Tomyris was a legendary queen of the Massagetae, a nomadic people who lived in Central Asia in the 6th century BC. She is famous for leading her army in battle against the Persian king Cyrus the Great, which resulted in Cyrus being defeated and killed.

The story of Tomyris is mostly known from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. According to his account, Cyrus the Great wanted to conquer the lands of the Massagetae and proposed marriage to Tomyris, but she refused. He then attempted to take her lands by force, but was defeated and killed in battle. According to legend, Tomyris ordered that Cyrus's body be found, beheaded, and thrown into a vessel of blood, saying that he had now drunk the blood he wanted.

Tomyris has become a symbol of feminine strength and independence, and is often depicted as a heroic figure in art and literature.