Prexaspes, the noble Croesus, and the old warrior Araspes; in short, the
flower of the ancient Persian aristocracy, were now at the court of
Cambyses.

To this must be added that the entire nobility of the realm, the satraps
or governors of the provinces, and the chief priests from every town were
also assembled at Babylon to celebrate the king's birthday.

[The king's birthday was the principal feast among the Persians, and
called "the perfect feast." Herod. I. 133. Birthdays were held in
much honor by the ancients, and more especially those of their
kings. Both the great bilingual Egyptian tablets, which we possess
(the Rosetta stone, line 10 of hieroglyphic text; Gr. text, line 46.
and the edict of Canopus ed. Lepsius, hieroglyphic text 1. 3. Gr.
text 1. 5.) mention the celebration of the birthday of one of the
Ptolemies; and even of Rameses II., so early as the 14th century B.
C. we read: "There was joy in heaven on his birthday."]

The entire body of officials and deputies streamed from the provinces up
to the royal city, bringing presents to their ruler and good wishes; they
came also to take part in the great sacrifices at which horses, stags,
bulls and asses were slaughtered in thousands as offerings to the gods.

At this festival all the Persians received gifts, every man was allowed
to ask a petition of the king, which seldom remained unfulfilled, and in
every city the people were feasted at the royal expense. Cambyses had
commanded that his marriage with Nitetis should be celebrated eight days
after the birthday, and all the magnates of the realms should be invited
to the ceremony.