THE EMPIRES OF WESTERN ASIA.
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were brothers. One of them, Gaumāta, resembled the dead Smerdis. While Cambyses was in Egypt this Gaumāta, with the help of his brother, passed himself off for Smerdis, and had himself proclaimed king.[1] As soon as Cambyses heard of this rebellion he hastened home, but died in Syria on his return, according to Herodotus, in consequence of an accident; but according to the Behistan inscription by a self-imposed death.[2]
Gaumata was recognized at the beginning of the eighth month.[3] Seven noble Persians,[4] among them Darius, son of Hystaspes, determined to remove the usurper from the throne. They forced their way into the palace of the king, which was in the country of Nisa
- ↑ Hdt, III., 61. Behistan, I., n. "(Gaumãta) thus deceived the state: 'I am Bardiya (Smerdis), the son of Cyrus, brother of Cambyses,'" etc.
- ↑ Hdt., III., 64. Behistan, I. n. Persian, Ka(m)bujiya uvā-marshiyush amariyatā. Babylonian, Kambuzia mitûtu ramâ-niš̄u mîti.
- ↑ Hdt, III., 67-69.
- ↑ Herodotus enumerates the six associates of Darius in the slaying of Gaumāta, or the false Smerdis, as follows: Otanes, Intaphernes, Gobryas, Megabysus, Aspathines, Hydarnes. The Behistan inscription (IV., 18) reads: "Says Darius the king, 'These are the men who were there when I slew Gaumāta the Magian, who called himself Bardiya (Smerdis). Then these men coöperated as my allies: Vindafranā (Intaphernes), the son of Vayaspāra, a Persian; Utāna (Otanes), son of Thukhra, a Persian; Gaubaruva (Gobryas), son of Marduniya (Mardonius, cf. Hdt., VI., 43), a Persian; Vidarna (Hydarnes), son of Bagā-bigna, a Persian; Bagabukhsha (Megabysus), son of Dāduhya, a Persian; Ardumanish, son of Vahuka, a Persian.'" The name of Aspachanā (perhaps Aspathines) is mentioned on the Naqshi-Rustam inscription as the quiver bearer of King Darius. (N R d.)
