Upon his return to Anshan, Cyrus was reunited with his true parents, Cambyses and Mandane. There, like other Persian nobles, he received a comprehensive education and upbringing. The Persians had built a place called "Alvat" where they established the king's palace and government buildings. Persian children attended schools to learn manners, justice, and truthfulness, as Persians considered honesty and truthfulness to be the noblest virtues. They taught their children patience and self-control. Cyrus was raised like other Persian children until his adolescence, and he always excelled among his peers in learning and noble behavior.
After Cambyses abdicated in 559 BCE and placed his son Cyrus on the throne, the Persians began their ascent. Cyrus, a man of strong will and ambition, harbored grand plans from the outset to empower the Persians. He knew well that to have a powerful kingdom, he needed a formidable and well-equipped army. So, as a first step, he sought to create a large and powerful army. He hosted a feast and shared his plans for strengthening Parsa with other nobles. The tribal chiefs were impressed by Cyrus's words and agreed to provide him with the necessary troops.
Now that Cyrus had a substantial army at his disposal, he put his plan into action. Within six years, he brought all of Parsa, parts of Kerman, and the city of Susa under his command. The fame of Cyrus's noble conduct, fearless courage, and justice spread rapidly among the Persian tribes and even within the Median court. The growing influence and power of the Persians under his leadership soon reached the ears of the Median king, Astyages, reviving an old fear in his heart.
Astyages, growing fearful of Cyrus's rising power, summoned him to his throne to keep a close eye on him. Cyrus arrived in Ecbatana and once again entered the environment from which he had been expelled years before with the intent of his death. Meanwhile, Harpagus, Astyages's former commander and relative, who harbored a grudge against the Median king for the brutal murder of his son, approached the young prince. He recounted everything that had happened in Cyrus's childhood, from Astyages's dreams to the order for his death and his own role in saving him.
Harpagus further informed Cyrus about Astyages's dreams and encouraged him to revolt, speaking of the Median king's tyranny. He had even gathered a group of Astyages's opponents around him and promised Cyrus that he and his allies would support him if he disobeyed. Cyrus, now aware of his grandfather's dreams, sought the interpretation from a Babylonian astrologer. The Chaldean replied: "This will be a sign of good fortune and greatness, and you will become the supreme man of Asia".
Cyrus, who was spending his adolescence at his grandfather's court, was exasperated by the corruption and decay within the Median court. Everywhere, he saw signs of Media's weakness and decline, and he sought an opportunity to return to Parsa to his father and continue his grand plans for empowering the Persians. Fortune favored him; the Medes and the Cadusians had been at war with each other for several years, and this war had reached a stalemate.
The Cadusian general, named Anaphernes, had become disheartened by the prolonged war and sought peace with the Medes. For this reason, he sent a messenger to Astyages, requesting that a trustworthy man be sent to him to conclude a treaty. Astyages deemed Cyrus suitable for this task. He summoned his grandson and instructed him on what needed to be done. He then ordered him to return to Ecbatana within forty days after completing his mission.
Cyrus, who was hesitant and uncertain, went to the same Chaldean dream-interpreter for guidance. The Chaldean encouraged Cyrus to undertake this journey and accompanied Cyrus himself. When Cyrus reached the Cadusian border, he saw a child with whip marks on his body. The Chaldean asked Cyrus to inquire who the man was and from which land he came. The child replied that he was Persian and "Hybridas". Cyrus was pleased and took it as a good omen, as "Hybridas" means "bringer of good".