[Gospel Gleaner, vol. 16, No. 3, pages 6-7, 22] Cyaxares was the founder of the kingdom of the Medes (625-585 B.C.). He captured Ahur (614) and destroyed Nineveh (612), subdued the countries of northern Mesopotamia and spread Median boundaries westward to the Halys in Asia Minor. His son Astyages, who was the last king of Media, succeeded him to the throne (reigned 584-550 B.C.). According to Herodotus, Astyages’ daughter Mandane married Cambyses. Cyrus the Great was her son. Cyrus, a Persian king under Median domination, revolted against Astyages. Astyages’ troops mutinied and surrendered their king to Cyrus. Media became part of the Persian Empire (550 B.C.). Cyrus wisely ordered an administration that shared power with the Medes, thus the Medo-Persian Empire. Persia became a vast collection of states and kingdoms reaching the shores of Asia Minor in the west to the Indus River valley in the east. It extended northward to southern Russia, and in the south included Egypt and the regions bordering the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Our chief interest in the Persian Empire, third of the great kingdoms of the ancient east, lies in its relation to Bible history and the people of God. The rise of the Medes and Persians found Israel in a state of division and rebellion against their God. Because of idolatrous rebellion against God, Assyria had overrun Israel, the ten northern tribes, and scattered its people among the nations (721 B.C.). Isaiah and others of God’s prophets exhorted Israel to