Histories

When the Persians saw their king weep, they all tore the clothing which they wore and wailed loud and long.

But when after this the bone rotted and the thigh rapidly putrefied, it carried off Cambyses son of Cyrus, who had reigned in all seven years and five months, but was altogether childless, without male or female issue.

To the Persians who were present it was quite incredible that the Magi were masters of the kingdom; they believed that Cambyses' intent was to deceive them with his story of Smerdis' death, so that all Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia might be embroiled in a war against him.