Menostanes

Menostanes ( Old Persian: Manuštānu; † 423 BC ), son of Artarios, was a member of the Persian Achämenidendynastie in the 5th century BC. Father's side he was a grandson of the great king Xerxes I.

For his uncle Artaxerxes I. Menostanes joined by 456 BC as a commander against the rebellious Megabyzos II, from which he was however defeated and wounded in a battle. 423 BC, he supported the takeover of the Sogdianos and was appointed by the latter as wage Commander ( hazarapatiš ) the apple support Guard and thus to the vizier of the great king. However, he could not prevent the rapid fall of the Sogdianos and the takeover of Darius II in the same year. Menostanes was jailed and killed himself shortly after the failed revolt of Prince Arsites themselves in order to escape an expected execution.

Away from the classical tradition of Ctesias Menostanes is also known from the preserved clay tablets Murasu family from Nippur, where his old Persian name and patronymic including his dignity as a 'Royal Prince ' (MAR bit Sarri ) are to be taken. The clay tablets concerning him dates back to the 40th and 41st year of reign ( 425/424 BC) of Artaxerxes I.