Oroetes
historical figure · 3 works · 4 mentions · 10 anchored passages
the barbarian
in the texts
The Histories
Persian governor of Sardis who treacherously murders and crucifies Polycrates of Samos out of envy or grudge, later commits further crimes against Persian officials, and is finally killed on Darius's orders by Bagaeus' trick.
After the death of Cambyses and the rule of the Magi, Oroetes stayed in Sardis, where he did not help the Persians in any way to regain the power taken from them by the Medes, but, to the contrary, in this confusion killed two prominent Persians, Mitrobates, the governor from Dascyleium, who had taunted him about Polycrates, and Mitrobates ' son Cranaspes;
When Oroetes heard that an inspection was imminent, he filled eight chests with stones, leaving only a very shallow space at the top;
Bagaeus gave the letters to test the spearmen, whether they would consent to revolt against Oroetes.
On Moral Ends
Satrap of Darius who executed Polycrates
if wise, not even then was he wretched, when he was driven onto the cross by Oroetes, the satrap of Darius.
Orations
Persian satrap who killed Polycrates by impalement.
but wishing to meddle with something beyond it too, and having sailed across to Oroetes, that he might get money, he met not even an easy death, but was impaled by the barbarian and destroyed.