Queen Tomyris and the head of Cyrus, by Mattia Preti 1680

"Consequently distinguished women have been the authors of many great deeds, not in Scythia alone, but also in the territory bordering upon it. For instance, when Cyrus the king of the Persians, the mightiest ruler of his day, made a campaign with a vast army into Scythia, the queen of the Scythians not only cut the army of the Persians to pieces but she even took Cyrus prisoner and crucified him."

-Diodorus Siculus' Library of History: Book 2, Chapter 44

 

Queen Tomyris - detail

Queen Tomyris and the head of Cyrus, by Mattia Preti 1680. Current location: The Louvre.

Source:

https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%8A%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%AF%D5%A5%D6%80:Queen_Tomyris.jpg

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Thomyris_faisant_plonger_la_t%C3%AAte_de_Cyrus_dans_un_vase_de_sang_-_Mattia_Preti_-_Q18573567.jpg

 

Quote:

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/2B*.html