Tomyris

~ 529 BC

WAR CHARIOT OF CYRUS THE GREAT

Queen Tomyris of the Massagetae, is one of the best known female Warriors of the ancient world. Although Cyrus defeated the rich and powerful kingdoms of Lydia, and Babylon, she defeated Persians on her own territory, and killed the Great King. The first encounter between the Persians and Massagetae went badly for Queen Tomyris; the Persians ambushed a detachment of her army and killed her son. But when the two armies met the next day in open battle, the Massagetae prevailed. Cyrus was killed, and his head was brought to Queen Tomyris.

Key events during the life of tomyris:

Year	Event
529 BC	Cyrus makes war on the Massagetae and is killed.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Death of Cyrus  in	Cyrus the Great  by  Jacob Abbott
Cyrus Maketh War Against the Massagetae  in	Stories of the East From Herodotus  by  Alfred J. Church

Contemporary	Short Biography
Cyrus the Great	Prince of Persia who overran Medes, Lydia and Assyria to create the Persian Empire.
Croesus	Wealthy monarch of Lydia who lost his kingdom to Cyrus the Great.
Spargapizes	Son of Tomyris, prince of Scythia, who was ambushed and killed by the Army of Cyrus.