Cyaxares was the third king of the Medes. He ascended to the throne in 625 BC, after his father Phraortes lost his life in a battle against the Assyrians, probably Ashurbanipal. Assyrian allies, the Scythians then ruled Media for 28 years before Cyaxeres overthrew Scythian domination and became king. c. 700 BC – 584 BC; died at about 117. Alive at the same time as Thales, Sappho, Zoroaster, Cyrus the Great, and Anaximander. Wiki link