Kyros of Zarax

File:Kyros.png

Kyros of Zarax.

Kyros of Zarax was a protege of Pythagoras who lived in ancient Greece during the 6th century BCE. He was also a renowned athlete, which made him a hero to many people.

Biography

Music

One day Kyros and Pythagoras stroll through the town of Samos, with people eyeing Kyros because of his victories at the four tournaments of Elis. After a frugal breakfast, their journey through the city is interrupted by Pythagoras. He heard sounds coming from a nearby Blacksmith and entered the building. He then started an experiment with two hammers and an anvil, creating different kinds of sound.

Kyros and Pythagoras took ten differently sized hammers back to their villa and Pythagoras continues his experiments on the anvil the blacksmith had delivered. By nightfall, he had made many notes and mumbled something about the tetractys, something Kyros did not understand.

The following day, a gathering of renowned scholars was held at their villa. Pythagoras explained to them his theory, and even though some people were skeptic, most of them understood and praised him for it.

Croton

Not too long after this meeting, Pythagoras and Kyros travelled to Croton, a smaller town renowned for the intellect of its citizens. Upon their arrival, a crowd was waiting to welcome them and word of their arrival spread fast. Pythagoras soon started giving teachings to the citizens of Croton, who all admire him.

Alcmaeon arrived at the academy as well, and Pythagoras took him under his wing. Even though Alcmaeon was very intelligent, he was also very arrogant and undisciplined, and did not get along with Kyros very well. Kyros also met with Milo, an athlete just like himself, and decides to teach him everything he knows.

Milo is the winner of the next four festivals, overtaking Kyros, his master. Kyros has mixed feelings over his defeat by his pupil, but he does attend the modest party to honor him. However, Alcmaeon drinks too much wine and angrily leaves the party.

The escape

On his way to the gymnasium, Kyros heard an animal howl and goes to investigate. He soon found Alcmaeon torturing a dog, and decided to stop him by force. Soon after this, it was decided Alcmaeon has to leave the city, and Pythagoras declared that he was no longer a brother to them, and that they should consider him to be dead.

Not long after that, the Council of Citizens organized a banquet to honor Pythagoras. During the banquet, Kyros

Kyros and Milo holding the broken column

was watching Myia and Milo while they were dancing as he heard a crashing sound. One of the pillars that held the roof in place broke down, causing debris to fall down. The falling debris crushed one citizen, and Milo and Kyros decided to support the roof, saving many lives, including Pythagoras. The column appeared sabotaged, revealing the tension in the city.

While escorting Pythagoras back to his house, along with four other bodyguards, they were attacked by a skilled group of hired men that attempted to take their lives. They managed to fight them of, though most of the bodyguards were killed in the struggle. They returned to their villa, though they were being followed my an angry mob and Milo confronted them. Meanwhile, Kyros and Pythagoras used a secret passage to escape from Croton.

The desert

Many years after their escape from Croton, Kyros and Pythagoras journey through a desert. Kyros worried about their water supply diminishing rapidly, but Pythagoras seemed to have a clear goal in mind. Eventually, they met Hermes Trismegistus and Kyros observed his staff, which had two serpents on it. A voice emanated from the staff, telling Pythagoras that he was a worthy successor, and right after that, Kyros was engulfed by darkness.

When Kyros woke up, Pythagoras was giving him water and he gradually regained his senses. He noticed the staff in Pythagoras' hands and his thigh, now made out of gold. However, Pythagoras told him their journey had come to an end and that he had served him well.

The race

The apple

Even though Kyros knew very well he was no longer in the prime of his life, he wanted to challenge the princess of Arcadia to a race to get a chance to marry her. However, losing the race would result in his death, so he went to ask Pythagoras for advice. He was told that he would find what he needed in an abandoned temple which honored Aphrodite. Halfway through his journey to the temple, Kyros was struck by a fierce blizzard. He then saw a nude woman walking right through the temple wall, and the next thing he felt were sunrays on his skin.

He woke up in the middle of an orchard to find the same woman as before, now plucking apples. He tried to talk to her, but she did not seem aware of his presence and walked towards a tall building after having plucked three apples. Kyros recognized the building as the temple of Aphrodite, and watches how the woman places the three apples underneath a statue.

After that, Kyros woke up yet again, this time covered by snow and without feeling any of his limbs. He managed to enter the temple and found a golden apple on the spot were the naked woman had placed the three apples before.

The challenge

After his adventure in the temple of Aphrodite, he made his way to the King of Arcadia, who seems pleased by the thought of his daughter marrying a former champion. Kyros met the princess, Atalanta, and he realized he

Kyros racing Atalanta

would rather die trying to win her hand than living without her.

The race started and Kyros used the golden apple to his advantage, stroking it whenever Atalanta was in front of him, which caused her to be slowed and eventually she falls down, giving Kyros a chance to overtake her and win the race.

Personality

Even though Kyros was an accomplished athlete and could have had a great life without Pythagoras' help, he was very loyal to his master. This loyalty stemmed from a great admiration for Pythagoras' ideas as well as his personality. Kyros was also a very determined person, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals and ambitions. He would do anything he could to help out his friends or to save someone from injustice.

Appearance

Kyros was a trained athlete and always kept his body in great condition, thus he was a very strong and muscular man. He was also very tall, which gave him an impressive appearance. He was bald and had a small beard.

Source

• Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy - Divine Science: Chapter 2 - Kyros of Zarax