The Old and the Restless - The Egyptians and the Scythians in Herodotus' Histories by Robert J. Hagan

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beginning with Cambyses himself, coming under the influence of alcohol. When Darius demands
earth and water in Macedonia, his delegation is invited to a feast courtesy of King Amyntas and
his son Alexander. As the Persians dine and drink profusely, they boorishly demand that the
Macedonian women sit with them, fondling them and infuriating the king and prince. Alexander
sends away his father and tells the Persian visitors, who are “exceedingly drunk” to have their
pick of their women to sleep with. He then finds beardless men to dress as women, sends them
into the Persians’ quarters where the “guest-friends” are slaughtered (5.18-20). We can assume
that it was not Herodotus’ ideal of hardiness for one to be tricked into being murdered by men
dressed as women. These behaviors fit instead Cyrus’ warning of “soft men”; men easily
weakened by drink and distracted by lust.
Royal Ethics
Darius’s accession sees a return to stability after his initial seizing of power from the
Magi. While his administrative actions and the establishment of regular tribute are regarded by
the people as benign (3.89) and his rule is stable, it is evident that even Darius has moved away
from the ethical tenets of Persian society as laid out by Herodotus in Book One (1.131-9).
Darius’ skill at the financing of government is an ambiguous virtue, however; Darius is
described by the Persians a “retailer” since he “puts a price on everything.” By contrast,
Cambyses is called a “master” because of his cruelty. Cyrus, described by the Persians as a
“father” (3.89), once denounced trading peoples as weak, professing his lack of hear of those
“who set aside a space in the middle of their town where they can meet and make false promises
to one another” (1.153). To Cyrus, trade is unmanly and unworthy of the Persians. In his