Deioces (Ancient Greek: Δηιόκης), from the Old Iranian Dahyu-ka-, meaning "the lands" (above, on and beneath the earth), was the founder and the first shah as well as priest of the Median Empire. His name has been mentioned in different forms in various sources, including the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who has written his name as Δηιόκης (Dēiokēs).