INIedia, with the rest of the Persian empire, fell under the sway of Alexander the (ireat. At his death the northern province was erected by the satrap Atropates into an independent state, and called Atropatene. The southern province, Media Magna, was attached with Babylon to the kingdom of the Seleucida\ The whole country eventually passed over to the Parthian mon- archy (Strabo, xvi, 745). It is now included in the do- minions of the shah of Persia.
III. .1 iitiqiiili(s. — 1. Internal Divisions. — According to Herodotus the Jlodian nation was divided into six tribes (tSv/;), called the Busie, the Paretaceni, the Struchates,
' the Arizanti, the Budii, and the Magi. It is doubtful, I however, in what sense these are to be considered as ' ethnic divisions. The Paretaceni appear to represent a geographical district, while the Magi were certainly a ' priest-caste ; of the rest we know little or nothing. The I Arizanti, whose name would signify "of noble descent,"' or '• of Arian descent," must (one would think) have been the leading tribe, corresponding to the Pasargadne in Persia; but it is remarkable that they have only the fourth place in the list of Herodotus. The Budii are fairly identified with the eastern Phut — the Putiya of the Persian inscriptions — whom Scripture joins with Persia in two places (Ezek. xxvii, 10; xxxviii, 5). Of the Bus« and the Struchates nothing is known beyond the statement of Herodotus. We may perhaps assume, from the order of Herodotus's list, that the Busa?, Pare- taceni, Struchates, and Arizanti were true Medes, of genuine Arian descent, while the Budii and Magi were foreigners admitted into the nation.
2. Character, Manners, and Customs. — The ancient Medes were a warlike people, particularly celebrated, as Herodotus (vii, 61) and Strabo (xi, 525) inform us, for their skill iji archer}^. Xenophon says their bows were three ells long. This illustrates the language of Isaiah describing the attack of the Medes on Babylon : " Their hows also shall dash the young men to pieces" (xiii, 18), Their cavalry was also excellent, their horses being fleet and strong, and their men skilful riders. It is doubtlrss ui reference to this fact that Jeremiah, speaking of the overthrow of Babylon, says, '• They (the enemies) shall hold the bow and the lance . . . and they shall ride ttpcn horses" (1, 42). Strabo states that the province of Atro- patene alone was able to bring into the field an army of 10,000 horse (xi, 523). Xenophon affirms that the Medes did not fight for plunder. jMilitary glory was their great ambition, and they would never permit gold or silver to tiuni them aside from their object. How striking do the words of Isaiah thus appear ! '• Behold I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver, and as for gold, they shall not delight in ' it" (xiii, 18). The wcjilth of Babylon could not save ir, j for the Medes could not be bought ot!" (Kos^nmidler. ] Bib. Geog. i, 176). The conquests of the Medes. and ' their intercourse with other nations, produced a marked change upon their character. They became fond of I dress and display; those settled in cities engaged in commerce, and lost their hardy habits and bravery. The splendor of the ISIedian robes ' became proverbial, and their ! princes and nobles ruled the fashion in the East. They were imitated by the Persian coiurt (Herodot. vi, 112; Xen- oph. Cyrop. i, 3, 2 ; Strabo, xi, p, 525). It was this dress, that is, of the highest class, which seems to have gained a sort of classical authority, and to have been at a later period worn at the Persian court, probably in jiart from its an- tiquity. This dress the Per- sian monarchs used to present to those whom they wished to honor, and no others were jier- mitted to wear it. It consist- ed of a long white loose robe or gown, flowing down to the ' feet, and enclosing the entire I body, specimens of which, as now used in tliose countries, may be seen in plates given in Perkin's Pesidence in Persia (N. y. 1843). The nature and the celebritv of this dress com-
' bine with the natural richness I of the coiuitrv to assure us
Median Dress (from the ^I onuuieuts of Persep- olis).
IVIEDIA
20
MEDIAX
that the ancient Sreilians had made no moan progress in the arts; indeed, the colors of the Persian textures are known to have been accoimted second only to those of India. If these regal dresses were of silk, then was there an early commerce between Media and India; if not, weaving, as well as dyeing, must have been prac- ticed and carried to a high degree of perfection in the former country- (Ammian. Marcell. xxiv, G, p. 353, ed. i Bip. ; Athen. xii, p. 512, 514 sq. ; Heeren, Idem, i, 205, ] 307; Ikrod. vi, 112; Dan.iii,21). The Medes thus gave ! way to luxury and its consequent vices, and they soon ! became an easy prey to their more warlike neighbors, j The northern mountaineers retained their primitive hab- its, and consequently their independence, for a much longer period.