Tomyris: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is Tomyris? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.
Tomyris (; Saka: *Taumuriyah; Ancient Greek: Τόμυρις, romanized: Tómuris; Latin: Tomyris) also called Thomyris, Tomris, or Tomiride, was a queen of the Massagetae who ruled during the 6th century BC. Tomyris is known only from the writings of the Greek historian Herodotus, according to whom she led her armies to defend against an attack by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Empire, and defeated and killed him in 530 BC. She is not mentioned in the few other early sources covering the period, especially Ctesias. Tomyris became a popular subject in European art and literature during the Renaissance. In visual art, she was typically depicted either receiving the head of Cyrus or placing it into a vessel filled with blood, a motif derived from one version of the accounts. This theme belonged to the 'Power of Women' tradition in Renaissance art, which celebrated women who triumphed over men in various ways.
Quick facts about Tomyris
- Full name: Tomyris
- Born: -0600-01-0
- Nationality: Massagetae
- Known as: Royal
- Wikidata ID: Q464777
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Tomyris?
Tomyris (; Saka: *Taumuriyah; Ancient Greek: Τόμυρις, romanized: Tómuris; Latin: Tomyris) also called Thomyris, Tomris, or Tomiride, was a queen of the Massagetae who ruled during the 6th century BC.
What nationality is Tomyris?
Tomyris is Massagetae.
When was Tomyris born?
Tomyris was born on -0600-01-0.
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