Megabyzus
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Megabyzum Proper-name noun: masculine accusative singular of Megabyzus
- A priest of Diana at Ephesus, Plin. 35, 10, 36, § 93.—
- II One of Darius's generals, Just. 7, 3, 7.—
- III The name of a Persian eunuch, Quint. 5, 12, 21.
(Μεγβάζος), and MEGABY'ZUS (Μεγάβυζος), are Persian names, which are so intermixed by Herodotus, Ctesias, and other writers, as to make it nearly certain that they are only different forms of the same name. Thucydides, however, applies the names respectively to two different persons (1.109); but this is not a certain proof that the names were really different. For a further discussion of the two forms, see Duker and Poppo, ad Thuc. l.c.; Hemsterh. ad Lucian. Tim. 22; Perizon. ad Aelian. V. H. 2.2; Dorvill. ad Charit, p. 472 (pp. 446, 447. orig. ed.) Aeschylus (Aesch. Pers. 22) gives the form Μεγαβάζης, and Xenophon confounds Μεγάβαζος and Μεγαβάτης. [See below, No. 5.]
1. One of the seven Persian nobles who formed the conspiracy against the Magian Smerdis, B. C. 521. In the discussion put into the mouths of the conspirators by Herodotus, after the death of the Magian, Megabazus recommends an oligarchical form of government. (Hdt. 3.70, 81.) Dareius, who held him in the highest esteem, left him behind with an army in Europe, when he himself recrossed the Hellespont, on his return from Seytina, B. C. 506. (Id. 4.143, 144.) Megabazus subdued Perinthus and the other cities on the Hellespont and along the coast of Thrace, which had not yet submitted to the Persian rule, and removed the Paeonians, who dwelt about the Strymon, into Phrygia. (Id. 5.1-16, comp. 98.) He also sent to Amyntas, the king of Macedonia, and demanded earth and water, in token of his submission to Dareius. [For what followed see Alexander I. Vol. I. p. 118.] On his return to Sardis he advised Dareius to recall Histiaeus from Myreinus. [Histiaeus.] Herodotus mentions a celebrated saying of his in praise of the situation of Byzantium (4.144). He was the father of Zopyrus. (Id. 3.153.) Xenophon (Xen. Cyrop. 8.6.7) mentions a Megabyzus who was appointed by Cyrus as satrap of Arabia.
2. Megabyzus, the son of Zopyrus, and grandson of the above, was one of the commanders of the land forces in the expedition of Xerxes against Greece, B. C. 4 80. (Hdt. 7.82.) Megayzus was the commander of the army which Cimon defeated on the Eurymcdtlon, in uB. C. 466. (Diod. 12.3.) [Cimon.] When the Athenians made their expedition against Egypt, Megabyzus was sent against them with a large army; and having driven them out of Memphis, he shut them up in the island of Prosopitis, which he at last took, after a siege of eighteen months, B. C. 457. (lierod. 3.160; Thuc. 1.109; Diod. 11.74.6.) Ctesias informs us that he was the son-in-law of Xerxes, having married his daughter Amytis; and he ascribes to Megabyzus the service which Herodotus attributes to Zopyrus, namely, the taking of Babylon, after its revolt from Xerxes. (Pers. 22; Diod. 10.17.2; comp. Hdt. 3.153.) Several other incidents of his life are related by Ctesias. (Pers. 27, 30, 33-40.) Two sons of his are mentioned, Zopyrus and Artyphius. (Ctes 37; Hdt. 3.160.) He is always called Μεγάβυζος, except in a quotation from Ctesias by Stephanus (s. v. Κυρταῖα), who gives the name in the form Μεγάβαζος but even in this passage Westermann has printed it Μεγάβυζος
[Megabazus.]
- father of Zopyrus: Hdt. 3.153
- one of the seven conspirators against the Magians: Hdt. 3.70
- advocate of oligarchy for Persia: Hdt. 3.81
- one of the generals of Xerxes' army: Hdt. 7.82, Hdt. 7.121
- in command subsequently in Egypt: Hdt. 3.160