Oroites

Family: Persian · Role: governor of Sardis · First appears: Book 3 · §120–127

Cyrus appointed Oroites, a Persian, governor of Sardis. While serving, Oroites quarrelled with Mitrobates, ruler of Daskyleion, and later killed him after Mitrobates reproached him over Polycrates. Oroites sent a message to Polycrates at Samos, then killed him and impaled his body; after Polycrates’s death, Samos came into the possession of Syloson, described as their former slave.

When Dareios took the throne, he sought vengeance on Oroites. At Sardis, Bagaios used Dareios’s sealed orders—“King Dareios commands the Persians who are in Sardis to slay Oroites”—and the guards killed Oroites, bringing retribution for Polycrates’s murder.

Relationship record

Life events

• Bagaios used Dareios’s sealed orders to have the guards slay Oroites.(Book 3 · §128–134 · 📍 Sardis)
  • With: Bagaios
  • “King Dareios commands the Persians who are in Sardis to slay Oroites.”
• Oroites was killed, bringing retribution for the murder of Polycrates.(Book 3 · §128–134)
  • With: Polycrates
  • “So the spearmen of the guard, when they heard this, drew their swords and slew him forthwith. Thus did retribution for the murder of Polycrates the Samian overtake Oroites.”
• Oroites killed Polycrates, and Samos came into the possession of their former slave.(Book 3 · §135–141 · 📍 Samos)
  • With: Polycrates Syloson
  • “which now that my brother Polycrates has been slain by Oroites is possessed by our slave.”

Book 3 · §120–127

• employer: Cyrus “There was one Oroites, a Persian, who had been appointed by Cyrus to be governor of the province of Sardis.”
• rivals with Mitrobates “while Oroites and another Persian whose name was Mitrobates, ruler of the province of Daskyleion, were sitting at the door of the king's court, they came from words to strife with one another”
• enemies with Polycrates “Oroites however, having his residence at that Magnesia which is situated upon the river Maiander, sent Myrsos the son of Gyges, a Lydian, to Samos bearing a message, since he had perceived the designs of Polycrates.”
• enemies with Cranaspes “he slew Mitrobates the governor in Daskyleion, who had brought up against him the matter of Polycrates as a reproach; and he slew also Cranaspes the son of Mitrobates”
• enemies with Dareios “Dareios accordingly, when he had come to the throne, was desirous of taking vengeance upon Oroites for all his wrongdoings”
• with Cyrus (Cyrus appointed Oroites governor of Sardis.) “There was one Oroites, a Persian, who had been appointed by Cyrus to be governor of the province of Sardis.”
• enemies with Mitrobates “while Oroites and another Persian whose name was Mitrobates, ruler of the province of Daskyleion, were sitting at the door of the king's court, they came from words to strife with one another”
• with Polycrates (Oroites killed Polycrates.) “and when he had killed him in a manner not fit to be told, Oroites impaled his body.”
• with Mitrobates (Oroites killed Mitrobates.) “he slew Mitrobates the governor in Daskyleion, who had brought up against him the matter of Polycrates as a reproach;”
• enemies with Cambyses “for king Cambyses is planning death for me, and this is reported to me so that I cannot doubt it.”

Book 3 · §128–134

• with Polycrates (Oroites had murdered Polycrates.) “Thus did retribution for the murder of Polycrates the Samian overtake Oroites.”
• with Demokedes (Demokedes was held among Oroites' slaves.) “So having found him somewhere unnoticed among the slaves of Oroites, they brought him forth into the midst dragging fetters after him and clothed in rags.”

Book 3 · §135–141

• with Polycrates (Oroites killed Polycrates.) “To me, O king, give neither gold nor silver, but recover and give to me my fatherland Samos, which now that my brother Polycrates has been slain by Oroites is possessed by our slave.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Histories. Made with Rho MD.