When Cyrus the Great became the king of Anshan, however, according to researchers' assumption, he was not yet a completely independent ruler. Scholars assume that Cyrus was forced to recognize Median supremacy, even though his uncle Astyages served as Median king. They assume that he rebelled and started a war against the supremacy of the Medes. However, the Greek historian Xenophon says that Astyages died before Cyrus became king.
Xenophon tells of the birth of the Media and Persian Empire. He then writes the detail - albeit based on tradition - when Cyrus the Great besieged the city of Larissa, Nimrud.
Cyrus stated that he could not take it in any way. However, something surprising happened during that fight.
The cloud covered the sun and made it disappear completely and the inhabitants of the city were frightened, and thus the city was brought under control.
George Airy was the first to think that this story had to be associated with a total solar eclipse that spread such panic among the city’s defenders.5-1
He concluded that this solar eclipse occurred on 19th May 557 BCE.
This attack by Cyrus on Nimrud probably took place early in his reign, before he had consolidated his kingship with a successful battle against Croesus, King of Lydia. The timing of this battle of Cyrus at this point causes a change in Persian history and also affects the reliability of Nabonidus Chronicle.
Thus, it can be concluded that Nabonidus was probably not a king who changed his name and ruled for another “extra” 18 years. Instead, that king was apparently Amel-Marduk.
The reign of Cyrus
The aforementioned solar eclipse may open the rationale for the necessary changes in the history of both Persia and Media during that time.
As mentioned earlier, the statements about the Persians in the Nabonidus Chronicle are not likely to be part of the original document made during the reign of King Nabonidus of Babylon. However, it contains interesting information that tells something about the history of Persia. Let us quote here from a scripture of Nabonidus Chronicle to the 9th year of Nabonidus’ reign.
"In the month Nisanu, Cyrus, king of Parsu, mustered his army crossed the Tigris below Arbela. In the month Ajaru, he marched to the land of... He killed its king, took his possessions, (and) stationed his own garrison (there)"5-2
Here are very interesting similarities to that solar eclipse of May 19th. That solar eclipse would appear to have taken place at the end of the month of Nisannu, as it was probably 13 months in the Babylonian calendar the previous year.
Cyrus is mentioned to have crossed the Tigris, i.e. moved to its west side, during that month of Nisannu.
The city of Nimrud in question, against which he is described as attacking, was situated east of the Tigris. The Arbela mentioned in the text is about the same point on the Tigris as Nimrud. The mention of 'below Arbela' may refer to approximately where the Zab River joins the Tigris.
Since that solar eclipse occurred at the end of the month of Nisannu, it seems that Cyrus did not cross the Tigris until the early days of the Ajaru month of the time.
During that Ajaru month, he carried out a main attack on the Assyrians. It is probably this attack that is described in Xenophon's Cyropedia, at the end of Book III and the beginning of Book IV,5-3 for Xenophon says that the king of Assyria died in that battle. It also turns out that this would appear to be Cyrus' first expedition since he became king.
In this thesis it is considered likely that the situation described in the 9th year of Nabonidus’ reign occurred 10 years earlier in 557 BCE. This also fits with the earlier mention that the reign of Astyages, king of Media, apparently ended in 560 BCE. Another similarity can also be observed with the above-mentioned Xenophon's writing. His account gives the impression that Astyages died a few years before Cyrus' campaign mentioned above.5-4
There is also another option for this solar eclipse. It is the annular solar eclipse of January 14th, 559 BCE. This may be less likely because this is timed in a cold winter.
Also the tradition that appeared earlier, that Cyrus would have fought against the Assyrians in the month of Ajaru, would support more the year 557 BCE.
Attack to Anatolia
Cyrus's attack on Assyria, mentioned above, was only an intermediate stage. According to Xenophon, that attack, which also included the Median army, was directed towards Anatolia. Lydia and Assyria with many of her allies had planned an attack on Media and Persia. The Median and Persian armies advanced against them before they could launch an attack. The king of Media asked Cyrus of Persia to join this campaign.5-5 As mentioned earlier, this campaign started in 557 BCE. Relations between Media and Babylonia were probably still good at that time. It would be strange if Media had not also asked the king of Babylon to join this campaign.
It is indeed a very strange coincidence that the archaeological record tells us that the Babylonian king Neriglissar made a military attack in 557 BCE. precisely to the Anatolian region.5-6
It seems that Babylonia's part in this struggle was completely ignored by the Medes very soon. This is because in 539 BCE., just 18 years later, Media was involved in the conquest of Babylonia. It may be interesting to note that the very region that Neriglissar invaded, Cilicia, is mentioned separately in the Median tradition. It is said that it was not part of the alliance assembled by Lydia, which was about to attack Media.5-5 This may just be a propaganda of the Medes, which was used to divert attention from the fact that Babylon would have supported the Medes on their campaign at that time.
References:
5-1 Airy, George Biddell, “On the Eclipse of Agathocles, the Eclipse at Larissa, and the Eclipse of Thales. With an Appendix on the Eclipse at Stiklastad”, MEMOIRS OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 26 (1858), p. 131-152
5-2 livius.org/sources/content/mesopotamian-chronicles-content/abc-7-nabonidus-chronicle/
5-3 Xenophon: Cyropædia; Or, The Institution Of Cyrus, Printed by J. Swan, Angel Street, Newgate Street, Lontoo, 1803; pp. 147-150
5-4 Xenophon: Cyropædia; Or, The Institution Of Cyrus, Printed by J. Swan, Angel Street, Newgate Street, Lontoo, 1803; pp. 61,62
5-5 Xenophon: Cyropædia; Or, The Institution Of Cyrus, Printed by J. Swan, Angel Street, Newgate Street, Lontoo, 1803; pp. 83-92
5-6 livius.org/sources/content/mesopotamian-chronicles-
content/abc-6-neriglissar-chronicle/
I've bee checking this out and have found the following:
ReplyDelete1. The eclipse in question was indeed total and maxed at -0556 May 19 (Ajaru or Simanu) 17:51 - so even the early penumbra would unlikely have been visible before sunset from Larissa or anywhere in Assyria. We do not have any other records of observation of this solar eclipse.
2. BM 35382 reads: "In the month Nisanu, Cyrus, king of Parsu, mustered his army and crossed the Tigris below Arbela. In the month Ajaru, he marched to the land of... He killed its king, took his possessions, (and) stationed his own garrison (there) [...] Afterwards the king and his garrison was in it...” Given that his next campaign is against Lydia, the defeat of Assyria would likely be a precondition.
3. Xenophon records: “This city [Larissa] was besieged by the king of the Persians… but he could in no way capture it. A cloud, however, overspread the sun and hid it from sight until the inhabitants abandoned their city; and thus it was taken.” (Anabasis 3.4.9) This does indeed appear to refer to the same event. BM 35382 can therefore be assumed to records capture of Larissa by Cyrus in year 9 of Nabonidus.
4. Xenophon only records a cloud and not specifically an eclipse: Ἥλιον δὲ νεφέλη προκαλύψασα ἠφάνισε. Xenophon discussed both solar and lunar eclipses elsewhere in Anabasis, but his hearsay source might have been less informed.
5. BM 32238 records the 18-year lunar eclipse in Year 1 of Nabonidus "Month VII, the 13th, in 17° on the east side all was covered; 28° maximal phase. In 20° it cleared from east to west. Its eclipse was red. Behind the rump of Aries it was eclipsed. During onset, the north wind blew, during clearing. the west wind. At 55° before sunrise." (Obv. VI', 2'-8') This eclipse matches the total eclipse, in Aries, 55° before sunrise, 17°:28°:20° duration on -554 Oct 07 01:22 --- but not the corresponding eclipse 10 years earlier on -0564 Oct 27 which occurred at 07:18 and hence would have been invisible in Babylon.
6. Greek records place the accession Cyrus after 560 BCE: "“55th [Olympiad, 560 B.C.] Hippostratus [won the stadion race] for a second time. [During this Olympiad] Cyrus was king of the Persians." (Eusebius, Olympiads).
7. BM 35382 records “[Nabonidus year 1] the king mustered his army and to Humenote [i.e., Cilicia.]” This campaign apparently by the then allies Media, Persia and Babylon could be equated with the event “when Croesus [sent envoys from] Asia [to] Delphi, [29]2 [years], when Euthydemus was archon at Athens” on the Parian stele (§43) equivalent to 555 BCE.
On balance, the evidence above seems to be stronger against redating this event, especially the difficulty of redating the 18-year lunar eclipse cycles recorded in BM 32238. Please suggest any further evidence we should take into account.
Thanks for some very interesting information.
DeleteYou mentioned the solar eclipse in May 557 BCE. It happened at 12:52 UTC, i.e. no later than 15:52 local "Assyrian time". It was not visible in Assyria due to cloudiness, as Xenophon wrote. But its effects were visible. The day darkened like night.
Ps. Months of Year 557 BCE. New Moon(UTC):
ReplyDelete21. March, time12:51 / 1. Addaru II 22. March, in the evening
20. April, time 01:57 / 1. Nisannu 21. April, in the evening
19. May, time 12:42 / 1. Ajaru 20. or 21. May, in the evening