| Character | Date BC |
Short Biography |
|---|
Early Empires |
|---|
| Nebuchadnezzar | 645–561 |
King who conquered much of Assyria and made his capital at Babylon. |
| Amasis II | d. 525 |
Second to last king of Egypt, died before Egypt was overrun by Cambyses. |
| Croesus | 560–547 |
Wealthy monarch of Lydia who lost his kingdom to Cyrus the Great. |
Rise of Persia |
|---|
| Cyrus the Great | 558–529 |
Prince of Persia who overran Medes, Lydia and Assyria to create the Persian Empire. |
| Harpagus | ~ 550 |
Minister of Astyages who betrayed him in favor of Cyrus. |
| Cambyses | d. 522 |
Eldest son of Cyrus. Invaded Egypt, killed brother, then died. |
| Smerdis the Magi | ~ 522 |
Impersonated Smerdis, son of Cyrus and stole the throne of Persia. |
| Atossa | ~ 521 |
Daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius, mother of Xerxes |
| Darius the Great | d. 486 |
With six conspirators seized the throne of Persia, primarily through craft rather than force. |
| Tomyris | ~ 529 |
Queen of the Scythians. Her army defeated and killed Cyrus the Great. |
| Democedes | ~ 500 |
Greek physician, valuable slave of Darius. Schemed and plotted to return to Greece. |
| Zopyrus | d. 482 |
Loyal Persian General, helped Darius retake Babylon with an elaborate ruse. |
Ionian Revolt |
|---|
| Histiaeus | d. 494 |
Very close advisor to Darius, rescued him from disaster in Scythia, later rebelled. Father in law of Aristagoras. |
| Aristagoras | ~ 494 |
Son-in-law of Histiaeus. Led Rebellion of Greek Colonies in Asia Minor. |
Persian Heroes |
|---|
| Artaphernes | ~ 500 |
Brother of Darius, Satrap of Lydia during Ionian Rebellion. Lead Persian forces at Marathon. |
| Xerxes | 520–465 |
Raised an enormous army for Persian invasion of Greece. Defeated at Battle of Salamis. |
| Mardonius | d. 489 |
Brother-in-law of Xerxes and commander-in-chief of Xerxes's Army. |
| Artabanus | ~ 480 |
Brother of Darius. Close advisor to Darius and Xerxes. |
| Artemisia | ~ 480 |
Queen of Halicarnassas and Cos. One of Xerxes most trusted advisors and Generals. |
| Demaratus | ~ 480 |
Exiled King of Sparta, advisor to Xerxes during his invasion of Greece. |
| Pythius | ~ 480 |
Satrap who magnificently hosted Xerxes and was repaid by having his eldest son slain. |
Greek Heroes |
|---|
| Bulis and Sperthias | ~ 485 |
Volunteered to sacrifice their lives to the Persian King to expiate the murder of Ambassadors. |
| Miltiades | d. 489 |
Athenian General who led Greece to great victory at the Battle of Marathon. |
| Pheidippides | d. 490 |
Ran from Athens to Sparta to warn of Persians. Ran to Athens after Marathon, then died. |
| Leonidas | d. 480 |
Spartan King whose whole army died defending the pass of Thermopylae. |
| Themistocles | 525–462 |
Athenian hero of the Battle of Salamis. He masterminded Athenian naval supremacy. |
| Eurybiades | ~ 480 |
Head of Spartan Fleet during the Persian War. |
| Aristides | d. 468 |
Athenian General and Statesman. Fought at Marathon, Salamis; created Delian League. |
| Pausanias | d. 470 |
Spartan General who led Greece against Mardonius at the Battle of Plataea. |
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