CYAXARES I. Son of Phraortes: He having succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of the Medes1, levied a great Army in order to revenge himself on the Assyrians; and having defeated them in a memorable Battle, he led his Troops a second time to the Siege of Nineveh; but while he was employed in carrying it on, the Scythians from the Palus Mæotis having marched round Mount Caucasus, made an irruption into Media. He made haste to defend his own Country, but was defeated, and divested of the Empire of upper Asia, which the Scythians possessed eight and twenty years. From thence they passed into Syria and Palestine. Some believe, that during this Expedition they made themselves Masters of Bethsan, which was afterwards Tob.ult.& Dan. ix.1.named Scythopolis, or the City of the Scythians, and that they plundered the Temple of Venus of Askalon.2 Cyaxares died after forty years reign, and was succeeded by Astyages, otherwise called Ahasuerus. Cyaxares began to reign about the year of the World 3391, and died about the year 3430.
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