Gaumata

Gaumata

 

False Bardia. Date of birth unknown; died July 29, 522 B.C. Median magus (priest), who led a rebellion against Cambyses, King of Persia, on Mar. 11, 522 B.C.

Posing as Bardia (Smerdis), Cambyses’ brother, who had been secretly killed by Cambyses, Gaumata established himself on the throne and, attempting to win the countries conquered by the Persians to his side, freed them from all taxes and duties for three years. He died at the hands of conspirators led by Darius I.

REFERENCE

Dandamaev, M. A. “Bekhistunskaia nadpis’ i antichnye avtory o Bardii-Gaumate.” Kratkie soobshcheniia In-ta narodov Azii, 1962, issue 46.

D. G. REDER