Otanes was a Persian official and general of the ancient Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BC.
Otanes was one of the first defenders of democracy in the Persian Empire, taking as a model the regime applied in Athens. Thus, he considered that all the citizens of the Empire should have a voice and vote to decide on issues common to society. Of course, not all the inhabitants of Persia were considered citizens, but only those free men of legal age with a certain economic level.
Otanes believed that democracy was the most transparent way of governing, as well as the one that gave the rulers the greatest popular cohesion, since the participation of citizens in decisions was guaranteed.
