Definition: Tomyris (fl. c. 530 B.C.) became queen of the Massagetae upon the death of her husband. The Massagetae lived east of the Caspian Sea in Central Asia and were similar to the Scythians, as described by Herodotus and other classical authors. Cyrus of Persia wanted her kingdom and offered to marry her for it, but she declined, so, of course, they fought each other, instead. Cyrus tricked the section of Tomyris' army led by her son, who was taken prisoner and committed suicide. Then the army of Tomyris ranged itself against the Persians, defeated it, and killed King Cyrus. The story goes that Tomyris kept Cyrus' head and used it as a drinking vessel.
See Herodotus on Tomyris.
Examples:
Herodotus passage on Tomyris' treatment of the dead Cyrus:"Then Tomyris filled a skin with human blood and had search made among the Persian dead for the corpse of Cyrus: and when she found it, she let his head down into the skin and doing outrage to the corpse she said at the same time this: 'Though I yet live and have overcome thee in fight, nevertheless thou didst undo me by taking my son with craft: but I according to my threat will give thee thy fill of blood.'"
