Little Cyrus, as he rested calmly in his cradle, cast another glance at his beautiful mother, Mandane. Her beauty lay not just in her appearance, but in the tranquility and wisdom hidden in her eyes. Cyrus's thoughts traveled to the status of women in ancient Iran and their role throughout history. He pondered how, in ancient beliefs, goddesses like Anahita symbolized power and life; forces that granted women a high status in society, especially in much earlier periods. This thought reminded him of the concept of matriarchy; a system prevalent in many ancient civilizations, including examples in Mesopotamia and Elam, where power and lineage were passed down through the mother.
He knew that in his own era, Iranian society was transitioning from this matriarchy towards patriarchy; a change that had transformed the status of women over many centuries. This shift in power had its own complexities and profoundly impacted the structure of family and governance. Cyrus clearly understood that even in a seemingly patriarchal system, the influence and power of women, especially in royal families, remained undeniable, and sometimes their role in legitimizing power surpassed that of men.
Cyrus's mind thought of examples of this hidden or overt influence of women in power. He recalled how Darius the Great, to legitimize his rule after rebellions, married Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus the Great. This marriage created a vital link with the founding family of the empire and strengthened his claim to the throne. This showed that even at the height of the Achaemenid patriarchal period, female blood and lineage were a key element for stability and the acceptance of power among the people.
This thought led him to his own case, that of the historical Cyrus the Great. He recalled that after overthrowing Astyages, the Median king, Cyrus the Great, to consolidate his power and legitimize his rule over the Medes and other vassal states, married Astyages's daughter (who, according to Herodotus's account, was his own aunt). This marriage not only legitimized him, but also extinguished the signs of rebellion among the Median tribes and vassal states, sending them the message that the new dynasty was linked to the previous ruling family.
These marriages led young Cyrus's mind to another phenomenon in ancient history: incestuous marriages within royal families. He remembered that in many ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Elam, and Assyria, endogamous marriage, especially between siblings, was common in royal families. In Egypt, pharaohs often married their sisters to preserve the purity of the royal bloodline, similar to Amenhotep and Nefertiti. This custom, at that time, was considered a way to keep power within one family and prevent its division.
However, the example that stood out most in Cyrus's mind was the story of Nahunte-Umtu, one of the Elamite royal women. Historical records stated that she first married her father. Then, after her father's death, she married her older brother, then her younger brother, and finally her own son! This narrative made Cyrus ponder how, in this dynasty, power was transferred through this woman to her husbands, and not vice versa. He also thought that the reason for the short lifespan of many of these Elamite kings was likely due to these incestuous marriages and the resulting genetic problems.
Little Cyrus, understanding all these historical and cultural dimensions, concluded that while preserving and enhancing the status of women in his future empire, he must oppose the custom of incestuous marriages. He knew that this practice was not only morally rejected in the modern era, but also biologically led to the degeneration of generations and endangered the health of society. He intended to build the foundations of his empire on wisdom and progress, not on superstitions and harmful customs.