Masistius

[3] He became a distinguished officer in the Persian army[4] during Xerxes's invasion of Greece and gained great popularity among the troops.

Masistius is first mentioned as the commander of the Saspirian and Alarodian contingents of Xerxes's army which had been gathered for the second invasion of Greece.

[7] At this stage, it appears that Masistius was not of any especially great significance to the invasion force as he appears in Herodotus simply as "Masistius, the son of Siromitras" with no further description, and as part of Herodotus's detailed description of Xerxes's army, the infantry section alone of which lasts from chapter 61-83 of book VII.

However, by 479B C in the build up to the Battle of Plataea, Masistius's fortunes seem to have changed and he had become a senior and distinguished cavalry commander in the Persian forces which had remained in Greece under Mardonius.

In response, the Megarians received the support of 300 hoplites from Athens led by Olympiodorus along with a contingent of Athenian archers.

[12] Masistius's loss was felt keenly by the Persians, who shaved their heads and cut the manes of their horses as signs of mourning.