Harpagus
historical figure · 2 works · 6 mentions · 20 anchored passages
Harpagus, a Mede · Harpagus, a Persian
spoken of as
1 expressionHarpagus the Mede1 mention
The Histories (Greek)
When Cyrus saw the Lydians maneuvering their battle-lines here, he was afraid of their cavalry, and therefore at the urging of one Harpagus, a Mede, he did as I shall describe.
in the texts
The Histories
A trusted Median courtier ordered by Astyages to kill the infant Cyrus; he instead has the boy exposed by a cowherd, is later punished by being fed his own son's flesh, and eventually organizes the Median revolt that brings Cyrus to power.
Harpagus did;
Harpagus answered thus.
There are many reasons why I will not kill him:
On Anger
Courtier of the Persian king who was made to unknowingly eat his own children and forced to praise the meal, yet concealed his rage
I do not doubt that Harpagus, too, gave some such counsel to his king and the king of the Persians, offended by which he set before him his own children to feast on, and asked again and again whether the seasoning pleased him;
I do not forbid the father to condemn his king's deed, I do not forbid him to seek a penalty worthy of so savage a monster, but in the meantime I draw this conclusion—that anger arising even from the greatest of evils can be concealed and forced to words contrary to itself.