Cambyses, the king of Persia, was already known for strange and violent behavior, even before the events described here. However, according to Egyptian tradition, it was after a particular crime that he truly lost his sanity. From that point on, his actions became cruel, reckless, and deeply disturbing. The Egyptians believed that the gods punished him with madness because of his disrespect and violent deeds.
The Murder of His Brother Smerdis
The first and most terrible outrage committed by Cambyses was the killing of his own brother, Smerdis. Smerdis was his full brother, born of the same father and mother. Cambyses had earlier sent Smerdis back to Persia from Egypt, driven by jealousy. The reason for this envy was simple but revealing: Smerdis was strong and skilled. He alone could bend a powerful bow brought from Ethiopia by the Ichthyophagi, something no other Persian could do. This made Cambyses uneasy and fearful Cambyses’ Cruelty Beyond His Own Family.
After Smerdis returned to Persia, Cambyses had a troubling dream. In his sleep, he saw a messenger arriving from Persia with shocking news. The messenger claimed that Smerdis was sitting on the royal throne, and that his head reached the heavens. Cambyses took this dream as a warning. He feared that his brother would overthrow him and take his place as king.
Acting on this fear, Cambyses decided to kill Smerdis. He sent a trusted Persian noble named Prexaspes to Persia with secret orders to carry out the murder. Prexaspes obeyed. Some accounts say that he killed Smerdis while they were hunting together. Others claim that he drowned him in the Erythraean Sea. However it happened, Smerdis was murdered, and Cambyses had removed the man he feared most.
Marriage to His Sister
The second great crime of Cambyses was the killing of his sister, whom he had also taken as his wife. Before Cambyses, it was not Persian custom for a man to marry his sister. However, Cambyses fell in love with one of his sisters and wished to marry her, even though this was against tradition City Tour Sofia.
Knowing this was unusual, he summoned the royal judges of Persia. These judges were respected men who served for life and were responsible for interpreting the ancient laws. Cambyses asked them if there was any law that allowed a brother to marry his sister.
The judges answered carefully. They said there was no law that permitted such a marriage. However, they also pointed out another law: the king of Persia was allowed to do whatever he wished. In this way, they avoided angering the king while still speaking truthfully. Using this answer as justification, Cambyses married his sister.
The Death of His Sister
Not long after, Cambyses married another sister as well. It was the younger sister who accompanied him to Egypt. There, during one of Cambyses’ violent outbursts, she died at his hands. This final act showed how far his madness had gone. He had destroyed his own family, driven by fear, jealousy, and uncontrolled rage.
The story of Cambyses is a warning about the dangers of absolute power. His fear of losing control led him to commit terrible crimes against those closest to him. According to tradition, his madness was both the cause and the punishment for these acts, marking him as one of the most tragic and violent rulers of ancient history.
