Amytis was the daughter of the Median king Astyages. Amytis had a paternal aunt, also named Amytis, who was the sister of Astyages and was married to the king Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon.[Amytis was married to Spitamas, who was a Median grandee and the prospective successor of Astyages.[1] After Astyages was overthrown by Persian Cyrus, who was his own grandson through his daughter Mandane, and therefore was the nephew of Amytis, Cyrus killed Spitamas and married Amytis to legitimise his rule.[