Mede

Member of a people of northwestern Iran who in the 9th century BC were tributaries to Assyria, with their capital at Ecbatana (now Hamadán), in the ancient southwestern Asian country of Media. Allying themselves with Babylon, they destroyed the Assyrian capital of Nineveh in 612 BC, and extended their conquests into central Anatolia. In 550 BC they were overthrown by the Persians, with whom they rapidly merged.