Mascames

Doriscus

Mascames was appointed Governor of Doriscus by Xerxes I.

Mascames, also spelled Maskames (Old Persian: Maškāma) was a Persian official and military commander, who flourished during the reign of Xerxes I (r.486–465).^[1][2] He was the son of Megadostes, and was appointed governor of Doriscus in 480 BC by Xerxes I, succeeding the governor who had been appointed by Darius the Great (r.522–486 BC).^[3][4] According to Herodotus, Mascames resisted all Greek attacks following the Second Persian invasion of Greece, and remained thus known as the only remaining Persian governor in Europe.^[4] Though the Greeks managed to clear other Persian garrisons in Europe, such as Eion, they were unable to take Doriscus from Mascames, which irked the Athenian military.^[2][5]

As no one managed to dislodge him, Mascames was highly honored by Xerxes I and received annual gifts from him for his bravery.^[4][2] Mascames's descendants (who succeeded him) continued to receive gifts from Xerxes I's successor, Artaxerxes I (r.465–424 BC).^[6][1]

According to Raphael Sealey, the Achaemenid ruler probably recalled Mascames with his garrison around 465 BC, and finally abandoned Doriscus.^[7] However, Muhammad Dandamayev notes that when Herodotus wrote his Histories in the second half of the fifth century BC, Doriscus was still held by the Persians.^[8]

Miroslav Ivanov Vasilev states that Mascames may have died by 465 BC.^[a]

• マサチューセッツ州ダンダマエフ（1989年）。アケメネス朝の政治史。ブリル。ISBN 978-9004091726。
• クルト、アメリー（2007）。ペルシア帝国：アケメネス朝時代の史料集成。ラウトレッジ。ISBN 978-0415552790。
• ヴァシリエフ、ミロスラフ・イヴァノフ（2015）。ダレイオスとクセルクセスのトラキアとマケドニアに対する政策。ブリル。ISBN 978-9004282155。
• ウォーターズ、マット（2014）。古代ペルシア：アケメネス朝ペルシア帝国の簡史、紀元前550年～330年。ケンブリッジ大学出版局。ISBN 978-1107652729。