Tomyris
I love telling Tomyris’ story. It is one of the ultimate “*uck Around and Find Out Stories”. As Tomryis’ story starts and ends around 1500 years ago, it without a doubt, falls squarely into the area in history where fact and fiction blend seamless together.
It is 530 bce under the leadership of Cyrus the Great the Achaemenid Persian Empire is arguably at or close to its pinnacle. Tomyris’ husband, King of the small but prosperous Massagetae empire has just died.
From here there are two versions of what happened next. Version 1 – Through an emissary Cyrus proposes marriage to Tomyris. Version 2 – with the mighty Persian empire camped at her border Cyrus’s emissary message was not a marriage proposal but a message encouraging her to avoid bloodshed and surrender her kingdom to him. We are told by Herodotus the message she sent back to Cyrus was a very firm “no thanks”. While we don’t know for certain what was said we know that the message ended with an order to get off her land in three days. Long Story short her son went to confirm that the Persian army had withdrawn, only to discover that they had not. The Massagetae army; an army led by Tomyris’ son Spargapises was defeated. Spargapisess ashamed of his defeat asked Cyrus for permission to restore his honor by taking his own life. A request that Cyrus honored.
Word got back to Tomyris who sent an emissary to Cyrus and demanded the return of her son. Which he ignored. She held Cyrus responsible for the death of her son and vowed to revenge her son; quoted as saying I will give you your fill of blood. She raised what remained of her army and went after the Persian army. During the fierce battle Cyrus is killed. After the battles end and her army emerged victorious, Tomyris had her army search for Cyrus’ body and bring it to her. When presented with his body Tomyris cut off his head and placed it in what was described as a “vat of blood” telling him as promised she will make him drink his fill of blood. Or at least that’s how the story goes.
A few resources for those wanting more:
https://origin.web.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/tomyris.asp
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2017/07/14/queen-tomyris-of-the-massagetai-a-woman-who-dared-or-a-woman-who-cared/
