# Histories — Character guide

> Key figures in Histories by Herodotus.

- [Cyrus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/cyrus.md): Founder of the Persian Empire; central figure in early books.
- [Xerxes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/xerxes.md): Persian king who leads the invasion of Greece.
- [Croesus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/croesus.md): Wealthy Lydian king who tests oracles and is conquered by Cyrus.
- [Darius](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/darius.md): Persian king who consolidates the empire and invades Scythia.
- [Herodotus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/herodotus.md): The author and narrator of the Histories.
- [Themistocles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/themistocles.md): Athenian leader who advocates for naval power against Persia.
- [Mardonios](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/mardonios.md): Persian general leading the land campaign in Greece after Salamis.
- [Leonidas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/leonidas.md): Spartan king who commands the Greeks at Thermopylae.
- [Cleomenes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/cleomenes.md): Spartan king involved in conflicts with Athens and Aegina.
- [Histiaios](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/histiaios.md): Tyrant of Miletus who incites the Ionian Revolt.
- [Aristagoras](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/aristagoras.md): Leader of the Ionian Revolt who seeks help from Sparta and Athens.
- [Miltiades](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/miltiades.md): Athenian general who commands at Marathon.
- [Pausanias](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/pausanias.md): Spartan regent who leads the Greeks at Plataea.
- [Artemisia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/artemisia.md): Queen of Halicarnassus who advises Xerxes and fights at Salamis.
- [Demaratos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/demaratos.md): Deposed Spartan king who flees to Persia and advises Xerxes.
- [Harpagos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/harpagos.md): Median general who helps Cyrus overthrow Astyages.
- [Astyages](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/astyages.md): Last king of the Medes, overthrown by Cyrus.
- [Croesus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/croesus_lydian.md): Lydian king whose fall illustrates the dangers of pride.
- [Alexander](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/alexander_macedonian.md): Macedonian king who mediates between Persia and Greece.
- [Polycrates](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/polycrates.md): Tyrant of Samos whose prosperity ends in disaster.
- [Syloson](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/syloson.md): Brother of Polycrates who becomes tyrant of Samos with Persian help.
- [Periander](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/periander.md): Tyrant of Corinth known for his wisdom and harsh rule.
- [Solon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/solon.md): Athenian lawgiver who visits Croesus and warns him.
- [Peisistratos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/peisistratos.md): Tyrant of Athens who seizes power multiple times.
- [Cleisthenes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/cleisthenes_athenian.md): Athenian reformer who establishes democracy.
- [Gyges](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/gyges.md): Lydian king who usurps the throne from Candaules.
- [Cambyses](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/cambyses.md): Persian king who conquers Egypt and goes mad.
- [Amasis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/amasis.md): Egyptian king who allies with Polycrates and is overthrown by Cambyses.
- [Mykerinos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/mykerinos.md): Egyptian pharaoh who builds the third pyramid.
- [Cheops](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/cheops.md): Egyptian pharaoh who builds the Great Pyramid.
- [Rhampsinitos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/rhampsinitos.md): Egyptian king known for a story about a clever thief.
- [Sesostris](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/sesostris.md): Legendary Egyptian king who conquered much of the known world.
- [Necos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/necros.md): Egyptian pharaoh who built a canal and sent Phoenician explorers.
- [Smerdis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/smerdis.md): Magian who impersonates the dead son of Cyrus and rules Persia.
- [Otanes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/otanes.md): Persian noble who helps overthrow the Magian Smerdis.
- [Intaphrenes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/intaphrenes.md): Persian conspirator executed by Darius for disobedience.
- [Zopyros](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/zopyros.md): Persian noble who mutilates himself to help Darius capture Babylon.
- [Demokedes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/demokedes.md): Greek physician at the Persian court who helps Darius.
- [Oroites](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/oroides.md): Persian satrap who murders Polycrates and is later killed.
- [Maiandrios](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/maiandrios.md): Samian who briefly rules after Polycrates and flees to Sparta.
- [Skythes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/skythes.md): Scythian king who invades Asia and is repelled by the Medes.
- [Anacharsis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/anacharsis.md): Scythian philosopher who travels to Greece and is killed for foreign customs.
- [Salmoxis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/salmoxis.md): Thracian deity or wise man worshipped by the Getae.
- [Aristeas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/aristeas.md): Greek poet who wrote about the Arimaspians and travels north.
- [Tomyris](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/tomyris.md): Queen of the Massagetae who defeats and kills Cyrus.
- [Deioces](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/deioces.md): First king of the Medes who unifies the tribes.
- [Phraortes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/phraortes.md): Median king who conquers Persia and is killed by the Assyrians.
- [Cyaxares](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/cyaxares.md): Median king who captures Nineveh and expands the empire.
- [Alyattes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/alyattes.md): Lydian king who fights the Medes and builds a great tomb.
- [Sadyattes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/sadyattes.md): Lydian king who wages war against Miletus.
- [Pactyas](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/pactyas.md): Lydian who leads a revolt against Cyrus and flees to Cyme.
- [Mazares](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/mazares.md): Median general sent by Cyrus to suppress the Lydian revolt.
- [Harpagos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/harpagos_mede.md): Median general who helps Cyrus conquer Ionia.
- [Bias](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/bias.md): Greek sage who advises the Ionians to unite against Persia.
- [Thales](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/thales.md): Greek philosopher who predicts a solar eclipse.
- [Pittacus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/pittacus.md): Tyrant of Mytilene and one of the Seven Sages.
- [Periander](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/periander_corinth.md): Tyrant of Corinth who advises Thrasybulus of Miletus.
- [Thrasybulos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/thrasybulos.md): Tyrant of Miletus who receives advice from Periander.
- [Hippocrates](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/hippocrates.md): Father of Peisistratos; receives an omen of tyranny.
- [Megacles](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/megacles.md): Athenian noble who helps Peisistratos regain power.
- [Lycurgos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/lycurgos.md): Legendary Spartan lawgiver who established the Spartan constitution.
- [Chilon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/chilon.md): Spartan ephor and one of the Seven Sages.
- [Anaxandrides](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/anaxandrides.md): Spartan king, father of Cleomenes and Leonidas.
- [Leotychides](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/leotychides.md): Spartan king who commands the Greek fleet at Mycale.
- [Eurybiades](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/eurybiades.md): Spartan commander of the Greek fleet at Salamis.
- [Adeimantos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/adeimantos.md): Corinthian commander who argues with Themistocles before Salamis.
- [Aristides](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/aristides.md): Athenian statesman and general at Salamis and Plataea.
- [Xanthippos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/xanthippos.md): Athenian general who prosecutes Miltiades and later commands at Mycale.
- [Hippias](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/hippias.md): Deposed tyrant of Athens who guides the Persians at Marathon.
- [Datis](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/datis.md): Persian general who commands the expedition to Marathon.
- [Artaphrenes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/artaphrenes.md): Persian satrap of Sardis who receives Athenian envoys.
- [Megabazos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/megabazos.md): Persian general who subdues Thrace for Darius.
- [Oibares](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/oibares.md): Persian noble who helps Darius become king by a trick.
- [Prexaspes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/prexaspes.md): Persian noble who reveals the truth about the Magian Smerdis.
- [Artabazos](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/artabazos.md): Persian general who commands the rear guard during Xerxes' retreat.
- [Masistes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/masistes.md): Brother of Xerxes who is killed due to a family intrigue.
- [Amestris](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/amestris.md): Wife of Xerxes who cruelly punishes the wife of Masistes.
- [Artaÿctes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/artayctes.md): Persian governor who profanes the temple of Protesilaos and is executed.
- [Mascames](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/mascames.md): Persian governor of Doriskos who holds out against the Greeks.
- [Boges](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/boges.md): Persian commander who commits suicide rather than surrender Eion.
- [Hydarnes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/hydarnes.md): Persian general who leads the Immortals at Thermopylae.
- [Epialtes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/epialtes.md): Traitor who shows the Persians the path around Thermopylae.
- [Dionysios](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters/dionysios_phocaian.md): Phocaean commander who trains the Ionian fleet before Lade.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/histories_se/characters