Cyrus the Persian / Darius The Mede (jan 1, 559 BC – dec 1, 530 BC)

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Daniel 5-6 mentions both names. No extra-biblical references to "Darius the Mede." Could be a second person that ruled under Cyrus, and was specifically the same age OR another name for Cyrus. See Daniel 5:31

Daniel 6:28- "Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius, and the reign of Cyrus the Persian" indicates two different people, but the Vav can be read "even" instead of "and" for a "Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius, even the reign of Cyrus the Persian" indicating they were the same person.

This isn't intuitive because "Cyrus the Persian" and "Darius the Mede" seem to be specifically two different nationalities. But Cyrus was able to unite the Medes and the Persians as he was the son of his father Cambyses I, king of (Persian) Anshan and mother Mandane, queen of Media. So, he was both a Mede and a Persian.

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