Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

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xii HISTORY OF PERSIA
the Medes—The Accession of Cyaxares —The First Siege of
Nineveh—The Scythian Invasion—The Second Siege of Nineveh
—The Fall of Nineveh, circa 607 B.C.—The Verdict of History
on Assyria.
CHAPTER XI
Babylonia, and Lydia . . . '133
The State of the Ancient World after the Fall of Nineveh—
The Position of Media—The New Kingdom of Babylonia —The
Campaign of Necho II.—The Victory of Nebuchadnezzar over
Necho II.—The " Hanging Gardens " of Babylon —The Campaigns
of Cyaxares —The Empire of Lydia—The Mermnadae
Dynasty —The Invention of Coinage—The War between Media
and —The Lydia Battle of the Eclipse, 585 B.C.—The Death of
Cyaxares, 584 B.C.—
Astyages, the Last King of Media—The
Luxury of the Median Court—The Defeat of Astyages by
Cyrus the Great—The Later Kings of the New Babylonian
Kingdom.
CHAPTER XII
The Heroic Age of Persia . . . . .
The Legendary Nature of Early Persian History — The
Pishdadian Dynasty — Jamshid and Zohak—Feridun and Kawa
—The Three Sons of Feridun— Sam, Zal, and Rudabah—Rustam
the Champion —The Keianian Dynasty—Kei Kaus identified
with Cyaxares — Sohrab and Rustam—Siawush and Kei Khusru
—Kei Khusru not Cyrus the Great— Lohrasp and Gustasp —
Isfandiar— Bahman or Ardeshir Dirazdast— The End of the
Heroic Period.
CHAPTER XIII
The Rise of Persia . . . . . .148
The Early Organization of the Persians—The Rise of
Cyrus the Great according to Herodotus—The Tragedy of
Harpagus —Fresh Light on Persian History— Achaemenes, the
Founder of the Royal Family—The Double Line of Achaemenian
Monarchs—The Defeat of Astyages by Cyrus — Cyrus, King of
Anshan, becomes King of Persia— Croesus of Lydia —The Perso-
Lydian Campaign —The Capture of Sardes, 546 B.C.—The Fate of
Croesus—The Geographical Position of Hellas—Recent Progress
in Knowledge of Greek History — The Aryan Invasion of
Greece—The Greek Colonies in Asia Minor—Their Conquest
by the Persians— The Eastern Campaigns of Cyrus —The
Surrender of Babylon, 538 B.C.—The Traditional Account—
The Latter Years of Cyrus —The Repatriation of the Jews—The
Death of Cyrus, 529 B.C.—His Character.