to Smerdis was so remarkable that even those who were cognisant of it
invariably mistook the one for the other,* and he was brother to that
Oropastes to whom Cambyses had entrusted the administration of his
household before setting out for Egypt.**

* Greek tradition is unanimous on this point, but the
inscription of Behistun does not mention it.

** The inscription of Behistun informs us that the usurper's
name was Gaumata. Pompeius Trogus alone, probably following
some author who made use of Charon of Lampsacus, handed down
this name in the form Cometes or Gometes, which his
abbreviator Justin carelessly applied to the second brother.
Ctesias gives the Mage the name Sphendadates, which answers
to the Old Persian Spentodata, "he who is given by the Holy
One," i.e. by Ahura-mazda. The supporters of the Mage gave
him this name, as an heroic champion of the Mazdoan faith
who had destroyed such sanctuaries as were illegal, and
identified him with Spentodata, son of Wistaspa.

Both of them were aware of the fate of Smerdis; they also knew that the
Persians were ignorant of it, and that every one at court, including
the mother and sisters of the prince, believed that he was still alive.
Gaumata headed a revolt in the little town of Pasyauvada on the 14th
of Viyakhna, in the early days of March, 521, and he was hailed by the
common people from the moment of his appearance. Persia, Media, and the
Iranian provinces pronounced in his favour, and solemnly enthroned him
three months later, on the 9th of Garmapada; Babylon next accepted him,
followed by Elam and the regions of the Tigris. Though astounded at
first by such a widespread defection, Cambyses soon recovered his
presence of mind, and was about to march forward at the head of the
troops who were still loyal to him, when he mysteriously disappeared.
Whether he was the victim of a plot set on foot by those about him, is
not known. The official version of the story given by Darius states
that he died by his own hand, and it seems to insinuate that it was
a voluntary act, but another account affirms that he succumbed to an
accident;* while mounting his horse, the point of his dagger pierced
his thigh in the same spot in which he had stabbed the Apis of the
Egyptians. Feeling himself seriously wounded, he suddenly asked the
name of the place where he was lying, and was told it was "Agbatana"
(Ecbatana). "Now,