Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

MEDES, MEDIA

(Heb., Aram. māḏay;
Gk. Mḗdoi; O. Pers. māda)

An Indo-iranian people who inhabited the plateau of northern Iran, around the area of modern Hamadan (ancient Ecbatana), and enjoyed a degree of military prominence during the 7th and 6th centuries b.c.e.

Our knowledge of the Medes derives mainly from archaeology, Assyrian royal inscriptions, and Herodotus. Archaeology of the northern highlands shows a clear cultural break between the Bronze and Iron Ages ca. 1500, perhaps linked with the arrival of the Iranians. During Iron I this region appears to have been rather isolated and self-contained, characterized by the so-called Early Western Grey Wares. For Iron II the patterns are more diversified and Assyrian influence is detectable.

From the 9th century on there are references to the Medes in the Assyrian royal inscriptions. Under Assurnasirpal II and Shalmaneser III the Assyrian kings extended their rule into the Zagros. In the process they came into contact with small, ethnically diverse tribes, including the Medes. From the late 9th to mid-8th century Assyrian strength was interrupted by the Urartu expanding from the north into the Zagros. With Tiglath-pileser III, the campaigns into the Zagros recommenced, also against groups designated as “the mighty Medes” and the “distant Medes.” Sargon II solidified Assyrian control in the central Western Zagros from out of the center at Harhar. All the while the Medes are referred to as living in provinces or districts, and having many chieftains. The Assyrian annals do not suggest much change in Assyrian control over the region into the 7th century. However, various omen texts refer to stirrings in the East. In the late 7th century under the leadership of a certain Cyaxares, the Medes appear powerful enough to participate in the sacking of Assyrian cities such as Nineveh, Harran, and Assur. The Assyrian annals fail to explain the emergence of such Median strength at this time.

Herodotus appears to fill this gap by giving an internal account of the rise of a Median state. He narrates that a certain Deioces, who was known for justice, was declared king. Uniting various tribes, he made Ecbatana his capital. After his 53-year reign, Deioces’ son Phraores succeeded him, subjugating Persia and other Asian countries as well, finally marching against the Assyrians. He was defeated and lost his own life, having reigned 22 years. His son Cyaxares, in turn, conquered Lydia and united all the land beyond the river Halys. Then he successfully campaigned against the Assyrians. Meanwhile, the Scythians, who were pursuing the Cimmerians, invaded Media and exercised tyranny over all Asia for 28 years. Then, however, Cyaxares returned to the Medes control of their former territories, including Assyria but not Babylon. Cyaxares’ reign totaled 40 years including the interregnum of the Scythians. He was succeeded by his son Astyages, whose daughter Mandane was wedded to Cambyses and later bore Cyrus II. Cyrus led a revolt of Persian tribes against Astyages, deposing him, and exchanging Median rule for Persian.

Questions have been raised about the accuracy of Herodotus’ account. Median sites from the 7th century indicate economic and cultural prosperity. Yet the excavated sites, which exclude Ecbatana, are without evidence of centralization and appear impoverished by the 6th century. Some scholars have argued that the developments towards state formation in the 7th century were stimulated by contact with the Assyrians. Conversely, it has been argued that with the absence of Assyrian political pressure, the Medes, who were never more than tribal groups, weakened. Other scholars have maintained that the ensuing prominence of the Medes among the Persians suggests that the Medes must have been a solidified force at some point. The debate concerning the existence of a Median state is still ongoing.

In the Bible, the Medes appear alongside of the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. The Assyrians settle some of the captives from northern Israel in cities of the Medes (2 Kgs. 17:6; 18:11). Among many nations and cities and their officials, Jeremiah mentions the rulers of the Medes as objects of God’s wrath (Jer. 25:25). Elsewhere Median rulers, including governors and deputies, are portrayed as a threat to Babylon (Jer. 51:11, 28; cf. Isa. 13:17; 21:2). The fact that the text uses the plural “rulers” might suggest the absence of Median centralization. The absorption of the Median Empire into the Persian is reflected in the conjunction of “the Medes and the Persians,” cited frequently in Esther (Esth. 1:3, 14, 18-19; 10:2), Daniel (Dan. 5:28; 6:8, 12, 15; 8:20), and elsewhere (1 Macc. 1:1; 6:56; Jdt. 16:10; 1 Esdr. 3:1, 14). Judith contains an unhistorical reference to a certain Arphaxad, king of the Medes (Jdt. 1:1). The story of Tobit finds its setting partly in Media among exiled Jews (e.g., Tob. 1:14-15; 3:7). Diaspora Jews from Media are among those present at the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:9).

For Darius the Mede, see Darius 4.

Bibliography. S. C. Brown, “Media and Secondary State Formation in the Neo-Assyrian Zagros,” JCS 38 (1986): 107-19; H. Sancisi-Weerdenburg, “Was There Ever a Median Empire?” Achaemenid History 3 (1988): 197-212; T. C. Young, Jr., “The Early History of the Medes and the Persians and the Achaemenid Empire to the Death of Cambyses,” CAH 4:1-52.

Gerald M. Bilkes