Media

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Geography
In discussing the geography of Media, it is important to acknowledge that the Medes inhabited the same land as the Persians. In the Persians, the Chorus of Elders calls the region of Persia a “rich and gold-strewn land;” A messenger calls Persia a “vast haven for wealth;” The Ghost of Darius refers to “sheep-nourishing Asia.” Herodotus states, “the Persians believe that they own Asia and the barbarian peoples who live there, while they view Europe and all things Greek as separate.” Strabo describes the location of Media and Mesopotamia “as far as Persia and Carmania lie east of the Euphrates, and each of the peoples dwelling in those areas have good vines and wines.” However, the Medes (followed by the Persians) believed that Media is the center of the world and respect peoples according to how close they live to Media.

History
Hyginus states that Medea’s son Medus founded Media. Medus vowed to avenge the murder of Medea’s father Aeetes by Perses. Herodotus states that the Medes used to live in villages, and that they were a freedom-loving people who were the first to throw off the rule of the Assyrians. Their first king was Deioces. Deioces ordered the first palace to be built and the first royal city to be constructed: Ecbatana. He ordained court rituals that distanced himself from his subjects. He became a “tyrant.” It was Deioces who placed “under together the Median people as one and ruled over them.” The tribes: Bousai, Paretakenoi, Stroukhates, Arizanoi, Boudioi, and Magoi. After Deioces, his son Phraortes defeated the Persians, but died while trying to incorporate the Assyrian state in the Median empire.”

People
Xenophon describes Astyages, the last Medean king, as wearing eye liner, face paints and false hair, which he says is the practice of the Medes as well as the wearing of purple clothing, necklaces and bracelets.

Religion
Although ancient writers do not specifically describe Median religious practices, their reliance on priests (magi) connects their practices with Persian religion.