Octamasadas

Octamasadas was a Scythian king, the son of King Ariapifa, who lived around 446 BC. He came to power after the assassination of his brother Scylas. Octamasadas was the son of Teres’ daughter, making Octamasadas Teres’ grandson. Teres was the father of Sitalces, the Thracian king.

Rise to power

Octamasadas became king after the Scythians broke out into revolt. The Scythians revolted because Scylas did not behave in a traditional Scythian fashion. When Octamasadas’ brother heard of this revolt he fled to Thrace. After hearing that his brother had fled to Thrace Octamasadas gather his army and headed for Thrace. When Octamasadas arrived at the river Ister, the Thracian army was waiting for him. The two sides were about to engage in battle when Sitalces sent a message to Octamasadas by a herald. The message said, "Why must we make trial of one another in fight? Thou art my sister's son and thou hast in thy power my brother. Do thou give him back to me, and I will deliver to thee thy brother Scylas: and let us not either of us set our armies in peril, either thou or I." Sitalces proposed a trade; Sitalces would surrender Scylas if Octamasadas handed over one of Sitalces brothers, who had taken refuge with the Scythians because he feared Sitalces. After the exchange, Sitalces left with his brother while Octamasadas beheaded Scylas as soon as he received him.

References

• The History of Herodotus, vol. 1 at Project Gutenberg (translation by George Campbell Macaulay, 1852–1915)
• The History of Herodotus, vol. 2 at Project Gutenberg
• The History of Herodotus at Fordham University