Medes in Media, Mesopotamia and Anatolia: empire, hegemony, devolved domination or illusion? (original) (raw)

The paper critically examines the conventional understanding of a Median empire, particularly focusing on its alleged westward extension and the role of the River Halys as a frontier. It challenges existing narratives by arguing that there is insufficient direct or indirect evidence for the existence of such an empire, drawing on the works of Sancisi-Weerdenburg. The discussion emphasizes the need to scrutinize Herodotus' accounts and evaluates the implications of a possible 'loose' imperial structure of the Medes.