The
Medes were an Iranian people, who lived in the northeast of that country. Towards the end of the 7th century BC, a large
Median empire[?] developed, which under
Cyaxares[?] helped overthrow the power of
Assyria. Under his successor,
Astyages[?], the
Persians - a related and subject people - revolted under
Cyrus the Great, and took over the empire.