whom he was so nearly allied.