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'''Otanes''' ([[Persian language|Old Persian]] Utâna): [[Persian_Empire|Persian]] nobleman, one of the seven conspirators who killed the [[Magian]] usurper [[Gaumâta]] and helped [[Darius I]] the Great become king ([[29 September]] [[522 BC]]). Several years later, he added the [[Greece|Greek]] island [[Samos Island|Samos]] to the [[Achaemenid]] empire.

In March 522, a Magian named Gaumâta seized power in the [[Achaemenid]] empire, claiming to be the brother of the legitimate king [[Cambyses]], [[Smerdis]]. Gaumâta could do this, because Smerdis had been killed secretly. Immediately, Cambyses advanced to the usurper, but he died before he reached Persia; the false Smerdis was able to rule for several months.

According to the Greek researcher [[Herodotus]], Otanes, the brother of the mother of Cambyses and the real Smerdis, was the first to become suspicious of the false [[Smerdis]]. From his daughter [[Phaedymia]], who was married to the king, he learned that Smerdis was in reality a [[Magian]]. On hearing this news, Otanes invited [[Aspathines]] and [[Gobryas]] to discuss the usurpation. Together, they decided to invite three other conspirators: [[Hydarnes]], [[Intaphrenes]] and [[Megabyzus (desambiguaction)|Megabyzus]]. They were still making plans, when Darius arrived and sided with them. He convinced the seven to strike immediately and not to wait, as Otanes had proposed. On 29 September 522 BCE, the seven killed the false Smerdis.

(contracted; show full)Otanes had a son [[Patiramphes]], who served as the driver of the [[chariot]] of King [[Xerxes]] during his campaign to [[Greece]]. As we have already seen above, Otanes was probably also the father of Xerxes' first wife, queen [[Amestris]].

==Reference==
*''This entry incorporates public domain text originally by Jona Lendering ©.''

[[Category:Persian people]]

[[de:Otanes]]