The Tomb of Cyaxares

Cyaxares the Great (Kurdo-Median: Havaxštra Mezin) (625–585 BC), the son of King Phraortes and the grandson of King Diyako. Havaxštra reorganized and modernized the Median Army. He overthrew the Assyrian Empire and destroyed Nineveh, and revenged his father’s death.  After his victory, Cyaxares conquered the rest of Mesopotamia, the Middle-East and parts of Anatolia east of the Halys River. He was famous for his inspiring speeches and his big rallies. According to Herodotus, Cyaxares, had a far greater military reputation than his father or grandfather, therefore he is often being described as the first offical Median King.

His tomb, ''Qyzqapan'' is located in Syromedia, and is the last resting place of Cyaxares the Great, according to Igor Diakonov. Qyzqapan is today an archaeological site in Silemani (Kurdistan Region).

The construction of the tomb, begun after the death of Cyaxares the Great in 585 BC. The tomb contains Zoroastrian symbols, since the Medes had an Ancient Iranian Religion (a form of pre-Zoroastrian Mazdaism or Mithra worshipping) with a priesthood named as "Magi". Later and during the reigns of last Median kings the reforms of Zarathustra spread in northwestern Iran, (mainly the modern Kurdish parts).

Faravahar - a Zoroastrian symbol during the last days of the  Median Empire.

Two Median Magi priests

The Sun (Note: the sun was a great symbol of wisdom and fire for the Medes, just like for the modern Kurds).

Two Median Magi priests worshipping their King Cyaxares and their God, Ahura Mazda.

Faravahar - a Zoroastrian symbol during the last days of the Median Empire.

Two Median Magi priests worshipping their King Cyaxares and their God, Ahura Mazda.

Two Median Magi priests worshipping their King Cyaxares and their God, Ahura Mazda.

The Sun (Note: the sun was a great symbol of wisdom and fire for the Medes, just like for the modern Kurds).

Faravahar - a Zoroastrian symbol during the last days of the Median Empire.

Faravahar - a Zoroastrian symbol during the last days of the Median Empire.

The last resting place of Cyaxares the Great

The last resting place of Cyaxares the Great

The last resting place of Cyaxares the Great

This is belived to be the Great Zoroastrian God - Ahura Mazda