Artayctes
Encyclopedia
Artaÿctes is a historical figure described in Herodotus
' The Histories. According to Herodotus, Artayctes was a Persian
General
, who was in command of the Mossonoikan and Makronian forces in the army of Xerxes
during the second Persian invasion of Greece
(480-479 BC). During that period, Artayctes was also a Tyrant
in Sestos
(modern town: Zemenik), where he was captured and crucified by Athenian forces in 479 BC.
and the Battle of Mycale
, they retreated toward the Chersonesos
, to make a final stand at its capital Sestos
.
At the same time, the Greek fleet sailed toward the Hellespont to destroy the Persian pontoon
bridge, as they thought that the Persians' intention was to use it to get back to Asia Minor
. However, upon arrival, they discovered that the bridge had already been destroyed. While the majority of the Greek fleet subsequently retreated, the Athenians, commanded by Xanthippus
, decided to stay and try to retake the Chersonesos
from the Persians.
The Athenian army set foot on the Chersonesos near Sestos, the capital of Chersonesos, which had been under Persian command since the onset of the second invasion. The Athenians surrounded the city, of which Artayctes was governor
.
of Sestos was a reign of terror. Originally, Sestos had been a Greek stronghold. Herodotus describes that when Artayctes was made governor of the city, he claimed all treasures present in the region, and desecrated many Greek places of worship. For example, Artayctes plundered the Sestos' cemetery Elaious
, and built a Persian temple complex on top of it.
, little progress in retaking the city had been made, and the Athenian soldiers became somewhat discontent. However, the Athenian officers
were determined to retake the city.
Herodotus describes that the inhabitants of Sestos and the Persian garrison were struck by famine
during that time. In a final attempt to escape the Greeks, the Persian army left the city during the night via a part of the wall
least protected by the Greeks.
Herodotus describes how Artayctes pleads for his life and the life of his son. He offers a hundred talents to the gods, and two hundred to the Athenians if they spare their lives.
However, the Greek general Xanthippus
insists on their execution, as payment for the desecration
of the Elaious cemetery. Herodotus describes how Artayctes is then crucified. While Artayctes is dying, he witnesses how his son is stoned to death.
, and the story of Artayctes, was no doubt somewhat influenced by inaccurate testimonies of eye-witnesses, and perhaps by his own favouritism.
Hein van Dolen, 1995. Reprinted November 1995. Revised and reprinted 1996, 2000. Nijmegen, The Netherlands: SUN. ISBN 90-6168-583-4
Herodotus
Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria and lived in the 5th century BC . He has been called the "Father of History", and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a...
' The Histories. According to Herodotus, Artayctes was a Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
, who was in command of the Mossonoikan and Makronian forces in the army of Xerxes
Xerxes I of Persia
Xerxes I of Persia , Ḫšayāršā, ), also known as Xerxes the Great, was the fifth king of kings of the Achaemenid Empire.-Youth and rise to power:...
during the second Persian invasion of Greece
Second Persian invasion of Greece
The second Persian invasion of Greece occurred during the Greco-Persian Wars, as King Xerxes I of Persia sought to conquer all of Greece. The invasion was a direct, if delayed, response to the defeat of the first Persian invasion of Greece at the Battle of Marathon which ended Darius I's attempts...
(480-479 BC). During that period, Artayctes was also a Tyrant
Tyrant
A tyrant was originally one who illegally seized and controlled a governmental power in a polis. Tyrants were a group of individuals who took over many Greek poleis during the uprising of the middle classes in the sixth and seventh centuries BC, ousting the aristocratic governments.Plato and...
in Sestos
Sestos
200px|200px|thumb|The Ancient Map of Gallipoli PeninsulaSestos was an ancient Greek town of the Thracian Chersonese, the modern Gallipoli peninsula in European Turkey. Situated on the Hellespont opposite Abydos, it was the home of Hero in the legend of Hero and Leander, where according to legend...
(modern town: Zemenik), where he was captured and crucified by Athenian forces in 479 BC.
Background
After the defeat of the Persian army in the Battle of PlataeaBattle of Plataea
The Battle of Plataea was the final land battle during the second Persian invasion of Greece. It took place in 479 BC near the city of Plataea in Boeotia, and was fought between an alliance of the Greek city-states, including Sparta, Athens, Corinth and Megara, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes...
and the Battle of Mycale
Battle of Mycale
The Battle of Mycale was one of the two major battles that ended the second Persian invasion of Greece during the Greco-Persian Wars. It took place on or about August 27, 479 BC on the slopes of Mount Mycale, on the coast of Ionia, opposite the island of Samos...
, they retreated toward the Chersonesos
Chersonesos
Chersonesus Taurica is an ancient Greek colony founded approximately 2,500 years ago in the southwestern part of Crimea, known then as Taurica...
, to make a final stand at its capital Sestos
Sestos
200px|200px|thumb|The Ancient Map of Gallipoli PeninsulaSestos was an ancient Greek town of the Thracian Chersonese, the modern Gallipoli peninsula in European Turkey. Situated on the Hellespont opposite Abydos, it was the home of Hero in the legend of Hero and Leander, where according to legend...
.
At the same time, the Greek fleet sailed toward the Hellespont to destroy the Persian pontoon
Pontoon
Pontoon may refer to:* Float , an air-filled structure providing buoyancy* Pontoon , the Australian/Malaysian casino game* Pontoon , a chiefly British version of the card game blackjack...
bridge, as they thought that the Persians' intention was to use it to get back to Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
. However, upon arrival, they discovered that the bridge had already been destroyed. While the majority of the Greek fleet subsequently retreated, the Athenians, commanded by Xanthippus
Xanthippus
Xanthippus was a Greek mercenary general hired by the Carthaginians to aid in their war against the Romans during the First Punic War...
, decided to stay and try to retake the Chersonesos
Chersonesos
Chersonesus Taurica is an ancient Greek colony founded approximately 2,500 years ago in the southwestern part of Crimea, known then as Taurica...
from the Persians.
The Athenian army set foot on the Chersonesos near Sestos, the capital of Chersonesos, which had been under Persian command since the onset of the second invasion. The Athenians surrounded the city, of which Artayctes was governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
.
Artayctes' rule
According to Herodotus, Artayctes' rule over the city-stateCity-state
A city-state is an independent or autonomous entity whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as a part of another local government.-Historical city-states:...
of Sestos was a reign of terror. Originally, Sestos had been a Greek stronghold. Herodotus describes that when Artayctes was made governor of the city, he claimed all treasures present in the region, and desecrated many Greek places of worship. For example, Artayctes plundered the Sestos' cemetery Elaious
Elaious
Elaious was an ancient Greek city located in Thrace, located in the region of the Thracian Chersonesos....
, and built a Persian temple complex on top of it.
The Siege of Sestos
Herodotus describes that Artayctes was completely surprised by the arrival of the Athenian military forces. By surrounding the city of Sestos, the Athenians had trapped Artayctes in his own capital, and with him the equipment to build a new pontoon bridge. After several months of siegeSiege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
, little progress in retaking the city had been made, and the Athenian soldiers became somewhat discontent. However, the Athenian officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
were determined to retake the city.
Herodotus describes that the inhabitants of Sestos and the Persian garrison were struck by famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
during that time. In a final attempt to escape the Greeks, the Persian army left the city during the night via a part of the wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
least protected by the Greeks.
Artayctes' death
According to Herodotus, the Athenian army was warned by the inhabitants of Sestos about the departure of the Persians. The Athenians entered the city and subsequently pursued the Persians. They encountered Artayctes and his military unit near the river Geite. Most of Artayctes' men were killed in the subsequent battle. Artayctes himself, however, was captured and taken back to Sestos.Herodotus describes how Artayctes pleads for his life and the life of his son. He offers a hundred talents to the gods, and two hundred to the Athenians if they spare their lives.
However, the Greek general Xanthippus
Xanthippus
Xanthippus was a Greek mercenary general hired by the Carthaginians to aid in their war against the Romans during the First Punic War...
insists on their execution, as payment for the desecration
Desecration
Desecration is the act of depriving something of its sacred character, or the disrespectful or contemptuous treatment of that which is held to be sacred or holy by a group or individual.-Detail:...
of the Elaious cemetery. Herodotus describes how Artayctes is then crucified. While Artayctes is dying, he witnesses how his son is stoned to death.
Historic accuracy
Although Herodotus is often regarded as "The Father of History", his account of the Greco-Persian WarsGreco-Persian Wars
The Greco-Persian Wars were a series of conflicts between the Achaemenid Empire of Persia and city-states of the Hellenic world that started in 499 BC and lasted until 449 BC. The collision between the fractious political world of the Greeks and the enormous empire of the Persians began when Cyrus...
, and the story of Artayctes, was no doubt somewhat influenced by inaccurate testimonies of eye-witnesses, and perhaps by his own favouritism.
Translation
- The translation of Herodotus' The Histories used for this article:
Hein van Dolen, 1995. Reprinted November 1995. Revised and reprinted 1996, 2000. Nijmegen, The Netherlands: SUN. ISBN 90-6168-583-4