Dari'us.
1. DARIUS THE MEDE, son of Ahasuerus. He was probably the Astyages of the historians. Some supposed 'Darius' to be a title and not a name, but the name has been found on the monuments. On the death of Belshazzar he possessed Babylon, being about 62 years of age: B.C. 538-6. Daniel 5:31; Daniel 6:9-28; Daniel 9:1; Daniel 11:1. See BABYLON and DANIEL.
2. DARIUS HYSTASPIS, king of Persia: B.C. 521-485. He confirmed the decree of Cyrus in favour of the Jews, and the building of the temple. Ezra 4:5, Ezra 1:4; Ezra 1:5-7; Ezra 1:6-15; Haggai 1:1, Haggai 1:1; Haggai 2:10; Zechariah 1:1, Zechariah 1:1; Zechariah 7:1. To this king is ascribed the consolidating of the empire of Persia.
3. DARIUS THE PERSIAN. Darius Ochus (Nothus) of the historians, B.C. 424-405. Only mentioned in Nehemiah 12:22. For a list of the Persian kings see PERSIA.