Gobryas (Ancient Greek:Γοβρύας;Old Persian:𐎥𐎢𐎲𐎽𐎢𐎺 g-u-b-ru-u-v, reads asGaub(a)ruva?;[1]Elamite:Kambarma) was father ofMardonius and lance-bearer ofDarius I.
Gobryas was one of the six helpers of Darius in killingGaumāta in September 522 BC mentioned byHerodotus. He was appointed as Darius' lance carrier (arštibara). He is represented on theBehistun inscription and on Darius' tomb inNaqsh-e Rustam, as:[3]
Gaubaruva \ Pâtišuvariš \ Dârayavahauš \ xšâyathiyahyâ \ arštbara
Gobryas fromPâtišuvariš, the lance carrier of king Darius.[3][4]
Pâtišuvariš may be the mountainous region north ofAlborz in northern Iran, probablyMazandaran.[5][6] In 521 BC, he was sent toElam to defeat the rebel king Atamaita;[7] after this, he served assatrap of Elam.
Gobryas' family was closely entwined with the family ofDarius the Great. Gobryas married the sister of Darius,[8] known variously as Artazostre or Radušdukda[citation needed]. Their sonMardonius, was the Commander-in-Chief of the armies ofXerxes I in theSecond Persian invasion of Greece, married Darius' daughterArtazostre. A daughter of Gobryas, from an earlier marriage, was married to Darius.[9]
