Atossa
Also known as: Arossa · Family: Persian · Role: wife of Cambyses and the Magian; sister of Smerdis · First appears: Book 3 · §65–70
Atossa was a daughter of Cyrus and sister and wife of Cambyses. After Cambyses, she became the wife of Smerdis the Magian; she was also described as his sister. Dareios later married her, along with Artystone and Parmys.
Not long afterward, Atossa sent for Demokedes to treat a tumour on her breast. After he healed her, she urged Dareios to invade Hellas and recommended Demokedes as his guide. Atossa was the mother of Hystaspes and Masistes.
Relationship record
Life events
- Dareios married Atossa, Artystone, and Parmys.(Book 3 · §83–90)
- With: Dareios Artystone Cambyses Smerdis Parmys
- “for he married two daughters of Cyrus, Atossa and Artystone, of whom the one, Arossa, had before been the wife of Cambyses her brother and then afterwards of the Magian, while Artystone was a virgin; and besides them he married the daughter of Smerdis the son of Cyrus, whose name was Parmys”
- Atossa sent for Demokedes to treat the tumour on her breast.(Book 3 · §128–134)
- With: Demokedes
- “she sent for Demokedes and showed it to him”
- Demokedes healed Atossa after she promised to grant his request.(Book 3 · §128–134)
- With: Demokedes
- “So when after this by his treatment he had made her well”
- Atossa urged Dareios to invade Hellas and recommended Demokedes as his guide.(Book 3 · §128–134)
- With: Dareios
- “but do thou, I pray thee, make an expedition against Hellas”
- Mardonios and six others were placed in command over the whole army that went on foot.(Book 7 · §70–85)
- With: Mardonios Gobryas Tritantaichmes Artabanos Smerdomenes Otanes Xerxes Masistes Dareios Gergis Ariazos Megabyzos (son of Zopyros) Zopyros
- “and over these and over the whole army together that went on foot there were in command Mardonios the son of Gobryas, Tritantaichmes the son of that Artabanos who gave the opinion that they should not make the march against Hellas, Smerdomenes the son of Otanes (both these being sons of brothers of Dareios and so cousins of Xerxes), Masistes the son of Dareios and Atossa, Gergis the son of Ariazos, and Megabyzos the son of Zopyros.”
Book 3 · §65–70
- married with Smerdis the Magian “with whom both she and thou live as wives”
- siblings with Smerdis “for assuredly it must be that she knows her own brother.”
- married with Cambyses “as with all the rest also of the wives of Cambyses.”
Book 3 · §83–90
- parent: Cyrus “for he married two daughters of Cyrus, Atossa and Artystone,”
- married with Dareios “for he married two daughters of Cyrus, Atossa and Artystone,”
- siblings with Cambyses “of whom the one, Arossa, had before been the wife of Cambyses her brother and then afterwards of the Magian,”
- married with Cambyses “of whom the one, Arossa, had before been the wife of Cambyses her brother and then afterwards of the Magian,”
Book 3 · §128–134
- married with Dareios “Atossa the daughter of Cyrus and wife of Dareios had a tumour upon her breast”
- parent: Cyrus “Atossa the daughter of Cyrus and wife of Dareios had a tumour upon her breast”
Book 7 · §1–7
- parent: Cyrus (Cyrus is the parent.) “Atossa the daughter of Cyrus”
Book 7 · §57–69
- child: Hystaspes (son of Dareios) “and of the Bactrians and Sacans the commander was Hystaspes, the son of Dareios and of Atossa the daughter of Cyrus.”
- parent: Cyrus “and of the Bactrians and Sacans the commander was Hystaspes, the son of Dareios and of Atossa the daughter of Cyrus.”
Book 7 · §70–85
- parent: Masistes “Masistes the son of Dareios and Atossa, Gergis the son of Ariazos, and Megabyzos the son of Zopyros.”
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Extracted from the original text of The Histories. Made with Rho MD.