
Bible Cities: Media Ancient Media

Media in Easton's Bible Dictionary
Heb. Madai, which is rendered in the Authorized Version (1)
"Madai," Gen. 10:2; (2) "Medes," 2 Kings 17:6;
18:11; (3)
"Media," Esther 1:3; 10:2; Isa. 21:2; Dan. 8:20; (4)
"Mede,"
only in Dan. 11:1.
We first hear of this people in the Assyrian
cuneiform
records, under the name of Amada, about B.C. 840.
They appear to
have been a branch of the Aryans, who came from the
east bank of
the Indus, and were probably the predominant race
for a while in
the Mesopotamian valley. They consisted for three or
four
centuries of a number of tribes, each ruled by its
own chief,
who at length were brought under the Assyrian yoke
(2 Kings
17:6). From this subjection they achieved
deliverance, and
formed themselves into an empire under Cyaxares
(B.C. 633). This
monarch entered into an alliance with the king of
Babylon, and
invaded Assyria, capturing and destroying the city
of Nineveh
(B.C. 625), thus putting an end to the Assyrian
monarchy (Nah.
1:8; 2:5,6; 3:13, 14).
Media now rose to a place of great power, vastly
extending its
boundaries. But it did not long exist as an
independent kingdom.
It rose with Cyaxares, its first king, and it passed
away with
him; for during the reign of his son and successor
Astyages, the
Persians waged war against the Medes and conquered
them, the two
nations being united under one monarch, Cyrus the
Persian (B.C.
558).
The "cities of the Medes" are first mentioned in
connection
with the deportation of the Israelites on the
destruction of
Samaria (2 Kings 17:6; 18:11). Soon afterwards
Isaiah (13:17;
21:2) speaks of the part taken by the Medes in the
destruction
of Babylon (comp. Jer. 51:11, 28). Daniel gives an
account of
the reign of Darius the Mede, who was made viceroy
by Cyrus
(Dan. 6:1-28). The decree of Cyrus, Ezra informs us
(6:2-5), was
found in "the palace that is in the province of the
Medes,"
Achmetha or Ecbatana of the Greeks, which is the
only Median
city mentioned in Scripture. http://www.bible-history.com/eastons/M/Media/
Media in Hitchcock's Bible Names
measure; habit; covering http://www.bible-history.com/hitchcock/M/Media/
Media in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
me'-di-a (madhay; Achaem. Persian Mada; Media): Lay to the
West and Southwest of the Caspian, and extended thence to
the Zagrus Mountains on the West On the North in later times
it was bounded by the rivers Araxes and Cyrus, which
separated it from Armenia. Its eastern boundaries were
formed by Hyrcania and the Great Salt Desert (now called the
Kavir), and it was bounded on the South by Susiana. In
earlier times its limits were somewhat indefinite. It
included Atropatene, (Armenian Atrpatakan, the name, "Fire-
guarding," showing devotion to the worship of Fire) to the
North, and Media Magna to the South, the former being the
present A'zarbaijan. Near the Caspian the country is low,
damp and unhealthy, but inland most of it is high and
mountainous, Mt. Demavand in the Alburz range reaching
18,600 ft. Atropatene was famed for the fertility of its
valleys and table-lands, except toward the North. Media
Magna is high; it has fruitful tracts along the course of
the streams, but suffers much from want of water, though
this was doubtless more abundant in antiquity. It contained
the Nisaean Plain, famous for its breed of horses. The chief
cities of ancient Media were Ecbatana, Gazaea, and Ragae.
The Orontes range near Ecbatana is the present Alvand. Lake
Spauta is now known as Urmi (Urumiah).
W. St. Clair Tisdall http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/M/MEDIA/
Media Scripture - Daniel 8:20
The ram which thou sawest having [two] horns [are] the kings
of Media and Persia. http://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Daniel/8/
Media Scripture - Esther 10:2
And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the
declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king
advanced him, [are] they not written in the book of the
chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? http://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Esther/10/
Media Scripture - Esther 1:14
And the next unto him [was] Carshena, Shethar, Admatha,
Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, [and] Memucan, the seven princes of
Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, [and] which sat
the first in the kingdom;) http://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Esther/1/
Media Scripture - Esther 1:18
[Likewise] shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day
unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of
the queen. Thus [shall there arise] too much contempt and
wrath. http://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Esther/1/
Media Scripture - Esther 1:3
In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his
princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the
nobles and princes of the provinces, [being] before him: http://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Esther/1/
Media Scripture - Isaiah 21:2
A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer
dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O
Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to
cease. http://www.bible-history.com/kjv/Isaiah/21/
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