Megabates
historical figure · 4 works · 4 mentions · 6 anchored passages
Megabates the Persian · the handsome son of Spithridates
in the texts
The Histories
Persian general and Achaemenid cousin of Darius and Artaphrenes, appointed to lead the Naxos fleet, whose quarrel with Aristagoras leads him to warn the Naxians and doom the campaign.
For their general he appointed Megabates, a Persian of the Achaemenid family, cousin to himself and to Darius.
When Scylax had been bound, someone brought word to Aristagoras, that his Myndian friend was bound and being disgracefully treated by Megabates.
” This response on the part of Aristagoras enraged Megabates, who, went night fell, sent men in a boat to Naxos to tell the Naxians of the trouble in store for them.
History of the Peloponnesian War
Former Persian governor of Dascylium, superseded by Artabazus.
and Xerxes was pleased with the letter, and sent Artabazus, the son of Pharnaces, to the sea, and ordered him to succeed to the satrapy of Dascylium, superseding Megabates, who was governor be fore;
Agesilaus
Handsome son of Spithridates whose attempted Persian kiss tests Agesilaus' control over desire.
After a deep silence, Agesilaus gave his reply:
Yet when Megabates attempted to kiss him, Agesilaus resisted his advances with all his might — an act of punctilious moderation surely!
Megabates, feeling himself slighted, tried no more to kiss him, and Agesilaus approached one of his companions with a request that he would persuade Megabates to show him honour once again.
Hellenica
Named alongside Spithridates and the Paphlagonians among those whose desertion distressed Agesilaus.
And nothing happened during the campaign which was more distressing to Agesilaus than the desertion of Spithridates, Megabates, and the Paphlagonians.