Page:Herodotus and the Empires of the East.djvu/93

Rh were brothers. One of them, Gaumāta, resembled the dead Smerdis. While Cambyses was in Egypt this Gaumāta, with the help of his brother, passed himself off for Smerdis, and had himself proclaimed king. As soon as Cambyses heard of this rebellion he hastened home, but died in Syria on his return, according to Herodotus, in consequence of an accident; but according to the Behistan inscription by a self-imposed death.

Gaumata was recognized at the beginning of the eighth month. Seven noble Persians, among them Darius, son of Hystaspes, determined to remove the usurper from the throne. They forced their way into the palace of the king, which was in the country of Nisa