Deioces
historical figure · 2 works · 4 mentions · 7 anchored passages
Deioces the Mede
in the texts
Orations
Median king cited as an example of a just ruler granted long life.
"But the brave and humane man, well-disposed to his subjects, honoring virtue and striving lest he be thought inferior in any of the good things, compelling the unjust to repent and aiding the weak—him God, admiring his virtue, for the most part brings on to old age, as we hear of Cyrus and of Deioces the Mede and Idanthyrsus the Scythian and Leucon, and of many of the Laconian kings, and of some …
but the very rulers of men, men engaged in public life and farming, as it may happen, and simply living — as Cyrus ruled the Persians, and Deioces the Medes, and Hellen those named after him, and Aeolus the Aeolians, and Dorus the Dorians, and Numa the Romans, and Dardanus the Phrygians.
Why does Deioces labour?
The Histories
The Mede who won sovereignty by cultivating a reputation for just judgment, was made the first king of a unified Median nation, founded Ecbatana, and instituted the seclusion of the king.
Deioces had a son, Phraortes, who inherited the throne when Deioces died after a reign of fifty-three years.
Then every man was loud in putting Deioces forward and praising Deioces, until they agreed that he should be their king.
and, gathering together, the Medes conferred about their present affairs, and said (here, as I suppose, the main speakers were Deioces ' friends),