venturing into the territory of the Massagets for one day's
March, on the advice of the Lydian Croesus, set a trap for the Massagets. The Persians left the camp with a stock of wine, which was defended by unarmed portion, and the main forces withdrew back to the river. The Massagets, as soon as they had overpowered the enemy, lay down and feasted, and having satisfied themselves with food and wine, fell asleep. The Persians, coming, killed many of them, and even more captured, among others, and the son of the Queen Tomiris, who commanded the Massagets, whose name was Spargapis[10]. Learning of this, tomyris sent a message to Cyrus: "Bloodthirsty Cyrus ... give me my son and leave this country with impunity... If you do not do this, then I swear to you by the sun, the Lord of the Massagets, I will give you blood, although you are insatiable"[11][12].
According to Herodotus, the captive Spargapis persuades Cyrus to remove his shackles, and when he was released and as soon as he could control his hands, deprives himself of life[11].
Tomiris, when Cyrus did not listen to her, gathered all his army, joined with Cyrus in the battle. Most of the Persian army was destroyed on the spot, and Cyrus himself was killed[13]. According to one testimony, the decapitated corpse of Cyrus was crucified[14] (Herodotus does not report this), and his head Tomiris stuck in a wine skin[15], filled with human blood, and added the following: "You me, alive and won over you victory in battle, killed, capturing cunning my son. I'm as threatened, satiated with blood" (according to another version, "You thirsted for blood, king of the Persians, so drink your fill of her now!") [13][16]. Herodotus calls this battle the most brutal of those, which were have barbarians[13].
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