Astyages (spelled by Herodotus as Ἀστυάγης – Astyages; by Ctesias as Astyigas; by Diodorus as Aspadas; Akkadian: Ištumegu) was the last king of the Median Empire, r. 585 BCE-550 BCE, the son of Cyaxares; he was dethroned in 550 BCE by his own grandson, Cyrus the Great. His name derives from the Old Iranian Rishti Vaiga, which means "swinging the spear, lance-hurler."