The History of Herodotus - Translated from the Greek by Isaac Littlebury Vol. I Third Edition

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THE

HISTORY
O F

HEROVOTU

S:

Tranflated from the Greek.
By Isaac Littleburyt'^

VOL,
The Third

L
Edition.

LONDON:
Printed for D. Midwinter, A. Bettesworth and
C. H I T c H, J. and J. Pemberton, R. Ware,
C. R I V I N G T o N, J. Batley and J. Wood, F. Clay,
A. W A r D, J. and P. K n a p t o n, T. L o n g m a n, and

R.Hett.

MDCC.XXXVIL

[iii]

PREFACE.
ING to give a fhort Account of
INTEND
Herodotus, and of his Hiftory which is here
prefented to the Puhlick in Englifh, I think
myfelf ohligW in the firft Place to fay fomething
of Hiflory in general. For what can he more juft^
than to Jhew the Value and Ufefulnefs of this kind
of Writings when I am to fpeak of the Man who
firft plac'^d it in true Dignity and Luftre ; and by
the native Strength of his own Genius raised at
once that noble and beautiful Stru5liire^ which has
fervid for a Model to fucceeding Ages ? Before
his Time,, . whatever had the Title of Hiftory^ was^
for the moft part^ either Fable and Poetical Fic-^
tion ♦, ^r, at beft^ but a naked Regifter of puhlick
Events ; hardly more than a bare Lift of the
Names of the principal A^lors^ and of the Places
cf A^iion \ without Ornament,, without Life ;
affe^ing the Eye rather than informing the Underftanding, or moving the Hearty by fpecifying
the Caufes^ Councils, and Circumftances, zvhich
give Rife to every A^ion, influence the various
Turns,, and produce the final Iftue of all puhlick
Enterprizes, Herodotus found out the Art of colleafing the rough Materials, fnaping them in juft
A 2
ProportioUy

IV

The P R E F A C E.

Proportion^ ranging them in exa5l Order^ and
giving the whole Frame majeftick Beauty and immortal Strength,
I may venture to fay^ that whatever is truly
iifefuly cannot but be pleafing to human Nature,
And^ as nothing in the World is fo ufeful and be7iejicial as Government founded on common Equity
and Prudence y fo nothing is fo delightful to the
Mind^ as the Contemplation of the Happinefs of
leariyig a Part in a well-regulated Community.
^here is fuch a Charm in good Order and fteady
Difcipline^ that whole Nations have been ravifh''d
with it to fuch a Degree^ as to feefn for fever al
Ages^ to have been infenfible of all other Pleafure :
And by how much any Man exceW^d others in Elevation and Great nefs of Soul, by fo much more was
he inflamed with a Zeal to contribute to the Pre^
fervation of that good Qrder^ and in Confequence to
the general Felicity.
'THOSE who are acquainted with the Anions
cf the ancient Grecians and Romans, will readily
affent to this Truth : Which, will by a natural Inference lead them to another^ and demofifirate. That
of all ki?tds of IVriti'ng none is fo ufeful and entertaining asHiftory.
THE Poets were quick to obferve this in the
earlieft and rudefl Times ; and therefore feiz\i a
Province fo fertile of Incidents proper to infpire
the fublimefi Thoughts in themfelves, and by the
means of their powerful Art to work upon the Paffions of others ; ajid v;ere the firft who fet up for
Hiftorians. But the Richnefs of the Soil, proved
the Ruin of the luxuriant Difcoverers : The innatc Lufire of great Anions wrought foftrongly on
Minds too fufceptible of the lighteft ImpreJfionSj
that they overheated their Imaginations^ quitted the
common

The PREFACE.

v

common theatre of Human Life, and foaring out
of Reafon^s View from Hyperbole to FablCy lofl
themfehes in the Clouds to which they had exalted
their Bacchus, their Hercules, and the refi of
their Heroes.
I have faid that ''tis natural, from the Benefit
and Happyiefs arifing from good Government^ to
infer the Ufe and Pleafure of Hiflory. 'Tis indeed
mofl natural ; feeing the one was the very Caufe
and Parent of the other. 'Twas good Government
which gave Life and Being to Hiftory j ayid refcued
Mankind from the Delujion of Fable. The political hfiitutions of Solon and Lycurgus, -produced a
long Series of more beautiful and glorious Scenes of
real Anions, than all the Poets infpifd by theit
Apollo, had ever been able to figure to themfelves
in Idea, and deliver in Ficiion.
THE Mind of Man does not willingly endure
Deception : The Poets could no longer amufe with
monflrous Shadows, Eyes which had feen the native Force of good Order eflablifh^d on impartial
Reafon and natural Equity. In a Word, the jufi
Lawgiver prepaid the Way for the judicious Hiftorian : And {to come clofe to my prefent Purpofe)
Herodotus happily found, in the Times immediately
preceding his own, a SubjeSl which fupplied him at
once with all the Rules for writing Hiftory •, and
had only the plain (tho* that be the diffLCult) Tafk^
to fuit his Compofition and Stile to the Condu^ of
the Nations whcfe Actions and Manners he undertook to relate.
E XP E RIM E NT and Compart fin render
Men capable of finding the true Value of every
Thing. On the firfl Appearance of Herodotus,
all the fabulous Legends cf the Poets, with the inanimate Regifters of dry Annaiiftsy were found to
A 3
hsar

vi

The PREFACE.

hear fio Proportion^ either in Profit or Delight ^ '
when thrown into the Balance againfi; his Hiftory,
And in like manner^ the Comparifon which every
Man who reads his Work cannot hut make^ of
the different Effects of an Equal and T'yrannical
Govo'nmentj of firm and fiack Difcipline^ of Caution and Prefumption^ of Fortitude and Meannefs
of Spirit^ of Diffolutenefs and Sobriety^ in fhort^
of all kinds of Virtue and Vice^ upon all Conditions
end Degrees of Men^ from Monarchs and States
down to private Perfons -, that Comparifon^ I
fay^ has been the principal Rule of Writing
refi: are eafily deduc'^d) to all the
whichwhothe have
(from
Hiftorians
fucceeded him, and mufi: be
the eternal Meafure to others for judging of all
Human Affairs.
As will appear amply ^ from a ,
general View of the Inftru5lion and Entertainment
of Hiftory.
NO Paffion is fo ftrong in Man, and fo univerfal in all Ages and Nations, as that of aconly I'riby publick
quiring Glory
umphs ayid
Statues,
but Services,
even CrownsNotof Leaves^
heftow*d as a national Acknowledgment of diftinguif/o^d Merit, have been purfued with as much
Eagernefs and Danger, as ever the Rewards of
'Titles and Riches poffibly can : And I believe few
Men are fo fordid or profligate, as not to own
themfelves affected with a Deftrc of Reputation,
infuch a modeft Degree as is fui table to their Station in the World -, at leaf, that they are difpos^d
to live with fame Deceyicy, however privately.
Now in vohatever Station a Man is placed, whether publick or private, he will find himfelf more
cr lefs qualified to manage his own Affairs, or thofe
of the Community to which he belongs, as his Knowledge ofMen and Things is more cr lefs extenjive,
2
The

The PR E F A C £.

vil

The Means of acquiring Knowledge are of two
Sorts^ Experience or Information.
The firfi is ne*uer very conjiderable in Men, till they are pafi the
Exercife of almoft all Virtues : And Themiftocles feems reafcnahly to complain of the miferahle
Condition of Man^ who mufi die as foon as he hegins to know how to live. Befides all who attain to old Age^ do not arrive at Experience : 'the
Employments that lead to it are not many : And
the longeft Life affords but few Opportunities of
extraordinary Actions.
As for perfonal Information from others^ it can at beft only reach to fuch
Affairs as have pafs^d in their own Ti?ne^ and
that imperfeEily •, but what is this in Camparifon to fo many Thoufand Tears included in the
Hiftorical Regifters of the World? Which bring
all Human things under the Eye of the Reader
within a fmall Compafs ; teach him to form his
Conduct by the befi Examples \ and reprefent
fuch a Variety of ConjuntJures and Accidents^
as confid'efd with Judgment creates a Habit of
Prudence^ without the Help of Age or actual Experience. Hifiory is fo far preferable to the
longeft Experience^ as the paft Ages comprehend
more Examples than the Age of one Man.
the
Dead are the beft Counfellors *, not to he cor-rupted by Money ; not to be terrified by Pow^
er i not to be perfuaded by Intreaty •, not deceiving byfalfe Colours,
they will faithfully in^
jlni5i us by what means Empires are erected^ de-^
cay J and periflo : How a fmall State may become
great : With what Judgment Wars are to he un^
dertaken ; and with what Diligence purfued :
With what Caution to treat of Peace, or engage
in Leagues, without Injuftice, Difloonour, or Damage.
In jhort, woidd we know whit Fate at-A 4
tends

viii

The PREFACE.

.tends any State or Kingdom ? Hiftory only will
teach us, from a thoiifand Examples, to exercife
the Art of Divination innocently and furely : And
at leaft cannot but have this EffeB, that hardly
any thing can feem new, aftonifhing, or dreadful
to us. In Hijiory, as in the Book of Fate, fiand
recorded the Glory of good Men, and the eternal
Infamy of the Bad : By which every private Perfon is taught how to acquit himfelf in all Conditions
fo as to deferve the Name of a Man -, and Princes
are warned that they are no more than Men, and
that Fayne is always juft to the Dead, however
partial to the Living.
Il^e Art of Government is
heft learnt from Hiftory •, or rather that ^tis no
Art, hut that the fame Caufes ever did and will
produce the fame RffeSis. So that Statefmen can
never be at a Lofs how to exert the Virtues of Fortitude, Corftancy, and Integrity, to prevent or cure
the publick Diforders and Calamities.
Generals
are inftru^ed by the Delays of Fabius, and the
Celerity of Csefar ; the Stratagems of Ly fancier,
and the Induftry of Hannibal.
Even Nations
learn, from the Defcription they find of Servitude^
how to value Liberty : Phalaris, Dlonyfius, Nero, Caligula, Domitian, and too ?nany others, are
the terrifying Examples ; and by the fraudulent
Practices of a Philip, are taught to flop their
F.ars againft the fnoft fpecious Promifes of one accuftornd to deceive.
TO conclude, nothing can be mere delightful ^
than by the means of Hiftory to enter the Athenian
Areopagus, and the Roman Senate : To be prefent with Leonidas at Thermopyle, with Ariftides at Plataea, with Sc'vpio at Carthage, and with
Alexander at Arbela : To be placed as a Spe^ator
cut of all Hazard, to learn Wifdom from the Dan2
gers

The PREFACE.

ix

gers of others -, to take a diftinSl View of pafi Go^
vernments, Cnjioms^ and Manners ; and by applying former Examples to our own Ufe^ reap the
Advantage of other Mens Experience^ and of Tryals already made in every kind.
Herodotus was horn at HalicarnaiTus,
a Grecian Colony in the lower Afia^ a little before the Invajion of Greece by Xerxes ; and liv*d
to the mmes of the Peloponefian War, He withdrew from the Place of his Nativity to Samos,
to avoid the Tyranny of Lygdamis, Grandfon
of the famous Artemifia fo often mentioned in his
Hiflory. From thence returning after fome Time
to his own Country^ he had a principal Part in
the Expulfion of the Tyrant : But foon finding himfelf envied and us^d with hgratitude^ he went to
Italy with a Colony fent by the Athenians to build
a City^ which they caWd Thurium, near the Ruins
of the ancient Sybaris.
WHETHER
he wrote his Hiflory at Samos or Thurium, is not certain : But both thofe
Places being governed in a popular manner^ left him
free from all Impreffions of Hope cr Fear., which
might incline him to Flattery or BetraSiion. And

as for Truth., he fpar'^d no Pains to collet the befh
Information that could pofjibly be had. To that
End he travelled into ^gypt, faw all the principal Cities., and coyivers'd with the Priefis of that
Country : He fpent fome Ti?ne in vifiting the feveral Parts of Greece ; went to Babyipn and Tyre ;
and was in Thrace, Scyrhia, Arabia, and Paleftine.

HAVING
composed his Hifiory from the
Materials he had with fo great Labour collected.,
he refolv'd to expcfe it to the Ceiifure of Men., who
were not only well informed of the main Fa^s., but

perfe^ly

X

The PREFACE.

ferfeBly qualified to judge of his Performance. He
went to the Olympian Exercifes^ for which the
Grecians were ajfembled from all Parts. Many
ef thefe doubtlefs had been perfonally in one or other
of the Battles againft the Perfians ; and not a Man^
could be ignorant^ at the diftance of fo few Tears,
of the chief Circumftances of a War fo important
to all Greece, ^o this Affembly^ composed of Men,
own^d by the fnoft knowing Part of the World to
have been their Mafiers in all the noblefi Arts, he
read his Hiftory^ which with infinite Applaufe
was univerfally approved,
AF^TE R a Judgment fo folemn and in every
Refpeol fo valuable^ 'tis unneceffary to colle5i all
the Suffrages of the beft Writers of fucceeding 'Times
among the Grecians and Romans, in Praife of
Herodotus. Tet I am unwilling to omit., that
Cicero to froew his Efieem for , our Author ufes the
higheft Expreffion the Roman Language is capable
cf filing him the Father of Hiftory ; not becaufe
he was the moft ancient, for befides others of lefs
Fame, Hellanicus of Mitylene and Charon of
Lampfacus were before him -, but judging him the
Prince of Hiftorians^ he gave him the Title of Father, which the Romans ever us^d to denote a Perfon moft illuftrious and highly deferving of the Com-.
monwealth : The Name of Lord being held in Abhor ence., til the Suppreffion of their Liberty introduced the Name with the Thing. Nor can I without Injuftice fupprefs the Teftimony given to him by
Dionyfius the HalicarnaiTian ; becaufe his own admirable Hiftory is the higheft Proof of his Ability
tofpeak juftly on this Argument.
THIS Writer in his Critical and Rhetorical
Works^ extols the Happinefs of Herodotus iii chufing a Subjecf of the great eft Dignity^ that fhew^d
his

The PREFACE.

xi

his Country in the utmoft Glory -, and proved to a
Demonjiration^ by the miiform Succejfes of the
Battles of Marathon, Salamis, Plataea, and Mycale, that Superiority of Numbers was but a feeble
Defe7ice to the Great King againft the military
Virtue and excellent Difcipline of the Grecians. He
commends the Smoothnefs and unaffected Simplicity
of his Narration ; the Decency of his Speeches^
moft artfully adapted to the Character of every Perfon fpeaking ', together with the beautiful Order and
Compofition of his Hifiory^ which by following
Things^ not Time^ ever charms to the lafi Syllable^
and leaves the Reader with a dejire of more : Pre-ferring him to Thucydides in every things except
Brevity^ Vehemence^ and clofe Reafoning *, 'Talents^
if J jniftake not^ more proper to an Orator than a
Hiftcrian ; and probably for that Reafon fo fnucb
efteem^d and imitated by Demofthenes, that he is
faid to have written over his Hiftory eight times
with his ozvn Hand,
AS Herodotus us^d the proper eft Means not to
he imposed upon^ fo in many Places of his Hiftory
he has proved himfelf to be free^ as well from Credulity^ asfrom any Intention to impofe upon others y
by infinuating and fometimes by arguing the Improbability^ either of general Reports^ or of fame particular Informations he himfelf had received. In
his 2d Book he fays ^ Thefe Things are related by
the ^Egyptians ; and if any Man think them credible, he is at Liberty : For me, I am oblig'd
to write what I have heard. In another Place ^
Thefe Things I relate after the Libyans. And
though many like Warnings are drop d in divers
Parts of his Work \ yet out of abundant Caution
he thinks fit to make this plain Declaration in his
yxh Book^

I am oWig*d to relate what is faid,

xli

The PREFACE.

tho' I am not oblig'd to believe every thing without DIftindion •, which I defire may be coniider'd
in all the courfe of this Hiftory. I'd this let it he
added ^ That fever al thiyigs which he relates^ ayid
were formerly disbelieved^ have by the modern Navigations been found to he true^ as well as other
things more fir ange than mofi of thofe he mentions : ,
That Length of Time^ Alteration of Manners^ various Revolutions^ and in many Places a total
Change of the Face of Things^ render us in fome
meafure incompetent Judges of what may have really
been in Nature and Cuftom^ efpe daily in the mofi
remote and unfrequented Parts of the World: I
fay^ let all this he confidefd^ and I believe no ingenious Man will think Herodotus ftands in need
of a more laboured Apology. But befides^ the Ground
of his Hiftory was., the Wars between the Grecians
and Barbarians -, and all the ft range Cuftoms and
Religions which he takes Occafwn to defer ibe^ feem
intended rather to give us a Notion of what human
Nature is capable., than for an ejjential Part of
his main Defign : And therefore no wife Man will
intereft hifnfelf any farther in thofe Relations., or
lay any greater Strefs upon them^ than he thinks
reafonable j but will attend chiefly to the Excellence
and InftruBion of the fubftantial and vital Part of
the Hiftory.
I am not ignorant that Plutarch has left behind
him a whole Book againft Herodotus, in which he
accufes him of fpeaking too favourably of the Bar- .
barians, and cenfuring the Conduct of all the Grecians in general •, but moft efpecially defaming theting
Boeotians and Corinthians : Of attributing^ without Reafon., the Original cf the Grecian. Gods to
JEgypt •, and giving too much Credit to the Relations ofthe i^igyptians : Of Impiety., in attribu-

The PREFACE.

xiii

ting to Solon his own irreligious Sentiments \ and^
infinuating^ or rather affirming^ that the Delphian
Oracle was feveral times corrupted^ and guilty of
Impofture : With many more Imputations of 'various Kinds. Now one would think., that in order
to ruin the Reputation of Herodotus, Plutarch
ought to have fhewn^ that when he commends or
approves any part of the Conduof or Ma7iners of the
Barbarians, he had no good Ground for his Opinion ;
and when he mentions the Faults and mutual Animofities of the Grecians, his Allegations were untrue :He might at leaft have produced foyne plaufihle Arguments., to fhew that the Religion «/ Greece
was not derived from iEgypt ; and have acknowledg'd with the Sincerity which becomes a Philofcpher., that the Account of the ^Egyptian Affairs.,
to the Reign of Pfammeticus, was by the Hijiorian^s own Declaration intirely owing to the Relations he had from the Pr lefts of that Country : He
ought to have brought fome Authority to prove that
the Words attributed to Solon, had been by fome
or other accounted fuppofttitious : And that., to ac^
cufe the Oracle of Obliquity^ double Meaning., and
Corruption., was a mere Abtfe : But he was too
angry to take fuch Meafures., as fnight ferve to
fhew his Judgment or Ingenuity : And becaufe he
found his Countrymen the Thebans, and all the
reft of the Boeotians, except the Plataeans and Thefpians, branded by the Hiftorian with the Infa?ny
of betraying the Comm.cn Caufe., and openly fiding
with the fworn Enemy of the Grecian Name., he
could not bear the Reproach., however juft. Tet^
the Fa5l is fo notorious., that not only Demofthenes
appeals to it in one of his * Philippics as to a
Second Philip.

I^ruth

xiv

The PREFACE.

Truth unlverfally known ; hut Xenophon himfelf
in his Grecian * Hiftory concurs with Herodotus
iyi charging the fame Guilt upon that People. As
for the Corinthians, the many honourable Tefiimonies given them by Herodotus, particularly the
Speech of Soiicles their Ambaffador to diffuade the
Laceda?monian.s from fupportifig the Tyrant Hippias ; and the generous Refolution^ he acknowledges^
they took J rather to break with thofe powerful Allies^ than to take Part with them in an unjufi
War 'y are fufficient to demonflrate that the Philofopher was either blinded by Paffion, or vainly
thought by fhewing a Concern for others to efcape
the Imputation of open Partiality to his Boeotians.
Having touched upon thefe few things^ Ifhall not
enter into a longer Difpute in Vindication of our
Hifiorian ; partly^ becaufe I am unwilling to tranfcribe from Camerarius, Stephanus, Balduinus,
Dupin, and 7nany others^ who have defended him
from the Exceptions of Plutarch \ but chiefly^ becaufe Iam perfuaded his own Hiftory will fet this
Matter in the cleareft Lights and beft determine
the ^eftion^ Whether Herodotus has partially
favoufd the Barbarians, and invidioufly afpers^d
the Condu£t and Manners of /^^ Grecians ? Or^
Whether the Charge of Malignity and Detra^fion^
which Plutarch y2> liberally throws upon him., may
not with better Re of on he retorted on himfelf?
I forbear to mention the Elegance., Fluency., and
Sweetnefs of his Stile^ (in which the beft Judges
among the Ancients unanimoufty allow Herodotus
to have exceWd all others \) becaufe I am fenfible
I have not been able to transfufe thofe Graces
into my Verfton,

I have endeavoured^

I confefsy

* Book VII.

to

The PREFACE.

xv

tvjhew bis Air and Turn of Expreffion^ as well as
his Meaning -, imagining that moft Reorders would
not he difpkas^d to fee fome kind of Reprefentation^
however imperfe5l^ of the Genius and Spirit of fo
great a Mafter : Andy in doing this, I have, without Regret, frequently facrific^d a fafhionahle Phrafe
to a plain Expreffion which I judged nearer to the
Author* s native Candor and Simplicity. But, upon
the whole, I am not infenfihle that many Errors
may he found in my T:ranfiation -, which I might
offer to excufe in fome meafure, hy charging part on
the Faults which thro' the Negligence of Tranfcrihers have crept into the Original, and part on
the difficulty of forming (at fo great a difiance of
Time, in which the whole Face of the World is in
all refpeEis fo much changed,) a certain and juft
Notion of fever al Things mentioned in the Courfe
of this Hijlory : But Ifhall content myfelf to fay,
that I have not willingly left any Paffage erroneous
or ohfcure, thd* I had not Ahility to mend all that
Jfaw orfufpe^fed.

i

XJl

i"BP*t?""S^B"

An

\An EXPLANA'f ION of fome Words
occurring in this Hijiory,
AMP

HORJ, is a Meafure containing about a Twelfth
Part of our Hogfhead.
JlrtahCj about a Bufhel and half of our Meafure.

Catadtipians, fo call'd, becaufe they inhabit near the Catarads.
Chcenix, a Grecian Meafure, containing about two Pints or
Pounds.
Cubit, is a Meafure one Foot and half in Length.
Cypfelat a Sort of Chell, containing about 9 of our Bufhels,
in which the Corn fer the prefent Ufe of the Family was
conftantly kept.
Footy confitts of 4 Palms, and is two Thirds of a Cubit.
JcbthyophageSi Egyptians of Elephantis^ who eat Fifh.
Libatiorty
Wineof ortheother
in Honour
Gods.Liquor pour'd out on the Sacrifices,
Medimnusy a Meafure containing about a Bufliel and half.
Miney (Attick) worth about 26 of our Shillings.
MacrobianSy
certain JEthiopiariSy
io calfd from their long
Life ; which commonly extended to 1 20 Years, according
to our Author.
Nmadesy fo call'd becaufe they were Keepers of Cattle.
Orguyay which is tranflated Perch or Fathom, was the Meafure of 6 Foot or 4 Cubits.
Tarafangey contains 30 Stades in Length.
Palmy is the 4'*^ Part of a- Foot.
Plethroriy fix of thefe make a Stade.
Schcene, confills of 60 Stades.
A Stade, is generally accounted equal to 125 Geometrical
Paces, and allowing 5 Foot to each Pace, the Stade amounts to 625 Foot.
Stater of Gold, a Perjian Coin of the Value of about 26 of
our Shillings.
Talent, (Attick) is by fome accounted worth 60 Pound weight
,-of Silver ; by others 80.
'•7// ?!Gt pretended that this Calculation is entirely exaSi : But
it may pojjtbly ferve to prevent fomc grofs Mijlakes, which Men
unacquainted zvith thefe Words might ofherwife make in reading
the }iiJiory\

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THE

HISTORY
O

F

HER ODO rUS.
Book

I.

C L I O.
DO rUS of Halicarnajfus writer
HERO
this Hiflory, that the Memory of
Things paft may not be extinguifh'd
by Length of Time, nor the great and
admirable Adions of the Grecians and Barbarians remain deflitute of Glory *, relating, with
other Things, the Caufes of the Wars that happen'd between thofe People.
M E N of celebrated Fame among the Per/ians
fay, that the Original of this Enmity is to be imputed to the Phoenicians ; who, coming from the
Red Sea, and fettling in the Regions they now inhabit, prefently applied themfelvcs to make long
Voyages ; and being us'd to carry the Merchandizes ofy^gypi and JJfyria into divers Parts^ cams
alfo to Jrgos, which was then the principal City
of thofe Countries that now go under the Name
of Greece i that, after they had expos'd their

2

HERO DO TUS.

Book I.

Goods to Sale during five or fix Days, and
had fold almoft all, a great Company of Women
came down to the Shore, and among them the
Daughter of King Inachus^ both by the Perfians
and Grecians call'd lo \ that, while thefe Women were (landing about the Stern of the Ship,
and buying what they moft defir'd, the Phoenicians having mutually encourag'd each other to
the Attempt, laid Hands upon as many as they
could ; and, tho' the greater Part made their Efcape by Flight, yet having feiz'd /<?, with feveral others, they fecur'd them on board, and immediately fet Sail for JEgypt. In this Manner
the Perfians, differing from the Grecians, relate
the Story of Id's Paflage into Mgyp •, and fay,
that this was the fir ft Injury done on either Part.
To thefe Things they add, that certain Grecians, whofe Country they know not (but who
indeed were of Crete) arriving at I'yre in Fhcenicia^ carried away Europa the King's Daughter,
and by that means brought Things to an Equality on both Sides. After which the Grecians became guilty of a fecond Injury : For arriving with
a Ship at Aia in Colchis on the River Phajis^
and having difpatch'd their other Affairs, they
carried off Medea the King's Daughter •, and
when the King fent an Herald to Greece to require Satisfa6lion for that Violence, and to demand his Daughter, the Grecians return'd for
Anfwer, that they would make him no Reparation, becaufe they had receiv'd none for the
Rape of the Argian lo. They fay alfo, that in
the next fucceeding Age, Alexander the Son of
Priamus hearing the Relation of thefe Things,
refolv'd to have a Wife from Greece by the like
Means, perfuading himfelf that he flioukl not be

con-

CLIO.

i

tonftrain'd to any Reparation, fince all thefe had
efcap'd with Impunity ; but that, after he had
taken away Helena^ the Grecians determin'd in
the'*'firR: Place to fend Ambafiadors to demand
her, and to require Satisfadion for the Wrong ;
which when they had done, the Trojans objedl€d the Rape of Medea j wond'ring at the Unreafonablenefs of thofe, who having neither reftor'd that Woman, nor made any kind of Reparation, fhould have the Confidence to demand Sati§fa6lion from others: That hitherto.,
however, no other kind of Violence had happen'd between thefe People -, but that the Grecians became afterwards highly injurious, by entring Afta with an Army, before Europe was invaded byany People of that Country ; who are
perfuaded, that tho* all Violences of this Nature
be unjuft, yet to revenge fach Injuries is as evidently the Part of Madmen, as of the Wife to
have no Regard for thofe Women •, becaufe nothing ismore manifeft, than that they had never
been carried off, unlefs they had confented. For
thefe Reafons the Perfians fay that the People of
Afia fcorn'd to concern themfelves about fuch
'Women ; but that the Grecians ajfTembled a
numerous Fleet, pafs'd over to Afia^ and deftroy'd the Kingdom of PrimnuSj for the fake
of a Lacedemonian Woman *, from which Time
they account the Grecians to have been their Enemies. For the Perfians confider Afia as their
own, with all the barbarous Nations that inhabit thofe Regions, and think they have no manner of Society with Greece and Europe. Thus
the Perfians relate the Fad, and derive the Original of their Hatred to the Grecians from the
'Deftrudlon of 'Troy.

But the Phoenicians difB 2
agreeing

4

HERODOTUS.

Book L

agreeing with them concerning lo^ deny that
they carried her away by Force into ^gypt\ and
affirm, that falling in Love with the Commander
of their Ship, and finding herfelf with Child
by him, fhe voluntarily departed, for fear of
being deteded by her Parents. Thefe Things
are faid by the Perfians and by the Phosnicians •, and I fhall not enter into a Difpute concerning the Truth of their Relations : But beginning with the Perfon who we are certain
attack'd the Grecians unjuftly without any Provocation, Ifhall proceed in my Narration, and
give an Account, as well of the little Cities and
Republicks, as of thofe of more Power and
Extent. For many which are nov/ fmall,
were formerly great -, and others, which are
great at this Day, were once fmall and inconfiderable. Knowing therefore that human Profperity cannot always continue in the fame State,
1 fhall fpeak of the one fort, as well as of the
other.
CRCESUS,
by Birth a Lydian, and Son
to Alyattes^ was King of thofe Nations that are
fituate on this fide the River UalySy which defcending from the South, and paffing Northward between the Syrians and Paphlagonians,
falls into the Emin Sea. He was the firft of all
the Barbarians we know, who render'd fome of
him,, and receiv'd others
tributaryforto he
the Grecians
into
his Alliance;
fubdued the lonians
. and -Cohans, with the Dorians that inhabit in
. AJia^ and made the Lacedemonians his Friends :
Whereas before his Reign, all the Grecians were
free. For the Irruption of the Cimmerians into
Ionia with an Army,
which happen'd before
. the Time of Crcefus^ ended not in the Deftruction

C L I 0.

5

tion of Cities ; but only in Ravages, incident
to a fudden Invafion. This Kingdom belong'd
to the Heraclides, and pafs'd into the Family
Q^ Cr^fus, call'd Mermnades, in the following
Manner.
CANBAULES, by the Grecians nam'd
Myrjilus^ being defcended from Alcaus the Son
of Hercules^ was King of the Sard Ian s -, and as
Argon the Son of Ninus^ Grandfon to Belus^ and
great Grandfon to Alc^us^ was the firft of the
Heraclides that reign'd in Sardis^ fo Candaules
the Son of Myrfus was the laft. Thofe who
had been Kings of this Country before Argon ^
were defcended from Lydus the Son of Atys^ who
gave his Name to the whole Nation, which before his Time were call'd Meones. Under thefe,
the Heraclides defcending from Hercules and a
Slave of lardanus^ were educated ; and having
obtain'd the Kingdom by means of an Oracle,
held it five hundred and five Years, during two
and twenty Generations of Men, the Son always fucceeding the Father, to the Time of
Candaules the Son of Myrfus. This Candaules
!(b paflionately
lov'd hisofWife,
that he ; thought
her
the moft beautiful
all Women
and in
this Perfuafion extolPd her Beauties above meafure to Gyges the Son of Dafcylus^ who was one
of his Guard, much in his Favour, and intrufled with his moil important Affairs. But not
long after, being marked out by Fate for Deftrudion, he open'd himfelf farther to Gyges m
thefe Terms ; " Since thou feemefl to me not
to believe the Things I have faid concerning
the Beauty of my Wife, and becaufe I know
the Eye to be a more proper Inftrument of
^' Convidtion than the Ear ; I refolve thou fhalt.
,
B 3
"fee

6

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

" fee her naked." Gyges amaz'd at this Language, cried out, " What ftrange Diforder,
" Sir, has pofiefs'd your Mind, that you
fhould command me to view the Queen my
Miftrefs naked ? For a Woman puts off her
Modefty with her Garments. Many excelcc
lent Precepts have been convey 'd down to
us by Men of former Ages, for our Inilruction, and this one among the reft, 'That
every Man fhould look into his cuon Affairs.
As for me, I believe the Queen to be the
*' moft beautiful of all Women ; but I earneftlv
" defire you would not command me to do an
" unlawful Thing." Thus Gyges dreading left
the Confequences fhould be fatal to him, endeavour'd to diftuade the King from his illconceiv'd Defign. But he, periifting in his
Refolution, replied in thefe Words ; "Be con" fident, Gyges ^ and think not that I have faid
" this to make Trial of thee, nor fear the -Re" fentment of my Wife ; for I will fo contrive
''
the Matter that fhe ftiall never know fhe
cc
was feen by thee. To this End I will place
cc
thee behind the open Door of our Apartment ;
cc
into which my Wife will not fail to come^
" fo foon as fhe hears I am there; and as ftie
" ufes to undrefs at a Chair, where ihe lays
'' dov/n her Garments one after another, fhe will
^' give thee Time to take a full View of her at
" Leifure •, only when thou ftialt fee her gof ' ing to the Bed, with her Back turn'd towards
" thee, be careful that fhe may not difcover
" thee afterwards repafling thro' the Doors.'*
Gyges finding all he could fay to have no Effedt, refolv'd to obey ; and at the ufual Hour
the King going to his Apartmentj
took Gyges
with

CLIO.

7

with him. The Queen came Immediately after, and whilft ihe undrefs'd, and laid down her
Cloaths, afrorded Gyges a fufficlent View of
herfelf. But as fhe turn'd her Back to go towards the Bed, and Gyges endeavour'd at the
fame Time to retire, fhe faw him going out.
And tho' fhe plainly perceiv'd that this v/as her
Hufband's Contrivance, Shama reftraln'd her
from making the leaft Exclamation : But ihe
refolv'd within her felf, to be reveng'd upon
Candaules : For among the Lydlans, and almofl
all barbarous Nations, 'tis a great DIfhonour
even for a Man to be feen naked. She pafs'd
the Night In a feeming Tranquillity, and having
fupprefs'd her Refentment till the Morning,
fent fome of the moil faithful of her Servants
to bring Gyges to her. He, not fufpedllng the
Queen to be acquainted with what had pafs'd,
and being accuftom'd to go to her as often as
Ihe fent for him, fall'd not to obey her Order.
When he was come to her Chamber, ihe fald
to him ', " Gyges ^ Two Ways lie before thee ;
" chufe which thou wilt, for I leave the
" Choice to thy DIfcretion. Either kill Can" daules^ and take PoiTefTion of me, together
*e with the Kingdom of Lydia^ or refolve to
" die Immediately •, that by obeying Candaules
*' v/Ithout Referve, thou may 'ft not hereafter
" behold what ought not to be feen by thee :
" For either the Contriver of this Thing muil
" perlih, or thou, who haft (ttn me naked, and
^' been guilty of a criminal Adion." Gyges at
firft ftood amaz'd at thefe Words •, and afterwards earneftly begg'd of her, that ihe would
not drive him to the NeceiTity of making fo
But when he faw he could not
hard a Choice.
prevail.
B 4

8

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

prevail, and that he muft either kill his Mafter,or die himfelf by the Hands of others, he chofe
to
fave his own Life.
" Since then, faid he to
6C
the Queen, you
compel me, againft my
Will, to kill my Mailer, let me know how
" we fhall execute this Enterprize."
" From
*' that very Place, replied Jhe^ where he expos'd me
*' naked to thy View, thou fhalt fall upon him
^' as he fleeps." When they had thus concerted
the Attempt, and Night came, Gyges plainly
feeing he muft either kill Candaules^ or inevi-r
tably perifh, becaufe he had not been permitted
to go out, follow 'd the Queen to her Bedchamber 5 where fhe gave him a Dagger with her
own
Hand, and
Door,
as Candatiles
had plac'd
done. him
Afterbehind
fome the
Time
he
went foftly to the Bed -, kill'd the King as he
fiept, and poflefs'd himfelf of his Wife and
Kingdom.
He is mention'd
in the lambick
Verfes of Ar chile cus the Parian, who liv'd at
the fame 1 ime.
In this Manner Gyges obtain'd
the Kingdom, and v/as confirmed in his Acquifition by the Oracle of Delphi.
For when the
Lydians, highly refenting the Death of CandauleSj had aflembled together in Arms, an A^
greement v/as at kft concluded between them
and the Soldiers of Gyges, that if the Oracle
Should pronounce him King of Lydia, he fhould
be permitted to reign ; if not, he fhould reftore the Kingdom
to the Heraclides.
The
Anfwer of the Oracle was favourable to Gyges,
and he was univerfally acknowledged to be King.
But the Pythian added this Claufe •, *' That
*' the Heraclides fhould be aveng'd, in the Time
^' of the fifth Defcendant of Gyges -" tho' neither the Lydians nor their Kings hadRegar4
any

CLIO.

9

Regard to this Predidion, before it was adlually
accomplifli'd. Thus the Mermnades depriv'd
the Heraclides of the Sovereignty, and made
themfelves Matters of Lydia.
A.F T E R Gyges had obtain*d the Kingdom,
he fent many Prefents to Delphi ; for he not
only dedicated the greateft part of the Silver
{ztn in that Place, but alfo made an Offering of
a vaft Quantity of Gold ; among all which
nothing better deferves to be remembred, than
fix Bowls of Gold, weighing thirty Talents,
plac'd in the Treafury of the Corinthians •, tho^
to fay the Truth, that Treafury was not founded by the People of Corinth^ but by Cypfelus
the Son of Mtion, For this Caufe Gyges is accounted the firft of all the Barbarians we know,
who dedicated Donations at Delphi \ except
only Midas the Son of Gordius King of Phrygian who prefented the Royal Tribunal from
whence he us'd to adminifter Juftice, which is
a piece of Workmanfhip that deferves to be confid er'd, and (lands by the Cups of Gyges. The
Gold and Silver, of which thefe Dedications
confift, is call'd Gygian, from the Name of the
Donor. He m.ade War againd: Miletus and
Smyrna^ and took Colophon by Force -, but as he
perform'd no other memorable A6lion during all
the Time of his Reign, which was eight and
thirty Years, we {hall content our felves with
what we have faid of him, and proceed to give
fome Account of Ardyes^ his Son and Succeflbr ;
who took the City of Priene^ and invaded the
Territories of Miletus. In his Time the Cimmerians, who had been difpofTefs'd of their own
Country by the Scythian Nomades., pafs'd into
4/ia^ and pofTefs'd themfelves of Sardis^ Fort
the

ro

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

Fort only excepted. He reign'd forty nine
Years, and his Son Sadyattes fucceeded him, and
reign'd twelve Years. Alyattes fucceeding Sadyattes^ made War upon Cyaxares Grandfon of
Deioces^ King of the Medes. He expell'd the
Cimmerians out of Afia •, and having taken the
City of Smyrna^ founded by the Colophonians,
he invaded the Territories of the Clazomenians. But not finding the Event anfwerable to
his Defires, he was oblig'd to return with confiderable Lofs. He did many other A<5lions during his Reign, which deferve to be remembred
in Hiftory. He continued the War which his
Father had begun againft the Milefians, and entring
Country,
the Inhabitants
in
thistheir
Manner.
Whendiftrefs'd
their Corn
and Fruits
were ripe, he took the Field with his Army, attended in his March with Pipes, Harps, and
Flutes of both forts •, and advancing into the
Territory of the Milefians, he neither demolilh'd nor burnt their Country Houfes, nor broke
their Doors \ but fuitciing all thefe to {land untouch'd, he cut down the Trees, deftroy'd the
Corn upon the Ground, and then returned home ;
for he knew 'twas in vain to fit down before
the City, becaufe they were Mailers of the
Sea. He would not deflroy their Houfes, to
the End that the Milefians having thofe Habitations, might apply themfelves to fow and cultivate their Lands, and by that Means he
might have fomething to ravage, when he fiiould
invade them with his Army. This War was
thus manag'd eleven Years, during which the
Milefians received two great Blows, one at Limeneion within their own Territories, and the
ether m the Plains of the Meander.
Six of
thefe

C L

I 0.

ir

thefe eleven Years Sadyattes the Son of Ardyes,
who began the War, and invaded the Milefians with an Army, was King of the Lydians. But during the lafl five Years, the War
was profecuted with much more Vigour by his
Son Alyattes. The Milefians had no Support
all that Time from any of the lonians, except
the Chians only \ who came to their AfTiftance,
in Requital for the Succour they had receiv'd,
when the Erythrasans made War againft them.
In the twelfth Year when the Army of Alyattes had fet Fire to the Corn, the Wind hap^
pening to blow hard, carried the Flames to the
Temple of Minerva at AJfefus^ and burnt it ta
the Ground. This Accident was little regards
ed at that Time ; but after the Return of Alyattes with his Army, he fell fick at Sardis -y
and finding his Diftemper not eafy to remove,
he fent to confult the Oracle of Delphi^ touching his Condition ; either mov'd by his own
Judgment, or dk by the Perfuafion of others.
However, when his MefTengers arriv'd at Delphi^ the Pythian told them fhe would give no
Anfwer, 'till they fhould rebuild the Temple
of Minerva at AJJefus in the Country of the
Milefians, which they had burnt. This Relation Ihad from the Delphians : And the Milefians add, that Periander the Son of Cypfelus
hearing what Anfv/er had been made to Alyattes^ difpatch'd a Mefienger to I'hrafybulus^ Tyrant of Miletus^ and his particular Friend, with
Advice to make ^ the beft Ufe he might of the
prefent Conjundure ; which according . to the
Report of the Milefians, he effeded in this.
Manner. Y^htn Alyattes had receiv'd Information of what had pafs'd at Delphi^ he fent
Ambafladors

S2

HERODOTUS.

bafladors

to

Miletus^

with

Book I.
Orders

to

agrefc

the Mileand fhould
a Truce
iipon
be,
the Temple
all thewithTime'T'hrafybulus
fians, for
But, Thrafyhulus having had the
rebuilding.
preceding Intelligence, and perceiving the Design of Alyattes^ no fooner heard that the Ambafladors were coming, than he gave Order,
that all the Corn which was in the City,
either of his own or belonging to private Per-r^
fons, fhould be brought into the Market, and
that all the Inhabitants fliould eat and drink
cheerfully together, upon a Signal to be given
This was done by the Contrivance
by him.
of Tm-afyhulus^ to the End that the Sardian
AmbafTadors feeing fo great a Quantity of Corn,
and the People every where diverting themfelves, mighi make their Report accordingly,
For when
which happened as he defign'd.
had {^zn thefe Things, and
the Ambaffadors
deliver'd their MeiTage
to fhrafybuluSy they
return'd to Sardis ; and this alone, as I am
informed, was the Caufe of the enfuing Peace ;
• becaufe Aly att.es ^ who thought the People of
Miletus werc in extreme Want of Corn, receiv'd a quit-e contrary Account from his AmBy which means
bafladors at their Return:
an Agreement was made between them, that
for the future they fhould be good Friends
Whereupon Alyattes^ inftead
and Confederates.
of one, having built two Temples at Affefus^
recover'd his Health:
dedicated to Minerva^
thus a Period was put to the War,
And
Alyattes made againft "Thrafybulus and
whichMilefians.
'the

*•

I

PERI^

C L
• PERIANBER

I O:

13

the Son of Cypfelus, who

acquainted Tbrafybulus with the Anfwer of the
Oracle, was King of Corinth : And the Corinthians fay, that a moil aftonifhing Thing happened there in his Time, which is alfo confirm'd
by the Lefbians. Thofe People give out, that
Arion of Methymnay who was Second to none
of his Time in playing on the Harp, and firft
•Inventor of Dithyrambicks, both Name and
Thing, which he taught at Corinth^ was brought
by a Dolphin to 'Tanarus j and thus they
tell the Story : Arion having continued long
with Periander^ refolv'd to make a Voyage to
Italy and Sicily^ where when he had acquired
great Riches, determining to return to Corinthy
he went to 'Tarejitum^ and hir'd a Ship of certain Corinthians, becaufe he put more Confidence in them than in any other Nation. But
thefe Men, when they were in their Paflage,
confpir'd together to throw him into the Sea,
that they might get his Money : Which he no
fooner underftcod, than offering them all his
Treafure, he only begg'd they wou'd fpare his
Life. But the Seamen being inflexible, commanded him either to killhimfelf, that he might
be buried afhore, or to leap immediately into
.the Sea. Ariojz feeing himielf reduc'd to this
hard Choice, moil earneftly defir'd, that having
determin'd his Death, they would permit him
to drefs in his richeft Apparel, and to fmg {landing on the Side of the Ship, promifing to kill
himfelf when he had done. The Seamen highly pleas'd that they fhould hear a Song from thea
. befl Singer of the World, granted his Requeft, lt
and went from the Stern to the middle of the
Veflel.
In the mean Time Arion having put on

14

HERODOTUS.

Book!

all his Robes, took up his Harp, and began an
• ^ Orthkn Ode ; v/hich when he had finifh'd, he
leap'd into the Sea as he was drefs'd, and the
Corinthians continued their Voyage homeward.
They fay, a Dolphin received him on his Back,
from the Ship, and carried him to T^narus ;
where he went afhore, and thence proceeded to
Corinth^ without changing his Cloaths ; that upon his Arrival there, he told what had happen'd
■ to him ; but that Periander giving no Credit to
his Relation, put him under a clofe Confinement, and took efpecial Care to find out the Seamen :That when they were found and brought
before him, he inquir'd of them concerning
Arion ; and they anfwering, that they had left
him with great Riches at Tarentum^ and that
he was undoubtedly fafe in fome part of Italy^
Arion in that Inftant appear'd before them ill
the very Drefs he had on when he leap'd inta
• the Sea \ at which they were fo aftonifh'd, that
having nothing to fay for themfelves, they confefs'd the Fa6l. Thefe Things are reported by
the Corinthians and Lefbians ; in Confirmation
of which, a Statue of Arion^ made of Brafs,
and of a moderate Size, reprefenting a Man fitting upon a Dolphin, is feen at 'T^narus. Alycities the Lydian having put an End to the Milefian War, died, after he had reign'd fifty {o^vtn
Years.
He was the fecond of his Family that
* Euftathius /;/ his Commentary upon Homer, Page 827. of
the Roma?i EJitiony fays, the Orthian Song was a kind of Ode
contriv'^d to inflame the Mind with a Deflre of Fight ingi and for
a Proof addiy that Timotheus ufuig that fort of Mufick in the
Pre fence of Alexander, fared him on afudden to ft art up and run
ie his Arms,

CLIO.

ii

'made Offerings at Delphi ; which he did upofi
the Recovery of his Health ; dedicating a large
Silver Ewer, v/ith a Bafon of Iron fo admirably
inlay'd, that 'tis juftly efteem'd one of the moft
curious Pieces of Art aniong all the Donations
at Delphi. This Bafon was made by Glaucus the
Chian, who firft invented the Way of v/orking
Iron in that Manner.
After the Death of Alyattes., his Son Crcrfus having attained the Age of thirty five Years,
fucceeded him in the Kingdom, and made
War upon the Ephefians, before he attack'd
any other People of Greece. The Ephefians
being befieg'd by him, confecrated their City
to Diana^ and tied their Walls by a Rope to
her Temple, which was {QVtn Stades didant
from the ancient City, then befieg'd. When
Croefus
had Cities
reduc'd
he ^^olians
attack'd
the feveral
of the
the Ephefians,
lonians and
one after another, under various Pretences, the
beft he could find, though fome were exceedingly frivolous : And after he had compel I'd all
the Grecians of Afia to be tributary to him, he
form'd
a Defign
a Fleet, But
and when
by that
means to
invade tothebuild
Iflanders.
all
Things were prepar'd for the building of Ships,
Bias of Priene, (or, as others fay, Pittacus of
Mitylene^) arriving at Sardis^ put a flop to his
intended Projedl. For Crcefus inquiring what
News he had from Greece., received this Anfwer ;
" Sir, faid he, the Iflanders have bought up
^^ ten thoufand Horfes, with Intention to make
" War upon you, and to attack Sardis." Crse[us thinking he had fpoken the Truth, " May
"the Gods, replied he, infpire the Grecians
" with a Refolution to attack
the Lydians
I
'' with

16

HERO

DO TUS.

Book. I.

cc

with Horfe." " It feenis then, faid Bias^ yon
*' would wifh above all Things to fee the Ifland" ers on Horfeback upon the Continent -, and
*' not without Reafon.
But what can you
" imagine the Iflanders will more earnellly de" fire, after having heard of your Refolution
*' to build a Fleet, in order to attack their
*' Iflands, than to meet the Lydians by Sea ;
" and to revenge the Misfortune of thofe Gre'' cians, who have been enflav'd by you on the
'' Continent ?" Crc^fus was fo well pleas'd with
the Acutenefs
and Reafon of this Difcourfe,
that he not only laid afide the Defign of building aFleet, but made an Alliance with all the
lonians who inhabit the Iflands.
In the Courfe
of fome Years, he became Mafter of all the
Nations that lie within the River Halys, ex^
cept only the Cilicians and the Lycians : That
is to fay of the Lydians, the Phrygians, the
Myfians, the Mariandynians, ^ the Chalybians,
the Paphlagonians,
the Thracians, the Thynians, the Bithynians, the Carians, the lonians,
the Dorians, the ^^olians, and the Pamphylians. When thefe Nations were fubdued, and
the Power of the Lydians was thus augmented
by Crcefiis^ many wife Men of that Time went
from Greece to Sardis^ which had then attain'd
to the highefl Degree of Profperity ^ and among
others Solon of Athens^ who having made Laws
for the Athenians at their Requefl, abfented
himfelf from his Country, under Colour of
feeing the World, for the Space of ten Years^
that he m.ight not be driven to the NecefTity
of abolifhing any of the Conflitutions he had
eftablilhi'd.
For the Athenians of themfelves
could make no Alteration, having taken a fo-

lemn

CLIO.

17

lemn Oath to obferve the Laws he had inftltuted, during ten Years.
With
this Intention
therefore, and to fee the State of Things abroad,
Solon went firft to the Court of Amafts King
of ^gypt^ and afterwards to that of Cnxfus at
Sardis.
Crcefus entertain'd him in his Palace
with all Humanity, and on the third or fourth
Day after his Arrival, order'd his Officers to
fhew him the Wealth and Magnificence of his
Treafury -, which when Soloyi had {^tx\ and confider'd, Crcefus faid to him ; " My Athenian
*' Gueft, having heard much Difcourfe of your
" Pcrfon \ of your Wifdom •, and of the Yoy" ages you have undertaken, as a Philofopher,
*' to fee many Things in various Countries ; I
*' am very defirous to afk you, who is the moft
*' happy Man you have feen?*' This Queftion
he afk'd, becaufe he thought himfelf the moft
happy of all Men.
But Solon refolving to fpeak
the Truth freely, without flattering the Kino-,
anfwer'd, " l^ellus the Athenian."
Crcefus aftonifh'd at his Anfwer, prefs'd him to declare
what Reafons he had fo to extol the Happinefs
of Tellus. " Becaufe, replied Solon^ Tellus liv'd
" in a well- governed Commonwealth ; had fe-.
*' veral Sons who were valiant and good -, his
*' Sons had Children like to themfelves, and all
*^ thefe furviv'd him •, in a Word, when he had
" liv'd as happily as the Condition of human
*' Affairs will permit, he ended his Life in a
*' glorious Manner.
For coming to the AfTift*' ance of his Countrymen
in a Battle they
*' fought at Eleufis againft fome of their Neigh'' hours, he put the Enemy to flight, and died
" in the Field of Victory.
He was buried by
** the Athenians at the publick Charge in the
C
'^ Place

18

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

'« Place where he fell, and was magnificently
*' honour'd at his Funeral."
When Solon had
faid thefe and many other Things concerning
the Felicity of ^ellus^ Crceftis hoping at leaft
to obtain the fecond Place, afk'd, v/ho of
thofe he had feen might be accounted next to
him ? " Cleobis, faid he, and Biton^ two Gre'' cians of Argos^ pofTefs'd of a plentiful For^^ tune, and withal fo ftrong and vigorous of
*' Body, that they were both equally vidlorious
" in the Olympian Exercifes.
Of thefe 'tis re" ported, that when the Argians were celebrat*' ing a Feftival of Jw^o.^ and their Mother
*' was oblig'd to go to the Temple in a Cha" riot drawn by a Yoak of Oxen, the two
'' young Men finding that the Oxen were not
*' brought time enough from the Field, and per*' ceiving that the Hour was pafl, put them** felves under the Yoak •, drew the Chariot in
" which their Mother
fat forty five Stades,
" and brought her in that manner to the Tem" pie. After they had done this in the View
" of a great Concourfe of People met together
" to celebrate the Feftival, a happy Period was
*' put to their Lives ; and God determin'd by
" this Event, that 'tis better for a Man to die
'' than to live. For when the Men of Argos^
*' who flood round, commended the Refolu" tion of the t^Vt) Brothers, and the Women
" magnified the Happinefs of the Mother of
" fuch Sons, the Mother herfelf tranfported
** with Joy by the Adlion and the Honours
*' fhe received on that Account, made it her
*' Petition, as fhe flood before the Image"- wa
ofs
" the Goddefs, that lier Sons CleoUs and Biton
" might be rewarded with that Thing which

CLIO.

19

*' was of moil Advantage to Men. When
'' fhe had finifh'd her Prayer, and her Sons
*'
had facrific'd and feafted with her, they fell
a.
afleep in the Temple, and awak'd no more,
upon which the Argians, in Commemora*' tion of their Piety, caus'd their Statutes to be
" made and dedicated at Delphi.^' Thus Solon
having adjudged the fecond Place of Felicity to
Cleobis and Biton^ Crcefus faid with Indignation,
*' Is my Condition then fo contemptible in your
'* Opinion, as not to be thought equal to that
*' of private Men ? '* " Crosfus^ faid ScAon^
*' you afk me concerning hum-n Affairs, and I
*' anfwer as one who thinks that all the Gods
** are envious and Difturbers of Mankind. For
*' in the Courfe of a long Life, Men are conftrain'd to fee many Things they would not
willingly fee, and to fjuer many Things they
would not willingly fuffer. Let us fuppofe
the Term of Man's Life to be feventy Years,
" which cOnfill: of twentv five thoufand and
" two hundred Days, without including the
Intercalatory Month ; and if we add that
Month to every other Year, in order to fill
up the juft Meafure of Time, v/e fnall find
thirty five Months more in the feventy Years,
which make one thoufand and fifty Days.
Yet in all this Number of twenty fix thou(C
fand two hundred and fifty Days, that compofe thefe feventy Years, no one Day will be
found like another. So that upon the whole
" Matter Mankind is a miferable Thing. You
appear to me to be Mafter of immenfe Treafures, and King of many Nations ; but I cannot fay that of you which you demand, 'till
I hear you have ended your Life honourablv.
C 2
'' For

20

HERODOTUS.

Book I

*^ For the richeft of Men Is not more happy
than he that lives by the Day, unlefs his good
Fortune attend him to the Grave, and he finifh
his Life in Honour. Many Men, who abound
in Wealth, are unhappy ; and many,
(C
who have only a moderate Competency, are
fortunate. He that abounds in Riches, and
is yet unhappy, exceeds the other only in two
€C
Things j but the other furpafTes him in many
more. The wealthy Man indeed is better
(C
furnifh^d with Means to gratify his PaiTions,
and to bear the Hatred of many. But if the
*' other have not the fame Power in thefe two
** Points, his good Fortune fecures him from
the NecefTity of doing either the one or the
other. He is free from- Troubles j free from
*' Difeafes ; his Looks are ferene ; and he has
" good Children : And if all thefe Things come
"46 at laft to be crown'd by a decent End, fuch a
one is the Man you feek, and may juftly be
calPd happy. For to that Time we ought
to fufpend our Judgment, and not to pronounce him happy, but only fortunate* Now
*' becaufe no Man can poflibly attain to this
Perfedtion of Happinefs ; as no one Region
(C
fome
&6 yields all good Things -, but produces
and
wants
others,,
that
Countr
being
ever
y
«6
efteem^d beft, which affords the greateft Plenty : And farther, becaufe no human Body is
cc
in all Refpeds felf-fufficient *, but poileiTing
fome Advantages, is deftitute of others ; he
therefore, who, after he has moft conftantly
(C enjoyed the greateft Part of thefe, finifhes the
laft Scene of Life with a decent Serenity of
Mind, is in my Judgment truly a King, and
** juftly defer ves the Name of Happy. For
2
*' Men

CLIO.

21

^^ Men ought to obferv.e the End of all Things ;
^' becaufe God frequently brings utter Deftruc" tion upon thofe he has fhewn to the World
" in the Height of Profperity." Solon having
faid thefe Things to Crcefus^ without the leaft
Flattery or fhew of Efteem, was difmifs^d, as a
Man of no Experience -, who without Regard
to prefent Profperity, counfeird Men to obferve
the End of all Things.
After the Departure of Solon^ the Indignation of the Gods fell heavy upon Crcefus^ probably becaufe he thought himfelf the moft happy of all Men ; and as he flept he had a Dream,
which pointed out to him the Misfortune that
was ready to befal him in the Perfon of one of
his Sons. For Crcefus bad two Sons, of whom
one was dumb and unfit for any Thing ; but
the other, whofe Name was Atys^ far furpafs*d
^11 the young Men of his Age in rare Endowments. His Dream reprefented to him his Son
Atys mortally wounded with an Iron Lance :
So that when he awak'd and had confider'd
the Thing, dreading the Confequence of the
Vifion, he provided a Wife for his Son ♦, would
no longer permit him to lead the Armies of the
Lydians,, as formerly he had done ; and caus'd
all the Spears, Lances, and other Weapons of
War, to be removed from the publick Rooms
where they hung, and laid up in private Chambers, that none of them might fall upon his
Son. But when all Things were prepar'd for
the Marriage of Atys^ a Phrygian arriv'd at Sardis^ of Royal Birth •, yet polluted with Blood,
and overwhelm'd with Afflidion. This Man
coming to the Palace of Crcefus^ defir'd he would
purify him according; to the Rites of the Coun-

C 3

try ;

22

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

try ; which are aim oft the fame in that refped
among the Lydians as among the Grecians.
Crccfus granted his Requeft, and having perform'd the ufual Ceremonies, afk'd him whence
he came, and who he was •, fpeaking to him in
the following Terms : "I defire to know who
' thou art •, from what Part of Bhrygia thou
' art come hither ; and what Man or Wom^an
' thou haft kill'd ? " The Stranger made Anfwer ; " I am, faid he, the Son of GordiuSy
Grandfon to Midas^ and my Name is Ad.raftus.
I kill'd my Brother by Accident, and on
that Account am banifh'd by m.y Father, and
difpoftefs'd of all. " "I perceive, replied
Crojjus^ you are born of Parents who are our
Friends, and therefore I afiure you of your
Welcome. If you will ftay with us you fhall
want nothing, and if you can bear your Miffortune with Courage, you will be a great
Gainer." So Adraftus refolv'd to ftay in the
Court of Crcefus,
At this Time a Boar of a prodigious Bignefs
was frequently feen in Myjla^ comJng down from
Mount Olympus^ and deftroying the Huft^andry
of the Inhabitants. The Myfians had often attack'd him, but always came off v/ith Lofs,
and could not hurt him. At laft they fent Deputies to Crccfus^ who deliver'd their Meftage in
thefe Words •, " There is, O King, a monftrous
" Boar in Myfia^ that ravages all the Country ;
^' and tho' we have often endeavour'd to take
him, yet all our Attempts have been unfuccefsful. We therefore earneftly beg, that
you would fend your Son and fome other
chofen young Men with Dogs, that our
Country m,av be deli^'er'd from this pernicious
' '
''' Beafl."

CLIO.

23

** Beaft.'* When they had fpoken in this Manner, Crceftts remembring his Dream anfwer'd ;
'^ Make no farther Mention of my Son -, for I
" fhall not fend him, becaufe he is lately married, and therefore otherwife employed.
But
I will fend the moft fkilful of the Lydians,
" with Dogs and all Things neceflary for
^' hunting, and order them to afiift you with
^' their beft Endeavours, to free your Country
^' from the Boar.**
The Myfians were not contented with the Anfwer of Crcefus^ and in that
Inftant his Son arriv'd, and being inform'd of
their Requeft, and of his Father's Denial to fend
him with them, he addrefs'd himfelf to the King
in this Manner.
" Father, faid he, in Time
' paft, I was permitted to fignalize myfelf in
' the two moil noble and m^oft becoming Ex' ercifes, of War and Hunting ; but now you
' keep me excluded from both, without having
' obferv'd in me either Cowardife or Abjeclion
' of Mind.
What Regard will Men have for
' me when I appear in Publick ? What will
' the People fay ? And
what kind of Man
' will the Wife I have fo lately married think
' me to be ? Either fuifer me to go and take
' Part in this Enterprize, or convince me that
*' you have better Reafon
to detain me at
" home."
'' My Son, anfwer'd Cr^fus^ the
*' Refolution I have taken proceeds not from
" any Thing I have obferv'd in you, difpleafing
*' to m.e •, but I have been admonifh'd in a
Dream that you fhall not live long, and mufi:
die by the Wound of a Spear.
For that
Reafon I haflen'd your Marriage, and now
refufe to fend you to this Expedition •, becaufe
during my Life I would take all poflible Care
" tQ
C 4

24

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

to prevent the Danger that threatens you.
For I efteem you to be my only Son, and have
no Regard to the other, who Is rendered ufe" lefs by his Defeds." ^' Indeed, replied the
Youth, " I cannot blame you, if after fuch a
Dream you take fo much Care to preferve my
Life : But becaufe you have not difcover'd the
true Meaning, give me leave to be your Interpreter. You fay the Dream plainly fignified that I fhould die by an Iron Lance :
" But what Hand or what Lance has a Boar,
" to create fuch Fears in you ? Flad your Dream
foretold I fhould lofe my Life by a Tooth,
or fomething of like Nature, you ought then
to have done as you now do •, but if I am to
die by a Lance, you may fafely let me go,
becaufe our Attempt is not to be made againft
" Men. " " You have convinc'd me, faid Cf'^efuf^
• ' that you rightly underftand my Dream ;
cc
and therefore changing my Refolutlon, I percc
mit you to undertake this Enterprize." Thus
Crcefus having given his Confent, call'd for Adraftus the Phrygian, and when he came into
his Prefence, fpoke to him in this Manner ;
Adraftiis^ I receiv'd you in your Diftrefs *, I
purified you from Blood, and now entertain
you in my Houfe at my Expence •, which I
fay, not to upbraid you with Ingratitude ;
4C
but having oblig'd you firft by my Kindnefs,
I think it juft you ftiould make me fome Re^'
I beg you would be my Son's Guard
(C turn.
in this Expedition, and take Care that no
((
execrable Afladins may from their private
^^ Flaunts furprize and fall upon you by the Way.
^' Befides you ought to go for your own
Sake,
'' Adio
n;
^' in order to fignalize yourfelf, and by youi

CLIO.

35

^^ Anions to imitate your Anceftors, becaufe
you are not in the Strength and Vigour of
Adraftus anfwer'd, *' No other
your Age."
" Reafons, Sir, could induce me to take part
*' in this Enterprize : For one in my unfortu*' nate Circumftances ought not to appear, nor
*' defire to appear among thofe of his own Years,
*'*• who are innocent and unblemiih'd ; and thercr
*' fore I have often declin'd thefe Occafions al*' ready.
Neverthelefs, becaufe you fo much
^^ defire it ; and becaufe I ought to fhew my
*' Gratitude for the Benefits I have receiv'd from
*' your Hand, I am ready to obey your Order ;
*' and afllire you no Care fhall be wanting on
*' my Part to bring home your Son in Safety."
After Adraftus had made this Anfwer to Crcefus^
they went away, attended by a chofen Company of young Lydians, and well furnifh'd with
Dogs for the Chace.
When
they arriv'd at
Mount Olympus., they fought the Boar, and having found him, drew into the Form of a Circle,
and from all Sides lanc'd their Javelins at him.
Among the reft, the Stranger Adraftus^ who had
been already expiated for Blood, throwing his
Javelin at the Boar, mifs'd him, and ftruck the
Son of Crcefus j by which Wound the Predidion of the Dream was accompliih'd.
Upon this
aSardis^
Mefi^enger
to Crcefus^
andAdlion,
arrivingand
at
gave ran
him back
an Account
of the
of his Son's Fate •, Crcefus violently difturb*d for
the Death of his Son, bore the Difafter with
the lefs Patience, becaufe he fell by the Hand of
one, whom he himfelf had purified from the
Blood he had fhed before ; and with loud Complaints of the Indignity of his Misfortune, adattefting
drefs'd himfelf to Jupiter the God of Expiation,

26

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

attefting the Calamity brought upon him by
this Stranger. He invok'd the fame Ddty a*
gain, by the Name of the God of Hofpitality
and private Friendfhip : As the God of Hofpitality, becaufe by receiving a Stranger into his
Houfe, he had harbour'd the Murderer of his
Son : As the God of private Friendfhip, becaufe he had entrufted the Care of his Son to
oncj whom he now found to be his greateft
Enemy.
After this, the Lydians arriving with the
Body of J[tys^ Adrajius^ who had kill'd him, follow'd ; and coming into the Prefence of Crcefus^
plac'd himfeif before the Corpfe, holding out
both his Hands, and in that Manner furrendring
his Perfon, begg'd of Crcefus to kill him upon
the dead Body, acknowledging his former Miffortune, and faying he ought to live no longer,
iince he had taken away the Life of his Benefactor, who had purg'd him from Bloodflied bcr
fore. When Crcefus heard this, tho' his own
Aiflidlion was above Meafure great, he pitied
Adraftus^ and faid to him, " You have made
*' me full Satisfaction by condemning yourfelf
*' to die. But no, Adrafiiis^ you v^ere not the
" Author of this Difafter, for you did the Fa(5b
*' unwillingly. But that God, whoever he was,
^' that foretold my Misfortune, 'twas he that
*' brought it upon me." Crcefiis celebrated the
Funeral of his Son, as the Dignity of his Birth
requir'd : But Adraftus^ who had kill'd both his
Brother and his Benefador, judging himfeif the
mod miferable of all Men -, went to the Sepulchre inthe dead of Nighty and kill'd himfeif
upon the Grave.

CRCESU^

CLIO.

27

C R CESUS continued difconfolate for the
Lofs of his Son during two Years ^ after which,
the Profperity of Cyrus the Son of Cambyfes^
who had difpoflefs'd Aftyages the Son of Cyaxares
of his Kingdom, and the growing Greatnefs of
the Perfians, interrupted the Courfe of his Grief-,
and led him into a follicitous Care, how he
might deftroy the Perfian Power, before it fhould
become more formidable by farther Succefles.
In thefe Thoughts he determin'd to make Trial
of the Oracles of Greece and Libya ; and to that
End fent fome Perfons to Delphi^ and to Abe a
City of Phocis ; others to Amphiaraus and Trophonius^ and fome to Branchis in the Territories
of the Milelians. Thefe were the Grecian Oracles, to which Crcejus fent; and at the fame
Time he difpatch'd other Men to confult that of
Ammon in Lybia \ deligning to try the feveral
Oracles, and if they fhould be found to give a
true Anfwer, in that Cafe to fend again, to inquire whether he fnould make War againll: the
Perfians. Before he difmifs'd the Lydians on
this Meilage, he order'd, that computing the
Days from the Time of their Departure from
Sardis^ they fhould in one and the fame Day
make Trial of all the Oracles, by alking this
Queftion •, " What is Crafus the Son of Aly*' aUes King of Lydia now doing?" Commanding moreover, that they fhould bring him
the Anfwer of each Oracle in Writing. What
were the Anfwers given by the other Oracles, is
mention'd by none : But the Lydians no fooner
enterd the Temple of Delphi to confult the
God, and to afk the Queftion they had in
Charge, than the Pythian thus fpoke in Heroick
Verfe.
/

28

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

/ kn(rLV the Number of the Lyhian Sands *,
^he Oceap^s Meafure : I can penetrate
'The Secret of the Silent^ or the Dumb,
I fmell th^ afcending Odour of a Lamb
And Tortoife in a brazen Cauldron boiled :
Brafs lies bmeath^ and Brafs above the Flefh.
The Lydians having received and written down
this Anfv/er of the Pythian, returned to Sardis,
And when the reft, who had been fent to other Places, were arrlv'd, Crcefus ppen'd and
view'd the Anfwers they brought, without being fatisfied with any. But when he heard
the Words of the Delphian Oracle, acknowledging the Truth they contain'd, he ador'd the
God ; believing that alone to be a real Oracle,
which had difcover'd the Thing he did at Sardis. For after he had fent the Lydians to con^
fult the Oracles, bearing in Mind the Tinie that
had been fixed, he on that Day took a Lamb
and a Tortoife, and boiPd them together in a
Cauldron of Brafs, which had a Cover of the
fame Metal -, judging it an impoffible Thing to
imagine or guefs ^t what he was doing. I can
fay nothing certain touching the Anfwer given
to the Lydians by Amphiaraus^ after they had
performed the Ceremonies required by the Cuftom
of the Place: Only *tis reported in general, that
Crcefus imputed no Falfhood to his Oracle. Afr
ter thefe Things he offer'd magnificent Sacrir
iices to the Delphian God, confifting of three
Thoufand Head of Cattle ; and thinking to
render him yet more propitious, he brought out
Beds of Gold and Silver •, Vials of Gold ; with
Robes of Purple, and other rich Apparel ;burnt;
and

CLIO.

29

burnt all together on a Pile of Fire which he
had prepar'd to that End -, commanding all the
Lydians to imitate his Example.
In this Offering fo great a Quantity of Gold was melted
down, that one Hundred and feventeen Tiles
were made out of it ; of v/hich the longeft
were fix Palms in Length -, the fhorteft three ;
and both forts one Palm in Thicknefs,
Four
of thefe were of pure Gold, each weighing
two Talents and a half; the reft were of a
paler Gold, and weigh'd
tv/o Talents each.
He alfo caus'd the Figure of a Lion to be made
of fine Gold, weighing ten Talents ; but while
the Temple of Delphi was burning, the Lion
fell down from the Tiles, on which it ftood to
that Time, and lies now in the Treafury of the
Corinthians, reduc'd to the Weight of fix Talents and a half, the reft having been melted off
by the Fire. When thefe Things were finifti'd,
Crcefus fent them to Delphi^ accompany 'd with
many
other Donations,
among
which were
two large Bowls, one of Gold and the other
of Silver.
That of Gold was plac*d on the
right Hand as Men go into the Temple,
and
that of Silver on the left ; but they were both
remov'd when the Temple was burnt ; and the
golden Bowl,
weighing eight Talents and a
half and twelve Mines, is laid up in the Treafury of Clezomene •, the other of Silver, con.taining fix Hundred Amphoras,
lies in a Corner of the Portico, and is us'd at Delphi for
mixing the Wine on the Feftival call'd ihecphama.
The Delphians fay it was made by i'heodonis the Samian ; which I think probable, becaufe to me it appears to be the Work of an uncommon Hand. He alfo prefented four Veliels

of

30

HERODOTUS.

Bookt

t>f Silver, which are plac'd in the Treafury of
the Gorinthlans ; and gave two round Bafons
to contain the Holy Water us'd in the Temple, one of Gold, and the other of Silver,
On the Bafon of Gold is an Infcription, which
attributes that IJonation to the Lacedemonians ; but wrongfully ; for it was given by
Crcefus ; though a certain Delphian, whofe Name
I know, and am not willing to mention, engrav'd thofe Words, in order to pleafe the
Lacedemonians. They gave indeed the Boy^
-, but
runs Bafons.
W^ater
whofe
through the
neither
one Hand
nor thethe
other
of the
At the fame Time Crcefus fent m.any other Prefents of lefs Value ; with divers round Difhes of
Silver ; and the Image of a Woman, three
Cubits high, which the Delphians fay reprefents
the Perfon that prepar'd his Bread : And to all
thefe Things he added the Necklaces and Girdles of his Wife. Thefe were the Donations
he dedicated at Delphi ; and to Amphiaraus^ on
Account of his Virtue and Sufferings, he fent a
Shield and a Spear, both of folid Gold, which
remain to this Day at 'Thebes in the Temple of
l^m^rivsin Apollo .

When

the Lydians were upon their Departure, charg'd with thefe Prefents for the
two Oracles •, Crcefus commanded them to in-^
quire of both, if he ihould undertake a War
againjR: the Perfians, and if he fliould invite
any other Nation to his Affiftance. Accordingly arriving in the Places to which they were
fent, they confulted the Oracles in thefe Words ;
" Crcefus King of the Lydians and of other
*' Nations, efteeming thefe to be the only O*' racles among Men, fends thefe Prefents
in" Acknov/-

CLIO.

31

" Acknowledgment of the Thing you have
" difcover'd •, and demands, whether he iliall
*' lead an Army againft the Perlians, and whe** ther he (hall join any auxiliary Forces with
*' his own?" To thefe Queftions both the
Oracles gave a like Anfv/er, and foretold, " That
*' if Crcefus would make War upon the Perfi" ans, he fhould deftroy a great Empire •," counfelling him at the fame Time to engage the moft
powerful of the Grecians in his Alliance. When
thefe Anfwers were brought and reported to
Crcefus^ he became fo elevated, that not doubting to deftroy the Kingdom of Cyrus^ he fent
more Prefents to Delphi -, and caus'd two Staters
of Gold to be diftributed to each of the Inhabitants, whofe Num^ber he had already learnt.
In Confederation of which, the Delphians granted to Crcefus and the Lydians a Right to confult the Oracle, and to be difmifs'd before a,ny
other Nation ; together v/ith the firft Place in
the Temple ; and the Privilege of being made
Citizens of Delphi^ to as many as fhould defj-e
it in all future Time.
C RCE SU S having made tliefe Prefents at
Delphi^ fent a third Time to confult the Oracle.
For after he had fatisfied himfelf of the Oracle's
Veracity, he was not fparing of his Qaeftions.
His Demand now was, w^hether he fnould Ions:
enjoy the Kingdom ; to which the Pythian gave
this Anfwer,

V/hm o'er the Medes a Mulejhall reign as King^
Learn thou the Name of Coward to defpife i
And on thy tender Feet, 0 Lydian^ fly
To fto7ty Hermus, arid his Fury flnm^

2 '

This

32

HERODOTUS.

Book.!

This Anfwer being brought to Cr^fus^ pleas'd
him much more than thofe he had receiv'd before. For he prefum'd that a Mule jfhould never
be King of the MedeSj and confequently that
neither he nor his Pofterity fhould ever be deprived of the Kingdom.
In the next place he
began to confider how he might induce the
moil powerful of the Grecians to be his Confederates ;and upon Inquiry found that the Lacedemonians and Athenians were the principal
Nations of Greece y the fir ft being of Dorian,
and the other of Ionian Defcent.
They were in
ancient Time
efteem'd the moft confiderable,
when they went under the Names of Pelafgians
and Hellenians *, of which the latter conftantly
continued in one Country, while the former very often chang'd their Seat : For under the Reign
of Deucalion the Pelafgians inhabited the Country of P thiol is *, and in the Time of Dor us the
Son of Hellenes poflefs'd that Region which is
call'd Ifti^otisy lyi^ig at the Foot of the Mountains 0[fa and Olympus.
From thence being expell'd by the Cadmasans, they betook themfelves
to Macednum on Mount Fiyidus ; which Place
they afterwards abandon'd for another Settlement
tn Dryopis , and again changing their Country,
came to inhabit in Peloponefus^ where they were
call'd Dorians.
What Language the Pelafgians
us'd I cannot certainly affirm ; but if I may form
a Conjecture by that which at prefent is fpoken
among thofe Pelafgians, who being now fettled
at Crotona beyond the Tyrrhenians, were formerly Neighbours to thofe call'd at this Day
Dorians, and dwelt in Thejjaly when the Pelafgians founded Flacia and Scylace on the Hellefpont^
adding
and liv'd in Society with the Athenians : If, I fay,

CLIO.

33

adding to thefe fuch other Pelafglan Cities as
have altered their Name, I may be permitted to
give my Conjedhire, the Pelafgians fpoke a barbarous Language. And if the whole Pelafgian
Body did fo •, the People of Attica^ who are
defcended from them, muft have unlearnt their
own Mother Tongue, after they took the Name
of Grecians. For the Language of the Crotonians and of the Placians is the fame ♦, but different from that of all their Neighbours. By
which it appears they have taken Care to preferve the Language they brought with them into thofe Places. But the Helleni?ns, as I think,
have from the Time they were People, us'd
the fame Language they now fpeak : And tho*,
when feparated from the Pelafgians, they were
at firft of no confiderable Force ; yet from a
fmall Beginning they advanc'd to a mighty
Power, by the Conjundion of m.any Nations^ as
well Barbarians as others. Whereas, on the
other hand, the Pelafgians being a barbarous Nation, feem to me never to have rifen to any considerable Grandeur.
CRCESUS had heard that the People of
Attica^ one of thefe Nations, was opprefs'd under the Tyranny of Pififtratus the Son of Hippocrates then reigning in Athens : To this Hip-^
pocrates, a ftrange Prodigy happen'd, while as a
private Man he was prefent at the Olympian Exercifes. For having kill'd a Vidim, and put
the Flefh v/ith Water into a Cauldron, the
Liquor boiPd over without Fire. Cbilon the
Lacedem.onian, who was accidentally there,
and faw the Prodigy, advis'd Hippocrates not to
marry any Woman by whom he might have
Children •, or, if he was already married, to diD
vorce

34

HERODOTUS.

BookL

vorce his Wife; and if he had a Son, to abdicate him. But Hippocrates not perfuaded by
the Counfel of Chilon^ had afterwards a Son^
he brought up, and nam'd Pififtratus.
thefe Things, a Sedition happening between the Paralians led by Megacles the Son of
Alcm^on^ and the Pedieans headed by Lycurgus the Son of Ariftolaides •, Piftjlratus deiigning to make himfelf Tyrant, form'd a third
Party, and having afTembled his Partizans under Colour of proteding the Hyperacrians,
contrived this Stratagem.
He wounded himfelf
and his Mules \ and driving his Chariot into the
whom
After

publick Place, as if he had efcap'd from Enemies that defign'd to murder him in his Way to
the Country, he befought the People to grant
him a Guard, relying much on the Reputation
he had acquired, as well in the Expedition of
Megara^ as by the taking of Nif^ci^ and other
With thefe Pretences the Peofignal SuccelTes.
and appointed
deluded,
were
ple of Athens
his Guard^.
for
fome chofen Men of the City
who were to attend him arm'd with Clubs, and
not with Javelins.
Neverthelefs, by the Help
of this Guard Pijifiratus feiz'd the Acropolis,
and then pofTefs'd himfelf of the whole Power ;
yet he neither difturb'd the ancient Magiftracies, nor alter'd the Laws ; but leaving Things
the Government
as they were,and adminifter'd
Notwithftanding
Moderation.
with Order
which, the Parties of Megacles and Lycurgtis
reconciled, join'd togebeing fome Time after
ther and drove him cut. In this Manner Piftjlratus firft made himfelf Mafter of Athens^
and was difpoffefs'd before his Power was well
But new DiiTentions arifmg between
eflablifh'd.
thofe

CLIO.

35

thofe who expell'd him, Megacles weary of fach
Diforders, fent a Mefiage to Pififtratus^ offering
him the Dominion of Athens^ if he would marry
his Daughter.
Pififtratus accepted the Proportion ; and, in order to his Reftitution, they two
contriv'd the moft ridiculous Proje6t, that, I
think, was ever imagin'd: Efpecially if we confider that the Grecians have long been accounted
much more acute and free from all ftupid Simplicity than the Barbarians ; and that the Authors
of this Contrivance were Athenians,
who are
efteem'd among the wifeft of the Grecians. Phya^
a Woman of the Paeanean Tribe, was four Cubits high, wanting three Digits, and in other
Refpedls beautiful : This Perfon they drefs'd in
a compleat Suit of Armour •, plac'd her on a
Chariot •, and having difpos'd all Things in (iich
a Manner as might make her appear v/ith all poffible Advantage,
they conducted her towards
the City, fending Heralds before, with Order to
fpeak to the People in thefe Terms -, " Give a
" kind Reception, O Athenians, to Pififtratus^
*° who is fo much honour'd by Minerva above
" all other Men, that flie her felf condefcends
" to bring him back to her Acropolis."
V/hen
the Heralds had publifh'd this in feveral Places,
the Report was prefently fpread through the adjoining Parts, that Minerva was bringing home
Pififtratus •, and in the City the Multitude believing this Woman to be the Goddefs, ad drefs'd lier
with Prayers, and readily receiv'd Pififtratus ;
who having thus recover'd the Tyranny, married the Daughter of Megacles in Perfonnance of
his Agreement.
But becaufe he had Sons already ;and knew befvdes, that the Alcmaeonides
were reported to be guilty of an unexpiated
D 2
Crime,

36

HERODOTUS.

Book t

Crime, he refolv'd to have no Children of this
Marriage, and therefore would not ufe the Company of his new Wife according to Cuftom.
The Woman for fome Time conceaPd the
Thing \ but afterwards, either mov'd by her
Mother's Sollicitation, or other Realbns, difcover'd it to her, and fhe to her Hufband. Megacles highly refenting the Difgrace, and tranfported with Anger againft Pififtratiis^ reconcil'd
himfelf to the adverfe Party ; which Fifijlratus
underftanding to be done in Enmity to him, he
withdrew quite out of the Country, and arriving
in Eretria^ confulted with his Sons about the
State of their Affairs. In this Confultation the
prevailing Opinion was that of Hippias^ who
advis'd to attempt the Redudlion of Athens,
Purfuant to whofe Counfel, they follicited the
Cities, v/here they had an Intereft, to fupply
them with Money ; and many gave great Sums ;
but the Thebans flirpafs'd the reft in Liberality.
To be fliort, when all Things v/ere ready for
the Expedition, they were join'd by fome Argian
Troops which they had hir'd in Pelopcnnefus •, and
by Lygdamis a Naxian, v/ho to their great Satisfadllon came voluntarily in, aud brought both
Men and Money to their Affiftance. In the eleventh Year of their Exile, departing from Eretria they ariv'd in Attica^ and in the firft Place
DofTefs'd themfelves of Marathon : Where while
they lay encamped, they were join'd not only*
by their feditious Partizans of the City ; but by
great Numbers from the adjoining Parts, who
were more fond of Slavery than of Liberty. On
the other Hand, the Athenians had fhewn verylittle Concern all the Time Pififtratus was folliciting for Money 5 or even when he m.ade himfelf

CLIO,

37

fejf Mafter of Marathon. But when they heard
he was marching diredlly for Athens^ they affembled all their Forces to defend themfelves,
and to repel the Invader. In the mean Time
P/Jiftratus advancing with his Army from Marathon^ arriv'd at the Temple of the Pallenlan Minerva ; and after they had plac'd their Arms before the Gates, Amphilytiis a Prophet of Acarnania^ by divine Impulfe, went to him, and pronounced this Oracle in Hexameter Verfe.
T^he Net is fpread^ and dextroufly thrown ;
By the clear Moonlight Jh all the 'lunnies come.
When the Prophet had deliver'd thefe Words,
Pijijlrzitus comprehending the Oracle, and faying he accepted the Omen, broke up v/ith his
Army. In the mean Time the Athenians having
drawn
their I^'orces
of the City,
and takento
their Dinner,
betookout themfelves
afterwards
t)Ice or Sleep. So that the Army of Fififtratus falling upon them by Surprize, foon put
them to Flight •, and as they were endeavouring
to make their Efcape, Pifijlratus contrlv'd an
artful Stratagem, in order to difperfe them fo intirely, that they might not rally again. He
commanded his Sons to ride before with Speed,
and in his Name to inform all thofe they fhould
overtake, that they had nothing to fear, and
that every Man mlp;ht return to his ov/n Habitatlon. The Athenians readily embracins the
•Opportunity, Fijiftratus took a third Tlmie Poffeffion of Athens \ and eftabllfli'd himfelf more
firmly in the Tyranny, partly by the AiTiftance
of auxiliary Forces, and partly by Revenues
colledled at Home, or brought from the River
D 5
Strymon,

38

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

Strymon. He compell'd thofe who refifted in
the Battle, and had not prefently fled out of the
Field, to deliver up their Sons to him as Hoftages, and fent them to Naxus y which Ifland he
had formerly conquer'd, and put into the Hands
of Lygdamis. He likev^ife purified the Ifland of
Delos^ as he had been admonifh'd by an Oracle ;
caufing the dead Bodies to be taken up, and
remov'd from all Places that lay within the Profpe(5l of the Temple. In this Manner Pififtratus recover'd the Dominion of Athens ; many of
the Athenians having been kill'd in the Fight,
and many others leaving the Country with the
Alcmasonides.
CRCESUS receiv'd Information that this
was the prefent Condition of the Athenians ;
and that the Lacedemonians having extricated
themfelves out of great Difficulties, had been at
laft vidtorious againft the Tegeans. For in the
Time of Leon and Hegejicles^ Kings of Sparta^
they were fuccefsful in all other Wars except only
againft that People. But before their Reign,
they had been the moft diforderly People of all
Greece \ without any good Correfpondence either
among themfelves, or with Strangers •, 'till better
Orders and Difcipline were introduc'd by Lycurgus^ in this Manner. Lycurgus^ who was a Man
much efteem'd in Sparta^ arriving at Delphi to
confult the Oracle *, no fooner entred the Temple^
than the Pythian fpoke thefe Words,
WelcGme^ Lycurgus, to this happy Place ;
"^Thou Favourite of Heav'n: I doubting ftand^
JVhether IJhall pronounce thee God or Man ;
Inclining yet to think thou art a God,
Some

CLIO.

39

Some Men fay, that befides this, the Pythian
at the fame Time communicated to him that
Form of good Government, which is now obferv'd in Sparta, But the Lacedemonians af^
firm, that Lycur^us^ being both Uncle and Tutor to Leohotes King of Sparta,, brought thofe
Inftitutions from Crete. However, after he had
undertaken the Guardian fhip, he alter'd all their
Cuftoms, and caus'd his own Regulations to
be pun6lually obey'd. He form'd a Militia, divided into Companies under diftint!^ Names ;
eftablilhing the Order of eating together in publick ; and conftituted the Ephori and the Senate : Which Change of Government was at ■
tended by fuch good Confequences, that the Lacedemonians built a Temple to Lycurgus after his
Death, and paid him divine Honours. In a
fhort Time, affifted by the natural Goodnefs of
their Country, and Increafe of their People,
they grew confiderable : A nd having attain'd to
a great Meafure of Profperity, could be no
longer contented to live in Peace ; but thinking
themfelves more valiant than the Arcadians, fent
to confult the Oracle of Delphi^ touching the
Conqueft of all their Country, and receiv*d this
Anfwer •,
^0
ajk Arcadia
a highdefe?td
'Demand
A hardy
Race ofis Men
that : Land.
Bui againft Tegea ;/ thou wilt advance^
Upon her Plains thy founding Feet fh all dance *,
And with a Line thou fnalt trace out the Soil.
When the Lacedemonians heard the Report of
their Meflengers, they laid afide their Defign
againil all Arcadia ; and relying on this equivo-

D 4

cal

40

HERODOfUS.

Book I.

cal Oracle, led an Army againft Tegea only •, carrying Fetters with them in their March, as if
they had been fure of making all the Tegeans
Prifoners. But coming to a Battle, they tliemfelves were defeated, and all that were taken
alive being bound with the fame Fetters they
brought, were compelled to labour, and fo to
meafure the Lands of the Country. Thofe Fetters were afterwards hung up by the Tegeans in
the Temple of the Haliaean Mhierva^ and continued there to our Time. In this firft War,
which the Lacedemonians made againjR: Tegea,
they were always unprofperous •, but in the Time
of Crcefus^ and during the Reign of Anaxandrides and Arifton^ Kings of Sparta^ they had better
Succefs ; by thefe Means : Having confider'd
that they had always been beaten by the Tegeans, they fent to enquire of the Oracle at
Delphi^ what God they Ihould addrefs, in order
to be vi6lorious againft that People. The Pythian anfwer'd, they ihould then be fuccefsful,
when they fhouid carry back the Bones of Orejles
the Son of Agamemnon^ to Sparta, The Lacede-.
monians not knowing w^here to find the Sepulchre of Orejles,, fent again to inquire of the God
in what Country he lay interred ; and receiv'd
this Anfwer by the Mouth of the Pythian ;
In the Arcadian Plains lies Tegea,
IFhere two i?npetuous JVinds are forced to blow :
Form refifts Pbrm : Mifcbief on Mifcbiefftrikes,
Here Mother Earth keeps AgamemnonV Son \
Carry him off,, and be victorious.
The Lacedemonians having heard this Anfwer,
were no lefs in Pain than before,

tho' they us*d
all

CLIO.

41

all polTible Diligence in fearching for the Sepulchre of Oreftes : Till Liches^ one of thofe Spartans who are call'd Agathoergoi (or well-deferving,) found it by an Accident. Thefe Agathoergoi confift of Citizens who have ferv'd in the
Cavalry till they attain a confiderable Age •, and
then five of the eldeft are yearly exempted from
that Duty •, and that they may be flill ufeful
to the State, are fent Abroad during the firft
Year of their DifmifTion. Liches was one of
thefe Perfons, and his Prudence was not inferiour to his good Fortune on this Occafion.
For as the Lacedemonians had ftill the Liberty of going to Tegea^ Liches was there at
that Time ; and entering one Day into the Shop
of a Smith, attentively confider'd the Art of
the Mafter in fhaping his Iron : Which when
the Artificer obferv'd he ceas'd from his Work,
and faid \ " You feem, Laconian Stranger, to
" admire my Work ; but if you knew a cer*' tain Thing I know, you would be much more
^' aftonifh'd. For as I was finking a Well in
" this Inclofure, I found a Coffin kv^n Cubits
*' long : And becaufe I could not think that
" Men v/ere ever of a higher Stature than in our
*' I'ime, I open'd the Coffin, which I faw ex'' adly fitted to the Body : And after I had
" taken the juft Meafure, I cover'd all again
" with Earth.'* Liches refledling on his Difcourfe, conje6lur'd from, the Words of the Oracle, that this was the Body of Oreftes \ not doubting that the Smith's Bellows he faw, were the
two Winds •, the Anvil and Hammer the two
contending Forms •, and that the fhaping of Iron
was fignified by the redoubled Mifchiefs m.en|:ipn'd in the Oracle j becaufe he imagin'd that
the

42

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

the Invention of Iron had been deflruflive to
Men. Having confider'd thefe Things, he return'd to Sparta^ and gave the Lacedemonians
an Account of the whole Matter ; which when
they had heard, they contrlv'd in Concert with
Liches^ to charp;e him with a fiflitlons Crime ;
and under that Colour banlHi'd him. The Spartan arriving in Tegea^ related his Misfortune to
the Smith •, and hir'd the Inclofjre of him, becaufe he would not fell it. But after he had perfuaded him, and inhabited there for fome Time,
he open*d the Sepulchre •, and having colleded
all the Bones, carried them away with him to
Sparta. From that Time the Lacedemonians
were always fuperior in War to the Tegeans •,
and befides, they had already fubdued many
Countries of Peloponefus.
CRCESUS being informed of all thefe Things,
fent A mballadors to the Spartans, with Prefents,
and Orders to defire their Alliance: Who when
they were arriv'd, delivered their MeiTage, as
they v-ere inftru(51:ed, in thefe Words -, " Crosfus
*' King of the Lydians and of other Nations,
" having confulted the Oracle, has been ad*' monilh'd to make the Grecians his Friends ;
*' and knowing you, O Lacedemonians, to be
" the principal People of Greece., has fent us to
" tell you, that in Obedience to the God he
" offers to become your Ally and Confederate
" without Fraud or Artifice." The Lacedemonians, who had Notice of this Oracle before,
were pleas'd with the coming of the Lydians,
and readily enter'd into a League of Amity and
mutual Afliflance v/kh Crccfus ; from whom they
had formerlv receiv'd fome Kindnefs. For when
they had refolv'd to eredt that Statue of Gold to
Apollo^

CLIO.

43

Apollo^ which now ftands at I'hornace in Laconia^ and difpatch'd certain Perfons to purchafe
a fufficient Quantity at Sardis, Crc^fus prefented
them with as much Gold as was necefiary to that
End.
For which Caufe, and the Honour he had
done them in defiring their Friendfhip preferably to all the reft of the Grecians, they accepted
the Oifer of his Alliance •, engaging to be ready
with their Forces whenever
he Ihould defire
their Aftiftance.
And that they might make him
fome other Return, they caus'd a Bafon to be
made of Brafs, capable of containing three hundred Amphoras, and wrought all over the exterior Part v/ith the Figures of various Animals,
which they fent away in order to be prefented
to Crc?fus.
But the Bafon never reach'd Sardis^
for one of thefe two Reafons : The Lacedemonians on their Part fay, that the Samians being
informed of their Defign, fitted out divers long
Ships •, and falling upon them in the Road of
Samos^ robb'd them of the Prefent.
On the
other hand the Samians affirm, that the Lacedemonians, who were charg'd with the Bafon,
came too late ; and hearing that Sardis was
taken, and Crcefus himfelf made Prifoner, fold
the intended Prefent at Samos to fome private
Perfons, who dedicated it in the Temple of Juno : And that pofiibly v/hen they were return'd
to Sparta, they miight fay the Samians had taken
it away.
In the mean time Crcefus m.iftaking the Oracle,
refolv'd to invade Cappadocia with an Army, in
hope to deftroy the Power of Cyrus and of the
Pernans ; and whilft he was preparing all Things
for his Expedition, a Lydian nam'd Sandanis,
who before that Time was efteem'd a wife Man,
and

44

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

and on this Occalion acquir'd a great Addition of Reputation, gave him Advice in thefe
Words : " O King, you are preparing to make
War againft a People who have no other
Clcathing than Skins ; who inhabit a barren Country •, and eat not the Things they
would chufe, but fuch as they can get. They
ufe Water for Drink, and have neither Wine
nor Figs, nor any delicious Thing among
them. What Advantage can you gain by
the Conqueft of fo poor a People ? But if
you are conquer'd, con fid er what your Condition vv'ill be. When they come to tafte of
our voluptuous Way of Living, they will eftablifn themfelves in this Country, and v/e ihall
never be able to drive them out. As for me,
I thank the Gods that they have not infpir'd
the Perfians with Thoughts of attacking us.*'
But all this was not fufficient to diiTuade Crcefus
from making War againft the Perfians, who before they conquered the Lydians, pofTefs'd nothing either delicious or commodious.
The Cappadocians, by the Grecians call'd
Syrians, were fubjed to the Medes before the
Eftabliihment of the Perfian Power -, and in the
Time of this War were under the Dominion of
Cyrus. For the Kingdoms of Media and Lydia
are feparated by the River Halys^ which defcending from the Mountains of Armenia^ paffes
thro' Cilicia -, and leaving the Matienians on the
Right and the Phrygians on the left Hand, tends
to the Northv/ard, and divides the Syrians of Capfadocia from the Paphlagonians •, the former inhabiting on the Right, and the latter on the Left
of that Stream. In this Manner the River Halys
divides aimed all the Icv/er Afia^ from the Cy-

prian

CLIO.

45

prian to the Euxin Sea, which is in Length as
much as a ftrong Man can travel over in five
Days. Crcefus was indeed very defirous to add
the Country of Cappadocia to his own Territories ;but his Confidence in the Oracle, and
great Inclination to revenge the Difpofition of
Aftyages upon Cyrus, were the principal Caufes
that induc'd him to invade the Cappadocians.
For Cyrus the Son of Cambyfes had defeated and
taken Aftyages the Son of Cyaxares, who was
King of the Medes, and nearly related to Crcefus \ in the following Manner. Upon a Sedition
which happen'd amongft the Scythian Nomades,
a Party of them efcap'd into Media, where Cyaxares the Son of Phraortes, and Grand fon to
Dioces, was then King -, who confidering their
Diftrefs, received them at firft with great Humanity ; and having entertain'd a good Opinion of
them, entrufted to their Care divers Youths, to
learn the Ufe of the Bow and the Scythian
Tongue. Thefe Strangers exercis'd themfelves
with frequent Hunting, and v/ere ever accuftomed
to return with Prey. But one Day, v/hen they
had taken nothing, and came back with empty
Hands, Cyaxares, who, as plainly appeared,
was of a violent Temper, treated them v/ith
moft opprobrious Language. The Scythians refenting this Ufage with great Indignation, agreed
among themfelves to kill one of the Youths that
were educated under their Care, and to prepare his Fleih for Cyaxdres as they us'd to drefs
his Venifon •, and then to make their Efcape immediately toAlyattes the Son of Sadyattes King
of Lr^dia. Thefe Things they executed as they
defign'd : Cyaxares and thofe v/ho fat Vv^ith him
at the Table, tailed of the Flefli •, and the Scythians
2

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

6

4 flying to Sardis, implor'd the Prote6lion
tliians
of Alyattes,
After this Cyaxares fent to demand
the Scythians •, but not prevailing with Alyattes
to deliver them up, he made War againft him
five Years with various Succefs, the Medes fometimes defeating the Lydians, and fometimes being defeated by them •, during which Time, they
fought once by Night.
In the fixth Year,
Things being hitherto well near equal on both
fides, they came to another Battle, and whilll
they were contending for Vijflory, the Day was
fuddenly turn'd into Night ; which Alteration
^ales the Milefian had foretold to the lonians,
and nam'd the Year when it fhould happen. The
Lydians and Medes feeing Darknefs fucceeding
in the Place of Light, defined from fighting,
and fhew'd a great Inclination on both fides to
make Peace.
S^ennefts of Celitia^ and Labynetus the Babylonian were the Mediators of their
Reconciliation : And becaufe important Agreements require fi:rong Securities, they not only
oblig'd them to confirm the Treaty by Oath,
but ""perfuaded Alyattes to give his Daughter
Aryeyits in Marriage to Aftyages the Son of Cyaxares. Thefe Nations in their Federal Contracts obferve the fame Ceremonies as in Greece ;
except only, that both Parties cut themfelves on
the Arm till the Blood gufiies out, and then
mutually lick it from the Wounds.
When Cyrus had conquered and conlln'd
Afiyages his Grandfather by the Mother, for
Reafons v/hich I ihall hereafter relate, Crcefiis
was fo much offended with him, that he fent to

confult the Oracle, if he fhould make W^ar againft the Perfians •, and having received an iiluhis own
fory Anfwer, w^hich he interpreted Atodvantaije.

CLIO'

47

Advantge, he led his Army towards their Territories. When he arriv'd at the River Halys,
he caus'd his Forces to pafs over, as I believe,
by Bridges which were then built. But the
common Opinion of the Grecians is, that I'hales
the Milefian procur'd him a Pafiage by other
Means. For, fay they, whilft Crcefus was in
great Pain how his Army fhould pafs over the
River, on which no Bridges v/ere then built,
^ales^ who was in his Camp, caus'd the Stream
which ran along the Left of his Army, to pafs
likewife on the Right by this Invention. They
began a deep Trench by his Direction at the
Head of the Camp, which they carried round
by the Rear in the F'orm of a Flalfmoon to the
antient Channel •, and the Stream being; thus
fuddenly divided, was found fordable in both
Parts. Some fav, that the antient Channel of
the River became quite dry ; but I cannot affent to their Opinion : For how then could thofe
repafs, v/ho return'd from that Expedition ?
However, Crcefus having pafs'd the River, enter'd with his Army into the Country of Pteria,
the mod populous Part of Cappadocia^ and lying
near the City of Sinope^ which is fituate on the
Euxin Sea. Encamping in that Region he ravao"'d the Lands of the Svrians ; took the chief
City of the Pterians, which he pillag'd, with
all the adjacent Places, and expelled the In habitants, vv'ho had given him no Caufe of Difcontent.
C T RU S hdng inform'd of thefe Things, affembled his Army, and taking with him the
Forces of thofe Countries thro' which he vas
to pafs, refolv'd to march towards the Enem.y.
But before he began to advance, he fent Heralds
ta

48

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

to the lonians, to perfuade them to revolt from
Crcefus^ and receiv'd. a pofitive Denial. When
he arriv'd within View of the Enemy, he encamp'd in the Territories of Fteria^ and after
feveral Skirmilhes, the two Armies came to a
bloody Battle \ which continued with great
Slaughter on both Sides, till Night parted them,
and left it undetermin'd who had the better.
But Crcefiis being diffatisiied to fee his Forces
much inferiour in Number to thofe of Cyrus^ as
indeed they were, and finding nothing attempted
againft him the Day after the Battle, retir'd to
Sardis with his Army, defigning to fend to the
Egyptians for Succour, purfuant to the Confederacy he had made with Amafis King of
jEgypt^ before he treated with the Lacedemonians. In like manner, becaufe the Babylonians,
with their King Labynettis^ were alfo his Allies,
he refolv'd to require their AfTiftance, and to fix
a Time for the coming of the Lacedemonians ;
determining with thefe Forces and his own to
attack the Perfians in the Beginning of the next
Spring. With this Defign he return'd Home ;
and after he had difpatch'd Ambafladors to his
Confederates to require them to fend their Forces
to Sardis before the End of five Months, he
feparated his Army v/hlch had fought againft
the Perfians, and fent Home all the foreign
Troops \ not imagining that Cyrus ^ who had
not been able to beat him in the Field, w^ould
venture to advance to Sardis. While thefe
Things were in Agitation, a great Number of
Serpents were feen in the Lands about Sardis ;
which when the Horfes found, they left their
Pafture, and eat as many as they could take.
Crafusy not without Reafon, thinking this be
to

CLIO:

49

be a Prodigy, fent to confult the Interpreters
at TelmiJJus by certain Perfons, who arriving
in that Place, receiv'd the Anfwer of the Telmiflians ; but could not deliver it to Crcefus,
becaufe he was taken Prifoner before they return'd to Sardis, The Interpretation of the
Telmiffians was that the Kingdom of Crcefus
fhould foon be invaded by a foreign Army,
which fhould conquer the Natives ; becaufe, faid
they, the Serpent is a Son of the Earthy and the
Horfe is an Enemy and a Stranger. This Anfwer they gave after the Difafter of Crcefus ; yet
without
to
Sardis.knowing what had happen'd to him and
GYRUS being informed that Crcefus was retlr'd after the Battle of Plena, with Defign to
feparate his Arm.y, calPd a Council, and refolv'd
to march with all poffible Expedition to Sardis^
that he might furprize the Enemy^ before the
Lydian Forces could be drawn together -, which
Refolution was executed with fo great Diligence, that Cyrus himfelf at the Head of his
Army brought thither the News of his own
Enterprize. Crcefus, tho' extremely alarm'd at
an Attempt which he neither forefaw nor expe6led, drew out the Lydians into the Field, who
in that Time were as brave and warlike a
People as any other of all AJia. They fought
on Horfeback arm'd with ftrong Lances, and
manag'd their Korfes with admirable Addrefs„
The Place where they aflembled was a fpacious
Plain, lying before the City, and watered by divers Rivers, particularly by the Hellus, which
runs into the greateft of all call'd^ the Hermus,
This River defcending from a Mountain, facred
to Cyhde Morher of the Gods, falls into the Sea
E
near

50

HERODOrUS.

Book L

near the City of Phocia.
Cyrus feeing the Ly~
tilans drawn up in order of Battle, and apprehending the Efforts of their Horfe, by the Suggeftion of Harpagus a Mede made ufe of this
Stratagem.
He ordered all the Camels that follow'd the Army with Proviiions and Baggage,
to be brought together ; and having caus'd their
Loading to be taken down,
commanded Men
cloath'd after the Manner
of the Cavalry to
mount thofe Animals, and to march in the Van
of his Forces againft the Lydian Horfe.
Behind
the Camels he plac'd his Infantry, and all his
Cavalry in the Rear.
And having made this
Difpolition, he gave out flri6b Order thro' the
whole Army,
not to fpare any Lydian they
ihould meet, Crcefus only excepted, whom they
were forbidden to kill, even tho* he ftiould refift
fingle. Cyrus plac'd the Camels in the Front of
his Army, in order to render ufelefs the Enemies
Cavalry, by which the Lydian hop'd to obtain
a glorious Vidlory ; for a Horfe is afraid of a
Camel, and cannot bear either to fee or fmell
him.
Accordingly the Battle no fooner began^
than the Horfes, impatient of the Scent and
Sight of the Camels, turn'd their Heads and ran
av/ay~-, which Crcefus obferving, gave all his
Hope for loft. Neverthelefs the Lydians, who
perceiv'd the Caufe of what had happened, were
not prefently difcourag'd, but difmounting from
their Horfes, renew'd the Fight on Foot; till
at laft, after an obftinate Difpute, in which great
Numbers fell on both Sides, they fled to Sardis^
and fhutting themfelves up within the Walls of
the City, were faon befieg'd by the Perlians.
CRCESUS

CLIO.

51

CRCESUS thinking the Siege would be
long, fent again to his Allies, and in Place of
defiring their Afliilance within five Months, follicited them to fuccour him with all Expedition,
becaufe he was already befieg'd in Sardis. Among the reft of his Confederates, he fent to
the Lacedemonians ; who at the iame Time had
a Conteft with the Argians, about the Country
of Tbyrea^ which the Spartans had feiz'd, tho*
of Right belonging to Argos, And indeed,
whatever lies Weftward of that City, even to
Malea^ on the Continent, together with Cythera^
and the other Iflands, belongs to the Argians.
This Affair depending, the Argians advanc'd
with their Forces to recover Thyrea ; but upon
a Conference, the contending Parties agreed,
that three Hundred Men on each Side fliould
determine the Difpute by Combat, and the
Country be adjudg'd to the Viclorious. Yet in
the firft Place, both Armies were to depart, left
either Side finding their Countrymen in Diftrefs,
might come in to their Aftiftance. This Agreement being made, and the Armies retir'd, the
Fight began j and was maintain'd with fuch
equal Valour, that of the fix Hundred, three
Men only were left alive : Neither had thefe
all furviv'd, if Night coming on had not fav'd
them. Two of the three v/ere Argians, Alcinor
and Chromius by Name, who thinking them.felves
victorious ran to Argos with the News. But
Othryades^ the only Survivor on the Part of the
Lacedemonians, after he had colleded the Spoil
of the Argians, and carried all their Arms into
the Spartan Camp, continued in the Field. The
next Day both Armies being inform'd of the Event, met again in the fame Place, and both laid
E 2
Claim

52

HERODOTUS.

Book L

The Arglans alledg'd,
Claim to the Vidory.
that they had more than one left alive. But
the Lacedemonians
urg'd, that the furviving
Argians ran away •, and that their Countryman
alone had kept the Field and pillaged the dead.
From Words they betook themfelves to their
Arms •, and after a bloody Fight, in which many were kill'd on both Sides, the Lacedemonians obtain'd the Vidory.
Upon this Difafter,
the Argians cutting off their Hair, which to
that Time they had been oblig'd to wear of a
confiderable Length, agreed to a Law, and made
a folemn Vow, that they would not fuffer their
Hair to grow long, nor permit their Women to
drefs with Ornaments of Gold, 'till they fhould
recover ^byrea.
On the other Hand, the Lacemade
demonians a contrary Order, enjoining all
their People to wear long Hair, which they had
never done before.
As for Olhryades, who was
the only furviving Spartan of the three Hundred,
they fay, he kill'd himfelf at Tbyrea, afham'd to
return home after the Slaughter of all his Companions.
The Affairs of the Lacedemonians were in
this Condition, when the Sardian Ambaflador
arriving in Sparta, pray'd their Affiftance on the
Part of Crcefus, who was belieg'd in Sardis •,
which they no fooner heard, than they refolv'd
to fuccour him. But w^hen they had made ready
their Ships, and prepar'd all Things for the Expedition, they were inform'd by another Meflage,
that the City of Sardis was taken, and Crcefus
himfelf made Prifoner; which they took for a
great Misfortune, and delifted from their Enterprize. The City of Sardis was taken in this
Manner.
On the fourteenth Day of the Siege,
2
C^rus

CLIO.

53

Cyrus order'd Proclamation to be made by Men
on Horfeback throughout his Camp,
that he
would liberally reward the Man who fhould firft
mount the Enemies Walls : Upon which feveral
Attempts were made, and as often faiPd; 'till,
after the reft had defifted, one Hyr^ades a Mardian found a Way to climb an Afcent on that
Side of the Caftle, which having been always
judg'd impracticable and fecure from all Attacks, v/as not defended by any Guard.
To
this Part alone of all the Fortifications, Males a
former King of Sardisy never brought his Son
Leo^ whom he had by a Concubine ; though the
Telmiflians had pronounc'd, that if he were carried quite round the Works, Sardis fhould be
for ever impregnable ; but having causM him to
be brought to every other Part of the Place, totally negleded this, which faces the Mountain
'Tmolus^ as altogether infuperable and inaccefTible.
Hyrceades the Mardian had {ztxv a Lydian come
down this Precipice the Day before, to take up
a Helmet that was drop'd, and after he had attentively obferv'd and confider'd the Thing, ha
afcended the fame Way, follow'd by divers Perfians*, and being foon fupported by greater
Numbers, the City of Sardis was thus taken and
plunder'd.
CRCESUS, as I have already fald, had a Son
who was dumb, though in all other Refpedls
commendable ; and as in the Time of his Profperity, he omitted nothing that might contribute
to deliver him from that Infirmity, among other
Experiments, he fent to confuit the Oracle of
Delphi concerning him, and receiv'd this Anfwer from the Pythian ;
E 3

Q

54-

HERO DO fUS.

Book I.

O too imprudent Lydian 1 IViJh 710 more
J^he charming Sound of a Son's Voice to hear :
Better for thee^ could livings refl as they are\
For in an evil Day he firji fhall fpeak.
Upon the taking of the City, a certain Perfian
not knowing Crcefus^ advanc'd to kill him ; and
when he, not caring to furvlve that Difafter,
negleded to avoid the Blow, his fpeechlefs Son,
feeing the Soldier ready to ftrike, and fearing
for the Life of his Father, In that Inftant cried
out, Man, kill not Croefus. Thefe were the
firft Words he ever utter'd ; but from that
Time he continued to fpeak readily during all
the reft of his Life. In this Manner the Perf ans became Mafters of Sardis, and made Cn^fiis their Prifoner ; who having reign'd fourteen
Years, and been befieg'd fourteen Days, put an
End to his great Empire, as the Oracle had predidled.
The Perfians having taken Crcefis, and brought
him to Cyrus, he commanded him to be fetter'd,
and plac'd on a great Pile of Wood already
prepar'd, accompanied by fourteen young Ly«
dians : Deligning either to offer this Sacrifice to
fome God, as the firfl: Fruits of his Vidory ; or
to perform a Vow ; or perhaps to fee, becaufe
he had heard of his Devotion to the Gods, v/hether any Damon would fave him from the Fire.
When Crcefus had afcended the Pile, notwlthftanding the Weight
of his Misfortunes, the
Words of Solon reviving in his Memory, made
him think he was Infpir'd by fome God, when he
faid, that no living Man could juftly be call'd
Revolving thefe Words in his Mind,
Happy.

C L I 0.

55

he figh'd often in the Anguifh of his Soul, and
thrice pronounc'd the Name of Solon,
Which
when Cyrus heard, he commanded his Interpreters to aik him, whofe Afliftance he implor'd.
They obey'd immediately ; but C^'cefus for a
while kept Silence *, yet at laft being conflrain'd
to fpeak, he faid, " I nam*d a Man, whofe
*' Difcourfes I more deiire all Tyrants might
'' hear, than to be Pofleflbr of the greateft
^' Riches."
The Interpreters judging this Anfwer obfcure, repeated their Demand •, and pei*iifting in their Importunity, prefs'd him earneftly
to explain his Meaning.
Upon which Crcefiis
acquainted them, that Solon an Athenian having
formerly vifited him, and view'd his immenfe
Treafures, had defpis'd all ; and that the Truth
of what he then faid was now verified, though
his Difcourfe was generally relating to all Mankind as much as to himfelf, and efpecially to
thofe who vainly imagine themfelves happy. After Crcefus had faid thefe Words, and the Flames
began to afcend on every Side, CyruSy already
inform'd by the Interpreters of what he had
faid, relented on a fudden ; and confidering that
being but a Man, he was yet going to burn
another Man alive, who had been no way inferior
to himfelf in Profperity ; and fearing a Retaliation of Punijfhment, as one who was not ignorant of the Inconftancy of human Affairs ; he
commanded the Fire to be prefently extinguifti'dj
and CrcefuSy v/ith thofe who were about him,
to be taken down.
Accordingly all Endeavours
were us'd to execute his Orders ; but they
could not mailer the Fire.
In this Diftrefs,
Cr(EfuSy as the Lydians report, being informed
that Cyrus had alter*d his Refolution, and fee-

E 4

ing

56

HERODOTUS.

Book!.

ing every Man tolling In vain to put out the
Fire, burft into Tears •, and with a loud Voice
invoking Apollo^ befought the God, if ever any
of his Offerings had been agreeable to him, to
prote6t and deliver him from the prefent Danger : That immediately Clouds were {t^vx gathering in the Air, which before was ferene,
and a violent Storm of Rain enfuing, quite extinguilh'd the Flames •, by which Cyrus underftanding that Crcsfus was a good and pious Man,
fpoke to him as foon as he came down, in
thefe Terms. " Tell me, Crcefus^ who perfuaded you to invade my Territories, and to
be my Enemy, idtlier than my Friend?"
This War, faid Crcefus^ as fortunate to you,
O King, as unfortunate to me, I undertook
by t\\t Perfuaiion and E^^couragement of the
*' Grecian God. For no Man is fo void of Un*' derflanding as to prefer War before Peace ;
*' becaufe in Time of War Fathers bury their
'' Children, and in Time of Peace Children
*' perform that Office to their Parents. But
" fuch was the Will of the Damon" When
he had thus fpoken, Cyrus commanded his Fetters to be taken off j and permitting him to fit
down by his Side, fhew'd him great Refpedt ;
for both he and all thofe that ffood about him,
were aftonifh'd at the Things they had feen and
heard. Crcefus fat for fome Time penfive and
filent : But afterwards turning about, and feeing
the Perfians facking the City, he afk'd Cyrus^
whether he might fpeak with Freedom, or whether he ought to fupprefs his prefent Thoughts ;
Cyrus bid him take Courage, and deliver his
Opinion freely \ upon which Crcefus aik*d him,
what thofe great Numbers were now doing with

CLIO.

57

fo much Diligence.
" They are, faid Cyrtis^
" pillaging your City, and deftroying your
'' Riches and Magnificence."
" Not {o., re'*• plied Crcffus, they neither plunder my City,
*' nor deftroy my Riches : For I have now no
'' Part in thofe Things ; but they ravage and
" conflime what belongs to you.'* This Anfwer made fuch an Impreflion on Cyrus^ that
taking Crcefus afide, he alk'd him privately,
what he thought iliould be done in this Conjundure ? " Since the Gods, faid Crcefus^ have
" made me your Servant, I am in Duty oblig'd
to acquaint you with all that may conduce to
your Advantage.
If you permit the Perfians,
who are poor, and by Nature infolent, to
plunder and poflefs great Riches ; you may expe6l that thofe who enrich themfelves moft,
cc
will be moft ready to rebel. Therefore, if
you approve my Sentiment, place fome of
your Guards at every Gate, with Orders to
take the Booty from all thofe who would go
out, and to acquaint them that the Tenth
muft of NecefTity be confecrated to Jupiter:
cc
By which Method you will avoid the Imputation of feizing their Plunder by Violence •,
and every one acknowledging your Intention
to be juft, will readily obey."
Cyrus having
heard the Propoiition of Cr^fus with great Satisfadion, and intirely approving his Counfel ;
commanded the Guards to do as he advis'd -,
and then turning to him again, faid ; " Becaufe
*' both your Words and your Adions are truly
" Royal, 11 permit you to afk immediately
*' whatever Thing you chiefly defire."
" Sir,
faid Crcpfu^^^ " The moft acceptable Favour you
Fetter
*.' can bellow upon me, is, to let me ^*fend
mys

HERODOTUS.

Book!

5S

*' Fetters to the God of the Grecians, whom
"I have honour'd more than any other Deity ;
*' and to afk him, if it be his Manner to de^' ceive thofe who deferve beft of him." Cyrus aik*d what Caufe he had to complain of the
God, that might induce him to make this Requeft: Upon which Crcefus recolle6ting all his
Thoughts on that Subject, gave him an Account of the Anfwers he received from the Oracles, and of the Donations he had prefented ;
in Confidence of w^hich he had made War aagainft the Perfians ; befeeching him again to
grant him Leave to reproach the God with
thefe Things. Cyrus laughing, afllir'd him he
would not only grant this, but whatever elfe
he fhould defire: Which Cnefus hearing, difpatch'd certain Lydians to Delphi^ with Orders
to lay down his Fetters at the Entrance of the
Temple, and to dem^i;id of the God, if he were
not afham'd to have encourag'd Crcefus by his
Oracles, to believe that by undertaking a War
againfl: the Perfians, he fnould deflroy the Power
of Cyrus : Commanding them after thefe Words
to ihew the Fetters, as the Trophies of his promised Succefs, and to afk if the Grecian Gods
were accuflom'd to be fo ungrateful. When
the Lydians arriv'd at Delphi^ and had put his
Orders in Execution, the Pythian is reported
to have made this Anfwer : " The God himfelf
*' cannot avoid the predetermin*d Decrees of
*' Fate; and Crcefus^ m the fifth Generation,
*' fuffers for the Crime of a Man, who being
" one of the Guard to the lafl King of the
^' Blood of Hercules^ was induc'd by the "Fraud
Yet
*' of a Woman to murther his Maftcr, and to
" ufurp his Dignity, to which he had no Right.

CLIO.

59

*^ Yet Jpollo us'd his beft Endeavours,
thafe
*' the Difafter of Sardis might be fufpended to
" the Time of his Sons, and not happen during
'' the Reign of Crafus : And though he could
" not fet afide the fatal Decree ; yet he had done
as much in his Favour as that v/ould permit ;
having delay'd the Subverfion of his King^
" dom for three Years.
And therefore let Cr^" fus know, that he was taken Prifoner three
" Years later than the Fates had ordain'd.
In*' the next Place, when he was upon the Point
*' of being burnt alive, the God came in to his
*' Relief.
Then, as to the Predidion of the
*' Oracle, he has no Right to complain j becaufe Apollo only foretold, that if he would
make War againft the Perfians, he ihould fubvert a great Empire ; and had he defir'd to be
truly informed, he ought to have fent again to
enquire, whether his own or that of Cyrus was
But if he neither comcc meant by the Oracle.
prehending the Meaning of the Oracle, nor
would enquire again, the Fault is his. In a
** Word, he did not underftand the Anfwer he
*' receiv'd concerning the Mule, when he kil:
*' confulted the God j for Cyrus was that Mule,
**
inafmuch as he was born of Parents, who
cc
were not only of different Nations, but of
€C
very unequal Condition : For his Mother was
<C
a Mede, and Daughter to Aftyages King of
" Media ; but his Father was of Ferfia^ a CounCC
try then fubjedl to the Medes ; and being eveCC
ry Way inferior to her, had married his Lord's
cc
Daughter."
The Lydians having receiv'd
this Anfwer from the Pythian, returned, and
made their Report to Crcsfus ; who acknowledged
wholwas
ly
the Fault to be his, and that the Oracle

6o

HERODOTUS.

Book. I.

wholly innocent. In this Manner the Kingdom
of
Crcefus was conquer'd, and Ionia the firft Time
fubdued.
Many

other Donations were confecrated by

in Greece^ befides thofe already mention'd.
Crcefus
For
at Thebes of Bccotia he dedicated a Tripos of
Gold to Ifmenian ^^//o : At Epheftis^ he gave
the golden Heifers, with the greater Part of the
Pillars ; and fent a large Shield of Gold to BeU
fhi^ which hangs in the Entrance of the Temple. All thefe remain to this Day ; but others
have been loft. The Offerings he dedicated in
Branchis^ a City belonging to the Milefians,
were, as I am inform'd, equal in Weight to
thofe he prefented at Delphi. Thefe laft, together with thofe he fent to Amfhiaraus^ were the
firft Fruits of his domeftic and patrimonial
Riches. -But the reft arofe out of the Confifcations of an Enemy ^ who endeavouring to put
the Kingdom of hydia into the Hands of Tantaleon^ form'd a Party againft Crcefus^ to hinder
his Acceffion to the Throne. Pantaleon was the
Son of Alyattes^ and Brother to Crcefus^ though
not born of the fame Mother \ for Alyattes had
Crcefus by a Carian, and Pantaleon by an Ionian
Woman. But when Crcefus obtain'd the Kingdom, purfuant to the Defignation of his Father,
he kill'd the Confpirator in the Houfe of a Fuller, and having already vow'd all his Trcafure to
the Gods, he perform'd his Promife by the Donations he made to the Places I mention'd before. And this I think fufficient to fay touchinof thefe Things.
The Territories of Lydia have nothing admirable and deferving Mention, like other Countries ^ unlefs feme Particles of Gold brought
down

CLIO.

6i

down from the Mountain Tmolus, But the
Lydians fhew one Building, which in Greatnefs much furpafTes all others, except thofe of
the -Egyptians and Babylonians : I mean the
Sepulchre of AlyatteSy Father to Crcefus > the
Bafis of which is compos'd of Stones of extraordinary Dimenfions, and all the reft is a Terrafs. This Fabrick was built by Artificers and
mercenary Labourers, with the Afliftance of
young Maids •, and on the uppermoft Part of
the Sepulchre five Monuments are plac'd for
Boundaries, with Infcriptions {ttn to this Day,
certifying the Meafure of their Labour, and
(hewing that the Maids did more Work than
the Men. The Daughters of the Lydians are
accuftom'd to acquire their Dowries by Proftitution ; and are then permitted to marry as
they pleafe. This Sepulchre is fix Stades and
two Plethrons in Circumference, and thirteen
Plethrons in Breadth ; ftanding near a fpacibus
Lake, which the Lydians fay is fed by perpetual Springs, and derives its Name from Gyges.
The Cuftoms of the Lydians diiFer little from
thofe of the Grecians, except only that they
proftitute their Daughters. They were the firft
of all the Nations we know, who introduc'd
the Art of coining Gold and Silver to facilitate Trade, and firft pradis'd the Way of retailing Merchandize. They pretend to be the
Inventors of divers Games, which are now
common to them with the Grecians : And, as
they fay, were found out about the Time they
fent a Colony to Tyrrhenian on this Occafion.
During the Reign of Atys the Son of Manes
King of Lydia^ a Scarcity of Provifions fpread
^Qv the Kingdom, which the People for a Time
/upport-

62

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

fupported with Patience and Induftry. But
when they faw the Evil fti]l continuing, they
applied themfelves to find out a Remedy ; and
fome inventing one Game, and others another,
introduc'd Dice, Balls, Tables,
gradually
they all
and
other Plays, Chefs only excepted, of
which the Lydians do not challenge the Invention :And to bear this Calamity better,
they us'd to play one whole Day without Intermiilion, that they might not be difquieted
with the Thoughts of Food ; eating and drinking on the next Day, without amufing themfelves with any kind of Game. After they had
continued this alternate Manner during eighteen
Years, and found their Wants rather increafing
than abating ; the King divided the People into
two Parts, and order'd them to determine by
Lot, which Divifion fhould relinquifh the
Country ; and which fhould remain in PoflefTion ; he himfelf defigning to reign over thofe
who fhould have the Fortune to ftay, and appointing his Son "Tyrrhenus to command that
Part which fhould be oblig'd to remove. Thofe
who by Lot were conftrain'd to depart, march'd
down to Smyrna \ where having built a fufficient
Number of Ships, and put all Things necefTary
on Board, they fet Sail in fearch of Food, and
of a new Habitation •, till having pafs'd by
they arriv'd in Umhria^ and
Nations,
many divers
built
Cities, which they inhabit to this
Day. There they chang'd their ancient Name,
and were no longer call'd Lydians ; but Tyrrhenians, from their Leader Tyrrhenus the Son of
their King.
Having already related in what Manner the
Lydians were conquered by the Perfians, I fhalt

in

CLIO.
m the r\ty± Place ihew, who Cyrus was,

63
that

. deftroy'd the Kingdom of Crcefus^ and how the
Perfians became Matters of Afia,
In which
Narration I fhall follov/ thofe Perfians ohiv..
who without heightening the Adlions of Cyrus^
have fpoken the Tmth with Plainnefs and Sincerity ; tho' I am not ignorant, that there are
three other Ways of relating this Hiftory.
After
the AfTyrians had poflefs'd the Empire of upper Afia five hundred
and twenty Years, the
Medes were the firft that revolted from them ;
and ftrenuoufly contending for Liberty, fhook
oiF the Yoke of Servitude with fuch Courage,
that other Nations imitated their Example.
They made and enjoy 'd their own Laws for
fome Time all over that Continent : But were
again reduc'd under a Tyranny by the Artifice
of Deioces a Mede, and Son to Fhraortes : Who
being a fubtle Man,
and aiming at abfolute
Power, effected his Defign in this Manner.
The
Medes were at that Time diftributed into feveral Diflirids ; and Deioces having liv'd among
them before in confiderable Efleem, and now
feeing all kind of Licentioufnefs fpread over the
whole Country, applied himfelf to the Exercife of Juftice with great Zeal and Diligence;
tho' he knew how much the Juft were hated
by Men of Violence.
The Medes of the fame
Diftridl obferving the Equity of his Condud:,
chofe him for their Judge ; and he, afpiring
to compafs the Sovereign Power,
performed
that Office with all poffible Regard to Juftice.
By this Means he not only acquir'd much Honour in the Diftrid where 'he liv'd, but alfo among thofe of the other Divifions ; w^ho were
made to believe, that Ddoces was the only imI
partial

64

HERODOTUS.

Book t

partial Judge in the whole Nation ; and therefore fuch as thought themfelves injur'd by unjufi
Sentences, came from all Parts to him, in order
to obtain Juftice : Till at laft no Man would
commit the Decilion of a Difference to any
other Perfon. In the End, the Numbers of
thole who applied to him for Redrefs augmenting in Proportion to the great Fame of his Equity, Deioces feeing the whole Care of diflributing juftice devolv'd upon his Perfon, abfented
himfelf from the Place where he us^d to fit to
determine Differences, and declared he would
pronounce no more Judgments ; becaufe he could
riot find his Account by fpending the Day in
doing Right to others,- whilft his own Affairs
were negle6led. Upon this, Rapine and all
manner of Injuries growing far more frequent
in every Part than before, the Medes call'd a
general Affembly, and as they were eonfulting
about the prefent State of Things, the Partizans of Deioces gave, in my Opinion, a very
plaufible Turn to their Difcourfe. " If, faid
they,
*' we continne in our prefent Condition^
4C
we cannot expe(fc to live long in this Country. Let us therefore conftitute a King, that
the Nation may be govern'd by good I^avvs ;
and that applying our Care to our own Bufinefs, we may not be conftrain'd to abandon
*' our Habitations by the Diforders of Anarchy.'*
The Medes perfuaded by their Difcourfe, and
refolving to have a King, began in the next
Place to confider v/ho fhould be the Perfon ;
(C

when prefently Deioces w^as univerfaiiy nam'd^
and with great Applaufe and general Confent,
appro
v'd.to But
he commanded them
buildafter
himhisa Eledlion,
Palace fuitable
to the

Dignity

CLIO.

65

Dignity of a King, and requir'd Guards for the
Security of his Perfon. The Medes obey'd 5
and on the Ground he chofe, ereded a ftrong
and ftately Fabrick for his \J(t -, permitting
him at the fame Time to chufe for his Guard
fuch Perfons as he fhould think fit out of the
whole Nation. Being thus pofTefs'd of the
Power, he compell'd the Medes to come under one Polity -, and relinquifhing the Care of
the reft, to build one City furrounded with
Fortifications. In this alfo he was obey'd ; and
thofe flrong and magnificent Walls, which
now go under the Name of Ecbatana^ were
then built. They are of a circular Form, one
within
other, the
and other
each gradually
rais'd juft
fo
muchtheabove
as the Battlements
are high. The Situation of the Ground, rifing
by an eafy Afcent, was very favourable to the
Defign. But the Thing chiefly to be confider'd, is, that the King*s Palace and Treafury
are built within
the innermofl Circle of the
feven, which compofe this City. The firft
and moft fpacious of thefe Walls is equal in
Circumference to the City of Athens^ and white
from the Foot of the Battlements. The fecond
is black, the third of a purple Colour, the
fourth blue, and the fifth of a deep Orange.
All thefe are colour'd with different Compofitions ; but of the two innermofl: Walls, one
is painted on the Battlements with a filver Colour, and the other is gilded with Gold,
Deioces having thus provided for his Refidence,
and the Safety of his Perfon, commanded the
refl: of the People to fix their Habitations in
Places fltuate without the Walls of the City ;
which when they had done^ he efl;ablifli'd

F

thefe

4>6

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

thefe Rules to be obferv'd as ftanding Orders ;
That no Man fhould be admitted to the King's
Prefence, but Tnould tranfadl all Things with him
by MefTengers •, That none fhould be permitted
to fee him , and, that either to laugh or fpit in
All
his Sight, fhould be accounted indecent.
of Spirit and
which he enjoin'd, left Men
Courage, converfing with him, fhould be proto confpire againft his
voked by Difcontent
that thofe v/ho were
Perfon : Not doubting,
debarred from feeing him at all, would eafily
be induc'd to think him of a fuperior Nature
When he had eftablifh'd thefe
to themfelves.
Orders, and fettled himfelf in the Tyranny, he
was very fevere in the Execution of Juftice.
The Parties contending were oblig'd to fend
him their Cafe in Vvriting ; which when he
had {qqu. and confider'd, he us*d to fend it back
with his Decifion ; and this was the Method
But if he
he took in Matters of Conteftation.
receiv'd Information that any Man had injur'd
another, he would prefently fend for him, and
punifh him in Proportion to his Offence, maintaining to that End many Emiflaries and Spies
The
in the Provinces of his Government.
Power of Deioces extended not beyond the
whole Nation of the Medes \ which confifts
of the Bufians, Paratacenians, Struchates, AriHe reign'd
zantins, Budians, and the Mages.
fifty three Years, and his Son Phraortes fucceeded him in his Kingdom ; who not contented tobe King of Media only, made his firft
Expedition againft the Perfians, and reduc'd them
And havunder the Dominion of the Medes.
ing united the Forces of thofe two powerful
Nations, he fubdued Jfia i advancing his Con*

quefts

CLIO.

67

i^uefts gradually, and attacking one Country after another •, till at laft he invaded the AiTyrians,
who inhabited the City of Ninus^ and had
been the principal People of thofe Nations ;
though at that Time they were abandon'd by
their Confederates. Xet their Aifairs being
otherwife in good Condition, they prov'd a
formidable Enemy ; for Pbraortes having enter'd their Territories, perifh'd v/ith the greatieft Part of his Army in that Enterprize, after
he had reign'd twenty two Years. Cy ax ares
the Son of Phracrtes^ and Grandfon to DeioceSy
fucceeded him, and is generally efl:eem*d to have
been more brave and warlike than his Anceftcrs. He form'd the People of Jfia into diilind:
Bodies, of Lances, Cava'ry, and Archers •, whereas before they had been accuftom'd to mix
in a confus'd Manner •, and fought that Battle
againft the Lydians, v/lien the Day was on a
fudden turn'd into Night. At length having
united all y^Jta beyond the River Halys^ under
him, and affembled all his Forces, he march'd
tovv'ards the City of Ninus^ to avenge the Death
of his Father by the Deftruclion of that Place ;
but after he had obtained a Yidory over the
AfTyrians, and aftuaily befieg'd Ninus^ a great
Army of Scythians appear'd in full March,under the Condu6l of Madyes their Kino;, and
Son of Protothyas. Thefe Scythians had driven
the Cimmerians out of Europe.^ and purfuing
them into
by that Means
enter'd the
Territories ofJfta^
the Medes.
The Diftaiice
between
the Lake Mceotis and the River Phofis in the
Country of Colchis^ is as much as a vigorous
Man can walk in thirty Days : But the Way
from Colchis to Media is not long, no other
F 2
People

68
People

HERODOTUS.
than

the Safpires lying

Book I.
between

both.

However,
the Scythians declining to pafs thro*
their Territories, march'd round by the Way of
the high Country, having the Mountain Caucafus on the right Hand •, and in thofe Parts fought
and defeated the Army of the Medes, who with
the Battle loft the Dominion of Afia. The Scythians having thus poflefs'd themfelves of Afia^
march'd diredly againft the Egyptians : But,
when they were arriv'd in the Paleftine Syria.,
Pfammetichus King of Mgypt came thither to
meet them, and by Prayers and Prefents prevailed
with them to advance no farther.
In their Return they pafs'd by Afcalon a City of Syria^ and
moft Part of the Army marched thro' the Place
without doing any Injury.
But fome few, who
were left behind, pillag'd the Temple of the
celeftial Venus \ which as I am inform'd, is the
moft ancient of all thofe that are dedicated to
this Goddefs.
For her Temple in Cyprus was
built after that of Afcalon^ as the Cyprians themfelves confefs ; and that of Cythera w^as eredled
by Phoenicians who came from the fame Part of
Syria.
However,
the Goddefs to avenge this
Attempt, infiided on thofe that robb'd her Temple, and ail their Pofterity, a Diftemper, in
other Places only common to Women ; and divers of thefe Patients are feen by thofe who travel into Scythia^ where they are call'd by the
Name of impious Perfons.
After the Scythians had been twenty eight
Years in Pofleflion of Afia., and by their Infolence and Negligence brought all to Confufton,
laying heavy Impofitions on the Publick, and invading the Properties of private Men, Cy ax ares
and the Medes invited the greateft Part to a Feaft,
and

CLIO.

69

and kliPd them when they were drunk : In Confequence of which Adion, the Medes recovered
their former Power, and all they had poflefs'd
before i took the City of Ninus^ as I iliall rekte in another Place, and fubdued the AfTyrians, Babylon and the adjoining Country only excepted. Having accomplifh'd thefe Things, Cyaxares died \ after he had reign'd forty Years,
comprehending the Time of the Scythian Dominion.
ASTTAG ES the Son of Cvaxares, fucceeding him in the Kingdom, had a Daughter nam'd
Mandane ; and having dreamt fhe made fo great
a<^antity of Water, as not only fill'd his Capital City, but overfiov/d all A^fia^ he confulted
the Interpreters of Dreams among the Mages ;
and by their Explanation was caft into fuch a
Dread of the Event, that feeing his Daughter of
fufficient Age, he refolv'd not to marry her to a
Mede, worthy of her Bed ; but chofe a Perfiaii
for her Hufband, nam'd Camhyfes^ defcended of
a good Family, of a peaceful Difpofition, and
one he thought inferior to a Mede even of moderate Condition. Within the Space of a Year
after he had married Mandane to Camhyfes^ he
had another Dream ; in which he feem'd to fee
a Vine fhootinor fi-om the Bowels of his Daughter,
and extending its Branches over all Afia. This
^he alfo communicated to the Interpreters, and
having heard their Anfwer, fent to Ferjia for his
Daughter, who was then big with Child -, and
upon her Arrival put her under a Guard, refolying to deflroy whatever fhould be born of her.
For the Mages confidering his Dream, had inform'd him that the Iffue of his Daughter fhould
leign in his Place. And therefore as foon as Cyrus

F 3

was

70

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

was born, Afty ages mindful of the Predidlion,
fent for Harpagus^ who was his Favourite, and
of all the Medes moft entrufted with his Affairs,
and faid to him, " Harpagiis^ Fail not to perDeceive
" form the Thing I now command.
" me not •, and by chufmg others to do this
" Office, draw Ruin upon thy own Head.
Son ; carry him to thy
" Take Mandate's
" Houfe \ kill him, and bury him as thou
Harpagus anfwer'd, " O
" fhalt think fit/'
" King, As you have never obferv'd me unv/il*' ling to obey your Commands in any Thing ;
*' fo I fhall ever take care to preferve myfelf
Tf
" fi-ee from the Crimies of Difobedience.
" therefore this Thing be agreeable to your In" tention, my Part is to perform it with DiHaving made this Anfv/er, he re'• ligence."
ceiv'd the Infant richly drefs'd, • with Orders
He
to put the cruel Sentence in Execution.
wept as he carried him to his own Houfe, and
arriving there, acquainted his Wife with all
that had pafs'd between Afty ages and himifelf.
" AVhat then, faid fhe, are you refolv'd to do?**
*^ Not to obey Aftyagcs^ replied Harpagus^ In the
'^ Manner he has commanded, tho* he fhould
'' be yet more outrageous and mad than he Is :
*' Neither will I myfelf commit this Murder
<' for many Reafons \ but principally becaufe
*' the Child is related to me In Blood, and Afty" ages is old, and has no Son to facceed him.
«' So that after his Death, if the Kingdom
" ihould devolve into the Hands of his Daugh" ter, what Punifliment may I not expedl for
'' the Murder of her ^or\ } 'Tis indeed neceffary
'' for my Prefervation that the Intant fhould die,
to
'^ but as necelTary that fome Perfon belonging
" Aftyages

CLIO.

71

" Afty ages fhould be the Executioner, and not
'' any Perfon of my Family." In this Refolution he immediately fent for one of the King's
Herdfmen, who he knew kept his Cattle at the
Foot of certain Hills, abounding with wildBeaffcs,
and on that account very commodious for his
Defign. Mitradates was the Name of the Herdfman, and he had married a Wife who was
his Fellow-Servant. Her Name in the Language of Greece was Cyno^ and In that of the
Medes Spaco^ which iignifies a Bitch. The Man
kept his Cattle In Paftures that lie under the
Hills on the North of Echatana^ towards the
Euxin Sea. For this Part of Media^ which borders upon the Safpires, is very mountainous, and
cover'd with Woods •, whereas all the reft is plain
and level, ^^^len the H-erdfman had receiv'd
the Meflage, he went with great Diligence to
Harpagus^ who fpoke to him In thefe Terms ;
*' Afty ages has commanded thee to take this Infant, and to lay him down in the moft abandon'd Defert of the Mountains, that he m.ay
prefently perifh j and has charg'd me to add,
that if thou fhouldft venture to difobey him,
and by any means fave the Child, thou fhalt
dye in the moft exquifite Tortures that can
" be invented ; and I am appointed to fee his
*' Order put in Execution." Miiradates having
heard thefe Words, took the Infant, and return'd by the fame Way to his Cottage ; where
he found his Wife, who had been all the Day
in hard Labour, providentially brought to Bed,
whilft he was abfent in the City. During this
Time, they had been both in great Trouble y the
Huft)and much concerned for the Condition of
his Wifcj and the Woman no lefs difturb'd about

F 4

her

72

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

her Hufband, becaufe Harpagus had never fent
for him before. So that he no fooner canie
within the Door, than the Woman in a Surprize a/k'd him. Why Harpagus had fent for
him in fuch Hade ? " Wife, faid he, I have
been in the City *, where I have {ttw and
heard fuch Things, as I wilh had never been
ktn by me, nor ever happen'd to our Mafters. The whole Houfe of Harpagus was
filPd v/ith Lamentations : And as I vv^ent in,
ftruck with Horror, I faw an Infant drefs'd
in Gold and the richell Colours panting and
crying on the Floor. Harpagus feeing me,
order'd me to carry away the Child with all
Speed, and to leave him in that Part of the
Mountains which is moft frequented by wild
Beafts ; telling me at the fame Time, that this
was the Command of Aftyages^ and threaten-ing the fevered Punifhment if I fnould fail.
I took the Infant, which I fuppos'd to belong to fome Perfon of the Family ; having
then no Sufpicion of his high Birth, though
I was aftonifh'd to fee the Gold and Magnificence of the Apparel, and to have heard
fuch loud Lamentation in the Houfe of Harpagus. But being upon the Way, I underllood all from the Servant that accompanied
me out of the City •, who delivering the
Boy into my Hands, affur'd me he was born
of Mandane our King's Daughter, and of
Cambyfes the Son of Cyrus, and that AJlya"
ges had commanded him to be kill'd." As
he finifh'd thefe Words, he fhew'd the Infant
uncover'd to his W^ife ; who feeing him beautiful and well proportion'd, embrac'd the Knees
not
of her Hufband, and with Tears befought him

CLIO.

73

He
not to execute the Orders he had received.
told her he was under an abfokite Neceflity of
obeying •, becaufe the Spies of Harpagus would
certainly come to fee the Thing done, and becaufe he himfelf had been threatned with the
nioft cruel Death, if he fhould fail. The Woman finding fhe could not prevail this Way, had
" Since then, faid fhe, I
to another.
Recourfe
4C
cannot perfjade you not to expofe the Infant, do this at leaft, if the Spies of Harpagus muft fee his Orders obey'd : Take my
Child, which was born dead -, leave him among the Hills inftead of the other, and let
cc
us bring up the Son of Mandane as our own.
For by that Means we fhall fufficiently confult
our own Safety, without doing any Injury to
" our Lords : The Child that is dead fhall have
" a Royal Sepulchre, and the furviving Infant
" fhall be preferv'd from an untimely Death."
The Herdfman judging this Expedient very proper in the prefent State of Things -, and refolving
to do as his Wife advis'd, deliver'd the Infant
he was about to deftroy into her Hands ; and
having wrapp'd his own dead Child in all the
rich Apparel, he put it into the fame Baflcet
in which he had brought the other, and carried itto the moft defolate Part of all the Mountains, On the third Day after this was done,
leaving one of the Herdfmen in his Place, he
went to the Houfe of Harpagus m the City,
and told him he was ready to fhew the Carcafs
Upon which Harpagus difpatch'd
of the Infant.
fome of his Guards, v/hom he moft trufted, to
fee what was done \ and at their Return took
The other,
Care to interr the Herdfman's Child.
who afterwards had the Name of C)rus^ was
educated

74

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

educated by the "Wife of the Herdfman, and
went under the Name fhe gave him. But
when he attained to the Age of ten Years, he
was difcover'd by this A6tion. Being one Day
playing in thefe Failures with Boys of a like
Age, whilft he pafs'd for the Son of the Herdfman, he was chofen King 'by his Companions ;
and in Virtue of that Power, diftinguifh'd them
into feveral Orders and Offices, appointing fome
to be Builders, and others to wait on him as
Guards ; one to be his Chief Minifter, who is
call'd the Eye of the King, and another to have
the Care of bringing MefTages to him. The
Son of Artemhares^ a Man of eminent Dignity
among the Medes, being one of his Companions in this Play, and refusing to obey his Orders, Cyrus commanded him to be immediately
feiz'd and punifh'd with many Stripes, which
was done accordingly. But, as foon as the Boy
was difmifs'd, he haften'd to the City, full of
Grief and Indignation on account of this Difgrace, which he thought infupportable, and
with Tears told his Father what he had fuffer'd
from Cyrus^ calling him the Son of the King's
Herdfman ; for at that Time he had not the
Name of Cyrus. Artemhares in a Tranfport of
Anger, went prefently to AftyageSy accompanied
ty his Son ; and (hewing the Boy's Shoulders
to the King, " Are we then, faid he, to be
f * treated in this fhameflil Manner by a Slave, the
^' Son of thy Herdfman?" Aftyages heard and
faw v/hat was done ; and refolving for the Ho«
nour of Arternhares to avenge the Indignity offer'd to the Youth, commanded the Herdfman
and his Son to be brought before him. When
they came mto his Prefence, the King looking
upon

CLIO.

75

upon Cyrus ^ afk'd him, how he, who was the
Son of fo mean a Man, had dar'd in fo infolent
a Manner to abufe the Son of one of the principal Perfons in his Kingdom ? " Si R, faid Cyrus ^
*' I have done no more than I had a Right to
" do. For he with other Boys of our Neigh" bourhood, in our Recreations made me their
" King, becaufe they thought me moft capable
" of that Dignity.
All the reft obey'd me,
" and perform'd what I commanded ; but he
" alone refufing to obey, and flighting my Or^' ders, has fuffer'd the Punifhment he deferv'd:
" And if this be a Crime, I am in your Power."
As the Boy was fpeaking, Aftyages began to
think he knew him : The Air of his Face appeared tohim like his own ; his Anfwer Liberal and Noble ; and reflecting on the Time
when his Grandfon was expos'd, he found it aAftonifli*d at thefe
greeing with his Age.
Things, he was long fllent ; and at laft hardly recovering himfelf, he difmifs'd Artemhares with
Afliirance, that he would take care his Son
fhould have no Caufe of Complaint ; which ^
he did in order to examine the Herdfman privately. When Artemhares was gone out, the
King commanded
his Attc^indants to condud:
Cyrus into the Palace \ and detaining the Herdfman alone, aflc'd him where he had the Boy,
and from whofe Hands?
Mitradates aflirm'd
he was his own Son, and that the Mother of
the Boy was ftill living. Aftyages told him, he
as little confulted his own Safety, as if he purpofely
deiign'd
to at
bring
into commande
the greateft
s ; and
d
Extremitie
the himfelf
fame Time
his Guards to feize him.
The Man feeing himfelf reduc'd to this Neceflity, difcover'd the

whole

76

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

whole Matter without Referve •, and implor'd
the King's Mercy ; who having found out the
Truth, feem'd not much concern'd about the
Herdfman. Being highly incens'd againft Harfagus^ he fent his Guards with Orders to bring
him to the Palace -, where when he was come,
Aftyages afk'd him, in what Manner he had kill'd
the Son of his Daughter Mundane ? Harpagus
feeing the Herdfman prefent, refolv'd to conceal nothing by a F'allhood, left he fhould be
convicted by his Teftimony, and therefore faid ;
O King, after I had receiv'd the Infant, I
carefully confider'd how your Command
might be obey'd, and I, who had not offended you, might not be guilty of fo great a
Crime againft you and your Daughter. To
that End I fent for this Man, and gave him
the Child ; which I faid you had commanded
him to deftroy •, and I told him the Truth,
for fuch indeed were your Orders. In this
Manner I put the Infant Into his Hands ;
charging him In the next Place to lay him
down in fome Defert of the Mountains, and
to ftay till he fhould fee him periih, threatning the fevereft Puniiliment if he iliould dare
to fail. When he had executed thefe Orders, and the Child was dead, I fent fome of
the moft trufty among my Eunuchs to infped the Matter; and after they had given
me a fatlsfadlory Account, I buried him.
This Is the whole Truth, O King, and fuch
was the Fate of the Infant." Thus Harpagus fpoke with Plalnnefs •, and AJlyages diffembling his Refentment, repeated to him the
whole ConfefTion of the Herdfman ; adding^
that the Boy was living, and that he himfelf was

CLIO.

77

glad of the Event. " For, fald he, I was In
*' great Pain on Account of this Thing, and
*' could not eafily bear the Reproaches of my
*' Daughter : Therefore fince Fortune has been
*' more propitious than we expedted, fend your
*' Son to accompany the Boy I have recover'd,
" and come yourfelf to my Supper *, for I re" folve to facrifice to thofe Gods, who have
'^ a Right to my Acknowledgment on this Oc" cafion." As foon as Harpagus heard thefe
Words, he ador'd the King, and went home
exceedingly pleas'd, that his Fault had turn'd to
fo good Account, and that he was invited to
the Feaft of Joy. At his Return he fent his
only Son, of about thirty Years of Age, to
Aftyages^ with Order to do as he fhould command \ and acquainted his Wife with what had
pafs'd, in Expreffions of the higheft Satisfadion.
But the Youth going into the Palace, was kill'd
and cut in Pieces by Aftyages ; who, after he
had roafted fome Paits of his Flefh, and boil'd
others, kept them in a Readinefs to be ferv'd.
At the appointed Hour, when Harpagus and all
the Company was come, the Tables where the
King fat, and the reft of thofe he had invited,
were ferv'd with Mutton ; but before Harpagus
all the Body of his Son was plac'd, except the
Head, the Hands and Feet, which were kid
together in a Balket, and cover'd. When he
feem'd to have eaten fufficiently, Aftyages afk'd
him, if he lik'd the Meat ; and Harpagus anfwer'd. That he had never tafted any Thing
more delicious, the Officers appointed to that
End, brought the Head, Hands, and Feet of
the Youth •, defiring him to uncover the Bafket,
and take what pleas'd him beft. He did as they
defir'd.
3

-8

HERODOTUS.

Book L

defir'd, and faw the Remains of his Son's Body^without being aflonifli'd at the Sight, or fhewing
any Sign of Difcontent : And when Afty ages
afk'd him. If he knew what kind of Venifon he
had eaten •, he faid, he knew very well, and was
always pleas'd with v/hatever the King did :
After which Anfwer, he collec5led the mangled
Parts, and went Home, as I conjedui'e, to bury
them togetlier.
AStTAGES after he had thus punlfh'd
Harpagus^ beginning to confider what he fhould
do with Cyrus^ fent again for the Mages, who
had formerly interpreted his Dream ; and when
they came into his Prefence, afk'd them what
Judgment they had made of it. They gave
the fame Anfwer as before •, and faid. That if
the Boy fhould continue to live, he muft of
NecefTity be a King. " He is living and fafe,^
anfwer'd Aftyages ; and having been chofen
King by the Boys of that Diftridl: where he
liv'd, he has already performed all the Offices which belong to a real King; For he
exercis'd that Power in appointing Guards,Doorkeepers, Meffengers, and all other Things
reouifite: And nov/ I defire to know what
you think of thefe Adlions ?" If the Boy be
living, faid the Magcs^ and has already been a
King by fdch an Accident, and not by Contrivance, you may reft fatisfied in full Afturanee that he fhall not reign a fecond Time.
For our Prediiflions often terminate in Things
of little Importance, and Dreams efpecially
are fulfilPd by flight Events." " I am fully
perfuaded, replied Aftyages^ that my Dream is
accomplifh'd, and that I have nothing m.ore
to fear, fince the Title of King has been

3

" given

CLIO.

79

given to the Boy, yet confider well, and
with all pofTible Circumfpedlion advife what
may be moil conducing to the Safety of my
Family and to yourfelves. Our great Intereft, anfiver^d the Mages^ is, That your Kingdom fhould be firmly eftablifh'd ; becaufe if
the Sovereignty be alienated and transferr'd to
this Perfian, we, who are Medes, fhall become Servants of the Perfians, and be treated
as Foreigners, with the utmoft Contempt ;
whereas now, living under a King of our
own Country, we have a Part in the Government, and enjoy the greateft Honours.
So that ftanding oblig'd by Intereft to be
careful and vigilant to preferve your Perfon
and Kingdom, we would not conceal any
Thing from you which might be dangerous
to either. And therefore, fince the Dream is
accomplifh'd by a frivolous Event, we exhort
you to lay afide your Fears, as we have already done, and to fend away the Boy to hisParents in Ferf.aP Ally ages heard this Difcourfe with Joy, and calling for Cyrus^ faid to
him \ " Child, I have been unjuft to thee, by
" reafon of an infignificant Dream •, but thou
haft furviv'd thy own Deftiny. Prepare now
to go cheerfully to Perfta with thofe I lliall
appoint to attend thee j where thou fhalt
find thy Father and Mother, very different
*' in Condition from the Herdfman Mih'adates
''and his Wife." After thefe Words, Cyrus
was difmifs'd by Afiyages \ and upon his Arrival
at the Houfe of Camhyfes^ his Parents receiv'd
and embraced him with the greateft Tendernefs,
as a Child they had long given over for dead ;
and afk'd him, by. v/hat Means his Life been
had

8o

HERODOTUS.

Book t

been preferv'd. He faid, he had liv'd in the
deepeft Ignorance of his Condition, and knew
nothing of his own Misfortunes, but believ'd
he was the Son of the King's Herdfman ; till
thofe, who accompany'd him in this Journey,
ihform'd him of all that had pafsVl. He related
the Manner of his Education under the Care of
the Herdfman's Wife, and frequently repeating
the Name of Cyrio^ commended her on every
Occafion. This Name his Parents made ufe of
to perfuade the Perfians that the Prefervation of
Cyrus was particularly owing to a divine Power,
afhrming that a Bitch had nourifh'd him, when
he was expos'd in the Defert : And hence the
Original of that Fable is deriv'd.
When Cyrus had attain'd to the Age of a
Man, and v/as become the moft belov'd and
moft brave of all his Equals in Years, Harpagus
vehemently defning to be reveng'd upon Aftycges^ and defpairing to accomplifh his Ends by
his own Power, becaufe he was but a private
Man, courted him with Prefents ; and judging
the Injuries they had fuffer'd to be of like Nature, made a Friendship with him. He did yet
more to bring about his Purpofe. For feeing the
Medes opprefs'd by the Cruelty of Aftyages^
he applied himfelf to the principal Perfons of
the Nation, one after another, and perfuaded
them that they ought to depofe him, and advance Cyrus to the Throne in his Place. When
he had done this, and prepared the Medss to fecond his Dclign, he refolv'd to difcover his
Intentions to Cyrus -, and having no other Way
left, becaufe Guards were placed on all the
Roads that lead to Perfia^ he contriv'd the following Artifice. He open'd the Belly Flare,
of a

CLIO.

8i

Hare, and without tearing any Part, put a Letter, containing what he thought necefTary to
write, into the Body ; and having few'd it up
fo artfully that the Incifion was not vifible, he
delivered the Hare with a Net to tYvQ moft
trufty of his Domeftick Officers, cloath'd in
the Habit of a Hunter ; commanding him to go
to Perfia^ and upon the Delivery of the Hare,
to defu-e Cyrus not to open it in the Prefence
The MefTenger executed
of any other Perfon.
his Orders, and Cyrus opening the Hare with
his own Hands, found a Letter in which he read
thefe Words,
'* Son of Cambyfes^ the peculiar
" Care of the Gods, as thy Prefervation evi" dently demoilllrates ! Refolve now to punifh
" thy Murderer Aftyages ; for he did all he
" could to compafs thy Death ; but Heaven
I need
" and my Care have preferv'd thee.
" not repeat what he has done againft thee,
" nor what I have fuffer'd from him for deli" vering thee to the Herdfman, inftead of exe" cuting his bloody Orders, becaufe I fuppofe
** thou haft been long inform'd of thefe Things.
"At prefent, if thou v/ilt follow my Counfel,
" all the Dominions
which Aftyages pofTeiTes
'' fhall be thine.
Perfuade the Perfians to re" volt, and at the Head of their Forces invade
" Media.
The Succefs is certain,
whether
'^ Alhages appoint me or any other illuftrious
'* Mede to command his Army,
For all the
" principal Perfons among the Medes will de" fert him ; and joining with thee, will en" deavour to dethrone
him.
Defer not the
" Execution
cf this Enterprize j becaufe all
" Things are ready on our Part."
Cyrus having
read, thefe Words, begjxn to confider what MeaG
fures

82

HERODOrUS.

Book I.

fures he fhould take to p^erfuade the Perfians to
revolt •, and after various Thoughts, fix'd upon
this Method as the mofl proper. He fram'd a
Letter in fuch Terms as he thought fit, and
call'd an AiTembly of Perfians i in which, when
he had open'd and read the Letter, he declar'd,
that Aftyages had conftituted him Captain General of Ferfia : " And now, faid he, I com" mand you to attend me, every Man with his
" Hatchet." The Perfians are divided into manv Tribes, of which thofe that Cyrus Cummon'd
and perfuaded to revolt are the principal, and
influence all the reft. They are the Arteates,
the Perfians, the Pefargades, the Meraphians,
and the Mafians. But of all thefe, the Pefargades are efteem'd the moft brave, and comprehend the Achaemenian Family, of which the
Kings of Ferfia sire defcended. The reft are,
the Panthelians, the Derufians, and the Germanians, who are all HufiDandmen •, but the Daians, the Mardians,. the Dropicians, and the Sagartians are Keepers of Cattle. When they
came to Cyrus with their Hatchets, he order'd
them to clear in one Day a Piece of Land, containing eighteen or twenty Stades overgrown
with Briars •, and after they had done that Work,
he bid them go Home and wafh, and attend
him again the next Day. In the mean Time
he order'd all his Father's Flocks and Herds to
be kill'd and drefs'd ; providing Wine, and
the beft of Things in Abundance, to treat the
whole military Power of Ferfia. The next Day
when they were all afiembled, and feated on the
Green Turf, he feafted them plentifully ; and
after they had din'd, afk'd, whether they would
chufe to live always in that Marnier, or as they
had

CLIO.

^^^

had done the Day before. They anfwer'd, the
Difference was great-; for they had pafs'd the
preceding Day in Toil and Latour, and this in
Mirth and Pleafure. Cyrus perceiving the Tendency of thefe Words, difcover'd his Intentions, and faid •, " Men of Pcrfia^ If you will
hearken to my Counfel, you iliall enjoy thefe,
and infinite other Advantages, without any
Kind of fervile Labour ; but if you refufe,
innumerable Hardfhips like thofe of Yefcerday
are prepared for you. Believe me therefore,
and be a free People. P'or I am perfuaded
fome Divine Power brought me into the
World, to be the Author of your Happinefs :
Neither can I think you any Way inferior
to the Medes-, efpecially in Military Affairs : And, if thefe Things are fo, deliver
yourfelves without Delay from the Tyranny
of ^Jijdges." The PerHans, vvho during
many Years had liv'd in Reludancy under the
Obedience of the Medes, accepted him for
their Leader, and readily re-afTum'd their Liberty.
JSrrJGES being informed of thefe Tranfadlions, fent a Meflenger for Cyrus -, who by the
fame Perfon return'd this Anfwer: " That he
" would come fooner than AJly^-gss defir'd." Which
when the King heard, he arm'd all the Medes ;
and, as if the Gods had deprived him of Underftanding, made Harpagus General of his Army,
utterly forgetting the Outrage he had done
him. So that when the two Nations came to
a Battle, tho* fome of the Medes, who knew
nothing of the Confpiracy, behav'd themfelves
with Courage \ yet great Numbers revolted to
the Perfians •, and the far greater Part willingly
G 2
lofing

84

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

lofing the Day, fled out of the Field.
The Army of the Medes being thus fhamefully diflipated, and the News brought to Aftyages^ he
broke into a great Rage, and threatn'd Cyrus
that he fhould not long enjoy the Pleafure of his
Vidory.
After which, having firft commanded the Mages who had interpreted his Dream,
to be impal'd, for advifing him to fend Cyrus to
Perfia^ he arm'd all the Medes he found in the
City, both old and young ; and marching out
with thefe Forces, engag'd the Enemy : In
which Aclion he loft the Day, with his whole
Army,
and was himfelf made Prifoner by the
Perflans.
Harpagus ftanding by Aftyages after he
was taken, reproach'd and infulted him openly ;
and among other Difcourfe tending to im.bitter
his Calamity, afk'd. What he thought of his
Feaft, when he compell'd him to eat the Flefh
of his own Son \ by which he had now exchang'd a Kingdom for a Prifon.
Aftyages looking ftedfaftly on Harpagus^ demanded. Whether
he thought himfelf the Author of the late Siiccefs obtained by Cyrus? He anfwer*d. Yes -, becaufe by his Letter he had animated Cyrus to
this War i and therefore might juftly lay claim ,
to the Enterprize.
Aftyages faid, he was then
the weakeft and moft unjuft of all Men : The
weakeft, in giving the Kingdom
to another,
which he might have afliim'd to himfelf, if indeed he had effeded this Change ; and the moft
unjuft, in enilaving the Medes on Account of the
Supper.
For, if he was necellitated to confer
the Kingdom on another Perfon, and not to take
the Power to himfelf, he might with more Juftice have advanc'd a Mede to that Dignity than
a Perfian : Whereas now the Medes, who before
were

CLIO.

85

were Mafters of Perfta^ and had no Part in the
Fault, were by his Means reduced to the Condition of Servants ; and the Perfians, who had
been Servants to the Medes, were become their
Lords. In this Manner Ajtyages was deprived of
the Kingdom, after he had reign'd Thirty five
Years; and by his Cruelty the Medes became
fubjed to the Perfians, after they had commanded in alWhofe Parts of Afia that lie beyond the River Halys^ for the Space of One
hundred and twenty eight Years, the Time of
the Scythian Dominion only excepted. Yet afterwards repenting of what they had done, they
revolted againft Darius \ but were again defeated in a Battle ; and the Perfians, who under
the Condud of Cyrus had taken Arms againft
Aftyages and the Medes, have from that Time
been Mafcers of Afia. As for Aftyages^ Cyrus
kept him in his Palace till he died, without exerciiing any farther Severity againft him. And
this is the Account of the Birth, Education, and
Advancement of Cyrus to the Dignity of a Kino-.
How he afterwards conquered Crccfus^ who invaded his Territories without Caufe, I have related
before.

The Cuftoms which I have obferv'd among
the Perfians are thefe. They make no Images,
nor build either Altars or Temples -, charging
thofe with Folly who do fuch Things ; becaufe,
as I conjecfcure, they hold the Gods to be altogether different in Nature from Men, contrary
to the Opinion of the Grecians. When they go
to offer a Sacrifice to Jupiter^ they afcend the
higheft Parts of the Mountains ; and call the
whole Circle of the Heavens by the Name of
Jupiter.
They facrifice to the; Sun and Moon,

G 3

to

86

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

to the Earth, the Fire, the Water, and the
Winds.
Thefe are their Original Gods ; but
they have fince learnt from the Arabians and Affyrians to facrifice to Venus Urania^ who by the
Arabians is call'd AUtta^ by the AfTyrians Mylitta^ and bv the Perfians Mitra..
Wlien a
Perfian refolves to facritice, he builds no Altar,
kindles no Fire, makes no Libation, nor ufes
either Flutes, Fillets, or confecrated Plower j
but wearing a Tiara garnifh'd chiefly with Myrtle on his Head, leads the Victim to a clean
Piece of Ground,
and invokes the God.
He
that ojfFers is not permitted to p)ray for himfelf
alone •, but as he is a Member of the Nation, is
oblig'd to pray for the Profperity of all the Perfians, and in particular for the King.
When
he has cut the Vidim into fmall Pisces, and
boil'd the Flefh, he lays it on a Bed of tender
Grafs, efpecially Trefoil •, and after all Things
are thus difpos'd, one of the Mages (landing up
fings an Ode concerning the Original of the
Gods, which, they fay, has the Force of a
Charm •, and v/ithout one of thefe they are not
permitted to facriiice. After this, he that offered having continued a fhort Time in the Place,
carries away and difpofes of the Flefh as he
thinks fit. They are perfuaded, that every Man.
ought to celebrate his Birthday above all other
Days, and furniih his Table in a more plentiful
Manner than at other- Times.
Beeves, Camels,
Horfes, and AfTes, roafted intire, are {^tn in the
Houfes of the Rich on that Day ; and fmaller
Cattle in t-hofe of the meaner Sort. They are
moderate in the Ufe of com^mon Food ; but
eat- plentifully of the Defert, which yet is not
v.ery d^licipus^ thp' they thence take Occafion
to

CLIO.

87

to fay, that the Grecians rife hungry from Table ; and that if they had any Thing good fet
before them after their Repaft, they would not
leave off Eating fo fcon.
The Perflans drink
Wine in abundance -■, but may not vomit or
make Water before any Man.
Thefe Cuftoms
are obferv'd to this Day.
They debate the
moft important Affairs in the midft of their
Cups : But the Mafter of the Houfe where
they meet to confalt, propofes the fame Things
the next Day to the Company ; and if when
they have not drunk at all, their preceding Refolutions are approv'd, they ftarid, and, if not,
are rejected . In like Manner, when they drink
they refume the Confideration of whatever they
debate before their Wine.
When they meet
one another in the Way, Men may eafily know
their Condition and Quality.
For if they are
Equals, they falute with a Kits on the Mouth :
If one be a little inferior to the other, they kifs
on the Cheek ; but if he be of a much lower
Rank, he proftrates himfelf before the other.
They give the greateft Honour to their neareft
Neighbours,
lefs to fuch as are more remote,
and lead of all to thofe who live at the greateft Diftance •, efteeming themfelves much more
worthy m every Thing than the reft of Men,
and others to participate of Virtue only in
Proportion to the Nearnefs of their Situation ;
always accounting thofe the worft and mxoft
bafe, who inhabit fartheft from them.
During:
the Empire of the- Medes, each Nation had a
gradual Superiority : For tho' the Medes had the
fupreme Power, yet they exercis*d a more particular Authority over thofe that were neareft to
themj thefe again, over fuch as liv*d next beG 4
yond

88

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

yond their Borders ; and the laft in like Manner
over their Neighbours of the adjoining Country :
Which Example
the Perfians imitated, when
increafing in Power,
they obtain'd the Dominion, with the Government of Provinces.
No
Nation has ever been more, ready to admit foreign Culloms.
They wear the Habit of the
Medes ; which they think more becoming than
their own -, and in War they ufe the j^gyptian
Cairafs.
They are defirous to enjoy all Kinds
of Pleafure they here mentioned, and have learnt
from the Grecians to make love to Boys.
The
Virgins they take for their Wives are many -,
but tlieir Concubines are far more numerous.
To be a Father of many Children is accounted
a Part of Manhood
little inferior to Military
Courage ; and fuch Perfons as can fhew a numerous Offspring, receive yearly Prefents from
the King, becaufe they think their Strength
confifts in their Numbers.
From the Age of
five Years to that of twenty, the Perfians inflrudl their Sons in three Things only ; to ma^
nage a Horfe, to fhoot dextroufly with a Bow,
and to fpeak Truth.
A Son is not admitted to
the Prefence of his Father, but is brought up
by Women, till he attain the Age of five Years •,
left if he fhould die before that Time, his Father might be afflicted by the Lofs.
Thefe
Cuiioms relating to Education I much approve *,
and likewife that, by which even the King is
reilrain'd from killing any Man
for a fingle
Crime *, and every private Perfian from exercifing the utmoil: Severity againil thofe of his
Family for one Fault.
He is firfi: to confider
the Adlions of the Delinquent ; and if his Faults
are found to over -balance his former Servic^s^,

he

CLIO.

89

They fay, no
he may punifh him at Pleafure.
one has ever kiird his Father or Mother',
and that If at any Time fuch a Crime comes
into Queftion, the Perfon accus'd fliall certainly
upon due Information be found to have been
fuppofitltious, or begotten
In Adultery ; for
they hold it utterly improbable that a true Father fhould be murder'd by his own Son.
They
are not allow 'd even to mention the Things
they may not do. To affirm a Falfhood, is among them the utmoft Infamy ; and to be in
Debt Is for many Reafons accounted the next
Degree of Difgrace -, but efpeclally becaufe they
think fuch a Man always expos'd to the Neceflity of Lying.
If any of the Citizens have a
Leprofy, or fcrophulous DIfeafe, he is not permitted to ftay within the City, nor to converfe with other Perfians i having, as they believe, drawn this Punlfnment upon himfelf, by
committing fome Offence againft the Sun.
But
if Strangers are infeded with thofe Diftempers, they are prefently expell'd the Country :
And white Pigeons are not fufFer'd to be kept,
from Motives of the fame Kind.
They never
fpit, nor warh their Hands, in a River ; nor
defile the Stream v/Ith Urine or any other
Thing ; but pay a moft Religious Reverence to
running Waters.
Their
Language
has one
Thing peculiar ; which tho' unknov/n to them,
is well underdood by us. For all Names reprefenting the Perfon or Dignity of a Man,
terminate in that Letter which the Dorians tQ
call San^ and the lonlans Sigma.
And every
one upon Inquiry will find, that all Perfian
Names,
without Exception, end in the fame
I^ett^r. Thefe Things I can with certainty affirm

90

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

to be true. But, as their Cuftoms relating to the
Dead are more conceal'd and not fo manifefl",
I cannot fay that all the Perfians are expos'd for
a Prey to fome Dog or Bird before they are buried ;but I certainly know this to be the Manner of the Mages ; for 'tis done openly. The
Perfians cover the Body with a fufficient Quantity of Wax, and aftewards lay it in the Ground.
Their Mages not only differ from all other Men,,
but even from the itgyptian Priefts, who will
not pollute themfelves by killing any Animal,
except thofe they facrifice to the Gods : Whereas
the Mages make no Scruple to kill every Thing
with their own Hands, except a Man or a
Dog ; and think they do a meritorious Things
when they deftroy Ants, Serpents, Birds or Reptils. And thus having defcrib'd thefe Ufages,
I return to my Narration.
When the lonians and -Cohans heard that
the Lydians had been fo eafily conquered by the
Perfians, they fent Ambafiadors to Cyrus before
his Departure from Sardis^ to make an Offer of
their Submiifion to him, on the fame Terms
they obtain*d under the Government of Crcefus. Which Propofition Cyrus hearing, made
them no other Anfwer than this ; "A Piper
*' feeing many Fifhes in the Sea, and imagining
*' he might entice them to the Shore, by his
'' Mufick, began to play ; but finding his Hopes
*' difappointed, he threw a Net into the Wa•' ter, and having enclos'd a great Number,
*' drew it to the Land. When the Piper faw
*' the Fifhes leaping on the Ground, he faid,
**- Since you would not dance to my Pipe be*' fore, you may now forbear dancing at all."
This Apologue was a Reprimand to the lonians

CLIO.

91

ans and ^olians •, who, when Cyrus prefs'd them
by his Ambaflador to revolt from Crc^fus^ refus'd to confent, and now were ready to comply v/ith his De fires, becaufe they faw the Suecefs of his Arms. With this Anfwer, which
Cyrus gave in Anger, the lonians return'd home ;
and having fortified their Cities, met together
in a general Aflembly of the whole League, the
Mileiians only excepted, who were Singly admitted Into the Alliance of Cyrus on the Foot of
their former Agreement with the Lydian. All
the reft' of the lonians met, and unanimoufly
refolv'd to fend Ambafladors to Sparta^ earneftly to defire Succour from the Lacedemonians.
The Ionian Cities, of which this Confederacy
coniifts, are more commodioufly and happily
plac'd than any other we know among Men v
for neither the Regions that are above Ionia on
one Side, nor thofe that lie below on the other,,
nor any Part fituate either to the EafI: or Weft,
can juftly be compar'd with this Country ; becaufe they are either chill'd with Cold and
Rain, or expos'd to the Excefles of Heat and
Prynefs. All the lonians are not of the fame
Language ; but have four different Ways of exprefiing themfelves. The City of Miletus lies
to the Southward, and is accounted the principal of tliis League. The next are Myus and
JPriene. Thefe three are fituate in Caria^ and
ufe the fame DIale6l. Ephefus^ Colophony LeheduSy TeoSy Clazomene^ and phoc^a^ are Part of
JLydia \ and though they vary not at all from
one another in tlieir Manner of fpeaking, yet
their Language is different from the other. The
reft of the Ionian Communities are three, two
of which Inhabit the Iflands of Chios and Samos \

92

HERODOfUS.

Book I.

inos ; but the Erythrsans are plac'd on the Continent. This People ufe the fame Dialed with
thofe of Chios ♦, whereas the Samians have one
peculiar to themfelves. And thefe are the four
in Io?iia.
obferv'd
Speech
Proprieties
Among ofthefe
lonians,
the Milefians made
their Peace with Cyrus^ to exempt themfelves
from the Apprehenlions of his Power. But the
Iflanders had nothing to fear \ becaufe the Phoenicians were not then under the Obedience of
the Perfians, nor were the Perfians at all acquainted with maritime Affairs. This Separation of the Milefians, had no other Foundation
than the Weaknefs of the Grecians in general,
and of the lonians in particular ; who were the
v/eakeft of all, and in no Manner of Efteem.
The Athenians alone, among all thofe of that
Extradion, were of confiderable Fame. But,
neither they nor others were v/illing to be call'd
lonians ; as indeed in our Time the greater
Part feems to be afham'd of the Name. ' Yet,
the twelve Cities not only gloried in their Name,
but built a Temple, which from themfelves they
call'd Pan-IonioHy and refolv'd not to communicate the Privileg-e of that Place to anv other
lonians ; neither have others ever defir'd to be
admitted ; except the Smyrnaeans alone. In
this they refembled thofe Dorians, now known
by the Name of the Fi'ue Cities^ which were
formerly fix in Number ; who not only conftandy refus'd to admit any of the neighbouring Dorians into their Temple at ^riope\, but
excluded fome of their own Community for
tranfgreffing the efiabiifh'd Orders. For in thofe
Exercifes that were perform'd there in Honour
of Apollo^ a Tripos of Brafs was the Reward of
the

CLIO.

t)3

the vI(5bonous •, which yet no Man might carryout of the Temple, but was oblig'd to leave depofited on the Altar of the God. Neverthelefs,
when Agaficles of Halkarnaffus won the Prize^
and violated their Cuftom, by carrying away the
Tripos, and affixing it to his own Houfe, the
five Cities of Lindus^ lalijfus,, Camirus^ Cofs^
and Cnidus^ excluded that City, which was the
fixth, from the Union •, and punilh'd the Halicarnaffians in that Manner .|
The lonians feem to have form'd themfelves
Into twelve Cities, and refolv'd to admit no
more into their Society, becaufe they had been
divided into juft fo many Parts, when they inhabited in Peloponefiis ; as the Achaians, who
drove out thofe lonians, now coniifl of the
fame Number. The City of Fellena^ fronting
towards Sicyon^ Is the firfl of the Achaian
League : The next are Mgyra^ and Mge^ which
is water'd by the perpetual Streams of the River
Crathis^ from whence that of Italy takes its
Name : After thefe, Bura^ and Helice^ to which
Place the lonians fled, when they were defeated
by the Achaians : Mgyon^ Rbipes^ Patras^ PharCy
and Olcniis^ through v/hich runs the great River
Pirns : The reft are Dyma and T?'it^a^ the only
inland Places among them. Thefe are the
twelve Parts of the Achaian Territories, which
formerly belonged to the lonians ; and on that
Account they conftituted the fame Number of
Cities in their new Eftablifhment. For to fay
that thefe are more properly lonians, or any Way
more confiderable, than other lonians, is great
Folly ♦, when we know that the Abantes from
Eubcea^ who had neither Name, nor any other
Thing In common with the lonians, are no inconii-

9+

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

confiderable Part of this Colony ; and that the
Minyaii Orchomenians, the Cadmssans, Dryopians and Moloffians, with the Pelafgians of
Arcadia^ the Dorians^ Epidaurians, and many
other People, were intermix'd with them \ as
well as the Athenians, who were fent by the
Prytanasan Council, and thought themfelves the
moft Illuftrlous of the lonians. They had no
Wives with them when they came to fettle in
this Country -, but feiz'd a fufficient Number of
Carian Women, after they had kill'd their Parents : And, for that Reafon, thofe Women enter'd into a mutual Compad:, which they confirmed by an Oath, and tranfmitted as facred to
their Daughters, that they would never eat with
their Hufbands, nor ever call them by their
Names ; becaufe they had kill'd their Fathers,
their Hufbands, and their Children, and after
fuch Violences had forc*d them to fubmit to
their Will. This Adlion was done in the Country of Miletus.
The lonians appointed Kings to govern
them; fome chufmg Lycians of the Pofterity
of Glaucus ; others elecfling out of the Pylian
Caucones, who are defcended from Codrtis the
Son of Mel ant bus -, and fome again from both
thofe Families. They are exceedingly pleas'd
with the Name of lonians, and are true and- genuine lonians *, as all thofe are, v/ho derive their
Original from Jthens^ and celebrate the Apaturian Feftlval, which is unlverlally obferv'd in
lonia^ except by tlie Ephefians and Colophoriians •, but thefe alone are excluded, under the
Pretext of fome Murder. The Tan-Ionion is a
facred Place in Mycale^ dtuate to the Northward, and dedicated by the Ionian Confederacy
to

C L 10.

95

to Neptune of Helicon : And Mycale is a Promontory on the Continent, leaning on the SouthWeft Side, towards Samos. In this Place the
lonians met to celebrate the Pan-Ionian Solemnity : And we fhall obferve by the Way, that
not only the Ionian, but all the Grecian Feftivals terminate, like the Perfian Names, in the
fame Letter.
Having given this Account of the Ionian
Cities, I fhall proceed to thofe of the ^olians ;
which are, Cyme^ other wife call'd Phriconis^ Larijfa^ Neontichus^ TenuSy Cylla^ Notion^ -^K^rce£ay Pitane^ Mgaa^ Myrina. Thefe are eleven of the twelve Cities formerly belonging to
the ^ollans ; but Smyrna ^ which was the other,
was ruin'd by the lonians. They all ftand on
the Continent in a Region of greater Extent,
but inferior in Climate to that of the lonians.
The i^olians were depriv'd of Smyrna in this
Manner. A great Number of Colophonlans
having unfuccefsfully mutinied at home, and being forc'd on that Account to abandon their
Country, came to Smyrna^ where they were receiv*d and proteded by the Inhabitants. But
fome Time after their Arrival while the People
were celebrating the Rites of Bacchus without
the Walls, they took that Opportunity to fhut
the Gates and feize the City. Upon which,
when the i^ollans came with all their Forces to
fuccour the Smyrna^ans, the Difpute was determin'd by an Agreement, concelv'd In thefe
Terms •, That the lonians ihould reftore all
moveable Goods, and that the i^olians on their
l^art fhould quit their Claim to the City. The
Smyrn^ans confenting to thefe Conditions, were
diftributed into the other eleven Cities, and permitted
2

96

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

mitted to enjoy the Privilege of Citizens. Thefe
Places belonging to the iEolians, are on the
Continent •, befides thofe about Mouht Ida,
which lie at a great Diftance. In the Iflands
they had the following Cities : Five in Lefios •,
for the Methymnians deftroy'd Arijha, which
was the fixth, though they were of the fame
Blood ; one in ^enedos \ and another in the Hundred Ifiands. The Lefbians, with thofc of Tenedos^ and the lonians of the Iflands, were under
no Fear of the Perfian Power ; and all the other
Cities had taken a Refolution to follow, wherefoever the lonians fhould lead.
The Ambafladors of the lonians and ^olians
having perform'd their Voyage with all poflible
Diligence, and arriving in Sparta^ made choice
of Fythermus a Phoca^an to fpeak in the Name
of all \ who, to bring a greater Number of Lacedemonians together, cloath'd himfelf in a Purple Habit, and in a long Speech implorVl their
Affiftance. But, the Spartans rejecting his Requeft, determin'd not to fuccour the lonians in
any Manner : Upon which the Ambafladors re-,
turn'd home. Yet the Lacedemonian Sj though
they had difmifs'd the Ionian Embafly with a
plain Denial, fent away certain Perfons by Sea^
to obferve, as I conjedure, what fhould pafs between Cyrus and the lonians. Thefe Men arriving inFhoccea^ fent Lacrines^ who was the
moft eminent Perfon among them, to Sardts^
with Infl:ru6lions to acquaint Cyrus, That if he
fhould commit any Hoftility againft the Grecian
Cities, they would not pafs by the Indignity.
Which when Cyrus heard, he inquired of the
Grecians that were prefent, Vv'ho the Lacedemonians were, and what Number of Men they

3

could

CLIO.

97

tould bring into the Field ? And being inform'd
of thefe Particulars, he faid to the Spartan ;
" I was never afraid of thofe, who in the midft
'' of their Cities have a Place of publick Re" fort, where they cheat one another by mU" tual Oaths : And if I continue in Life and
Health, they fhall have fufFicient Caufe to
be concern'd for their own Calamities, without difquieting themfelves about thofe of
*' the Ionian s." Thefe Words of Cyrus were
levell'd at all the Grecians in general, who in
every City have fome publick Place for the Ufes
of buying and felling; but the Perfians have
none of thefe, nor any Place of publick Meeting at all.
CTRUS having entrufled Tabalus a Peffian
with the Government of Sardis^ and appointed
Pd^yas a Lydian to bring away the Gold found
in the Treafury of Croefus^ and ether Parts of
the City, took Crc:fus with him, and departs!
for Echatana. And becaufe he expeded to find
more Refiftance from the Babylonians, Badrians, Saces and Egyptians, than from the lonians, whofe Power he defpis'd \ he refolv'd to lead
his Army in Perfon againft thofe Nations, and
to fend another General againft the lonians.
But as foon as he was retir'd from Sardis^ Fa^yas prevaii'd v;ith the l.ydians to revolt f]om him,
and putting to Sea with all the Riches of Lydia
in his PofTeftion, engag'd the maritime Places to
join with him. ; and after he had rais'd a good
Number of Mercenaries, march'd to Sardis^
and beiieg'd ^ahalus^ who had fhut himfeif up
in the Caftle. Which News when Cyrus heard,
as he was orv his W^ay, he fpoke to Crcsfus in
thefe Terms; " Ys^hat will be the End of the^e
H
*' Things-

98

MERODOfUS.

Book I.

*' Things ? And when will the Lydians ceafe to*
<« give Difturbance to me, and to themfelves?"
*' I have almoft determin'd to deftroy the Na*' tion, and to reduce the People to the Condi*' tion of Servants •, perfuaded, that I have
*' done as imprudently as thofe, who after hav^' ing kill'd the Father, fhould fpare the Lives
" of his Sons.
For I compel you, who have
'^ been more than a Father to the Lydians, to
" follow me as a Prifoner, and at the fame Time
** have reinftated them in the PofTefTion of their
City : And, now, fhall I wonder at their Rebellion!" When Cyrus had thus plainly deli ver'd his Thoughts,
Crcefus fearing the utter
Ruin of Sardis^ anfwer'd ; " Sir, You have
but too much Reafon for what you fay •, yet
you will do better to moderate your Indigna*^' tion, and not to deftroy an ancient City, al^' together innocent of this, as well as of the
*' former Offence.
I myfelf committed
th<i
*' firft Fault, and am now adually under the
*' Punifhment.
But as Pa^yas^
w^ho was en'' trufted by you, is guilty of this fecond ^ let
" him be treated as his Crime deferves, and let
"* the Lydians be pardon'd.
Yet to the End
they may never m.ore revolt, nor be troublefome to you, command all their Arms to be
taken away •, and enjoin them to wear Vefts
and Bufkins, and to teach their Sons to fing,
to play on the Harp, and to drink in PublickHoufes.
For, by thefe Means, you will foon
fee the manly Spirit of the Lydians degenerate into a womanilh Weaknefs ; fo that they
" will never rebel, nor be formidable to you in
*' Time to come."
Crcefiis fuggefted this Met\
hod to Cyrus ^ becaufe he judg'd the Lydians
would

CLIO.

99

would be lefs unhappy under fuch ClrcumftanceSj
than if they fhould be fold for Slaves ; and was
perfuaded, that unlefs he could frame fome plaufible Pretext^ he fhould not prevail with him to
alter his Refolution : Neither was he without
Apprehenfion, that if the Lydians ihould otherwife efcape the prefent Danger^ they might
hereafter revolt from the Perfians, and bring utter Ruin on themfelves. Cyrus pleas'd with the
Expedient, told Crcefus he would take his Advice ; and fending for Mazares a Mede, commanded him to order the Lydians to conform
themfelves to the Regulations propos'd by Cro:fus ; and to treat all thofe as Slaves, who had afiifted in the Attempt upon Sardis ; but above
all, to bring FoMyas alive to him : And having
given thefe Orders in his Way, he returned to
Perfia.
PACTTAS being informed that the Army
Was approaching v/ith Defign to fall upon him,
fled in great Confternation to Cyme , and Mazares with that Part of the Perfian Forces he
had, march'd diredlly to Sardis. But not finding Paolyas and his Followers there, he, in the
firft Place, conftrain'd the Lydians to conform
themfelves to the Orders prefcrib'd by Cyrus,
and totally to alter their Manner of Life: After
which he difpatch'd MefTengers to Cyme^ with
Inftrudlions to demand the Perfon of Patlyas,
The Cvmasans calFd a Council on this Occafion,
and refolv'd to confult the ancient Oracle of
Bra?icbiSy which was frequented by all the lonians and i^olians, and ftands in the Territory of
Aliletus^ a little above the Port of Panormus,
When the Perfons, vvho were fent to the Oracle, arriv'd ^.t Branchis^ and pray'd to be inform'd
H 2

100

HERO DOfUS.

Book t

form'd what they fhould do, that might be moft
pleafing to the Gods, they were commanded to
deHver Patfyas to the Perlians : Which Anfwer
being brought to the Cymasans, determined the
Majority to decree that he fnould be furrender'd
accordingly.
But after they had taken that Refolution, A'r'iftodicus the Son of Heradides^ one
of the principal Men
of the City, either diftrufting the Faith of the Oracle, or fufpedling
the Sincerity of the Confulters, prevaii'd with
the Cymaeans to fufpend the Execution of their
Decree, and to fend other Perfons to enquire a
fecond Time concerning FaByas.
By this means
another Deputation was refolv'd, and Ariftodicus
was chofen for one ; who arriving with the
other Deputies at Branchis^ confulted the Oracle
in the Name of the refc, ufmg thefe Words ;
O King, PaByas the Lydian came to us as a
Suppliant,- to avoid a violent Death from the
Hands of the Periians.
They have demanded
him of the CymsanSy and reiblve to admit no
Denial.
We who are under great Apprehenfions of the Perfian Power, have not yet dar'd
to furrender the SuppHant, 'till we fhall be
plainly inform'd by thee, what we ought to
do in this Conjuncture."
Thus fpoke Ariftodicus •, but the Oracle ga.ve the fame Anfwer as
before, and again admonifh'd them to furrender
Pa^tyas to the Periians.
Upon which Ariftodicus^ in purfuance of the Defign he had form'd,
walking round the Temple, took away all the
Sparrows, and other Birds he found in the Nefts
that were within the Limits of the Place : And
when he had fo done, 'tis reported, a Voice was
heard from the innermoil Part of the Temple,
" moft
direding thefe \Vords to Ariftodicus j " O thou

CLIO.

iQi

■^^ mod wicked of all Men, how darefl thou
thus tear my Suppliants from under my Protec5lIon?" y^r//?(9<^zVz/j readily anfwer'd, " Art
thou then fo careful to fuccour thy Suppliants,
and yet fo forward to command the Cymaeans to abandon Pa5fyas to the Perfians?"
Yes, faid the Voice, I command it -, that
fuch impi-ous Men as you are may fuddenly
perifh, and never more difturb the Oracle
with Queftions of like Nature." When this
lad Anfwer was broi^ght to Cyme^ the People,
being unwilling either to furrender Pa£fyas to
be deftroy'd by the Perfians, or to draw a War
upon themfelv€3 b-y protecting him, fent him
away to Mitylem. Some fay the Mitylenasans,
upon a Mefiage they receiv'd from Mazares^ agreed to deliver Pacfyas into his Hands for a
certain Reward ; but I cannot affirm this, becaufe the Thing was never effeded. For the Cymaeans being inform'd of what was doing in
Mitylene^ difpatch'd a Veflei to Lejhos^ and
tranfported Paotyas to Chio : W^here he was
taken by Violence from the Temple of Miner"
I'd Protedrefs of the City, and delivered up by
the Chians : Who in Recom pence were put into PofTeffion of Atarneus^ a Place (ituate in Myfia^ over-againft LeJIws. In this Manner Pa^yas
fell into the Hands of the Perfians, and was kept
under Confinement, in order to be conducted to
Cyrus. And for a long Time after this Adion,
none of the Chians would ufe the Barley of Atarneus in their Offerings to the Gods, or make
any Confedion of the Fruits produc'd by that
Country \ but totally abflain'd from the whole
Growth of thofe Lands in all their Temples.
H 3
Whej^

102

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

Wh e n the Chians had deliver'd up PaByas^
Mazares march'd with his Forces againil thofe
who
had aflifted in befieging Tabalus ; and
having lirfl deflroy'd Priene^ and ravag'd all
the Plain that lies by the River M^e under ^ he
abandoned
the Booty to his Army.
But after
he had treated the Magnefians in the fame Manner, he fell fick and died.
Upon which, Harfagus^ who was alfo a Mede, and the fame Perfon, that having been entertain- d by Aftyages at
an execrable Feail:, had open'd a Way for Cyrus
to afcend to the Throne, came down to command the Army in his Place.
This Man being
appointed General by Cyrus ^ and arriving in Iqma^ took feveral Cities, by throwing up EarthWorks to the Walls, after he had forc'd the
People to retire within their fortified Places,
Phocaa was the firfh of the Ionian Cities that
fell into his Hands.
Thefe Phocasans were the
foft of all the Grecians who undertook long
Voyages, and difcover'd the Coafts of Adria^
^yrrhenia^ Iberia and 'Tartejfus.
They made
their Expeditions in Gallies of fifty Oars, and
us'd no Ships of a rounder Form.
When they
arrived at Tarte^us^ they were kindly receiv'd by
Arganthonius
the King of that Country, who
had then reign'd fourfcore Yeays, and liv'd to
the Age of one Hundred
and twenty.
They
had fo much of his Favour, that he at firft follicited them to leave lonia^ and to fettle in any
Part of his Kingdom they fnould chufe •, but afterwards finding he could not prevail with the
Phocaeans to accept his Oiter, and hearing they
were in sreat Danger from tlie increafing; Povv-er
of the Medes, he prefented them with Treafure
to defray the Expence of building a Wall round
their

CLIO.

.

103

th^ir City ; which he did with fo liberal a Hand,
no
that the whole Stru6lure, comprehending
fmall Number of Stades in Circumference, was
Stone.
built with large and well compa6led
arriving with his Army before this
Harpagus
City, firfl fent a Meflage to acquaint the Phocaeans within, that if they would demolifh one
of the Towers built upon their Wall, and confecrate one Edifice, he would reft contented.
anfwer'd^
Slavery,
detefting
Phocaeans
The
That they would take one Day to deliberate
touching his Propofal, if in the mean Time he
would draw off his Forces from about the City.
Harpagus faid. That though he well knew their
Defign ; yet he would permit them to confult
But, when he had
together, as they defir'd.
withdrawn his Army, the Phocaeans made ready
their Ships ; and having put their Wives, Children, and Goods on board, together with the
Images and other Things dedicated in their Temples, except Pidures, and Works of Brafs or
d likewife,at their
and
embark'
themfelv
Stone,
the Periians
: So esthat
for Chio
fet fail they
Return found the City defolate, and abandon'd
The Phocaeans arriving
by all the Inhabitants.
in Chio^ defir'd to purchafe the CEnuffian IJlands
of the Chians ^ but becaufe the Chians would
not confent to fell them, left they ftiould become
the Seat of Trade, and their own Ifland be excluded, they embark'd again, direding their
Courfe to Cyrnus *, where, by the Admonition
of an Oracle, they had built a City^ which
In
they nam'd Alalia^ twenty Years before.
their Paflage to Cyrnus^ turning in at Phodea^
they cut in Pieces the Perfian Garrifon left by
Harpagus in the City ; and about the fame Time
H 4
Argan-

I04

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

Arganihonius died. Having dcftroy'd thefe Periians, they pronounced terrible Imprecations againft thofe who fliould ftay behind ; and bound
themfelves by mutual Oaths, never to return to
Phoc^a^ till a burning Ball of Iron, which
they threw into the Sea on that Occafion,
iliould appear again unextinguifb_'d. Neverthelefs, as they were making towards Cyrnus^ more
than one half of the Fleet, mov'd by Regret
and AfFecftion for their native Country, broke
through all thefe Engagements, and retunvd to
Vhocaa \ while the reft refolving to obferve the
Oaths they had taken, purfued their Voyage
from the CEnvffian IJlands to Cyrnus. When
they arriv'd there, they built divers Temples,
and liv'd five Years in one Community with the
former Colony. But becaufe in that Time they
had ravag'd the Territories of all their Neighbours, the Tvrrhenians and Carthaginians com=
bin'd together to make War againft them, each
Nation with fixty Ships. The Phoc<Tans on
their Part fitted out their Fleet, confifting in all
of fixty Sail alfo ; and coming up with the Enemy in the Sea of Sardinia^ fought and conquer'd j but obtained a Cadmaean Victory : For
forty of their own Ships were funk ; and all
the reft having loft their Prows, v/ere utterly
difabled. After this Action, returning to Alalia^ they put their Wives and Children on board
again, with as much of their Goods as they
could carry off, and leaving Cyrnus^ fail'd to
Rhegium. Oi thofe Phocasans that loft their
Ships in the Fight, many fell into the Hands of
the Carthaginians and Tyrrhenians ; who at
their landing fton'd them to Death in the Territory of A^ylla,
After which, all the MenCattle.
and

CLIO.

105

Cattle that came Into thofe Parts, were feiz'd
-with a burning Diftemper, attended by Convulfions and Madnefs. In this Extremity the Agyl]ians being defirous to expiate the Crime, had
Recourfe to the Oracle of Delphi •, and the Pythian enjoin'd them to ufe thofe Rites which
they ftill obferve ; for they commemorate the
Death of the Phocaeans with great Magnificence, and Gymnaftick Combats. This was the
Fate of thefe Phocaeans ; and as for the reft,
who fied to Rhegium^ they left that Place, and
in (Enotria built a City, which is now call'd
Hyele^ by the Advice of a certain Pofidonian ;
who told them they had miftaken the Oracle,
and that the Pythian meant they fhould build
a Monument for Cyrmis the Hero, and not a
City in the Ifland of that Name.
The Condud of the Teians In this Coniundure was not unlike that of the Phocccans.
For when Harfagus^ by the Advantage of his
Earthworks, had made himfelf Mafter of their
Walls, all the Teians went on board their Ships,
and tranfporting themfelves to Thrace^ fettled in
the City of Abdera ; which ^imefius of Clazomene had formerly founded ; but was afterwards
driven out by the Thracians, who would not
fufrer him to continue in PojfTefTion of the Place ;
where yet he is honour'd as a Hero at this Time
by the Teians of Ahdera, Thefe were the only
People of all the lonians, who chofe rather to
abandon their Country, than fubmit to Servitude. The reft, except the Milefians, were
conquer'd by Harfagus^ after they had as ftrenuouHy defended their feveral Cities, as thofe
who left the Country *, and when they were
I^Qrc^d to (urrender to a fuperior Power,
they
continue^

io6

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

continued to inhabit the fame Places, and fubniitted to the Will of the Conqueror. But the
Milefians having made a League with Cyrus., as
I faid before, kept tliemfelves quiet during thefe
Commotions. And in this Manner the lonians
of the Continent were a fecond Time conquer'd ;
which put the Iflanders under fuch Confternation, that they readily made their Submiflion to
Cyrus. Yet, as the lonians, even in thefe Circumftances, were permitted to meet in the PanIonian Council, I am inform'd that Bias of
Friene ofFer*d them fuch falutary Advice in one
of thofe AfTemblies, that if they had hearken'd
to him, they might have been the moft happy
of all the Grecians. For he counfell'd the lonians
to tranfport themfelves in their Ships to Sardinia .^ and to have only one Capital City there,
for the Ufe of ta^ whole Confederacy ; by
which Means they would not only be deliver'd
from Servitude i but inhabiting the moft confiderable of the Ifiands, could not fail of leading
and governing all the refl : Whereas fhould they
continue in lonia^ he faw no Hope of recovering their Liberty. This was the Counfel of
Bias the Prienean, after the lonians were fubdued ; but shales x\\z Milefian, who was of
Phoenician Defcent, gave them the moft ufeful
Advice before that Calamity happen'd, in admonifhing the lonians to conftitute one general
Council of the whole League in the City of
"Teos^ which ftands in the Centre of Ionia •, and
to efteem all the reft of the inhabited Cities as
fo many equal Parts of the fame Community.
Such were the Sentiments of thofe two Perfons.

UARFA-^

CLIO.

107

HARPAGUS having fubdu'd Ionia, led
his Army, which he reinforc'd with lonians
and i^olians, againft the Carians, Caunians, and
Lycians. The Carians came from the Iflands
to inhabit on the Continent. They were antiently call'd Leleges, and liv'd In the Iflands
under the Protedlion of Minos, P^yl^g ^^^ Kind
of Tribute, that I could ever find by enquiring into the remoteft Times. But w^hen he
had occafion for Mariners, they aflifted hin:
with their Ships In the great Conquefts he
made, and raised themfelves to a higher Degree
of Reputation than any other Nation. They
were the Inventers of three Things now in Ufe
among the Grecians. For the Carians were the
firft who v/ore a Creft upon their Helmets ;
adorn'd their Shields with various Figures \ and
invented the Handle, by which they are manag'd •, whereas, before this Invention, the
Shield hung about the Soldier's Neck by a
Thong of Leather, and defcended by the Left
Shoulder. After a long Time, the Dorians and
lonians abandon'd the Iflands likewife, as the
Carians had done, and fettled on the Continent : And this Account the Cretans give of
the Carians. But the Carians not aflenting to
thefe Things, affirm they were originally Inhabitants of the Continent, and always went under
the fame Name. In Teflimony of which they
fhew an antient Temple at Mylafa, dedicated to
the Carian Jupiter \ where the Myfians and Lydians are admitted to participate with the Carians
in their Worfliip, as Nations of the fame Blood.
For, fay they, Lydus and Myfus were Brothers to
Cares, and on that Account the Ufe of this Temto
ple iscommunicated to their Fofterity, and not"

io8

HERODOTUS.

Book h

to any other People, tho' of the fame Language with the Carians. The Caunians, as I
conje^ure, are originally of the Country they
inhabit, tho' they fay their Anceflors came from
Crete. But whether they have accommodated
their Language to that of the Carians, or the
Carians have form'd their Speech by the Caunian, I cannot determine with Certainty. In
their Cuftoms and Manners the Caunians refemble no other Nation, not even the Carians ;
accounting it a decent Thing in Men, Women,
and Boys, to drink in great Companies, with
their Friends, and with thofe of the fame Age.
They antiently worlhipp'd the Gods of other
Nations ; but afterwards changing their Opinion, and refolving to have no other than their
own national Deities, they all arm'd themfelves,
and in a petulant Manner brandifhing their
Spears in the Air, march'd up to the Moun=
tains of Calinda^ crying as they went, That
they were expelling the Foreign Gods out of
their Country. The Lycians derive their Original from Crete^ which in antient Time was intirely in the Pofieffion of Barbarians. But Sarfedon and Minos ^ the Sons of Eur op a ^ contending for the Kingdom \ Sarpedon being defeated
by Minos^ was driven out of the Ifland with all
his Partizans, and landing in Afic?^ fettled in Milyas j for that was the antient Name of the
Country which the Lycians now inhabit, tho*
th^ Milyans were then call'd Solytni. During
the Reign of Sarpedon they went by the Name
they brought with them into Afia ; and in our
Time are by their Neighbours call'd Termilians. But when Lycus the Son of Pandion was
compeird by his Brother jEgeus to q^uit Athens^

CLIO.

109

he fled to Sarpedon at 'Termile^ and from him the
People began to be nam'd Lycians. Their Cuftoms are, for the moft Part, derlv'd from the
Cretans and Carians ; but they have one peculiar
to themfelves, in which they differ from all other
Nations. For they take their Names from their
Mothers, and not from their Fathers ; fo that if
any one be afk'd who he is, and of what Family, he recounts his Maternal Genealogy, in the
Female Line. Befides, if a free-born Woman
marry a Servant, her Children enjoy the full Privilege of Citizens ; but ihould a Man of ever fo
high Dignity marry a Foreigner or a Concubine, his Children would be uncapable of any
Honour.

Th e Carians were fubdu'd by Harpagus^ with cut doing any memorable Adion m their Defence :And all the Grecians that inhabit thofe
Parts, behav'd themfelves with as little Courage.
Among thefe were the Cnidians, a Lacedemonian Colony, whofe Territories defcend to the
Triopian Sea, This Region, except the Ifthmus
of Byhlefia,, which is no m.ore than five Stades in
Breadth, is furrounded by the Sea, having on
the North-Side the Ceraunian Gidpb^ and on the
South-Weft the Rbodian and Symean Seas. The
Cnidians there, while the Arms of Harpagus were
employ'd in the Conqueft of Ionia, fofm'd a Defign to cut thro' the Ifthmus, and to make their
Country an Ifland. But, as they were carrying
on that Work with great Diligence, the Shivers
of the Stones broken by their Inftruments, flew
about fo thick, and wounded fo many Men in
the Body, and particularly in the Eyes, that falling into great Confternation, and imagining fome
Divine Power had interpos'dj they fsnt to in-

quirsi

no

HERODOTUS.

Book i.

quire of the Delphian Oracle concerning thi§
Obftrudion •, and, as the Cnidians fay, had the
following Anfwer from the Pythian 5
Build here no T!ovfrs\ nor thro* the Iftkmus cut :
Had the God pleased that this jhould he an Ijle^
^he Sea had wa/h'dyour Coajl in ev^ry Part.
Upon the Reception of this Oracle, the Cnidians
defifled from their Work, and when Harpagus
appear'd with his Army, furrender'd without
Refiftance. But the Pedafeans inhabiting a midland Country fituate above Halicarnajjus^ were
the only People of Carta that oppoS'd Harpagus
with Vigour. For retiring to a Mountain call'd
Lyda^ they fortified and defended themfelves
valiantly, and were not fubdued without great
Difficulty. When any fmifter Event is about to
fall upon the Pedafeans and their Neighbours, a
long Beard flioots fuddenly upon the Chin of
Minerva''s Prieftefs j and this Prodigy has thrice
happen'd. After thefe SuccelTes, Harpagus drew
his Army into the Plain, in order to attack the
Lycians of Xanthus ; who, tho' they were few
in Number, yet having affembled v/hat Forces
they could, took the Field, and fought the Perfians with great Courage. But being overpower'd with Numbers, and forc'd to retire into the
City, they put their Wives, Children, and Servants, with all I heir Riches, into the Caftle,
and fet fire to the Place. Which when they
had done, and all was burnt, they engag'd themfelves by the ftrongeft Oaths to dye together,
and to that End returning into the Field of Battle, they renew'd the Fight, and were cut in
Pieces to the laft Man.
All the Xanthian Lycian?

CLIO.

Ill

cians of our Age are defcended from Strangers j
except eighty Families, which being abfent at
the Time of this Invafion, efcap'd with Life.
Thus Xanthus fell into the Hands of Harpagus ;
and Caimia almofl: in the fame Manner ; for the
Caunians were accuftom'd to follow the Example of the Lycians.
While Harpagus fubdued the Lower,
Cyrus conquer'd the Upper Afia^ without fparing
any Nation he found in his Way. But I fhall
forbear to mention the greater Part of his
Adlions, and content myfeif to relate the moft
memorable ; efpecially fuch as were attended
with the greateft Difficulty. When he had reduc'd all the Continent of Afia^ he refolv'd to
invade Jjfyria^ which contains many famous Cities -,but the principal in Strength and Name is
Babylon^ where the Seat of the Kingdom was
fix'd after the Deftrudlon of Ninus. BahyJon
(lands in a fpacious Plain, and being perfedly
fquare, fhews a Front, on every Side, of oneHundred and twenty Stades, which make up
the Sum of four Flundred and eighty Stades In
the whole CIrcumiference. This City, {o great
m Dimenlion, is more magnificently built than
any other we knov/. In the hrft Place, a wide
and deep Ditch, always fupplied with Water,
encompalTes the Wall ; which is two Hundred
Royal Cubits in Height, and iifty in Breadth ;
every Royal Cubit containing three Digits more
than the common Meafure. And here I think
myfeif obllg'd to give fome Account, hov/
the Babylonians employ'd the Earth that v/as
taken out of fo large a Ditch, and in ^A\o.t
Manner the Wall v/as built. As they open'd
the Ground,
and threw out the Earth,
they
made

11 ±

HERODOrUS.

Bookt

made Bricks ; and when they had fhap'd a convenient Number^ they bak'd them in Furnaces
prepar'd for thjit Purpofe. The Cement they
us'd was a bituminous Subflance heated on the
Fire ; and every thirty Orders of Bricks were
compacted together with an Intermixture of
Reeds. With thefe Materials they firft lin'd
the Canal, and afterwards built the Wall in the
lame Manner^ Certain Edifices confifting only
of one Floor, were plac'd on the Edges of the
Wall, fronting each other, and a Space was left
between thofe Buildings, fufficient for turning
a Chariot with four Horfes abreaft. In the
Circumference of the Wall one hundred Gates
of Brafs are feen, with Intablatures and Supporters of the fame Metal, all of like Architedture,
Eight Days Journey from Babylon (lands another
City, cali'd /r, on a River of the fame Name,
that falls into the Euphrates^ and brings down
great Quantities of Brimftone in Lumps ; which
being carried to Bahyhii was us'd in this Work:
And thus the City was encompafs'd with a
Wall. Babylon confifts of two Parts, feparated from each other by the River Euphrates •,
tvhich defcending from the Mountains of Armenia^ becomes broad, deep, and rapid, and
falls into the Red-Sea. The Walls were brought
down on both Sides to the River, with fome
Inflexion at the Extremities •, from whence a
Rampart of Brickwork was extended along the
Edge of the River on both Sides. The Houfes
of Babylon are of three and four Floors in Height ;
and the principal Streets pafs in a diredt Line
quite through the City. The reft traverfing
thefe in feveral Places, lead to the River ^ and
little Gates of Brafs, equal in Number to the
3

lefTer

CLIO.

iij

iefler Streets,
are plac'd
in the
border
the Stream.
Within
the Ramparts
firil Wall, which
which
is fortified with Towers, another is built, not
much inferior in Strength, tho' not altogether
fo thick : And befides thefe, the Centre of
each Divifion is wall'd round ; containing in
one Part the Royal Palace, which is very fpacious and ftrong ; and in the other the Temple of Jupiter Belus^ being a fquare Building,
extended to the Length of two Stades on
every Side, and having Gates of Brafs, as may
ftill be {^Qn in our Time. In the midft of this
Temple ftands a folid Tower, of one Stade
in Height, and in Length and Breadth of the
fame Meafure. On this Tower another is built,
and a third upon that, till they make up the
Number of eight* The Afcent to thefe is by a
circular Way carried round the Out fide of the
Building to the highefl Part. In the midft of
the Afcent is a Place, where thofe who go up
may reft themfelves ; and within the uppermoft Tower a fpacious Dome is built, in which
a Table of Gold {lands at the Side of a magnificent Bed. No Image is {ttvi in this Place,
nor is any Mortal permitted to remain there hy
Night (as the Chaldaeans, who are the Priefls
of this Temple, fay) except only a Woman
chofen by the God out of the whole Nation ;
affirming for a Truth, which neverthelefs I think
incredible, that the God comes by Night and
lies in the Bed : Which refembles the Account
given by the j$lgyptians of their Temple at
*T'hebes. For there alfo a Woman lies in the
Temple of Jupiter^ and neither of thefe are fufpeded to have the Company of Men ; any more
than the Prieflefs of Pataris in Lycia i where,
tho*
I

114

HERODOTUS.

Book!.

tho' they have not a conftant Oracle, yet when
aft Anfwer is to be deliver'd, fhe is fhut up during all the Night in the Temple.
In a Chapel which ftands below, within
the Temple of Babylon^ a large Image of Gold,
reprefenting Jupiter fitting, is plac*d on a
Throne of Gold, at a Table of the fame Metal, all together weighing eight hundred Talents, as the Chaldasans affirm. Without this
Chapel is an Altar of Gold ; and another of
a greater Size, which is ufed when Cattle of
full Age are facrific'd •, for on the Golden Altar no other than fucking Vidims may be offered. On the great Altar the Chaldasans confume yearly the Weight of a thoufand Talents in Incenfe, when they celebrate the Feftival of this God. Befides thefe Things, a Statue
of folid Gold, twelve Cubits high, flood formerly in this Temple ; which becaufe I did
not fee, I fhall only relate what I heard from
the Chaldasans ; who fay, that Darius the Son
of HyftafpeSy having form'd a Defign to take
away this Statue, had not Courage to effect
his Purpofe : But that Xerxes the Son of
DariuSy not only took the Statue, but kilPd the
Frieft who had forbidden him to remove it.
In this Manner the Temple of Jupiter Belus is
built and adorn'd ; not to mention divers other
Donations confecrated there by private Perfons.
Many Kings, whofe Names I fhall mention
m my Difcourfes of the AfTyrian Affairs, reign'd
formerly in Babylon, and beautified the City with
Temples and other publick Edifices : But none
more than two Women. The firfl: of thefe,
nam'd Semiramis, liv'd five Generations before

a

the

CLIO.

115

the other, and rais'd fuch Banks to prevent the
inundations of the River, which frequently
overflow'd all the Plain of Babylon^ as deferv'd
Admiration. But the other, whofe Name was
Nitocris^ having afterwards obtained the Kingdom, and being much more provident, not only
left Monuments of herfelf, which I fhall defcribe ; but when fhe faw the Power of theMedes grown formidable and ftrong, artd that
they had taken the City of Ninus^ with divers
others, fhe made all imaginable Provifion for the
Defence of her Territories. To that End, in
the firft Place fhe caus'd a Channel to be open'd
above Babylon^ with fo many various Windings^
to receive the Stream of the Euphrates .^ which
before ran in a flraight Line, that this River waa
made to touch no lefs than three feveral Times
at one fingle Town of Ajjyria^ call'd Arderica ;
and all thofe who now afcend from the Sea by
the Way of Babylon^ are neceflitated to pafs
thrice by that Place in three feveral Days,
Much higher than Babylon^ at a little Diftance
from the Euphrates^ fhe caus'd a fpacious Laketo be made, four Hundred and twenty Stades
over on every Side ; and in Depth till the
Workmen came to Water. She border'd the
Edge of this Lake quite round with Stone, and
all the Earth they threw out was difpos'd of,
by her Diredtion, to augment the Banks of the
River, which by that Means are of an aftonifhing Height and Thicknefs. Thefe two Things
Ihe did, that the Current being broken by frequent Inflexions, the River might move on but
flowly, and that the Capacioufnefs of the Lake
might render the Navigation to Babylon long
and difficult. All this was done in that Part of
I 2
ths

ii6

HERODOfUS.

Book I.

the Country which lies next to the Medes, and
is their fhorteft Way to Babylon ; to the End
they might have no Opportunities of difcovering her Affairs by an eafy Communication with
the Affyrians. Both thefe Works fhe ftrengthen'd
with a folid Facing from the Bottom, and
ereded another betv/een the two Divifions of
the City. For confidering that Babylon was
divided by the River into two Parts *, and that
all Perfons who pafs'd from one Side to the other
during the Reigns of former Kings, had been
neceflitated to make ufe of Boats, which in my
Opinion was very troublefome ; fhe provided
the following Remedy -, and after having funk
the Draining Lake, I mentioned before, left this
alfo for a Monument of her Fame. She or*
der'd Stones to be cut of large Dimenfions ;
and when they were ready, commanded a great
Compafs of Ground to be open'd, and the
Current of the Euphrates to be turn'd into that
Place. By this Means, when the Water was
drain'd out, and the antient Channel become
dry, (he lin'd the Banks of the River on both
Sides with a Facing of burnt Brick, below the
little Gates that lead to the Water within the
City, and cemented as the Walls had been.
W^hich having done, fhe built a Bridge about
the midft of the City with the Stones fhe had
prepar*d ; binding them together with Plates of
Lead and Iron. Upon thefe Stones, Planks of
fquar'd Timber were laid by Day, that the Babylonians might pafs over from one Side to the
other, but were remov'd at Night to prevent
mutual Robberies. When the Lake v/as fill'd
with the Water of the Euph'ates^ and the Bridge
finifh'd, fhe brought back the River to its antient

CLIO.

117

tient Channel. This Invention of the Lake was
much applauded ; and thus a Bridge was built
for the Ufe of the Inhabitants. The fame Queen
laid this Snare for fucceeding Time : She prepar'd a Sepulchre for herfelf over the mofl: frequented Gate of the City, expos'd to open
View with the following Infcription : If any
ONE

OF

MY

Successors,

Kings

of

BABYLON^ SHOULD find himself
inwant OF Money, let him open
this Sepulchre, and take as
much
ashe shall think fit: but
IF

HE

BE

NOT

REDUC'd

TO

REAL

Want, he ought
to forbear;
otherwise he shall have cause
TO REPENT. This Monumcnt continued untouch'd to the Reign of Darius •, who judging
it unreafonable that the Gate fhould remain ufelefs to the Inhabitants (for no Man would pafs
under a dead Body -,) and an inviting Treafure be
render'd unferviceable, broke up the Sepulchre,
and inftead of Money found only the Body and
thefe Words -, Hadst
thou not been
INSATIABLY
DY OF THE

COVETOUS,
AND
GREEMOST
SORDID
GaIN,

THOUWOULD'sT

not

HAVE

VIOLATED

THE Sepulchre
of the Dead.
And
this is the Account they give of Nitocris Queen
of Babylon.
CTRUS made War againft Lahynitus the Son
of this Queen, who had his Name and the Kingdom of Ajjyria from his Father. When the
Great King leads his Army in Perfon, he has
with him Cattle and other Provifions in abundance. The Water he drinks is brought from
the River Choapfes^ which runs by Siifci ; for

I 3

'

the

ii8

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

the Kings of Perjla drink of no other.
This
Water being firft boiPd and preferv*d in Veflels
of Silver, is loaded on many Waggons drawn
by Mules, and carried after him wherefoever
he goes. Cyrus arriving at the River Gyndes
in his March towards Babylon^ endeavour'd to
pafs over with his Army •, but that River was
not fordable.
The Gyndes rifes in the Hills of
Matiene^ and defcending thro' Dardania^
falls
into the "Tigris \ which paffing by the City of
Opis^ runs out into the Red Sea. In the mean
Time one of thofe who were mounted on white
Horfes, accounted facred among
the Perfians,
■with an audacious Petulancy pufh'd into the
River *, but the Current proving too ftrong,
drew him fuddenly with his Horfe to the Bot=
torn. Cyrus ^ much offended with the River
for this Affront, threaten'd to render his Stream
fo contemptible, that Women Ihould pafs to
either Side without wetting their Knees.
Afterwhich Menace, deferring his Expedition againft
Babylon^ he divided his Army into two Parts y
and having mark'd out one Hundred and eighty
Channels, by the Line, on each Side of the
River, commanded
his Men
to dig out the
Earth.
Flis Defign was indeed executed, by the
great Numbers
he employed ; but the whole
Summer was fpent in the Work.
Thus Cyrus
punifh'd the River Gyndes^ by draining the
Stream into three Hundred and lixty Trenches *,
and in the Beginning of the next Spring advanc'd
with his Army towards Babylon.
Upon his Approach the Babylonians^ who in Expedation of
his coming had draw^n out their Forces, gave
him Battle, and being defeated fled back to the
City. But having been long acquainted with the
reftlefs

CLIO.

119

reftlefs Spirit of Cyrus^ and his Cuftom of attacking all Nations without Diftindtion, they
had laid up Provifions for many Years, and were
under no Apprehenfions about a Siege. On
the other Hand, Cyrus himfelf finding much
Time confum'd, and his Affairs not at all ad-vanc'd, fell into great Doubt what he fhould
do next ; when at laft, either by the Suggestion
of fome other Perfon, or of his own fagacious
Invention, he refolv'd upon the following Stratagem. He polled one Part of his Army near
the Place where the River enters Babylon^ and
the refl in another Station below, where the
fame River leaves the City ; with order to enter, fo foon as they fhould fee the Channel pafTable. Having given this Diredlion, and encourag'd his Forces, he went with the ufelefs
Part of his Men to the Lake, and did as the
Queen of Babylon had done. For by opening a large Trench, he turn'd the Stream into
the Lake, and by that Means the River fubfiding, the antient Channel became fordables
Which the Perfians, who were appointed to
that Purpofe, obferving, put their Orders in execution, and boldly enter'd the City, having the
Water no higher than the Middle of the Thigh.
Yet if the Babylonians had been well inform'd,
or had forefeen the Attempt of Cyrus, they would
doubtlefs have deftroy'd his Army, and not have
fupinely fuffer'd the Perfians to pafs. For by
ihutting all the little Gates that lead down to the
River, and mounting the Brickworks that run
along the Key, they might have taken them in
a Kind of Cage •, whereas having no Sufpicion of
fuch a Defign, they were unexpe6ledly furpriz'd
ty the Perfians,
The Extent of the City was

I 4

fuch

1 20

HERO

DO TUS. Book I.

fuch, that, if we may believe the Babylonians,
when thofe who inhabited near the Centre were
taken, the People that dwelt about the Extremities of Babylon heard nothing of their Difafter ;
but were celebrating a Feftival that Day with
Dancing and all manner of Rejoicing, till they
receiv'd certain Information of the general
Fate. And thus Babylon was the iirft Time
taken.
Among many Things which I fliall mention,
to fhew the Power and Wealth of the Babylonians, this is one. That, whereas all the Dominions of the Great King are charg'd with providing Subliftence for his Perfon and Armies,
over and above the ufual Tribute •, the Terri^
tory of Babylon contributes as much as is fufficient for four of the twelve Months that make
up the Year, all the reft of Afta furnifhing no
more than for eight Months only : So that the
Country of AJjyria alone is accounted equivalent to one half of all the other Parts of Afta.
The Government of this Region, which the
Perfians call a Satrapy, is much more conliderable than any other, and yielded an Artabe
of Silver every Day to Trittechmes the Son of
Artabazus^ v^^ho was appointed Governor by
the King. The Artabe is a Perfian Meafure
containing three Chcenixes more than the Attick Medimnus. Befides this Revenue, and his
Horfes for War, a Studd of eight Hundred
Stallions, and fixteen Thoufand Mares, one Horfe
to twenty Mares, was kept for him at the Expence of the Country : And his Indian Dogs
were fo many, that four confiderable Towns in
the Plain were exem.pted from all other Taxes,
pa Condition to provide Food for thofe Animals.
Such

CLIO.

121

Such Advantages belonged to the Governor of
Babylon. Little Rain falls in JJJyria ; but the
Root of the Corn is nourifh'd in another Manner; and though the Earth is not water'd by
the overflowing of the River, as in Mgyft \
yet the Hands of Men and Watering-Engines,
invented for that Purpofe, fupply the Lands
with a fufficient Quantity of Moifture. For all
the Country about Babylon is, like Mgyft^ divided byfrequent Canals -, of which the largeft
IS navigable, and beginning at the Euphrates^
defcends towards the Winter-Solftice, and falls
into the River 'Tigris^ where the City of Ninus
formerly flood. No Part of the known World
produces fo good Wheat ; but the Vine, the
Olive and the Fig-Tree, were never feen in this
Country. Yet, in Recompence, it abounds fo much
in Corn, as to yield at all Times an Increafe of
two Hundred for one ; and even three Hundred, when the Year is extraordinary fruitful,
and the Climate feems to out-do itfelf. Wheat
and Barley carry a Blade four full Digits in
Breadth : And though I well know to what a
furprizing Height Milet and Sefama grow in
thofe Parts, I fhall be filent in that Particular j
becaufe the Truth would feem incredible to all
thofe who have never been at Babylon. They
life no other Oil than fuch as is drawn from Sefama. The Palm-Tree grows naturally over all
the Plain-, and the greater Part bears Fruity
with which they make Bread, Wine, and Honey. This Tree is cultivated as the Fig-Tree ;
and they tie the Fruit of that which the Grecians call the Male-Palm, about thofe Trees
that bear Dates, to the End that a Gnat may
enter and ripen the Fruit \ left otherwifeGland
the

12 2

HERO DO TUS.

Book I.

Gland fall before Maturity; for the Pmit of
the Male-Palm, like that of the wild Fig^Tree,
produces a Gnat. But the Thing which, next
to the City, feems moft wonderful to me, is
this : The Veflels that defcend the River to Babylon^ are round, and in great Meafure compos'd of Skins. For when they have cut the
Ribbs out of Willows growing in the Hills of
Armenia above Babylon^ they cover them with
Hides extended on the Outflde, to ferve for a
Bottom \ making no Diflindion of Stem or
Stern. Thefe VefTels thus fhap'd in the Form
of a Buckler, they flow with Reeds, and ven^
ture upon the River, freighted with Merchandize, and efpecially with Cafks of Palm-Wine.
Two Men fcanding upright with a Pole in the
Hand of each, one pulling to, and the other
putting o^ fi-om himfelf, diredl the Courfe of
thefe Boats \ fome of which are very large, and
others of a lefs Size -, but the moft capacious
carry the Weight of five thoufand Talents.
Every VefTel has an Afs on Board, and the
greateft more. For after they arrive at Babylon^
and have difpos'd of their Goods, they fell the
Ribbs of the Boat with the Reeds *, and loading
the Hides on the AfTes, return by Land to Armenia \ the River not being navigable upwards,
by reafon of the Rapidity of the Stream. For
this Caufe they ufe Skins, rather than Timber,
in fitting up thefe Vefiels-, and at their Return to Armenia^ they build more after the
fame Manner. Such is the Account of that
Navigation. For their Drefs, they wear a
Linen Shirt dov/n to the Feet, upon which
they have a Veft of Woollen Cloth, and a
v/hite Mantle over all. Their Shoes are made

in

CLIO.

123

in a Fafhion peculiar to the Country, not unlike
thofe of the Boeotians. They wear long Hair,
covering the Head with a Mitre, and anoint the
whole Body with perfum'd Oils. Every Mart
has a Ring with a Signet, and a StaiF curioufly
wrought > on the Top of which is plac*d either
an Apple, a Rofe, a Lily, or an Eagle, or fome
other Thing •, for to wear a Stick without fuch
an Ornament, is accounted indecent. Among
their Cuftoms, they had one moft prudently
eftablifh'd ; and another, which I approve, and
which, I hear, the Henetes of Illy via like wife
ufe. In every Diftrid: they annually affembled
all the Virgins of marriageable Age on a certain
Day ; and when the Men were come together^
and flood round the Place, the Crier rifing up,
fold one after another, always propofing the
moft beautiful firft s and having fold her for a
great Sum of Gold, he puts up the Maid who
wjis efteem'd fecond in Beauty. On this Occafion the richeft of the Babylonians us'd to contend for the faireft Wife, and to outbid one another. But the Vulgar thinking they had no
great need of handfome Women, were contented to take the ugly and lame with Money.
For when all the beautiful Virgins were fold,
the Crier order'd the moft deform'd to ftand
up ; and after he had openly demanded, who
would marry her with a fmall Sum, Ihe was at
length adjudg'd to the Man that would be fatisfied with the leaft. And in this Manner the
Money arifmg by the Sale of the handfome,
ferv'd for a Portion to thofe, who were either
of difagreeable Looks, or under any other Imperfedion of Body. A Father was not permitted to indulge his own Fancy in the Choice

of

124

HERODOfUS.

Book I.

of a Hulband for his Daughter *, neither might
the Purchafer carry off the Woman he had
bought, without giving fufficient Security to
cohabit with her as his Wife : If he refus'd, he
was oblig'd to reftore the Money he had receiv'd. Yet Men of another Diftrid might
come and buy if they thought fit. All thefe
Precautions were taken, that Women might
not be ill-us'd, nor forc'd away into other Provinces. But this excellent Law, which in former Time was ftridlly obferv'd, is now totally
abolifh'd. For after the Taking of Babylon^ they
fufFer'd great Calamities, and were reduc'd to
fuch Extremities in their private Fortunes, that
all the meaner Sort proftitute their Daughters for
a Living. Another Cuftom they have, which
deferves the fecond Praife. All fick Perfons are
brought out into the moft frequented Places,
(for they ufe no Phyficians •,) and as thofe who
come thither, always enquire concerning the
Difeafe of the Patient, when they find that they
have been afilided with the fame, or have it^n
others in a like Condition, they advife him to
do as they did to cure themfelves, or as others,
they knew, had done in the fame Cafe. For, to
pafs filentiy before the Sick, without enquiring into the Nature of their Diftemper, is
among them accounted a Crime. They embalm the dead in Honey, and their flineral Lamientations are like thofe of the Egyptians.
When a Babylonian defigns to accompany with
his Wife, he firft burns Incenfe, fitting on one
Side of the Fire, while fhe does the fame on
the other; and about Break of Day they go
both into a Bath, as the Arabians like wife do,
refufing to touch any Thing till they have wafh'd.
Never-

CLIO.

125

Neverthelefs they have one eftabli{h'd Cuftom^
For
which is infamous in the higheft Degree.
every Woman is oblig'd, once in her Life, to
fit down openly in the Temple of Venus^ in orYet
der to proftitute herfelf to fome Stranger.
difdain to expofe
becaufe the mod Wealthy
the reft, many
themfelves in Publick among
come in cover'd Chariots to the Gates of the
Temple, and make that their Station, with a
numerous Train of Servants attending at a DifBut the far greater Part enter into the
tance.
and fit down crown'd with Garlands,
Temple,
fome continually going out, and others coming
in. The Galleries where they fit are built in a
flraight Line, and open on every Side, that all
Strangers may have a free PafTage to chufe fuch
Women as they like beft. When a Woman
has feated herfelf, fhe muft not return home,
till fome Stranger throw a Piece of Silver into
her Lap, and lie with her at fome Diftance from
the Temple •, ufmg this Form as he gives her the
I befeecb t/:e Goddefs WlyWtta to favour
Money.
Thee : For the AfTyrians call Fenus by that Name.
The Law forbids any Woman to refufe this Prefent, how fmall foever, becaufe fuch Money is
accounted facred : And commands her to follow
the firft that offers it, without rejedling any
Having fatisfied this Obligation, and perMan.
form'd her Duty to the Goddefs, ftie returns
home -, and after that Time is never more to be
obtain'd by any Prefents, how great foever.
Thofe Women who excel in Beauty and Shape^
are foon difmifs'd ; but the Deformed are fometimes neceffitated to wait three or four Years,
The Cyprians
before they can fatisfy the Law.
of
have a Cuftom not unlike to this in fome Parts

126

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

of the Ifland of Cyprus, The Babylonians have
three Tribes among them, who eat nothing but
Fifh ; which they order in this Manner : When
they have taken and dry'd the Fifh in the Sun^
they throw them into a Mortar ; and after having reduc'd the whole Subftance to a Kind of
Meal, they cleanfe it through a linen Search ;
making it up into Cakes, as they have Occafion^
and baking it as Bread. And thefe are the Cuftoms of the Babylonians.
CTRUS having fubdued this Nation, grew
very defirous to conquer the Maflagetes, who
are accounted a great and valiant People. They
inhabit towards the Eaft, and the Riling-Sun
beyond the River Araxes^ over-againft the IfTedonians ; and fome fay they are Scythians. Many
think the Araxes to be greater than the Ifier,
and others, lefs ; containing, as they fay, divers
Illands, equal to Lejbos in Circumference, and
inhabited by Men, who during the Summer feed
upon all manner of Roots, which they dig out
of the Ground, and for their Winter-Provifion
lay up the ripe Fruits they find upon the Trees.
They add, that a certain Tree grov/ing in this
Country, produces Fruit of fuch a Nature, that
when the Inhabitants meet together in Company, and throw a Quantity of it upon the Fire^
they become intoxicated as they fit round the
Steam, no lefs than the Grecians by drinking
Wine : That the miore they fiing on, the more
drunk they grow, and that when they find
themfelves in this Condition, they rife up to
dance and fing. In this Manner thefe Ifianders
are reported to live. The Araxes defcends from
the Hills of Matiene^ (as I obferv'd before of the
River Gyndes^ which Cyrus turn'd into three

Hun-*

CLIO'.

127

Hundred and fixty Trenches,) and, except one
Stream which runs into the Cafpian Sea, difcharges all its Waters by forty feveral Paflages
into certain Fens and Lakes ; where 'tis faid the
Inhabitants feed only upon raw Fifh, and cloath
themfelves in the Skins of Sea-Calves. The
Cafpian has no Communication with any other
Sea •, whereas that which the Grecians navigate,
together with the Red Sea^ and the Atlantick^
lying beyond the Columns of Hercules, are but
one Sea. The Length of the Cafpian is as much
as a Veflel with Oars can make in fifteen Days ;
and to crofs the Breadth in the wideft Part, requires eight. This Sea is bounded on the Weft
by Mount Caiicafus, the greateft and higheft of
all Mountains ; containing many different Nations, who for the moft Part live upon fuch
Things as the Earth produces without Cultivation. In this Country, 'tis faid, they have a
certain Tree, the Leaf of which, when bmifed
and diluted v/ith Water, ferves to paint the
Figures of various Animals on their Garments,
with a Colour that never fades ; that thefe Figures are not wafh'd out by Water j but continue to wear as if they had been woven in the
Cloth i and that thefe People never conceal
themfelves when they ufe the Company of Wo->
men, any more than do Cattle. Mount Cau^
cafus, as I faid before, is extended on the Weft
of the Cafpian Sea -, and on the Eaft, towards
the Rifmg of the Sun, lies a Plain of immenfe
Extent. The greater Part of this Country is
inhabited by the Mafiagetes, againft whom Cyrus was fo vehemently inclin'd to make War..
The Motives that pufh'd him on to this Enterprize, wers many
and powerful j principally,
becaufe

128

HERODOTUS.

Book L

becaufe his Birth had infplr'd him with an O^
pinion that he was fomething above a Man ;
and good Fortune had fo conftantly attended
him, in all his military Expeditions, that he
had conquer'd as many Nations as he had attack'd. The MafTagetes were at this Time under
the Government of ^omyris^ who had been
Wife to their laft King : And this gave Cyrus
a Pretext to fend AmbafTadors to her, with
Propofals of Marriage in his Name. But 'Tomyris believing he only courted the Kingdom,
and not her Perfon, fent to forbid them to proceed in their Journey. Upon this Cyrus perceiving his Artifice ineffedual, pull'd off the
Mafk ; and openly advancing with his Army
againft the Maflagetes, arriv'd at the River
Araxes \ over which he laid Bridges of Boats
for the PafTage of his Forces, and fortified
thofe Bridges with Towers. Whilft he was
employ 'd in this Work, "Tomyris fent him a
MefTage by a Herald, in thefe Terms ; " King
of the Medes, defift from the Enterprize
thou haft begun with fo great Diligence ; for
thou art not fure the End will prove fortunate. Be contented to govern thy own Dominions, and fuffer us to rule the Country
we poflefs. But if thou wilt not hearken to
my Counfel, and art refolv'd to prefer every
Thing before Peace ; in a Word, if thou haft
fo great a Defire to make Trial of thy Forces
againft the MafTagetes, toil no longer m vain
to build Bridges over the Ara>.es ; but pafsboldly to this Side, whilft I retire with my
Army full three Days March from the Riyer :
Or, if this Condition pleafe thee not, receive
** us into thy Territories on the fame Terms. '*^

When

G L I 0.

129

When Cyrus heard this MefTage, he call'd a
Council of all the principal Perfians ; and after
he had laid the Propofal before them, and demanded their Opinion, they unanimoufly advis'd
him to let T'omyris pafs with her Army into his
Dominions. But Cr(£[us the Lydian, who was
prefent in the Aflembly, difapproving their
Counfel, fpoke thus to Cyrus -, '' Sir, in Pur" fuance of the Promife t made you, when Jupiter deliver'd me into your Hands, I will always, to the utmoft of my Power, endeavour to prevent the Misfortunes I fee impending over your Head -, and my own Calami•' ties, however fevere, have contributed fomething to my Inftrudion. If you think yourfelf immortal, and your Arnly to have the
*' like Prerogative, 'tis needlefs for me to tell
" you my Opinion. But if you know you are
*' no more than a Man -, and that the Forces
" you command are Men likewife, confider, in.
" the firft Place, that the continual Rotation
" of human Affairs never fuffers the fame Percc
fon to be always profperous. For this, and
cc
cc other Reafons, I am oblig'd to diffent from
the Advice of all this Affembly, touching the
cc
now before us. For if we detercc Queflion
mine to receive the Enemy into this Councc
try, and happen to be defeated, you will be
*' in Danger of lofing all your Dominions j be" caufe no Man can imagine, that after fuch a
" Vidory the Mafiagetes would prefently retire
" with their Forces •, but rather immediately
cc
fall upon your Territories : And if you fhould
cc
conquer, the Advantage of your Vidory
cc
could be no Way comparable to thof^ you will
^ obtain by beating them in their own Country,
K
'"-'' and

136

HERO£>OTtfS.

Booki.

*^ and vigdroufly purfuing their broken Troops.
*' For I am pcrfu^ded, that fuch Succefs im" proved with Diligence, would enable you t&
" fubdue the whole Kingdom of Tomyris with*^ out more Refinance. Befides, the Difgrace
*^ is tbd great arid intolerable, for Cyrus the
^^ Son of Camhyfes to retreat before a Woman.
My Opirtion therefore is, that you would re*
folte to pafs the River ; and when you are advanc'd near the Enemy, then to ufe the fol*^ lowing Stratagem, in order to furprize their
" Forces. I have heard the Maflagetes live
" hardly, and are unacquainted with the delici*' aus Tables of the Perfians. And therefore I
*' advife that great Numbers of Cattle,- kill'd
^' and drefs*d, with Plenty of unmix'd Wine,
** and all other Provifions in abundance, fhould
*' be prepared in our Camp for thefe Men ; and
** that leaving the weakeft of our Forces behind,
*' all the reft fhould return towards the River :
^^ For the Maflagetes, if I miftake not, when
*^ they fee fo much exquifite Fare, will not fail
*^ to fall on immediately, and by that means af*' ford us an Occafion of ftriking a Blow of
*' Importance." Of thefe two Opinions, Cyrus
rejeded the firll: -, and approving that of Croefus^
fent a Meflage to 'Tomyris^ requiring her to retire, whilft he fhould pafs the Araxes v/ith his
Army. The Queen mindful of her Promife,
did as he defir'd : And after Cyrus had committed
the Care of the Kingdom, and of Crcefus^ to his
Son Camhyfes ', commanding him, if the Expedition againft the Maflagates fhould prove unfortunate, to honour Crcefus^ and treat him with
Favour, he difmifs'd both, with Orders to return
to Perfi a y and pafs the River with all his Focres.

CTRUS

€

L

I 0.

l;5t

tTRUS having pafs*d the Jraxes, enter'd
the Country of the MafTagetes ; and in the
Night dream'd he faw the eldeft Son of Hy■Jiafpes with Wings on his Shoulders -, which he
fpread, and Aiaded Jfia with one, and Europe
with the other. Hyftafpes the Son of Arfames
was of the Achasmenlan Blood, and the Name
iof his eldeft Son was Darius •, who having then
fcarce attained to the Age of twenty Years, had
been left in Ferfia^ as too young to fuftain the
HardDiips of War. Cyrus a\Vaking, confider'd
his Dream with Attention ; and judging it to
be of the laft Confequence, fent for Hyftafpes^
and taking him afide, faid 5 " Hyftafpes^ thy
** Son has form'd a Defign againft me and my
** Government, and I will tell thee how I know
this with Certainty. The Gods, folllcitoug
for my Prefervatlon, ever give me timely Notice of all impending Dangers : And therefore
*^ laft Night as I flept^ I faw In a Dream the
** eldeft of thy Sons, having Wings on his
*' Shoulders j v/Ith one of which he cover'd
^^ Europe^ and JJta with the other. For this
*' Caufe 1 order thee to return immediately to
•*' Terfia^ and to take Care, that when I come
*' home with VI6lory, thy Son may be ready
** to anfwer for himfelf." Thefe Words Cyrus
faid, in a full Perfuafion that Darius had form'd
a Deiign againft him : But the D^mon by this
previous Admonition fignified, that he ihould
die in the Enterprize he had undertaken, and
that his Kingdom fliould be transferr'd to Da^
rius. Hyftafpes anfwer'd, " God forbid, O
*' Kine, that one who Is born a Perfian, fhouid
*' confpire againft thee! But if any fuch be
*« found, may fudden Deftrudion overtake him,
^' For
K 2

132

HERODOTUS.

Book!

*' For thou hafl not only enfranchise the Per** fians, who before were Servants •, but ad*' vanc'd them from the Condition of Slaves,
to the Power of commanding other Nations i
And therefore whatever Vifion has reprefented
my Son contriving any Thing againft thee, I
*' freely furrender hii^ to be treated in the Man*' ner thou Ihalt command." Having made this
Anfwer, Hyftafpes repafs'd the River Araxes^ and
when he arriv'd in Parfiay plac'd a Guard upon:
his Son Darius,
In the mean Time Cyrus ad^vanc'd one Day's
March beyond the River ; and after fome ftay,
purfuant to the Counfel of Crcefas^ retir'd again,
with all his beft Troops •, leaving oiily the worft
of his- Men behind hrm-. Thefe the Maflagetes
attack'd with a third Part of their Army, and
after fome Refinance, cut in Pieces.
Which
having done, and feeing a plentiful Feaft prepar'd,. they eat and drank to fuch Exicefs, that
In this Conthey fell adeep upon the Spot.
dition they were furpriz'd by the Perfians, who
kill'd many,, and took a greater Number Prifbners -^ among them Spargapifes^ Son to Tomyris, and General of the Mafiagetes..
The Queeri
hearing the Misfortune of her Son, and one
Part of her Army, fent a Herald to Cynis with
a MefTage in thefe Words -,■ ^' O Cyrus, thou
*' infatiable Hunter of Blood, be not vain and
*' infolent •, if, by the Fruit of the Vine, which
*' none of you can bear without raving, and
*' which never enters into your Bodies without
*' bringing up all Manner of unbecoming Lan*' g^^^g^ ' '^^y ^ ^^y> by ^^^i^ treacherous Poifon,
" thou haft circumvented my Son, inflead of
*' eonqueriiig him by Valour in the" HowField*

CLIO,

133

However, for the prefent take the beft Counfel I can give. Reftore my Son : Depart out
of this Country, and reft fatisfied with having
AC
furpriz'd a third Part of my Army by Fraud.
" But if thou wilt not do thefe Things, I fwea*
by the Sun, who is the Lord of the Maffagetes, to give thee Blood enough ', infatiable as thou art." After this Meflage, which
had no EfFedt upon Cyrus^ Spargapifes the Son
of 'Tomyris^ being recovered from his Wine,
and perceiving the Difafter that was fall*n upon
him, begg'd of Cyrus to be unbound •, and having obtained his Requeft, no fooner found his
Hands at Liberty, than he immediately kill'd
himfelf. Bat 1'omyris finding her Advice flighted by Cyrus ^ affembled a'll her Forces, and engag'd
Perfians
in a obftinate
Battle ; which
I think
to
havethebeen
the moft
that ever
was
fought by Barbarians. At firil, as I am Informed,
whihl: the two Armies were at a Diftance, they
fent Showers of Arrows upon each other ; and
after they had quite emptied their Quivers, and
thrown ail their Javelins ; they join'd in clofe
Fight with their Swords and Spears. In this
Manner they continued for a long Time, fighting
with equal Fury ; but at length the MalTagetes
had the Vidory, moil of the Perfian Army being cut in Pieces, and Cyrus himfelf kiird in the
Place, after he had reign'd Twenty nine Years.
"Tomyris found the Body of Cyrus ^ among the
flain ; and having cut off the Head, threw it
into a Veffel fill'd with human Blood, v/hich
fhe had purpofely prepared •, faying, in an in (lilting Manner; " Thou didfl, indeed, treachei-ouily
^' furprize and deftroy my Son •, but I, who
*^ furvive, and am thy Conqueror^ will now
.
K ^
" make

134

HERODOTUS.

Book I.

^^ make good my Word, and give thee Blood
^' enough." Such was the End of Cyrus-, and
though many other things are faid of hlm^ I
have reftraln'd my Relation to thefe, which to
me feem beft attefted.
The Maflagetes refemble the Scythians in
their Habit and Way of Living: They have
both Horfe and Foot in their Armies : Their
Weapons of War are Arrows, Javelins^ and
Scymeters : About their Arms they ufe Brafs or
Gold; for the Blade of t heir. Scy meter is Brafs,
^nd their Javelins and Arrows ere pointed with
the fame Metal ; but their Helmets^ Belts, and
Body Armour are adorn'd with Gold. They
arm their. Horfes with a Breaftplate of Brafs,
and the Bridle, with all the reft of the Furniture, is enrich'd with Gold. Tliey ufe no Silver nor Iron, for neither of thofe Metals are
found in their Country. As for their Manners,
every one marries a Wife ; but they lie with
thofe Women in common 5 and the Grecians
rniftake, when they attribute this Cuftom to
the Scythians, which is peculiar to the Maflagetes; among whom, whenever a Man defires
to have the Comp^-ny of a Wom.an, he hangs
up his Quiver a;t the Head of his Chariot, and
ufes her without Shame. The Years of Life
are not limited by any Law: but after a Man
has attain'd to old Age, all his Relations meet,
and facrifice him, with Cattle of feveral Kinds;
and when they have boiPd all the Flelh together,
they fit down as to a Feaft. This Death they
account the moft happy ; for they never eat the
Bodies of thofe who die by Sicknefs ; but bury
them in the Earth, and think it a great MisforiMXit^ that th€y did not attain to be facrific'd.

Their

CLIO.

135

Their Drink is Milk; and they fow nothing;
contenting themfelves with the Flefh of Animals, and Fifh, which the River Araxes yields
in abundance. They adore the Sun only of all
the Gods, and facrifice Horfes to his Deity;
judging it moft proper to offer the fwifteft of all
Animals to the fwifteft of all the Gods,

K4

THE

/

THE

Hiftory of Herodotus,
Book

II.

EUTERPE.
yfes
AFTER dthe Death of Cyrus^ Camb
m.
fucceede him in the Kingdo
He
was the 6'on of Cyrus^ and of Cajfa7idana
the Daughter of Pbarnafpes -, who dying feme Time before, was publickly lamented by
Cyrus^ and in Obedience to his Command, by all
the People of his Dominions. Born of thefe Parents, Cambyfes treated the lonians and iEolians
as his Patrimonial Servants ; and having determin'd to invade jEgypt^ conftrain'd the Grecians
that were fubjed to him, to join his other Forces, and to attend him in his Expedition.
Th e ^Egyptians who liv'd before the Reign
of Pfammetichus^ thought themfelves the mod
antient People of all the World. But fmce the
Experiment he made, to find out the Truth of
that Matter, they have yielded the Priority to
the Phrygians, ftill efteeming themfelves the fecond in Antiquity. For after Pfammetichus had
long endeavour'd in vain to difcover who were
the firfl Men, he at lail contriv'd this Expedient.
He

138

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

He took two Male Children newly born of poor
Parents, and putting them into the Hands of a
Shepherd to be brought up among his Flocks,
commanded him not to permit any one to fpeak
in their hearing \ but to lay them in a folitary
Cottage; to brmg them Goats to fuck at cer-^
taifi times, a-nd when he fhould perceive they
were fatiated with Milk, to nourifh them with
other Food. Theie Orders Pfammetichm gave,
that he might be informed, what Word would
firft break horn tjie -Children, when they ihould
begin to articulate-, and the Succefs was anfwerafck to h:is Expedation. For at ithe end of
two Years, as the Shephej-d to whafe Care they
were committed, w^as one Day entring the Cottage,, and had already open'd the Door, both
the Children ran to him, and holding out their
Hands, cried Bekkos. The Shepherd at firft
faid nothing; but after he had often obferv'd
that this Word was ever repeated at his coming
in, he acquainted the King with what had hap=pen'd, and by his Command .hrought the ChLU
dren into his Prefence. Pfammetich.us having
heard the fame, inquir'd in the next place, if
any Nation made ufe of the Word Bekkos -^
and when he found hy Inquiry, that the Phrygians call Bread by that Name, the ^Egyptians
confented to take this for a Proot^ that the
Phrygians were the more antient People. This
Relation I bad at Memphis from the Priefts of
yulcan. But the Grecians, among many other
ridiculous things, report, that Pfammetichus delivered thefe Children to be brought up by certain Women, whofe Tongues he caus'd to be
cut out. Divers other things l heard at Mem-

phis^

EUTERPE.

139

phis in feveral Conferences I had with the Priefts
of Vulcan. I went alfo to I'behes^ and to Heliopolis., in order to fee whether their Accounts
might agree with what I had heard at Memphis ;
for the Heliopolitans are efteem'd the wifeft of
all the Egyptians. Their Difcourfes touching
the Gods, I am not very willing to publiih^
except only their Names •, fuppofing that all
Men think alike concerning them : And therefore Ifhall fay no more of thofe matters than
the Thread of my Narration abfolutely requires.
But as for human >Sciaice&, they all agree, that
the Egyptians were the firft Inventers of the
Year, which they divided into twelve Parts, by
means of the Kr^owledge they had of the Stars :
In this, as I think, more able than the Grecians, who to make up the Time, throw in aa
intercalatory Month every third Year : Whereas
the i^gyptians allov/ing thirty X)ays to each of
the twelve Months, and adding five Days to
each Year, render the Revolution of Time
equal and regular. They faid alfo, that the
i^yptians were the firft who gave Names t©
the twelve Gods j and that the Gr-eciaiis had
thofe Names from them; that they eret^ed the
firfl Altars, Images, and Temples to the Gods,
and carv'd the Figures of Animals on Stone,;
moft of which :they demonftrated to be fo in
i?^. They added, that .Menes was the £A
King, who reign'd in the World •, and that in
his Time all jEgypt^ except the Country of
Thebes ^ was one Morafs j no part of the prefent
Land appearing then below the Lake iMyris^
which is feven iDays -Pafiage from the Sea by the
way of the River. Jndeoij to me .they jieem'd
ta

140

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

to fpeak rationally touching this Region. For
any Man of Underftanding will eafily perceive
at fight, tho' he had never heard thefe things,
that thofe Parts of Mgypt which the Grecians
frequent with their Shipping, are an AcceiTion
of Land beftow'd upon the -Egyptians by the
River : And fo is all that Country, which Men
fee beyond the Lake during a PaHage of three
Days *, of which yet thefe ^Egyptians faid nothing, Befides, when a Ship bound to Mgyp
rides at a Diftance of a v/hole Day's Sail from
the Port, if a Man try the Sounding, he ihall
draw up his Plummet cover'd with Mud, even
where the Sea is eleven Fathom deep ; which
plainly ihews, that all that Earth was brought
down thither by the River. The iEgyptiau
Coaft extending, as we reckon, from the Bay
of Plinthene to the Lake Selbonis under Mount
Cafiiis^ is fixty Schosnes in Length. And here
"we muft obferve, that thofe Nations who have
only fmall Territories, meafure their Land by
the Rod ; fuch as have more, by the Stade \
and thofe who have very much, by the Parafanges, each confiding of thirty Stades. But in
Countries of vaft Extent, they account by the
Schoene, which is an Egyptian Meafure equal
to fixty Stades. So that the whole Coaft of
jEgypt is three thoufand and fix hundred Stades
in Length. From the Sea upwards to the Ci^
ty of HeliopoliSy the Country is a fpacious Le-^
vt\^ without Rivers, yet moift and gluti^
nous. The Diftance from the Sea to Heliopolis^
h about the fame, as from the Altar of the
twelve Gods in Attica to Pifa and the Temple
of Olympian Jupiter,
For whoever will com*

pare

EUTERPE.

141

pare thefe "Ways, fhall find by Computation that
they differ not one from the other above fifteen Stades ; the Road leading to Pifa wanting
no more of one tkoufand five hundred Stades,
which is juft the Number that lie between the
From this City upwards,
Sea and Heliopolis.
jEgypt is narrow, and ihut up on one fide by
the Mountains of Arabia^ which form a continued LJne, extending from the North to the
South and South-Weft, till they reach the Red
In thefe Hills are found Quarries of
Sea.
"which were us'd in building the PyraBut I have heard, that to
mids of Memphis.
travel this Country over in the wideft Part from
Eaft to Weft, is a Journey of two Months ;
and that the moft Eaftwardly Limits produce
On that fide of
Frankincenfe in abundance.
Mgypt which borders upon Libya^ are other
Mountains, very rocky and cover'd with Sand.
They contain divers Pyramids, and ftand overagain ft thofe of Arabia which ftretch to the
So that the Country is narrow beSouthward.
yond Heliopolis^ as far as one can pafs in four
Days Voyage up the River ; which is not
much, if we confider the Extent of jEgypt,
the
before-mention'd
the Mountains
Between
Land is level, and, in the narroweft Part, feems
to me not above two hundred Stades, in Breadth,
from the Arabian to the Lybian Hills : But beyond thefe Streights the Country grows wider
again. Such is the Form and Situation of this
From Heliopolis to Thebes Men pafs
Region.
by Water in nine Days, the Diftance between
thofe two Cities being four thoufand eight
hundred and fixtv Stades, which amount to
In Conclufion ; the Coaft
eighty one Schoenes,
Stone,

or

142

tlMODOTUS.

Book 11.

of Egypt^ as I fard before, contains in Length
three thoufand and fix hundred Stades: Thebes
is ditlant from the Sea fix thoufand one hundred
and twenty; and the City of Ekphaittis eight
hundred and twenty from Thebes. The greater
Part of all this Country, as the Priefts informed
me, and as I judge by what I faw, is an Acceflion of Land to the JEgyptians. For the
Plains that iye between the Mountains beyond
Memphis^ feem to me to have been formerly a
Bay of the Sea : And I have the fame Opinion
of thofe about Ilmn\, Teuthrania^ EphefuSy and
the Mteander % if I may be permitted to compare fmall things with great : For none of all
the Rivers that have thrown out Earth in this
manner on thofe Regions, can juftly be brought^
in Competition with any one of the {^Y(i'a
Channels of the iVi/^. I might mention other
Rivers which have wrought the like Effe^Sty
and, tho' not fo coniiderable as the Nile have
yet done great things of this Nature. 0{ thefe,
one of the moft remarkable is the Achelois j
which paffing thro' Acarnmiia^ and falling into
the Sea by the Echinadcs^ has already join'd
one half of thofe Iflands to the Continent. Beiides, there is a Bay, not far from Mgypt^
branching out from the Red Sea^ tho* belonging to Arabia^ which is long and n?.rrow, in
the manner I fhall here defcribe: From the innermoft Part of this Bay to the broad Sea, the
Paflage is of as great a Length as a Ve-flH
with Oars can perform in forty Dayii •, and yet
the Breadth in the wideft Place is no m.ore than
half a Day over. The Tides of this Gulph
are ftrong ; the Waters ebb and flow daily s
and! am of Opinion that ^gypt was antiently

penetrated

EUTERPE.

14^

penetrated in like manner by an Arm of the
Sea, entring on the North fide, and afcending
towards jEtbiopia ; as that of Arabia^ which I
jliention'd before, ftretches from the South towards Syria ; and that the Extremities of thefe
two had only a narrow Traft of Land lying
between, and feparating the one from tht other.
Now, if the Nile would turn its Stream into
the Arabian Sinus ^ what could hinder that River from filling the Channel with Earth in
twenty thoufand Years ? For, as I am perfua-*
ded that the other has fiiffer*d the like Change
within the Space of ttw thoufand Years before
my Time ; I prefume that this, or even a
much greater Channel may be fill'd up in that
Time by fuch a vigorous and abounding River. The Things therefore which I heard con-^
cerning ^gypt^ together with the Tefi:imony,
of my own Eyes, induce me to this Opinion j
efpecially having obfervM, that this Country lies
lower than the next adjoining Region -, that
Shells are found on the Hills -, that a brackifa
Humour ifiuing from the %Earth corrodes the
Stones of the Pyramids ; and that among all
the Mountains of JEgypt^ this alone which is
fituate above Memphis^ abounds in Sand. Befides, ^gypt is utterly unlike all the adjacent
Countries, whether of Arabia^ Libya^ or Syria ;
(for the maritim Parts of Arabia are inhabited
by Syrians ;) the Soil being black, loofe, and
apparently fuch as the Nile brings down from
Ethiopia : Whereas we know that the Earth of
Libya is reddifh, and mix'd with Sand ; as that
of Arabia and Syria is either Stony, or mix'd
with Clay. Another Particular, of great Moment to confirm what is faid touching this Coun2
try^

144

HERODOfUS.

Book It

try, I had from the Priefts ; who affirm, that,
under the Reign of Myris, if the Nile rofe to
the height of eight Cubits, all the Lands of
jEgypt were fufficiently water'd : And yet Myris had not been nine hundred Years dead, when
I receiv'd this Information. But in our time,
unlefs the River fwells to fixteen Cubits, or fifteen at leaft, the Country is not cover'd with
Water. So that if the Soil continues to increafe in the fame Proportion as in Ages paft,
I am perfuaded, that thofe who inhabit below
the Lake of Myris^ and in all that Part which
is cali'd Delta^ muft for ever fuifer by a Deficiency of Water : The fame Calamity, they
us'd to fay, mufl at fome time fall upon the Gre-^
cians. For having heard that all the Lands of
Greece were water'd by Rain, and not, as ySgypt^ by Rivers ; they faid the Grecians, at^
fome time or other, would be difappointed of
their Hopes and flarve : Meaning, if Jupiter
fhould not afford Rain, but fend dry Seafons in
the place of wet, they muft perifh by Famine,
having no other Water than that which the
Heavens are pleas'd to beftow. I acknowledge
this Difcourfe is not altogether groundlefs \ yet
in return, I defire to know of the -Egyptians,
what Expedient they could invent to preferve
themfelves from ftarving, if, as I faid before, all
the Land below Memphis^ v/hich vifibly rifes
every Year, fhould continue hereafter to increafe
in the fame Proportion j when the Country fhall
neither be water'd by Rain from Heaven, nor
the River be fufficient to afcend above the Soil.
At this Day indeed, no People in the World,
nor in the reft of Mgypt^ enjoy the Produdions of the Earth with fo little Labour,
They
are

:euterpe.

14^

are exempted from the Toil of Plowing and
Digcring, and other painful parts of Hufbandry^
to vviiich all the reft of Mankind are fubje(5t„
For as foon as the River has overflow'd the Country, and retreated again, every Man fows his
own Land -, and having put in his Hogs to
tread the Seed into the Ground^ expeds the
Harveft without farther Care ; and when that
Seafon comes, lets in his Hogs again, to fhake
the Grain out of the Ear, and has no other
Trouble than to lay up his Corn. But if we
Ihould follow the Opinion of the lonians, who
fay, that the Country of Delta alone is properly
call'd j^gypt ; extending along the Shore from
the Tower of Perfeus to the Salt-Pits of Pelufium^ forty Schoenes in Length, and from the
Sea upwards, to the City of Cercafora^ where
the Nile divides, and defcends towards Pelufium
and Canopus \ attributing the reft of jEgypt partly to Libya and partly to Arabia ; we ihould
evidently infer^ that the Egyptians had not
formerly any Country. For they themfelves acknowledge, and I concur in Opinion with them,
that Delta is form'd of the Soil which the River
has brought down, and did not always exift.
And if tliis be true, to what End were they {6
follicitous to be thought the moft antient of all
People ? Sure they might have forborn to tryby an Experiment, what Language Children
would firft rpeak. For my own part, I am not
of Opinion that the Egyptians are precifely
coastaneous with the Country which the lonians
fcall Delta ; but that they always were, fmce
Men have been : And that ad the Soil increased
gradually, many came dov/n from the higher
Parts to inhabit the new form'd Earth i and
L
many

146

HERODOrtfS.

Book II.

riiany continued in their former PoflefTions.
For
the Province of Thebes went antiently by the
Name- of JEgypt^ and comprehends fix thoufand
one hundred and twenty Stades in Circumfe*
rence.
If therefore we judge rightly of thefe
tilings, the Opinion of the lonians is erroneous \
but if their Sentiment be well grounded, we
fhall ihew, that neither the Grecians nor the
lonians reafon well, when they fay the World
Is divided into three Parts •, Europe^ Afia^ and
'Libya *, becaufe they plainly add a fourth, if the
Egyptian Delta be not a Part either of Libya^
or of AJia.
For, by their reafoning^ the Nile
does not feparate Afia from Libya t, that River
dividing at the Point of Delta^ and rowling
down on each fide of a Region, which being
thus encompafs'd, can belong neither to Libya
nor to Afia. But not to infift longer on the
Opinion of the lonians, I prefume, that all the
Countries which the ^Egyptians inhabit, ought
to be accounted Mgypt^ as thofe of the Cilicians and AfTyrians are known by the Names of
Cilicia and AJfyria.
Neither can I imagine what
Parts may be properly call'd the Bounds of Afta
and Libya^ except the Limits of jEgypt.
Yet
if we follow the Opinion which the Grecians
embrace, we muft fay, that all Mgypt below the
Catadupians and the City of Elephantis^ is divided into two Parts under two diilin(51: Names,
one belonging to Libya^ and the other to Afia,
For the Nile df^fcending from the Catadupians,
pafles thro' the midft of ^gypt in one Channel
towards the Sea, to the City of Cercajora^ and
there feparates into three.
That which runs out
to the Eaftward is called the Pelufian Mouth :
The fecond inclining Weftward,
goes by the
Name

EUTERPE.

147

Name of Canopean : And the third Channel defcending from above by a ftraight Line, pafTes thro'
the midft of Delta^ and being no way inferior
to the other two in Fame, or Quantity of Water, is calPd the Mouth of Sebennytus ; whence
two more are deriv'd, which take their Names
from the Cities of Sais and Mendes^ and flow into the Sea. For thofe of Bolbitis and Bucolis
were not form'd by Nature, but are owing to
the Induftry of Men. To this Opinion concerning the Extent of JEgypt^ I have the concurring Teftimony of the Oracle of Amnon %
which yet I had not heard before I was fully"
perfuaded of thefe things. For the People who
inhabit the Cities of Apis and Marea^ fituate on
the Frontier of Mgypt^ next to the Borders o£
Libya^ impatient of the Egyptian Superftition,
F'lefh of Heiabftain from
and unwilling
fers, were veryto defirous
to be the
accounted Libyans
rather than u^gyptians ; and to that End confulting the Oracle of Ammon^ profefs'd they had
ho Relation to the ^^gyptians, becaufe they liv'd
out of Delta,, and could by no means agree
with them, but defir'd to eat all manner of Food
without Diftindtion. Neverthelefs, the God rejeding their Requeft, pronounc'dj That yEgypt^
comprehends all the Territories which are overflow'd by the Nile •, and that all thofe who drinlc
of that River below the City of ElephantiSy are
j^gyptians.
Th e Inundations of the Nile hot only cover
Delta, but the Frontier of Libya alfo, and fometimes that of Arabia^ to the Extent of about
two Days journey more or lefs on each fidca
And though I was very defirous to be inform/d
touching the Nature of this River, I could not
I^ 2
learn

148

HERODOT'US.

Book n.

learn either from the Priefts, or any other Perfons, what fhould caufe the Nik to overflow
during a hundred Days after the Summer Solftice, and then going off again in about the
fame fpace of Time, to continue low all the
Winter, and even to the return of the next
Summer Solftice. Of thefe Particulars I could
get no Account from the i^gyptians *, tho' I
inquired, whether this River have any peculiar
Quality, or be different in Nature from other
Rivers : And my great Defire to be inform'd^
not only leads me to afk thefe Queftions •, but
alfo how it comes to pafs that the Nile alone,
of all the Rivers in the World, never emits the
lead Wind on the adjacent Parts. Neverthelefs,
fome of the Grecians pretending to diflinguifli
themfelves by their Knowledge, have nam'd
three feveral Caufes of thefe Inundations •, two
of which I think defer ve fo little Regard, that
I fhall only mention them^ becaufe I would omit
nothing concernuig this Subjeft. They fay firft,
that the Etefian Winds are the Caufe of the fwelling of this River, by repelling the Stream, and
preventing it from difcharging into the Sea.
But the Nile lias fometimes performed its Work,
before the Etefian ¥/inds begin to blow : And
befides, if thofe W^inds were the Caufe of thefe
Inundationsj all other Rivers that are expos'd to
the fame W^inds, mufi of neceffity be liable to
the fame Effedl •, and the rather, by being weaker and lefs rapid : Yet the Rivers of Syria and
Libya^ which are many, were never fubjedl to
the like Influence. The fecond Opinion is more
groundlefs than the former, tho' more wonderful •, affirming, that the Nile^ flowing from the
Ocean, perform.s thefe things ; and that the
Ocean

EUTERPE.

149

Ocean furrounds the whole Earth.
The third
Way of refolving this Difficulty is the moft probable, and yet moft untrue.
For by faying that
the Waters of the Nile are produced by melted
Snow, they fay nothing \ becaufe this River defcends from Libya thro' the midft of Mthiopia
into j^gypt ; that is to fay, from a very hot to
a very cold Region, and therefore cannot owe
its Being to Snow.
Many Reafons will readily
occur to Men of good Underftanding,
to fhew
th^ Improbability of this Opinion.
Firft and
principally, becaufe
the Winds
wHich
blow
from Mthiopia are always hot. In the fecond
place, neither Rain nor Ice is {ztw in thofe
Countries \ and yet Rain always follows within
the fpace of five Days after Snow : .So that if
Snow falls in thofe Regions, Rain muft.
Befides, the Inhabitants are render'd bla-ck by the
exceffive Heat ; Swallows and Kites continue
there all the Year ; and the Cranes, to avoid
the Cold of Scythia^ come to pafs the Winter
in that Country : All which could not be, if
any Snow fhould fall in the Parts adjacent to
the Source and Paflage of the Nile.
As for
thofe who attribute thefe Inundations to the
Ocean, they involve their Afiertion in myfterious Fables, and give no folid Proof: Neither do
i know any River fo call'd ; but conjecture
that Horner^ or fome other antient Poet finding
that Name,
inferted it in their Writings.
Yet
■if after I have exprefs'd my DifIatisfa6lion with
the Opinions before-mention'd, I muft give my
own concerning fo intricate a Queftion, That
■which caufes the Nile to overflow in Summer, is, in my Judgment,
this. During the
Winter^ the Sun relinquifhing his former Courfej,
L 3
retirees

ISO

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

retires to the upper Regions of Lil^ya -, which
in
comprehends
whole and
Matter
for few
this"Words
God diminifhes
the the
Rivers,
finks^
the Streams of thofe Countries that He neareft
to his PafTage. But to explain my meaning
more amply, I fay, that the Sun pafTing over
the remoter Parts of Libya^ which are always
clear, hot, and liable to frefh Winds, ads then
in the fame manner there, as in other Places iri
the midil of Summer ; attracting the Moifture,
and throwing it back again upon the higher
Regions ; where it is received and liquefied by
the Winds, which in this Climate blow generally from the South and South- Wefl, and confequently moft attended with Wet of any other.
Yet' I am of Opinion, that the Sun may retain
fome Part of the Water, and not difcharge all
every Year into the Nile. But when the Rigours of Winter are paft, and the Sun returns
again to the midfl of the Heavens, all Rivers
are attradled by the Heat in equal Proportion.
To which time all other Streams, by the falling of frequent Rains, run high, and overflow
the adjacent Parts j whereas in Summer being,
deflitute of Rain, and at the fame Time exhal'd by the Sun, they fmk to a contemptible
Lownefs : But the Nile., though deflitute of
Rain, and attradled by the Sun, is the only River that runs higher in Summer than in Winter. Yet this River is as liable to Exhalation by
the Sun as any other during the Summer, and in
W^inter is fingly fubjed to that Effed. From
all which, as I conceive, the Sun is the Caufe ing,
of
the Inundations of the Nile. And in my Opinion, the Drynefs of the Air in thofe Parts proceeds from the fcorching Heat of the fame Be-

EUTERPE.

151

ing, which afFedls in an extraordinary manner all
that lies near its Paflage : And for this Occafion
the upper Regions of Libya are always hot.
Now if fuch a Change of Seafons and Climate
could be made, that the South Winds might take
the Place of the North, and the North Winds
be transferred to the Southward, the Sun retiring
from the North in Winter to the upper Regions
of Europe^ and pafTmg through thofe Parts, as
now he does through Libya, would doubtlefs
caufe the fame EfFeds in the Ifier, which we
now fee in the Nile. And whereas I faid before,
that no Wind blows from this River ; my Opi-^
nion is, that Winds are the natural Produdtion
of cold Climates, and that the hotteft feldom
produce any. But I leave thefe things as they
are, and as they always were.
Touching the Source of the Nile, no
Man of all the Egyptians, Libyans, or Grecians I have convers'd with, ever pretended to
know any thing certain ; except a Scribe who
had the Charge of Minerva's Treafury at Sais^
a City of Mgypt, And tho' I thought he trifled with me, v/hen he faid he was perfedly inform'd of this Secret, I fhall yet give a Place
here to his Relation. Crophi, faid he, and Mcphi^ are two Mountains with Heads of a Pyramidical Form, fituate in the Way from Elephant
tis to Syrene, a City of ^ebais -, and between
thefe Hills is a profound Abyfs, which contains
the Springs of the Nile. One half of the Water ifluing from this Place runs into Mgypt
Northward \ the other half pafles Southward to
Ethiopia : And that the Source of the Nile is
an Abyfs, Pfafnmetichus King of ^gypt found
by an Experiment.

For having caus'd a Line

L 4

of

152

r

HERODOTUS,

^ook II.

of twilled Cord to be made many thoufand Fathom in Length, he founded the Depth, but
could not find a Bottom. Which, if admitted for true, would induce me to believe, that
Cataracfts of Water continually falling down
from the two Hills, make fuch violent Tides and
Whirlepools below, as to hinder a Line from
fathoming the Place: And more than this I neyer could hear from any Man.
I travell'd to Elephantis^ and faw all Parts of
the Country with my own Eyes \ but of thofe
which are fituate beyond that City, I fpeak
upon the Credit of others, and the moft exadt
Information I could get. Thofe who afcend the
River above the City of Elephant is ^ find a
Country in their Paflage fo fteep, that every
VelTel, like a Cow tied by the Horns, is drawn
by Ropes faften'd to each fide, and muft be
hurried dow^n the Stream by the Impetuofity of
the Torrent, if the Ropes fhould happen to
break. This Region is four Days Voyage from
FJephantis^ and the 'Nile is there as crooked and
full of Windings as the Marauder. Thefe Dif^culties continue till the Veflel has made twelve full
Schcenes : After which the Navigation is level ,
and an Ifl&,nd call'd 'Tachompfo appears in the
iTiidft of the ?Jile, The Ethiopians inhabit the
Country beyond Elephantis^ and one half of the
Ifland 'Tdcho)np[o^ the other half being in the
PofTefTion of the Egyptians. Contiguous to
this Ifland lies a vaft Lake, the Borders of
which are inhabited by ^^thiopian Herdfmen ;
and from that Lake the Vellel enters again into
the Channel of the Nile, A little beyond this
Place Men are oblig'd to go afhore, and to
travel forty Days by the fide of the River %
'■ ' '
•
becaufe

EUTERPE.

153

becaufe the Frequency of Rocks and Shelves
renders the Navigation of thofe Parts utterly
impradicable. At the End of thefe forty Days,
they go on board another Veflel, and arrive in
about twelve more at the great City of Meroe^
which is accounted the Capital of all Mthiopa,
The Inhabitants of that Place worfhip no other
Gods than Jupiter and Bacchus \ but thefe they
adore with extraordinary Pomp. They have an
Oracle of Jupiter \ and make War, when that
God commands, againft any Nation whatever.
The Diftance between Meroe and the Automoles, is the fame as between Elephantis and
Meroe, This People is call'd by the Name of
Afmak^ which in the Languge of Greece fignifies, "Thofe that ft and at the left Hand of the
King, Their Anceftors were ^Egyptians ; and
being in Number two hundred and forty thoufand military Men, revolted to the -Ethiopians
on the following Occafion. Some of them were
plac'd in Garrifon at Elephantis .^ and in the Ve^
lufian
'Daphne,^
to fecure
Parts
the
^Ethiopians
: Others
were thofe
pofted
on againft
the Frontiers of Arabia and Ajjyria^ and fome in Marea
on the Confines of Libya : Which Method o^
Pfammetichus we have {ttn imitated by the
Perfians of our time, who maintain Guards
both in Elephantis^ and Daphne, Thefe lE^
gyptians, after they had continu'd three Years
in their refpedive Pofts, without hearing any
thing of being reliev'd, confulted together ; and
unanimoufly refolving to abandon Pfammetichus,
march'd away to ^Ethiopia. When the King
heard what was doing, he follow'd, overtook,
and adjur'd them not to forfake the Gods of
their Fathers, with their own Wives and dren,
Chil-

154

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

dren. But in Anfwer to his Exhortation, one
of the -Egyptians is reported to have uncover'd
his private Parts, and to have faid. That wherefoever thefe were, there could not be wanting
either Wives or Children. So continuing their
March, they prefented themfelves to the King
of ^Ethiopia ; who in Recompence fent them
into a Country which was difaffeded to him,
with Orders to expel the Inhabitants, and to
pofTefs their Lands : By the Settlement of
w^hich Colony the ^^thiopians became more civiliz'd, and learnt the Manners of the Egyptians. Thus four whole Months are requir*d to
view the Courfe of the Nile^ partly by Land,
and partly by Water, without including its Paffage through jEgypt. For upon Computation,
fo much Time will be found neceflary to thofe
who travel from Elephantis to the Automoles.
This River defcends from the Weft and the Setting of the Sun ; but to trace its Original, is
a vain Attempt, becaufe the exceffive Heat
renders the reft of the Country defert and uninhabited.
I WA s alfo inform'd by fome Cyrenaeans, that
in a Journey they took to the Oracle of AmTjion, they had conferr'd with Etearchus King
of the Ammonians ; and that, among other
things, difcourfing with him concerning the
Head of the Nile^ as of a thing altogether unknown, Etearchus acquainted them, that certain
Nafamonians, a Nation of Libya inhabiting the
Borders of the Syrtis to the Eaftward, coming
into his Country, and being afk'd by him if they
had learnt any thing new touching the Libyan
Deferts, anfwered. That fome petulant ayoung
mo
Men,
Sons to divers Ferfons of great Pov/er

EVTERPE.

155

among them, liad, after many extravagant Actions, refoiv'd to fend five of their Number to
the Deferts of Libya^ to fee if they could make
any farther Difcovery than others had done. For
the Northern Coaft of Libya^ from ^gypt to
the Promontory of Solois^ where Libya terminates, isinhabited by Libyans of various Nations •,except thofe Parts alone, which are pofAbove
fefs'd by the Grecians and Phoenicians.
this Coaft, and the maritim Places, which arc
well peopled, the next Country is abandon'd to
Beafts of Prey 5 and all beyond that is deftitute
of Water, cover'd with Sands, and utterly defolate. The young Men chofen by their Comhaving furpanions to make this Expediuon,
necefother
and
Water
with
ves
nifhed themfel
fary Provifions, firft pafs'd thro' the inhabited
Country -, and when they had likewife travers'd
that Region which abounds in Wild Beafts,
making their Way
they entered the Deferts,
they had traAfter
Weft.
Souththe
towards
velled many Days thro' the Sands, they at length
faw fome Trees growing in a Plain, and while
they were eating of the Fruit they found on
the Branches, divers little Men, lefs than thofe
we account of a middle Stature, came up to
them, fpeaking a Language which the Nafamonians under ftood not; neither did they underHoweftand the Speech of the Nafamonians.
s to
Morafte
vaft
over
them
d
ver, they condude
a City built on a great River running from the
Weft to the Eaft, and abounding in Crocodiles ;
where the Nafamonians found all the Inhabitants
black, and of no larger Size than their Guides.
To this Relation Etearchus added, as the Cyrena^ans afllir'd me, that the Nafamonians returned
1
fate

156

HERO DO rUS. Book 11.

lafe to their own Country, and that the little
Men were all Enchanters ; but for the River,
which pafTes by their City, he thought it to be
■the Nile ; and his Opinion is not unreafonable ;
becaufe the Nile defcends from Libya^ dividing
the Country in the midft ; and, as I form my
.Conjecfhires
of things
unknown
on things
known, may probably run thro' as large a Trad
of Land as the Ifter, For the Ifier beginning
to appear at the City of Pyrenne among
the
Celtes, who inhabit beyond the Columns of
Hercules^ and border on the Territories of the
Cynefiansg which lie in the Extremity of Europe to the Weft ward, pafles thro' all this Part
of the World, and ends at the Euxin Sea, m
the Country of the Iftrians, who are a Milefian
Colony.
Now,
the Ifier is generally known,
becaufe the adjacent Parts are every where well
peopled ; but the Springs of the Nile are undifcover'd, becaufe this River pafles thro' the uninhabited Deferts of Libya. I fhall therefore fay no
more concerning the Courfe of the Nile, having
already mention'd as much as I could learn by
the moft diligent Inquiry ; only that it flows
into th^ Sea by the way of Mgypt, which lies
oppoflte to the Mountains
of Cilicia, from
whence a ftrong Man may travel in five Day^
to Sinope, a Place fltuate on the Euxin, and diredly facing the Mouth of the Ifier. So that
in my Opinion th€ Nile, which traverfes all Lihya, may be properly compard with, the Ifier.
And thus I have finiih'dmy Account of the Nile.
I SHALL now proceed in my Difcourfe concern-ing Mgypt which will be very ample and particular, becaufe that Country
far furpafl!es all
©tilers in things admirablcj and beyond Expreflion

EUTERPE.

157

on remarkable. For as the Climate and River
of ^gypt differ in Nature from thofe of anyother Region j fo the ^Egyptians have fram'd
their Laws and Manners very different from the
reft of Mankind. The Women of Mgyp are
employ'd in Trade and Bufinefs, while the
Men ftay at home to fpin and weave. Other
Nations weave the rough fide of the Piece uppermoft, the Egyptians underneath. The Men
bend the Body when they make Water, but
the Women perform that A6tion ftanding.
The ^Egyptians difcharge their Excrements at
home, and eat in publick ; alledging, that
whatever is indecent, though neceffary, ought
to be done in private, but things no way unbecoming fhould be done openly. No Woman
may be a Prieftefs of any God or Goddefs : Men
only are employ'd in thofe Oflices. Sons are
not con ft rained to make Provifion for their Parents, ifthey are not willing; but Daughters,
however
unwilling, thearePriefts
compelled
to Gods
this Duty.
In other Countries
of the
wear
Hair ; in yEgypt they are all fhav'd. Among
other People, the general Cuftom in time of
Mourning is, that thofe who are moft nearly
concern'd fhave their Heads ; but when any one
dies in Mgyp his Relations .ceafe to fhave, and
let the Hair grow on their Heads and Faces.
In other Regions, the Apartments of Men are
feparated from Beafts ; whereas in Mgypt Man
and Beaft live together. Other Nations ufe
Barley and Wheat for Food •, which would
be a Reproach among the ^Egyptians, who
make Bread of a fine Flower cali'd by fome
Olyra, and by others Zea. They work this into
their
Pafte with their Feet \ but temper Mortar with

158

HERODOTUS.

BookIL

their Hands. The iEgyptians are circumcls'd
in their fecret Parts ; which all other Men leave
as they are form'd by Nature •, thofe only excepted, who have learnt this Cuftom from them.
The Men wear two Garments, the Women
but one. They faften the Ropes and Hooks
to the infide of the Sails, and all other Nations to the ou tilde. When the Grecians write
or calculate with Counters, they carry the Hand
from the Left to the Right ; but the T^gyptians, on the contrary^ from the Right to the
Left: And yet pretend in doing fo, that their
Line tends to the Right, and ours to the Left.They have two forts of Letters j one of which
they call facred, and the other vulgar. They
are o^ ail Mankind the moft exceffive Worfhippers of the Gods, and ufe thefe Ceremonies.
They drink in Cups of Brafs, which they fcour
every Day •, and this Cuftom is not only pradlis'd
by feme particular Men, but by all the iEgyptians in general. They wear Garments of Lineni
frefh wafh'd, taking fingular Care to have thern
always clean, and are circumcis'd principally for
the fake of Cleanlinefs, which they efteem more
than Ornament. The Priefts (have all Parts
of the Body once in three Days ; left Lice or
any other Impurity fhould be found about thofe
who officiate in the Service of the Gods. They
are cloath'd in Linen, wear Shoes of Linen,
and are not permitted to drefs in any other
Manner. They conftantly bathe themfelves
twice in cold Water by Day, and twice by
Night j ufing fo many other Superftilions, that
we may fay their Number is infinite. On the
other Hand they enjoy great Advantages : For
they are never difturb'd with domeftick Cares
and

EUTERPE.

159

and Expences : They eat the confecrated Bread,
and are daily furnilh'd with Beef and Geefe in
abundance. They have an Allowance of Wine ;
but may not tafte of Fifh. Beans are never
fow'd in any Part of Mgyp ; and if fome happen to grow there, the Egyptians will not eat
them either crude or drefs*d. As for the Priefts,
they abhor the Sight of that Pulfe, accounting
it impure and abominable. The Service of
every God is perform'd, not by one, but by
many Priefts, the principal being call'd the
Arch-Prieft •, and when he dies, his Son is fubftituted in his Place. They facrifice Bulls to
Apis \ and for that Reafon make the following
Trial. If they find one black Hair upon him,
they adjuge him to be unclean , which that
they may know with Certainty, the Prieft appointed to this Purpofe views every Part of the
Animal, both ftanding and laid down on the
Ground. After this he draws out his Tono-ue,
to fee if he be clean by certain Signs, which I
ihall mention in another Difcourfe. In the laft
place he looks upon the Hairs of his Tail, that
he may be fure they are as by Nature they
ought to be. If after this Search the Beaft is
found unblemifh'd, he ties a Label about his
Horns ; and having feal'd it with the Signet
of his Ring, orders him to be led away and
fecur'd ; becaufe it is Death to facrifice one of
thefe Animals, unlefs he has been mark'd with
fuch a Seal. And thus having related the Form
of this Examination, I proceed to the Manner
of their Sacrifices. After they have brought
the Viftim to the Altar, they immediately kinFire, and pouring Wine upon him,' offer
theirdle aPrayers
to the God,
This done, they
kill

i6o

HERODOTUS.

Book It

kill the Beaft, flay the Body, and cut off the
Head, which they carry with many Imprecations to the publick Place, if they have any,
and fell it to fome Grecian Merchant ; but if
no fuch is to be found, they throw it into the
River, ufing this Form of Execration ; " May
*' all the Evils impending over thofe that now
*' facrifice, or over the Egyptians in general,
*' be averted on this Head." Thefe Ceremonies
of the Libation of Wine, and the Manner of
devoting the Head of the Sacrifice, are pradlis'd
in all the Temples of ^gypt j and for this Reafon no Egyptian will eat of the Head of any
Animal. But in the Choice of their Vidims,
and Burnt-Offerings, they have different Cuftoms"
in feveral Places.
The Goddefs they principally worfhip i^
call'd 7//J, and they celebrate her Feftival with
all imaginable Solemnity. On the preceding
Day they faft, and after they have pray'd, they
facrifice a Bullock *, taking out the Bowels,
and leaving the Fat with the Vitals in the Carcafs. This done, they cut off the Legs and
End of the Loyn, together with the Shoulders
and Neck ; and having fill'd the Body with
flne Bread, Honey, dried Raifms, Figs, Incenfe,
Myrrh, and other Perfumes, they perform the
Rites of Confecration, and pour in a great
Quantity of Oyl. They facrifice failing ; beating themfelves during all the Time the Flefh
lies on the Fire ; and when they have fo done,
they feaft upon the reft of the Offering. All
the Cattle of this Kind, whether full grown
or Calves, us'd by the i^gyptians in their Sacrifices, are unblemifh'd Males ; but the Females being facred to IftSy are forbidden to be
2
offer'd.

EUTERPE.

i6i

offer'd. For the Image of IJis Is always made
in the Form of a Woman with the Horns of
a Cow on her Head, as the Grecians reprefent
lo : And for this Reafon all the ^Egyptians pay
a greater Reverence to that Animal than to any
other. So that no Man or Woman among
them will ever be perfuaded to kifs a Grecian
on the Mouth ; or to ufe the fame Knife, Pot,
or Spit ; nor to eat the Flefh even of unblemifh'd Cattle, which has been cut up with the
Knife of a Grecian. When any Beaft of this
fort happens to die, they difpofe of the Body
in the following Manner : They throw the
Females into the River, and interr the Males
in the Parts adjoining to the City, with one
Horn, and fometimes both appearing above
the Ground, for a Mark of the Grave. When
the Flefh is confum'd, fo as all the Bones may
be tranfported, a Veflel appointed to that End
arrives at a certain time from Profopites^ an liland
of Delta^ which comprehends nine Schoenes
of Land in Circumference and feveral Cities.
The VefTel is fent by one of thefe, call'd Atar*
hechis^ where a Temple ftands dedicated to Venus^
and from whence many others are difpatch'd
to different Parts. After they have thus colledled all the Bones, they bury them together
in any one Place ; and the fame Rites are obferv'd v/ith relation to other Cattle. For the
JEgyptians are forbidden by their Laws to kill
any.
Those who worlKip in the Temple of Ju»
pter at Thebes, or belong to that Country,
abflain from Sheep, and facrifice Goats only.
For the ^Egyptians are not unanimous in their
Manner of honouring the Gpds, if we except
M
Jfis

i62

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

JJis and Oftris^ who, they fay, is no other than
Bacchus : But in the Worfhip of thefe Deities
they all agree.
On the other hand, thofe who
frequent the 'Temple of Mendes^ with all the Inhabitants of that Territory, abftain from facrificing Goats, and offer Sheep only.
Now
the
Thebans and all thofe who abftain from Sheep
after their Example,
pretend that this Cuftom
was eftablifh'd among them by the means of Hercules ', who being very defirous to fee Jupiter^^
did not without great Difficulty obtain his Requeft \ for the God was unwilling to be {^^w ^
till at laft Jupiter yielding to his Impottunity,
contriv'd this Artifice.
Having feparated the
Head from the Body of a Ram, and flayed the?
whole Carcafs, he put on the Skin with th^
Wool, and in that Form fhew'd himfelf to Her*
tides. For this caufe the j^gyptians reprefent
Jupiter by an Image wearing the Head of a Ram :
In which they have been imitated by the Ammo*
nians, who are a Colony of ^Egyptians and iEthiopians, fpeaking a Language com.pos'd of Words
taken from both thofe Nations \ and, as I conje6ture, have given themfelves the Name of Ammonians, becaufe Jupiter is by the ^Egyptians
call'd Ammon,
For the fame Reafon the Ram is
accounted a facred Animal, and never kill'd by
the Thebans, except once in every Year on the
Feflival of Jupiter ; when, after they have flay'd
the Body, and put the Skin upon the Image of
the God, they bring a Statue of Hercules into hi§
Prefence : Which done, all the AfTiftants give a
Blow to the Ram, and afterwards bury him in a
confecrated Coffin. I have been inform'd, that this
.Egyptian Hercules is one of the twelve Gods ;
but of the other, who is knowu to the Grecians, I

^

co.uy

EUTERPE.

ids

could never hear the leaft mention in any part
of Mgyft. And I have many good Reafons to
believe, that the ^Egyptians did not borrow
this Name from the Grecians j but rather the
Grecians, and efpecially thofe who gave it to
the Son of Amphitryon^ from the Egyptians:
Principally, becaufe Amphitryon and Alcmena^
Father and Mother to the Grecian Hercules^
were both of ^Egyptian Defcent. Befides •, the
.Egyptians affirm, they know not the Names of
nor ever received
and Pollux\
Neptune^
them
into Caftor
the Number
of their Gods: Yet if
they had borrow'd the Name of any Deity from
the Grecians, they would certainly have mention'd thefe in the firft Rank, had any of the
Grecians then frequented the Sea, and been acquainted with the Ufe of Shipping, as I believe
they were. And therefore the ^Egyptians muft
have known the Names of thefe Gods, rather
than that of Hercules. But however this be, Hercules is one of th.^ antient Gods of the Egyptians ;
who fay, that feventeen thoufand Years before
the Reign of Amafis^ the number of their Gods,
whichthat
hadHercules
been eight,
increased
and
was was
accounted
one tooftwelve,
thefe.
Concerning which things, being defirous to
know with Certainty as much as might be difcover'd, I fail'd to 'Tyre mPhcenicia, becaufe I had'
heard there was a Temple dedicated to Hercules.
That Temple I faw, enrich'd with many magnificent Donations, and among others with two
Pillars, one of fine Gold, the other made of
a Smaragdus, which fnines by Night in a furprizing Manner. Converiing with the Priefts of
this God, and inquiring how long this Temple
had been built, I found thefe alfo to differ from
M 2
the

1 64

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

the Grecians.
For they afTur'd me that the
Temple was built at the fame Time with the
City, and that two thoufand three hundred
Years were already pail fince the Foundation of
Tyre. In this City I faw another Temple dedicated to Hercules by the Name of Thalian ;
and when I arriv'd in Tbafus.y I found there
alfo a Temple of the fame God, built by thofe
Phoenicians, who founded that City during the
Expedition they made in Search of Europa ^
which was five Generations before Hercules the
Son of Amphitryon
appear'd in Greece.
All
thefe things evidently prove, that the Egyptian
Hercules is a God of great Antiquity ; and therefore, in my Opinion, thofe Grecians a6t moil
rationally, who build Temples to both i facrificing to the iiril, as to an Immortal Being, under the Name of Olympian, and honouring the
other as a Hero.
But the Grecians fay many
other things on this Subjedl without due Examination, and in particular have invented the following Fable. When Hercules^ fay they, arriv'd
in Mgypt^ the i^gyptians crown'd him with a
Garland, and defigning to facrifice him to Jupiter^ condudled him to the Altar in great Ceremony : During the Way he was filent •, but
when they had brought him thither, he colleded all his Strength, and kill'd every Man
that was there prefent.
Now
thofe who tell
this Story, feem to me utterly ignorant of the
Nature and Laws of the Egyptians.
For how
carl we imagine that a People forbidden to kill
any kind of Animal, except Qtt{t.^ Swine, and
fuch Bulls and Calves as they find without Blemiih, would facrifice Men } And how could
alone,
Hercules kill fo many thoufands ; being then

EUTERPE.

165

alone, and at that Time, by their own Confef/lon, no more than a Man ? Neverthelefs, I
defire the Gods and the Heroes v/ould take in
good part what I have faid concerning thefe
Slings.
The Reafon that prevails with the Mendefians I mention'd before, not to facrifice the
Goats, either Male or Female, is, becaufe they
account Pan one of the eight Gods, who, they
fay, are more antient than the twelve. And indeed their Painters and Sculptors reprefent Pan
with the Face and Legs of a Goat, as the Grecians do. Not that they imagine this to be his
real Form, for they think him like other Gods ;
but I have no Inclination to mention the Reafon
they give for reprefenting him in that maimer.
However, the Mendcfians pay a religious Worfhip to all Goats, but to the Males much more
than to the Females ; and highly reverence the
Goatherds ; particularly one, who is honour'd
at his Death by publick Lamentations in all Farts
of the Country. In the Language of jEgypty
Pan and a Goat are equally call'd by the Name
of Mendes : And in my Time a Goat lay with a
Woman of that Country in fo publick a manner,
that all Men knew the Prodigy to have really
happen'd. Swine are accounted fuch impure
Beafts by the i^gyptians, that if a Man touches
one, even by accident, he prefently haftens to
the River, and in all his Cloaths plunges himfelf
into the Water. For this reafon Hogherds alone,
of all the ^Egyptians, are not fuffer'd to enter any
of their Temples ; neither will any Man give his
Daughter in Marriage to one of that Profeflion,
nor take a Wife born of fuch Parents : So that
they are necelTitated to intermarry among themM 3
felves.

i66

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

felves. The ^Egyptians are forbidden to facrifice
Swine to any other Deities than to Bacchus^ and
to the Moon, when compleatly full -, at which
Time they may eat of the Flefh. But if I
fhould mention the Reafon they give for the
Liberty they then take, and for abftaining from
that Animal on all other Feftivals, I fhould offend againft Decency : And therefore I fhail only
fay. That when they offer this Sacrifice to the
Moon, and have kill'd the Vidlim, they put the
End of the Tail, with the Spleen and Fat, into a
Cawl found in the Belly of the Animal ; all
which they burn on the facred Fire, and eat the
reft of the Flefh on the Day of the full Moon,
tho' at any other time they would not tafte it.
Thofe, who on account of their Poverty cannot bear the Expence of this Sacrifice, mould
a Pafte into the Form of a Hog, and make
their Offering. In the Evening of the Feftival
of Bacchus^ tho' every one be oblig'd to kill a
Swine before the Door of his Houfe, yet he
immediately reftores the Carcafs to the Hogherd
that fold him. The reft of this Feftival is celebrated in Mgypt to the Honour of Bacchus
with the fame Ceremonies as in Greece : Only
inftead of the Phallus they have invented certain Images of one Cubit in Height, fo artificially contrived with Nerves, that the Priapus,
almoft equal in Bignefs to the reft of the Body,
is (ttn to move, while the Women, who make
the Procefllon, carry the Images, finging the
Praifes of Bacchus^ and preceded by a Flute.
But the Reafon they have to form this Part fo
difproportion'd to the Body, and to give it thefe
Motions, they fay is a facred Myftery. For my
€wn part, I think Melampus the Son of Amytbeon

EUTERPE.

167

tBeon was not Ignorant of any thing rektlng
to this Ceremony, but perfedlly well inftruded
in all thefe Rites. For he firft introduc'd the
Name and Sacrifices of Bacchus among the Grecians, together with the Pomp of the Phallus ;
tho' he did not fo fully explain every Particular,
as other learned Perfons have done who liv'd
after him. But Melampus was certainly the iirft
that taught the Grecians to carry the Phallus
in Proceflion to the Honour of Bacchus^ and inCeremonies
they been
ufe ona wife
that
Occafion.troduc'd Iall the
think
him to have
Man, fkilful in the Art of Divination ; and that
he inftrudted the Grecians in many things which
were deriv'd from JEgyp \ but efpecially in
the Worfhip of Bacchus., changing only fome
few Particulars. For I fhall not fay that the
Agreement of thefe two Nations in the ufe of
the fame Rites in the Service of this God, is
the Effed of Chance ; becaufe they are perform'd in a uniform Manner thro' all Greece.,
and were not lately introduc'd : Neither fliall
I pretend that the ^Egyptians have borrow'd
thefe, or any other Rites from the Grecians.
But I am of opinion that Melampus was inftrudled in the Ceremonies of Bacchus chiefly
by Cadmus the Tyrian, and thofe Phoenicians
who accompanied him to that Country, which
now goes under the Name of Besot ia. And
indeed the Names of almoft all the Grecian
Gods were originally deriv'd from the ^Egyptians -, as I found, after I had heard that they
were introduc'd by barbarous Nations. Only we
muft except Neptune^ Caftor and PolluXy mention'd before ; Juno., Vefta., 'Themis., the Graces^
Nereides.^ and fome others, whofe Names are ut •
M 4
terly

i68

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

terly unknown in jEgypt^ as the Egyptians
affirm ; and, as I conjedture, are all owing to
the Pelafgians, except that of Neptune^ which
they learnt from the Libyans, who iirft invok'd the Name of this God, and always worfhipp'd him with fingular Veneration. But
the ^Egyptians pay no religious Honour to Heroes.
These, and other Rites which I fhall afterwards mention, the Grecians receiv'd from the
Egyptians ; but they learnt of the Pelafgians
to make the Image of Hermes with an eredled
Priapus, the Athenians having been the firft who
pradlis'd this Manner, and others by their Example. For in that Time the Pelafgians inhabited Part of the Athenian Territories ; and, becaufe the Athenians were accounted among the
Nations of Greece^ came likewife to be efteem'd
Grecians. Whoever is initiated in the Cabirian
Myfteries of the Samothracians, which they receiv'd from th.^ Pelafgians, knows what I fay.
For thefe Pelafgians were Inhabitants of Samoibracia^ before they came into the Country of
Attica^ and had inftru6led the Samothracians in
the Orgian Rites ; as they afterwards did the
Athenians, who by that means were the firft of
all the Grecians that form'd the Images of Mercury in the manner above-mention'd : For which
the Pelafgians pretend certain facred Reafons,
explain'd in the Myfteries of Samothracia. They
had formerly facrific'd and pray'd to Gods in
general, as I was inform'd at JDodona^ without
attributing either Name or Surname to any Deity,
which in thofe Times they had never heard : But
they call'd them by the Name of Gods, becaufe
tries.
they difpos'd and govern'd all Adions and Coun-

EUTERPE.

169

tries. After a long Time, the Names of the
them from
other Gods were brought among
Mgyp-, and laft of all that of Bacchus : Upon
which they confulted the Oracle of Dodona^ ftill
accounted the moft ancient, and then the onlyOracle in Greece j and having enquir'd, whether
they ihould receive thefe Names from BarbariSo from
ans, the Oracle anfwer'd, they fhould.
that time they invok'd the Gods in their Sacriand the fame were
fices, under diftindl Names,
afterwards receiv'd by the Grecians from thefe
But what Original is to be aiTign'd
.
Pelafgians
each of thofe Gods \ whether they always
to
were, and of what Form, was utterly unknown
till of late, and, to ufe a common Expreflion,
For I am of Opinion, that Heof Yefterday.
ftod and Horner^ who liv'd not above four hundred Years before my time, were the Perfons
that introduc'd the Genealogy of the Gods among the Grecians •, impos'd Names upon each ;
and Honours ; and
affign'd their Functions
As to the
cloath'd them in their feveral Forms.
other Poets, fuppos'd to be more ancient, I
think they liv'd after thefe. And this is my
Senfe touching Hefiod and Homer ♦, but the reft,
which I related before, I had from the Priefteffes of Do dona.
Concerning the Oracles of Greece and
Lihya^ the Egyptians give the following Account. The Priefts of the Theban Jupiter told
me, that two Prieftefles were carried away out
of that Country by certain Phoenicians -, who
afterwards, as they were inform'd, fold one thofey
them in Lihya^ and the other in Greece^ and that
thefe two Women eftablilh'd the firft Oracles
among
thofe People,
When
I enquir'd how

170

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

they knew this to be true, they anfwer'd, That
indeed the Women were never found, though
all poffible Diligence was us'd to that End ; but
they had fince learnt, that things had pafs'd as
they related. This Account I recelv'd from the
Priefts of Tbehes. On the other hand, the principal Prieftefles of D.odona fay, that two black
Pigeons flew away at a certain time from Thebes
m ALgypt ; that one of thefe arriv'd in Libya^
and the other in Dodona ; that this laft, as fhefat pearch'd on a Beach-tree, admonifli*d the
Inhabitants with an articulate Voice, to ere6b
an Oracle in that Place to Jupiter -, and that the
People believing this to be no lefs than a divine
Revelation, readily obey'd. They add, that
the other Pigeon, v/hich flew into Libya^ comjnanded the Lybians to found the Oracle of
Ammon dedicated to the fame God. Thefe
things are faid by the Priefteffes of Dodona^
and affirm'd by all that belong to the Temple.
The eldeft of thefe Women is nam'd Promefiia^ the fecond Timarete^ and the third Nicandra. But my Opinion is, that if the Phoenicians did really carry off the two Priefteffes beforemention'd, and fold the one in Libya^ and the
other in Greece^ this lafl was bought by the
Thefprotians, who inhabited thofe Parts which
are now call'd Hellas^ and in that time were
known by the Name of Pelafgia : That during
her Servitude fhe confecrated an Altar to Jupiter
under a Beach-, nothing being more natural,
than to fuppofe that fhe who had been a Prieflefs
of that God in 'Thebes^ would not be unmindful of his Worfhip in another Place ; that this
is the Original of that Oracle ; and that after
fhe had learnt the Language of Greece^ fhe de-

clar'd

EUTERPE.

ijt

clar'd that her Sifter had met with the like Fortune, and had been fold in Libya by the fame
Phoenicians. The Dodonaeans, as I conjedlure,
gave them the Name of Pigeons, becaufe they
were Barbarians, and their Speech no more underftood than the chattering of Birds: But as
foon as this Woman became able to fpeak their
Language, they prefently reported that the Pigeon had fpoken with a human Voice ; for while
file continued to ufe a barbarous Tongue, fhe
was no better underftood than a Bird. If thefe
•things are not fo, I delire to be inform'd how a
Pigeon fiiould come to fpeak the Language of
Men. In a Word, they feem to have had the
Epithet of Black, becaufe they were Egyptians. And as the Oracles of Dodona^ and of
nehes^ are almoft alike in every thing, we
may conclude, that the Cuftom of predicting
future Events in Temples, is deriv'd from the
-Egyptians.
Th e ^Egyptians were alfo the firft Inventers
of Feftivals, Ceremonies, and Tranfadtions with
the Gods, by the Mediation of others : All
which I perfuade myfelf the Grecians receiv'd
from that People -, becaufe they plainly appear
to have been very ancient among the iEgyptians, and but lately introduc'd in Greece. 'Tis
not thought fufficient in Mgyp to celebrate the
Feftivals of the Gods once every Year \ but they
have many Times appointed to that End : Particularly inthe City of Buhaftis^ where they affemble to worftiip Diana with much Devotion ;
and in Bujiris^ a Place fituate in the midft of
Delta^ where the great Temple of IJis^ by the
Grecians call'd Bemeter^ is built. The Feftivals
of Mjnerva are folemniz'd in the City of Sais ;
and

172

HERO DO rUS. Book II.

and thofe of the Sun in Heliopolis. Latona is
particularly worfhipp'd in Butus^ and Mars in the
City of Papremis. The manner obferv'd in the
Feftivals of Biihaftis^ is this : Men and Women
embark promifcuoully in great Numbers, and
during the Voyage, fome of the Women beat
upon a Tabor, while part of the Men play on
the Pipe ; the reft of both Sexes finging and
ffcriking their Hands together at the fame time.
At every City they find in their Paflage, they
hawl in the VelTel, and fome of the Women
continue their Mufick •, but others either provoke
the Women of the Place with opprobrious Language, or dance and fhew themfelves naked :
And this they do at every Town that ftands by
the Shore. When they arrive at Buhaftis^ they
celebrate the Feftival with numerous Sacrifices,
and confume more W^ine than in all the reft of
the Year. For the Inhabitants fay this Aflembly
ufually confifts of about {^sr^n hundred thoufand
Men and Women, befides Children. I have already related how the Worfhip of Ifis is perform'd in the City of Bufiris \ and fhall only add,
that after the Sacrifices, all the Men and Women
then prefent, who always am.ount to many thoufands, difcipline themfelves, but with what Inftrument I may not difcover. In this Devotion
the Carians that live in Mgypt furpafs all ; for
they cut their Foreheads with Swords, and by
this Adion diftinguifli themfelves to be Strangers, and not ^^gyptians. When they meet to
facrifice in the City of Sais^ they hang up by
Night a great number .of Lamps filPd with Oil,
and a Mixture of Salt, round every Houfe, the
Tow fwimming on the Surface. Thefe burn
during the whole Night, and" the Feftival is thence
nam'd

EUTERPE.

173

namM, ^he Lighting of Lamps,
The i^gyptians who are not prefent at this Solemnity, obferve the fame Ceremonies, wherever they be ;
and Lamps are lighted that Night, not only in
Sais, but throughout all ^gjpt.
Neverthelefs,
the Reafons for ufing thefe Illuminations, and
paying fo great Refped to this Night, are kept
fecret. Thofe who aflemble on fuch folemnOccalions at Heliopolis and But us ^ offer Sacrifices only, without any
farther Ceremonies.
But in PapremiSy when they have performed
their Worfhip, and iiniih'd their Offerings, as
in other Places, a fmall number of Priefts at the
Setting of the Sun attend about the Image of
Mars ', but the far greater part place themfelves
before the Gates of the Temple, with Clubs in
their Hands ; while other Men who have devoted themfelves to this Service, and frequently
amount to above a thoufand, arm'd in like manner, affemble together in a Place oppofite to
them.
The Image of the God, which is kept
in a little Tabernacle of Wood gilded with
Gold, is brought on the Eve of the Feftlval,
and plac'd within another ; and thofe few who
are appointed to attend, draw both the Tabernacle and the Image to the Temple on a Chariot
of four Wheels.
But the Priefts, who ftand at
the Entrance, refuUng to give them Admittance,
the Votaries, in Duty to the God, begin to ftrike
with their Clubs, and an obftinate Combat enfues, both iides dealing their Blows chiefly on
the Head : So that, as I conjedure, many die
of the Wounds they receive, though the M^yptians affirm the contrary.
Thefe Rites, if
we may believe the Inhabitants, were inftituted
for the following Caufe.
They fay that Mars
I
was

174

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

was educated abroad, till he attain'd to the Age
of a Man ; when coming home to vifit his Mother, who dwelt in this facred Place, he was
denied Entrance by her Servants, and driven away by Violence ; becaufe they had never feen
him before. That Mars retiring to another City, collefted a good number of Men, and returning, fell upon the Servants, and enter'd by
Force ; in Commemoration of which Adion,
this Combat is reprefented on his Feftival. The
who ordain'd,
were likewife
j?Lgyptians
that
Men fhould
abftain the
fromfirftWomen
in the
Temples ; and not enter any facred Place without wafhing, after the Ufe of a Woman. For
almoil all other Nations, except the Egyptians
and Grecians, neither fcrupie to perform that
Adion in Temples, nor to go thither unwafh'd
after they have had the Company of Women ;
thinking Mankind to be like other Animals.
And becaufe they frequently fee Beafts and
Birds coupling together in Groves and Temples, they imagine that if this A6tion were
difagreeable to God, thofe Creatures would.
abftain in thofe Places. But I cannot approve
the Conclufion they draw from this Obfervation.
The Egyptians are beyond meafure fuperftitious in ail things concerning Religion ; efpecially in the enfuing Particulars. jEgypt^ tho*
adjoining to Lihya^ abounds not in Variety of
Beafts •, yet all thofe they have, both wild and
tame, are accounted facred. But if I fhould
take upon me to give the Reafons of this Opinion, Imuft enter into a long Difcourfe of divine things, which I avoid with all pollible
Care j having hitherto faid nothing of that kind,
unlefs

EUTERPE.

175

;iinlefs in a tranfient manner, and compell'd by
fht force of NecelTity. Their Cuftoms, however, relating to the Beafts, are thefe. In the
jfirft place, Men and Women have the Care of
feeding and bringing up all domeftick Animal$
t)y themfelves ^ and the Son fucceeds the Father in this Office. All the Inhabitants of the
Cities offer their Prayers to thefe, and to the
Deities to which they are facred, with the following Ceremonies. They fhave the Heads of
.their Children, either intirely, or one half, or
at leaft a third Part, and putting the Hair into
one Scale, and Money into the other, when
the Silver carries the Biilance they give it to the
Keeper of the Animals, who for that Reward
provides them with Fifh cut in pieces, v/hich
is their ufual Food. If any Perfon kills one of
thefe Beafts voluntarily, he is punifh'd with
Death ; if involuntarily, his Punifliment is referr'd to the Difcretion of the Priefts. But if
a Man kill either a Hawk or an Ibis, whether
with Defign or not, he muft die without Mercy. The Beafts that are brought up among
Men are many, and would be much more numerous, iffome Accidents ftiould not frequently
happen to the Cats. For when the Females
have brought their Kitlins, they care no longer
for the Male, and obftinately refufe to be cover'd y which the Male perceiving, contrives this
Artifice : He waits an Opportunity to rob the
Female of her Young, and having done fo, kills
them all, but abftains from eating their Flefh.
The Female feeing herfelf depriv'd o^ her Kitlins, and being very delirous of more, begins
again to follow the Male ; for this Creature is
But when 2
exceedingly fond pf having Youpg.

Houfe

175

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

Houfe takes Fire, the manner of this Animal
is very furprizing. For though the Egyptians
{landing at a Diftance, negledt the Progrefs of
the Flames, and take much greater Care to preferve the Cats than the Houfe -, yet, either by
creeping fiily along the Ground, or leaping over
the Heads of the Men, the Cats for the moft
part find a way to throw themfelves into the
Fire ; and on thefe Occafions great Lamentations are heard among the ^Egyptians. In
whatever Houfe a Cat dies a natural Death, all
the Family fhave their Eyebrows j and if a Dog
die, they fhave the whole Body. All dead Cats
are carried to certain facred Houfes, where being put into a Brine, they are afterwards buried
in the City of Bubaftis. Bitches are laid in
confecrated Coffins, and interr'd in the Cities
where they die, and fo are hunting Dogs •, but
Hawks and the venomous Mole are carried to
the City of Butus, The Bears, which are few
in number, and Wolves, no bigger than Foxes,
are buried in the Places where they are found
dead. As for the Crocodiles, they are of a
ftrange Nature. They eat nothing during the
four coldeft Months ; and though they have
four Feet, yet they equally frequent the Water
and the Land. They lay their Eggs, and hatch
their Young on dry Ground ; flaying afhore
the greater part of the Day. But ^ey go
down to the River by Night, becaufe the
Water is then warmer than the Air and Dews.
No living thing, that we know, grows to (o
vaft a Size, from fo fmall a Beginning. For
their Eggs are Httle bigger than thofe of a
Goofe, and their Young, at the firft Appearance, proportionable : But they afterwards grow
to

EUTERPE.

177

to the Length of feventeen Cubits and more*
They have the Eyes and Tufhes of a Hog, with
great Teeth, fuitable to the reft of the Body.
Of all Animals, thefe alone have no Tongue,*
and move the upper Jaw only when they eat ;
the lower never. They have Claws exceedingly
ftrong, and a fcaly Hide, impenetrable. The
Crocodile is blind in the Water, but very quicklighted by Land : And becaufe he lives for the
mo ft part m the River, his iMouth is generally
infefted with Leaches : So that though all o*
ther Beafts and Birds equally avoid him ; yet he
lives in Peace with the Trochilus., becaufe he
receives a beneficial Service from that Bird,
For when the Crocodile goes out of the Water, and opens his Mouth, which he does moft:
commonly towards the South, the Trochilus
enters and devours the Leaches j with which
good Office the Crocodile is fo well plcas'd,
that he never hurts him. One part of the
^Egyptians efteem the Crocodile &cred ; but
others purfue him to Death as a common Enemy. Thofe who inhabit the Country of Thebes^
and that adjoining to the Lake of M^risy pay
a peculiar Veneration to him. For each of
thefe People train up a Crocodile to be fb
tame as to endure the Hand, putting Strings
of Jewels or Gold through his Ears, and a
Chain on his Fore-feet. Whilft he lives he is
us'd with great Refpedt, and fed with confecrated Provifions at the publick Charge: And
when riedhein a isfacred
dead, Coffin.
he is prefer
Salt and buButv'dtheinInhabitants
of
Elephant is are fo far from accounting the Crocodile facred, that they eat his Fleffi. The
^Egyptian Name of this Animal is Champfe :

N

For

178

HERODOfUS.

Book II.

For the lonians were the firft who call'd them
Crocodiles ; becaufe they thought them to be
like certain Creatures they find in Hedges, and
call by that Name.
The ways of taking the
Crocodile are various *, but I fhall only defcribe
that which to me feems moft remarkable. They
faften the Chine of a Hog to an Iron Hook,
which they let down into the River, beating a
living Pig on the Shore at the fame time.
The
Crocodile hearing the Noife, and making that
way, meets with the Chine ; which he devours,
and is drawn to Land : Where when he arrives,
they prefently throw Dirt in his Eyes, and by
that means do what they will with him, which
otherwife would
be difficult.
The
WaterHorfe is efteem'd facred by the Inhabitants of
Papremis^ though in no other part of jEgypt,
He is a Quadruped
with divided Feet, and
Hoofs like a Bull : His IS! ofe is fhort and retorted ; but his Mane, Tail, and Voice, refemble
thofe of a Horfe, and his Teeth grow out in
the manner of Tufnes.
He is equal in Bignefs
to the largeft Bull \ and his Skin is fo thick,
that Darts are cut out of the Hide.
A WaterSnake call'd Enhydris is likewife {^tw in the
River ; which, with the Eel and fcaly Lepidotus, are in a peculiar manner facred to the
7V/7^, as the Vulpanfer is among the Birds. The
Phoenix is another facred Bird, which I have
never feen except in Effigy.
He rarely appears in Mgypt \ once only in five hundred
Years, immediately after the Death of his Father, as the Heliopolitans affirm.
If the Painters defcribe him truly, his Feathers reprefent a
Mixture of Crimfon and Gold '
; and he refembles
he
the Eagle in Form and Proportion,. They
fay

EUTERPE.

179

he comes from Arabia ; and bringing the Body
of his Father embalm'd,
buries him in the
Temple of the Sun.
The manner of his Performance, which I think incredible, they" relate
thus.
Firft he moulds as great a Quantity of
Myrrh into the Shape of an Egg, as he is well
able to carry ; and after having try'd the Weight,
he difbowels the Egg, and puts his Father into
the hollow Space:
When he has done this,
and adjufled the Weight
to his Strength, he
ftops the Aperture with more Myrrh, and carries the whole Mafs to the Temple of the Sun
in Mgypt.
Such is the Account they give of
the Phoenix.
In the Country of Thebes a fmall
kind of Serpent is found, efteem'd facred by the
-Egyptians, having Horns growing on the top
of the Head, and no way hurtful to Men. When
any of thefe Serpents die, they are buried in the
Temple of Jupiter^ becaufe they are thought
to belong to that God.
Having heard that in
a Part of Arabia^
fituate a little beyond the
City of Butus^ I might learn fomething concerning the flying Serpents, I went thither alfo ;
and faw there an incredible Quantity of their
Bones, amafs'd in many Heaps, of different bignefs, fome greater and others lefs. The Entrance into this Plain, which lies level with AEgypt^ is by a narrow Paflage betv/een the Mountains ; and to this Place the Inhabitants fay, the
flying Serpents advance in the beginning of every
Spring j but are prevented by the Ibis from
proceeding
the Ibis
Chopsis
of
the Hillsfarther,
j for and
whichdeftroy'd
Service in the
highly reverenc'd by the -Egyptians,
as both
they and the Arabians acknowledge.
This Bird
is, in Colour, of the deepeft Black, and in

N 2

agnefs

i8o

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

Bignefs equal to a Heron : His Beak is crooked,
and his Legs like thofe of a Stork. This is the
Form of the black Ibis, v/hich kills the Serpents. Another fort of Ibis, more commonly
{^tn by Men, has white Feathers on every part"
of his Body, except the Head, Neck, and Extremities of the Wings and Tail •, which are of
as deep a Black as thofe of the other kind : But
his Head and Neck are not fo big. The Serpent is in Shape like the Water-Snake -, but his
Wings are deflitute of Feathers, and fmooth
like thofe of a Bat. And here I leave this Difcourfe concerning facred Animals.
Th E i^gyptians, who inhabit thofe Parts of
Mgypt^ which are fow'd with Corn, are of all
Nations I ever faw the greateft Reafoners about
the Monuments of Antiquity, and Adions of
Mankind.
Their Manner of Life is this : They
purge themfelves every Month, three Days fuccefhvely, by Vomits and Glyfters, in order to
preferve Health *, fuppofing that all Difeafes
among
Men
proceed from the Food
they
ufe. For other wife, the -Egyptians are by Nature the moft healthy People of the World,
the Libyans only excepted *, which, as I conjedlure, is to be attributed to the Regularity of
the Seafons, and Conftancy of the Weather,
moil Diftempers beginning upon fome Alteration in the Temperature of the Air.
They
make their Bread of Olyra, and call it by the
Name of Colleftis ; but their Wine is made of
Barley, becaufe they have no Vines in that
Country.
They eat Fifh, both pickled and
dried in the Sun *, together with Quails, Ducks,
and fmaller Birds, preferv'd in Salt, without
any other Preparation.
Whatever elfe has any

Refem*

EUTERPE.

i8r

Refemblance to Birds or Fifhes, except fuch as
they account facred, is eaten without Scruple,
either boil'd or roafted. At their principal
Feafls, when they begin to tafle the Wine after Supper, a Perfon appointed to that End,
carries about m a Coffin the Image of a dead
Man, carv'd in Wood, and reprefenting the Original in Colour and Shape. Thefe Images,
which are always of one, and fometimes of
two Cubits in Length, are carried round all the
Company, and thefe Words pronounc'd to every
one diftin6lly, " Look upon this : Then drink
*' and rejoice ; for thou fhalt be as this is."
Thefe, and all other Ufages deriv'd from their
Anceflors, they obferve ; but will not encreafe
their Number by new Additions. Among other
memorable Cuftoms, they fing the Song of
Linus^ like that which is fung by the Phoenicians, Cyprians and other Nations, who vary
the Name according to the different Languages
they fpeak. But the Perfon they honour in this
Song, is evidently the fame that the Grecians
celebrate. And as I confefs my Surprize at many things I found among the Egyptians, fo I
more particularly wonder, whence they had thisKnowledge of Linus \ becaufe they feem to have
celebrated him from time immemorial. The
^Egyptians call him by the Name of Maneros j
and fay, he was the only Son of the firil of their
Kings i but happening to die by an untimely
Death in the Flower of his Age, he is lamented
by the -Egyptians in this Mourning Song ;
which is the only Compofition of the kind us'd
in Mgy-pt,
N 3

Ifi

1 82

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

In one Particular, the Egyptian manner is
like that of the Lacedemonians only among all
the Grecians : For the young Men rife up from
their Seats, and retire out of the way, at the
Approach of thofe who are of elder Years ;
which is not pradis'd in any other Nation of
Greece. When the ^Egyptians falute one another in publick, they bow the Body reciprocally,
and carry their Hands to each others Knee.
They wear a linen Tunick border'd at the bottom with Fringes, and a Cloak of white woollen Cloth over it ; but to enter into any Temple
with this Garment, or to be buried in any thing
made of Wool, is accounted profane. This
Cuftom is obferv'd by thofe who are Initiated
in the Rites of Orpheus and Bacchus ; which
were borrow'd from the Egyptians and Pythagoras. For among them alfo, to interr the Dead
in woollen Garments is accounted irreligious,
and certain myfterious Reafons are alledg'd to
juftify their Opinion.
The T^gyptlans were alfo the Inventers of
divers other things. They aflign'd each Month
and Day to fome particular God *, obferving the
time of Mens Nativity ; predldllng what Fortune they fhall have, how they fhall die, and
what kind of Perfons they fliall be. All which
the Grecian Poets have made ufe of in their
Poems. Prodigies abound miore in Mgypt.^ than
in all the reft of the World ; and, as often as
they happen, are defcrib'd in Writing v/ith their
Confequences ; which Accounts they carefully
preferve, out of an Opinion, that if the like
happen at another time, the Event will be the
fame, Predidicns are not deliver'd by any human Being \ but only by fgme of the Gods.
For

EUTERPE.

183

For Hercules^ Apollo^ Minerva^ Diana^ Marsy
and Jupiter have their feveral Oracles. Yet that
which they reverence above all others, is the
Oracle of Latona in the City of But us. They
are not all adminiftred in the fame manner, but
differently.
In thefe Countries the Art of Phyfick is diftributed into feveral diftinft Parts, and every
Phyfician applies himfelf wholly to the Cure of
one Difeafe only, no Man ever pretending to
more : By which means all Places abound v>^ith
Phyficians ; fome profeffmg to cure the Eyes,
others the Head, Teeth, or Parts about the
Belly, whilft others take upon them the Care of
internal Diftempers. Their manner of mourning for the Dead, and their Cuftoms relating to
Funerals, are thefe. When a Man of any Confideration dies, all the Female Sex of that Family, befmear their Heads and Faces with Dirt-,
and leaving the Body at home, march, attended
by all their Relations of that Sex, through the
Streets of the City, with naked Breads, and
Girdles tied about the Wafte, beating themfelves
as they go : While the Men, on their Part,
forming another Company, gird and beat themfelves in like manner. When this Office is perform'd, they go to thofe who are appointed to
exercife the Trade of Embalming •, and as foon
as the dead Body is brought, the Embalmers
fhewing
feveralwhich
Modelsfortmade
W^oodhave.
and painted, afk them
they ofwould
One
of thefe Models is finifh'd with the greateil
Care, and call'd by a Name which I am not
permitted to difcover : The fecond is of an inferior fort and lefs Value ; and the third is the
m'eaneft of all.

When thofe who are concern'd,

N 4

'

have

i84

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

have concluded an Agreement, they return home,
and the Artifts fall immediately to work in this
manner. Fir ft they draw out the Brains through
the Noftrils, with a crooked Inftrument of Iron ;
and infufe certain Medicaments into the vacant
Space : Then they open the Belly with an Mthiopian Knife made of a fharpned Stone, and
take out the Bowels ; to which, after they are
cleans'd and wafh'd in Palm Wine, they add a
fufficient Quantity of odoriferous Drugs. When
this is done, and the Belly fill'd with pounded
Myrrh, Caffia and other Odours, Frankincenfe
excepted, they few all up again, and lay the
Bedy in Nitre for feventy Days, which is the
longeft time allow'd. At the Expiration of this
Term, they wafn the whole Body, and binding
Fillets of Silk round every part, cover it with
Gums, which the Egyptians commonly ufe inHead of Glue. All being thus iinifh'd, the Relations ofthe Dead receive the Body, and place
it in a Frame of Wood, fhap'd in the Figure of
a Man, which they fet upright againft the Wall
of the Edifice referv'd to that End. And this
is the moft coftly way of preferving the Dead.
Thofe who to avoid fo great Expence, will be
contented with a more common Preparation, are
ferv'd in the following manner. They fill Syringes with Oil of Cedar, which they injedt by
x}it common way, without cutting the Belly,
or taking out the Bowels j and after the Body
has been laid in Nitre during fo many Days as I
mentioned before, the Oil of Cedar is let out by
the Fundament, and by a peculiar Virtue brings
away all the Guts and Vitals ihrunk and piitrified, the Nitre having in all this time confum'd
the Flefhs ^r^d \th nothing remaining except
the

EUTERPE.

185

the Skin and the Bones. When this is done,
they deliver the Body without any farther Operation. The third and laft manner of preferving the Dead, ufed only for the poorer fort, is
perform'd by the Injedion of certain Liquors to
cleanfe the Bowels, and laying the Body in Nitre for feventy Days \ after which they deliver it
to be carried away by the Perfons concern'd.
The Wives of confiderable Perfons, and all
Women who have been beautiful, and dear to
their Relations, are not delivered to the Embalrners prefently after Death, but kept at home
three or four Days before they are carried out,
in order to prevent thofe Artificers from abufing
the Bodies of fuch Perfons •, one of them having
been formerly accus'd of this Crime by his Companion. If any ^Egyptian, or even a Stranger,
be found kill'd by a Crocodile, or drown'd in
the River, wherever the Body comes afhore,
the Inhabitants are by Law compelFd to pay all
the Charges of Embalming, and placing it among the confecrated Monuments, adjufted in
the moft coftly manner. For none of his Friends,
or Relations, or any other, may touch his Body,
except the Priefls of the Nile^ who bury him
with their own Hands, as fomething more than
human. They utterly rejedl the Grecian Cuftoms ; and, to fay all at once, will not receive
the Ufages of any other People. Which
Maxim is almoft gen^eral among the iEgyptians.
But the City of Ctemmis^ {landing in the
Province of ^bebes^ not fai from Nea^ has a
Temple of a quadrangular Form dedicated to
Perfeiis the Son of Danae, This Fabrick is furrounded with Palm 'Trees, and adorn'd with a
fpacious

i86

HERODOTUS.

Book JL

fpaclous Portico of Stone, on which two vaft
Statues, of Stone like wife, are eredled. In a Chapel built within the Limits of the confecrated
Ground, an Image of Perfeus is plac'd ; where,
the Inhabitants afBrm, the Hero frequently appears riiing out of the Earth, as he often does
in other parts of the Temple •, that they have
one of the Sandals he wore, which is two Cubits in length •, and that after his Appearance, a
plentiful Year always enfues in Mgyp.
Thefe
things they fay •, and have inftituted all manner
of Gymnick Exercifes to the Honour of Verfcus^ intirely agreeing with thofe us'd in Greece^
rewarding the vidtorious with Cattle, Apparel,
and Skins.
When
I enquir'd what might be
the Reafon th^t Perfeus appear'd only to them,
and why they differ'd from the reft of Mgypt in
appointing thefe Gymnick Exercifes \ they anfwer'd, that Perfeus was defcended of their Blood.
For, faid they, Danaus and Lynceus were both
Chemmites,
and fail'd together into Greece ;
enumerating
the feveral Generations down
to
Perfeiis ; who palTing through j^gypt^ m order
to fetch the Gorgon's Head from Libya^ (as
the Grecians likewife acknowledge)
arriv'd in
this Country, and having form.erly heard the
Name of Cbemmis from his Mother, own'd his
Relations, and by his Command thefe Gymnick Exercifes were firft inftituted.
This Opinion is receiv'd by the Egyptians that inhabit
above the MorafTes •, but thofe v/ho live in the
Fenny Parts, are conformable In Manners to the
reft of yEgypt^ and as in other things, fo particularly inthis, that each Man has no more
than one Wife, like the Grecians.
With refpeA
to their Food, they have been the Inventers of
divers

EUTERPE.

187

divers forts. For when the River fwells and
overflows the Plains, great Numbers of Lilies,
which the iE-^jptians call Lotus, fhoot up thro*
the Vv'ater. Thefe they cut down, and after
^hey are dried in the Sun, take out the Heart
of the Plant •, Vv^hich refembling the Pulp of a
Meakin, they mould into a Pafte and bake as
Bread. Thev likewife eat the Root of the Lotus, which is round, and equal to an Apple in
Bigntfs. Another Lily grows in the fame
Places, much like to a Rofe, with a certain
Fruit found at the Foot of the Stem, in Form
not unlike a Wafp's Neft, and cover'd with a
Pellicule containing divers Kernels of the Size
of an Olive Stone, which are eaten either tender or dried. The Byblus they annually gather
in the Fens, and divide into two Parts ; the
Head is referv'd for other Ufes, but the lower
Part being of .a Cubit in Length, is eaten and
publickly fold. When any one is defirous to
eat thefe Stems drefs'd 'in the beft Manner, he
ftews them in a clean Pan. Some among thefe
People live altogether upon Fiih, which they
difbowel and dry in the Sun, without any farther dreffnig.
Fishes that are gregarious, and fwim in
Company, feldom breed in the River ; but when
the Deiire of ingendring feizes them, leave the
Waters they frequent, and drive out in Shoals
to the Sea, the Males leading the Way, and
fcattering their Spawn upon the Surface. This
the Females fwallow as they come up, and are
thus imipregnated. When they fnd themfelves
full, they return to their accuftom'd Haunts;
tho' not under the Condu6l of the Males, but
of the Females -, which in their Way home do
2
as

i88

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

as the Males did In their Paflage outwards. For
they ejed their Eggs like fmall Grains of Millet,
which the Males that follow devour ; yet fuch
as remain undevour'd, are fometlmes nourlfh'd
and become Filh. If any of thefe Fifh happen
to be taken in their Paflage towards the Sea,
they are found bruls'd on the left Ude of the
Head •, if in their Return, on the right : Becaufe they fwim outwards leaning towards xhQ
Land on the left fide, and when they return
keep fo clofe to the Shore, in fear of being carried down by the Stream, that they brulfe
themfelves frequently on the Bank. When the
Nile begins to overflow, the hollow Vales and
MorafTes that lie near the River, are the iirft
that are fill'd by the Inundation, and immediately fwarm with Infinite Numbers of fmall
Fifties ; the Reafon of which, as I conjedure,
is this : Whilft the annual Inundation of the Nile
Is retreating back, the Fifties lay their Eggs
on the Slime, and go oiF wath the lafl: of the
Waters ; and when the River returns to overflow the fame Places again after the Revolution
of a Year, thefe Fifties are immediately produc'd
from thofe Eggs.
Th e ^Egyptians who Inhabit about the Fens
ufe an Oil call'd Kiki^ drawn from the Fruit of
the Sillicyprian Shrub, which they fow upon the
Borders of Rivers and Lakes. This Plant grows
wild in Greece •, but is fow*d in Mgypt^ and bears
great Abundance of Fruit, tho' of an ill Scent.
Some brulfe it in a Prefs, and fqueeze out the
Oil ; others put it into Pans which they fet on
the Fire, and by that means extradt the Juice.
The Liquor is unduous, and no lefs ufeful in
Lamps than other Oil ; but the Odour is ft:rong
2
and

EUTERPE.

189

and difagreeable.
Thefe Parts are much mfefted
M'ith Gnats, and thei^fore the Inhabitants have
contriv'd to defend themfelves from that Infedt
by the following Means.
Thofe who live above
the Marfhes go up to take their Reft in Towers
built to that End ; becaufe the Gnats are prevented bywho
the "Winds
mounting
And thofe
inhabit from
the lower
Parts, foufehigh
this:
Artifice inftead of fuch Towers.
Every Man
has a Net, which ferves him by Day to take
Fifh, and at Night to defend the Place where
he fleeps ; for if he fhould wrap himfelf up either in his Clothes or any kind of Linen, the
Gnats would not fail to bite ; but never attempt
to pafs the Net.
Their Ships of Burden are
made of the Acantha, which in fhape refembles the Cyrasnean Lotus, and diftils a fort of
Gum.
From this Tree they cut Timber of
about two Cubits fquare, in the fhape of Tyles,
and faften thefe Planks together with many long
Bands, which when they have well compaded
iu this manner, they eredt the Benches for the
Rowers.
For they ufe no Jcind of Ribs or
arch'd Timber
in their Work,
but bend the
Joints of the Infide with Ropes •, having only
one Rudder, which pafles quite thro* the Planks
of the Ship, with a Maft of Acantha, and Sails
of Byblus.
Thefe VefTels are altogether unfit
to mount the River againft the Stream, and
therefore are always drawn up, unlefs the Wind
prove very frefh and favourable.
But when
they go with the Current, they faften a Hurdle
of Tamaris with a Rope to the Prow of the
VefTel.
This Hurdle is ftrengthen*d with Bands
of Reeds, and fo let down into the Water. They
have like wife a Stone, pisrc'd thro* the middle,
of

I90

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

of about two Talents in weight, which they alfo
let down into the River by another Rope made
faft to th'S Poop ; and by this means the Stream
bearing hard upon the Hurdle carries down the
Ship with great Expedition, whilil the weight of
the Stone balances and keeps it ileady. Thefe
VelTels are very numerous in thofe Parts, and
fome of tliiem carry the M^eight of many thoufand
Talents.
When the Nile has overflowed, nothing is
feen in Alzjpt^ except the Cities, which appear
like the Iflands of the jEgean Sea. All the reft
of
the Country
cover'd
the as
Flood,
and
Veflels
hold notis the
famewith
Courfe
at other
Times b};- the Channel of the River, but thro'
the midft of the Plains. Thofe who would pafs
from Nciiicratis to Memphis^ leave the common
Route, v/hich is by the Pyramids, to fail by the
Point of Delta and by the City of Cercafora : And
the Paflage from Canopus and the Seat to Naucratis^ is thro' the Plains, by the Cities of Anthylla and Archandra, Since A£gypt has been under the Dominion of the Perlians, the Revenues
of Anthylla^ which is a confiderable City, have
been always given to the Wife of the Perfon
who is entrufted with the Government, for her
Expence in Shoes. And the other, as I ccnjedlure, was nam'd Archandra by Danaus^ who
married the Daughter of Archander of Pthios^
the Son of Achceus.. 'Tis pofTible there may
have been another Archander ; but moft certain
that this Name is not -Egyptian.
Having hitherto advanc'd nothing concerning the .i^gyptiaiiS except what I have either ittWy or known by Inquiry ; I fhall now
proceed to give fome Account of their Reports
and

EUTERPE.

igr

and Traditions,' which yet will be interwoven
with divers things that I faw. The Priefts inform'd me, that Menes^ who was the firft King
of Mgypt^ by throwing up a Rampart above
Memphis of about a hundred Stades in length,
ftretching towards the South, dried up that
part of the iV/7f, which to his time had pafs'd
by the Foot of the Mountain of Sand in Libya^
and caus'd the Water to run from a certain Angle thro' the Hills by a new Channel : That
this Paflage is diligently preferv'd in our time,
and annually repair'd by the Perfians , becaufe
if the River fhould at any time break thro*
the Bank, the whole City would probably be
drown'd. They added, that the fame Menes^
after he had diverted the courfe of the Water,
built the City which to this Day is call'd Memphis, within the antient Bed of the River •, and
indeed this Place is fltuate in one of the narroweft Streights of jEgypt : That, on the North
and Weft Side he caus'd a Lake to be made
without the Walls from the River, which pafTes
on the Eaftwardly Part, and founded the magnificent and memorable Temple of Vulcan in the
fame City. Kittt this the fame Priefts read to
me from a Book, t;he Names of three hundred
and thirty Kings who had reign'd after Menes^
During all v/hich time eighteen were iEthiopians, one Woman, and the reft ^Egyptians.
The Woman, like the Queen of Babylori, was
call'd by the Name of Nitocris \ and they inform'd me, that after ihe had receiv'd the Power
from the Hands of the -Egyptians, who had flain
her Brother and immediate Predeceflbr, fhe reveng'd his Death by the following Artifice.
She built a Palace for herfelf, with a fpacious
HaJl

192

HERODOTUS.

Book .11.

Hall under Ground, which feem'd ftrange ta
others; but was contriv'd in order to execute
the Defign fhe had laid. For having invited all
thofe fhe knew to have been principally concern*d in the Death of her Brother, to a great
Feaft, fhe let in the River by a private Way,
and drown'd them all together i fhe herfelf efcaping in the mean time into another Apartment,
fo well fecur'd with a Rampart of Allies as to
preferve her Life. This Account they gave of
Nitocris. But of the other Kings they faid nothing, becaufe they had perform'd no memorable Adion -y except Mceris^ who being the laft
of them, built the Portico of Vulcan's Temple,
fronting to the Northward, and caus'd a Lake
to be made (the Dimenfions of which I ihall
defcribe hereafter) with Pyramids, which I fhall
alfo mention when I come to fpeak of the Lake.
In a Word, they afllir'd me he had done thefe
great things, and all the reft nothing. And
therefore I fhall pafs them by, to relate the memorable Adlions of a fucceeding King, whofe
Name was Sefoftris,
Th e Priefts affirm'd, that this King was the
firft, who palling thro* the Arabian Gulph with
a Fleet of long Ships, fubdued thofe Nations that
inhabit about the Red Sea ; and continued his
Expedition, till certain Sands prevented him from
advancing farther: That returning toyEgypfy he
alTembled a numerous Army, -with which he
landed on the Continent, and conquer'd all the
Countries where he pafs'd: That wherever he
fubdued any valiant People, fighting ftrenuoufly
to preferve their Liberty, he eredled a Column
in that Place, with an Infcription declaring his
own Name and Country, and that he had con-

EUTERPE.

193

quer'd them by his Power: But when he fubdued a Nation either without fighting, or by an
eafy Vidory, he caus'd a Pillar and Infcriptions
to be ereded, as in the Places where he found
the greateil Refiftance, with the Addition of
Figures reprefenting the fecret Part of a Woman, to perpetuate the Memory of theif Cowardice. In this manner extending his Conquefts
thro' the Continent, he march'd out of Afta into
Europe^ and fubdued the Scythians and Thracians. For fo far, and no farther, the j^gyptian Army
appears to have penetrated, becaufe
their Pillars are to be feen in thofe Countries,
and no where beyond them.
From thence re«
turning to Mgypt^ and arriving at the River FhaJts^ I cannot affirm, whether he appointed part
of his Army
to inhabit that Country, or whether fome of his Forces grown uneafy with the
Fatigues of their Expedition, did voluntarily remain in that Region ; but the Inhabitants of
Colchis feem to me of .Egyptian Extraction \
which I colleded rather from my own Experience, than the Information of others.
And
tho* upon Inquiry I found more evident Marks
of this Relation among the Colchians than in
Mgyp \ yet the ^Egyptians fay they believe
them to be defcended from a part of the Army of Sefoftris *, which I think probable, becaufe their Complexion is fwarthy, and their
Hair frizled, tho' no certain Proof; for others
are fo like wife.
But that which weighs moft
with me is, that the Colchians, Egyptians,
and Ethiopians are the only Nations of the
World, who from time immemorial have been
circumcis'd.
For the Phoenicians, and thofe
Syrians that inhabit Palejiine^ acknowledge they
receiv'd
O

194

HERODOTUS.

Book U.

receiv'd the Circumcifion from the -Egyptians :
As the other Syrians, who poflefs the Countries
adjacent to the River 'Thermodon and Farthenion^
with their Neighbours the Macronians, confefs
they very lately learn'd the fame Cuftom from
the Colchians. And thefe are the only Nations
that are circumcis'd, and imitate the /Egyptians
in the Ufe of this Ceremony. But whether the
.Ethiopians had this Ufage from the ^^gyptians,
or thefe, on the contrary, from the Ethiopians, is a thing too ancient and obfcure for me
to determine. Yet I am inclin'd to believe that
the Ethiopians took up this Cuftom by converfing with the Egyptians ; becaufe we fee
that none of thofe Phoenicians, who have any
Commerce with the Grecians, continue to imitate the Egyptians in this Ufage, of circumcifmg their Children. One thing more I fhall
mention, in which the Colchians refemble the
Egyptians. They alone of all People work
their Thread after the manner of ^gypt \ and
the fame way of Living, as well as the fame
Language, is common to both Nations \ tho'
the Grecians call the Thread they import from
Colchis^ by the Name of Sardonian, and that
which comes from Mgypt by the proper Name
of the Country.
The Pillars eredled by Sefoftris King of jEgypt in the Countries he fubdued, were for the
moft part demolifh'd : Yet I faw fome of them
ftanding in the Syrian Paleftine^ with the Infcriptions Imention'd before, and the genital Parts of
a Woman. Two Images likewiie of this King,
carv'd on Stone, are {ttn in lonia^ upon the
Ways that lead from Ephefus to Phocjeay and
from Sardis to Smyr?ia.
His Figure is five Palms

in

EUTERPE.

195

in lieight, holding a Bow in one Hand and an
Arrow in the other, and arm'd after the Egyptian and Ethiopian Manner. On a Line drawn
from one Shoulder to the other thefe Words are
engrav'd in the facred Letters of Mgypt^ I obtained this Region by the Strength of thefe Arms.
The Stone does not difcover who the Perfon reprefented was, nor from whence he came j and
tho' this is well known by other means, yet fome
who have feen the Monument, have groily miftaken it for an Image of Memnon. The Priefts
farther informed me, that Sefcftris follow'd by
great Numbers of Captives drawn out of the
Countries he had conquer'd, landed in his Return at the Peluftan Daphne ; where his Brother,
to whom he had committed the Government o^
to accept
defir'dforhim
his Abfence,
duringment
Mgypt
and
himfelf
of his Houfe
Entertain
the
Sons ; and having prevail'd with the King to
ftay, he caus'd a great quantity of combuftible
Matter to be laid in all the Pafiages, and fet on
fire : That Sefcftris being inform'd of the Danger, and confulting with his \Vife, who had accompany'd him in his Expedition, fhe advis'd
him to take two of his fix Sons, and extending
their Bodies on the Fire, form a kind of Bridge
in order to make his Efcape : That her Counfel
was put in Execution, and two of his Sons perifhing in the Flames, he himfelf with all the
refl was preferved ; and afterwards punifh'd his
Brother in an exemplary manner for this Treachery :That as to the multitude of Prifoners
he brought with him from his foreign Conquefts, he empioy'd them partly in drawing
thofe immenfe Stones, which are {zqx\ in the
Temple of Vulcan^ and partly in digging the CaO 2
nals

196

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

nais of Mgypt^ which has rendred the Ways
impracticable for Horfemen, or any kind of
Land-Carriage, whereas before that time they
were conftantly frequented by both: But the
Number and different Forms of thefe Aquedudls
in a Country, which is altogether level, has
made them inacceflible to either. Yet this was
defign'd by Sefojlris^ to the end that thofe who
inhabit the Cities and other Places that lie remote from the River, and have no Rain, might
be plentifully fupplied with Water to drink,
out of their own Wells, after the Inundations
of the Nile are withdrawn: And for this Reafon, thefe Canals were cut throughout Mgypt,
They told me alfo that this King made an equal
Divifion of all the Lands in J£gypt^ and affign'd a fquare Piece of Ground to every iEgyptian, referving to himfelf a certain Rent,
which he commanded them to pay annually *,
yet if the River happen'd to diminiili any Man's
Portion, he prefently went with his Complaint
to the King, who always deputed certain Infpedlcrs to meafure the Remainder of the Land,
and adjuft the Payment in Proportion to the
Lofs. Hence Geometry, as I conjedlure, had
its beginning, and was afterwards introduc'd among the Grecians. But Aftronomy, with the
Ufe of the Gnomon, and the Divifion of the
Day into twelve Parts, they rec'eiv'd from the
Babylonians: Sefojlris alone of all the Egyptian
Kings was Mafter of Mthwpia \ and for a Monument of his PofTeffion, left divers Statues of
Stone ereded at the Entrance of Viikan^s Temple. Two of thefe, reprefenting himfelf and
his Wife, are thirty Cubits in height ; and
four other Statues reprefenting his four Sons are

of

EUTERPE.

197

of twenty Cubits each. Many Ages after,
when the Statue of Darius the Perfian was
brought thither, the Prieft of Vulcan would
not fuffer it to be plac'd above that of Sefoftris^ faying openly, that the Adions of the Perfian were not fo Illuftrlous as thofe of the Mgyptian King. For befides the Conqueft of Scythia^ his other Acquisitions were equal to thofe
of Darius^ who could not fubdue the Scythians: And to prefer a Man before 6'(?/^nV, who
had not furpafs'd him in glorious Adlions,
would be unjuft. All which was forgiven by
Darius.
After the Death of Sefoftris^ his Son P heron fucceeded him in the Kingdom. But he
undertook no military Expedition, and became
blind by this Accident : At a Time when the
Nile had overflow'd in an extraordinary manner,
to the height of more than eighteen Cubits a' bove the Surface of the Earth, a great Storm of
Wind arofe, and put the Waters into a violent
Agitation. Upon this the Kmg, in an infolent
Humour, took a Javelin in his Hand, and having thrown it among the rolling Billows, was
prefently
a Pain
in his
which
made
him feiz'd
blind with
for ten
Years.
In Eyes,
the eleventh
Year, a MeiTage was brought from the Oracle
of Butus^ importing, that the time of his Punifhment was expir'd, and he fhould recover his
Sight, if he would wafh his Eyes with the Urine of a Woman, who had never accompanied
with any other Man than her own Hufband. In
Obedience to the Oracle, he firft tried the Urine of his own Wife i but finding no Relief/
made ufe of that of others indilferently, till at '
laft his Sight was reftor'd.
Upon which he or-

O 3

der'd

198

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

der*d all thofe Women whofe Urine he had unfuccefsfuUy tried, to be fent to a Place cali'd Erythrebohis^ from the rednefs of the Soil, where
he caus'd them to be burnt, together with the
City •, and married the Woman by whofe means
he had been cur'd of his Blindnefs.
After this,
he dedicated many confiderable Offerings in all
the Temples, to perpetuate the Memory of his
Recovery ; but the moft memorable were two
magnificent Obelifks which he eredled in the
Temple of the Sun, each of one Stone only, a
hundred Cubits in height, and eight Cubits in
breadth.
The Priefts farther inform'd me, that
a Native of Memphis^ who in the Grecian Language would be nam'd Proteus^ f^jcceeded him
in the Kingdom,
and is honoured in a (lately
Temple, which is ftill {t^w at Me'mphis^ richly
adorn'd, and ftanding on the North Side of that
dedicated to Vulcan.
The Parts adjacent to the
Temple are inhabited by Phoenicians of "Tyre^
and all that Region is call'd the Tyrian Camp,
In this Temple is a Chapel dedicated to Venus
the Stra-nger^ which I conjedure to be meant of
Helena the Daughter of Ty?idarus^ who, as I
have heard, went under that Name, and refided
fome time in the Court of Proteus.
For of all
the Temples
that are dedicated to the other
Venus ^ not one is knov/n by this Name.
And
indeed, when I enquir'd of the Priefts concerning Helena., they told me, that after Alexander
had carried her off from Sparta., he met with a
violent Storm in his Return homewards, which
drove him out of the .^gean into the ^Egyptian
Sea •■, and ftill continuing with great Fury, forc'd
him to put in at Tarickea^ a Place iituate in the
Canppean Mouth; of the River Nik.
On that
Shore

EUTERPE.

199

Shore flood a Temple of Hercules^ which remains to this Day ; whither, if the Servant
of
Perfonupon
flies,'him
and certain
devotingfacred
himfelf
to the
God,anytakes
Marks,
he
may not be forc'd from thence under any Pretext: And this Privilege has been preferv'd
without Violation to our Time. When therefore the Slaves of Alexander had heard of this
Immunity, they fled to the Temple, and as
Suppliants putting themfelves under the Protedion of Hercules^ accus'd their Mailer of the
Rape of Helena^ omitting nothing that might
aggravate the Injury he had done to Menelaus.
Thefe Complaints were made in the Prefence
of the Priefts, and before the Governor of that
Province, whofe Name was nonis. Upon
which the Governor immediately difpatch'd a
Mefl^nger to Proteus^ at Memphis^ with Orders
to inform him, " That a certain Stranger, born
it. 2it Troy^ was arriv'd, who had been guilty of
*' a moft nefarious Adion in Greece ; having fe" duc'd the Wife of his Hofl:, and carried her
away with immenfe Riches: That a violent
Temped had forc'd him to land in ^gypt ;
cc and that therefore the King would determine, whether he fliould be permitted to
depart with Impunity, or whether he, and
all he had brought with him, fhould be
feiz'd ? '* In Anfwer to this Meflage Proteus
commanded, that the Man, whoever he was,
that had fo injurioufly violated the Rights of
Hofpitality, fl:iould be fent to him, that he
might hear what he had to fay for himfelf.
Which Anfwer being brought to 'Thonis^ \\z
feiz'd the Perfon of Alexander \ fecur'd his Shins.
and fent him to Memphis^
with HeleTja^ his

O 4

Riche%

2O0

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

Riches, and all his Slaves. When they arriv'd
there, and Proteus had afk'd Alexander^ who he
was, and whence he came, he gave him an Account of his Family, Country, Name, and to
what Parts he was bound. But the King proceeding todemand, in what Place he had met*
with Helena^ he began to fhift, and to deliver
his Anfwtr in ambiguous Words ; till the fugi*
tive Suppliants openly accus'd him, and difcover'd all the Circumftances of his Crime. Then
Proteus faid, " If I were not very unwilling to
put Strangers to Death, forc'd by the Winds
to take Refuge in my Territories, I would
«c
avenge the Injuries thou haft done to that
(6
Grecian : Thou haft fhewn thyfelf the bafeft
of Men, in violating the facred Laws of Hofpitality, and feducing the Wife of one, who
** entertain'd thee in his Houfe with Kindnefs ;
and, as if it had not been enough to debauch
his Wife, thou haft brought her away with
*' thee ; and to compleat thy Crime, haft robb'd
*' him of his Treafures : Thei^efore, though I
cc
cannot perfuade myfelf to kill a Stranger, yet
<c
I will not fuffer thee to carry away the Wo^' man, or the Riches thou haft plunder'd ; but
{hall prefer ve both, in order to reftore them
cc
cc

to thy injur'd Hoft, upon his Demand -, com»
manding
thee and all thy Companions to de£C
part out of my Kingdom within three Days,
cc
under Pain of being treated as Enemies.'* In
this manner the Priefts reported the Arrival of
Helena in M^pt. And I am of Opinion, that
Plomer had heard the fame Relation s but not
thinking it proper to be inferred in an Epick
Poem with thefe Circumftances, he alter'd the
Relation, though he has plainly fhewn he was
not

EUTERPE.

201

not ignorant of what I have mentioned -, as Is
fufficiently manifeft in his Jliad^ and never re>
tracked in any part of that Work. For defcribing the Voyages of Alexandn'^ he fhews, that
after he had been driven through divers Seas, he
arriv'd at Si don in Phcenicia •, which is prov'd by
thefe Verfes, inferted in the Defcription of Diowedes^s Valour.
Tbere Garments lay^ in various Colours wrought^
^he Work of Sidon'j Dames ^ from Sidon brought
By Godlike Paris, when he plowed the Seas.,
And high-born Helen wafted o^er from Greece.
In the Odyjfes alfo the following Lines are read.
Jove' J Daughter had an Antidote in ftore^
Which fhe received from Polydamne'j Handy
Wife to th* ^Egyptian Thonis : For that Soil
Abounds no lefs with good than noxious Plants.
To which may be added thefe Words of Menelaus to ^elem/zchus,
*The Gods detained me on th* jEgyptian Shore,
Becaufe I faiVd whole Hecatombs to pay.
Which they expected.
The Tenor of thefe Verfes fufficiently fhews^
that Homer was not ignorant of Alexander's Arrival iny^gypt. For the Coaft of Syria lies next
adjoining to that of A£gypt, and the Phcenicians of Sidon are Inhabitants of Syria. So that
thefe Lines, together with the Mention of this
Region, plainly prove that Homer was not the
Author of the Cyprian Verfes^ but feme other
2
Perfon.

202

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

Perfon. For they affirm, that when Alexander
brought away Helena from Sparta^ he had both
Wind and Weather fo favourable, that he arriv'd
at 'Troy m three Days, whereas Homer m his
Eiad fays he was driven from one Place to
another. And fo I take my leave of him and
tiie Cyprian Verfes.
When I afk'd the Priefts whether the Ac^
count of the Trojan War, as related by the
Grecians, was not an impertinent Story, they
afTur'd me they were informed by M&}ielaus himfelf, that after the Rape of Helena^ the Grecians
refolving to afTift him, form'd a numerous Army,
and landed in Teucris : That upon their landing
they mark'd out and fortified a Camp, and fent
Ambafladors
Il'ium^thefc
of which
EmbafTywent
Mens-to
laus
was one :toThat
Ambafiadors
the City, and demanded Helena^ with all the
Treafures Alexander had ftolen, and Satisfa(^ion
for the Injuries done : That the Trojans protefted and fwore, both at that time and fmce, that
neither Helena, nor the Riches they demanded,
were in their Power, but in JEgypt -, and therefore to demand Reftitution from them, of things
that were in the Pofleffion of Proteus King of
jEgypt , was unjuft : That the Grecians taking
this Anfwer for a mere Mockery, began the
Siege, which they continued till the City was
taken : That when they were Mafrers of Troy,
finding the Troians ftill perfifting in their AOevei-ations, and Helena no where appearing, they
gave Credit to their former Proteftations, and
fent Mcndaus to yEgypt ; where being arriv'd,
he. fail'd up to Memphis, and having truly related
what had pafs'd, v/as affectionately entertained
by the Kins; ; had his Wife, with all his Trea.. .
fures.

EUTERPE.

203

fures, reftor'd to him without any Injury done
to her Perfon ; and that notwithftandlng this
Kindnefs, Menelaus prov'd ungrateful to the ^gyptians : For being long detain'd in ^gypt by
contrary Vv^inds, he perpetrated a moft impious
Adion ; taking two Children, Natives of that
Country, and opening their Bodies, in order to
confult their Intrails concerning his Departure ;
which being difcover'd, and the Inhabitants in
Detefiation of his Cruelty preparing to feize
him, he fet fail with Precipitation, and fled t?a ,
hihya ; though what farther Adventures he had
they could not tell : Concluding, that they had
learnt fome of thefe Particulars from the Information of others, and were fully aflur'd of the
reft, becaufe they were done among them. To
this Relation of the Priefts, if I fhould add my
own Opinion concerning Helena^ I would iay,
that if fhe had been within the Territories cf
Ilium^ doubtlefs the Trojans would have fjrrender'd to the Grecians, either with or without the Conient of Alexander, For certainly
Prinmus^ and all thofe about him, could ne-r
ver be fo defperately mad to bring themfelves^
with their Children and the whole Kingdom,^
into the utmoft Hazard, only that Alexander
might enjoy Helena. But let us luppofe they
might take fuch a Refolution at firft ; yet after
the Slaughter of fuch vaft Num.bers of Troians,.
together with two or three of the King's Sons,
or more, if we may believe the Poets, that were
kill'd, fighting againft the Grecians, I. cannot
forbear to think, that if Priamus himfelf had
married Heknaj he would have reftor'd her to
the Achaians, to be deliver'd from fo great a
Calamity.
Bcfides, Alexander not being the
next

204

HERO DOT'US. Book li.

next Heir to the Crov/n, could have no Pretence
to govern all things during the Life of an aged
King : He^or was elder than he j rightful Succeflbr to Priamus^ and much more confiderable
for Valour •, and could not with any Decency
abet and fupport the Injuftice of his Brother ;
by whofe means fo many Evils had already happen'd, and were daily impending over his own
Head, and over all the Trojans in general. But
indeed Helena was not in their Power, though
the Grecians would not believe them when they
fpoke the truth •, Heaven permitting, as I conjedlure, that they fhould be utterly deftroy'd, in
order to convince Men, that the Gods have great
Punifl^.ments in Referve for atrocious Crimes.

And thvis I have deliver'd my Opinion concerning theie things.
The Priefts likewife inform'd me, that upon the Death of Proteus^ Rampfinitus fucceeded
him, and for a Monument of his Magnificence,
added to the Temple of Vulcan 3. Portico fronting to the Weft, and eredled two Statues before
this Building, of twenty five Cubits each. One
of thefe looks to the Northward, and is adored
by the ^Egyptians under the Name of Summer :
The other facing the South, is altogether negleded, and goes by the Name of PFinter. Rampfinitiis hcap'd together a far greater Quantity of
Silver than any of the fucceeding Kings are faid
i
to have poTlefs*d •, and - being defirous to fecure
liis Treafures, built an Apartment of Stone,
which had one Wall on the Outfide of the Palace. This Situation the Archited made ufe of
to deceive the King, and plac'd one of the
Stones in fo loofe a manner, that a Man might
cafily take it out. Some time after the Build-

EUTERPE.

205

and the King had lodg'd his
irig was infiniili'd,
Riches
the Place,
the Archited lying upon
his Death-bed, calM his two Sons, and acquainted them, that he had contrived the King's Treafury in fuch a manner, that they might always
furnifh themfelves with the means of living
plentifully ; direding them to the Place, and explaining all the Particulars they were to obferve,
in taking out and putting in the Stone : In a
Word, he told them, if they would follow his
Inftrudlions, they might be Treafurers of all the
King's Riches.
The Sons waited not long after
the Death of their Father to put his Counfel in
Execution, and went by Night to the Palace*,
where having found the Place, they remov'd
the Stone without Difficultv, and carried off a
great Quantity of Silver. Rampfinitus entring
one Day into the Treafury, and feeing his Heaps
much diminifh'd, fell into a great Surprize •, in
regard he knew not whom
to blame, having
found all entire, and the Apartment, in Appearance, well fecur'd.
But after the King had two
or three times fucceffively vifited his Treafures,
and always found them diminifh'd, he order'd
Nets to be made, and fpread about the Veflels
that contained his Money.
The Thieves coming as before, one of them enter'd, and going
to a VefTel fill'd with Silver, was prefently taken
in the Snare.
Finding himfelf in this Extremity, he immediately call'd his Brother, and acMisfortune, defir'd him
his his
him with
quaintingand
to come in,
cut off
Head, left the whole
Intrigue fhould be difcover'd, and neither of
them efcape with Life. The Brother comprehending the Reafon of his Requeft, did as
Plache
e,
defir'd, and having put the Stone in its proper

2o6

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

Place, r^turn'd home with the Head. Early in
the Morning the King coming to the Treafury,
was not a little aftoniih'd to find the Body of
the Thief taken in the Net without a Head, and
the whole Edifice entire, without the leaft Sign
of any Perfon going out or coming in. In this
Perplexity he went away, and commanded the
Body to be hang'd on the Wall ; appointing a
Guard, with flricSt Orders, if they fhould fee
any one weeping at the Spectacle, or pitying
the Perfon, to bring him immediately before
the King. But no fooner was the Body thus
exposed, than the Mother fell into a great Paffion, and commanded her furvivin^r Son, by
any Means he could contrive, to take down and
bring away the Corps of his Brother: Threatning, know
if he that
refus'd,
to the
King,who
and had
let
him
he to
wasgo the
Thief
robb'd the Treafury. The Son earneftly endeavour'd to diftiiade his Mother from her Purpofe •, but finding nothing could prevail, he
made ready his Afles, and having loaded them
with Skins fiU'd with Wine, and driven them
near the Guards that were appointed to watch
the dead Bodv, l\e open'd two or three of the
Skins, and when he faw the Wine running out,
flruck himfelf upon the Plead, and cried out lamentably ;as if his Confufion had been fo great,
that he knew not to which of his Afles he
fhould run firfi:. The Guards feeing fo much
Wine loft, ran prefently to the Afles with Pots
in their Plands to receive the Liquor, and make
ufc of the prefent Opportunity *, which the
Man perceiving, feign'd himfelf highly incens'd,
and rail'd bitterly againft the Soldiers. But
they, on the contrary, giving Jiim good Words,
he

EUTERPE.

207

he grew calm again, and pretending to be pacified, led his AfTes out of the Way, as if he
defign'd to fecure the reft of his Wine *, till at
laft, falling into a Dialogue of Mirth and Raillery with the Guards, he gave one of the
Skins among them. The Soldiers immediately
fat down to drink, and taking him by the
Hand, defir'd him to do as they did ; which
he accepting, and finding them fond of his
Company, was fo liberal of his Wine, that
they made themfelves drunk, and {^\\ afleep in
the Place. By this means he took down his
Brother in the dead of Night ; and having, in
Derifion, fhav'd all the Guard on the right
Cheek, he laid the Body upon one of his Afles,
and brought it home to his Mother, according
to her Defire. They added, that the King
hearing the Body of the Tiiief had been ftolen,
was much difturb'd ; and refolving, by any
Means, to find out the Contriver of this Artifice, form'd a Defign, which to me feems incredible ; commanding his Daughter to proftitute herfelf at home to all Comers indiiFerently, after having firft ohlig'd every one in particular, to let her know the moft fubtle, and moft
wicked Adions of his whole Life -, and enjoining her, when any one fhould difcover himfelf
guilty of the Fad: relating to the Thief, that
fhe fhould lay Hands on him, and not fuffer him.
to efcape. His Daughter obey*d ; and the Thief
UOt ignorant to wliat End this Contrivance
tended, and defirous to elude the King's Defign,
cut off an Arm from th€ Body of a Man newly
expir'd, and putting it under his CJoak, went
to the Daughter of Rumpftnitus . At his comMigj when ihe afk'd him' th« feme2.
Queftians had
fhe

20 8

HERO DO f us. Book 11.

had
to others,
he did,
anfwer'd.
mod propos'd
wicked Adion
he ever
was, That
to cut the
ofF
his Brother's Head in the Treafury ; and the
mod fubtle, was the Artifice he contriv'd to
make the Guard drunk, and by that means to
carry off th€ Body. - No fooner had he faid this,
than fhe offer'd to lay Hands on him ; but he
being favour'd by the Night, put the dead Hand
into hers •, and while Ihe thought Ihe held him
faft, convey'd himfelf away, and ran out of the
Houfe. When the King was inform'd of this
Event, he was aftonifh'd at the Invention and
Audacioufnefs of the Man ; and a ihort time after, caus'd Proclamation to be made in all Places,
that he would not only pardon him, but reward
him amply, if he would difcover himfelf The
Thief, in Confidence of this Promife, went direelly to the Palace •, and Rampftnitus^ in Admiration of his Subtlety, gave him his Daughter in Marriage : Accounting him the moft
knowing of all Men, becaufe he knew more
than the ^Egyptians, who are wifer than the reft
of Mankind.
After this, they faid, Rampjlnitus defcended alive into thofe Places which the Grecians
call Hades ; where playing at Dice with Ceres^
he fometimes won, and other times loft : That
ilie prefented him, at his Departure, with a Bafm of Gold i and that the Egyptians celebrate
a certain Feftival, from the Day of his Defcent
to that of his Re-afcenfion, which I have
{t.zn them obferve in my time: But whether
that Adventure, or fome other thing gave Birth
to this Solemnity, I cannot determine. However, the Priefts every Year at that time, cloathmg one of their Order in a Cloak woven the
fame

EUTERPE.

209

fame Day, and covering his Eyes with a Mitre>
guide him into the Way that leads towards the
Temple of Ceres^ and then return : Upon
which, they fay, two Wolves come and condu6l him to the Temple, twenty Stades diftant
from the City, and afterwards accompany him
back to the Place from whence he came. Thefe
things are related by the Egyptians ; and if any
Man think them credible, he is at Liberty:
For
heard.me, I am oblig'd to write what I have
The Egyptians hold, that the fovereign
Power of the infernal Regions is exercis'd by
Ceres and Bacchus ; and were the firft of all
Mankind, who afhrm'd the Immortality of Man's
Soul ; which, they fay, upon the Death of the
Body always enters into fome other Animal ;
and pafling, by a continued Rotation, through
the different Kinds of Aerial, Terreftrial, and
Marine Beings, returns again into a human Body,
after the Revolution of three thoufand Years.
Yet this Opinion divers Grecians have pnblifh'd
for their own, in thefe and former times ; but I
fhall forbear to mention them, though I am not
ignorant of their Names. They told me likewife, that to the Reign of Rampftnitus^ Juftice
and good Order were preferv'd in j^gyp^ and
that the Kingdom flourifh'd in Plenty : But that
Cheops who fucceeded him, was a moft flagitious
Tyrant. For after he had fhut up all the Temples, and forbidden the Publick Sacrifices, he
opprefs'd the yEgyptians with hard Labour ; appointing fome to receive the Stones that w^ere
dug out of the Quarries in the Arabian Mountains, and to draw them down to the Nile^ in
order to be tranfported in Vefiels to the other
P.
Side

2IO

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

Side of that River ; and ordering others to convey them from thence towards the Mountain
call'd Libycus. About a hundred thoufand Men
were employed in this Labour, t^n thoufand every three Months : And ten Years were fpent in
the building of a Bridge, which I think to be a
Work Httle lefs confiderable than the Pyramid.
For that Bridge is five Stades in length , fixty
Foot broad ; and in the higheft part, forty
eight Foot in Altitude ; all of polifh'd Stone,
and carv'd with the Figures of various Animals.
The Pyramid, and the fubterraneous Vaults,
built within the Hill, on which the Pyramids
ftand, were the Labour of twenty Years. Lito
this Place he convey'd the Nile^ by a Trench,
and form'd a little Ifland in the midft of the
Waters, defigning to place his Sepulchre on that
Ground. I'his Pyramid is Quadrilateral, every
Face containing eight Plethrons in length, and
the fame Meafure in height. All the Stones are
thirty Foot long, well fquar'd, and jointed with
the greateft Exadnefs ; rifing on the Outfide by
a gradual Afcent, which fome call Stairs, and
others little Altars, contriv'd in the following
Manner : When they had laid the firfl Range,
they carried other Stones up thither, by a fhort
Engine of Wood, and from thence to the fecond by another -, for thefe Engines thus employ'd, were equal in Number to the feveral Orders of Stone : Or perhaps the Engine was but
one 'y and being eafily manag'd, might be remov'd as often as they plac'd a Stone ; for I
have heard the Relation botli ways. The higheft were firft fmifh'd, and the reft in their proper Order •, but laft of all thofe that are loweft
and nearcft the Ground.
On this Pyramid, an
Infcription

EUTERPE.

211

Infcription is feen, declaring in -Egyptian Charadlers, how much was expended in Radifhes^
Onions and Garlick for the Workmen ; which
the Interpreter, as I well remember, told me,
amounted to no Jefs than the Sum of fixteen
hundred Talents of Silver. And if this be true,
how much more may v/e think was expended in
Iron Tools, in Bread, and in Cloaths for the
Labourers, during the time they were building
this Monument \ befides the great Sums that
muft of Neceffity have been fpent, while they
were employed in tranfporting the Stones, and
digging the fubterraneous Vaults ? In the End,
Cheops having exhaufted his Treafures, arriv'd
to fuch a Degree of Infamy, that he proftituted
his own Daughter in a certain Apartment ; commanding her to get as much Money as flie
could ; but the Sum they mention'd not. 'S>\\>t
obey'd the Order of her Father ; and at the
fame time contriving to leave a Monum.ent of
herfelf, aflc'd every one that came, to give her
a Stone towards the Edifice '^n& deiign'd. By
which means fne built that Pyramid which Hands
in the Midft of the three, within View of the
preat Pyramid, and extends to the length of
a Plethron and half on every fide of the Ba(is»
Fifty Years, as the j^ilgyptians fay, Cheops reign'd,
and when he was dead, his Brother Cephrenes
fucceeded to the Kingdom ; imitating him in
other things, and particularly in building a Pyramid ; v/hich yet is far inferior in Dimenlions to
that of Cheops (for v/e ourfelves meafur'd themj
having no fubterraneous Chambers, nor a Channel, like the other, deriv'd from the A^'76'5 and
forming a kind of Ifland within, on which they
fay the Body of Cheops lies depofited.
The
P 2
lov/er

212

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

lower part of this Fabrick is built with Ethiopian Marble of various Colours, forty Foot from
the Ground.
But they are both of equal Altitude, and ftand on the fame Hill •, which rifes
to the height of about a hundred Foot.
They
inform'd me, that Cephrenes reign'd fifty fix
Years •, and that the Egyptians having been thus
opprefs'd with all manner of Calamities, during
one hundred and fixt^ Years, in all which time
the Temples were never open'd, had conceiv'd
fo great an Averfion to the Memory of the two
Kings, that no Egyptian
will mention their
Names •, but always attribute their Pyramids to
one Philifion a Shepherd, who kept his Cattle
in thofe Parts.
They faid alfo, that after the
Death of Cephrenes^ Mycerinus the Son of Cheops
became King •, and difapproving the Conduct of
his Father, open'd the Temples, and permitted
the People, who are reduc'd to the laft Extremities, to apply themfelves to their own Affairs,
and to facrifice as in preceding times : That the
Egyptians praife this King above all others ;
particularly for adminifi:ring Jufliice with fo
much Clemency, that when any Man complain'd
of a hard Sentence, he us'd to make him amends,
by fome Prefent out of his own Treafury : That
while he was thus beneficent to his People, and
careful of their Welfare, the firft Misfortune
that befel him, was the Death of his only
Daughter *, with which Calamity being extremely
afflided, he refolv'd to bury her in an extraordinary manner ; and having caus'd the Image
of a Cow to be made of Wood richly guilded
with Gold, he put the Body of his Daughter
into the Machine.
This Cow was not interr'd
in the Ground j but continued to my time,

expos'd

EUTERPE.

21 i

expos'd to open View, in a magnificent Chamber of the Royal Palace in the City of Sais ;
where they burn exqifite Odours all the Day,
and illuminate the Place by Night with a
Lamp. In another Room contiguous to this,
are {^.^n the Images of Mycerinus his Concubines, as the Priefts of Sais affirm. : And indeed
about twenty Statues of Wood ftand naked in
that Place -, but touching the Women they reprefent, I know no more than they were
pleas'd to tell me. Yet fome giving a different Account of this Monument, and of thefe
Statues, fay, that Mycerinus falling in Love
with his Daughter, us'd violent Means to obtain her; which fhe refenting, hang'd herfelf,
and was buried in this manner by her Father:
That her Mother cut off the Hands of her
Maids, for affifting Mycerinus in the Rape of
his Daughter ; and for that Reafon, fay they,
the Statues are made, as the Originals were
mutilated for that Offence. But thefe things,
as I conje6lure, are not faid ferioufly ; efpecially in that particular relating to the Images,
the Hands of which were {^qxi by me fcatter'd
on the Floor ; and I plainly perceiv'd they had
dropp'd off through length of Time. The
Body of the Cow is cover'd with Phoenician
Trappings, except the Head and Neck, which
are richly guilded ; and a Circle of Gold in
Imitation of the Sun is plac'd between the
Horns. This Animal is reprefented kneeling,
and equal in Proportion to the largeft living
Cow. The Egyptians annually carry her out
of the Apartment, where fhe is plac'd ; and after having whipp'd a certain God, not to be
liam'd by me on this Occafion, they bring her
P 3
into

214

HERODOTUS.

BooklL

into the Light ; which they fay is done, becaufe the Daughter of Mycerintis defir'd her Father before fhe died, that he would permit her
to fee the Sun once every Year. Another Calamity fell upon this King, after the Death of
his Daughter. For a Prophecy was brought to
him from the City of Butus^ importing, that he
had no more than fix Years to live, and fhould
die in the feventh : Which Denunciation having
heard with Impatience, he fent a bitter Complaint to the Oracle •, reproaching the God,
That his Father and Uncle, who had fhut up
the Temples, defpis'd the Gods, and deftroy'd
vafl Numbers of Men, had liv'd long ; and he,
notwithftanding his Piety and Religion, muft
die fo foon. But the Oracle, in Anfwer, fent
him another MefTage, to acquaint him, that
his Life was fhorten'd, becaufe he had not a6ted in Conformity to the Decrees of Fate ;
which had determined that ^gypt fhould be affii&d during one hundred and fifty Years \ and
that this was well known to the tv/o Kings his
PredecefTors, though not underftood by him.
Mycerinus finding himfelf thus condemn'd by
the Gods, commanded a great Number of Lamps
to be made, and lighted every Night, that he
might incefTantly pafs the time in drinking and
Pleafure ; roving frequently by Night and by
Day about the Plains and Groves, wherever he
could hear of the moil agreeable Company ;
imagining by this Artifice to convidl the Oracle
of Falfnood, and bv turning the Nights into fo
many Days, to live twelve Years inflead of fix.>
This King likewiie left a Pyramid of a quadrangular Form ; but lower by twenty Foot thari
thiit of his Father, every Side extending to the
length

EUTERPE.

215

length of three Plethrons, and built to the Middle with ^Ethiopian Stone, Some of the Grecians, without Reafon, attribute this Monument
to the Curtezan Rhodophis -, but to me they
feem ignorant who fhe was. For as ihe could
not have undertaken to build a Pyramid, which,
if I may ufe the Expreflion, would require fuch
an infinite Sum -, fo fhe did not live in the fame
time, but under the Reign of Amafis^ very
many Years after the Death of thofe Kings who
founded the Pyramids. She was a Native of
*Thrace^ Servant to ladmon the Samian of Heph^ftiopolis^ and Fellow-fervant with Mfop^ the
Inventer of the Fables, who likewife belong'd
to ladmon^ as appears by this Teftimony chiefly.
For when the Delphians had feveral times demanded by publick Proclamation, who would
take the Penalty imposed by the Oracle for the
Death of j^fop^ no Man appeared, except ladmon the Grandfon of this ladmon^ who v/as the
Mafter of Mfop. Xanthus the Samian tranfported Rhodophis to Mgypt^ in order to get Money •,but Charaxus of Mitylene^ Son to Scamandronymus, and Brother to Sappho the Poetefs,
purchas'd her Liberty wih a great Sum. By
this means being deliver'd from Servitude, Rhodophis continued in ^^^gypt : And as fhe became
extremely beautiful, acquir'd great Treafures for
a Perfon of her Condition, though no way fufficient to defray the Expence of fuch a Pyramid.
And whoever confiders the Tenth of her Riches,
which is to be feen in our Days, v/ill foon find
they were not fo great. For out of a Defire to
leave fome Memory of herfelf in Gi'eece^ fhe
contriv'd fuch a Monument, as no Perfon ever
thought of before -, appropriating the Tenth of

P 4

ajf

21 6

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

all her Wealth to purchafe a great Number of
Iron Spits, ftrong enough to carry an Ox ;
which fhe fent as an Offering to the Temple of
Delphi y where they ftill remain behind the Altar built by the Chians. From that time the
Curtezans of Naucratis have been fond of appearing beautiful ; partly, becaufe the Perfon
we mention became fo famous, that no Grecian
was ignorant of the Name of Rhodopis \ and
partly on account of Archidke^ who liv'd after
her, and was highly celebrated in Greece^ tho'
not to a Degree equal to the former. As for
Charaxus^ who purchas'd the Liberty of Rhodophis^ he return'd to Mitylene^ and was not
a little ridicul'd by Sappho in an Ode fhe compos'd againfl: him. But I fhall fay no more concerning Rhodopis^
After the Time of Mycerinus^ the Priefts
faid, that Afychis was King of Mgypt^ and that
he built the moft beautiful and magnificent Portico of Vidcan''^ Temple, which fronts to the
Riiing-Sun: For though the other Porticoes
are adorn'd with various Figures of excellent
Sculpture, and many curious Pieces of Architedlure -j yet this is preferable to all : That Afychis finding the Riches of Mgypt not to circulate, made a Law, to enable a Man to borrow
Money upon the Sepulchre of his Father, with
this Addition, tliat the Debtor fnould put the
Body into the Pofieffion of the Creditor: And
that,
he afterwards
refus'd
to pay
Debt,with
he
fnould if neither
be buried
in the
famethePlace
his Father, or in any other, nor have the Liberty of burying any Perfon defcended from him ;
that this King defiring to outdo all his Predecefment.
fors, ereded a Pyramid of Brick for his Monu*

EUTERPE.

217

ment, with this Infcriptlon, " Compare me not
*' to the Pyramids of Stone, which I excel as
**^ much as Jupiter furpaffes the other Gods. For
" ftrikinp; the Bottom of the Lake with lonpr
*' Poles, and then colledling the Mire that ftuclc
" to them, Men made Bricks, and form'd me
*' in that manner." Thefe were the principal
Adions of Afychis. And after him, the Priefts
inform'd me, that Anyfts a blind Man, born in
a City of the fame Name, fucceeded in the Kingdom: That during his Reign Sahacon King of
Mthiofia^ at the Head of a powerful Army, invaded Mgyp^ and that the blind Man fled to
the Fens : That the Ethiopian King reign'd
fifty Years in Mgypt^ and in all that time put no
^Egyptian to Death for any Crime ; contenting
himfelf to command every Delinquent, in Proportion to his Offence, to carry a certain Quantity of Earth to the City, of which he was an
Inhabitant *, and by this means the Situation of
the Egyptian Cities was much elevated *, for
thofe who cut the Canals in the Time of Sefojiris
'had already brought thither all the Earth they
took out of thofe Aquasduds ; but under this
Ethiopian King they were raifed much higher;
and none more, in my Opinion, than the City
of Bubaftis^ which has a Temple dedicated to
Buhaftis^ who is no other than the Diana of the
Grecians. This Temple well deferves mention.
For tho' others may be more fpacious and magnificent, yet none can afford more Pleafure to
the Eye. The Temple is built in a Peninfula,
no part, except the Entrance, joining to the
Land ; and almoft furrounded by two Canals cut
from the Nile^ that beat upon the Flanks of the
Avenue, without mixing together. Each Canal

2i8

HERODOTUS.

Book IT.

nal is a hundred Foot broad, fhaded with Trees
on both Sides. The Portico is ten Fathoms in
adorn'd with excellent Statues of fix Cuheight,
bits each. This Fabrick ftands in the midft of
the City, open on all Sides to the publick View ;
and remaining untouched when the reft of the
Ground was rais'd by an Addition of Earth,
is yet, like a Tower, plainly difcover'd from
every part about the Place. The Walls are
beautified with various Figures wrought in the
Stone, and inclofe a Grove of lofty Trees, that
encompafs a Chapel, in which an Image is
plac'd. This Temple contains a full Stade in
length, and as much in breadth. From the Avenue Eaftward lies a Way through the Publick
Place, leading to the Temple of Hermes^ about
three Stades in length, and four Plethrons in
breadth, all pav'd with Stone, and planted with
Trees on each fide, that feem to reach the Heavens. And fuch is the Defcription of this Temple. Then proceeding to inform me of their Deliverance from the Ethiopian King, they faid,
he fled from /Egypt upon a Vifion he had in a
Dream, reprefenting a Man ftanding by him,
and advifing him to afiemble all the Egyptian
Priefts, and to cut them in two by the middle
of the Body : That after he had refleded on his
Dream, he concluded that the Gods had a Defign to lay before him an Occafion of committing an impious A6tion, to the End he might be
punifii'd either by themfelvcs or by Men ; but
rather than be guilty of fuch a Crime, he would
return to his own Country •, becaufe the time
was then expir'd, which the Oracles had afiign'd
for the Duration of his Reign in Mgypt : For
whilft he was yet in Mthiopla^ he had been ad- ■

monifh'd

EUTERPE.

219

monifh'd by the Oracles of that Country, that
he Ihould govern the Egyptians fifty Years.
In Conclufion, Sabacon feeing the Term of
thofe Years elaps'd and being exceedingly difturb'd by the Vifion, vokmtarlly abandoned ^-.
gypt. So that after his Departure the blind King
returned to the Exercife of the Government
from the Fens i where he had continued fifty
Years, and had form'd an Ifland for his Habitation, compos'd of Afnes and Earth. For when
any Egyptian went to him by Order with Provifions, he always defir'd him to bring fome
Alhes thither, without difcovering the Secret to
the ^Ethiopian. This Ifland which goes by the
Name of Elbo^ and comprehends ten Stades in
length, and the fame Meafiire in breadth, lay undifcover'd more than {qy^ii hundred Years, 'till
the Reign of Amyrt^us \ and was never found
out by any of the Kings his PredecejTors. After
him fucceeded Sethon^ a Prieft of Vulcan^ who
flighting the military Men of jE gypt 2iS Perfons
altogether ufelefs to him,, among other Indignities, took away the Lands they pofTefs'd, and
which had been aflign'd to them by former Kings,
being a fquare of fix hundred Cubits to each
Man. For this Reafon, when Senacherib King
of Arabia ^nd AJJyria invaded ^/jy/j/ with a numerous Army, the military Men refus'd to aflifl:
him ; fo that the Prieft in great Perplexity betook himfelf to the Temple -, and proilrate before the Image of the God, deplor'd the Calamities impending over his Headc In themidft of
thefe Lamentations he fell afleep, and dream'd
he faw the God ftanding by his fide, exhorting him to take Courage, and affuring him,
if he would march out againil the Arabians, he
2
fhouid

220

HERODOrUS.

Book II.

fiiould receive no hurt ; but on the contrary be
efFedually fuccour'd, and aveng'd of his Enemies. In confidence of this Vifion, the Prieft
aflembled the Artificers, Traders, and all the
Populace, who v/ere v/ijling to follow him, and
encamp'd on the Frontier near Peluftum^ without any of the Military Order in his Army.
But the Nisht after his Arrival, an infinite number of Field-Rats entring the Enemy's Camp,
gnaw'd their Quivers, Bows, and the Thongs
cf their Shields in pieces. So that, finding
themfelves difarm'd, they were conftrain'd to
break up the next Morning in Confufion, and
H.flain'd great Lofs in their Flight. For which
Caufe, a Statue of Stone reprefenting this King,
is ere(5led in the Temple of Vulcan^ with a Rat
in one Hand, and thefe Words iiTuing from his
Mouth •, Whoever beholds me^ let him learn to
he Religious. Thus far the ^Egyptians and the
Priefts are the Authors of this Relation, and gave
an Account of three hundred forty and one Generations, from their firfl King to the Reign of
Sethon Prieft of Vulcan,, and laft of thefe Monarchs *, in which Time the Number of High
Priefls was found equal to that of the Kings.
Now, three hundred Generations are ten thoufand Years, every three Generations being accounted equivalent to a hundred Years : And the
forty one that remain above the three hundred,,
make one thoufand three hundred and forty Years.
Thus, they faid, in eleven thoufand three hundred and forty Years, no God had put on the
Eorm of a Man : Neither had they ever heard
of fuch a thing in Mgypt^ under their more ancient or later Kinfjs. Thev faid indeed, that
in thofe Days, the Sun had four times altered his
regular

EUTERPE.

221

regular Courfe, having been twice obferv'd to
rife where he now fets, and to go down twice
where he now rifes ; yet without producing any
Change,- either by Land or Water, by Difeafes
or Mortality.
Having given an Account of my Defcent
to the Priefts of Jupiter at Thebes.^ I met with
almofi: the fame Return, Hecataus the Hiftorian
formerly had from them ; when tracing his Genealogy bythe Male Line, he derived himfelf
from fixteen Gods. For they conduced me to a
fpacious Edifice, and fhew'd me large Images of
Wood, reprefenting all their preceding High
Priefts ; and pointing to each in Order, as they
ftood, the Son after the Father, they went thro'
the whole Number I mention'd before, repeating their Genealogy in a gradual Defcent ; for
every High Prieft places his Image there during
his Life. But when Hecataus in the Account of
his Family, came to mention the fixteenth God,
they would by no means admit of his Suppolition, that a Man could be begotten by a God ;
but on the contrary told him, that each of the
Images he faw reprefented a Piromois begotten by
another Piromois ; and that of the whole Number,
amounting to three hundred and forty five, no
one had been reputed either a God or a Hero ;
the Word Piromois Signifying no more in their
Language th^n an honeft and virtuous Man;
which Charader all thofe reprefented by the
Images had, and yet were far inferior to the
Gods: That indeed before the time of thefe
Men, the Gods had been the Sovereigns of Mgypt^ but were not converfant with Mortals;
that one of them always exercis'd the fupreme
Power, and that the laft of thofe Kings was
Orus

222

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

Orus the Son of Ofiris^ who dethron'd Typhon,
and by the Grecians is call'd Apollo^ as OJiris
by the fame People is nam'd Bacchus. The Grecians alfo think, that Hercules^ Bacchus^ and Pan
are the yoiingeft of all the Gods ; but in ^gypt Pan is efteem'd the moft ancient, even of
the eight primary Deities : Hercules is among
thofe that are fecond in Antiquity, and go under
the Name of the twelve : And Bacchus is of
the third Order of Gods, v/ho derive their Being
from the former. I have already declar'd how
many Years the Egyptians account from Hercules to the Reign of Amafis : But their Computation from Pan contains a greater Number, and
from Bacchus fewer Years than from either, tho'
from this God to the Reign of Amafts they reckon
no lefs than fifteen thoufand Years. The ^Egyptians fay they know thefe things with Certainty,
becaufe they have always computed the Years,
and kept an exadl Account of time. Now from
Bacchus^ who is faid to have been the Son of
Sernele the Daughter of Cadmus^ to our time,
about fixteen hundred Years have pafs'd ; and
from Hercules the Son of Alcniena^ about nine
hundred *, but from Pan^ wlio, as the Grecians
fay, was the Son of Mercury by Penelope^ not
more than eight hundred ; which is a lefs Number of Years than they account from the Siege
of ^roy. Let every Man embrace the Opinion
he judges moil probable •, as I have declar'd my
ov/n touching thefe things. For if Bacchus the
Son of Sernele., and Pan the Son of Penelope^
had liv'd famous and grown old in Greece .^ like
Hercules the Son of uimphytrion^ fome might
have faid, that thefe Men obtain'd the Names
of thofe ancient Gods. But, becaufe the Grecians

EUTERPE.

223

cians report that Jupiter receiv'd Bacchus as foon
as he was born •, and having few'd him into his
Thigh, carried him to Nijfa in Ethiopia beyond Mgypt \ and becaufe they have nothing at
all to fay touching the Place of Fan^s Education,
I am fully convinc'd, that the Grecians had not
heard of thefe, 'till they were made acquainted
with the Names of the other Gods, and therefore they afcribe their Generation to that time,
and not higher. Thus having reported the Traditions peculiar to the ^^gyptians, I fhall now
relate fuch things as other Nations, no lefs than
they, acknowledge to have been done in ^gypty
and fhall add fome Particulars, of which I was
an Eye-Witnefs.
The Egyptians were free, upon the Death
of their King, the Prieft of Vulcan \ but having
never been capable of living without a kingly
Government, they divided ^gypt into twelve
Parts, and conftituted a King over each Diviiion.
Thefe twelve Kings contracted Alliances by mutual Marriages, and reciprocally oblig'd themfelves to continue in perpetual Amity without
invading the Territories of each other, or endeavouring to enlarge their ov/n. Which Contract they contriv'd in fuch obligatory Terms,
becaufe they had been admoniih'd by an Oracle,
when they afliim'd the Government, that whoever among them fnould offer a Libation in the
Temple of Vulcan out of a Bowl of Brafs, fhould
be fole King of Mgypt \ for they us'd to aflemble in all the Tem.ples indifferently. But being
defirous to leave a publick Monument of their
Reign at the common Charge, they built a Labyrinth near the City of Crocodiles^ a little above
the Lake of Mceris^ which I faw, and found far
furpaffing

224

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

furpafTing the Report of Fame.
For^ if any
Man will impartially confider the Buildings and
Monuments of the Grecians, he will plainly fee
that this Labyrinth is a
upon Comparifon,
Work of more Labour and greater Expence ;
tho' I confefs the Temples of Ephefus and Samos
The^ Pyramids are
deferve a peculiar Regard.
beyond ExprefTion magnificent, and fingly comparable to many of the greateft Strudures in
Greece confider'd together.
And yet the LabyFor
rinth ismore admirable than the Pyramids.
this Building contains twelve vaulted Halls^
with fo many oppofite Doors; fix opening to
the North, and fix to the South ; all encompafs'd by the fame Wall. Fifteen hundred Chambers are comprehended within the upper part of
this Edifice, and an equal Number under Ground;
I viev/'d every Room of the upper part, and
But of the fubterraonly report what I faw.
neous part I can fay nothing, except upon the
Credit of other Men ; for the ^Egyptians who
kept the Place would by no means permit me to
go in •, becaufe, faid they, the Sepulchres of the
holy Crocodiles, and of thofe Kings that built
I am therefore confin'd
the Labyrinth are there.
only to report the things I heard concerning the
fubterraneous Buildings.
But the upper Part,
which I carefully view'd, feems to furpafs the
Art of Men : So many EgrefTions by various Paffages, and infinite Returns, afforded me a thouas I pafs'd from a
fand Qccafions of Wonder,
fpacious Hall to a Chamber ; from thence to
a private Cabinet; then again into other Paffages out of the Cabinets, and out of the
Chambers into the more fpacious Rooms.
All
with
incrufted
a^e
within
.
Walls
and
Roofs
the
I
Marble j

EUTERPE.

225

Marble j but the Walls are farther adorn'd with
Figures of Sculpture. The Halls are furrounded with Pillars of white Stone finely polifh'd.
And at the Angle where the Labyrinth ends, a
Pyramid is eredted, forty Fathom in Height,
with Figures of the largeft Animals in Sculpture,
and a fubterraneous Way leading into it. Neverthelefs, tho' this Labyrinth be fuch as I
have defcrib'd -, yet the Lake of Mceris^ by
which that Monument ilands, is more wonderful ; containing the full Meafure of three thou-^
fand and fix hundred Stades, or lixty Schoenes
in Circumference ; which is equal to the
Length of all the Sea-Coaft of JEgyp, The
Figure of this Lake is Oblong, ftretching to
the North and South ; and in the deepeft Parts
has fifty Fathom of Water. But the two Pyramids built about the Middle of the Lake,
which raife their Heads fifty Fathom above the
Surface of the Water, and conceal as many underneath, fhew undeniably that this Work was
perform'd by the Hands of Men. On each of
thefe a Statue of Marble is plac'd, feated in a
Throne \ by which Account, the Pyramids are
one hundred Fathom in Height ; and one hundred
Fathom make up juft a Stade of ^x^ Plethrons.
1 he Fathom is a Meafure containing fix Foot, or
four Cubits : The Foot comprehends four Palms,
and the Cubit fix. This Lake is not fed by
Springs \ for all thofe Parts are excefiiveiy dry ;
but by Waters deriv'd thro' Chanels cut from
the Nile^ which flow into the Lake fix Months of
the Year, and return to the River the other fix.
During all the fix Months of tlie River's Retreat,
the Fifnery yields a Talent of Silver every Day
to the King's Treafury ; and the reft of the
Time,
Q^

226

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

Time,
twenty Mines only.
The Inhabitants
afTur'd me that this Lake runs under the Earth as
far as the Sands of Libya^ leaning always to the
Weftward, by the Way of the midland Country,
and the Mountains of Memphis.
But being much
concerned not to fee the Earth that was taken
cut of thefe Works,
I defir'd the neighbouring
People to explain the Matter ; who informing
me that all that Earth had been carried away,
I eafily gave them Credit, becaufe I had heard
that the like had been done at the City of
For when certain Thieves
Ninus in Affyria.
had form'd a Defign to fteal the vaft Treafures
of Sardanapalus King of Ninus ^ which were
preferv'd
fubterraneous
they carried
on a Mine in from
their ownVaults,
Habitations
to the
Palace, and every Night throwing the Earth
they had taken out into the River 'Tigris^ which
pafTes by the City, they at laft effedled their
Defign.
The fame Method was taken in JEgypt^
with this Exception only, that they wrought
here by Day and not in the Night.
For they
inform'd me, that all the Earth they dug, was
carried by the /Egyptians to the Nile^ and difpers'd by the Current of that River.
And in
this Manner the Lake of M^ris is reported to
have been made.
The twelve Kings continued ftridly to obferve the Contradt they had made -, when meeting all together at a ilated Time to facrifice in
the Temple of Vulcan^ and being about to offer
a Libation on the laft Day of the Solemnity, the
High Prieft by Miftake brought no more than
eleven of the twelve golden Bowls, which were
refer v'd for thefe Occaiions. So that to fupply
the Deficiency, PfammetichuSy who flood Order,
Jaft in

EUTERPE.

227

Order, took ofF his Helmet of Brafs, and holding it in his Fland, perform'd the Ceremony of
Libation with the reft.
All the other Kings
had the fame kind of Helmet, and wore them
at that Time ♦, neither had Pfammetichus any ill
Intention.
But they confidering the Adlion,
and recolleding the Predidion of the Oracle,
" That he who ftiould offer a Libation out of a
" Bowl of Brafs, ftiould be fole King oi JEgypt ;
tho' they would not put him to Death, becaufe
upon Examination they found him free from
any evil Defign,
neverthelefs unanimoufly agreed to diveft him of the greateft Part of his
Territories, and to banifli him into the Fens,
with a ftridb Prohibition not to remove, or intermeddle inthe Affairs of any other Part of
Mgypt.
Long before this Event Pfammetichus
had been forc'd to fly into Syria^ to efcape the
Fury of S abb aeon King of Mthiopa^
who had
kill'd his Father Nechos'y
and to continue in
Exile, 'till he was recall'd by the Inhabitants
of Sais^ after the JEthiopian had been induc'd
by the Terror of a Dream to abandon Egypt,
Then reigning in Conjunction with the eleven
Kings, he was again conftrain'd to withdraw
into the Fens,
for ufing his Helmet
at the
Libation.
But not being able to digeft this
Indignity, and ftudying how to revenge himfelf againft his Perfecutors •, he fent to the
Oracle of Latona in the City of Biitus^ which
is accounted the moft infallible in Mgypt^ and
received for Anfwcr, " That he ftiould be reveng*d by Men of Brafs fuddenly rifing out
of the Sea. This Oracle plung'd him into
the deepeft Incredulity ; not comprehending the
poffibility of receiving Succour from Men
of

0^2

Brafs,

2 28

HERODOTUS.

BookIL

Brafs. But not long after, fome Ionian and
Carlan Pirates driven by NecefTity to go afhore
in Mgyp^ landed in Armour of Brafs. Upon
which an ^^.gyptian, who had never before {^^n
Men arm'd in that Manner, went to the Fens,
and acquainted Pfammetichus^ that certain Men
of Brafs had rifen out of the Sea, and were
ravaging all the Lands adjacent to the Shore.
He, no longer doubting the Accomplifhment
of the Predication, made an Alliance with thefe
It3nians and Carians, and having by Promifes
of ample Gratifications perfuaded them to fl:ay5
did, with their Afliflance and the Help of fuch
yEgvptians as well affeded to him, fubdue^
and dethrone all the other Kings.
Thus being in PofTefTion of all Mgypt^ he
added a Portico to Vulcan's Temple at Me7nfhis^ facing the South •, and in the Front of
this Portico , built another fpacious Edifice ,
adorn'd with various Figures of Sculpture, and
furrounded with Collofs's twelve Cubits high,
in the Place of Pillars, defign'd for the Habitation of Apis^ by the Grecians nam'd Epaphiis^ when he fhould be found. He rewarded
the lonians and Carians who had afTifled him,
w^ith Lands fituate on each fide of the iV/7^,
and feparated by that River •, calling thofe
Habitations, the Camp. And befides thefe
Lands he gave them' whatever he had promis'd before the Expedition ; and put divers
Egyptian Children under their Care, to be inflruded in the Knowledge of the Grecian Language. So that thofe who now perform the
Office of Interpreters in Mgypt^ are defcended
from this Colony. The lonians and Carians continued for a long Time to inhabit thofe Parts v

.

-

which

EUTERPE.

229

^"hich lye near the Sea, below the City of Biihaftis^ in the Pelufian Mouth of the River Nile :
"^Till in fucceeding Time, Amafis King of Mgypt
caus'd them to abandon their Habitations, and
fettle at Memphis^ to defend him againft the
i^gyptians. But from the Time of their firfl
Eftablifhment, they had fo conftant a Communication with the Grecians, that q\\^ may juftly
fay, we certainly know all things that pafsM 'n\
jEgypt fince the Reign of Ffammetkhus to our
Age. They were the firft People of a different
Language, who fettled in Mgypt •, and the Ruins
of their Buildings, together with the Remains of
the Stations and Arfenals they had for Shipping,
are feen to this Day evidently difcovering the
Place where they firft inhabited. And in this
Manner Pfammetichus became Mailer of all
l£gypt.
Concerning this Oracle, I have already
related divers particulars ; and ihall now farther
enlarge on the fame Subjed ; as a thing that deferves a fmgular Regard. The Temple is dedicated toLatona, and built in the great City of
Butus^ as I mention'd before, beyond the Sebennytic Mouth of the Nile^ as Men navigate from
the Sea up that River. Apollo and Diana have
alfo Temples in the fame City -, and that of Latona^ which contains the Oracle, is a magnificent
Strudlure adorn'd with a Portico fixty Foot high.
But of all the things I faw there, nothing feem'd
fo aftonifhing to me, as a quadrangular Chapel
in this Temple, cut out of one fingle Stone,
and containing a Square of forty Cubits on every
iide, intirely cover'd with a Roof of one Stone
Jikewife , having a Border four Cubits thick.
This Chapel, I confefs, appear'd to me the moft

0^3

P^^o-

230

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

next
prodigious thing I faw In that Place -,inthe
a broad
to this, the Ifland of Cbemmis, fituate
The
and deep Lake near the Temple of Butus.
Egyptians fay this is a floating liland ; but I
could not fee it either float or move, and won- ^
der'd to hear them affirming fo fl:range a thing.
The Ifland of Chemmis contains a fpacious Temple dedicated to Apollo^ and three Altars ; with
great Numbers of Palms, and other Trees, as
well of fuch as produce Fruit, as of thofe that
ferve for Shade and Ornament.
The Opinion
of the i^gyptians touching this Ifland is founded
on the following Tradition.
They fay that
Latona^ one of the eight Primary Deities, refiding in Butus^ where her Oracle now is, receiv'd Apollo from the Hands
of IJis^ and
preferv'd his Life by concealing him in this,
which is now cali'd the floating Ifland, when
I'yphon arriving in thofe Parts, us'd all poflible
For
Diligence to find out the Son of Ofiris.
they fay that Apollo and Diana are the Offspring
of Bionyftus and Ifts ; and that Latona was their
Nurfe and Preferver •, calling Apollo and Ceres
by
'Diana and
; and
us and
by
Account
fromIfisthis
Buhaftis.of OrNow
thattheof Names
no other, jEfchylus the Son of Euphorion took his
Information, when he alone of all the former
Poets introduc'd Diana
as the Daughter
of
Ceres^ and faid that the Ifliand was made to
float on this Occafion.
Thefe things are thus
reported.
PsAMMETicHus rclgn'd in Mgypt fifty
four Years •, nine and twenty of which he fpent
at the Siege of Azotus in 5yn^, before he could
reduce that great City, which of all others we
know, held out the longefl; Time. His Son Necus
fucceeded

EUTERPE.

231

fucceeded him, and began a Canal of Communication beetween the Nile and the Red Sea^
which Darius the Perfian afterwards finifh'd.
Two Galleys may advance abreaft, and perform
the whole Voyage In four Days. This Canal
begins at the Nile a little above Bubaftis^ and
pafTing by Patumon a City of Arabia^ flows into
the Red Sea. 'Tis cut thro' the Plains of yEgypt,
that lye towards Arabia \ becaufe the Mountains
of Memphis^ which contain the Quarries of
Stone, are fituate beyond this Level. And therefore this great Canal is carried along the Foot
of thofe Hills from the Weft to the Eaftward,
and then turn'd thro' the Chops of the Mountains towards the South Into the Arabian Gulph.
But the ihorteft and moft compendious PafTage
from the Northern Sea to the Southern, or Red
Sea^ is by Mount Cafiiis^ which feparates Egypt
from Syria. For this Mountain Is not above a
thoufand Stades diftant from the Gulph of Ara^
hia. So that this is the fhorter Way, the other
being render'd more tedious by the frequent
Turnings of the Canal. One hundred and twenty
thoufand ^Egyptians employ 'd In this Labour,
perifh'd under the Reign of Necus ; and when
the Work was half done, the Oracle admonifh'd him to defift, and leave the Canal to be
finifh'd by a Barbarian ; for that Name is given
by the Egyptians to all thofe who are of another Language. Thus Necus abandoning his Defign,built
turn'd
his Thoughts
Affairs,
and
a Fleet
of Galllesto onMilitary
the Northern
Sea, and another In the Arabian Gulph, at the
Mouth of the Red Sea., as appears by the Ruins
of his Arfenals and Havens remaining to this
Day.

Thefe Fleets he us'd upon Occaiion j and

0^4

was

232

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

was no lefs formidable by Land. For he fought
a Battle againft the Syrians in the Plains of Mag^
dolus 'y and after he had obtain'd the Victory,
took the great City of Cadytis. The Garments
he wore in thefe Adions, he confecrated to
Aaollo, and fent them to Branchis in the Territories ofthe Milefians. He reign'd fixteen Years ;
and at his Death left the Kingdom to his Son
Pfammis.
During the Reign of this King, Ambaffadors from Elis arriv'd in yEgypt^ boafting that
they had out-done all Mankind, in eftablifhing
the Olympian Exercifes under the moft juft
and excellent Regulations, and did not think
that the Egyptians, tho* they were the wifeft
People of the World, could make any Addition to their Inftitution. Being arriv'd, and
having acquainted the King with the Caufe
of their AmbafTy, he fummon'd an Aflembly
of fuch Perfons as were efteem'd the wifeft
among the -Egyptians: Who when they had
heard all that the Eleans had to fay concerning
the Olympian Exercifes, and the Caufe of their
coming, which they faid was to inquire whether the Egyptians could invent any thing more
equitable-, ask'd the Ambaffadors, if the Citizens of Elis v/ere permitted to enter the Lifts :
And the Eleans anfwering that they and all
other Grecians were equally adrnitted i the IEgyptians replied, that in fo d/^ing they had totally deviated from the Rules of Juftice •, No
Confideration being fufficient to reftrain Men
from favouring thofe of their own Country to
the Prejudice of Strangers. But if they were
fmcerely defirous to ad juftly, and had undertaken this Voyage into JEgyp with that Intention,

EUTERPE.

233

tion, they ought to exclude all the Eleans, and
admit only Strangers to be the Opponents. This
Admonition the Eleans received from the -^gyptians
PsAMMis reign'd only fix Years; and having
undertaken an Expedition again ft the i^thiopians, died foon after, and left the Kingdom to
his Son Afries.
This King liv'd twenty five
Years in greater Profperiry than any of his Predeceftbrs, except his Grandfather Pfammetichus.
In which Time he invaded Sidon with an Army, and engag'd the Tyrians in a Sea-fight.
But being deftinated to Ruin, his Misfortunes
began upon an Occafion, which I fhall briefly
mention in this Place, and more largely explain,
when I fpeak of the Libyan Affairs.
Aprieshaving fent a numerous Army againft the Cyrenaeans,
and receiving a very great Defeat,
the ^Egyptians revolted ; fufpedling he had defignedly contriv'd the Slaughter of thofe Forces, that after their Deftrudion
he might govern the reft with a more abfolute Authority ;
which they fo highly refented, that not only
thofe
who
returned
from
that Expedition,
but all the Friends of thofe that had perifh'd,
openly revolted againft him.
When Apries
heard of this Defedion,
he difpatch'd Amafis
to pacify them with kind ExprefTions.
But
as he was beginning to reprove the iEgyptians, and to difluade theni from their Enterprize,
a certain Egyptian
who ftood behind A^^^jisy
put a Helmet upon his Head, and faluted him
King of yEgypt.
Which w^as not done without
the Participation of Amafis^ as the Event fhew'd.
For he was no fooner declar'd King, than he
prepar'd to lead an Army againft Apries ; J)eing
Who

234

HERODOTUS.

Book U.

being inform'd of all that had pafs'd, fent Patarhemis^ one of the moft confrderable Perfons among the iEgyptlans that adher'd to him, with
Orders to bring Amafis alive into his Prefence.
Taterhemis arriving in the Camp, calPd to Afiiafis •, but he, as he fat on Horfeback, lifting
up his Thigh and breaking Wind, bid him carry
that to Apries. In the End, when Patarhemis
requir'd him to go to the King, he anfwer'd,
that he had been long preparing to vifit him ;
and that he might give him no Caufe of Complaint, he would not only appear himfelf, but
would bring fome Company with him. Patarhe^nis perceiving the Defign of Amafis by the
Words he had heard, and the Preparations he
faw, thought himfelf obliged to inform the
King of thefe things with all Expedition : And
coming into his Prefence without Amafis^ Apries^ faid not one Word to him •, but in a fudden Tranfport of PaiTion commanded his Ears
and Nofe to be cut oiF. The reft of the ^gyptians, who to that Time had continued
faithful to Apries^ feeing a Perfon of univerfal
Efteem treated in fo unworthy a Manner, went
immediately over to thofe who had revolted,
and offer'd themfelves to Amafis ; which when
Apries heard, he drew out his Auxiliary Forces, confifting of Carians and lonians, to the
Number of thirty thoufand ; and marching from
Sais^ where he had a beautiful and magnificent
Palace, led his Troops againft the Egyptians ;
whilft Amafis led the Army he commanded againft the Foreigners. They met in the Fields
of
and prepar'd themfelves on both
fidesMemphis^
for a Battle.
The

EUTERPE.

235

The Egyptians are diftinguifli'd Into feven
Orders of Men -, Priefts, Soldiers, Herdfmen^
Hogherds,
Traders, Interpreters, and Pilots,
who take the Names from the ProfeiTions they
exercife.
The Military Men
are call'd either
Calafirians, or Hermotybians,
according to the
Diftrids they inhabit.
For all Mgypt is divided
into Diftridls or Jurifdidlions.
The Hermotybians are of the Diftridt of Bujiris^ Sais, Chemmis^ Papremis^ and one half of the Ifland ProfopiSy which is call'd Natho,
From thefe Diilrids a hunderd and fixty thoufand Hermotybians may be drawn, when they are moft
numerous.
None of thefe ever learn any Mechanick Art, but apply themfelves wholly to
Military Affairs.
The Calafirians are of the
Jurifdidions of 'Thebes^ Biibaftis^ Apthis^ TaniSy MendeSy Sehennytus^ Athribis^ Pharb^this^
nmuisy Onyphisy Anyfis and of Mycephoris^ which
is fituated in an Ifland over again ft Bubaftis.
Thefe Diftrids of the Calafirians may furnifh
two hundred and fifty thoufand Men at moft ;
who being likewife reftrain'd from exercifing
any Mechanick Profeflion,
are oblig'd to apply themfelves from Father to Son, to the Art
of War only.
I cannot affirm that the Grecians receiv'd this Cuftom from the Egyptians j
efpecially confidering that the Thracians, Scythians, Persians, Lydians, and almoft all barbarous Nations have little Regard to thofe who
profefs any Mechanick Art ; judging fuch as abftain from thofe Employments, and particularly
Military Men, to be of a more generous Spirit.
Yet all the Grecians have entertain'd the fame
Maxim,
and principally the Lacedaemonians;
tho' the Mechanick Arts are not accounted altogether

236

HERODOrUS.

Book U.

gether fo difhonourable among the Corinthians. The Lands conferr'd upon the Militia
are exempted from all publick Tributes as well
as thofe of the Priefthood. Twelve Acres are
afTign'd to each Man, every Acre containing a
Square of one hundred ^Egyptian Cubits, which
are equal to fo many Cubits of Samos. They
all enjoy thefe Advantages, but are admitted
to other Profits by Turns. For a thoufand Calafirians, and as many Hermotybians ferve the
King annually for a Guard, and, befides the
Revenue of their Lands, receive a daily Allowance, confiding of five Pounds of Bread,
and two of Beef, with four Draughts of Wine
to each Man.
Both Armies being advanc'd to Memphis ;
Apries at the Head of his Auxiliaries, and Amafis
with all the Egyptians, they fought a Battle :
In which the Foreigners behav'd themfelves
with great Courage : But being opprefs'd with
Numbers, were entirely defeated. 'Tis reported
that Apries fondly thought he had fo well eflablifh'd his Authority, that the Power of a God
would not prove fufHcient to difpoflefs him of
the Kingdom \ and yet he was beaten, taken Prifoner, and coniin'd to the Palace of Sais^ formerly his own, and now belonging to Amafis ;
where he was kept for fome Time, and treated
with great Humanity. But the People murmuring at the Lenity of Amafts to a common Enemy, as injurious to himfelf and the whole Nation, he was conflrain'd to deliver Apries into the
Hands of the ^Egyptians ; who ilrangled him,
and laid his Body in the Sepulchre of his Anceftors, erected in tke Temple of Minerva adjoyning to the Palace, on the Left-hand of the Entrance.

EUTERPE.

237

trance. For the Inhabitants of Sais have always buried the Kings that were of their Province in this Temple. But the Monument of Amafis is plac'd at a greater Diflance from the Pakce than that of Apries and his Progenitors. In
the Court of this Temple {lands a magnificent
Stru(5lure, adorn'd with Columns of Stone cut
to extraordinary Dimenfions, and refembling
Palm-Trees in Figure ; together with many other Ornaments ; and within that Edifice are
two Doors between which a funeral Monument
is plac'd. Behind the fame Temple of Minervc^
at Sais^ certain Sepulchres are built by the back
Wall. For a Memorial of things not to be nam'd
by me. Vafl Obeliiks frand eredled on the confecrated Ground, near a Lake of orbicular Form.,
Jin'd with Stone, and in my Opinion equal
to that of Delos^ which from the Roundnefs
of its Figure is call'd 'Trochoeides. In this Lake
the Egyptians form the Ideas of their nodurnal PafTions, which they call Myfleries. But
for the Sake of Decency, I fhall not explairk
thefe things,
the farihall
greater
PartoneareWord
well
known
to me.tho'Neither
I utter
more than is permitted, touching the facred
Rites of Ceres ^ which in Greece are call'd Thefmoforian. The Daughters of Banaus brought
thefe Ceremonies from Mgypt^ and inflruded
the Pelafgian Women in the Ufe of them. But
upon the Expulfion of the Peloponnelians, thefe
Rites were a 1moil abolifh'd ; except among the
Arcadians, who were not ejedled by the Dorians.
A F t E R the Death of Apries^ the Kingdom
continued in the Hands of Amafts^ who was
born in the City of Siuphy in the Province of Sai^.
The

238

HERODOTUS.

Book 11.

The -Egyptians fhew'd little Refpedl to him in
the Beginning of his Reign ; but rather defpis'd him as a Perfon of inferior Rank, and not
defcended of an illuftrious Family, but he foon
acquir'd their Efteem by his Art and Dexterity. For among
other infinite Treafures, he
had a Bafon of Gold in which he and all thofe
who were admitted to eat at his Table, were
accuftom'd
to wafh their Feet.
This Bafon
he caus'd to be melted down,
and formed
into the Statue of a God ; which having plac'd
in the moft frequented Part of the City, the
j^gyptlans
with great Reverence
paid their
Devotions to the Image.
In the mean Time
Amafis^ informed of their Behaviour, calls a
general AiTembly,
and acquaints the Egyptians, that the Image they now worfhipp'd fo devoutly, was made out of the Bowl, in which
they had fo often pifs'd, vomited, and wafh'd
their Feet \ and that his Condition was not unlike that of the Image : For tho' he had been
formerly an ordinary Perfon, yet being now
their King, he requir'd them to honour and obey him : And by this Means he perfuaded the
Egyptians to think themfelves oblig'd in Duty to pay him all that Refpec5t and SubmilTion
which is due to a King.
His ufual Manner was
to employ all the Hours in the Morning in an
afTiduous application to the Publick Affairs, and
afterwards to divert himfelf in Company, drinking with his Companions,
and frequently defcendlng even to play the Part of a Buffoon.
But his Friends offended at his Condudt, admonifh'd him, that thefe Ac5tions tended to render
him contemptible.
*' For, faid they, he who
" fits on a Throne ought to pafs the whole Day
I
"in

EUTERPE.

239

*^ in the Admlnlftratlon of publick Bufinefs ; that
*' the Egyptians may know they are govern'd
*' by a great King, and fpeak honourably of
" his Perfon.
Whereas your Condu(^ is alto*' gether unbecoming the Royal Dignity.
Ama^
fis in Anfwer faid, " That an Archer, when he
'' is about to fhoot, braces his Bow ; but af" ter he has fhot, loofens the String; becaufe
*' a Bow that fhould always continue bent,
*' would either break or be render'd ufelefs
in Time of need : And that this might reafonably be applied to Men : For if a Man
fhould inceflantly attend to ferious Studies,
and refufe to fpend any Part of his Time
'' in ludicrous Recreations, either Madnefs or
" Stupidity would fteal upon him: Of which
*' Truth being perfedly convinc'd,
he had
" contrivM to divide the Time between Bufi*' nefs and Diverfion.
And indeed the -Egyptians fay that Amafis^ while he was a private
Perfon, lov'd to drink, and divert himfelf with
Jefting and Raillery •, and was fo far from being a Man of Diligence and induftry, that he
betook himfelf to ftealing, when he could no otherwife fupply the Expences of his Luxury :
For which being frequently accus'd by thofe he
had robb'd, and always denying the Fa6t, he was
often carried to the Oracle of the Place, where
he was many Times convi6led, and as often
acquitted.
But after his AccelTion to the
Throne, he flighted the Temples of all thofe
Gods, who had acquitted him ; and abflaining
from their Sacrifices, would never beflow any
Donation upon them ; well knowing they deferv'd no regard, by the Experience he had of
the Fallhood /f their Oracles. Whereas cont
onrary
the
.

240

HERODOfUS.

BooklJ.

contrary, perfuaded of the Veracity of thofe
Gods, who had declared him a Thief, he paid
a fmgular Reverence to their Temples. He
built that admirable Portico which ftands before the Temple of Minerva m Sais^ far furpailing all others in Circumference and Elevation, as well as in the Dimeniions of the Stones ;

8P

and adorn'd the Building with CololTian Statues, and the monilrous Figures of Androfphynges. One Part of the Stones employ'd in this
Work, were cut in the Quarries of Memphis •,
but thofe of the greateft Magnitude v/ere convey'd by Water from the City of Elephantis^
diftant from Sais as far as a Veflel can make
in twenty Days. But that which I beheld with
greateft Admiration was a Houfe he brought from
Elephantis^ made of one Stone. Two thoufand Men, all Pilots, were employ'd during
three whole Years in the Tranfportation of
this Houfe -, which has in Front twenty one
Cubits, in Deph fourteen, and eight in Height*
And this is the Meafure of the Outfide. The
In fide is eighteen Cubits and upwards in Length,
twelve in Depth, and five Cubits in Height.
This wonderful Edifice is plac'd by the Entrance
of the Templej fome fay, becaufe the Architedt
regretting the Time he had fpent in fo tedious
a Labour, fetch'd a deep Sigh as he was moving
the Machine towards its Station \ which Amafis
refenting would not fuffer him to proceed. But
others affirm, that one of the Men who guided
tlie Rov/lers, was crufh'd to pieces in the Way
to the Temple, and on that Account they advanc'd no farther. Among the many magnificent
Donations which Amafis prefented in the moft
famous Temples, he caus'd a CqIqJX's, lying with
the

EUTERPE.

241

the Face upwards, feventy five Foot in Length,
to be plac'd before the Temple of Vulcan at
Mem-phis: And on the fame Bails ereded two
Statues of twenty Foot each, wrought out of
the fame Stone, and (landing on each fide of
the great ColofTus. Like this, another is feeri
in Sais^andlying
'^^ theDimenfions.
fame PoftureHe \ likewife
cut in
Stone,
of equal
built the great Temple of Ifts in the City of
Memphis .^ which well defer ves to be admired.
Under the Reign of Amafis ^Egypt was exceedingly happy in all the Conveniences deriv'd
from the River to the Country, or from the
Country to Men, and contain'd twenty thoufand populous Cities. He eftablifh'd a Law»
commanding that every ^Egyptian fhould annually declare before the Governor of the Province, by what Means he maintain'd himfelf;
and if he omitted to go, or gave not a fatisfactory Account of his Way of Living, he fhould
be punilh'd with Death. This Law Solon the
Athenian brought from Mgypt^ and introduc'd
into Athens \ where 'tis inviolably obferv'd as a
moft equitable Conftitution. Amafis was a Lover of the Grecians, and, befides the Favours
he conferr'd upon particular Perfons and Cities,
he permitted as many as would come into Mgypt^ to inhabit the City of Naucratis^ and
granted that thofe who would not fettle there,
but- chofe rather to attend their Commerce by
Sea, might ered Altars and Temples to the
Gods in certain Places aflign'd to that End.
The greateft, nobleft, and moft frequented of
thefe Temples is that which is generally known
by the Name of the Grecian "Temple^ built at
the common Expence of the loniaa. Cities of
R
Cbio,

242

HERODOrUS.

Book II.

Chio^ Teos^ Pocaay and Clazomene ; in Conjunction with the Dorian Communities of Rhodes^
Cnidus, HflicarnaJJus^ Phafelis ; and the City
of Mitylene only of the ^olians.
So that thefe
Places alone have a Title to this Temple, and
to appoint the Governors of Commerce : And
all other Communities that participate of thofe
Privileges, are only admitted upon Favour.
For
the People of Mgina built a Temple to Jupiter at their own Charge ; the Samians one to
Juno^
and the Milefians another to Apollo,
The City of Naucratis was antiently the only
Place of Refort for Merchants in all jEgypt :
And if a Veflel put into any other Harbour of
the Niky the Proprietor was oblig'd to fwear
he arrlv'd unwillingly, and would depart in the
fame Ship by the firfl: Opportunity ; and that
if contrary Winds
fhould prevent him from
reaching the Port of Campus^
he would unload
his Goods, and carry them in Boats round the
Delta to Naucratis,
So great were the Privileges of that City.
When the Amphydions agreed to pay three
hundred Talents for rebuilding the Temple
of Delphij which had been burnt by an unknown Accident, and charg'd a fourth Part of
that Sum upon the Inhabitants of the Place, the
pelphlans went about, deliring AiTiftance of divers Cities,- and brought Home no fmall Contributions from jEgypt. For they receiv'd a
thoufand Talents of Alom from Amafis^ and the
Value of twenty Mines from the Grecians who
were fettled in his Kingdom. Amafis made
alfo an. Alliance of mutual Amity and Defence,
with the Cyren^ans \ and refolving to take a
Wife, of that Country , either out of a Defire

of

(

EUTERPE.

243

of having a Grecian Woman, or from a peculiar
Affedion to that People, he married Ladice^ the
Daughter, as fome fay, of Battus^ others, of
Arcefilaus ; tho' a third fort pretend fhe was the
Daughter of Critohulus^ 2l Perfon of great Authority among the Cyrenaeans. But not being
able to ufe her as his Wife after Marriage, and
yet finding no Impediment with Refpedb to other
Women, he at length told her fhe had inchanted him, and that no Artifice fhould be fufficient
to deliver fo wicked a Woman out of his Hands.
Ladice denied the Fadl, and endeavoured to pacify him: But when nothing would prevail, /he
figh'd out a mental Prayer to Venus ; and vow'd,
if Amafis fhould be enabled to do the Part of a
Hufband that Night (which was the only Remedy left) fhe would fend a Statue of the Goddefs to be eredled in Cyrene. No fooner had fhe
made this Vow than Amafis found himfelf like
other Men, and continued to ufe Ladice as his
Wife with all pofiibie Tendernefs and Affedlion.
On the other Hand Ladice^ not unmindful of
her Promife to the Goddefs, fent the Statue fhe
had vow'd, which ftands intire to this Day
without the Gates of Cyrene. And when Ca?nhyfes had conquer'd Mgypt^ and receiv'd an Account of this Perfon, he preferv'd her from all
injurious Ufage, and caus'd her to be conduced in Safety to her own Country. Amafis
fent feveral confecrated Donations to Greece. He
prefented a guilded Statue of Minerva to the
City of Cyrene-^ with his own Pitflure drawn
after the Life : To Lindus he gave two Statues
of Stone reprefenting the fame Goddefs, together with a linen Pedtoral of admirable Workmanfhip : And fent twoR Images
2of hinjfelf carv'd
in

244

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

in Wood to the City Samos ; where to this
Day they are feen {landing in the great Temple
of Juno behind the Gates. Amafis made this
Donation to Samos^ on Account of the mutual
Obligations of Hofpitality, contraded between
him and Foly crates the Son of Maces : And the
other to Lindus, without any Engagement of
that Nature, but becaufe the Daughters of Da^
naus are reported to have founded the Temple of Minerva in that City, when they fled thither from the Sons of jEgyptus. And thefe were
the Donations of Amafis. He was the firft
who conquer*d Cyprus^ and conftrain'd the Cyprians to pay him Tribute,

THE

2
THE

Hiftory of Herodotus,
Book

III.

r HA LI A.
is^ Cambyfes the Son
AGAINST this Amaf
d
of Cyrus aflemble an Army, confifting
of his own Subjedls, and the Grecian
Forces of the lonians and -^olians.
The Caufe of the War was this. Cambyfes fent
a Herald into Mgyp to demand the Daughter of Amafis : To which he was perfuaded
by an ^Egyptian Phyfician diflatisfied with the
King becaufe he had feparated him from his
Wife and Children, and compell'd him to go
to Perjia rather than any other, when Cyrus by
a Meflage defir'd Amafis to fend him the beft
Phyfician for the Eyes that could be found
in AEgypt, The angry -^^gyptian inceffantly endeavour'd to induce Cambyfes to make this Demand, to the End that Amafis^ if he fhould comply, might be mortified wtth the Lofs of his
Daughter, or irritate the King of Ferfia by his
Refufal. Under thefe Difficulties Amafis could
not eafily determine what Refolution to take:
For he dreaded the Perfian Power ; and knew
Cambyfes demanded his Daughter, not to make
her his Wife, but his Concubine. At laft he reft

3

folv'd

246

HERODOTUS.

Book II.

folv'd upon this- Expedient.
His Predeceflbr
Apries had left an only Daughter, tall and beautiful, whofe Name
was Nitetis.
This Virgin Amafis furnifh'd with all Manner of magnificent Apparel, and fent her to Perjia for
his own Daughter:
Where
feme Time
after
her Arrival, when Camhyfes vifiting her in a familiar Manner call'd her the Daughter of Amafis^ fhe faid, " O King, Thou haft been deceiv'd by Amafts^ who fent me hither with all
thofe Ornaments in the Place of his Daughter:
Whereas indeed I am the Daughter of Apries
his Mafter whom he put to Death, after he
had revolted with the reft of the i^gyptians."
Thefe Words fill'd Camhyfes the Son of Cyrus
with Indignation, and determin'd him to make
War againft Mgypt.
Thus the Perfians report
the Matter.
But the i^gyptians claim a Relation to Camhyfes by Blood, and pretend that
he was the Son of this Nitetis \ and that Cyrus^
not Camhyfes^
was the Perfon who fent for
the Daughter of Aniafis.
Neverthelefs this Account is groundlefs and dilingenuous.
For if
any People of the World
are well inform'd
of the Perfian Cuftoms,
the ^Egyptians cer^
tainly are; and therefore could neither be ignorant that a Son of the half Blood is never admitted to be King of Perfia^ v/hen a legitimate
Heir is apparent ; nor that Camhyfes was the Son
of Caffafidana Daughter to Pharnafpes of the
Race of Aicharneyies\
and not of an iEgyptian^
W^oman.
But they have deliberately perverted
the Truth, that they might have fome Colour to
pretend a Relation to the Family of Cyrus. Another Story they have contriv'd, which I think no
Jefs incredible than the former.
They fay that a

*4

Perfia^

THALIA.

247

Perfian Lady being admitted to the Prefence of
and feeing the Children
the King's Women,
l and well proportion'd,
na beautifu
of Cajfanda
from admiring her Happinefs;
not refrain
could
but Cajfandana anfwer'd, that tho' ihe was Wife
to Cyrus^ and Mother to thefe Children, yet
he (lighted her, and preferr'd an ^Egyptian
Servant, meaning the hated Nitetis^ before her:
Upon which Camhyfes^ the eldeft of her Sons
I will
when I am a Man,
faid, ^' Mother,
" on your Account turn all Mgypt upfide down :"
who had
That this Difcourfe of Cambyfes^
not then attain'd to more than ten Years of
Age, ftruck all the Women prefent with Admiration j and that he kept his Revenge in Memory till he grew up •, and when he v/as pofmade War againft Mfefs'd of the Kingdom,
gypt. Another Motive that concurr'd to induce
him to undertake this Expedition, was the Arrival of Phanes^ by Defcent a Grecian of HaltHe had been one of the Auxiliaries
carnajfus.
prudent in Council, and valiant in
of Amafuy
This Man diflatisiied with Amafis^ on
A6lion.
I know not what Occafion, departed by Sea
from /Egypt ^ with a Defign to confer with Cam-^
byfes. But Amafis^ who knew him to be a Man
of Credit among the Auxiliaries, and well acquainted with the ^Egyptian Affairs, refolv'd to
purfue him with all Diligence: And to that
End fent one of the moft trufty among his Eunuchs with a Galley, who furprlz'd him in hycia \
but did not bring' him back to JEgypt^ becaufe
For Phanes
he was over- reached by his Prifoner.
made his Guard drunk, and by that Means
efcaping into Perfia^ arriv'd at the Time when
Cambyfes was preparing all things for his Expeditloii
R 4

248

HERODOTUS.

Book 111.

ditlon to JEgyp^ and much perplex'd how he
fhould pafs the Deferts that were deftitute of
Water. He difcover'd many important Affairs
of Amafis to the King of Perfia^ and advis'd
him to defire the King of Arabia by a MefTage
to grant him a fafe Faflage thro' his Territories ; as the only Way into Mgypt eafy of Accefs. For whatever is fituate between Fhcenicia and the Borders of Cadytis^ which belongs to
the Syrians of Faldeftine^ and in my Opinion is
little inferior to Sardis ; together with all the
trading Places on the Coaft to the City of Jenyfus^ is part of the Arabian Territories. And fo
is the whole Tradl of Land that lies extended
from Jenyfus^ which belongs to the Syrians,
to the Lake of Se^'bonisy where Mount Cafius
ftretches towards the Sea. But from the Lake
of Serbcnis^ in which I'yphon is reported to have
conceal'd himfelf, the Country belongs to JEgypt. And all that Space which lies between
the City of Jenyfus^ Mount Cafius and the Lake,
being no lefs than three Days March, is utterly
deftitute of Water. But in this Place I fhall
mention a thing which has not been obferv'd
by many who have pafs'd by Sea into yEgypt.
Twice every Year the Grecians and Phoenicians tranfport thither certain Earthen Veflels
fill'd with Wine ; and yet not one of thefe
is ever to be found empty. Now if any Man
ask how this comes to pais, I fhall inform him.
The
every that
Province
oblig'd
to
colled:Governor
all thofe ofVeflels
he canis find
within
his Jurifdidlion, and fend them to Memphis^
^here they are fill'd with Water, and then convey'd to thofe arid Parts of Syria, So that all
thefe VefTels, that can be found in Mgypt^ arq
^
from

THALIA.

249

from Time to Time fent back into Syria In this
Manner the Perfians, when they had conquer'd
JEgyp-, made Proviiion of Water for the Forces they fhould afterwards fend to that Country. But, as before this Expedition Water was
not thus preferv'd in thofe Parts, Camhyfes by
the Advice of Phanes the Halicarnaflian fent AmbafTadcirs to folicite the King of Arabia to permit him to pafs in Safety •, and upon mutual Affurances of Amity obtain'd his Requeft. The
Arabians are moft religious Obfervers of the Contradts they make \ which are attended with
thefe Ceremonies. When they enter into mutual Obligations, a third Perfon ftanding between the Parties, makes an Incifion with a Iharp
Stone in the Palm of the Hand under the longed Fingers of both the Contraders •, and cutting aShred from the Garment of each, dips it
in the Blood, and anoints feven Stones brought
thither to that End, invoking the Names of
Bacchus and Urania. After this Invocation, the
Mediator of the Agreement exhorts the Stranger,
or the Citizen, if the Contradl be made with a
Citizen, to perform the Conditions : And the
Contraders are oblig'd to profefs themfelves
bound in Juftice to obferve the Treaty. They
acknowledge no other Gods than Bacchus and
Urania^ whom they call by the Names of Ourot alt and Alilat. They fhave their Temples,
and cut their Hair to a circular Form -, in order,
as they fay, to refemble Bacchus. The Arabian, after the Conclufion of this Treaty with the
Ambafladors of Camhyfts^ caus'd a great Number of Camels Skins to be fill*d with Water, and
loaded on living Camels \ which being done, he
and
order'd them to be drived to the arid Defarts,

250

HERODOTUS.

Book W.

and there in Perfon expeded the Arn\^l off
Cdmhyfes with his Army. This Account feems
to me the moft credible : Yet I muft not omit
to mention another Expedient ; (tho' lefs probable) becaufe 'tis affirm*d likewife. Corys is a
great River of Arabia^ and runs into the Red
Sea, And they fay that the King of Arabia by
joyning together the raw Hides of Oxtn and
other Animals, made an Aquaedud from this
River to the Deferts, and convey'd the Water
thither by that Means, into Cifterns provided for
receiving and preferving as much as fhould be
neceflary. But that becaufe the Way between
the River and this dry Country was no lefs than
twelve Days Journey, he contriv'd to convey
the Water by three feveral Aqaeduds into three
different Places.
PsAMMENiTus the Son of Amafis lay encamp'd with his Army at the Peluftan Mouth of
the Nile^ in Expedlation of Cambyfes ; for AmaJls died before this Invafion, after he had reign'd
forty and four Years, in a continued Courfe of
Felicity. His Body was embalm'd, and buried in the Sepulchre which he had built for himitli in the Temple. During the Reign of Pfam^
^lenitus a great Prodigy was (ttn in Mgypt,
Showers of Rain fell at Thebes \ ^V»hich, the
Thebans fay, had never happen'd before, nor
fmce even to this Day. For no Rain ever falls
\n the upper Regions of Mgypt : But at that
Time thev had Rain, as the Thebans affirm.
The Perfian Army march'J thro* the unwater'd Country, and arriving near the Camp
of the i^gyptians, refolv'd to hazard a Battle :
Which the Grecians and Carians, who w^ere
to
Auxiliaries to the iEgyptians, perceiving, they,

THALIA

251

to ftiew their Deteftation of Phanes^ for introbrought
into Mgypt^
ducing aforeign Enemy
his Sons into the Camp; and having plac'd a
Bowl between the two Armies, kill'd them all
Then,
upon the Bowl in Sight of their Father.
and Wine into the Blood ;
pour'dallWater
they after
the Auxiliaries had tailed of this
and
The Battle
Mixture they began the Attack.
was obftinately fought, and great Numbers fell
on both fides : But at laft the ^Egyptians were
On this Spot of Ground I faw
put to Flight.
a very furprizing thing, v/hich the People of
For as the Bones of
the Country fhew'd me.
thofe who were kill'd in that Fight are feparated -, thofe of the Perfians lying in one Place,
and thofe of the ^Egyptians in another, I found
the Skulls of the Perfians fo weak that one
might break them with the lead Pebble ; whereas thofe of the Egyptians were hard enough to
They
refift the PercufTion of a weighty Stone.
told me, and I aflented to their Experience, that
this Difference is owing to the ^Egyptian Cuftom of fliaving the Heads of their Children
early ; by which Means the Bone is rendred
thicker and ftronger thro' the Heat of the Sun,
and the Head preferv'd from Baldnefs: And
indeed w^e fee fewer Perfohs bald in jEgypt than
As therefore the Skull
in any other Country.
of an ^Egyptian is fortified by this Method,
fo the Heads of the Perfians are foften'd by
For they are not expos'd to
contrary Cuflom.
the Sun, but always cover'd with Caps and
And I obferv'd the fame thing at
Turbans.
were defeated with
Papremis in thofe who
Ach^menes the Son of Darius^ by Inarus King

of Libya,

The

252

HERODOTUS.

Book III.

Th e Egyptians, after they had loft the Battle, fled away to Memphis in a diforderly Manner. Which Cambyfes hearing, he fent a Periian Herald thither in a Ship of Mitylene to exhort them to furrender. But when they faw the
Veflel entring the Port of Memphis^ they ran
out in great Numbers to the Shore ; deftroy'd
the Ship ; tore the Men in Pieces, and carried
their mangled Limbs into the City. Upon this
the Egyptians were befieg'd, and after fome
Time forc'd to fubmit. Which fo terrified the
Libyans, that to avoid the like Calamity, they
yielded to Mercy without a Blow, and taxing
themfelves in Proportion to their Abilities fent
divers Prefents to Cambyfes, The Cyrenaeans and
Barcasans being under the fame Apprehenfions,
furrendred likewife as the Libyans had done.
Cambyfes very favourably receiv'd the Prefents
of the Lybians, but was highly difpleas'd at
thofe of the Cyrenasans, as I conjecture, becaufe
they were inconfiderable. For they fent no
more than five hundred Mines of Silver, which
he took with Difdain, and threw about a-^
mong. the Soldiers. On the Tenth Day after the taking of Memphis,, Cambyfes to try
the Conftancy of Pfammenitus,, who had reign'd
only fix Months, fent him in Difgrace to the
Suburbs of the City, accompanied by other
Egyptians ; and at the fame Time ordering his
Daughter to be drefs'd in the Habit of a Slave,
and furniih'd with a Bucket, commanded her,
with other Virgins of the principal Families
in j^gypt cloath'd in the fame Manner, to
bring Water from the River. When the Fathers of thefe Virgins faw them weeping and

Calamity

lamenting, they likewife wept and bewailed the

THALIA.

253

But Pfammenitus
Calamity of their Children.
alone, who faw and heard no lefs than they,
only turn'd his Eyes towards the Ground.
Thefe
Virgins having pafs'd by with Water, Cambyfes
in the next Place fent the Son of Pfammenitus
thither alfo, attended by two thoufand Egyptians of like Age, all with Halters about their
Necks, and a Curb in their Mouth ; to fufFer
Death in Satisfa6lion for the Lives of thofe Mitylenaeans who perifh'd with their Ship.
For the
King's Judges had determin'd that ten of the
principal ^Egyptians fhould be facrific'd for every
one of thofe Men.
Yet when Pfammenitus perceiv'd them pafling, and knew that his Son was
going to dye, he did no more than he had done
at the Sight of his Daughter \ tho' all the reft
of the ^Egyptians about him made loud Lamentations. But he no fooner faw one of his Companions, aMan advanc'd in Years, plunder'd of
all, and living only upon Alms, walking about
the Suburbs, where the Army, and Pfammenitus with other j^gyptians were, than he wept
bitterly, and calling him by his Name, ftruck
himfelf upon the Head.
All thefe things bereported
ing
to Cambyfes by three Perfons who
were plac'd about Pfam?nenitus to obferve his
A6lions,
he was ftruck with Wonder,
and
fent a Meflage to him in thefe Words. " Pfam*' menitus^ Thy Mafter Cambyfes is defirous
•' to know why, after thou hadft {ttn thy
*' Daughter fo ignominioufly treated, and thy
*' Son led to Execution,
without any Excla** mation or Weeping,
thou fhouldft be fo
*' highly concern'd for a poor Man no Way
r.
** related to thee, as he is informed."
To fwe
this
Queftion Vfammmtus retum'd the following An*

254

HERODOTUS.

Book III.

fwer, " Son of Cyrus, The Calamities of my
*' Family are too great to leave me the Power
** of weeping : But the Misfortunes of a Com*' panlon, reduc'd in his Old-age to the extrem*' eft Neceftity, may be fitly lamented with
*' Tears." His Anfwer being brought to Camhyfes^ was generally approved ; and the Egyptians fay that not only Crcefus^ who accompanied
him in this Expedition, and all' 'the Perfians
that were prefent, could not refrain from Tears ;
but
CambyfesOrders
himfelfto touch'd
Remorfe,
fent that
immediate
fave thewithLife
of the
Son^ and to bring the Father from the Suburbs
into his Prefence : That thefe Meflengers found
the Son already dead, having been the firft
that fuffer'd ; but conduded Pfammenitus to
Cambyfes \ who permitted him to live at his
own Difcretion, without doing him any Manner
of Violence. And if by his Condud he had perfuaded Cambyfes that he defir'd no Innovation,
he might probably have been entrufted with the
Adminiftration of Mgypt. For the Perfians are
accuftom'd to pay fo great Refped: to the Sons
of Kings, that they ufually beftow the Kingdoms of thofe who revolt, upon their Children ;
as may be proved by many Examples, and particularly bythofe of 'Thannyra the Son of Inarus
the Lybian, who was invefted wath his Father's Government ; and of Paufiris the Son of
Amyrtaus^ who met with the fame Fortune \ tho*
greater Difafters never fell upon the Perfians,
than by the Means of thofe two Kings. But
Pfammenitus defigning to raife new Difturbances,
and foliciting the ^Egyptians to rebel, was
fiez'd by order of Cambyfes^ and receiv'd the juft
Reward of his Infidelity.
For after his Con-'
vidioii

THALIA.

255

vidion he drank the Blood of a Bull, and died
immediately.
From Memphis Camhyfes went to the City of
SaiSy m order to execute. a Defign he had projeded \ and to that end going into the Palace of
Amafis^ he prefently commanded his Body to
be taken out of the Sepulchre-, which being
done, he gave farther Orders to whip him ; to
pull of his Hair ; to prick him with pointed
Inftruments, and to abufe the Corpfe with all
Manner of Indignity. But after they had tired
themfelves with this Employment, and faw
all their Efforts rendred ineffedual by the Solidity of the imbalming Compofition, Camhyfes
commanded the Body to be burnt: Which was
an Adion of Impiety ; becaufe the Perfiaiis believe Fire to be a God ; and to burn a dead Body
is not permitted in either Nation. For the Per-»
iians fay 'tis a Violation of Religion
God with the dead Body of a Man : toAndfeedthea
j^gyptians hold that Fire is a favage Animal,
which devours all that comes within his Reach,
and^ after he has glutted his voracious Appetite,
expires with the things he has confum'd: Neither do they ever give the Bodies of dead Men to
wild Beafts ; but chufe rather to embalm them
than to bury them in the Earth, left they
fhould be eaten by Worms. So that Camhyfes
commanded a thing altogether repugnant to
the Manners of both Nations. But the ^gyptians pretend this was not the Body of Amafts^ but of another Egyptian, equal to him in
Years, whom the Perfians, miftaking him for
Amafis^ treated fo opprobrioufly. For they fay,
that Amafis being admonifh'd by the Oracle of
what ftiQuld happen to him after Death, contriv'd
to

256

HERO DO rUS. Book III.

to fecure himfelf againft the Predidlion, by placing the dead Body of this ^Egyptian near the
Door of his Sepulchre, and commanding his
Son to depofit his own in the remoteft Part of
the fame Monument: Tho' I am of Opinion
that thefe pretended Commands of Amafis touching his own Funeral, and this ^Egyptian, are
fiditious.
After this, Camhyfes refolv'd to undertake three feveral Expeditions; one againft the
Carthaginians; another againft the Ammonians; and a third againft the Macrobian iEthiopians, who inhabit that Part of Libya
which lies upon the South Sea. He defign'd to
attack the Carthaginians with a Fleet, and the
Ammonians by a Land- Army. But before he
would make War againft the i^thiopians, he
determined to fend fome Perfons into the Country, who under Pretence of carrying Prefents to their Kbg, and inquiring into the Truth
of the Report concerning the Table of the Sun,
might difcover the Strength and Condition of
the Kingdom. They fay this Table of the Sun
is a certain Meadow in the Suburbs, furnifti'd
with the roafted Flefti of all Sorts of four-footed Animals, which being rang'd in Order by
the Magiftrates of the City in the Night, ferve
to feaft all Comers in the Morning. The Inhabitants fay, that thefe things are a daily Prefent
of the Earth: And this is their Account of
the Table of the Sun.
Cambyses in Purfuance of his Refolution
touching the Spies, fent to Ekphantis for fuch
Perfons among the Ichthyophages, as beft underftood the i^thiopian Language ; and in the mean
Time commanded all his Naval Forces to fail towards

THALIA.

isf

wards Carthage,
But tlie Phoenicians alledging
that they were under the moft facred Obligations
of Relation to the Carthaginians, and could not
without Impiety make War againft their own
Blood, refus'd to execute the Orders of Cambyfes,
And the reft being utterly uncapable of fuch an
Enterprize, the Carthaginians were thus pre^
ferv'd from the Periian Power.
For Cambyfes
did not think convenient to compel the Phoenicians to obey, becaufe they had voluntarily
fubmitted to him,
and made up the great
Strength of his Fleet -, tho' the Cyprians had
done the fame, and were Hkewife employ'd againft the ^Egyptians.
When the Ichthyophagcs
arriv'd from Elephantis^ Cafnbyfes fent them away
to Mthiofia with full Inftrudions, and Prefents
confifting of a Suit of Purple, a Necklace and
Bracelets of Gold, an Alabafter Box of rich
Ointment, and a Veilel of Palm Wine.
Thefe
.Ethiopians are reported to furpafs all other Men
in Beauty and large Proportion of Body , and to
govern themfelves in refpedl to the Succeflion of
the Kingdom by a peculiar Method,
unknown
in any other Part of the World.
For they confer the Royal Dignity upon the Man who is
of the largeft Size, and of Strength proportionable to his Perfon.
To this Nation the
Ichthyophagcs were fent ; and after their Arrival
having made their Prefents to the King, they
addreis'd themfelves to him in thefe Words,
Cambyfes King of the Perfians, being defirous
to enter into mutual Engagements of Friendihip and Hofpitality with Thee, has given
** us Commiffion to treat of this Affair •, and
" fent thefe Prefents, which are fuch as he him** felf is moft delighted with.'*
To which the
S
^/Ethiopian

258

HERODOTUS,

Book III.

Ethiopian, not doubting they were Spies, re^turn*d this Anfwer. " 'Twas not from any Con*' fideration of my Friendfhip that the King of
'' Perfia fent you to me with thefe Prefents ;
*' neither have you fpoken the Truth ; but are.
*' come into my Kingdom as Spies. If Camhyfe^
*' were an honeft Man, he would defire no
*' more than his own j and not endeavour to
•' reduce a People under Servitude who have
*' never done him any Injury. However, give
" him this Bow from me, and let him know
«* that the King of ^Ethiopia advifes the King
*^ of Perjia to make War againft the Macro«' bian Ethiopians, when the Per flans fhall
*' be able thus eafily to draw fo ftrong a Bow ;
*' and in the mean Time to thank the Gods,
*' that they never infpir'd the -Ethiopians
*' with a Defire of extending their Domini** on beyond their own Country." When he
{aid this, he loofen'd the String, and deliver*d
the Bow to the Ambafladors. Then taking
up the purple Garment, he afk'd what it was,
a'ld how made ; and after they had inform'd
him touching the Colour, and Manner of the
Tmdure, " The Men, faid he, are deceit«'• ful, and fo is the Cloathing they wear.'*
In the next Place he queftion'd them concerning the Necklace and Bracelets •, and when
they had explain'd to him the curious Workimanfliip of thofe things, the King laught, and
told them that Chains of a far greater Strength
were to be found in ^Ethiopia. Of the Oyntment he gave the fame Judgment as of the purple Garments. But when they enter'd into a
Difcourfe about the Wine, which the ^Ethiopian
tailed with great Pkafure^ he delir'd to know
what

j
I

r B A L t A.

2^9

what Provifion? were us^d at the King of Perfta*s
Table, and to what Age the longeft Life of
a Perfian might reach. The Ambafladors anfwer'd, that the Food of the King of Perjia
was Bread ; taking Occafion from that Demand
to defcribe the Nature of Wheat ; and that
the longeft Life of a Perfian might extend to
fourfcore Years. The ^Ethiopian King replied,
that he was not at ail furpriz'd, if Men who
eat nothing but Dung, did not attain to a longer
Life : And was perfuaded they could not ar-^
rive even to that Age, without the AlTiftance
of Wine : Acknowledging the Perfians to have
the Advantage of the ^Ethiopians in that Particular. Then the Ichthyophages inquiring ia
their Turn concerning the Life and Diet of the
^Ethiopians, the King faid, that they ufually
attain'd to a hundred and twenty Years -, and
fome to a greater Age ; that they fed upon
roafted Flefh, and us'd Milk for their Drink.
But feeing the Spies aftonifh'd at the Mention
of fo great a Number of Years -, he brought
them to a Fountain, which renders the Bodies
of Men fmooth as if anointed with Oil, and
perfum'd, as with the Odour of Violets. The
Water of this Fountain, as the Spies faid^
is too weak to bear either Wood, or other
Subftance lighter than Wood ^ but every thing
prefently finks to the Bottom. This Water,
if indeed they have any fach, is faid to be.
us'd by all the Inhabitants, and accounted the
Caufe of their Longevity. From this Fountain the King conduced them to fee the Prifons, where all the Prifoners arf^e fetter'd with
Chains of Gold : For among thefe .Ethiopians
the moft rare and valued of all Metals, is
S 2
Brafs.'

26o

HERODOfUS.

Book III.

Brafs.
The next thing they view'd was the
Place which is call'd the Table of the Sun ;
and laft of all the Sepulchres, which are faid
to be cover'd with Glafs in the Manner following. When they have dried the Body after the
i^gyptian Fafhion, or fome other Way ; they
jay on a Covering of white Plaifter, which
they paint with Colours as near as pofTible to
the Likenefs of the Perfon deceased : Then
they inclofe the Body within a hollow Column
of Cryftal, which
they dig eafily, and in
great Abundance in thofe Parts.
The Dead are
plainly (ttn thro' thefe tranfparent Glafles j
emitting no ill Scent-, nor being at all difagreeable to the Eye j becaufe they perfedlly
refemble the Perfons living. They are kept a
whole Year in the Houfes of their neareft Relations •, and durino; that Time are honoured
with Sacrifices, and
the firft Fruits
of all
things : After which they are carried out, and
plac'd upright round the Parts adjoyning to
the City.
Th E Ichthyophages having feen every thing
remarkable, returned to Cmiihyfes -, and after
they had acquainted him with all that had
pafs'd, he fell into a violent Paflion, and order'd his Army to march immediately againft
the /Ethiopians, without making any Provifion for their Subfiftance, or once confidering
that Parts
he was
going
remoteft
of the
Worldto ;make
but W^ar
aflbon inas the
he
had heard the Report of his Meflengers, like a
Man. abandon'd of Reafon and good Senfe, he
began to move vvith the whole Body of his Land
Forces ; commanding only the Grecians to
'Theftay
beSy
behind

with their Ships.

When

he arriv'd at

THALIA

261

Thehes^ he drew out about fifty thou fan d Men •
ordering them to ravage ail the Country of th^
Ammonians, and to burn the Oracle of Jupiter
Ammon^ whiJft he with the reft of his Army
ihould march againft the ^Ethiopians. But before he had advanced a fifth Part of the Way, his
Provifions were confum'd, together with the
Cattle that ferv'd to carry the Baggage : And if
upon the firft Inform.ation of this Want, Camhyfes
had return'd with his Forces, and ceas'd to purfue his rafh Attempt, before he committed more
Faults, he had given fome Proof of his Wifdom.
But he abandon'd all to Chance, and obftinately
continued his March. The Soldiers fed upon
Herbs, fo long as they found any in their Way :
But when they arriv'd in the fandy Defarts, fome
of them were guilty of a horrid A6lion. For
they caft Lots among themfelves, and eat every
tenth Man : Which Camhyfes hearing, and apprehending they v/ould continue to devour one
another ; he defifted from his Enterprize againft
the ^Ethiopians, and retreated to 'thebes^ after
he had loft a great Part of his Army. From
thence under the Condud: of Guides he return'd
with the reft of his Forces to Memphis ; where,
at his Arrival he difmifs'd the Grecians with
Leave to retire in their Ships to their own
Country : And thus ended this Expedition of
Camhyfes againft the Ethiopians. As for that
Part of the Army which he fent againft the
Ammonians, they march'd from Thebes^ and
by the Help of their Guides arriv'd at the City
Oafis^ inhabited by Samians, who are reported to be defcended from the Efchrionian Tribe,
and fituate feven Days March from Thebes^ thro'
the Sands.
This Country in the Grecian LanS 3
guage

262

HERODOTUS.

Book III.

guage is call'd the Fort?jjinate Ifland, and no Man
doubts that an Army arriv'd in this Place. But
what was their Fate afterwards, is related by
none except the Ammonians, or thofe who
have convers'd with them : For they never return'd to their own Country, nor even to jEgypt.
The Ammonians fay, they march*d from Oafis ;
and after they had pafs*d one half of the Sands
which lie in the Way from that City, a ftrong
and impetuous Wind began to blow from the
South at the Time of their Dinner, and rais*d
the Sands to fuch a Degree, that the whole Army was buried alive and perifh*d.
When Cambyfes was return*d to Memphis^
Apis^ or, as the Grecians call him, Epaphiis^ appearing among the .Egyptians, they put on the
richeft of their Apparel, and feafted fplendidly.
Which Cambyfes feeing, and highly refenting
thefe ExprefTions of Joy, after his Affairs had
fucceeded fo ill ; he fent for the Magiftrates jof
Memphis^ and putting them in Mind that the
^Egyptians had done no fuch thing when he
was in Memphis before, ask'd why they carried
themfelves in this Manner, after he had loft-.lo
great a Part of his Army. They anfwer'd, that
when their God manifefted himfelf, which feldom happen'd, the ji^gyptians had been always
*ccuftom*d to celebrate his Appearance with the
greateft Demonftrations of Joy. Which when
Cambyfes heard, he told them.. They lyed ;
gnd put them to Death, as Lyars. Then he
fent for the Priefts ; and having receiv'd the
like Anfwer from them, he faid, that if any God
was fo mild and familiar to fhew himfelf to the
^Egyptians, he would not be unacquainted
with him j ^nd without more Words commanded

THALIA.

263

manded the Priefts to bring their God. So
they departed to put his Orders in Execution.
This Apis^ or Epaphus^ is the Calf of a Cow
uncapable of bearing another, and no otherwife to be impregnated than by Thunder, as
the ^Egyptians affirm. The Marks that diftinguifh him from all others, are thefe. His Body
is black ; except one Square of White on the
Forehead : He has the Figure of an Eagle
on his Back ; a double Lift of Hair on his
Tail ; and a Scarabasus under his Tongue.
When the Priefts had brought their God into
the Prefence of Camhyfes^ he in a brutal Manner drew his Dagger, and defignlng to thruft
it into the Belly of Apis^ wounded him in the
Thigh : Then falling into a Fit of Laughter,
*' Ye Wretches, faid he, are thefe things, which
" are compos'd of Flefh and Blood, and fo eaiily
*' vulnerable, the Gods you worfhip ? This is a
" worthy God indeed, and fuitable to the Cha^' rader of the ^Egyptians. But I will let you
*' know that you ihall not abufe me with Im" punity". When he had faid thefe Words, he
commanded the proper Officers to whip the
Prieft •, and to kill all the Egyptians they fhould
find making publick Demonstrations of Joy.
Thus the Feftival was interrupted -, the Priefts
punifti'd -, and Apis^ after he had languifh'd
fome Time, dying of his Wound in the Temple, was buried by the Priefts, and his Death
conceal'd from Cambyfes. The Egyptians
fay Cambyfes grew mad immediately after this
facrilegious Adion ; tho' 'tis known he was
fo before; and had made the firft Difcovery of his Extravagance upon the Perfon of
his Brother Smerdis,
who was born of the
S 4
fame

264

HERODOT'US.

Book III

fame Father and Mother with himfelf ; fendinsc
him back from ^gypt in a jealous Humour to
Perjta^ becaufe he alone of all the Perfians
had been able to draw the Bow, which the
Ichthyophages brought from the Ethiopian
King, within the Breadth of two Fingers. After his Departure Camhyfes dream'd he faw a Vifion, reprefenting a Meflenger arriv'd from Per^
fia to inform him that Smerdis was feated on the
Royal Throne, and touch'd the Heavens with
his Head. Upon which fearing his Brother
would kill him, and afiume the Kingdom, he fent
Prexafpes^ one of his principal Confidents, to
Perjia^ with Orders to kill Smerdis, Prexafpesy
in Purfuance of his Inftrudions put an End
to the Life of Smerdis \ fome fay at a Hunting
appointed to that purpofe : Others, that he
drown'd him in the Red Sea^ after he had by
his Perfuafions drawn him thither : And this
is accounted the firft delirious Adlion of Camhyfes, His fecond, was the Murder of his own
Sifter, who had accompanied him into Mgypt,^
and was alfo his Wife. "Which was the firft
Example of that Kind among the Perfians \
who till that Time had always abftain'd from
fuch Marriages. But Camhyfes being in Love
with one of his Sifters, and as defirous of making her his Wife, as convinc'd of the Novelty
of his Defign, fummon'd all the Royal Judges together. Thefe Judges are certain chofen Perfians, who continue in their Offices during Life,
unlefs they are convidled of a Crime. They
decide all Controverfies •, interpret the Laws *, and
all things are referred to their Determination.
To thefe Perfons Camhyfes apply*d himfelf, and
having demanded whether they had any Law that

permit-

THALIA.

265

permitted a Man to marry his Sifter, receiv'd this
cautious and proper Anfvver : That indeed they
could find no Law to permit a Man to marry
his Sifter \ but were well acquainted with another, which gives a Liberty to the Kings of FerAnd
fia to do whatever they think convenient.
by this Means they did not abrogate a Law for
fear of Camhyfes ^^ hxiX. that they might not lofe
their Lives by a pertinacious Refiftance, they
found out another in favour of the King, who
was fo defirous of this Match.
Upon their Anfwer Camhyfes married the Sifter he lov'd, and a
The Perfon he klll'd.
little Time after, another.
was the youngeft of thefe, who follow'd him
into Mgypt \ and whofe Death, as well as that
of Smerdis^ is reported two Ways.
For the
Grecians fay, that Camhyfes having one Day
brought a young Dog to the Whelp of a Lyon,
diverted himfelf to fee them fight , and that this
another of the fame
over-match'd,
Dog being
Litter
broke loofe, and ran to his Afliftance ;
by which Means the two Dogs worfted the Lyon : That whilft Camhyfes was pleafing himfelf
with this Entertainment,
the young Woman,
who fat by him, began to weep y of which
when the King had afk'd her the Reafon, ftie
anfwer'd. That feeing the little Dog come fo
feafonably to the Succour of his Brother, ftie
could not refrain from Tears, becaufe this Accident put her in mind of the Fate of her Brother Smerdis, whofe Death ftie knew no Body
would revenge : And the Grecians affirm that
for thefe Words Camhyfes kill'd her. But the
^Egyptians fay, that as they were both at Table,
Ihe took a Lettuce, and pulling the Leaves afun4£r, afk'd her Huft:)and5 *' Whether an entire
2
*' I-et-

266

HERODOTUS.

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*' Lettuce was not more beautiful than one
*' puird in pieces. He anfwer'd, Moft certain*' ly : Then faid fhe, y»ou have truly reprefent" ed this broken Lettuce, by dirmembring the
*' Houfe of Cyrus ;" That upon thefe Words
Ca?nhyfes m a Rage ftruck her with his Foot, and
caus'd an Abortion, of which fhe died. Thus
Cambyfes exercis'd his Fury, againft thofe of his
own Family ; but whether his Madnefs fiezM
him for the Death of Apis^ or from any other
Caufe, may be doubted ; becaufe human Nature is fubjedt to many Evils. And indeed we
are inform*d that Cambyfes was afflided from
his Infancy with a convulfive Malady , by fome
call'd the facred Difeafe : And then, no Wonder
if his Mind were not found in fo diftemper'd a
Body. Befides thefe, he was guilty of other
outragious Extravagancies againft the Perfians,
and among them againft Prexafpes ; who had
always been honour'd by him in an extraordinary Manner ; receiv'd all Meflages in his
Name -. and had a Son that ferv'd him as Cupbearer, which is an Office of great Dignity.
For when he afk'd Prexafpes what the Perfians
faid of him, and what Charader they ufually
gave him in their familiar Converfations, Prexafpes znCwtr^d^ " Sir, They highly applaud your
*' Acfiions in general ; only think you too much
*' addlded to Wine. How, faid Cambyfes with
" Indignation ; the Perfians fay I overthrow my
^' Underftanding and Judgment by drinking Wine
to excefs? If that be true, they have been
great DifTemblers". For Cambyfes being formerly prefent in a great Affembly of Perfians,
where Crcefas likewife affifted ; and afking what
Opinion they had of him in Comparifon of his
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r H A L I A.

267

Father CyruSy they told him, he far furpafs'd his
Father, becaufe he was not only Mafter of all
that Cyrus poflefs'd, but had added ^gypt and
the Sea to his Dominions. Neverthelefs Crcefus not approving their Conclufion, fpcke thus
to Camhyfes ; " Son of Cyrus ^ I cannot per" fuade myfclf that thou art equal to thy Fa*' -ther : For thou haft not yet fuch a Son to
** fucceed thee as he had : Which Words were
fo grateful to Camhyfes^ that he highly commended the Judgment of Crcefus : And on this
Occalion remembering what had pafs'd at that
Time, faid with Indignation to Prexafpes^
*' See now, whether the Perfians have fpoken
'^ the Truth •, or are diftradled themfelves,
*' when they fay thefe. things of me ? For if
*' I fnoot this Arrow thro' the Heart o^ thy
" Son, who ftands there under the Portico,
^' the Perfians have faid nothing to the Purpole :
*' But if I mifs, they have fpoken the Truth,
'* and I am mad." He had no fooner pronounc'd
thefe Words, than drawing his Bow, he ihot
an Arrow thro' the Body of the young Man :
Then commanding him to be taken up and open'd ; and finding the Arrow had pierced his
Heart, he turn'd about with great Joy, and
laughing in the Face of the Father, faid, "• Prex" afpes^ I fuppofe thou art now convinc'd that
" the Perfians are mad, and not Ccimhvfcs,
" Tell me ; didft thou ever fee a Man jfhoot
*' more juft than I have done ? " But Prexafpcs
perceiving him to be delirious, and being under
great Appreheniions for his ov/n Life, " Truly,
.*' Sir, faid he, I believe a God could not
^* ihoot more dexteroufly." At another Time he
.commanded twelve Perftans of the firit Rank to

be

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HERODOTUS.

Book III.

be fiez'd and without any juft Caufe to be buried alive. But whilft he was proceeding in
this furious Manner, Crcefus the Lydian thought
fit to admonifh him in thefe Words. " I befeech you. Sir, let not Youth and Anger
be fo prevalent with you ; but reftrain and
moderate your PafTions. For *tis the Part of
a wife Man, and conducing to your own
Safety to forefee and prevent Danger. You
have deftroy'd divers of your own Countrymen upon flight Occafions ; and have not
fpar'd their Children ; confider if you perfift in fuch a Courfe, whether the Perfians
may not rebel. For my own Part I cannot
refrain from giving you this Advice, becaufe
your Father Cyrus exprefly commanded me
to put you in Mind of whatever might
be moft expedient for your Affairs." To
this friendly Counfel of Crcefus:; Cambyfes anfwer'd, " How dare you prefume to advife
me ? As if you had fo wifely govern'd your
own Kingdom : 'Twas admirable Counfel
you gave my Father, when you perfuaded
him to pafs the River Araxes^ and attack the
Maflagetes, inftead of permitting them to
enter our Territories as they were willing to
do. You firft ruin'd yourfelf by your own
ill Government : And then deftroy'd Cyrus by
your ill Advice. But you fhall not long enjoy
the Pleafure of that Acflion : For 'tis more
than Time I fhould take Occafion to avenge
his Death." No fooner had he pronounc'd
thefe Words, than he took up his Bow to fhoot
Crcefus \ but the Lydian fav'd himfelf by running
immediately out of his Prefence. Neverthelefs
Cdmhyfes perceiving the Objed of his Furydrawn.
with-

THALIA.

269

drawn, commanded
his Officers to fieze him
and put him to Death.
But they, who knew his
Manner, refolv'd to conceal Crcefus ; that if
Camhyfes fhould repent of his Rafhnefs, and enquire for him, they might be well rewarded for
preferving his Life ; or difpatch him afterwards, ifthey fhould find that Camhyfes had
neither alter'd his Opinion, nor defir*d to fee
him.
In a little Time the King fall'd not to
afk for Crcefus ; which the Officers underf^anding, acquamted him that Crcefus was ftlU living. "I am very glad, fald Camhyfes^ that he
<' is alive : But will never forgive thofe who
" fav'd him."
And Indeed he made good his
Word •, for he put them all to Death.
Many
more Adiions of this Nature he did whilft he
{laid at Memphis^ not only againft the Perfians,
but alfo againft his Confederates.
He open'd
many ancient Sepulchres to view the Bodies of
the Dead •, and entring Into the Temple of VuU
can^ derided the Image of the God : Which
indeed refembles thofe Phoenician Figures that
are plac'd on the Prow of their Ships, and called Pat^cians^ not exceeding the Stature of
a Pigmy.
He like wife went Into the Temple
of the Cablrian Gods, (which no Man except
the Prieft may prefume to enter,) and after
he had rldlcul'd the Form of their Images, order'd them to be thrown Into the Fire ; becaufe they were like that of Vulcan^ from whom
they are faid to be defcended.
All thefe things
convince mc that Camhyfes was outragioufly
mad : Elfe he would never have attempted to
make a Mockery of National Religions and Cuftoms.
For If all Men were left at Liberty to
introduce from other Places fuch RitesUfagand
es

\

2 70

HERODOTUS.

Book IIL

Ufages as they fhould beft approve i they would
yet chufe to retain their own; every Man bcr
ing ilrongly inclin'd to prefer the Manners of
his Country before thofe of any other. That
this is the common Sentiment of all Mankind,
I could prove by many Inftances -, but fhall
content myfelf with one. Darius having affembled the Grecians who liv'd under his Empire, afk'd them for how great a Sum they
would oblige themfelves to eat the dead Bodies of their Parents ; and they anfv/ering that
nothing was fufficient to induce them to commit fo great a Crime ; he prefently fent for certain Indians call'd Callatians, who are accuftomed to eat the dead Bodies of their Fathers, and
demanding in the Prefence of the Grecians and
their Interpreters, how much Money they
would take to burn their Parents after Death,
they made loud Exclamations, and begg'd he
would mention fuch things no more. This is
the EfFe6t of Cuftom : And therefore Pindar in
my Opinion fays judicioufly, TJmt Cuftom is the
Ktng of all Men,
Whilst the Arms of Camhyfes were employ'd in this Expedition, the Laced asmoniftns made War againft Samos ; where Polycrates had put himfelf at the Head of a Party,
and by Violence fiez'd the Government. He
at firft divided his Acquifition with his two
Brothers Pantngnotus and Sylofcn -, but afterwards having put the elder to Death, and ex~
pell'd Sylofon^ who was the younger, he became fole Mafter of all, and made an Alliance with Amafis King of Mgypt ; which was
confirm'd and cultivated on both fides by mutual Prefents. His Enterprizes were attended with
fuch
2

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271

fuch Succefs, that in a fliort Time all the Ionian and Grecian Cities were acquainted with his
Fame ; every thing yielding to the Reputation
of his Arms, wherever he determined to make
War. He had a hundred Gallies of fifty Oars
each, and a thoufftnd Archers. He attack'd
all Places without Diftindion ; pretending to
do a greater Favour to his Friends by reftoring
what he had taken away, than by leaving them
in the quiet Enjoyment of their PofTefTions.
He fubdued many of the Iflands ; took divers
Cities on the Continent ; defeated the Lesbians in a Sea-fight, as they were going to af(ifl the Milefians with their whole Fleet \ and
putting
to the
compell'd
them
to make them
the all
Ditch
thatChain,
furrounds
the Walls
of Samos, So many SuccefTes were not unknown to Amafis^ and plung'd him into no
little Perplexity. But when he heard that their
Number increased daily, he wrote to Polycrates m thefe Terms. " Amafis to Polycrates :
" I have heard with Pleafure the fortunate
*' Succefles that attend the Enterprizes of a
*' Friend and Ally. But the Excefs of thy Prof*' perity diflurbs me -, becaufe I know how en" A^ious the Gods are. As for me, I v/ould ra" ther chufe, that my Affairs and thofe of my
*' Friends fhould alternately participate of good
*' and bad Fortune thro' the whole Ccurfe of
*' Life, than be always accompanied with un** interrupted Felicity. For I cannot remember
*' that I ever heard of a Man, who having
*' been always happy, did not at laft perifli by
*' hiby
*' fbme fignal Calamity. Be advised therefore
gh
** me •, and fence againft good Fortune in
** this Manner: Confider what you value at a

272

HE RODOTUS.

Book IIL

*' high Rate, and would be much concerned
*' to lofe : Deprive yourfelf of this precious
*' thing fo effedually, that it may be utterly
*' loft: And if your Profperities ftill continue
*' without other VicifTitude, repeat the Reme*' dy which you have now from me." When
Polycrates had read this Letter, and attentively
confider'd the Matter, he approv'd the Counfel of Amafis •, and deliberating with himfelf,
which of all his Treafures he could not abandon without a moft fenfible Reludlancy, came
at laft to this Refolution : He had a Signet
made of an Emerald, fet in Gold by the Hand of
Theodorus the Son of Telecles the Samian ; and
this he determin'd to lofe in the following Manner. He went on board a Galley of fifty Oars
compleatly mann'd, commanding the Mariners
he faw they had advanc'd
oiFj and when
to put
to
a confiderable
Diftance from the liland, he
took the Jewel in his Hand, and in the Prefence of all the Company threw it into the
Sea. This done, he commanded them to carry him back, and at his Return was not -a little
difturb'd for his Lofs. But on the fifth or fixth
Day after, a certain Fifherman having taken a
large and beautiful Fifh, and thinking it a Prefent worthy of Polycrates^ went to the Gates
of his Palace, and defir'd Admiflion: Which
being granted, he prefented the Filh to the King,
and faid, " Tho' I get my Living by hard La** hour; yet I could not perfuade myfelf to
*' carry this Fifh, which I have taken, to the
*' Market, becaufe I thought it a fit Prefent for
*' a King." Polycrates pleas'd with thefe Words,
commended the Man ; and having thank'd him,
as well for his Compliment as for the Fifh, invited

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273

vlted him to Dinner. The Fifherman receiv'd
thefe Favours with great Joy, and went away
to his own Habitation. In the mean Time the
Servants opening the Fifh, faw the Signet lodged in the Belly -, and when they had taken it
out, haften'd with much Satisfaction to Poly-^
crates^ reftor'd the Jewel, and acquainted him
in what Manner they had found it. Polycrates
perfuaded that the Event was divine, wrote down
what he had done, as well as what had happen'd
to him afterwards, and fent the whole Account
to Mgyp. By which Amafis being convinced
that no Man can deliver another from the Effedls of a fatal Decree, and that the Life of
Polycrates would not terminate in fucji Profperity as had attended his A6tions fo conftantly
that he recover'd even thofe things which he
delign'd to lofe, fent a Herald to Samos with
Orders to renounce his Friendfhip, and diflblve
all Obligations of Hofpitality that had been
contraded between them •, left the future Calamities of Polycrates fhould affedt him with
that Grief which Men owe to the Misfortunes
of a Friend.
Against this Polycrates ^ fo univerfally happy in all his Airairs, the Lacedaemonians prepar'd
to make War, at the Solicitation of thofe Samians who afterwards founded the City of Cydonia
in Crete. But Polycrates^ being inform'd of their
Defign, fent a MefTenger privately to Cambyfes
the Son of Cyrus^ as he was preparing to invade
Mgypt •, with Inftrudions to defire him to demand fome AfTiftance of the Samians. Which
when Cambyfes heard, he readily difpatch'd a
Meflage to Polycrates^ defiring he would furnifh
a Fleet to affift him in his .^Egyptian Expedition.

T

Upon

274

HERO DOTUS.:Book III

Upon this Demand Polycrates drew out all thofe
he fufpeded of feditious Defigns, and fent them
with forty Gallies to Cambyfes^ requefting him
at the fame Time that he would not permit them
to return to Samos. Some affirm that thefe Samians never arriv'd in Mgyp *, but in their Paffage thro' the Carpathian Sea, calling a Council of War, came to a Refolution not to proceed farther in their Voyage : Others fay, that
they arriv*d in Mgypt \ but finding themfelves
obferv'd and under Guard, they took an Opportunity to make their Efcape, and in their
Return to Samos met the Fleet of Polycrates^
which they defeated, and landed fafely in their
own Country •, where they fought an unfuccefsful Battle by Land, and afterwards fet Sail for
■Lacedcemon, Yet fome pretend they had the
Vidory in this A6lion alfo *, but I think their O:pinion is groundlefs. For they could not have
been under a Neceffity of imploring the Aid of
the Lacedaemonians, if they had found themfelves able to refift the Forces of Polycrates. Befides, 'tis repugnant to Reafon to imagine that
one who had a numerous Army of foreign Mercenaries in his Pay, and fuch a Body of Samian
Bowmen, fhould be beaten by fo unequal a Number as thole were who return'd from Mgyft :
iEfpecially if we confider, that Polycrates to pre;vent Treachery, had brought together the
Wives and Children of all the Samians into the
r-Arfenal of the Navy \ refolving to burn them together with the Naval Stores, if he fhould find
himfelf betray'd to the returning Exiles.
These Samians, thus expeli'd by Polycrates^
arriv'd in Sparta •, and coming before the Senate,
•implor'd their Affiftance in many Words, and with
:. .
.
prefling

r H A h I A.

275

prefling Inftances.
But at this firft Audience,
the Lacedaemonians gave them no pther Anfwer
than that they had forgotten the firft Part of
their Speech, and therefore could not comprehend the laft.
At their fecond Appearance,
the Samians caus'd an empty Bafket
to be
brought in, and only faid, There was no Bread :
Upon which the Lacedemonians aniwer'd. That
the Bafket might have been fufficient to declare their Wants ; and immediately decreed
to affift them.
When all things were ready for
the Expedition,
the Lacedaemonians
tranfported their Army to Samos^ in Requital, as the
SamJans pretend, for the AfTiftance they formerly had from Samos, when they were engaged in a W^ar againft the MefTenians ; tho' the Lacedaemonians fay, they did not undertake this
Enterprlze out of good Will to the Samians -,
but to revenge themfelves
of that People
for intercepting the Bafon they fent to Cj'cefuSy
and robbing them the Year before of a curious Pedloral which Amafis King of Mgyp had
fent to them.
This Pedloral was made of Linen adorn'd with many Figures of Animals woven into the Work,
and enrlch'd with Gold
and Variety of Colours : ^ The Chain Is of admirable Artifice, fine and flender, tho' confining
of three hundred
and fixty diiiindc Threads.
Such another is {tzx\. at Lindus^ prefented to
Minerva by the fame Amafis.
The Corinthians
were eafily induc'd to take Part In this War •,
becaufe they alfo had been injur'd by the Samians in the preceding Age.
For when Periander the Son of Cypfelus had fent three hundred
Youths,
born of the noblefl Families of Corcyra to Alyattes King of Sardis^ that they might
T 2
be

276

HERO DO rUS. Book III.

be made Eunuchs : And the Corinthian Ships,
which tranfported them, were already arrived
at Samos •, the Samj'ans, who were not Ignorant
of the Defign of this Voyage, in the firft place
inftruded the Boys to take Sandluary in the
Temple of Diana^ forbidding the Corinthians
to ufe any violent Means to remove them, becaufe they were under the Protedion of the
Goddefs : And when the Corinthians refused to
give them Subfiftance, the Samians on their Account inftituted a Feftival, which they obferve
to this Day. For at Night, whilft the Suppliants were in the Temple, they afTembled the
young Men and Virgins to dance ; and ordered
them to carry about certain Cakes made of
Flower and Honey, that the Corcyrasan Youths
might fnatch them out of their Hands, and by
this Means fuftain themfelves : Which Pradtlce
they continued, till the Corinthians weary of
attending, thought fit to depart from Samos ;
and were no fooner gone, than the Samians
fent Home the Boys to Corcyra. Now if the
Corinthians had liv'd in Amity with the Corcyrasans after the Death of Periander^ they would
not have taken Part with the Lacedaemonians
againfi: Samos on this Occcafion : But indeed
from the firft peopling of that Ifland, their
DIflenfions have been perpetual. The Corinthians therefore not forgetting the Ufage they
received at SamoSy join'd their Forces to the
Lacedemonians. As for Periander^ the Reafon
he had to fend the Sons of the principal Men of
Corcyra to Sardis^ with the Defign I have mentioned was this. When he had kilPd his
Wife Melijfay he found that Calamity attended
by another.
She left him two Sons, one of feventeen

THALIA.

277

venteen, and another of eighteen Years of Age.
Thefe young Men Procles Tyrant of Epdanrus^
their Grandfather, by the Mother, fent for to his
Court, and carefs'd with that Tendernefs which
is ufually fhewn to the Children of a Daughter.
And when he difmifs'd them faid, " You know
" who kilPd your Mother." The Elder made
no Reflexion on thefe Words ; But the Younger, whofe Name was Lycophron^ returning to
Corinth full of Refentment, and detefting the
Murderer of his Mother, difdain'd either to fpeak
to his Father, or make any Anfwer to the Queftions he afk'd : 'Till at laft Periander in great
Anger turn'd him out of his Houfe ; and afterwards enquir'd of the elder Brother what Difcourfes they had heard from their Grandfather. He acquainted him that they had been
receiv'd by Procles in the kindeft Manner ; not
at all mentioning the Words he faid at their Departure :Becaufe they had made no Impre/Tion
on his Mind. But Periander infifting that their
Grandfather had undoubtedly given him fome
Inflrudions, ply'd him fo long with Queftions, that in the End the young Man recovered
his Memory, and repeated the Words to his Father : Which he having attentively confider'd ;
and refolving to treat his Son without the
leaft Indulgence, fent to the Perfons that had
given him Reception, forbidding them to harbour him for the future. Lycophrcn being
remov'd from this Houfe retir'd to another *,
from whence upon the Menaces and positive
Commands of Periander^ he was expelPd in like
Manner. But betaking himfelf to a third, he
was receiv'd as the Son of Periander^ tho' the
Perfons concern'd were not without Fear of his

T 3

Difplea-

278

HERODOTUS.

Book III.

Dlfpleafure. At laii Periander by an Edidb commanded all Men to abftain from receiving him»
or converfing with him, under Penalty of a
certain Fine to be applied to the Temple of Apollo. After which every one declining his Prefence and Converfation, he refolv'd to retire into
the publick Porticoes, without making any farther Trial of his Friends in fuch defperate Circumftances. But on the fourth Day after this
Refolution, Periander finding him disfigured
by Want and Naftinefs, began to relent, and
approaching him with CompafTion, faid ; " Son,
Art thou better pleas'd with this mifijrable way of living, than to qualify thyfelf
by obeying me, to enjoy all the Power and
Riches I pofTefs? Thou, who art my Son,
and a King in the rich City of Corinth., haft
chofen a vagabond Life by difobeying and
irritating me contrary to thy Duty : For
that Misfortune, which fo highly difturbs
thee, has fallen more heavily on me •, becaufe the Fad was perpetrated by myfelf.
Therefore as I doubt not that thou haft fufficiently learnt how m.uch better 'tis to be envied than pitied, and how prejudicial to provoke
a Parent and a powerful Man,, I give thee
Leave to return Home." Such was the Ad;nonition of Periander to his Son. But Lycophron
return'd no other Anfwer to his Father, than
that he had incurred the Penalty of his own Edidt
by fpeaking to him. So that Periander perceive
ing the Obftinacy of his Son to be infuperable
and Vv'ithout Remedy, removed him out of his
Sight, and fent him by Sea to Corcyra^ which
was a Part of his Dominions. After the Departure of l.ycophron^ Periander made War againft
his

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279

his Father-in-Law Frocks^ as the principal Author of thefe Troubles ; forc'd the City of
Epidaurus^ and took Frocks Prifoner at the fame
Time. At length growing old, and perceiving
he could no longer attend the Adminiiftration
of publick Affairs, he fent for Lycophron from
Corcyra to take the Govermnent upon him, becaufe he found his eldeft Son ftupid and uncapable ; but Lycophron would not vouchfafe to give
Audience to the Meflenger. Neverthelefs Fcru
ander ftill fond of the young Man, fent another Meflage to him by his own Daughter, who
was Sifter to hycophron •, thinking fhe might
perfuade him to return. At her Arrival (he
ipoke to him in thefe Terms*, " Child, faid fhe,
*' Hadft thou rather fee thy Father's Dominions
*' fait into the Hands of others, and our Family utterly deftroy'd than return to Corinth
and
take
PofTeflion of all ? Come away from
cc
this Place, and ceafe to punifh thyfelf. Ob»
ftinacy
is an inaufpicious Quality : Think not
<c
to cure one Evil by another. Many have
(C
preferr'd Equity before the Rigour of Juftice ; and many have loft their paternal Inheritance bypurfuing a maternal Claim. A
Tyranny is an uncertain Pofteftion, and courted by numerous Pretenders. Thy Father,
is old, and infirm : Let nothing therefore
«C
prevail with thee to abandon to others the
CC
Advantages which belong to thyfelf." Thus
fhe prefs'd him with thefe Exhortations, as fhe
had been inftrudled by her Father. But Lycophron refufing to comply, afTur'd her he would
never return to Corinth fo long as he fhould
hear his Father was living. With this Anfwer
Ihe departed, and having inform'd Periander of

T4

what

2 8o

HERODOTUS.

Book III.

•what had pafs'd he fent a third Meflage by a Herald to acquaint his Son, that he liimfelf de~
lign'd to retire to Corcyra ; and commanded
him to return, in order to take immediate PofTeffion of the Government. To this Proportion
Jjsco-phron contented ; and as Periander was preparing to remove to Corcyra^ and his Son to Corinth^ the Corcyrseans informed of the Defign,
and unwilling to receive Periander into their
Country, kill'd the young Man : And this was
the Caufe that mov'd Periander to revenge himfelf again ft the Corey rasans.
The Lacedaemonians arriving with a great
Fleet, befieg'd Samos •, and advancing towards
the Wall, pafs'd by a Fort which was built upon
the Shore near the Suburbs : But Polycrates at the
Head of a confiderable Force falling upon their
Army, compelPd them to retire. Soon after, a
good Body of Samians, in Conjundion with
their Auxiliary Forces fallied out from another
Tower, which ftands on the Ridge of a Hill,
and attack'd the Lacedemonians •, but fled away
after a fhort Difpute, and were purfu*d with
great Slaughter : And if all the Lacedaemonians
who were in that A6lion, had behav'd themfelves
as v/ell as Archias and Lycopes^ Samos had been
taken that Day. For thefe two Men alone of
all thofe who purfu'd the Samians, enter'd the
City at their Heels, and finding all Hopes of retreating cut off, died valiantly fighting within
the Walls. I remember to have feen one Archias^
the Son of another of that Name, and Grandfon
to this Archias^ in Pitane ; for he was of that
Tribe. This Perfon efleem'd the Samians above
all other Strangers, and faid, that the Surname
of Samian was given to his Father, becaufe he
I
was

THALIA

28r

was Son to that Archias who fell fo glorioufly
at Samas ; and that he himfelf (hould always pay
a peculiar Refpecft to the Samians, becaufe they
had honour'd the Memory of his Grandfather
with a magnificent Funeral at the Publick
Charge. The Lacedaemonians, after they had
been forty Days before Samos^ and done little
towards the Redu6lion of that Place, rais'd the
Siege, and retir'd to Peloponnefus ; tho' a groundlefs Report has been rais'd, that Polycrates having caus'd a great Number of Pieces made of
guilded Lead to be coin'd, purchas'd their Departure with that Money. This was the firft
Expedition the Dorians undertook againft Afiay
under the Condud of the Lacedaemonians : After
whofe Departure, thofe Samians who had
brought this War upon Polycrates^ finding themfelves abandoned, and their Treafures exhaufted,
fct fail for Siphnus. The Affairs of the Siphnians were then in a flourifhing Condition, and
their Riches immenfe; the Ifland fo abounding
In Mines of Gold and Silver, that the Tenth of
the Money they coin'd, tranfported to Delphi^
made up a Treafure equal to the greateft : And
they never fail'd once every Year to divide the
Riches they drew from their Mines. When
the Siphnians had amafs'd thefe Treafures, they
confulted the Oracle, to know if their Profperity
fhould long continue, and receiv'd this Anfwer
from the Pythian,
TVhen
ptihlick Stru5fures Jljculd he cloath'd in
White^
A wife Marl's Care fijouJd fence againft the Rage
Of wooden Troops, and Red Amhajadors.

The

282

HERODOl'US.

Book III.

The Prytanean Court and Piazza of SiphnuSy
were at that Time adorn'd with white Parian
Marble. Yet the Siphnians could not comprehend the Intention of the Oracle, either before, or upon the Landing of the Samians ; tho*
immediately after their Arrival they fent an
Embafly to the City in one of their Ships,
which according to the Samian Fafhion was
colour'd over with Red. And this was the thing
meant by the Pythian, when fhe forewarn'd the
Siphnians to beware of a wooden Force and
red AmbafTadors. Thefe Samians being admitted to an Audience, deiir'd a Loan of ten
Talents ; but receiving a Denial, return'd to
their Companions, and ravag'd the Territories
of Sipbnus. Upon which the Siphnians drawing all their Forces together, fought a Battle,
and were defeated by the Samians •, who took
many Prifoners in the Purfuit, by cutting off
City •, and receiv'd one
to the
their Retreat
hundred
Talents
for their Ranfom. In the
next Place, the Samians fail'd to Hermione^ and
inil:ead of Money, receiv'd the Ifland of 'Thy^
f€a^ fituate near Peloponnefus^ which they committed to the Care of the Trcrzenians : And afterwards landing in Crete^ founded the City of
Cydonia ; tho' they came not thither with that Intention, but only to expel the Zacynthians
out of the IfSand. Five Years they continued
in this Settlement, attended with fuch Profperity, that they built the Temple of Di5fyna^ and
ail other Temples which remain to this Time
in Cydojiia, But in the fixth Year, they, together with the Cretans, were entirely defeated
in a Sea-battle, and utterly fubdued by the ^ginetes ^ who took off the Prows of their Ships,
and

r U A L I A.

283

and dedicated them in the Temple of Minerva.
The People of Mgina took this terrible Revenge, in Requital for the War, which the
Samians under the Condud of their King Amfhicrates had made againft them, and which had
reduc'd both fides to great Extremities. I have
been more particular in relating the Affairs of
the Samians, becaufe they have three things
more confiderable than are feen in any other
Parts among the Grecians. They have open'd
a Way thro' a Mountain, one hundred and fifty
Fathom high. The Length of this PafTage,
which pierces the Hill from one fide to the
other, contains full feven Stades ; and the
Height and Breadth, eight Foot each. A Canal twenty Cubits deep, and three Foot broad,
runs quite along the fide of the Aperture, and
ferves to convey the Water of a plentiful Spring
into the City, thro' various Pipes. Eupalinus
of Megara, the Son of Nanftrophus^ was the
Contriver and Diredor of this Work. The fe*
cond thing worthy to be obferv'd is a Mole of
one hundred and twenty Foot in Height, embracing the Harbour, and advancing above two
Stades into the Sea. The third, is a Temple,
greater than all thofe I ever faw -, and of which
the principal Archite6t was Rhcecus^ the Son of
Phikus^ a Native of Samos. Thefe things have
induc'd
me to enlarge my Difcourfe concerning
the Samians.
Whilst Camhyfes the Son of Cyrus continu'd
delirious in Mgypt^ two of the Mages, who were
Brothers, confpir'd againft him. One of thefe,
whofe Name was Patizithes^ had been by Camhyfes m.ade Governour of his Houfliold during his
Abfence.

This Perfon being well informed the
of

284

HERODOTUS.

Book III.

the Death of Smerdis^ which was kept private,
and known to few of the Perfians, (who, for the
mod Part thought him ftill alive,) undertook
to invade the Throne in the following Mannner.
He had a Brother, as I faid, for his Accomplice ;in Shape and Mien perfedlly refembling
Smerdis the Son of Cyrus^ who had been murder'd by Cambyfes \ and bearing the fame
Name. This Man Patizithes inftrudted in the
Part he was to a6l : And when he had plac*d
him in the Throne fent Heralds to all Places,
and particularly to the Army in JEgypt^ commanding them for the future to acknowledge
Smerdis the Son of Cyrus as King of Perfta^
and no longer to obey Cambyfes. The Heralds
every v/here perform'd their Office ; and he
who was difpatch'd to Mgypt^ finding Cambyfes
with his Forces at Ecbatana in Syria^ plac'd
himfelf in the Mid ft of the Army, and openly proclaim'd the Orders of Patizithes. Cambyfes., who v/as prefent at the Proclamation, believing the Words of the Herald to be true,
and imagining Prexafpes had treacheroufly omitted to execute the Order he gave him to'
kill Smerdis^ turn'd to him in Anger and
faid, " Prexafpes^ Thou haft not obey'd my
*' Command." To which Prexafpes anfwer*d,
" Sir, The Words you have heard are falfe:
" Your Brother Smerdis cannot rebel againft
*' you ; neither can you have any Difpute,
*' great or fmall, with him. I myfelf put
'* your Order in Execution, and buried him
" with my own Hands. If indeed dead Men
"
** can rife again, then we may exped another
ing
*' Rebellion from Aflyages the Mede : But if the
** Courfe of things be not alter'd, you have no-

r H A L I A.

285

" thing to fear from your Brother. However
" I am of Opinion we ought to purfue the
*' Herald and examine ; who feiit him to com'' mand us to obey King Srnerdis" Cambyfes approving his Advice, commanded the Herald to be purfued •, and when he was brought
back, Prexafpes, faid to him ; " Man, Since
thou fay'il thou art the MefTenger of Smerdis
the Son of Cyrus^ fpeak the Truth, and thou
Ihalt be difmifs'd with Impunity. Did'ft thou
fee SmerdiSy and receive thefe Orders from his
Mouth j or from any one of his Minifters ?
Truly, anfwer'd the Herald, I have not feeii
Smerdis the Son of Cyrus fmce Cambyfes departed for Mgyp : But the Mage, whom he
appointed Governor of his Domeftick Affairs,
gave me thefe Orders, and told me that Smerdis the Son of Cyrus commanded me to publifh them here." This was the plain Truth ;
and fatisfied Catnbyfes fo fully, that, turning to
Prexafpes^ he faid, " I am now convinced
" that thou did'ft obey my Command like an
*' honeft Man •, and haft no Part in this Event:
*' But what Perfian can this be, who has re*' volted again ft me, and aflum'd the Name of
" Smerdis ? O King, replied Prexafpes^ I think
" I underftand the Intrigue : The Confpira" tors are the two Mages, Patizithes Go*' vernor of the Houfhold, and his Brother
" Smerdis." The mention of that Name deeply
afFedled Cambyfes^ and
his Dream; in which reviv'd
he had the
{cQnMemory
a MeiTen-of
ger, who came to acquaint him, that Smerdis
was plac'd in the Royal Throne, and touch'd
the Heavens with his Head. Refleding how
unjuftly he had deftroy'd Ijis Brgther, he wept
and;

286

HERODOTUS.

BooklH.

and after he had lamented ^im, and bitterly
complain'd of his own Calamity, he mounted
his Horfe, with a Refolution to return in all
Diligence to Siifa^ and make War againft the
Mage. But as he mounted his Horfe, his Sword
fell out of the Scabbard, and wounded him on
the Thigh, in that Part where he had formerly ftruck tlie -Egyptian God Apis. Cambyfes
being thus wounded aflc'd the Name of the City,
and was inform'd that the Place was call'd Ecbatana. He had formerly receiv'd an Oracle from
Butus., that he jfhould end his Life in the City
of Echatana \ and therefore imagin'd he fhould
dye an old Man in the Place of that Name in
Media., where all his Treafures were *, but the
Oracle meant no other than the Syrian Echatana. Thus having heard the Name of the City ;
tho' vex'd with the Injury of the Mage, and
afflided with his Wound, he recover'd his
Underftanding ; and rightly interpreting the
Senfe of the Oracle, faid, " Fate has decreed
*' that Cambyfes the Son of Cyrus fhall dye in
" this Place." Thefe Words he faid at that
Time ; and about twenty Days after, having
affembled all the principal Men of the Perfians
who v/ere with him, he fpoke to them in thefe
Terms. " I am neceffitated to acquaint you
*' with a thing, v/hich above all others I de*' fir'd to conceal. When I was in JEgypt J
*' faw a Vilion in a Dream, which I wifh I
'' had never {^^n., reprefenting a Meiienger ar*' riv'd from Perfta with Tydings, that Smer*' dis w^as feated on the Royal Throne, and
*' touch'd the Heavens v/ith his Head. induc*d
** more
'^ by this Dream I fear'd my Brother would de** prive me of the Kingdom,
and aded with

T Hy4 L I A.

287

'^ more Precipitation than Prudence : For no
" human Power is able to fruftrate the Decrees
" of Fate.
I fooliflily fent Prexafpes to Sufa
*^ with Orders to kill Smerdis ; and have liv'd
" in the profoundeft Security fince the Execu" tion of that Crime ; not at all fufpeding
'' that any Mortal would rebel againfl: me, after
" I had remov'd him out of the World.
But I
find myfelf utterly miftaken ; I have murder'd my Brother in vain, and neverthelefs am
depriv'd of the Kingdom.
For the God, who
" fent me that Vifion, m^nt n<sr other Perfon
*' than Smerdis the Mage, when he admonifh'd
*' me that Smerdis would invade my Throne.
" Since then I have inform'd vou that I am
guilty of this Crime, you are not to imagine
that Smerdis the Son of Cyrus is living ; but
that two Mages (I mean Patizitbes
and
Smerdis) have taken Pofieilion of the Kingdom : The fir ft of thefe I appointed Governour of my Houfhold during my Abfence,
" and the other is Brother to him.
Now be*' caufe he, who of right fhould have reveng'd
the Indignity I fufFer from the Mages, is prevented by the Inhumanity of his neareft Re*' lation ; I think myfelf oblig'd in this Exigency to let you know what I would have
you do for me after my Death.
In the fir ft
Place I command, by the Gods of the Royal
Family adjure you all, efpecially thofe among
you who are of the Achasmenian
Blood,
never to permit the Government to return
*' into the Hands of the Medes : And if at any
^' Time they fhould ufurp the fupreme Power
" by Artifice, to ufe the like Means to reco^' ver it ; or if they fhould acquire the Do2
" minion

288

HERODOTUS.

Book III.

" minion by Arms, then likewife to wreft it
*-'- from them by Arms. On this Condition,
" may the Earth furnifh you with uninterrupted
" Plenty *, m^ay your Wives bring you many
'' Children , your Herds and Flocks increafe *,
" and your Liberty remain inviolable for ever.
*' But if you negledl to prefer ve or recover
*' your Superiority over the Medes, may the
'' contrary Imprecations overtake you, and
*' every one of the Perfians end his Life as un*' happily as L" When Cambyfes had finifh'd
thefe Words, he again paiTionately lamented
the Death of Smerdis ; and all the Perfians feeing their King fo deeply afflidled, wept abundantly, and tore their Garments in Pieces. But
in a little Time his Wound corrupting the Bone,
caus'd a Mortification in his Thigh, and put an
End to the Life of Cambyfes the Son of CyruSy
after he had reign'd feven Years and five Months \
having never had any Children of either Sex.
He was no fooner dead, than the Perfians who
had accompanied him, began to enter into a
violent Suspicion, that whatever he had faid
concerning the Ufurpation of the Mages and the
Death of his Brother, was fiditious, and contriv'd by Cambyfes with Defign to render all the
Perfians Enemies to Smerdis. This Incredulity
eafily wrought them into a Perfuafion, that
Smerdis the Son of Cyrus was really the Perfon
who had taken Pofi^efTion of the Kingdom : And
Frexafpes contributed not a little to this Delufion, by denying utterly that he had kill'd Smerdis. For indeed, after the Death of Cambyfes he
could not fafely own, that he had murder'd the

Son of Cyrus with his own Hand,

Th£

r H A L I A.

289

The M^LgQ Smerdis, by pretending to be the
Son of Cyrus^ reign'd without Difturbance during
the feven Months that remained to compleat the
eighth Year of Cambyfes -, in which Time he
treated the People with fuch Beneficence, that
all the Nations of Afta^ the Perfians only excepted, exprefs'd their Sorrow at his Death,
For upon his AccefTion to the Throne, he difpatch'd Orders thro' all Parts of his Dominions,
from Trito proclaim a general Exemption
bute and Military Services for the Space of
three Years.
But in the eighth Month he was
difcover'd in this Manner.
Otanes the Son of
Pbarnafpes, a Man equal to the greateft of the
Perfians both in Fortune and Blood, was the nrft
who fufpeded him to be an Impoftor, and not
the Son of Cyrus -, becaufe he never went
out of the Caftle, nor admitted any of the prinIn this
cipal Men of Perfia to his Prefence.
Sufpicion he contriv'd the following Artifice,
in order to difcover the Truth.
His Daughter
Ph^dyma had been one of the Wives of Cambyfes^ and was kept, as all the reft were, for
the Ufe of Smerdis,
To her therefore he fent
to acquaint her, that he defir'd to
MefTage,whether
aknow,
the Perfon fhe lay with, v/as
Smerdis the Son of Cyrus, or fome other Man :
And receiving for Anfwer,
that having never feen Smerdis the Son of Cyrus, fhe could
not inform him with whom fhe lay ; he fent
to her a fecond Time to defire, that fince fhe
could not refolve his Doubt, fhe would afk
Atojfa, who he was that lay with both ; being
fully perfuaded that fhe muft of Neceflity knov/
her own Brother.
But his Daughter let him
know, that fhe was not permitted to fpeak to
U
AtGJfa.

290

HERO DOT'US. Book III.

Atojfa^ or to fee any of the other Women ^ because the King, whoever he was, had from the
Beginning of his Reign difpers'd all his Wives
into diftindt and feparatc Apartments. This
Anfwer much increafing the Sufpicion of Otanes^ he fent a third Meflage to Ph^edy?na in thefe
Words. *' Daugther, Being defcended of an
illuftrious Family, you ought to undertake
the moft hazardous Enterprize, in Obedience
to the Commands of your Father. If this
Smerdis is not the Son of Cyrus, but the
Perfon I fufpedl him to be -, he is fo far
from being worthy to poflefs the Perfian Kingdom, or your Perfon, that he ought not to
efcape without exemplary Punifhment. Follow therefore my Advice j and when you lye
by him, and perceive him to fleep, carry your
Fiand to his Head, and if you find he has
Ears, be aflur'd he is the Son of Cyrus ;
but if he has none, he can be no other than
Smerdis the Mage." To this MefTage Ph^dyma anfwer'd, that the Danger was exceeding great-, becaufe if the King had no Ears,
and ibould furprize her endeavouring to find
out fuch a Truth, he would not fail to kill
her : Neverthelefs fhe would make the Attempt,
and take upon her to fatisfy the Doubt of her
Father touching this Smerdis, (whofe Ears had
been formerly cut off, for a Reafon of Importance, byCyrus the Son of Camhyfes.) In Purfuance therefore of her Promife, Fhadyma the
Daughter of Otanes, carefully executed the Orders of her Father •, and going in her Turn to the
King's Bed., as the Manner of the Perfian Woti\tn is, fhe no fooner perceiv'd him to fleep profoundly,
than fhe eafily difcover'd by her Hand
I
that

r H A L I A.

2gt

that the Man had no Ears ; and early the next
Morning fent an Account to her Father of what
fhe had done. Otanes having received this Information, communicated the whole Affair to Gobrtas and Afpathines^ Perfians of the firft Rank,
and of undoubted Honour : Who, becaufe they
had entertain'd the fame Sufpicion before readily aflented to the Judgment made by Otanes^
and came to an Agreement with him, that
each of the three fhould nominate one of his
moft trufty Friends among the Perfians, to be
admitted to a Participation of their Counfels*
Purfuant to this Refolution, Otanes made Choice
oi Intaf hemes ^ Gohryas of Megahyfiis^ and Afpathines of Hydarnes. In the mean Time Darius
the Son of Hyftafpes arriving in Stifa from Perfia^ where his Father was Governour, the fix
Perfians refolv'd to admit him into their Society.
And now being {z\^w in Number, they met together ; and after mutual AfTurances of Fide^
lity, enter'd into a Debate touching the thing
in queflion. But w^hen 'Darius came to fpeak
in his Turn \ he faid, " I thought no Man, ex" cept myfelf, had known that t'nt Kingdoni
«' is ufurp'd by a Mage, and that Smerdis the
" Son of Cyrus is dead : And therefore I came to
" this Place with a Refolution to kill the U" furper. But fince I find that you alfo are
^« inform'd of this Indignity, my Opinion is,
" to difpatch the Enterprize with all Expedi" tion, becaufe Delays in fuch a Conjundure are
*' not fafe. Son of Hyftafpes^ faid Otanes^ thou
'* art born of a magnanimous Father, and thy
*' Courage is not inferior to thy Birth •, yet for*' bear to ad inconfiderately, and attempt no** thing without due Caution : For I think we
U 2
« ought

292.

HERODOTUS.

Book III.

ought not to undertake this Enterprise without augmenting our Number." Darius replied.
Believe me, Friends, if you follow the Advice of Otanes^ you will all inevitably perifh :
" For one or other will not fail to difcover the
cc Confpiracy to the Mage for private Advantage :
cc And
indeed you alone, who firft form'd the
Cc Defign, ought to have put it in Execution immediately :But fnice you have thought fit to
communicate
your Intentions to a greater
cc
Number,
and
to me among others ; let us
cc
make the Attempt this Day ; or be afTur'd,
cc
that if you let go the prefent Occafion, I
cc
will prevent any other from accufing me, and
accufe you all to the Mage."
Otanes perceivcc
ing 'Darius fo prefTing \ " Since then, faid he,
cc v/e are neceflitated to precipitate our Enterprize, and not permitted to defer the Execucc
" tion, pray tell us in what Manner we (hall
the Palace •, which, as you know, or
cc enter
at
leaft
have heard, is defended by Guards
cc
plac'd in all the Paflages •, and I defire to be
" inform'd how we fhall force them."
Darius
cc
anfwer'd,
" Some things, Otanes^ may be explain'd by Allien, that cannot be demonftrated in Words ; while other things, which
cc
fcem eafy in Difcourfe, produce no confi" derable Effe6l in the Execution.
No Man
" here can imiagine that we fhall find any great
" Difficulty in pacing the Guards ; becaufe
'* our Quality is fuch, that every one either
'"' from a Motive of Reverence or Dread will
'' prefently give us Way.
Befides, I am fur*' nifh'd with a Pretext which cannot fail to re"= move all Obfl:rui5l:ions : For I will fay I come
'* diredly from Ferfia and bring a MefTage
9.

"to

TEA

L I A.

293

to the King from my Father. Falfhood
may take Place, when Truth ought not to
be fpoken, and when Men aim at the fame
thing by both. Some make ufe of an Untruth, in order to perfuade to advantageous
things; whilft others on the contrary fpeak
the Truth, that they m.ay obtain the fame
End : And thus by different Ways we compafs the fame Defigns. But if v/e fucceed not
there will be little Difference between Truth
and Falfnood. As for the Guards, they
who willingly permit us to pafs, fhall be
rewarded in due Time •, but v/hoever offers
to refift, mull be treated as an Enemy -, till
we have forc*d our Paffage, and finiih*d our Enterprize." To this Gobryas added, " Friends,
'twill be more glorious for us Perfians to recover the Sovereign Power, or dye in the
Attempt, than to be fubjed to a Mage of
Media without Ears. Thofe among you,
who attended Camhyfes during his Sicknefs,
well remember the Imprecations he utter'd
at the Point of Death againft the Perfians, if
they fhould negled to ufe their utmoft Endeavours to repoffefs themfelves of the Kingdom ; tho' his Difcourfe m.ade little Impreffion upon us at that Time, becaufe we imagin'd he fpoke out of Hatred to his Brother. Therefore I concur with the Opinion
of Darius^ and think Vv^e ought not to feparate under any Pretext •, but immediately i^pon the breaking up of this Meeting go diredly
to the Mage:"
Which Propofal was unani- ere
moufly approv'd.
Whilst
they were concerting this Attempt,
the Mages confulted together, and