Astiages

Anon. (1598)

Historical Records

Records of St. John’s College, Oxford

St. John’s College ms. Acc.v.E.1, college Computus Hebdomalis (16-22 January):

fol. 57 v

A tragedy of Astiages/

Acted post 30^a <...>os in

aedibus Praesidentis

[Translation:]

A tragedy of Astiages

Acted after thirty years in

the president's house

fol. 58

Eadem tragoedia

Astiages publice acta

in Aula/

[Translation:]

The same tragedy

of Astiages performed publicly

in the hall

(Quoted by Elliott-Nelson, REED: Oxford I.245, II.1007)

Theatrical Provenance

Produced twice at St. John’s College, Oxford, in 1597-8, once privately in the President's lodgings and again publicly. The description "post 30^a [ann]os" seems to suggest that the play had originally premiered thirty years prior, c. 1567-8. Probably written in Latin.

Probable Genre(s)

Latin (?) Tragedy (Harbage)

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Summary from Encyclopedia Britannica:

The last king of the Median empire (reigned 585–550 bc). According to Herodotus, the Achaemenian Cyrus the Great was Astyages’ grandson through his daughter Mandane, but this relationship is probably legendary. According to Babylonian inscriptions, Cyrus, king of Anshan (in southwestern Iran), began war against Astyages in 553 bc; in 550 the Median troops rebelled, and Astyages was taken prisoner. Then Cyrus occupied and plundered Ecbatana, the Median capital.

The main source of information on Astyages is Herodotus's Histories. The action of the lost play most likely involved the following major events in the tale of Astyages:

*Astyages has a prophetic dream that his daughter Mandane will give birth to a son (Cyrus) who ruins Astyages' empire

*He marries his daughter Mandane off to Cambyses I, but has another, similar prophetic dream.

*Astyages sends a general, Harpagus, to kill the child when it is born, but Harpagus instead gives the child to shepherds to raise.

*Cyrus is eventually found alive, aged 10. Astyages deceives Harpagus into eating his own son at a banquet, as punishment for not killing Cyrus as commanded.

*Harpagus, seeking vengeance, encourages Cyrus to rebel against Astyages.

References to the Play

Information needed.

Critical Commentary

Information needed.

For What It's Worth

Information needed.

Works Cited

Encyclopedia Britannica

Herodotus. The Histories of Herodotus. ed. Henry Carey. NY: D. Appleton & company, 1899. Print. (Internet Archive)

REED Oxford I.

Site created and maintained by David McInnis, University of Melbourne; updated 07 March 2010.