- Abradatas
Abradatas (Greek polytonic|Αβραδάτας; fl.
6th century BC ) was a king, probably fictional, ofSusa , known to us fromXenophon 's partly fictional biography ofCyrus the Great , the "Cyropaedia". [Xenophon , "Cyropaedia" v. 1. § 3, vi. 1. § 31, &c. 4. § 2, &c. vii. 3. § 2, &c.] [Lucian. Imag. 20] According to it, he was an ally of theAssyria ns againstCyrus the Great , while Cyrus was still a vassal to his (also probably fictional) uncle,Cyaxares II .citation|chapter=Abradatas|last=Brunner|first=Christopher Joseph|title=Encyclopaedia Iranica|volume=1.3|page=228|year=1984|location=Costa Mesa|publisher=Mazda Pub|chapter-url=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v1f3/v1f3a004.html]His wife Pantheia was taken by Cyrus on the conquest of the Assyrian camp, while Abradatas was absent on a mission to the
Bactria ns. In consequence of the honorable treatment which his wife received from Cyrus, he was persuaded to join the latter with his forces. He fell in battle, while fighting against the army ofCroesus , during the conquest ofLydia in547 BC . Inconsolable at her loss, Pantheia committedsuicide , and her example was followed by her threeeunuch s. Cyrus had a high mound raised in their honour: on a pillar on the top were inscribed the names of Abradatas and Pantheia in theSyriac characters; and three columns below bore the inscription polytonic|σκηπτούχων in honour of the eunuchs. [Citation
last = Smith
first = William
author-link = William Smith (lexicographer)
contribution = Abradatas
editor-last = Smith
editor-first = William
title =Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
volume = 1
pages = 3
publisher =
place =
year = 1867
contribution-url = http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0012.html ]The romance of Abradatas and Pantheia forms a significant part of the latter half of the "
Cyropaedia ".References
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