Gobryas

Family: Persian · Role: leader among the Persians · First appears: Book 3 · §65–70

In Book 3, Otanes brought Gobryas into a group of trusted Persian leaders who accepted his proposal. At Susa, they joined the other conspirators and pledged faith to one another. When Dareios urged them to act against the Magian that day, Gobryas endorsed the proposal; he and Dareios joined in killing the Magian.

In Book 4, Gobryas spoke to Dareios, whose response acknowledged the need for counsel to make a safe retreat homeward. By Book 7, Gobryas commanded the Mariandynoi, Lygians and Syrians, and was identified as the son of Dareios and Artystone. His son Mardonios was among the commanders placed over the foot army; Gobryas was also named as the grandfather of Ariabignes, the son of Dareios and Gobryas’s daughter.