Illustration created for this project.
Darius the Mede
The ruler who, tricked into a decree, reluctantly cast Daniel into the lions' den and rejoiced at his deliverance.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 2
Origin & birthplace
Family & lineage
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersJosephus retells the book of Daniel and describes Darius the Mede as a son of Astyages and kinsman of Cyrus who, with Cyrus, overthrew Babylon and was "known to the Greeks by another name."
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 10.11.4 (10.248). A 1st-century AD retelling dependent on Daniel, not an independent Babylonian record.
Life, role & deeds
ScholarlyNo cuneiform or contemporary record names a "Darius the Mede" ruling Babylon between Belshazzar and Cyrus; his identity is a genuine scholarly crux, with candidates including Gubaru/Ugbaru (the Gobryas who took Babylon for Cyrus in the Nabonidus Chronicle), Cyaxares II of Xenophon's account, or a literary conflation with the later Persian Darius I.
The Nabonidus Chronicle (British Museum; records Babylon's fall to Cyrus and Ugbaru's role) and Xenophon's Cyropaedia (Cyaxares II) are the texts debated.
Name & titles
Scholarly"Darius" renders Old Persian Darayavaush, generally understood as "holding firm the good," while the epithet "the Mede" marks Median ethnicity and distinguishes him from the Persian kings named Darius.
Old Persian onomastics: Darayavaush, attested for Darius I in the Behistun inscription; applied here as a name-meaning point.
Where in scripture
DanielIn their own words — 4 recorded sayings
“Then they came near before the king and said, O King, have you not put your name to an order that any man who makes a request to any god or man but you, O King, for thirty days, is to be put into the lions' hole? The king made answer and said, The thing is fixed by the law of the Medes and Persians which may not come to an end.” — Daniel 6:12
“Then the king gave the order, and they took Daniel and put him into the lions' hole. The king made answer and said to Daniel, Your God, whose servant you are at all times, will keep you safe.” — Daniel 6:16
“And when he came near the hole where Daniel was, he gave a loud cry of grief; the king made answer and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whose servant you are at all times, able to keep you safe from the lions?” — Daniel 6:20
“Then King Darius sent a letter to all the peoples, nations, and languages, living in all the earth: May your peace be increased. It is my order that in all the kingdom of which I am ruler, men are to be shaking with fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, unchanging for ever, and his kingdom is one which will never come to destruction, his rule will go on to the end. He gives salvation and makes men free from danger, and does signs and wonders in heaven and earth, who has kept Daniel safe from the power of the lions.” — Daniel 6:25-27
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Places in their life
Photo: David Stanley — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)