Thomyris, Queen of the Massagetae, dips Cyrus's head in a vessel of blood

Thomyris is the legendary queen of the Massagetae. She is famous for ending the reign of Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC. This story is recounted by several ancient authors, including Herodotus. According to him, Cyrus, wanting to expand his kingdom, asked for Thomyris's hand in marriage. Her refusal of this opportunistic union offended Cyrus, who deployed his army and succeeded in kidnapping Thomyris's son. The queen made a last-ditch attempt to avoid war and asked for the hostage's release, but her son, ashamed of having been captured, committed suicide. Realizing that any peaceful solution was impossible, the queen decided to give battle. After a violent confrontation in which Cyrus died, the Massagetae triumphed over the Persians. Driven by a thirst for revenge, Thomyris had Cyrus's body found, ordered his head to be cut off, and plunged into a vessel filled with blood—a scene depicted in this painting." This theme has inspired many artists and can be linked to the theme of "strong women," often referred to as viragos. It is surely thanks to this image of a courageous queen and dominant woman that Thomyris enjoys such a significant legacy. Featured in an 18th-century opera, Thomyris, Queen of Scythia, she also appears among the 1038 women referenced in Judy Chicago's 1979 work, The Dinner Party. More recently, a queen named Thomyris is a protagonist in the video game Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, released in January 2024.