The Persians, in race, language, and religion, were closely connected
with the Medes. They appear first in human records as hardy and warlike
mountaineers, noble specimens of the great Aryan race,--simple in their
ways of life, noted for truthfulness, keen-witted, generous, and
quick-tempered. The language which they brought with them when they
migrated is known as the Zend, closely allied to the Sanscrit, and now
only existing in the sacred books of the Zendavesta, containing the
doctrine of Zoroaster (Persian name, Zarathustra), the founder of the
Magian religion.
The Persians were, in their early history, subject to the Medes, but
governed by their native princes. The Median supremacy passed to the
Persians with the dethronement of Astyages, king of Media, by Cyrus.