Amytis of Media

In the following article we will delve into the fascinating world of Amytis of Media, exploring its various facets and discovering the importance it has in our current society. Amytis of Media has been an object of interest and study for a long time, and its influence extends to different areas of daily life. Along these lines, we will analyze in depth its impact on culture, technology, politics and many other relevant aspects. In addition, we will examine its evolution over time and how it has marked trends and significant changes in different fields. Get ready to immerse yourself in an exciting journey through Amytis of Media and discover everything this theme has to offer us.

Amytis
Nebuchadnezzar and his wife watching the construction of the hanging gardens
BornEcbatana
Diedc. 565 BCE
Babylon
SpouseNebuchadnezzar II (?)
IssueKaššaya (?)
Amel-Marduk (?)
Nitocris (?)
Median*ᴴumati
HouseMedian
FatherCyaxares

Amytis of Media (c. 630-565 BCE; Median: *ᴴumati; Ancient Greek: Ancient Greek: Αμυτις, romanizedAmutis; Latin: Amytis)[1][2] was a queen of Babylon, wife of Nebuchadnezzar II and daughter of the Median king Cyaxares.

Name

The female name Amytis is the Latinised form of the Greek name Amutis (Αμυτις), which perhaps may reflect (with vowel metathesis) an original Median name *ᴴumati, meaning "having good thought," and which is an equivalent of the Avestan term humaⁱti (𐬵𐬎𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬙𐬌) or humata (𐬵𐬎𐬨𐬀𐬙𐬀).[1][2]

Life

Amytis was the daughter of Cyaxares, and the sister of Astyages.[3] Amytis had a niece, also named Amytis, from her brother Astyages.[1]

Amytis married Nebuchadnezzar to formalize the alliance between the Babylonian and Median dynasties.

Tradition relates that Amytis' yearning for the forested mountains of Media led to the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, as Nebuchadnezzar attempted to please her by planting the trees and plants of her homeland.[4] Historical evidence, however, does not lend support to this tradition.

References

  1. ^ a b c Schmitt 1989.
  2. ^ a b Schmitt, Rüdiger (2011). Iranisches Personennamenbuch [Book of Iranian Personal Names] (in German). Vol. 5.5a. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. pp. 73–74. ISBN 978-3-700-17142-3.
  3. ^ "Cyaxares". Livius. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  4. ^ Foster, Karen Polinger (1998). "Gardens of Eden: Flora and Fauna in the Ancient Near East" (PDF). Transformations of Middle Eastern Natural Environments: Legacies and Lessons. New Haven: Yale University. pp. 320–329. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-08-28. Retrieved 2007-08-11.

Bibliography