Ctesias (lived 4th century BC)

Greek physician and historian. He was born in Cnidus in Asia Minor. He accompanied the expedition of the Persian commander Cyrus the Younger against his brother, the Persian king Artaxerxes II Mnemon, and was captured by the Persians at the Battle of Cunaxa 401 BC. He then remained, for about 17 years, as physician at the court of the Artaxerxes. Fragments of his History of Persia, in 24 books, and Treatise on India survive.

Ctesias attempted to discredit the work of the historian Herodotus and his work is not regarded as a reliable historical source.