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DIODORUS OF
SICILY

BOOKS I AND II, 1—34

WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY

C. H. OLDFATHER

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
LONDON, ENGLAND

DEC Q5 1089 LITERATURE

First published 1933

Reprinted 1946, 1960, 1968, 1989

CONTENTS

PAGK
GENERAL INTRODUCTION G . : c vii
INTRODUCTION TO BOOKS 1-11, OÍ . " . xxvi
BOOK I . . o . * . : 1
BOOK Il . o : : ó c . 913
A PARTIAL INDEX OF PROPER NAMES T . 461
MAPS : . : . " : 4T

ISBN 0-674-99307-1

Printed in Great Britain by St. Edmundsbury Press Ltd,
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, on wood-free paper.
Bound by Hunter €& Foulis Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland.

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL ÍNTRODUCTION

WrirH but one exception antiquity affords no
further information on the life and work of Diodorus
of Sicily than is to be found in his own Library of
History. "The exception is St. Jerome, who, in his
Chronology under the Year of Abraham 1968
(— 49 n.c.), writes: '* Diodorus of Sicily, a writer of
Greek history, became illustrious." !

Diodorus himself says (1. 4. 4) that the city of his
birth was Agyrium in Sicily, one of the oldest settle-
ments of the interior, which was visited even by:
Heracles (4. 24), whose cult was maintained by the
inhabitants on a scale rivalling that of the Olympians,
and this statement is rendered plausible by the
importance accorded the city in his History, an
importance quite out of proportion in a World History
of only forty Books? It is a striking coincidence
that one of the only two Greek inscriptions from
Agyrium (IG. XIV, 588) marked the final resting-
place of a '* Diodorus the son of Apollonius."

The earliest date at which Diodorus is known to

1 Diodorus Siculus Graecae scriptor historiae clarus habetur
(p. 155,i,ed. Helm). "This date must mark the first appear-
ance of & portion of his History.

1 At that he is more reserved in this respect than Ephorus,
who, according to Strabo (13. 3. 6), was so insistent on men-
tioning the city of his origin, Cyme, that he once added,
** At the same time the Cymacans were at peace."*

vii

INTRODUCTION

have been gathering material for his history is the
180th Olympiad (60/59-57/6 n.c., in the course of
which he visited Egypt (1. 44. 1. Diodorus records
that while there he saw with his own eyes a mob of
Egyptians demand, and apparently secure, the death
of a man connected with a Roman embassy, because
he had accidentally killed a cat, and this despite
the fear which the Egyptians felt for the Romans,
and despite the fact that '* Ptolemy their king had
not as yet been given the appellation of ' friend ' "'
by the Romans (1. 83. 8). Ptolemy XI, " the Piper,"
had ascended the throne of the last nominally
independent Hellenistic kingdom in 80 s.c, and
after waiting twenty years, a period in which the
Roman Senate would neither avow nor repudiate
him, finally securcd recognition by the Senate
through the efforts of Caesar and Pompey in 59 s.c.
"This embassy is not mentioned in the Roman sources,
but the huge sum required of Ptolemy by Caesar
and Pompcy in exchange for this recognition must
certainly have required some such a diplomatie
mission, and it may be assumed that it was dispatched
from Rome fairly early after January 1st, when
Caesar entered upon his consulship, or at least soon
after February 1st, when he first had the fasces.
The date of this recognition of Ptolemy by Rome
clearly shows that Diodorus was in Egypt in the
year 59 B.C., the length of his visit remaining still
uncertain,

1 Suetonius, Julius, 54. 3: Socielates ac regna. pretio dedit
(sc. Caesar), ut qui uni Ptolemaeo prope sex milia talentorum
suo Pompeique nomine abstulerit. Ptolemy was driven from
his throne by the people in 57 and restored by Gabinius in
55; ep. the comments of Butler-Cary, ad loc.

viii

INTRODUCTION

Diodorus had already commenced his work as early
as 56 s.c. This is evident from the passage (1. 44.
1-4)! in which he lists the number of years during
which Egypt was under the control of foreigners.
'The last aliens to rule over Egypt, he says, are the
Macedonians and their dynasty who have held the
land for two hundred and seventy-six years. Now
since the conquest of Egypt by Alexander is put by
Diodorus (17. 49) in the ycar 331 s.c., he must have
been at work upon the composition of his Library of
History at least as early as 56 n.c.

The latest contemporary event mentioned by
Diodorus is a reference to the city of Tauromenium
in Sicily, when he records (16. 7. 1) that "' Caesar
removed the citizens from their native state and the
city received a Roman colony." his may have
taken place in 36 s.c, or soon thereafter, since
Appian, Civil Wars, 5. 109 ff. tells how the city in 36
closed its gates to Octavian, who was caught on the
same day by Sextus Pompey and in the ensuing
naval battle lost practically all his ships, barely
escaping with his life. This disaster he could have
avoided had the city received him and his forces,
and the anger which he must have felt toward the
city supplies the motive for the drastic punishment
méted out to it The founding of this colony

1 The significance of this evidence has, so far as I know,
been overlooked by previous writers, even by O. Cuntz, De
Augusto Plinii geographicorum auctore (Bonn, 1888), pp. 32 fp
who has listed most fully the references in Diodorus to con-
temporary events.

1 This js the date first suggested by O. Cuntz, op. cit., p. 35,
accepted as ''probable'" by Beloch, Die Bevolkerung der
griechisch-romischen Welt, p. 337, and by Schwartz, H-E*.,
5. 663, and fully approved by Kornemann, R-L*., 4. 526.

INTRODUCTION

has been placed also in 21 m.c., the year in which,
according to Cassius Dio (54. 7. 1), Augustus re-
organized Sicily;! but it seems most improbable
that such an act of angry revenge should have been
delayed for fifteen years on the occasion of a mere
administrative reorganization which surely could
have called for nothing like this.

That Tauromenium was made a Roman colony in
36 B.c. or a little later, and that, therefore, the latest
date at which Diodorus is known to have been com-
posing or revising his history is that year or a little
later, would appear to be supported by two further
considerations. Diodorus informs us (1l. 4. 1) that
he had spent thirty years in the composition of his
history, and it may justly be assumed that this
period includes the travels which he made and the
dangers which he met in visiting the most important
sites about which he intended to write. The begin-
ning of this period must surely be set some years
before 59 s.c., when he was in Egypt, since it is
only reasonable to suppose that he had been turning
over his great undertaking in his mind and been
reading and excerpting some authorities upon Egypt
before he set out upon his travels. Furthermore, in
view of the great admiration of the Roman Empire
expressed by Diodorus it is difficult to believe that

Cassius Dio (49. 12. 5) states that, after the defeat of Sextus
Pompey and the humbling of Lepidus in 36 nm.c., Octavian
did actually punish certain unspecified cities of Sicily, and
among these must have been Tauromenium.

1 This is the view of Mommsen, C.1.Z., X, p. 718; Rómische
Forschung, 2. p. 549, n. 1, of C. Wachsmuth, Über das Geschichts-
werk des Sikelioten Diodoros (Leipzig, 1892), 1, p. 3, and of
M. Büdinger, Die Universalhistorie im. Alterthume, 114, n. 4.

INTRODUCTION

he would have said that the Macedonians were the
last aliens to rule over Egypt, had he been working
on his History after the incorporation of Egypt in
the Roman Empire in 30 s.c. And this accords
with the statement of Suidas, that the floruit of
Diodorus fell in the period of Augustus Caesar and
before?

The task which Diodorus set himself was to write
one of "the general histories" (ai xowoi ia ropíoi),?
or " the general events "' (ai xowat epá£es) * (1. 4. 6;
D. 1. 4); in other words, to compose a Universal,
or World, History from the Creation to his day.
The adjective " general" or '" common " is used
so much by him that it may be possible to find
in its connotation the clue to his motive in taking
upon himself so great a task. In the decade
between 70 and 60 mc. he had seen the entire
Mediterranean shore brought under the control of
Rome by Pompey—Egypt was stil independent
only in name, for its kings held their throne at the
will of the Roman Senate—the sea swept clean of
pirates, Roman supremacy extended '' to the bounds

1 yévyove (80. Aidbupos) 86 éxl rGv xpórvev Ab'yócrov Kaícapos
kal émdvo.

* Although parts of his History must have appeared by
49 z.c., it is reasonable to euppose that Diodorus published 1t
as & whole, with consequent revision, at one time, between
36 and 30 5.c. at the latest; cp. below, p. xvi, n. 1. '

* Dionysius of di iere (1. 6) uses the same words in
speaking of the writings of Timaeus.

Et i 3. 2, when e contrasts '* isolated wars waged by a
single nation or a single state"' with "' the general events
(al kowol wpátes). The same sharp distinction appears also
in 1. 4. 6, and he uses the same words to describe the Universal
History of Ephorus (4. 1. 3).

INTRODUCTION

of the inhabited world " (1. 4. 3). If Diodorus had
not witnessed the celebration of this incorporation
of the Eastern world in the Roman state, he had
certainly heard from others of the great triumph of
Pompey in 61 s.c. in the course of which banners
announced that he had subdued fourteen nations,
brought back 20,000 talents to the treasury, and
almost doubled the annual revenue of the state.
Under the dominion of Rome the Stoic idea of a
cosmopolis was on tlie way to becoming an actuality.
Al| mankind was coming to form a '" common"
civilization, a ''common " society, and Diodorus
could speak of a '' common life" in the sense that
the whole Mediterranean world was now interested
in the same things and what benefited one nation
was of common value to all. If the term '* Western
civilization " may properly include two cultures so
different, for inctance, as those of the United States
and Spain, it is no exaggeration to say that by
60 s.c. Syrian, Greek, Iberian and Roman had
become one. The limitations of the old city state,
whereby à man was a stranger in any city but the
one of his origin, were gone for ever. Surely, then,
the history of each one of these nations was a matter
of interest to all, since the past of every people was
making its distinctive contribution to this most
catholic of all civilizations, and he who would gather
the records of all these peoples and present them in
convenient form would have ''composed a treatise
of the utmost value to those who are studiously
inclined " (1. 3. 6). Some such considerations as
these must have moved Diodorus to lay hand to
such a work, and even if he was not the man fully
to control the material before him, still we cannot

xii

— A "

INTRODUCTION

deny him at all events the apology of Propertius
(2. 10. 6):

in magnis et voluisse sal est.

In preparation for his History Diodorus states
(1. 4. 1) that with much hardship and many dangers
he visited all the most important regions of Europe
and Asia. "There is no evidence in his work that he
travelled in any other land than Egypt, where he
may have ascended the Nile as far as Memphis, in
connection with which city he mentions a shrine of
Isis which '* is pointed out to this day in the temple-
area of Hephaestus " (1. 22. 2); all the other details
of his account of that marvellous land could have
been gathered from his literary sources. The only
other place where he claims to have stayed was
Rome, which furnished him in abundance the
materials necessary for his study (1. 4. 2). Certainly
he never went to Mesopotamia, since he places
Nineveh on the Euphrates, and it is kinder to suppose
that he never visited Athens than to think that the
glory of the Acropolis, if he had once seen it, was
not considered important enough to deserve mention.

Not only does Diodorus claim to have travelled
widely in preparation for his History, but to have
gained through his contact with the Romans in Sicily
* considerable familiarity '' (z0AA3) €gmreipío, 1.4. 4) with
their language. In the pce disparagement of
Diodorus, his knowledge of Latin has not been over-
looked, and he has been accused even of finding a
nominative Fidenates from an ablative Fidenate.!

1 So Christ-Schmid, Griechische Litteraturgeschichte * (1920),
2. p. 403, n. 9, but without basis, as had been shown by G.
Rigwart, Romische Fasten und Annalen bei Diodor (Greisswald,

1906), pp. 5 f. be
xin

—

INTRODUCTION

Other criticisms on this score, such as that he did
not know the meaning of bellare cum aliquo! must
be held in abeyance, so long as the question whether
Diodorus in his account of Roman affairs used a
Latin or Greek source (or sources) is still sub judice.
And since criticism is beginning to adopt a more
reasonable attitude toward Diodorus, the better
course is to trust his word that he could use the
Latin language; he knew it at least well enough
for his purposes.

Diodorus commenced with the mythical period
and brought his History down to 59 n.c., the year of
Julius Caesar's first consulship. Of the forty Books
only the first five and Books XI-XX are preserved,
although fragments of the other twenty-five are
found in different authors, notably in Eusebius and
Byzantine excerptors. According to his own plan
(1. 4. 6-1), Books I-VI embraced the period before
the Trojan War, the first three treating of the history
of the non-Greeks, the other three, of that of the
Greeks. The next eleven, Books VII-XVII, were
designed to form a Universal History from the
Trojan War to the death of Alexander the Great,
and the last twenty-three carried the account down
to the Archonship of Herodes in 60/59 m.c., Le. to
include the year 61/60 mc? As for the years
covered by his History, he makes no effort to estimate
those which had elapsed before the Trojan War,

1 Cp. Büdinger, op. cit., p. 122, n. 1.

? 0. Leuze, Die rómische Jahrzühlung (Tübingen, 1909), gives
the most recent detailed defence of Diodorus; cp. p. 78.
n. 107, for the exaggerated detractions by Reuss, Waohsmuth,
and Schwartz.

5 Cp. Leuze, op. cil., p. 72.

xiv

INTRODUCTION

since for that earlier period there existed no chrono-
logical table " that was trustworthy," ! but for the
subsequent period he records that he followed the
Chronology of Apollodorus of Athens? in setting 80
years between the Trojan War (1184 B.C.) and the
Return of the Heracleidae (1104 m.c.), thence 328
years to the First Olympiad (776/5 B.c.), and from
the First Olympiad to the beginning of the Celtic
War (60/59 s.c.) a date which Apollodorus did not
reach, Diodorus counted 730 years. There can be
no question about the correctness of these numbers
of years, 80, 328, 730, because in the next sentence
he makes the sum of them 1138; and yet 730 years
after the First Olympiad is 46/5 m.c., just fifteen
years later than the date at which he says his History
closes. It is impossible to think that his work came
down to so late a date, since his last book opened
with the year 70 n.c., the latest fragment mentioning
the conspiracy of Catiline in 63, and he states
specifically that his History closed before the year
60/59 n.c.
The contents of the several Books are briefly :

Book I: The myths, kings and customs of Egypt.
Book II: History of Assyria, description of India,
Scythia, Arabia, and the islands of the Ocean.

1]In 40. 8 Diodorus says that he had no chronological
table for this period, and on the basis of that passage from
an excerptor, Schwartz, E-E?., 5. 605, argues that he could
not have used the Chronology of Castor; but Beloch, Éómische
Geschichte, p. 122, properly calls the attention of Sehwartz to
this passage and its s.arevópuevov.

3 His Chronology spanned the years 1184/3 to at least
120/19 B.c.

3 For a possible explanation of this discrepancy, op. below,
p. xix.

INTRODUCTION

Book III: Ethiopia, the Amazons of Africa, the
inhabitants of Atlantis and the origins of the
first gods.

Book IV: The principal Greek gods, the Argonauts,
Theseus, the Seven against Thebes.

Book V: 'The islands and peoples of the West,
Rhodes and Crete.

Books VI-X: Fragments, from the Trojan War to
480 s.c.

Commencing with Book XI the Library of History

COoVers ;

Book XI: Years 480-451 s.c.
Book XII: Years 450-416 s.c.
Book XIII: Years 415-405 s.c.
Book XIV: Years 404—387 s.c.
Book XV: Years 386-361 s.c.
Book XVI: Years 360—336 B.c.
Book XVII: Years 335—324 n.c.
Book XVIII: Years 323-318 s.c.
Book XIX: Years 317-311 s.c.
Book XX: Years 310-302 s.c.
Books XXI-XL: Fragments, years 301-60 a.c.

To compose a history of the entire world down to
his day was '' an immense labour," as Diodorus says
(1. 3. 6), looking back upon it,! because the material

1 The Preface was certainly (cp. 1l. 4. 6) revised after the
whole work had been completed. Diodorus lamenta (40. 8)
that parts of his work had reached the publio before his final
revision and publication as à whole, probably in 49 n.c. (see
above, p. vii, n. 1). Just how seriously his words are to be taken
remains à question. Might they not be a reserved suggestion
to the reading publie that, in order to get his final account,
they should purchase the latest revision ?

XxV1

INTRODUCTION

for it lay scattered about in so many different authors,
and because the authors themselves varied so widely.
Perhaps this was his way of telling lis readers that
what they should expect of his history is no more
than a compilation of what former writers had sct
down. And the choice of so unusual a title, Library
of History,. is further evidence that Diodorus made
no pretence of doing anything more than giving a
convenient summary of events which were to be
found in greater detail in many works. The alloca-
tion of this and that bit of information among the
various writers whom Diodorus names has occupied
the attention of many scholars.* The earlier view
was that Diodorus took a single author and copied
him for many chapters and even Books of his history.
From that extreme position criticism soon was forced
to recede, and it is generally held now that while
Diodorus probably leaned very strongly upon a single
author for one or another section of his work, he
used at the same time other writers as well. Tt is
the feeling of the present translator that there is
much more of the individuality of Diodorus in his
Library of History than has been generally supposed,
and that he picked and chose more widely and more
wisely than has been allowed him by most critics.?

1 Pliny, Nat. Hist., Preface, 25, praised this straightforward
title (Apud Graecos desiit mugari Diodorus et BiBAuo8fcns
historiam suam, inscripsit).

3 A convenient summary and rebuttal of some of the
earlier literature is given by L. O. Brócker, Moderne Quellen-
eir und antike Geschichtschreiber (Innsbrueh, 1882),

p. 83 ff.

3 I fully subscribe to the following words of Jacoby, F. Gr.
Hist. 2, B D, p. 356: '". . . direkte benutzung 'Theopompos
bei Diodor ist so wenig wahrscheinlich, wie eine Diodor-

, xvii

INTRODUCTION

A brief discussion of the sources used by Diodorus is
given in the Introductions to the several volumes.

One mistake of method made it almost impossible
for Diodorus to write either a readable story or an
accurate history. So soon as hie entered the period
which allowed precise dating he became an annalist,
or, in other words, he endeavoured to present under
one year the events which took place in Greece,
Sicily, Africa and Italy, to write a synchronistic
universal history. For a closely related series of
incidents which covered several years this meant
that he either had to break the story as many times
as there were years, or crowd the events of several
years into one. Moreover, he tried to synchronize
the Roman consular year, which in his day com-
menced January lst—and he uses this date even for
the earlier period—with the Athenian archon year,
which commenced about the middle of July. It
should be observed to his credit that Diodorus
recognized (20.43. 7) the shortcomings of this
annalistic arrangement, but he stil felt that the
recital of events in the order in which they were
taking place gave a more truthful presentation of
history.

It may be noted, in connection with this annalistic
arrangement, that, although Diodorus says in his
Preface to the First Book that he has brought his
history down to 60/59 z.c., yet in three other places

analyse, die satz für satz 'Theopompos, eigene züsatze

des Ephoros und solche aus Xenophon scheidet, reichlich

unsicher ist," and to the conclusion of Holm, Geschichte

Siciliens, 2, p. 369, ** dass Diodor nicht bloss mit der Scheere

De re hat, sondern auch mit der Feder und mit dem
opt.

xviii

INTRODUCTION

(3. 38. 2; 5. 21. 2; 5. 22. 1) he remarks that he will
speak of Britain more in detail when he gives an
account of the deeds of Gaius Caesar, and that, as
observed above, in the Chronology which he gives of
his entire work, 1138 years from the Trojan War
brings his history down to 46/45 s.c. It has been
suggested by Schwartz ! that Diodorus found these
figures in some Chronology which he had in his hands
at the time. Such an assumption would indeed
convict him not only of carelessness, but of plain
stupidity. It seems more reasonable to suppose
that, as Diodorus was engaged upon the writing of
his earlier Books, he fully intended to bring his
history down to include the year 46/45 s.c, which
would make an excellent stopping-point. In March
of 45 s.c. Caesar met and defeated at Munda the
last army of republicans which still held the field
against him. The first period of civil war was at an
end. However, as Diodorus grew old and perhaps
a little tired, he gave up his original plan. He
stopped his account at 60/59 .c., which year, mark-
ing the agreement reached by Caesar, Pompey and
Crassus, was a definite turning-point in the history
of the Roman Republic. The '" 1138 years" may
be explained in two ways. Since some of his Books,
and presumably the carlier ones, came into the
hands of the public before his final revision and the
publication of his History as a whole, Diodorus may
himself have overlooked the need of correcting that
number in the final revision. Or the earlier figures
may in some way have slipped from an earlier MS.
into one of the final revision.

1 R.E?., b. 605.

INTRODUCTION

From scattered observations, which bear every
mark of being from Diodorus himself and not from
his sources, and from the emphasis upon certain
phenomena or particular features of history, it is
possible to get some idea of his views and interests.
Again and again, and not alone in thc Preface to
the First Book, the Stoic doctrine of the utilitas of
history is stressed, and nowhere does he demand
that history be entertaining. Of the customs of
Egypt he will mention, he tells us, only those which
are especially strange and those which can be of
most advantage to his readers (1. 69. 2), of its laws
only those that can be of help to lovers of reading
(1. 7T. 1l). It is obviously to this end that, as he
states (11. 46. 1), he makes it his practice to increase
the fame of good men by extoling them and to
censure evil characters; thc latter he does, for
instance, at the death of Pausanias (loc. cit.), and
the defeat of Leuctra offers an occasion to observe
what heavy punishments await the proud and unjust,
while Gelon (11. 38. 6) and Epaminondas (15. 88. 1)
receive the praise which is due to noble men. More
often than any extant ancient lüstorian Diodorus
stresses the view that history should iustruct in the
good lifco. With great detail (16. 61 ff.) he describes
the fate which met the various leaders of the
Phocians, who had dared to lay impious hands upon
the treasure of Delphi, liow the allied cities lost their
freedom, and even how one woman who had tricked
herself out with the chain of Helen ended her days
as a prostitute, while another, who had put on the
chain of Eriphyle, was burned to death in her home
by her own son. Philip, on the other hand, because
he came to the defence of the oracle, increased in

-—

INTRODUCTION

power from that day forth and finally made his
country the mightiest state in Europe. The great
earthquakes and inundations in the Peloponnesus of
373 n.c. were certainly due to the anger of the gods,
more particularly to that of Poseidon. Admitting
that the natural philosophers gave another reason,
yet he thinks that they were wrong, and goes on to
show what it was that angered Poseidon (15. 48).
He emphasizes the qualities of the spirit, such as
meekness, gentleness, kindliness, very much in the
manner of Herodotus; but he thinks very little of
democracy (1. 74. 7; 13. 95. 1), the natural counter-
part of such a conviction being a great admiration
for the strong man in history.

While characteristics such as these exclude Dio-
dorus from a place among the abler historians of the
ancient world, there is every reason to bclieve that
he used the best sources and that he reproduced
them faithfully. His First Book, which deals almost
exclusively with Egypt, is the fullest literary account
of the history and customs of that country after
Herodotus. Books II-V cover a wide range, and
because of their inclusion of much mythological
material are of less value. In the period from 480
to 301 s.c, which he treats in annalistic fashion and
in which his main source was the Universal History
of Ephorus, his importance varies according as he is
the sole continuous source, or again as he is paralleled
by superior writers. To the fifty years from 480 to

... 430 s.c. Thucydides devotes only a little more than
'thirty chapters; Diodorus covers it more fully
(11. 31-12. 38) and his is the only consecutive literary
account for the chronology of the period. On the
other hand, he is of less importance for the ycars

xvi

INTRODUCTION

430-362 m.c., since the history of this period is
covered in the contemporary accounts of Thucydides
and Xenophon. For the years 362-302 n.c. Diodorus
is again the only consecutive literary account, and
although the Epitome by Justin of the History of
Philip by Pompeius Trogus is preserved for the
earlier period, and the Znabasis of Arrian and Te
History of. Alexander the Great by Q. Curtius Rufus,
more than half of which is extant, for the years
336-323, Diodorus offers the only chronological sur-
vey of the period of Philip, and supplements the
writers mentioned and contemporary sources in many
matters. For the period of the Successors to
Alexander, 323-302 nm.c. (Books XVIII-XX), he is
the chief literary authority and his history of this
period assumes, therefore, an importance which it
does not possess for the other years. "These three
Books are based mainly upon the work of Hieronymus
of Cardia, an historian of outstanding ability who
brought to his account both the experience gained
in the service, first of Eumenes, and then of Anti-
gonus, and an exceptional sense of the importance
of the history of the period. As for Sicily, it has
well been said that no history of that island could
be written were it not for Diodorus, and as for
Roman history, the Fasti of Diodorus are recognized
in the most recent research to be by far the oldest
and most trustworthy.

One merit even those crities who have dealt most
severely with Diodorus accord him. Long speeches,
happily used but unhappily introduced by Thucy-
dides, Diodorus avoids, as he promises that he will
do in the Preface to Book XX. With the exception
of four instances he eliminates entirely that rhetorical

xxii

INTRODUCTION

device, which must have wearied even a contem-
porary audience. He gave great care to little details
of writing, and when he errs in fact the fault is not
so much his as that of his source. A kindly judg-
ment upon such errors may be found in the words
of Cicero when he acknowledges that the story was
generally recognized to be incorrect that Eupolis,
the poet of Old Comedy, was thrown into the sea
by Alcibiades, and adds: ''But surely that is no
reason for sneering at Duris of Samos, who was a
careful scholar, because he erred in the company of
many others." 1

EpirIoNS AND "TRANSLATIONS

The following are the more important editions :

Poggio Bracciolini: Latin translation of Books
I-V; published at Bologna, 1472, and many times
thereafter at Paris, Venice and Lyons.

Vincentius Opsopoeus: the first Greek edition,
containing Books XVI-XX only ; Basel, 1539.

H. Stephanus: Greek edition of Books I-V, XI-
XX, and some fragments of Books XXI-XL ; Geneva,
1559

L. Rhodoman: the edition of Stephanus with a
Latin translation, indices and chronological tables;
Hanau, 1604.

Petrus Wesseling: the Greek text, and the Latin
version of Rhodoman, with the critical work of
former scholars; 2 vols., Amsterdam, 1746. "This is
the only annotated edition of Diodorus and a monu-
ment of zeal and scholarship.

1 Ad An. 9. 1. 18... Num $dcirco Duris Samius, homo in
historia diligens, quod cum multis erravit, inridetur ? ''

xxiii

INTRODUCTION

Bipontine Edition, 11 vols, Zweibrücken and
Strassburg, 1793-1807. This is the edition of Wes-
seling, to which were added essays by C. G. Heyne
and I. N. Eyring.

H. Eichstádt: the Greek text of Books I-V,
X-XIV ; 2 vols., Halle, 1800-1802.

L. Dindorf: four cditions of the Greek text: 4
vols., Leipzig (Weidmann), 1826; 5 vols., with critical
apparatus, Leipzig (Hartmann), 1828-31; 2 vols. in
a Didot edition, the Latin by C. Miüller, Paris,
1842-4; 5 vols., Leipzig (Teubner), 1866-8.

IL Bekker: the Greek text; 4 vols, Leipzig
(Teubner), 1853-4.

The present text is based upon that of Vogel-
Fischer, Leipzig (Teubner), 1888 f£, and the most
important variants of the editions of Bekker and
Dindorf (1866-8) have been noted; the reading
which follows the colon is, unless otherwise stated,
that of the Zextus receptus.

Translations of Diodorus have not kept pace with
the intrinsic interest of his History. Worthy of
mention is that into English in two volumes by
G. Booth, London, 1700; another edition, in a series
entitled * Corpus Historicum," is of London, 1814.
The English is quaint, archon being sometimes
rendered '' lord high-chancellor,'"* " high-chancellor,"
* chief magistrate;" the chapter divisions are quite
arbitrary, and the early date, before the commentary
of Wesseling, makes it of little value. The trans-
lation into German by J. F. Wurm, Stuttgart,
1827-40, is a serious work, and that of A. Wahrmund
of Books I-X, Stuttgart, 1866-9, with many notes,
has also been of considerable aid in the preparation
of this translation. It is hoped that infelicities of

xxiv

INTRODUCTION

the present translation will be viewed by scholars
with some indulgence, in consideration of the fact
that it is the first in. English for more than two
hundred years.

One feature of the style of Diodorus calls for
remark. A large part of his earlier Books is in
indirect discourse, which is introduced with *" they
say " or " it is said " or ' history records," and the
like, or with the name of the writer he is following.
Yet at times he inserts into this reported speech
sentences of direct discourse which are presumably
original with himself. In general, an attempt has
been made to distinguish this reported speech from
the remarks of Diodorus himself; but l have not
done so if it involved any great interruption of the
flow of liis narrative.

MANUSCRIPTS

A. Codex Coislinianus, of the 15th century.

B. Codex Mutinensis, of the 15th century.

C. Codex Vaticanus, of the 12th century.

D. Codex Vindobonensis 79, of the 11th century.
E. Codex Parisinus, of the 16th century.

F. G. Codices Claromontani, of the 16th century.
M. Codex Venetus, of the 15th century.

N. Codex Vindobonensis, of the 16th century.

The designations of the MSS. are those of the
Preface to the first volume of the edition of Vogel-
Fischer, to which the reader is referred for further
details on each MS. and its worth. In the critical
notes '* Vulgate " designates the reading of all MSS.
except D, and '' II" designates the reading of all
MSS. of the '' second class," i.e. of all but A B D.

XXV

INTRODUCTION

IwrRopucrioN To Booxs I-II, 34

After the Preface to his whole work Diodorus
describes the origin of animal life, and then, '* since
Egypt is the country where mythology places the
origin of the gods "' (1. 9. 6), and since '' animal life
appeared first of all " (1. 10. 2) in that country, he
devotes the entire First Book to the gods, kings,
laws and customs of that land. Eis interest in
religion causes him to pay more attention to that
subject than to political institutions and military
affairs, in marked contrast to his later Books. As
for his literary sources, he is generally held to have
drawn primarily upon Ilecataeus of Abdera, who
visited Egypt early in the 3rd century n.c., for his
account of the customs of the Ezgyptians, upon
Agatharchides of Cnidus, an historian and geographer
of the 2nd century m.c., for his geographical data,
and especially for the description of the Nile (cc. 32-
41. 3), and upon Herodotus. He also mentions what
is told by the priests of Egypt and natives of Ethiopia,
and it is entirely possible that many a detail was
picked up by personal observation and inquiry. By
the time of his visit Greek had been the official
language of the land for nearly three hundred years
and was widely used in the better circles, and hence
he was not in such danger of being imposed upon by
guides and priests as was Herodotus.

In the opening chapters of the Second Book
Diodorus moves to Asia and Assyrian affairs. Most
of his material was drawn from Ctesias of Cnidus,
who spent seventeen years as physician at the court
of the Persian king, Ártaxerxes Mnemon, returning
to Greece some time after 390 s.c. Ctesias wrote a

xxvi

——————— L—— i! nn— À —

INTRODUCTION

Persica in twenty-three Books, the first six of which
dealt with Assyrian and Median history. Whether
Diodorus used Ctesias directly or through à medium
is still a question. He also used Cleitarchus and
** certain of those who at a later time crossed into
Asia with Alexander" (2. T. 3). Incidentally, he
quotes from a particular Athenaeus, otherwise
unknown, and '' certain other historians "" (2. 20. 3)
to the effect that Semiramis was nothing more than
a beautiful courtesan. While there is some shadowy
outline of the long history of Egypt in Book I, what
Diodorus (or rather Ctesias, Cleitarchus and others)
has to offer on Babylonian history is scarcely deserv-
ing of the name. It is astonishing to observe that a
writer with the opportunities which Ctesias enjoyed
should have been content to do little more than pass
on the folk tales which constitute the '' history "' of
the Assyrian Empire. :

Into the daily widening field of the history of
Egypt and Babylonia, which is the theme of this
volume of Diodorus, and in which many dates change
from year to year and many are still the subject of
controversy among competent Orientalists, a classi-
cist enters with extreme reluctance. It has seemed
the better policy to draw upon the latest general
survey of this period, The Cambridge Ancient History,
for the chronology, recognizing at the same time
that even the contributors to this single enterprise
are not always in agreement.

1 Cp. P. Schnabel, Berossos und die babylonisch-hellenistische
Literatur (Leipzig, 1923), p. 34.

xxvii

THE LIBRARY OF HISTORY
OF

DIODORUS OF SICILY

BOOK 1

I v H ^ , ^
Tá8e éveo rww év Tf mpoórg ràv

Atobdpov BiBXov

IIpootjuov Tis 0s mpoypareas.
M e^ . 3, / ? * e^ e^
Flepi rüv cop AlyvmT(os Aeyouévov epi T9s TOU
xoc ov yevécens.
' ^ ^ ." , Lj . At
IIepi rày Ücàv 0cot vóXes exrwrav kar. Avyvmrrov.
IÍepi ràv pórov yevouévov ávÜpeéyrov kai ToU TaXato-
rárov Biov.
Ilepi rs ràv àÜaváTev Tiu)s xol Tis TOV vadv kaTa-
devis.
* ^ , ^ , » , ^ ^
IÍepi s TomoÜeo(as ris kar AtyvmrTov Xopas kai TÀV
Tepi Tóv NéiXov moror TapaOofoAoyovuévov, TS T€
p , * d P ^ - Li - ^
rovrov mÀn9péceos Tàs alríug! xai rüv iaTopuxüv oi
$uXocóQov áTooáces.
^ ^ , , , * ,
Iiepi Tüv mpórew yevogévov xav AtyvsTov Bacikéov
xai TOv kaTà uépos avTüv Tpá£eav.
IÍepi korackevàyv rv mvpauí(óev rÓv dvaypadopévov
éy rots érrà Üavpalopévow épyots.
Ilepi ràv vój«ov kai rày 8acTnpiov.
SIM ET: " 4 3 $ D
Ilepi rày áduepopévov (ouv map! AlyvrTiots.
IIepi rÓv vopipov. TOv Tepi ToUs TereAevrgkóras map!
AlyvmrÜots -yevopévav.
M -^ Li ;, -* ^ . * b , N
IIepi àv 'EAXxjvov 0c0t r&v éri zaiócio. Üavpatopévov
, , » * ^ ^ ,
mapafJaXóvres «ls AlyvmTov xai moAÀAà TOv xpucipaov
e
poÉóvres uerjveykav eis riy. EXAdBa.

! Some verb is needed here, such as mepiéxei whioh is
found in chap. 42, from which most of this outline is
drawn.

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST BOOK
OF DIODORUS

Introduction to the entire work (chaps. 1-5).

On the accounts given by the Egyptians about the
origin of the universe (chaps. 6-7).

On the gods who founded cities in Egypt.!

On the first men and the earliest manner of life
(chap. 8).

On the honour paid to the immortals and the
building of the temples to them.!

On the topography of the land of Egypt and the
marvels related about the river Nile; the causes also
of its flooding and the opinions thereupon of the
historians and the philosophers (chaps. 30 ff).

On the first kings of Egypt and their individual
deeds (chaps. 44 ff.).

On the construction of the pyramids which are
Med among the seven wonders of the world (chaps.

3 ff.).

On the laws and the courts of law (chaps. 69 ff.).

On the animals held sacred among the Egyptians
(ehaps. 83 ff.).

On the eustoms of the Egyptians touching the
dead (chaps. 91 ff.).

On those Greeks, renowned for their learning, who
visited Egypt and upon acquiring much useful know-
ledge brought it to Greece (chaps. 96 ff.).

1 There are no chapters which are especially devoted to
this topic.
3

AIOAQPOY
TOY ZIKEAIQTOY

BIBAIOOGHKHZ IXTOPIKHZ

BIBAOX IIPOTH

1l. Toi; ràs kowàs la ropías rparyaTeva a uévots
ueyá^as xápvras dvmovépeuw Bucauov TávTOs àv-
Opdrrovs, órt rois iBíois móvois GbeMjcai TOV
ko.wóv Biov édiXoriudÜnaav: dxivÓvvov yàp &i-
BackaMav ToU cvpubépovros elanygadpuevo: kaX-
Mor» épmewíav Già Tí mpavyuareías TaTuS

2 mepumoL.00cL TOÍs dvavywGgoUgiv. 7) uev "yàp ex
Tíjs vre(pas éxda rov uáÜnais uer mroXXdv "róvov
xai kiv6Üvev Toii TÓV Xpnciuev €xacTa 8ia-
eyuióg ket, «ai 61à roDTro TOV Jpoov Ó TTOXUVT€LpO-
T&TOS ueTà ueyáXov ürvynuaTov

moXXAy àvÜpármav iSev da rea, al vóov &yva*

^ ? , JE ^
5 86 BiÀ Tífjs ia Topías mepvywopévy aveaus TOv
áXXoTpiov ámoTevypuárov T€ kai karopÜc udrov
^ ^
3 dmeíparov ka«v Exe Tij» 6baakaMav. emevra
, * ^

«rávrag dvÜpomovs, ueréxyovras pev TüS TOS
Mili Er OpeR MEE E
1 Here Diodorus markedly connects **universal" (wowai)

history with human society *'as a whole? (xowés). Cp. the

Introduction, pp. xif.
J D pen UE quotation is from the Odyssey 1. 3.

THE LIBRARY OF HISTORY
OF

DIODORUS OF SICILY

BOOK I

l. Ir is fitting that all men should ever accord
great gratitude to those writers who have composed
universal? histories, since they have aspired to help
by their individual labours human society as a whole;
for by offering a schooling, which entails no danger,
in what is advantageous they provide their readers,
through such a presentation of events, with a most
excellent kind of experience. For although the
learning which is acquired by experience in each
separate case, with all the attendant toils and
dangers, does indeed enable a man to discern in
each instance where utility lies—and this is the
reason ' why the most widely experienced of our
heroes? suffered great misfortunes before he

Of many men the cities saw and learned
"Their thoughts ;—

yet the understanding of the failures and successes
of other men, which is acquired by the study of
history, affords a schooling that is free from actual
experience of ills. Furthermore, it has been the
aspiration of these writers to marshal all men, who,

DIODORUS OF SICILY -

dXXjNovs acwyyevelas, TóTo:s O6 xai xpóvows
Brea rqkóras, éDiXoruuÓnaav )mó uíav kal T'v
abri» cóvra£iv áyayetv, Gamep Twwés Ümovpryol
Tífs Üelae povoiag yevnÜévres. éxeivm Te yàp
Tjv TÓv ópouévoev daTpov Suóaumatv. kal ds
rÓv ávÜporrev acis els kowijv ávaAoyíav avv-
Ücica kvkMet GvvexÓs ümavra Tüv aigva, TÓ
émiBáxXov ékáaTow éx Tíje mempmpuévnus pepi-
fovsa, ot re Tàs kowàs Tis oikovuévns Tpáteis
xaÜárep pae TOXeos àvawypdravres &va. Xóvyov
kai Kotvàv XpnparwrTipiov TÀv avvrereXeauévov
dmébe£ay ràs éavrOv mparyparelas. kaXóv yàp
Tó BóvacÜa. rolg TOv AXXev deyvosaci "pos
&iópÜeciv xpfjaÜa, mapabeiynast, kal mpàüs Tà
cwykvpoüvra TowiXos karà Tóv fov Éxyew pi)
Dírgsw TÀÓv mTparTouévov, àXXà puíumsw TÀv
émwTerevyuévov. — kai "yàp ToUe mpegBvráTovs
Taís cJjAuctaig ümavres Tv veoTépov rpokpivovaw
év rais evuovALais Gà ijv ék ToU xpóvov mepi-
yeyevnpévgv abrois éwmeipiaw fjs oaoÜTov vrrep-
éyew cvpféfgw«ke T?)v éx ríe ia Topías náÜncuw
ócov kal TQ TX1fei. rÀv mrpavypárov Tporepoügav
abT)v émeyvóxkapev. O00 kal mpós dTácas Tàs
ToU Bou mepuoTáa ew Xprawuwrárqv dv is elvat
vopíaete TÜv TaÜUTQS àváNmrw. TOÍS uev yàp
veoTépois Tv TÓv 'yeyüpakóTev Trepumoiet aUv-
eai», rois 8 srpeaBvrépois moXXam Aaa vátet Tv
bmápxovcav émewíav, xal To); pé» iBwóras

1 The reference is to the Stoic doctrine of the universal
kinship of mankind.

BOOK I. r. 3-5

although united one to another by their kinship,!
are yet separated by space and time, into one and
the same orderly body. And such historians have
therein shown themselves to be, as it were, ministers
of Divine Providence. For just as Providence, hav-
ing brought the orderly arrangement of the visible
stars and the natures of men together into one
common relationship, continually directs their courses
through all eternity, apportioning to each that which
falls to it by the direction of fate, so likewise the
historians, in recording the common affairs of the
inhabited world as though they were those of a
single state, have made of their treatises a single
reckoning of past events and a common clearing-
house of knowledge concerning them. For it is an
excellent thing to be able to use the ignorant mis-
takes of others as warning examples for the correc-
tion of error, and, when we confront the varied
vicissitudes of life, instead of having to investigate
what is being done now, to be able to imitate the
successes which have been achieved in the past.
Certainly all men prefer in their counsels the oldest
men to those who are younger, because of the
experience which has accrued to the former through
the lapse of time; but itis a fact that such experience
is in so far surpassed by the understanding which is
gained from history, as history excels, we know, in
the multitude of facts at its disposal. For this reason
one may hold that the acquisition of a knowledge of
history is of the greatest utility for every conceivable
circumstance of life. For it endows the young with
the wisdom of the aged, while for the old it multiplies
the experience which they already possess; citizens
in private station it qualifies for leadership, and the

DIODORUS OF SICILY

áElovs fyyepovías karackeváte,, voUs 8 Tryepóvas
TQ &ià ríe 6ó£ns dÜavarw uo Tporpémera, TOÍS
kaXA(aTOw TOv Cpyov émvxeipetv, xapis 5e vob-
TOv TOU; ucv arpaTuoTas TOS uerà T)V TeAeUTI)V
émaívows érowuorépous &arackevátew Tpüs TOUS
bmp Tíje mwarpíbos xiwBÓvovs, ToUs 8é srovgpovs
TÓv ávÜpayrv Tai aieviow BXacadnuíai ámo-
^ Bo UN
Tpére, Tfjs él T2)9 ka«iav oppi)s-

9. KaÉóXov 8é &ià rjv ék rabTgs ém' óya0Ó
peüpqv oi uiv wríaTat TróXeav yevéaÜa, Tpoe-
iMj8 av, oi 8 vópovs elanyijoac0at TrepiéxXovTas
TÓ KOiwÓ Bio T?» ác áXeav, TOXXol 9 émioT)-
pas «ai Téxvas éfeupeiv épixoruu8noav T pos
ebepyyeaiay roD vyévovs TOv ávÜpoyrov. é£ ámav-
re» 86 cvumAnpovuévgs Tíjs eüSawuovías, do-
Boréov TÀv émalvov TÓ mpoerelov Tf) ToUTOV
páMaT' alría, ia Topia. drygTéov yàp elvat Tav-
Tyv $UXaka guév Ts TÓV &fwXóyov áperijs,
páprupa Ó& Tís TÀ» $a/Xov kaxias, eUepyérww
Be ToU &oiwoÜ wyévovs rv ávÜpevrov. ei yàp
j ràv év dbov uvÜoXoyla Tv vmroÜeauv merXaa-
uévqv. Éyovca. roXXà avuSáXXeras Tois àvÜpo-
ois "ps eücéfexav xal Buwawcivqv, TÓGQ
p&XXov! bmoXgm réov 71)v mrpodíyrtw 71s áXnÜ0cias
ta voplav, Ts 0Xys $iXocoóías olovcl ua pómoXw
oca», émwkevdáca,. O0vacÜa, rà 709 naXXov
mpbs kaXokáyaÜtav ; mávres yàp dvÜpoero, &à

1 naAAov Bekker, Vogel: omitted CF, Dindorf.

E MM

1 IThe Greek '* metropolis," the '* home country '' or mother-
city '' of all thecolonies which it had sent forth, was venerated
by them as the source of their race and of their institutions.
For the striking figure cp. the passage in Athenzus 104 B,

BOOK I. x. 5-2. 3

leaders it incites, through the immortality of the
glory which it confers, to undertake the noblest
deeds; soldiers, again, it makes more ready to face
dangers in defence of their country because of the
public encomiums which they will receive after death,
and wicked men it turns aside from their impulse
towards evil through the everlasting opprobrium to
which it will condemn them.

2. In general, then, it is because of that com-
memoration of goodly deeds which history accords
men that some of them have been induced to become
the founders of cities, that others have been led to
introduce laws which encompass man's social life
with security, and that many have aspired to discover
new sciences and arts in order to benefit the race of
men. And since complete happiness can be attained
only through the combination of all these activities,
thc foremost meed of praise must be awarded to that
which more than any other thing is the cause of
them, that is, to history. For we must look upon it
as constituting the guardian of the high achieve-
ments of illustrious men, the witness which testifies
to the evil deeds of the wicked, and the benefactor
of the entire human race. For if it be true that the
myths which are related about Hades, in spite of
the fact that their subject-matter is fictitious, con-
tribute greatly to fostering piety and justice among
men, how much more must we assume that history,
the prophetess of truth, she who is, as it were, the
mother-city! of philosophy as a whole, is still more
potent to equip men's characters for noble living!
For all men, by reason of the frailty of our nature,

yhere Chrysippus calls the Gastrolegy of Archestratus &
metropolis '* of the philosophy of Epicurus.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Tj» Tíje $Ucews àcÜéveiav fioc. uév áxapiaióv
TL uépos Tob TravTÓS aióos, TereXevrikagt &
mávra TOv ÜoTepov xpóvov, kai rois uév €v TÓ
tjv umó6!v áfióXoyov mpátaciw &pa Talis TÓÀV
apro reXevrais ovvarroÜvijoke, kal và dXXa
mávra Tà karà vóv fov, roig 86à Ov dperowv
mepuvrovoapévots Sófav ai mpá£ei &rravra, TÓv
alva uwguovebovra,, Gafoópevat TQ ÜctoráTo
T7 io TOplas a TÓpTL.

KaAó» 8', oluat Toíe €Ü dpovoboi Óvgrov
móvov àvrikaraXXáEacOat Tv áÜávarov ebón-
píav. 'HpaxXMjs gév yàp OuoXoyeirau. mdvra
Tüv vevópevov abrQ xav àvÜpérovs xpóvov
bmopneivai uenáXovs kal gvvexeis qróvovs kai ktv-
8vovugs éxovcies, Íva TO ryévog ràv ávÜpomov
eUepyerijoas rUxm Tíjs àDavacías: TOv. 86 dXXev
áyaÜQv dvBpüv oí piv üpeixGw, oi 8& icoÜÉcv
Tu&Q» Érvxov, "Távres O6 ueydNov émaívov
djÉd0qcav, Tàe áperàe abràv Tí icropías
dmaÜavaTiLova gs. TàÀ puév yàp áXka pvuueia
Sua péve, xpóvov óM*vyov, vrró oXXv ávatpoUpueva
mepuaTáoemv», 1j 8à mis ioTopías Bívapus émi
vücav Tijv olxovgévqv Oujkovca Tv mdvra
TÁAAa Avpawópuevov xpóvov Éxet íXaxa Tis
aievíov vapaóócees Toi ÉmwyLvopévots.

XvuBdAXerat 8' abr kal mrpüs Xóyov 6vvayuv,
ob áXMov Érepov ovk àv Tis DaOLes cÜpoi.
Tobre yàp oi uév "EXXqves rà» Bapfápov, oi
88 memaióevuévo: TÓv ámaiBeUrev poéxovot,
mrpós 88 robrois ÓiÀ uóvov Tobrov Üvvaróv éaTw

BOOK I. 2. 3-6

live but an infinitesimal portion of eternity and are
dead throughout all subsequent time; and while in
the case of those who in their lifetime have done
nothing worthy of note, everything which has per-
tained to them in life also perishes when their bodies
die, yet in the case of those who by their virtue have
achieved fame, their deeds are remembered for
evermore, since they are heralded abroad by history's
voice most divine.

Now it is an excellent thing, methinks, as all men
of understanding must agree, to receive in exchange
for mortal labours an immortal fame. In the case
of Heracles, for instance, it is generally agreed that
during the whole time which he spent among men he
submitted to great and continuous labours and perils
willngly, in order that he might confer benefits
upon the race of men and thereby gain immortality ;
and likewise in the case of other great and good men,
some have attained to heroic honours and others to
honours equal to the divine, and all have been thought
to be worthy of great praise, since history immor-
talizes their achievements. For whereas all other
memorials abide but a brief time, being continually
destroyed by many vicissitudes, yet the power of
history, which extends over the whole inhabited
world, possesses in time, which brings ruin upon all
things else, a custodian which ensures its perpetual
transmission to posterity.

History also contributes to the power of speech,
and a nobler thing than that may not easily be
found. For it is this that makes the Greeks superior
to the: barbarians, and the educated to the unedu-
cated, and, furthermore, it is by means of speech
2lone that one man is able to gain ascendancy over

DIODORUS OF SICILY

dpa TÀv moXÀQv mepvyevéaÜai — kaÜóXov Bé
$aívera. müv TÓ mporeÜév Towbrov ómotov àv
$ ToU Aéyovros DUvajus mapaoTjoyp, kal TOUS
áyaÜ8o)e dvbpas dfiovs Aóyov Trpocaryopevopev,
e ^ N ^ "n "

de ToÜro TO mperetov T/js àpeTíjs Tepumemo0u)-
uévous. els mAeio Bé uépm rovrov &impnuévov,
cvpuBaítvei T?)v py vrov]rukSv Tépmew uXXov
jymep àd$eetv, T2v 86 vouoÜecíav koXácew, oU
BiBdokeiw, mapamAraies Ó& kal TÀXXa uépy à
uiv unBiv cvpfiáXXea0ai mpós ebbaipovíav, và
Bé uepvyuévqy Exew TQ. ovpdépovr. rv. BXáBny,
yia 88 kareprebo0at Tíjs aXu0elas, nóvgv 86 viv
ieropíav, cvpudovotvrov év abTj TÓv Xóyov
Tois &pyows, &ravra TàXXa xpücia T ypaofü
mepieAndévar | 0püoÜa, yàp abr)v Tporpemo-
pévqv. émi 8ikatooóvQv, karQyopoücav àv $aó-
Acv, éykepudtovcav To)s áyaÜoís, T cUvoXov
ép mepíav ueyia qv meprroiwüga» vols évrvyxá-
VOUGL.

3. A10 kal Üeopobvres queis Gucatas dmro&oxi)s
rwyyávovras To)s TaÜT]v TpaüypaTevaapevovs
arporxÜ uev émri Tov ópovov Tfjs vroÜéceos CiXov.
émioT)cavTes 86 Tóv voüv Tols pO üpàv cwy-
ypadebüciv àveBeEáueÜa. uà» óc € udMara TV
mpoaípeow ajràv, o) wjv éfeipyáa0au TpÜs TÓ
cvudépov xarà! và Bvvarüv TÀs T parypacelas
abrQ» bmeXdBopnev. weuuévgs yàp Tois áva-
ywGokovci Tís GeXelas év TÀ Tela vas Kal
mo.kiXoTáras mrepia áo eis XaBávew, ol meta rot
uiv évóe? ÉÜvovs jj juüe TóAews abroTeMéís
moXépovs ávéypaxrav, óXiyo, 8. dà rv ápxaíicv

1 kgrà Stephanus: xal. ? iybs added by Porson.
12

BOOK I. 2. 6-5. 2

the many; and, in general, the impression made by
every measure that is proposed corresponds to the
power of the speaker who presents it, and we describe
great and good men as " worthy of speech," 1 as
though therein they had won the highest prize of
excellence. And when speech is resolved into its
several kinds, we find that, whereas poetry is more
pleasing than profitable, and codes of law punish
but do not instruct, and similarly, all the other kinds
either contribute nothing to happiness or else
contain a harmful element mingled with the bene-
ficial, while some of them actually pervert the truth,
history alone, since in it word and fact are in perfect
agreement, embraces in its narration all the other
qualities as well that are useful; for it is ever to be
seen urging men to justice, denouncing those who
are evil, lauding the good, laying up, in à word, for
its readers a mighty store of experience.

3. Consequently we, observing that writers of
history are accorded a merited approbation, were led
to feel a like enthusiasm for the subject. But when
we turned our attention to the historians before our
time, although we approved their purpose without
reservation, yet we were far from feeling that their
treatises had been composed so as to contribute to
human welfare as much as might have been the case.
For although the profit which history affords its
readers lies in its embracing a vast number and
variety of circumstances, yet most writers have
recorded no more than isolated wars waged by a single
nation or a single state, and but few have undertaken,
beginning with the earliest times and coming down

! ie. worthy to be the subject of speech. BióAeyos isa

favourite word of Diodorus in the usual meaning of "'dis-
tinguished,"" ** notable."

P»

DIODORUS OF SICILY

xpóvov ápfápevo: ràs xowàs mpátew émexetpr-
cav ávaypá$ew péypi TÀv ka0' abroUs kaipàv,
kal Tobrov oi pév ToUs oike(ovs Xpovovs éxd-
cTois o) mapétev£av, oi && ràe rov BapBápov
mpáfew bmepéBuaav, Ér. 8 oi uv vàs maXatàs
pu8oXoyías 81à vij» Bvaépeiav. Tf)js Trpayparetas
áTe8okiuacav, oí 66 Tijv Vmróa act Tíje érifBoXts
o) cvveréAecav, uecoXafinÜévres Tóv fov bmó
TÜS mempopévis. TÓV ài TV émioN iv TAUTUS
Tfjs Trparypare(as gremoumuévav ov8ets m poeBí Ba ae
Tv iaropíav kavrovrépo TÓv Maxe6ovucàv Kap
oi p&v yàp eis ràs GiXim TOV TpáEeis, oi . eis
Tàs 'AXeÉdrBpov, rivés 8' eis ro)s GiaB0xovs 1)
ToUg émwWyóvovs xaréaTpeYav ràs cw rTáfas
TOÀAQv 80 xal peyáMev TÓv perà raja
mpáfeov ámoXeXewiévov péypi ToU ka" "jpás
Biov ràv iaropioypádov ob8cls émreBáXero avràs
juüs avvrá£eos srepvypadf) m pa'yuareva aa0ac Già
TÓ péwyeÜos cTíje bToÜÉcews. 910 xal OÓwppip-
pévevi Tüv Te xpóvev xal TÀv páfewv év
mAeíoci. TrpaypaTeiaus kai 8Biadópois avyypa-
$eüc. Bvamepüayrros 4j rore» ávákqyus wi
vera. kal Ovapvnpovevros.

"E£ferácavres oüv vàs ékácTov ToUTwv Bia-
éceis éxpivapev bmó0eaw. iaropuct» mpaypaeb-
cacÜa. Tv TAeíora pé» á$eMjaa, Bvvapévmv,

! Bieppipuévey Hertlein and Bezzel: dgpusuévwv.

1 Ofthe writers who may be said to have composed universal
histories, Diodorus may have had in mind Herodotus, who had
no chronological system, Anaximenes of Lampsacus, who
confined his Zellenica, a8 the title shows, to the Greeks, and
Ephorus of Cyme, who omitted the mythological period and

BOOK I. 5. 2-5

to their own day, to record the events connected
with all peoples; and of the latter, some have not
attached to the several events their own proper dates,
and others have passed over the deeds of barbarian
peoples; and some, again, have rejected the ancient
legends because of the difficulties involved in their
treatment, while others have failed to complete the
plan to which they had set their hand, their lives
having been cut short by fate. And of those who
have undertaken this account of all peoples not one
has continued his history beyond the Macedonian
period. For while some have closed their accounts
with the deeds of Philip others with those of
Alexander, and some with the Diadochi or the
Epigoni? yet, despite the number and importance
of the events subsequent to these and extending
even to our own lifetime which have been left
neglected, no historian has essayed to treat of them
within the compass of a single narrative, because of
the magnitude of the undertaking. For this reason,
since both the dates of the events and the events
themselves lie scattered about in numerous treatises
and in divers authors, the knowledge of them
becomes difficult for the mind to encompass and for
the memory to retain.

Consequently, after we had examined the com-
position of each of these authors! works, we resolved
to write a history after a plan which might yield to

whose death brought his history to & close with the year
340 n.c., although he had witnessed the stirring eventa of the
subsequent twenty years.

? The Diadochi, or Successors, were those rulers who shortly
after 323 n.c. formed separate kingdoms out of the territory
conquered by Alexander. The Epigoni were the next and
BUcceeding generations,

DIODORUS OF SICILY

eAáyuo ra 88 ToU Óvaywdokovras évoxMijo'ov-
cav. e yáp Tis TÀs eis pvp m apaócbopévas
ToU cjvravros kócpuov Tpátew, GgTep TivOS
piüs T6Xeos, üpÉápevos dm Tv ápxaiorárov
xpóvov ávawypára. xarà TÓ OÓvvaTóv uéxpu TOV
kaÜ' abrüv kaipOv, móvov puíy àv moXUv b7ro-
petvas Xov ómi, mpayyparelav 86 maa&v eUxpn-
cTrorárqv cvvrdfavro Tols duXavamvecToUcw.
é£éava, yàp ék rarus Éxac Tov mpàós Tiv i&íav
bmócraciw Crolpes Aapfávew TÓ xpücuwov,
daTep éx petyáXns dpvónevov Tfj. Tois uev
yàp émigaXXopévois 8wEiévai Tüe TÓV TOcOUTOV
cwyypabéev LioToplas mpürov g&v oU pdOwv
ebvopijsa. TÀV els Tijv Xxpeíav TvmTovcÓv i-
Bev, Éérevra. Già. T'jv dvepaMav kai ró T Xij0os
vÓv cuvraypnárov SvokaTáANqTTOS 'yiverat TeÀécS
xai Bvaéjueros 5j rÓv mempa'yuévov ávd Xr"
5j 8 éy jue! awvráfeos Tepvypadii mr pa*ypaela
Tb TG» mpáteov eipóuevov Éxovca T5)v uev
dvávyvocw éroiunv Tapéxeau, Tv 9 àváNrw
exei TavreAás eUmapaxoXoUO yov. ; «a0 óXov S
Tv QXXcv TocoVTOv Umepexeuw TavTQV qynTéov
óc xpuoiuwrepóv éat TO müv ToU pépovs xai TO
cwveyés ToU Dieppm'yuévov, mwpüe Óé robTows TÓ
&ugepuBepévov rois Xpóvois Tob puo) qyuvoocko-
pévov vícw émpáxÓn xaupoís.

4. Aubmep Tjueis ópQvres rabTmqv Tl) brmó0eciw
Xpa uioTármv n obcav, ToXXo0 8d TóvoU «ai
xpóvov Tpooteouévqv, vpuáeovra piv err Tepl
avTjv émpaypareUÜnuev, perà O6 moXXjs axo-

1 qaas Schüfer: jug.

BOOK I. 3. 5-4. 1

its readers the greatest benefit and at the same
time incommode them the least. For if a man
should begin with the most ancient times and record
to the best of his ability the affairs of the entire
world down to his own day, so far as they have been
handed down to memory, as though they were the
affairs of some single city, he would obviously have
to undertake an immense labour, yet he would have
composed a treatise of the utmost value to those
who are studiously inclined. For from such a
treatise every man will be able readily to take what
is of use for his special purpose, drawing as it were
from a great fountain. The reason for this is that,
in the first place, it is not easy for those who propose
to go through the writings of so many historians to
procure the books which come to be needed, and, in
the second place, that, because the works vary so
widely and are so numerous, the recovery of past
events becomes extremely difficult of comprehension
and of attainment; whereas, on the other hand,
the treatise which keeps within the limits of a single
narrative and contains a connected account of events
facilitates the reading and contains such recovery of
the past in a form that is perfectly easy to follow.
In general, a history of this nature must be held to
surpass all others to the same degree as the whole
is more useful than the part and continuity than dis-
continuity, and, again, as an event whose date has
been accurately determined is more useful than one
of which it is not known in what period it happened.

4. And so we, appreciating that an undertaking
of this nature, while most useful, would yet require
much labour and time, have been engaged upon it
for thirty years, and with much hardship and many

—

DIODORUS OF SICILY

maBeías kal kuBUvov. émijXÜouev moXMjv Tíjs T€
'Aaías kai Tíje Eopers, iva TÀv ávaykatoTáTOV
xal mXecTov uepOv abrómrat *yevuÜBOnev:
ToÀÀÀ yàp mapà Tàs dyvoílas vOv rÓmcv $uj-
paprov oOx, oí dd TÓV cvyypadéov, AX
Twes kal TOv Tfj O0En memporevkorov. ájoppi)
88 mpós Tijv émifgoXv avTov éxpuaápe0a
náMcTa uév 7f Trpós T]V m paypare(av émÜvpta,
8v fv mácw. ávÜpoyrow T DoxoUv dmopov elvat
Tvyxdvet gvvreMéas, rea xai TÍ) ev "Poóug
opyyía! Tv mpós Tijv vmokeuievqv Umó8ecuw
ávgkóvToV. 1)'yàp raUTs Tíjs ToXeos "Vrrepox,
Buarelvovca Tfj Ovváuet mpós TÀ TépaTa Tij
olkovpévs, érotuoráras xal wAeaTas fiv
á$opuàs TapécXero mapemióquüsaciw év avri)
meo wpóvov. fueis yàp 6E 'Ayupíov Tíjs
SukeMas Óvres, kai Già mv émwwuEíav Tol év
vf wájce ToXMv épmewpíav Tíjs "Popgaíov 6Ot-
Aékrov Tepvmemovguévou "ácas Tàs Tíjs Tye-
povías ravrys mpátew àxpigós àveXáBouev ék
Tv map' ékeivous bmonvuuárov éx moXXÓv
Xxpóvev rernpnpévov. ; qremounueÜa, 8 riw &py
Tfjs ioTopíae ámó TOv pgvÜoXoyovucvov map
"EAXnci Te xal Bapflápots, é£erácavres rà ma i
? pBáp p
£&xác Tots lo opobpeva xarà robs dpyaíovs xpó-
vovs, e$ ócov fjutv Gvvagus.
"Eme 9 4j uiv. vmrólec«s xe TéXos, at. BíBXot
8$ uéxpi oU vüv dvékBoro, Tv'yyávovaw ovcat,

i48... xopryía Hertlein: 8ià rip . . . xopylav.

1 Onthe travels undertaken by Diodorus in preparation for
tho writing of his history, see the Introduction, p. ziii.

BOOK I. 4. 1-6

dangers we have visited a large portion of both
Asia and Europe that we might see with our own
eyes all the most important regions 1 and as many
others as possible; for many errors have been com-
mitted through ignorance of the sites, not only by
the common run of historians, but even by some of
the highest reputation. As for the resources which
have availed us in this undertaking, they have been,
first and foremost, that enthusiasm for the work
which enables every man to bring to completion the
task which seems impossible, and, in the second place,
the abundant supply which Rome affords of the
materials pertaining to the proposed study. For
the supremacy of this city, a supremacy so powerful
that it extends to the bounds of the inhabited
world, has provided us in the course of our long
residence there with copious resources in the most
accessible form. For since the city of our origin
was Agyrium in Sicily, and by reason of our contact
with the Romans in that island we had gained a
wide acquaintance with their language," we have
acquired an accurate knowledge of all the events
connected with this empire from the records which
have been carefully preserved among them over a
long period of time. Now we have begun our
history with the legends of both Greeks and bar-
barians, after having first investigated to the best
of our ability the accounts which each people records
of its earliest times.

Since my undertaking is now completed, although
the volumes are as yet unpublished, I wish to pre-

? The prevailing language in Sicily in this period was Greek.
On the acquaintance of Diodorus with Latin soe the Intro-
duction, pp. xiii f.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

BoíXoua. Bpaxéa wpoOwopíca, «epi OXns Tfjs
cpaypareías. TOv yàp BígXev cjuiv &E pév ai
vrp&rat Tepiéxovat às Trpó TOv Tpewdv mpá£eus
xal pvÜoXoyías, kal rovrov ai pév ponyob-
uevau Tpelis TÀs BapBapucás, aí 9 éEjs oyebov
Tüs TOv 'EXXmQwvev ápxatoXoyías év Sé Taís
uerà ra/ras éyOexa Tàs dmó rÀv 'l'omwóv kowás
mpáfes ávayeypádauev (es Tís 'AXeEdvópov
TeAev Tí ép 06 rais éEfjs eikoat kal rpvat Bí Xous
Tüg Xorrás áwácas xkarerátauev guéxpu Tíjs
ápyfjs roÜ cvoTdvros ToMéuov 'Pepaíow pos
KeXrovs, xa0' Ov vjyoíuevos Lis "Loos
Kaícap ó 9ià ràs mpáfew mpocayopevÜceis Ücós
karemoXéunoe này rà vXeiara kai uaxuuoTaTa
TOv KeXrüv &0vn, mpoefíBaae 86 v5jv Tyyepovíav
Te 'Póugs puéxp: rÀ!v Bperravwdv vijoov'
rovrov 9 aí mwpórau mwpábew émereAéa0naav
'Oxvumid9os Tüje ékaTooTís Kal ÓOwyOonkooTüs
&arà TO TpOTov £ros éw üpxovros '"AOWnvnaw
*Hpo8ov.

b. Tàv» 8é xpóvov rovrov vepweiNgupévov év
Ta)Ty) TÍ) rpa'yuare(a roUs uév spó rQv Tpewdv
ov Otopitouc0a BeBaies &uà rà puBtv mrapámmyna
mapeNééva, epi rojrov TioTevOpevov, àvro 0€
TOv Toouàv áxoXoU0cos ' AstoXXoÓopo T ' AOn-
vaio, T(Üey.ev bryBoseovT Érm ps Tv káÜoOov
TÀv 'HpakXei8Qv, ávü 86 rasTys éri v?) mpoTqv
'OxvumidBa 9uvol Xe(movra TOv Tpiakociev xal
Tptákovra, a vXXovyutópevo, ToUs ypóvovs àmó rÀv
év AakeBatuow, faciXevaávrov, dmó 06 m$

1 Forthe subjects of the several Books see the Introduction,
pp. xvif.
20

BOOK I. 4. 6-5. 1

sent a brief preliminary outline of the work as a
whole. Our first six Books embrace the events and
legends previous to the Trojan War, the first three
setting forth the antiquities of the barbarians, and
the next three almost exclusively those of the .
Greeks;! in the following eleven we have written

a universal history of events from the Trojan War

to the death of ÀÁlexander; and in the succeeding
twenty-three Books we have given an orderly account

of all subsequent events down to the beginning of
the war between the Romans and the Celts, in the
course of which the commander, Gaius Julius Caesar,
who has been deified because of his deeds, subdued
the most numerous and most warlike tribes of the
Celts, and advanced the Roman Empire as far as the
British Isles. The first events of this war occurred

in the first year of the One Hundred and Fightieth cos
Olympiad, when Herodes was archon in Athens? — ^^

b. Às for the periods included in this work,
we do not attempt to fix with any strictness the
limits of those before the Trojan War, because no
trustworthy chronological table covering them has
come into our hands: but from the "Trojan War us
we follow Apollodorus of Athens? in sctting the "^
interval from then to the Return of the Heracleidae 1104
as eighty years, from then to the First Olympiad 5-9
three hundred and twenty-eight years, reckoning 776-5
the dates by the reigns of the kings of Lacedaemon, 99

3? On these periods and dates, as given more fully in the
following paragraph, see the Introduction, p. xv.

? A philosopher and historian of the second century B.O.
whose Chronology covered the years 1184-119 s.c. 'The
Chronology of Castor of Rhodes, of the first century 5.C., which
came down to 60 .c., and was probably also used by Diodorus
after the date where Apollodorus stopped, included the period
before tho Trojan War.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

apros "OXvyrid8os eis 72v ápyiv ToU KeXruot
moMéuov, fjv reXevriv vremovjueÜa 71s iaopías,
émrakócia kal Tpiákovra* Gare T)v ÓXgv qrpary-
ua Téíav juày rerrapárovra BígXov obaav qrepié-
xev rp Oval Xebmovra TOv xiMev ékaróv
Terrapákovra xyepis TV Xpóvov TÓV TpieXóv-
TOV Tàs Tpó TÀàv 'Tpeukv mpateis.

Tabra uev obv áxpiBàs pobGwpiadpeÜa, Bov-
Aóuevoi To)s puév ávavwockovras eis €vvoiav
drya-yetv T fjs Xs TrpoÜéa ees, roUs 8 Gaakevátew
eloÜóras Tàs BíBXovs ámorpéras To0 Xvuaivea0a.
Tàs dÀAXoTpías mpavpareas. Tjuiv 86 map ÜAqv
Tij laropíav và uv ypadévra kaXàs ui) nereyéro
dÜóvov, rà 86 dyvonBévra rwyyavéro BwpÜd aeos
jT TÀÓVv ÓvwarceTépov.

AieXgAvÜóres Be bmp v mponpojucÜa, Tiv
émaryyeMav Tfjs ypadjs BeBatoDv éyxeipijaopev.

6. ILepi uiv obv Ocàv vívas évvoías éco xov oi
wpóro, xarabe(favres Tiuüv TÓ Üeiov, kai TOV
uvÜoXoyovuévov mepi éáaTov! vOv dfavárov,
Tà uiv woXÀÀ ecvvráfacÜa. mapücouev? xaT
iBiav &à và rijv Órr0Üeoiv TaíTqv ToXNXoD Xóyov
m poa9eiaÜ ai, 00a, 9. àv rais "rpokeLjLévaus la Topíais
oikeia ? Sófeuev Uvmdpyew, mapaÜfaouev éy
xejaXalow, Íva un8tv TOv áxofs àfiev émwUm-
Tra. epi 8e ToU vyévovs TOv ámávrov àvÜpo-

1 So Dindorf : vepl càv uv8oAcyovuérev éxáaov.

? sapfjcouev Madvig : meipagópeÓa.
* olkeia Vogel: éouóra.

cum RCeHHU ULLUS
1 Tn Book 40. 8 Diodorus remarks tbat some of his Books
had been circulated before the publication of the work as à

BOOK I 5. 1-6. 2

and from the First Olympiad to the beginning of the
Celtic War, which we have made the end of our
history, seven hundred and thirty years; so that
aur whole treatise of forty Books embraces eleven
hundred and thirty-eight years, exclusive of the
periods which embrace the events before the Trojan
War.

We have given at the outset this precise outline,
since we desire to inform our readers about the pro-
ject as a whole, and at the same time to deter those
who are accustomed to make their books by com-
pilation,! from mutilating works of which they are not
the authors. And throughout our entire history
it is to be hoped that what we have done well may
not be the object of envy, and that the matters
wherein our knowledge is defective may receive
correction at the hands of more able historians.

Now that we have set forth the plan and purpose
of our undertaking we shall attempt to make good
our promise of such a treatise.

6. Concerning the various conceptions of the gods
formed by those who were the first to introduce
the worship of the deity, and concerning the myths
which are told about each of the immortals, although
we shall refrain from setting forth the most part
in detail since such a procedure would require a
long account, yet whatever on these subjects we
may feel to be pertinent to the several parts of our
proposed history we shall present in a summary
fashion, that nothing which is worth hearing may
be found missing. Concerning, however, every race

whole. Whether they had been materially altered, as was
often done by the diaskeuasta, is not known.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TOV xai rÀv mpaxÜ&vrov KU rois svopiopévois
pépecs Tíjs olkovgévis, às ày évóéxnra mepi Tv
obre maXaiÀv, üxcpiflàs dvarpávrouev àmó àv
ápyatoTárov Xpóvev àpEdpevow. Tepi Tíjs Tpá-
mus Tolvvv qevécews TOv àvÜparrov Óvrral vyeyo-
vacw ámooácew mapà rois vopuuorrárow TOv T€
$vowXóyev xal Tv icTopwüw: oi pev yàp
abrüy dyévrurov xai d$Üaprov bmocTQcdpevo,
rà» kócuov, &mejnvavro kal TÓ yévos TÓv àv-
Üpárrov é£ aiQvos imápxew, urbémore Tí avTOv
vekváa eos dpynv eaxnkvias. oi B6 evvuróv Ka
$Üapràv clvac vopícavres ébraav ópoLcs ékeivq !
robe àvÜpdrrovs Tvxeiv Tí] pons "yevégews
epic uévows Xpovous.

7. Karà yàp Tj» é£ ápxijs àv ÜXev avo rac
pav yew ibéav obpavóv ve kal viv, pepuypévns
abTQv Tís jíceos nerà 0) raÜra Diae Tdv
Tüv copuárov dm dXXqXev, Tóv pv kO0cpov
mepiAafeiv ümacav Tv ópouévyv év avrà
aévraEw, vüv 9" dépa kwrjcees TvXeiv a vvexobs,
xai TÓ uiv Tvp8es abroÜ mpüe ToU; perempoTá-
Tovg TÓTOVs cvvbpapnei», àvedepoUs oUans Tí
TowaUTus $ceos Óuà Tiv Kovbóryra: àd' 7s
airías rüv uev ffov kal Tó Xovróv mXos TÀv
ücrpev évamoMnóÜgva. Tj "dom Bivy To ÓÉ
iAvüSeg kai ÜoXepüóv perà Tíje T&v UypQv avwy-
&pícems émi rabTÓ xaTaoTivaL &tà TÓó Bápos

1 uero Rhodoman: ékefvois.

€ ——MM——M———

1 That the universe, as well as the earth and the human
race, was cternal was the view of Aristotle and the early

—€——— ——ÁÁÀ MEEEN

BOOK I. 6. 2-7. 1

of men, and all events that have taken place in the
known parts of the inhabited world, we shall give
an accurate account, so far as that is possible in the
case of things that happened so long ago, beginning
with the earliest times. Now as regards the first
origin of mankind two opinions have arisen among
the best authorities both on nature and on history.
One group, which takes the position that the universe
did not come into being and will not decay, has
declared that the race of men also has existed from
eternity, there having never been a time when
men were first begotten; the other group, however,
which holds that the universe came into being and
will decay, has declared that, like it, men had their
first origin at a definite time.!

7. When in the beginning, as their account runs, the
universe was being formed, both heaven and earth were
indistinguishable in appearance, since their elements
were intermingled: then, when their bodies separated
from one another, the universe took on in all its parts
the ordered form in which it is now seen; the air
set up a continual motion, and the fiery element in
it gathered into the highest regions, since anything
of such a nature moves upward by reason of its
lightness (and it is for this reason that the sun and
the multitude of other stars became involved in the
universal whirl); while all that was mud-like and
thick and contained an admixture of moisture sank
because of its weight into one place; and as this

Peripateties, and was defended by Theophrastus against Zeno,
the founder of the Stoic school. The arguments used by
Theophrastus are found in Philo Judaeus, De Aeternitate
Mundi, especially chaps. 23-27; cp. E. Zcller, Aristotle and the
Earlier Peripatetics (Eng. tranal.), 2. pp. 3801.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

2 eiXo/pevov 8 év éavrQ avveyós xal ava peQó-
pevov! éx uiv vv bypüv riv ÜáXaTrav, ék b
TÓV cTepeuviuorépov Tovíjcai Tüv wvyv T0067
kal mavreAQs ámaMijv. rabrqy O6 T0 uy erpórrov
ToU Tepl TOv fjXuov rvpóe karaMápvravros miu
Aafeiv, &revra. 8i ijv Óepuacíav àvatvuovpévns
Ts émijavelas avvoiófjaat Twa, TOv vrypàv xar
TroXAoUs TÓTTO vs, kal yevéaÜa. mrepl aDTÀ aTe0óvas
buéai Xerrrots mrepiexopévas* ómep év rots £xeat kal
Tos Muuvdtovat TOv Tómev €ri kal vüv ópücÜa.
suwópevov, émeibày 7fjs xópas karerwyuévus dvo
Sámvpos à di)p yévyras, pij av Tiv uerafoXv
ék ToU ka. ÓAiyov. Cmoyovovuévav 66 r&v bypüv
&1à rs Üeppacías Tóv eipyuévov rpórov Tàs u&v
vókras Xauávew avrika T3» rpod)v ék Tij TV-
mTojcse àmó ToU mepiéXovros ÓpiyNgs, Tàs D.
juépas bmó ToÜ xaóparos cTepeoUcÜaw TO 8
la xarov Tàv kvooopovuévov Tijv TeXelav ab£gotv
XAafóvrev, kai TÀv ouévov OukavÜévrev Te kal
mepippasyévrav, ávadvtjva, mavrobaroUs TÜTOUS
(Qv. Tojrwey Bà rà uiv mXéaTos Üepuaaías
keko,avrkóTa, erpós TOUS ueredpovs TÓTOVS ÜTreN-
Üciv qevóueva. srTqvá, và 86 yedOovs dvrexóueva
cvykplaews év Tfj àv éprerüv kal TOv &XNev
TÓv émwyclov Táfe karapiÜuyÜfva, rà 86
$íceus bypüs páMeoTa uereVq$óra mpüs Tv
Opovevij roov cvvÜpapetv, bvouacÜévra mXoTá.
rijv 86 yfv dcl nàXXov aTepeovuévnv Umó Te ToU
epi Tóv ijiov mvpós xal TOv Tvevuáraw TO
TeAevraiov pykér. 80vacÜa. pn8ey rv pedóvev
1 So Vogel: kal everpeQópevov avrexàás Vulgate, Bekker,
Dindorf.
26

BOOK I. 7. 2-6

continually turned about upon itself and became
compressed, out of the wet it formed the sea, and
out of what was firmer, the land, which was like
potter's clay and entirely soft. But as the sun's
fire shone upon the land, it first of all became firm,
and then, since its surface was in a ferment because
of the warmth, portions of the wet swelled up in
masses in many places, and in these pustules covered
with delicate membranes made their appearance.
Such a phenomenon can be seen even yet in swamps
and marshy places whenever, the ground having
become cold, the air suddenly and without any
gradual change becomes intensely warm. And
while the wet was being impregnated with life by
reason of the warmth in the manner described, by
night the living things forthwith received their
nourishment from the mist that fell from the envelop-
ing air, and by day were made solid by the intense
heat; and finally, when the embryos had attained
their full development and the membranes had been
thoroughly heated and broken open, there was pro-
duced every form of animal Jife.! Of these, such as
had partaken of the most warmth set off to the
higher regions, having become winged, and such as
retained an earthy consistency came to be numbered
in the class of creeping things and of the other
land animals, while those whose composition partook
the most of the wet element gathered into the region
congenial to them, receiving the name of water
animals. And since the earth constantly grew more
solid through the action of the sun's fire and of the
winds, it was finally no longer able to generate any

1 Cp. chap. 10. 2.
27

-1

»-

DIODORUS OF SICILY

feoyoveiv, àXX éw Tí mpós àXXQNa pá£eos
Éxaa Ta qyevvüc0a. TÀv épsyoyov.

LÀ b ^ ^ L4 , yy
Eouke 8à eph Tíjs TOv ÜXwv d$vUcews ov
Ebpwríóns Gadovetv rois mypoeipmpévows, pa8111)e
àv 'Ava£awyópov To) $vcuob: év yàp vij MeXa-

vimm TíO5aw obros,

* 3 , ^, LES. 1 Aj y

ds obpavós Te yaid T. fjv popo) uia:

, * , 5 [4 , , ,

éme 8 éyepíaÜncav àXXjXav Ótxa,

qíkrovou mávra kàvébckav eis $áos,

Béy8pn, rernvá, Üfjpas, oUs 0' &Xuy vpédet,

yévos Te Üvgrv.

8. Kal Tepl uiv Te mpórT9s TÀv Üew wevé-

^ 1d "^
ceeg roinÜra TapeM$apuev, roUs 9 éE ápxí
yevvgÜévrae vày ávÜpdmov $aciv év àárdkTo Kai
Onpus8e. Pío xaÜcorOras cmopábgw éri TÓS
vopàs é£iévas, kal rpoadépeoÜat Tíje Te Borávns
T)» TpocqwecTáry xal To)s ajTopáTovs ámó
rÀy» BévBpev kapmo/s. xal oXeuovuévovs uiv
e A ^ , , 7 e^ e * "^ ,
bmà rYy Ünpíew àXXjXows BonÜciv vro roD avuje-
A
povros Oibac kopévovs, dÜpottopévovs 86 &ià róv
Qófov émwywockew ék ToU xarà pk Óv ToUS
AXMjNev Tímove. Tís duwvís Ó danpov kal
^ y: ^

cvykexvpévns olas éx ToU kar! óMeyov Sua pO poüv

2 £f N. ^ , £- , 3h
Tàs Xéeis, kal Trpóe àXXijxove TiÜÉvras cvpoXa

^ , ,
mepi ékdo rov TÓv VTokeinévov vvaptpov adiaw
^ ^ *
aUToig Towjca. T2» Trepi ámávTov €ppmvelav.
,
Tovobrcoy 86 avaTqpárov qwopévov kaO' ámacav
* L4 ^

Tiv olkovpévqv, ox. óuódovov mávras Cxew Qv
BR rca EAE AULA Eu

1 Frg. 488, Nauck,

3 G. Busolt, ** Diodor's Verháltniss z. Stoicismus," Jahrb.

cl. Phil. 139 (1889), 2977 ff., ascribes to Posidonius most of the
Preface of Diodorus, but finds in this and the preceding

— — —— — — nááÓ—

—ÀÓÀ —— —

]

BOOK I. 7. 6-8. 4

of the larger animals, but each kind of living creatures
was now begotten by breeding with one another.

And apparently Éuripides also, who was a pupil
of Anaxagoras the natural philosopher, is not opposed
to this account of the nature of the universe, for in
his Melanippe * he writes as follows:

"Tis thus that heav^n and earth were once one form;
But since the two were sundered each from each,
They now beget and bring to light all things,

The trees and birds, the beasts, the spawn of sea,
And race of mortals.

8. Concerning the first generation of the universe
this is the account which we have received.? But
the first men to be born, they say, led an undisci-
plined and bestial life, setting out one by one to
secure their sustenance and taking for their food
both the tenderest herbs and the fruits of wild trees.
Then, since thcy were attacked by the wild beasts,
they came to cach other's aid, being instructed by
expediency, and when gathered together in this way
by reason of their fear, they gradually came to
recognize their mutual characteristics. And though
the sounds which they made were at first unintelli-
gible and indistinct, yet gradually they came to give
articulation to their speech, and by agreeing with
one another upon symbols for each thing which
presented itself to them, made known among them-
selves the significance which was to be attached to each
term. But since groups of this kind arose over every
part of the inhabited world, not all men had the

chapter Epicurean influence. The fact is that Diodorus'
EE eophy, if he may be said to have had any, was highly
eclectic.

[-:]

DIODORUS OF SICILY

BiáXekvov, ékáo rov ós érvXe avvrafárrov Tàs
Xé£eis* 8&1 kal mravrotovs re Uráp£at xapakTíjpas
SiaXékrev kal rà mpéra yevóueva avaTüuaTa
TOv árávrov éÜvàv ápyéyova vyevécDa..

Tois o9v vporovs ràv àvÜpdmaev unBevós TÓV
mr pos iov xpnoiuev ebpnuévov émwuróvos uryew,
yvpvoUs uév éaÓfyros üvras, olxjaens 8e kal m vpós
dew, rpodíje 9' fuépov mavreXÓs üvevvorjrovs.
kai yàp Tij» avyykopiOrv Tíjs áryplas rpodfje á-vo-
obvras qmSeuíav TOv kapmüv eis Tàs évÓeías
moiciaÜa. TapáÜeciw Bi kal moXXoUs avTOv
dmóXXvaÜat ka rà ToU XeiuQvas Gu ve TÓ yÜxos
kal Trjv omá»i Tí Tpojs. éx 86 ToU! xaT
óAbyov Üm-ó Ts Teipas Óióaokopuévovus els Te TÀ
eTXaia karadevyew év TQ xeuudyi kal Tàv
kapmG» ToUe óvXáTTecÜa, Bvvauévovs dmoi-
ÜcaÜa.. *vecÜévros 5e ToU rvpüs kal TOv áXXav
TÓv xpuaiq.ov karà uuepüv kai ràs Téxvas eUpe-
Ofva. kal TdXXa Tà Üvvdueva Tàv wowóüv fiov
à$eMjca. kaÜóXov yàp má»rev T)v Xpelav
abTjv OSiáckaXov wyevéaÜm, Toig àvÜpoymows,
bómyovuévgv oikeles T]v éxácTov uá8maw
eüjvel Lao xal cwvepyobs Éyovri püs &mavra
xeipas kal Xóyov kal xrvxfje áryxivoiav.

Kal mepi qué» Tfjs Tpovrys vyevéceoms TOv dáv-
Üpávrev kai ToÜ maXatorárov fiov rois puÜeiaiw
ápkeaÜnaóueÜa, aToyalóuevo, Tí cvpperpías.
9. Ilepi 8é vàv mpáteev TÓv mapaSeOouévov
uv els pium, vyevouévav 88 y rois syveputopévows
Tóm 0Ois TÍjs oikovpévns, Gvefiévas mrepaa opea.

1 rop Schüfer: roórov.

BOOK I. 8. 4-9. 1

same language, inasmuch as every group organized
the elements of its speech by mere chance. "This is
the explanation of the present existence of every
conceivable kind of language, and, furthermore, out
of these first groups to be formed came all the
original nations of the world.

Now the first men, since none of the things useful
for life had yet been discovered, led a wretched
existence, having no clothing to cover them, knowing
not the use of dwelling and fire, and also being
totally ignorant of cultivated food. For since they
also even neglected the harvesting of the wild food,
they laid by no store of its fruits against their
needs; consequently large numbers of them perished
in the winters because of the cold and the lack of
food. Little by little, however, experience taught
them both to take to the caves in winter and to
store such fruits as could be preserved. And when
they had become acquainted with fire and other
useful things, the arts also and whatever else is
capable of furthering man's social life were gradually
discovered. Indeed, speaking generally, in all things
it was necessity itself that became man's teacher,
supplying in appropriate fashion instruction in every
matter to a creature which was well endowed by
nature and had, as its assistants for every purpose,
hands and speech and sagacity of mind.

And as regards the first origin of men and their
earliest manner of life we shall be satisfied with
what has been said, since we would keep due propor-
tioninouraccount. 9. But as regards all the events
which have been handed down to memory and took
place in the known regions of the inhabited world, we
shall now undertake to give a full account of them.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

'To)s uiv obv mpórovs VmápLavras BaciMels
obr' abrol Xéyew éyoyev obre rv ioTopikÓv rois
émayyexXouévoi eiBévau a v'ykaraTiÜÉueÜa*. à8U-
vaTovy yàp Tijv eUpecw TÓw *ypauuárov obros
elvau saXaiàv dare Toi TpéTots ÉaciXeUctv
qAuuóTi8a. yevéaÜa, el 66 ris. kal Tobro avy-
xcopjcai, TÓ ye TÓv LaToptoypáóov *yévos sav-
TeXÓs $aíverai vemaTi TQ kowQ Bio avveara-
pévov. epi 8$ ríe ToU yévovs ápxaióTwTos ob
uávov áu$ io Bo roUcw " EXXqves, àXXà kal groXXoi
rv BapfMápov, éavro)s abróxÜovas Xéyovres kai
mpárove TOv ámávrov àvÜpdrrov eüperàs tyevéa-
&aí TÓv éy TQ Beo xpnaíucv, kal às "yevouévas
map! abrois mpáEeis éx srNela rov xy póvow ávapa-
$fs )EOcÜa. ques Bà mepl uiv Tíjs éxáoTov
maXaióTyTOs TÀkpif]és kal Tívov mporepet rà &Üvn
TÓv dXXov rois ypóvois kal rócote Éreatv o)k àv
&opiaatueÜa, rà 5e Xeyóueva map. éxác ois mrepi
Te dpyaiórgros kal TÓv maXaiQv mpáteev év
xedaXatois àvarypáxrouev, a roxatóuevot rijs avp-
perpías. epi mpérov 6 ràv BapBápov &ié£i-
uev, obk ápxaiorépovys abToUs lyoóuevo. TOV
*Exxqjvev, xa8drep "Edoopos eiprkev, àXXà Trpo-
8.eX8etv BovAópevoi à vrkeia ra, TÓv rrepi abToUs,
&ros ápÉdpuevot rÓv rapà rois "EXXgatv iaTopov-
uévov uuóepíav dv rais ápyavoXoytous. érepoyevi)
mpüfw wapeufdMopuev. émé 986 xarà Tv
Alyvmrov ÓÜeÀ» Te *yevécew vmáptai pvÜoXo-
yoüvrat, at re TÓv doTpeov àpyaióraTOi Trapa-

BOOK I. 9. 2-6

Now as to who were the first kings we are in no
position to speak on our own authority, nor do we
give assent to those historians who profess to know;
for it is impossible that the discovery of writing was
of so early a date as to have been contemporary
with the first kings. But if a man should concede
even this last point, it still seems evident that writers
of history are as a class a quite recent appearance
in the life of mankind. Again, with respect to the
antiquity of the human race, not only do Greeks
put forth their claims but many of the barbarians
as well, all holding that it is they who are auto-
chthonous and the first of all men to discover the
things which are of use in life, and that it was the
events in their own history which were the earliest
to have been held worthy of record. So far as we
are concerned, however, we shall not make thc
attempt to determine with precision the antiquity of
each nation or what is the race whose nations are
prior in point of time to the rest and by how many
years, but we shall record summarily, keeping due
proportion in our account, what each nation has to
say concerning its antiquity and the early events
in its history. The first peoples which we shall dis-
euss will be the barbarians, not that we consider
them to be earlier than the Greeks, as Ephorus has
said, but because we wish to set forth most of the
facts about them at the outset, in order that we may
not, by beginning with the various accounts given
by the Greeks, have to interpolatc in the different
narrations of their early history any event connected
with another people. And since Egypt is the country
where mythology places the origin of the gods, where
the earliest observations of the stars are said to have

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Typucew ebpijaOat Aéyovrau, mpós, 8e TobTois
mpátfew dfióXoryot kai oXXal peyáXov ávópàv
(aropoUvra,, vrov]a óueÜa. fj la ropias Tr)» àpxsv
8ià TY» kar! Alqvm Tov mpaxÜévrov. :
10. baci Toívv» AbyómT.. karà Tv éE
ápxyüs Trà» ÓXov yévea ww Trpo rovs ávÓpármovs
yevéaÜa. kaTà Tv AlyvirTov Ou Qe Tv
eükpacíav Tís XGpas «ai Óià Tv usi ToU
NeíXov. ToÜTov yàp oXUyovov óvra xai Tás
Tpoóàs avTovels Tapexópevov pa&ies éxrpédew
TÀ ooryovrÜévra: Tüv Te yàp ToO kaMáuov prbav
kal róv XoTóOv, £r, 66 TÓv. Abybm Tiv kUapov kai
TÓ kaXoüpevov kopaaiov kai T0XMÀ To.a00 érepa.
rpodijv éroíunv mapéyea0at rà vévev Tv àvÜpá-
mov. Tüe O0 éf ápxüs map avrois Seovyovías
Tekjjpiov qreupdvTaL $épew T0 xal vüv ét TQV
év Onfaió. xopav kará Tias kaipoUs TOGOUTOUS
kai TqMkoUTovs uÜs yevvv dde ToUS i&óvras TÓ
yuopevov ékvNijrrea0ai- évíovs yàp abrÀv &ws
uév ToU aTüjÜovs kal Tv éumpoaÜiov TobÀy
BuarerwmüoÜau kal kívpocw XayuBávew, TÓ óé
Aovróv ToU ocpaTos éyew á&aTUmoTov, uevotaqs
Ér. karà civ Tis ÜoXov. ék TOUTOU ó ,eivat
$avepür ór. karà v)» é£ ápyis ToU kompov a v-
cTaciv Ts y'js eükpdrov kaÜea Táa ns pa ày
&a ye T))v yéveoww rv àvÜpármrov xaT Al*yvmrTov
xGpa' «al vàp vw, ojóapoU Ts GXMMos yis
$vojens o)80év TÓv ToioTow, €v povp TavTm

E MM ——

1 These plants are more fully described in chap. 34. For
the '^ root of the reed *' op. chap. 80, where the preparation

BOOK I. 9. 6-10. 3

been made, and where, furthermore, many note-
worthy deeds of great men are recorded, we shall
begin our history with the events connected with
Egypt.

10. Now the Egyptians have an account like this:
When in the beginning the universe came into being,
men first came into existence in Egypt, both because
of the favourable climate of the land and because of
the nature of the Nile. For this stream, since it
produces much life and provides a spontaneous supply
of food, easily supports whatever living things have
been engendered; for both the root of the reed
and the lotus, as well as the Egyptian bean and
corsaeum, as it is called, and many other similar
plants, supply the race of men with nourishment
allready foruse. As proofthat animallife appeared
first of all in their land they would offer the fact
that even at the present day the soil of the Thebaid
at certain times generates mice in such numbers
and of such size as to astonish all who have witnessed
the phenomenon; for some of them are fully formed
as far as the breast and front feet and are able to
move, while the rest of the body is unformed, the
clod of earth still retaining its natural character.
And rrom this fact it is manifest that, when the
world was first taking shape, the land of Egypt could
better than any other have been the place where
mankind came into being because of the well-
tempered nature of its soil; for even at the present
time, while the soil of no other country generates
any such things, in it alone certain living creatures

of such food is described. "The corsaeum was the tuber of the
Nile water-lily.

[7]

DIODORUS OF SICILY

8eopeiaDaí rwa T&v épyróxov mapabóEws Lwoyo-

,
vobnerva.

Ka8óXov 82 Xéyovsw, eire xarà Tàv éri
AevkaALtvos qyevópevov karakXua uàv édüdpn TÀ
TAeto va TÀÓV Lgov, eiküs pM T6. $1acea aat
ToU; kaTà Tj» Alyvamrov ÜbmÓ Tv peanpBpíav
karoikoUvTas, Os v TÍíjs Xxdpas ajTÀv» oben
ávóuBpov xarà TÓ meia Tov, eire, xaÜdmep Tivés
$ac., mravreXoUs vyevoévos TÓv épvrU xov $0opás
j yü má éE dpxüjs waivàs Tjveyke Tdv Doy
$íceis, Üos kal xarà roÜrov TOV Xoyov mrpemew
Tij Ópxqyóv Tv eur ixov yféveaw srpoaám Tei
raíTQ Tí Xpq. Tíjs'yàp mrapà rois GXXois érrop-
Bpías TQ map éavrois! "*ywopévp xavnami
puryeía js eleg eÜkparróTaTov yevéa Qa Tv áépa

ós r2» éÉ àpyxfüs TÓ Kai
mpós r3» éE ápxüs TOv mávrav Ü»oyovíav. Ke
yàp év rois kaÜ' $uàs &ri. xpovois kaTà TQV
émikAvo Tov AlvyvmTov év» Tos OWjigow TOV
j8árev davepüs ópácÓa, yevvopévas Qices
ép Óxov- órav yàp To) morauoD T)» dvaxa-
pnaw oiovpévov TV mpTQ» Tij LDMvos à ijMos
&ia£qpávg, $aci avvia raa , 69a, Cuwà iy
els TéXos. ümrpriauéva, rwà O6 jpwreM) kal Trpós
abTfj avudvi) Tf) 'y- m '

1l. Toós 8' ov xar AlyvmTov àvÜpowmovs TO
maAaióv vyevouévovs, àvafMéyavras eis. TÜV
kóapov kai rijv Tv ÜXov $óciw karamXayévras
re? kai Óavuácavras, vmoXafeiv elvat 8o £eobs
diBíovs re xal mpdórovs, Tóv ve Tjiov kai DW
ceMjvqy, àv rüv u£v "Ocipw, riw 96 "Iaw óvo-

1 éavrois Vogel: éavrüs D, avrois F, Bekker, Dindorf.

BOOK L. ro. 3-11. 1

may be seen coming into being in a marvellous
fashion.

In general, they say that if in the flood which
occurred in the time of Deucalion most living things
were destroyed, it is probable that the inhabitants
of southern Egypt survived rather than any others,
since their country is rainless for the most part; or
if, as some maintain, the destruction of living things
was complete and the earth then brought forth
again new forms of animals, nevertheless, even on
such a supposition the first genesis of living things
fittingly attaches to this country. For when the
moisture from the abundant rains, which fell among
other peoples, was mingled with the intense heat
which prevails in Egypt itself, it is reasonable to
suppose that the air became very well tempered for
the first generation of allliving things. Indeed, even
in our day during the inundations of Egypt the
generation of forms of animal life can clearly be
seen taking place in the pools which remain the
longest; for, whenever the river has begun to recede
and the sun has thoroughly dried the surface of the
slime, living animals, they say, take shape, some of
them fully formed, but some only half so and still
actually united with the very earth.

ll. Now the men of Egypt, they say, when ages
ago they came into existence, as they looked up at
the firmament and were struck with both awe and
wonder at the nature of the universe, conceived that
two gods were both eternal and first, namely, the
sun and the moon, whom they called respectively
Osiris and Isis, these appellations having in each
c——— B -— ADM MN MO CK MN

* re Vogel: omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

pácai, àmó rivos éróuov TeÜeians ékaTépas Tfjs
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E Eu e A Og ue
1 * The poet" for the Greeks was Homer; the line occurs
frequently, e.g. Odyssey 12. 323.
38

»— m$ À——sÀ— aJ] —À— À—"RiíllsÜÍ€ —À— — M] M UA ——— RE

BOOK I. ix. 1-5

case been based upon a certain meaning in them.
For when the names are translated into Greek Osiris
means '"' many-eyed," and properly so; for in shed-
ding his rays in every direction he surveys with
many eyes, as it were, all land and sea. And the
words of the poet! are also in agreement with this
conception when he says:

The sun, who sees all things and hears all things.

And of the ancient Greek writers of mythology some
give to Osiris the name Dionysus or, with a slight
change in form, Sirius. One of them, Eumolpus,
in his Bacchic Hymn speaks of

Our Dionysus, shining like a star,
With fiery eye in ev'ry ray ;

while Orpheus? says:

And this is why men call him Shining One
And Dionysus.

Some say that Osiris is also represented with the
cloak of fawn-skin about his shoulders? as imitating
the sky spangled with the stars. As for Isis, when
translated the word means ' ancient," the name
having been given her because her birth was from
everlasting and ancient. And they put horns on her
head both because of the appearance which she has
to the eye when the moon is crescent-shaped, and
because among the Egyptians a cow is held sacred
to her.

These two gods, they hold, regulate the entire
universe, giving both nourishment and increase to

3 Frg. 237, Kern.
* That is, as Dionysus was commonly represented.

[--]

DIODORUS OF SICILY

vávra Tpuuepégww pais dopárq xivüoew Tiv
meplo8ov áàmapritoUaais, Tf) Te éapwf) xai Oepwg
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Aéyovra

vaTi)p àyDp&v Te Ücdv re.
TÓ 02 mrÜp ue8epuvevópevov " Haw Tov óvop.Aaav,
vouicavras peyav elva. Ücóv kal ToXAÀ avyg-
40

BOOK I. r1. 5-12. 3

all things by means of a system of three seasons
which complete the full cycle through an unobserv-
able movement, these being spring and summer and
winter; and these seasons, though in nature most
opposed to one another, complete the cycle of the
year in the fullest harmony. Moreover, practically all
the physical matter which is essential to the genera-
tion of all things is furnished by these gods, the sun
contributing the fiery element and the spirit, the
moon the wet and the dry, and both together the air;
and it is through these elements that all things are
engendered and nourished. And so it is out of the
sun and moon that the whole physical body of the
universe is made complete; and as for the five
parts just named of these bodies—the spirit, the
fire, the dry, as well as the wet, and, lastly, the
airike—just as in the case of a man we enumerate
head and hands and feet and the other parts, so in
the same way the body of the universe is composed
in its entirety of these parts.

12. Each of these parts they regard as a god and
to each of them the first men in Egypt to use articu-
late speech gave a distinct name appropriate to its
nature. Now the spirit they called, as we translate
their expression, Zeus, and since he was the source
of the spirit of life in animals they considered him
to be in a sense the father of all things. Ánd they
say that the most renowned of the Greek poets!
also agrees with this when he speaks of this god as

The father of men and of gods.

The fire they called Hephaestus, as it is translated,
holding him to be a great god and one who con-

! Homer; the phrase occurs in many passages.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

BáXXeaÜa. Tcv «ie wvévecív Te kal TeMeav

4 aUEgoiv. ràv 86 vüv Óomep dwyyctóv T( TÀV
Qvouévov vroXaufávovras uwuyrépa Tpoaaryopeb-
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xpovov Tíjs AéEeos* TO yàp maXaiv óvopátea0at
yj» umrépa, kaÜámep xai rüv'Opdéa mpospuaprv-
peiv Xéyovra

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vmápxyew imeMjó0a, Tepl ob kai rÓv mowuyriw
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6 oi yàp. Alyimrio, vouitovoww 'Qucavóv clvat Tóv
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TOv ÜeQv «vevécew bmápfav Tfs yàp Táons
oikovpévge xarà póvgv Tv AlyvmTov elvai
TóAeu TOXXUs bmÓ rÀv àpyaíov cv éxTwaué-
vas, olov As, 'HAíov, 'Eppuob, 'ATÓóXXcvos,
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dkpóra ov éwéyew TómOv ToU aUjmavros koc pov:
&ómep éx Tíje kopvóíjs ToU Atós uvÜoXonmÜOT)va,

1 ^üeárqo Wesseling: exéAugry F, ócaydv CD.

1 Frg. 302, Kern.
42

BOOK I. r2. 3-7

tributes much both to the birth and full development
of all things. The earth, again, they looked upon as
a kind of vessel which holds all growing things and so
gave it the name "' mother " ; and in like manner the
Greeks also call it Demeter, the word having been
slightly changed in the course of time; for in olden
times they called her Gé Meter (Earth Mother), to
which Orpheus ! bears witness when he speaks of

Earth the Mother of all, Demeter giver of wealth.

And the wet, according to them, was called by the
men of old Oceané, which, when translated, means
Fostering-mother, though some of the Greeks have
taken it to be Oceanus, in connection with whom
the poet ? also speaks of

Oceanus source of gods and mother Tethys.

For the Egyptians consider Oceanus to be their
river Nile, on which also their gods were born; since,
they say, Egypt is the only country in the whole
inhabited world where there are many cities which
were founded by the first gods, such as Zeus, Helius,
Hermes, Apollo, Pan, Eileithyia, and many more.?

The air, they say, they called Athena, as the name
is translated, and they considered her to be the
daughter of Zeus and conceived of her as a virgin,
because of the fact that the air is by its nature
uncorrupted and occupies the highest part of the
entire universe; for the latter reason also the myth
arose that she was born from the head of Zeus.

? Tethys was the wife of Oceanus. "The line is from the
Iliad 14. 302.

* By the time Diodorus visited Egypt many an old
Egyptian city bore a Greek name, such as Diospolis (cp.
chap. 45), Heliopolis, Hermupolis, Apollinopolis, Panopolis,
and the like.

5———————— A ————

DIODORUS OF SICILY

8 raírqv yevéaÜat. — Qvopáa0a, 66 abr?v Tprro-

yéveiav ám ToU Tple uerafdXXew abTüs Tiv
Qícw xaTr' éwiavróv, Capos kal Üépove kal xei-
pvos. Xéyea0at 8 abris kal VXavkármww, oUx
doTep Évto, Tàv. "EXXqjvcov ÜbméXaBov, àmó ToU
ro); ódaXpuoUe Éxew vyXavko)s* Tobro pév wyàp
eUnÜes Ümápyew* àXÀ' dmó ToU Tüv üépa Tw
mpócovrw éxew éyykavkov.

aci 8e roUs mévre Ücobe ToUs mpoeippuévovs
vücav Trjv oikovpuévqv émvropeiea at, Qavrabo-
pévovs rois àvÜpdvrois év iepüv Lowv popóaís,
doTi 8 Óre eis ávÜpomrov ioéas 4j rwev GXXov
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TÓv lepéav Tv ToL0ÓTQV Xóryov Ocivai TOV KaTà
Tiv vrolraiv TÓ T poerpnuévov ds rywopuevov,

ka( Te Ücol Écívouatw éoukóres áXXoBarolst

vravroto, TeXéBovres émio poc. rOXqas,
M , ^

àvOpármov ÜBpiw ve kal eüvopimv écopóvres.

IIco) uiv oüv àv dv obpavà 0càv xalyéveaw
ál&ov da xnkórev rocaüTa Méyoveiw AlybrrTtoL.

18. "AAXove 8 éx ToUrwv émwyelovs vyevécOat
Qaacív, Urápkavras uiv. Ovoroís, &ià 8e cUveaiv
ka kotwjv àvÜpdrev eUepyyeaíav rerevyóras rijs
áBavacías, Gv évíovs kal BaavXeis vyeyovévat xarà
rjv Alyvmrov. peÜepuovevopévov 8 abrv rwàs
piv ópevüpovs bmápyew To(s obpavíos, Twàs
8' iBíav éeynkévat "rpoatyyopíav, "HAióv Te. kai

BOOK I. zz. 7-13. 2

Another name given her was Tritogeneia (Thrice-
born), because her nature changes three times in
the course of the year, in the spring, summer, and
winter. They add that she is also called Glaucopis
(Blue-eyed),! not because she has blue eyes, as some
Greeks have held—a silly explanation, indeed—but
because the air has a bluish cast.

These five deities, they say, visit all the inhabited
world, revealing themselves to men in the form of
sacred animals, and at times even appearing in the
guise of men or in other shapes ; nor is this a fabulous
thing, but possible, if these are in very truth the
gods who give life to all things. And also the poet,
who visited Egypt and became acquainted with such
accounts as these from the lips of the priests, in some
place in his writings? sets forth as actual fact what
has been said:

The gods, in strangers' form from alien lands,
Frequent the cities of men in ev'ry guise,
Observing their insolence and lawful ways.

Now so far as the celestial gods are concerned
whose genesis is from eternity, this is the account
given by the Egyptians.

13. And besides these there are other gods, they
Say, who were terrestrial, having once been mortals,
but who, by reason of their sagacity and the good
services which they rendered to all men, attained
immortality, some of them having even been kings
in Egypt. Their names, when translated, are in
some cases the same as those of the celestial gods,
while others have a distinct appellation, such as

i'This common epithet of Athena in Homer is more

Eenerally taken to mean * gleaming-eyed."
* Odyssey 11. 485-7. B id

— — — ———————MR IMMUNE

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Kpóvov xal 'Péav, éri 8à Aía àv bmó Tiwev
,Appeva rpocaryopevóuevov, «pos 6€ TOÜUTOLS
Hpav xai "Hoaicrov, ér. 9 'Ecvíav kal TeXev-
vaiov 'Epufj. xai pórov uév "HXiov. Baccco-
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mpérov "Hóatarov BaciXebcat, TrUpós eüperiv
yevóuevov xai Oà 9» ebypmaTiav TAUTQV
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puÜoXóyov "Ocipw xal "low, xarà D ToUs
aAeio Tous Aía Te xol "Hpav, obe Ov ápero»v
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yevrgÜévros: óvópara 96 bmápfa. Tos Tekvo-
8cioww "Ocipiv. kal "loiw, ér.. 66 Tvódva | «ai
8 ' AaróAA ova, kal ' AópoBirqy: kal Tüv uév "Oatpw
ueÜepusvevópevov elvat. Atóvvaov, zv 96 "Iow
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"Octpiww kai Tiv. BactXeíav Ota&e£ápevov TToXAÀ

erpüfat pe ePepyyecíav ToU KoivoO Bíov.
14. IIpórov u£v yàp raücat Tíjs àXXXoaryías

1! mpokaAeia 6a: Dindorf ; mpossaAeia ai.

BOOK I. 13. 2-14. 1

Helius, Cronus, and Rhea, and also the Zeus who is
called Ammon by some, and besides these Hera and
Hephaestus, also Hestia, and, finally, Hermes.
Helius was the first king of the Egyptians, his name
being the same as that of the heavenly star.! Some
of the priests, however, say that Hephaestus was
their first king, since he was the discoverer of fire
and received the rule because of this service to
mankind; for once, when a tree on the mountains
had been struck by lightning and the forest near by
was ablaze, Hephaestus went up to it, for it was
winter-time, and greatly enjoyed the heat; as the
fire died down he kept adding fuel to it, and while
keeping the fire going in this way he invited the
res of mankind to enjoy the advantage which
came from it. Then Cronus became the ruler, and
upon marrying his sister Rhea he begat Osiris and
Isis, according to some writers of mythology, but,
according to the majority, Zeus and Hera, whose
high achievements gave them dominion over the
entire universe. From these last were sprung five
gods, one born on each of the five days which the
Egyptians intercalate ; ? the names of these children
were Osiris and Isis, and also 'Typhon, Apollo, and
Aphrodite ; and Osiris when translated is Dionysus,
and Ísis is more similar to Demeter than to any
other goddess; and after Osiris married Isis and
sueceeded to the kingship he did many things of
service to the social life of man.

14. Osiris was the first, they record, to make man-

! That is, the sun. '

? The Egyptians used a calendar of twelve months of thirty
days each, with five days intercalated at the end of the year.
Cp. chap. 50.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

s ^ , ^ 14 e ^ x L4
vb rÓv àvÜpdmew wévos, ebpojas uàv "loioos
TÓóv Te ToD TvpoÜ kal Tíjs xpiÜTs «apmóv, ovó-
gevov uiv dg érvxe kaTà T'$p Xxópav uerà Tíjs
x L4 3 , e d M ^ 3 ,
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^ v" ^ , ,
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" , "

óvouátew, às TÀv vópev mpOTov jmó TabTüS
TeÜe.uévov,

15. Kríca, 8e dac. To)e Tmepl Tv "Ocipw

"m^ " ,
vóMw ép Tfj Onfaib. rfj «ar AlyvmTOv éka-
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Tóm Xov, f)v éxetvovs uév émrovvpov mo(ífjaa, Tís
;

y)rpós, roD à ueravyevea répovs abrijv óvouátew
48

BOOK I. r4. 1-15. 1

kind give up cannibalism; for after Isis had dis
covered the fruit of both wheat and barley which
grew wild over the land along with the other plants
but was still unknown to man, and Osiris had also
devised the cultivation of these fruits, all men
were glad to change their food, both because of the
pleasing nature of the newly-discovered grains and
because it seemed to their advantage to refrain from
their butchery of one another. As proof of the
discovery of these fruits they offer the following
ancient custom which they still observe: Even yet
at harvest time the people make a dedication of
the first heads of the grain to be cut, and standing
beside the sheaf beat themselves and call upon Isis,
by this act rendering honour to the goddess for the
fruits which she discovered, at the season when she
first did this. Moreover in some cities, during the
Festival of Isis as well, stalks of wheat and barley
are carried among the other objects in the proces-
sion, as a memorial of what the goddess so ingeniously
discovered at the beginning. Isis also established
laws, they say, in accordance with which the people
regularly dispense justice to one another and are
led to refrain through fear of punishment from
illegal violence and insolence ; and it is for this reason
also that the early Greeks gave Demeter the name
Thesmophorus, acknowledging in this way that
she had first established their laws.

15. Osiris, they say, founded in the Egyptian
Thebaid a city with a hundred gates, which the men
of his day named after his mother, though later
generations called it Diospolis,? and some named it

! Law-giver. 3 City of Zeus.
49

DIODORUS OF SICILY

2 Aus máXuv, vlov; 86 OrjBas. ápdia Byreiras 8'
4 kríais Tíjs róNews TaUTUs 00 uóvov Tapà Tois
cvyypadeücu, àXXà xal map' abrois Tois KaT
Alyumrov iepeÜg: moXXoi yàp iaTopoUciv oUX
írà TOv mepi rv "Ociw kriaÜfjvas Tàs G»Bas,
àAAà mroAXoís Üo-epov éreatv Umó riwos BaaiXécs,
mepi oU rà xarà uépos év rois oikclois xpóvows
ávaypdxrouev. —iópísac0a. Bé xal iepov TÓV
yovéov As Te xal "Hpas üfióXoyov TQ T€
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xpuaoüs Bo Ais, róv pév ueitova ToU obpastov,
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abrO», Üv miwec "Apugova KaXobat — «ara-
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vov vaoUe xpucoUe, Ov éxácTo ripiàs àrroveipat
kai xaracTijca, ToUs émijekouévovs Lepets. mpo-
ripuác a, BÀ mrapà v 'Ocípibi kal Tí) "ats To)s
ràs réXvas ávevplaxovras 1) ue0o8ejovrás Ti TÀV
xpuaíuov: &iómep év Tf) OnBaíB,. xaXkovpryeiav
eüpeÜévrev xal xpvaeiev Oma Te KaTac Kevá-
cacÜat, B àv rà Ügpla xrelvovras xal T)» vijv
épyatouévovss diXoriuos éEnuepóaat T)» xopav,
d'yáXpaTá re kal xpvaoUs vaovs karackeváaaaÜ at
TrÀv Ücóv 8tam permeis.

l'evéaÜa, 8à kal duXoyéopyov róv "Oa, Kal
rpadfjva. uév Tíjs eUBaipovos 'Apaflías év Níag
a gaioy Alyómrov, As Üvra Taíóa, kai TV
erpoawyopíav éyew apà Toís "EAAqgsiw áTÓ T€
ToU TaTpós kai ToU TÓTOV Aióvugov Óvopac-
7 0évra pepvísÜa. O8 Tíüe Nvows kai TOv

1 jvokag0éyra Vogel: uerovopaoüévra F, Bekker, Dindorf.
50

BOOK I. z5. 1-7

Thebes. There is no agreement, however, as to
when this city was founded, not only among the
historians, but even among the priests of Egypt
themselves; for many writers say that 'Thebes was
not founded by Osiris, but many years later by à
certain king of whom we shall give a detailed account
in connection with his period. Osiris, they add,
also built à temple to his parents, Zeus and Hera,
which was famous both for its size and its costliness
in general, and two golden chapels to Zeus, the
larger one to him as god of heaven, the smaller one
to him as former king and father of the Egyptians,
in which róle he is called by some Ammon. He also
made golden chapels for the rest of the gods men-
tioned above, allotting honours to each of them and
appointing priests to have charge over these. Special
esteem at the court of Osiris and Isis was also
aecorded to those who should invent any of the arts
or devise any useful process; consequently, since
copper and gold mines had been discovered in the
Thebaid, they fashioned implements with which they
killed the wild beasts and worked the soil, and thus
in eager rivalry brought the country under cultiva-
tion, and they made images of the gods and mag-
nificent golden chapels for their worship.

Osiris, they say, was also interested in agriculture
and was reared in Nysa, a city of Arabia Felix near
Egypt, being a son of Zeus; and the name which
he bears among the Greeks is derived both from
his father and from the birthplace, since he is called
Dionysus. Mention is also made of Nysa by the

1 The founder was a certain Busiris, according to chap. 45.
* A far-fetched etymology : JDio- (from Dios, the genitive
form of the nominative Zeus) and Nysus (Nysa).

DIODORUS OF SICILY

* , ^ [4 L4 ^ * »
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dai BÉ vi; NUow, Ümacrov üpos ávÜéov 0X,
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16. "Yao «yàp Toírov mpóTov uiv Tüjv T€
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2 uécov Óà ám roD éapos. kal ToUe "EXXqvas

, ^ * i € , L4 * ^
8iBáEa. roUrov Trà cepi Tv éppmveiav, varép Ov

BOOK IL r5. 7-16. 2

poet in his Hymns,! to the effect that it was in the
vicinity of Egypt, when he says:

There is a certain Nysa, mountain high,
With forests thick, in Phoenicé afar,
Close to Aegyptus' streams.

And the discovery of the vine, they say, was made
by him near Nysa, and that, having further devised
the proper treatment of its fruit, he was the first to
drink wine and taught mankind at large the culture
of the vine and the use of wine, as well as the way to
harvest the grape and to store the wine. The one
most highly honoured by him was Hermes, who was
endowed with unusual ingenuity for devising things
capable of improving the social life of man.

16. It was by Hermes, for instance, according to
them, that the common language of mankind was
first further articulated, and that many objects which
were still nameless received an appellation, that the
alphabet was invented, and that ordinances regard-
ing the honours and offerings due to the gods were
duly established; he was the first also to observe
the orderly arrangement of the stars and the har-
mony of the musical sounds and their nature, to
establish a wrestling school, and to give thought to
the rhythmical movement of the human body and
its proper development. He also made a lyre and
gave it three strings, imitating the seasons of the
year; for he adopted three tones, a high, a low,
and a medium; the bigh from the summer, the low
from the winter, and the medium from the spring.
'The Greeks also were taught by him how to expound
(hermeneia) their thoughts, and it was for this reason

1 Homeric Hymns 1. 8-9.
53

DIODORUS OF SICILY

*Epuj» avróv dvopácÓOa:. kaÜóXov Bà ToUs
mrepi Tóv "Oaipiw roÜTov éxovras Leporypau.ia.Téa
ümavr a)TQ mpocavaxowoÜcÓa,. kai páMcra
xpija8a. Tf) rovrov cvufovMg. al Tis €Aaías
8é rà dvróv abr» ebpeiv, àXX oix " Adgvày,
GoTep "EXXgvés $aat.

17. Tàóv 82 "Ocupiw Xéyovaww, Damep eepryerucüv
lyra. kal iXóBoEov, arparómeBov uéya cgvaT15ca-
aas, &avootuevov émeX0eiv &racav Tiv oixovué-
vq» kai &8áEai TO yévos Tày dvÜpomov Tíjv Te
Tís djméXov $vreíav Kai TOV amópov ToU TE

mupivov xai «piütvov xapmot: bmoXauBáve
yàp avrüv Ór. Ta)jcas Tíjs &ypioTzTOS TOUS Av-
pdrovs xal Suairus ")uépov peraXaBetv TroUjcas
viuÀv. áÜavárev Te)ferai Bià TO péyeÜos Tíjs
ebepyyeaías.. Ómep 85 «al yevéaOau- oU uóvov yàp
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Bepeüs TaíTge, dÀAXÀ xai mávras ToUs perà
rabra, émvyevouévovs Bià ij» év vais eüpeÜciaaus
vpodais xápvra robs elaxyynaapévovs ds émupave-
a TáTovs Üco)s Teriumnkévaa.

Tà» 9' otv "Ocuptv $act rà ka và T)» Alyvm Tov
xaracTócavra xal T]v TÀv ÜXwev Wyeuovíav
"IciÀy Tfj yvvau vapabóvra, ary uév Tapa-
karacTica. cuflovXov Tüv 'Epuáv &à T0
óporáce, robrov Buijépew TY». AXXa díXov,
kal cTpaTWyüv uév àmomeiv àámáans Tíjs io
abróv xydpas 'HpakXéa ryéve. e mpoarjkovra kal
&avpatópuevov ém' ávüpeía e kal acpaTos Poun,
émiueNgràs Bé Tdfai TÀv gév Trpós Soi
kecupévov uepüv kal TOv émi ÜaXárTo voTOYV
Bovcipw, àv 6à xarà T» AiBwríav kal Augu
54

BOOK I. 16. 2-17. 3

that he was given the name Hermes. In a word,
Osiris, taking him for his priestly scribe, communi-
cated with him on every matter and used his counsel
above that of all others. "The olive tree also, they
claim, was his discovery, not Athena's, as Greeks say.

17. Of Osiris they say that, being of a beneficent
turn of mind, and eager for glory, he gathered
together a great army, with the intention of visiting
all the inhabited earth and teaching the race of men
how to cultivate the vine and sow wheat and barley ;
for he supposed that if he made men give up their
savagery and adopt a gentle manner of life he would
receive immortal honours because of the magnitude
of his benefactions. And this did in fact take place,
since not only the men of his time who received this
gift, but all sueceeding generations as well, because
of the delight which they take in the foods which
were discovered, have honoured those who intro-
duced them as gods most illustrious.

Now after Osiris had established the affairs of
Egypt and turned the supreme power over to Isis
his wife, they say that he placed Hermes at her
side as counsellor because his prudence raised him
above the king's other friends, and as general of
all the land under bis sway he left Heracles, who was
both his kinsman and renowned for his valour and
physical strength, while as governors he appointed
Busiris over those parts of Egypt which lie towards
Phoenicia and border upon the sea and Antaeus
over those adjoining Ethiopia and Libya; then he

DIODORUS OF SICILY

'Avraios, abróv 9" ék Tjs AlyómTov perà Tí]
Bvvápews ávatebEa, poe Tij» a Tparreíav, &xovra.
ueÜ abToD xai Tóv á8eXdó», bv oi "EXXqves
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$aci yevécÜa, ToU dvToD Ts óájvgs, fs xai
mepvriÜéagt Toro TQ Ücó pnáMoTa mávres dv-
Üperroi Tob Oà xvrToD Tijv eÜpeaw àvaTiÜéaciw
'Ocípibi xal kaÜiepobaiww abróv Toro TQ Ücó,
xaÜámep xai oí "EXXqves AiwovÜcq. Kai karTà
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uév 'Adpoüírg T9v pvpcivmps, TO 9 'AmoXNNoOPL
Tis Sájvqg» mpocádravras.? . ;

18. Tà 3' oiv 'Ocípiàu avvea TparebaOa. 8o
Aéyovaw vioUs "AvovB(v re kai Maxebóra, Óa-
d épovras àvbpeía. ápdorépovs 8à yp1jcacOa Tols
émioqporárowg ÜmXow &mó wav Coov oO ávot-
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Xepnpó, ueÜepuvevopévq» 0€ Ilavógs vOÓX. Gvv-

1 uiv Bekker, Vogel: omitted CF, Dindorf.

BOOK lI. x7. 3-18. 2

himself left Egypt with his army to make his cam-
paign, taking in his company also his brother, whom
the Greeks call Apollo. And it was Apollo, they
say, who discovered the laurel, a garland of which
ali men place about the head of this god above
all others. 'The discovery of ivy is also attributed
to Osiris by the Egyptians and made sacred to this
god, just as the Greeks also do in the case of Dionysus.
Ánd in the Egyptian language, they say, the ivy is
called the "" plant of Osiris" and for purposes of
dedication is preferred to the vine, since the Jatter
sheds its leaves while the former ever remains
green; the same rule, moreover, the ancients have
followed in the case of other plants also which are
perennially green, ascribing, for instance, the myrtle
to Aphrodite and the laurel to Apollo.

18. Now Osiris was accompanied on his campaign,
as the Egyptian account goes, by his two sons
Anubis and Macedon, who were distinguished for
their valour. Both of them carried the most notable
accoutrements of war, taken from certain animals
whose character was not unlike the boldness of the
men, Anubis wearing a dog's skin and Macedon
the fore-parts of a wolf; and it is for this reason
that these animals are held in honour among the
Egyptians. He also took Pan along on his campaign,
who is held in special honour by the Egyptians; for
the inhabitants of the land have not only set up
statues of him at every temple but have also named
a city after him in the Thebaid, called by the natives
Chemmo, which when translated means City of Pan.

1 The god Min, being ithyphallie, was usually identified
by the Greeks with Pan; cp. Herodotus, 2. 46.

3 76 8 "A0qvà rl» éAalay added F, Bekker, Dindorf.
51

DIODORUS OF SICILY

émeaÜat 86 kal Tíjs yeupylas éume pav Éxovras,
Tfs nuév cepi Tv djmeov Qvreías Mápova, Tob
Bà xarà Tv airov c'mópov kal Tíjs ÓXQs Gu*yko-
ua8fs "TpurróMeuov. — dvTov 8 e)Tpemóv ye-
vopévavw Tüv "Octpuw, eb£ápevov ois 8cots 0péyrew
ijv kóuqv péxpi àv eis AlyvrrTov àvakáguNen, T1v
vopeíav ToiiaÜaL OV Aifiomías: Uv dv airíav
péxpt TOv veorépov xpóvov énaxboat TÓ Tepi
Te &ópus vópigov "rap AlyvmTiows, kal ToUs
soiovuévovs Tàs ávo8npias péxpi Tfs eis olkov
àvakopaOfs kouoTpodeiv.

"Opr, 9 abrQ epi Tv Aifwriav àxBtjvai
Aéyovsi mpüs abTóv TÓ TÀv Xarópwv *yévos, oUs
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viv evpaelav* ob*yàp roNepaküv eiyat TOv "Octpw

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ToUs dvÜpcmrovs à epi T3v yeopyiav kal TróMeis

dEioAó*yovs kríaavra karaMmreiv TOUS €TLUENTGO-

uévovs Tífjs Xopas xai $ópovs srpa£opévovs.

19. Toéro» 8' ivrev "rep rabra, TOv NeiXóv
$aci karà T?v To cepíov áerpov émvroMiv,

BOOK I. 18. 2-19. 1

In his company were also men who were experienced
in agriculture, such as Maron in the cultivation of
the vine, and Triptolemus in the sowing of grain
and in every step in the harvesting of it. And when
all his preparations had been completed Osiris made
a vow to the gods that he would let his hair grow
until his return to Egypt and then made his way
through Ethiopia; and this is the reason why this
custom with regard to their hair was observed
among the Egyptians until recent times, and why
those who journeyed abroad let their hair grow
until their return home.

While he was in Ethiopia, their account continues,
the Satyr people were brought to him, who, they
say, have hair upon their loins. For Osiris was
laughter-loving and fond of music and the dance;
consequently he took with him 2a multitude of
musicians, among whom were nine maidens who
could sing and were trained in the other arts, these
maidens being those who among the Greeks are
called the Muses; and their leader (Aegetes), as the
account goes, was Apollo, who was for that reason
also given the name Musegetes. As for the Satyrs,
they were taken along on the campaign because they
were proficient in dancing and singing and every
kind of relaxation and pastime; for Osiris was not
warlike, nor did he have to organize pitched battles
or engagements, since every people received him as
a god because of his benciacdgas. In Ethiopia he
instructed the inhabitants in agriculture and founded
Some notable cities, and then left behind him men
to govern the country and collect the tribute.

19. While Osiris and his army were thus employed,
the Nile, they say, at the time of the rising of Sirius,

DIODORUS OF SICILY

éy d xaipQ puáMora, eie0€ mXnpoboÜat, baryévra
kaTakAiad, moXMv Tfje AlyUmrov, kal ud Mora
TobTo TO uépos émeXÓetv ob IIpouzeis eixe T7)»
émiuéNeiay:. DiaÜapévrov 5€ axe80v ámávTov
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xal rÀv map "EXXgsi moirüv Twas eis uüQov
dYyameiv TO TpaxÜév, às *HpaxXéovs TOv &eróv
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carros Tj xcpas TpocaropevOtjvau paprupetv
88 xal Tv Tovgr?9 Xéyovra

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críjsa 8 dy Alyómro morauQ véas àpdue-
Aíacas.

xarà yàp TQv kaXovuévgy! Ow éu B áXXovros
els ÜdXarrav ToU woTaguoU, roÜrov TÓv TÓTOV
éjmróptov elvau T0 TaXauQv. Tíjs AiyvUrmTOV* TeXev-
rvaías 9& rvxelv abróv djs vüv Éxei mpoayopías
àmó o0 BjactNeócavros NeiXéos.

Tóv 8 oiv "Ocipw mapayevóuevov émi TOUS
Tje AlÓLomías üpovs TÓv vorauóv é£ àpdorépev
TÓV pepOv yopacir ávaXafetv, ócTe karà TV

BOOK I. r9. 1-5

which is the season when the river is usually at flood,
breaking out of its banks inundated a large section
of Egypt and covered especially that part where
Prometheus was governor; and since practically
everything in this district was destroyed, Prometheus
was so grieved that he was on the point of quitting
life wilfully. Because its water sweeps down so
swiftly and with such violence the river was given
the name Áétus;! but Heracles, being ever intent
upon great enterprises and eager for the reputation
of a manly spirit, speedily stopped the flood at its
breach and turned the river back into its former
course. Consequently certain of the Greek poets
worked the incident into a myth, to the effect that
Heracles had killed the eagle which was devouring
the liver of Prometheus. "The river in the earliest
period bore the name Oceané, which in Greek is
Oceanus; then because of this flood, they say, it
was called Áétus, and still later it was known as
Aegyptus after a former king of the land. And the
poet also adds his testimony to this when he
writes :?

On the river Aegyptus my curvéd ships I stayed.

For it is at Thonis, as it is called, which in early
times was the trading-port of Egypt, that the
river empties into the sea. Its last name and that
which the river now bears it received from the former
king Nileus.

Now when Osiris arrived at the borders of Ethiopia,
he curbed the river by dikes on both banks, so that

1 Eagle.
3 Odyssey 14. 258.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

mdjpociw abToU Tj» Xópav» i) Mgvádtew Tapà
T0 cvpdépov, à&XAà Ói& Tiwev kareakevaaévav
Ovpüv eicadíeaÜai. TÓ Deüpa Tpdcos xaÜ' ócov

6 àv f$ xpeía. Émevra Toujcac0a: T)v Topeíav
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7 |»Bàv kal ro) méparos Tíjs olkovpuévms. kTícat
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5e xal kvrróv év Tfj rap 'lvOois Nay, kai àa-
uévew robo TÓ $vróv év exe póvp TÓ TómQ
TOv Tre kaTÀ T3)v 'lyUuerv kat T?jv Ópopov xXapav.

$ T0AAÀ Bb kal dÀÀa aqpeía Tfjs éavroD rapovaías
dmoAeAovréva, xaT! ékelvgy Ty xópav, Bv àv
cpoaxÜévras ovs perayeveaTépous TÓÀV "Iv6&v
ápdiaPnrfnas To) Üeoü, Aéyovras 'ly8óv eivai
TÓ Yyévos.

20. l'evéaÜa. 82 xai epi T?» TÀv éXebádrvrov
8jpav, kai oT5Xas TavTaXo0 karaMumeiv! Tíjs
iBas orparéías. émeMBeiv Bé kai TÀXÀa TÀ
kaTà T)» '"Aaíav &Üvp, kal mepaueÜTjvas ka rà

2 T6» "EXMjo rovrov eis Tv. Expormv. Kai KQT
pév Tv Opdkn» | Avkobpyov T0v faciMéa TÓV
BapBápev évavriobuevov ois bm abro) TpaT-
rouévom àmokTeivau, Mápova 86 qnpaióv 7j0n
kaBeaàra karaMreiv émipeMgriv ràv éy ravrQ
Tfj x6pa $vrevopévov, kai krío yv aUTOV mora at
Tfj émovÜuov TóMews, fjv óvonáaat Mapoóovetav.

3 xai MaxeBóva pàv Tóv vióv dmoXmetv BaaXéa
Te dw ékeivov qrpocayopevÜelams Maxe8ovías,

TourroMég 8 érerpéyas TÓs kaTÀ T7]v "Avruci

yeopyías. TéAos 06 rv "Ociw mácav Tv

BOOK I. 19. 5-20. 3

at flood-time it might not form stagnant pools over
the land to its detriment, but that the flood-water
might be let upon the countryside, in a gentle flow
as it might be needed, through gates which he had
built. After this he continued his march through
Arabia along the shore of the Red Sea! as far as
India and the limits of the inhabited world. He also
founded not a few cities in India, one of which he
named Nysa, wishing to leave there a memorial of
that city in Egypt where he had been reared. He
also planted ivy in the Indian Nysa, and throughout
India and those countries which border upon it the
plant to this day is still to be found only in this
region. And many other signs of his stay he left
in that country, which have led the Indians of a later
time to lay claim to the god and say that he was by
birth a native of India.

90. Osiris also took an interest in hunting elephants,
and everywhere left behind him inscribed pillars tell-
ing of his campaign. And he visited all the other
nations of Asia as well and crossed into Europe at
the Hellespont. In Thrace he slew Lycurgus, the
king of the barbarians, who opposed his undertak-
ings, and Maron, who was now old, he left there to
supervise the culture of the plants which he intro-
duced into that land and caused him to found a city
to bear his name, which he called Maroneia. Mace-
don his son, moreover, he left as king of Macedonia,
which was named after him, while to Triptolemus he
assigned the care of agriculture in Attica. Finally,
Osiris in this way visited all the inhabited world and

1 Not the present Red Sea, but the Persian Gulf and the
Indian Ocean.

1 karoAcretv avraxoü Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

oikovuévgv émeXÜóvra Tv kowóv fiov rois "jue-
4 porárows kapmois evep'yeriíjaaa. ei 6é ris dpa
ró $vrüv rfe àuméXov pu!) mpocóOéxorro, à á£ai
vÓ ék Tfj kpiÜfje karaakevalópevov mópa, Xevrró-
uevov o) moX) Ts mwepl TÓv oivov ebmBías Te kal
5 óvvduews. — émaveM0óvra 8' eig Tv AbyumTov
cvvamoxouicat 6Opd re mavraxó0ev rà xpáriaTa
xai 8ià rà uéyeÜos TOv eiepyegcuóv. avymedovi-
pévqv Aafeiv mapà rüci Tijv áDavaaíav xai nv
6 lav Toís oüpavíois Tiv. perà 96 raür éf
ávÜpómwv eis Üco)s peraaTávra TvXeiv vm
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émi$avearárov Tiuv. Tobrovs O6 xai TeXeTüs
karaSei£a. kal moXXÀ pvoTikÓs elanyrjaaa0a,
peyaMóvovras To0 ÜcoÜ Tj» Óvvajuv. ,
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é£ àpyalev dv áàmoppyrois aper bórov, TQ
xpóve Torà avvéBm Oi rwev eis ToUs mroXXoUs
2 é£evexÜ fva, à avomápevov. aal yàp vopápuos
BaciXebovra Tífje Aiyémrow rv "Ocwuw mo
Tuóóvos ávaipeOfva. | rá&eXdoD, | Baiov Kai
&aefloüs Üvros* 0v OicXóvra Tó apa To) dovev-
B£vros els &£ kai elkoat uépy Gora, TOv avvemibe-
uévov ékáaTQ pepióa, BovXópevov TTáPTAOs uerag-
xetv ToU pigovs, kai. &ià robrov vopitovra
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3 Befaiovus. 3v 0é "Ioww áóeX$yv obaav "Ocípi-
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Üouévov ToÜ mai00s abris "Qpov, áveXoücav óé
rüv TuóGva xal ro0s cvpmpátavras BaciXeüaas
4 rs AjyUmTow. *evéaÜau Bà Tv páxmv mapà
1 rojrov Vogel: rotro Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
64

BOOK I. zo. 3-21. 4

advanced community life by the introduction of the
fruits which are most easily cultivated. And if any
country did not admit of the growing of the vine
he introduced the drink prepared from barley,! which
is little inferior to wine in aroma and in strength.
On his return to Egypt he brought with him the
very greatest presents from every quarter and by
reason of the magnitude of his benefactions received
the gift of immortality with the approval of all
men and honour equal to that offered to the gods of
heaven. After this he passed from the midst of men
into the company of the gods and received from
Isis and Hermes sacrifices and every other highest
honour. These also instituted rites for him and
introduced many things of a mystic nature, magni-
fying in this way the power of the god.

21. Although the priests of Osiris had from the
earliest times received the account of his death as a
matter not to be divulged, in the course of years it
came about that through some of their number this
hidden knowledge was published to the many. — This
is the story as they give it: When Osiris was ruling
over Egypt as its lawful king, he was murdered by
his brother Typhon, a violent and impious man;
Typhon then divided the body of the slain man into
twenty-six pieces and gave one portion to each of
the band of murderers, since he wanted all of them
to share in the pollution and felt that in this way
he would have in them steadfast supporters and
defenders of his rule. But Isis, the sister and wife
of Osiris, avenged his murder with the aid of her
son Horus, and after slaying Typhon and his accom-
plices became queen over Egypt. The struggle

! The Egyptian beer, called below zyihos (chap. 34).
65

DIODORUS OF SICILY

và» vorapüv Tnaíov Tís vOv "Avraíov Kus
kaXovpévs, fjv xeta0at Hv Aéyova w év 1 xará
Tiv '"Apafav uépe, Tv mpoayopíav 8 éxew
àmà ToÜ kokacÜévros Ud. HpaxMéovs "Avraiov,
6 ro) karà Tijv "'Ocípi&os fiar vyevogévov. Tiv

Li ^

8 ob» "low mávra Tà uépn TOU góparos TM
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eimeiv Ór. póvois éxeivois mapasiferaa Tj» Tob
cópaTos radjv, kal rÀv ebepyeguGv vmopaaa-
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1 BovAouévqy 86 Tw "low xal T$ AvcvTeAet
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8 Aevrovpyías. ToUs Ó iepeis Aéyerau, uwmpo-
vevovras Qv "Ocípióos ebepryea uv kat TI) rapa-

i j f Poseidon

1 Antaeus was & giant of Libya, the son o
and Earth, who was slain by Heracles (cp. Book 4. 17. 2
According to one version of the story he received strengt

BOOK I. 2r. 4-8

between them took place on the banks of the Nile
near the village now known as Antaeus, which, they
say, lies on the Arabian side of the river and derives
its name from that Antaeus, a contemporary of
Osiris, who was punished by Heracles. Now Isis re-
covered all the pieces of the body except the privates,
and wishing that the burial-place of her husband
should remain secret and yet be honoured by all the
inhabitants of Egypt, she fulfilled her purpose in
somewhat the following manner. Over each piece
of the body, as the account goes, she fashioned out
of spices and wax a human figure about the size of
Osiris; then suminoning the priests group by group,
she required of all of them an oath that they would
reveal to no one the trust which she was going to
confide to them, and taking each group of them
apart privately she said that she was consigning to
them alone the burial of the body, and after remind-
ing them of the benefactions of Osiris she exhorted
them to bury his body in their own district and pay
honours to him as to a god, and to consecrate to
him also some one that they might choose of the
animals native to their district, pay it while living
the honours which they had formerly rendered to
Osiris, and upon its death accord it the same
kind of funeral as they had given to him. — And since
lsis wished to induce the priests to render these
honours by the incentive of their own profit also,
She gave them the third part of the country to defray
the cost of the worship and service of the gods.
And the priests, it is said, being mindful of the
benefactions of Osiris and eager to please the queen

Whenever he touched his mother Earth and Heracles over-
€ame him only by holding him in the air.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

, M b! ,

kaXojoq BovXouévovs xapitec0a4, Tpós 6é To)-
H ^ , ^

TO TQ MAvovTeAel arpokNnÜévras, ravra mpá£at

9 xarà Tijv "Loi8os. baroÉijenv.

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^ ,

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kal TeXevTQodvTOV

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à» Mvetu», 'Octpiót

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xapmür cuvep*ysjoat

àeXelas.

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ei; ro); dpxopévovs ebepryea íaus üTavras bmep-
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7- "0
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xeuuévg» à» "pos Talis kaXovpevais QíXaus,

1 qpogbétectai: Hertlein: mpoabéLacat.

3 Cp. chaps. 84 f.

4
1 Though the island of Philae,

was & sacred place of early E

gy pt, the beaut

once ** the pearl of Egypt,"

iful temples whioh

BOOK I. 21. 8-22. 3

who was petitioning them, and incited as well by
their own profit, did everything just as Isis had
suggested. It is for this reason that even to this
day each group of priests supposes that Osiris lies
buried in their district, pays honours to the animals
which were originally consecrated to him, and,
when these die, renews in the funeral rites for them
the mourning for Osiris. "The consecration to Osiris,
however, of the sacred bulls, which are given the
names Apis and Mnevis,! and the worship of them
as gods were introduced generally among all the
Egyptians, since these animals had, more than any
others, rendered aid to those who discovered the
fruit of thc grain, in connection with both the sow-
ing of the seed and with every agricultural labour
from which mankind profits.

22. Isis, they say, after the dcath of Osiris took
a vow never to marry another man, and passed the
remainder of her life reigning over the land with
complete respect for the law and surpassing all
sovereigns in benefactions to her subjects. And like
her husband she also, when she passed from among
men, received immortal honours and was buried near
Memphis, where her shrine is pointed out to this day
in the temple-area of Hephaestus. According to
some writers, however, the bodies of these two gods
rest, not in Memphis, but on the border between
Egypt and Ethiopia, on the island in the Nile which
lies near the city which is called Philae,? but is

have made it so famous were constructions of the Ptolemies of
the last two centuries 8.0. and of the Roman emperors of the
first three Christian centuries. Since the height of the Aswan
dam has been increased the temples are completely submerged
except during July-October.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Éyovcav 8e mpocwyopíav dmó To) cvuJeBkóros
(epoo mebiov. ; anueta Se TobTOU Beuvbovauw év
Tl wüee TaUrm Ownpévovra TÓv Te Tádov Tv
kareakevaapévov "Ocípióu kowf) Tujaevov varo
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xewuévas. é£íjkovra kal vpuakoaías xods* TAUTAS
yàp xa0' ékáoTqv fjuépav *dXakTos TAnpotv
ToUs Tpüs TOUToi; TaXÜÉvras lepeis, kal Üpmvelv
àvakaXovuévovs à vOv Ücüv óvópara. | 8ià ras-
Tq» 8à mij» alrlav kal T1» víjcov rabTqv dBarov
elya. Toís TapioUci! xal mávras ToUs Tiv
Gnfaiba xaroioDvras, Jyrep éariw ápxatoTám)
Tfjs AlyvmTov, uéqw Tov Üpkov pívew, óTaV TIS
rà» "Ocipw Tüv év (Nas keíuevov ópóaq.

Tà né obv ávevpeÜÓvra To) 'Ocipióos pépn
ras dfwÜfvai $aci Tàv cipnpévov TpóTrOV, TÓ
Bé aiBoiov iT0 pév TudQvos cis róv mwoTapóv
fibi», Xéyovsc?. Bià To pag9éva TÀV cvveprym-
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dy 7e yàp rois iepois elüw Xov avToU kaTackevác a-
cav Tiuàv karaSci£a, kal karà Tàs TeXeràs Kai
ràs Üvailas ràs TQ ÜcQ rore ywopévas évriuóra-
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8&9 kal ross EAXqvas, e£ AieyUmrov mapeiNgqoóras
rà cepi To)s ÓpyiacuoUs xal Tàs Atovvaio.küs
&oprás, rupàv roUTo TÓ pópvov &v ve rois nvo0pious
kal rais ToO Üco9 robrov reXerats re xal Üvaiaus,
óvopátovras ajró $aXXov.

1 rois xapioUs: Vogel, following nearly all the MSS. : A3»

rois lepeüg: E, Bekker, Dindorf.
* Aéyouci deleted by Bekker, Dindorf.

BOOK I. 22. 3-7

referred to because of this burial as the Holy Field.
In proof of this they point to remains which still
survive on this island, both to the tomb constructed
for Osiris, which is honoured in common by all the
priests of Egypt, and to the three hundred and sixty
libation bowls which are placed around it; for the
priests appointed over these bowls fill them each day
with milk, singing all the while a dirge in which they
call upon the names of these gods. It is for this
reason that travellers are not allowed to set foot on
this island. And all the inhabitants of the Thebaid,
which is the oldest portion of Egypt, hold it to be the
strongest oath when a man swears " by Osiris who
lieth in Philae."

Now the parts of the body of Osiris which were
found were honoured with burial, they say, in the
manner described above, but the privates, according
to them, were thrown by Typhon into the Nile
because no one of his accomplices was willing to take
them. Yet Isis thought them as worthy of divine
honours as the other parts, for, fashioning a likeness
of them, she set it up in the temples, commanded
that it be honoured, and made it the object of the
highest regard and reverence in the rites and sacri-
fices accorded to the god. Consequently the Greeks
too, inasmuch as they received from Egypt the cele-
brations of the orgies and the festivals connected
with Dionysus, honour this member in both the
mysteries and the initiatory rites and sacrifices of
this god, giving it the name "' phallus." 1

1 P, Foucart (Le Culte de Dionysos en Attique) maintained
the Egyptian origin of the rites of Dionysus, but his view waa
strongly opposed by L. R. Farnell (The Cults of the Greek
City States, b. pp. 174 &.).

DIODORUS OF SICILY

23. Elva; 88 érg $aclv ámb 'Ocípióos ka
"[uiBos ws Tf '"AXeávópov BaciXeías ToU
erlaavros à Alyém ro Tiv émrávvpov abTo0 TÓMUV
mAeio TO» nupiov, às D. &vto, ypádovat, Bpax?
Aeírovra TOv Swpupíev kal TpiGXtMav. TOUS
88 Aéyovras év Ojfais Tíje Dowwrias geyovévat
ràv Ücüv éx XeuéXge kal Aiós aci a'xeóiátew.
'Opóéa wàp eis AbyvmTov vapaBaXovra «al
uera xóvra Tis TeÀeTTS xal T&v Atovvaiakav
pvo Tupiav ueraXaletv,! rois 08? Kaójetois diXov
üvra kai Tipepevov Um abTÓÀv ueraÜetva, ToO
co) Tij "yévecw dxeivous xapitópevov: TOUS x
dxXovs rà piv &iàÀ rjv d'yvoia», rà 8à &à vÓ
BofXeaÜa, rà» Ücóv "EXNqva vogiteaÜa4, Tpoa-
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rípia. d$opuàs B' Éyew Tv 'Opóéa mpós Tiv
ueráÜeciw Tíjs ToU cob yevéseds re kal reXeTi)s
TOLG.íTAS.

Ká8pov éx &Bàv óvra Tv AtyvmTÍov vyevvij-
cai cOv dXXois Tékvows kal EeuéAgv, rabrqv 96
bd! ürov Dqrore? $Üapetcav &ykvov *yevéaOat,
xai rexetv émrà puqvàv OwMÜóvrov pébos Tw
duv olóvmep oi xar Alvyvmrov Tv "Ocipiw
yeyovévas vopitova t evoyoveiaOa« 9 o)x eieÜévaa
rà roioÜTrov, eire TÀv Ücv uij BovXouévov eire
Tíjs jocos ui) avyxcepojons. Kápov Ly aia05-
uevov T qeyovós, kal xpucuóv éxovra OuarQpetv
Tà rÀv marépov vóptua, Xpva cal e TÓ Bpédos

, ^ 5s »
xal ràs kaÜgkoícas avr mowjcacÜa. Üvaias,

1 ueraAaBeiy Vogel : ueraAaBóvra A E, Bekker, Dindorf,
3 3: Vogel: re D, Bekker, Dindorf.
3 So Stephanus: $m ro0 3fjrore.

———^id———5 DLL. . . LLL LERMIMEBIISUALUIVIBREGGCCLTrlrkLLOU

—--

-A-

» BOOK I. 23. 1-5

93. The number of years from Osiris and Isis,
they say, to the reign of Alexander, who founded
the city which bears his name in Egypt, is over ten
thousand, but, according to other writers, a little
less than twenty-three thousand. And those who
say that the god ! was born of Semelé and Zeus in
Boeotian Thebes are, according to the priests, simply
inventing the tale. For they say that Orpheus,
upon visiting Egypt and participating in the initia-
tion and mysteries of Dionysus, adopted them and
as a favour to the descendants of Cadmus, since he
was kindly disposed to them and received honours
at their hands, transferred the birth of the god to
Thebes; and the common people, partly out of
ignorance and partly out of their desire to have the
god thought to be a Greek, eagerly accepted his
initiatory rites and mysteries. What led Orpheus
to transfer the birth and rites of the god, they say,
was something like this.

Cadmus, who was a citizen of Egyptian Thebes,
begat several children, of whom one was Semelé;
she was violated by an unknown person, became
pregnant, and after seven months gave birth to a
child whose appearance was such as the Egyptians
hold had been that of Osiris. Now such a child is not
usually brought into the world alive, either because
it is contrary to the will of the gods or because the
law of nature does not admit of it. But when
Cadmus found out what had taken place, having
at the same time a reply from an oracle commanding
him to observe tbe laws of his fathers, he both
gilded the infant and paid it the appropriate sacri-
fices, on the ground that there had been a sort of

! Dionysus.

331
B.C.

-1

DIODORUS OF SICILY

óe émijavelas rwós kar àvÜporrovs "Ocípióos
yeyevguévge. | ávávraa 8i kal Tij» wéveow eis
Ala, cegvivovra, Tüv "Ocipw xai ijs $Üapeians
Tj» O.aBoXzv ádaupobpevov 8(6 al mapà rois
"ExXgotr éxBoffjvat Xóyov ds 1) Káópov ZeuéXg
rérokev éx Aog "Octipw. éy Bà rois ÜoTepov
xpóvots ' Opoéa, ueyyáNqv Éxovra. Só£av vrapà rois
" EXXgotw érri peXoota kal TeXerals kai ÜeoXoryíats,
émi£evoÜnva. Toig KaBpelots kai OL.aóepóvres
éy rais OwWjBau TiumÜTnvai. uereoymkóra 56
rÓv vap' AvyverTious ÜcoXoyovuévov perevenykeiv
Tiv 'Ocipióos ToÜ TaXatoD yéveciw émi ToUs
veorépovs ypóvovs, xapitóuevov 9 Tol Kaópeiots
pedea xauvijv exer jv, ka" fv vrapaóobvat
mois uvovpévois ék XeuéNqs kal Aiós qyeyevvtjo at
càv Auávvcov. ToUs 9 ávÜpóvrove rà. uév &à TV
d-voiav éfamrarepévovs, rà àé &ià Tav "Opdéos
àÉomioTíav kal Bófav év rois TOLOUTOLS T'pOO-
éxovras, Tó Óé péyuo Tov. dj6écs vrpoabexopévovs
«ày Ücov "EXXqva vopatópevov, kaÜdcrep rpocípn-
vai, xpücacÜa. rais TeXerais. érevra Tapa-
Aafóvrov TÓv pvÜoypábev xal mowràv TÓ
yévos, éuremMijoÜac rà Ücarpa, Kai TOig ET tryuvo-
pévows toxvpàv mía Tw kai áperáÜerov vyevéa0as.

Ka0óXov 8é $aci ro)c " EXXqvas é£i&id feo Oa
Tolg Émijaveo Tárovs djpeds Te kal Ücojs, éri
8' dmowías ràs rap. éavràv.

24. Kai yàp 'HpawMéa TÓ wyévos Alybm TOV

. cule 2 CMMDMNENUTMMUE UE
1 j,e., an appearance in the flesh of & deity. Cp. Book 2.

47. 6£., where it is related that Apollo visited the Hyper-
boreans every nineteen years at the time of the vernal
equinox.

BOOK I. 23. 5-24. 1

epiphany! of Osiris among men. The fatherhood of
the child he attributed to Zeus, in this way magni-
fying Osiris and averting slander from his violated
daughter; and this is the reason why the tale was
EET out among the Greeks to the 'effect. that

emelé, the daughter of Cadmus, was the mother of
Osiris by Zeus. Now at a later time Orpheus, who
was held in high regard among the Greeks for his
singing, initiatory rites, and instructions on things
divine, was entertained as a guest by the descendants
of Cadmus and accorded unusual honours in "hebes.
And since he had become conversant with the teach-
ings of the Egyptians about the gods, he transferred
the birth of the ancient Osiris to more recent times,
and, out of regard for the descendants of Cadmus,
instituted a new initiation, in the ritual of which the
initiates were given the account that Dionysus had
been born of Semelé and Zeus. And the people
observed these initiatory rites, partly because they
were deceived through their ignorance, partly
because they were attracted to them by the trust-
worthiness of Orpheus and his reputation in such
matters, and most of all because they were glad
to receive the god as a Greek, which, as has been
said, is what he was considered to be. Later, after
the writers of myths and poets had taken over this
account of his ancestry, the theatres became filled
with it and among following generations faith in the
story grew stubborn and immutable.

In general, they say, the Greeks appropriate to
themselves the most renowned of both Egyptian
heroes and gods, and so also the colonies sent out
by them.

24. Heracles, for instance, was by birth an

DIODORUS OF SICILY

dvra, 9v dvÓpeíav émeABeiv moXXjv Ts oicov-
d s ^ H ^ » e /
pévms, kal Tq» émi vís Aifgvgs 0€o0a. c TüAqv-
Umrép ob meipüvra, Tàs dmo8é(few mapà TÓv
€ P 4, e , * *
EXXQvev Xapfávew. opoXorovguévov yàp óvTos
vapáà Táciv Ór. rois "OXvyrriows Ücots "HpakXis
cvuvmyevicaTo TOv Ts TOUS "iyavTas TrÓAenov,
^ ^ ^ n
$aci Tj yf) uy9após áppórTew vyeyevvocévas ToUs
, * UJ L4 53 ^ tuy Z
ytyavras karà 3v 'Autav fjv ot EXXgvés $acww
^ ^ s m^
"HpaxAéa —wyeyevíaOai *yeved Tporepov TOv
Toouc)v, àXXà uáXXov, às abroi Xéyovat, xarà
T)» é£ üpyfjs yéveow rÀv àvÜpayrav: ám" éxeivys
uév yàp "ap AlyvmTíos érg karapilueiaÜ0at
Tei TY» uvpiov, ümó 56 rà» Toouwdv éXárTo
TOv xiMev xal Owwociev. Opoíes DG TÓ Te
pómaXov xal T?» Xeovrüv TÓ "aX Tpémew
*HpoaxXet 8à TÓ ka. éxetvovs ToUs xpóvovs uiymo
TOv ÜmXev eópguévov To); dvÜpcvrovs Toig pév
EvXois ápivea0at rois àvrvraTouévovs, rais. 06
Gopats r&v Ünplev a xeraaTuopiois Om Xo xptja0aa.
ai Ais pv viüv avTOv. dvaryopesovat, uzrpós O6
, LA , ^1 9$ » , ,
7s éa iw ob act sywoakeiw. | róy 8 é£' ADucgajvns
:
yevóuevov VoTepov TAeíoow Éreouv dj puptots,
^ "^ Ld
' AA«atov éx *yeveríi]js kaXovpevov, Va Tepov HpaeXéa
^ ,
perovonacÓnvat, oby óv. 0v " Hpav éoxe &Xéos, às
$usw à Márpis, àXX. Ómi 7j». abri éCrXexás
vpoaipeciv "HpakMei TQ maXaiQ Tiv ékeivov
86£av dpa, kal m poc1yyopiav éxXnpovoumoe.

1 The Pillars of Heracles are described in Book 4. 18. 4-7.

3 Heracles, according to Greek mythology, was a con-
temporary of Laomedon, the father of Priam king of Troy,
and with the help of Poseidon built for him tho walls of
Troy.

BOOK lI. 24. 1-4

Egyptian, who by virtue of his manly vigour visited
a large part of the inhabited world and set up his
pillar in Libya;! and their proofs of this assertion
they endeavour to draw from the Greeks themselves.
For inasmuch as it is generally accepted that Hera-
cles fought on the side of the Olympian gods in their
war against the Giants, they say that it in no way
accords with the age of the earth for the Giants to
have been born in the period when, as the Greeks
say, Heracles lived, which was a generation before
the Trojan War,? but rather at the time, as their
own account gives it, when mankind first appeared
on the earth ; for from the latter time to the present
the Egyptians reckon more than ten thousand years,
but from the Trojan War less than twelve hundred.
Likewise, both the club and the lion's skin are
appropriate to their ancient Heracles, because in
those days arms had not yet been invented, and
men defended themselves against their enemies with
clubs of wood and used the hides of animals for
defensive armour. They also designate him as the
son of Zeus, but about the identity of his mother
they say that they know nothing. The son of
Alemené, who was born more than ten thousand
years later and was called Alcaeus ? at birth, in later
life became known instead as Heracles, not because
he gained glory (kleos) by the aid of Hera, as Matris
says, but because, having avowed the same principles
as the ancient Heracles, he inherited that one's fame
and name as well.*

* Aleaeus was the name of the grandfather of Heracles.
The career of Heracles is recounted in Book 4. 9 ff.

* The date of Matris, who was the author of an encomium
upon Heracles, is unknown.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Evudoweiv 8e tois i$ é£avrÓv Xeyouévous kal
Tjv apà Tol; "EAXXqgoiw ék ToXXÓv xpoóvov
vapa&ebopé&vny $)unv, óT. kaÜapàv T2)» 3v TOv
Ompicov émoína ev HpakMjs* ómep unóauós áppór-
Tei TÓ tyeyovór, oaxe8óv xarà ToUs TpouwoUs
xpóvovs, Óre TÀ mAeioTa uépu Tis oixovpévns
é£muéporo vyewprylaus kal mróNeat kai miUe, Tv
KaTOLKOUVTOV TV YXOpav "aGvTaXOU. | puàXXov
obv cpémew TQ weyovór( xarà To)s àpxalous
xpóvovs Tijv juépoctw Tfje xopas, kar.a xvopéyov
ér. TOv àvÜporev imó ToU mXjÜovs TOv. Ünpiav,
xal pudMcTra xarà Tv AlyvmTov js! Tw
bTepkeuuévgv xopav néxpu To0 vüv Cpguov elvad?
xal Ümpuóom. cikós yàp TabTus Os aTpióos
erpovorBévra. vóv 'HpakAéa, xal kaÜapàv 7v *ytyv
TÀv Ünpiev movjc avra, rapa&SoDvat TOS ryecpryots
Tiv xópav, kai 6uà v1]v eDepryeaíav Tvxeiv iao0éov
Tuis. dasi 866 kal vOv llepoéa *yeyovévas kac
AtyvrrTov, kal Tis "loi80s Tijv yéveciv bTÓ TÀV
"EXMjvov els "Apryos ueradépeaÜau, puÜ8oXoryobv-
rov Tjv ló v5v eis Boos TUTov uerapopoo0cteav.

25. Ka0óXov 86 moXXij Tís éa vi Guadowvia Trepi
qvoUroP TOv ÜcQv. Tv abTiw nàp oi uév "low,
oí 66 Adjpoyrpav, oí 92 Oeo uooópov, oí 88 ZeXdvyv,
oí 86 "Hpav, oí 8é «ácats Talis Tpoccyopiaus
àvouátovai. TÓv O6" Ocipw oi u&v Xdpamiv, oi
88 Aióvucov, oí. 66 IIXovrova, oí 9é "Aupova,
Tuvés 06 Aía, voXXol 806 lláva TÓv ajrOv vevo-
plkagi* Xéyovat 86 rwes EZápamw elvat Tüv mrapà
Tof " EXAgot IIXosrova óvouatópevov.

* For $s Vogel reads «al and retains oócav below.
* elvai Dindorf: obcav

BOOK I. 24. 5-25. 2

The account of the Egyptians agrees also with the
traditon which has been handed down among the
Greeks since very early times, to the effect that
Heracles cleared the earth of wild beasts, a story
which is in no way suitable for a man who lived in
approximately the period of the Trojan War, when
most parts of the inhabited world had already been
reclaimed from their wild state by agriculture and
cities and the multitude of men settled everywhere
over the land. Accordingly this reclamation of the
land suits better à man who lived in early times,
when men were still held in subjection by the vast
numbers of wild beasts, a state of affairs which was
especially true in the case of Egypt, the upper part
of which is to this day desert and infested with wild
beasts. Indeed it is reasonable to suppose that the
first concern of Heracles was for this country as his
birthplace, and that, after he had cleared the land of
wild beasts, he presented it to the peasants, and for
this benefaction was accorded divine honours. And
they say that Perseus also was born in Egypt, and
that the origin of Isis is transferred by the Greeks
to Argos in the myth which tells of that Io who was
changed into a heifer.

25. In general, there is great disagreement over
these gods. For the same goddess is called by some
Isis, by others Demeter, by others Thesmophorus,
by others Selené, by others Hera, while still others
apply to her all these names. | Osiris has been given
the name Sarapis by some, Dionysus by others,
Pluto by others, Ammon by others, Zeus by some,
and many have considered Pan to be the same god;
and some say that Sarapis is the god whom the
Greeks call Pluto.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Qaci 8 ^ Aiy/m Tw TÀ)v "low dapuákov ce
TOXAQv Tpós Uyleiav eÜpériv *yeyovévas xal Tíjs
laTpukijs émioTü)pQgs peyáxg» €xew. éjmeipiavy

3 &10 kal rvxyoÜcav Tí àÜavacías éri Talis Oepa-
melais TÀy àvÜpor ev uáMara xaípeww, kal xarà
ToU; Ümvovus Toig üfiobou 8i80vau. BonÜuara,
Qavepds émibewvvpuévqv jv ve iBiav émibáveuav
xai TÓ Trpüs ToUe Dcouévous TÀÓv dvÜpo wv

$ , H y * ^ * ,

4 eUepyerukóv. áTo8el£eig 86 rovrov aci oépew
Ls * , , i ^ u
éavToUs o0 pquÜoXoyías Opowse Toig "EXXqocuv,
, M VE *, ^. ^ ^ h AT
&XXà Trpáfew évapyets" Tücav "yàp cxe8óv Tiv

^ ^ P
oikovpévg» paprupetvy éavTois, eis Tàe Ta/TIS
* ^ ,
Tiuàs duXoTiuovpévq» Già 73v év ats Üepasreíats
B émiávetav. — kar "yàp To)s Ümvovs é$icca-
^ ,
uévqv &iGóvat ois kápvovat BonÜ uaa m pos às
vócovs, kal ToUs vrakocavras abTf) mapaboEcs
e » ^ & e * " 5 ^
byidteaÜaw kal ToXXoUs puév vmTÓ TÓV iaTpOv
&ià Tiv OvokoXMav ToÜ voo5uaros ümeXmic-
*
Üévras 0m TaíTus ac LeaÜait, avxvoüs 66 mavre-
As T2poÜÉvras Tàe Opácew 1j Twa TÀv dXXwov
"^ ,
uepQv ToÜ cóparos, ÓTav mpós raíTqv Tv Ücüv
karajvyecw, cis Tijv mpoUmáptacav árokaÜi-

6 oracÜa. Táfu». ebpeiv 8' aüT)v kal TÓ Tis
5 , , 5, .? N f* *, - ^
aDavacías $ápuakov, 6 ob óv viov "pov, vm

"^ , 5 , M ^ t
TO» Turávev émiflovkevÜévra xai vekpüv eüpe-
Üévra xa8' $8aros, ui) uóvov àvaa Tíaat, 6oÜ0cav

* A reference to the common practice of incubation, briefly
described below. 'The patients spent the nights in the
temple-precincets and were ministered to in their sleep by
the god. An interesting picture of such an incubation is in

BOOK I. z5. 2-6

As for Isis, the Egyptians say that she was the
discoverer of many health-giving drugs and was
greatly versed in the science of healing; conse-
quently, now that she has attained immortality, she
finds her greatest delight in the healing of mankind
and gives aid in their sleep! to those who call upon
her, plainly manifesting both her very presence and
her beneficence towards men who ask her help. In
proof of this, as they say, they advance not legends,
as the Greeks do, but manifest facts; for practically
the entire inhabited world? is their witness, in that
it eagerly contributes to the honours of Isis because
she manifests herselfin healings. For standing above
the sick in their sleep she gives them aid for their
diseases and works remarkable cures upon such as
submit themselves to her; and many who have been
despaired of by their physicians because of the diffi-
cult nature of their malady are restored to health
by her, while numbers who have altogether lost the
use of their eyes or of some other part of their
body, whenever they turn for help to this goddess,
are restored to their previous condition. Further-
more, she discovered also the drug which gives im-
mortality, by means of which she not only raised
from the dead her son Horus, who had been the
object of plots on the part of the Titans and had
been found dead under the water, giving him his

morophenes, Plutus, 659 ff., where a description is given of
how the god of wealth, who because of his blindness dis-
tributes his gifts with little discrimination, is taken to tho
temple of Asclepius to be healed.

* Under the influence of the Ptolemies, soon after 300 B.0.,
the cult of Isis began to spread over the Mediterranean, and
by the time of Diodorus was in practically every city of any
importance.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Tj Nevxüv, dXX «al Tíjs áÜavacías moiijcaL
ueraXa[deiv. Boxei 0 Üararos rüv Ücdv obos
BaciXeüca, uerà Ti» ToÜ TaTpós OaípiBos é£
ávÜpermov ueráaTaciw. Tóp 8e 'Opov peÜepyun-
vevóuevóv Gaaw 'ArróxXXova bmápxew, kai TüV
ve laTpuc]v kal TV pavrucj» ÜTO Tíjs pauTpos
"[o:3os 8iGaxÜévra. 9ià. rdv xoncuQv xal rÀv
Écpa'reiQv evepyeretv rà Tv ávÜpdrrav *yévos..
26, Oi &' iepeis TOv. Alyvmríev Tv xpovov
ác fs 'HA(ov. BaaiXelas avXXonyitópevot péxpt
Tíjs " AXc£áyBpov GuaBáaeos eis T7jv "Aaíav $aaiv
bmápyeav érüv pudMaTá mms Bis pupa «ai
TpiG XiMOV. puOoXoyoDc. 86 kai Tv Ücàv ovs

uv ápyauorárovs BaciXeÜaat Tei) TÀV XiMav
kai &iakoaíiav érYv, robs 6à ueraryevea Tépovs oUk
éAárro TOv Tpiakocíov. dmíaTov Ó Óvros To)
ajfovs àv éràv, émixeipotal rives Aéyew OTi
Tb maXaióv, oUm Tíje epi TÓv ijwuov kwraeas
émeyvoa uévns, avvéBauve «arà Tv Ts e ejr
arepíobov dryea0a4 TÓV eviavTOv. Biómrep TOV érdv
vp.akoyÜnuépav Óvrav ovx á6vvaror civa, eBiao-
&évat Tiwàs &ry xia. kal Guakógta: kal yàp vüv
SoSekapjvav ! üvrov TÓv énavrüv oix OA (^yOUS
bmép éxarüv érn Div. mapamAjsia B6 Xéyovoei

a ^ , » 8 2, * "
Kat qrepl TOV TpiaKocgua €T?) OK OUPTOV dp£at

xaT' éxelvovs yàp ToUs xpóvovs TÓv éviavTóv
ámapriLeaÜas Térrapot unai Toís yivopévois xarà
Trüs ékdaTev TÀV XpOvov Opas, olov , éapos,
Üépovs, xeuwos* d$ js airías xal Tap évíois
váy '"EXXÓvev To)Us éwiavroUs dpovs kaXciaÜat

1 BoSekapfvov Dindorf: Svoxafbexa uqvav.

BOOK I. 25. 6-26. 5

soul again, but also made him immortal. And it
appears that Horus was the last of the gods to be
king after his father Osiris departed from among
men. Moreover, they say that the name Horus,
when translated, is Apollo, and that, having been
instructed by his mother Isis in both medicine and
divination, he is now a benefactor of the race of
men through his oracular responses and his healings.

26. 'The priests of the Egyptians, reckoning the
time from the reign of Helius to the crossing of 334
Alexander into Ásia, say that it was in round num- "Pa
bers twenty-three thousand years. And, as their
legends say, the most ancient of the gods ruled more
than twelve hundred years and the later ones not
less than three hundred. But since this great num-
ber of years surpasses belief, some men would main-
tain that in early times, before the movement of the
sun had as yet been recognized, it was customary
to reckon the year by thelunar cycle. Consequently,
since the year consisted of thirty days, it was not
impossible that some men lived twelve hundred
years; for in our own time, when our year consists
of twelve months, not a few men live over one
hundred years. A similar explanation they also
give regarding thosc who are supposed to have
reigned for three hundred years; for at their time,
namely, the year was composed of the four months
which comprise the seasons of each year, that is,
spring, summer, and winter; and it is for this reason
that among some of the Greeks the years are called

-1

DIODORUS OF SICILY

xai Tàs kaT' Éros áva'ypadàs &poyypadías poca-
sopeveaa:.

Oi 89' obv Aiyémriow uvÜoXoyobs: xarà T)v
"Ic;Bog $jAukíav *yeyovévat Tiwwàs ToXvawpárovs
ToU; ÜTó uév TOv '"EXXvev óvouatouévovs wi-
yavras, od! éavrüv 86 . . | Órakoc povpévovs
repaT«8Os éml rÓv iepüv xal rvmTouévovs jm
ry mepi Tüv "Ocipw. f£» uiv obv abroUs
yyevets aci vbmápfau mpocjárov Tíje TÀv
fgwv wyevégeos éx Tíjs 'Yyüs Ümapxova"s, 6vioL
8& Aéyovc. cóparos fóug Dwveykóvras kal
T0AAÀs TpáEeis émvreXeaapévovs ámó To) avufe-
Bmukóros uvÜoXoyngÜiva: moXvocpárovs. Gup-
Qeveiras 8à mapà rois mAeia ots Üvt vois Trepi TÓv
Aía kai àv "Ociptv. Ücols róXepov évavaduevot
mávres ávgpé8naav.

21. Noguo8erájca,. 8é aei: vo)s AiyvmTiovs
mapà Tó xowàv &Üos TÀÓv ávÜpoov "yapeiv
áBeXàs Óà vó vyeyovós év roírow Tíjs "laiOos
émírevyna' TabTqv yàp avvowsacav "Ocipii
vQ áBeXóQ, kai &moÜavóvros ópócacav ovbcvos
Ér& cvvovcíav ávÓpüs TpocOéEeoÓait,? uereXOetv
Tóv Te $óvov rávOpós kai ÓuareXéca, BaociXebov-
cav vopiuóraTa, kal TO gÜvokov TXciaToV Kai
peyio rov áyaÜÀv alríav yevéa0a, mái àvÜpa-
TOig. Oià 03 raras Tàs aírías karabeixOT)vas
peifovos éfovoías xal Tis Tvyyávew Tw

1 Vogel suggests that a noun has dropped out here.
3 40oc8cten 0x: Dindorf: mpoaétoc8nt.

1 * Records of the seasons." "This designation for yearly
records was used, for instance, by the inhabitants of the
island of Naxos.

BOOK I. 26. 5-27. 2

* seasons '' (horoi) and that their yearly records are
given the name "' horographs." !

Furthermore, the Egyptians relate in their myths
that in the time of Isis there were certain creatures
of many bodies, who are called by the Greeks
Giants, but by themselves . . ., these being the
men who are represented on their temples in mon-
strous form and as being cudgelled by Osiris. Now
some say that they were born of the earth at the
time when the genesis of living things from the
earth was still recent? while some hold that they
were only men of unusual physical strength who
achieved many deeds and for this reason were
described in the myths as of many bodies. But it
is generally agreed that when they stirred up war
against Zeus and Osiris they were all destroyed.

27. The Egyptians also made a law, they say,
contrary to the general custom of mankind, per-
mitting men to marry their sisters, this being due
to the success attained by Isis in this respect; for
she had married her brother Osiris, and upon his
death, having taken a vow never to marry another
man, she both avenged the murder of her husband
and reigned all her days over the land with com-
plete respect for the laws, and, in a word, became
the cause of more and greater blessings to all men
than any other. It is for these reasons, in fact, that
it was ordained that the queen should have greater

! But the Giants of Greek mythology were represented
with **huge," not **many," bodies.

3 Op. Genesis 6. 4: *'There were giants in the earth in
those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came
in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to

them, the same became mighty men, which were of old, men
of renown."

DIODORUS OF SICILY

BacíXio cav ToU BaciXéos, kal rapà rois (Ovoraus
^ ^ e^ *
kvpieUew T) yvvaika. TüvÓpós, €v f) Tíjs mpowcos
^ ,
cvyypaof mpoconoXoyosvrev TÀV "yapoUvTOV
^ ,
&ravra Teapy5joew Tf yapovpéryg.!
e^ , e^
O)x dyvoà 8à Bur. Twwég TÀÓVv ocvyypajéov
vj

dro$aívovrau Toe Tádovs Tv c!» To)Twv
, e^ , * A
bmápyew év Nog Tí '"ApaBías, á$' $e xai
Nvcaiov róv Aióvvaov óvopuácÓa,. — elvas, 86 xai
aT:jXgjv éxarépov àv ÜcYv émvyeypappuévgy ois

L4 ^ , », * bl . [2] *[. 8 *
tepois ypáppagi. émi gv obv Tíjs "lou0s émi-
yeypdd8as ** ' Ero ? Ioís etpa £j BaaíNuoca más
e Ld Lo] e NUR "^ * [4 , *
xópas, :) mraióevÜeia a bó '"Eppob, xal 0ca éco
évouoÜérgca, o)8eis a)rà Óvvara. Xóca.. éyo

1 Here ABD EN add: va$zva: 8$ Aéyovsi hv "Iw dv
Mégoet, ka0' "v uéxpi ToU vüy DeikvvcÓmi Tv enkóv, év TQ
Teuéve: coU "Hooíarov. frio Bé $aci rà cógara T&v Üeav
TobTay [xeimÜc: karà TÀ]» év [Amis ToU NelAov vijcov, &amep
poeípzraí uo: added by A EN which stop at this point, BD
continuing] érl rà» Üpwr reia0a: 75s Aitiomías kal Tfj AlvyUmTov
karà riv éy TQ NelAo vücor, v)» keuévqy piv él ats bíAas,
Éxovcay Bt Tb mpocayopeváóuevov &mwb roU avuBeBnkóros lephv
meBloy empeiov B& Tobrov Beikvüóovaiw év Tí vfo* TabUTy Dia-
pévovra róv ve Tádorv kareakevaapévoy "Oaípibi, kolvp riudpievor
$ró r&y kaT' Alyvmrov iepéww: kal agi mwepl ToUrov keiuéyas
Xoàs ébükovra kal rpianocías: raíras "yàp xa?" ékácTTV "képav
yáXaxros mÀnpoUy robs mpbs ToUToi$ ra xÜ€vras Íepeis kal 8pnveiy
àvakaAovuévovs Tà rGv 0-Qv óvópara. Bià raívmv 06 Tiv alr(av
kal rà» vijcov &Barov elvat mAdy Tos lepeUsi, — kal Távras Tobs
TÀv OnBalba karoioÜvras, Jjrep éarlv ópxairárg vijs Alyómrov,
uéqurroy Üpkoy xplvew, $rav ris "Ocipw qby àv (Acts kelpevoy
óuócp.

BOOK I. 27. 2-4

power and honour than the king and that among
private persons the wife should enjoy authority over
her husband! the husbands agreeing in the marriage
contract that they will be obedient in all things to
their wives.?

Now I am not unaware that some historians give
the following account of Isis and Osiris: The tombs
of these gods lie in Nysa in Arabia, and for this
reason Dionysus is also called Nysaeus. And in that
place there stands also a stele of each of the gods
bearing an inscription in hieroglyphs. On the stele
of Isis it runs: '" I am Isis, the queen of every land,
she who was instructed of Hermes, and whatsoever
laws I have established, these can no man make

1 Cp. Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, 33'1 ff. :

Their thoughts and actions all
Are framed and modelled on Egyptian ways.
For there the men sit &t the loom indoors
While the wives slave abroad for daily bread.
(Tr. by Storr, in L.C.L.)

? Here some MSS. add the following sentences (cp. critical
note), which are taken almost bodily from chap. 22. 2-6: '"* And
they say that Isis is buried in Memphis, where her tomb is
pointed out to this day in the temple-area of Hephaestus.
According to some writers, however, the bodies of these gods
[rest in Philae on the island in the Nile, as I have already
Stated] rest on the border between Ethiopia and Egypt, on
the island in the Nile which lies near Philae, but is referred to
because of this burialas the Holy Field. In proof of this they
point to the tomb which was constructed for Osiris on this
island and is honoured in common by all the priests of Egypt;
and they mention three hundred and sixty libation bowls
which are placed around it; for the priests appointed over
these bowls fill them each day with milk, singing allthe while
& dirge in which they call upon the names of these gods. It is
for this reason that only the priests are allowed to set foot on
this island. And allthe inhabitants of the Thebaid, which is
the oldest portion of Egypt, hold it to be the strongest oath
when a man swears * by Osiris who lieth in Philae.' **

DIODORUS OF SICILY

cip 1j ToU vemrárou Kpóvov Oco0 Üvyárnp vpea-

Bvrárq Py clpa yov) kai á6eX y) "Oaípibos

BaciNéos éy6 elus c) porn kaprmóv àvOporots

ebüpoüca' éyo celui pürup "Qpov ToÜ Baaiéos*

éyo eli ?) év TO daTpp TO év TÓ xvii émuTéN-

Aovca' éuoi BoüfacTos 7 mTÓAXs gikodopriBn.
5 xaipe xatpe AlwvmrTe j Opéacd ue. — emi 8e
rijs "'Oaipióos érvyeypádQa: Aéyerau " llarjp uev
dal poi Kpóvos ve&raros 0càv ámávTov, eiui 6€
"Oaipis Ó BaciNeós, Ó cTpaTeUgas émi mücav
tpav &vos eis ToUs áowcjrovs TóTOVs TÓV Iyóóv
Kal roUe Tpós dpkrov kexMgévovs, néxpu "larpov
rorajioQ m1»yÀv, kal TráNw émi TráXXa uépn &os
Oxeavob. eiui B$ vió Kpóvov mpeafvraros, xai
BXaarós dx kaXoU re kal evvyevoüs oU! améppa
avyyyevis éyevvijfnv "uépas. ai ook CaL TOTOS
Tíje oikovpévgs eis bv évyó obk d$iWyuas, 6.a8oUs
müciw Óv éyà eÜperjs? éyevóuqv." roaabTa
TÓv yeypapiévov éy rais aTíjNaus daci $ovac0a,
ávayyvàvat, rà. 8' dXXa. àvra. mei karepÜdpÜat
&,à Tüv xpóvov. Tà puév oiv mepi Tfjs radijs àv
0cüv rovrov Suadoeveiras rapà rois meta Tous 9i
T0 ToUe (epeis év áTopprjTows vapevgóóras TV

[77]

1 go? Wesseling: áfov C, $ c0 G, edov other MSS.
3 eóperys Wesseling : ebepyérns.
LL MM

1 According to Pseudo-Eratosthenes (Catasterismus, 33) the
star on the head of Canis Maior was called Isis as well as Sirius.

? The Danube. '

3 This may be drawn from the Orphic legends whieh con-
ceived of the undeveloped universe as a mystic egg, from
which came Phanes, the first principle of life. Cp. the parody
of the Orphie cosinogony in Aristophanes, The Birds, 693 fi.:

BOOK I. 27. 4-6

void. I am the eldest daughter of the youngest god
Cronus; I am the wife and sister of the king Osiris;
I am she who first discovered fruits for mankind; I
am the mother of Horus the king; I am she who
riseth in the star that is in the Constellation of
the Dog;! by me was the city of Bubastus built.
Farewell, farewell, O Egypt that nurtured me."
And on the stele of Osiris the inscription is said to
run: '" My father is Cronus, the youngest of all the
gods, and I am Osiris the king, who campaigned
over every country as far as the uninhabited regions
of India and the lands to the north, even to the
sources of the river Ister,? and again to the remain-
ing parts of the world as far as Oceanus. I am the
eldest son of Cronus, and being sprung from a fair
and noble egg? I was begotten a seed of kindred birth
to Day. "There is no region of the inhabited world
to which I have not come, dispensing to all men the
things of which I was the discoverer." So much of
the inscriptions on the stelae can be read, they say,
but the rest of the writing, which was of greater
extent, has been destroyed by time. However this
may be, varying accounts of the burial of these gods
are found in most writers by reason of the fact that
the priests, having received the exact facts about

There was Chaos at first, and Darkness, and Night,
and Tartarus vasty and dismal ;

But the Earth was not there, nor the Sky, nor the Air,
till at length in the bosom abysmal

Of Darkness an egg, from the whirlwind conceived,
was laid by the sable-plumed Night.

And out of that egg, as the seasons revolved,
sprang Love, the entrancing, the bright,

Love brilliant and bold with his pinions of gold,
like à whirlwind, refulgent and sparkling!

(Tr. by Rogers, in L.C.L.)

DIODORUS OF SICILY

mepi rovrov àxpífeuav uj fBoUXec0ai TáXnÜés
éxdépew eis rovs moXXovs, ds v xai swBvvav
émukeuuévov rois rTàmóppnra mrepi àv ÜcQv TovTav
pacacty els ToUs OxXovs.

28. Oi 8' ov Alyvr iol act kal uerà abra
dTmoukíag mXeilo ras d£ AlvyómTov xarà mácav
Bae mapijvas T3) olkovuévqv. eis BaBvXGva uev
yàp dyayetv ámoíkovs BfAov TOv vojulopevov
IIoc ei&Qvos elvat kai Aufféys* 9v rapà rov Eojpá-
qv rorajóv ra0iBpuÜÉvra ToUs re Lepeis karaaTiT)-
cacÜa, rapamAqgaios rois kar. AlyvrTOV üreXets
kai mácQs Xevrovpyías àmoXeXvpuévovs, obs
BafvXovio. kaXobc! XaABaíovu, rds T€ Tapa-
vypáces TOv daTpov rojTovs ToicícÓa:, pao v-
uévovs robs ap. Alyvmrríots iepeis «ai $vouoss,
éri 86 dovpoXóyovs. Xéyovai Bé xal ro)s epi
róv Aavaóv ópyumÜévras óuoícs éxeiÜcv gvvowiaat
Tjv dpxaioráTgv axeb0v TÓv map "EXAQ0t
móAeav "Apyos, Tó T€ TOv. KóNxov &vos àv TQ
IIóvro xai à T&v 'lov8aiev àvà uécov ' ApaBías
kal Evpías olia at rwàs ópusÜévras map' éavr&v-
&ió ai mapà Toís yéveci. Tobrows éx maXaioU
mapaBeBógÜa, TÓ mepvréuvew ToUs yevva uévovs
maiBas, é£ Alyómrov uerevrveyuévov ToU vopiuov.
kal robe '"AÓgvaíovs 8é $asw moíxovs eivai
Xairüy vOv éE Aly/mrTov, «ai mepGvra, Tijs
olxeióTqros Ta/T)ys dépew ámoóeiEeu" Tapà
póvoig yàp Trà» 'EXXqvev TV TÓMV dou
kaXeiaÜat, uerevqveyué£vns Tíjs Tpocwyopias àmó
ToU vap' abrois "AaTeos. éri B6! Tiv moXiTeéíav
Tv abr)» éexnkévat TáEw. kal Giatpeaw Tí) ap

1 86 Dindorf: vé.
9o

BOOK I. 27. 6-28. 4

these matters as a secret not to be divulged, are
unwilling to give out the truth to the public, on the
ground that perils overhang any men who disclose
to the common crowd the secret knowledge about
these gods.

28. Now the Egyptians say that also after these
events a great number of colonies were spread from
Egypt over all the inbabited world. To Babylon, for
instance, colonists were led by Belus, who was held
to be the son of Poseidon and Libya ; and after estab-
lishing himself on the Euphrates river he appointed
priests, called Chaldaeans by the Babylonians, who
were exempt from taxation and free from every
kind of service to the state, as are the priests of
Egypt;! and they also make observations of the
stars, following the example of the Egyptian priests,
physicists, and astrologers. "They say also that those
who set forth with Danaus, likewise from Egypt,
settled what is practically the oldest city of Greece,
Argos, and that the nation of the Colehi in Pontus
and that of the Jews, which lies between Árabia and
Syria, were founded as colonies by certain emigrants
from their country ; and this is the reason why it is
a long-established institution among these two
peoples to cireumceise their male children, the custom
having been brought over from Egypt. Even the
Athenians, they say, are colonists from Sais in
Egypt, and they undertake to offer proofs of such a
relationship; for the Athenians are the only Greeks
who call their city '' Asty," a name brought over
from the city Ásty in Egypt. Furthermore, their
body politic had the same classification and division

! On the exemption of the priests of Egypt from taxation,
Cp. chap. 73; on the Chaldaeans, cp. Book 2. 29 f.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

5 Alyvmríon, cis pia puépy BuveunÜcioq kal
cpoeTg» uíy bmdptai uepifa TOUS ebmarpíbas
kaXovpévovs, otrwes! vmijoxov év maieia uá-
Aaa, &rerpibóres kal Tí)s uevyíaTaS 5nEuopévot
Tus TrapamrNuaies Tots xaT AtyvmTov lepeUcu
Bevrépav Bé vdáfiw vevécÜa, Tv TÓÀwv *eopópov
ràv ó$eXóvrev ÓmXa xexríjaÜa, kai soXepetv
cp Ts móXews Opoles Toís «aT AlyvmTOv
óvopatouévoiws *yeopryois kal rovs paxipovs qrap-
exouévois*. reXevraíav 86 uepióa kaTapuÜy0 vac
Tijv rÀv ÜgpiovpyOv vOv ràs Bavaícovs Téxvas
peraxewionévov kai Xevrovpyias TeXoUvrav Tüs
ávameatoráTas, TÓ mTapamNjciov TowUcTs Tis
TáÉews raUTus map. Aiyvm (ois.

6 Deyovéva. 86 xal ràw Tyyeuóvev Twwàs Aivv-

arrlovs rapà rois 'AÜqvatow* Tov yàp Ilérgv vov

ma Tépa, MeveaÜécs Tob arpareócavros cis Tpoíav
$avepóe AlbyvmTiov bmápfavra TvXeiv ÜoTepov

'AOjvuo, "roMTéíae Te kal Basiwelas. . .

Supvoüs 8' abroU vevyovóros, roUs uv ' AOnvalovs

pi) 8UvacÜat karà Tiv iOlav Vmóaracw dmrobobvai

mepl Tfjs QUoess raíTys Tüs deis aiTías, &v

péao keuuévov srüciv OTt Óvoty qroNwreiüv. uera-

, e [3 ^ , * H ,

o xóv, EXXjvucfjs kai SapBápov, 8.óv5s évopioO,

TÓ u£v Éyov népos Onpíov, ró 6€ àvÜporrov.

29. 'Ouotes 8€ robrQ xal rv ' Epex8éa Xéyovot

Tà yévos Alvyvmrwov üvra BaatMebaat TOv ' AÜnvàv,

-1

1 ofrwes Vogel: ofrives ieporotof.

1 i.e, ** of noble sires."
?: i.e. ** holders of a share of land."'

BOOK I. 28. 4-29. 1

of the people as is found in Egypt, where the citizens
have been divided into three orders: the first
Athenian class consisted of the ''eupatrids,"! as
they were called, being those who were such as had
received the best education and were held worthy
of the highest honour, as is the case with the priests
of Egypt; the second was that of the '* geomoroi," ?
who were expected to possess arms and to serve in
defence of the state, like those in Egypt who are
known as husbandmen and supply the warriors; and
the last class was reckoned to be that of the '' demi-
urgoi''3 who practise the mechanical arts and
render only the most menial services to the state,
this class among the Egyptians having a similar
function.

Moreover, certain of the rulers of Athens were
originally Egyptians, they say. Petes,* for instance,
the father of that Menestheus who took part in the
expedition against Troy, having clearly been an
Egyptian, later obtained citizenship at Athens and
the kingship5 . . . He was of double form, and yet
the Athenians are unable from their own point of
view to give the true explanation of this nature of
his, although it is patent to all that it was because
of his double citizenship, Greek and barbarian, that
he was held to be of double form, that is, part
animal and part man.

29. In the same way, they continue, Erechtheus
also, who was by birth an Egyptian, became king of

* £e, '' workers for the people."

* Called Peteus in Iliad 2. 552.

5 There is & break at this point in the text, since what
follows ean refer only to Cecrops, the traditional first king of
Athens, whose body in the lower part was that of a serpent.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Toa)Tas Twwàs dépovres ámoOelÉew* yevouévov
yàp ópoXoyovpuévos aUypdv peyáXov karà mücav
axeBóv Tiv oikovuévg» mMjv Aiyómrov Di viv
lBiórqra Tf Xépas, kai dÜopüs émwyevouéros
TÓv Te xapmQrv kal mX50ovs ávÜpemoev, ét
Alvy?mrov Tóv 'Epex0éa kouíaat Bià Tiv avyyé-
ve.ay ovTov Tos ei; rà; 'AO5vas avÜ" àv
ToUe eU «aÜ8óvras faciXéa xaracTícau TÓV
ebepryérqv. roÜrov 8à mrapaXaffóvra Tiv fyyepo-
víav kara&eifa. ràe reXeràs Tís Asjugrpos év
"EXevatyt kal rà pvo'iüjpiua Trovíjo at, uevevenykovTa,
T mepi roUrev vópipov é£ AlyómTov. ai Tj!
8coü 56 mapovoíav eis T?wv 'ArTTwe)v reyovviav
KaTà ToTOVs TOU; Xpóvovus Tapabe0ócÜat xarà
Aóyov, ó« àv TOv éreviucev TajTU)s kapmÓv TÓT€
kopaaÜévrav eis Tàs ' AOrjvas, kal &ià roÜro Bó£a:
máy é£ üpyíje Ti]v eÜpeaur ryeyovévat ToU a'ép-
paros, Bepucauévgs Tíe Anwürpos. ÓpnoXoryeiv
86 kai ToU; 'AÜgvatovs ór. BacuXcVovros '"Epex-
Üécs xal rv kapmOv Bià Tiv àvoupíav Tpo-
n$arcpévov 5 Tf Anupmnrpos éyévero vrapovaía
mpós ajTOUs kal Jj Ómpeà ToU círov. pos Dé
To)Toi; aí reXeral xal rà uvo'Tüpia TavUTys TÍS
Ücoü róre karebeiy0maav év '"EXevoiw Tá T€
mepi Tàs Üvcías kal rà; ápyaióTQTas GaajTas
Éyew 'AUqvaíovs kal ToUs AvyvrrTiovs* ToUs uv
yáp EüpoXmibas àmó rÓv kar! Al*yvmToOv iepéov
perevgvéxOai, ro0s 86. Krjpuvxas dmó TOv maco-
dópev. Tíjv Te "low uóvovs TOv 'EXXjvev

1 kal 75s B. N, Bekker, Vogel: xal 1» 18s Hertlein, Dindorf.

1 The Eumolpidae ('* Descendants of Eumolpus ") and the
94

BOOK I. z9. 1-4

Athens, and in proof of this they offer the following
considerations. Once when there was a great
drought, as is generally agreed, which extended
over practically all the inhabited earth except Egypt
because of the peculiar character of that country,
and there followed a destruction both of crops and
of men in great numbers, Erechtheus, through his
racial connection with Egypt, brought from there to
Athens a great supply of grain, and in return those
who had enjoyed this aid made their benefactor
king. After he had secured the throne he insti-
tuted the initiatory rites of Demeter in Eleusis and
established the mysteries, transferring their ritual
from Egypt. And the tradition that an advent of
the goddess into Attica also took place at that time
is reasonable, since it was then that the fruits which
are named after her were brought to Athens, and
this is why it was thought that the discovery of the
seed had been made again, as though Demeter had
bestowed the gift. And the Athenians on their
part agree that it was in the reign of Erechtheus,
when a lack of rain had wiped out the crops, that
Demeter came to them with the gift of grain.
Furthermore, the initiatory rites and mysteries of
this goddess were instituted in Eleusis at that time.
And their sacrifices as well as their ancient cere-
monies are observed by the Athenians in the same
way as by the Egyptians; for the Eumolpidae were
derived from the priests of Egypt and the Ceryces
from the pastophoroi.! They are also the only Greeks

Ceryces " Heralds'') were two noble Áthenian families, in
charge of the more important religious ceremonies of Attica;
the pastophoroi were those Egyptian priests who carried in
processions small shrines of the gods,

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ópv)etw, kal Talis iGéais kal Toi; 30eciw Ópowrd-
TOUS eipva, TOIg ÁlyvmTÍo.. T0XAÀ Óà kal dXXa
TOUTOI!S Trapa TX1)010. Xéyovres diXorusóTepov iymrep
&A9Üiorepov, Os *y' épol Daiverat, rijs ámoikías
TraUT)s Àudio BT0oDat 0.à T?» Gó£av Tíje mróXews.

Ka0óXov 86 mAeloras üAmowías | AlyimrTLOÉ
$aciw éxméu dra: To)s éavràv mpoyóvovs émi
T0AÀÀ uépr Tíjs oikovuévgs Oi re Tijv bmepoxiiv
TOv ÜaciXevaávrov rap. ajrois kai Già 3v Vmep-
BoX3v Tíe mToXvavÜÓpomías: vmép dv ure dmo-
OeiÉeos depouévgs ugOepiüe àkpifloUs uijre a vy-
ypadécos á&wmíarov uaprvpobvros, o0 éxpivapev
bmápyetv Tà Xeyópeva ypadtjs á£ia.

Kai vepl uév vTÀv ÜcoXoyovuévov map Avyv-
vTíois TocaUÓ juiv elpia0c, croyatopévois Tíjs
cvperpías: epi 86 Ts opas kai roÜ NeíXov
xai rüv üXXov TOv ákofj die» év xejaXaiois
&xaaa Oiefiéva. meipaaópeÜa.

30. 'H yàp AtyvrTOs keirau pé». unáXio Tá Tro
xarà gea"uBpíav, óxyvpóruyri 8é dwvoiukf xal
KáXXe, xepas oUk OXiyo Ooket mpoéyew TÀv eis
BaciXetav. ábepisuévov Tómov. m uiv yàp
Tíjs óc eos oyVUpoxev ajT3v 7j Cpnpos kal Ónpio-
Óns Tis Auif/mgs, émi soÀU pév vapexretvovca,
&ià, 6$ rz)» dvvÓpíav kal rjv emáww Tfje ámáans
TpoQíjs éyovca T?)v OiéfoOov o) uóvov émimovov,
&XAÀ kai mravreAOs émikivOvvoy ex 86 TOv mpós
vóTov nepüv oi re karapákTai ToU Neí(Xov xai
TÓv ópQv Tà cwvopílovra Toros dmó yàp Tíje

1 T. Birt (Das antike Buchwesen, pp. 151 ff.) feels that by
this phrase, which is often used by Diodorus, he referred to his

BOOK I. 29. 4-30. 3

who swear by Isis, and they closely resemble the
Egyptians in both their appearance and manners.
By many other statements like these, spoken more
out of a love for glory than with regard for the
truth, as I see the matter, they claim Athens as a
colony of theirs because of the fame of that city.

In general, the Egyptians say that their ancestors
sent forth numerous colonies to many parts of the
inhabited world, by reason of the pre-eminence of
their former kings and their excessive population;
but since they offer no precise proof whatsoever for
these statements, and since no historian worthy of
credence testifies in their support, we have not
thought that their accounts merited recording.

So far as the ideas of the Egyptians about the
gods are concerned, let what we have said suffice,
since we are aiming at due proportion in our account!
but with regard to the land, the Nile, and every-
thing else worth hearing about we shall endeavour,
in each case, to give the several facts in summary.

30. The land of Egypt stretches in a general way
from north to south, and in natural strength and
beauty of landscape is reputed to excel in no small
degree all other regions that have been formed into
kingdoms. For on the west it is fortified by the
desert of Libya, which is full of wild beasts and
extends along its border for a long distance, and by
reason of its lack of rain and want of every kind of
food makes the passage through it not only toilsome
but even highly dangerous; while on the south the
same protection is afforded by the cataracts of the
Nile and the mountains flanking them, since from

effort to keep the several Books of his history of a&pproxi-
mately the same size.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ToovyobBvrixzs ! kal TYv éaxárov ,Tüs AiBiorías
uepàv évrós ara&iov mevrakia yiXLov kal TevTa-
xodíov obre TXcÜcau Dià ToU moraguoÜ DdOiov
obre eU5j mopevÜTzva. n) rvxóvra BaatMktjs d)
mavreAOs ueyáMgs rww0s yopqyías. TÀv B6 Trpós
Tjjv àávaTOX)v veVóvrOGv uepov rà uép O moras
oxDpoxe, rà 9 £pgpos Trepiéyet kal eBia reXpa-
TO05 Tà Tpocayopevóueva BápaÜpa. éacTi yàp
dvà uécov Tífjs KoíiXs Xvpías xal Tüs Aiybm Tov
Aur TQ uév TXdrei aevi) mavTeAOs, TQ Bé
Bá8e. Üavpuácios, Tó Bé uos émi Biaxoatovs
vapn)kovyca cTa8íovs, 3) Tpocayopeverat uev
Xepf8ovís, rois 8 ámeipois TOv TpoameXatóvrov
dveXmíaTous émidépei xivÓDvovs. aTevoÜ "yàp
Tob Bebuaros Dvros xal rauíg apa Natov,
Üwóàv re ueyáAov TávTy Tepweyvpuévov, éet-
Bà» vóroi avvexeis Tvevawoaiv, ériaeierat mAf-
8o; ápguov. abrn B6 rÓ uiv D80wop xarà Tdv
émioáveiav donuov mowi, róv B6 Tífs Munus
réTOv GVudóv? Tf) Xépae kai karà mrüy áB.dyvoa -
TOV. O40 kal moXAol TÀÓw d'yvooDvrov Tiv i5t6-
T9ra ToÜ TÓTOV gerà oaTparevpdáTov | OXcov
*iiavíaÓncav Tf Droketuévgs 0800 8Giapapróvres.
7? n£v yàp duos ék ToU kar OXiyov maTovuéry
rjv épBocw Xayuáve, xal ToUs émifdáXXovras

1 For this form, without the A, see Vogel I. Ixxii and
Kallenberg, Textkritik und Sprachgebrauch Diodors, Y. 1.

1 The * Cave-dwellers'' are located by Diodorus &long the
Red Sea as far north as the Greek port of Berenicé, and are
described at length in Book 3. 32 f. :

? The word comes from a root meaning ** to devour,'' which
suits the nature of the region, as Diodorus observes below,

BOOK I. 3o. 3-7

the country of the Trogodytes! and the farthest
parts of Ethiopia, over a distance of five thousand
five hundred stades, it is not easy to sail by the
river or to journey by land, unless a manm is fitted
out like a king or at least on a very great scale.
And as for the parts of the country facing the east,
some are fortified by the river and some are embraced
by a desert and a swampy flat called the Barathra.?
For between Coele-Syria and Egypt there lies a
lake, quite narrow, but marvellously deep and some
two hundred stades in length, which is called Ser-
bonis? and offers unexpected perils to those who
approach it in ignorance of its nature. For since
the body of the water is narrow, like a ribbon, and
surrounded on all sides by great dunes, when there
are constant south winds great quantities of sand
are strewn over it. 'Ihis sand hides the surface of
the water and makes the outline of the lake con-
tinuous with the solid land and entirely indistin-
guishable from it. For this reason many who were
unaequainted with the peculiar nature of the place
have disappeared together with whole armies,! when
they wandered from the beaten road. For as the
sand is walked upon it gives way but gradually,
deceiving with a kind of malevolent cunning those

The famous Barathron, or ** Pit," at Athens was & cleft west
of the Hill of the Nymphbs into which condemned criminals
were flung.

3 Op. Milton, Paradise Lost, 2. 592 ff.:

À gulf profound as that Serbonian bog
Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old,
Where armies whole have sunk.

* Àn instance of the loss of part of an army is given in Book

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Gomep Trpovoía Tti vrovnpá mapakpoverau, péxpt
àv rov Aafóvres Ümóvowav ToÜ cvyufinaouévov
BonÜxacciw éavrois, obk obe ert. $vyfjs o05d
cweTupías. Ó yàp bm) ToÜ TÉMuaTOs kamTamiwó-
pevos obre vijxea0at Óvvarat, mapaipovpévns. Tis
iMjog Tijv Tob cdparos kivusiw, obr éxBivai
kaTiGXUei, unóév éxov aTepéppLov eis. émíBact
peprypévnus yàp Tíjs áupov rois bvypois, «al ài
Toüro Tfje ékaTépev $cecs "XXotopévs, avp-
Balve rv vórov uíjre mopevróv elvat pijre m Ào-
Tóv. Üiómep oi rois uépeat ToUvTOi, ériBáXXovTes
depópevor mpós TOv vov obOeplav àyrDapjrww
BoxB8clas Éxovat, e vykaToNaÜavobaqs Tf]s pov
Ts Tapà Tà xe(Xg. à pév obv mpoeipupueva
meBía. ro.a rq» Cxovra T)v dici olkeías érvxe
mrpoayyoplas, óvouacÜévra BápaOpa. - M

31. 'Hpeig 9' émeé à mepl TÓv ám Tíjs
Xépcov rpiQv pepOv TÀv ÓxvpoUvrov TÜv Alyv-
TOv SvjXÜOopev, mrpooÜ10opev Tois eiprgévors TO
Aewróuevov. 1j Teráprn Toívuv mTXevpà mca
o'xebóv dupévo ÜaXáTTy "pog kXvbopiévn T po[3e-
BXurat 70. Aivyóm iov sréXaryos, 0 Tov uév Trapá-
mXovv Éxyer pakporaov, rv 9 dmóflaauw Tiv émi
Tijv xepa» 8vamposóppu.aTov" àmó yàp IIapasro-
vuv Tfs Awgóns &ws 'lómys Tífs év vf Koi
Xvpía, Óvros ToÜ maüpámTXov cTa8Lov c Xebàv
TreVTGKLO YUNCOV, OUK &aTiv eUpetv &c$aMj Mupéva
mw To? Oápov. xtwpls 8é rovrov rauvia Tap
&Xgv axeBov T)». Alyvmrrov apice, Tois dvretpous

a e ———————

1 That part of the Mediterranean lying off Egypt.

yoo

di a

BOOK I. 3o. 7-31. 3

who advance upon it, until, suspecting some im-
pending mishap, they begin to help one another
only when it is no longer possible to turn back or
escape. For anyone who has been sucked in by the
mire cannot swim, since the slime prevents all move-
ment of the body, nor is he able to wade out, since
he lias no solid footing; for by reason of the mixing
of the sand with the water and the consequent
change in the nature of both it comes about that
the place cannot be crossed either on foot or by
boat. Consequently those who enter upon these
regions are borne towards the depths and have
nothing to grasp to give them help, since the sand
along the edge slips in with them. — These flats have
received a name appropriate to their nature as we
have described it, being called Barathra.

31. Now that we have set forth the facts about
the three regions which fortifr Egypt by land we
shall add to them the one yet rcmaining. The
fourth side, which is washed over its whole extent
by waters which are practically harbourless, lias for
a defence before it the Egyptian Sea.! The voyage
along the coast of this sea is exceedingly long,
and any landing is especially difficult; for from
Paraetonium? in Libya as far as Iopé? in Coele-
Syria, a voyage along the coast of some five
thousand stades, there is not to be found a safe
harbour except Pharos. And, apart from these
considerations, a sandbank extends along practically
the whole length of Egypt, not discernible to any

i T first important city on the coast west of Alexandria.

ODpa.

€ "The island which lies before Alexandria and gave its name

to the harbour.

IOI

DIODORUS OF SICILY

4 TOV mpoaTXeóvrov &Ücop15Tos* Otmep oi rüv éx
veAdryovs kivOvvov ékTredevyévau voyuítovres, xai
&à rv d*yvoiav dayuevoi Tpós Tàv wvyfv xara-
qrAéovres, éfaídwns émoxeXXóvrov TÀÓv oxadóv
àveXríoTos vavayolcotv: évtor 86 8i iv raei-
vóryTà Tis xOpas o) Ovvápuevos mpoibécÓat Tv
yfjv XavOdvovaitv éavroUs éxmíTTovTes oi uiv eis
&xdsbeis kal Xuuvátovras TóTOvs, oi O' eis yopav
&puov.

'H ué» obv AlyvmTos mavrax00ev dvaikós
ex/poTai TOv eipzuévov rpómov, TQ 06 axjpart
mapajdjkns oboa 8:0 yiXÍov uev araBÍev éxei Tiv
mapaDaXárTiov T Xevpáv, els ueaoyerov O. üvijeet
cXe80v és orabíovs éfakiuyiMovs. — mroXvav-
Üporría, B6 TÓ uev sraXaióv m0XD Tpoéaxe mávrov
TOV yvopitouévev TÓTOVv karà T?)v oikovuévgv,
&Gl kaÜ' j$uüs 66 oU0cvóg TOv dAXev GOokei
AeireaÜai él uév yàp rà» ápyaiev xpóvev
Coe kepas AEfioXóyovs kal móXews TrAelovs TÀV
pvpíev xal óxkrakugXiM v, ds év rais lepaís
áva/ypadats ópüv &ar. karakeydepia uévov, éri 86
IlroAeuaíov ToU Adryov 7Xeíovs TOv rpio upto
7piÜuijÜncav, Gv Tó mXfÜos Buaueuévgkev &vs
TÀv kaÜ' $uás wpóvev. roD 06 ay Tavros XaoÜ
TO uév TraXatóv aci yeyovéva, Tepi érrakoaías

[2]

! Ptolemy Lagus, general of Alexander the Great, was the
founderofthelineofthe Ptolemies. Heobtained the governor-
ship of Egypt shortly after the death of Alexander in 323 n.o,
assumed the title of king in 305, &nd reigned until 283.

102

j
|

BOOK I. 31. 35-8

who approach without previous experience of these
waters. Consequently those who think that they
have escaped the peril of the sea, and in their ignor-
ance turn with gladness towards the shore, suffer
unexpected shipwreck when their vessels suddenly
run aground; and now and then mariners who
cannot see land in time because the country lies so
low are cast ashore before they realize it, some of
them on marshy and swampy places and others on a
desert region.

The land of Egypt, then, is fortified on all sides
by nature in the manner described, and is oblong
in shape, having a coast-line of two thousand stades
and extending inland about six thousand stades.
In density of population it far surpassed of old all
known regions of the inhabited world, and even
in our own day is thought to be second to none
other; for in ancient times it had over eighteen
thousand important villages and cities, as can be
seen entered in their sacred records, while under
Ptolemy son of Lagus! these were reckoned at
over thirty thousand, this great number continuing
down to our own time. The total population, they
say, was of old about seven million and the number

? Herodotus (2. 177) gives the number of *' inhabited cities p
in the time of Amasis (sixth century B.C.) as twenty thousand.
The * over thirty thousand '' of Diodorus may be approxi-
mately eorrect, when the ' villages '* are included, although
he may be using the figures given by Theocritus (17. 82 ff.),
who was born about 305 5.c. and performed a feat of metrical
juggling of the number 33,333: " The cities builded therein
are three hundreds and three thousands and three tens of
thousands, and threes twain and nines three, and in them
the lord and master of allis proud Ptolemy '' (tr. Edmonds,
in L.C.L.),

IO3

DIODORUS OF SICILY

pvpiáóas, kai kaÜ' juüs 66 obe éXdTTove elvai
9 rovrwv.! Di xal ro)s ápxaíovs BaciXeis ic'ro-
poto: karà SUV AlywmTOv Épya peyáxa xal
&avpac à 6tà Ts TroAvyewplas xarackevácavras
| áÜdvara. Tie éavrüv Bófms dmoXwmeiv bmouvij-
para. dXX epi uv Toraev TÀ xarà puépos
papóv ÜcTepov àvampárouev, mepl 56 ríe ToU
ToTrauob duceoe xai TOv xarà Tiv Xodpav
i.onárov vov GéFipev.
32. o yàp N eiXos dépera, p&v àmró ueanuB ptas
emi T)» ApkTo», às Tüyüs Éyev ék cvómwv
&opáev, ol keivrau Tfj éoyárus Aifiomías karà
Tiv &pnpov, ámpoairov rijs xopas olas Gà zv
Tob xavpaTos vmepBoXjv. éyuaTos Ó àv» ràv
amdvTuv TorauQv» xai TXeéioTq» yüv BwEwv
kapmÓs Trotebrai ,Leyáxas, ToTé puév égi Tow
| ávaroMv kal Th Apafíav émiaTpédov, mroré 5
eri Tv bow kai T)v AuBUqv éxeMvov: déperai
yàp àmó Tàv Aiiomiküv ÓpQv nuéxpi Tije els
8dXarrav ekBoXis oráBbia uáMaTá mee uópia
| «ai B xD gi» als mrote(ra. kaymais.? «arà
8 rois vrokdTO TÓTTOVS GVGTÉAXeTGL Tos Ürykous
del püXXov, áTocTOQuévov ToU pe/vparos ém
áp$orépas. TÀs qTeípovs. TÀv 9 dmocyio-
pévov uepOv TO uév eis Ty. AuBsqv ékeXivov dy
1 All MSS. except M read rpixosíov, which has been
deleted hy every editor since Dindorf. But U. Wilcken
(Griechische Ostraka aus Agypten. und. Nubien, 1. pp. 489 f.)
follows Ed. Meyer in feeling that rpiaocíov is & corruption

his cram 4 strong case for moírey, which I have

: 3 mepieíA noe Bt kal vímovus év abrQ karà uiv Tl» Al&iom(ap
AÀas re wAeíovs kal uíav ebue*yéÓn, riy vopa(ouérny Mepónp, ft
104

[

BOOK I. 31r. 8-32. 4

has remained no less down toour day.! Itis for this
reason that, acoording to our historical accounts,
the ancient kings of Egypt built great and marvel-
lous works with the aid of so many hands and left
in them immortal monuments to their glory. But
these matters we shall set forth in detail a little
later; now we shall tell of the nature of the river
and the distinctive features of the country.

39. The Nile flows from south to north, having its
sources in regions which have never been seen,
since they lie in the desert at the extremity of
Ethiopia in a country that cannot be approached
because of the excessive heat. Being as it is the
largest of all rivers as well as the one which traverses
the greatest territory, it forms great windings, now
turning towards the east and Arabia, now bending
back towards the west and Libya; for its course
from the mountains of Ethiopia to where it empties
into the sea is a distance, inclusive of its windings,
of some twelve thousand stades. In its lower
stretches it is more and more reduced in volume,
as the flow is drawn off to the two continents? Of
the streams which thus break off from it, those
which turn off into Libya are swallowed up by the

1 U, Wilcken (cp. critical note) feela that this sum for the
population of Egypt about the middle of the first century
B.0. is approximately correct. Josephus (Jewish War, 2. 385),
writing a little nitore than a century later, gives the population
as 7,500,000, exclusive of Alexandria. In Book 17. 52. 6 Dio-
dorus says that the '* free inhabitants '' of that city numbered
over 300,000.

3 The earlier Greek writers made the Nile the dividing line
between the continents of Ásia and Africa.

E SERM ML MISMESEMN secun c
efkosi Bvoiy crabley deri rb wAáros added hy CF from
chap. 33. 1.

105

DIODORUS OF SICILY

&upov karaTíivera. TÓ BáÜos éyojans dmicTov,
TÓ 9 eis rjv 'Apaflíav évavrios eio Xeónevov. els
TéAua Ta. Trag uenyé8n xal Muvas éxvpémerat ueá-

5 Xas kai mepiotkovuévas vyévegu TmoXXoig. eig O6
Tj» Alywmrov énBáXXew Tf uév Béka aTa8(ww,
Tí) Ó' ÉXarrov rovrov, obk ém' c0Üclase $epónevos,
dAXà xajmós TavToías "rovoDnevosg roTé uv
yàp éAérrerat Tpós Tiv 6o, moré 68 mpós T)v
éomrépav, éor. D Óre mpós riw» ueonuflpiav, eis

6 rovríco Xauflávev Tiv maMppouw. py yàp
é£ éxarépov uépovs ToU rorauoD mrapijkeu ToXXiv
Lev Ts mapamoTauías éméxovra, SwiXnpupéva
à $ápayti , «ara pripvows aTevomópots, ols
éuTim TOV TÓ DpeUna TaMaoovret 6i Tfjs TreOtd8os,
xai Tpós T?v ueonufpiav éd' ixavóv cómov
€vexÜév. má émi r$v xarà dew dopàv
àmokaDicraraa.

7. Togukavrqs 9' Éyov bmepoxy)s év mücw ó
voraus obTros uóvos TOV üXXcov üvev fMas xal
KvuaTebovs Opuíjs T?) DÜciw ToOLe/rQi, mM év

8 Tois kaXovuévois karapákTas. TÓTOS 'Yyáp Tis
éa'T. jjket u&y. de Oca o ra&íev, karávTus 96 xal
&pravois avrykXetójevos eis a Tevijv évroytjv, ámas
8e Tpaxbs Kai $aparyydóns, éri. 6€ mérpovs Éxwuv
mvKVOUS KGl ueyáXovs éowóTas ckoméXoi ToU
86 DeUpaos rep roírovs axitouévov Buatórepov
kal TroXXákis bà Tàs é*ykorás ávakXepévov mpós
évavríav T?j!V karadopàv cvíaravras Sivav Óav-

9 uacTaí: más 9 0 ueaátov róTos DTÓ Tf)e maXip-

! karaxphuyois Capps: kal xpuuvois.

106

BOOK I. 32. 4-9

sand, which lies there to an incredible depth, while
those which pour in the opposite direction into
Arabia are diverted into immense fens and large
marshes ! on whose shores dwell many peoples. But
where it enters Egypt it has a width of ten stades,
sometimes less, and flows, not in a straight course,
but in windings of every sort; for it twists now
towards the east, now towards the west, and at
times even towards the south, turning entirely back
upon itself. For sharp hills extend along both sides
of the river, which occupy much of the land border-
ing upon it and are cut through by precipitous
ravines, in which are narrow defiles; and when it
comes to these hills the stream rushes rapidly back-
ward through the level country,? and after being
borne southward over an area of considerable extent
resumes once more its natural course.

Distinguished as it is in these respects above all
other streams, the Nile is also the only river which
makes its way without violence or onrushing waves,
except at the cataracts, as they are called. This is
a place which is only about ten stades in length, but
has a steep descent and is shut in by precipices so
as to form a narrow cleft, rugged in its entire length
and ravine-like, full, moreover, of huge boulders
which stand out of the water like peaks. And since
the river is split about these boulders with great
force and is often turned back so that it rushes in
the opposite direction because of the obstacles,
remarkable whirlpools are formed; the middle space,
moreover, for its entire length is filled with foam

! Herodotus (2. 32) speaks of '*'large marshes" on the
B pper course of the Nile.
i.e. the valley which lies between the hills.

107

DIODORUS OF SICILY

poías dá$poü Te mXmpobrai kal rois Trpoc LoDa
peyáXyv mapéxerau karámAnEw kai yàp 7
kaTadopà ToÜ ToTauoD olrwos écTiv ófela xai
Biatos dae Soketv univ BéXovs &adépeww. kavà
8à T)v TXjpeciw ToU Neí(Xov, rv akoméMov
xaraKXvtouévov xal Tavrüs ToÜ TpaXxvovrog
rómov TQ TX0Üe. To) DeUparos KaXvTTOAÉVOV,
KaTüTAXéovgi uév Ties xarà cob KaTapákTovy
Xaufdvorres évavríovs ToU; ávéuove, àvamAei-
ca. 6? oj8els Bóvarai, vieda ge Tí ToU TOTGLOU
Bias vácav émívotav AvÜperívyy. karapákvat
u&v ov eiat To, Dro, mA eiovs, uéyua rog 8 ó pos
Tois ueÜopíots rfe Aitorrías e kal Tfj AlyUmTOV.

33. IlepveíAnde 9" ó morauós kal wüicovs àv
abr, xarà uàv Tiv AlÓioríav dXXas ve mAelovs
«ai uíav ebueyéOn, rv óvouatouévqv Mepónv, év
$ «al mÓMs dal» dEióXoyog óudvvuos TÍÜ v9jo,
krícavTos abr)v Kaguflósov xal Ücuévov T$)»
"pocQyopíav ámà Tí wyrpós abro0 Mepóns.
raórg» 86 vQ piv oxágarl $aocw bTpxeiv
Ovpe mrapamXyaíav, rQ 86 uevyéeu moXU Tpoéxeuw
TOv GXXav vjjacv rv év roUrois Toi; TÓTOI- TÓ
uév *yàp ufxos ajTüe elvai Aéyovst cra8Lev
TpurxXiMev, TÓ Bé mXáros xiv. éyew
aUT]V kal res oUK. OMeyae, dv émiQaveoráTqQv
bmápyew Tiv Mepómg»w. mapjxewv 8 TS vicov
Tüv TepukMvÜóuevov mávra TÓTmOv ám név Tí
Auf ons Oivas éxovrae &upov ué-c0os déptov, à mà
8é Tfjs "ApaBías xpuuvoUs karepporyóras. bTáp-
Xew, y éy abr) Kal uéraXka XpvcoÜ Te kal
4p'yvpov xai gibzpov xal XaX«oU* mwpós B6 Toi-
Tow Éxew TXi0os éBévov, Aí&ev Te moXvreAÓv
108

BOOK I. 32. 9-33. 3

made by the backward rush of the water, and strikes
those who approach it with great terror. And, in
fact, the descent of the river is so swift and violent
that it appears to the eye like the very rush of an
arrow. During the flood-time of the Nile, when the
peaked rocks are covered and the entire rapids are
hidden by the large volume of the water, some men
descend the ecataract when they find the winds
against them,! but no man can make his way up it,
since the force of the river overcomes every human
deviee. Now there are still other cataracts of this
nature, but the largest is the one on the border
between Ethiopia and Egypt.

33. The Nile also embraces islands within its
waters, of which there are many in Ethiopia and
one of considerable extent called Mero&, on which
there also lies a famous city bearing the same name
3s the island, which was founded by Cambyses and
named by him after his mother Meroé, This island,
they say, has the shape of a long shield and in size
far surpasses the other islands in these parts; for
they state that it is three thousand stades long and
a thousand wide. It also contains not a few cities,
the most famous of which is Mero&. Extending
the entire length of the island where it is washed
by the river there are, on the side towards Libya,
dunes containing an infinite amount of sand, and, on
the side towards Arabia, rugged cliffs. There are
also to be found in it mines of gold, silver, iron, and
copper, aud it contains in addition much ebony and

! $e. and so are able to check their speed by using the sails.
109

DIODORUS OF SICILY

, , LA ^ B y
4 yévgy mavroóamá. k&aÜ0Xov 66 rocavras vycovs
mroL.etp TOv TOoTauóv GocTe ToUs ükojDovras gu)
^ X. ^
paSíes vioTeÜcaw Xepis "yàp TÀv mepueAvio-
uévev TóTOV v TÓ kaXovuévp AéNra Tàs dXXas
elvai. vwQcovs mÀciovs TOv ém"Takocíov, Qv TÓS
, ^
p&v bmó AlÜiómev émavrAovuévas wyeopyeiaÜa,
Kéyxpp, Tàs O6 mjpew Umdpxew eov xai
kvvoKeQáNov kal áXXov Onpicv mravrobamáv, xal
* ^ ^
8ià rolro dmpoaírovs elvat rots àvÜpórmrois.
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BoArivov, kal reXevratov Kavcoffucóv, 0 Twes
€ ^N 3 , L4 ^ E [-4
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,
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Li
ypájew. éd éxdorq 86 mÓNIs. rereixvo rat Óuau-
povuévg v Trorauó kal ka ékárepov uépos Tíjs
^ , ^ /
éxfloXijs Üevyuaa, xal jvXaxais ebkatpois Óiei-
^ ,
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^ , b
O:p)É és. xeipomroiuyros eis TÓv — 'Apdf)tov
9 xóXmov xal Trjv '"EpvÜpàv ÓáXarrav. Tajvrqv D.
émefáXNero mpóros karackevátew | Nexde 0
Vauugríyov, uerà 86 robrov ^apetos 0 Iépa s
X , L4 L4 ^ ^ 27 i
E E
ai TpokoYras rois pros €ws T,vOs TÓ TeXevratov

IIO

BOOK Il. 33. 3-9

every kind of precious stone. Speaking generally,
the river forms so many islands that the report of
them can scarcely be credited ; for, apart from the
regions surrounded by water in what is called the
Delta, there are more than seven hundred other
islands, of which some are irrigated by the Ethiopians
and planted with millet, though others are so overrun
by snakes and dog-faced baboons ! and other animals
of every kind that human beings cannot set foot
upon them.

Now where the Nile in its course through Egypt
divides into several streams it forms the region
which is called from its shape the Delta. The
two sides of the Delta are described by the outer-
most branches, while its base is formed by the
sea which receives the discharge from the several
outlets of the river. It empties into the sea in
seven mouths, of which the first, beginning at the
east, is called the Pelusiac, the second the Tanitic,
then the Mendesian, Phatnitic, and Sebennytic, then
the Bolbitine, and finally the Canopie, which is
called by some the Heracleotic. There are also
other mouths, built by the hand of man, about which
there is no special need to write. At each mouth
is a walled city, which is divided into two parts by
the river and provided on each side of the mouth
with pontoon bridges and guard-houses at suitable
points. From the Pelusiac mouth there is an arti-
ficial canal to the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea.
The first to undertake the construction of this was
Necho the son of Psammetichus, and after him
Darius the Persian made progress with the work for

! These are described in Book 3. 36.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

elacev avr]v üavvréAea Toy: éi6dx0n yàp vmó
Tcvov 6T Gropifas Tüv iaÜuóv altos Cras ToU
karaXvoO vai T» Alyvmrov gereoporépav yàp
dmeBelkvvov bmápyeiw Tíje AiyUmrov T)v 'Epv-
Opàv ÓáXarrav. ÜcTepov B6 ó Be/repos IIroXe-
paíos gvveréAeaev abr», kal karà TÓv Évrikaa-
pórarov TrómTov éuyyavüjcaró Ti duMóTEXvov
Oiddparypa. robro 9 éEnvowyev, ómróre BovXorro
&ramAeUoai, xal Taxéms TáMiv GuVÉkXeLcv, €U-
cTóxes ékXaufavopévgs Tífs xXpeíae. 0 66 &ià
Te Ow opvXos Ta/TQs Déwv ToTauós OÓvoudberat
pév dmó ToU kaTackevácavros IlroAenaios, éri
8é ríe éSoXje óDuv &xet T)v srpocanyopevouévnv
' Apaivogr.

34. Tó 9 otv. AéXra Tfj XweMa TÓ ox5part
mapa mAijotov ümápyov TÀv &y mXevpav éxarépav
&yei a Tab(ev émrakoaiov xal evTkovra, T?» 8e
Báciw ÜaXárrg mpoakXvtouévgy araBiov xiNiov
xai Tpiakogiov,. 7j 66 vicos abTQ ToXAais
éwopv£r xewpomotjro:s DuelNgm Tas kat Xopav
mepiéyei kaXMa gv Ts Alyomrov. oTaQuO0Xxo-
cTos 'yàp obca al kaTáppuvros TOXAoUs xai
vravroOaToUs éxjéper kapmo)s, ToÜ uv mora o0
8$ià T)v xav! éros áváflagcw veapàv iX)v del
karaxéovros, Ty O0 ávÜpemev babies &ámacav
ápbevovrov i4 Tiwos wxavíjs, v érevónoe uev

1 Necho reigned from 609 to 593 5.c., Darius from 521 to
485 B.C.
? 'This canal, not to be confused with the Suez Canal, left

II2

BOOK I. 33. 9-34. 2

a time but finally left it unfinished;! for he was
informed by certain persons that if he dug through
the neck of land he would be responsible for the
submergence of Egypt, for they pointed out to him
that the Red Sea was higher than Egypt? Ata

later time the second Ptolemy completed it and in 285-246

the most suitable spot constructed an ingenious
kind of alock. "This he opened, whenever he wished
to pass through, and quickly closed again, a con-
trivance which usage proved to be highly successful.
The river which flows through this canal is named
Ptolemy, after the builder of it, and has at its mouth
the city called Arsino&.

34. The Delta is much like Sicily in shape, and
its sides are each seven hundred and fifty stades
long and its base, where it is washed by the sea,
thirteen hundred stades. This island is intersected
by many artifiial canals and includes the fairest
land in Egypt. For since it is alluvial soil and well
watered, it produces many crops of every kind,
inasmuch as the river by its annual rise regularly
deposits on it fresh slime, and the inhabitants easily
imigate its whole area by means of a contrivance

the Nile a little &hove Bubastis, followed the Wadi Tümilát
to the Bitter Lakes, and then turned south, along the course of
the present eanal, to the Red Sea. Its construction has been
placed as far hack as the 19th and even the 12th Dynasty. At
any rate, it was again putin operation hy Darius, asis clear from
the inscription on the best-preserved of the fivestelae discovered:

lamaPersian. From Persia I captured Egypt. I commanded
this canal to he huilt from the Nile, which flows in Egypt, to
the Sea which comes from Persia. So was this canal built,
as I had commanded, and ships passed from Egypt through
this canal to Persia, as was my purpose "' (translation in R. W.
Rogers, History of Ancient Persia, p.120) Remains show that
it was about 150 feet wide and 16 to 17 feet deep.

II3

DIODORUS OF SICILY

'" Apxipaj6gs 0 Xvpakóatos, óvopáterat 66 án To
GX"paros koyMas.

[IIpaeav 66 ToU NeíXov T?» pVciv vrotovpévov,
xai yíij ToXXjv kal mavrobamv kaTaQépovros,
Ér, Óé xarà To)s xoíXovs TÓTOvS Mugvátovros,
&£An wíverat Táp$opa. pífa. yàp év abmols
$ovra. vavroBGamal Tij eoe, xal kapmáv xai
kavXàv i&udtovcat $íces, ToXAÀ cvuBaXXó-
peva, Tois dmópois TOv ávÜpomcev xal Tots
daOevéci mpós avrdpkeiav. | o0 yàp nóvov rpodàs
vapéyovrai Toik(Xas kal ác. Toig Ocouévows
éroípas kal GaxriXeie, 4XXà kai TYv. AXXov TÀV
eis TÓ fjv dvaykaícv oix óMoya Qépovat BonÜj-
paTa' Xerós T€ yàp derat moXós, e£ ob xara-
axevátovawv üprovse oi kar. Al-yvirrov 6vvapévovs
éxmAXmpoÜv T?v $voucv To) coparos évOeuav, TÓ
Te kuBopiov SaxriXéorarov bmápxov dépew TÓv
kaXoUpevov AiyümTiOv kÜauov. aT. O6 xal
&évBpwv vyévn mXeiova, kai ro0rov aí uév óvouató-
pevau. epcaiau. kapmüv Oui$opov Exovos Tj)
yXvkürgri, gerevexyÜévros é£ — Aifiomías | vmó
Ilepcóv To0 $vroU a0" v kaipóv KapufBias
ékpdirna ev éxeivov TOv Tómov: TÀy 8e cvkapivov
ai pév Tóv TOv uópov kapróv dépovoiw, ai 6 rüv
TOls a'Ükots ép. ept), «al rap. óXov a xe&àv Tàv évi-
avróv ajroÜ $vouévov cvufaíve, rovs. dmrópovs
karadvy)yr éroiugv éxew Tíjs évBelas, rà 82 Bára
kaXovpeva! ovványerat u&v xarà Tv dmroxapratv

1 nvtdpia after kaXoípeva deleted by Dindorf.

1 According to the description of Vitruvius (10. 6) this was a
screw with spiral channels, **like those of a snail shell," which

II4

BOOK I. 34. 2-9

which was invented by Archimedes of Syracuse and
is called, after its shape, a screw.

Since the Nile has a gentle current, carries down
a great quantity of all kinds of earth, and, further-
more, gathers in stagnant pools in low places,
marshes are formed which abound in every kind of
plant. For tubers of every flavour grow in them
and fruits and vegetables which grow on stalks,
of à nature peculiar to the country, supplying an
abundance sufficient to render the poor and the sick
among the inhabitants self-sustaining. For not only
do they afford a varied diet, ready at hand and
abundant for all who need it, but they also furnish
not a few of the other things which contribute to
the necessities of life; the lotus, for instance, grows
in great profusion, and from it the Egyptians make
à bread which is able to satisfy the physical needs
of the body, and the ciborium, which is found in great
abundance, bears what is called the '* Egyptian "
bean. There are also many kinds of trees, of which
that called persea, which was introduced from
Ethiopia by the Persians when Cambyses conquered
those regions, has an unusually sweet fruit, while
of the fig-mulberry * trees one kind bears the black
mulberry and another a fruit resembling the fig;
and since the latter produces throughout almost the
whole year, the result is that the poor have a ready
Source to turn to in their need. The fruit called
the blackberry is picked at the time the river is

turned within a wooden shaft. It was worked by man-power
and did not raise the water so high as did the water-wheel.
. * The Nelhunbium speciosum; op. Theophrastus, Enquiry
$nto Plants, 4. 8. 7 (tr. by Hort in BIS
: The Mimusops Schimperi ; Da Theophrastus, ibid. 4. 2. b.
The Ficus Sycamorus; op. Theophrastus, ibid. 6. 6. 4.

115

DIODORUS OF SICILY

To) ToTaj.00, 8.à 86 m3 yXvkbrsTa. Tis $vceos
abTÓv év Tpay5uaros nuéper karavaMaxerat.
karaaxevátovat 86 kal éc TOv kpiÜGv. Alvyvmruot
mópa Xevróuevov ob moX) Tis mepl rÓv olvov
ebw8Las, Ó kaXoDa. LÜ0os. xp&vra, 9? kal mpós
rjv TOv Aíyvov xabüsiw émixéovres ávr. éXaiov
TÓ àmoÜXióuevov Ék vivos vro), mpocaryopevó-
pevov 8à kiki. ToXXÀ 86 kal dXXa. Tà Óvvapueva
Tàs ávaykaías xpetas rapéyeaÜat rois àvÜporois
Bay diera. karà Tijv Alyvmrow, bmép óv
pakpóv y eim ypádew.

35. Onpía 8 ó Ne(Aos rpéder m0XXÀ uév xal
dXXa rais ióénug éEmXXayuéva, 8vo 8à Guddopa,
Tóv Te kpokóóetXov kai Tüv kaXoUuevov VrOV.
ToUrcv Ó' 0 pv xpokóbetXos é£ éXaxta ov vytverat
péyua Tos, dg áv Qà u£v ToU Lgov rovrov rixTovTos
Tolg xmveious TapamMjoia, ToU O vevvnÜévros
abfouévov péypi m5XÓv éckalóeka. kal paxpó-
fiov uév écrww óc kar! ávÜporrov, yX&rrav 56
obx Éye. Trà 08 cóua ÜavpaarÓs bmó Tij
$iccos óxUperar TO uy yàp Oépua avroD müv
doXÓwróv éoTi xal Tj axXopormyri: Dwidopov,
ó8óvres 9 é£ dpdorépov vOv uepàv vmdpyovoi
mroAXoí, Sio 83 oí xyavAióOovres 7roX) TÓ peyéÜei
TÓv dXXev GuaXXárTovres. capkojayei Ó oU
uóvov ávyÜpovrovs, àXXà kal rÓy áXXav ry éri
Tfe yíje [oov rà mpoomeXátovra TÓ morapó.
kal rà uà» OwyuaTa Toii áOópà xal xaXemá,
Toi 9' ÜvvEt Gewós a'rapárrei, kal r0 GuaupeÜev
Tfe capkóe mavTeXOs ámepyálLerau, Ovaiarov.
éÜnpeVero 8à rara, rà LQa vÓ uév TaXaoibv UT
TOv ÁAlqvmTiíov árkiavpots Éxovaiv émióeoeXeaa-

116

BOOK I 34. 9-35. 5

receding and by reason of its natural sweetness is
eaten as a dessert. The Egyptians also make a
drink out of barley which they call zylhos, the bou-
quet of which is not much inferior to that of wine.
Into their lamps they pour for lighting purposes,
not the oil of the olive, but a kind which is extracted
from a plant and called Aii! Many other plants,
capable of supplying men with the necessities of
life, grow in Egypt in great abundance, but it would
be a long task to tell about them.

35. As for animals, the Nile breeds many of
peeuliar form, and two which surpass the others,
the crocodile and what is called the ** horse." * Of
these animals the crocodile grows to be the largest
from the smallest beginning, since this animal lays
eggs about the size of those of a goose, but after
the young is hatched it grows to be as long as six-
teen cubits. It is as long-lived as man, and has no
tongue. The body of the animal is wondrously
protected by nature; for its skin is covered all over
with scales and is remarkably hard, and there are
many teeth in both jaws, two being tusks, much
larger than the rest. It devours the flesh not only
of men but also of any land animal which approaches
the river. The bites which it makes are huge and
severe and it lacerates terribly with its claws, and
whatever part of the flesh it tears it renders alto-
gether difficult to heal. In early times the Egyptians
used to catch these beasts with hooks baited with

1 Caator-oil.
.* Called by the Greeks also Aippopotamos, *' horse of the
river," and *' horse of the Nile."
117

DIODORUS OF SICILY

uévas beías aápkas, ÜaTepov B6 moTé uév Bucrvore
maxéciw dGoTepei Twes (XÜ0s, roró Ó. éuBoMois
cióppols ék TOv àkáTwov TvTTÓueva avvexOs eis
Tjv kejaMjwv. mAáf8os 9 aürÓv üuiÜnróv éaTi
kaTá T€ TÓV TOoTAUÓV Kai Tüe Tapakeuiévas
Aíuvas, Og àv sroAvyóvov T€ Üvrov kal aTavicos
bmó TÓv vÜpómcov vawovuévov: TÓv uiv
yàp éyxeoptav Tolg TAÀelaTOws vópipóv éaTiw ds
Ücóv acéfeaÜau Tüv xpokoÓerXov, Toig Ó àXXo-
Q Ao áXvatreXis éaTiw 7j Üjpa mavreXÓs, ok
oUcoqs ébe8(uov Tíe capkós. àXX Opes ToU
TÜovs rovrov $vouévov karà rv àvÜpómwv
? d$/cu xareckeóaoe uéya fojÜnua: ó wàp
kaXoóuevos ixveipov, TapamA5ous Óv pup
kvví, mepiépyerat rà TÓV kpokobc(Acv qà avv-
TplÉewv, ríkrovTos ToÜ [gov mapà róv morapuóv,
kal TÓ ÜavyuacióTrarov, obre kareaÜíev oUre
aeXobuevos ojóév Bua TeAet Dvawv Twa xpcíav
xdi karqvaykacuévgv évepyQv eig àvÜpdomwv
, /
evepyyeaíav.
*O 86 xaXobpevos imos TÓ éBeu uév €
L6vog v TQ ueyéÜe. uév éa Tuv
oUk éXláTTOV T'yXÓQv TévTe, Terpámovs Ó àv kal
8íxnXos mapamXnales Tois oval robs XavAó-
8ovras Éyev ue(tovs TOv áypiov )Ov, Tpeis éE
á&pQorépov TrÀÓv puepOv, Óra 86 kal képkov xai
$oev)s trm Tapeuoepi, ró 8 OXov (ros Tob
cóparos ovk dvóuotv éXépavr, xai Gépua
mávrov ayeboóv TOv Ünpíov te xvpóraTov. Torá-
p&ov 86! bmdpxyov kai yepcatov Tràs uév üjuépas
év rois 086aci Toiei yvuvatópevov xarà fáDovs,
Tàe 86 vóxras él Tífs yopas karavéuera, TÓv T€
cirov kai TÓv xóprov, Gare el moX/TeKvov Jv
118

BOOK I. 35. 5-9

the flesh of pigs, but since then they have hunted
them sometimes with heavy nets, as they catch
some kinds of fish, and sometimes from their boats
with iron spears which they strike repeatedly into
the head. The multitude of them in the river and
the adjacent marshes is beyond telling, since they
are prolific and are seldom slain by the inhabitants;
for it is the custom of most of the natives of Egypt
to worship the crocodile as a god, while for foreigners
there is no profit whatsoever in the hunting of them
since their flesh is not edible. But against this
multitude's increasing and menacing the inhabitants
nature has devised a great help; for the animal
called the ichneumon, which is about the size of a
small dog, goes about breaking the eggs of the
erocodiles, since the animal lays them on the banks
of the river, and—what is most astonishing of all—
without eating them or profiting in any way it con-
tinualy performs a service which, in a sense, has
been prescribed by nature and forced upon the
animal for the benefit of men.

The animal called the '* horse " is not less than
five cubits high, and is four-footed and cloven-hoofed
like the ox ; it has tusks larger than those of the wild
boar, three on each side, and ears and tail and a
ery somewhat like those of the horse; but the trunk
of its body, as a whole, is not unlike that of the
elephant, and its skin is the toughest of almost any
beast's. Being a river and land animal, it spends
the day in the streams exercising in the deep water,
while at night it forages about the countryside on
the grain and hay, so that, if this animal were

1 $6 Dindorf : yáp.
11g

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ToÜro TO [Qov kal xaT éwiavrüv ÉrwTev, éXv-
paier àv» óXooxepós Tàs *yeopylas Tàe xaT
AlyvzrTov. áAXÍaxera: 66 kal ToÜTo ToXvXeipta
TÓv TwwTÜvTOV TOls cioómpois éugoXÍo:s* ÓTrov
yàp à» $avf$, evváwyovoiww em abTÓ ^ia, «al
Tepig TávTes «aTarpavpaitovaiw Geomep. Tidi
xoTebaiv émi ai&npois dryicla pois, eiü €i TÓv
épmayévroy évámrovres ápxàs arvmmÍvas ádiáai,
uéxp. à» Órov TapaXvÓ) yevópevov. &Éatpov,
Tjv uév oOv a ápka akXnpàv &xev kal Óvaremr Tov,
TOv 9" &vrocÜcv obóày éóc0iusov, obre aT Xdyxvoy
obr éykoluov.

36. Xwpie 8é rÀv eipnuévev Onpiov 0 NetXos
éxyev vravToia yévm ixÜUwv kal xarà TÓ TA1j0os
üTicTa' Toig yàp éyxwpíoi ob nóvov é« Tv
mpogajáres áXiokopévov Trapéxera, BadiXi) zv
dTóXavcw, dàXXà xai mAfÜos eis Tapuyeíav
àviígsw áàvékXewrrov. xaÜóXov Óé rais eig áv-
Üpérvrovs evepyeaíaus bmepBdXXe: Távras TOUS
kaTà T?)v olkovpévgv TrorapoUs. T/js yàp vrÀnpo-
aeos Tv üpxT)v àmó Üepwüv TpomÓv vroto)pevos
ab£erai uv uéypi Ti)s Lanuepías Tfjs pero7rcpivi)s,
émávyov 9" áel véav iXov. Bpéxe: Tv *yfjv ópotes
Tv Te ápyv «al amópipov «ai Qvreiciuov
TocoÜrov xpóvov Ógov àv oi *yecpyoUvres Tl)v
xepav éÜeXájawgi, — ToÜ yàp ÜSaros trpaéws
$epouévov pa&íes áoTpémovow abróv pupois
xépagu kal váXw émávyovciv eüxepOs TaUTa
GiaipoOvres, Órav Som avpdépew. | kaÜóXov 8é
Toca)íTQv Toi; pév épyois eOkoTmíav "rapéxerat,
Toi 9' dvÜpowrois XvavrTéAeav, Dare TOUS uv
mwAeiaTrovs TÓ» wecpyüv Toi; ávafnpaiwopévows

120

BOOK I. 35. 9-36. 4

prolific and reproduced each year, it would entirely
destroy the farms of Egypt. But even it is caught by
the united work of many men who strike it with iron
spears; for whenever it appears they converge their
boats upon it, and gathering about it wound it
repeatedly with a kind of chisel fitted with iron
barbs,! and then, fastening the end of a rope of tow
to one of them which has become imbedded in the
animal, they let it go until it dies from loss of blood.
Its meat is tough and hard to digest and none of
its inward parts is edible, neither the viscera? nor
the intestines.

36. Beside the beasts above mentioned the Nile
contains every variety of fish and in numbers beyond
belief; for it supplies the natives not only with
abundant subsistence from the fish freshly caught,
but it also yields an unfailing multitude for salting.
Speaking general, we may say that the Nile
surpasses all the rivers of the inhabited world in
its benefactions to mankind. For, beginning to
rise at the summer solstice, it increases in volume
until the autumnal equinox, and, since it is bring-
ing down fresh mud all the time, it soaks both
the fallow land and the seed land as well as the
orchard land for so long a time as the farmers
may wish. For since the water comes with a gentle
fÜow, they easily divert the river from their fields
by small dams of earth, and then, by cutting these,
2s easily let the river in again upon the land when-
ever they think this to be advantageous. And in
general the Nile contributes so greatly to the lighten-
ing of labour as well as to the profit of the inhabi-
tants, that the majority of the farmers, as they

3 $e, the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys.
I2I

! de, à harpoon.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

T/js ys TóTois éducrapévovus xai TÓ oTéÉpyua
LA EJ , ^ , * »
BáXXovras émáyew rà Booküuara, kai roUTolS
cvjmaTcavras perà TérTapas j) mévre uvas
ámavrüvy émi vóv Üepwpóv, éviovs 86 ovo
àpórpois émayayóvras Bpayées Tv émiwDáveiav
Tij BeBpevyuévus xoópas acpobs àvaspetaÜat rv
kapmÓv xwepis Ga mávns ToXXs kal kakorraPeías.
0Xcs yàp mca yewopyia Tapà uév Toig dXXots
&Üvec. uerà yeyáXov àvaXoudrov xal raXaa-
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L4 , , * / , 6 14 L4

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mios Tf vous Gis rexóvra, kal 8Bis àmokapévra
rà Tpóflara kapmoDvras.

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Tol; pév i86o0sc. ÜavpacTóv daívera, Toig 5'
dkovcaci TavTeAÓOs ümicTOV. TÓV yàp dXXwv
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qücav a xe80v émuXsCew Tijv AlyvmTov. ócavTos
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1 rà» omitted by F, Bekker, Dindorf.
3 ueraBáAXov A B, Bekker, Dindorf.
122

BOOK I. 36. 4-8

begin work upon the areas of the land which are
becoming dry, merely scatter their seed, turn their
herds and flocks in on the fields, and after they have
used these for trampling the seed in return after
four or five months to harvest it;! while some,
applying light ploughs to the land, turn over no
more than the surface of the soil after its wetting
and then gather great heaps of grain without much
expense or exertion. For, generally speaking, every
kind of field labour among other peoples entails
great expense and toil, but among the Egyptians
alone is the harvest gathered in with very slight
outlay of money and labour. Also the land planted
with the vine, being irrigated as are the other fields,
yields an abundant supply of wine to the natives.
And those who allow the land, after it has been
inundated, to lie uncultivated and give it over to
the flocks to graze upon, are rewarded with flocks
which, because of the rich pasturage, lamb twice
and are twice shorn every year.*

The rise of the Nile is a phenomenon which
appears wonderful enough to those who have wit-
nessed it, but to those who have only heard of it,
quite incredible. For while all other rivers begin
to fall at the summer solstice and grow steadily lower
and lower during the course of the following summer,
this one alone begins to rise at that time and in-
creases so greatly in volume day by day that it
finally overflows practically all Egypt. And in like

manner it afterwards follows precisely the opposite

! A monument of the Old Kingdom represents sheep
treading in the seed (the reproduction appears in J. H. Breasted,
4 History of Egypt, p. 92).

* Op. the Odyssey 4. 86.

123

DIODORUS OF SICILY

, BL Li , ^ ? 9? / ^
xpóvov xa fipépav éx roD «aT óMyov racrewoÜ-
Tai, uéxp. àv eis Tv TpoUmdpfacav ájixnrai
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B6 aóXeov kal rÀv kepOv, rv 66 TÀv drypovkvav
xeuuévov él xeipomroviyrov xepámov, 1j Tpóaovris
ópoLa. yivera, rais KvkXdot vijaow. TÀv 86 xep-
caíev Ügpiov Tà ToXXÀ uév bmÓ ToD ToTauoÜ
aepiNnóÜévra. Gad8elpera, Bammibópeva, wá. 8
els rovs uereoporépovs éxdevyovra Tómovs &uicd-
feraw, rà. 8à Bockipara karà Tov Tjjs àvafáaens
Xpóvov év rais kópaie kai rais árypoukiaus &a-
Tpéjerat, eporapackevatouévns avrois Tijs Tpo-
Qf. oí 8' OxXow mávra cÓv Ts wXnpeceos
xpóvov ávroNeMpévor Tv &pryyav eis dveaiv Tpé-
TOvVTGQ4, GVveyOs éoTwpevo! kai vávrov TÓV
epós 58ovij» ávqkóvrov áveumoBia Tos dmoXab-
ovre. à 86 Tv dyovíav T1)w ék Tfjs àvafáaeos
ToÜ ToTauoÜ vwopévqv kareakevaa Ta, Newo-
axomeiov bro TOv faciXéov év rjj Méudev é
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Tijv Tobrov Owoikngiw Éyovres éfamroaTéNXovow
els Tàg TóXew émio ToXds, 6acadotvres móaovs
ajxew d) SakrÜXovs dvaéfnkev ó morapós kal
córe Tv ÓpX3w memToi)rai Tí] 6MaTTOGeuws.
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ámoAMera, Tg Ó Xaós, rvÜdpuevos Tiv 11s av£n-
ceog eis robvavriov uerafdoMijv, rTó 66 mXÜos
TÓv écopévov kapr àv eüÜos ümavrss mpoereyvo-
kaciv, €x ToXXOv wpóvov Tij TapaTnpüceos
TajTQgs Tapà Toig AlyvmTiow àxpwudos àvaye-
ypappévqs.

124

BOOK I. 36. 8-12

course and for an equal length of time gradually
falls each day, until it has returned to its former
level. And since the land is a level plain, while the
cities and villages, as well as the farm-houses, lie
on artificial mounds, the scene comes to resemble
the Cyclades Islands! The wild land animals for
the larger part are cut off by the river and perish in
its waters, but a few escape by fleeing to higher
ground; the herds and flocks, however, are main-
tained at the time of the flood in the villages and
farm-houses, where fodder is stored up for them in
advance. The masses of the people, being relieved
of their labours during the entire time of the in-
undation, turn to recreation, feasting all the while
and enjoying without hindrance every device of
pleasure. And because of the anxiety occasioned
by the rise of the river the kings have constructed
a Nilometer? at Memphis, where those who are
charged with the administration of it accurately
measure the rise and despatch messages to the
cities, and inform them exactly how many cubits or
fingers the river has risen and when it has commenced
to fall. In this manner the entire nation, when it
has learned that the river has ceased rising and
begun to fall, is relieved of its anxiety, while at the
same time all immediately know in advance how
large the next harvest will be, since the Egyptians
have kept an accurate record of their observations
of this kind over a long period of terms.

1 These are smallislands, some of which "cluster"! (as the
name signifies) about the island of Delos.
. * The Nilometer (Diodorus calls it in fact a '* Niloscope ^")
is described by Strabo (17. 1. 48) as & well on the bank of the
Nile with lines on the wall to indicate the stage of the river.

125

DIODORUS OF SICILY

37. MeyáAgs 9' obags dmopías epi Tfje ToO
sroraguob T X9póa eos, émucexerpiikagt TToNXoL TOV
T€ $iXon ójov kal TOv (a ropucQv dmobibóvar* Tàs
Ta/T9s aiías, rep) àv év kejaXaíois époünev, tva.
nre pakpàs TowóneÜa Tàs mapexÜdoeis pore
dypa$ov ró mapà mci éminrovuevov àmoXé-
TOv. ÜXwos yàp Dm-ép Ts àvafldceos coÜ
NeíXov xal ràv mTw«yÓQv,ér. 06 Tüjs eis ÜdXarrav
éxf9oXás kal TOv áXXov Gv éxev 0Óradopóv mapà
TOUS &AXovs rorapoUs, uéyucTos Óv TÓV xaT
Tiv oikovuévgw, Tivée pév TOv Gcvyypajéov
üTXOs obk éróXugcav oiOév ecimetv, xaimep
eimÜóTec LukÜvew éviore epi weiuáppov Tob
TvXÓvTos, Tuvée O. émiflaNópevo, Xéyew repli TÀv
émitoTovuévov ToX) Tis ÓXgÜeías Bwjuaprov.
oí u&v yàp rep, Tóv 'EXXávucov kai Kdópov, éri
9 'Exaratov, «ai 7rávTee oi ToLtobToit, TaXatol
mavrámaci Óvres, eis vàs pvÜdOe ádmojá-
ces dméc^vav: 'Hpó8oros 06 0 oAvmpay-
pov, el xaí Tis üXXos, wyeyovós xai ToXMjs
ia Topías &urreipos érrucexelpnke u&v mepi robrov
áTo0i00vat Xoyov, 1"&oXovÜgkos O6 vriXeyo-
névauis Ümovoíaus ebplakerau — Eievooóv à «ai
Govrv8(ógs, émawoDpevor ka rà 1j» àXjÜeiav rv
ia Topiàv, àméa Xovro TeMéos «aTà Tiv Yypajnv
TÉv TÓóTCv TÓv kaT AlyvmTov: oí O6 mepl Tàv
"E$opov xai Geómoumov uáMora mávrev eis
TabUT émwTaÜévres fj«iw a, Tfjs àXnÜclas émérvyov.

1 á&robobrai À B E, Dindorf.

i 'These early chroniclers belonged to the group whom

Thucydides (1. 21) called /ogographoi ('" writers of prose")
to distinguish them from the writers of epic. The two chief

126

BOOK I. 37. 1-4

3T. Since there is great difficulty in explaining
the swelling of the river, many philosophers and
historians have undertaken to set forth the causes
of it; regarding this we shall speak summarily, in
order that we may neither make our digression too
long nor fail to record that which all men are curious
to know. For on the general subject of the rise of
the Nile and its sources, as well as on the manner
in which it reaches the sea and the other points in
which this, the largest river of the inhabited world,
differs from all others, some historians have actually
not ventured to say a single word, although wont
now and then to expatiate at length on some winter
torrent or other, while others have undertaken to
speak on these points of inquiry, but have strayed
far from the truth. Hellanicus and Cadmus, for
instance, as well as Hecataeus and all the writers
like them, belonging as they do one and all to the
early school, turned to the answers offered by the
myths; Herodotus, who was a curious inquirer if
ever a man was, and widely acquainted with history,
undertook, it is true, to give an explanation of the
matter, but 1s now found to have followed contra-
dictory guesses; Xenophon and Thucydides, who
are praised for the accuracy of their histories, com-
pletely refrained in their writings from any mention
of the regions about Egypt; and Ephorus and
Theopompus, who of all writers paid most attention
to these matters, hit upon the truth the least. The
Characteristics of the group were interest in mythology and
lack of criticism. Hellanicus of Mitylene died soon after
406 5.0.; the historical character of Cadmus of Miletus (ff.
sixth century B.C.) is questioned by Schmid-Stáhlin (Geschichte
der griechischen Literatur, X. pp. 6911.); Hecataeus of Miletus
visited Egypt before 526 5.0. and died soon after 494 5.0,

127

DIODORUS OF SICILY

kai Bwea$áXgsav obroi mrávres ov Óià T)v ápe-

5 Xeav, 4XAÀà. Bià. T)v Tíjs xepas i&iorrra. ámó
yàp ràv ápxaíev Xpovev xpi IIroXepatov ToO
Q;AaBéA$ov TrpocayopevÜévros oUy Omm Twés
rÀy 'ExXjvev vrepéBaXov eis Aifwmíav, àXX
o)Bé uéypi rüv pev Tis AvyUTTOV poc avéBn-
cav: ores üEcva vrávra ?jv Tà Trepi TOUS TOTTOUS
rovrovs kai mravreAOs émikivBvva: To) Be mpoepr-
pévov BaciXées eO" "EXAquuefs Bvvdpeos eis
AiÜioríav Tporov aTparevcavTos émeyvóaÓn Trà
xarà Tjv xepav raóTQv ükpiBéaTepov àTO TOU-
TOV TÓV XpÓvov. : eT

6 Tjs uév ov rÓv mporépov avyypadéov á^votas
voapras TÀs airías cwvéfm vyevécÜaw Tàs BP
qryyàs ToU NeíXov, kal Tóv TóTTOV e£ ob AauBávei
T)» ápxiv ToU DeónaTos, éopakéva, név pexpi
TóvBe TOv ioropiQv vypadopévev obocis elpnkev
o0à' áxojv ümedivaro mapà TÓv écopaxcvat

7. ÉaBeBatovpuéyov. Dió xal ToO "rpárypa.Tos eis
bTóvoiav xai karaaToxyacpov TiÜavov «aTav-
TvTos, oi piv xaT ÁtyvmTOV iepeis dm roO
srepippéovros 13]v oikovpévqv óxcavoU $aciw aUTOV
Tjv cVoTaciw AapBávew, Üyus pev oQbev
Aéyovres, ámopíg Bé T)v ámopíav AVovres kai
Aéyov $épovres eig mícTw a)Tüv! ToXMijs Ti-

1 abrbv Stephanus : abráy.
E —————M———————————

1 The second of the line, who reigned from 285 to 246 n.c.
Following the custom of the Egyptian kings (cp. chap. 27)
he married his sister Arsino&, and upon her eath (or possibly
even before; op. J. Beloch, Griechische Geschichte, IV. 2. p.

128

a €—— lla P8
-—

BOOK I. 37. 4-7

error on the part of all these writers was due, not
to their negligence, but to the peculiar character of
the country. For from earliest times until Ptolemy
who was called Philadelphus,! not only did no
Greeks ever cross over into Ethiopia, but none
ascended even as far as the boundaries of Egypt—to
such an extent were all these regions inhospitable to
foreigners and altogether dangerous; but after this
king had made an expedition into Ethiopia with an
army of Greeks, being the first to do so, the facts
about that country from that time forth have been
more accurately learned.

Such, then, were the reasons for the ignorance of
the earlier historians; and as for the sources of the
Nile and the region where the stream arises, not a
man, down to the time of the writing of this history,
has ever affirmed that he has seen them, or reported
from hearsay an account received from any who
have maintained that they have seen them. "The
question, therefore, resolves itself into a matter of
guesswork and plausible conjecture; and when, for
instance, the priests of Egypt assert that the Nile
has its origin in the ocean which surrounds the
inhabited world, there is nothing sound in what they
Say, and they are merely solving one perplexity by
substituting another, and advancing as proof an
explanation which itself stands much in need of proof.

586. n. 1 and 1. pp. 370 £.) established a cult of himself as
ruler and of his sister-wife and consort as (heoi adelphoi
(** Brother-Sister Gods "). The epithet philadelphos (** sister-
loving'') was never borne by Ptolemy II during his lifetime;
io his contemporaries he was known as ' Ptolemy the son
Of Ptolemy '' (cp. E, R. Bevan, A History of Egypt under
the Plolemaic Dynasty, p. 60, and Ferguson in Cambridge
Ancient History, 7, p. 17.

129

DIODORUS OF SICILY

x ^ b Ld *
8 crews TpoaOeóuevov: àv 66 Tpoyobvràv oi uer-
avacTávTes ék rÀv dvo TómTwv Óià xaÜyua, m poc-
, àé B )À. 1 X Td , D
a'yopevón.evot oXyiot! Aéyovcww éujácews
» , L4 v
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cvXXoyiaauro O.ÓTL TrOXAOv mrqy'yÀv eis Eva, Tómrov
"d ^ ^ F
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y
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miÜavóv ebpusiXovyías ToXU keycopiauévois, Tv
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Trpog 1*yopíav" juiv 89 áXnÜécTaTos clva, Doxet

Aóyos ó mAeicTov üméxow ToÜ TpocTowjpaTos.

11 oj« dxyvoà 86 óTi Tüv Tpós Tv Ew ToU ToTa uo
rovrov kalTiv Tpós éomépav Audi» àdopíbwv
*HpóBoros ávarínau AiBvau vois óvopabouévois
Nacagóoc Tv àkpuffj Üeopiav ToO pei pov, xai
$qcw Éx rwos Muros XapBávovra Tjv dpxi
Tóv NeiXov dépeo0ai 9ià opas Aifiomucfjs
àpvÜdrov: ob uiv ajTóÜcv oüre cols ecimobc,
AíBvuciw, evmep xal mpós àX5Üeiav eiprjka aw,
obre TQ cvyypajei mposcekréov àvamóbewra
AéyovTt.

* Bóvyioi C D F, Vogel: uóAyio: A B E, Bekker, Dindorf.
130

BOOK Il. 37. 7-11

On the other hand, those Trogodytes,! known as the
Bolgii, who migrated from the interior because of
the heat, say that there are certain phenomena
connected with those regions, from which a man
might reason that the body of the Nile is gathered
from many sources which converge upon a single
place, and that this is the reason for its being the
most fertile of all known rivers. But the inhabi-
tants of the country about the island called Mero&,
with whom a man would be most likely to agree,
since they are far removed from the art of findin
reasons in accordance with what is plausible and dwell
nearest the regions under discussion, are so far from
saying anything accurate about these problems that
they even call the river Astapus, which means, when
translated into Greek, '' Water from Darkness."
This people, then, have given the Nile & name
which accords with the want of any first-hand infor-
mation about those regions and with their own
ignorance of them; but in our opinion the explana-
tion nearest the truth is the one which is farthest
from pure assumption. I am not unaware that
Herodotus,? when distinguishing between the Libya
which lies to the east and that which lies to the
west of this river, attributes to the Libyans known
as the Nasamones the exact observation of the
stream, and says that the Nile rises in a certain lake
and then flows through the land of Ethiopia for a
distance beyond teling; and yet assuredly no hasty
assent should be given to the statements either of
Libyans, even though the may have spoken truth-
fully, or of the historian zn what he says does not
admit of proof.

1 Cp. p. 98, n. 1. 3 Book 2. 32.

I3I

DIODORUS OF SICILY

38. 'Emeibi 8à cepi TÀv mw»yOv xai Tfj
Bóceos aoroU Sepia pev, meipaaópeÜa Tàs
alviae àmobiBóvas Tíje TAngpóceos. GOaXfs uev
ob», elg rÓv émrà cojOv óvouatónevos, mai
ro)e évgoías ávrvmvéovras Tals éxfjoXais TOU
vorago kcoX/ew cis ÜáXarrav mpoxeiaÜa, TO
peüna, xal &uà roÜT aürüv mTXnpovpuevov éTri-
&XUtew vameun obaav xal me8.46a T)». Alyvm-
vov. ToÜ Bé Aówov rovrov, kabmep elvat GoxoÜvToS
miÜavoü, DáBwv éfeMeyEas Tó yeüBos. €i yàp
jv àXg0ée TÓ qrpoeupruévov, oi corapol mávTes
v oi rois érgaíais évavrías ràs ékfdoXàs Éxovres
émoioÜvro ri» ópolav àváBaaur ob un9apuoU Tfjs
oikovuévne ovuflatvovros Ugrqréov érépav aivíav
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ó courie Eüpumíbgs nans àv qj«oXoDOn«e*
Aéyet tyoUv

NeíXov Avrrüv káXMaTov éx *yaías ÜOwp,

e dé ueXapfdpóroto v Xypobrat poàs

AibiomíBos viis, qvi àv raxf) xiv.
ai raUrq» 8 Tij» ámó$aciw o) TroXMfs àvrippij-
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xiva mimTew qrepi TW Aiftomíar ka8óXov yàp
qrepi roe TóT0vs roDTOUs ole Tráryos oUTe Arüxos
oD0" GXes xeuudvos éuacus yiveras, xal páMo TA
epi T)» àáváfaciw Tob NeíAov. ei 86 mis xal
T M

1 Thales doubtless meant by ^ etesian"' the north-west
winds which blow in summer from the Mediterranean, but

132

BOOK IL. 38. 1-6

38. Now that we have discussed the sources and
course of the Nile we shall endeavour to set forth
the causes of its swelling. "Thales, who is called one
of the seven wise men, says that when the etesian
winds! blow against the mouths of the river they
hinder the flow of the water into the sea, and that
this is the reason why it rises and overflows Egypt,
which is low and a level plain. But this explanation,
plausible as it appears, may easily be shown to be
false. For if what he said were true, all the rivers
whose mouths face the etesian winds would rise in
a similar way; but since this is the case nowhere in
the inhabited world the true cause of the swelling
must be sought elsewhere. Anaxagoras the physical
philosopher has declared that the cause of the rising
is the melting snow in Ethiopia, and the poet
Euripides, a pupil of his, is in agreement with him.
At least he writes :?

He quit Nile's waters, fairest that gush from earth,

The Nile which, drawn from Ethiop land, the
black

Man's home, flows with full flood when melts the
Snow.

But the fact is that this statement also requires
but a brief refutation, since it is clcar to everyone
that the excessive heat makes it impossible that
any snow should fall in Ethiopia; for, speaking
generally, in those regions there is no frost or cold
or any sign whatsoever of winter, and this is especially
true at the time of the rising of the Nile. And even
kd E is not a precise one, as Diodorus shows in the following
* Frg. 228, Nauck?,

133

DIODORUS OF SICILY

cwyxepycat xivos elva, TAfjÜos év vols bmép
AiÜ0iomíav TóTO01s, Ojos éAéyxera, TO YreüGos Tíjs
árroáaews' vüs yàp ToTaguóe áTÓ xióvos péov
ópoXoyovuévos abpas ávabióoci xyvxpàsc xai àv
áépa "ax)vev mepl 86 Tóv NeiXov uóvov TÀv
voTajv ore véjovs bmooTáccus Ümrdpyovciv
obr ajpa. Yyrvypal vyivovra, oU" ó dz maxÜ-
vera.

*Hpó8oros 8€ $ys: róv NeiXov elva. uév óc
TQyÀucoUTOV 1Xxog vivera, karà T?» TXüpocw,
éy 8à TQ eui». TOv. djXiov. ka rà. Tv. Aug
$epópevov émiomácÓÜa. pos éavróv moXXjv
bypacíiav éx ToU Ne(Xov, kai àià roro epi roUs
&aipoUe ToUTovs mapà $Uciw éXárTova vyiveaQa,
TOv mOTGjÓv" TOU Oe Üépovs émioTdvTos dmoxo-
poüvra Tfj opá TÓv jov mpós Tàs üprrTovs
dvafupaívew al TaTewoÜüv ToUs Te mepi Tiv
'EAAd6a ToragoUs xai ToU kaTà Tijv ÓüXXmv
xcpav Tiv Opoiose ékeivg xeusévqv. o)kér. obv
eiva, Tapábokoy TÓ vywópevov mepl Tóv NeiXov
o) yàp év rois kajpaciv abEecÜat xarà TOv
Xeuiva à: vameivobo a4 &ià T) mpocipruévnv
airíav. pmréov ov kal Trpós roÜrov órt kaÓijov
3v, Go Tep ámó ToU NeiXov rjv bypaciav 0 fijos
éQ' éavrüv émiamüra, karà ToUs ToU xeiudvos
kaipoUs, oÜTo xai àmó TOV AXXov TÓV kaüTà
Tijv Aufog» ÓOvrev morauóv àvakauflávew 7i
TÓv bypOv xai raTewoÜv rà $epópeva. pe)pnara.
émel 8 o)8auoD 5s Aufg)Ugs oDótv Towbrov
ywópevov Üecpeirat mTepubavüs ó cvyypaoeUs
cxeDuáLow eUpiockerav kai *yàp oi mrepi Tiv
'ÉAAd8a morapol rv abEgocw év TQ Xeuw
134

BOOK I. 38. 6-12

if a man should admit the existence of great quanti-
ties of snow in the regions beyond Ethiopia, the
falsity of the statement is still shown by this fact :
every river which flows out of snow gives out cool
breezes, as is general agreed, and thickens the
air about it; but the Nile is the only river about
which no clouds form, and where no cool breezes
rise and the air is not thickened.

Herodotus! says that the size of the Nile at its
swelling is its natural one, but that as the sun travels
over Libya in the winter it draws up to itself from
the Nile a great amount of moisture, and this is the
reason why at that season the river becomes smaller
than its natural size; but at the beginning of summer,
when the sun turns back in its course towards the
north, it dries out and thus reduces the level of both
the rivers of Greece and those of every other land
whose geographical position is like that of Greece?
Consequently there is no occasion for surprise, he says,
in the phenomenon of the Nile; for, as a matter of
fact, it does not increase in volume in the hot season
and then fall in the winter, for the reason just given.
Now the answer to be made to this explanation also
is that it would follow that, if the sun drew moisture
to itself from the Nile in the winter, it would also
take some moisture from all the other rivers of
Libya and reduce the flow of their waters. But
since nowhere in Libya is anything like this to be
seen taking place, it is clear that the historian is
caught inventing an explanation; for the fact is
that the rivers of Greece increase in winter, not

1 Book 2. 25.
? je, in the north latitude.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Aauflávovaiw o) 9ià TÓ naxpórepov ádíaTacÓat
TOv Xv, àXXAà Bà TO mXfÜos TÀV vywopuévov
ópfpov.

39. Aquoórpiroe 9 0 Af8npirgs $noiv o0 TÓv
qrepi T1» nea nuBpíav TóTTOV xtiovítea Cai, kaÜdmep
elpnicev Edpvríbns kal AvaEayópas, AXAà TÓV
mepi Tàs üpkTovs, kal roÜro éudavés elvai rác.
T0 Bà mX$Üoe Tíje acwpevouévus xióvos év rois
Bopeíow uépegi eph uiv màs Tpomàs gévew
qempyós, dv 8à và O0épe ÓaXvouévov bmó Tíjs
Üeppasías TÀv mTáyev moXMv TokeOóva wive-
aaa, kai &ià ToUTo "roXXÀ ryevváa Üat kal maxéa
véjm epi ToUs ueremporépovs Tv róTwv, Dai-
XoUs Tíje àvaÜvpada eos Tpós TÓ Uoc aipouévns.
TaUra 9 jm0 TOv érqgaíev éXabveaÜat, uéypu àv
$rov gmrpocTés y ,Tois ueyía o: pea, TÀV kaTà
Tiv oikovpévgv, à $qotv elvavmepi Tij» Ai&iomíav
Émevra Tpós TovTow oci vVYmXois fiaies
Opavópeva mapugeyé8ew. Oufdpovs vyevvàv, é£ àv
vXgpobaOat Tóv Trorauóv uáMoTa karà Tyv TOV
érgaíov Ópav. páOwwv 56 xai roÜrov éÉeXéyEai
ToU ypóvovs Ts a)vExoews dxpi8às éferátovra:
0 yàp NeiXos dpxyeras uév aXpobaOat xarà às
Ücpwàg Tpomás, oümc TÓÀv ÉTygciov TveóvTwv,
Aye: 9 Ua repov iaueptas dOiworrepiwíjs, ráXai
mpomemavgévev TOV eipmuévev ávéuev. —ÓTav
otv 5 Tí Teipas ákpiíBeua kamwcyUg Ty» TÓV
Aóyev TiÜavórqra, T?)v uév éÉmívoiav Távbpós
àT08ekTéov, Tv 06 sríaTiw Toig Um avTOÜU Xeyo-
uévois o) Soréov. mapínut yàp xal ÓióTt ToUs
érgcaíae iOetv &CaTtv ojÓÉv ví uüXXov deÓ Tij

136

eam

BOOK I. 38. 12-39. 6

because the sun is farther away, but by reason of
the enormous rainfall.

39. Democritus of Abdera ! says that it is not the
regions of the south that are covered with snow, as
Euripides and Anaxagoras have asserted, but only
those of the north, and that this is evident to every-
one. The great quantities of heaped-up snow in
the northern regions still remain frozen until about
the time of the winter solstice, but when in summer
its solid masses are broken up by the heat, a great
melting sets up, and this brings about the formation
of many thick clouds in the higher altitudes, since
the vapour rises upwards in large quantities. These
clouds are then driven by the etesian winds until
they strike the highest mountains in the whole
earth, which, he says, are those of Ethiopia; then
by their violent impact upon these peaks, lofty as
they are, they cause torrential rains which swell
the river, to the greatest extent at the season of
the etesian winds. But itis easy for anyone to refute
this explanation also, if he will but note with pre-
cision the time when the increase of the river takes
place; for the Nile begins to swell at the summer
solstice, when the etesian winds are not yet blow-
ing, and commences to fall after the autumnal
equinox, when the same winds have long since ceased.
Whenever, therefore, the precise knowledge derived
from experience prevails over the plausibility of
mere argumentation, while we should recognize the
man's ingenuity, yet no credence should be given
to his statements. Indeed, I pass over the further
fact that the etesian winds can be seen to blow just

1 Democritus was & contemporary of Socrates and the
first Greek who attempted to embrace in his writings all the
knowledge of his time.

137

-3

DIODORUS OF SICILY

dpkrov mvéovras Tyrep Tís ée mépas* [1 Bopéai
yàp o00' üTapkTíat uovot, àXXà xal oí Trvéovres
dTÓ Üepivijs 60neos ápyéa at kotwevolot Tíjs TÀv
éTgc(ev Tpocmwyopías. TÓ re Xéyew às uéyia Ta
cvufaíve, rÀv ópüv ÜmTápyew cà mepl T)v
AiKiomíav o) nuóvov dvamobekTóv éaTw, ÀXX
oU88 73v Trio Tw Éyei Già. vij évapryelag ! avryyto-
povpévqv.

"Edopos 9é kawvorárgv aivíav eladépov mifa-
voXoyyetv u&v TepàTat, T)e 9. áXgÜelas ob0auds
émirvyxávav Oevpe?rat.. Qoi yàp Tóv AlyvimrTov
&Tacav ob0cav ToTauóyecTov kal xaUvsp, éri
9é k.anpáón r)v dict, payáóas Te peyáXas kal

u]vekets éxew, Ó.à. Óóé ToUTOv els éavTi)v áva-
Aaufávew ypoü X58os, kal karà gév cow
xeusepwviv Gpav avvéyew év éavríj roUro, xarà
86 T))v Üepiwi)v Garep (ÓpQrás Twas e£ abrüje mrav-
TaxóÜev áviévai, kal Già ro/Tev "XgpoÜv TÜv
"oTauóv. 0 B6 av'y'ypadeUs obros oU uóvov july
$aiverat Q3 TeÜeauévos Tiv dici TÓv xarà
Tijv AlyvmTov TóTGv, dXAÀ umpÓé mapà Tv
eiórov Tà kaTà Tijv Xópav Ta)TQV ÉmijueAÓs
memvauévos. prov uév wyáp, eimep é£ avTijs
Tfe AiyvmTov o NeiXos T)v abtgow éXáufavev,
ox áv épy Trois áveTép€ uépeaiw émXnpobTo, 8id
T€ TeTpGD00vs kal aTepeüe Xópas depóuevos* vüv
66 mXeío TÓÀv éfaxiocXiMev arabiev Bu Tis
Ai0imías péov T)v Tüpociv ye) mpiv |

! dvapyelas Wesseling : dvepyelas.

1 Two names given to north winds.
* $e, the north-west.

BOOK I. 39. 6-9

as much from the west as from the north; since
Borean and Aparctian! winds are not the only winds
which are called etesian, but also the Argestean,
which blow from the direction of the sun's summer
setting.? Also the statement that by general agree-
ment the highest mountains are those of Ethiopia
is not only advanced without any proof, but it does
not possess, either, the credibility which is accorded
to facts established by observation.?

Ephorus, who presents the most recent explana-
tion, endeavours to adduce a plausible argument,
but, as may be seen, by no means arrives at the
truth. For he says that all Egypt, being alluvial
soil and spongy;* and in nature like pumice-stone, is
full of large and continuous cracks, through which
it takes up a great amount of water; this it retains
within itself during the winter season, but in the
summer season it pours this out from itself every-
where like sweat, as it were, and by means of this
exudation it causes the flood of the river. But this
historian, as it appears to us, has not only never
personally observed the nature of the country in
Egypt, but has not even inquired with any care
about it of those who are acquainted with the char-
acter of this land. For in the first place, if the
Nile derived its increase from Egypt itself, it would
then not experience a flood in its upper stretches,
where it flows through a stony and solid country;
yet, as a matter of fact, it floods while flowing over
a course of more than six thousand stades through

? (,e, there is no evidence from witnesses that they appear
to be exceedingly high.

* The words mean literally ** poured out by & river" and
** gaping."

139

DIODORUS OF SICILY

N'aücai Tf AiyvmTov. é&meT ci uiv TO peüna
TOU Ne(Xov Ta-ewwórepov ?v TYv kaTÀÓ TT» Tr0Ta-
nóxocTov *y$v dápawopndárov, émwrOXaiovs v
elva, rTà« payábas cvvéfawe, kaÜ' às áBivarov
jv &uapgévav ToaobDro mXjÜos Ü8aros e 5
bimoXórepov TóTov Émeiyev Ó morauós TÓV
ápauwopuáTov, à6svaTov jv éx TOv ramewoTépev
ko, Xorov eis Tv UYryXorépav émijáveiav T2)v
TÀv bypàv cüppvotv vyiveaOa..

Ka0óXov 8$ ví; àv Bvvaróv Qy5eavro obs éx
TÜÓv xarà T2v ry$v dpatouáTcov ibpóras co-
ca)TrQgv abfgeiw To) TorapoÜU ToOwtv dore bm.
avToÜ cxebóv vücav T?v AlyvmTov ÉmwAUCe-
cÜav ; üdinps yàp kai TO 4reÜBos Tí Te moTa-
poxyécTov *yüs kai TOV év mois ópawópaaci
Tgpovuévov v6áTov, éu$avày Üvrev Tv év
TOUTOIs €Aéyxov. ó u&y yàp MaíavBpos sroraguós
karà T?v 'Aagíav TOXMv xopav emoinke
voragoxycocTOV, (v 4 TÀÓv cvu[9awóvrev mepl
T?» àvamMjpociw ToU NeiXov TÓ cUvoXov oU0cv
Üecpetrav eywopevov. ópoies 86 ToíTo mepl u&v
Tv "Ax«apvavíav 0 kaXooneros 'AxeXóos Tora-
pós, epi 86 Tv. Bowríav 0. Knjicós depópevos
ék TÀv Doxéov mpoakéyakev ook ÓMeyqv xopav,
é$' óv áudorépov &Aéyyerat $avepüs TÓ Nreü8os
TOD cv'yypadéos. àXXaà yàp ok àv Tig map
'"Edópo Ümnrüeewv ék mavrós Tpómov TákpwfBés,
ópOv avrÓv év moXXois GXuwyopnkóra Tf dXg-
eas.

40. Tà» 8' é» Méudei vivis diXoaóóov érexet-
pucav aizíav dépeav Tífjs TXAnpécenos üveEéXeyrTov
pàXAov dj viÉavijv, 1) ToXXol evykaraTéDevra.

140

BOOK I. 39. 9-40. 1

Ethiopia before ever it touches Egypt. Secondly,
if the stream of the Nile were, on the one hand,
lower than the rifts in the alluvial soil, the cracks
would then be on the surface and so great an amount
of water could not possibly remain in them; and if,
on the other hand, the river occupied a higher level
than the rifts, there could not possibly be a flow of
water from the lower hollows to the higher surface.

In general, can any man think it possible that the
exudations from rifts in the ground should produce
so great an increase in the waters of the river that
practically all Egypt is inundated by it! For I
pass over the false statements of Ephorus about the
ground being alluvial and the water being stored
up in the rifts, since the refutation of them is mani-
fest. For instance, the Meander river in Asia has
laid down a great amount of alluvial land, yet
not a single one of the phenomena attending the
flooding of the Nile is to be seen in its case. And like
the Meander the river in Ácarnania known as the
Acheloüs, and the Cephisus in Boeotia, which flows
out of Phocis, have built up not a little land, and in
the case of both there is clear proof that the his-
torian's statements are erroneous. However, under
no circumstances would any man look for strict
accuracy in Ephorus, when he sees that in many
matters he has paid little regard to the truth.

40. Certain of the wise men in Memphis have
undertaken to advance an explanation of the flood-
ing, which is incapable of disproof rather than
credible, and yet it is accepted by many. They

I41I

DIODORUS OF SICILY

2 BiatpoUuevot yàp T2]w *Yyü)v eis Tpía uépy jaciv
bmápxew 8v uév TÓ xarà Tw "uerépav oikov-
pévqy, Érepov 8& à rovrow Tols TÓTOIs ÀvTVTE-
vovÜÓUe Tais Ópais, rÓ B6 rpírov uerafÜ uév
keiaÜa. roUrov, Umápxew 86 Gà xabpa doisTov.

3 e puéy obv ó NeiXos ávéflaiwe xarà TÓv ToD

xeuudvos kaupóv, 6íjXov üv! omfjpxev às éx Tijs

ka0 4juüs (ovgs Xaufldve: Tgv éÉmíppvaiw Bà

TÓ Tepl roUTovs To)s kaipoUs uáMugTa *yíveaOa,

vap' uiv Tàe émopufipías: émei 86 roDvavriov

cepi TÓ Üépos mXnpobrai, TiÜavóv elvai kaTà

TOUS dvTiKeuuévovs TÓTrOVS ryevvüaÜat ToUs Xeuud-

vas, kal vÓ TmXcoválov TrÀv kaT ékeivovs TOUS

TómOovs UDOdTrov cis T)v xaÜ' $uás oikovuévgv

$épec0a.. B xal mpós ràs myyàe ToÜ NeíXov

uu8éva BóvacÜa. mapeXÜetv, &s v éx cis
évavrías [vos 81à cie &owyrov $epouévov Tob
voràpoU. uaprvpetv 66 roUTois kal rjv VrrepBoXiv

Ts yXvkUTrqgTOs ToÜ karà TOv NeiXov 08aros*

&ià yàp Tís karakexavuévgs a$Tóv péovra

kaÜéreaÜa,, xal O.à ToÜro *yXukirarov clvai

mávTOv TÀÓVv ToTrGuÓÀy», ive Dice ToU TvpoOovs
müy TO iypóv dmrovyXvkaítvovros.

5 Olivos 8 O Xóyos éxev uév Twa ? mpóXxeiwpov
dvríppyaiw, ÓT. TravTeXOs à6jvarov civat 6oket
vorapóp ék Tí] àvrwceuiévns oikovuévgs e(s Tiv
$perépav dvadépecÓau, kal udMaT ei Tig bmó-

! hy added by Hertlein.
? zwà D, Vogel: Twà $avepà» xal other MSS., Bekker,

Dindorf.
142

[

BOOK I. 4o. 2-5

divide the earth into three parts, and say that one
part is that which forms our inhabited world, that
the second is exactly opposed to these regions in its
seasons, and that the third lies between these two
but is uninhabited by reason of the heat. Now if
the Nile rose in the winter, it would be clear that
it was receiving its additional waters from our zone
because of the heavy rains which fall with us in that
season especially; but since, on the contrary, its
flood occurs in the summer, it is probable that in
the regions opposite to us the winter storms are
being produced and that the surplus waters of those
distant regions flow into our inhabited world. And
it is for this reason that no man can journey to the
sources of the Nile, because the river flows from the
opposite zone through the uninhabited one. A
further witness to this is the excessive sweetness of
the water of the Nile; for in the course of the river
through the torrid zone it is tempered by the heat,
and that is the reason for its being the sweetest of
all rivers, inasmuch as by the law of nature that
which is fiery always sweetens ? what is wet.

But this explanation admits of an obvious rebuttal,
for plainly it is quite impossible for a river to flow
uphill into our inhabited world from the inhabited
world opposite to ours, especially if one holds to

1 $,e,, they postulated a south temperate zone, correspond-
ing to the north temperate, and separated from it by the
torrid zone. "The Nile, according to them, rose in the south
temperate zone. They were not in fact so far astray in the
matter, the White Nile rising just a little south of the equator,
although the waters of the annual inundation come from
the Blue Nile, which has its sources in the table-land of Abys-
sinia.

3 4e, water is freshened (**sweetened"") by being heated.

143

pu€

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Üovro a$aipoeóf) T)v vyüv bmápxew. — kal yàp
éáv Tis Tols Aóyois karaToXucas Bidt9nras Tdv
évápryetav, 4j ye fioi; TÓv mpayuárov ob09auds
cvyxyep)aew — kaÜóXov uév yàp dveféXeykTov
ámóQacuiw elasyoUuevo, kai T?v áoinrov xópav
gerat) TiÜÉuevoi, Taívrg | Óuadelfeo0a. — rods
áKpueis éXéyxovs vouítfovav — Bicaiov. 66 ToUs
vepí rivo». ÓuageBatovuévovs d) vü)v évápyeuav
vapéyeaÜa: uaprvpoügav 7) Tàs dmoÓeifeis
Aaufávew éf dpyis cvwykexopupévas. màs 86
uóvos ó NeiXos é£ éxeívgs fs oikovuévgs déperas
vrpós roUs xaÜ' juüs TOTOvS; eikOs nàp eivai
Kai érépovs vorapuoUs, xaÜdmep kai map Tiv.
3j re Tfjs "repli TO ÜÓcp yAvküTsTOS air(a TravTeAds
&Xoyos. ci yàp kaÜDexyóuevos bó rÀv kavuáTov
0 ToTagós éyXvxaívero, moXDyovos obe àv jv
ov8é moLk(Xas ixXOÜUwv xal Onpiev iGéac eiye: vráv
yàp ÜÓmp $0 Ts mvpd8ovs $íceus àXAXowvÜév
áAXoTpioTaTÓv éoTi Üwoyovías. | Giómep — TÍ)
vapewayouévg kaÜeyeijaev Tfjs $íceos ToU
NeíXov mavrámaciw évavriovuévgs syevóets Tàs
eipuévas airías Tfjs TXnpoaews Tyynréov.

41. Oivomíógs 86 0 Xiós $us. xarà uév Tiv
Ücpw v dpav rà Ü6ara xarà Tv wv eivai
A'uxpá, ToÜ 86 xeuídvos Tojvavriov Üepuá, kai
ToUTo eU6nXov éri àv BaÜéeov bpeárav vyívea0av
karà uév yàp Tv àkuijv TOÜ xeuuQvos Tuo Ta
TO ÜÓcp év abrois bmápyeww rvxpóv, xarà O6
TÀ pgéyaTa kaÜpaTa "vxporarov éf abrÓv

! Practieallph nothing more is known of Oenopides than
that he was an astronomer and mathematician of the fifth
century B.C.

144

BOOK I. 4o. 5-41. 1

the theory that the earth is shaped like a sphere.
And indeed, if any man makes bold to do violence,
by means of mere words, to facts established by
observation, Nature at least will in no wise yield to
him. For, in general| such men think that, by
introducing a proposition incapable of being dis-
proved and placing the uninhabited region between
the two inhabited ones, they will in this way avoid
all precise refutations of their argument; but the
proper course for such as take a firm position on any
matter is either to adduce the observed facts as
evidence or to find their proofs in statements which
have bcen agreed upon at the outset. But how can
the Nile be the only river which flows from that
inhabited world to our parts? For it is rcasonable
to suppose that other rivers as well are to be found
there, just as there are many among us. More-
over, the cause which they advance for the sweet-
ness of the water is altogether absurd. For if the
river were sweetened by being tempered by the
heat, it would not be so productive as it is of life,
nor contain so many kinds of fishes and animals;
for all water upon being changed by the fiery element
is quite incapable of generating life. "Therefore,
since by the ** tempering "' process which they intro-
duce they entirely change the real nature of the
Nile, the causes which they advance for its flooding
must be considered false.

41. Oenopides of Chios! says that in the summer
the waters under the earth are cold, but in the
winter, on the contrary, warm; and that this may
be clearly observed in deep wells, for in midwinter
their water is least cold, while in the hottest weather

145

DIODORUS OF SICILY

bypóv àvadépeaÜai. — O10 kal róv NeiXov eUXóvws
xarà uev Tüv xeuuQva pukpóv elva, xai ava TéXXe-
cÜa, &ià ró T)v uév xarà wíüv Oepuaaíav TÓ
7r0XU Tije Uypüs oUvaías àvaMakew, Ópfpovs 8d
karà Tyv AlyvmrTov pg») yiveaÜav xarà 8 TO
8épos unkér. Táe kaTà yf ámavaXecews wyivo-
Lévs év Tois xarà [jdÜos Tómow mXn9pobaÓa,
Tiv kaTà dci ab/roÜ Düósiw dveumob(aTos.
puTéov Bé kal mpós ToÜrov OTi ToXXoi moTajo
TOv kaTà T?» Aiflóqv Opoies uév keiuevot Tots
cTÓpagi, mapamMugiovs O6 Tàs pce Toio)-
uevot, Tiv dváfasiw obk Éyovaww ávàXoyov TÓ
NeíAqr robvavríov yàp év guév TQ Xeudw
TXnpoUpevot, xarà 56 T0 Üépos Niyyovres éXéyyovat
TÓ *re08os ToD Tetpopuévov rois miÜavois kaTa-
pxea0at T)» áNj8eiav.

"Eyyiora 86 7f àXt8ela mpoactiNvOcv ' Aya-
8apyións 0 Kvl(&os. | goi yàp xav. éviavróv év
Tos kaTà Tiv. AlÉvomíav Ópeat vyíveaÜat avvexels
Oufpovs ámó Üepwüv TpomÓv uéxpt Tf« pero-
"opuijs ianpeptas* eÜNoyas oov Tóv NetXov ev
uiv TQ Xeuudv. cvaTéXAeaÜat, Tv xarà $ócw
éyovra p)civ dmÓ uóvev TÀÓV TyOv, xarà Bé
TO Üépos Oià roU« ékxcouévovs Óuflpovs Xauflá-
veiw Tijv. aU£goiw. el 06 ràe aivías ugócis ámro-
8obva, 8Óvara. uéypi ToU vÜv Tfj TÉÓv ÜOdrov
yevéaeose, oí Tpoajkew! áÜereiaÜa, Tv iBlav
dT0$actr* ToXXÀ yàp Tv $íaw évavríos dépew,
Qv Tà« aiTías o)x éjueróv àvÜpomow àkpis

5 sporfikeiy Rhodomann: »poafjet.

146

BOOK I. 41. 1-6

the coldest water is drawn up from them. Conse-
quently it is reasonable that the Nile should be
small and should diminish in the winter, sincc the
heat in the earth consumes the larger part of the
moisture and there are no rains in Egypt; while
in the summer, since there is no longer any con-
sumption of the moisture down in the depths of the
earth, the natural flow of the river is increased with-
out hindrance. But the answer to be given to this
explanation also is that there are many rivers in
Libya, whose mouths are situated like those of the
Nile and whose courses are much the same, and yet
they do not rise in the same manner as the Nile;
on the contrary, flooding as they do in the winter
and receding in the summer, they refute the false
statement of any man who tries to overcome the
truth with specious arguments.

The nearest approach to the truth has been made
by Agatharchides of Cnidus.! His explanation is as
follows: Every year continuous rains fall in the
mountains of Lithiopia from the summer solstice to
the autumnal equinox; and so it is entirely reason-
able that the Nile should diminish in the winter
when it derives its natural supply of water solely
from its sources, but should increase its volume in
the summer on account of the rains which pour
into it. And just because no one up to this time
has been able to set forth the causes of the origin
of the flood waters, it is not proper, he urges, that
his personal explanation be rejected; for nature
presents many contradictory phenomena, the exact
causes of which are beyond the power of mankind

1 Agatharchides was a historian and geographer of the
Second century B.O.

147

DIODORUS OF SICILY

7 éfevpetv. aprupeiv 86 rois Ü$' éavroÜ Xewyo-
N h

fvows kal TO ruvóuevov Tepí Tuvas TÓTOUS Ts
Acías* pos up yàp Tois Ópow Tíjs ZxvÜÓLas
TOls Tpós T0. Kavkdciov Ópos avvámTOvai, Trape-
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vijeroUse é£aiatovs vyiveaÜau avveyás émi moXXàs
74épas, év 8é rois Tpós Üoppàv éarpappuévows
népegu. Tíje "lvóuefjs dpuapuévow xaipois xai
xá^alav ámiaTov TÓ yéyeÜos xai TÓ mXfjfos
karapárTetw, kai Tepi uev Tüv "TÓdo7w»w To0ra-
nv àpyopévov Üépovs avvexets OpBpovs iveaDa,
xarà 66 T»v AiÜwmíav ue fjuépas rwàs rabró
cvpSaívew, kal ravTqv TV qreptaragtv. KUKXOV-
Lévy» del To)s cvveyeis TóTovs Xewidtew.
ojóév ojv eivav mapábofov ei xal xarà T32v
AiÜioriav T?jv keuuévqv imrép Al-yomrov avveyets
év rois ópeatw ÓuBpo, karapárTovres év vÀ Ds
mAnpoUci Tóv ToTauÓV, ÉXXes Te kai Tíjs évap-
yeías! a)ríjs uaprvpovuévgs bmó TÀv epi ToUs
rómovs oixoDvrov Dapfápev. ei Óà rois map
uiv yywopévow évavriav éyev à Xeyópeva ficu,
o) &à TroüT ámiaTQTéov kal yàp rÓv vórov map.
juiv uév elvau xeuuépiov, epi 86 r3. Albtomíav
ai8piov bmápxew, xal ràe fopeíovs Tvoàs Trepi
uv T Epor ebróvovs elvas, kaT' ékeivgv G6
T2» xopav ÉXyxpàs xai àróvovs.?

Kai mepi uév Tíjs mXm9pocews To) NeíXov, 8v-
vájerow TOwKiXcTepov üvrevmreiv Tpós ümavras,
àpkegÜnaóueÜa rois eipuuévow, iva 3 T?» éÉ
dpx?je 9uiv Tpoxkeuuévgv cvvrouíav vmepBaivo-

, 4 ^ , 2, * £*
pev. émelÓé Tijv BíBXov raíTqv Bià vÓ uévyeÜos
1 dvapyeías Wesseling: évepyelas.
148

BOOK I. 41. 6-10

to discover. As to his own statement, he adds, testi-
mony to its truth is furnished by what takes place in
certainregions of Asia. Foronthe borders of Scythia
which abut upon the Caucasus mountains, annually,
after the winter is over, exceptionally heavy snow-
storms occur over many consecutive days; in the
northern parts of India at certain seasons hailstones
come beating down which in size and quantity
surpass belief; about the Hydaspes river continuous
rains fall at the opening of summer; and in Ethiopia,
likewise, the same thing occurs some days later, this
climatical condition, in its regular recurrence, always
causing storms in the neighbouring regions. And
so, he argues, it is nothing surprising if in Ethiopia
as well, which lies above Egypt, continuous rains in
the mountains, beating down during the summer,
swell the river, especially since the plain fact itself
is witnessed to by the barbarians who inhabit those
regions. And if what has been said is of a nature
opposite to what occurs among us, it should not be
disbelieved on that score; for the south wind, for
example, with us is accompanied by stormy weather,
but in Ethiopia by clear skies, and in Europe the
north winds are violent, but in that land they are
gentle and light.

With regard, then, to the flooding of the Nile,
though we are able to answer with more varied
arguments all who have offered explanations of it,
we shall rest content with what has been said, in
order that we may not overstep the principle of
brevity which we resolved upon at the beginning.
And since we have divided this Book into two parts

3 kal] mayreAxs ügüeveis added by D.

149

DIODORUS OF SICILY

eis 8bo uépu Órpprjkapev, c ToXabópevot Tíjs gvp-
uerpias, T)V TpT)V uepióa TÓV la ropovpévov
abToU ,Tepvypá yopev, Tà &é , Gvvex) TÓv xarà
T2 Al*yvmrTov la Topovpévov ev TÀÓ Gevrépa KaTa-
rá£opev, ápy?v Trova ápevot Tov áma'yye May TÓV
yevopévov Bactkéov Tfjs Alyón rov kai ToU
maXatoráTov fiov map AlwyvmTious.

150

BOOK Il. 41. ro

because of its length, inasmuch as we are aiming at
due proportion in our account, at this point we
shall close the first portion of our history, and in the
second we shall set forth the facts in the history of
Egypt which come next in order, beginning with the
account of the former kings of Egypt and of the
earliest manner of life among the Egyptians.

1 Cp. p. 96, n. 1.

ISI

MEPIZ AETTEPA THZ IIPOTHZ BIBAOT!

42. Tis "péTns TOv AtoOopov BiBXov. &à Tà
uényeÜos eis o BiBXovs impnuévs 1j 7 TpoT) uev
Tepié et "mr pootpuov mepi ÓXgs Tijs mparyp.a reías
xai TÓ Xeryópeva, Tap Abyvm rios Trepi T/S ToD
kóg ov yevéa eas kai Tjs TÓv óXev ét ápXns
gvaTáaeos, Trpos óé TOUTOLS mepl Tv 8càv, 6 óc ot
TÓXeis Éric av ka Alyvm rov émaovónovs cavrdy
vowujcavTes, Tepí Te TÓVP qporov yevouévov
àvÜpárrev kai Tob TaMatoTáToV fiov, Tf]s Te TÓv
àáBaváTov TusT)s kal Tf TÓV vaOGv kara kevijs,
é£ris pr Tepi TIS romoDeaías TS KüT. Abu TOV
xopas cai TÀv Trepi TÓv Neixov moTapuóv Tapa-
GofoXoyovpévov, TIS T€ ToÓTOV Tnpoc eas TÓS
airías kal TOV la vopucóy kal $iXoaópov áàvodá-
gets, én 6é TÀs Tr pos &cac Tov TÓW evyypadéev
àvrtpprjaeis ev TajTy 96 Tj BiBNo TÀ gvvex?)
rois 7r poetpr)uévots élue. ápxóueÜa 66 dmó
TÓV yevopéva Tpórow KOT. Al*yvmTOV BaciXéav,
«ai Tüs kaTà uépos abTÓv Tpátews ékÜnaóneÜa
uéxpt "Audaibos TOU Bac iMéws, qr poexBépevoi
keóaXaio80s T)» àpxatoráTqy üyeryny TYv kac
Alyv TOv.

48. Bíp .Yàp TÓ TaXaioy Abyurr rovs $ac:
xpfja0ai 1o uév ápxaiórarov móav écÜLovras «ai

1 "This title is found in A.
152

PART TWO OF THE FIRST BOOK

42. Tug First Book of Diodorus being divided
because of its length into two volumes, the first
contains the preface to the whole treatise and the
accounts given by the Egyptians of the genesis of the
world and the first forming of the universe; then he
tells of the gods who founded cities in Egypt and
named them after themselves, of the first men and
the earliest manner of life, of the honour paid to the
immortals and the building of their temples to them,
then of the topography of Egypt and the marvels
related about the river Nile, andalso of the causesof its
flooding and the opinions thereupon of the historians
and the philosophers as well as the refutation of each
writer.! In this volume we shall discuss the topics
which come next in order after the foregoing. We
shall begin with the first kings of Egypt and set forth
their individual deeds down to King Amasis, after we
have first described in summary fashion the most
ancient manner of life in Egypt.

43. As for their means of living in primitive times,
the Egyptians, they say, in the earliest period got

1 'This sentence as it stands is almost certainly not from
the hand of Diodorus. But the following words do not
connect well with the end of chapter 41. In Book 17, which

is also broken into two Parts, the narrative continues without
any such interruption as occurs here.
I53

509—526
B.Q.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Tv év Toig ÉAeci yiwopuévev rove xavXovs xal
Tàs Ditas, retpav Buà Tije ryebaeos ékdavov Xau-
Bávovras, mpoTr5v 6€ kai uáNo a Trpocevéykaa0at
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voTajQo), kal páXuÜ. Ore uerà Tv àváBaacuw
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TÓv XaTecÜiouévov éaÜ)oi xpíaÜau xal Tàs
oixyjceu éx TÀÓV kaXduov xaraakeváteaÜat.
ixvy 86 rovrov Diauévew mapà To(s vopuebat
Toís KkaT AlyvmTOP, oUs ümavrds aci uéxpi
ToU vüv y98euíav AXXqv olkgatw ?) Tv ék TÀv
kaXdquov Éyeww, Goxuudtovras àpketaÜau Tabs.
ToXAoU; 8é xpóvovs rovro TQ ie Oiefaya-
yóvras ! rà reAevratov él rovs éDboDiuovs uera-
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yivópevov áprov. Kal ovTov T?)v eÜpegiv oi uv
1 Gietayyayóvras Dindorf : Gietdyorras.
I54

BOOK I. 435. 1-5

their food from herbs and the stalks and roots of the
plants which grew in the marshes, making trial of
each one of them by tasting it, and the first one eaten
by them and the most favoured was that called
Agrrostis,! because it excelled the others in sweetness
and supplied sufficient nutriment for the human
body; for they observed that this plant was attrac-
tive to the cattle and quickly increased their bulk.
Because of this fact the natives, in remembrance of
the usefulness of this plant, to this day, when
approaching the gods, hold some of it in their hands
as they pray to them; forthey believe that man is a
creature of swamp and marsh, basing this conclusion
on the smoothness of his skin and his physical con-
stitution, as well as on the fact that he requires a wet
rather than a dry diet. A second way by which the
Egyptians subsisted was, they say, by the eating of
fish, of which the river provided a great abundance,
especially at the time when it receded after its flood
and dried up.? "They also ate the flesh of some of the
pasturing animals, using for clothing the skins of the
beasts that were eaten, and their dwellings they built
outofreeds. And traces of these customs still remain
among the herdsmen of Egypt, all of whom, they say,
have no other dwelling up to this time than one of
reeds, considering that with this they are well enough
provided for. After subsisting in this manner over
a long period of time they finally turned to the edible
fruits of the earth, among which may be included the
bread made from the lotus. The discovery of these

1 Dog's-tooth grass,
* * "his must refer to the drying-up of the pools left by the
ood,

155

DIODORUS OF SICILY

» ih ., , 4 Lj » » ^
eis Tyv "la:v ávadépovaiw, oi 9 «ls riva TÓV
TmaXatQv BaciXéev Tóv Ovouatóuevov Mmqváv.

6 oí 8 í(epeis ebper)v TOv uiv! maibeiQv kal rv
TeXvOv juÜoXoyoÜat Tóv "Epufv yeyovévat, vv
6' eis Tóv Bov dvarykaícv vois BaatXeis* B0 xal

^ b 14 ^ ; ^
TÓ TraXatóv TapaóíóosÜa, ràe BaaiXeias u1j Tos
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uéyuava. T TMjÜos ejepyerotauv, eire mrpokaXov-
uévov àv ávÜpómov ToU; éd! éavràv BaciXeis

,
éri 3|» ow ebepyeaíav, eire kal kar. dAijÜeiav
&v Tas iepaís àvarypadais or mrapeiknóórov.
44. MvÜoXovyoüct 9 abràv Twes TÓ uév T párrov
&pfai fs Al'yoTrTov Ücobe xal fjpeas érm Bpaxv
Aecrovra TÓv gupiev kal Ókrasta yyMov, Kal
0càv éayarov BaaiXebaas Tóv "Icu8og Qpor im

H £ * hj , Li ;
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2 Tibov. ToUrov B6 rà uiv mAeiaTa KQ.TaG YelV
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^ 7 $ ; »g7 ^ *
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3 rpiákovra* IIépaas 9 syjaao0a. Kayfíaov ToÜ

, ^
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TrévTe Trpüs Tois Éka.Tüv kal rpiáxovra Creo aiv

! càv uiv Dindorf : uiv rày,
*. wb Molpibos before £r; deleted by Dindorf.

————————————————————
1 Op. chap. 14.

156

BOOK IL. 43. 5-44. 3

is attributed by some to Isis! but by others to one of
their early kings called Menas. '[he priests, how-
ever, have the story that the discoverer of the
branches of learning and of the arts was Hermes, but
that it was their kings who discovered such things as
are necessary for existence; and that this was the
reason why the kingship in early times was bestowed,
not upon the sons of their former rulers, but upon
such as conferred the greatest and most numerous
benefits upon the peoples, whether it be that the
inhabitants in this way sought to provoke their kings
to useful service for the benefit of all, or that they
have in very truth received an account to this effect
in their sacred writings.

44. Some of them give the story that at first gods
and heroes ruled Egypt for a little less than eighteen
thousand years, the last of the gods to rule being
Horus, the son of Isis; and mortals have been kings
over their country, they say, for a little less than five
thousand years down to the One Hundred and
Fightieth Olympiad, the time when we visited Egypt
and the king was Ptolemy, who took the name of The
New Dionysus? For most of this period the rule
was held by native kings, and for a small part of it by
Ethiopians, Persians, and Macedonians Now four
Ethiopians held the throne, not consecutively but
with intervals between, for a little less than thirty-
six years in all; and the Persians, after their king
Cambyses had subdued the nation by arms, ruled for
one hundred and thirty-five years, including the

* Ptolemy XI (80-51 n.c.), better known as Auletes ('* The
Piper '*) and as the father of the famous Cleopatra.

* The Ethiopian Period (Twenty-fifth Dynasty), ca. 715-
603 m.0.; the Persian, 625-332 B.0.; on the Macedonian,
332-30 n.0., seo the Introduction, pp. ix ff.

257

60-56
B.C

DIODORUS OF SICILY

rais TÓV Alyvmriov áàmoaTácegw, à às érovjsavro
$épew ov Bvvdpuevoy TÜw TpaX)TTQTA& Tf €T10Ta-
cías Kal T7)v eis TOUS éyxapiovs Oco)s dcéBeav,
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yuvaixas 8é mévre: Trepi óv ámávrov oí up
iepets eixov ávaypadàs € tv rais (epais BifXots
éc TaXkaiv ,Xpóvov áel Tois Brabois Tapa-
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meiagópeÜa.

45. Merà ToUs coUe Toivvv Tpóróv $aci
BaciXeba at Ts Avyvmrov Mqváv, «ai «arabeitau
Toís Aaoís Ücoís Te aéfeaÓ0at xai Üvaíag émi-
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xai KAÁvase xal c7popí) TOXUTEAeL Xpfia8at, kai
TÓ GÜvOÀOV Tpvéd» «ai ToXwreM) ftov siami-
cacÓa. OO xal ToXXaÍs Üorepov yeveais fBaaei-
Xetovra Tvébax8ov TÓv Box xyopi8os ToÜ codo0
TaTépa Aéyovaiv eis TÀv 'Apafiav qTpareUcavra,
TÓv émirgóeiov abTüv Bu mre Tiv Ópnpuíav xal
Tàs Svo xwepías écumóvrov, àvayxacÜtva. wav
juépav évÓcü syevópevov Xpijcaadat &aírg Tav-
TEÀÓ« eÜTeXet mapá TLOL TOV TVXÓvTOV iBuróv,
158

BOOK I. 44. 3-45. 2

periods of revolt on the part of the Egyptians which
they raised because they were unable to endure the
harshness of their dominion and their lack of respect
for the native gods. Last of all the Macedonians and
their dynasty held rule for two hundred and seventy-
sixyears. FLortherestof the time all the kings of the
land were natives, four hundred and seventy of them
being men and five women. About all of them the
priests bad records which were regularly handed
down in their sacred books to each successive priest
from early times, giving the stature of each of the
former kings, a description of his character, and what
be had done during his reign; as for us, however, it
would be a long task to write of each of them sever-
ally, and superfluous also, seeing that most of the
material included is of no profit. Consequently we
shall undertake to recount briefly only the most
important of the facts wbich deserve a place in
bistory.

45. After the gods the first king of Egypt, accord-
ing to the priests, was Menas, who taught the people
to worship gods and offer sacrifices, and also to supply
themselves with tables and couches and to use costly
bedding, and, in a word, introduced luxury and an
extravagant manner of life. For this reason when,
many generations later, Tnephachthus, the father
of Boechoris the wise, was king and, while on a cam-
paign in Arabia, ran short of supplies because the
country was desert and rough, we are told that be
was obliged to go without food for one day and then
to live on quite simple fare at the home of some
ordinary folk in private station, and that he, enjoying

1 Not identified. Wiedemann conjected that he might be
Tef-sucht, of the 23rd Dynasty.

159

DIODORUS OF SICILY

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Sou)pasw 86 ueyáXois kal vaots éxmpeméci kal
Toi; áXXow ávaÜ5juaci kocuícat ÜavpacTÓs-
Opnoioe BÓ kai vàe TOv i&uwTÓv olkías, às uev
TeTrpopódovs, àc 6e Tevropódovs karacakcváaat,
«ai kaÜóXov 3j» Tóuv ebBauuovea rárqv ov uóvov
TOV kaT' Ályvr Tov, ÀXXÀ kal TOv dáXXov. Tacóv
Toijcai, O.à 60 3v ÜmepBoXTy Tfje mepl abri
EUOnaS Te kai Ovvduews eis TávTa TOTOV Tís
160

BOOK L 4s. 2-6

the experience exceedingly, denounced luxury and
pronounced a curse on the king who had first taught
the people their extravagant way of living; and so
deeply did he take to heart the change which had
taken place in the people's habits of eating, drinking,
and sleeping, that hc inscribed his curse in hiero-
glyphs on the temple of Zeus in Thebes; and this,
in fact, appears to bc the chief reason why the fame
of Menas and his honours did not persist into later
ages. And it is said that the descendants of this
king, fifty-two in number all told, ruled in unbroken
succession more than a thousand and forty years, but
that in their reigns nothing occurred that was worthy
of record.

Subsequently, when Busiris became king and his
descendants in turn, eight in number, the last of the
line, who bore the same name as the first, founded,
they say, the city which the Egyptians call Diospolis !
the Great, though the Greeks call it Thebes. Now
the circuit of it he made one hundred and forty
stades, and he adorned it in marvellous fashion with
great buildings and remarkable temples and dedica-
tory monuments of every other kind; in the same
way he caused the houses of private citizens to be
constructed in some cases four stories high, in other
five, and in general made it the most prosperous city,
not only of Egypt, but of the whole world. And
since, by reason of the city's pre-eminent wealth and
power, its fame has been spread abroad to every

1 *(ity of Zeus," the Diospolis Magna of the Romans.
The Egyptian name by which it was most commonly known
was Nu (or No), '' the city."

1 cá» omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
161

-J

DIODORUS OF SICILY

bouis 9:a8e80pévns émueurija0ai kal Tóv ow rv
abTjjs $acuv év ole Xéyei
009. 0ca OBas

Aivyvmrías, 00, TXeta Ta. O0pots Cv. krjpara
KeiTaL,

aiU" éxa-rójmvXol eiat, Oupkóouvo, 8. àv éxda Ty

dvépes éEovyveUat a bv Ymmrowsww. kal óyeadw.
&v.o, 8€ daciv o) miXas éxaróv da xnkévai Tiv
TóÓMp, GXXÀ ToXXÀ xal ueydXa mpomÜXaia TÓv
Lepüv, à$' àv éxarópmvXov àvopáaÓOa:, kaÜamepel
moXUTUNov. Oppius 0 üpuara Tpós áX1jÜeiav
€É£ abTijs eis Tovs ToXéuovs éxmwopeveaÜai ToUs
yàp imTÓvas éxarOv tyeryovévat kavà Tiv Tapa-
vorapíav T)v dm0 Mépu$eos dxyp. OnBàv. Tív
kaTà Tov AiufUgv, éxác Tov Ocxouévov ávà Oua-
&ogítovs Ummrovs, ov ér, vüv rà ÓegnéYua Oelvva at.

46. O? uóvov 8é ToÜrov róv faciXéa mape-
Jj$auev, àXXà xal TOv ÜcTepov ápfávrwv
TOXXOUS eig Tz» abEnoiw Tie TÓNeos TeQuXort-
pfja0a.. dva paci Te yàp moXNXots kal uesyáXots
&pyvpols xal xpvaots, ért 8. éXedavrivow, xal
KoXoTTLKOV ávüp.ávrev mXjÜe,, pos 66 ToDTois
&aracxevats uovoNi0wcv ofeXiakov ug6euíav TOv
bmÓ TOv jjAt0v oÜrw xexoajtjaÜat. — Terrápow ryàp
iepQüv xarackevaaÜévrov TÓ Te káXXos xai TO
péyeÜos Üavpaaroóv ! civau v0 qvaAaiTaov,
Tpiakaíóexca, uàv a Ta8lcev T)v Tepiuerpov, évre
66 xal rerrapáxovra T5XGv TO ÜWos, eixoci

! Qavuarrbv D, Vogel : 0avuacvóv ty C, Bekker, Dindorf.

———————— áá—ÓÀ— —
1 Iliad 9. 381-4, whero Achilles replies to Odysseus, reject-
ing the proffer of gifts from Agamemnon.

162

BOOK I. 45. 6-46. 2

region, even the poet, we are told, has mentioned it
when he says :!
Nay, not for all the wealth
Of Thebes in Egypt, where in ev'ry hall
There lieth treasure vast; a hundred are
Her gates, and warriors by each issue forth
Two hundred, each of them with car and steeds.

Some, however, tell us that it was not one hundred
" gates " (pula?) which the city had, but rather many
great propylaea in front of its temples, and that it
was from these that the title '' hundred-gated " was
given it, that is, "having many gateways." Yet
twenty thousand chariots did in truth, we are told,
pass out from it to war; for there were once scattered
along the river from Memphis to the Thebes which is
over against Libya one hundred post-stations,?? each
one having accommodation for two hundred horses,
whose foundations are pointed out even to this day.
46. Not only this king, we have been informed, but
also many of the later rulers devoted their attention
to the development of the city. For no city under
the sun has ever been so adorned by votive offerings,
made of silver and gold and ivory, in such number
and of such size, by such a multitude of colossal
Statues, and, finally, by obelisks made of single
blocks of stone. Of four temples erected there the
oldest ? is a source of wonder for both its beauty and
size, having a circuit of thirteen stades, a height of

* Stables where relays of horses were kept. Eichstüdt
would reject the whole of $ 7 as spurious, and the words ràá»
Karà rhv Ad8ónv appear to be unnecessary.

* This is undoubtedly the Great Temple of Ammon at
Karnak, the most imposing of all the monuments of Egypt.

163

DIODORUS OF SICILY

8à xal rerrápew To0Qv rÓ mAáros TOv Tolxov.
ákóXovÜov 5e 7f) ueyaXompemeía TraíTo kal Tüv
év abrQ kócuov TOV àvaÜOnudáreov *yevéa Oa,
Tf Te Samávg ÜavgaaTóv xai Tf) xeipovpyía
vepirTÓg elpyagpévov. Tàs uv obv oixobopás
Su uegevnkévat uéxpi TOv veoTépav Xpóvrov, TOV
B' dpyvpov kal xpuaóv xal Trjv 90 éXéjavros
kai XMiÜeías moXvréXetiav. vro llepaàv ceavAÍij-
aÜa. xaD' obs xatpo)s évémpyae rà xav. Alyvm TOV
iepà Kaufi(ege óre 9j ac: TOUS. Ilépsas
pereveyxóvras 1| eUropiavy raTqv eis Tv Aaíav
xai rexvíras é£ Alvy/rrov mapakaBóvras xara-
ckevácau. Tà mepiBógra BacíXeua Tá Te év
IIepaeróAei kal rà éy Xojcow xal rà év M Bia.
TocoÜro à mAXíffos xpnuárev ámoaívovci
yeyovévau Tóre xaT AlyvmTov Gore TOv kaTà
Tijv cÓNgsiw ámoXeiupdárov karakavÜévrov TÀ
cvvaxXÜévra karà uukpóv ebpeÜtva. xpvatov uàv
melo TOv rp.akoaiov raNávrov, üpyvpiov 8 oUk
éd TYV Ü.c 4M ov kal rpiakon tov TaXdvrov.
elvau 8é aat kal rádovs évraüÜa ràv ápxyaíov
BaciXéov Üavpaarobs kai TOv uerayevea Tépav
Tolg elg Tà mapamX59sia diXoriuovpévows brrep-

BOOK I. 46. 2-8

forty-five cubits, and walls twenty-four feet thick.
In keeping with this magnificence was also the em-
bellishment of the votive offerings within the circuit
wall, marvellous for the money spent upon it and
exquisitely wrought as to workmanship. Now the
buildings of the temple survived down to rather recent
times, but the silver and gold and costly works of ivory
and rare stone were carried off by the Persians when
Cambyses burned the temples of Egypt;! andit was
at this time, they say, that the Persians, by trans-
ferring all this wealth to Asia and taking artisans
along from Egypt, constructed their famous palaces
in Persepolis and Susa and throughout Media. So
great was the wealth of Egypt at that period, they
declare, that from the remnants left in the course of
the sack and after the burning the treasure which
was collected little by little was found to be worth
more than three hundred talents of gold and no less
than two thousand three hundred talents of silver.
'l'here are also in this city, they say, remarkable
tombs of the early kings and of their successors,
which leave to those who aspire to similar magni-
ficence no opportunity to outdo them.

Now the priests said that in their records they find
forty-seven tombs of kings; but down to the time of

BoXiv obk áTroXctmrovras.
7 Oi uév obv iepets &c TOv ávaypadàv épacav
eüpíokeww émrà Tpós Toís TeTrapáxovra Tádovs
BactiNikoUs* els 8& IIroXeuafov Tóv Adryov &a-
uetvat act» érrakaí(Sexa uóvov, &v rà voXAÀ
xaTébÜapro xaÜ' obs xpóvovzs TrapeBáXouev
"eis eis éxetvous TOUS TÓTOvs, él Tíjs ékaroai)s
kai óy8onxocTíjs "OXvymid9os. ob uóvov 9 oi

Ptolemy son of. Lagus, they say;only fifteen remained, 323-283
most of which had been destroyed at the time we 9
visited those regions, in the One Hundred and eos
Fightieth Olympiad. Not only do the priests of ?9

! Cambyses wasin Egypt from 525 to 522 2.0. The account

Of his excesses against the Egyptian religion and customs,

given in great detail by Herodotus (3. 16 ff.), is almost cer-

tainly mueh exaggerated (see Gray in The Cambridge Ancient

! History, 4. pp. 22-3, but ep. Hall, ibid. 3. pp. 311-12); at any
rate they fall toward the end of his stay in the country.

164 165

————

[

DIODORUS OF SICILY

kaT AlyvmTov iepeis €x rÀv àvaypadóv LaTopob-
civ, ÀÀAà kai moXXol TÓp 'EXM$vov TÀÓv mapa-
BaXóvrev puév eis ràe OjBas érl IIroXeuaíov
ToU Adwov, avvrafauévev Bà ràe AbyvmTiakàs
icTopías, Ov éoTt kai "Ewaraios, avudcevo)ct
rois 0$. juÓv eiprpévo.

47. Amó yàp TÓÀÓv mpórev Tdjoev, év ois
mapaBéBora. ràs mraXXak(óas roU Aus reÜdOa:,
Béxa craBíev $uciv vmápfau. BaciXéos vía
To) Tpoca'yopevÜévros "OcvpavbUov. Toírov Bé
xarà uév Tijv elcoBov bmápyew mvXÓva Aifov
mow(íNov, TÓ uév uíjkos BímXeÜpov, ró 8' D4yos
rerrapákovra «ai TrévTE TXQv* iex ovrt bu
avTüv «elvat AíÜwov epiaTUXov rerpayovov,
écdaTqgs mAevpüs obDogs Terrápov mAéÜpov:
bmwpeioÜa. 5' dvri TOv «idvov (9! muXxÓv
ékkaíBexa uovóMÜa, rüv TÜmOv cis TÜv ápxaiov
rpórov eipyacuéva: T] Ópod!v re mácav émi
mAdTos Óvoiv Opyvwdv vmápxew — povóMOov,
da Tépas év Avavà «aramemouaXuévqu: efe 56
ToD TepuiaTÜNov TObDTOov TáMv érépav ciaoBov
kai suAQva TÀ puév üXXa mapamMjctov TG
mrpoetpryuévo, yXvbats 8à mavroíais mepvrrórepov
eipyacuévow apà Bé c?v eicobov avOpidvvas
elva, Tpeis éE évós robs mávrae MÓov uéXavos!
TOU Zvgvírov, kal rovrov Éva gév xaO"uevov

1 uéAavos Hertlein : Mé,vovos.

1 Hecataeus of AÁbdera was an historian of the early third
century B.C., author of an Aigyptiaka, from which the following
description (47. 1-49. 5) of the tomb of Osymandyas (Müller,

166

BOOK I. 46. 8-47. 3

Egypt give these facts from their records, but many
also of the Greeks who visited Thebes in the time
of Ptolemy son of Lagus and composed histories of
Egypt, one of whom was Hecataeus,! agree with what
we have said.

47. Ten stades from the first tombs, he says, in
which, according to tradition, are buried the con-
cubines of Zeus, stands a monument of the king
known as Osymandyas.? At its entrance there is a
pylon, constructed of variegated stone, two plethra
in breadth and forty-five cubits high ; passing through
this one enters a rectangular peristyle, built of stone,
four plethra long on each side; it is supported, in
place of pillars, by monolithic figures sixteen cubits
high, wrought in the ancient manner as to shape;?
and the entire ceiling, which is two fathoms wide,
consists of a single stone, which is highly decorated
with stars on a blue field. Beyond this peristyle
there is yet another entrance and pylon, in every
respect like the one mentioned before, save that it is
more richly wrought with every manner of relief;
beside the entrance are three statues, each of a single
block of black stone from Syene, of which one, that

Fragmenta historicorum Graecorum, 2. 380-91) is drawn. What
Diodorus gives here is no more than a paraphrase, not a
quotation, of Hecataeus (cp. the Introduction, p. xvii).

? This is the great sanctuary erected by Ramses II for
his mortuary service and known to every visitor at Thebes
88 the Ramesseum. In chap. 49, where Diodorus is not
following Hecataeus, he calls it specifically & tomb." H.R.
Hall (Ancient History of the Near Easi*, p. 317) derives the
name Osymandyas from User-ma-Ra (or " Uashmuariya"''
as the Semites wrote it), one of the royal names of Ramses.

* These were square pillars with engaged statues of Osiris,
bu they were not monoliths (cp. H. R. Hall, L.c., with illustra-

ion).

167

DIODORUS OF SICILY

vmüpxeiv uéyurrov mávTov TOv xaT AlyvmTOv,
ob TOv Tró0a nerpolpuevoy bmepfáNXew rovs érrà
w]Xews, érépovs 86 Oo mpóe rois yóvaci, Tóv
H€v ék OcfiOv, vüv O6 éE ebevóumv, Üvyarpós
xai unTpós, TQ ueryé8ei Xevrrouévovs ToU qrpoetpr-
uévov. T0 Ó' épyov robro u: nóvov elvai xarà
TO uéyeÜos dmo80 xfj üfiov, 4àXXÀ xal Tf) réyvn
OavuacTóv xai Tij To0 AíÜov diac Gadépov, s
àv év rqMukovro ueyéÜe: uiyre 0lajvádos wire
&nXióos pmóepsás Üeopovuévgs. | émvyeypád0as 9
ém avroÜ '" BaciXei« BaciXéov "Ocvpavóvas
eiuL. €i Oé ris eiüévai BojXera, mukos eig
xai ToU keiuaw vikdTo TL TÓV éuÀv Épywov."
elvat 06 kai áAXqv elkóva T3j« pxyrpós abro ka"
abTjr T5yGv elxoct novóMOov, éyovcav 66 Tpets
Basikeías émi Tí xejaXie, üe OuacQuaitvew
óTri kai Ovryármp kal vvv; xal wür9p BaciXéos
vrfote.

Merà 66 róv mvXÓva mepíorvXov elvau ToÜ
"vporépov áfioXoryóvrepov, dy à vyAvóàs vmápyew
vavToías ÓnXoócas TÓv TÓXeuov TÓV ryevóuevov
avTQ Tp0s ToU. €v rois BáxTpois áTocTávras:
€$' oü« écrpareÜo0a, meLàv uév rerrapáxovra
nupiágiv, imseÜgi O6 Oicpvpiors, eig Térrapa
uépr Ómpguévgs Tíje máons cTpariüs, Qv dmáv-
TOV viov; TOÜ BaaiXécs éco xnkévaw Tiv Yyyeuovíav.

48. Kal xarà uév Tüv mpürov rÀv TolXywv
vóv BaaiXéa kareaxeváaÜDa, mroXiopkoDvra Teixog
jmÓ moTauoÜ epiíppvrov xai Tpokivbvvevovra

1 The estimated weight of this colossus of Ramses lI is
one thousand tons.

168

BOOK IL. 47. 3-48. 1

is seated, is the largest of any in Egypt;! the foot
measuring over seven cubits, while the other two at
the knees of this, the one on the right and the other
on the left, daughter and mother respectively, are
smaller than the one first mentioned. And it is not
merely for its size that this work merits approbation,
but it is also marvellous by reason of its artistic quality
and excellent because of the nature of the stone, since
in a block of so great a size there is not a single crack
or blemish to be seen. The inscription upon it runs:
* King of Kings am I, Osymandyas. If anyone
would know how great I am and where I lie, let him
surpass one of my works." "There is also another
statue of his mother standing alone, a monolith twenty
cubits high, and it has three diadems on its head,
signifying that she was both daughter and wife and
mother of a king.

Beyond the pylon, he says, there is a peristyle more
remarkable than the former one; in it there are all
manner of reliefs depicting the war which the king
waged against those Bactrians who had revolted;
against these he had made a campaign with four
hundred thousand foot-soldiers and twenty thousand
cavalry, the whole army having been divided into
four divisions, all of which were under the command
of sons of the king.?

48. On the first wall the king, he says, is represented
in the act of besieging a walled city which is sur-
rounded by a river, and of leading the attack against

? 'This is the campaign of Ramses II against the Hittites
in 1288 s.c. and the great hattle around the city of Kadesh
on the upper Orontes. 'lhe battle has heen fully described
by J. H. Breasted, The Battle of Kadesh (Decennial Publica-
tions of the University of Chicago, 1904), who estimates the
size of the army at little more than 20,000. E:

1609

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Tpós Tivas àvTvreTa'yuévovs uerà Aéovros, avv-
a'yaviCoévov ToU Onpíov KaTa mer uds bmép
o0 TV éEmyovpévov oí pev &jacav Tos àAX9Üe.av
Xeuporn Xéovra , Tpedópevov bó TOU BaaiXéos
avyrwvvebeiy abr xarà Tàs páxas xal TpoTi»w
Towiy TÓV évavríov Óà m)v àXkm»v, Tuvég Ü
ia Tópovv n «a6' bmepfoXgv ávÓpetos v Kai
$oprukde! éavrüv éyrcopiátew BovXópevos, &ià
Ts ToU Xéovros elicóvos TÓv &aÜeatw é cavroO Tíjs
Yrvxfis éejnauwev. év 68 v Bevrépo ,roíxe. TOUS
aiypaMrous jTO ToU BaaiXéos à áyopévovs &ipyá-
cÜa, vá re ai&ota kal ràe xeipas oUx Éyovras,
6r v Soxeiv 5yXoDa0a. dum Tas Yvxais
ávavépot cal xarà Tàs év rois Seioís évepyeías
&xetpes jjav. TOv 66 Tpirov éyew 'yhvdds
sravroias kat uam perreis ypadás, à àv ónXobaÓa,
BovÜva(ías roU BaciXéos kal Üpiaufov ám roD
voXéuov kaTaryóuevov. &arà 6€ uéaov vóv mepí-
a TVXOV brraípiov Bopuóv QxoSopija Qa, ToU kaX-
AíaTovu AíBov Tf) T€ Xetpovpeyía. &uádopov kal TQ
peyéBe, Üavpaaróv. &arà ó6 vóv TeXevralov
TolXov Übmápxew àvópiávras xaÜnpévovs 8Vo uovo-
AMÜous émrà kai eikoa, T»)X Qv, vrap' obs ela óOovs
Tpeis éc ToU .Tepua TUXOV areakeváaÜau, ka
&s olkov bmrápxew bmóo rUXov, qóelov TpóTOV
KaTeg kevaa pévov, écáa Tiv mXevpàv Éxovra 8i-
mÀepov. év ro?ro Ó' elvai mXiBos ávópiávre»

1 $oprikàs Vogel: $opriüs Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

1! This eei js apparently not from Hecataeus.
Breasted (L.c., pp. 44-5) holds that this lion is purely
decorative, dhough the reliefs of the battle show & tame lion
accompanying Ramses on the campaign.

170

-—

BOOK I. 48. 1-6

opposing troops ; he is accompanied by a lion, which is
aiding him with terrifying effect. Of those who have
explained the scene some have said that in very truth
a tame lion which the king kept accompanied him in
the perils of battle and put the enemy to rout by his
fierce onset; but others have maintained that the
king, who was exceedingly brave and desirous of prais-
ing himself in a vulgar way, was trying to portray
his own bold spirit in the figure of the lion.! On the
second wall, he adds, are wrought the captives as they
are being led away by the king ; they are without their
privates and their hands, which apparently signifies
that they were effeminate in spirit and had no hands
when it came to the dread business of warfare.?
The third wall carries every manner of relief and
excellent paintings, which portray the king perform-
ing a sacrifice of oxen and celebrating a triumph after
the war. In the centre of the peristyle there had
been constructed of the most beautiful stone an altar,
open to the sky, both excellent in its workmanship
and marvellous because of its size. By the last wall
are two monolithie seated statues, twenty-seven
cubits high, beside which are set three entrances
from the peristyle ; and by way of these entrances one
comes into a hall whose roof was supported by
pillars, constructed in the style of an Odeum;? and
measuring two plethra on each side. In this hall
there are many wooden statues representing parties

? "The reliefs of the battle show Ramses in his chariot and
the severed hands of the slain, not of the captives, being cast
before him (Breasted, l.c., p. 45).

3 $e, a Music Hall, distinguished, in general, by the ancients
from a theatre by its roof and supporting pillars. "This is
the great Hypostyle hall behind the second court (cp. the
Plan in Baedeker's Egypt, opp. p. 301).

171

DIODORUS OF SICILY

£uMvov, Suengatvov Tojs dui Brijocis !
&XovTas xal vpocÉXémovras oig Tg Oíkag
&pivouci* ToUTOvs Ó éd' évós rÓv roiyow éwyye-
yAid0ai. Tpiáxovra Tüv dpiÜpóv dyewas xai
karà TÓ uécov Tóv ápxibucaa Sv, éyovra T2v
AMj0euav éfnpruuévgv ék ToÜ Tpax5Xov xai
ToUs ódÜaXgovs émipbovra, xai PBufAiov ajTÓ
Tapaxeluevoy *ÀAj0os ajíras Óé às eikóvas
éyÓeikvucÜa. Bà Tob cxxuaros Ori roUs uiv
óucaa Tàs o)bÉv Bet Xauávew, rv ápyiBwac riv
6é Tpós uóvgv BXérew vij» áXdÜeuav.

49. 'E£fs 9 ómápxew srepirracov otkcov vravro-
9am Gv TXjpy, kaÓ' obs mavroia yévg Bperóv
kaTeakeváaOa. TÓv mpós á70Àavsiw TjéieTov.
«a v à ywóaís évrvxeiv* elvat kal xpópaatw
erqvOwuévov Tv ÜaciMéa, dépovra và cQ
Xpvaóv «al áp'yupov, üv éf áwdons éXaáufave
Tis Abyómrov xaT éviavTüv ék vrÀv dpyvupeiov
Kai ypvaetov peráXNMow imoyeypád0at Bé xal
TÓ TAíj8os, Ó cvykeóaXaioDuevov eis. ápyvpiov
Xoyov eivai pvv TpwcXiMas xal Ouakocías
uupidóas. ' é£je 9' bmápxew T)v iepày. BufXo-
Okqv, éb' de émeyeypád0at Nvwie iarpetov,
cvvexets 66 raíry TÓv xaT Alyvmrov Üeóv
dvávrev eikóvas, ToÜ BaciXées oópoíes ÓBwpo-
dopoÜvros à mpooijkov yv éxdacTo, kaÜásrep
évÓeukvuuévov rpóe Te TÜv "Ociw xal To);

im 1 ; : -
- pm Wis qd omitted by D, Vogel: retained

? dxeipas added by Hertlein, ep. Plutarch, Mor. 355 A.

3 (miuborra Hertlein: ériusovcav,

! The text is defective, Reiske conjectures yAv$às év
T0! xq iBetv elvau.

172

BOOK I. 48. 6-49. 3

in litigation, whose eyes are fixed upon the judges
who decide their cases; and these, in turn, are
shown in relief on one of the walls, to the number of
thirty and without any hands,! and in their midst
the chief justice, with a figure of Truth hanging from
his neck and holding his eyes closed, and at his side a
great number of books. And these figures show by
their attitude that the judges shall receive no gift and
that the chief justice shall have his eyes upon the
truth alone.?

49. Next to these courts, he says, is an ambulatory
crowded with buildings of every kind, in which there
are representations of the foods that are sweetest to
the taste, of every variety. Here are to be feund
reliefs in which the king, adorned in colours, is
represented as offering to the god the gold and silver
which he received each year from the silver and gold
mines of all Egypt; and an inscription below gives
also the total amount, which, summed up according
to its value in silver, is thirty-two million minas.
Next comes the sacred library, which bears the
inscription * Healing-place of the Soul," and contigu-
ous to this building are statues of all the gods of
Egypt, to each of whom the king in like manner
makes the offering appropriate to him, as though he
were submitting proof before Osiris and his assessors

1 A word to this effect, which is found in a description of
** figures in 'Thebes" by Plutarch (On Isis and Osiris, 10),
must almost certainly have stood in the text, to Les & basis
for the thought in the next sentence that the judges should
not receive gifts; op. Plutarch, Lc., ós &Uwpov &ua r?]v Üiaio-
cürqv kal àvévrevkrov obcav ("showing that justice should
tako no gifts and should be inaccessible to influence).

* On tbis Supreme Court see chap. 75.

173

DIODORUS OF SICILY

, , L4 * ,
Kárc mapéOpovs ÓrL Tüv Dov é£eréXeacv cüceB v
kal OLcasomparyQv Trpós re àvÜparrovs xai Ocovs.
€ , b ^
opóTowxov 66 Tf) BifXLo0 kn kareakeváaÜat me-
^ .* , ^
prrTÀs olkov eikocikMivov, Éyovra ToU Te Aus
i e "H » GR es ! » 7
«ai Tüjs "Hpas, ér. 08 ToU flagiXéms, eikóvas,
£ .? ^ S ^
év Q Gokeiv kal rO cÓpua ToU fjaciXMéws évre-
, , "^
8ad0a. kókXo O6 robrov mXijfos oikguárov
, ^ ^
«area keváa a. vypadyv éxóvrov ékmperi) mávrov
" y
TÀv kaO.popnévov éy Aiyómro Coov: áváBacív
8 5 , L3 -. * ew. 1 M: /, ^
Te Ot avTOv civa, mpós ÓXov! róv rd$ow ijv
8 [7] ^ e , » ^ , "A
LeXÜoÜciv bmápyew émi ToÜ uvüuaTos kÜkXov
xpvcoÜv Tpiakogiov xal éf5kovra xal mévre
e^ ^ , ^
T)XÓv T?)v mepiperpov, ró 66 máxos? T«Xvaiov:
d 1$0ai. 06 xal Opt. 9 &
émtyeypaóÜa,. 96 xal OwpfaÜa. kaÓ' ÉxaaTov
^ ^ e , ^
cwXvv Tàs "uépas ToÜ éviavroD, mapayeypap-
; ^ ^
uévov TYv karà $civ ywopuévev rois doTpois
* " e^
ávarolQv Tc xal Ójcemv xal TOv Oià ravras
, ,
émiTeXovuévov émicguacióv xarà To)e Aivv-
; » ,
vTíoUs üca TpoXóyovs. ToÜUTov Ó6 TOv kUkNov bó
, e
Kayvaov xai IIepcóv é$acav accvMja0at ka&*
,
obs xXpóvovs ékpárgaev AlyvmTov.
sl x . , "^
Tóàv uév oov 'Ocvpavósov o0 BaciXéus Tádov
^ P ^
ToioÜTov vyevéaÜat daaciv, 0e o) uóvov Bokei Tf)
* ^ , ^
kaTrà T)v Óamávgv xopmyía moX)0 TÀÓv ÓXXov
^ N ^ ^ -
Oieverykety, àXXà kal Tjj TYv Texvvrüv émrLvota.
50. O; 8? OvBaiol $aciw éavro)s àápyatorárovs
. , ^
elvat rávrov üvÜpoyrav, kai rap. éavrois mpoots

! jXov has been suspected. Hertlein conjectured &xpov,
*' to the top of the tomb."
* váxos all editors, Capps conjectures vAdros.

174

BOOK I. 49. 3-50. t1

in the underworld that to the end of his days he had
lived a life of piety and justice towards both men
and gods. Next to the library and separated from
it by a party wall is an exquisitely constructed hall,
which contains a table with couches for twenty and
statues of Zeus and Hera as well as of the king;
here, it would seem, the body of the king is also
buried. In a circle about this building are many
chambers which contain excellent paintings of all
the animals which are held sacred in Egypt. There
is an ascent leading through these chambers to the
tomb asa whole. At the top of this ascent there is
a circular border of gold crowning the monument,
three hundred and sixty-five cubits in cireumference
and one cubit thick; ! upon this the days of the year
are inscribed, one in each cubit of length, and by each
day the risings and settings of the stars as nature
ordains them and the signs indicating the effects
which the Egyptian astrologers hold that they
produce. This border, they said, had been plun-
dered by Cambyses and the Persians when he
conquered Egypt.

Such, they say, was the tomb of Osymandyas the
king, which is considered far to have excelled all
others, not only in the amount of money lavished
upon it, but also in the ingenuity shown by the
artificers.

50. The Thebans say that they are the earliest of
all men and the first people among whom philosophy ?

1 In place of " one cubit thick'' one should certainly
expect "one cubit wide." In that case the space for the
portrayal of each day would be one cubit square.

? Here ends the account drawn, except for occasional re-

marks of Diodorus, from Hecataeus.
3 4,e, in the wider sense of study of knowledge.

175

DIODORUS OF SICILY

$uXocoóíav Te ebpfÜa. kal Tiv éw dxpifés
ácTpoXoyíav, &ua, kal Tíjs xépas abrois cvvep-
yobas 7rpüs TO TzXavyéaTepov opáv às ériroXás
2 re kal Ójces TOv daTpev. iOiws O6 xal và
vepl ToUs pijvas aUTOis kal ToUe É£wavro)s
OuaTeráxÜa, — ràs yàp zjuépas obk d'yovos karà
cero, àXXà xarà Tóv fjuov, rp.akovÜnpépovs
uev TiÉéuevor roUs uivas, vévre O0 f$uépas xal
TérapTov rois. Odena unciv máryovat, kai TOUT
TÓ TpOT"Q TOP €PLGUOiOV KUKNOov ava mAnpobciv.
éufoXiuovs 06 pivas ob dyovcw o)6 djuépas
D$atpoUct, kaÜdmep oi vXeia Tot rÓv. "EXXivov.
vepí 06 TOv ÉkXeidremv djXíov re kal aeXQvys
ákpi9às | évreokéÜa, Bokoüci, xal mpopprüjaeis
wepi ToUTOv Toi0Uvrai, ávra TÀ kaTà pépos
yiwópeva, Trpokéyovres á&amroros.

Tóà» 8é rorov roÜ BaciXévs dmoyóvev o*y8oos
0? rpocaryopevÜels Oxopeis riae móXiw. Mép-
Qu», émipaveordrqgv TÀv kar AlyvmTov. é£e-
Aéfaro pui» yàp Tómov émwaipóraTrov ámáaows
Tíjs xdpas, Ümrov c Xilópevos ó NeiXos eis TrAelova
népu Toii TO kaXoUuevov ámó ToÜ cx1paTos
AéXra: (0 xai awvégm 5v móÓXv eóxaipos
keuuévyv émi TOV kXe(Üpov elvai xvpievovaav
Tv eis T?» dvo xdópav àvamXeóvrow. T0 pív
obv mepíBoXov Tíjs sóXews émoígce craOlev
éxaTüv xai mevT5kovTa, T?v 9 Oxvpórqgra xal

1 Camusatus conjectured )iréraroi, which is adopted by

Bekker, Dindorf.
? &xb ToU marpbs after ó omitted by C F.

1 The Egyptians undoubtedly knew the proper length of
the year, but their year was one of 365 days snd there is no

176

BOOK I. 5o. 1-4

and the exact science of the stars were discovered,
since their country enables them to observe more dis-
tinctly than others the risings and settings of the stars.
Peeuliar to them also is their ordering of the months
and years. For they do not reckon the days by the
moon, but by the sun, making their month of thirty
days, and they add five and a quarter days! to the
twelve months and in this way fill out the cycle of the
year. DBut they do mot intercalate months or
subtract days, as most of the Greeks do. 'Fhey
appear to have made careful observations of the
eclipses both of the sun and of the moon, and predict
them, foretelling without error all the events which
actually occur.

Of the descendants of this king, the eighth, known
as Uchoreus, founded Memphis, the most renowned
city of Egypt. For he chose the most favourable
spot in all the land, where the Nile divides into
several branches to form the '* Delta," as it is called
from its shape; and the result was that the city,
excellently situated as it was at the gates of the
Delta, continually controlled the commerce passing
into upper Egypt. Now he gave the city a circum-
ference of one hundred and fifty stades, and made it

record of their ever officially intercalating & day every four
years, as, indeed, Diodorus tells us in the next sentence (cp.
The Cambridge Ancient History, l. p. 168). "The distinct
contribution of the Egyptians to the calendar was the rejection
of the lunar month and the recognition that the length of
the divisions of the year should be conventional. 1t was
this conventional month which Julius Caesar introduced into
the lunar month calendar of the Romans, practically all
ancient writers saying in one way or another that the idea
for his ealendar came from Egypt (cp. J. H. Breasted, A
History of Egypl, pp. 32-3).

177

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TW ebxpnaTíav &avuae Tov, ToLÀO€ TUA TpoTQ
karackeváaas. péovros vyàp ToU NeíXov mrepi
Ti)» TÓMw kal karà rà; ávafláaeiu émueXitovros,
ámó pév ToÜ vórov mpoeBáXero xyópa map-
néyeÜes, Tpós uév Tiv "TXjpeci» ToU ToTauoÜ
"rpofXjgaros, Tpoós 66 ToUs dmÓ Tí)e "yrs ToXe-
píous ákpomóXeus &yov Táfi» ék 86 TYp ÁXXov
nepüv mavraXóÜ0ev dpvfe Aíuvgv ueyáXqgw xal
BaÜ8ciav, 1) Tó cdoDpóv ro) worauob Beyouévm
kai mávra TÓV Tepl T3jv TÓMv TÓTOVP TÀ9pobUca,
mvX)v $ TÓ XÓna kareakevanTo, ÜavuaoTiv
émroíei TTJV ÓXvpórqra. obro 86 kaXós ó eríaas

», , ^ ^ *
avT)v éco roxácaTo Te TOV TÓT V cÜkaiplas Gare
ToUs éE?)s BaotXeis a ye0ov ümravras karaMróvras
Tàüs O5fas rá re BaaíXeia kal Tiv oiknsiv év
TabTn owicÜa,. Diómep dmó rovrov TÓV ypó-
vov jjptaTo ramewoDaÜOa. uév rà mepi ràs Gas,
abfecÓa. 88 Tà mepl Tr$)v Mépduv, &we 'AXe-
Éuvópov ToU BaciXéws- robTov yàp éni ÓaXárTn
Tv émdvvuov aUTÓ TM oikicavros oí xarà
TO éf5s BaciXeócavres Ts Alwy)mTov mávres
éduXori.ud0ncar eis Tv ra)rus abEuoiw. oi u£v
yàp BaciXetows | ueyaXomperéaiv, oi. 86 vecptois
kai Mgéaw, oi 9. érépois àvaÜ paci kal kara-
a kevác uagtv ü£ioXóvyois él Toaobrov éxón ua av
a)Tj» óGeTe mTapà Tols mAéíaTow mTpoTmv |j)
8evrépav ápiÜueioÜa. rÀv xarà Tv olkovuévqv
móAegv. AXXà Tepl uév ravTys rà kaTà uépos
€v rois iBío:s xpóvois ávarypáxropev.

51. 'O 8& rjv Méguduv xTícas uerà Tj» ToÜ
Xd&paros kal rfe Mgvr9s karackeviv dkoGóuoe
BascíXea rü» uév vapà Tols dXXow o) Xeumó-
178

BOOK I. 5o. 4-51. 1

remarkably strong and adapted to its purpose by
works of the following nature. Since the Nile flowed
around the city and covered it at the time of inunda-
tion, he threw out a huge mound of earth on the
south to serve as a barrier against the swelling of the
river and also as a citadel against the attacks of
enemies by land; and all around the other sides he
dug a large and deep lake, which, by taking up the
force of the river and occupying all the space about
the city except where the mound had been thrown up,
gave it remarkable strength. — And so happily did the
founder of the city reckon upon the suitableness of
the site that practically all subsequent kings left
"hebes and established both their palaces and
official residences here. Consequently from this
time Thebes began to wane and Memphis to increase,
until the time of Alexander the king; for after he
had founded the city on the sea which bears his name,
all the kings of Egypt after him concentrated their
interest on the development of it. Some adorned it
with magnificent palaces, some with docks and
harbours, and others with further notable dedications
and buildings, to such an extent that it is generally
reckoned the first or second city of the inhabited
world. But a detailed description of this city we
shall set forth in the appropriate period.?

51. The founder of Memphis, after constructing
the mound and the lake, erected a palace, which,
while not inferior to those of other nations, yet was

1 In common with all the Greek writers, Diodorus knew
nothing about the chronological development of Egyptian
history. 'The great period of Thebes was to come with the
Eighteenth Dynasty, after 1600 m.c., many centuries sub.

sequent to the founding of Memphis.
* Alexandria is more fully described in Book 17. 52.

179

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Leva, Tie Bé rÓv mpoBaciXevoávrev» ueya-
Aovrvxías al duXokaMas oU d£ia. oi yàp
éyxopiot TÓv. uiv év vÓ ov wpóvov ebreAf
TavreAÓs eirav vouílovsi, Tóv à perà civ
Televr?» DV áper?)v uvmouovevÜgaóuevov epi
TAe(aTOV "TrOL00vrai, Kal Tàs uiv TOv Üóvrov
oikycews kaTaXígews Üvouálovciw, de DMiyov
xpóvov év raras oikojvrev juàv, ToU. 86 rv
TereAevrzkóTov Tádovs dib(ove olkove "rpocayo-
pevovatv, ds év üBov BuxreXosvrew vóv üTreipov
aiQva: QóTep TÀv uév xarà Tàs olk(as kaca-
ckevQv TyTTOv dpovrílovsw, epi 86 rüe ras
UrrepoX3v ok dtroXeimovat diXoriudas.

Tv 86 mpoeipnuévn» m0Xww. óvouacQ vat Tuwés
$aciw ám Tís Üvyarpós roD kTícavrogs abri
Basikéos. Taórgs 06 uvÜoXoyobcw épacÓfvai
TÜv ToTau0v Ne(Xov OuowwÜÉévra TA)DpQ, Kal
yevvijcat Tüv ém' áperi) ÜavuacÜévra map ois
éyxwpio AlyvmTOv, áj' ob kal Tiv aUumacav
Xdpav TvXeiv TüS. Trpoc »*yopías.. Suabebduevov
yàp To)Tov Tv 3'yeuovíav revécÜ0au. facia
duXdvÜperrov xai Oíkaiov xai kaÜóXov cmov-
Satov év mci: 910 kal ueyáXgs dT060x?s dfioU-
uevov v0 Távrov Óià rjv ebvoiav Tvxeiv Tí
Trpoe.pnuévgs Tus.

Merà 8é róv mpoeipnuévov BaoiMa 8o8exa
yeveais Üaepov OuaGeEáuevos Tv xav Alyvmrrov
3'yeuoviav Moipis év uev 7f Méude kareaxcvace
Tà ÜBópeua mpom)Aata, Tj) pe*yaXompemeía ToMU
TOv AXXww vmepéyovra, émáye 68 Tí TÓXews
T0 Béka cXoívev. Apvnv ópvEe Ti) uiv eU xp-
cTía ÜavuaeTqw, TÓ Dé ueyéüe TÓv épyov
180

BOOK I. sr. 1-5

no match for the grandeur of design and love of the
beautiful shown by the kings who preceded him.
For the inhabitants of Egypt consider the period of
this life to be of no account whatever, but place the
greatest value on the time after death when they will
be remembered for their virtue, and while they give
the name of '"'lodgings" to the dwellings of the
living, thus intimating that we dwell in them but a
brief time, they call the tombs of the dead '* eternal
homes," since the dead spend endless eternity in
Hades; consequently they give less thought to the
furnishings of their houses, but on the manner of
their burials they do not forgo any excess of zeal.

'The aforementioned city was named, according to
some, after the daughter of the king who founded it.
They tell the story that she was loved by the river
Nile, who had assumed the form of a bull, and gave
birth to Egyptus, a man famous among the natives
for his virtue, from whom the entire land received its
name. For upon succeeding to the throne he showed
himself to be a kindly king, just, and, in a word,
upright in all matters; and so, since he was held by
all to merit great approbation because of his good-
will, he received the honour mentioned.

Twelve generations after the king just named,
Moeris succeeded to the throne of Egypt and built
in Memphis itself the north propylaea, which far
surpasses the others in magnificence, while ten
schoeni! above the city he excavated a lake which
was remarkable for its utility and an undertaking of

1 Herodotus (2. 6) says that the schoenus was &n Egyptian
mcasure, equal to sixty stades or approximately seven
miles, but according to Strabo (17. 1. 24) it varied from thirty
to one hundred and twenty stades. At any rate the Fayüm
ls about sixty miles from the site of ancient Memphis. 1

IÓI

DIODORUS OF SICILY

6 ámicTov Tijv u£v yàp sepiperpov a)Tí/s $aciw
ÜTápxeiw aTabDiev TptayvMaov kal éfakoaímv, rà
8é fBáÜos év vois mXeiorow uépegw | Ópyvidv
mevTükovra: Qoae Tís ox àv ávaXoyilóuevos Tà
néyeÜos ToU xarackevácparos eixóros (nrqjoat
vócai uvpiáoes ávOÓpdv év móaows Óreci Toro
cvwveréXegav ; Tiv Bà ypelav ?jv éx rabTqs xai
kowadeMiav Tois Tijv AlwyvrmTov oikoDciw, ér. 86
T3v ToÜ BaciXévs émíivoiav, o0k dv is émawéacwe
Ts àXnÜeias dEcws.

2. 'Ezreib? yàp o uév NeiXos o0y, ópuauévas
éroieiro Tàs ávafácei, 4?) 86 yopa T)v eUxap-
miav TapeckeVatev dm Tíjs ékeivov avpuperpías,
eis omro8ox7» roÜ T Xeovátovros ÜGaros dpv£e Tv
Muvgv, ómes ujre &ià và mAMfjBos Tfjs póceos
émucAUbov áxaíoes Tiv xpav Xo xal Aípvas
karag xevábn, uir. éXárTo To) cvpudépovros Tv
Tjpestv TroLoUperos Ty XeijrvBpía ToUs kaprroUs
Avpaivyrai.. kal Owópvya uà éx ToU moTapo0
Karegkevagev eis Tiv Aíuvqv óyBo5kovra uiv
cTabíev TÓ ujkos, TpimXeÜpov 86 TÓ TXáTos-
8:à 8à raíTgs moTÀ uév Beyóuevos Tóv moragóv,
mworé Ó' àmocTpébov, mape(yero ois wyempyots
Tjv TOv UÓdTev e)xawpíav, ávovyouévov o0
cTópaTos kal máMv kXeiouévov diXoréyvos xai
ToXvOaTáves: oUk éXárTw yàp TÓv mevrikovra
TaXávTov Bamavàv jv àváykm rüv ávoifa. BovAó-
pevov 1) kXeica, TÓ Trpoe.pnuévov karackevaa ua.
&uapuenévqee 8 7) Mura Tiv eüypga iav mapexo-
névg Tols kaT AlyvmTOv Ées TOv kaÜ djuás
Xpóvov, kal T?v TpocTyopíav ámó To) kara-

182

BOOK I. sr. 5-52. 3

incredible magnitude.! For its circumference, they
say, is three thousand six hundred stades and its
depth in most parts fifty fathoms; what man,
accordingly, in trying to estimate the magnitude of
the work, would not reasonably inquire how many
myriads of men labouring for how many years were
required for its completion? And as for the utility
of this lake and its contribution to the welfare of all
the inhabitants of Egypt, as wellas for the ingenuity
of the king, no man may praise them highly enough
to do justice to the truth.

52. For since the Nile did not rise to a fixed height
each year and yet the fruitfulness of the country
depended on the constancy of the flood-level, he
excavated the lake to receive the excess water, in
order that thc river might not, by an excessive
volume of flow, immoderately flood the land and form
marshes and pools, nor, by failing to rise to the
proper height, ruin the harvests by the lack of water.
He also dug a canal, eighty stades long and three
plethra wide,? from the river to the lake, and by
this canal, sometimes turning the river into the
lake and sometimes shutting it off again, he furnished
the farmers with an opportune supply of water,
opening and closing the entrance by a skilful device
and yet at considerable expense; for it cost no less
than fifty talents if a man wanted to open or close
this work. The lake has continued to serve well the
needs of the Egyptians down to our time, and bears

! The reference is to the great depression known as the
Fayüm, into which the Nile flowed during the period of
inundation. 'The control of this flow, as described below,
was first undertaken by the Pharaohs of the Twelfth Dynasty,
especially by Amenemhet III.

* $.e. about nine miles long and three hundred feet wide.

183

[^]

DIODORUS OF SICILY

v 7,
ckevácavros Cye, xaXovuévm uéyp. ToD vüv
;
Moípióos Aiuvg. 0 6 ' obv ÉaciXevs OpórTov
,
raíTQv kaTéXvmev év yuéog Tómov, y À rádov
hj , , , N M » "^
qo800u77e kal bvo mvpapióas, Tijv uév éavroU,
* ^ ^ , hj , s [4 », 7
Tjv 66 Tfs yvvawós, cTabDiaias TO ÜYros, dj
,
dv éméoTgaecv cikóvas MÜivas xaÜmuévas évi
, ^
Opóvov, vouitev 9i& roórev TÀv fpyeov dÜáva-
^ , "
Tov éavroU kaTaXeb ew T)v ém dya0Q uviüumv.
"^ , * ^
Tiv 9' éx Ts ALuvge ádm0 TÓV iXÜUcv *ywopuévgv
mpóco0ov £Ocxe Tj) yvvaiwkl Tpóe npa xai TOv
»» , L4 ^ , ,
&4XXov kaXXorri Lov, depovas Tíjs Ürpas àpwyv-
píov TáXavTov ékáaTg9s Tjuépas: elkogw sàp xai
^ , ,

070 yévy rYv xaT a)/rjv $acw ixÜbwv elvai,
iT " ?, e" L4 » ^ LÀ
&aí rocob0rov abTOv AGAickecÜa. TX5Üos ore
TOUs TpockaprepoÜvras Tails Tapixelaue Üvras
magum NyÜets Óvaxepüs mepvyiveoÜat rYv Épyov.

* , ^ ^
llepi uév oóv Moipióos Toca00 icTopoÜciv
AlyóTTUOL.
, , ^
03. Xecówoiv Óé daow ÜaTepov émTà yeveaís
, L4
BaciXéa vyevóuevov. émipaveoráras kal ueyíaras
"^ LU "^
TÓv Tp avToU mpá£ews émireXéoaoÜai. — émel 82
, ^
vepi rovrov ToÜ ÉaciXées o) uóvov oi cvyypa-
^ [i * -^ on " 3
$eis oí rapa. rois " EXXnat Guaredovikaci mpós

1 This practice is better known in the case of the Persian
rulers, Villazes in Syria had been given tbe Queen Mother
** for her girdle'' (cp. the Englisb ** pin-money '*; Xenophon,
Anabaesis, 1. 4. 9), and when Themistocles was received by
the Persian king after his exile from Athens three cities of
Asia Minor were given him—Magnesia for bread, Lampsacus
for wine, and Myus for meat (Thucydides, 1. 138. 5).
Herodotus (2. 149) gives the same figure for the income from
184

BOOK I. 52. 3-53. 1

the name of its builder, being called to this day the
Lake of Moeris. Now the king in excavating it left
a spot in the centre, where he built a tomb and two
pyramids, a stade in height, one for himself and the
other for liis wife, on the tops of which he placed stone
statues seated upon thrones, thinking that by these
monuments he would leave behind him an imperish-
able commemoration of his good deeds. "The income
accruing from the fish taken from the lake he gave to
his wife for her unguents and general embellishment,
the value of the catch amounting to a talent of silver
daily ;! for there are twenty-two different kinds of
fish in the lake, they say, and they are caught in such
abundance that the people engaged in salting them,
though exceedingly many, can scarcely keep up with
their task.

Now this is the account which the Egyptians give
of Moeris.

53. Sesoüsis,? they say, who became king seven
generations later, performed more renowned and
greater deeds than did any of his predecessors.
And since, with regard to this king, not only are the
Greek writers at variance with one another but also

the catch, but only for the six months when the water ** flows
from the lake." À daily catch of the value of more than a
thousand dollars and & cost of fifty times that sum for
opening the locks seem highly improbable.

? Practically all Greek and Latin writers called him
Sesostris, and about him stories gathered as about no other
ruler in ancient history with the exception of Alexander the
Great. *'In Greek times Sesostris had long since become
but & legendary figure which cannot be identified with any

articular king '' (J. H. Breasted, 4 Hisiory of Egypt, p. 189).

ut cortain facts narrated in connection with him were
certainly drawn from memories of the reign of Ramses II of
the Nineteenth Dynasty.

185

DIODORUS OF SICILY

dXX5jXovs, àXXà, kal Tv «ar. AlyvmTov oí T€
lepeis. Kai oi Bud Tfs qQàís avróv éycopiátovres
ovX OpuoXoyoUueva Xéyovciv, zjueis mreupaaóue0a
Tà TiÜavéTara kal rois bmápxovoiw éri kavà
Tjv XOpav a5ueio TÀ udáMaTa cvudevobvra
Bit yevvu8évros yàp ToU. Zecocatos émoítg-
ccv ó vaT?)p abToD ueyaXomperés Ti kal BaatX-
Ków robs yàp karà Tiv a/Tjv juépav wyevvg-
0évras Taibas é£ ÓXgs Tíje. AiyUm Tov avvaryayàv
xai rpodo)s kai ToUs émiueXgaogévovs émioijaas
Tij avT)v dovyyv kai maiBelav Ópiae rois mráauv,
bmoXaufávev To)s udMaTa avvrpajévras xal
Ts abTÓs Tappyaías kexowmvgkóras eüvova Tá-
TOUS Kal a vvaryovia Tàs év Tois roXéuo(s üpiaTovs
écea 0a. — mávra B6 BaYyiXÓs Xxopyyjcas Bie-
TÓóvnce ToUs Taí0as év 'yvpvacíows avvexéci xal
"róvois" ob8evi yàp abráwv éE5v mpoacevéykaaÜai
Tpod1jv, ei. ui) "rporepov Opáuoi, a Ta&íovs éxaTóv
kal óy8osjxovra. Óió xal mávres ávBpmÜévres
imüptav á0Xsral uév rois copaciw cÜpwcTo:,
jyyeuovicol 8é kai kaprepikoi rats Nrvyats &ià Tijv
TOV ápiaov érvryOevuárov dryoryrjv.

Tó uév obv mwpárov à Xeaówais dmocTaXéls
bó ro) raTpós uerà Bvápews eis 3v '"ApaBíav,
cvaTpaTevouévev kal TÓv avvrpójov, Tepi Te
Tàs ÓÜ:5pas Biemov5Ün xal rais ávvBpíaw xal
eTavocvríais éykaprepraas karegTpévraro TÓ
vos ümav TÓó vOv 'Apáfwv, áàBoíXwerov Tv
TrpÜ To), Xpóvov yeyovós* érerra els TOUS ps
TV éaTépav TóTOVs dTocTaMés Tv TXelaTQv

1 Bekker and Dindorf follow II in omitting éroígeev and
adding £rpate after BaaiAióv.

186

BOOK I. 535. 1-6

among the Egyptians the priests and the poets who
sing his praises give conflicting stories, we for our part
shall endeavour to give the most probable account
and that which most nearly agrees with the monu-
ments still standing in the land. Now at the birth of
Sesoósis his father did a thing worthy of a great man
and a king: Gathering together from over all Egypt
the male children which had been born on the same
day and assigning to them nurses and guardians, he
prescribed the same training and education for them
all, on the theory that those who had been reared in
the closest companionship and had enjoyed the same
frank relationship would be most loyal and as fellow-
combatants in the wars most brave. He amply
provided for their every need and then trained the
youths by unremitting exercises and hardships; for
no one of them was allowed to have anything to eat
unless he had first run one hundred and eighty stades.!
Consequently upon attaining to manhood they were
all veritable athletes of robustness of body, and in
spirit qualified for leadership and endurance because
of the training which they had received in the most
excellent pursuits.

First of all Sesoósis, his companions also accom-
panying him, was sent by his father with an army
into Arabia, where he was subjected to the laborious
training of hunting wild animals and, after hardening
himself to the privations of thirst and hunger, con-
quered the entire nation of the Arabs, which had
never been enslaved before his day ; and then, on
being sent to the regions to the west, he subdued the

1 About twenty miles,

? "ApáBev Wesseling: BapBdpor.
185

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Ts Aufg/ns ÜT)koov émoijcaro, mavreAQs véog
dv T3v jAucíav. To) 86 vaTpós TeXevrxjc avos
BiaSeEduevos T)» Baci/elav kai rais mpokaT-
epyaaOeicaws T pá£eat uereopiaÜeíis, émefldXero
Tjv oikovuérgv karakr1cacÜat — évio, 86 Xésov-
ci a)Tóv UTÓ Tis iO(ae Üvyarpós 'AÜUprios
mapakNy0nvai. vpós Tqv TÓv ÓXov Bvvacretav,
jjv oi uév avvéae, oA) rÀàv dXAXov Guadépovodv
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xaTà TÓv o)pavóv vywouévov auem. wyeypd-
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"H$auwrrov a$TQ Aéyev Ór. mdons Tís oikov-

10 uévygs 0 wevvuÜeils mais kpaT)sev — 91à ra/Tqv

oiv Tv airíav TÓv pév maTÉépa roUs QAukiras
ToU Tpoeipnuévov áOpoica,. kai BasiXuctje ávymo-
yüs àfidoat, mpokaraakevalóuevov eis Tijv TOV
üXov émiÜecw, abróv 8 ávBpeÜévra kal rfj ToU
co? Tr popprjaet rua Tevaavra. karevexÜrjvat pos
TZ eipnuévgv oTpaTeíav.

54. IIpos 86 raórgv 5v énigoXjv mpórov uv
Tv Tpüg avTOv cÜUvoiav kareakevage «ci TOÍS
xaT AlvyvmrTOv, "'yoUuevos Setv ToUs uv avopa-
TeUovrag éroíumse Umép TÓV "yovuévov dmo-
Üvgokew, ToUs 9' dmoXeuwrouévovus émwi vv
marpibov 86v vewrepibew, el uéXXei Ty» rpoaí-

1 v before écouévgv deleted by Dindorf.
3 8 à Capps; 9€.

188

BOOK I. 53. 6-54. 1

larger part of Libya, though in years still no more than
ayouth. And when he ascended the throne upon the
death of his father, being filled with confidence by
reason of his earlier exploits he undertook to conquer
the inhabited earth. There are those who say that he
was urged to acquire empire over the whole world
by his own daughter Athyrtis, who, according to
some, was far more intelligent than any of her day
and showed her father that the campaign would be
an easy one, while according to others she had the
gift of prophecy and knew beforehand, by means
both of sacrifices and the practice of sleeping in
temples! as well as from the signs which appear in
the heavens, what would take place in the future.
Some have also written that, at the birth of Sesoósis,
his father had thought that Hephaestus had appeared
to him in a dream and told him that the son who had
been born would rule over the whole civilized world ;
and that for this reason, therefore, his father collected
the children of the same age as his son and granted
them a royal training, thus preparing them before-
hand for an attack upon the whole world, and that
his son, upon attaining manhood, trusting in the
prediction of the god was led to undertake this
campaign.

54. In preparation for this undertaking he first of
all confirmed the goodwill of all the Egyptians
towards himself, feeling it to be necessary, if he were
to bring his plan to a successful end, that his soldiers
on the campaign should be ready to die for their
leaders, and that those left behind in their native

1 The ancient practice of incubation, during which the
god of the temple would grant a revelation through a dream ;
ep. p. 80, n. 1.

189

DIODORUS OF SICILY

2 peciw émi TéXos dfew. O40 kal mávras éx TOV
év6eyouévav einpyéret, TOUS JV edis s
peas éxÜepamrevav, TOUS Dr Xdpas ógeL, Tivs EE
Tipaplas dmoMiaet, mrávras à& rais. ópuMaus «al
Tf TV TpOTCV Émieweia Tpoaryyero: Tüv Te yàp
Baciukáv éykXnudrov ümavras àügovs àjrjke
kai ToUe TpOs dpyUpiov avyxekXeuuévovs üméAvae
TOÜ xpéovs, óvrog T0XXoU mX5Üovgs év Taís
$vXaxais. T5v 066 xdepav ümacav eis &E xai
Tpiákovra népr Biexov, à KkaXoÜaiv AiyórrTt01
vopoUs, éméaTyaev ümaci vouápyas TOUS Émipe-
Agcouévovus TÀv Te Tpoaó0ov rQv Bac Dukóv xal
6ioikerjoovras üravra rà karà vàse i&(as pepíióas.
émeAéÉaro 86 kai! rÓv. àvÓpOv rovs rais popaus
&iadépovras kal evveaTüsaro a rparómeGov üEvov
ToÜ peyéÜovs Tie émiBoXMüe xaréypawe yàp
TebÀv uév éÉfjxovra nvpidGas, imarets 06 Gio uv-
piove xai rerpakua xiMovs, Levy à moXepua Tua
Su pópua «ai émrakia xD. émi à TÀS kar

, "^ "^
pépos yepovías TÜv cTpaTweTÓv frafe To)s
avvrpodovs, éviÜXukóras u&v Tj6n rois TroXépots,
áperjv O' éfqXwexórae éx aíómv, cbvoiav 8é
á6eXjuc)v Éxovras Tpóe Te TÓv flaciMéa xai
vpós àXXijXovs, Óvras rüv ápiÜuóv TAcíovs TÓV
XiMov xai émraxoaíav. Táci O6 rois Tpoeipy-
névots karekNnpovynae Tv ápia qv TS Xópas,
óT«s Éxovres ixavàe *rpoaóO0ove xal Qóevós
évOects Üvreg dadat TÀ srepl roUs mroXépovs.

05. Karaaxcváaas 06 72v 6Uvapav éarpárevaev
émi mpévrovs Ai(omas To) mpós TÍ ueanuBpia
kaToLkoÜvTas, kai KacTGTTONeu)cas qváykage TÓ
&Üvos $ópovs reXeiv éfevov xai wpvaóv kai TOv
190

BOOK IL. s4. 1-55. 1

lands should not rise in revolt. He therefore showed
kindnesses to everyone by all means at his disposal,
winning over some by presents of money, others by
gifts of land, and others by remission of penalties,
and the entire people he attached to himself by his
friendly intercourse and kindly ways; for he set free
unharmed everyone who was held for some crime
against the king and cancelled the obligations of
those who were in prison for debt, there being a great
multitude in the gaols. And dividing the entire
land into thirty-six parts which the Egyptians call
nomes, he set over each a nomarch, who should
superintend the collection of the royal revenues
and administer all the affairs of his division. He
then chose out the strongest of the men and formed
an army worthy of the greatness of his undertaking ;
for he enlisted six hundred thousand foot-soldiers,
twenty-four thousand cavalry, and twenty-seven
thousand war chariots. In command of the several
divisions of his troops he set his companions, who were
by this time inured to warfare, had striven after a
reputation for valour from their youth, and cherished
with a brotherly love both their king and one another,
the number of them being over seventeen hundred.
And upon all these commanders he bestowed allot-
ments of the best land in Egypt, in order that, enjoy-
ing sufficient income and lacking nothing, they might
sedulously practise the art of war.

55. After he had made ready his army he marched
first of all against the Ethiopians who dwell south of
Egypt, and after conquering them he forced that
people to pay a tribute in ebony, gold and the

1 roórwv after xal deleted by Dindorf.
I9I

DIODORUS OF SICILY

éAeddvrov rovs 0O80vras. Cmew eis puév Tiv
'"EpvÜpàv ÜdáXarrav áméoreXe cTÓXov veàv
rerpaxoaíov, mpárros TÀv é»yyoplev nakpà axádn
vavmoyynaduevos, kal Tás T€ viaovs Trüs £v ToÍS
TóTOis karexTicaTo xal Tjs T"Telpov TÀ mapà
OáXaTTav uépn xareo Tpépyao néx pi Tíjs " Iv8wucrs*
abrós 0€ nerà Tí Ovvápews etj T)v Topeíav
vovgcápuevos kareaTpédraro mücav Tv 'Acíav.
ov uóvov yàp T?v ÜDoTepov i7 'AXeEávópov o)
MaxeBóvos karakTzÜ8eiaav xopav émijMev, àXXà
kaí r.va TOv éÜvàv Óv ékeivos ov mapéBaXev els
Tv XGpa». kai'yàp róv l'éyyyv Torauóv 9iégn
kai Tav 'lvGucgv émájX0e mácav évs ókcavoü xal
Tà TOv XxvÜOv 0v» uéyp. Tavdibos morapob
TOU OLopiítovros Tv EdpoTqv àm-Ó Tie 'Acías
óre 85) Qaav rÀv Alyvm iov Twàs karaXe.iÜévras
mepl Tv Mauóriw Aíuvqv avaTjaacÜa, Tó TÓV
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dvÜpermoves TapamXnoíos rois kar AlyvmTOv,
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kaÜámep kal mapa rois 'lovBaíots.
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poios 86 kai Tiv Xowvmriv 'Acíav ümacav
bT5xoov émowjcaTo kal rà» KuxAdÓev vüocv
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&wÉuov ümacav Tv Opdknv. éxwBDvevaev ámo-
BaXév T4jv G8)0vagw B cmáwv cTpodís xal
rómov Svoxepías. ODmep Ópia Ts oTpareías
mocápuevos év 7j Opákm, a vijXas kareoxeóaaev
v voXXols Tóm0Is TOV UT avToÜ karaxTuÜévrov:
abra, 86 v5» énvypaóiv elyov Alyvirriows eygáp-

192

BOOK L. ss. 1-7

tusks of elephants. Then he sent out a fleet of
four hundred ships into the Red Sea, being the
first Egyptian to build warships, and not only took
possession of the islands in those waters, but also
subdued the coast of the mainland as far as India,
while he himself made his way by land with his army
and subdued all Asia. Not only did he, in fact, visit
the territory which was afterwards won by Alexander
of Maecdon, but also certain peoples into whose
country Alexander did not cross. For he even
passed over the river Ganges and visited all of India
as far as the ocean, as well as the tribes of the
Seythians as far as the river Tanais, which divides
Europe from Asia; and it was at this time, they say,
that some of the Egyptians, having been left behind
near the Lake Maeotis, founded the nation of the
Colchi And the proof which they offer of the
Egyptian origin of this nation is the fact that the
Colchi practise circumceision even as the Egyptians
do, the custom continuing among the colonists sent
out from Egypt as it also did in the case of the Jews.

In the same way he brought all the rest of Asia into
subjection as well as most of the Cyclades islands.
And after he had crossed into Europe and was on his
way through the whole length of Thrace he nearly
lost his army through lack of food and the difficult
nature of the land. Consequently he fixed the limits
of his expedition in Thrace, and set up stelae in many
parts of the regions which he had acquired; and
these carried the following inscription in the Egyptian

1 Not the present Red Sea, but the Persian Gulf and the

dian Ocean.

* The Tanais river and the Lake Maeotis are the Don and
the Sea of Azof respeetively, but the eountry of the Colehi
ls generally plaeed in the Caueasus.

193

DIODORUS OF SICILY

pac, Toig iepois Xeyopévots, " Tzjvóe Tv Xópav
ÓmXow xareaTpéyraro ois éavroÜ fBaciXeUg
BacstXéev xal OeomóT9ge OeomoTOv Xecóocig."
Tv Ó6 aT)XQqV kaTegkeVacev &xovaav ai&otov év
pev Tols uaxiuois dÜvecwv ávüpós, év 86 cols
dryevvéa . xai GevXoís yvvaukós, rà ToU kvpuvrépov
uépovs T3jv iáDeaw Tíje écda vov xrvyfjs davepo-
TáT)V "ois ÉmwVyiwouévows 6acoÜa, vopíitov. éy
év(otg 8e Tómots kal Tv éavroÜ kaTeakelaaev
eixóva. MÜLvqv, rófa xal Xóyyqv Éxovcav, TÓ
peyé8e. Térrapat maXaioTats ueílova TÓVv TeT-
Tápwv» T15yGv, $jAixos Óv kal ajrós éryxavev.
émiewQg O6 TpoacvexÜcls ámaat rois vmoreray-
Lévois kai avvreXégas Tijv caTpareíav év Éreotv
€vvéa, rois uév &Üvea. xarà DÜbvajuv mpocéraEe
8epodopetv xaT éviavrOv eie AlyvmTOv, ajbTÓs
8 áàÜpoíiaas aiyuaXorev Te kai TÓV ÓXXov
Aadípev mXiÜos àvvmépfÜXmrov émavüXOev eis
TÜV raTpióa, ueíavas Trpá£eis TOV Tr pó abroD
kaTetpyagpévos. kal rà uàv iepà mrávra à kar
Alywrrov ávaOjuagw áfwXóyois xal ak)Xows
ékónunoe, TOv 86 aTrparieTÓv To)s ávÓparyai-
cavTas Gepeats xarà v)» ü£(av ér(uae. | kaÜóXov
06 àmó rabTos Tfjs a TpaTelae oU nóvov 7) avvav-
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pévn iv émdvoOov émotíjoaTo Xaympáv, àAXÀ. cal
Tv Al'yvrrov áracav ovvéf) ravroías GdeXclas
ép mna Ofjva.

1 H. R. Hall (The Ancient History of the Near East *, pp.
161-2) gives & translation of a stele set up at Semneh by
Senusret III of the Twelfth Dynasty, who is often identified
with the Sesoósis of Diodorus, and observes that its language,

194

BOOK I. 55. 7-12

writing which is called ' sacred ": "'"' This land the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Sesoósis, subdued
with his own arms." And he fashioned the stele with
a representation, in case the enemy people were war-
like, of the privy parts of a man, but in case they were
abject and cowardly, of those of à woman, holding
that the quality of the spirit of each people would be
set forth most clearly to succeeding generations by
the dominant member of the body.! And in some
places he also erected a stone statue of himself, armed
with bow and arrows and a spear, in height four cubits
and four palms, which was indeed his own stature.?
He dealt gently with all conquered peoples and, after
concluding his campaign in nine years, commanded
the nations to bring presents each year to Egypt
according to their ability, while he himself, assembling
2 multitude of captives which has never been sur-
passed and a mass of other booty, returned to his
country, having accomplished the greatest deeds of
any king of Egypt to his day. All the temples of
Egypt, moreover, he adorned with notable votive
offerings and spoils, and honoured with gifts accord-
ing to his merits every soldier who had distinguished
himself for bravery. And in general, as a result of
this campaign not only did the army, which had
bravely shared in the deeds of the king and had
gathered great wealth, make a brilliant homeward
Journey, but it also came to pass that all Egypt was
filled to overflowing with benefits of every kind.
unique ín this period for its scorn of the conquered negroes,
Is strikingly reminiscent of the stelae described in this passage
2nd by Herodotus 2. 102.

* About seven feet; cp. the hed of Og, king of Bashan
(Deut. 3. 11), which was nine cuhits long and four wide; *'is
1t not in Rabhath of the children of Ammon ! "*

195

DIODORUS OF SICILY

56. 'O 8e Xeaówats ároo ríjsas Tà miij0rn ámó
TOV TrOXeguKÓv épryov Tots uév avvavOparyaÜ aac,
cvveyopnuae Tiv paaTGvpv kal Tiv dTókavciv
TÀv karakTuÜévrov áyaÜGv, abrós B6 diXóBoEos
v xal Tie eis TÓv aiQva puvÜumos Ópevyópevos
kareakevacev épya ueyáXa xal ÓavuaaTà Talis
émiwoíais kal als xopiyiaus, éavrQ uév áDávarov
vepvmovo0vTa Büfav, rois B AlyvmTiOUs TV eis
&mravra TÓv ypóvov àác$áXeuav perà paoTovms.
mpérrov uev yàp àmó Ücàv ápEdpevos Qio8óuraev
év «ácaus vais kaT AlyumTOv TÓXeouv iepóv
8coü ToÜ yuáXwTa map ékácTowg Tuijpuévov.
qpós 86 às épyacías rYv uév. AivyvmTiov oD0éva
m apéXafle, 8i abràv 86 rTYv alXuaXoTeov üravra
kareakeUage Ouómep éml mci Tots (epois émé-
ypaxrev os oU8ds éyxópios eis abrà ueuóxÓn«e.
Aéyera, 66 ràv aixypaXérov ToUs éc Tis Bafv-
Acrías áXóvras àTocTíva. ToU aciéws, gu)
8vvauévovs dépeiw ràs év vols Cpryois raXavmopías*
obs xaTrakaSouévovs vapà Tóv moTauóv xcapíov
kaprepóv BuamoXeueiv rois Al*vumTios kai Tv
aoveyyvs xópav kavad0eipew, réXos 8€ 8Go8cíans
áBelag abTois ka roicijoa, TOv TÓTOV, Üv kai dr
Te -aTpíóos BafljvAàva pocayopeüca,. BV
aiTías 66 mapamXgoíovus $aciv óvoudcÜa, kai
Tijv T'poíav v ér.?. vüv o0cav apà vov NeiXov:
Tóv uév yàp Mevékaov é£ 'IMov qAéovra. uerà

! kal after éri omitted by D and Vogel, retained by Bekker
and Dindorf.

1 * Few of the great temples of Egypt have not some
ehamber, hall, colonnade or pylon which bears his (Ramses II)

196

BOOK I. 56. 1-4

56. Sesoósis now relieved his peoples of the labours
of war and granted to the comrades who had bravely
shared in his deeds a care-free life in the enjoyment
of the good things which they had won, while he
himself, being ambitious for glory and intent upon
everlasting fame, constructed works which were
great and marvellous in their conception as well as
in the lavishness with which their cost was provided,
winning in this way immortal glory for himself
and for the Egyptians security combined with ease
for all time. For beginning with the gods first, he
built in each city of Egypt a temple to the god who
was held in special reverence by its inhabitants!
On these labours he used no Egyptians, but con-
structed them all by the hands of his captives alone;
and for this reason he placed an inscription on every
temple to the effect that no native had toiled upon
it. And it is said that the captives brought from
Babylonia revolted from the king, being unable to
endure the hardships entailed by his works; and
they, seizing a strong position on the banks of the
river, maintained a warfare against the Egyptians
and ravaged the neighbouring territory, but finally,
on being granted an ammnesty, they established a
colony on the spot, which they also named Babylon
after their native land. For a similar reason, they
say, the city of Troy likewise, which even to this
day exists on the bank of the Nile, received its name :?
for Menelaus, on his voyage from Ilium with a great

name, in perpetuating which the king stopped at no desecra-
tion or destruction of the ancient monuments of the country "'
(J. H. Breasted, History of Egypt, p. 443).

* Strabo (17. 1. 34) mentions a village of this name near the
pyramids.

197

DIODORUS OF SICILY

To0XXÓv aiypaXorov mapafaXetv eis Alyvsrrov,
ToU 66 Tpóas ávoaTávras abro kaTaXaBéa0a.
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xopnÜcíans abroís Tí)s 4adaXe(as €xriaav TÓMv,
jv Oncovvuov abToUs Towjcat Tj maTplÓ,. oUk
d'yvoà 8 óri mepl TÀv eipguévev sróXeov KTgaías
6 KwíBws Buaópos iaTópuoe, d5cas TÀÓv uerà
XZegipdpa8os mapaflaXóvrow eis AlyvmTOv Tiwas
ékTukévat TaDTas, ATÓ TOv iOiev arpióov
Ücuévovs T?jv poawyopíav. «epi 86 ToUTov TO
uev áXyfés éx0éo0a. uerà àxpiBelas ov ba&ov,
70 9' àvaypaójs à£iàcat và Bua dwvobpeva vapà
Tolg cwyypadeüsiv àva'ykatov, OT áxépatos 1j
qepi Tfjs àXnÜelas xplaus àmoXetmras rois áva-
yuwoakovatv.

DT. 'O 8' otv Xecóoois xyopara ToXXàÀ xai
ueyáxa xaTrackevácas Tüs TÓXew eis TaÜTa
uerguiaev, $ca. i) $veiás TÓ £Bados ériyxavov
émwypuévov éxyovaai, Ümes kaTà Tràs TX9poces
ToU voTaGLuoU karadvyàs éyociv dxiwÜDvovs oi ve
&vÜpomoi. kai TÀ kT9vy. xarà Tücav B6 Tiv
xopav Tv àró Méujeos éml ÜáXarrav Ópvfe
vrUKvàs ék ToU voTajuoÜ Ot bpvyas, fva rds uév
cvykoui6às TÓv kapsrüv ToiOvra. avvróuos kal
paSíes, rats 86 Tpós àAMjXovs TOv Xaóív éÉTi-
piEÉlais kal süci Toís TÓTO(s Ümápym DaaTóvn
kai vrávrav TOv Trpós GaróXavaiwv moXM1 $a xr(Xeuas
T0 86 uéyuo ov, Tpós TÓe rÀv moXeuiew ébóBovse
ÓXvpàv kal BvaépBoXov &roínae Tv Xcpav-
Tóv yàp mpó ToU Xpóvov ?j kparía Ty Tíje Avyv-

198

BOOK I. 56. 4-57. 3

number of captives, crossed over into Egypt; and
the Trojans, revolting from him, seized a certain
place and maintained a warfare until he granted
them safety and freedom, whereupon they founded
a city, to which they gave the name of their native
land. I am not unaware that regarding the cities
named above Ctesias of Cnidus has given a different
account, saying that some of those who had come
into Egypt with Semiramis founded them, calling
them after their native lands.! But on such matters
as these it is not easy to set forth the precise truth,
and yet the disagreements among historians must
be considered worthy of record, in order that the
reader may be able to decide upon the truth without
prejudice.

57. Now Sesoüsis threw up many great mounds
of earth and moved to them such cities as happened
to be situated on ground that was not naturally
elevated, in order that at the time of the flooding
of the river both the inhabitants and their herds
might have a safe place of retreat. And over the
entire land from Memphis to the sea he dug frequent
canals leading from the river, his purpose being that
the people might carry out the harvesting of their
crops quickly and easily, and that, through the con-
stant intercourse of the peasants with one another,
every district might enjoy both an easy livelihood
and a great abundance of all things which minister
to man's enjoyment. he greatest result of this
work, however, was that he made the country secure
and difficult of access against attacks by enemies;
for practically all the best part of Egypt, which

1 This campaign of Semiramis is described in Book 2. 14;
on Ctesias cp. the Introduction, pp. xxvif.
199

DIODORUS OF SICILY

*
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Li x. ^ ^ ^
mapegkevagpuévov, kai ToÜro vvkrós Tf) cwmwi)

! re Wesseling : àé.
200

BOOK I. 57. 3-6

before this time had been easy of passage for horses
and carts, has from that time on been very difficult
for an enemy to invade by reason of the great
number of canals leading from the river. He also
fortified with a wall the side of Egypt which faecs
east, as a defence against inroads from Syria and
Arabia; the wall extended through the desert from
Pelusium to Heliopolis, and its length was some
fifteen hundred stades. Moreover, he also built a
ship of cedar wood, which was two hundred and
eighty cubits long and plated on the exterior with
gold and on the interior with silver. "This ship he
presented as a votive offering to the god who is
held in special reverence in Thebes, as well as two
obelisks of hard stone one hundred and twenty
cubits high, upon which he inscribed the magnitude
of his army, the multitude of his revenues, and the
number of the peoples he had subdued; also in
Memphis in the temples of Hephaestus he dedicated
monolithie statues of himself and of his wife, thirty
eubits high,! and of his sons, twenty cubits high,
the occasion of their erection being as follows. "When
Sesoósis had returned to Egypt after his great cam-
paign and was tarrying at Pelusium, his brother,
who was entertaining Sesoósis and his wife and
children, plotted against them; for when they had
fallen asleep after the drinking he piled great
quantities of dry rushes, which he had kept in readi-
ness for some time, around the tent in the night and

1 The account through here of Sesoósis closely follows that
given by Herodotus 2. 102 ff. Near Memphis are two colossi
of Ramses II, the larger of which was about forty-two feet
high, approximately the thirty cubits of Diodorus and of
Herodotus 2. 110 (Baedeker's Egypl, p. 141).

20I

DIODORUS OF SICILY

7 mepiBeís, évémpnaev. | divo 56 ro) vrvpós éxXdp-
Xravros oí pév émi Tfj Üepameíae roÜ fBaciXéws
rera'yuévo, rapeBorjÜovv dyevvds ds àv oivepévoi,
0 86 Xecówcis üápdorépae Tàs xeipas ávareívas
xai vTép Tfs ccT"pías TÓv T€ maibcv xai Tíjs
yvvaikós Toi Ücois eüEdpevos Owfémeae Óià. Tfs
$Xoyós. awÜeig O6 mapa8ófos To)e AXXovg
8ecobs érípmgaev ávaÜnuaci, kaÜóri Tpociprra,
mávrov Óé uáMora Tov "Hóaiwrov, óg imó
TOUTOV TeTEeVXO« T/js a or )p(as.

58. IIoXXQ» 8é kal peyáXov Tepi Tóv Xeaóo-
civ brap£ávrav Boret peyaXompeméa Ta Tov abr
yeyovévat Tb cwvreXoÜpevov éy rais é£óBois Tepi
TOUS jyenóvas. TOv yàp karamemoXeumuévaov
éÜvàv oi Te Tüs ocvykeyopnpévas faciXe(as
éyovres xai rÀYv AXXev oi Tàs peyiaTag Tye-
povías vapeXnjóres AmvTov els AlyvmTov év
TakTois ypóvois dépovres 8àpa' obe 0 BaciXe)s
éxBexópevos év này. Toie áXXois éríua. kal &ade-
póvras 7 pofryev, ómóre 8é Tpos. iepóv 7 TÓMV
qrpodtévat uéXXot, ToUs Umrrove àmró ro reÜpiarmov
Ave» bUmebLevyvvev àvri ToUTOV kaTÓ TÉTTGapas
ToU; Te DaciXels xai ToUe dXXovs T"yeuóvas,
évBewvünevos, Os dqero, Tüciw Óri ToUs TÓV
dXXev xparía ovs xa 8t àperijv émuipaveaTárovs
KaramoXeusae eis üpuXXav áperís ovk Exe
Tóv Óvváuevov avwykpiÜtvat. — Bokei O obros ó
BasiXeUc «ávras TOUS vore «evouévove év
éÉovaíaie ÓmepfeBncévai rais re moXeyukats
mpáEeai kai TO ueyéÜe. kal TÀ mXjÜe. TÀv Te
dvaÜgudrov kal TOv Épyev rÓv xareakevaapé-
vov kar. Alyvim TOV. ér 86 vpía mpós rois rpid-
202

—

BOOK I. 57. 6-58. 3

set them afire. When the fire suddenly blazed up,
those who had been assigned to wait upon the king
came to his aid in a churlish fashion, as would men
heavy with wine, but Sesoósis, raising both hands to
the heavens with a prayer to the gods for the preserva-
tion of his children and wife, dashed out safe through
the flames. For this unexpected escape he honoured
the rest of the gods with votive offerings, as stated
above, and Hephaestus most of all, on the ground
that it was by his intervention that he had been saved.

58. Although many great deeds have been credited
to Sesoósis, his magnificence seems best to have been
shown in the treatment which he accorded to the
foreign potentates when he went forth from his
palace. The kings whom he had allowed to con-
tinue their rule over the peoples which he had
subdued and all others who had received from him
the most important positions of command would
present themselves in Egypt at specified times,
bringing him gifts, and the king would welcome
them and in all other matters show them honour and
special preferment; but whenever he intended to
visit a temple or city he would remove the horses
from his four-horse chariot and in their place yoke
the kings and other potentates, taking them four at
a time, in this way showing to all men, as he thought,
that, having conquered the mightiest of other kings
and those most renowned for their excellence, he
now had no one who could compete with him for
the prize of excellence. This king is thought to
have surpassed all former rulers in power and military
exploits, and also in the magnitude and number of
the votive offerings and publie works which he built
in Egypt. And after a reign of thirty-three years

203

DIODORUS OF SICILY

kovra faciXeUcas éx mpoaipéaecos éEéXume. Tv
Bíov, oómoMmóvrev abróv TÀÓv Óupárov: kai
ToUTo Tpátas o0 uóvov mapà rois lepeüstw, áXXà
kal vapà Toís &XXow AivyvmTÍo éÜavudaÓOn,
Sófae 7f ueyaXowvxía Tàv mempaypuévov
àkóXovÜov cemowjcÜa. Ti» ToÜ ov xara-
o Tpodyjv.

Emil Tocobro 9 ioxvoe xai Oiérewe ois
Xpóvows 3 &ófa robrov ToU ÜBaciXéws Gore Tíjs
AvyUTToV TT0XXAIs vyeveats Üavepov recotas Um
T?v éfovoíav rÀv llepcÀv, wai Aapetov Tob
Eépfov waTpós amovóácavros év Méude Tiv
ióiav eikóva, a Tfjoa, Tpó Tífjs! Xeoodoios, Ó uév
ápxiepebs. dvreime Aóyov TporeÜévros éy ei
cíg TOV iepéov, ávodQwnváuevos os oUm Aapetos
bmepÉéBnke ràe Xecodcios mpáfew, 0 96 Baoci-
Xebs oUx OT s ryaváxTga cv, àXXà, kai roDvavTíov
700cis éml Tf mappugsía amovÓdaew édmacv
Ümes karà umuótv éxeivov XeubOeiz Bioas Tv
icov xpovov, kai TapekáXe! awvykpívew | Tàs
?AuLevrias páfei: Tobrov yàp Duaiórarov
&Xeyxov eivai rfe peris.

Ilepl uév obv Xecoócios àpkco8ncoóueÜa cols
Aóyots Tote puÜcioiv.

59. 'O à' wós ab$roO GaOeEápevos T». Baci-
Aeíav kai T)» ToÜ TüTpós mpoowyopíav éavTO
vepiÜéuevos Tpüfuw uév «oXegueo d) uvüugs
dÉíav o08' jvrwoÜv avvereAécaro, avumTOpaT
8 mepiémeoev iQuáLovvi. — éorepijr uà» yàp míjs
ópácewe eire Óià Tijv mpóg Tóv maTépa Tí
Qcecs koiwtvíav ei0', Oe rives uvÜoXoyoba., 6l
Tij eis Tv Torapóv dcéfeiav, éy à yeuatópevós
204

BOOK I. 58. 3-59. 2

he deliberately took his own life, his eyesight having
failed him; and this act won for him the admiration
not only of the priests of Egypt but of the other
inhabitants as well, for it was thought that he had
caused the end of his life to comport with the loftiness
of spirit shown in his achievements.

So great became the fame of this king and so
enduring through the ages that when, many genera-
tions later, Egypt fell under the power of the Persians
and Darius, the father of Xerxes, was bent upon
placing a statue of himself in Memphis before that
of Sesoósis, the chief priest opposed it in a speech
which he made in an assembly of the priests, to the
effect that Darius had not yet surpassed the deeds
of Sesoósis ; and the king was far from being angered,
but, on the contrary, being pleased at his frankness
of speech, said that he would strive not to be found
behind that ruler in any point when he had attained
his years, and asked them to base their judgment
upon the deeds of each at the same age, for that was
the fairest test of their excellence.

As regards Sesoósis, then, we shall rest content
with what has been said.

59. But his son, succeeding to the throne and
assuming his father's appellation, did not accom-
plish a single thing in war or otherwise worthy of
mention, though he did have a singular experience.!
He lost his sight, either because he shared in his
father's bodily constitution or, as some fictitiously
relate, because of his impiety towards the river,
since once when caught in a storm upon it he had

1 The following folk story, with some variations, is given
in Herodotus 2, 111.

1 spb rfjs Dindorf: wpb r5js To).
205

DIODORUS OF SICILY

^ * , eo^ , *
ToTe TÓ $epópevov peüua xaTnkóvrwe: bà 8à
T?» àTUXiav àva'yxagÜeie xaTajvyetv émi rv
Tàv edv Boxj8euav, éi icm vs (kavovs TrAeia Tous
Ovaiais kal Twuais Tó Üetov éfiXaokópevos o08e-
3 juàs ériyxave moÀvepíae TÓ DÉekárp DO fra
pavreéias aUTQ vevouévye Tiuijai Te TÓv Üciv
Tóv €v "HAiovrróXei xai *yvvawkóg obpe vítea0a:
TÓ Tpócomov jr érépov meipav dvpós obw
eiXy$e, ràv ué&v eyvvawüv. dmó vüje iBías dpEd-
nuevos kai ToXXàs é£erdaas ojOeuíav eÜpev ábid-
$Üopov TXjv kurrovpoO Twos, fjv. bryuljs eyevóuevos
eynue Tàs 9' dXXas Üóaas év xóm Tw karé-
kavaev, jv. Aleómrioi 9ià 0 aíuTTOua ToUTo
4 7 poa y'yópeva av tepàv fBàXov: rQ 9' év 'Houov-
TÓXei ÜcQ Tàs Xdpvras dmovéumw Tíjg eÜepye-
cías xarà, Tóv xpuauóv ófeAakovs dvéOqke Oo
uovoA(Óovs, TÓ uév mAáros ÓkTÓ, TÓ Oi nios
T?XQv écaóv.

60. Merà 8é roürov róv BaciMéa GVUXVOi TÓV
&aSefauévov. Tiv ápxsw Tiweg ojBp émpatav
ávaypadfjs á£ov. ToÀAaíe Ó' ÜaTepov weveais
Anagis vyevóuevos fasikeUs jpye TÓv ÓXAcv
Éiaiórepov: sroXXo)s uév yàp mapà và Bixawov
éruuopéiro, avXvoos Bé TÀv ojcióv ea Tépia «e,
müci Ó bmepomTikÓS kal xarà müv Vmepuoávos"

2 T.poa ejépero. : uéxpt uév o)v Tivog oí TG Xovres
écapTépovv, o) Ovvduevoi xav' oj8éva TpÓTOV
ApivacÜa,. ToÓs Xéov ioyovrae: émà W
'Axricdvne ó TÓv Aifiómer ÉfaaiXeUe éaTpá-
Tevaev ém' abróv, TÓTe ToÜ uícovs &atpüv Àa-

! One of these obelisks still stands, of red granite of Syene

pes 66 feet high. The largest obelisk in the world, that
20

BOOK I. 59. 2-60. 2

hurled a spear into the rushing current. Forced by
this ill fortune to turn to the gods for aid, he strove
over a long period to propitiate the deity by numer-
ous sacrifices and honours, but received no con-
sideration. But in the tenth year an oracular
command was given to him to do honour to the god
in Heliopolis and bathe his face in the urine of a
woman who had never known any other man than
her husband. '"Thereupon he began with his own
wife and then made trial of many, but found not one
that was chaste save a certain gardener's wife,
whom he married as soon as he was recovered. All
theother women he burned alive in a certain village to
which the Egyptians because of this incident gave the
name Holy Field; and to the god in Heliopolis, out of
gratitude for his benefaction, he dedicated, in accord-
ance with the injunction of the oracle, two monolithic
obelisks,! eight cubits wide and one hundred high.

60. After this king a long line of successors on
the throne accomplished no deed worth recording.
But Amasis, who became king many generations
later, ruled the masses of the people with great se
harshness; many he punished unjustly, great num-
bers he deprived of their possessions, and towards
all his conduct was without exception contemptuous
and arrogant. Now for a time his victims bore up
under this, being unable in any way to protect
themselves against those of greater power ; but when
Actisanes,? the king of the Ethiopians, led an army
against Amasis, their hatred seized the opportunity

before the Lateran, is 100 feet high; the 150 feet of Diodorus
seems a little too big.

? A, Wiedemann (Agyptische Geschichte, p. 582, n. 1) thinks
that Actisanes is no more than a double of the Ethiopian
Sabaco of chap. 65.

207

3-526
. C.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

3 Bóvros ! áméoTqcav oí 7'Xefa Tot. &ióm ep BaSios
abro) XeipaiÜévros 4$ uév AbyumTOs émeacv bmÓ
T)v TÀV AiBióm ov Baci iav, Ó Ü "A«Tudvrs
ávÜparrivas évéykas TP eorvxíav émLeL.kü s
vrpocedépero Tois ÜrroTera'yuévous óre 07) xai
g'UvVeTéAea ev t&v TL Trepi TOUS Ane ds, obTe
Bavarácas TOUS évóxous oUTe Xon xepás deis
ái pijTovs* g vvaryayóy yàp é£ ámáons Tis
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xal Tiv Bideyvonw avTOv Sucasorárt qrotng á-
uevos, Tpowsev à &ravras TOUS «arabebuka uévovs,
ámorepàv 8. avrQv ToUs pueríjpas kara ev év
Tois ca Xárois TÍS épijuov? «ricas Óuw Tv dmró
ToÜ cvymTOuaTOS TOV oikw«urópev '"PwokóXovpa
mrpoca'yopevO eiaav,

AjTg 96 xewuév Trpos TOÍS ueÜopíois TüS
AlyimrTov «al Zvpías o) parpày To0 Tra pikovros
abiyuaXo0. mávTav a xebàv TÓV Tos ávÜperrivnv
Blarrav vqkóvrav éaTéprau* Teptéxet pev yàp
abr) xdpa TMjpts áAuvpi&os, évTós 8e TOÜ
TeLX OUS óMryov égriv D6wp év $péaar, xal Tobro
ied Üappuévov xal TavTeAÀs T) esaet TLiKpóv.
ka Tgikuae e abToUs eis rar] T)V Xdpaw, óToS
uae rovs éf ápyíje émuriéevÜévras ftovs &arg-
pobvres Avpaivovrat TOUS u6ev á&wuobvras, ure
KüTà Tg 'rpós TOUS XXovs éruaE(as. dryvooo-
pevot AavÜdvotv. dXX Ojos épidévres. eis
Xepav épn pov Kal TdyTav a Xeóov ràv xpna tuv
áTr0pov émevógaav fov olketov ;Tüs Tepi abrobs
évüelase, ávaykalovcs 2e dceos Tpós Tv

1 AaBávros Dindorf: AaBórres.
3 épfjuov D, Bekker, Vogel: épfjuov xópas Vulgate, Dindorf.

208

—

BOOK I. 6o. 2-9

and most of the Egyptians revolted. As a conse-
quence, since he was easily overcome, Egypt fell
under the rule of the Ethiopians. But Actisanes
carried his good fortune as a man should and con-
ducted himsclf in a kindly manner towards his
subjects. For instance, he had his own manner of
dealing with thieves, neither putting to death such
as were liable to that punishment, nor letting them
go with no punishment at all; for after he had
gathered together out of the whole land those who
were charged with some crime and had held a
thoroughly fair examination of their cases, he took
all who had been judged guilty, and, cutting off
their noses, settled them in a colony on the edge
of the desert, founding the city which was called
Rhinocolura ! after the lot of its inhabitants.

This city, which lies on the border between Egypt
and Syria not far from the sea-coast, is wanting in
practically everything which is necessary for man's
existence; for it is surrounded by land which is full
of brine, while within the walls there is but a small
supply of water from wells, and this is impure and
very bitter to the taste. But he settled them in
this country in order that, in case they continued to
practise thcir original manner of life, they might
not prey upon innocent people, and also that they
might not pass unrecognized as they mingled with
the rest of mankind. And yet, despite the fact
that they had been cast out into a desert country
which lacked practically every useful thing, they
contrived a way of living appropriate to the dearth
about them, since nature forced them to devise

1 $.e, Nose-clipped.
209

DIODORUS OF SICILY

l0 &7opiav mávra u"nyavàcÜa. — kaXáunv yàp ri-
;,

povTes éx Tí] Opópov xopas, xal TraUTQyv cXí-
Covres, Aíva, mapauQkm kareakeDatov, raüra 06
Tapà Trüv aiyiaXóv émi woXXoUe c Taóíovs
icTávres Tàs Üw»pas TÀv Óprvyow émoiwÜvro:
dépovTa, yàp obro, ka T. áryéXas ueítovas éx ToU
TreXdryovs* 00s Ünpevovres 1)0poitov vmAfBos ikavov
eis 0.aTpod)» éavrois.

61. Toü 86 BasiXéwes To/Tov TeXevT:cav Tos
dveeTü)aavTo T)v ápy?j Aly/mTLOL kal karéaTyg-
cav éyyopiov BaciXéa, Mévógv, óv rwes Mappov
mpocovoudbLovgiw, obros 06 moXepuKTv uev mr pá-
fw o)8' jvriwvoÜv. émereXécaro, rádov 9 abr
kareakevage TÓv Ovouatóuevov XafpivÜov, ovx
obTo kaTà TO uéyeÜos TOv Cpyov Üavuaaróv às
mpÓs T? $jiXorexvíav Óvautumrov' ó yàp ciacX-
Ücov eis abróv o$ Ojvara. paÓ(es cT5v to8ov
ebpeiv, éàv u$ Tíym ws o859yoÜ TavreAÓs
éumelpov. acsi Óé rweg xai róv Aa(SaXov cis
Alyvr Tov TapaBaXóvra kai Üavyácavra T2v év
Tois Ép'yows Téxvrv karaakeváca, TQ BaciXevovTe
Ts Kp5jrys Míve Xag)pwOov ópoov TQ xaT
Alywmrrov, év d yevéa0at qwÜoXoyoDo, Tóv

, , $ , i2 * hj ^
Xeyouevov MiwcoTavpov. &XX 0 uév xarà T2v
Kpjrgv "$avíaÓ, reXéns, cire Óvvda Tov Tiwós
karackáNravros eire ToÜ xpóvov Tobpyov Xuyg-
vauévov: ó 6e xaT Alyvmrov áxépaiov Tv
óXgv karackev5s TeTüpnke uéxpi ToU kaÓ" suás
fiov.

62. Merà 5e jv ToU BaciXéos rovrov reXevrijv
€i yyeveds qrévre vyevouévne ávapyías rüv á6ó£ov

210

BOOK I. 6o. 9-62. 1

every possible means to combat their destitution.
For instance, by cutting down reeds in the neighbour-
hood and splitting them, they made long nets, which
ihey set up along the beach for a distance of many
stades and hunted quails; for these are driven in
large coveys from the open sea, and in hunting them
they caught a sufficient number to provide themselves
with food.

61. After the death of this king the Egyptians
regained the control of their government and placed
on the throne a native king, Mendes, whom some call
Marrus. So far as war is concerned this ruler did not
accomplish anything at all, but he did build himself a
tomb known as the Labyrinth, which was not so
remarkable for.its size as it was impossible to imitate
in respect to its ingenious design; for a man who
enters it cannot easily find his way out, unless he gets
a guide who is thoroughly acquainted with the
structure. And some say that Daedalus, visiting
Egypt and admiring the skill shown in the building,
also constructed for Minos, the king of Crete, a
labyrinth like the one in Egypt, in which was kept, as
the myth relates, the beast called Minotaur. How-
ever, the labyrinth in Crete has entirely disappeared,
whether it be that some ruler razed it to the ground
or that time effaced the work, but the one in Egypt
has stood intact in its entire structure down to our
lifetime.

62. After the death of this king there were no
rulers for five generations, and then a man of obscure

1 This building is described in chap. 66. The classical
authors did not agree on the name of its builder and the
Mendes or Marrus of Diodorus is otherwise entirely unknown
(op. A. Wiedemann, Agyplische Geschichte, p. 259).

211

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Li * , ^ H , b H ^

Tis jp] BaciXevs, Óv Al'yómriot uév óvouátovot
Kérgva, mapà 8à crois "EXXgoiw elvat Boket
Ilperebs ó xarà TÓv '"Duaxóv vyeyovós TóXepuov.
robTov 8? rapaBeBouévov ràv ve srvevudmrav Éyeiw
éumeipíav kal Tv uopó?) ueraBáXXew ré. uiv
eis Cowv TÜTovs, óré Bé els Oévüpov f) müp 1j i
TÀV àXXcv, óuoXoryoóueva rovrois avuaive: xal
ToUs iepeis Aéyew epl aUToD. ék uéy yàp Tfjs
perà Tv àaTpoXóyov cvp Bug eus, )v émoietro
c vvexós, éumewíav. éaxnkévas TÓv BaciXéa TÓÀv
Toi0UTGV, €x 0€ ToU vouíuov ToÜ mapaOeBouévov
Tois BaciXeÜci TÓ Trepi Tàs nerafloXàs Tíjs iBéas
pUÜoXoynÜtSva: mapà Toís "EXXAgouw. dv £a
yàp elva, Tols kaT. Alyvrrrov Bvvác raus vrepiri-
8ecÜat mepl Tv eaXQv Xeóvrev kai raUpov
xai Ópaküvrev mporouás, a")ueta. Tíjs &pxfje* kal
ToTé uév BévÓpa, moré 86 TÜp, Cort O' Ore xal
Üvjiauárcov ebm0Qv Cyew él Tf kedaXfje oU
OXbya, kal Bià ToíTev ua piv éavroUs cis
eUmpémeuiav kompeiv, üpa 86 ToUg dXXovs eig
kavrámXnEw ew kai 8ewaibSaluova BuÜeoty.

Merà 8é rv llperéos reXevrijv GuaBe£dpevos
T2» BaciXé(av ó viós "Péudue 8ieréAeoe vávra
Tv ToD [jv xpóvov émiueXÓuevos rv mpocóBwv
kai cacepevov TavraXoÜev TOv «XoÜrov, Óià 86
pukpoyevyíav kal diXapyvpíav ijÜovs obre eis
avaÜ'uara ÜcQv oUT eis ebepyecíav àvÜpdmrov

1 Diodorus in his account of Proteus follows Herodotus
(2. 112 ff.), who, it has been suggested, may have confused
an Egyptian title, Prouti, with the familiar ** Proteus" (cp.
How and Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus, 1. p. 223). Cetes,
apparently, cannot be identified with any Egyptian ruler.

212

BOOK I. 62. 1-5

origin was chosen king, whom the Esgyptians call
Cetes, but who among the Greeks is thought to be
that Proteus ! who lived at the time of the war about
Ilium. Some tradition records that this Proteus was
experienced in the knowledge of the winds and that
he would change his body, sometimes into the form
of different animals, sometimes into a tree or fire or
something else, and it so happens that the account
which the priests give of Cetes is in agreement with
that tradition. For, according to the priests, from
the close association which the king constantly main-
tained with the astrologers, he had gained experience
in such matters, and from a custom which has been
passed down among the kings of Egypt has arisen the
myths current among the Greeks about the way
Proteus changed his shape. For it was a practice
among the rulers of Egypt to wear upon their heads
the forepart of a lion, or bull, or snake as symbols of
their rule; at times also trees or fire, and in some
cases they even carried on their heads large bunches
of fragrant herbs for incense, these last serving to
enhance their comeliness and at the same time to fill
all other men with fear and religious awe.?

On the death of Proteus his son Remphis ? suc-
ceeded to the throne. "his ruler spent his whole
life looking after the revenues and amassing riches
from every source, and because of his niggardly and
miserly character spent nothing either on votive
offerings to the gods or on benefactions to the inhabi-

? On some of these insignia cp. J. H. Breasted, History of
Egypt, p. 38; the snake was the symbol of the Northern
Kingdom, the sacred uraeus.

* Ramses III, the Rhampsinitus in cornection with whom
Herodotus (2. 121) recounts the famous tale of the thieves.

213

DIODORUS OF SICILY

6 ovOtv àvjXcoce, O(0 xal syevópevos o? BaatXe)s
àXN' oikovónos áqa00e vrl ríjs ém áper?) 80Éms
áTéXuTe melo ra xpripara Tv Tpó avToU Bact-
Xevaávrov* dpwyópov! yàp xai xpvaoD0 ? qapa-
6é8orau. cwvayaryeiv avróv «ie errapáxovra
pvpiáóas TaNávTov.

63. To/rov 8é TeXevrsjaavros éri vyeveàs. émrà
&weüé£avro Tv ápy5v BaciuXeis dpryol sravreXds
kai pe üveciv kai TpuQrijv ümavra mpárrovres.
6.mep év rais iepa(s ávarypadais oj8€v abTÓOv
Épyov ToXvTeMés o$06 mpüfis icTopías dàfía
vrapaSé8orat sXiv évós NeiXéos, áo! ob evuatvei
Tóv moTrapóv óvopacÜSvai? NetXo», TÓ mp0 To
xaXovpjevov Al*vrrrov: ovros 66 qrAciaras eikaí-
povs vopvxas kaTag kevágas Ka TOXAÀ mepi Tv
eUXpneTiav TOU NeíXov $uXoTuamÜcis aiTLOS
KaTeoT1 TO TOoTaL.Q TAGUTS TS Trpoajyoptas.

"Ovy60osc 9€ BaciXceUs vyevouevos Xéugas 0 Mep-
dírgs jpEe này Érp mevrükovra, kareaxceóace €
Tj eia Tg TÓV Tp mvpaj.ócoy TÓV €v Toís
émTà Toig émijaveoTáTows Cpyows ápiÜuovuévov.
abra, 66 xeluevat karà riv. AuBigv Tfjs Méudews
dméyovot oa'TaO(ovs ékaróv xal elkoci, ToU O6
NeíXov mévre mpós rois rerrapáxovra, TQ Óé
pevyéÜe rÀv Épyyov kal Tfj karà Tv Xeiovpyíav
Téxvn * Üavpaa Td Twa karámNyEw vapéxovrat
TOis Üccpévois. 7j u&v «yàp pesía y rerpámrXevpos

1 ápyuplov D, Bekker, Dindorf.

3 xpvclov Bekker, Dindorf.

3 Qvouac0gva: A B D, Bekker, Vogel: svouácón: Vulgate,
Dindorf.

* So Reiske : Texvuv xeovpyig.

214

BOOK I. 62. 5-63. 4

tants. Consequently, since he had been not so much
a king as only an efficient steward, in the place of a
fame based upon virtue he left a treasure larger than
that of any king before him; for according to tradi-
tion he amassed some four hundred thousand talents
of silver and gold.

63. After Kemphis died, kings succeeded to the
throne for seven generations who were confirmed
sluggards and devoted only to indulgence and
luxury. Consequently, in the priestly records, no
costly building of theirs nor any deed worthy of
historical record is handed down in connection with
them, except in the case of one ruler, Nileus, from
whom the river came to be named the Nile, though
formerly called Aegyptus. "This ruler constructed
a very great nuniber of canals at opportune places
and in many ways showed himself eager to increase
the usefulness of the Nile, and therefore became the
cause of the present appellation of the river.

The eighth king, Chemmis! of Memphis, ruled
fifty years and constructed the largest of the three
pyramids, which are numbered among the seven
wonders of the world. 'lhese pyramids, which are
situated on the side of Egypt which is towards Libya,
are one hundred and twenty stades from Memphis
and forty-five from the Nile, and by the immensity
of their structures and the skill shown in their execu-
tion they fill the beholder with wonder and astonish-
ment. For the largest is in the form of a square and

1 Chemmis is the Cheops of Herodotus (2. 124), the Khufu
of the monuments. Diodorus makes the same mistake as
Herodotus in putting the pyramid-builders of the Fourth
Dynasty (c. 3000 s.c.) after Ramses III of the Twentieth
Dynasty (c. 1200 x.o.).

215

DIODORUS OF SICILY

obca TQ exZuaTi. T3v éml Tíje Bácewms mTXevpàv
éxda Tyv. éxev mAéÜpov émrá, rTó O'. Üqros mXéov
TÀÓv ÉéÉ mXéÜpow cvvawyweryügv O éx ToD xaT
OXbyov Aaufávovca uéypi Tíje kopudije éedáa qv
mAevpàv oii «xv 6E. müca Óà orepeoU
XiDov kareakevac Tat, T?v uév épyaciav Éxyovros
Ove xept), Tv 66 Gta poviv aivwov: obs éAaTróvov
yàp d yuMev éràv, Oe dac, ÓwXqAvÜOTov eis
TOv kaÜ" jjuás Bíov, s 88 Éviou ypádovet, mXeó-
vov 4 TpwGxiMov kal Terpakocíev, Oiapévovat
néxpt ToU vüv oi A£ot Tijv e£ ápytjs avvÜeciw xai
Tjv ÜNgv karackeviv dowrrov 6i dvAdrrovres.
Aéyera, à Tüv uév XíÜov ék rijs '"Apaflíae dmó
TOXÀoÜ O.acTüuaTOs kopicÜSvai Trjv 66 xara-
c«evijv Già xcpárov yevéaÜat, uam TYv umxavàv
ebpguévov xaT ékeívovs To)s xpóvovus xal TÓ
Üavuacirarov, TyMkoUTev Épycv kareaxcvaa-
névov kai roÜ mepiéyovros róTOoV TavTÜg dupo-
8ovs Üvroe ob0tv ixvos oUre ToÜ xóparos obre
^ ^ , , , »* "
Tüs TÀv AiÜov Éea Tovpy(as üvroXetmeaÜas,! ore
8oketv ui) aT. OMyov i-w' ávÜpomov épyacías,
àXXà avXMjEOgv doep Um Ücoü rwosg TÓ kara-
axevac ua TeÜTvat mráv eis Tiv Trepiéyovoav üpgov.
émuxeupobat 66 rives Tv AlyvmrTíov repaToXovyeiv
Ümép roUrov, Xéyovres às é£ Xv kai vírpov rv
xcpárov vyeyovórov éradeÜels 0 morauós érp£ev
abPTÀ kai ravreAÀs c) árcev dvev Tij xeiporrouj-
TOV "rpaypaTéias. 00 pv kai TüXyÜés obrws
1 àwoAclrera: II, Dekker, Dindorf.
216

BOOK I. 63. 4-9

has a base length on each side of seven plethra and a
height of over six plethra; it also gradually tapers
to the top, where each side is six cubits long.! The
entire construction is of hard stone, which is difficult
to work but lasts for ever; for though no fewer than
a thousand years have elapsed, as they say, to our
lifetime, or, as some writers have it, more than three
thousand four hundred, the stones remain to this day
still preserving their original position and the entire
structure undecayed. [lt is said that the stone was
conveyed over a great distance from Arabia? and
that the construction was effected by means of
mounds, since cranes had not yet been invented at
that time; and the most remarkable thing in the
account is that, though the constructions were on
such a great scale and the country round about them
consists of nothing but sand, not a trace remains
either of any mound or of the dressing of the stones,
so that they do not have the appearance of being the
slow handiwork of men but look like a sudden crea-
tion, as though they had been made by some god and
set down bodily in the surrounding sand. Certain
Egyptians would make a marvel out of these things,
saying that, inasmuch as the mounds were built of
salt and saltpetre, when the river was let in it melted
them down and completely effaced them without the
intervention of man's hand. However, there is not a

! Including the facing, which has now almost entirely
disappeared, the Great Pyramid was originally about 768
feet broad on the base and 482 feet high.

* The term " Árabia'' also designated the region lying
between the Nile and the Red Sea, as in Herodotus (2. 8) and
Strabo (17. 1. 34). Apparently all the material for the Great
Pyramid came from the immediate neighbourhood (cp.
Baedeker's Egypt, pp. 124-5).

217

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Éyei, 8&jà. 8à mis moÀvxewpías Tís Trà xopara
BaXovags máXv TÓ Tv prov eis T)v "poU áp-
xovcav ámoxareaTáOn ráfu TpiákovTa uev
yàp xal 6£ pvupidóes àvÓpáv, ds $aci, als TÀv
Épyev Xevrovpyiaus "Tmpoa7j0pevcav, TO óé mv
karackeUacua TéXos €axe póyw érv eikoci
SueAÜ Ov Tov.

64. TeXevrxzcavros 06 voÜ faciXées TobTov
&ieBé£arro rv ápy?yv 0 à&eX 0e Kedprjv «al T)p£ev
éry &E mpós rois "evTükovra: &vioi 6é $aow oUk
áOeXóóv, àXX' vióv mapakaBetv T?» px",

2 óvouatóuevor Xaffpógy. avpdovetra, 96 vapà
müciv ÓT, UnXocas 0 GaiOefdpevos T?)v ToU Tpo-
BaciXeícavros -mpoaípeciv kaTeckeDaae — Tl)V
&evrépav mvpapíGa, T1) này xarà 3v Xetpovpríav
TéxXvg! mapamMgcíav Tí Tpoewmnpévy, TÓ 8é
peyé8e, rox) Xevrropévgv, óe àv Tis év TÜ Báce

3 mXevpüs éxdo 11s oDa s a ra&ua(as. émvyéypamrat
8 émi rs ueltovos TO mXíjüos rÓv ávaXeÜévrov
Xpuuárev, de eie Xáxava xoi cvppuaiav Tois
épyáraus ugvverav? Bià Tíjs ypadijs TáXavra
8ebBamravijoÜa, mXeío rÀv xuiM ov xai é£akoctov.

4 d 9 éXárTov ávemíypados uév éoriw, áváflacuv
8 Éye &à juás TOv mXevpüv éykexokagpévgv.
TOv 66 BaciXéev TOUv karackcvaaávrov a/Tàs
éavrois Trá$ovs cvvéfw: ggüérepov ajrÀv Taís

5 mvpapíciw évraótjvav Tà yàp mX109 &á re TaAau-
mcopíav T1)v év ois épyyow xal 6ià Tó robrovs TOUS
Basixeis dópà xal Bíaiua moXXà mpüta. Ov
ópyíje elye roU« aiTíove, kal Tà adpara nymeiXet

1 iske : réxvm» xepovpyla.
1 Mix Vogel deus C, Bekker, Dindorf.
218

- ————————M— a

BOOK I. 63. 9-64. 5

word of truth in this, but the entire material for the
mounds, raised as they were by the labour of many
hands, was returned by the same means to the place
from which it came; for three hundred and sixty
thousand men, as they say, were employed on the
undertaking, and the whole structure was scarcely
completed in twenty years.!

64. Upon the death of this king his brother
Cephren ? succeeded to the throne and ruled fifty-
six years; but some say that it was not the brother
of Chemmis, but his son, named Chabryes, who took
the throne. All writers, however, agree that it was
the next ruler who, emulating the example of his
predecessor, built the second pyramid, which was the
equal of the one just mentioned in the skill displayed
in its execution but far behind it in size, since its base
length on each side is only a stade. And an inscrip-
tion on the larger pyramid gives the sum of money
expended on it, since the writing sets forth that on
vegetables and purgatives for the workmen there were
paid out over sixteen hundred talents. "The smaller
bears no inscription but has steps cut into one side.
And though the two kings built the pyramids to
serve as their tombs, in the event neither of them was
buried in them ; for the multitudes, because of the
hardships which they had endured in the building of
them and the many cruel and violent acts of these
kings, were filled with anger against those who had
caused their sufferings and openly threatened to tear

1 The classic description of the building of the pyramids
is in Herodotus 2. 124—5.

* The Chephren of Herodotus (2. 127), Khafre of the
monuments.

* $.e, six plethra, while the former was seven.

219

DIODORUS OF SICILY

S&aomdoew xal pueÜ bpees éxpirew éc TOv
Táóow: Ói0 xal reXevrÓv ékárepos évereiAaTo
Toig "Tpoc5kovaiv év doque TÓTQ kal XdÜpa
Od^rat T0 apa.

Mer 8à roUrovs éyévero BaatXets Mvxreptvos,
óv mrwes Mewyyepivov óvouátovaiv, vióe àv ToU
mouvjcavTos Tiv TpoTépav Tvpagíóa, obrog 8
émifaXópevos Tpiryv xarackeválew, TrpoTepov
éreAebrgae mpiy jj To váv &pyov XaBeiv avvré-
Aer. Tfj pé yàp fáaewose ékáoT» m Xevpàv
bmeoTaaro mTAéÜpov 7piÀv, roUs O6 ro(yovs éri
uév vrevrexaíóexa Gópovs kareakevaaev éx uéXavos
Aífov TQ Onflaixà mapamXgaíov, Tó 66 Xovróv
ávemAnpoaev ék XiÜcv opotov rais dXXais Trvpa-
pícw. TQ 66 neyéÜe. Xevrüpevov Toro TO Épryov
TÓv m poeipnpuévov Tf) xarà T)» Xeipovpyiav réxvn
ToXU OiaAXdTTe| kal Tf) TOU MÜov ToXvreAeta*
émvyéypamra, 66 xarà Trjv Bópevov abTíjs rXevpàv
0 Karackevácas abTijv Muvxkepivos. ToDTov Oé
$aci jucüaavra T9v TOV TpofaciXevaávrov
ouóTryra UXOca. Üíov émwewt kal mpós ToUs
dpxopévovs eepyyerucóv, ral Trovetv abDTOV d VVeXÓS
dAAa Te TÀeio Oi Óv ?v páMiaTa ékkaXécaao0at
Tjv ToU) mXjÜovs Tpós avTOv eÜvoiav, kai kaTà
TOUS Xpt)ua.Tvo 00e AvaMa ew x pn uárav TAf8os,
8:80vra Owpeàe T&v émwewOv Tois Ooxobaiv 6v
Tails kpiaeo. ui) xarà rpórov àmraXXáTrew.

Eioióé xal àXXat Tpeis Tvpapíees, Ov éxàa
piv TrXevpà mrAeÜpiata, vrrápye,, ró 8. OXov épryov

1 'The remains, such as '* massive blocks of granite, placed
in position after the interment of the mummy to protect the

220

BOOK I. 64. 5-10

their bodies asunder and cast them in despite out of
the tombs. Consequently each ruler when dying
enjoined upon his kinsmen to bury his body secretly
in an unmarked place.

After these rulers Mycerinus,? to whom some give
the name Mencherinus, a son of the builder of the
first pyramid, became king. He undertook the
construction of a third pyramid, but died before the
entire structure had been completed. "The base
length of each side he made three plethra, and for
fifteen courses he built the walls of black stone ? like
that found about Thebes, but the rest of it he filled
out with stone like that found in the other pyramids.
In size this structure falls behind those mentioned
above, but far surpasses them in the skill displayed
in its execution and the great cost of thestone; and
on the north side of the pyramid is an inscription
stating that its builder was Mycerinus. "This ruler,
they say, out of indignation at the cruelty of his
predecessors aspired to live an honourable life and
one devoted to the welfare of his subjects; and he
continually did many other things which might best
help to evoke the goodwill of the people towards
himself, and more especially, when he gave audiences,
he spent a great amount of money, giving presents to
such honest men as he thought had not fared in the
courts of law as they deserved.

There are also three more pyramids, each of which
is one plethrum long on each side and in general
grave from rohbers," and other considerations all show that
€ wk have been the case (cp. Baedeker's Egypt, pp.

?'The MU. of the monuments.

3 IThe lower courses of the third pyramid are of red granite,
the '* Ethiopian stone " of Herodotus 2. 134.

221

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Trapa Xijavov Tí) karaakevi) rais áXXais Tijv roO
peyéÜovs* raras Óé dac. ToUe Tpoepnuévovs
Tpeis BaciXels rais Blaue karackeváaat yvvai£tv.

"OnoXoyyeira, 8 rabra. rà. pra. sroXO mrpoéxew
TOv xaT. AlyvmTOv 0) uóvov TQ Bápew TOv xkara-
ckevacjdTov kal rais Óamávais, &XXÀ xal Ti)
QiXorexvía TOv épyacauévov. xai daci Bei»
Qavpátetw HüXXov TOUS üpxvTékTOvas TOV épryov
?) Tovs faciXeis To)js mapacxonévovs Tàs eis
Taba xopnyías* ToU u&v yàp rais iGiats yvyais
kal rais diXoTuulats, ToUs 06 TQ xXnpovouzÜévri
TÀoUTQ kal rais dXXoTpiats kakovyxiais éri réXos
dvyayeiv T)» Tpoaípecw. epi 66 ràv rvpapiBov
ojtév üXws obe mapà rois éyxcwpiow obre mapà
Tois GvyypadeÜat avudoveirav. oi uày yàp rovs
"poe.pnpévovs BaciXeis xarackeváca, aciv
abTás, oí Ó& érépovs rwvás* olov T?» uiv! pewyi-
cT»v T0104 Mévyovaiww 'Appaltov, rjv 06 Gevrépav
"Apo, Tv 66 Toírqv 'Ivapüv. Tasrgv P
&pto, Xéyovct "PoOormri£os rádov elvat fs éraípas,
7$ $act TOv vouapxÓv rwas épaaàs vyevouévovs
DT ,duXoaropyíav émvreMéga, xowf) Tó xara-
ckevac ua.

65. Merà à move mpoeipnuévovs facietis

1 uiv omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

1 Aa regards Rhodopis the theory of H. R. Hall (Journal of
Hellenic Studies, 24 (1904), pp. 208-13) is attractive: The
Sphinx, the cheeks of which were tinted red, waa called by the
Greeks ** Rhodopis"' ('* rosy-cheeked ''), and erroneously sup-
posed to be female. Later they took it to be & portrait of
the greatest Rhodopis they knew, the rosy-cheeked Doricha
(although Athenaeus, 13. 696 B, denies that her name waa
Doricha), the famous courtesan of the Milesian colony of

222

BOOK I. 64. 10-65. 1

construction is like the others save in size ; and these
pyramids, they say, were built by the three kings
named above for their wives.

It is generally agreed that these monuments far
surpass all other constructions in Egypt, not only in
their massiveness and cost but also in the skill dis-
played by their builders. And they say that the
architects of the monuments are more deserving of
admiration than the kings who furnished the means
for their execution; for in bringing their plans to
completion the former called upon their individual
souls and their zeal for honour, but the latter only used
the wealth which they had inherited and the grievous
toil of other men. But with regard to the pyramids
there is no complete agreement among either the
inhabitants of the country or the historians; for
according to some the kings mentioned above were
their builders, according to others they were different
kings; for instance, it is said that Armaeus built the
largest, Amosis the second, and Inaros the third.
And this last pyramid, some say, is the tomb of the
courtesan Rhodopis, for some of the nomarchs?
became her lovers, as the account goes, and out of
their passion for her carried the building through to
completion as a joint undertaking.

65. After the kings mentioned above Bocchoris ?

Naueratis in the Delta (cp. Herodotus 2. 134 ff.) The in-
fatuation for her of Sappho's brother Charaxus invoked
Sappho's rebuke; cp. Edmonds, Lyra Graeca, l. p. 206
L.O.L.).

: t Thà governors of the provinces (nomes) of Egypt.

* On Boechoris cp. chaps. 79 and 94. His Egyptian name
was Bokenranef (c. 726—c. 712 s.c.), the second of the two
kings of the Twenty-fourth Dynasty (cp. TÀe Cambridge
Ancient History, 3. 216 f.).

223

DIODORUS OF SICILY

&ieOéfaro T)v àpy3v Bóexopis, TQ uiv adpari
mavTeAÓs eUxaTaópóOvros, dyxyiwoíg 86 moÀU
&adépeov ràv mpoBaaiXevadvTov. ToÀXoig 8
ÜDaTepov xpóvots éBaaíXevae Tfje Aly)mTov Xa-
Báxcv, TO uév yyévos Óv. Al(ov, cbcefSeía 88 al
XpuaTóryTt TOX)0 Duadépev TÀv mpó abroD.
Tij u£v oDv énteucelas abroU Xáf9ot vig àv rexpj-
piov 1ó TÀv vopíg.cov mpoa (uev üpat TÓ uéyua Tov,
Aéye 06 Tijv roD Ü5v eTépgour ávri yàp o0
Üavárov! ro)s karaQixaaÜévras jváykate Xe-
Tovp*yetv Tais Tr0Xegt OeOepévovs, kal Gà robTov
TOXXÀ uév yópaTa kaTeckevalev, oU óMoyas 6d
&épvyas dpvrrev ebkaipovs VmeAápBave yàp
Tois pév koXaCopévois TÓ Tfjs Tiu plas àmóropov
jXaTrokérai, rais $6 móXeow ávri mpoaTípov
ávodeXOv ueyáXqv ebxpnaíav repvmerrou]eéva, 2
Tijv O6 ris etoeBeías bmepBoXjv avAXoyicavr
dv Tis é& Tfs kaTà Tüv Üvetpov $avracías xal
Tis xarà Tiv üpxij dmoÜ8éaens. éPofe uiv yàp
karà àv Ümrvov Xéyew abrQ róv éy OjBais Ócüv
ór( BaciXelew | o0. Gvvijoerat. Tís AlyVmTov
pakapies o)66 moXUv xpüvov, éàv u3j roue Lepete
&navras Giaregóv Già uéoov abróv 6.6X8n uerà
Tis Ücpameías. moXXdkis 86 vobrov yivouévov
perameyrápevos vavraXoÜev To)s iepeig &$m
Avreiv Tüv Ücüv év Tjj xopa. uévow ob yàp àv

1 6avarobr Dindorf,
3? seroikévo: Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

————————————————————

1 Shabaka (c. 712—o. 700 1.0.), the first king of the Twenty-
fifth Dynasty.

224

BOOK I. 65. 1-;

succeeded to the throne, a man who was altogether
contemptible in personal appearance but in sagacity
far surpassed all former kings. Much later Egypt
was ruled by Sabaco,! who was by birth an Ethiopian
and yet in piety and uprightness far surpassed his
predecessors. .À proof of his goodness may be found
in his abolition of the severest one of the customary
penalties (I refer to the taking of life); for instead
of executing the condemned he put them in chains at
forced labour for the cities, and by their services
constructed many dykes and dug out not a few well-
placed canals; for he held that in this way he had
reduced for those who were being chastised the
severity of their punishment, while for the cities he
had procured, in exchange for useless penalties,
something of great utility. And the excessiveness
of his piety may be inferred from a vision which he
had in a dream and his consequent abdication of the
throne. For he thought that the god of Thebes
told him while he slept that he would not be able to
reign over Egypt in happiness or for any great length
of time, unless he should cut the bodies of all the
priests in twain and accompanied by his retinue pass
through the very midst of them.3? ^ And when this
dream came again and again, he summoned the
priests from all over the land and told them that by
his presence in the country he was offending the god ;

* This story is reminiscent of the belief that one may be
preserved from harm by passing between the parts of &
sacrificed animal; cp. Genesis, 15. 10, 17 ; Jeremiah, 34. 18-19,
and the account in Herodotus (7. 39) of the son of Pythius,
whose body was cut in two and one half set on the right side
of the road and the other on the left, that the Persian army
EUER pass between them on its way to the conquest of

reece.

225

DIODORUS OF SICILY

a)rQ ToiaUra TpocTárTew KaTà TÓv Ümvov.
àmeA0óv obv BoíXea0a. kaÜapós mavrós uicovs
ámo8obva, 70 fjv Tf) rempouévg páXXov 4 Avv
rüv küpiov xai piávas daefeb dóvo Tóv ÜBwov
Blov dpyew rijs AiyémTov- kai. Tépas ToUs Éyyu-
píois ámoboUs Tijv BaaiNeíav émavijAOev eis T'v
Ai&ioríav. Ms

66. "Avapyías 0? yevouévgs xarà Ttyv Al*yvm Tov
à! Éry Bvo, kai TOY» ÜyXov eis Tapaxós xai
$óvovs éudvALovs Tero uéVaV, émorjsavro avyw-
uocíav oí uéyia To, TÓv Tyepovav 6d Oexa- v vve-
ópevcavres 69 &v Méudei xai awviOrjkas ypasrá-
A€voL Tepl Tüjs Tp0s dXX5Xovs ópovoías xa
mícTeos ávéBefav éavro)s Basis. em Tm
80 mevrewalüexa xarà To)e Opkovs xai , TÀs
ógoAoyías dpfavres xal Tiv pós dXXjXovs
ópóvouiv &argprjaavres, émefdXovro waraacvá-
ca, koüv éavrOv rádov, iva kaÜdmep év TÓ Uv
eüvooüvres áAAjXois TYv lacv ériyxavov TLAOV,
obrw xal perà Tij» TeXevr!))v év évi Tóm TÀv
copurov ketuévov TÓ karagkevaaÜcv papa coti)
mepiéym T?) TV évradévrav eo£av. eis TavTqV
8e rjv émifoXzjv diXokaXoUvres &amevaav vmep-
BaXéa 0a, TQ ueryéÜeu rv épryov &áravras TOUS TrDÓ
abrQy. éxXeEápevoi yàp TOTO Trapà TOv eia arXovv
vàv eis 13v Motpi&os ! Xtuvgv év Tf) AiBom Kae-
akevatov Tóv Tádov éx àv kaXMaTov MÓcv, «ai
TÓ piv coxüpaTt Terpáryovov bmeoTücavro, TÓ
Gé ueyéÜer c Tabiaíav éxáa qv TXevpáv, rais àc
yAv$ais kay rais dXXaie Xeipovpyyíais virepBoXqv

1 Molpibos Wesseling: uópibos.

226

BOOK I. 65. 7-66. 3

for were that not the case such a command would
not be given to him in his sleep. And so he would
rather, he continued, departing pure of all defilement
from the land, deliver his life to destiny than offend
the Lord, stain his own life by an impious slaughter,
and reign over Egypt. And in the end he returned
the kingdom to the Egyptians and retired again to
Ethiopia.

66. There being no head of the government in
Egypt for two years, and the masses betaking them-
selves to tumults and the killing of one another,
the twelve most important leaders formed a solemn
league among themselves, and after they had met
together for counsel in Memphis and had drawn up
agreements setting forth their mutual goodwill and
loyalty they proclaimed themselves kings. After
they had reigned in accordance with their oaths and
promises and had maintained their mutual concord
for a period of fifteen years, they set about to con-
struct a common tomb for themselves, their thought
being that, just as in their lifetime they had cherished
a cordial regard for one another and enjoyed equal
honours, so also after their death their bodies would
all rest in one place and the memorial which they had
erected would hold in one embrace the glory of those
buried within. Being fullofzealfor this undertaking
they eagerly strove to surpass all preceding rulers in
the magnitude of their structure. For selecting a
site at the entrance to Lake Moeris in Libya! they
constructed their tomb of the finest stone, and they
made it in form a square but in magnitude a stade in
length on each side; and in the carvings and, indeed,
in all the workmanship they left nothing wherein

1 $,e, on the west side of the Nile.
222

-1

DIODORUS OF SICILY

oük dréAurov Tols émvywopévois. | eiceXÜóv Tt uv
yàp rov repiSoXov ol«os 9v "repia TUXos, ékda Ts
wAevpüs éx Terrapákovra kiovav dva Nipov-
névgs, kai TobTOV povoMBos Jw ópodf, $árvaus
GvayeyXvupévn kal ypa dais &iadópots mrezrouciN-
uévg. elxe 86 Ts Tra píbos Ts ékác rov TÀw
BaaXéov bmopvüjpara ka, TOv vepav kai vcidv
TÀv év aTÍ) rais kaXMaais ypa dais $iXoTéxvos
8e8nuuovpynuéva. | kaÜóXov oe ToLM TV 1) TrONv-
reel. kai TrjNKaTQv TQ penyéÜet Tip bmocTacw
Tob Tádov Xéyerai moujcacÜat ToUs Bacixeis,
doT ei ju! mpó ToU avvreXégat TiV. émuBoXiy
kaTeMUÜncav, unóeuíav àv UrepBoXyv Érépots
m'pós Kara kei &pyov árroMwr ev. ;

"ApEdyrev Ó6 rovrov Tfi AlvybmTov Trevrekai-
8eka &r avvéf v)» BacuXetav eis &ya, srepua rfvau
&u rotajras abrias. N'appijrvyos 0 Xajrgs, eis
àv TOv 650exa BacaiXéov kai TOv Tapà 0dXarrav
nep» kvpievav, mapeixero $opría mwási rois
éprüpows, uáALa Ta, Ó€ Tois T€ Po5ri£t xal vols
"EXXgoi. O:à 86! TotovTov Trpómov Tá T€ Ék
Tífjs i&(as Xopas XvgvreXós &uariÜénevos «ai Tày
mra pà Tols &AXXots &&vect $vouévov ueraXauBáyov,
ov jLOvOV eUüTopiav eixe peyaXoy 4XAá kai $iMav
epós &Üv5 kai Bwáaras. óià 6é raüTá $a
dÜovücavras aUTÓ ToUs GXXovs Baciels TrÓX€-
gov éÉeveykeiv. | évio, 88 TÓ» ápxaíev cwyypa-
$éev pvÜoXoyobc. xpusuóv vevéc0as robs Tye-

1 roi after 8: deleted by Dindorf.

n
1 This is the Labyrinth which was mentioned before in chap.
61. It was the seat of the central government, and was not
built by the * twelve kings," but by Amenemhet III of the

228

BOOK I. 66. 3-10

succeeding rulers could excel them.! For as a man
passed through the enclosing wall he found himself
in a court surrounded by columns, forty on each side,
and the roof of the court consisted of a single stone,
which was worked into coffers? and adorned with
excellent paintings. This court also contained
memorials of the native district of each king and ofthe
temples and sacrificial rites therein, artistically por-
trayed in most beautiful paintings. And in general,
the kings are said to have made the plan of their
tomb on such an expensive and enormous scale that,
had they not died before the execution of their
purpose, they would have left no possibility for others
to surpass them, so far as the construction of monu-
ments is concerned.

After these kings had reigned over Egypt for
fifleen years it came to pass that the sovereignty
devolved upon one man for the following reasons.

Psammetichus of Sais, who was one of the twelve 962-509

kings and in charge of the regions lying along the
sea, furnished wares for all merchants and especially
for the Phoenicians and the Greeks; and since in
this manner he disposed of the products of his own
district at a profit and exchanged them for those of
other peoples, he was not only possessed of great
wealth but also enjoyed friendly relations with
peoples and rulers. And this was the reason, they
say, why the other kings became envious and opened
war against him. Some of the early historians?
however, tell this fanciful story: The generals had

Twelfth Dynasty (cp. The Cambridge Ancient. History, 1. p.
309; J. H. Breasted, p. 194).
* i.e. ornamental panels were deeply recessed in the stone.
* "The account is given by Herodotus 2. 151 f.

229

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Hóciw, 0g àv a)TOv ék xyaXxfje diáXge mpáros
év Mépuóev oameéíon TQ ÓÜeó, kpar5jaew abràv
Tácqs Tijs Aiyómrov: Tüv 6€ Vappijruyov, é£evéy-
kavTos éx ToU iepoü TÓv iepéev Tiwwóe dudXas
éyBexa ! Xpvaüs, mepreXópevov Tiv qepucepaXatav
eTeicat. — bmidonévovs? ov rovs cvrápyovras TÓ
TpaXÜev dmokretva, uev abróv u$) fBovAgÜ vat,
$vyaó$e0aa. 6à kal mpoarátai GurpiBlew &yv rois
&Xeat Tois mapà ÜáXarrav. eire 03 &ià rabTqv
T3» airíav eire 91à rÓv dÜóvov, kaÜór. qrpocipnrau,
yevouévgs js Ódopüs, ó uiv? Nraupüriyos &x
Te Ts Kapías xai Tíjs 'levías puaÜ8odópovs
nerameuNrápevos évíegae maparáte: mepl mÓMw
Tij» óvouatouévgv Mópeuduw, rÓv 9' ávrira£a-
uévov BaciXéov oi uy xarà Ti». uáxmv ávppé-
0scav, oi O' eig Aufóqv. ékBuoxOévres. obxéri
mepi Tíjs üpxije layvaav ápdia B or5ca..

67. Tje 0' óXys BaciXe(as kvpieícas 0 Vag-
pajTLx 0s TÓ uév €» Méuóa cQ TO T pós &o
TpoTUXMaiov kaTegkevace kal TÀ va Tv epíi-
oXov, koXorroUs ÜoacT9cas ávri TÓV kiÜvov
óeOexam yer" rois B6 juoÜ0$ópois xopls TÓv
opoXoyuuévov avvráEeov Óopeás re ü£ioXOyovs
áméveuue kai Tà xaXojípeva aTparómeÓa TóTOV
oikety &Óoe kal xopav ToXXjv kaTekAnpoyrae
pakpóv émáveo ToU llgXovoiakoU cTÓgaToOs obs
évreüUev "Apuaats ÜDarepov voXXois éreot Baat-

1 Reading £»Beka (ia^) with Herodotus 2. 151 for the
5doexa (4B') of the MSS.; op. E. Evers, Ein Beitrag zur
Untersuchung der Quellenbenutzung bei Diodor, p. 96.

3 jribouévovs Dindorf : jmeibouévovs.

* uiv Vogel: ut» yàp Vulgate, Bekker : uiv oy Dindorf,

230

BOOK I. 66. 10-67. 1

received an oracle to the effect that the first one of
their number to pour a libation from a bronze bowl
to the god in Memphis should rule over all Egypt,
and when one of the priests brought out of the temple
eleven! golden bowls, Psammetichus took off his
helmet and poured the libation from it. Now his
colleagues, although suspecting his act, were not yet
ready to put him to death, but drove him instead
from publie life, with orders that he should spend his
days in the marshes along the sea. Whether they
fell out for this reason or because of the envy which,
as mentioned above, they felt towards him, at any
rate Psammetichus, calling mercenaries from Caria
and lonia, overcame the others in a pitched battle
near the city called Momemphis, and of the kings
who opposed him some were slain in the battle and
some were driven out into Libya and were no longer
able to dispute with him for the throne.

67. After Psammetichus had established his
authority over the entire kingdom he built for the
god in Memphis the east propylon and the enclosure
about the temple, supporting it with colossi ? twelve
cubits high in place of pillars; and among the
mercenaries he distributed notable gifts over and
above their promised pay, gave them the region
called The Camps to dwell in, and apportioned to
them much land in the region lying a little up the
river from the Pelusiae mouth; they being subse-
quently removed thence by Amasis, who reigned

! Al former editors retain the reading ''twelve'' of the
MSS.; but the parallel account in Herodotus gives the number
as ' eleven," thus furnishing the occasion for the use of his
helmet by Psammetichus,

? Here are meant square pillars with an attached statue
in front; cp. p. 167, n. 3.

231

DIODORUS OF SICILY

2 Xeócas ávéa qae kal karwkiaev eis Méuduv. 8i
66 rOv jua00dópev karepÜekàós T)v BaciXcíav
0 N'auyrrtxos Tobrots TÓ Xovróv uáMT évemí-
caTeve Tà Kkarà rjv ápxmv wal DBiwréXeae Écvo-
Tpodàv uewyáXas Óvvápeis. — a TpaeUaavrog O
eis Ty Xvupíav abroÜ kal xarà ràs maparáfes
ToUs pév pua 0odópovs mporiuOvros kal TárrovTos
eis rà Oe£ià puepn, To)Us Ó' éyx«cplovs àrtpórepov
dyyovros «ai Tov ebovvgov TÓTOV ÓTovégovrTos
Tís $áXawywyos, oí uev. Aim TiO. Bà rz)v Üfpw
mapo£vvOévres kal vyevóuevo, TÓ mXijÜos TXeíovs
Tv cixoc, pupiíóov dTéaTucav xal Tpofyyov
ém' Aibiomías, kexpuxóres (lav pav éavrols
x«arakrTücÜav 0 Bé faci(XeUs TÓ uiv mpórov
érendé Twas TÀv tyyeuóvev Tobis áToXoynaoo-
uévovs bmip Tíjs óTwpias, d 8' ob mpocetxov
abTO(s, avTOs uerà rÀv díXev éO(wEe mXoíots.
srpoaryóvrov 9 abrÀv mapà róv NeiXov kal roUs
ópovs bmrepBaXXóvrov Tíjs Al*yórTOv, éÓciro pera-
vojcat xai TOv Te iepüv kal TOv mrarpíBov, ét
86 xal yvvawQv xai Tékvev bmeuiuvQaev. oi
8 &ua mávres àvaflojcavres al rois kovTois
ràs áamíDas rará£avres éGacayp, &og y &VpLeU-
vci. TÓv Omov, pabíes cop)jsew marpíBas:
ávacTe(XMápevo, 06 ToUs xvrüvas xal rà wyevvg-
Tu«à pépr! ToU adparos Óeífavres obre yvvawv
obre Tékvov áTopr5aev é$acav TaUT Éxovres.
Toi&UTy Ó6 ueyaXoYrvxía wpnadpevot kal xara-
! nópia G, Bekker, Dindorf.

1 A similar account is in Herodotus (2. 154), who locatea
(2. 30) the Camps more precisely at Daphnae, the modern

232

BOOK I. 67. 1-7

many years later, and settled by him in Memphis.!
And since Psammetichus had established his rule
with the aid of the mercenaries, he henceforth
entrusted these before others with the administra-
tion of his empire and regularly maintained large
mercenary forces. Once in connection with a cam-
paign in Syria, when he was giving the mercenaries
a more honourable place in his order of battle by
putting them on the right wing and showing the
native troops less honour by assigning them the
position on the left wing of the phalanx,the Egyptians,
angered by this slight and being over two hundred
thousand strong, revolted and set out for Ethiopia,
having determined to win for themselves a country
of their own. "The king at first sent some of his
generals to make excuse for the dishonour done to
them, but since no heed was paid to these he set out
in person after them by boat, accompanied by his
friends. And when they still continued their march
along the Nile and were about to cross tlie boundary
of Egypt, he besought them to change their purpose
and reminded them of their temples, their homeland,
and of their wives and children. But they, all crying
aloud and striking their spears against their shields,
declared that so long as they had weapons in their
hands they would easily find homelands; and lifting
their garments and pointing to their genitals they
said that so long as they had those they would never
be in want either of wives or of children. After such
a display of high courage and of utter disdain for

Tell Defenneh on the Pelusiac arm of the Nile, now & canal.
The mercenaries were thus strategically placed at the Syrian
entrance into Egypt.

233

DIODORUS OF SICILY

$povücavres rv vapà Toig dXXois pernyía Tov
clva, Sokojvrov, kareAáfovro uv rífs AlÉLomías
T)v kparíaTqv, karakMgpovytjcavres 86 groXA3v
x6pav év raíTy karokaav.

'O 86 Vapjjruxos mi uev robrois o) uerpícs
3$. ,
eAvm 101, rà à xarà viv. Al*yvsrrov Guvrá£as kal
TÓy TpocóÓcv émiueXóuevos Tpós Te ' AÓgvalovs
xai Twas àv áXXov 'EXXijvov avupaxíav émowj-
caTo. Unpyére, 86 xal rv Eévov vo)g é6e.
Xovrjv! eis r)v Alyvmrov ámobBquobvras, kal
QuXéAX mv Óv Guadepóvros To)s viobs Tiv 'EXXQ-
vucijv é0iGa£e mai&eíav: kaÜóXov 56 TpTOs TÓV
«aT Alywmrrov BaciXéev àvéefe rois dXXois
€Üvegc,. Tà xarà rjv dXXqv? wxópav éwrópia
kal ToXMi)v áadáXeuav rois kavamAéovct Eévois
mrapeixero. oí uév yàp TpóÓ ro/Tov SvvacTeU-
cavres áBarov éTrotovv Tos Éévois Tz)v. Altyvm Tov,
TOUS LEV doveVorres, ovs 66 karaGovAoUuevot TÓv
KaTaTAeóvrOv. xal yàp 5j epi róv BoVoipw
aaéBea &à r)v rÀv. éyycpiev á£evíav Bion
Tapà rois "EXXgoiw, ovk obca pv TpÓs ÓÀXj-
Oeiav, &ià. 86 riv bmepBoXjv Tís ávouías eis
pÜ0ov TXácua karaxcopuaÉctaa.

68. Merà 8& Vayuyijruxov Üarepov rérrapai
yeveais "Ampíys éBaciXevaev érg. 8vol mAelo
Tv elxoci. aTpaTeUcas B6 DÓváyueaww áBpais
mrefaís ve xal vavr.kais émi Kmpov kai ow,

1 égeXovrp Külker: é8eXovel.

? Reiske would delete &AAwv, as is done by Bekker and
Dindorf, or read óAsv.

! This story of the Deserters is giveu by Herodotus (2. 30),
but in less detail,

234

BOOK I. 67. 7-68. 1

what among other men is regarded as of the greatest
consequence, they seized the best part of Ethiopia,
and after apportioning much land among themselves
they made their home there.!

Although Psammetichus was greatly grieved over
these things, he put in order the affairs of Egypt,
looked after the royal revenues, and then formed
alliances with both Athens and certain other Greek
states. He also regularly treated with kindness any
foreigners who sojourned in Egypt of their own free
will, and was so great an admirer of the Hellenes that
he gave his sons a Greek education; and, speaking
generally, he was the first Egyptian king to open to
other nations the trading-places throughout the rest ?
of Egypt and to offer a large measure of security to
strangers from across the seas. For his predecessors
in que had consistently closed Egypt to strangers,
either killing or enslaving any who touched its shores.
Indecd, it was because of the objection to strangers
on the part of the people that the impiety of Busiris
became a byword among the Greeks, although this
impiety was not actually such as it was described,
but was made into a fictitious myth because of the
exceptional disrespect of the Egyptians for ordinary
customs.

68. Four generations after Psammetichus, Apries
was king for twenty-two years. He made a cam-
paign with strong land and sea forces against Cyprus

* This reading of the MSS., which has disturbed some
editors, may properly be retained. It is understood from the
beginning of the chapter that Psammetichus could allow
foreigners to trade only in the regions of which he was governor,
Upon becoming king he extends that privilege over *' the rest,
of Egypt.

295

588-566
B.O.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ZióQva uév xarà kpáros elXe, ràs 0. dAXas Ts
éy 7j) owe vrókeis karamNnEdpevos mpoawyá-
yero évíknae 96 xal vavuaxía peyáXg SPolvucds
re xai Kvrmpíovs, kai Xaóípev ápoicas qXiflos
émavijAOev eis Alyvm Tov. uerà 66 rabra BÓvapav
TéuYras áópà» TÀv ÓpoeÜvàv émi Kupwwov xal
Báprgw, kai TÓ TXeicrov abr) dmofaXov,
áXXo' piove Cae roUs 0uaawÜcvras: ÜmoXaflóvres
yàp avTov ém' ámoXeía avvrá£ai riv eparelav,
ómes üaaXécepov dpxy TÀv Xovráv Alvyvimricv,
àméoTQcav, dmocTaXés O6 mpós roíTovs Um
ToU BaciXéos "Apnacis, àv) éudavije Aley/mrios,
TYv pév pmÜtvrev! im airoU mpós ónóvotav
7)uéXnae, robvavríov 8' ékeivovs mrporpedrápevos
eis àXXoTpioT:Ta avva7éa T: kal fBasiXeUe abs
jpé8n.. eT. o) TroX)v 06 ypóvov kal TOv áXXov
éyxopiov aTávrov ovvemifeuévov, ó. Bac(XceUs
&amropoóuevos varykáoÓ9 karadvyetv érl rods
pugOodópovs, Üvrae eis rpusuvpiovs. yevouévus
obv maparáteos Tepl rijv Mápeuav xdv, kal
TÓy AlyvmTiev Tf Làx9 kparqcávrev, ó uiv
"Ampíns CovyprÜcis ávijyOn xai c Tpa-y*tyaMao Ücls ?
éreAeUroev, "Apagw 0€ OQaráEas Tà karà rijv
BaciXelav e Tor. &ofev abrÓ avudépev, TpXe
vouijes TY» AvyvmTiíov kal ueyáXge érivyyavev
áToboxije. xaTeoTpélraro 06 kal ràs éy Kimpo
TóXets kai To0XXÀ TÀv lepüv éxócumoev àvaDhj-
uaci üfuwkoyos. BaciXe(cae 8 rp mévre

! Bekker and Dindorf, following Wesseling, read jy6eiáy
and retain évroAóv of the MSS. after óuóroimv; Vogel

following Eichstüdt, retains jpeévrev of the MSS. and
deletes évroAGv.

236

BOOK I. 68. 1-6

and Phoenicia, took Sidon by storm, and so tcrrified
the other cities of Phoenicia that he secured their
submission; he also defeated the Phoenicians and
Cyprians in a great sea-battle and returned to Egypt
with much booty. After this he sent a strong native
force against Cyrené and Barcé and, when the larger
part of it was lost, the survivors became estranged
from him; for they feltthat he had organized the ex-
pedition with a view to its destruction in order that
his rule over the rest of the Egyptians might be more
secure, and so they revolted. "The man sent by the
king to treat with them, one Amasis, a prominent
Egyptian, paid no attention to the orders given him to
effect a reconciliation, but, on the contrary, increased
their estrangement, joined their revolt, and was him-
self chosen king.! When a little later all the rest of
the native Egyptians also went over to Amasis, the
king was in such straits that he was forced to flee for
safety to the mercenaries, who numbered some thirty
thousand men. 4A pitched battle accordingly took
place near the village of Maria and the Egyptians
prevailed in the struggle; Apries fell alive into the
hands of the enemy and was strangled to death, and
Amasis, arranging the affairs of the kingdom in
whatever manner seemed to him best, ruled over the
Egyptians in accordance with the laws and was held
in great favour. He also reduced the cities of Cyprus
and adorned many temples with noteworthy votive
offerings. After a reign of fifty-five years he ended

! Amasis (Ahmose II of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty) reigned
569— 526-5 n.c., the first three years of his reign coinciding
with the last three years of Apries.

—

? erparyyaXiaOcls Dindorf : erpayyaMgeis.
237

DIODORUS OF SICILY

"ps oíe TevTükovra xaréaTpeye TOv ov
ka" 9v xpóvov Kayuags 0 vOv IIepcàv B8aoci-
AeUe éaTpárevaev émi Tjv Al*yvmrov, xarà TÓ
TpiTov éros Tíje é££nkoa fs kal Tpirgs 'OXvumd80s,
ijv éví«a, a rá&tov IIappevíóuns Kapapwatos.

69. "Esel 8é ràs rÀv év Abyómro Baciuémv
Tpáfew ámó rYv ápyaioráTov xpóvov OieXqAU-
Üauev àpkoüvres uéxypu Tfje '" Audcióos reXevrfjs,
Tàs Xovmràs dvarypáxrouev év rots oikeiois póvois:
vepl 66 rÀv vouíuev TOv xar Alyvmrov vüv
&iéfipev év kebaXalow rá Te mapaBoEórara xai
rà uáMoTa óPeXjca, Bvváueva robs dvaywó-
cKOvTas. TOXAÓ yàp rÀv maXaiv dÜQv Tív
yevouévov rap AlvvwrmrTíow ov uóvov mapà Toís
exe» plots àmro&oxfjs érvxev, dAXà kal apà Toig
"EXAgsiw ob gerpíos éÜavuácÜw Mómep oi
péywrro, TÀv. év maibeía. BofaoÜévrev éduXori-
pügucav eis Alyvrrov TapaBSaXev, fva. nerá-
cXoct TYv Te vópov kal vOv émrirgóevpárov ds
AfioXóyev Óvrov. xaíbmep yàp Tíjs xópas TÓ
vaXaLóv 6voemtwdárov ois Éévois oae &à ràs
vpoeipnpévas airías, Üjes a mevsav eis. abri)»
vapaBaXev ràv név ápyauorárewv "Opes xai
0 Trou)T3)s " Ounpos, rüv 8€ ueraryeveaépov dXXoi
Te TAeiovs xai llvÜasyópas 0 Xáyios, ér, Bd
XóXew ó vouoOérus. Xéyovei Tolvvv Alv/mTio,
Tap abrois TÓv Te TÓV Yypapquároy eÜpeauv
yevéa8ai kai riv TÀv daTpov Traparijpuow, pos
8é ro)roi; rd Te karà Tiv wvewuerpíav Üewmpij-
LaTa kai TOv TeXVOv Tàs mXe(aTas eUpeÜTnvas,
vóuovs re ToUs ApiaTovs TeÜgvai. kal rovrov
ueyíarqv ámóbe£iv $acw elvai à fe Alyimrov
238

BOOK I. 68. 6-69. 6

his days at the time when Cambyses, the king of the
Persians, attacked Egypt, in the third year of the
Sixty-third Olympiad, that in which Parmenides of 52-5
Camarina won the ** stadion." ! En
69. Now that we have discussed sufficiently the
deeds of the kings of Egypt from the very earliest
times down to the death of Amasis, we shall record
the other events in their proper chronological setting ;
but at this point we shall give a summary account of
the customs of Egypt, both those which are especially
strange and those which can be of most value to our
readers. For many of the customs that obtained in
ancient days among the Egyptians have not only
been aecepted by the present inhabitants but have
aroused no little admiration among the Greeks ; and
for that reason those men who have won the greatest
repute in intellectual things have been eager to visit
Egypt in order to acquaint themselves with its laws
and institutions, which they considered to be worthy
of note. For despite the fact that for the reasons
mentioned above strangers found it difficult in early
times to enter the country,it wasnevertheless eagerly
visited by Orpheus and the poet Homer in the earliest
times and in later times by many others, such as
Pythagoras of Samos and Solon the lawgiver? Now
it is maintained by the Egyptians that it was they
who first discovered writing and the observation of
the stars, who also discovered the basic principles of
geometry and most of the arts, and established the
best laws. And the best proof of all this, they say,
lies in the fact that Egypt for more than four

! The famous foot-race at Olympia, 6061 feet long.
* Cp. for Orpheus, chap. 23, for Homer, chap. 12, for
Pythagoras and Solon, chap. 98.
239

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TÀXeío Tv émrakoaíev kai rerpakiayrMov érüv
BaaiXeÜaat Tos "rXeíovs éyyeveis kai Tv xópav
ebGaiuovea TáTyv Ümápfai Tís ámdoews oikov-
uévqs* TaÜra tyàp obk àv more yevéaÜa, ui) ob
TOv dvÜpamrewv xpeuévev xparioTow CÜecai xai
vóuots kal Toig karà mücav maiBclav émiTqBeU-

7 naci. Óca u£v otv 'HpóBoros kal rwes TOv Tàs
Alvyvmrriov mpá£es avvratauéyov éaxebiáxaatw,
ékovaies TpokpivavTes Tis dXmÜciae TO mapa-
GofoXoyetv xai píÜ8ovs mXdrTew *rvyaeyeylas
Évexa, mrap?jcouev, avrà 66 và Tap rois lepeUct
Tois kaT' AlyvmTOv Év Tas üvarypadaís vyeypap-
péva, diXorijuos é£nrakóres ékÜnaóueÜa.

0. IIpórov uév roívvv oi BaciXeis abràv Blov
eLyov ovy Ópotov rois áXXois Toi év Lo0VapyxLka ts
é£ovaíais ocu kal mávra mpáTrovot karà Tiv
éavTÓv T poaípeat àvvmevÜUvos, àAN. jv ámavra
Terayuéva vÓjuOV ,eriravyaiis, oU Lóvov TÀ Trepi
ToUe XpmpaTicuoUs, àÀXà kal rà Tepl Tüv. kaÓ'

2 juépav Daeyevy)v kal Blarrav. mrepl uv yàp viv
Ücparetav abrv ob6cls iu obr' &pryvpovnTos
obT' oikoyevije 600Xos, à&XXà TÀv éridavea vármov
lepécv viol mrávres, bmrép elxoat u&y Ér1) qgeyyovóres,
memaidevuévot 06 káNMaTa TÀV ÓuocÜvàv, fva
ToUs éTiueXnaouévovs ToÜ ccpaTog kal mücav
juépav «ai vOKTG, ;rpoaebpejovras Ó BactXeUs
&xev ápiaTovs uneev erirbebn $abXov- obeie
yàp émi mXéov kaxías "poBaívei Bvvda rns, àv
M5 Tov; UTcyper)cOvras Éym Tails émiÜvpiais.

3 &arera'yuévat 9 7jaav ai ve Ts juépas kal Tíjs

240

—-«

BOOK I. 69. 6-70. 3

thousand seven hundred years was ruled over by kings
of whom the majority were native Egyptians, and
that the land was the most prosperous of the whole
inhabited world; for these things could never have
been true of any people which did not enjoy most
excellent customs and laws and the institutions which
promote culture of every kind. Now as for the
stories invented by Herodotus and certain writers on
Egyptian affairs, who deliberately preferred to the
truth the telling of marvellous tales and the invention
of myths for the delectation of their readers, these we
shall omit, and we shall set forth only what appears
in the written records of the priests of Egypt and has
passed our careful scrutiny.

10. In the first place, then, the life which the kings
of the Egyptians lived was not like that of other men
who enjoy autocratic power and do in all matters
exactly as they please without being held to account,
but all their acts were regulated by prescriptions set
forth in laws, not only their administrative acts, but
also those that had to do with the way in which they
spent their time from day to day, and with the food
which they ate. In the matter of their servants, for
instance, not one was a slave, such as had been
aequired by purchase or born in the home, but all
were sons of the most distinguished priests, over
twenty years old and the best educated of their
fellow-countrymen, in order that the king, by virtue of
his having the noblest men to care for his person and
to attend him throughout both day and night, might
follow no low practices; for no ruler advances far
along the road of evil unless he has those about him
who will minister to his passions. And the hours of
both the day and night were laid out according to a

241

DIODORUS OF SICILY

vv&TOs Qpai, kaÜ' às éx mavrüs Tpómov kaÜz«ov
7v róv BasiuMéa Tpárrew T0 avvrerayuévov, o)
T0 ÓeOoyuévov éavrQ. | évÜev này vyàp éyepÜévra
Aafjeiv avrüv £e. mrpórrov ràe mavraxóÜev. àme-
cTaXuévas émia rods, iva. ÓUvyra. mávra kaTà
Tpórov xpruaitew «al mpárrew, eios dupifls
éxac Ta TOV ka.rà T?» BactXeiav avvreXovuévov:
érewra Xovaápuevov kal Toig Tíjs dpxfjs cvcai-
nois per. éaÜijros Xaympüs komijscavra T0 Güpa
00cat Tois Ücois.

Tà re Bou mpocax0évrov TÓv Óvuárav os
7?» Tüv ápxiepéa aTávra TXuciov rov fJaciXéus
ebxecÜas ueyáxg T $ovj, TepieaTOTos Tob
TA5Üovs TOv AlyvmTiíev, 8oÜva, Tv Te vyleuav
kai ráXXa. dryaÜà mávra "à BasiXet GuaTopobvri
TÀ T pós Tos brrorerayuévovs Óixata. — ávÜopoXo-
yeiaÜa, 8' $v áva'ykatov xal ràs xarà gépos
áperàs ajToU, Xéyovra Our. mpós Te ToUs Üco)s
eUcefüs xal mpós To)s ávÜpevrovs juepórara
Ó.ákevraas éyiparris e ydp éa i kal Bikatos. kal
peyaXóvrvxos, ér. 8' áxrevójs «al neraBoTikos
TÀv ád'yaÜÀv xai kaÜóXov máars émiÜvulas epeir-
TOv, kai Tàs uiv Twwepías éXdTrovs Tis áías
émwriÜdis Tois üpapróuasi. às Óà wxápwras
neitovas T1js ebepyyeaías àmoDiDoUs Tols evepryerij-
Gagi. TOXÀÀ 06 xal áXXa mapamMijoia ToUTOIS
G.eAD Ov 0 kaTevyüpevos TÓ reXevratov Ümép TÀv
d'yvoovuévov ápàv érroiiro, róv uày fjaciAéa rv
éykXnuárov éfaipovuevos, eig 06 ToUs UTspe-
ToÜvras kai &óá£avras rà abXa kai rij» BSXáflqv
«al Tjv Truuopiav áÉiv dmoskia. Taba 8
érparrev ápa, u&v eis Gewsibasuovíav kai OcoQiM
242

BOOK IL. 7o. 3-8

plan, and at the specified hours it was absolutely
required of the king that he should do what the laws
stipulated and not what he thought best. For
instance, in the morning, as soon as he was awake,
he first of all had to receive the letters which had been
sent from all sides, the purpose being that he might
be able to despatch all administrative business and
perform every act properly, being thus accurately
informed about everything that was being done
throughout his kingdom. — Then, after he had bathed
and bedecked his body with rich garments and the
insignia of his office, he had to sacrifice to the gods.
When the victims had been brought to the altar
it was the custom for the high priest to stand near
the king, with the common people of Egypt gathered
around, and pray in a loud voice that health and
all the other good things of life be given the king
if he maintains justice towards his subjects. And
an open confession had also to be made of each and
every virtue of the king, the priest saying that
towards the gods he was piously disposed and
towards men most kindly ; for he was self-controlled
and just and magnanimous, truthful, and generous
with his possessions, and, in a word, superior to
every desire, and that he punished crimes less
severely than they deserved and rendered to his
benefactors a gratitude exceeding the benefaction.
And after reciting much more in a similar vein he
concluded his prayer with a curse concerning things
done in error, exempting the king from all blame
therefor and asking that both the evil consequences
and the punishment should fall upon those who
served him and had taught him evil things. AI]
this he would do, partly to lead the king to fear

243

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Bíov róv fBac/Xéa mporpemópevos, ága 86 xal
xarà rpórov Civ dÜitov o 8ià vrikpüs vovOerj-
cecs, 4àÀXà Or ématvov keyapiauévov kal Tpós
áperiv uáMioT' àvgkóvrev. erà 8à vaüra ToD
BaciXées iepookomQoauévov puócoxo xal xaX-
AueprüsavTos, ó pév iepoypapparevs Tapaveyi-
vecké T:was cvpufovAae cvuQepovcas «al
mpáfe é« Tv (epüv BífgXev ràv émiave-
aTáTOV dvÓpQv, Ómo« ó TÓv ÓXev Tijv syyeuoviav
Éyev Tàs xaXMíoTas Tpoaiwpéoem «Tí Oavoía
8eep)jcas obrc mpüs Tjv Tera'yuévgv TOV karà
népos Trpémsrai Dioíknoiww. o) yàp uóvov vob
xpnpaTiGew 1) epívew 7v kaupós ópia uévos, àXXà
«al ro) TepvmraTijoat kal XovaacÓat xal iouim-
Ova, uerà Tífje yvvatikóe kal xaXov cv karà
Tüv fov TparrOuévev ámávrev. Tpojais S
&Üoce jv ajrols ámaXais! wpisÜat xwpéa yv
uócxev xal xgvàv póvev?* Tpooóepouévovs,
olvov 9à raxTóv TL uérpov mívovras u3) Bvvápevov
cAgogovi» üxatpov 1) uéÜgv cepvmodjcat. xa-
8óXov Bé rà mepl rjv Bíawav obres b"üpxe
cvuuérpes Duarerayuéva dare Dokeiv ui) vopo-
0éryv, àXXà Tóv üpwerov TÓv larpüv cvvrera-
xévaa Tfj i'yelas o Toxatópevov.

71. lMlapa&ófov 8' eivai Bowobvros ToD Qj
vácav E£xew éfovoíav Tóv ÉaciMéa Tíjs «aO
?uépav pois, vToXXÓ Üavuacirepov jv TÓ
pare Gwdter piyre xpnparitew TO Tvxv. abroís
éÉ£eivat, ujóé Tiu pjcaoÜa. unéva £e DBpiw i)
$ià Üvuóv i4 rwwa áXXqv airíav d&ucov, àXXà

! ámaAais Vogel (cp. chap. 84. 5): ámAais II, Bekker,
Dindorf,

244

BOOK I. 7o. 8-71. 1

the gods and live a life pleasing to them, and partly
to accustom him to a proper manner of conduct,
not by sharp admonitions, but through praises that
were agreeable and most conducive to virtue. After
this, when the king had performed the divination
from the entrails of a calf and had found the omens
good, the sacred scribe read before the assemblage
from out of the sacred books some of the edifying
counsels and deeds of their most distinguished men,
in order that he who held the supreme leadership
should first contemplate in his mind the most cxcel-
lent general principles and then turn to the pre-
scribed administration of the several functions. For
there was a set time not only for his holding audiences
or rendering judgments, but even for his taking a
walk, bathing, and sleeping with his wife, and, in a
word, for every act of his life. And it was the
eustom for the kings to partake of delicate food,
eating no other meat than veal and duck, and
drinking only a prescribed amount of wine, which
was not enough to make them unreasonably surfeited
or drunken. And, speaking generally, their whole
diet was ordered with such continence that it had
the appearance of having been drawn up, not by a
lawgiver, but by the most skilled of their physicians,
with only their health in view.

Tl. Strange as it may appear that the king did
not have the entire control of his daily fare, far
more remarkable still was the fact that kings were
not allowed to render any legal decision or transact
any business at random or to punish anyone through
malice or in anger or for any other unjust reason,

3 uóvev Vogel: uóvov Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf,
245

DIODORUS OF SICILY

kaÜámep oi mepl éxáaTov keiuevo, vóuoi Trpoa-
2 éraTrov. TaÜra O6 xarà và (Üos mpárrovres
ovx Os yavákrovv 1) mpocékomTovV Taíg
Nrvxats,. àXXà robvavriov tyyobvro éavroos t$
Biov naxapiarrarov: roU« u&v yàp áXXovs ávÜpo-
"Ovs évópLov áXoría es Tolg dvcukofs mráÜeat
Xapibouévovs ToXXà *párr&w TÓv depóvrav
BXáfas 1) kwBUvovs, xal roNXáris éviovs el&óras
ór. néXXovatw ápaprávew uub!y fjrrov mpáTreiw
Tà $aÜXa xaTiaXvouévovs bm poros jj uicovs
jj Twos érépov máÜovs, éavroUs 8 éUgXw kóras
ÉBtov àv iró Tàv ópoviptrárov dvÓpv rponekpi-
uévov éXaxíavois Trepvrímrrew dryvotjuaai, — r0i-
ajTy 86 xpouévev TÓÀv flaciXéwv 6,catoa óv
7 pos To)s brrorera'yuévovs, Tà T5409 Tas eis
TOUS Tyovuévovs «ebvoidig Tücav cwyyevuciv
$iXoaTopyiav imepeBáXXero* ob yàp "uóvov T
cócT)ua TÀv iepéov, àAXàÀ xal avAMjBOg»
&mavTes oí xav! AlyvmTOv oUy obro "yvvawüv
xal Téxkvov xal TOv dXXev TÓV bTapyóvrov
avTois d'yaÜQv éjpovrifov às Tís rv BaciAéov

* , ^ ^ ^
5 àa$aXeias. TovyapoÜv vXeta vov uév ypóvov Tv

uvnpovevouévov BaaiXéev mou karáaacty
érijpysav, eübainovéararov à fiov Éxovres 5ie-
TéAecap, Cos Éuewev 15 mpoewpouévg TÀv vópov
cóvTaLi, vpós O6 roíro dÜvOv re mXclaTov
éTerkpárrngav kai peytarovs TXovTOUS &a yov, xal
Tàs pév xopas Épyow xal xarackeváa paci
ávvrepfSAiyrois, Tàs O6 móXew ávaÜjpaat TroXv-
TeAéÉa: xai sravroíows ékóoumaav.
72. Kal và perà Tijv reXevriv Bé muvóueva
- ! yvxais MSS., Vogel: rvxais Dindorf.
24

BOOK I. 71. 1-72. 1

but only in accordance with the established laws
relative to each offence. And in following the
dictates of custom in these matters, so far were they
from being indignant or taking offence in their souls,
that, on the contrary, they actually held that they
led a most happy life; for they believed that all
other men, in thoughtlessly following their natural
passions, commit many acts which bring them
injuries and perils, and that oftentimes some who
realize that they are about to commit a sin neverthe-
less do base acts when overpowered by love or hatred
or some other passion, while they, on the other hand,
by virtue of their having cultivated à manner of
life which had been chosen before all others by the
most prudent of all men, fell into the fewest mistakes.
And since the kings followed so righteous a course
in dealing with their subjects, the people manifested
a goodwill towards their rulers which surpassed even
the affection they had for their own kinsmen; for
not only the order of the priests but, in short, all
the inhabitants of Egypt were less concerned for
their wives and children and their other cherished
possessions than for the safety of their kings. Conse-
quently, during most of the time covered by the
reigns of the kings of whom we have a record, they
maintained an orderly civil government and con-
tinued to enjoy a most felicitous life, so long as the
system of laws described was in force; and, more
than that, they conquered more nations and achieved
greater wealth than any other people, and adorned
their lands with monuments and buildings never to
be surpassed, and their cities with costly dedications
of every description.

12. Again, the Egyptian ceremonies which fol.

247

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ràv BasiXéov mapà voís AvyvmTo ob pikpà»
amóBeiEw elye! rífs roÜ mXj0ovs. eüvolas eis oU,
"yovuévovs* eis dvemaiaÜnrov yàp yápw $ TUAM)
TiÜeuévi) uaprvpiav àvóQevrov mepteixye Tfjg dÀq-

eas. ómóTe yàp éxkXeimot Tie vOv [Mov rOv
BaciXéov, mávres oi kavrà vij». Alyvmrrov kowóv
ávppoDvro TrévÜos, kal ràe uàv éc0fjras KaTEepp1)T-
Tovro, Trà Ó' iepà awvékXewv kai Tàe Óvoías
émeiyov xal Tàs éopràs ojk j»yov éd! $uépas
€B8ouikovra xai Oo" karamemXacuévo,. Bà às
kebaXàs TqXQ xai mepieLoauévo, a.vGóvag. vrro-
káro TÓV uacTÓOv Opnoles dvÓpes xai wyvvaixes
Tepigav áÜpoiaÜévres xarà Óiakoaiove $j rpa-
kocíovs, kal TÓv uev Üpijvov év bvÜuQ uer efje
ToLoUuevor Bie Tíjs jjuépas éríuev éwykcpiois,
dvaxkaXoónevo. Tjv áperiv cvoÜ TereXevrüKÓTOS,
vpodiyv 9' obre c7v ámró àv éuNróyev obre ijv ámró
ToU TvpoÜ Tpoaedépovro, roU vc olvov xal máas
TroXvTeAelas ümre(yovro. oj8els 8 áv obre Xovvpois
obr áXe[uuasiw obre a Tpoyuvafs mpociXero XPi-
a0ai, oV ijv o08€ pos rà ddpobícia mpoaeXDeiy
áv éróXugaev, àXXÀ. kaDdmep dyammroU vékvov
TeMevT/jaavTOS ÉxaaTos epuDvvos vyivóuevos
émévÜe. às eipnuévas juépas. év 80 TOUTQO TÓ
Xpovop TÀà Tpós Traójv Xaympós mapcokevao-
uévot, kal Tjj reXevraía TÀv fjuepüv Üévres ijv
TÓ cÓua Éyovcav XMápvaka Tpó cíe eis TOv
Tá$ov eicó0ov, mpoeríÜeaav xarà vóuov TÓ
TereXevTIKÓTL KpuTT)p.0V TOv év TÓ Bio m pax0év-
Twv. ocio ns 0 é£ovaias 1 BovXouévo xkary-
yopet», oí Qv iepeis évexouíalov éxaaTa cTív
or avTrQ mpaxÜévrov DEióvres, ai 8à mpós
24

BOOK I. 72. 1-5

lowed upon the death of a king afforded no small
proof of the goodwill of the people towards their
rulers; for the fact that the honour which they
paid was to one who was insensible of it constituted
an authentic testimony to its sincerity. For when
any king died all the inhabitants of Egypt united in
mourning for him, rending their garments, closing
the temples, stopping the sacrifices, and celebrating
no festivals for seventy-two days; and plastering
their heads with mud and wrapping strips of linen
cloth below their breasts, women as well as men
went about in groups of two or three hundred, and
twice each day, reciting the dirge in a rhythmic chant,
they sang the praises of the deceased, recalling his
virtues; nor would they eat the flesh of any living
thing or food prepared from wheat, and they abstained
from wine and luxury of any sort. And no one would
ever have seen fit to make use of baths or unguents
or soft bedding, nay more, would not even have
dared to indulge in sexual pleasures, but every
Egyptian grieved and mourned during those seventy-
two days as if it were his own beloved child that had
died. But during this interval they had made
splendid preparations for the burial, and on the last
day, placing the coffin containing the body before
the entrance to the tomb, they set up, as custom
prescribed, a tribunal to sit in judgment upon the
deeds done by the deceased during his life. And
when permission had been given to anyone who so
wished to lay complaint against him, the priests
praised all his noble deeds one after another, and

1 elxe Bekker, Vogei: $épe: A B, Dindorf.
249

[7]

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Tiv ék$opàv evvyyuévas pvopiábes TOv. ÜyXov
ákobDovca. avverevorjuovv, e& TÓxo,. kaxàs Begi-
cs, ei 96 jq), Tobvavriov éOopífovv. xai
mwOXXo! TOv facuXéev Oià mv ToU mXjÜovs
évavrieciw dmeoTepnÜgsav Tüe éujavo)e xal
vouíuov Taj 9:10 xal cvvéBawe To)e Tv
BaciXeiav Guabexopuévovs p!) uóvov 9à às üpri
pnÉcicas airías 6ucavom paxyeiv, àXXà kal 6à àv
$ofov Tüje uerà Tiv TeXevrüv écouévns Üpeos
Te Tob coparos kai Aaa $npías eis ámavra TOv
aióva.

Tóv uév oüv mepi ToUs ápxaiovzs BaciXeis
vouípcov Trà uéywra rabT. écviw.

18. Táe Aby)mrrov 86 váows eig TXcio uépn
Ümpnuévgs, Óv ÉxacTov xarà civ '"EXMqvuchv
8áXexrov óvoudterat vouós, éb' éxkda To rérakvat
vopdpxns o T?» dmávvev Cyov ériuéXedv Te kal
[dcus Tis Ó6 xópas dmdoms eis Tpía uépn
wpuuévgs Tiv uà» mpoTygv Éxe pepióa TÓ av-
coT)ua TOv iepéov, ueyíaT)s évrpom je Tvyxdvov
vapà Tois éyxwepiots Od Te Tijv eis ToUe Ücovs
émwuéAewav kal Oià TÓ qXelaTQv cUvegcw TOUS
dvOÓpas ToíTOvUS €x TaiÓclae eio épeoÜa,. ék 56
ToUTOv TOV TrpocóOcv Trás T€ Üvalas ámácas ràs
xav AlyvmrTov gvvTeXoÜct kai ToUs ÜTTpéras
Tpé$ovei: xai Taís (Olaus xpeíaw xopmyoUauv*
obTe yàp ràs TOv Ócóv rius dovro Óeiv àXXáreiw,
dXX bimÓ re TÓV a)TÓv üel kal mapamXnaios
1 'IT'wo instances of this are given in chap. 64.

? The Harris Papyrus of the twelfth century B.C. gives the

only definite figures of the vast holdings of the temples.
They owned at that time about two per cent. of the population

250

BOOK I. 72. 5-73. 3

the common people who had gathered in myriads
to the funeral, listening to them, shouted their
approval if the king had led a worthy life, but if
he had not, they raised a clamour of protest. And
in fact many kings have been deprived of the public
burial customarily accorded them because of the
opposition of the people;! the result was, conse-
quently, that the successive kings practised justice,
not merely for the reasons just mentioned, but also
because of their fear of the despite which would be
shown their body after death and of eternal
obloquy.

Of the customs, then, touching the early kings
these are the most important.

13. And since Egypt as a whole is divided into
several parts which in Greek are called nomes, over
each of these a nomarch is appointed who is charged
with both the oversight and care of all its affairs.
Furthermore, the entire country is divided into
three parts, the first of which is held by the order
of the priests, which is accorded the greatest venera-
tion by the inhabitants both because these men
have charge of the worship of the gods and because
by virtue of their education they bring to bear a
higher intelligence than others. With the income
from these holdings? of land they perform all the
sacrifices throughout Egypt, maintain their assist-
ants, and minister to their own needs; for it has
always been held that the honours paid to the gods
should never be changed, but should ever be per-
formed by the same men and in the same manner,

and some fifteen per cent. of the land, not to mention property

of other nature, and their power materially increased in the
BUcceeding centuries.

251

DIODORUS OF SICILY

avvTeAetaÜas, ole ToUs rávrov mpofJovXevouévovs
évÓee?s elvat TÓv dvarykaíov. kaÜóXov yàp epi
TOv perta rov obro, mpoBlovXevopevo, avvéuvrpi-
Bovai TQ ÉaciXei, TOv uév awvepyol, ràv 8i
eianynrai kai 6&i:8áa kaXot "ycópevor, kai Già uév
TíS doTpoXoyías xal Tíjs iepockomías TÀ uéA-
Xovra Tpocnpaivovres, ék 66 vOv £v vals iepats
BiBXots àvayeypauuévov vrpáEeov ràs ó$eXsoa,
óvvauévas TapavaywaakovTes. ob yáp, GaTep
TaGpà Tois "EXXgsiw, els àvip ?) uía vvv!) cv
lepoa)viv TapeiNnóev, àXXÀ roXXol cepi Ts
TOV Ücàv Üvcias xal viue Gua rpl ovas, kal Toís
éx'yóvois T?)v ópoíav ToU (ov mpoaípeatw vrapa8t-
óóaciv. ici 66 obro, mávTov Te üreAeis xai Gev-
TepelovTes uerà róv BaciXéa. rais ve Dofais xal
TAÍS éfovaíais,

Tv à 8evrépav uoipav oí BaciXets rapeiXdj-
$aciv eis vpoaótovs, àj' dv eis ve roUe moAé-
uovs xop'yoUa. kal T3)v sep) abrobs Xaymrpórrra
6:avXdTTovoi, kal To)s uiv ávÓpayaDjaavras
Sopeais xarà T)» áfíav ri&Qoi, ToUs 9 iGworas
&i& 72v ék rovrov eibmopíav ob. Bamritovot vaís
eia Qopaís.

5v 8é pepíóa 2v TeXevraíav éxovatv oi
uáxipot KaXoUpevot «ai 7 pos TÓS Aerrovpyrías
Tàs eis T)v aTrpareíav imakovovreg, ty ol. kww&v-
vevovres ebvoUa'TaToL 7f xopa OiàÀ viv Xg-
povxtav óvres Trpo8 pus émiÓéyovrat Tà avuflai-
vovTG kaTà TOUS TOXéuovs PDewdá. üromov *yàp
jv Tv pev T». dmrávrow goTuopíav ToUToLS
émLTpérew, bmrép o0. O6 dryoviobvrat uxO«y abroís
bTápxew kaTà T7)» xópav amov5fs áEow: v 56
252

BOOK L. 73. 3-8

and that those who deliberate on behalf of all should
not lack the necessitics of life. For, speaking gener-
ally, the priests are the first to deliberate upon the
most important matters and are always at the king's
side, sometimes as his assistants, sometimes to
propose measures and give instructions, and they
also, by their knowledge of astrology and of divina-
tion, forecast future events, and read to the king,
out of the record of acts preserved in their sacred
books, those which can be of assistance. For it is
not the case with the Egyptians as it is with the
Greeks, that a single man or a single woman takes
over the priesthood, but many are engaged in the
sacrifices and honours paid the gods and pass on to
their descendants the same rule of life. "They also
pay no taxes of any kind, and in repute and in power
are second after the king.

The second part of the country has been taken
over by the kings for their revenues, out of which
they pay the cost of their wars, support the splendour
of their court, and reward with fitting gifts any who
have distinguished themselves; and they do not
swamp the private citizens by taxation, since their
income from these revenues gives them a great
plenty.

The last part is held by the warriors, as they are
called, who are subject to call for all military duties,
the purpose being that those who hazard their lives
may be most loyal to the country because of such
allotment of land and thus may eagerly face the
perils of war. For it would be absurd to entrust the
safety of the entire nation to these men and yet
have them possess in the country no property to
fight for valuable enough to arouse their ardour.

253

DIODORUS OF SICILY

péyia Tov, eómropoviévovs abToUs pa&ies Texvo-
"roujcew, kai &à ToÓTo TÜV erovavÓporríay
kaTaakevágew,. ae i) 7 poaóeia Dau, £evucis
8vyvápeos Tv X&pav. ouoíos O' oro Tv
Tálw TabTQv ék Tr poryóvoxy Sraóexópevot Tas ue
Tv Tarépav àvóparyaÜ(aus TpoTpémovTaL. Trpós
Tjv ávOpeíav, éx« aíÓmv 66 ÜpXwral wywopevot
TÓV TON eju Kay épyov àvíknTo, rais TÓXuaus Kai
Tas éjaret píaus dmoBaívovatw.

74. "Eert 8 Érepa cwvTdypaTa. TÓS TroMreías
rpía, TÓ T€ TÓV vouéov «ai uJ TÓV yyecopryOv, &rt
86 TÓ Tv Texverdv. oí pev oov yeopyol. pucpot
TLVOS Tw «apr obópov yn Tiv Tapà ToU Bact-
Aéms «al TÀv iepéav kai TOV paxipuav pua ob-
uevot Sua rexobat TOV mávra. Xpóvov mepi TjV
épyaaiav óvres Tíjs Xdpas ék vqmiov 8é d vrpe-
Qópevo, Tais yeopyucais emueNelaus TOM) Tpo-
éxovat TOV ,Tapà Tos AXXois &vect yeopyóv
rais éumreiplaus kai yàp. T)v Tjs ys $vciv
Kai TÓv TÓV DBárev émíppvauw, ér, 8€ ToUs
katpovs ToU T€ GTópov kai Tob Ocpta uo0 ai
Tfjs AXMgs TÀV kapnráv a vycopirjs à àxpiBéarava
7rávrov yea kovat, TÀ UV ek Tis TÀv Trpoyóvav
maparmQprjaeas paÜóvres, Tà 9 ex Tí ibas
Teipas &ióax6évres. D à abTós Aóros éaTi «al
Trepi TÓV vopéav, ot TV TÓV Opeupárov em-
péXetav. ék TaTépuv óavrep Ky povopías vóugo
vapaxapBávovres év Bio erqvorpóóo BareXobo
mávra TÓv TOU Üfv ypóvov, xai T0XÀÀ uv. ra pà
TÀy Trporyóvav "pos Oepamreíav kal Bua pov
àpta qv TÀv Boaxopuévav mrapenaauw, oUk OXirya

1 ka ragkevdsew Stephanus: karackeuc (ei,

254

BOOK I. 73. 8-74. 4

But the most important consideration is the fact that,
if they are well-to-do, they will readily beget children
and thus so increase the population that the country
will not need to call in any mercenary troops. And
since their calling, like that of the priests, is here-
ditary, the warriors are incited to bravery by the
distinguished records of their fathers and, inasmuch
as they become zealous students of warfare from
their boyhood up, they turn out to be invincible by
reason of their daring and skill!

14. There are three other classes of free citizens,
namely, the herdsmen, the husbandmen, and the
artisans. Now the husbandmen rent on moderate
terms the arable land held by the king and the
priests and the warriors, and spend their entire time
in tilling the soil; and since from very infancy they
are brought up in connection with the various tasks
of farming, they are far more experienced in such
matters than the husbandmen of any other nation ;
for of all mankind they acquire the most exact
knowledge of the nature of the soil, the use of water
in irrigation, the times of sowing and reaping, and
the harvesting of the crops in general, some details
of which they have learned from the observations of
their ancestors and others in the school of their own
experience. And what has been said applies equally
well to the herdsmen, who reccive the care of animals
from their fathers as if by a law of inheritance, and
follow a pastoral life all the days of their existence.
They have received, it is true, much from their
rope relative to the best care and feeding of
grazing animals, but to this they add not a little

1 The fullest account of this warrior caste is in Herodotus
2 164 ff.

255

DIODORUS OF SICILY

^ "^ ,
8' ajrol Óià róv «cis TaÜra (Xov mpocevpi-
A *
ckovci, kal TÓ ÜavpgaciTaTov, Üià Tiv bmep-
^ ^ ^ d
BoX3v Tfjs eís raÜra avrovó)s ot e ópwÜovpódo:
^ ^ »-
kai oí ygvoflockoi xcpie Tüs Tapà Trois dXXoue
ávÜpermrois ée d$)ceos cvvreXovuévgs wyevéaewos
^ ^ Fi 4
TOv eipnuévev Lowcv ajbrol 6ià cíe (Días duXo-
, , , ^ , /, , ,
rexvías üg/Ünrov mX8os Opvéev dÓpoífovaur
, * H , 8 *& ^ * (0 AA! , ^
o) yàp émoátovs, 9ià Tv. OpviÜev, àXX' abrol
vapaóófes xeupovpryoÜvres Tjj avvéae, kal duXo-
^ ^ r4
rexy»ia. Tijs Qvoucis évepryetas oUk ámoXetmrovra..
'AXAÀ ujv xal màs Téxvas i8eiv ÉoTi mapd
^ L4 A
Tois AibwyvmTio:s uáXucTa OiaTemovQuévas «ai
^ LH
mpós TÓ kaÜikov TéXos BwujpkpiBeuévas* mapà
, My
póvoig «yàp ToUTois oí Onpiovpyol mávreg obT
€pyacíae &XXgs obre ToXwrukijs Táfewoe uera-
^ ^ [e] ,
Xaufávew éOvra. TXQv Tij ék TÓV vóuov
dpucpuévne kal mapà TÀv vovéov mapaOeGouévgs,
[4 , * , , A
docTe pre 616a káXov dÜOvov ure moXNvrLko Ug
* $3 » à * BL
vepiaTaGGuoUs u5T áXXo umgüév éumoBitew
avTOv Tjv eie raÜra aTovÓ)jv. Tapà puév yàp
TOi, dXXots iOctv Éa t ToUs Texvíras Trepl TroXXà
T) Oavoía TepwaTGuévovs xal b mv mXeo-
vefíav ui pévovrae TÓ mapámav émi Tfjs i&ías
épyacías* oí. u&v yàp ébámrovra. vyeopryías, oi
8' éumopías xoivevoDct, oi 86 Ovoiv 7?) rpiÀv
reXvGv ávréxovrat, mXeia o, 8' év ais Ónuokpa-
,
Tovuévaus TÓMegiv eig Tàs ékxXMuoíae cvvrpé-
, X
Xovres T?)v uév "ToXwréíav XAvpaívovrau, TÓ 98

256

BOOK I. 74. 4-7;

by reason of their own interest in such matters ;
and the most astonishing fact is that, by reason of
their unusual application to such matters, the men
who have charge of poultry and geese, in addition
to producing them in the natural way known to all
mankind, raise them by their own hands, by virtue
of a skil peculiar to them, in numbers beyond
telling; for they do not use the birds for hatching
the eggs, but, in effecting this themselves artificially
by their own wit and skill in an astounding manner,
they are not surpassed by the operations of nature.!

Furthermore, one may see that the crafts also
among the Egyptians are very diligently cultivated
and brought to their proper development ; for they
are the only people where all the craftsmen are
forbidden to follow any other occupation or belong to
any other class of citizens than those stipulated by the
laws and handed down to them from their parents,
the result being that neither ill-will towards a teacher
nor political distraetions nor any other thing inter-
feres with their interest in their work. For whereas
among all other peoples it can be observed that the
artisans are distracted in mind by many things,
and through the desire to advance themselves do
not stick exclusively to their own occupation; for
some try their hands at agriculture, some dabble in
trade, and some cling to two or three crafts, and
in states having a democratic form of government
vast numbers of them, trooping to the meetings of the
Assembly, ruin the work of the government, while
they make a profit for themselves at the expense of

1 According to Aristotle (Historia Animalium, 0. 2) this
artificial hatching was effected by burying the eggs in dung.

257

[r2]

[LJ

DIODORUS OF SICILY

AvcvreAés Tepumoio0vra, mapà TÓÀV pua Oo8o-
ToUvTOw* Tapà Óé Tois AlwvrmTíous, ei Tis TÓV
TeXPLTOv ueráa xo, Tj ToMélas, 7 Téxvas
mAelovs épyátovro, ueyáXaus Trepvmim Teu Tijue-
píass. NÉ.
Tv uév oiv Guipecuv Tfjs moMvTelas kal Tjv
Tfis i&las rá£Éews émiuéXeiav. &1à mporyóvov Touab-
TqV ÉgXov oi TÓ TaXci0v Tiv AlyvmTOV KQTOL-
&obvTes.

75. Ilepi 88 vàs xpícews o) Tv TvXobcav
émotoÜvro oTovónv, )yojvuevo, ràe év ois ica-
eT2piois; àmoóáceis pueylarQ» pom? Té kowd
Bie $épew vmpós ápdórepa. S5Xov yàp 3v óni
TOP pév Tapavouobvrov koXabopévav, rày 8
á&covuévov BoxÜeías rvyxavóvrov, dpia 79 &ióp-
Üccis écra, TOv ápaprnuárowv: ci 8 à $óBos
0 yuvópevos éc vÀv «pia ea Toís mapavouoUa ww
ávaTpémouro Xp'ipa ai j, Xápww, écop£vqv
éópev To) xowobD Sov góyxvaw. &ómrep ék
TOV émijaveoTárov TOXeov ToUs ápia rovs
dvÓpas dmoOeucv)vTes | Óao às Korvo)s ok
dmeriyyavov Ts "Tpoaipécews. e£ 'HAíov yàp
móXevs kal €BSàv xal Méudews Béxa BucaoTás
éf éxdaTos mpoékpivov' kai ToUro TÓ avvéÓpiov
obk é&óke,. XebrreaÜas TOv ' AO)vnaiww " Apeomas-
TOv 4$) TÀÓv mapà Aaxebaiuovíows — yepóvrev.
émei Óà cwvvéAÜoiev oi Tpiákovra, émékpivov
éf éavràv é&va -Tóv pirov, xal Tobrov uv
àpxibicao Ti kaÜLaTavro, eis 8à TÓ robrov rómov

1 fpeaking as an aristocrat, Diodorus is eriticising the
demoneen. Greece, Athens in all probability being es-
pecially in his mind, where the citizens, according to him, leave

258

BOOK l. 74. 7-75. 4

others who pay them their wage,! yet among the
Egyptians if any artisan should take part in public
affairs or pursue several crafts he is severely punished.

Such, then, were the divisions of the citizens,
maintained by the early inhabitants of Egypt, and
their devotion to their own class which they inherited
from their ancestors.

15. In their administration of justice the Egyptians
also showed no merely casual interest, holding that
the decisions of the courts exercise the greatest
infuence upon community life, and this in each
of their two aspects. For it was evident to them
that if the offenders against the law should be
punished and the injured parties should be afforded
suecour there would be an ideal correction of wrong-
doing; but if, on the other hand, the fear which
wrongdoers have of the judgments of the courts
should be brought to naught by bribery or favour,
they saw that the break-up of community life
would follow. Consequently, by appointing the best
men from the most important cities as judges over
the whole land they did not fall short of the end
which they had in mind. For from Heliopolis and
Thebes and Memphis they used to choose ten judges
from each, and this court was regarded as in no way
inferior to that composed of the Areopagites at Athens
orof the Elders? at Sparta. And when the thirty
assembled they chose the best one of their number and
made him chief justice, and in his stead the city sent
their tasks to participate in the affairs of the state, apparently
being paid by their employers while thus engaged and receiving
an additional compensation from the state.

* The bodies were known as the Council of the Areopagus

qun the Gerousia respectively; the latter is described in Book
T. 104.

259

-—-

DIODORUS OF SICILY

dréa TeAXev 1) 7róAus érepov Gukao Tcv. | ovvrá£eis
86 rÓv dvaxaíev mapà ro0 faciXéos rois uév
6ucacTais ixaval "pós Óarpodiv €xopry'yobvro,
vrÀÓ B' ápyibukao T moXXamXácioi. — éjopei 8
obTos Trepi TOv TpáxuXov éx xpvaijs Aba eus
2pruuévov tgÓwv TÓv TOXVTEAÓV MBav, D)
srpoa1yópevov ' AXiÜeuav. TÀv 8 apduo Byrijo eov
Jpxovro émeià»! c?v Tjs AXnÜeías eixóva, à
ápyi&wcacT2s TpócÜovro. TÓÀv O6 rávrev vp
év fugMeis ÓxrO yeypapuévov, «al TojTOv
vrapakeuuévov TOÍS $ikaa rais, &os jv Tóv uev
kaTijyopov *ypdxrau «a0 &v àv évekdXei «ai rs
yéyove xai Tijv à£íav ToÜ áÓwgaros 7) Tfj
BXáfws, Tóv ámoXoyojuevov 8é AaBóvra, TÓ
xpupaTuo cv bó TÓv Avriieov vrvypáraa
pos &kacrov dw obw Émpafev 7j mpáfas oU
qj6Lknaev 1) à&wucijo as eXáTTOvos Enpías áEiós een
TUXEip. meia vOpL 0v jv TÓv KarT'yopov ávri-
ypá dat kat rdv TOV dmroXoryoUpevov ávribeiyas.
ápdoTépov 6) rYv ávrilikev rà vyeypaupuéva Óis
TOig OwxacTaig Oó0vTow, TrÓ T9vikaÜT £c. ToUS
uev Tpiákovra TÀS *vopas év àXXjXois. áàmrodat-
vecÜa,, TÜüv ápxibukaoT?v O6 T0 Ügbwov cíjs
' AXn8eías rpooiÜea0at Tjj érépa rÓv àpduof9n-
To eov. ; ns a , ;
16. Tovro à TQ TpóTw» Tàs kplcew Tdcas
cvvreAetv ToUs ÁiyvmTíous, vouílovras ék ép
ToU Xéyew ToUs cvv5yopovs ToXXÀ rois Óucatots
émLcKoTQce:w* Kal yàp màs Téyvas TOv pyrópov
kai T2» Tfjs ÜTokpioees yomreíav kai Tà TÓV

! égei5jj Bekker, Dindorf.
260

BOOK I. 75. 4-76. 1

anotherjudge. Allowances to provide for their needs
were supplied by the king, to the judges sufficient for
their maintenance, and many times as much to the
chief justice. The latter regularly wore suspended
from his neck by a golden chain a small image made of
precious stones, which they called Truth ; the hearings
of the pleas commenced whenever the chief justice
put on the image of Truth. The entire body of
the laws was written down in eight volumes which
lay before the judges, and the custom was that the
accuser should present in writing the particulars of
his complaint, namely, the charge, how the thing
happened, and the amount of injury or damage done,
whereupon the defendant would take the document
submitted by his opponents in the suit and reply in
writing to each charge, to the effect either that he
did not commit the deed, or, if he did, that he was
not guilty of wrongdoing, or, if he was guilty of
wrongdoing, that he should receive a lighter penalty.
After that, the law required that the accuser should
reply to this in writing and that the defendant
should offer a rebuttal. And after both parties had
twice presented their statements in writing to the
judges, it was the duty of the thirty at once to
declare their opinions among themselves and of the
chief justice to place the image of Truth upon one
or the other of the two pleas which had been
presented.

76. This was the manner, as their account goes, in
which the Egyptians conducted all court proceed-
ings, since they believed that if the advocates were
allowed to speak they would greatly becloud the
justice of a case; for they knew that the clever
devices of orators, the cunning witchery of their

261

DIODORUS OF SICILY

,
Kiw6vvevóvrav Oáxpva mOoXXoUe porpérmea0ai
e^ , ij L4
vapopüv rà TOv vópev ámórouov kal Tv TÍjs
^ ^ A
2 àXxfelas áxpli8evav: Üccpeta 0a; ryoÜv ToUs érat-
Li , E! *, ,
vovuévous év TQ xpivew TroXXákis 7) V. ümáTqv
» X ; » * . * bt »-
$ OuQà xrvxayoevyíav 1) OiàÀ TO mpüs TOv 6Xeov
vráÜos avvek$epouévovs Tfj Gvvduew TÀv avvyryo-
^ , A
poÜvrov' éx O6 ToÜ wypájew à Bixawa ovs
, ; v * ; , ^ » 0
àvriblkovs qovro Tràs kpícews àxpigeis éaeaÜau,
^ L4 [4
yvpvOÓy TÓv Tpayuárov Üecpovuévev. — oro
M. 1 LA , ^ » e^ "^ 8
yàp! uáXwTa jQre TOUS cUjveis rÓv Bpaóv-
, e
TÉép&v mXeovekT1)o ew ure roUs évyÜXnkóras Tw
* * ^
dTeipev pire TOUS Yrebo Tas xai TOXJwppoUs TÓV
, , e^ »
QiXaXjÓev xal xaTecTaXuévev Tois 308eat,
* 8 » , v r4 0 Ll b ,
TávTaSs ém logs TeUfecÜa. TÓv Owaiov,
e , b
ixavüv xpóvov éx« TOv vópov XauBavóvrev TÓÀV
, L ^
n&v àvribikeov éferáca, Tà map àXXQXov, rTÀv
hy ,
86 Bean TOv avykpivas rà rap. üáudorépov.
e^ ,
TT. "Enmrcei 86 Tf$« vouotccías éuvijo8nuev, ook
t ,
àvolxewov elvat Tíje Umoxewuévis (oTopías vopí-
fouev éx0écÜa. TÓv vóuev cow Tapà Toís
Alyvirríows mraXaióTgr, Óvjveykav 1) mapyXXan-
, , L4 ^ N a , L e^
pnévnv Tráfuv Co Xov 7) TO cUvoXov co j6Xeav ToÍs
, e^
QuXavaryvea roba t 8jvavrat rapao XéaÓa4. — Tpó-
^ ,
Tov uv otv karà TÀv émiópkov Üávaros )jv map
aUTois TÓ TpócTiOV, Os Óvo rà uéyuaa rovoDv-
,
rov àvoujpara, Ócoós ve áaeBo/vrev xal Tv

1 à» after yàp deleted by Dindorf.
262

BOOK I. 76. 1-77. 2

delivery, and the tears of the accused would influence
many to overlook the severity of the laws and the
strictness of truth; at any rate they were aware
that men who are highly respected as judges are
often carried away by the eloquence of the advo-
eates, either because they are deceived, or because
they are won over by the speaker's charm, or because
the emotion of pity has been aroused in them;!
but by having the parties to a suit present their
pleas in writing, it was their opinion that the judg-
ments would be strict, only the bare facts being
taken into account. For in that ease there would
be the least chance that gifted speakers would have
an advantage over the slower, or the well-practised
over the inexperienced, or the audacious liars over
those who were truth-loving and restrained in char-
acter, but all would get their just dues on an equal
footing, since by the provision of the laws ample
time is taken, on the one hand by the disputants for
the examination of the arguments of the other side,
and, on the other hand, by the judges for the com-
parison of the allegations of both parties.

TT. Since we have spoken of their legislation, we
feel that it will not be foreign to the plan of our
history to present such laws of the Egyptians as
were especially old or took on an extraordinary
form, or, in general, can be of help to lovers of
reading. Now in the first place, their penalty for
perjurers was death, on the ground that such men
are guilty of the two greatest transgressions—being
impious towards the gods and overthrowing the

1 Tt is interesting to observe that the Egyptians are sup-
posed to be familiar with the weaknesses of the Attic courts.

263

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ueyíaTqv TÀv map ávÜpdmom mícTw dvarpe-
3 vóvrow. éÉretra el ris €v 05Q xarà Tiv xopav
i&àv $orevóuevov ürÜperov i) 10 ka€óXov Blatóv
TL TáGXOvTA p3) pvcavro Bvvarós àv, Üaváro
vrepvrea ety dieiXer ei 8 mpós dijfeiav. &ià. Tó
déjvaTov ui) raria xíaat Éonfijaat, wqvücal ve
mávT€s ÓeiXe ro); AgoTàs xal émefiérai Tij»
Tapavouíav: Tóv 86 rabra yai) wpáfavra xarà
Tóv vóuov &8et naa TvyotioÓat erayuévas TÀnyás
kal máa1)s elpyeaÜa. Tpojiüjs éwi vpeis juépas.
oí O6 «revbOs Tivew karwyyopijaavres adeiXov
ToUro TaÜety 0 Tol; avkodavTuÜcici» érérakro
cwpócTiuoV, eimep érvyov — kara&waaÜévres.
5 mpocerérakro 86 «al Tác. Toís AlyvmTÜon
áTmoypádec0ai mpós rovs àpxovras dmó rívew
éxacTos TopíLerat TOv fov, kal Tóv év roírois
Areva áucvov 7?) vrópov àGucov émiTeXoÜvra Gaváro
Tepwrirrew Jv ávawykaiov, Xéyerai 86 robrov
TOv vónOv UTÓ ZóXevos mapaflaMóvros eis
6 Ai*yurrTov eis Tàs " AOjvas pereveyÜfvat. — el Bé vis
éxovaics dmrorretvau TÓv éXeBepov 1) róv GobXov,
dmoÜvjaxew ToÜTov oi vóuot pocérarrov, ápa
p&v [BovXóuevot u3) rais &adopats Tj TUY9)S, GÀAÀ
rais TOv mpáLeev émwifoXatis eipyea 0a, mávras
àmó T) $a/Xev, iua B6 &à ríe rà» So/Aov
d povrí8os éÜLCovres Toc àvÜpavrovs oA) náAXov
eis ToUs éXevOépovs Bev üXos éfapaprávew.
—————— ML RE
E. Cp. Euripides, Medea, 412-13: 6e» à' obkéri maris Épape
ie pledge given in the name of the gods no longer stands

a Cp. Herodotus, 2. 177: u58é dmoóaívovra Bua 1
("unless he proved that he had s just Be oflifo", ^. Ev

264

BOOK Il. 7;. 2-6

mightiest pledge known among men.! Again, if a
man, walking on a road in Égypt, saw a person
being killed or, in a word, suffering any kind of
violence and did not come to his aid if able to do
so, he had to die; and if he was truly prevented
from aiding the person because of inability, he was
in any case required to lodge information against
the bandits and to bring an action against their
lawless act; and in case he failed to do this as the
law required, it was required that he be scourged
with a fixed number of stripes and be deprived of
every kind of food for three days. "Those who brought
false accusations against others had to suffer the
penalty that would have been meted out to the
accused persons had they been adjudged guilty.
All Egyptians were also severally required to submit
to the magistrates a written declaration of the sources
of their livelihood, and any man making a false declara-
tion or gaining an unlawful means of livelihood ? had
to pay the death penalty. And itis said that Solon,
after his visit to Egypt, brought this law to Athens.?
If anyone intentionally killed a free man or a slave
the laws enjoined that he be put to death; for they,
in the first place, wished that it should not be through
the accidental differences in men's condition in life
but through the principles governing their actions
that all men should be restrained from evil deeds,
and, on the other hand, they sought to accustom
mankind, through such consideration for slaves, to
refrain al! the more from committing any offence
whatever against freemen.

* Herodotus (2. 177) makes the same statement, but
Plutarch (Solon, 31), on the authority of "Theophrastus,
attributes à similar law, not to Solon, but to Peisistratus.

265

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Kai karà u£v àv syovéov TÀv ávokrewávrov
Tà Tékva Üávarov uiv obxy Ópwar, juépae 8d
Tpe(s kal vókras ioas cvvexÓOs jv ávawyxaiov
TepieUMgóras TOv vexpüv vmouévew | óvXakfs
vapeüpevovoys Ónuocías o) yàp Oíxauov Ume-
Adj$0n Tó roÜ Bíov cTepíoket ToUs TOv Biov Toís
magi ÓeÓckóTas, vovÜeryoe. 86 uüXXov XmqV
éxojop kai uerauéXewav ámoTpémew TÀv ToOwoD-
TOV Éyxyewmupárov: xarà O66 TOV Tékvov TÓÀV
yovete dovevaávrov Tiopíav é£yXXayyuévqv &0n-
xap* &Oe, yàp rovs karaOukacÜévras émi ToU-
TOLs kaXápots OEéot ÓakTvMata uépy roÜ a óuaos
kara TunÜévras ém dkávÜats karakáeaDat l'ovras*
néyua Tov Tv éy àyÜpáyrow á&ucquárov kpívovres
TÓ fiaíes TÓ Uv ddaipeioÜa. TOv Tiv [env
a)To(s ÓcÓokóTov. TÀv O6 yvvaikQv TOV kara-
6wacÜcuo Qv Üavárqo Tàs éykVovs ui) ava ToDoÓa.
Tpiv àv Tékwci. kai Tobro TÓ vÓuuuov TOXXol
kai rÀv ' EXXdjvov karéóe£av, fjyyovpevoimravreAós
&6ucov elvat TÓ ug8»v dBwfjeav TQ AÓwjoavri
Ts avTí)s ueréyew Tuuopías, kal mapavouijuaros
évós yyevouévov rapà 8votv Xauflávew T Tpóc-
TipOV, Trpüs 6 ToUTOi; kaTà mpoaípeaiw Trovypàv
avvTeXeo0évros ToU áOujuaTos T0 ug8euíav To
abvecw éxov imo Tiv Opoíav dyeiw kóXacw, TÓ
66 várvrov uéyw Tov, 0L Tals kvovaais iG(a Tíjs
aiTías émevgveyuérvgs oü6auós mpoar)e, TÓ kowóv
vaTpós kai uTpóe Tékvov àvaipelaÜav ém' los
yàp dv vts $asXove OGuXáflo: kpvrüc ToUs Te TÓv
&voxov TQ $óvo a cbovras kal robs T0 unOey ÓXos
á&ucjaav avvavatupobvras.

266

BOOK I. 77. 7-10

In the case of parents who had slain their children,
though the laws did not prescribe death, yet the
offenders had to hold the dead body in their arms
for three successive days and nights, under the sur-
veillance of a state guard; for it was not considered
just to deprive of life those who had given life to
their children, but rather by a warning which brought
with it pain and repentance to turn them from such
deeds. But for children who had killed their parents
they reserved an extraordinary punishment; for it
was required that those found guilty of this crime
should have pieces of flesh about the size of a finger
eut out of their bodies with sharp reeds and then be
put on a bed of thorns and burned alive; for they
held that to take by violence the life of those who
had given them life was the greatest crime possible
toman. Pregnant women who had been condemned
to death were not executed until they had been
delivered. The same law has also been enacted by
many Greek states, since they held it entirely unjust
that the innocent should suffer the same punishment
as the guilty, that a penalty should be exacted of
two for only one transgression, and, further, that,
since the crime had been actuated by an evil inten-
tion, a being as yet without intelligence should re-
ceive the same correction, and, what is the most
important consideration, that in view of the fact
that the guilt had been laid at the door of the preg-
nant mother it was by no means proper that the child,
who belongs to the father as well as to the mother,
should be despatched; for a man may properly
consider judges who spare the life of à murderer to
be no worse than other judges who destroy that
which is guilty of no crime whatsoever.

265

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Tóàv uév oiv $dowukQv vóuev oí uáXiaTa 9o-
koUvres émvrereüxÜa, roioÜroL Twes ?)cav.

T8. Tav 0' GdXXev 0 uév epi TOv mToXMÉéucv
keiuevos xarà TOv Tqv Táfw XAXwmróvrov dj TÓ
vrapa'yyeXey UTTÓ TÓv jyyeuóvo pi) roto v Tav
éraTTe TrpOG TLUOV OV Oávarov, àXXà TV écxàTqV
àripLav* ei 9 Darepov rais ávOpavyaDíais vmep-
BáXoiwro Tàe áriuíae, eis Tiv TpoUTápfacav
vappmaíav ámokaÜíaTa, áua uév ToU vouoÜérov
Geworépav Tipiav TrotoÜvros Tv àTisLav 1) TÓv
Üávarov, iva TÓ péyuaTov TÓV xakGQv éÜion
vávras xpivew T)v aia xivg», dua Bé roUe uév
ÜavarwÜévras jyyeiro unBév àoeXjaeiw Tüv koiwàüv
Biov, robe Bé áriueÜévrae dyaÜGv ToXXOv
airíovs éaea0a. &ià r7)v émiÜvpíav rfj mrappgaías.
xal TOv uév rà dmóppyra Totis ToXeuíois àmay-
yeckávrov émérarrev 0 vópos ékTéuvea0au Tov
yXQTTav, TÓv 06 rÓ vójucua TapakormTÓvTow 1)
uérpa kal aTaÜuÀ TapamoiUvrev 1) mapayXv-
$óvrov Tàc cdpayibas, ér. 66 TOv ypauparéov
TÀv wNrevóeis xpnuariapuo)s ypadóvrev 1) áa-
povvrOv TL TOV Éyyeypapuévev, kai TOv Tüs
Wrevóete avyypadàs émidepóvrov, pudorépas
éxéXevaev dmoxómTeaÜa: Tàs weipas, ÓTws olg
ÉxaaTos uépegi ToÜ copaTos Tapevóusaev, eis
TaUvTa koXalóuevos abrós uév uéypi TeXevTís
àvíarov éyp T)v gvp$opár, robs O dAXovs Oi
Tís iBíae Tiucpíae vovÜerüv Amorpémg TÓÀv
Opoícv TL T páTTEL.

! The significance of this word, which summed up as well
4s any the ideal of Greek freedom and of the Athenian
democracy, cannot be included in & single phrase. It im-

268

BOOK I. 77. 11-78. 3

Now of the laws dealing with murder these are
those which are thought to have been the most
successful.

T8. Among their other laws one, which concerned
military affairs, made the punishment of deserters or
of any who disobeyed the command of their leaders,
not death, but the uttermost disgrace; but if later
on such men wiped out their disgrace by a display of
manly courage, they were restored to their former
freedom of speech.! Thus the lawgiver at the same
time made disgrace a more terrible punishment than
death, in order to accustom all the people to consider
dishonour the greatest of evils, and he also believed
that, while dead men would never be of value to
society, men who had been disgraced would do many
a good deed through their desire to regain freedom
of speech. In the ease of those who had disclosed
military secrets to the enemy the law prescribed that
their tongues should be cut out, while in the case of
counterfeiters or falsifiers of measures and weights
or imitators of seals, and of official seribes who made
false entries or erased items, and of any who adduced
false documents, it ordered that both their hands
should be cut off, to the end that the offender, being
punished in respect of those members of his body
that were the instruments of his wrongdoing, should
himself keep until death his irreparable misfortune,
and at the same time, by serving as a warning example
to others, should turn them from the commission of
similar offences.

plied that & man was as good as any other, that he could
hold up his head among his fellows. **Position of self.
respect and equality" is approximately what it means in
this sentence and the following.

269

—ÓÀ— —À

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Ilo«poi 0é xal epi Tw wvvawkGv vópot map'
avTroie (UmTüpxov. TroÜ pé» wxàp jfhucapévov
yvvaixa éXevÜépav pocératav dmokómTeoÜat
Tà aiBoía, vouícavres Tóv ToioUrov pad Tpáfei
vapavóue Tpía TÀ péyuaTa TOV kakQv évmpyg-
kévai, Tv Üf)pw xal r)v $Üopà» xal Tiv rÓv
Tékvov avyxvaw* el Bé vie sreícag uovyebaat, rv
uév áv»8pa páflóow xiMas mXpyàe XauBávew
ÉkéXevov, Tíjs 86 eyvvawüe T?» Diva koXoflota a,
bmoXagu[d9dvovres Beiv cTíje mpós dcowyxdpnrov
ákpaciav kaXMemitouévgs àoaweÜfjva, và uá-
cra koc uoÜvra T]v ebmpéreiav.

T9. Too; 8é epi TÓv cvuBoXaiíev vópovs
Boxxópi8os elvaé act. mpoorárrovoi 86 ToU;
p&y àcUyypaba Bavewapévovs, àv u3) Gáckocuw
Oje(Aew, ópócavras moXíecÓa. To) Gavelov,
prov uy ümes év uevyáXo TiÜEuevot ToUe Üpkovs
8ewibauuovai mpoboXov «yàp Ovrog Ór. TO
ToXÀXákis Óunócavrt avp[Sijoera, Tv Trio Tw drmro-
BaXetv, iva fs eby pyo rías ui) a repu), rep mrAei-
c TOV Trüs TIS üEev! TO p) karavráv émi róv Üpkov:
éreiÜ" bmreXduBavev 0 vouoÜérgs v3» 8Xgv mio Tw
€v Tj) kaXoká*yaD(a Troujaas m porpéreo0a, mávras
covBaíovs elvat cols ijÜecu, iva us míoTews
ává£wi Gua B NO cv: TpOs 86 rorows dBwcov rk puvev
eiva, ToU xopis Ópkov TiGTevÜÉvras Tepi rÀv
avrüv cuuBokaiev óuócavras p) Twyxyávew
míaTeos. ToU 86 uerà cvyypadt;s Gaveicavras

1 Étei Cobet : £e.

1 Cp. chap. 65.
270

BOOK I. 78. 4-79. 2

Severe also were their laws touching women. For
if à man had violated a free married woman, they
stipulated that he be emasculated, considering that
such a person by a single unlawful act had been guilty
of the three greatest crimes, assault, abduction, and
confusion of offspring; but if a man committed
adultery with the woman's consent, the laws ordered
that the man should receive a thousand blows with
the rod, and that the woman should have her nose cut
off, on the ground that a woman who tricks herself
Qut with an eye to forbidden licence should be
deprived of that which contributes most to a woman's
comeliness.

79. Their laws governing contracts they attribute
to Bocchoris. "These prescribe that men who had
borrowed money without signing a bond, if they
denied the indebtedness, might take an oath to that
effect and be cleared of the obligation. The purpose
was, in the first place, that men might stand in awe
of the gods by attributing great importance to oaths,
for, since it is manifest that the man who has re-
peatedly taken such an oath will in the end lose the
confidence which others had in him, everyone will
consider it a matter of the utmost concern not to
have recourse to the oath lest he forfeit his credit.
In the second place, the lawgiver assumed that by
basing confidence entirely upon a man's sense of
honour he would incite all men to be virtuous in
character, in order that they might not be talked
about as being unworthy of confidence ; and, further-
more, he held it to be unjust that men who had been
trusted with a loan without an oath should not be
trusted when they gave their oath regarding the
same transaction. And whoever lent money along

27I

UE —MÀ—ÓÀ—

,
1
j
Jj

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ékaXve Oà ToU Tókov TO kedáXatov qrAéov qrotetv
jj GerXdatov.

Tàv 86 ódeiXóvrov 73v Éxmpatw vàv O6avelov
ék Tfjs ovatas uóvov émoujcaro, Tó 69 copa xaT
oj8éva rpómov claacv Ümápyet áwyovyuuov, 1yov-
uevos 8ety elvat ràs uév kr:joets Tv épyacapévov
j) rapà kvpíov TivÓs éy Bwpeaís AaBóvrov, rà, 68
cóuaTa TÓÀy TÓAeOV, iva Tàs «a0nkoícas Aet-
Tovpyyías Exec ai mróxets «al gard TróXeuov kai
«aT eip5vgw dromov yàp TÓ! eTparwóTQv cis
Tüv UTép Tis TaTpí(oos Tpolóvra kxivOvvov, ei
TÜXo:, Trpós Ódveiov bmÓ ToU TicTeUcavros ámá-
yecÜau, xai Tfje TÀVv iOLorÀv TXcoveb(as €veka
KiwOvvevew T3)v kot?)v ümávrev aoTyplav. | Goket
8e kal ToÜTov Tüv vóuov 0 XóXcv eis Tàs 'AÜ vas
ueTeveyketv, bv avóuaae acuaáxÜeiav, áümroXvaas
TOUS TroALTas &mravras rÀv émi rois e ópaact mem-
cTcvuévev Oaveov. uéudovra: Oé Ties ok
dXóyes TOls mTXe(aTo:s TOV Tapà Toi; "EAXQot
vouoÜerv, otr.ves ÓmXa uv xal dporpov xal
dXXa TOv üàva'vykatorárov éxóXvcav évéyvpa
Xauávea0at Tpós Óávevov, ToU; 06 Tovro: xpr-
copévovs avveyopraav dyovyíuovs elvat.

80. "Ywrüoxe 86 xal wepi TÀv kXemTÓOv vópos
cap AvlyvmTíois iOtTaTOS. ékéXeve »yàp ToUs
név*? BovXouévovs Éyew mra/rqv T)v épyacíav

1 7$ Bekker: 7óv.
? uiv Dindorf : &3j D, omitted by all other MSS.

1 The famous Seisachtheia (* shaking off of burdens") of
Solon in 594 s.c. declared void existing pledges in land,

272

—Ó

BOOK I. 79. 2-80. 1

with a written bond was forbidden to do more than
double the principal from the interest.

In the case of debtors the lawgiver ruled that the
repayment of loans could be exacted only from a
man's estate, and under no condition did he allow
the debtor's person to be subject to seizure, holding
that whereas property should belong to those who had
amassed it or had received it from some earlier holder
by way of a gift, the bodies of citizens should belong
to the state, to the end that the state might avail
itself of the services which its citizens owed it, in
times of both war and peace. Forit would be absurd,
he felt, that a soldier, at the moment perhaps when
he was setting forth to fight for his fatherland, should
be haled to prison by his creditor for an unpaid loan,
and that the greed of private citizens should in this
way endanger the safety of all. And it appears that
Solon took this law also to Athens, calling it a '' dis-
burdenment," ! when he absolved all thc citizens of
the loans, secured by their persons, which they owed.
But certain individuals find fault, and not without
reason, with the majority of the Greek lawgivers,
who forbade the taking of weapons and ploughs and
other quite indispensable things as security for loans,
but nevertheless allowed the men who would use
these implements to be subject to imprisonment.

80. The Egyptian law dealing with thieves was
also a very peculiar one. For it bade any who chose
to follow this occupation to enter their names with

granted freedom to &ll men enslaved for debt, &nd probably
cancelled all] debts which involved any form of personal
servitude, by these measures effecting the complete freedom
of all debt slaves or debt serfs in Attica (cp. Adcock in T'he
Cambridge Ancient History, 4. p. 37 f.).

273

DIODORUS OF SICILY

árro*ypádeaÓa; mpós ràv ápyidopa, kai Tó kXamév
óuoXóyes àvadépew mapaxpiua Tpós éketvov,
TOUs 96 áToXécavras mapamAmgaíes áToypádew
avrQ kaÜ' £kacrov TOv üToXeXóTov, mpocTi-
Oévras vóv ve róTov xal rv juépav xai cT?)
ópav kaÜ )v ámwóXecev! robrp B6 vQ rpómQ
vávrOV éro(ues cUpiaKouévov, &Óe. rÓv dmoAé-
cavra TÓ réraprov uépos Tijs áf(as 8óvra kTj-
cacÜa. rà éavroÜ uóva. áBvvárov yàp ÓOvros
ToU Trávras àmoaTíjaoa, Tfjs KXoTrije eÜpe Trópov Ó
vouoÜérgs 9i ob müv rÓó dmoXónevov ceO5aecai
pucpav OuBouévev X)rpov.

l'auoüc. 86 wap AiyvmTíots oi £v Íepeis
péav, Ty 89' áXXov ócas üv Ckas ros mpoaipijrai
kai TÀà *vyevvopeva Távra Tpédovoiw éÉ dvdykgs
fvexa Tíje ToXAvavÜpemías, Ó« TaíTügs uéywra
cuufaXXouévgs pós ebOaiuovíav yópas re xai
qóNeov, vóÜov 8' oUbéva vÓv vyevvnBévrov voyt-
Covatv, oU6' üv é£ ápyvpovijrov unrpós vyevvoÜ$
kaÜóXov *yàp imeOvj$ast TÓv Tarépa uóvov
alrtov elvas Tíje tyevéaeose, r?)v 66 ungrépa rpodrv
kai xépav mapéyeaÜa. T Bpéje, kai rv Bév-
8pev dppeva uév kaXobat rà xaprrodópa, O:Xca
8e và uf) dépovra ro)e xapmoUs, évavríes rois
"EXXms:. Tpéjovoi 86 cà vaiBía uerá cios
ebxyepelas á&amávov kal mavreXs dmíoTov:
éJejuara yàp abroís Xopnyobsiv €x Tiwos per

1 àmóAeoey À B D, Vogel: &móXesav Bekker, Dindorf,
&réBaAc II.

274

BOOK I. 8o. 1-5

the Chief of the Thieves and by agreement to bring
to him immediately the stolen articles, while any who
had been robbed filed with him in like manner a list
of all the missing articles, stating the place, the day,
and the hour of the loss. And since by this method
all lost articles were readily found, the owner who
had lost anything had only to pay one-fourth of its
value in order to recover just what belonged to him.
For as it was impossible to keep all mankind from
stealing, the lawgiver devised a scheme whereby
every article lost would be recovered upon payment
of a small ransom.

In accordance with the marriage-customs of the
Egyptians the priests have but one wife, but any other
man takes as many as he may determine ;! and the
Egyptians are required to raise all their children
in order to increase the population,? on the ground
that large numbers are the greatest factor in increas-
ing the prosperity of both country and cities. Nor
do they hold any child a bastard, even though he
was born of a slave mother; for they have taken the
general position that the father is the sole author
of procreation and that the mother only supplies
the fetus with nourishment and a place to live, and
they call the trees which bear fruit '* male " and those
which do not '* female," exactly opposite to the Greek
usage. "They feed their children in a sort of happy-
go-lucky fashion that in its inexpensiveness quite
surpasses belief; for they serve them with stews

! According to Herodotus (2. 92) monogamy was the
prevailing custom, but he was certainly in error so far as the
wealthier classes were concerned.

* £e. the exposure of children, which was still praetised
&mong some Greeks in Diodorus' day, was forbidden.

275

DIODORUS OF SICILY

, , e , 1 * 4 ^ s "^
eUTeAeías éroiuov! *ywópeva, kal rv éw Tijg
x , ^ , 5, * "
BUBXov TvuÜuévov To); Dvvauévovs eis TO mÜp
, , M "n t ^ * " e "
éyepüBeaÜat, kal TOv DiCOv kai TYv kavXAOv rÀv

e , & ? , * o. A 5 Li
éAeiov Tà uév óuá, rà 9 &yorvres, Tà 9 ómrrávres,
6 Ói80aciv. üvvmoOyrev 86 kal yvpvv TOv mXci-
aTov Tpedouévov &ià Tv e0kpaaíav TÀv TÓTOv,
Tijv Tücav Gamávgv oi yoveis, dxpi v eis tuiáv
€X0y TO Tékvov, oU TXe(c rotat Ópaypóv eioat.
8v às aivías udNuo va. Tiv. Alyvmrov avuflaíve
, * "^
voXvavÜpermia Swbépeiw, kal 6uà robro mXelavas
éxew. ueyáXov épryov karaakevás.
81. IILas8evovau 86 robs víobs oi uév lepets
,F Ld , L4 , * j
ypáupara Ovrrd, Tá Te lepà xaXoUueva xai rà
kotvoTépav éxovra Tiv udÜnaiw. "*yeepuerpíav 86
2 xai T3v ápiÜpm Tuc?) éwi mXéov ékmovobcw.
NC , ,
péy yàp Torapós kaT éviavrüv TowkiAos pera-
,
axnpaTilev T)v X6pav TOoXXàs xai TavTolas
àpudvo BT1)jaets roit mepi TOv Opmav rois yevrvidat,
» 8 , 5d.8 5, Bà 3 Aé £ ^
ravras à ob jdtwov áxpiBüs é£e éybat ui) yew-
^ ,
pérpov Tv dX5Üewav ék Tüjs éumTetpías peÜo8cU-
[4 2 * ,
3 cavros. 7) 9 ápiÜumgTwc? TpÓs Te Tàs karà Tàv
, ^
Bíov oikovopías ajbTois xpuciueve, kal mpós Tà
, ^
yeoperpías Üeepijpaa, pos 86 ToUrois oU ÓXLya.
^ As
avufáXXerat kal rois à Tepi Tij» üaTpoXoy(av
4 ékmovoüciw. émtpeXoUs? vyáp, el «al rapd Twoiv

1 ner! ebreAelas érolnov Capps: ebreAelas érolums.
3 àniueAoUs Dindorf : évipeAGs,

1 There were, in fact, three kinds of Egyptian writing, (1)
the hieroglyphio, (2) the hieratic, and (3) the demotio, the last

276

—-

BOOK I. 8o. 5-81. 4

made of any stuff that is ready to hand and cheap,
and give them such stalks of "e byblos plant as can
be roasted in the coals, and the roots and stems of
marsh plants, either raw or boiled or baked. And
since most of the children are reared without shoes
or clothing because of the mildness of the climate
of the country, the entire expense incurred by the
parents of a child until it comes to maturity is not
more than twenty drachmas. "These are the leading
reasons why Egypt has such an extraordinarily
large population, and it is because of this fact that
she possesses a vast number of great monuments.
81. In the education of their sons the priests
teach them two kinds of writing, that which is called
" sacred "" and that which is used in the more general
instruction. Geometry ? and arithmetic are given
special attention. For the river, by changing the
face of the country each year in manifold ways, gives
rise to many and varied disputes between neighbours
over their boundary lines, and these disputes cannot
be easily tested out with any exactness unless a
geometer works out the truth scientifically by the
application of his experience. And arithmetic is
serviceable with reference to the business affairs
connected with making a living and also in applying
the principles of geometry, and likewise is of no
small assistance to students of astrology as well.
For the positions and arrangements of the stars as

being that in general use in the time of Diodorus. Incommon
with Herodotus (2. 36), Diodorus fails to distinguish between
the first and second.

? Here "geometry'' is used in its original meaning,
** measurement of the earth," and '* geometer '' below means
** surveyor.''

277

DIODORUS OF SICILY

áXXois, kai Tap Aliyvrmríos Tapar5püoeos
Tv'yxávovciv ai TÀv üaTpev rá£eis re kal kivijaeis*
kai Tàs uév! epi éáa Tov üvaypadàs é£ éróàv
àmíaTev TQ TjÜe dvXárTovow, ék maXaiàv
xpóvcov énXouévgs map abroiís Tíjs epi rabra
aT0vÓ)js, Tàs 86? rOv mXavijrev àaTépov kiwijoews
Ka Trepuó8ovs kai a TypvyuoUs, €r. 66 Tàs ékdáo rov
Svváuews Trpüs TÓs TV Lov vyevéaeis, Tívev ciaiv
dyaÜÀ!v i) kakQv ámepyaaTwal, diXoriuórara
Taparernypükagi kal ToXXáris. uév rois ávÜpó-
mois TOv aDTols ueXXóvrov àmavrijaeaÜa, xarà
TOv fov mpoXéyovres | émvrvyyávovaw, | ob
OMwyákis 86 kapmáv dÜopàs 7) rovvavriov moXv-
KapTías, ér. 86 vócovs Kowàs dàvÜpomow j
Boakjpagtv écouévas mpoanpaívovai, ceu obs Te
kal karakkvcuo)Us kai kougrGQv àcTépov émi-
TOÀÀs kal TávTa Tà Tols TroXNois ábUvarov Éyew
8oxoÜvra Tiv Émiyweaiw, éxk ToXNoÜU xpóvov?
TapaTy)prjaeos vyeyevnuévgs, mpoywoakovat. aci
86 kai ro); év BafjvAOvi XaX8aíovs, droíkovs
AivyvrTLov Üvras, rjv Gófav Éyew Trjv mepl Tfjs
ácTpoXoyías vapà TOv iepéov paÜóvras TÓV
AbyviTLov.

Tó 89 &XXo mXfj8os TOv. Aiyvm Tíov ék maíiBov
pavÜdve, Tapà TÀv marépev 1) cvyyevàv Tàs
Trepi &xacTov fiov érirbeóaes, kaÜámep T poci-
prjkapev Yypáppara, 8 em" óMyov &i&áawovaiw *
oUX üTavres, &XX oL Tás TEXvas peTaxerputó-
pevou páMaTa. TaGXaiaTpav 66 kal povouctyw

1 iy omitted by F, Bekker, Dindorf.

1 $€ Vogel: ce.
? woAAoU xpdvov Bekker, Vogel: moAvxporíov E, Dindorf.

278

BOOK I. 81. 4-7

well as their motions have always been the subject
of careful observation among the Egyptians, if any-
where in the world; they have preserved to this day
the records concerning each of these stars over an
incredible number of years, this subject of study
having been zcalously preserved among them from
ancient times, and they have also observed with the
utmost avidity the motions and orbits and stoppings
of the planets, as well as the influences of each one
on the generation of all living things—the good or
the evil effects, namely, of which they are the cause.
And while they are often successful in predicting to
men the events which are going to befall them in the
course of their lives, not infrequently they foretell
destructions of the crops or, on the other hand,
abundant yields, and pestilences that are to attack
men or beasts, and as a result of their long observa-
tions they have prior knowledge of earthquakes and
floods, of the risings of the comets, and of all things
which the ordinary man looks upon as beyond all
finding out. And according to them the Chaldaeans
of Babylon, being colonists from Egypt, enjoy the
fame which they have for their astrology because they
learned that science from the priests of Egypt.

As to the general mass of the Egyptians, they are
instructed from their childhood by their fathers or
kinsmen in the practices proper to each manner of
life as previously described by us ;* but as for reading
and writing, the Egyptians at large give their
children only a superficial instruction in them, and
not all do this, but for the most part only those who
are engaged in the crafts. In wrestling and music,

1 Cp. chaps. 43, 70, 74.
* bibáokovra: Reiske, Bekker, Dindorf.

279

DIODORUS OF SICILY

oU vógiLóv écTu. map abTois navÜdvew vwmo-
Aauflávovcw *yàp éx uv Tv xa duépav év
TD TaXaíoTpa yvpraciíov TOUS véovs oU
Üríeav éfew, àXXà popu O^Myoxpóviov | ai
mavTeAÓs émwwivÓvvov, Tiv O6 uovaw)v vopá-
fovcw o) uóvov dáxpmarov vmápyew, àXXà xal
BXafepáv, os! éxÜnXvUvovcav às TOv ácovóvrov
yv xás.

82. Tàs 86 vósovs mpokaraXauavónevo
8epamevova, rà aópara kXvapots kai vgyaceiais
«al éuérois, évíore uv xa0' éxáoTQv T"uépav,
éviore 8à rpeis 7) rérrapas djuépas BuXetmrovres.
$asi yàp máacne Trpodüjs ára&oÜcíage TÓ mAéov
elva, mepvrróv, d$ o0 wevvácÜat Te vócovs
GcTe Tjv "Trpoewpmuévev Üepameíav ávaipoüaav
TÓs üpxàs Tis vócov uácT üv mapackevdca,
Tiv Uyiewwv. KaTà 8€ rüe acvpaveías kai Tàs
émi? Tís xopas éxOmuías Üepamevovraw mávres
oU8éva, uuaÜ0v iBía Bi&óvres* oi yàp iarpol ràs
u&v Tpojàs éx rob kowoÜü Xaufávovaw ràs B6
Üepameiías "pocárovau karà vópov Cyypadov,
o0? voXAQv xal Se8ofacuévow iarpàv dpyaiav
cwyyeypapuévov, àv Toie €x Tfj (epüs Big Xov
vóuois dvaywockopévors ákoXovÜijaavres | dbv-
vaTü)cocu. cOcat TÓV Kkágvorra, áÜQov Tavrós
éykXiuaros dmoXvovrau éàv Bé v( mapà «à
"yeypapuiéva, ovis agi, Oavárov «piaw ÜTouévov-
gw, Tyyovpévov ToU vopo0érov Tís ék ToXMAv
Xpovev maparergpnuévos Üepameias kai avvre-

Y &v after às deleted by Hertlein.

? égi omitted by F, Bekker, Dindorf.
* sb Dindorf ; àmé.

280

Ue RUNE UN ON

BOOK I. 8r. 7-82. 3

however, it is not customary among them to receive
any instruction at all;! for they hold that from the
daily exercises in wrestling their young men will gain,
not health, but a vigour that is only temporary and
in fact quite dangerous, while they consider music
to be not only useless but even harmful, since it
makes the spirits of the listeners effeminate.

82. In order to prevent sicknesses they look after
the health of their bodies by means of drenches,
fastings, and emetics,? sometimes every day and some-
times at intervals of three or four days. For they
say that the larger part of the food taken into the
body is superfluous and that it is from this superfluous
part that diseases are engendered; consequently
the treatment just mentioned, by removing the be-
ginnings of disease, would be most likely to produce
health. On their military campaigns and their journeys
in the country they all receive treatment without
the payment of any private fee; for the physicians
draw their support from public funds and administer
their treatments in accordance with a written law
which was composed in ancient times by many
famous physicians. If they follow the rules of this
law as they read them in the sacred book and yet
are unable to save their patient, they are absolved
from any charge and go unpunished; but if they go
contrary to the law's prescriptions in any respect,
they must submit to a trial with death as the penalty,
the lawgiver holding that but few physicians would
ever show themselves wiser than the mode of treat-
ment which had been closely followed for a long

! Diodorus is contrasting the Egyptian attitude toward
these subjects with the emphasis laid upon them in Greek

education.
* Cp. Herodotus 2. 77.

28r

DIODORUS OF SICILY

L4 LA A ^ 3 ^ HH "A Li
Tayuévgs vm0 rTQy. ápíarov TexvvrOv. ÓXiyovs àv
yevéa 0a, a vverovrépovs. í ; :

83. Ileph 8é vv dádwepepuévov fev KQT
AlwyvmTov eikóres $aívera moXXois rapábo£ov
TÓ ywwóp.evov kai £grioeos. d£uov. c éBovrat yàp
a rOv Lov Aiyómr,. ka8' vmepBoXjv ov
Üüvra póvovy, àXXà xal TeXevrücavra, olov
aiXoUpovys kai ToUe iXveUpovas «ai kUvas, €Tt
8' iépakas kai ràs kaXovpévas map avrots ie,
mpüs Ó6 roUTOig TOUS T€ ÀÜkOUe kai TOUS KpOKOo-
Be(Xove kal érepa ToiaTa TXe(e, mepi àv Tàs
airías àmro&6óvat TreupaaópueÜa, Bpaxéa mrpórepov
bmép avTOv OveADOvres. d

Ilpórov uév yàp éxdaTo wyéve« vàv aeBac uoü
Tvyxavóvrov toov ádjuépera. xopa $épovaa
vpósobov ápkoUgav eis émwiuéNevav kal Tpojiv
a)TÓÀw' vo.00vra. 8G xal Ücois Tuc eU xàs Ümrép
TÓv Taíbwv oi kar Alum TOv TÀÓV Éék Tíj$ vócov
adcÜévrov: Évpijaavres yàp ràs rpíixas Kai mpàs
ápyüpu.ov 4) wpvaiov eTücavres &ióoac TÓ vó-
pagpa TOUS éruueNopévois TÀ» mpoewpmpévov
Cgev. oi 56 rots uév iépa£e kpéa karaTépvovres
kal TpoakaXoUpevo, ueyáNg Ti) ovi Trerouévois
dvappimTovai, péxp. à» Bébovrau, rots Ó aiXoU-
pow xai Toíe (xveíuocu karaÜpum TovTes ,ToUs
ápTovs eis yáXa. kai oT TULovres TraparuÜéaauw
$ ràv ixÜvev ràv éx Tob NeíXov kara Tépvovres
ops cvr(fovciv" ógabros O6 xai Tüv dXXov
Cgav éxáa cQ nyéve. Tv ápuótovaav rpodriyv xopu-
yoüci. às 06 qwopévas mepi rabra Aevrovpyías
ovy olov ékeMvovstv 1j roís ÓOxXow *yevéoÜat

282

BOOK I. 82. 3-83. 4

period and had been originally prescribed by the
ablest practitioners.

83. Ás regards the consecration of animals in
Egypt, the practice naturally appears to many to be
extraordinary and worthy of investigation. For the
Egyptians venerate certain animals exceedingly, not
only during their lifetime but even after their death,
Ead as cats,! ichneumons and dogs, and, again, hawks
and the birds which they call '* ibis," as well as wolves
and crocodiles and a number of other animals of that
kind, and the reasons for such worship we shall
undertake to set forth, after we have first spoken
briefly about the animals themselves.

In the first place, for each kind of animal that is
accorded this worship there has been consecrated a
portion of land which returns a revenue sufficient for
their eare and sustenance ; moreover, the Egyptians
make vows to certain gods on behalf of their children
who have been delivered from an illness, in which
case they shave off their hair and weigh it against
silver or gold, and then give the money to the
attendants of the animals mentioned. "These cut up
flesh for the hawks and calling them with a loud cry
toss it up to them, as they swoop by, until they catch
it, while for the cats and ichneumons they break
up bread into milk and calling them with a clucking
sound set it before them, or else they cut up fish
caught in the Nile and feed the flesh to them raw;
and in like manner each of the other kinds of animals
is provided with the appropriate food. And as forthe
various serviees which these animals require, the
Egyptians not only do not try to avoid them or feel

1 The famous discussion of the cats of Egypt is in
Herodotus, 2. 66-7.

283

DIODORUS OF SICILY

kaTaQaveis érauo xovovraa, robvavríov 8 ós
Tepi! màs jeyloTras TV £cóv ,Ywópevo, Tuuds
ceuvivovra, kal uerà auetav LOtav Téptépxovrat
TÓe "ÓXew xal Tiv xopav. Tróppo0cv 6 üvres
$avepol rivev Lov Éxovai Tijv émiuéketav, bor
TÓv àrravrévrov? mpockvvobvra, kai TuuvTaL,
"Orav 8' dmoÜávg Ti TÓv eipuuévov, cuvóovi
karakaMUNravres xal per oiuwe'yn)s Tà o rj05
xaraTMuEáuevo, dépovsiww eis Tàs apwxeias*
Érevra. ÜepamevÜévrov abrOv keOpía xai ,Tois
6vvauévots ebobíav mapéxeo0at xal ToÀvXpóvtov
roD cópaos Tzjprciw Üdrrrovaiw év iepats Onjaus.
óc &' àv roUrev Ti TÓv Üecv éxov OudOctpn,
Üaváre TepvmimTeu TX»v éàv alXovpov ) T»
iBiw dmokTeivg: rara O6 éáv me éxàv éav re
üxov mokreivg, Tüvros Üaváro mrepimim Teu,
TÜv ÜyXev cvvrpexóvrov xai TOv Tpáfavra
Sewórara GuvriÜEvTov, kal ToUT éviore mpar-
TóvrOv üvev xpíceoe. uà Bé rü» émi TovTow
dófov oi Ücacápevo, reÜvrkós T TobTGOv Tv
foe &rroo Táv Tes pakpàv BoGs w óbvpopevoi Te xai
paprvpóuevo, kaTeiM)o0a, avro? TereAevro0s.
ore 6 éy rais rYv ÓyXov *yvxatis évrérqkev 7)
mwpós rà La abra DBecibmuuovia xal rois
máÜeciw áperaÜéras ékaa os OLdkevrat mpós Tüv
ToUrOv Tijv, Gore kal kaÓ' óv Xpóvov IIroXe-
ualos nuév ó faciXeUs bmó '"Popaiov oUm

1 $s vepl Dindorf : Gmmep eis.

? dxavróvrev Wesseling: &rávrov. ,

? kareiAjóÓn b Vulgate; Vogel deletes Tó. Reiske
eonjeetured ai75 and is followed by Bekker and Dindorf.

284

BOOK I. 83. 4-8

ashamed to be seen by the crowds as they perform
them, but on the contrary, in the belief that they are
engaged in the most serious rites of divine worship,
they assume airs of importance, and wearing special
insignia make the rounds of the cities and the
countryside. And since it can be seen from afar
in the service of what animals they are engaged, all
who meet them fall down before them and render
them honour.

When one of these animals dies they wrap it in
fine linen and then, wailing and beating their breasts,
carry it off to be embalmed; and after it has bcen
treated with cedar oil and such spices as have the
quality of imparting a pleasant odour and of pre-
serving the body for a long time, they lay it away in
& consecrated tomb. And whoever intentionally
kills one of these animals is put to death, unless it be
a cat or an ibis that he kills; but if he kills one of
these, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he is
certainly put to death, for the common people gather
in crowds and deal with the perpetrator most cruelly,
sometimes doing this without waiting for a trial.
And because of their fear of such a punishment any
who have caught sight of one of these animals lying
dead withdraw to a great distance and shout with
lamentations and protestations that they found the
animal already dead. So deeply implanted also in
the hearts of the common people is their superstitious
regard for these animals and so unalterable are the
emotions cherished by every man regarding the
honour due to them that once, at the time when
Ptolemy their king had not as yet been given by the

! According to Herodotus (2. 87) this was a less expensive
method of embalming.

285

* $065 , Le e ,
3 7pós ovó0év avrois UTOQciveiav.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

"pogTyópevro $íXos, oi 8 ÓyXo, srácav ciaedé-
povro azovD)v éxÜepamevovregs ToUe mapemión-
poÜvrae TÓv áàm0 Tí '"IraA(ae kal a'reÜOovrege
pn6eutav ádopu» éykMjparos ?) roXéuov Bobva,
&ià Tóv $ófv, ámoxreivavros '"Poguaíov Twós
aiXovpov, xal ToU 7rAxÜovs avvOpapóvros émri vi)v
oixíav To mpáfavros, oUO' oí meudÜévres bà
TOU faciXéee pxovres émwi Tv mapaiírgow
oUÓ' 0 xowüs áwó Tís "Pópmse dóf os laxvaev
éfeAésÜa, cTíje Tiwpias Tóv ávÜporov, «alimep

, H ^ , V ^ 3 E]
9 axovaios TOUTO TeTTpawOTO. KQL TOUT OUK é£

áxofje "ueis LaTopoÜnev, àAA' abTol karà T?v
yevyevnuévmv 1piv émiónuíav kam Alva Tov. éopa-
KÓTES.

84. "Amo rov B6 dawoyuévev moXXois TÓÀV
eipnuévev xai gÜÜois apamAmaiev ToAAÓ
vrapaóoEorepa Qavijaerat Tà uerà Taba. by8naó-
Leva. MuaQ *vyáp «ore mieLlouévov TOV kar
Al*yvimTóv aoi TroXXo)s àXijkov uév &rao0a,
0ià T)v É»Beav, rà» 9' ádiepepuévev Lov TO
capá&ma» mo airíav cxeiv qmyóéva mpocevg-

2 véyÜm. — 4XXà jj» vye xal kaÜ dv àv olxíav
ebpeÜj kíev rereXevrg&os, Evpüvrai mávreg oí
&aT olov Óvres OÀov TÓ cp kal vowbvraL
"révÜos, «ai TÓ rovrov Üavpacisrepov, éàv olvos
7j eiroe 7j T. TOV ps TOv fov ávawykaiov
Twyxávrm keiuevov év ois ole$uasw ob v Uv
é£éNvmé T& TÀYv. Ünpiov, o)k àv Ér. xprjaactat

; 1 ; küy év Ag

XópQ Tov aTpaTevóuevoi TÓxadi, AuTpoUuevo,

TOUS aiAoUpovs Kai TOUe iépakas kaTávyovaiw eig

AlyvmTov* xal ToÜTo Tpárrovow éviore vÀv

286

BOOK I. 83. 8-84. 3

Romans the appeilation of "friend"! and the
people were exercising all zeal in courting the
favour of the embassy from Italy which was then
visiting Egypt and, in their fear, were intent upon
giving no cause for complaint or war, when one of
the Romans killed a cat and the multitude rushed
in a crowd to his house, neither the officials sent by
the king to beg the man off nor the fear of Rome
which all the people felt were enough to save the man
from punishment, even though his act had been an
accident. And this incident we relate, not from
hearsay, but we saw it with our own eyes on the
occasion of the visit we made to Egypt.

84. But if what has been said seems to many
incredible and like a fanciful tale, what is to follow
will appear far more extraordinary. Once, they
say, when the inhabitants of Egypt were being hard
pressed by a famine, many in their need laid hands
upon their fellows, yet not a single man was even
accused of having partaken of the sacred animals.
Furthermore, whenever a dog is found dead in any
house, every inmate of it shaves his entire body and
goes into mourning, and what is more astonishing
than this, if any wine or grain or any other thing
necessary to life happens to be stored in the building
where one of these animals has expired, they would
never think of using it thereafter for any purpose.
Andifthey happen to be making a military expedition
in another country, they ransom the captive cats
and hawks and bring them back to Egypt, and this
they do sometimes even when their supply of money

.1 On the date of this incident, cp. the Introduction, p.
viii.

285

DIODORUS OF SICILY

4 é$oüiev abro ÜbmoXvmóvrev. à BÓ quópeva
Tepl Tüv "Ami vÓv év Méuóei kai róv Mvebw
TOv éy 'HOuovmróXe, kai rà Tepi rüv Tpáyov TÜv
év MéyÓgri, mrpós 8à Toro: Tóv kpokóBerXov Tüv
xarà Tv Moípióos Xíuvqv xal vóv Xéovra Tüv
Tpedopuevov év Tfj kaXovuévg Acóvrov TróXet, kai
T0XXÀ ToiaUÓ' érepa, DuyyrjoacÜat uiv. eiyepés,
dma'yyecXavra 6 miaTevÜjvat mapà oie gu)

5 reÜcauévoie 8íakoXov. abra yàp év iepois pé»

srepuBoXois Tpéperas, ÜepasreVovat 8" abrà sroXXol
TOv dfwXóyev dvÓpàv Tpojàs BBóvregs vàs
moXvTeAec TáTas* cepíóaMww yàp d) — wóvOpov
&vrovres év yáXakTi kai Téupara "mavroOamÀ
péXuvTt GvpOvres, xal kpéa xijveia rà u&v &rovres,
Tà Ü ómTOvTes ÁvekXeimTOs Xopnyobai, Tois D
tu0o áo TroXXà TÀv Ópvéev Ünpeyovree mapa-
BáXXovai, xai TO kaÜóXov ueyáXgv eia dépovra:

6 aovDjv eis Tijv qroXvréXeiav víje Tpojfjs. Xov-

Trpoís Té XMapois Xpópevo! kai jpois Toís
kpaTiaTOwg &XeigovTes kal mavroOawüs cUc0tas
ÜvpiQvres ov DiaXetmovo,, aTpouváe Tc Ts
woXvTeAegTdTae xai xócuov eUmpemi) xopm-
yoüs:, kal TOv cvvovciQv Dmwes rvyxávy kam
$c: $povríóa s«owÜ)vrat T)v peyiaTQv, Tpüc
86 roirois ÓuodiXovs ÜnXe(as ékáa ro TÀv [gov
Tüs eUet0ea Táras awvTpéjovaw, üs maXXakí(Sas
qrpoaayopevovat xal Üepamrevovat rais eia Taus

7 baTávawe kai Xevrovpyiíaw. | éà»y 8e reXevrram

TL! mevÜoÜct uév loa ois áyam5rÓv Tékvav

cTepouévois, Üámrrova, 86 ob xarà Tiv cavrÓv

Svvauusp, àXXà moXD T)v df(av Tie éCavróv
! ni Dindorf : cis.

288

BOOK IL. 84. 3-7

tor the journey is running short. Asforthe ceremonies
connected with the Apis of Memphis, the Mnevis of
Heliopolis ! and the goat of Mendes, as well as with
the crocodile of the Lake of Moeris, the lion kept in
the City of Lions (Leontopolis), as it is called, and
many other ceremonies like them, they could easily
be described, but the writer would scarcely be believed
by any who had not actually witnessed them. For
these animals are kept in sacred enclosures and are
cared for by many men of distinction who offer them
the most expensive fare; for they provide, with
unfailing regularity, the finest wheaten flour or
wheat-groats seethed in milk, every kind of sweet-
meat made with honey, and thc meat of ducks,
either boiled or baked, while for the carnivorous
animals birds are caught and thrown to them in
abundance, and, in general, great care is given that
they have an expensive fare. They are continually
bathing the animals in warm watcr, anointing them
with the most precious ointments, and burning before
them every kind of fragrant incense; they furnish
them with the most expensive coverlets and with
splendid jewellery, and exercise the greatest care
that they shall enjoy sexual intercourse according
to the demands of nature; furthermore, with every
animal they keep the most beautiful females of the
same genus, which they call his concubines and attend
to at the cost of heavy expense and assiduous service.
When any animal dies they mourn for it as deeply as
do those who have lost a beloved child, and bury it
in à manner not in keeping with their ability but

1 The bulls Apis and Mnevis are described in the following
chapter.

289g

DIODORUS OF SICILY

8 ovas bmepBáXXovres. uerà yàp ri» 'AXeEáv-
8pov TeXevrbw, llroXeuaíov ToÜ Adsyov mapei-
Xn$óros dori. Tijv AleywmTov, Érvxev. év Méuoe
TeXevrcas 0 "Amis vyüpa* 0 86 Tov ÉmwwéMeiav
éyev abroÜ T$v Te TTowuacuépqv xopmyiav,
obcav Tüvv ToXX«w, eis raó5v ámacav é8a-
TávQgce kai vapà To) llroXeuaíov Trevrükovra
ápyvptov TáAavra Trpocebave(caTo. xal ka

)uàs Óé rwes TOv rà Làa rabra Tpedóvrov eis
TÀs Tajàs a)TÓv ob CXarrov TOv éxaTÓv ra-
AávTrev Bebamav9kaauw.

85. IIpoeeréov Bé roís eipuuévow Tà Xewmó-
nueva TOv rwopévev Tepi Tóv iepóv TaÜpov Tàv
óvopaCóuevov " Amw.. Órav yàp reXevrijaas Ta
peyaXompemás, Ey TobDoty ot epi TaUT. vres
L3 ^ * Li
tepeis noa xov éxovra xarà ró aóua mapáanua

2 rà mapamXjcia TQ povmrápfavrv órav 8

ebpe0j, rà uév mXyÜn ToU TévÜovs ámoXverai,

rà» 6 iepéev ols éartv émwueXés deyovai Tàv

uóc xov TÓ pé Tpórov eis. NeíXov TÓM, é»

B Tpéjovsw a)rüv éQ juépas Terrapáxovra,

reir. eis ÜaXaumyüv vabv otkqua keypvacpévov

éxovcav éufjuBásavres ds Üeóv dváyovoiw cis

Méudw eis TÓ ToÜ 'Hóaíerov Tépgevos. év 86

Taís T poetprpévats rerrapáxovO' jjuépaus uóvov

opügi avTOv ai "vvaikes xarà mrpóawrov iaTá-

uevas ka Beuviovaw avacvpáueva, Tà éavrÓw
yevvqgrwà. uópua, Tóv 8 dXAXov ypóvov &mavra
ek Xvuévov éariv eig Oy abre CpyeaÜa:

4 roo TQ ÜcQ. Tíjs D& roD Bos Tobrov Tiufjs
airiav &vtot dépovat Xévyovres Ór. reXevTsjcavros
'OcípiBos eis Tobrov 5) qrvx3) ueréoTg, kal &à
290

BOOK I. 84. 7-85. 4

going far beyond the value of their estates. For
instance, after the death of Alexander and just
subsequently to the taking over of Egypt by Ptolemy
the son of Lagus, it happened that the Apis in
Memphis died of old age; and the man who was
charged with the care of him spent on his burial not
only the whole of the very large sum which had
been provided for the animal's maintenance, but also
borrowed in addition fifty talents! of silver from
Ptolemy. And even in our own day some of the
keepers of these animals have spent on their burial
not less than one hundred talents.

85. There should be added to what has been said
what still remains to be told concerning the ceremonies
connected with the sacred bull called Apis. After
he has died and has received a magnificent burial,
the priests who are charged with this duty seek
out a young bull which has on its body markings
similar to those of its predecessor; and when it has
been found the people cease their mourning and the
priests who have the care of it first take the young
bull to Nilopolis, where it is kept forty days, and then,
putting it on a state barge fitted out with a gilded
cabin, conduct it as a god to the sanctuary of
Hephaestus at Memphis. During these forty days
only women may look at it; these stand facing it and
pur up their garments show their genitals, but

enceforth they are forever prevented from coming
into the presence ofthis god. Some explain the origin
of the honour accorded this bull in this way, saying
that at the death of Osiris his soul passed into this

1 The intrinsic value of & talent was about one thousand
dollars or two hundred and fifty pounds sterling.

291

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TaUra OuareAet uéypu. ToU v)v del xarà Tàs
dvabéfew abroU ueÜ.cTauévg mpós ToUs uera-
yevea Tépovs* vio, O6 Aéyovgi TeXevT!üjcavTos
'Oeípibos bmà 'Tvóóvos rà uéNg a vvayaryobcav
T2v 'lewwv eis Bo)v EÉvXMivqv éufaXeiv Boccwa
mepiBeBXnuévgv, kal 8&ià robro kal Tv TÓMw
óvouacOiva. Bojcwpw. moXXà 68 «al AXXa
uuÜoXovyobct Trepi ToU " Ami&os, ómép àv uakpóv
qyosucÜa rà! ka0' éaarov OwEiéva:.

86. Ilávra 06 Oavuácia xal ueito TíaTecs
émvTeXoUvTes oi kar ÁlyvmTOV eis TÀ Tiu eueva
LQa. ToXXiv ámopíav Tapéxovrau rois Tüs aiTías
roUTGV ÜnToUci. oí u&£v oUv (epets avTOv dvróp-
p"róv Ti Üóyua epi roUrwv Cxovaw, Ó qrpoeup)-
&ajev év rois ÜcoXoyovuévows vm abrOv, oi. Oc
ToXXol TOv AivyvmTicv vpeis aivías ravTas ámo-
&60aciv, Óv Tiv uév mperyv uvÜcO: mavreXOs
«ai rfs dpxaiktje ám AóTsTOs oikciav. aci yàp
ToUs éÉ üpxfjs vyevouévovs Oeoss, ÓAiyovs Ovras
«al karicXvouévovs vmó ToÜ mXjÜovs xai Tíjs
àvopias TOV vyryyevàv àvÜpayrav, ouovo0 val rust
gos, kai 9i ToU rovovrov rpóTrov Qadvyeiv T]v
epuóTyra kai Bíav aUrQv: Üarepov 06 TOv karà
TÓV kócLOV Trávrev kpa'ijaavras, kal rots aiTiors
Tís éE ápxfjs e1pias Xdpw àmo&iBóvras, ádue-

! 7à Hertlein:; Té.

1 'The Apis Bull was considered the '* living soul of Osiris '*
and, according to Plutarch (Om Isis and Osiris, 43), was
begotten, not by & bull, but by a '* generative ray otf light,
which streamed from the moon and rested upon a cow when
she was in heat." Apis was & black bull with & white blaze

292

BOOK I. 85. 4-86. 3

animal, and therefore up to this day has always passed
into its successors at the times of the manifestation
of Osiris;! but some say that when Osiris died at
the hands of Typhon Isis collected the members of
his body and put them in an ox (bous), made of wood
covered over with fine linen, and because of this
the city was called Bousiris. Many other stories
are told about the Apis, but we feel that it would
be a long task to recount all the details regarding
them.

86. Since all the practices of the Egyptians in
their worship of animals are astonishing and beyond
belief, they occasion much difficulty for those who
would seek out their origins and eauses. Now their
priests have on this subject a teaching which may not
be divulged, as we have already stated in connection
with their accounts of the gods,? but the majority of
the Egyptians give the following three causes, the
first of which belongs entirely to the realm of fable
and is in keeping with the simplicity of primitive
times. They say, namely, that the gods who came
into existence in the beginning, being few in number
and overpowered by the multitude and the lawless-
ness of earth-born men? took on the forms of certain
animals, and in this way saved themselves from the
savagery and violence of mankind; but afterwards,
when they had established their power over all things
in the universe, out of gratitude to the animals which
had been responsible for their salvation at the outset,

upon his forehead; the appearance of à new Apis Bull was
regarded as & new manifestation of Osiris upon earth (ep.
E. A. W. Budge, Osiris and the Egyptian Resurrection, 1. pp.
60, 397 ff.).

? In chap. 21. * $.e. the Giants.

293

DIODORUS OF SICILY

pQca, Tàs $íceis abrv ols ádwuoiÜnsar, kal
xara&eifa. rois üvÜpamrois TÓ Tpéjeiw uéy (vro
qroAvTeAÓs, Üdmrrew Gà reXevrsjaavra.

, Aevrépav 68 Xéyoveiv airíav, Uv. TÓ vaXaióv
oí kaT AlyvmTov Óuà Tv àrafíav Tw É» cQ
cTparoTéóo ToXXals uádxais bmó TÓv TXgcto-
Xe pov jyrruBévres émevoncav ajvÜnua dopetv
éri rà» raypárov. , $aciv oÜv karaakevág avTas
eiküvas TOV tovv à vOv Tiu Óct, kal müEÉavTas
émi cavvíev, opetv ToUs Tyyeuóvas, kal Oià
TovTOV ToD Tpómov 'yvopiler» &xaoTOV js ei)
gcvvráfeos: ueyáXa 66 ocvuflaXXouévge abTois
Tfjs ài ToUTOy .sbra£ias Tpós Tj)» víkmv, O0fai
Tfe cwTypías aria yeyovéva, rà (Qa* xápiv obv
abroís ToUs àvÜporrovs ámo0o0vat [BovXopévovs
eis &Üos karavá£a, TÀv eixaaÜévrov vóTe unóàv
«Teivew, àXXà a eBouévovs dmrovéuew T?)v 7r poeupn-
uévgv émiuéXeiav kal rudjv.

8T. 'To/rgv à' airíav $épove: fs àudioBurij-
ccos TOv (gov Tiv wpeiav, ijv ékaarov avràv
mpoadéperai "pós T5» GjéNeLav ToÜ kotvoÜ fiov
kai TÓv ávÜpoymev. Tiv uv yàp O5jXeuav (gov
épyaTas Tikrew kai Tiv éAadpàv Tfjs yfjs &pobv,
Tà óé vpóBara Ois pé Tieren kai ToÍs épíous
Tv ckéTyv üpa xai Tv eboxynnuoaírvgw Trepi-
ToLeiv, TÀÓ Óà yáXakr( kal TÀ TvpQ Tpodüs
mapéxeaÜaL mpoaveis pa kal GaYriXefs. — TOv
66 KÜva mpós Te Tàs Ofjpas eivai xpoipov kai
Tpos Tl)V $uXakjv: &uTep Tv Ücóv róv map
avTois kaXoUpevov ' AvovÉiv mapetad'yovat xvvós
Éxovra xejaXjv, éubaívovres ór. aeuaroóUXaEt

294

BOOK I. 86. 3-87. 2

they made sacred those kinds whose form they
had assumed, and instructed mankind to maintain
them in a costly fashion while living and to bury
them at death.

The second cause which they give is this—that the
early Egyptians, after having been defeated by their
neighbours in many battles because of the lack of
order in their army, conceived the idea of carrying
standards before the several divisions. Consequently,
they say, the commanders fasliioned figures of the
animals which they now worship and carried them
fixed on lances, and by this device every man knew
where his place was in the array. Andsince the good
order resulting therefrom greatly contributed to
victory, they thought that the animals had been
responsible for their deliverance ; and so the people,
wishing to show their gratitude to them, established
the custom of not killing any one of the animals
whose likeness had been fashioned at that time, but
of rendering to them, as objects of worship, the care
and honour which we have previously described.

87. The third cause which they adduce in connec-
tion with the dispute in question is the service which
each one of these animals renders for the benefit
of community life and of mankind. The cow, for
example, bears workers ! and ploughs the lighter soil ;
the sheep lamb twice in the year and provide by their
wool both protection for the body and its decorous
covering, while by their milk and cheese they furnish
food that is both appetizing and abundant. Again,
the dog is useful both for the hunt and for man's
protection, and this is why they represent the god
whom they call Anubis with a dog's head, showing

1 £e, oxen.

295

DIODORUS OF SICILY

- ,
3 jv rv mepl TOv "Ocipww «ai TV "Iewv. &pioL Oé

A-

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TÜV Oakérov Onpiav TÀ páMaa TOUS ávOpó-
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fQov ToÜüro 9ià TÓ ToU návreis otovote TOÍS
vida Xpepévovs TpoXéyew Tà puéXXovra Tos
29

BOOK I. 87. 2-7;

in this way that he was the bodyguard of Osiris
and Isis. There are some, however, who explain
that dogs guided Isis during her search for Osiris and
protected her from wild beasts and wayfarers, and
that they helped her in her search, because of the
affection they bore for her, by baying ; and this is the
reason why at the Festival of Isis the procession is
led by dogs, those who introduced the rite showing
forth in this way the kindly service rendered by this
animal of old. "The cat is likewise useful against
asps with their deadly bite and the other reptiles that
sting, while the ichneumon keeps a look-out for the
newly-laid seed of the crocodile and crushes the eggs
left by the female, doing this carefully and zealously
even though it receives no benefit from the act.
Were this not done, the river would have become
impassable because of the multitude of beasts that
would be born. And the crocodiles themselves are
also killed by this animal in an astonishing and quite
incredible manner; for the ichneumons roll them-
selves over and over in the mud, and when the
crocodiles go to sleep on the land with their mouths
open they jump down their mouths into the centre
of their body; then, rapidly gnawing through the
bowels, they get out unscathed themselves and at
the same time kill their victims instantly.! And of
the sacred birds the ibis is useful as a protector against
the snakes, the locusts, and the caterpillars, and
the hawk against the scorpions, horned serpents, and
the small animals of noxious bite which cause the
greatest destruction of men. But some maintain
that the hawk is honoured because it is used as a
bird of omen by the soothsayers in predicting to the

1! Strabo (17. 1. 39) gives much the same account.

297

DIODORUS OF SICILY

AíyvmTiow. Twwés 86 daew év rois àpyaíon
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BasiNwv elvav Soketv ToÜro Tó LQov xal ToU
Aiós üEtov.

88. Tóv 8é rpáyov ámeÜéooav, xaÜdmep xai
vapà Tols "EXAqgew TeriufjaÜat Xéyovou TÓv
Iloíamov, 6ià TÓ wevvgrikóv uópww: — TÓ £v
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mvAgaíase: T0 yàp Gov Tobro mapa6e8óoÜaL mrpós
Tàe cvvovaíae Vmápxew évepyéaraTov: éeivow ?
obv &à raíTos Ts Éujáaewns xdpi dmoOiS0va:
Trepi Tfje TroXvTekvías Tfjs éavrv.

l1 Bib Vogel: &iórep Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf,

3 ékelvois Bekker, Vogel: éxeívovs Vulgate, Dindorf.

298

BOOK I. 87. 7-88. 3

Egyptians events which are to come. Others,
however, say that in primitive times a hawk brought
to the priests in Thebes a book wrapped about with
a purple band, which contained written directions
concerning the worship of the gods and the honours
due to them; and it is for this reason, they add,
that the sacred scribes wear on their heads a purple
band and the wing of a hawk. The eagle also is
honoured by the Thebans because it is believed to
be a royal animal and worthy of Zeus.

88. They have deified the goat, just as the Greeks
are said to have honoured Priapus, because of the
generative member; for this animal has a very great
propensity for copulation, and it is fitting that
honour be shown to that member of the body which
is the cause of generation, being, as it were,the primal
author of all animallife. And, in general, not only
the Egyptians but not a few other peoples as well
have in the rites they observe treated the male
member as sacred, on the ground that it is the cause
of the generation of all creatures; and the priests
in Egypt who have inherited their priestly offices
from their fathers are initiated first into the mysteries
of this god. And both the Pans and the Satyrs,
they say, are worshipped by men for the same reason ;
and this is why most peoples set up in their sacred
places statues of them showing the phallus erect
and resembling a goat's in nature, since according
to tradition this animal is most efficient in copulation ;
consequently, by representing these creatures in such
fashion, the dedicants are returning thanks to them
for their own numerous offspring.

1 Priapus is discussed in Book 4. 6.
299

—— — rac ERE AREE E RR RE -

DIODORUS OF SICILY

To)s 8é raípovs roUs (epoós, Aéye Bé TOv T€
"Ami. kai Tóv. Mvetw, riuáaÜat mapamMgoios
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Tijs "Ioi8os uerà ToÜ Trai80g "Opov ueXXoVaqs

! rà Vogel: rov B, Bekker, Dindorf.
300

BOOK I. 88. 4-6

The sacred bulls—I refer to the Apis and the
Mnevis—are honoured like the gods, as Osiris com-
manded, both because of their use in farming and
also because the fame of those who discovered the
fruits of the earth is handed down by the labours of
these animals to succeeding generations for all time.
Red oxen, however, may be sacrificed, because it
is thought that this was the colour of Typhon, who
plotted against Osiris and was then punished by Isis
for the death of her husband. Men also, if they
were of the same colour as Typhon, were sacrificed,
they say, in ancient times by the kings at the tomb
of Osiris; however, only a few Egyptians are now
found red in colour, but the majority of such are
non-Egyptians, and this is why the story spread
among the Greeks of the slaying of foreigners by
Busiris, although Busiris was not the name of the
king but of the tomb of Osiris, which is called that
in the language of the land.!

The wolves are honoured, they say, because their
nature is so much like that of dogs, for the natures
of these two animals are little different from each
other and hence offspring is produced by their inter-
breeding. But the Egyptians offer another explana-
tion for the honour accorded this animal, although
it pertains more to the realm of myth; for they
say that in early times when Isis, aided by her son

1 Herodotus (2. 45) denies the existence of human sacrifices
and there was probably none in his day. But the sacrifice of
captives is attested by the monuments of the Eighteenth and
Nineteenth Dynasties, and J. G. Frazer (T'he Golden Bough, 2.
pPp- 254 ff.) finds in this account of Diodorus and a similar story
given by Plutarch (0n Isis and Osiris, 13), on the authority of
Manetho, evidence for the annual sacrifice of a red-haired man
to prevent the failure of the crops.

aol

-D

DIODORUS OF SICILY

&iavyevitea0at "rpós 'Tvóóva maparyevéaDat Boy-
àv é£ á&ov vv "Ocwpiw v vékvo kai vj) yvvavucl
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maQmMÜels áyéXas Xókov ékbuoEat robs émeX-
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éketvov AvkomoMiryv OvouacÓfva, kai TÀ tàa
Tà "poewuéva Tvxeiv Tfj mius.

89. Acízeras 8 uiv eimretv Tepl Ts TÀv &po-
&oóel Nov ámoÜedaens, Ümàp 1j oi mAeicTOL
ÓraTropoÜc,. vg TÓV 8npíev TovTev capxoda-
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avTQ kpokoOeíXovs* 80 kal ro)s Aga às ojs Tc!
dmó Tíüs 'Apafías kal Atffóns pu) coAuár
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ia Topoóevos Trepi (Ov Ünpíov robrov. aci
yap Ttwes TYv ápyaiev riwwà BaavXéov, Tv Tr poc-
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«wvQv karadvyeiv eis T)v MoípiBos kaXovuévqv
Muvv, éreif' br kpoko8e(Xov mrapaBó£es áva-

li ve deleted by Wesseling and all subsequent editors ;
retained by Vogel.

302

BOOK I. 88. 6-89. 3

Horus, was about to commence her struggle with
Typhon, Osiris came from Hades to help his son and
his wife, having taken on the guise of a wolf; and
so, upon the death of Typhon, his conquerors com-
manded men to honour the animal upon whose
appearance victory followed. But some say that
once, when the Ethiopians had marched against
Egypt, a great number of bands of wolves (lykoi)
gathered together and drove the invaders out of the
country, pursuing them beyond the city named
Elephantine; and therefore that nome was given
the name Lycopolite* and these animals were
granted the honour in question.

89. It remains for us to speak of the deification of
crocodiles, a subject regarding which most men are
entirely at a loss to explain how, when these beasts
eat the flesh of men, it ever became the law to
honour like the gods creatures of the most revolting
habits. Their reply is, that the security of the
country is ensured, not only by the river, but to a
much greater degree by the crocodiles in it; that for
this reason the robbers that infest both Arabia and
Libya do not dare to swim across the Nile, because
they fear the beasts, whose number is very great;
and that this would never have been the case if war
were continually being waged against the animals
and they had been utterly destroyed by hunters
dragging the river with nets. But stil another
account is given of these beasts. For some say
that once one of the early kings whose name was
Menas, being pursued by his own dogs, came in his
flight to the Lake of Moeris, as it is called, where,
strange as it may seem, a crocodile took him on his

3 4.e. * of the City of the Wolves."
303

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Au$Óévra eie TÓ mépav dmeveyÜWvaw «fg 86
ccTnpías xápi ámobibóva, BovAópevov TQ (do
mu» &Tíaat rXQatov óvouácavra KpokoBe(Acov:
kaTaóeiEa, Bé kat rois éyxcpiows às ÜcoUs Tuuáv
rabra 7à 9a xal 7j» Aiuvgv abrois eis rpod3v
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karackeváca, Tvpapíba TerpámAevpov émiaT-
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IIapaA:15o1a 86 xai epi TOv dXXov Xéyovouw,
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écÓióvrov ojbév àv éfüpkece vÓv dvaXwo-
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yeveaÜat, ómco$ éxáoTov TÓ uv map abroíis

1 sáciw Vogel: $acl» Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
* éavrobs Vogel: ajrobs Vulgate, Dekker, Dindorf,

! [n chap. 61 the builder of the Labyrinth is Mendes.
304

BOOK I. 89. 3-5

back and carried him to the other side. Wishing to
show his gratitude to the beast for saving him, he
founded a city near the place and named it City of
the Crocodiles; and he commanded the natives of
the region to worship these animals as gods and
dedicated the lake to them for their sustenance;
and in that place he also constructed his own tomb,
erecting a pyramid with four sides, and built the
Labyrinth which is admired by many.!

A similar diversity of customs exists, according
to their accounts, with regard to everything else,
but it would be a long task to set forth the details
concerning them.? "That they have adopted these
customs for themselves because of the advantage
accruing therefrom to their life is clear to all from
the fact that there are those among them who will
not touch many particular kinds of food. Some,
for instance, abstain entirely from lentils, others
from beans, and some from cheese or onions or certain
other foods, there being many kinds of food in Egypt,
showing in this way that men must be taught
to deny themselves things that are useful, and that
if all ate of everything the supply of no article of
consumption would hold out. But some adduce
other causes and say that, since under the early
kings the multitude were often revolting and con-
spiring against their rulers, one of the kings who
was especially wise divided the land into a number
of parts and commanded the inhabitants of each to
revere a certain animal or else not to eat a certain
food, his thought being that, with each group of

* Herodotus (2. 35) sums up this matter by saying that
the Egyptians **have made themselves eustonis and laws
eontrary to those of all other men."

305

[:-]

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TiuOuevov aefopévov, rüv 86 mapà voís dXXos
àdiepouévov xaradpovoívrov, unBémore Opovo1j-
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90. dpova: 8 kaí mwes roiavrqv. atríav TÍje
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«ovpíav eva, TÀ Bit riw &uoizv Tíje TrpOs TOUS
evepryéras xápvros* ÓfjXov yàp elvat &ióri TTávre«

306

BOOK I. 89. 5-90. 2

people revering what was honoured among themselves
but despising what was sacred to all the rest, all the
inhabitants of Egypt would never be able to be of
one mind. And this purpose, they declare, is clear
from the results; for every group of people is at odds
with its neighbours, being offended at their violations
of the customs mentioned above.

90. Some advance some such reason as the following
for their deification of the animals. When men,
they say, first ceased living like the beasts and
gathered into groups, at the outset they kept
devouring each other and warring among them-
selves, the more powerful ever prevailing over the
weaker; but later those who were deficient in
strength, taught by expediency, grouped together
and took for the device upon their standard one of
the animals which was later made sacred; then,
when those who were from time to time in fear
flocked to this symbol, an organized body was
formed which was not to be despised by any who
attacked it. And when everybody else did the
same thing, the whole people came to be divided
into organized bodies, and in the case of each thc
animal which had been responsible for its safety was
aecorded honours like those belonging to the gods, as
having rendered to them the greatest service possible ;
and this is why to this day the several groups of the
Egyptians differ from each other in that each group
honours the animals which it originally made sacred.

In general, they say, the Egyptians surpass all
other peoples in showing gratitude for every bene-
faction, since they hold that the return of gratitude
to benefactors is a very great resource in life; for
it is clear that all men will want to bestow their

307

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Trpós ebepyyeaíav oppijaovat ToUrOV uáXic TA Trap
ols à» ópàoi káXXia Ta. ÜgaavpiaÜnaouévas às
xdápvras. O.à Óé Tàs ajràs alríae OSokoboiuw
Aiy)/mrTiot ToU; éavrüv DaciXeis Tpoakvveiv Te
xal Ti&áv Os Tpós áXüÜcuav Óvras Üco/s, dpa
pv oix üvev Óatpovíov rivos mpovoías voultovres
avTOUs Terevyéva, Tis TOv OXwv écÉovaías, ápa
Bé rovs BovXouévovs e xa) Óvvapévovs rà uévyio T
evepyyeretv 1ryoUpevot Ócías ueréyeiw d)oeos.

lleol uév o)v TÀv áduepepnévov toov ci kai
TemAeovákagev, àXX' otv ye rà páMoTa Üav-
patópeva TOv map. AlyvmrTiots vópipa Gtevepird-
KQJiev.

91. Oóx fj«a ra. 9' dv Tie mrvÜópevos 1à mepi
TOUS TeTeAevrQkÓóTae vóptpa TOV Alyvm Tov
Üavuácat T)v iDi0TyTa TOv éÜÀv. rav yáp vis
aroÜdvy ap" avrois, oí uev avyyevets kal díXot
vávres xaramXarTóuevo. T9XQ Tàs xedaXàs
srepiépyov Tas 73» TróNuv ÜpnvoUvres, éos àv radijs
TUXQ TÓ cÀa. oU uiv oUre Xovrpóv obe olvov
obTe Tís áXXgs Tpojije àftoXóyov ueraXapBá-
vovgt», ovre éaÜiyras Xayumpüs TepiBáXXovras.
TÀv 86 rad Gv pets vmrápyovat TáÉets, dj Te ToXv-
TeAea TáT: kal uéov) kal rameworáTy. xarà uv
oliv 74v TpóT)yv àvaMakegÜal jacit üpyvpiov
TáAavrov, kaTrà Óé T$ Óevrépav gwvás elkooct,
xarà 66 T2» éoxárqv mavreküs OXbyov 7t
Bamávgpa wyiveaÜat Xéyovatw. oi uév oiv rà
cópnaTa Ücparejovrés eiat reyvirai, Tip. émia rj-
pogv Tabrqv éx *vyévovs mapeiXgóóres* obo, 56
ypadv éxáa rov TÀv eis Tàs radás ÓDanavopuévov
p oikcíote Tüv TeXevTQaávTov Tpocevéykavres
3o

BOOK I. 9o. 2-91. 3

benefactions preferably upon those who they see
will most honourably treasure up the favours they
bestow. And it is apparently on these grounds
that the Egyptians prostrate themselves before
their kings and honour them as being in very truth
gods, holding, on the one hand, that it was not
without the influence of some divine providence that
these men have attained to the supreme power, and
feeling, also, that such as have the will and the
strength to confer the greatest benefactions share
in the divine nature.

Now if we have dwelt over-long on the topic of
the sacred animals, we have at least thoroughly
considered those customs of the Egyptians that men
most marvel at.

91. But not least will a man marvel at the peculi-
arity of the customs of the Egyptians when he
learns of their usages with respect to the dead. For
whenever anyone dies among them, all his relatives
and friends, plastering their heads with mud, roam
about the city lamenting, until the body receives
burial. Nay more, during that time they indulge in
neither baths, nor wine, nor in any other food worth
mentioning, nor do they put on bright clothing.
'There are three classes of burial, the most expensive,
the medium, and the most humble. And if the first
is used the cost, they say, is a talent of silver, if
the second, twenty minae, and if the last, the expense
is, they say, very little indeed. Now the men who
treat the bodies are skilled artisans who have
received this professional knowledge as a family
tradition; and these lay before the relatives of the
deceased a price-list of every item connected with

3e$

DIODORUS OF SICILY

émeporáai Tiva rpómrov DoXovrai T?)v Ücpameíav
yevéaÜa, ToÜ coparos. OtopoXoynadgevor 8e
Trepi TávTOV cal TÓv vekpóv mapaXa Boves, TOÍS
TeTa'yuévois. émi Tijv karedwpuévgv émipuéXeiav
TÓ cua Tapaói00asi. xal Tpüros uév O "ypag-
paTe)e Xeyouevos TeÜÉvros xapal ToU adparos
€mi T?)v Xayóva mepvypájei Tiv eUovvuov Óaov
8ei Garegeiy* érevra 8. 0 Xeyyópevos mrapaaxía Tos
AiB8ov éyev AiÜLomwóv kal G.areuàv às 0! vóuos
&eXebe, Tv cápxa, mapaxpíjua devyev Bpóuo,
Bvoxóvrov TÀv avymapüvrev kai MOois BaXXóv-
TOv, €T, 86 karapeuévov kai kaDamepel TÓ uicos
eis éxeivov TpeTOvTOv- brroXauBávovat yàp paon-
TÓv elvai Trávra TOv üuoDóN apart ÉBlav mpoa-
$épovra xai rpaóuara TowÜDvra kai kaÜóXov 7i
kakóv ümepryatóuevov.

Oí rapryevrai 86 kaXoUpevot Táas u&v Tuuf)s
kai TroNvepías á£ioÜvrat, rois re lepeÜat a vvóvres
kai Tàs eis iepóv eiaóbovs dke ros às xaDapol
motoÜvraA* pos 86 Tj» Üepameíav ToU mapeaxia-
névov adparos áÜpowÜévrev abróv els xaÜígat
Tjv Xeipa &ià Tíje ToÜ vexpoü Topuís eis Tàv
0ópaxka xai mávra éfawei? xwpls vebpàv xai
kapÜías, érepos 86 kaÜaipei rÀv éykoiMv. Éxa-
eTov kNübLev olive dowixeio xai Üvyjidpaat.
xaÜó0Xov bé mv rÓ cÓpua TÓ uév mpórov «cOpíg

1 às ó Vogel : órca Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
? étoipe? Dindorf: é£aípei,

1 Lit. ** one who rips up lengthwise,'' i.e. opens by slitting
? The same name is given this knife in Herodotus, 2. 86,
whose description of embalming, although not so detailed as

310

BOOK I. 91. 3-6

the burial, and ask them in what manner they wish
the body to be treated. When an agreement has
been reached on every detail and they have taken
the body, they turn it over to men who have been
assigned to the service and have become inured to it.
The first is the scribe, as he is called, who, when the
body has been laid on the ground, circumscribes on
the left flank the extent of the incision ; then the one
called the slitter! cuts the flesh, as the law com-
mands, with an Ethiopian stone ? and at once takes
to flight on the run, while those present set out after
him, pelting him with stones, heaping curses on him,
and trying, as it were, to turn the profanation on
his head; for in their eyes everyone is an object
of general hatred who applies violence to the body
of a man of the same tribe or wounds him or, in
general, does him any harm.

The men called embalmers, however, are con-
sidered worthy of every honour and consideration,
associating with the priests and even coming and
going in the temples without hindrance, as being
undefiled. When they have gathered to treat the
body after it has been slit open, one of them thrusts
his hand through the opening in the corpse into the
trunk and extracts everything but the kidneys and
heart, and another one cleanses each of the viscera,
washing them in palm wine and spices. And in
general, they carefully dress the whole body for over

that of Diodorus, supplementa it in many respects. It pe
probably of obsidian or flint, such as are frequently foun
in graves with mummies. For the use of such primitive
implements in ancient religious ceremonies, cp. Joshua, DU
** Make thee knives of flint and circumcise again the children
of Israel a second time."

311

DIODORUS OF SICILY

kaí rigGtv. áXXois. émriueXelas üEioboww éd! uépas
mAeíovs rÀv TpidkovTa, émrevra. auiópvn xal kwa-
pp kai ois Óvvagévois 3) nóvov TroXvypóvtov
Tápgcw, àXXà xai T?)w cvwbÓíav mapéyeoÜQa:
epa mebaavres 86? mapaóGi8ónot rois avyyevéat
TOD TeTeXevTgkÓTOs oUTos ÉxaoTov TÓv o0
cOuaTos ueXÓv áképaiov TerQpnuévov dere xal
Tàe éÉmi Toi; fXejápos wai ais Ó$p)ci
Tpixas Oapévew kal T)v OXqv mpócowNuw ToÜ
acpaTos ámapáXXakTov eivat xai TOv Tfje uopótje
TÓmOV voptteaQaz- 9:6 «al moXXol TOv Alwyv-
TTLOV €v oikuaot mroXvTeAéa, fvXáarTOvVTeg TÀ
cópara TÀV Tpoyóvev, kar OwWiv ópàci ToUs
yeveats TroXXais Tíjs éavTÓv ryevéaews TporereXev-
TQkOTGs, GoTe éxkdáoTov Tá Te ueyéÜs kal Ts
TeptoxXàs TÀv co párov, ert E TOUS TÍjs óyrens
xaparríüpas ópouévovs Tapá&obov Yvxaryeyíav
mapéyeaÜau kaÜámep avuflefBiekóras Tots Üeo-
pévous 3

92. Toà 86 ,éXXovros ÜámTeoÜa, aóparos
oí avyyyeveis TpoXéyovat T)v Juépav Tí radfjs
Toig Te ÓukaaTais xal Toís ovyyevéauww, éri B6
$iXots ToD TereXevT)KOTOs, kal Otafle(Jatobvrat
ür. Siafdatvere uéXXNet. Tijv Mug, Xéyovres
robvoua ToÜ ueTü)XXaxoTos. mevra Taparyevo-
uévov ÓwaaTOv Oval mXeióvov ^ TÓv rerrapá-
«ovra, kal kaÜwcávraov émí Tiwos fuukvkMLov
kareaxevaa uévov 7répav Tí XLuvus, 3j uiv. Büpus
xaÜDéAkerat, kareakevaauévm Tpórepov bm TÓÀV

1 cfpnoiw Wesseling : rqpfyrew D, rct» IT.

* 8€ Vogel: omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
* 8eguéyois Dindorf : Oewpovuérois.

312

BOOK I. 91. 6-92. 2

thirty days, first with cedar oil and certain other
preparations, and then with myrrh, cinnamon, and
such spices as have the faculty not only of preserving
it for a long time but also of giving it a fragrant
odour. And after treating the body they return it
to the relatives of the deceased, every member of it
having been so preserved intact that even the hair
on the eyelids and brows remains, the entire appear-
ance of the body is unchanged, and the cast of its
shape is recognizable. "This explains why many
Egyptians keep the bodies of their ancestors in costly
chambers and gaze face to face upon those who died
many generations before their own birth, so that,
as they look upon the stature and proportions and
the fcatures of the countenance of each, they
experience a strange enjoyment, as though they
had lived with those on whom they gaze.

92. When the body is ready to be buried the
family announces the day of interment to the judges
and to the relatives and friends of the deceased, and
solemnly affirms that he who has just passed away
—giving his name—" is about to cross the lake."
Then, when the judges, forty-two in number,! have
assembled and have taken seats in a hemicycle which
has been built across the lake, the baris ? is launched,
which has been prepared in advance by men espe-

! These judges correspond to the forty-two judges or
assessürs before each of whom the dead man must declare
in the next world that he had not committed a certain sin
(Book of the Dead, Chap. CX XV).

* 'The name given the scows used on the Nile and described
in Herodotus 2. 96.

* sAcióvov Dindorf : mAcíw.

313

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Ta/TQjv éxóvrov T4v ÉmiuéAeiav, éjéaTgke 6
TaíT9 0 TopÜueUs, v AlyUmTi0, karrà Tijv iGiav
O.áXekTov óvouátLovo, xápeva. 9)0 kaí $acw
'Opóéa ró maXaibv eis Aiyvzrrov mapafaXovra
kai Ócaaáuevov ToÜro TÓ vóutuov, uvÜorovjca:
Trà kaÜ' áóov, TÀ uév juugodpevov, Tà 9 abTóv
i€ía mTÀaaáuevov: bmép! ob TÀ xarà uépos
pauKpóv ÜaTepov Avaypdirouev. o) gui» àXAà
Tis fpeos eis T9v AMigwvgv xa8eXxvaOcioags,
"plv jj Tjv Aápvaka Tijv TÓv veepóv &yovoav eis
a)Tjv TíÓccÜa,, TQ fovXouévo xarwyopeiv 6
vóuos é£ovaíav Sióweauw. | éàv uày oiv vis vrapeX-
àv éykaMéan xai OSeífg Befuexóra xaxós, oí
u&v kprral às yvópas Tráciw? ámodQaivovrat, TÓ
66 apa eloyera, Tíijs eiÜtauévgs rade: dày 8 o
éykaXéaas 60Eg us) Quales kargyopetv, ueyáXous
srepvmíz Te, TpooTiuois. ÓTrav O6 goes Üma-
«0U07 kariyopos 7) apeXÜàv vvocÓ1) avkodávr ns
Umápxet, oi uév cveyeveis àvroÜéuevoi Ó TrévOos
éykopiálova, TÓv TeTeMevTQkóTa, kal "epi uév
ToU *yévovs ojOcv Xéwyovciw, ÓoTep capà Tois
"EXAgciu, bmoXaufvovres ámavras ópoicg cU-
yeveis elvat roUs xaT Aleyvarrov, rijv 9. éx sraió0s
dyovy?» xal vaiócíav O.eXMBOvres, má dvÓpós
yeyovóros T?» eUaéBeiav kal OuaiooUvgv, éry 56
Tv éykpárewav kal Tàs dAXas áperds abToU
OieÉépyovrat, kal zrapakaXobo. ToUs kdrc Ócobs
SéEacÜa. avvotcov Tots ceUcefMéci: TÓ 06 mA os
émev$nuei kal dmoceuvive, Tv O0fav ToÜ Tere-

! óxip Vogel: meg| C F, Bekker, Dindorf.
* xácw omitted by CF, Bekker, Dindorf.

314

BOOK I. 9z. 2-5

cially engaged in that service, and which is in the
charge of the boatman whom the Egyptians in their
language call charon.! For this reason they insist
that Orpheus, having visited Egypt in ancient
times and witnessed this custom, merely invented
his account of Hades, in part reproducing this prac-
tice and in part inventing on his own account; but
this point we shall discuss more fully a little later.?
At any rate, after the baris has been launched into
the lake but before the coflin containing the body
is set in it, the law gives permission to anyone who
wishes to arraign the dead person. Now if anyone
presents himself and makes a charge, and shows that
the dead man had led an evil life, the judges announce
the decision to all and the body is denied the cus-
tomary burial; but if it shall appear that the accuser
has made an unjust charge he is severely punished.
When no accuser appears or the one who presents
himself is discovered to be a slanderer, the relatives
put their mourning aside and laud the deceased.
And of his ancestry, indeed, they say nothing, as
the Greeks do, since they hold that all Egyptians are
equally well born, but after recounting his training and
education from childhood, they describe his righteous-
ness and justice after he attained to manhood, also
his self-control and his other virtues, and call upon
the gods of the lower world to receive him into the
company of the righteous; and the multitude shouts
its assent and extols the glory of the deceased, as of

1 Professor J. À. Wilson, of the Oriental Institute of the
University of Chicago, kindly writes me: **There is no
evidence to support the statement of Diodorus that the
Egyptians called the underworld ferryman, or any boatman
connected with death, Charon."

* Op. chap. 96.

315

DIODORUS OF SICILY

XevrgkóTos, s TOv aiQva OurpifBew uéXXovros
6 xaÜ' üOSov perà TOv ebceBQv. T0 86 cópa
TiÜéaciv oi puév (Oiovs Cyovres rddovs év rais
dToóeOevynévais Orkais, ols 9 oUxX Umápxyovai
Td$ov TrQcem, kawóv oiknpa TroLoUGL KaTà Tijv
i&íav oixiav, xai *pós rüv ác$aXécTarov TÀv
roiyev óOpÜ7v iaTáci Tv Xápvaxa. kai TOUS
&cvopuévovs 06 81Àà às xarmyopías 1) "pos
Odvevov DmoÜ:jkac Üdmreo0at riÜéac. karà T»v
i&íav oikiav* obs ÜcTepov évíore maibev maí8es
ebTop5cavres kai rÀv Te cvuflolaíev xai rÀv
éykNgpárov àároN/cavres ueyaXompemols radíjs
á£tobóa..

93. XeuvóraTov 86 OeiNz rat map! Alyvarriots
TÓ TOUS yoveis 1) Tos Trporyóvovs $aviva, TrépurTÓ-
Tepov reruumkóTas eis Tjv aidwiov oiknsw pera-
cTávras. vópiuov O' égTi Tap' avrois kal TO
&i/60va. Tà a opara TrÓV TereAevrQKÓTOV vyovéov
eis bmoÜ5kqv Oaveiov: rois 86 yu) Avaagévous
üveiGós Tre TO puéyio Tov ükoXovÜet kal uerà Tv
reAevr]s aTépgo:u ras. Üavpáoa. 8 dv vis
mrpocTKóvros TOUS TraÜTa &urá£avras, ori TP
émietkeiav kal Tv a TOVOaL0T)TG, TÓV 2ÜOv ovk
éx Tfjs rTÀv Lovrov Opi/Mas uóvov, àkAÀ xal Ts
TÓv TereAevrgkórov Tajis xal Üepameías éd
ócov Tv évÓeyópevov Tois dvÜparmows évowceiotv
édiXoriusÜnsav. oi uév yàp "EXXgves. uiOots
vemAagpévoss kai $a OuaBeBXuuévaws T?»
vépi ToUTOv mícTiw mapéóokav) Táv Te TÓV
ebceBQ» Tiu3v kal Tiv TOv Tovnpüv Tikepiav:
TovyapoQv oUX otov. io x0oat /vara. Tabra
TporpévraaÓa, rovs ávÜperrovs émi rOv dpi rov

316

BOOK IL. 92. 5-93. 3

one who is about to spend eternity in Hades among
the righteous. Those who have private sepulchres
lay the body in a vault reserved for it, but those who
possess none construct a new chamber in their own
home, and stand the coffin upright against the
firmest wall Any also who are forbidden burial
because of the accusations brought against them or
because their bodies have been made security for a
loan they lay away in their own homes; and it some-
times happens that their sons' sons, when they have
become prosperous and paid off the debt or cleared
them of the charges, give them later a magnificent
funeral.

93. It is a most sacred duty, in the eyes of the
Egyptians, that they should be seen to honour thcir
parents or ancestors all the more after they have
passed to their eternal home. Another custom of
theirs is to put up the bodies of their deceased
parents as security for a loan; and failure to repay
such debts is attended with the deepest disgrace as
well as with deprivation of burial at death. Anda
person may well admire the men who established
these customs, because they strove to inculcate in
the inhabitants, so far as was possible, virtuousness
and excellence of character, by means not only of
their converse with the living but also of their burial
and affectionate care of the dead. For the Greeks
have handed down their beliefs in such matters—in
the honour paid to the righteous and the punishment
of the wicked—by means of fanciful tales and dis-
credited legends; consequently these accounts not
only cannot avail to spur their people on to the best

! mapéüekay Vogel: mapobe8dkac: B, Bekker, Dindorf.
317

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Biov, àXXà Tobvavriov onà rÓv daXov X^cva-
fóueva ToXMijs karadpov5sees Twyyávovaw
Tapà Óà rois AlyvmTío o) gvÜO8ovs, dXX
ópaTi)s To(s pév Trovüpots Tis koXáaews, TOÍs
8' &yaÜots Tfj Tusi)s olas, xaÜ' ékáoryv ?uépav
&pQórepo. TOv éavTois Tpocnkóvrov Vropiuarj-
ckovrai, Kal Óià robrov ToÜ TpÓToV jj! ueyía Ty
kal cvudoperárog OupÜcois vivera. rÀv T0Gv.
«paiaTovs 8, olpau, TOv vopov Tyygréov ook é£
àv eUropoáTovs, àÀXX' é£ àv émrieweaTárovs vois
70ecu kal moN/Ti&orárovs avpfdjaerai vyevéaDa.
ToUs àvÜpo'rovs.

94. 'Pyréov 2' juiv kal mepl TÓv *yevouévov
vouoÜerQv xar Atyvmrov TÀÓv obUTos GéÉgX-
Aayuéva kai mapábota vópipga karaSetávrov.
peTà yàp rjv TaXaiàv voÜ kaT' AlyvrmTov fiov
karácTagiw, Tijv uuÜoXoyovpévgv ryeyovévat émí
Te TÓv Üc!v xal TÀv fjpówv, Teicai $aci
7rpórov éyypáTTO:s vópois xpijcaa0as và Xn
Tóv Mvevsv, ávópa xal Tj Vvx$ uéyav kal và
Bie xowórarov TÀÓv pwvmuuovevouévev. —poc-
rou] vas 9 abrQ Tóv 'Epyutjv 6c0oxévat roíTovs,
ex peyáXov. áryaÜàv acriovs éaopévovs, kaÜámep
Tap "EXXgc: 7o:ijcai $aciv év u£v Tf Kpürn
Mívoa, vapà 66 AareÜaiuoviow Avkoüpryov, róv
p&v Tapà Aus, rüv 06 map' 'AmóXXovos $rjaavra
TovTovs apewvmdévai — kai map érépow 86
TrAeloaw veau vrapaóéOora, roro TÓ yévos Tíjs
émivoías ÜTápfai kal moXXÓv áryaÜív alviov

! $ Bekker, Vogel: omitted by Vulgate and Dindorf.

318

BOOK I. 93. 3-94. 2

life, but, on the contrary, being scoffed at by worthless
men, are received with contempt. But among the
Egyptians, since these matters do not belong to the
realm of myth but men see with their own eyes that
punishment is meted out to the wicked and honour
to the good, every day of their lives both the wicked
and the good are reminded of their obligations and
in this way the greatest and most profitable amend-
ment of men's characters is effected. And the best
laws, in my opinion, must be held to be, not those
by which men become most prosperous, but those by
which they become most virtuous in character and
best fitted for citizenship.

94. We must speak also of the lawgivers who have
arisen in Egypt and who instituted customs unusual
and strange. After the establishment of settled life
in Egypt in early times, which took place, according
to the mythical account, in the period of the gods and
heroes, the first, they say, to persuade the multitudes
to use written laws was Mneves,! a man not only
great of soul but also in his life the most public-
Spirited of all lawgivers whose names are recorded.
According to the tradition he claimed that Hermes
had given the laws to him, with the assurance that
they would be the cause of great blessings, just as
among the Greeks, they say, Minos did in Crete and
Lycurgus among the Lacedaemonians, the former
saying that he received his laws from Zeus and the
latter his from Apollo. Also among several other
peoples tradition says that this kind of a device was
used and was the cause of much good to such as

* Apparently Mneves is only a variant of the name Menas of
chaps. 43 and 45 (cp. À. Wiedemann, Agyptische Geschichte,
P. 163, n. 1).

319

e»

DIODORUS OF SICILY

yevéaÜa, ois "ewcÜcigv mapà uév yàp mois
'Apiavois ZaÜ0paóoTgv (aTopobUs. TOv d'yaÜàv
óatpova TpooTowjcacÜa. To)s vóuovs abTÓ
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vópovs ámvofAéavra Tróv ÓxyXov uüXXov ima-
kovccaÜUa. 6uXaBóvras.

Aebrepov Óà vouoÜérgv AiwyomTi0( aci wye-
vécÜa. Xásvxyw, dvópa evvéce Owudépovra.
TOÜTOv 6 Tpüs Tols UmápXovo. vóuow áXXa Te
vpocÜeiva. kal và «epi Tiv TÓv Üeóv Twu»v
émiueAéo ara. OuvráEas, ebperqv 96 xal ryemperpias
yevéaÜa, xal T?v cepi TÀv doTpov Ücwpiav Te
«ai mapaTüjpygcw Ouódfa. — roOs — éyxcopíovs.
Tpírov Óé Xéyovsi Xecóociw TÓv DaciXMéa gj
nóvov Tüs TOXeuuküs "páfew émwavea Táras
karepyágaaÜa,. TOv kar AlyvmTO», &AXÀ kal
cepi TO uáXxipov €0vos vouo0caíav avarjcacQa:,
kai Trà àxOXovÜa Tà "epi Tv c Tparc(av cp-
vavra Ouakocuicat. — Téraprov O06 vopoÜérgv
$aci wyevéc0a. Bókyopw TOv faciXéa, codoóv

1 This form of the name is much nearer to the old Iranian
form, Zarathustra, than the later corruption Zoroaster.

? Herodotus (4. 93 ff.) gives more details about Zalmoxis,or
Gebeleizis, as he also calls him, and the Getae ** who pretend
to be immortal." Strabo (7. 3. 5) calls him Zamolxis and

makes him a former slave of Pythagoras, à story already known
to Herodotus and rejected by him.

320

BOOK I. 94. 2-5

believed it. 'Thus it is recorded that among the
Arians Zathraustes! claimed that the Good Spirit
gave him his laws, among the people known as the
Getae who represent themselves to be immortal
Zalmoxis? asserted the same of their common god-
dess Hestia, and among the Jews Moyses referred his
laws to the god who is invoked as Íao.? They all did
this either because they believed that a conception
which would help humanity was marvellous and
wholly divine, or because they held that the common
crowd would be more likely to obey the laws if their
gaze were directed towards the majesty and power
of those to whom their laws were ascribed.

À second lawgiver, according to the Egyptians,
was Sasychis,! a man of unusual understanding. He
made sundry additions to the existing laws and, in
particular, laid down with the greatest precision the
rites to be used in honouring the gods, and he was
the inventor of geometry and taught his countrymen
both to speculate about the stars and to observe
them. A third one, they tell us, was the king
Sesoósis,? who not only performed the most renowned
deeds in war of any king of Egypt but also organized
the rules governing the warrior class 5 and, in con-
formity with these, set in order all the regulations
that have to do with military campaigns. A fourth
lawgiver, they say, was the king Bocchoris,' a wise

3 This pronuneiation seems to reflect à Hebrew form
Yahu; cp. Psalms 68. 4 » ** His name is Jah."

4 Basychis is the Asychis of Herodotus (2. 136), identified
with Shepseskaf of the Fourth Dynasty by H. R. Hall,
Ancient History of the Near East*, p. 127,

5 Cp. chaps. 53 ff.

* Cp. chap. 73.

* Mentioned before in chaps. 45, 65, 79.

321

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Twa xai Tavovpyía OLa$épovra. ^ robTov ov
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piv cpaTi. TavTeXOs àcÓcvi, TrÀQ Bé TpomQ
márvrov $iXoypnparoTaTov.

95. Merà óé roÜrov vpoceAÜeiv Xéyovow Tois
vóuoie "Apacw Tv fBaciXéa, bv ia opobDot TÀ
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2 àpyv ok Ovi vyévovs BactMukoD. aci 86 kal
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3 IloXAvepárovs 99 To0 Xauíev 8vváa Tov avvreOci-
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Éevíav Tiv mpós airov SuaXvóuevov' ob yàp
Boxeo 0at XvrnÜ fva, avvrógucos éavróv, àkpus

1'QAvusikbv Vogel: OAvumiakby C, Bekker, Dindorf.

322

BOOK I. 94. 5-95. 3

sort of a man and conspicuous for his craftiness. He
drew up all the regulations which governed the kings
and gave precision to the laws on contracts; and so
wise was he in his judicial decisions as well, that
many of his judgments are remembered for their
excellence even to our day. And they add that he
was very weak in body, and that by disposition he
was the most avaricious of all their kings.

95. After Bocchoris, they say, their king Amasis 1 569-526

gave attention to the laws, who, according to their
accounts, drew up the rules governing the nomarchs
and the entire administration of Egypt. And tra-
dition describes him as exceedingly wise and in
disposition virtuous and just, for which reasons the
Egyptians invested him with the kingship, although
he was not of the royalline. They say also that the
citizens of Elis, when they were giving their attention
to the Olympic Games, sent an embassy to him to
ask how they could be conducted with the greatest
fairness, and that he replied, '" Provided no man of
Elis participates." And though Polycrates, the
ruler of the Samians, had been on terms of friendship
with him, when he began oppressing both citizens
and such foreigners as put in at Samos, it is said that
Amasis at first sent an embassy to him and urged
him to moderation; and when no attention was paid
to this, he wrote a letter in which he broke up the
relations of friendship and hospitality that had existed
between them; for he did not wish, as he said, to
be plunged into grief in a short while, knowing right

1 Cp. chap. 68. The story of the embassy of Eleans is given
more fully in Herodotus (2. 160), where, however, the Egyptian
king consulted is called Psammis.

323

B.C.

DIODORUS OF SICILY

eiBóra. &ór.! mAgoíiov écriv abrQ TÓ xakde
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* Exrov 66 Xéyerat róv Eép£ov ravépa Aapetov
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8óvev émwpargcávrov xai xkaraMvcávTov eis
TéXosg Tv BaciXeiav TOv éyycpíov.

1 Bióri Vogel: 9r; Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

* abrois Vogel: avrà» Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
3 abràv after QeoAoyías added by C, Bekker, Dindorf.

324

BOOK I. 95. 3-6

well as he did that misfortune is near at hand for the
ruler who maintains a tyranny in such fashion. And
he was admired, they say, among the Greeks both
because of his virtuous character and because his
words to Polycrates were speedily fulfilled.

À sixth man to concern himself with the laws of
the Egyptians, it is said, was Darius the father of

Xerxes; for he was incensed at the lawlessness 521-486
B.G.

which his predecessor, Cambyses, had shown in his
ireatment of the sanctuaries of Egypt, and aspired
to live a life of virtue and of piety towards the gods.
Indeed he associated with the priests of Egypt them-
selves, and took part with them in the study of
theology and of the events recorded in their sacred
books; and when he learned from these books about
the greatness of soul of the ancient kings and about
their goodwill towards their subjects he imitated their
manner of life. For this reason he was the object of
such great honour that he alone of all the kings was
addressed as a god by the Egyptians in his lifetime,
while at his death he was accorded equal honours
with the ancient kings of Egypt who had ruled in
strictest accord with the laws.

'The system, then, of law used throughout the land
was the work, they say, of the men just named, and
gained a renown that spread among other peoples
everywhere; but in later times, they say, many
institutions which were regarded as good were
changed, after the Macedonians had conquered and
eed once and for all the kingship of the native
ine.

4
5

T)» Keiske: Tí».
TORRE ope dez dus Bekker, Vogel: mwpoca'yopevO3va: II, Din-

DIODORUS OF SICILY

96. Tovrev 9' $uiv Ovevkpwmpévev — puréov
óco, rYv ap " EXXgot 9ebotaauévov éri avvéce
kai Taibeía TapéBaXov eis Al'yvmTOv £v Tos
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év rais iepais B(BXois rapaJaXeiv mpós éavroUs ?
70 TaXaibv 'Opjéa Te kal Movcaiov kai Me-
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1 r$s Vogel: omitted Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
3 £avroys Vogel: abrovs Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
3 uóvoy Vogel: uóvov Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

326

BOOK I. 96. 1-5

96. But now that we have examined these matters,
we must enumerate what Greeks, who have won
fame for their wisdom and learning, visited Egypt
in ancient times, in order to become acquainted with
its customs and learning. For the priests of Egypt
recount from the records of their sacred books that
they were visited in early times by Orpheus, Musaeus,
Melampus, and Daedalus, also by the poet Homer
and Lycurgus of Sparta, later by Solon of Athens
and the philosopher Plato, and that there also came
PythagorasofSamos and the mathematician Eudoxus,
as well as Democritus of Ábdera and Oenopides ? of
Chios. As evidence for the visits of all these men
thcy point in some cases to their statues and in others
to places or buildings ? which bear their names, and
they offer proofs from the branch of learning which
each one of these men pursued, arguing that all the
things for which they were admired among the
Greeks were transferred from Egypt.

Orpheus, for instance, brought from Egypt most
of his mystic ceremonies, the orgiastic rites that
accompanied his wanderings, and his fabulous
account of his experiences in Hades. For the rite
of Osiris is the same as that of Dionysus and that of
Isis very similar to that of Demeter, the names alone
having been interchanged; and the punishments in
Hades of the unrighteous, the Fields ofthe Righteous,
and the fantastic conceptions, current among the

1 The famous astronomer, geographer, and mathematician
of Cnidus, pupil of Plato. Hisstay in Egypt is well attested.

?. Op. p. 336, n. 1.

3 For instance, according to Strabo (17. 1. 29), in Heliopolis
were pointed out the houses where Plato and Eudoxus had
stopped.

327

DIODORUS OF SICILY

qoas àvamemAacuévas Tapewayavyetv uupmad-
Levov Tà «ywógeva Trepi TÓs Tajàs Tàs xar
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1 8' óvoud(ew Eichstádt: 8€ voul(ew.
328

BOOK I. 96. 5-7

many, which are figments of the imagination—all
these were introduced by Orpheus in imitation of the
Egyptian funeral customs. Xermes, for instance,
the Conductor of Souls, according to the ancient
Egyptian eustom, brings up the body of the Apis to
a certain point and then gives it over to one who
wears the mask of Cerberus. And after Orpheus
had introduced this notion among the Greeks,
Homer ! followed it when he wrote :

Cyllenian Hermes then did summon forth
The suitors' souls, holding his wand in hand.

And again a little further? on he says:

They passed Oceanus' streams, the Gleaming
Rock,

The Portals of the Sun, the Land of Dreams;

And now they reached the Meadow of Asphodel,

Where dwell the Souls, the shades of men
outworn.

Now he calls the river * Oceanus '' ? because in their
language the Egyptians speak of the Nile as Oceanus ;
the '* Portals of the Sun " (Heliopyla:) is his name for
the city of Heliopolis ; and "' Meadows," the mythical
dwelling of the dead, is his term for the place near
the lake which is called Acherousia, which is near
Memphis, and around it are fairest meadows, of a
marsh-land and lotus and reeds. The same explana-
tion also serves for the statement that the dwelling of
the dead is in these regions, since the most and the
largest tombs of the Egyptians are situated there, the

1 Odyssey 24. 1-2. *. [bid. 11-14.
* As à matter of fact the only name for the Nile in Homer
is Aigyptos.

320

DIODORUS OF SICILY

pv TOv vekpüv Duí Te ToÜ TorauoÜ xal Tí
"Axepovaías Murus, TiÜcuévov 86 rYy aceyuárov
eis rTàs évraÜDa xeuiévas Oskas.

Zvujoveiy 86 xal TáXXa và mapà rois "EA-
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66 xal dXXas míXas 'AXgÓcías, kal mXx9gatov
ToUTOv elBwXov áképaXov éarávat Aíkns.

97. IIoXAà Bé xai vOv áXXev TÓv peguvÉo-
sormuéveov Ouauévew | map! — Alvyvmrriots, OtaT-
povpévis eni Tfjs mwpocsyyopías ial Tíjs ev TÓ
qrpárrew évepyeías. — v uév yàp 'AkavÜOÀv qróXe,
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ápxy5v axowiíov uakpás, ToXXQ» Ó' ék TÓv

1! vóuigua rbv óffoAby after ér(Ba0pov deleted hy Schüfer.

? "Oxyoy Stephanus: óvov.

1 Cp. chap. 92; baris is also à Greek word for hoat.
? 'The bronze bands would resemhle therays of the ** Portals
0f the Sun," in the passage from Homer cited above.

339

BOOK I. 96. 7-97. 3

dead being ferried across both the river and Lake
Acherousia and their bodies laid in the vaults
situated there.

The other myths about Hades, current among the
Greeks, also agree with the customs which are prac-
tised even now in Egypt. For the boat which
receives the bodies is called baris,! and the passenger's
fee/is given to the boatman, who in the Egyptian
tongue is called charon. And near these regions,
they say, are also the *' Shades," which is a temple
of Hecate, and '"' portals" of Cocytus and Lethe,
which are covered at intervals with bands of bronze.?
There are, moreover, other portals, namely, those of
Truth, and near them stands a headless statue ? of
Justice.

97. Many other things as well, of which mythology
tells, are still to be found among the Egyptians, the
name being still preserved and the customs actually
being practised. In the city of Acanthi, for instance,
across the Nile in the direction of Libya one hundred
and twenty stades from Memphis, there is a per-
forated jar to which three hundred and sixty priests,
one each day, bring water from the Nile; * and not
far from there the actual performance of the myth
of Oenus5 is to be seen in one of their festivals,
where a single man is weaving at one end of a long

* 'The Greek word may mean *' statue'' and *'shade,'"' the

latter meaning occuring in the last line of the passage ahove
from Homer.

1 'T'his is a reference to the fifty daughters of Danaus, who
after death were condemned to the endless lahour of pouring
water into vessels with holes.

5 Ocnus was another figure of the Greek underworld who
was represented as continually lahouring at the weaving of a
rope which was devoured hy an unseen ass hehind him as
rapidly as it was woven.

331

DIODORUS OF SICILY

, / , X
4 omico Avovrov TÓ TXexópevov, MeXdyro8a Bé

$ac. pereveykety é£. Aivyimrov rà Atovíaq vopa-
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uévov iepóv Taís ió(aws xepal Bebmpuovprymuévgs,
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kai vüv iepóv elvau AaibáXov ruupevov bró Tv
éyxepicv.

'T?s 8' 'Ojipov vapoveías dXXa re o9pecta
épovcot xal uáMoa Tj» Tf EXévgs yevouévgv
vapà MeveAdq ToXeuáxov dapuakeíav | kal
Ajünv TOv cvufefgkórov kaxüv. TÓ yàp vy-
7TevÜés jápuakov, Ó XaBeiv duow à movyris Ti
"EXévgv éx TQ». Aiyvmrríov OnBàv vapà lloXv-

1 Cp. chap. 61.

* ie "quieting pain." Cp. Odyssey 4. 220-21: arie &p'
és olvov Báxe Qdpuakor, Évüev Éwwov, vgrevüés ' RxoAóv TÉ,

332

AES

BOOK I. 97. 3-7

rope and many others beyond him are unravelling
it. Melampus also, they say, brought from Egypt
the rites which the Greeks celebrate in the name of
Dionysus, the myths about Cronus and the War with
the Titans, and, in à word, the account of the things
which happened to the gods. Daedalus, they relate,
copied the maze of the Labyrinth which stands to our
day and was built, according to some, by Mendes;,!
but according to others, by king Marrus, many years
before the reign of Minos. And the proportions of
the ancient statues of Egypt are the same as in those
made by Daedalus among the Greeks. 'The very
beautiful propylon of the temple of Hephaestus in
Memphis was also built by Daedalus, who became
an object of admiration and was granted a statue of
himself in wood, which was made by liis own hands
and set up in this temple; furthermore, he was
accorded great fame because of his genius and, after
making many discoveries, was granted divine
honours; for on one of the islands off Memphis there
stands even to this day a temple of Daedalus, which
is honoured by the people of that region.

And as proof of the presence of Homer in Egypt
they adduce various pieces of evidence, and especially
the healing drink which brings forgetfulness of all
past evils, which was given by Helen to Telemachus
in the home of Menelaüs. For it is manifest that
the poet had acquired exact knowledge of the
* nepenthie "? drug which he says Helen brought
from Egyptian 'Thebes, given her by Polydamna the

kakGv ém[AvBov àxávrev. "Straightway she cast into the srine
of which they were drinking & drug to quiet all pain and
Strife, and bring forgetfulness of every ill" (tr. Murray in
L.O.L.).

333

DIODORUS OF SICILY

óáuros rfe Ovos vvvawós, dps éEnrakós
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mavroiois UT TÀV Lepéov karea Tpopévov.
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Oivoníónv ópoíes cvv&uapidravra rois iepebci

1 A reference to the epithet constantly used by Homer to
describe Aphrodite,

334

BOOK I. 9;. 7-98. 3

wife of Thon; for, they allege, even to this day the
women of this city use this powerful remedy, and in
ancient times, they say, a drug to cure anger and
sorrow was discovered exclusively among the women
of Diospolis; but Thebes and Diospolis, they add,
are the same city. Again, Aphrodite is called
" golden "! by the natives in accordance with an
old tradition, and near the city which is called
Momemphis there is a plain " of golden Aphrodite."
Likewise, the myths which are related about the
dalliance of Zeus and Hera and of their journey to
Ethiopia he also got from Egypt; for each year
among the Egyptians the shrine of Zeus is carried
across the river into Libya and then brought back
some days later, as if the god were arriving from
Ethiopia; and as for the dalliance of these deities,
in their festal gatherings the priests carry the shrines
of both to an elevation that has been strewn with
flowers of every description.?

98. Lycurgus also and Plato and Solon, they say,
incorporated many Egyptian customs into their own
legislation. And Pythagoras learned from Egyptians
his teachings about the gods, his geometrical pro-
positions and theory of numbers, as well as the trans-
migration of the soul into every living thing. Demo-
critus? also, as they assert, spent five years among
them and was instructed in many maíters relating
to astrology. Oenopides likewise passed some time

3? "The Homeric passage which Diodorus has in mind is in the
l4th Book of the Iliad (ll. 346 ff.): "''The son of Kronos
clasped his consort in his arms. And beneath them the divine
earth aent; forth fresh new grass, and dewy lotus, and crocus,
and hyacinth, thick and soft , . ." (tr. Lang, Leaf, Myers).

* Democritus of Abders, the distinguished scientist of the
fifth century n.c., author of the ** atomic" theory.

335

DIODORUS OF SICILY

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b [4 M, ^ t ^ * v A
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,
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nuáMoTa Ovevouacuévovys Barerpijévas map
abroig TuXecXéa xal GeóÓcpov, roUs 'Poíkov
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s ^ ^
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l Épyov cwvrereAég0q. Vogel: aga karegkevág0mi CF,
Bekker, Dindorf.

1 OQenopides of Chios was a mathematician and astronomer
of the fifth century s.c. According to this statement he
observed the obliquity of the ecliptie, which we now know to
be about 234?. "The fact that the sun's motion on the celestial
sphere is slower than that of the stars causes an apparently
retrograde movement of the sun relative to the stars.

3 Doubtless the cult statue.

* 'The following sentences are perplexing. "The translator is
comforted by the knowledge that they have vexed others who
are more experienced both in Egyptian art and in Greek.
This passage has been discussed last by Heinrich Schüfer
(Von ágyplischer Kunst, Leipzig, 1930, pp. 350-51), and the
remarks and translation of so distinguished an authority on
Egyptian art deserve to be cited, and in the original.

336

BOOK I. 98. 3-6

with the priests and astrologers and learned among
other things about the orbit of the sun, that it has
an oblique course and moves in a direction opposite
tothat ofthe other stars.| Like the others, Eudoxus
studied astrology with them and acquired a notable
fame for the great amount of useful knowledge which
he disseminated among the Greeks.

Also of the ancient sculptors the most renowned so-
journed among them, namely, Telecles and Theodorus,
the sons of Hhoecus, who executed for the people
of Samos the wooden? statue of the Pythian Apollo.
For one half of the statue, as the account is given,
was worked by Telecles in Samos, and the other half
was finished by his brother Theodorus at Ephesus;
and when the two parts were brought together they
fitted so perfectly that the whole work had the
appearance of having been done by one man. This?

* Teh würde die Stelle aus Diodor dem Sizilier (nm 50 v.
Chr.), die nicht so einfach ist wie sie scheint, am liebsten nur
griechiseh abdrucken, aber damit würe dem Leser nicht
gedient; ich muss zeigen, wie ich sie auffasse. W. Schubart
und U.v. Wilamowitz bin ich dafür dankbar, dass sie, denen
der ügyptische Sachverhalt nicht so klar vor Augen steht, mich
aneinigen Stellen davor bewahrt haben, ihn in Diodors Worte
hineinzudeuten. Ein Trost in meiner Verlegenhcit ist mir
gewesen, dass v. Wilamowitz mir schrieb, * Die Übersetzung
der Diodorstelle ist in der Tat knifflich, da er seine Vorlage,
Heraklit [a slip of the pen for * Hecataeus ''—Tr.] von Ábdera
(um 300 v. Chr.), verschwommen wiedergibt und überhaupt ein
80 miserabler Skribent ist.' Ich wage folgende freie Uber-
Setzung :

*... Dieses Werkverfahren (nàmlich Statuen aus einzeln
gefertigen Háülften zusammenzusetzen) soll bei den Hellenen
nirgends in Gebrauch sein, dagegen bei den Ágyptern meistens
angewendet werden. (Nur dort sei es denkbar.) Bei ihnen
nümlich bestimme man den symmetrischen Bau der Statuen
nicht nach der freien Entscheidung des Auges, wie bei den

337

-J

€

DIODORUS OF SICILY

86 TÓ yévos rijs épyaaías vapà uév rots " EXAgat
u9auós émiro8evea0at, mapà 86 rois Alyvmrious
nuáMcTa cvvTeAetoÜa,, ap éxeivoigs yàp ok
dmó Tis kaTà Tv Ópaciwv $avracías T?w cvg-
perpíav Tv dyaXuárov xpíveaÜat | kaÜdmep
vapà Tols "EXXgoiv, &XX' émeibày. rovs MiÜovs
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émi rà péyuoTra Xau[9áveo0aa* ro) yàp mavrüs
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repi roD geyéÜovs oi Texvirau Tpós AXX:jXovs
avvÜcvrai, ycepiaÜÉvres ám àXNXov oiuóova
karackeváLova,. TÀ geyéÜn TÀv É&pyov obros
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£óavov avujovoes Tf rv AiyvrTiev diXorexvía
xarà 5v opu? OGuyorouoDuevov Duopitew

! karakAvoci: Bekker, Vogel: Dindorf conjectured «ara-

távoci.
3 kopupXy Rhodomann : ópoofy.

Hellenen, sondern, nachdem man die Blócke hingelegt und
gesondert zugerichtet habe, hielten sich die Arbeiter dann,
Jeder innerhalb seiner Hálfte, aber auch in bezug auf die
andere, an dieselben Verháltnisse von den kleinsten bis zu den
gróssten Teilen. $Bie zerlegten nümlich die Hóhe des ganzen
Kórpers in einundzwanzig und ein Viertel Teile, und erreichten
80 den symmetrischen Aufbau der Menschengestalt. Hütten
Sich also die (beiden) Bildhauer einmal über die Grósse (der
Statue) geeinigt, so stimmten sie, selbst von einander getrennt,
die Einzelmasse ihrer Werkteile so genau zueinander, dass man
ganz verblüfit sei über dieses ihr eigentümliches Verfahren.
So bestehe das Kultbild in Samos, eto.''

1 No explanation of the '*twenty-one and one-fourth"

338

BOOK I. 98. 6-9

method of working is practised nowhere among the
Greeks, but is followed generally among the Égyp-
tians. For with them the symmetrical proportions
of the statues arc not fixed in accordance with the
appearance they present to the artist's eye, as is
done among the Greeks, but as soon as they lay out
the stones and, after apportioning them, are ready
to work on them, at that stage me take the pro-
portions, from the smallest parts to the largest ;
for, dividing the structure of the entire body into
twenty-one parts and one-fourth! in addition, they
express in this way the complete figure in its sym-
metrical proportions. Consequently, so soon as the
artisans agree as to the size of the statue, they
separate and proceed to turn out the various sizes
assigned to them, in such a way that they correspond,
and they do it so accurately that the peculiarity of
their system excites amazement. And the wooden
statue in Samos, in conformity with the ingenious
method of the Egyptians, was cut into two parts
from the top of the head down to the private parts

parts has been found in any modern writer. W. Deonna
(Dédale ou la Statue de la Gréce Archaique,2 vola., Paris, 1930)
translates this sentence, and then adds (1. p. 229): **Mais
l'étude de l'art égyptien révéle que celui-ci à connu, comme
tout autre art, des proportions trés variables, tantót courtes,
tantót élancées, suivant les temps, et souvent à méme époque,
et qu'il n'est pas possible de fixer un canon précis."

* Since the Egyptian artist had no idea of perspective, each
part of a figure, or each member of a group, was portrayed a8
lf secn from directly in front. "Therefore the first training of
an artist consisted in the making of the separate members of
the body, which accounts for the many heads, hands, legs, feet,
which come from the Egyptian schools of art. Schüfer (L.c.,
P. 316, cp. p. 389) suggests that this practice may have given
Diodorus the idea that the Egyptians made their statues out
of previously prepared blocks of stone.

339

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TOU (gov TO uécov uéypu rÀv aiBboíov, ladtov
Ouoíos éavrQ mávroÜcv: elvat 0 abr Xéyovoi
karà TO wAeiaTov mapeudepés Totis AlyvsrTíous,
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kaTà Tijv €v ápxi Tüs jBifXov mpóÜeaw às
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Oiéciuev, ápx3v. Trovgadápevo, Tà karà Tijv ' Aotav
Tois 'Accvptors rpaxÓévra.

340

BOOK I. 98. 9-10

and the statue was divided in the middle, each part
exactly matching the other at every point. And
they say that this statue is for the most part rather
similar to those of Egypt, as having the arms stretched
stifly down the sides and the legs separated in a
stride.

Now regarding Egypt, the events which history
records and the things that deserve to be mentioned,
this account is sufficient; and we shall present in the
next Book, in keeping with our profession at the
beginning of this Book, the events and legendary
aecounts next in order, beginning with the part
played by the Assyrians in Asia.

BOOK II

Tdéàe £veoriw &v f) 8evrépa. sàv

Awoóopov BiBXwv

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l àrayyeA(o omitted by D, Vogel.
3 xal after raórns deleted by Dindorf,

344

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND BOOK
OF DIODORUS

On Ninus, the first king in Asia, and his deeds
(chaps. 1-3).

On the birth of Semiramis and her rise (chaps.
4—b5).

How King Ninus married Semiramis because of
her outstanding ability (chap. 6).

How Semiramis, ascending the throne on the death
of Ninus, accomplished many great deeds (chap. 7).

The founding of Babylon and an account of its
building (chaps. 7-9).

On the hanging garden, as it is called, and the
other astonishing things in Babylonia (chaps. 10-13).

The campaign of Semiramis against Egypt,
Ethiopia, and India (chaps. 14-20).

On her descendants who were kings in Asia and
their luxury and sluggishness (chaps. 21-22).

How Sardanapallus, the last king, because of his
luxuriousness lost his throne to Arbaces the Mede
(chaps. 23-28).

On the Chaldaeans and their observation of the
stars (chaps. 29-31).

On the kings of Media and the disagreement of
historians upon them (chaps. 32-34).

On the topography of India and the products of
the land, and on the customs of the Indians (chaps.
35-42).

345

DIODORUS OF SICILY

llepi kv6Gv koi 'Apa(óvov kal 'Ymep[Jopéav.

Ilepi rs 'Apaff(as kal rüv kar' avbriv dwopévov xoi
pvÜoXoyovp.évay.

IIepi rüv vijcwv ry éy 7j peo npf)píg karà róv dkeavàv
eopeÜeusüv,

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND BOOK

On the Scythians, Amazons, and Hyperboreans
(chaps. 43-47).

On Arabia, and the products of the land and its
legends (chaps. 48-54).

On the islands which have been discovered to the
south in the ocean (chaps. 55-60).

BIBAOZX AETTEPA

TOSSET p TpÓ TabT)S BiBXos Tüs óAys cvv-
Táfems obca Trpóri Trepiéx er TÓS kaT AlyvmrTov
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Te TÍS kaT Alyvrmrrov Xópas «ai r!v ápxalov
BaciXéov rà 0$ éxáarov mpaxBévra. éEjs 86
xaveráxÜncav ai kaTaakeval Tàv mvpapibav
TÀv áva'ypaqouévov év vois érrà Qavpatopuévow
&p'yois. émevra ! Bux opev Trepi TÓV vópaov kal
TÓV Suae Typiov, € er, 86 TÓV àdieponévov Coov
Tap Alyvm Tiows TÀ Oavpabópeva, "rpós 8€ TobToLs
TÀ Trepi TÓv TereXevTqokóTay vópuua, kal TÓV
'EAXgrvov ócoi TÀv égl vau8eíQ Savpatopévov
rapa BaXóvres eig Alyvm Toy «ai T0ÀMÀ TÓÀV
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év ravTo 8. àvavypárop.ev TÀs xaTà Tv 'Aaíav
qevopévas rpá£ews év TOÍS ápxators Xpóvoi, TÜV
py ámó Tís TOv '"Accupíov 1yepovías T0w-
c'ápevot.

Tó TraXatóv ToLyvV karà TV "Aaíav Umipxov
éyxópiot BaciXeis, à àv oUTe mpübis € Emianuos obTe
óvopa uvnpoveberaa. 7péros 8é TÀv eis taTopíav
kal pania vapabebonévov 1; ?uiv Nívos ó BaaiXebs
TOv 'Accvupíev peyáXae mpátews émereXécaro*

348

BOOK II

ThE preceding Book, being the first of the whole
work, embraces the facts whieh concern Egypt, among
which are included both the myths related by the
Egyptians about their gods and about the nature
of the Nile, and the other marvels which are told
about this river, as well as a description of the land
of Egypt and the acts of each of their ancient kings.
Next in order came the structures known as the
pyramids, which are listed among the seven wonders
of the world. After that we discusscd such matters
connected with the laws and the courts of law, and also
with the animals which are considered sacred among
the Egyptians, as excite admiration and wonder,
also their customs with respect to the dead, and then
named such Greeks as were noted for their learning,
who, upon visiting Egypt and being instructed in
many useful things, thereupon transferred them to
Greece. And in this present Book we shall set forth
the events which took place in Asia in the ancient
period, beginning with the time when the Assyrians
were the dominant power.

In the earliest age, then, the kings of Asia were
native-born, and in connection with them no memory
is preserved of either a notable deed or a personal
name. The first to be handed down by tradition
to history and memory for us as one who achieved
great deeds is Ninus, king of the Assyrians, and of him

3 Éreira Bekker, Vogel : £reira 8$ D, Dindorf.

349

DIODORUS OF SICILY

epi ob 1à xarà uépos áva'ypádew meipaaópueÜa.
yervópevos tyàp oet moXeguiküs kal ÜXorije Tfjs
dperíje kaÜemAige TOv véev ros xpacr(aTovs
yvuvácas 89' ajro)s mXeíova xpóvov ovwüÜews
émoi)ce Tác kaxomaÜeía «al moXeguukots Kiv-
8Uvois. cvaTycáuevos obv cTparómeD0ov dÉió-
Xoyov gvugaxiav émoijsaro Tpós "Apiatov TOv
BaciMéa Tí 'Apaf(ae, 1) xar! éxeivovs ToU;
xpóvous éBóxe: mAxjBew. igo. ávBpQv. lavi
9€ xal kxaÜóXov roUTo TO CÜvos duXeAeVÜepov xai
xaT o)8éva rpómov mpoaDexópevov émqAvv
"oyeuóva: Bumep oU0' oi ràv llepaüv BaciXeis
Üorepov oUO' oí rüv MaxecBóvov, kaímep mXetavov
ia xvcavTes, 7)8vvi0ncav ToÜro TÓ (vog xara-
6ovAGgagÜa.. xaÜóXov yàp :)' ApaBía BvamoAé-
uqTós éari Éewxais Bvváueg,. DÓià TÓ T)v gv
€pnuov avTíjs elvau, T?jv 86 dvvOpov xai BiiXgp-
pévyv dpéae. xkexpvugévois xal óvow Toís
eyxwpíois "yvopitonévois. | 0 8 otv Tüv 'Aaavplev
BaciXeUs. Nívos vóv Óvvaavevovra àv 'Apáflav
mapaXafjóv éaTpárevae uerà moXMjs Bvváuews
émi BaGvXwviovs xaroikoüvras Ónopov xdpav
ka. éketvovs 06 roUs ypóvovs 7) u£v vüv o9ca Bafv-
Aàv o)& ?jv éxriauévn, xarà 86 viv BafvXovíav
vmüpxov á&XXat TóXes dáfióXoyor Da8íes Bé
Xe«poaapevos ToUs éyxcpíovs 8id TÓ ràv £v rots
roXéuois kivBDvew dmelpos Cxeiww, TovTOis uv
érafe TreAéiv xaT! émavrüv ópiapuévovs dópovs,
rüv 8) fasciXéa rTÀv karamoXeugÜévrov Xafdàv
uerà TOv Tékvov aiXuáXerov dmékrewe. | uerà
8 rabra. mroXXoís TrA1j6eaiw eis vv ' Apuevíav é-
BaXóv kai rwas TOv mróXcav dvaa Tárovs Trovjaas

350

BOOK IL. r. 4-8

we shall now endeavour to give a detailed account.
For being by nature a warlike man and emulous of
valour, he supplied the strongest of the young men
with arms, and by training them for a considerable
time he accustomed them to cvery hardship and all
the dangers of war. And when now he had collected
a notable army, he formed an alliance with Ariaeus,
the king of Arabia, a country which in those times
seems to have abounded in brave men. Now, in
general, this nation is one which loves freedom and
under no circumstances submits to a foreign ruler;
consequently neither the kings of the Persians at a
later time nor those of the Macedonians, though the
most powerful of their day, were ever able to enslave
this nation. For Arabia is, in general, a difficult
country for a foreign army to campaign in, part of it
being desert and part of it waterless and supplied
at intervals with wells which are hidden and known
only to the natives! Ninus, however, the king of the
Assyrians, taking along the ruler of the Arabians as
an ally, made a campaign with a great army against
the Babylonians whose country bordered upon his—in
those times the present city of Babylon had not yet
been founded, but there were other notable cities in
Babylonia—and after easily subduing the inhabitants
of that region because of their inexperience in the
dangers of war, he laid upon them the yearly payment
of fixed tributes, but the king of the conquered,
whom he took captive along with his children, he put
to death. Then, invading Armenia in great force
and laying waste some of its cities, he struck terror

i diim and its peoples are more fully described in chaps.

351

DIODORUS OF SICILY

karezAijEaro ToU éyywpíovs: Giomep 0 BaciXeUs
abrYv Baptávgs, ópàv ajróv ook á&iópayov va,
ueTà ToXXÓv Óópov ámüvTgce kai müv é$woc
TroLjaety TÓ TpocTaTTÓpevov. ó 88 Nívos ueya-
Moyóxes a)rQ xpucduevos Tíjs re "Apuevías
cvvexopnsev dpxew xai $iXov Ovra mTépmTeiw
cTpaTiàv kai T!V Xopn'yiav TQ a jerépo arparo-
vréÓqg. del 66 náXXov abfopevos éarpárevocv eis
Tjv Mmg&íav. ó 0à raórgs BaciXeUs CDápvos
maparafáuevos àfvoXóye Bvváyuet kal XeubÓeis,
TOV T€ cTpG&TUOTÓV TOUS TAciovs * áméBaXe xai
aUTüs perà rékvov érTÀ kai yyvaws alypiaXoros
Xn$6cis àveo ravpon.

2. Obre 86 rYv mpayuárov TÀÓ Nívo Trpo-
Xepobvrav 6eiv)v émiÜvuíav aye ToU. xara-
cTpéVjracÜa,. T)v 'Acíav ümacav Tiv évrüg
Taváióos xai Ne(Xov: às ésrímav yàp vois ebrv-
xXoÜciw 15) TÀÓv mpaypgárov ecÜpoia? Tiv ToU
TAetovos émiÜvyuiav mapíarqoi. Dumep Tis u£v
Mmp8ías earpámmv éva rÀv epi abróv díXwov
kaTéaTyocv, abTOs Ó' émrjev rà xarà Tiv ' Aaíav
€» xaracTpebóuevos, kai xpóvov émrakaióe-
kaeri) karavaXocas T2» 'Iv6ày kai Baerpiavov
TÓv dXXev dáTávTov xÜpios évyévero. às gév
oiv kaÜ' éx«aac ra. uáxas 1) Tóv àápiÜuóv ámávrov
TÓv xaTaTOXeunÜÉvrov ovis TOv cvyypadoéev
àvéypawe, rà Ó' émiequórara TÀv éÜvàv áxo-
AovOcs Krnoíia TQ Kvilio meipaaópcÜa o vvrójos
émiópagety.

KareoTpéyaro uév yàp Tífs mapaÜaXarríov

1 mAc(ovs Vogel: vAcíerovs Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

352

BOOK Il. r. 8-2. 3

into the inhabitants; consequently their king
Barzanes, realizing that he was no match for him in
battle, met him with many presents and announced
that he would obey his every command. But Ninus
treated him with great magnanimity, and agreed that
he should not only continue to rule over Armenia
but should also, as his friend, furnish a contingent
and supplies for the Assyrian army. And as his power
continually increased, he made a campaign against
Media. And the king of this country, Pharnus,
meeting him in battle with a formidable force, was
defeated, and he both lost the larger part of his
soldiers, and himself, being taken captive along with
his seven sons and wife, was crucified.

2. Since the undertakings of Ninus were prospering
in this way, he was seized with a powerful desire to
subdue all of Asia that lies between the Tanais ! and
the Nile; for, as a general thing, when men enjoy
good fortune, the steady current of their success
prompts in them the desire for more. Consequently
he made onc of his friends satrap of Media, while he
himself set about the task of subduing the nations of
Asia, and within a period of seventeen years he became
master of them all except the Indians and Bactrians.
Now no historian has recorded the battles with each
nation or thc number of all the peoples conquered,
but we shall undertake to run over briefly the most
important nations, as given in the account of Ctesias
of Cnidus.?

Of the lands which lie on the sea and of the others

1 The Don.
* On Ctesias see the Introduction, pp. xxvi-xxvii.

* elpoia Herwerden : ézíppoia.
po pp

DIODORUS OF SICILY

«ai Tífs cvveyoÜs wdópas T5v re AlyvmTOv xal
Ooiwíxqv, éri 96 KoiAg» Zvpiav xai Küukíav xai
IlauódvMav xal Avxíav, rpós 86 rabrais Tíjv T€
Kapíav xal pvyíav ! kai Av&iav, mpoatyyáyero
àé rüv Te Toodóa xai rv éd! 'EXXqomóvrQ
Opvyíav xai lporrovríóa xai Bi&vvíav xai Kam-
maGoxíav kal rà karà róv Ióvrov &yy Bápflapa
kaTowoÜvra uéxpi. Tavádidos, ékvpíevae 86 ríjs
Te Kaóoveiov xópas xai Tam)pov, ér, 9
"Tokavíov xal Apayyv, mpós G6 robrous
AepBikcov xal Kappaviov kai Xopopuwaliav, éri
9é Bopxaviev xai llapfÜvaiov, émfjXMÓe 80 xal
Trjv llepoíóa kal rjv Xovciavij» xai Tijv &aXov-
névyv. Kaamiavijv, eis fjv elo eia oAal aTcval
mavTeAOs, Ó.0 xal mpocayopevovrau Káo iat
TÜíXat O0XXà O6 xal dXXa TÀv éXarróvov
€ÜvÀw Tpoamnyávyero, epi dv naxpóv àv elg
Aéyew. Tí 6€ Baxrpiavis oboe GvoeicóNov
xai TX58n puaxíuev àvópOv éyojcgs, émab)
T0ÀÀÀ Tovíjcas dmparros éyévero, róv uv mpós
BaxrpiavobUs TOXegov eis éÉrepov vefMáXero
Kaipóv, Tàs O6 Ovváueis dvayayóv eig Tv
'Aecvpíav éÉeXéEaro rómov cÜÜerov eig mOXews
peyáxgs eric.

3. 'Emrióaveoráras yàp mpátew rv mpó atrob
KaTeLp'jacuévos CoTev6e TyAwavrQv xrícaL TÓ
péyeflos móXw dae uij uóvov abrjw elvat ueyi-
c'Tyv TÀv TÓT€ oc Óv kac grácav 3v olkovpévmv,
&XXà u6é TÓv. neravyeveaépow Érepov. émiBaXó-
jevov pg6íos àv ÜmepÜéaÜa.. Tov uiv obv Tv
ApáBev BaciXéa Tuwjcas Ódpois kal Xa$ípois
peyaXomperréaw. áméNwae uerà ijs (Bias a rpaiás
354

Dom

BOOK II. 2. 3-3. 2

which border on these, Ninus subdued Egypt and
Phoenicia, then Coele-Syria, Cilicia, Pamphylia, and
Lycia, and also Caria, Phrygia, and Lydia; moreover,
he brought under his sway the Troad, Phrygia on
the Hellespont, Propontis, Bithynia, Cappadocia, and
all the barbarian nations who inhabit the shores of
the Pontus as far as the Tanais; he also made him-
self lord of the lands of the Cadusii, Tapyri, Hyrcanii,
Drangi, of the Derbici, Carmanii, Choromnaei, and
of the Borcanii, and Parthyaei; and he invaded both
Persis and Susiana and Caspiana, as it is called, which
is entered by exceedingly narrow passes, known. for
that reason as the Caspian Gates. Many other
lesser nations he also brought under his rule, about
whom it would be a long task to speak. But since
Bactriana was difficult to invade and contained
multitudes of warlie men, after much toil and
labour in vain he deferred to a later time the war
against the Bactriani, and leading his forces back
into Assyria selected a place excellently situated for
the founding of a great city.

3. For having accomplished deeds more notable
than those of any king before him, he was eager to
found a city of such magnitude, that not only would
it bethelargest of any which then existed in thc whole
inhabited world, but also that no other ruler of a later
time should, if he undertook such a task, find it easy
to surpass him. Accordingly, after honouring the
king of the Arabians with gifts and rich spoils from
his wars, he dismissed him and his contingent to

———————————————————— M ——À à

1 xai Mvoíav after Opvy(av, omitted by D, is deleted by
Kallenberg, T'extkritik und Sprachgebrauch Diodors, 1. 4.

355

DIODORUS OF SICILY

eis Tv oixcíav, abrüs 06 Tàs ravraxóÜev Bvváuetws
xai mapagkevàs mávrov TÓv érirgóciov dÜpoíaas
grapà Tó»v Ejjpármv voTGuV ério€ TÓMV eb
rereiyiuévqv, érepóunees. abris ioa Tqaápevos
TÓ ox5ua. «Lye 06 rÀÓv pev naxporépov mTXevupóv
ékaépav 7) TÓNIs éxarüv xal qrevr:)kovra, a rao,
TOv O06 Üpaxvrépov évevikovra. Oi xai Tob
cüpTavros TepiBóXov avaTaÜÉévros éx avaÓ(ov
rerpakogíov xal ówy&osxovra Tüs éXmíóos ov
Bieyreóo m: Tia Tqv *yàp TróMtv. o00els Üorepov
Écrice xará ve TO uéyeÜos ToU TrepiBóXov kal Tiv
mepi TÓ Te(yos ueyaXompémeuav. TÓ gév yàp
ÜVroc etye TÓ Teiyos TroDOv éxaróv, rÓ O6 m Xdros
Tpiciv ápuasiv imTácipov qv: oi 86 cuymavTes
TÜpyoi. Tóv uiv àpiÜuóv 10av XíXiot xai mrevra-
Kócio,, TÓ O Dos eiyov moOQ» Ouwociov.
karQkige 9 eis abr)» TOV uév 'Accvpiev ToUs
(d ^ , Hi IN NO ^ L4

q'Aeia TOUS kal ÓvvaroTáTOUS, à mÓ 66 TY» dAXcv
éOvàv To)is DovXouévovs. kai T3)» uév qÓMw
evóuaccv à$' éavro) Nívov, rois 06 «arouaOcict
TON» Tfjs Ouópov xópas T poa pta ev.

4. 'Emei 86 uerà T2v kriciw ra?rqyv 0 Nívos
éa'Tpáreva cv emi T3)v Baxrpiawijv, év Hj Zenípapav
€ynue Tijv émipavea rárg» ámagóv TÀV yvvawóv
Qv mapeDwejoauer, àvaykaióv éaTi mepi avTüs
Trpoevmety TÓs éx rameiitjs TÜXns eis T] ukauTQV
m porx0v 9ó£av.

1 The city of Nineveh, which lay on the east bank of the
"T'igris, not on the Euphrates. Strabo (16. 1. 3) says that it
was *' much greater'' than Babylon, whose circuit, as given
below (7. 3), was 360 stades.

? [tis believed with reason that bchind the mythical figure
of Semiramis, made famous by Greek and Roman legend,

356

BOOK II. 3. 2-4. 1

return to their own country and then, gathering his
forces from every quarter and all the necessary
material, he founded on the Euphrates river a city!
which was well fortified with walls, giving it the form
of a rectangle. The longer sides of the city were
each one hundred and fifty stades in length, and the
shorter ninety. And so, since the total circuit
comprised four hundred and eighty stades, he was
not disappointed in his hope, since a city its equal,
in respect to either the length of its circuit or the
magnificence of its walls, was never founded by any
man after his time. For the wall had a height of
one hundred feet and its width was sufficient for three
chariots abreast to drive upon; and the sum total of
its towers was one thousand five hundred, and their
height was two hundred feet. le settled in it
both Assyrians, who constituted the majority of the
population and had the greatest power, and any who
wished to come from all other nations. And to the
city he gave his own name, Ninus, and he included
within the territory of its colonists a large part of
the neighbouring country.

4. Since after thc founding of this city Ninus made
a campaign against Bactriana, where he married
Semiramis,? the most renowned of all women of whom
we have any record, it is necessary first of all to tell
how she rose from a lowly fortune to such fame.

** à sort of Assyrian Catherine II, distinguished equally in war
and for sensuality '' (How and Wells, 4 Commentary on Herodo-
tus, l. p. 143), lies the historica] Sammu-ramat, who was
queen-regent in the opening years of the reign of her son
Adad-nirari III, 811—782 B.c. About her in the course of the
centuries gathered many attributes of the Babylonian goddess
Ishtar; her son greatly extended the Ássyrian power (see
The Cambridge Ancient History, 3. pp. 27 £., 183-4).

357

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Karà rv Zvpíav Toívvv avi Os ' AokáXov,
Kai ravT)s oUk ümoÜev cur peyáXNg kai Sa0eia
vjpus ixÜvev. apà 66 ravrqv bmdpye cTé-
pevos Oeüc émibavobs, fv óvopátovsw oi E)poi
AepkeroÜv: abTg O6 TÓ yuév mpógwmov Exe
qvvaikós, 10 9. 4XNo aOpa müv iyObos Oil Ti.vas
ToiaDTas aiTíae. puÜoXoyobsww oi XoywTa TO,
TOV Éévyxepíov T)v 'Adpobirgv mpoakóyacav T$)
qpoeun aévy cá 6ewóv éuBaXeiv pera veavíakov
TivOs TOV ÜvovTev o)k áei&oÜs* T)v 86 Aepxerotv
puryetaav TQ Zpe vyevvijaa này Ovyarépa, karaa-
c XvvÜeicav 8 emi ToÍs uapTwüuévois TOV gà
veavíakov ádavíca., T0 O6 maior elg was
épijgous kai vrerpaOeu TóTOvs ékÜcivav! éavr))v
86 Già Tv ala xovqv kai Xóm pisracav eis Tv
Aíurqv peraaxmnuarucÜÓSva. TOv To copaTos
TUTOv cis (XÜUv 810 kal ro) Zípovs uéypi ToO
vOv dméyeaÜa. roírov ToU Ü[9ov xai ruuáv TOUS
£XO0)0e Gs Ücojc. epi Óà TOv TÓTOov Üümov TÓ
Bpé$os éÉeréÓg mXjÜovs mepiorepüv | évveor-
TeVovTos "apabófes kai Sawiovíes ÜTó ToDTOV
T0 ToiÓ8Íov OSiaTpéDeoÜau Tàs uv yàp rais
vTépvÉi mepwexovcas TÓ cóÓua ToÜ péjovs
mavrayóUcv ÜáXmew, ràe 8 ék TÀv cveyyvus
émaÜXewv, omóTe TwQp5ceiav TOUS Te ÜovkóXovs
kai ToUc áXXovs vouets àmróvras,? év TQ aTópaTi
$epo?cas ydXa Ourpépev mapaaTatoUcas ávà

1 So Rhodomann : éx8eiva: dy ofs v0AAoU mAfjBovs mepurrepav
évvocaeóew ciuÜóros mapalóLes rpoo5s kal cwrnplas rvxciv Tb
Bpéoos (''where a great multitude of doves were wont to
have their nests und where the babe came upon nourish-

ment and safety in an astounding manner") Almost the
very same words are repeated in the following sentence.

358

BOOK II. 4. 2-4

Now there is in Syria a city known as Ascalon, and

not far from it a large and deep lake, full of fish. On
its shore is a precinct of a famous goddess whom the
Syrians call Derceto;! and this goddess has the head
of a woman but all the rest of her body is that of a
fish, the reason being something like this. The
story as given by the most learned of the inhabitants
of the region is as follows: Aphrodite, being offended
with this goddess, inspired in her a violent passion
for a certain handsome youth among her votaries ;
and Derceto gave herself to the Syrian and bore a
daughter, but then, filled with shame of her sinful
deed, she killed the youth and exposed the child
in a rocky desert region, while as for herself, from
shame and grief she threw herself into the lake and
was changed as to the form of her body into a fish;
and it is for this reason that the Syrians to this day
abstain from this animal and honour their fish as gods.
But about the region where the babe was exposed
a great multitude of doves had their nests, and by
them the child was nurtured in an astounding and
miraculous manner; for some of the doves kept the
body of the babe warm on all sides by covering it
with their wings, while others, when they observed
that the cowherds and the other keepers were absent
from the nearby steadings, brought milk therefrom
in their beaks and fed the babe by putting it drop

1 Another name for the Phoenician Astarte. Herodotus
(1. 105) calls the goddess of Ascalon the '* Heavenly Aphro-
dite."

3 àxóvras Ursinus, Vogel: omitted ACDFG ; Aróvras all
other MSS., Bekker, Dindorf.

359

DIODORUS OF SICILY

uécov. TÓV XeUXàv, €viavaiov 66 ToÜ maióiov
yevouévov xal cTepewTéoas Tpodíjs Tpoaóco-
Lévov, rüs "rep.aTepás dmokwiLovaas dmó TÓÀV
Tvpóyv Tapé ecÜa. Tpoó?w ápkobaav. o)s 56
voneis éravióvras kai Oeopobvras TepiBeBpo-
Lévovs ToUs Tupoie Üavuáca,. T0 mapágoLov
mapaT)prjcavTas oDv «ai naÜ0óvras T)» aiTíav
ebpeiy 7à Bpédos, Buadépov. TÀÓ KüXXet — eUOUg
ovv avTÓ kouíaavras eis T)» éravAt GwprjcacÓa.
TÓ vpoceaT»)koóT. TOV BaciXikQv. krqvàv, Ovopa
Zippo: kal ToÜTrov ürekvov Óvra TÓ maiÓ(ov
Tpéjeww os Üvyárpwv perà máacse émipeAelas,
óvoua Üéuevov Xeuípayu», Ómep éoTi xarà Tiv
TY» Xópov ÓXewrov mapevopacuévov dmó TÀv
mepiaTepOv, üc dem. ékelvov TÀv xpóvov oi kavà
Zvpíav &mavrese SieréXeaav ós Ücás r.uDvTes.

5. Tà uév oiv xarà r?w wévesw Tüs Xeyipá-
pios puÜoXoyojueva axcüóv Ta)T Éomw. 6g
9 abris jar éxoíans vyápov kal TQ káXXa
TOÀ) Tàs dXXas TapÜÉvovs &wudepo?azs, áme-
c TáX€ Tap BasiXéos Ümapxos émwkepópevos
Tà Basic eri otros ÓO' ékaXebro pév
Ovrgs, Trp&yros $ jw TOÓ» ék ToÜ fBaciuxkobD
cvvebüpiov kai Tíjs Xvpías á&ráans dmoócevyuévos
UTrapxos. Ds xaraMógas mapà TÀ Xíuga kal
Oewprja as TM Zeutgagu» é0npeUÓn TQ káXXev
&ió «ai To) Xíupa karaóenÜeis abTQ Oobvai T3»
Tra pÜévov eS yápov &vvopov, ümtyyaryev abri» eis
Nívov, «ai *rjpas éyévviae 670 raibas, "'amárnv
«ai Tédomv. Tis 8é Xegipáuuóos éyovans kal
T&XXa ákóXovOa 7j) epi Tv ONrwv evrperreía, avvé-
Hed TOv ávÓpa TeXéus bm OUTI)s 8e8ovA Ga Üa1,
360

BOOK Il. 4. 4-5. 2

by drop between its lips. And when the child was a
year old and in need of more solid nourishment,
the doves, pecking off bits from the cheeses, supplied
it with sufficient nourishment. Now when the keepers
returned and saw that the cheeses had been nibbled
about the edges, they were astonished at the strange
happening; they accordingly kept a look-out, and
on diseovering the cause found the infant, which
was of surpassing beauty. At once, then, bringing
it to their steadings they turned it over to the keeper
of the royal herds, whose name was Simmas; and
Simmas, being childless, gave every care to the rear-
ing of the girl, as his own daughter, and called her
Semiramis, a name slightly altered from the word
which, in the language of the Syrians, means
" doves," birds which since that time all the
inhabitants of Syria have continued to honour as
goddesses.

5. Such, then, is in substance the story that is told
about the birth of Semiramis. And when she had
already come to the age of marriage and far surpassed
all the other maidens in beauty, an officer was sent
from the.king's court to inspect the royal herds;
his name was Onnes, and he stood first among the
members of the king's council and had been appointed
governor over all Syria. He stopped with Simmas,
and MR Semiramis was captivated by her
beauty ? consequently he earnestly entreated Simmas
to give him the maiden in lawful marriage and took
her off to Ninus, where he married her and begat
two sons, Hyapates and Hydaspes. And since the
other qualities of Semiramis were in keeping with
the beauty of her countenance, it turned out that
her husband became completely enslaved by her,

361

DIODORUS OF SICILY

xai u98óév üvev Ts ékeivygs vyvopuus Tpárrovra
kaTevaToxelv év sráct.

Ka8' by 83) xypóvov 0 BaciXcis, émeióz) rà mepl
T)v &Tíciv Tí OpwovÜnov "rókews aGuveTéAece,
aTpaTevew émri. BakrpiavoUs éreyeípyaev. | els
86 rd re mX5Ü59 xal Tr)v X?» TOv dvOpOv,
ér, 66 T9» xdépav €xovcav TroXXoUs TÓTOUS
áTpocirovs bà T5v Oxyvpórgra, karéAefev éE
ámávrov TÀV jT" avrüv éÜvàv crpaTwwTOv
TAf8os* émei yàp Tíjs mpórepov aTpareías àmo-
TeTevxOs 7v, Ca revóe mroXNamNaaíovs Trapayevé-
aa, óvvápe Trpós T7» Bakrpiavijv.. avvaxOelajs
86 rfe eTpaTiüs TravraxóDev »pipijÜoav, es
Krgaías év rais í(aTopiaws dvaryéypade, metàv
pév ékaróv éfBounkovra uvpidBes, (mmÉcv 8é
p4G T ÀXelovs Tv elkocu. pvpidbov, üppara O6
Óperavgóópa gukpóv ámoXe(movra TÓÀv pupiov
é£faxoatov.

"EeTt guév ov ámioTov rois abróOcv ákovcact
T0 TA$Üos Ts cTpaTiüs, o) Qv áÓ/varóv «ve
$av5sera. Tolg ávaÜecpo)o, TO Te "'Aaías
péyeÜos kai rà TX5Ü5n rÀv kaTowobvrov abTv
€ÜvÀv. et ydp ris un Tijv éri Xeí0as Aapeíov
cTpareéíav perà óyOonkovra Lvpidbov xal Tv
Zépfov &dfasw émi r?v 'EAXdóa Tois üva-
pi8uirois TAjÜeat, Tàs éxOec! al pe qv avvre-
Aea8eícas mpáfes émi T)s E)péTesS awédravro,
TáXLov àv Tria TOv "yy:jaacTo TO. DrÜév. xarà uév
obv Tj» XukeAíav 0 Awovícios éx piüg Te TÓÀV

1 (xis Vogel: x6ts Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

362

BOOK Il. s. 2-6

and since he would do nothing without her advice
he prospered in everything.

It was at just this time that the king, now that he
had completed the founding of the city which bore
his name, undertook his campaign against the
Baetrians. And since he was well aware of the
great number and the valourof these men, and realized
that the country had many places which because of
their strength could not be approached by an enemy,
he enrolled a great host of soldiers from all the nations
under his sway ; for as he had come off badly in his
earlier campaign, he was resolved on appearing
before Bactriana with a force many times as large
as theirs. Accordingly, after the army had been
assembled from every source, it numbered, as
Ctesias has stated in his history, one million seven
hundred thousand foot-soldiers, two hundred and ten
thousand cavalry, and slightly less than ten thousand
six hundred scythe-bearing chariots.

Now at first hearing the great size of the army is
incredible, but it will not seem at all impossible to
any who consider the great extent of Asia and
the vast numbers of the peoples who inhabit it.
For if a man, disregarding the campaign of Darius
against the Scythians with eight hundred thousand !
men and the crossing made by Xerxes against
Greece with a host beyond number;? should consider
the events which have taken place in Europe only
yesterday or the day before, he would the more
quickly come to regard the statement as credible.
In Sicily, for instance, Dionysius led forth on his

1 pirodotus (4. 87) makes the number 700,000, exclusivo of
eet

e -
* Cp. Book 11. 3.
363

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Xvpaxoaíov móXeos éjyaryev émi às cTpaTélas
vwebàv uév Ód0exa pvpidbas, (m weis Bb nuplovs
kal ÓurxiMiove, vaüe 86 paxpàs éE &£vós Atuévos
rerpaxogías, àv 3oav &at rerpijpeis kal mrevryj-
pes* "Pepato, 86 uwepüv mpó rÓv 'AvviBaikQv
KapGy, T'poopó evo, TÓ MéyeÜos. ToÜ TOXéÉuOvU,
«aTéypavray ToUs xarà, Tijv "IraMav émuroBetovs
es^ gTpaTcíav moMras Te rai gULÁYOUS, Ov
0 cópmas ápiO uos pukpóv améMme TÓv ÉkaTüv
uvptdboy*. KaiToL vy' Évexa TX6Üovs ávÜperrov
TW IraMav üXqv oix dv ris awvyxpivee Tpàs
&v &Üvos Tàv xarà Tv 'Acíav, rabra uiv otv
jyuiv elpíja 6o. Tpos TOUS Ék Tíje vüv epi rds
róXets ova ns épnpías Tekuaupouévovs jv maXatàv
TÓV éÜvàv zroXvavÜperniav.

6. 'O 8' obv Nívos uerà rocasrqs Svvdueos
eTparejaas es T)v Baxrpiaviv ovayykátero,
SvaeusBóNoov TÓV TÓTOV kal aTevàv üvrov, xarà
Mépos dei Tv óvvapuv. 5$ yàp Baxrpiav;
X&pa ToXAais xai pevyáxaus oikovjévy TÓXeot
piav uv eixev. émibavearáriv, év jj avvéBawwev
eva ka& Tà BasiAea* abre 9 éxaXe?ro puév
Báxr a, peyébes 96 xal Tf «avrà rjv dkpómoMw
oXvpoTyTL TOXU TacÓv Dtébepe. BasiXevmv 9
avT)s 'O£vdprus xaréypayev ümavras ToUe év

i mhv after eis omitted by CD and deleted by Vogel:
retained by Bekker, Dindorf,

e ————S—— —————— — —

1 Diodorus assumes that his readers are familiar with the
fact that the vessel constituting the body of this fleet was the
trireme, the standard warship of the period of Dionysius (fourth
century B.C.); the quadriremes and quinqueremes were the
next two larger classes. "The complement of the trireme was

364

BOOK IL. 5. 6-6. 2

campaigns from the single city of the Syracusans
one hundred and twenty thousand foot-soldiers and
twelve thousand cavalry, and from a single harbour
four hundred warships, some of which were quadri-
remes and quinqueremes;! and the Romans, a
little before the time of Hannibal, foreseeing the
magnitude of the war, enrolled all the men in Italy
who were fit for military service, both citizens and
allies, and the total sum of them fell only a little
short of one million; and yet as regards the number
of inhabitants a man would not compare all Italy
with a single one of the nations of Asia.? Let these
facts, then, be a sufficient reply on our part to those
who try to estimate the populations of the nations of
Asia in ancient times on the strength of inferences
drawn from the desolation which at the present time
prevails in its cities.

6. Now Ninus in his campaign against Bactriana
with so large a force was compelled, because access
to the country was difficult and the passes were
narrow, to advance his army in divisions. For the
country of Bactriana, though there were many large
cities for the people to dwell in, had one which was
the most famous, this being the city containing the
royal palace; it was called Bactra, and in size and in
the strength of its acropolis was by far the first of
them all The king of the country, Oxyartes, had

atleast 200 men, which makes à minimum for the fleet of
80,000 rowers and marines. 'The larger vessels would, of
course, carry larger crews. According to Polybius (1. 26) the
quinqueremes of the Romans in the third century B.C. carried
300 rowers and 120 marines.

* Polybius (2. 24. 16) estimates the total number of Romans
and allies capable of bearing arms at this time (c. 225 5.0.) as
700,000 foot-soldiers and 70,000 cavalry.

365

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Quia. arpaTelas Óvras, ot róv dpiÜnóv v8poía-
3 Ógcav eie rerrapáxovra pupid6as. àvaXafv
oby 3v Svvapuv Kai TOi TOXeuiows áTavTqcas
mepi Tàs cia oXás, elace ,é»os Tíje ToÜ Nívov
cTpaTids eiaBaXety: éqrel & éOofev (xkavóv ámo-
Be8«évav rYv ToXeuiov mXfjfos eie TÓ «eÓLov,
étérate viv iGíav Ó/vapav. wyevouévgs 66 uáxns
icxXvpüs oí Bakrpwavol roUs 'Acaavpiovs Tpevrá-
juevot Ka TÓv Sroyàv uéxpy rÀv. Ümepreuuévov
ópàv mwovjaápevo, Gré$Üeipav rà» moXepiev eis
6éxa nvpiá6as. uerà 66 rabra máa s Tfje Gvvd-
neos eicBaXojans, kpaTo/Uuevo. Tois "XuÜeci
Karà TóXes ámexópnusav, €x«ac To, Tais lOais
vaTpici fonÜ:ucovres. Tràe pév oiv ádXXae ó
Nívos éxetpóaaTo pa6íes, rà 6à Bárerpa Oiá re
TÜóv OXvpóryTa xal T3» £v ajTf Tapaackeviv
z6vváre. kaTà páros éXeiv.

IloXvxpovíov 66 Tie voXopkías vyivopuévge,! ó
Tíf]s Xepipápa8os àvdp, éperiuxóe Éycov mpóg Tijv
ywaia xal cvaTparevópevos TO ÜaciXet, uer-
eméuraro Tv üvÜ perrov. 1 66 a vvéa ei kal TóN ua
«ai TOls GXXois Tos Trpós éribáveiav avvreivovat
Kexopympévn Katpàv &Aafev émtóelEaaÜat Tiv
i&iav áper5s. Tpórov uév obv TOXÀAÓÀ» TQuepOv
060v uéXXovca OamopeUeaÜa,. aTOXQv éÉmpay-
naTebcaro Ov fjs ook "wv Ouyvàvai TÓv Tepi-
BeBXnpévov qórepov àvüp écTw 1) yvvij. abr:

Av ebxpna Tos, avri) T pós Te Tüs £V ToÍs
xaUpagiw oOovropías, eis TÓ Gua Tupijsa, TÓv roD
góparos Xpàra, «al Tp0s Tàs év TÓ TpáTTew
0 BovXorro xpeias, eÜkiprroe oUca kal veavun,

* ywopérns Gemistus : »yevouévgs.

366

BOOK Il. 6. 2-6

enrolled all the men of military age, and they had
been gathered to the number of four hundred
thousand. Sotaking this force with him and meeting
the enemy at the passes, he allowed a division of the
army of Ninus to enter the country ; and when he
thought that a sufficient number of the enemy had
debouched into the plain he drew out his own forces
in battle-order. A fierce struggle then ensued in
which the Bactrians put the Assyrians to flight, and
pursuing them as far as the mountains which over-
looked the field, killed about one hundred thousand
of the enemy. But later, when the whole Assyrian
force entered their country, the Bactrians, over-
powered by the multitude of them, withdrew city by
city, each group intending to defend itsown homeland.
And so Ninus easily subdued all the other cities, but
Bactra, because of its strength and the equipment for
war which it contained, he was unable to take by
storm.

But when the siege was proving a long affair the
husband of Semiramis, who was enamoured of his
wife and was making the campaign with the king,
sent for the woman. Ánd she, endowed as she was
with understanding, daring, and all the other
qualities which contribute to distinction, seized the
opportunity to display her native ability. First of
all, then, since she was about to set out upon a journey
of many days, she devised a garb which made it im-
possible to distinguish whether the wearer of it was a
manora woman. This dress was well adapted to her
needs, as regards both her travelling in the heat, for
protecting the colour of her skinyand her convenience
in doing whatever she might wish to do, since it
was quite pliable and suitable to a young person, and,

367

DIODORUS OF SICILY

xai Tó aóvoXov roca) Tis Émív abTj ápts !
GcÓ' Ücrepov Mijóovs 5yyncauévovs Te "Acías
$opeiv jv XejpápuBos a ToXÓv, kal nerà rab"

7 opoíes lépoas. apayevouévo 9. eis rv Barpia-

v1» kai karackeragévn và Trepi Tv T'0Xt0pK(av,
éopa xaTà uép rà TeÓta kai ToU; ebedo0ovs rv
TóTOV TpocfoXàs vyiwouévas, mpàüs 8d T)V dkpó-
TroXiv oj6éva, Trpocióvra Óià 3v Óxvpórq9Ta, xal
TOUS €vOov dToXeAowróTas Tàs évra)00a. $vXaxàs
«ai mapafjonÜoDvras Trois él TÓv káTo TEeLY Qv
kwBvvetovai, OoTep rapaXa[dobaa rv cTpaTLO-
TÓV TOUS TreTpoBaetv eioÜóras, xal perà Tovrov
84 Twos xaXermrijs óáparyyos mpocavafásca, kar-
eAáfero uépos Tjjs áxpormóXeos kal Toig TTOXLOD-
koUci TÓ xaTÀ TÓ Tre0Íov Teiyog éouqvev. oi
8' éy8ov émi Tjj kaTaMje. Ts dkpas karaTAa-
yévres éféAumov Tà elm xal Tw coTn)píav
y»

áTéyvocav.

Tobrov 8é róv TpóTov áXo/ems Tíjs TÓXeos ó
BasiXebs Üavuácas Tiv áperi)v Tís wvvaiküs
TÓ uév TpÓrov ueyáMais Bwpeais abr) ér(ugae,
ueà, 8e rabra 9ià rà káXXos Tíjs ávÜparrrov axxàv
époriKGs émexeipnae óv ávOpa mre(Üew ékovaios
abTQ Tapaxoeprjcat, érayyeiXduevos ávri raóTqs
Ts Xápvros aUTÓ avvouetv Tiv (Bav Óvyarépa

10 Eocdvqw. Bvexepàs 9" abrob dépovros, jméí-

Agaev éxkóNreww Tàs Opdaets pi) Trpoxeipos vT-
pero)vros Tos TpocTáyuaciw. 086 "Ovvgs ápa

1 xdpis before sis D, Dindorf,

1 The Median dress waa pisa from that of the
Greeks by its covering for the head, a

368

long coat with sleeves

BOOK II. 6. 6-1o

in à word, was so attractive that in later times the
Medes, who were then dominant in Asia, always
wore the garb of Semiramis, as did the Persians
after them.! Now when Semiramis arrived in
Bactriana and observed the progress of the siege,
she noted that it was on the plains and at positions
which were easily assailed that attacks were being
madc, but that no one ever assaulted the acropolis
because of its strong position, and that its defenders
had left their posts there and were coming to the aid
of those who were hard pressed on the walls below.
Consequently, taking with her such soldiers as were
accustomed to clambering uprocky heights, and making
her way with them up through a certain difficult
ravine, she seized a part of the acropolis and gave a
signal to those who were besieging the wall down in
the plain. ÜThereupon the defenders of the city,
Struck with terror at the seizure of the height, left
the walls and abandoned all hope ofsaving themselves.

When the city had been taken in this way, the king,
marvellng at the ability of the woman, at first
honoured her with great gifts, and later, becoming
infatuated with her because of her beauty, tried to
persuade her husPand to yield her to him of his own
accord, offering in return for this favour to give him
his own daughter Sosané to wife. But when the man
took his offer with ill grace, Ninus threatened to
put out his eyes unless he at once acceded to his
commands. And Onnes, partly out of fear of the

extending to the hands, trousers, and boots. Strabo (11. 13. 9)
expressed the contempt generally felt for it by thc Greeks when,
in observing that the Persians adopted this garb, he adds that
* they submitted to weat,feminine robes instead of going naked
orlightly clad, and to cover their bodies all over with clothes."

369

DIODORUS OF SICILY

uév ràs ToÜ Baci(Xéws ámeiXàs Be(cas, üpa 86
61à Tóv Épera Tepumeoóv XórTa Twl kal uavía,
Bpóxov éavrQ TepiÜcls àvexepéuaae. Xeuipapas
uév obv Ó&ià ro.aras airías els BacuNov 7jA0e
Tpósxnpa.

1. 'O 8e Nívos rovs re é» Bárrpows vrapéXaBe
ÓgcaupoUs, Éxovrae moAX)v üpyvpóv e xai
Xpvaóv, kal TÀ &arà Tv Baxrpiavijv xaTa-
oTjaas üméAvae ràg Dvváyuets. uerà 06 Tara

, , , *N ^ , s
yevvijaas éc Xegapágu8og vióv Nwvav éreXe?T5oe,
Tv wyvvaika àvoXAvrOv facüuccav. Tüv 60
Nívov 5j Xeuípapus &aNrev év vols BaciXetors,
kai karegkeVacev ém' avTQ xÓpa mauéyeDes,
ob T0 uày Üwros "]v évvéa a rabie, 10 9 eÜpos, óc
$e: Krgoías, 8éca. B0 xal Tíje vóXeos Tapà
Tv E$$párqv £v meOíp xewuévgs àmó moXXQv
cTaóiev éjaivero TÓ yóua kaÜamepel Tis dipó-
moXu* D xal uéypy ToU v)v $acw Bapgévew,
kaimep Ts Nívov kareckauuévgs $"ó Mjbov,
óTe karéAvaav T2» ' Aaavpiav Bacieiav.

'H 8é Xeuípagus, ooa dice peyaXeriBoXos
kal duXoTiuovpévr Tfj Sófn Tv BeBacuevkora
vpàó abTjs UmepÜécÜai, móXw uév émeBáXero
kritew év 75] BaBvXovía, émiXeEapévy 86 robs
vavraxXóUev ápxwréerovae kal Texvíras, ér.. 06
Tijv ÁÀÀmv xopyyíav Tapackevagapévn, gvv-
iyyayev é£ ámáans Tífjs BaavXelas mpóe Tv TÓV
Épyov avvréNaav ávB6pGv nuvpidbas Dwuakocías.

! Tn 612 z.c. .
? The following pieture of Bahylon serves to show the
impression which this great city, whose '' circuit was that more

370

BOOK Il. 6. 10-7. 2

king's threats and partly out of his passion for his
wife, fell into a kind of frenzy and madness, put a
rope about his neck, and hanged himself. Such,
then, were the circumstances whereby Semiramis
attained the position of queen.

7. Ninus secured the treasures of Bactra, which
contained a great amount of both gold and silver,
and after settling the affairs of Bactriana disbanded his
forces. After this he begat by Semiramis ason Ninyas,
and then died, leaving his wife as queen. Semiramis
buried Ninus in the precinct of the palace and erected
over his tomb a very large mound, nine stades high
and ten wide, as Ctesias says. Consequently, since
the city lay on a plain along the Euphrates, the
mound was visible for a distance of many stades, like
an acropolis; and this mound stands, they say, even
to this day, though Ninus was razed to the ground
by the Medes when they destroyed the empire of
the Assyrians.!

Semiramis, whose nature made her eager for great
exploits and ambitious to surpass the fame of her
predecessor on the throne, set her mind upon found-
ing a city in Babylonia, and after securing the
architects of all the world and skilled artisans and
making all the other necessary preparations, she
gathered together from her entire kingdom two
milion men to complete the work.? "Taking the

Of a nation than of a city '' (Aristotle, Politics, 3. 3. 5), made
upon the Greeks. "The older city was hadly damaged hy the
s&ck of Sennacherih (c. 689 ».0.). The same ruler, however,
commenced the work of rehuilding it, & task which was
continued hy sucoessive kings of Ássyria. The Chaldaean
Nehuchadrezzar (605-562 2.0.) further embellished it, making
it the most magnificent city of Asia, and it is his city which
was known to the classical writers.

371

DIODORUS OF SICILY

3 àwoXafoUca O6 àv Ej$párgw «orapóv els
Mécov TepieBáXero eixos Tf TÓÀe. cTaÓÍcv
éPjjkovra kal Tpuakoalcv, ÓteLXuuévov. mrÜpryots
vuKvois xai pevyáow, de dns. Krwgoíae ó
K»íówos, à« 86 KAeírapyos xal rw ÜoTepov
per! "AXe£dy8pov Bia Bárra els Tiv Aalav Tiwvés
ávéypaeav, rpuakoaicv éijkovra mévre a ra&Lcv-
kal TpocTiÜÉaci» Üru TÓv lacv 7uepQv eis Tüv
éviavrüv obav éduXortujÜn vóv. loov dpiÜuóv

4 rüv cTaóiev jbmocT)cacÜa,. ó-Tàe 80 qALy-
8ovs eis dadaXrov évBgcapuévg TelyOS KaTe-
ckevace TÓ uév ÜWyos, ds uiv Kr9oías $9oí,
Tevr)kovra OpyviQv, és Ó' £y, TÀv. vewrépov
éypa rav, m»xG» evrkovra, r0 à mXdáros
mAÀéov jj óvciv üpuaciw immÁcigov: TÜpyous Óé
Tv uév ápiÜuóv Gakoalove xai "TEVT)jKOVTQ, TÓ
9 Dos? «ai mAXáros é£ ávaXóyov TQ Bápe. ràv

6 xarà TÓ Telyos Cpyov. o) Xp?) 66 Oavuátew
€ TyAukoDrov TÓ uéWyeÜog To meptBóXov xaó-
egTÓTOs OXLyovs mpyovs kareoke/agep* él
TOXUV yàp TóTOV Tis Tókeug CXeci T'€pL€eXo-
uevys, kaà, ToÜTov TOv TÓTOv ojk Dofev avTÍ)
vrUp*yovs oikobopetv, Tíje Gícens TOv Ov ikaym)v
Tapexonéve Oxvpórgra. àvà uécov Óà TÀy
oikLQv kal Qv TevyOv. óbos "rávT) KaTeXéXeumTo
Gir epos.

! So Eichstádt, who deletes after ue'yáAois 2 ** Aud such
was the massiveness of tho works that the width of the
walls was aufficient to allow six chariots to drive abreast
upon it, and their height was unbelievable to those who
only hear of it."

) * Jacoby, F. Qr. Hist, s.v. Kleitarchos, frg. 10, adds
$pywSv aliter Dos and adopts the reading of. AB D and

372

BOOK IL. 7. 3-5

Euphrates river into the centre she threw about the
city a wall with great towers set at frequent intervals,
the wall being three hundred and sixty stades!
in cireumference, as Ctesias of Cnidus says, but accord-
ing to the account of Cleitarchus and certain of those
who at a later time crossed into Asia with Alexander,
three hundred and sixty-five stades;? and these
latter add that it was her desire to make the number
of stades the same as the days in the year. Making
baked bricks fast in bitumen she built a wall with a
height, as Ctesias says, of fifty fathoms, but, as some
later writers have recorded, of fifty cubits?? and
wide enough for more than two chariots abreast to
drive upon; and the towers numbered two hundred
and fifty, their height and width corresponding to
the massive scale of the wall. Now it need occasion
no wonder that, considering the great length of the
circuit wall, Semiramis constructed a small number of
towers; for since over a long distance the city was
surrounded by swamps, she decided not to build
towers along that space,the swampsoffering asufficient
natural defence. And all along between the dwell-
ings and the walls a road was left two plethra wide.

1 About forty miles.

? Herodotus (1. 178) makes the circuit of the walls 480
stades, Strabo (16. 1. 5) 385, although this number has been
generally taken by editors to be an error of the MSS. for 365,
thus bringing him into agreement with Cleitarchus and
Quintus Curtius 5. 4.

? 4.e, either 300 feet high or 75 feet high. Herodotus, 1.c.,
gives the height as 200 '' royal cubits "* (c. 335 feet).

Tzetzes, Chil. 9. 569: rb 8' Dos ópyviiv éEfkovra, ós 9 Evi
TÀv vewrépuy aci, muxàrv étfkorra (*' their height being sixty
fathoms, but, as some later writers say, sixty cubits").

313

DIODORUS OF SICILY

8. Ilpós 8é r4$v ófórgra Tís Tobrev oixo-
Souíaes ékdoTp TÓv (Xov arábov Swpérpgoe,
8oÜca Tv ixav)v eie roÜro xopwyyíav xai àa-
keXeucauévo TéXos émiÜeiva,. Tof Épyows év
éwavrTQ. Óv Towjcávrov TÓ mTpocTaXÜGv puerà
vOXAós acuovOns, ro)ToV piv dümeDOéfaro Tv
duXoTiucav, a0T7) 06 karà TÓ cTevÓTaTOV uépos
TOD voTGau0D vyéDvpav aTaOíev cévre TÓ Qijkos
karegkevagev, eis fuÜbv duXoréyvos kaÜetaa

X, , ^ jg , , 3 / ,
TOU. Kiovas, ot Oeo rojkecav às áXXijXov. Tróbas
8ó8exa. roUe 8? avvepei&ouévovs XíQovs rópuois
ct9npois ÓvXápfave, kal Tàs robrev dppuovias
». , , » P ^ b ;
émA4dpov guóAL.B88ov évrükovca. crois B6 xíoci
Tpó TOv TÓ DeÜna Sexyouévev TXevpàv rvyovías
qpokaregkeUagev éxyojcas Tiv dmopposv repi-
$epüj xai cuvOcOeuévgv xaT ÓAbyov &ws ob

* , , Ld e hi ^ ^
xarà Tüv kLova Tirovs, Ümos ai uév qrepi Ts
yovías ófóryres Téuveci Tijv karadopàv To
pebuaTos, ai 66 epwbépaa. Tf) Toórov Ba
cweikoucaL. Trpajvegi. jv cdobpórgra ob
voTauoÜ. 7j uév oiv *yéjvpa, xeOpivaw xal
kvrrapyrTivaus Gokoís, ér, 6 dowwikev aTeXéyeoty
bmepueyéÜecu xareaTeyacdguévy xal TpidákovTa

e^ . t , , * 387, ^
vrobdv obca TÓ qmXdTOs, oUOevóg éO0keu TÓV

, » ^ ; ,
Zeuipáuuóos épyov Tf duXorexyvía XelmeaÜa.
éF éxarépov Óà uépovs roD vorapoÜ rxpnumiba

1 Some of the piers of this '* most ancient stone bridge of
which we have any record '' have been discovered. They are
twenty-one metres long, nine wide, and are placed nine metres

374

BOOK II. 8. 1-3

8. In order to expedite the building of these
constructions she apportioned a stade to each of her
friends, furnishing sufficient material for their task
and directing them to complete their work within a
year. And when they had finished these assign-
ments with great speed she gratefully accepted
their zeal, but she took for herself the construction
of a bridge ! five stades long at the narrowest point
of the river, skilfully sinking the piers, which stood
twelve feet apart, into its bed. And the stones,
which were set firmly together, she bonded with iron
cramps, and the joints of the cramps ? she filled by
pouring in lead. Again, before the piers on the
side which would receive the current she constructed
cutwaters whose sides were rounded to turn off the
water and which gradually diminished to the width
of the pier, in order that the sharp points of the
cutwaters might divide the impetus of the stream,
while the rounded sides, yielding to its force, might
soften the violence of the river. This bridge, then,
floored as it was with beams of cedar and cypress
and with palm logs of exceptional size and having a
width of thirty feet, is considered to have been inferior
in technical skill to none of the works of Semiramis.
And on each side of the river she built an expensive
apart. An inscription of Nebuchadrezzar aseribes this bridge
to his father Nabopolassar (R. Koldewey, T'he Excavations at
Babylon (Eng. transl.), pp. 197-99).

* Or " of the stones * (so Liddell-Scott-Jones) But the
use of eramps and dowels, sunk into the stones and made
fast by pouring in molten lead, was the accepted bonding
method in the classic period of Greek architecture, and
dove-tailed wooden eramps laid in bitumen have been found
in Babylon (Koldewey, l.c., p. 177).

3 The sides of the piers, as remains show, were convex at
the north ends and then sharply receded to & point.

375

DIODORUS OF SICILY

vOÀvTeAi) kareackevage mapamvrgíav karà TÓ
mTAáros Toíe Telxeciv émi arabíoves ékavóv
éÉrjkovra.

"Quxobóunoc 56 kal BaeíXeia DvrXa map. abróv
Tóv voTauÓv éf éxarépov uépove Tf yed/pas,
é£ v dp! ÉueXXe rv re mONv áracav karo-
wreUcew? xal kaÜamepei às &Xeig ÉÉew TOV
émukaiporáTov Ts mÓAeoe TóTOV. ToU D
Ebvópárov Sià uéeus rí BafjvXGvos péovros
kai pós ueonufpíav xarajepouévov, TÓÀv
BaciXeiov Tà uév Tpós àvaroX3v éveve, rà Bé
Tpós 8vcuv, dpdórepa. Br ToMwTeAÀS KaT-
eokevacTo. ToU puév twàp? qpós éaTépav xei-
Aévov nuépovs émoígoe róv mp&rov epífloXov
éPákovra oTabiíev, vwyuXois xal soXvreAéoi
rebyeoww óxvpopévov, é£ ómríje mAivÜov. ére-
pov ' évrüs rojTov kvkXorepi) kareakevace, kaD'
Ov év opaís éri rais mAvÜois Bwererimoro Ünpía
vavrobamáà Tf) TÓv wpepudrov ieTevE TÜV
áXQÜerav ámopiuosueva* obros 0 6 meptoXos
7v TÓ uév uijkos crabíev rerrapákovra, rÓ Bé
mwAáros éml Tpuakoaíae * mXÍvÜovs, và 9 Duos,
ds Krgoías $qoív, ópyviàv qevrükovra: ràv 5e
mipycov bmípye TÓ bYros ópyviÀv éfiBouijkovra.
kaTeakeVage 06 xai Tpirov évOorépo mrepiffoXov,
e Tepieiyev dxpómoMuw, js 7) u&v mepiperpos 7v
crabiev elxoci, TÓ bé ÜXros? xal mAáros Tíjs
oLkoOopías Umepaipov ToU pécov Téíyovs Tw

! uy after &ga deleted by Dindorf.

* karowreócew Dindorf: karomvetew.

*. els v5 after *yàp deleted by Dindorf.

* cpiekocías Dindorf: rpiakosíovss. — 9 Üjos Wurm : ufjkos.

376

BOOK II. 8. 3-6

quay! of about the same width as the walls and
one hundred and sixty stades long.

Semiramis also built two palaces on the very banks
of the river, one at each end of the bridge, her inten-
tion being that from them she might be able both to
look down over the entire city and to hold the keys,
as it were, to its most important sections. And
since the Euphrates river passed through the centre
of Babylon and flowed in a southerly direction, one
palace faced the rising and the other the setting sun,
and both had been constructed on a lavish scale.
For in the case of the one which faced west she made
the length of its first or outer circuit wall sixty stades,
fortifying it with lofty walls, which had been built
at great cost and were of burned brick. And within
this she built a second, circular in form? in the bricks
of which, before they were baked, wild animals of
every kind had been engraved, and by the ingenious
use of colours these figures reproduced the actual
appearance of the animals themselves; this circuit
wall had a length of forty stades, a width of three
hundred bricks, and a height, as Ctesias says, of fifty
fathoms; the height of the towers, however, was
seventy fathoms. And she built within these two
yet a third circuit wall, which enclosed an acropolis
whose circumference was twenty stades in length,
but the hcight and width of the structure sur-
passed the dimensions of the middle circuit wall.

* Cp. Herodotus 1. 180.

* Koldewey (l.c., p. 130) holds that the Greek word may not
be translated " circular," preferring " annular, enclosed in
itself, not open on one side, like the outer peribolos,'" his
reason being that a '' circular peribolos is found nowhere in
Babylon."

317

-J

DIODORUS OF SICILY

xarackev]w. évisav B £v re rois mÜpyous xai
rei xeat ba. vavrobaTà $iXoréxvos Toís TE
Xpópag. Kal rois TÀv TUmev dmopiujpaci
kareokevampuéva: Tó O OXov émemoíyro xvvijyuov
vavrolov Ünpiev bmrápxov TAjpes, Ov jcav Tà
peyéün mAéov jj myxGv Terrápov. xareaxeva-
cTo 5 £v ajrois kai $ Xeuípajus à! imTov
vápbaMw ákovri[ovca, xai TMgciov abris 0
àvgp Nívos maie éx xewóe Xéovra Xóyxp.
éméaTgae Bé xal mÜXas TpirTás, | dv Um pxov
8vrrai ? xaXcaí Già. uyavijs àvovyópevaa.

Taüra uév obv rà facíXea kai TQ peyée.
xal rais karacKevais ToMD Tpocixe TOv ÜvTOV
éri Üdrepa uépg ToU morapoÜ. ékeiva ràp elxe
Tóv uér TepífoXov ToÜ Te(Xovs Tpudkovra c Ta-
Biov é£ ómrfjs mAivyÜov, àvri. 8à Tíjs mepi rà La
$uAoTrexvías xaXxüs eikóvas Nívov xai Zepa-
pája8os kai TOv bmrápxov, ét 66 Auós, 0v kaXo0-
aw oi BafvXowto, BijAov' évfjoav 866 kal mapa-
Táfes xai kvviyya. ravrobamá, owl Yrvxa-
go*ytav rapexópeva rois Üecpévois.

9. Merà 9é rabra Ts BagvXevías ékXe£a-
pévg róv rameiwórarov TóTOv émoínoe Gefayeviv
rerpáryavov, 7s o edam TXevpà ; eTabiav
Tpia.KOGLOV, e oT TfjS mMvyÜov «ai àágoáXrov
kareakevag uévgv «ai Tó fáÜos Éyovcav mod»

1 à9' after rprrràs deleted by Dindorf.
3 Serra Wurm : Sfocrai.

1 Koldewey (l.c., pp. 129-31) identifies this palace witb what
he calls the Persian Building, and finds traces of the three
cirouit walls (periboloi) It is & striking coincidence that
among the fragments of glazed bricks depioting & chase of

378

BOOK II. 8. 6-9. 1

On both the towers and the walls there were again
animals of every kind, ingeniously executed by the
use of colours as well as by the realistic imitation of
the several types; and the whole had been made to
represent a hunt, complete in every detail, of all
sorts of wild animals, and their size was more than
four cubits. Among the animals, moreover, Semi-
ramis had also bcen portrayed, on horseback and in
the act of hurling a javelin at a leopard, and nearby
was her husband Ninus, in the act of thrusting his
spear into a lion at close quarters.! In this wall she
also set triple gates, two of which were of bronze and
were opened by a mechanical device.

Now this palace far surpassed in both size and
details of execution the one on the other bank of
the river. For the circuit wall of the latter, made
of burned brick, was only thirty stades long, and
instead of the ingenious portrayal of animals it
had bronze statues of Ninus and Semiramis and their
officers, and one also of Zeus, whom the Babylonians
call Belus;? and on it were also portrayed both
battle-scenes and hunts of every kind, which filled
those who gazed thereon with varied emotions of
pleasure.

9. After this Semiramis picked out the lowest spot
in Babylonia and built a square reservoir, which was
three hundred stades long on each side; it was con-
structed of baked brick and bitumen, and had a

wild animals there was found only one human face, that of
a woman in white enamel. '* We can scarcely doubt, there-
fore,'' he says, '* that Diodorus was describi the enamels of
the Persian building, and that the white face of a woman is the
same that Ctesias recognized as a portrait of Semiramis."

? * Zeus Belus'' was the name by which the Babylonian
Bel-Marduk was known among the Greeks.

379

DIODORUS OF SICILY

2 rpidkovra kal Tévre. eis rTa/TQgv Ó dmoarpé-
Y'aca TÓv ToTrauóv kareckeUagev ék TÓÀv émi
TáÓe BaciXeiev eie Üárepa Dipvya: é£ ómTÍS
8é mAívÜov cvvoikoBou:jcaca Tàs kapápae éÉ
ékarépov nuépovs dadáXro xaréypuaev qyyenuévg,
Lexpt ob! TÓ Táyos ToU xpíaparos émoínae mqxàv
TerTápow. ijs 06 OwDpvxyos Urt) pxov oi uv Totyot
Tó TrAáTos érri mAívÜovs elkoci, Tó 8 Duos xopis
Tis kapdÜeíans qyraX(8os moOQv» OwOexa, TO O6
qrAáros Tro0Qv Trevrekaióeka, év fjuépaus 9. émrà
karackevaaÜelans aÜTís dmokaTéoTQae TOV To-
rauóv émi Tijv TpoUmÓpxovaav piciv, Gare ToU
peUuaTos émávo Tíjs Ó.ópvxos depouévov Siva.
aÜai T?» Xenípapav ék ràv mépav facuXelov àni
Oárepa Diwamope/eaÜa. u3 DGuaaivovcav Tóv
worapóv. éméaTgoe Bà xal míAas mij Ówopvyi
XaX«ás éd! écdrepov uépos, al Biéuewav. uéy qi
Tijs? IIepa àv BSaciXeías.

Merà 60é rabra £v yuéag Tí móXe xar-
eakevagev iepóv Aus, óv kaXoÜctw oi Baf9vAG-
viot, kaÜdmep eiprkauev, BijXov. — sepi rovrov
86 rüv avyypadéov 9uaievoivrov, kai ToU kara-
ckevágparos Ó.à TÓv Xpovov kaTaTmemTOokóTos,
ovk écTiw ümod*jvacÜa. rTákpiBés. | ÓpoXoyeirai
9 bNregXOv yeyevija0a. xaO" vmrepBoXijv, kal ToUs
XaX6aíovs év abrQ Tàe TÓv dorpov meroíjo0at
TaparQpuces, Akpugàs Üeopovuévev Trà» T
ávaroAQv xai OjUaeev OÓià To ToÜ karackevád-
cpuaTos UNros. ríjs 9. 0As oiko&opías e£ dadaA-

1! ob D, Vogel : érov C, Bekker, Dindorf,
* vàv after 75s omitted by C D, Vogel,

380

BOOK II. 9. 1-5

depth of thirty-five feet. Then, diverting the river
into it, she built an underground passage-way from
one palace to the other; and making it of burned
brick, she coated the vaulted chambers on both
sides with hot bitumen until she had made the
thickness of this coating four cubits. "The side walls
of the passage-way were twenty bricks thick and
twelve feet high, exclusive of the barrel-vault, and
the width of the passage-way was fifteen feet. And
after this construction had been finished in only seven
days she let the river back again into its old channel,
and so, since the stream flowed above the passage-
way, Semiramis was able to go across from one palace
to the other without passing over the river. Ateach
end of the passage-way she also set bronze gates
which stood until the time of the Persian rule.

After this she built in the centre of the city a
temple ! of Zeus whom, as we have said, the Baby-
lonians eall Belus. Now since with regard to this
temple the historians are at variance, and since time
has caused the structure to fall in ruins, it is impossible
to give the exact facts concerning it. But all agree
that it was exceedingly high, and that in it the Chal-
daeans made their observations of the stars, whose
risings and settings could be accurately observed by
reason of the height of the structure. Now the entire
building was ingeniously constructed at great expense

1 Whatfollowsisa description of the great ziggurat, or stago-
tower, of E-temen-ana-ki, the ** foundation stone of heaven and
earth." Aocording to Herodotus (1. 181) it had eight stories,
but E. Unger (Babylon (1931), pp. 191 ff.) finds evidence for
only seven (cp. the Reconstruction, p. 383). The height of
this great structure was nearly 300 feet, and in the course of
time thcre gathered about it the Hebrew myth of the Tower
0f Babel (cp. The Cambridge Ancient History, I, pp. 503 ff.).

381

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TOv kal mAívÜov TediXoTexvuuévge moXvreXOs,
fév! üxpae Tí áàvafMáceos Tpía xarecakeDaaev
dyáNuaTa wpucà ac$QvpiXara, As, "Hpas,
'Péas. Tojrev 66 TrÓ uév ToÜ Ai éoTmQkóg Jv
kai OaBefBnkós, Umápyov 66! moóQv rerrapá-
xovTa TÓ uijkos c TaÜuOv elxe xiXiov raXdvrav
BafvXovíev: ró 5à vf« 'Péae émi O(jpov ka6j-
uevoy xpvao Tov ig ov c Ta8pày eixe TÓ T'poci-
pnuévo* éml 66 rÓv yováTev abTíje cloTQkecav
Aéovres Oo, kai mwXnaíov Ó$ew VmeppeyéÜeus
&pyvpot, rTptáxovra TaXávTOV CkacaToe éxcov TÓ
Bápos. TO 86 r5 "Hpase éaTgkóe 7v dya^ga,
cTaÜuóv Éxov raXávrev Okrakoaíov, kal Tjj
uév Óefià xe xaTeixe Te kejaMüs Ou, Tfj
6' àpwoTep&á okiüymTpov AXiÜokóXMgrov. —TobTOis
66 Tác kou) mapékevro rpámela xpvaj avpi-
XaTos, TÓ gév jijxos TobÓ» TerrapákovTa, TÓ
8' eDpos mrevrekaióeka, a raÜDuóv Éyovaa raXávrav
Tevrakociov. émi 06 ra)rgs émékewTo bo
kapx1ja a, ara uv Éxovra rp.ákovra raXávTOv.
7cav 66 kal OvjiaT$pia TÓv pév üpiÜuóv loa,
Tür 66 aTaÜpuóv ékárepov raXávrov Tpiakoalov*
bTcü)pxov 96 xal kparüpee wpvaot Tpeis, dv Ó
név ToÜ Ais elA«e ráXavra DafgvXóvia xDua
kal 6uukócia, TOv Ó' üXXcv ékdrepos éfaxócua.
àXAà rabra uv oi TÓv lepaóv SaciXeis Üoepov
écÓXQgcarw TOv O66 facuXciev kal TOv QXXov
karackevacpraOv 0 xpóvos Tà Qév OXoa yepás
7$ávice, rà 0 éXvjüvaro: xal yàp ajbrís Tis
BafvXQvos vóv Bpaxó T& uépos oikeirau, TO Ó6
meta Tov évrós Te(xovs yeopryeiraa.

10. "Yer$oye 86 kal ó kpeuacTós kaXoUpevos
382

BOOK IL 9. 5-10. 1

of bitumen and brick, and at the top of the ascent
Semiramis set up three statues of hammered gold, of
Zeus, Hera, and Rhea. Of these statues that of Zeus
represented him erect and striding forward, and,
being forty feet high, weighed a thousand Babylonian
talents; that of Rhea showed her seated on a golden
throne and was of the same weight as that of Zeus;
and at her knees stood two lions, while near by were
huge serpents of silver, each one weighing thirty
talents. The statue of Hera was also standing,
weighing eight hundred talents, and in her right hand
she held a snake by the head and in her left a sceptre
studded with precious stones. A table for all three
statues, made of hammered gold, stood before them,
forty feet long, fifteen wide, and weighing five
hundred talents. Upon it rested two drinking-cups,
weighing thirty talents. And there were censers as
well, also two in number but weighing each three
hundred talents, and also three gold mixing bowls,
of which the one belonging to Zeus weighed twelve
hundred Babylonian talents and the other two six
hundred each. But all these were later carried off as
spoil by the kings of the Persians,! while as for the
palaces and the other buildings, time has either
entirely effaced them or left them in ruins; and in
fact of Babylon itself but a small part is inhabited at
this time, and most of the area within its walls is
given over to agriculture.

10. There was also, beside the acropolis, the Hang-

1 Babylon was taken by the Persians in 539 5.c.

1 Vogel follows D in reading 5t here and deletes it after
aTa8uóv.

383

DIODORUS OF SICILY

&iyros Tapà Tv dàxpómoAw, o0 XejapájaOos,
&AAXd rivos Üavepov Süpov faciXéos xaracxevd-
cavTOs Xdápi qvvaiukós TaXAakis TaíTqv wváp
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jupijo ac 0a4 Già Tfje ToU vrovpyeíov diXoTexvías
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mapáóegos Ti» pév mXevpà» ékáoTgv Tapek-
Téivov eis Térrapa TAéÜpa, riv 86 mpócfacw
, ^ * * , , ». 3 »- L4
opewijv kai Tàs oikoOopíae &XXas é£ dXXcv Éywv,
Gore T»v Tpócoyuv elvai Ücarpon85. bmó 96
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avpiyyes, árav uv bmroBexópevat à ToU $vrovp-
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áveráro cÜpvyE obca mevrQkovra TxÓv TÓ
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rárqv émibáveav avvefvoovuévgy TQ TepiBóA o
vOv émáAELemv. me oi. uy roixoi mroXvTeAÓs
, ^
karegkevaguévo, TÓ Táxos elxov moO0Qv eikoct
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» , M ^ , r à , L4
rAí£vOov oT Tv Ovi éy yore GeBenévov, rpírqv
9 émiBoAdv éBéxyero? uoX.Báse arTéyas mpós TÓ
iij 9ukveiaÜa. karà BáÜos viv éx To xópaTos
voríóa. émwi 86 roírow écecópevro vie ikavóv
! é9' abrfj Bekker, Dindorf.
* éBéxero Vogel: érebéxero C, Bekker, Dindorf,
384

BOOK IL. ro. 1-5

ing Garden, as it is called, which was built, not by
Semiramis, but by a later Syrian king to please one of
his concubines; for she, they say, being a Persian by
race and longing for the meadows of her mountains,
asked the king to imitate, through the artifice of a
planted garden, the distinctive landscape of Persia.!
'The park ? extended four plethra on each side, and
since the approach to the garden sloped like a hillside
and the several parts of the structure rose from one
another tier on tier, the appearance of the whole
resembled that of a theatre. When the ascending
terraces had been built, there had been constructed
beneath them galleries which carried the entire
weight of the planted garden and rose little by little
one above the other along the approach; and the
uppermost gallery, which was fifty cubits high,
bore the highest surface of the park, which
was made level with the circuit wall of the
battlements of the city. Furthermore, the walls,
which had been constructed at great expense, were
twenty-two feet thick, while the passage-way be-
tween each two walls was ten feet wide. "The roofs
of the galleries were covered over with beams of
stone sixteen feet long, inclusive of the overlap, and
four feet wide. 'The roof above these bears had
first a layer of reeds laid in great quantities of
bitumen, over this two courses of baked brick bonded
by cement, and as a third layer a covering of lead, to
the end that the moisture from the soil might not
penetrate beneath. On all this again earth had been
! The " Hanging Gardens'' were built by the Chaldaean
Nebuchadrezzar (605—562 n.0.) for his wife Amyhia, a Median
princess.
* Paradeisos, '* park," & word borrowed from the Persian,
meant no more than a wooded enclosure.
385

|
|
|
LU

DIODORUS OF SICILY

BáÜ8os, ápxoÜv! Tai; TÓÀv eyíarov SévÓpev
Bibaue T0 8 iBados éfopuaMcuévov TAXfjpes Jv
vavroOaTÀv Sévópev rüv Bvvautvev kará ec TO
uéyeÜos xal Tw dXXqv xdpw Tode Üecuévovs
Nvxayeyíjma.. ai 66 aspeyyes Tà ra Bex ó-
ueva, Talis OV àXXjAev bmepoxyaís ToXAs kal
vavrobamÓs elyov &aíras Baaikds* ula 8 v
éx Te àveTráTos émijavelas Biarouás &xovca
«ai mpós Tàs émavTMjaes TOv Übdrev Ópyava,
àv àv dveamráro mAíjfos ÜDaros éx ToU morapo0,
unóevós TÀv ÉfwÜev và yiwóuevov aviiBety Bvva-
Lévov. obros u£v ov ó srapádBet os, dg "rpoei?rov,
Üa'repov kareakeváa 09.

11. 'H 8& Xeuípajus &criae kai dXXae móXeis
Tapà TOv Torauüv Tóv re EbjpárQgv xai rüv
Téypw, év als éymrópia. karea«eiaae Tots Qopría
Óukonítovaw éc Tí Mm&ías «al IIapatra-
«qvis «ai máans Tís cÜveyyus xópas. uerà
yàp Tóv NeiXov kal T'áyyygv ves émvonuóraTo:
c Xebov TÓv xarà T])v ' Aatav moraudv Eb$párngs
«al "líypis Ts pué£v m»yàe ÉCxovew éx rv
"Apueviev ópàv, Bwarükac. 8' dm AXXÓXev
a Ta&Lovs ua xiM ovs kal zrevrakoaíovg* éve x0 évres
8é àià My&ías «ai IIapavraegvis éuBáXXovatw
eis T?» Mecororauíav, $v ámoXau[dávovres eig

3 àpkoüy Gemistus: &pxojuevor.

—————————————————————É

1 Koldewey (Lc., pp. 91-100) would identify & vaulted
building in a corner of Nebuchadrezzar's palace with this
" hanging garden." Certein considerations speak strongly

386

BOOK IL ro. 5-1:. 2

piled to a depth sufficient for the roots of the largest
trees; and the ground, when levelled off, was thickly
planted with trees of every kind that, by their great
size or any other charm, could give pleasure to the
beholder. And since the galleries, each projecting
beyond another, all received the light, they con-
tained many royal lodgings of every description;
and there was one gallery which contained openings
leading from the topmost surface and machines for
supplying the garden with water, the machines raising
the water in great abundance from the river, although
no one outside could see it being done. Now this
park, as I have said, was a later construction.!

1l. Semiramis founded other cities also along the
Euphrates and Tigris rivers, in which she estab-
lished trading-places for the merchants who brought
goods from Mcdia, Paraetacené, and all the neigh-
bouring region. For the Euphrates and Tigris, the
most notable, one may say, of all the rivers of Asia
after the Nile and Ganges, have their sources in the
mountains of Ármenia and are two thousand five
hundred stades apart at their origin, and after flowing
through Media and Paraetacené they enter Meso-
potamia, which they enclose between them, thus

for this: (1) hewn stone, rarely found elsewhere in Babylon,
was used in its construction ; (2) the walls, especially the central
ones, are unusually thick, as if to bear some heavy burden;
(3) the presence of a well, unique among the many found in the
ruins of the city, which consists of three adjoining shafts, the
two outer and oblong ones presumably being used for an end-
leas chain of buckets, and the central and square shaft serving
as an inspection-chamber. L. W. King (A History of Babylon,
pp. 46-50) recognizes the force of these arguments, but is
inclined ** to hope for à more convincing site for the gardens."
E. Unger (Babylon, pp. 216 ff.) accepts the identification of
Koldewey.

387

DIODORUS OF SICILY

pécov air, karéaTqcav Tf XÓpQ Ta)TQs TÍ]e
mrpoc"yopías: uerà Ó6 rabTa Tjv BagvXoviav
BueABóvres! els v3)v ' EpuÜpàv é£epevyyovrat 0dXa-
rav. peyáxoi 9 üvres kal ovxviv xdepav &a-
Tropevópevou TO0XAÀs ,ádoppás Tapé ovTaL Toís
épropucf) Xpepévors épya ia: &ió iai evufaítva
ToU mapamorapious TÓTOUS T'Mjpews VmüpXew
éurropiev eüoaunóvcv xal peryáXa. cvy BaXNXouévov
mpós riv 1s BafvXevías éri$áveuav.

*H 3é Xepípagus ék TOv. "Apueviev ópv MOov
éreue TÓ pip uíjkos TrobÀv ékaTóv Kal Tpiá-
xovra, TÓ Bà mAdros kal máxos elkoow xai
mévre — TobUrov B6 moAXoís mW0eoi Levyóv
ópeucv Te «ai Boeóv karaxyaroUaa, pos ,róv
sovapóv émeBiBaaev érri Tiv oxeoiav* émi TaUT)S
88 mapaxopícaca? xarà ToU peóparos péxpi Tfjs
BaBvXevías éaTgaev abróv mapà T$v émiwnpo-
várqv ó8óv, rapáSoÉov 0éapa vois mapiüsiw* óv
rives óvopátoveir ámró ToU cx*jp.aTos óffeMaxov,
$v év Toig émTà Toís kaTovopatouévow pois
caa pi ola.

19. IIoAAGv 8à xal mapaBó£ev üvrev Ocapá-
rov kaTà Tj» BafwXovíav ox fjevoTa Óavpá-
fera, kal Tó mAfos Tíje €v avTü )yevve ers
àc$áXrov: ToaobTov ydp éarw dore p? póvov
raís Toca/Tais kal TQNabra | oikobopLaLs
&xpketv, àXXà kal avAXeyóuevov TÓv Xaàüv fmi
cóv cvómov ddeB0e áp/ccÜni xal Énpatvovra

1 BieA0óvres Gemistus ; OieAóvres.
? sapaxopícaca Vogel: xaraxoulrara II, Bekker, Din-
dorf.

388

BOOK IL. 1r. 2-12. 1

giving this name to the country. After this they
pass through Babylonia and empty into the Red Sea?
Moreover, since they are great streams and traverse
a spacious territory they offer many advantages to
men who follow a merchant trade; and it is due to
this fact that the regions along their banks are filled
with prosperous trading-places which contribute
greatly to the fame of Babylonia.

Semiramis quarried out a stone from the mountains
of Armenia which was one hundred and thirty feet
long and twenty-five feet wide and thick ; and this she
hauled by means of many multitudes of yokes of
mules and oxen to the river and there loaded it on a
raft, on which she brought it down the stream to
Babylonia ; she then set it up beside the most famous
street, an astonishing sight to all who passed by.
And this stone is called by some an obelisk ? from its
shape, and they number it among the seven wonders
of the world.

12. Although the sights to be seen in Babylonia
are many and singular, not the least wonderful is the
enormous amount of bitumen which the country
produces; so great is the supply of this that it not
only suffices for their buildings, which are numerous
and large, but the common people also, gathering at
the place! draw it out without any restriction, and

1 Meaning the "region between the rivers." Neither of
the rivers touches either Media or Paraetacené, which lies
between Media and Persis.

3 4e. the Persian Gulf. For Diodorus, a3 for Herodotus (cp.
l. 1), the '* Red Sea "* was all the water south of Asia. Our
** Red Sea ?? is the * Arabian Gulf "* of Diodorus (cp. 1. 33. 8).

3 Obelisk is à diminutive of obelos (** à spit "").

. * According to Herodotus (1. 179) the place was eight days'
journey from Babylon at the source of the river Is, which was
8 tributary of the Euphrates.

389

DIODORUS OF SICILY

xáew àvri ÉUXov. ávapiÜjiyrov 86 TÓ mAfÜos
&vÜporev ápvouévov kaÜdmep E Tiwos Twyfüs
peydXjs áképatov Oiauéve: TÓ TMjpopna. éaTi
à «ai mMjatov Ts TWyfs Ta)Tys dváOocis
TO 6v ueyé8Üe. Bpaxeia, 6ovagiv 66 Üavpudotov
&yovca. TpofgáXXe! wyàp áruóv Óe8n xal
Bapív, d Tó mpoceAÜ0v LQov dmav ámoÜÉvijakei,
Tepvmimov 0feía. kai sapa&óEw TeXevriy Tvev-
pros yàp karoxi) Xpóvov vrroueivav 8d Üetperau,
kaÜámep &t.vopév qs Tije ToÜ Tvebparos éxdopás
bTÓ0 Tí TpocTecovGa)s rais àvamvoais óvrápeos-
cUOUs 86 Ótoi&et xai miuTparat T0 a Opa, ndo TA
TOUs Trepi TÜV mVeUpova TóTOvs. EoTi O6 kai
Tépav ToU ToTajuoÜ Aiurm cTepeóv éyovca Tv
Tepl abri Troy eis ?v Órav Tis éufig TÓv
àmeipov, óMryov uev wixerat Xpóvov, mpoiov 8
eis TÓ uécov kaÜdrep UÜTOÓ Tivos fas xara-
c Tárauv éavrQ 96 BorfGv kal mv àvaovpédrat
TpoatpoUuevos àvréyerat uév Tijg éxfáoeos, àvri-
cTOpuévQ Ó' bmO Ttvos Couce* kai TÓ pev Tpórov
ürovekpoUra, ToUs Tró0as, elra TÀ a'éMm uéypi
Tíjs 0a Vos, Tó 86 reXevralov óXov T0 apa vápkn
xparuÜcis dépera. pos BvÜóv, kal uer OXiyov
TereAevTqKOs àvafáXXerat.

IÍeoi uév oóv TÀv év r$ BafBvXevía Oavpato-
pévov ápketro Tà prÜÉvra.

13. 'H 88 Zeuípajus émeió) rois &pryows dmré& ne
qrépas, üávétevEev. émi. Mnbías uerà moXXf$s Svvd-
peos* karavTücaca 86 mpós Ópos TO kaXoUpevov

! wpoBdAAe: Vogel : s2oaBdAAe: Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
3 vóxov Reiske : Tórov.

390

BOOK IL 12. 1-13. x

drying it burn it in place of wood. And countless as
is the multitude of men who draw it out, the amount
remains undiminished, as if derived from some im-
mense source. Moreover, near this source there is a
vent-hole, of no great size but of remarkable potency.
For it emits a heavy sulphurous vapour which brings
death to allliving creatures that approach it, and they
meet with an end swift and strange; for after being
subjected for a time to a retention of the breath they
are killed, as though the expulsion of the breath were
being prevented by the forec which has attacked the
processes of respiration; and immediately the body
swells and blows up, particularly in the region about
the lungs. And there is also across the river a lake
whose edge offers solid footing, and if any manm,
unacquainted with it, enters it he swims for a short
time, but as he advances towards the centre he is
dragged down as though by a certain force; and when
he begins to help himself and makes up his mind to
turn back to shore again, though he struggles to
extricate himself, it appears as if he were being
hauled back by something else; and he becomes
benumbed, first in his feet, then in his legs as far as
the groin, and finally, overcome by numbness in his
whole body, he is carried to the bottom, and a little
later is cast up dead.

Now concerning the wonders of Babylonia let what
has been said suffice.

13. After Semiramis had made an end of her build-
ing operations she set forth in the direction of Media
with a great force. And when she had arrived at

391

DIODORUS OF SICILY

BayíaTavov TXgcíov avroÜ area Tparoré8cvae,
«adi karegkebage TapáBe.cov, Üe Tiv uép Trepí-
nerpov Jjv 6«8exa, a rae, év rei 86 keluevos
elxe Try? ueyáNgv, é£ ?j$ àp8eveaÜai ovvéBawe
TO $vrovpyctov. v0 56 Barwyícravov Ópos éaci
uev lepàv Aiós, ék 86 ToÜ mapà vóv mapáSeicov
j.épovs dzrorouáóas &yer rérpas eis Dxrog üvarei-
vovcas émrakaíóexka oraOtovs. ob TÓ kaTo ra TOP
pépos karaócaca Tyv iGiav évexyápatev eixóva,
Sopvóópovs abrf mapaar)caca éxaTóv. ém-
éypavre 8e kai Xvpíows vypáujagtv eis Tiv Trérpav
Ti Xeutpagus rois cáypaci TOig TÀÓV dkoXov-
Üosvrov VrolLvyiov ám roÜ Teülov yocaca Tov
mpoeipnuévov kprnuvóv &ià ToíTov eie T^v ükpo-
peiav ?rpogavéBn.

'"Evreüüev 8' ávateófaca xal mapayevouévg
cpós Xavova TM Te Mm6(ae kaTevógaev &v
TU ueTedpp Te0íp Térpav TQ Te Üyye. kal TQ
peyéÜe. karazrNkruec)v. — évraU0 obv Érepov
mapáSewrov brrepueryé8n kaTeakeUacev, év uéaoq
Tv Térpav àToXafSo0ca, kaÜ" jv olixoBouzuava
TOÀXvTEM "ps Tpvdy)v émoígoev, e£ àv vd re
kaTà Tv mapábewov ámeÜecpe, bvrovpryeta xal
Tücav Tv aTpaTiàv TapeuBeBXgeviav év và
TeBip. év robre B6 TQ TÓTQ cvyvóv év(uapi-
rasa xpóvov xai vrávrov v els rpvdjv àvqkóv-
TOV dT0Xajcaca, ytjuav uev voutjus ovk 706Xn-

1 This is the earliest mention of the modern Behistun, near
the '" Gate of Asia"' on the old highway between Babylon
and Ecbatana, Diodorus preserving the original form of the
name Bagistana, ** place of the Gods "" or *of God." The great
inscription, which hecame the Rosetta Stone of cuneiform, was

392

BOOK IL r3. 1-4

the mountain known as Bagistanus,! she encamped
near it and laid out a park, which had a circum-
ference of twelve stades and, being situated in the
plain, contained a great spring by means of which
her plantings could be irrigated. "The Bagistanus
mountain is sacred to Zeus and on the side facing
the park has sheer cliffs which rise to a height of
seventeen stades. The lowest part of these she
smoothed off and engraved thereon a likeness of
herself with a hundred spearmen at her side. And
she also put this inscription on the cliff in Syrian?
letters: '' Semiramis, with the pack-saddles of the
beasts of burden in her army, built up a mound from
the plain and thereby climbed this precipice, even to
its very ridge."

Setting forth from that place and arriving at the
city of Chauon in Media, she noticed on a certain
high plateau a rock both of striking height and mass.
Accordingly, she laid out there another park of great
size, putting the rock in the middle of it, and on the
rock she erected, to satisfy her taste for luxury, some
very costly buildings from which she used to look
down both upon her plantings in the park and on the
whole army encamped on the plain. In this place
she passed a long time and enjoyed to the full every
device that contributed to luxury ; she was unwilling,
however, to contract a lawful marriage, being afraid
placed there about 516 2.0. to recount the defeat hy Darius of
the rebellion which hroke out in the reign of Camhyses. 1t
Stands ahout five hundred feet above the ground and the
magnificent sculptures represent the rehellious satraps, two
attendants of the king, and Darius making the gesture of
adoration before the sacred symbol of Ahuramazda. Bee
L. W. King and R. C. Thompson, T'he Inscription of Darius the
Great at Behistun.

3 i.e. Assyrian.

393

-1

DIODORUS OF SICILY

g€v, e9Xa Bovpévy] paymore c'Tepn6 f Tíjs ápxfis,
émiXMeyouévg 86 TÀv aTparvorrv To)s ,cirpemeia
&adépovras TOÜUTOLS &uíavyero, Kai mávras TOUS
ADT) TMygiáaavras id ne.

Merà Be TabrTa eT "ExBarávov Tv sropeíav
Tovcapévr Tapeyévero Tpós üpos TÓ Zapraiov
xaXoópevov:. TOÜUTO Ü gri ToXXoUs Traptf)kov
c TaGÍove «ai TMipes óv kpuuvàv Kai dapárryov
pakpày etxe Tv rrepíobov. ediXoriueiro obv
ápa uev pynuetov áÜdvarov éavríjs ám oNwreiv,
ápa 6e c vropov vovjcacÜa. uA o0óy* &órrep
TOS T€ Kp']pvoUs «aTakóYraca Kai TOUS koLXOUS
TóTOVS Xócaca a ÓvTouov Kai TOXvTeM) kar-
eakebaoev ó8óv, )) uéypi ToÜ vbv XejupápaBos
kaXeirau. rapaevnÜeio a, à eis "ExBárava,
móM év me8íp keuuevmv, «area kebagev év avrj
ToXvTeM) Baciea kal Tv &XXqv émLuéXéiav
émrouja aro ToÜ TÓTOV TepwrToTÉpav. ávUópov
yàp obo 1s TÍ)S TÓMeus. «ai p99auo0 a Óvev'yus
brapxyobars Tof, érroíga ev abT)v mücav
kaTáppvTOv, éra'yaryota a qrAeboTOv kai &áNMu-
cTOv ÜÓwp perà moXXge xakorraDeías TE Kai
Bamárns. TÓv yàp ExBarávav ds &ó bea cTa-
Biovs à áméxov &aTiw ópos Ó kaXeirat p&v "Opóvrys,
Tf) 96 rpaxór5T. xai TQ T pÓs Üvros àvareivovrt
ueyéde &iddopov, ee üv T2v mpóc Bacw Éxov
ópBtov & €us Tf)S &xpopeías cTaÓícov cixoct mévre.
ék arépov 8e pépovs ota7s Ms peyáNus, eis
ToTauóv éxBaXXoda gs, &éa are TÓ T'poeupruévov
üpos karà T)v pífav. Ww» & jj S BpvE TÓ uv
TrÀAáros TroBÀy Tevrexaíóexa, TÓ y yos. rerrapá-
&ovra* 8v Js émavyayoüca TOv ék Tfj Mrs
394

BOOK II. r3. 4-8

that she might be deprived of her supreme position,
but choosing out the most handsome of the soldiers
she consorted with them and then made away with
all who had lain with her.

After this she advanced in the direction of Ecba-
tana and arrived at the mountain called Zarcaeus ;!
and since this extended many stades and was full of
cliffs and chasms it rendered the journey round a long
one. And so she became ambitious both to leave an
immortal monument of herself and at the same time
to shorten her way; consequently she cut through
the cliffs, filled up the low places, and thus at great
expense built a short road, which to this day is called
the road of Semiramis. Upon arriving at Ecbatana,
a city which lies on the plain, she builtin it an expen-
sive palace and in every other way gave rather
exceptional attention to the region. For since the
city had no water supply and there was no spring in
its vicinity, she made the whole of it well watered by
bringing to it with much hardship and expense an
abundance of the purest water. For at a distance
from Ecbatana of about twelve stades is a mountain,
which is called Orontes and is unusual for its rugged-
ness and enormous height, since the ascent, straight
to its summit, is twenty-five stades. And since a
great lake, which emptied into a river, lay on the
other side, she made a cutting through the base of this
mountain. "The tunnel was fifteen feet wide and forty
feet high; and through it she brought in the river

1 The Zagros range.
395

DIODORUS OF SICILY

voTauóv émXüpece T)v TOM Ü5aros. Tara
pn&v oiv éroinaev év 7f) Mx&a.

14. Merà Bà rabTra émíjM0e mv ve Ilepoíba
xai rjv ÁXXgv xXépav ümacav 9s émpxe kaTà
TV 'Aacíav. mavTaXo) Óé TÀà uév Ópn xal Tàs
, ^ , ,
droppóxyae Trérpas OiaküTmTOVCQ kareGkevagev
0807s TroXvTeXels, v 8é rofs sreBLous émroíei Xxopara,
roTé uév rádovs karaakevdtovaa rois TeXevrüat
TÓV jyyepóvov, mroró 6e móNew év rois ávaa Tjuact
kaToikíLovca. eicÜe, 56 kal karà Tràs cTpao-
mweOcías pikpà XxópLara karackevdtew, éd! àv
ka0iarüca Tijv (6lav aq?» áragav karormTeve
Tj» Tapeu[9oXiv: 810 kal roXXà karà v?» ' Aaíav
Héxp. ToU vÜv Owuéveu. TOv iT ékeiyys. kara-
akevaaÜévrov xai kaXeirat Xepupápubos &prya.

Merà 8é rabva T*jv re Al'yvmrrov rücav émij8e
xai Tíe Augons rà TXeicTra karacTpeyrauévn
mapíjXÜev eis "Aupova, xpuoouév TQ Ücó Trepi
TÍs iQae TeXevTi)s. Xéyerai 8' abri vevéoÓOa,
Xoyiov éf àvÜpdyrev à$avisÓÜ5jocoÜa, kai xarà
Tjv 'Acíav mTap' évíow Tv dÜvàv àÜavárov
TeUEeaÜa, riufje* Ürrep &aeaÜat kaÜ' bv áv ypóvov
0 vis abri) Nwias émiovXe/ag. ànàó Bé rov-
T&v yevouévy Tis AiBimías émijAÜe và mAetova
karac Tpedonuévy xal rà karà Tijv yópav Üeouévm
vapáBota. «iva. wyàp év airü aci Muvmev
Terpárovov, T)v uév Tepiuerpov éyovaav Tro8Gv
Ós éxaTóv éE$ovra, r0 8' ÜBwp Tj uiv xpoa
mapaTM5ciov iwvafdpe, Tr?)v 9 Ocu)v a8
vmepBoX5v feiav, o)k àvóuoiwv olvo maXai:

! "This is obviously an attempt to explain the many mounds
which dotted the landscape of this region in the time of

396

BOOK II. 13. 8-14. 4

which flowed from the lake, and filled the city with
water. Now this is what she did in Media.

14. After this she visited Persis and every other
country over which she ruled throughout Asia.
Everywhere she cut through the mountains and the
precipitous cliffs and constructed expensive roads,
while on the plains she made mounds, sometimes
constructing them as tombs for those of her generals
who died, and sometimes founding cities on their
tops. And it was also her custom, whenever she
made camp, to build little mounds, upon which
setting her tent she could look down upon all the
encampment. As a consequence many of the works
she built throughout Asia remain to this day and are
called Works of Semiramis.!

After this she visited all Egypt, and after subduing
most of Libya she went also to the oracle of Ammon ?
to inquire of the god regarding her own end. And
the account runs that the answer was given her that
she would disappear from among men and receive
undying honour among some of the peoples of Asia,
and that this would take place when her son Ninyas
should conspire against her. Then upon her return
from these regions she visited most of Ethiopia, sub-
duing it as she went and inspecting the wonders of the
land. For in that country, they say, there is a lake,
Square in form, with a perimeter of some hundred and
sixty feet, and its water is like cinnabar in colour and
the odour of it is exceeding sweet, not unlike that of

Diodorus as well as to-day and are the remains of ancient
dwelling sites. P
* The shrine of Zeus-Ammon in the Oasis of Siwah, which is
described in Book 17. 50, in connection with the celebrated
visit to it of Alexander.

397

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Sóvapav 8' Éyew mapá&oÉov: Tv yàp mióvra
$aciv eis uaviav éynimrew kal mávÜ & mpórepov
8iéXaÜev ápapr)cas éavroÜ xarwyopeiv. Tol
Lévy obv Tabra Xéyovcw oix dv mw paSíos
cvycaTáÜDoruro.

15. Ta$às 88 rà» reXevrgadvrov iles! oi
&aTà T)» AiDimíav ToiÜvrai | Tapiyeócavres
yàp rà cópaTa xal mep.xéavres ajTois TOXMv
Ückov iaTüciv émi aT$Mys, dore Tos Tapiobo.
$aívecÜa, 8.à js DÉXov TÓ roÜ rereXevrqu«óTos
cópa, kaÜámep 'Hpó8oros elpgke. Krgalae 8 ó
K»ibvos ámro$awópuevos ToÜrov axeBiátew, abrós
$9c. T0 uev aüua rapixeveaÜat, Tv uévTou ve
DeXov u3) repixetaÜas vyvpvots rol; aópacti kara-
xavÜOrjaeaÜat yàp rabra kal XvpavÜévra TeXécs
Tv OnoióT"Ta. ui) Bvvijaea Dat Buvrnpely. |. B1ó kal
Xpvaüjv eikóva karaakeváteoÜat koíXgv, eis fv
évreÜévros ToÜ vekpob epi T)v eixóva xeiaÜa:
Tv ÜeXov- ToU 66 karaakcváaparos reÜEvros érri
rüv Tádov &à cís béXov avíva: rüv ypvabv
á$cepowpuévoy rà rereXevrqkóri. ToUs ép oüv
TÀovatovs ajrv obre ÜámreaDal duoi, ovs 9
éXárrovas karaMróvras obaías dpyvpás Twyxá-
veiw eikóvos, ToUs 86 mévqras xepaulvye- Tv 86
ÜUeXov rác é£apkety Già v mXela qv yevváoÜat

1 i&íos Bekker, Vogel: i&ías Dindorf.

1 Herodotus (3. 24) says nothing of the sort. According to
him the body is shrunk and covered with gypsum, which is
painted in such a way as to make it resemhle a living man;
then *' they set it within a hollow pillar of hyelos."' tis diff-
cult to understand how some translators and eommentators
take this word to mean ^ porcelain," for Herodotus goes on

398

va -

BOOK II. r4. 4-15. 4

old wine; moreover, it has a remarkable power; for
whoever has drunk of it, they say, falls into a frenzy
and accuses himself of every sin which he had
formerly committed in secret. However, a man may
not readily agree with those who tell such things.

15. In the burial of their dead the inhabitants of
Eithiopia follow customs peculiar to themselves; for
after they have embalmed the body and have poured
a heavy coat of glass over it they stand it on a pillar,
so that the body of the dead man is visible through
the glass to those who pass by. This is the statement
of Herodotus. But Ctesias of Cnidus, declaring that
Herodotus is inventing a tale, gives for his part this
account. 'The body is indeed embalmed, but glass is
not poured about the naked bodies, for they would be
burned and so completely dísfigured that they could
no longer preserve their likeness. For this reason
they fashion a hollow statue of gold and when the
corpse has been put into this they pour the glass over
the statue, and the figure, prepared in this way, is
then placed at the tomb, and the gold, fashioned as it
is to resemble the deceased, is seen through the glass.
Now the rich among them are buried in this wise, he
says, but those who leave a smaller estate receive a
silver statue, and the poor one made of earthenware ;
as for the glass, there is enough of it for everyone,

to say that ' it is quarried hy them in ahundance and is easy
to work," In Herodotus' day it prohahly meant some trans-
parent stone, perhaps alahaster (cp. M. L. Trowhridge,
Philological Studies in Ancient Glass (University of Illinois
Studies in Language and Literature, 19028), pp. 23 ff.); but hy
the time of Diodorus hyelos was the term nsed for *' glass."
Strabo (17. 2. 3) agrees with Diodorus in saying that in one
manner of hurial the Ethiopians '* poured glass over'' the
bodies of the dead.

399

DIODORUS OF SICILY

xarà Tijv AiÜiomíav xal TeXées mapà Tols
eyxepíous érvmoXátew. mepi 08 TOv vopuíucov
TQv rrapà Tots AiÜLovre kal TÓv AXXcov TÓV ryto-
pévov év Th roírev xópg Tà kvpwórara xal
nuvüuase &fua puepov ÜaTepov àvaypádropev, órav
Kai Tàe zraMaiàs abrQv TpáEes kai pvÜoXoy(as
Sello uev.

16. *H 8& Xepípagte karaaTijcaca Tá T€ kavà
T)v Aifvoníav kal Ti». Al'yvmrrov éravijA8e uerà
Tíjs vvápueos eis Bákrpa fs Aaías. ÉEyovaa 86
Óvvápew ueyyáXas kal roNvypóviov elpiüjvnv d'yovaa
duXoripaes Caxe mpütal ru Xaumpóv xarà qróXe-
pov. TvuvÜavouév) 86 T0 TÀv 'l»vóQv É£8vos
néyurTov elvat TÓv karà T2)v oikovuévmv xal
TÀeíaTy» Te kal kaXMaTqov ycpav véueoDa:,
Óvevoelro aTpaTeUew eig Tv "loeo, ?s éBaaí-
Aeve gév X£rafjpoBárns xaT' ékeivovus Tov
xpóvovs, aTparworQv D elyev dvapíÜusrov
TAfos bTüpyov 9 aUTÓ kal éXébavrec moXXol
ka8' vrepBoXi»v Xapmpóüs kekocpnuévo, ois eig
TÓV Trókegov xaTaTMnkmwkots. 5j yàp 'I»8uci)
xyepa Oiddopos obca TÓÀ kKdXXev kal moXXols
ó.enupévm morals ápüeverai e roXXaxob xal
OvrroUs kaÜ' Ékaavov évavróv éxdépe, kapmos:
&(0 kal TQ» wpüe TO Ü5v émwTQÓcov TocobTov
xet 7r jos dare 6.à mravrós ádÜovov ámóXavaew
Toís éyxeopíots Tapéxeaa.. : Aéyerat à: pnoemore
«aT avTQyV ryeyovéva, avroOe(av ?) $Üopày kapmáv
&à Tijv ekpaaíav rÀv rómcw. Eye B? kal rv
&Xehávrov ümwarov mTX5Üos, o rais Te àX«ais
«ai raís ToU aparos pópais ToX) Tpoéyovoi
TÓv ép vfj AuBón vvopévov, ónoíes 68 xpvaóv,
400

BOOK II. r5. 4-16. 4

since it occurs in great abundance in Ethiopia and is
quite current among the inhabitants. "With regard to
the customs prevailing among the Ethiopians and the
other features of their country we shall a little later
set forth those that are the most important and
deserving of record, at which time we shall also re-
count their early deeds and their mythology.:

16. But after Semiramis had put in order the affairs
of Ethiopia and Egypt she returned with her force to
Bactra in Asia. And since she had great forces and
had been at peace for some time she became eager to
achieve some brilliant exploit in war. And when she
was informed that the Indian nation was the largest
one in the world and likewise possessed both the
most extensive and the fairest country, she purposed
to make a campaign into India. Stabrobates at
that time was king of the country and had a multitude
of soldiers without number; and many elephants
were also at his disposal, fitted out in an exceedingly
splendid fashion with such things as would strike
terror in war. For India is a land of unusual beauty,
and since it is traversed by many rivers it is supplied
with water over its whole area and yields two harvests
each year; consequently it has such an abundance of
the necessities of life that at all times it favours its
inhabitants with a bounteous enjoyment of them.
And it is said that because of the favourable climate
in those parts the country has never experienced a
famine or a destruction of crops. lt also has an
unbelievable multitude of elephants, which both in
courage and in strength of body far surpass those of

1 This is done in Book 3. 5 ff.
? This campaign was doubted already by the ancient writers;
cp. Strabo 15. 1. 5 f.

40I

DIODORUS OF SICILY

&p'yvpov, aíónpov, yaX«óv: mpós 66 rovro XB ov
mavToiov kai moXvTeAOÀv éaTw £y abrfj mios,
ér. 66 TÓ» dXXev ámávrev axeO00v TÀV Tpbs
TpvQ3jv xai wXobTov Garewóvrwv.

"Yrrép óv rà xarà uépos 1j Xepípajus àxovcaca
mpo5x0» unócv TpoaOuenÜetaa, Tüv mpós 'IvyGoUs
é£eveyxetv TóXeuov. ópóca 9 avr)v ueyáXov
xa0' OmepfBoXagv pocOcouévgv OBvvdgewv, éE-
érreu rev ávyyéXovs eis ámráaas Tàs carpareías,!
6raxeXevaagévr Tois émdpyow karaypádew Tóv
véov Tro)s ápíaTovs, Oobaa Tóv üàpiÜnov xarà và
neyéón rà» éÜvà» pocérafe O6 müci kara-
c«evdtew «audae TavomAíaes ai Toig àXXoiws
áracgw Xaumpós TapayivecÜa, xexoopuévovs
perà vpirov éros eis Báwrpa. pereméuiyaro 96
xai vav'yoUs €x Te Oowíkge xai Xvpíae xal
Kvrpov xai 72$ 4XX9s Ts rapaÉaXarríov xdpas,
oils dd$Üovov DXgv gerayayobca OwekeAevoaro
karackevátew Torápua TXoia Ówuperá, 0 yàp
"Ivéós rorauós, uévyurTos Óv Tv Trepi ToUs TóÓTOVS
kal T)v BaciXeiav abris Opitwv, ToXXGv Tpoc-
eBetro "Aoíov mpós Te rjv Q&uáfaaww xai mrpós TÓ
ToUs 'Iy6oUe àmó rojrov ápóvacÜaw epi 66 TÓv
ToTauÓv obk oUa"s ÜX9s àva'ykatov jv éx T$s
Baxrpiavtjs eti mTapakopiteaDav rà mXoia.

Gevpobsa 9 7 XZeuípajus éavrow év Tfj rÀV
&Xedárrov xpeía oX) Xevrrouévgv, émevosjaaro ?
karackevátew eiómXa 9 ToUrwv TOv Üomv, éXri-

, * b
Lovca kaTamAjEcaOat ToUs "IvGoUs Gà vó voultew

1 carpareías Dindorf: erparomebeías. —
13 71 after érevofjraro deleted by Hertlein.

402

BOOK II. 16. 4-8

Libya, and likewise gold, silver, iron, and Copper ;
furthermore, within its borders are to be found great
quantities of precious stones of every kind and of
practically all other things which contribute to
luxury and wealth.i

When Semiramis had received a detailed account
of these facts she was led to begin her war against the
Indians, although she had been done no injury by
them. Andrealizing that she needed an exceedingly
great force in addition to what she had she despatched
messengers to all the satrapies, commanding the
governors to enrol the bravest of the young men and
setting their quota in accordance with the size of each
nation; and she further ordered them all to make
new suits of armour and to be at hand, brilliantly
equipped in every other respect, at Bactra on the
third year thereafter. She also summoned ship-
wrights from Phoenicia, Syria, Cyprus, and the rest
of the lands along the sea, and shipping thither an
abundance of timber she ordered them to build river
boats which could be taken to pieces. For the Indus
river, by reason of its being the largest in that
region and the boundary of her kingdom, required
many boats, some for the passage across and others
from which to defend the former from the Indians;
and since there was no timber near the river the
boats had to be brought from Bactriana by land.

Observing that she was greatly inferior because of
her lack of elephants, Semiramis conceived the plan
of making dummies like these animals, in the hope
that the Indians would be struck with terror because

! India is more fully described in chaps. 35 ff.

* eiBwAa Vogel: ibíopa.

403

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ajbTrOUs u5Ó eivai. TÓ a/voXov éXAépavras ékTÓs
TÓv kaTrà T5v 'l»vóuegw. émiXéfaca 06 Boóv
peXdvowv. Tpiákovra. pvpiáóas TÀ uev Kpéa Toís
Texvíraus. xal Toís Tpós Tv TÀv KaTa. KeUa-
cuárov OTT0pecíav Tera'yuévow Biéveiue, ràg 86
f)psas cuppámrovca xai wóprov mTXnpoüca
kaTecKeDagev ei0eoa, karà müv dmopiovuévn
Tiv TÓv Lowv ro)Tov $)civ. £xacTov Dé Tob-
TOv €ixycv £évrüs ávÓpa TOv ÉmiueXmnaOpevov xai
küjnkov, i$! ob depóuevov davracíav rois
móppeÜev ópOciw àXmÜivoÜ Üw«píov Tapeí(xero.
oí 66 TaÜTa xaTackevalovres abTf TexvíTai
mpocekaprépovs Toís Épyouw £v Tu mepiBóNo
mepupioOounuévo kai mUXas €xovri Topovuévas
émtueXÓs, Doe 16éva urre TOv &acÜcv é£iévat
TexvtrOv ure TÀv CEoÜev ciatévac mpós. abTovs.
ToUTo Ó' émoízoev, Om ugbcis TOv éEoÜcv i09 TÓ
ywwouevov n6 Ouaméag dum mpós 'IvOoUs mepi
TOUTOV.

17. 'Ecel 9' ai Te vijes kal và Ümnpía xaT-
eakevácÜnaav év Toís DÜvoiv Éregu, TÓ cpíro
pereméuyraro Tàs TavraxóÜev Dvvdgems eig T)
Baxrpiavüv. TÓ 956 mXMjÜos Tíüs áÜpowÜciangs
cTpaTide qv, ós Krgoías ó. Kvíàvos. ávéypaxe,
metà» uà» Tpuakóaiat pupiábes, émméov 86 eiog.!
pupiáóes, àápuárov 0é Oéxa puvpidOes. bm poxov
86 xai ávOpes émi kajXov óxovuevot, nayaipas
TeTpamTXews Éxyovres, TOv dàpiüuov (aot Toís
áppact. vaÜs O66 morauías kareakevage Otau-
peràe Oto xuMas, als mapeakevácaro kapa]Xovs
Tàs Telf) vapakopitoUcags rà ckádm. édDópovv

1 efkoc« Vogel: mevríkovra C, Dckker, Dindorf,
404

BOOK II. 16. 8-17. 2

of their belief that no elephants ever existed at all
apart from those found in India. Accordingly she
chose out three hundred thousand black oxen and
distributed their meat among her artisans and the
men who had been assigned to the task of making
the figures, but the hides she sewed together
and stuffed with straw, and thus made dummies,
copying in every detail the natural appearance of
these animals. Each dummy had within it à man to
take care of it and a camel and, when it was moved
by the latter, to those who saw it from a distance it
looked like an actual animal. And the artisans who
were engaged in making these dummies for her
worked at their task in a certain court which had
been surrounded by a wall and had gates which were
carefully guarded, so that no worker within could
pass out and no one from outside could come in to
them. This she did in order that no one from the
outside might see what was taking place and that no
report about the dummies might escape to the
Indians.

17. When the boats and the beasts had been pre-
pared in the two allotted years, on the third she
summoned her forces from everywhere to Bactriana.
And the multitude of the army which was assembled,
as Ctesias of Cnidus has recorded, was three million
foot-soldiers, two hundred thousand cavalry, and one
hundred thousand chariots. 'There were also men
mounted on camels, carrying swords four cubits long,
as many in number as the chariots. And river boats
which could be taken apart she built to the number of
two thousand, and she had collected camels to carry
the vessels overland. Camels also bore the dummies

405

DIODORUS OF SICILY

86 kai rà ràv éXedávrov ciówXa káymnXo,, kaDoT.
mpoeípyrai Tpós 9 abTàs ToUs VmTOUS 0Í 0 TpG-
TiQTa, Gcvváyovres avwdjÜes émoíovr ToU gu)
$ofeia0a. r3» áypuórgyra vOv Ünpiov. TO mapa-
TX5jgios O6 moAXois éreciww ÜDomepov Émpa£te
Ilepae?e ó rTÓv Maxe8óvov facuXeUs, Óve apos
*"Pouaíovs &ueXXe DuakwOvveteiw Éyovras — ék
Atflóns éAéDavras. XX or ékeivp pomwyw
éveykei» eig TOv TóXeuov oavvéfg Tjv mepi và
To.aUTa a'TovOsv kal duXorexvíav obre Zeyupá-
pa8v— mepi Óv ákpuféorepov o "mpoiev Aóyos
ÓgXocaet.

*O 8 róv 'Iv6ày Bae(XcUe XrafBpoBárgs qrvv-
Oavópevos vá ve ueyé0n rv óvouatoyuévov ! Óvvá-
uecov xai Tiv UmepfoAis Tís eis TOv TÓAeu0v
vapac kevijs, éamevoev éy ümaaw bmepÜéaDa, T))v
Xeuípajav. xai mpóTrov yuév ék ToU kaAXdpov
kaTegkevage TÀoia ToTáyuia Terpakva (Nat d)
yàp 'lvBuc? Tapá Te To)s 7oTajQoUs kal TOUS
&AdOÓe TóTOvs dépe. kaXduov TA5Ü8os, ob TÓ
váxos oUk v pabies dvÜpemos epiXáfdow
Aéyerat 0à kai ràs ék To/Tov karaaxevatopuévas
vaUs G.aóópovs xarà vv Xpeíav Umrápxew, oUas
áeajmTov ra)UTQs Tjs ÜXgs. owjcápevos 906 kai
Tfs TÀv ÓmXcov kaTaakevijs ? moXXqv émiuéXeiav
kai Tücav émeAO àv vij» "Ivuegv i0powe 6vvajuv
TOÀ) uéLova 5s Xeuipdju00 avvaxÓOelans.

! óvonaCouévev Vogel: érowaQoucvov F, Bekker, Dindorf.

? karackcv?s Vogel: mapaokevzs II, Bekker, Dindorf.

! $.e. the elephants.
3 Ín the Third Macedonian War, 171-167 sm.o., Polyaenus
(4. 20) says that Perseus constructed wooden dummies of

406

BOOK IL. z;. 2-6

of the elephants, as has been mentioned; and the
soldiers, by bringing their horses up to these camels,
accustomed them not to fear the savage nature of
the beasts. A similar thing was also done many
years later by Perseus, the king of the Macedonians,
before his decisive conflict with the Romans who had
elephants from Libya. But neither in his case did
it turn out that the zeal and ingenuity displayed in
such matters had any effect on the conflict, nor in that
of Semiramis, as will be shown more precisely in our
further account.

When Stabrobates, the king of the Indians, heard
of the immensity of the forces mentioned and of the
exceedingly great preparations which had been made
for the war, he was anxious to surpass Semiramis in
everyrespect. First of all, then, he made four thou-
sand river boats out of reeds ; for along its rivers and
marshy places India produces a great abundance of
reeds, so large in diameter that a man cannot easily
put his arms about them ;? and it is said, furthermore,
that ships built of these are exceedingly serviceable,
since this wood does not rot. Moreover, he gave
great care to the preparation of his arms and by
visiting all India gathered a far grcater force than
that which had been collected by Semiramis. Fur-

elephants, and that a man within them imitated their
trumpeting. The horses of the Macedonians were led up to
these and thus accustomed to the appearance and trumpeting
of the Roman elephants. Zonaras (9. 22) adds that the
dummies were also smeared with an ointment **to give them
8 dreadful odour."

3 In Book 17. 90. 6 Diodorus describes trees of India which
four men can scarcely get their asrms about, and Strabo
(15. 1. 56), on the authority of Megasthenes, speaks of reeds
some of which are three cubits and others six in diameter.

407

DIODORUS OF SICILY

7 mouaáuevos 06 xal TOv dypiov éXcbávrov Orpav
noáp. jp

kal vroXXaTXagtácas TOUS TpoUTápXovTas, €kÓ-
cQnQcev ümavras TOÍS €is TÓVv TÓXeuov karamX-
kTLKOÍs Xajvmpüs* Ói.0 kal avvéfauve kaTà T)v
&bo8ov abrOv Gd re rÓ vXfjÜos kal rqv émi ràv
Üepakiov xaracxev?v àvvrósTarov ávÜporríivy
$íaci Daíveo at T2)» énibáveuav,

18. 'Eze 9 aórQ mávra rà! mpós Tóv mOXe-
pov kaTeakevaao, Trpós T)» Xeuípapav ka óGov
obcav áTéaT&Aev ÓwvyéXovs, éykaXóv ÓTwi "po-
karápyerau ToU ToXéuov unóév üàBumOeiaa:
T0ÀXAà $6 kal dppyra xaT ajríis Ow éraípas?
BXaadqwácas Oià TOv vypaupuáTov xai ÜOco)s
émiuaprvpápevos, jymeiei kara TOXejjaas abT)v
cTavpQ mpognAágew. dj 8e Xepipapus áva-
yvoüca T?v émxicTOM)v kal karayekácaca TÀV
yeypapévov, &à rÀv &£pywov éjnoe róv 'IvGov
meipáaegÜat Tijg Tepl abT]v peris. émei Bà
mrpoá/yova a uerà Tis Svváueos emi TOv 'Ivóóv
srora ov Tapeyevi£n, xkaréXa(ge rà TOv rroXeutcv
mXoia Tp0s uáx9v Érowua. — ÜDimep xal ar)
karapricaca Taxéws Tàe vaüs kai TÀAn9pocaca
rÓv kparía Tav émrifarüv avveoT)oaro karà TOv
voTrauóv vavuayiav, cugudiXoriuovuévov | kai
TOv TapeuBeBXnkórev vapà rÓó peiÜpov melàv.
émri roX Uv 06 xpóvov ToU. kwÓivov vrapareivovros
kal TpoÜUjos écaTépov áyovicauévov, ró TreXev-
Taiov 5) Xeuípauts évixgae kai OiéQÜewe TÀv
TXoiov epi xiMia, avvékafe 9' aiypaXovrovs
ok OXiyovs. émapÜeica 8à Tf) víkm ràs év TO

1 rà added by Gemistus.

4c8

BOOK ILE. 17. 7-18. 5

thermore, holding a hunt of the wild elephants and
multiplying many times the number alrcady at his
disposal, he fitted them all out splendidly with such
things as would strike terror in war; and the conse-
quence was that when they advanced to the attack
the multitude of them as well as the towers upon
their backs made them appear like a thing beyond
the power of human nature to withstand.

18. When he had made all his preparations for the
war he despatched messengers to Semiramis, who
was already on the road, accusing her of being the
aggressor in the war although she had been injured
in no respect; then, in the course of his letter, after
saying many slanderous things against her as being
a strumpet and calling upon the gods as witnesses, he
threatened her with crucifixion when he had defeated
her. Semiramis, however, on reading his letter
dismissed his statements with laughter and re-
marked, '' It will be in deeds! that the Indian will
make trial of my valour," And when her advance
brought her with her force to the Indus river she
found the boats of the enemy ready for battle.
Consequently she on her side, hastily putting together
her boats and manning them with her best marines,
joined battle on the river, while the foot-soldiers
which were drawn up along the banks also partici-
pated eagerly in the contest. The struggle raged
for & long time and both sides fought spiritedly, but
finally Semiramis was victorious and destroyed about
& thousand of the boats, taking also not a few men
prisoners. Elated now by her victory, she reduced to

! $,e, and not in words.

? ós éraípas Vogel: ós éraípav D, «els éraeíav F and
accepted by all editora.

409

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ToTaAudÓ vijc ovs Kal TÓXeig éEnvBpamoBía aro, xal
c viijya*yev aixpaMo ov aoyudrov vmrép ràs Béxa.
pvpiá&as.

Merà 8b Ta)00' 6 uv TOv 'I»5àv Baaieos
ám fjyavye TV Bévagav ám ToU vorauo0, mpoc-
srotoUj.evos py ávaxpeiy 8i $óBov, Tj 9
áX96Ocía BovXópevos TOUS TX ejovs mporpé-
yacfai SuaBiva, TÜV TOTaUÓV. 7) 66 Xeuipagus,
&aTà vobv av) TÓV payday Trpoxepovvrav,
&ev£e TV ToTaubv ka ac keváaaga, TOAXvTEAi)
xai peyáxqv yéQvpav, à jjs &macav Ouwo-
uícaca TV Sóvagiv émi gév ToU Debypnaros
jc KQTÉALTEV àvBpàv éfakiwpvpiov, Tf)

áXXn o TpaTLG , T posyyev émibuókovaa Tojs
"Iv8oós, Trposyyov eva TÓ»v ciOOX«v, ónros oi
TÓV TOXeniov KaTÓG KOTTOL TG Baciuei dm avy*yet-
Aeci TÓ TAÀjÜos TÓÀv Tap abTj) Onpíev. 0U
Bieyreóo 0n 86 kavá Ye TobTO TÍ)s évríBos, AAA
TÓV émi KQTAG KOTT)/ éemeud8évrov Tois 'Iv8ois
&ma*yyeXXóvrov TÓ "fos TÓV Tapà Tois
vroXeuíois éXeóávTov, &mavres SummropoüvTo
TróÓev aUTp. c vvakoXov6et TocoÜTOo TAXi0os £n-
piov. oU uy &ueiwé ye TÓ YVet8os Tei ypovov
«pvTTÓuevov TOv *yàp mapà TÍj Zeyipági&i
c TpaTevouévov Ties karéujónsav vukTÓs éy Tfj
a TpaToTe8eía. PaOvuobvres TÀ T'epi Tàs $vXarás"
$oBr6évres E" TW emakoXovÜoÜcav Tipoplay
qUTouóNcav pos TOUS TroXeuiovs kai T?)v kaTà
TOUS éAéavras TAávnv Ami yyeiiav. éQ' ols
Üappijcas 0 rÓv '1v8Ov BaciXeUs kal vij Svváuei
BuaryyelXas TÀ Tepl TV ei&uiuov, émécvpedrev erri
To)s 'Acavpíovs Quurá£as T3)» Bovagav.

410

BOOK IL 18. 5-8

slavery the islands in the river and the cities on
them and gathered in more than one hundred
thousand captives.

After these events the king of the Indians withdrew
his force from the river, giving the appearance of
retreating in fear but actually with the intention of
enticing the enemy to cross the river. Thereupon
Semiramis, now that her undertakings were prosper-
ing as she wished, spanned the river with a costly
and large bridge, by means of which she got all
her forces across; and then she left sixty thousand
men to guard the pontoon bridge, while with the rest
of her army she advanced in pursuit of the Indians,
the dummy elephants leading the way in order that
the enemy's spies might report to the king the
multitude of these animals in her army. Nor was she
deceived in this hope; on the contrary, when those
who had becn despatched to spy her out reported to
the Indians the multitude of elephants among the
enemy, they were all at a loss to discover from
where such a multitude of beasts as accompanied
hercould have come. However, the deception did not
remain a secret for long; for some of Semiramis'
troops were caught neglecting their night watches in
the camp, and these, in fear of the consequent punish-
ment, deserted to the enemy and pointed out to
them their mistake regarding the nature of the
elephants. Encouraged by this information, the king
of the Indians, after informing his army about the
dummies, set his forces in array and turned about
to face the Assyrians.

41I

DIODORUS OF SICILY

19. Tó 9' a$Tó xai ríe XejipájuOog émwTe-
Aovags, Oe Jyyyicav dAXQXow Tà cTpaTÓTeOa,
ZrafpoB8árgs 0 rÓv 'IvBÀv Bac wXebs Tpoam-
éa TeiXe TT0XU p Tf)s $áXayyos ToUs inmréis uerà

2 rÓv ápuáraw. Befauévps Bà Tís BacuMaamns
eüpéoTOSs Tip é$ooov TÀv imméov, xai TÓV
kareakevaa uévov éXebdvrov qp Tfs dáXayyos
ép (oo: OaoTuaci rerayuévov, avvéBaave

3 vTUpecÜa. robe TÀv 'lv6Ó» Vwovs. Trà yàp
et&wXa. TróppeÜev uà» óuolav elye T)» erpóg ovriv
Toig dXxÜiwots Ünptois, olg avviüfeis Ovres oí TOV
'Iv6G» Tmwoi reÜappmkóres «pocimTevov' Tots
8 éyyíaaciw 1j Te 0c?) mpocéBaXXev à vifus
xai TáXXa &uadopàv &yovra wávra vappeyéan
TOUS (mmovgs OXocxepóOs cvveráparTe. $0 xal
TOv 'lv6Gv oí uív émi r2v yf Émwmrrov, oi 66
TÀv Lgwv &meidoóvrav rois yaXwols às érbyxa-
vev! eis ToUs moAeuíovs éEémwmrov puerà TÓw

4 koputóvTov abrobs fmTOv. 7$ àÉ Xeuipapts uerà
cTpaTw»TÓv. émiNékTOV uaxouévg xal TÓ Trpo-
Tep"paTt OefiQe xpmoapuévm Tovs "Iv&obs érpé-
4raro. Ov $wyóvrev ps TÜv $áXayya. ETa-
BpoBárugs 0 BaciXeUs oU xaTamAa'yels émiyarye
TÓüs TOv meLÀv Táfei, mTponyovuévev TÀv éXe-
$ávrov, abrüe O' émi ro0 Sefwo0 &épaTos Te-
Tayuévos xai T3)v gáxqv émi coÜ «paría ov
8mpíov srotoDpevos émijyasye kaTaTNgkrucOs emi
Tiv Baciuccav xaT. avrov TUYLKOS Terayuévmv.

5 rTÓ € ajrÓ kal TY» dXXov éXejávrow co:5-
cávTov 1) uerà Tf XepipápaGos G/vayas Bpaxiv
bTéoTQ ypóvov rjv TOv Ünpiev &jobov: Tà yàp
tàa Oidopa rais áXxais Üvra xal rais i6íaus
412

BOOK II. r9. 1-5

19. Semiramis likewise marshalled her forces, and
as the two armics neared each other Stabrobates, the
king of the Indians, despatched his cavalry and chariots
far in advance of the main body. But the queen
stoutly withstood the attack of the cavalry, and since
the elephants which she lad fabricated had been
stationed at equal intervals in front of the main body
of troops, it came about that the horses of the
Indians shied at them. For whereas at a distance
the dummies looked like the actual animals with
which the horses of the Indians were acquainted and
therefore charged upon them boldly enough, yet on
nearer contact the odour which reached the horses was
unfamiliar, and then the other differences, which
taken all together were very great, threw them into
utter confusion. Consequently some of the Indians
were thrown to the ground, while others, since their
horses would not obey the rein, were carried with
their mounts pell-mell into the midst of the enemy.
Then Semiramis, who was in the battle with a select
band of soldiers, made skilful use of her advantage
and put the Indians to flight. But although these
led towards the battle-line, King Stabrobates, un-
dismayed, advanced the ranks of his foot-soldiers,
keeping the elephants in front, while he himself,
taking his position on the right wing and fighting
from the most powerful of the beasts, charged in
terrifying fashion upon the queen, whom chance had
placed opposite him. And since the rest of the
elephants followed his example, the army of Semi-
ramis withstood but a short time the attack of the
beasts; for the animals, by virtue of their extra-
ordinary courage and the confidence which they felt

Q— pum EMMEMEMKMEC 0 vos
!éróyxavey Vogel: éréyxavoy ABG, Bekker, Dindorf,

413

L-]

DIODORUS OF SICILY

LETA , " N e Ta
Bóuaus memoifóra ^ mávra TOv Uia Tápevov
pabies dvpjpei. — Biómep oX)s xai mavTotos
éylvero dóvos, TÓv uiv bmwó ToUs wóbas bomi
mTóvrov, TOv Oe Toig óBobci» àvacyitouévov,
dvlev 5à rais mpoflockíow | àvappvmTovpévev.
cvxvoü Bé mXijBovs vekpüv awpevouévov kal ToU
xwàUvov Toís ópGoi Bewhv &emXnéiw ai $ofov
mapigTávTos, oUÓelg Ér, uévew émi ví TráEews
éróAga.

Tpamévros obv ToU mXjBovs mavrós Ó BaciXeUs
TO» 'IvBà» ém abrjv éfiáfero v?» Xeyutpajav.
xal T p£v mpórov ém' éxeivgv rofeócas ÉvvXe
ToU Bpayiovos, Krevr' ükovrícag BujAace tà ToU
vérov Tfs BacuMoons, mXaras évex Bela ns TÜS
muyfs: Bimep o$Bév maÉoÜca Bewov |) Xept-
pajus raxévs ádimrmevae, moX) Xevropévov karà
và Táxos To) Buókovros Ünpíov. ávrov Bé
Qevyóvrov émi Tj» axeBav, rocovrov mXijBovs
eie &va. kal o revóv fiatouévov rómov oi uv Tíje
Baeueogs bm dAXXjNev àméÜvgokov | avp-
mwaroDuevo. kal $vpóuevo: mapà $jciw ávapit
immeis Te kal meloi, rà» Bé "lvbv émikeiuévoy
oops éwivero fíatos émi ríje vyejUpas Bià ràv
dóBov, dare sroXXo)s éEuÜovpuévovs éd! éxárepa
népy rfe yedípae éumimwTew eis Tàv ToTGgÓV.
j 86 Xeuípajus, émeib'] TÓ mAetoTov uépos TÀv
dmó Te náxus &uacetonévov Bià Tv morauóv
érvye rfjs áo daMeias, àmécowe ro)s avvéxovras
BeopoUs Tijv yébvpav: àv AvÜévrov dj pày a'xcbta.
kaTà moXAà BiaipeÜcica uépr kal cvxvoUs éj*
éavris 6yovca TÓv Bwokóvrov 'Ivbà» bm Tíjs
roD peóuaros adobpórzros Os Érvye xarqvéx6m,

414

BOOK IL r9. 5-9

in their power, easily destroyed everyone who tried
to withstand them. Consequently there was a great
slaughter, which was effected in various ways, some
being trampled beneath their feet, others ripped up
by their tusks, and a number tossed into the air by
their trunks. And since a great multitude of
corpses lay piled one upon the other and the danger
aroused terrible consternation and fear in those who
witnessed the sight, not a man had the courage to
hold his position any longer.

Now when the entire multitude turncd in flight the
king of the Indians pressed his attack upon Semi-
ramis herself. And fisthe let fly an arrow and struck
her on the arm, and then with his javelin he pierced
the back of the queen, but only with a glancing blow;
and since for this reason Semiramis was not seriously
injured she rode swiftly away, the pursuing beast
being much inferior in specd. But since all were
fleeing to the pontoon bridge and so great a multitude
was forcing its way into a single narrow space, some of
the queen's soldiers perished by being trampled upon
by one another and by cavalry and foot-soldiers being
thrown together in unnatural confusion, and when the
Indians pressed hard upon them a violent crowding
took place on the bridge because of their terror, so
that many were pushed to either side of the bridge
and fell into the river. Ás for Semiramis, when the
largest part of the survivors of the battle had found
safety by putting the river behind them, she cut the
fastenings which held the bridge together; and when
these were loosened the pontoon bridge, having been
broken apart at many points and bearing great
numbers of the pursuing Indians, was carried down
in haphazard fashion by the violence of the current

415

DIODORUS OF SICILY

^ ^ , ^ b

Kai ToÀXoUs gév TÀv 'lvóov OdOeipe, 7j 8é

XegipápaÓ, oOXMjv dcjdMewav Tapeaxevaae,
^ » * ^

Kevcaca Ti» TÀV voXeguiov ém abTqv Gui fQaaw.

10 uerà 86 ra00' ó uéy rÓv 'lvóàv BaciAevs, Óto-

oc)ui» abTÓ yevou.évov xai TÓV pávreav pu
$aiwwouévov aqpatvea0at Tüv worapóv pi &u-
Baívew, o vxiav éaXev, 7) àé Xeuípagus. AXMa'ynv
vowucauéyo TÓVv aiypaXoTov . érravij AU ev . eis
Bdxrpa, 870 uép») Tíje Óvváueos árroBeBN qvia. N
20. Merà àé rwa xpóvov oo Nuwóov ToU vioü
Ó) ebvovXyov TivOs emigovXevOctaa, xai Tb wap
"Agugcovos Xónyiov ávaveocagévg, Tov émiBovAei-
cavra xaxüv oU0£v eipyyáaaro, robvavriov àé TV
BaciXcíav abrQ TapaSobca xal Toi UTpXous
dxovetv éketvov. poa Táfaca, Taxéws qj $dvwo ev
éavr9w, Ó« eis Ücobs xarà àv Xpmspov pera-
eTQcouévy. €vto, € uvÜoXoyoüvres $aciw abri
yevéaÜat TepiaTepáv, «al TOXMÓv Ópvéww eis
T)v oixiav xaTa reraaÜévrov uer. éxelyov. éime-
TacÜSvar O0 xal ToUs Aaavptovs Tiv Tepi-
oTepàv Tiuüv xg Üeóv, áàmaDava1íbovras Tiv
Xeuípaui. abr9g uév oiv Basixeócaca Tfjs
'Aamíag üváags mq "lvóàv éreleUryae TÓv
T poeLpi.évov TpóTov, Biócaca pev erm éErkovra.
8vo, BastXevcaaa 0€ Óvo pos Tois Terrapákovra.
Kr9oías uév oüv 0 KvíOtos Trepi Eepipágados
ToLa0Ü' iorópukev: 'AOijvatos Od «aí Tives TÓV
d^Xov avyypaóéev $aciv aj)r)v éraíipav pe
2 ) j), xal Ó.à TÓ kaXXos épo'rucós
yovéva, evmperri), ià TÓ we ; s
éyew a)Tis TOV Baca. TOv Accvpiíev. TÓ
uév obv TpórTov uerpias avT)V dmoboxfje TwyXá-
vet év vois fBaotXelois, uerà. 0à raÜTa vyvgciav
416

BOOK II. 19. 9-20. 4

and caused the death of many of the Indians, but for
Semiramis it was the means of complete safety, the
enemy now being prevented from crossing over
against her. After these events the king of the
Indians remained inactive, since heavenly omens
appeared to him which his seers interpreted to mean
that he must not cross the river, and Semiramis,
after exchanging prisoners, made her way back to
Bactra with the loss of two-thirds of her force.

20. Some time later her son Ninyas conspired
against her through the agency of a certain eunucli ;
and remembering the prophecy given her by
Ammon! she did not punish the conspirator, but, on
the contrary, after turning the kingdom over to him
and commanding the governors to obey him, she at
once disappeared, as if she were going to be trans-
lated to the gods as the oracle had predicted. Some,
making a myth of it, say that she turned into a dove
and flew off in the company of many birds which
alighted on her dwelling, and this, they say,is the
rcason why the Assyrians worship the dove às a god,
thus deifying Semiramis. Be that as it may, this
woman, after having been queen over all Asia with
the exception of India, passed away in the manner
mentioned above, having lived sixty-two ycars and
having reigned -forty-two.

Such, then, is the account that Ctesias of Cnidus has
given about Semiramis; but Athenaeus ? and certain
other historians say that she was a comely courtesan
and because of her beauty was loved by the king of
the Assyrians. Now at first she was accorded only
8 modcrate acceptance in the palace, but later, when

1 Cp. chap. 14.
* Nothing is knewn about this Athenaeus.

417

DIODORUS OF SICILY

áva'yopevÜetcav yvvaika, meia au Tóv Bacuéa
TévO' juépas avri) rapaxopijaat Tfs Bacietas.
Tv 06 Zeuípajuv àvaXafoUcav TÓ Te axiprTpov
kai T)v ÉBacíXevov gToXv RNacc OHer Mun
vpoTyv T"uépav eboxiav morsu. kai peya-
Aompemij OeWmva, év ois. ToU TÓv Svvápeav
Tryeuóvas kal mávras ros émijavea Tárovs qreicas
c vj mpáTeuw éavTf T) 9 bcrepaíg To) Te
TujÜovs kal TrÀv dio oyeTáTov vópóv es
Baaiicav Ücpamevóvrev Tov uev &vópa Ka TA-
BaXeiv eis Tijv eipkTüv, abriv 86 ice: peya-
emífoXov obcav kai ToXQumpav KaTGG Xe TV
dpy5v, kal uéxpi vyrüupos Bacixeicacav T0XAÀ
kai neyáXa xaTrepyáaacDa. Trepi uiv obv Tàv
xarà ! Xeyuípagiv Towvras ávrüXoyías elvat
cvpfaíve, rapà rois avyypadebor. ME

921. Merà àà vv raíTos Üdvarov Novas 6
Nívov xai Xepupágubos vios TapaXafav Tv
ápx?w jpxev eipnvucós, Tó $uXonóXenov. kal
kexwovveupévov Tíje juJTpOs oU6após. Up xocas.
vrpóTov uév vyàp év rois BaciXelows TOv ümavra

3 b Qu. Ne
xpóvov Oiérpugev, bw' oj0evós Opoevos TX1w

TÓv TGXXakióov xai rÀv Trepi airàv ebvoiyav,
étjXov 86 Tpv$)v xai BaÜvuiav Kai TÓ uoeémore
kakomaÜeiv uno uepuuvüv, bmroXauBávov Bas-
Aeías ebGatpovos elvat, TéXos TÓ qácaus Xpfie8a4
TaÍs jOovate veru Moro. "pos Bé T) áadá-
Aeuxv Tfjg àpxíijs kal Tóv xarà TOV Apxouévov

1! Vogel follows D in omitting 71» after xard.

1 TThofollowing legend contains a reference to the Babylonian
Bios SS xim NEST certainly a New Year's festival. A

418

BOOK II. zo. 4-21. 3

she had been proclaimed a lawful wife, she persuaded
the king to yield the royal prerogatives to her for a
period of five days. And Semiramis, upon receiving
the sceptre and the regal garb, on the first day held
high festival and gave a magnificent banquet, at
which she persuaded the commanders of the military
forces and all the greatest dignitaries to co-operate
with her; and on the second day, while the people
and the most notable citizens were paying her their
respects as queen, she arrested her husband and put
him in prison; and since she was by nature a woman
of great designs and bold as well, shé seized the throne
and remaining queen until old age accomplished
many great things. Such, then, are the conflicting
accounts which may be found in the historians
regarding the career of Semiramis.

21. After her death Ninyas, the son of Ninus and
Semiramis, succeeded to' the throne and had a
peaceful reign, since he in no wise emulated his
mother's fondness for war and her adventurous
spirit. For in the first place, he spent all his time
in the palace, seen by no one but his concubines and
the eunuchs who attended him, and devoted his life
to luxury and idleness and the consistent avoidance
of any suffering or anxiety, holding the end and aim
of a happy reign to be the enjoyment of every kind
of pleasure without restraint. Moreover, having
in view the safety of his crown and the fear

prominent feature of this was the killing of a criminal who had

n permitted for five days to wear the king's robes, to sit on
his throne, to issue decrees, and even to consort with his
concubines, and who, after this brief tenure of Office, was
Scourged and executed. Cp. J. G. Frazer, T'he Golden Bough,
Pt. IIT, The Dying God, pp. 113-17.

419

DIODORUS OF SICILY

yivóuevov dófov xaT éwavróv pereméumero
aTpaTruoTOv üápiÜuóv dpiguévov xai aTpamTT'yOv
d&mó &Üvovs éxdáaTov, kal TÓ uév ék mávTov
dÜpotc 0ey a rpárevpa ékrós Ts TÓXecs cVVelXer,
ékáaTrov TÓÀv éÜvàv Tv eÜvojcTa:ov TÓv Tepi
abróv dmo8evóev Tyyenóva: voÜ 8 éwavrob
8weXÜ0vros pereméumero máMw dmó TÀv éÜvàv
ToUg (covs c TpaT.O TAS, kal TOUS TrpoTépovs dmé-
Avev eis màs Tarpíbas. ob gvvTeXovuévov guv-
éBauve ois bm r3» BaciXeíav Tera'yuévovs ámav-
Tas! karamemAix0ai, Üewpovras àel ueyáXas
Bvvápeis év braíÜpp oTparoreBcvouévas kai vois
dio Tauévois 7) uj Tredapxobauw éroíuqv obcav
Tuuopíav. às Oé xaT. évavróv AXXavyàs TOV
aTpaTwoTÀv émevónacv, iva, mrpiv 1) KaXÓs "yvec-
Üjvav Tobs aTpaTqyyovs kai roUs dXXovs &TavTAas
jv dXXijXov, Éxaa Tos eis Tiv (lav Guaxoepttnrat
maTpiba* ó *yàp oX)s Xpóvos Tijs c Tpaeas
dumeiplav re TÀv karà Tóv TróNepov xai $póvnpa
Tois Tyyepnóat mrepyr(O nat, ka T0 TrXela rov ádopuás
apéxerai peyáXas pis àmócTac kai gVPO-
pocíav kaTrà TÓv Tyovuévov. T0 O6 pmó óó
&vóg TOv &ÉwÜev ÜewpeiaÜai rijs uév Trepi abTóv
Tpv$ijs d'yvouav mapeiyero mci, xaÜdmep e
0cóv àóparov &ià vóv $ófov &xacros ov06 Xóyo
BXaajnueiv éróNaa. | avpariyoUs 66 xal aaTpá-
vas kal Ovow]rás, ér. 66 Oucaa ràs kaÜ' Ékaavov
&Üvos áTo8eifas kal rTáAXa mávra ÜÓuvTáfas dw
mor &BoEcv abrQ avpydépew, róv oU Civ xpóvev
karéuewev év fj Nívo.

IlapazAqates 66 ToUrq kai oi Xovrroi BaatXeis,

1 &mavras Vogel: mávras Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.

420

BOOK II. 2r. 3-8

he felt with reference to his subjects, he used to
summon each year a fixed number of soldiers and a
general from each nation and to keep the army,
which had been gathered in this way from all his
subject peoples, outside his capital, appointing as
commander of each nation one of the most trust-
worthy men in his service; and at the end of the year
he would summon from his peoples a second equal
number of soldiers and dismiss the former to their
countries. The result of this device was that all
those subject to his rule were filled with awe, seeing
at all times a great host encamped in the open and
punishment ready to fall on any who rebelled or would
not yield obedience. "This annual change of the
soldiers was devised by him in order that, before
the generals and all the other commanders of the
army should become well acquainted with each
other, every man of them would have been separated
from the rest and have gone back to his own country ;
for long service in the field both gives the commanders
experience in the arts of war and fills them with
arrogance, and, above all, it offers great opportunities
for rebellion and for plotting against their rulers.
And the fact that he was seen by no one outside the
palace made everyone ignorant of the luxury of his
manner of life, and through their fear of him, as of an
unseen god, each man dared not show disrespect of
him even in word. So by appointing generals,
Satraps, financial officers, and judges for each nation
and arranging all other matters as he felt at any time
to be to his advantage, he remained for his lifetime
in the city of Ninus.

'The rest of the kings also followed his example, son

42I

DIODORUS OF SICILY

vais Tapà maTpós DuaBexóuevos T)» dpyijv, él
yeveàüs Tpiákovra, égaaíXevaav uéypi XapBava-
TáXXov* érl rojTov yàp 5 TOv 'Accvpíiov fyye-
povía perémeoev eis Miyjóovs, éry Duapuelvaca
TAÀeio TÓv X)iMov xal piakogiov, xaÜámep
N , e , , ^ [4 ,

$9ci Kroeías ó Kvíótos év rfj 8evrépa BiXq.

22. ''à 8' óvóuara mávra? ràv BaciXéov xal
TÓ TAiÜos TOv érÓv dv fkacros éBacíXevoev
oU kaTeTelye, ypáeww Dià v0 pg6by $m abróv
mempüxÓau uvmuns fiv. póvo yàp rérevyev
àvaypadQtjs 7) eud0eica cvunaxía Toi; Tooociv
bm' 'Aaavpíiov, 7)s éerpariyyes Méuvov ó TiOovob.
Tevráuov yàp BaciXevovros Tij 'Acías, be jv
eikog 10s àmà Nivóov ToU Xeypápa80s$, acl ToUs
ner! ' Ayauénvovos " EXXqvas érl Tpoíav avparecb-
gat Tv ?Weuovíav éyóvrev Tfs 'Acíae rÀv
"Accupiov érr melo TOv viv. kal Tóv này
IIpíauov Bapvvóuevov TQ ToXéuo kai BaciXev-
ovra, Tíje 'Tpcwáóos, o7:)koov 9 üvra TQ Baciet
TOv 'Accvupíiov, Tréu^ra, T pós avrov pea Bevràás
wepi fonÜeías ov Dé "lebrauov gupíovs pé&v
Ai0tomas, &XXovs 6€ rocoíTovs XovsiavoUe ajv
&puac Gkogiots é£amroa TeiXat, a rparrryóv émi-
karaeTycavra Méuvova vóv Ti8cvoU. xai TÓv

5 fr 8 éEikorra after rpiakocíev deleted hy Dindorf ; cp.
ch. 28. 8.
* aávra Vogel: mávrov F, Bekker, Dindorf.

1 Names of kings of Assyria are now known from as early as
ca. 2500 s.c.

* The earliest Greek tradition knew the Ethiopians as ** the
Íarthest of men," who dwelt on the stream Oceanus. Hero-

422

BOOK II. 21. 8-22. 3

succeeding father upon the throne, and reigned for
thirty generations down to Sardanapallus; for it was
under this ruler that the Empire of the Assyrians

fell to the Medes, after it had lasted more than 612 &.o.

thirteen hundred years,! as Ctesias of Cnidus says in
his Second Book.

22. 'There is no special need of giving all the names
of the kings and the number of years which each of
them reigned becausenothing was done by them which
merits mentioning. For the only event which has
been recorded is the despatch by the Assyrians to
the Trojans of an allied force, which was under the
command of Memnon the son of Tithonus. For
when Teutamus, they say, was ruler of Asia, being
the twentieth in succession from Ninyas the son of

Semiramis, the Greeks made an expedition against ce. 1190

Troy with Agamemnon, at a time when the Assyrians
had controlled Asia for more than a thousand years.
And Priam, who was king of the Troad and a vassal
of the king of the Assyrians, being hard pressed by
the war, sent an embassy to the king requesting aid;
and Teutamus despatched ten thousand Ethiopians
and a like number of the men of Susiana along with
two hundred chariots, having appointed as gencral
Memnon the son of Tithonus? Now Tithonus, who

dotus (7. 70) speaks of '* the Ethiopians of the East," prohahly
meaning the Assyrians. Plato (Laws 685 c) also mentions
help sent to Priam hy the Assyrians. "The account here has
more of the appearance of genuine history than that in Book
4. 75, where Diodorus reverts to mythology in presenting
Tithonus as the son of Laomedon and hrother of Priam, and
having him travel to the east '* as far as Ethiopia," where he
EA Monnon by Dawn. When tradition began to place the
Homerico Ethiopians in Libya, Memnon came to be associated
with Thebes in Egypt.

423

DIODORUS OF SICILY

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àvaypadais iaropeiaÜai daciw oi Bápflapo.

23. XapBavámaXXos Bé, rpiakocTós này Ow
dT0 Nívov roÜ cvoT9gsauévov Tiv wyenovíav,
fa aros 8é yevóptevos "Aaavpíov BactXevs, Umepfj-
pev ámavras ToUs T po avToD rpvi) xal paOvpia.
Xepis yàp ToU uu8' vd. évüs rv éEwOcv opác0a:
Biov ébae vyvvawós, xal Guavrouevos uév. uerà

1 The following account of the dissolute Sardanapallus is not
borne out by the documents, nor indeed by Diodorus himself

424

BOOK II. 22. 3-23. t1

was at that time general of Persis, was the most
highly esteemed of the governors at the king's court,
and Memnon, who was in the bloom of manhood,
was distinguished both for his bravery and for his
nobility of spirit. He also built the palace in the
upper city of Susa which stood until the time of the
Persian Empire and was called after him Memnonian ;
moreover, he constructed through the country a
publie highway which bears the name Memnonian
to this timc. But the Ethiopians who border upon
Egypt dispute this, maintaining that this man was
a native of their country, and they point out an
ancient palace which to this day, they say, bears the
name Memnonian. Atany rate, the account runs that
Memnon went to the aid of the Trojans with twenty
thousand foot-soldiers and two hundred chariots;
and he was admired for his bravery and slew many
Greeks in the fighting, but was finally ambushed
by the Thessalians and slain; whereupon the
Ethiopians recovered his body, burned the corpse,
and took the bones back to Tithonus. Such is the
account concerning Memmnon that is given in the
royal records, according to what the barbarians
say.

23. Sardanapallus, the thirtieth in succession from
Ninus, who founded the empire, and the last king of
the Assyrians,outdid all his predecessors in luxury and
sluggishness. For not to mention the fact that he
was not seen by any man residing outside the palace,
he lived the life of a woman, and spending his days

(ep. chaps. 25 ff.). Sin-shar-ishkun, the last king of Assyria,
was a worthy descendant of his vigorous predecessors on the
Assyrian throne, and defended a dying empire with energy.
Cp. The Cambridge Ancient History, 3. pp. 128 fi., 296 f.

425

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TOv TaXXakiBov, Topoópav 56 kal rà uaXakd-
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eU eibàs Órt Üvrróe &bvs, aüv Üvyàv &cEc!

repzróuevos ÜaMigau Üavóvri aoi obris Óvgous.

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1 Éere Tzetzes, Chiliades, III. 453, who preserves the first
three lines of the poetry : état A D, 8e(£at E
426

BOOK II. 23. 1-4

in the company of his concubines and spinning
purple garments and working the softest of wool, he
had assumed the feminine garb and so covered his face
and indeed his entire body with whitening cosmetics
and the other unguents used by courtesans, that he
rendered it more delicate than that of any luxury-
loving woman. He also took care to make even his
voice to be likea woman's, and at his carousals not only
to indulge regularly in those drinks and viands which
could offer the greatest pleasure, but also to pursue
the delights of love with men as well as with women ;
for he practised sexual indulgence of both kinds
without restraint, showing not the least concern for
the disgrace attending such conduct. "To such an
excess did he go of luxury and of the most shameless
sensual pleasure and intemperance, that he composed
a funeral dirge for himself and commanded his suc-
cessors upon the throne to inscribe it upon his tomb
after his death; it was composed by him in a foreign
language but was afterwards translated by a Greek
as follows :

Knowing full well that thou wert mortal born,
Thy heart lift up, take thy delight in feasts;
When dead no pleasure more is thine. "Thus I,
Who once o'er mighty Ninus ruled, am naught
Butdust. Yetthese are mine which gave me joy
In life—the food I ate, my wantonness,

And love's delights. But all those other things
Men deem felicities are left behind.

Because he was a man of this character, not only did
he end his own life in a disgraceful manner, but he

3 AéAvrrai in Athenaeus 336a.

427

DIODORUS OF SICILY

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1 karackevd(wv Gemistus : éykarackevd(or.

428

BOOK II. 23. 4-24. 4

caused the total destruction of the Assyrian Empire,
which had endured longer than any other known to
history.

24. The facts are these:! A certain Arbaces, a
Mede by race, and conspicuous for his bravery and
nobility of spirit, was the general of the contingent
of Medes which was sent each year to Ninus. And
having made the acquaintance during this service of
the general of the Babylonians, he was urged by
him to overthrow the empire of the Assyrians.
Now this man's name was Belesys, and he was the
most distinguished of those priests whom the
Babylonians call Chaldaeans. And since as a con-
sequence he had the fullest experience of astrology
and divination, he was wont to foretell the future
unerringly to the people in general; therefore, being
greatly admired for this gift, he also predicted to
the general of the Medes, who was his friend, that it
was certainly fated for him to be king over all the
territory which was then held by Sardanapallus.
Arbaces, commending the man, promised to give him
the satrapy of Babylonia when the affair should be
consummated, and for his part, like a man elated by a
message from some god, both entered into a league
with the commanders of the other nations and
assiduously invited them all to banquets and social
gatherings, establishing thereby a friendship with
each of them. — He was resolved also to see the king
face to face and to observe his whole manner of life.
Consequently he gave one of the eunuchs a golden

1 The kernel of truth in the account which follows lies in the
fact that Nineveh fell before the combined attacks of the
Median Cyaxares and the Chaldaean Nabopolassar.

429

DIODORUS OF SICILY

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abüTÓv üpiÜuós imfpxev eie rerrapákovra uv-

5 gvyeuoatas Dindorf : jryeuovías.

1 Op. chap. 21.
430

BOOK Il. 24. 4-8

bowl as a present and gained admittance to Sardana-
pallus; and when he had observed at close hand both
his luxuriousness and his love of effeminate pursuits
and practices, he despised the king as worthy of no
consideration and was led all the more to cling to the
hopes which had becn held out to him by the Chal-
daean. And the conclusion of the matter was that he
formed a conspiracy with Delesys, whereby he should
himself move the Medes and Persians to revolt while
thelatter should persuade the Babylonians to join the
undertaking and should secure the help of the com-
mander of the Arabs, who was his friend, for the
attempt to secure the supreme control.

When the year's time of their service in the king's
army! had passed and, another force having arrived
to replace them, the relieved men had been dis-
missed as usual to their homes, thereupon Arbaces
persuaded the Medes to attack the Assyrian kingdom
and the Persians to join in the conspiracy, on the
condition of receiving their freedom.* Belesys too
in similar fashion both persuaded the Babylonians
to strike for their freedom, and sending an embassy
to Árabia, won over the commander of the people
of that country, a friend of his who exchanged
hospitality with him, to join in the attack. And
after a year's time all these leaders gathered a multi-
tude of soldiers and came with all their forces to
Ninus, ostensibly bringing up replacements, as was
the custom, but in fact with the intention of destroy-
ing the empire of the Assyrians. Now when these
four nations had gathered into one place the whole
number of them amounted to four hundred thousand

?* $.e. from the Assyrians.

431

DIODORUS OF SICILY

puáBas, eis gíav 88 mapeuBoX»v avveXAOóvres
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«al rÓy dXXav vOv eis rüv mÓXeuov xpuaíuav

1 Ürapxov Vogel: Érapxov Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
432

BOOK II. 24. 8-25. 5

men, and when they had assembled into one camp
they took counsel together concerning the best plan
to pursue.

25. As for Sardanapallus, so soon as he became
aware of the revolt, he led forth against the rebels
the contingents which had come from the rest of
the nations. And at first, when battle was joined
on the plain, those who were making the revolt were
defeated, and after heavy losses were pursued to a
mountain which was seventy stades distant from
Ninus; but afterwards, when they came down again
into the plain and were preparing for battle, Sardana-
pallus marshalled his army against them and des-
patched heralds to the camp of the enemy to make
this proclamation: '"'Sardanapallus will give two
hundred talents of gold to anyone who slays Arbaces
the Mede, and will make a present of twice that
amount to anyone who delivers him up alive and will
also appoint him governor over Media." Likewise he
promised to reward any who would either slay
Belesys the Babylonian or take him alive. But
since no man paid any attention to the proclamation,
he joined battle, slew many of the rebels, and
pursued the remainder of the multitude into their
encampment in the mountains.

Arbaces, having lost heart because of these defeats,
now convened a meeting of his friends and called
upon them to consider what should be done. Now
the majority said that they should retire to their
respective countries, seize strong positions, and so far
as possible prepare there whatever else would be

* For zaparAxcíes Gemistus, followed by Bekker and
Dindorf, conjectured vapamAmna(as.

433

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Tijv évÓeyouévnv mapaaxev)v moictaÜat | BéXeovs
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opüv 6ià Tíjs TOv daTpev éymeipías mTpoc"pat-
vovtas aUTOis TOUS ÜcoUs. kal mapexkáAei rTaUTas
Tàs juépas peivavras meipav XaBeiv Tíjs iOias
TéXvn9s kai Ts TOv ÜeQv evepyeaías.

26. MerakAgÜévrov obv mávrov TáMwv xal
TÓv dpucuévov xpóvov ávapewdavrov, fké Tus
d&mayyéXNov Gir. Bívapus ék Tí. Bakrpiavijs
àTmeoraXuév) và BasiXei mXgaíov écTi mopevo-

évm xarà amovÓv. éBofev oDv ois Tepi TÓv
ApBáxgv dmavríjca. TOls cTpaTQWyois Tv
434

BOOK IL. 25. 5-26. 2

useful for the war; but Belesys the Babylonian, by
maintaining that the gods were promising them by
signs that with labours and hardship they would bring
their enterprise to a successful end, and encouraging
them in every other way as much as he could, per-
suaded them all to remain to face further perils. So
there was a third battle, and agoein the king was
vietorious, captured the camp of the rebels, and
pursued the defeated foe as far as the boundaries of
Babylonia; and it also happened that Arbaces
himself, who had fought most brilliantly and had
slain many Assyrians, was wounded. And now that
the rebels had suffered defeats so decisive following
one upon the other, their commanders, abandoning
all hope of victory, were preparing to disperse each
to his own country. But Belesys, who had passed a
sleepless night in the open and had devoted himself
to the observation of the stars, said to those who had
lost hope in their cause, ' If you will wait five days
help will come of its own accord, and there will bc a
mighty change to the opposite in the whole situation ;
for from my long study of the stars I see the gods
foretelling this to us." And he appealed to them to
wait that many days and test his own skill and the
good will of the gods.

26. So after they had all been called back and had
waited the stipulated time, there came a messenger
with the news that a force which had been despatched
from Bactriana to the king was near at hand, advan-
cing with allspeed. Árbaces, accordingly, decided to
go to meet their generals by the shortest route,

435

[]

DIODORUS OF SICILY

raxía qv ávaXaflóvras TÓV a TpaTuvTÀy TOUS
«paria rovs kal páMaT. eUtavovs, ómws, àv ya)
&.à ràv Xó*yev ro)s BaxrpiavoUs 6jvovra« veicat
cvvaog Tívau, TOig OT XoIs Bidcovrat Aera-
cxetv TÀv abTÓv &xrióov. TéXos à mpós Th
eXevOepíav à águévos. bmakovaáyroy TÓ MéV TrpÓ-
Tov TÀV JAyyepóvov, emevra. kal Tfjg OX9s Ovvápeos,
qrávTes éy rabró «aea parom &evaay.
"Ore 87 cvvég TÓv BaseiXéa TÀv "Aacvpiov
Tv này ámócraciv Tv Baxrpiavàv á*yvoobvTa,
Taí(s 66 Trpovyeyevip.évaus e9npepíaus. pereopua -
Ü€vra, TpaT vat Tpós veau, «ai TOÍS gTpaTiá-
Tais Bua&obvau T pos ebwxíav iepeia xal 7AíjBos
olvov Te kal Tv AXXav emirioetoov. Biómep Tfjs
Svvápews ámáas éa Tuopévms, oí epi TÓy
"ApBákqv Tapá TL.V CV abropóXov mvÜOpevot Tiv
€v Tj vapeuBoNij TÓV ToXepíeoy BaOvyíav «ai
pé8gv, vvkTÓS àm poa Gokrjr as TV emíDeaiy é emrouij-
gavro. mpocTeaórres à: c vvrera'ypévoi uev
ácvvrákTois, ÉroiioL à ámapackebois, TÜS 7€
vapeuBoXjs ekpárqa av kal TÀV aTpaTieTÀy
voXXoUs áveXóvTes ToUs áXXovs péxpt TÜS TÓ-
Aeos ka reblo£av. perà 66 abra ó uev fBaciXeUs
l'axauuéwjv T0v á6eX$óv 71s yvvaiüs àvobe(£as
cTpaTyyóv, aUTOs TOP kaTà T2v TOM émigué-
Aeuav errotéiro* oí 8 àmooTárai. kaTà TO qrebíoy
Tà ,Tpà TÍA TróXems mapa afápevot Gvci pdxats
évlenaav TOUS "Aeavpíovs, Kai TOV T€ l'aXat-
pévqv üvetAov kai TÓv ávrirafapévay TOUS py
&v Tj) $vyf «aTéa ja£av, ToU; Ó ámokAeiaÜévras
Ts eis Tv TÓMV éravó&ov xai c vvava/yka-
em éavroUe jumreéiv eig Tóy Ebjpárgv
43

BOOK 1I. 26. 2-6

taking along the best and most agile of his troops,
so that, in case they should be unable to persuade
the Bactrians by arguments to join in the revolt, they
might resort to arms to force them to share with them
in the same hopes. But the outcome was that the
new-comers gladly listened to the call to freedom,
first the commanders and then the entire force, and
they all encamped in the same place.

It happened at this very time that the king of the
Assyrians, who was unaware of the defection of the
Bactrians and had become elated over his past
successes, turned to indulgence and divided among
his soldiers for a feast animals and great quantities
of both wine and all other provisions. Consequently,
since the whole army was carousing, Árbaces, learning
from some deserters of the relaxation and drunken-
ness in the camp of the enemy, made his attack upon
it unexpectedly in the night. And as it was an as-
sault of organized men upon disorganized and of
ready men upon unprepared, they won possession of
the camp, and after slaying many of the soldiers
pursued the rest of them as far as the city. After
this the king named for the chief command Galae-
menes, his wife's brother, and gave his own attention
to the affairs withinthe city. Buttherebels, drawing
up their forces in the plain before the city, overcame
the Assyrians in two battles, and the T not only slew
Galaemenes, but of the opposing forces they cut
down some in their flight, while others, who had been
shut out from entering the city and forced to leap into

1 For réAos bé Vogel proposes roórw» 0$ or óy», unless, as
he suggests, there is a large lacuna.

431

DIODORUS OF SICILY

7 voragOv TX2v 0Abycv ümravras üvet Xov. TocoDTo
88 qAf$fos jv TÀv dovevÜévrev dore TÓ depó-
pevov peüpa xpaÜév atuart T3)» xpoav é$' ikavóv
TOTOv ueraflaXeiv. émevra ToU Bacikéos avy-
KXewÜévros eis ToMwopkíav oXXà TOv éÜvív
ájícTaTo, ékácrov Tpós Tiv €XevÜepíav avTopuo-
AcbvToS.

8 'O 8& ZXapóavámaXXos ópOv T?)v ÓAgv Baci-
Aeíav év mois eyíorow obcav xwÜDvow, ToUS
n&v viove Tpeis Óvras xal Üvyarépas vo uerà
ToÀAÓv xpnuárov eis llajXayovíav ávéaTewXe
mpós Kórrav TÓv Émapxov, Óvra rÓÀv àpxopévav
eUvovc raTov, avrós 06 Bu uadópovs ámocre(Xas
mpós &Tavras roUs UT avTÓv TeTa'yuévovs ueT-
eméumero Óvvápeis kal rà mpós T1v ToXwopkiav

9 mapeakevátero. ?»v O0 avrÓ Aóyuv mapaócOo-
pévov ék mpoyóvov Óri vv Níivov ob6els Aet
karà kpáros, éàv Q3 mpórepov 0 ToTapós TÍ
TrÓXeL yévira, sroXépios. | vmroXauBavav obv Tob-
To jQwjOémore &oeoÜau rais éXmíaw ávretye,
$wavooUuevos VmOuévew Tv Toiopkíav kai Tà
mapà TOv moTerayuévmv! dmocTaX9goóyeva
aTpaTómcOa, mpoaOéycaÜa..?

27. Oí 8 dámoeára, rois mrporepijpaauv émap-
Üévres mrpoaékewro uy Tfj mToXiopkía, Già 68 2v
óxvpórgra TÀv TeLyÀv ov00v 5ó/vavro BXda:
TOUS £v Tf) móXew erpofjóXoi yàp j) weXàvat
xecTpides 7) xpuol srpós àvaTpomv pueunxavg-
uévoi TeyGv oUm xaT ékcivovs ToUS kaipous

! jrorerayuévov Vogel: éndpxov A B D, Bekker, Dindorf.

j p roetócm Vogel: wposeBéxero Vulgate, Bekker, Din-
«ort.

438

BOOK II. 26. 6-27. 1

the Euphrates river, they destroyed almost to a man.
So great was the multitude of the slain that the water
of the stream, mingled with the blood, was changed in
colour over & considerable distance. Furthermore,
now that the king was shut up in the city and be-
sieged there, many of the nations revolted, going
over in each case to the side of liberty.

Sardanapallus, realizing that his entire kingdom
was in the greatest danger, sent his three sons and
two daughters together with much of his treasure to
Paphlagonia to the governor Cotta, who was the most
loyal of his subjects, while he himself, despatching
letter-carriers to all his subjects, summoned forces
and made preparations for thesiege. Nowtherewasa
prophecy which had come down to him from his
ancestors : '* No enemy will ever take Ninus by storm
unless the river shall first become the city's enemy."
Assuming, therefore, that this would never be, he
held out in hope, his thought being to endure the
siege and await the troops which would be sent from
his subjects.

91. The rebels, elated at their successes, pressed
the siege, but because of the strength of the walls they
were unable to do any harm to the men in the city;
for neither engines for throwing stones, nor shelters
tor sappers,! nor battering-rams devised to overthrow
walls had as yet been invented at that time. More-

1'The xeAGva: (''tortoises"; cp. the Roman testudo)
xwevpibes were strong moveable sheds or roofs, under whose
protection sappers and miners could work. In Book 20.91.8
they are contrasted with sheds which carried battering-rams

(xeAavat kptoqópo:).
439

DIODORUS OF SICILY

eÜpgvro. TÀy B' émvrnÓelov ámávrov oi xarà
Tiv TÓMw ToXXMQv elyov GaxriNeuav, mpovevo-
uévov ToU BaciXées rovrov ToÜ népovs. 910 xal
XpowiCosa ns TÍS ToMopkías em ép uev vo
7 pog ékeLvTo mpocBoXàs mowpevoi rois Tebxeot
xai Tis emi Tiv xepav e£óbov ToUs €x 1íje TTÓAeUs
eipyovres TQ Tpírp Ó' érev cvvexós OuBpov
neyáXev xarappa'yévrov avvégy rov Esjpárov
péyav yevóuevov karakMóga, Te pépos Tijs Tr0-
Aeos xai xaraflaXeiv TÓ Teiyog émi oTaÓLovs
elkoct». | évraüÜa 0 fjaciXeUs vopícas TeTe-
XAécÜa, rTóv Xpnopóv xai T] mÓNet TÓV vOTAa OV
yeyovéva, $avepés ToXépuov, áméyvo T)v acT0-
píav. fva O6 pg ois ToXeuíow Üwoxeipios
yévgrat, rupàv év rois fBaciXeiots kareakevaaev
bTeppeyé8ün, xal róv Te xpvaóv xal TOv dpyvpov
ü&mavra, mpós 66 To/VTois Tv BagiXiknv éoOijra
mücav émi ravTQv éacpevae, ràs 66 maXXak(bas
kai TOUS eUvoUXovs GvyKMeicas eis TOv év uéom
Tj TUpG kareg kevag pévoy olxov apa ,TOUTOIS
üaciv éavróv Te kai Trà ÉacíXeia karékavaev.
oí € ámocTára, vvÜOLevoi Tp ámóAeiav Tv
XapóavamáXXov, Tfjs này TÓXeos ékpáTygav
; 5
eia mecóvres karà TÓ Tres To kÓg uépos ToÜ Teixovs,
TÓv O' 'ApBdxuv évOvcavres T)v BasiXucv
cToAijv Tpocwyópevcav facikéa, xal Tiv TÀv
üXov é£ovaíav émérpevrav.

28. "EvÜa 85 voÜ BaciXéws rois cvvaryevica-
pévois a Tparyois Gepeás re ÓvaBóvros xarà Tz)v
á£av kal carpámas éÜvàv kaÜLavávTos, rpoaeX-
Gv abrQ BéAecvs ó BafvXowos, Ó mpoevmróv
0r. BaciXeUsg éa Tat Tíije Acías, Tije Te evepryeaias
440

BOOK II. 27. 1-28. 1

over, the inhabitants of the city had a great abundance
of all provisions, since the king had taken thought on
thatscore. Consequently the siege dragged on, and
for two years they pressed their attack, making
assaults on the walls and preventing the inhabitants
of the city from going out into the country; but in
the third year, after there had been heavy and con-
tinuous rains, it came to pass that the Euphrates,
running very full, both inundated a portion of the
city and broke down the walls for a distance of
twenty stades. At this the king, believing that the
oracle had been fulfilled and that the river had
plainly become the city's enemy, abandoned hope of
saving himself. And in order that he might not fall
into the hands of the enemy, he built an enormous
pyre ! in his palace, heaped upon it all his gold and
silver as well as every article of the royal wardrobe,
and then, shutting his concubines and eunuchs in
the room which had been built in the middle of the
pyre, he consigned both them and himself and his
palace to the flames. "The rebels, on learning of the
death of Sardanapallus, took the city by forcing an
entrance where the wall had fallen, and clothing
Arbaces in the royal garb saluted him as king and
put in his hands the supreme authority.

98. Thereupon, after the new king had distributed
among the generals who had aided him in the struggle
gifts corresponding to their several deserts, and as he
was appointing satraps over the nations, Belesys the
Babylonian, who had foretold to Arbaces that he
would be king of Asia, coming to him, reminded him

1 Diodorus greatly abridged the description of this pyre by
Ctesias, since Àthenaeus (12. 38), who derived his account of
it also from Ctesias, gives many more details concerning it.

441

[^]

[i]

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Vméuvgce xai Tv DBafvXGvos dpy5sw "fov
8oüvau, kaÜdmep éE£ ápytjs Vméoxero. medaí-
vero 66 xai xarà To)« kwO/vovs éavrüv ebxijv
vemoijo0a. TQ Bw5Xe Xap6avamwáXNov xpaTy-
Oévros kai TÀv! BaciXciov éumupiaÜévrev áro-
Kopuetv Tv o moO0v Tv ék TovTOGv cis Dafv-
A&va, kai TX59ciov ToU Teuévove ToU ÜcoÜ xal
TOÜ TOTauoÜ karaÜÉéuevov yGpua, karackeváaeiw
TÓ mapefóuevov Tois karà v0v Ejopárqv mAéov-
civ áÜávarov bmróuvuua ToU kaTaAvcarTOS T2V
"Acavplav ápxijv. robo $ Qreiro vÜónevós
TivOs eüvoUxov Tà Trepi TOv dpyvpov kal wpvaóv,
óv &aBpávra xai Tpós abróv avrouoX5cavra
kaTékpv rev. 0 9 'ApBárns roírev ob8Év eiBó«
61à, T6 mrávras ToUs év rois BaciXeioig a vykara-
«afa, TQ BacgiXet, T5jv Te amoOóv árokouicat
«ai Tv BafvXQva Éyew dàTeM) cvveyopuacv.
ei" 0 uev BéXeovs mXoia, mrapaoTuQodgevos uerà
Tífjs amro9o0 TO TXe(a rov ToÜ Te àpy/pov xai ToU
xpvcoÜ cvvrópes áméaTeXev eig BafvXóva: ó
86€ BacjweUs, ugvvÜciaue a/rQ Tí« mpáfews
abToóopov,? &uacTàs àmébefe robs avvayew-
gauévovs a TpaTyyovs. ToU Tpáfavros 9 ópoXo-
yoUvros à&ucetv, T. u&v Ókac Tüpiov. abro Üáva-
TOv kaTéyvo, 0 06 BaciXevs, ueyaXópvxos óv
kal Tv ápx"wv Tí] "ryeuovias BovXópevos émieuc)
mapéxegÜau, TOv Te kiuvOUvev | dméAvoe Tóv
BéXecvv xai Tróv ámokexojucuévov dpyvpov xai
xXpvgóv €xewv avvexopnaev: ouoíes 96 xal Tv
ét ápxíj GOoÜetcav éfovcíav Tíje BafivXAGvos

1 KAXcv after ràv added by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
442

BOOK II. 28. 1-5

of his good services, and asked that he be given the
governorship of Babylon, as had been promised at the
outset. He also explained that when their cause
was endangered he had made a vow to Belus that, if
Sardanapallus were defeated and his palace went up
in flames, he would bring its ashes to Babylon, and
depositing them near the river and the sacred
precinct of the god he would construct a mound
which, for all who sailed down the Euphrates, would
stand as an eternal memorial of the man who had
overthrown the rule of the Assyrians. This request
he made because he had learned from a certain
eunuch, who had made his escape and come to
Belesys and was kept hidden by him, of the facts
regarding the silver and gold. Now since Arbaces
knew nothing of this, by reason of the fact that all
the inmates of the palace had been burned along with
the king, he allowed him both to carry the ashes away
and to hold Babylon without the payment of tribute.
Thereupon Belesys procured boats and at once sent
off to Babylon along with the ashes practically all the
silver and gold; and the king, having been informed
ofthe act which Belesys had beencaught perpetrating,
appointed as judges the generals who had served with
himinthe war. And when the accused acknowledged
his guilt, the court sentenced him to death, but the
king, being & magnanimous man and wishing to
make his rule at the outset known for clemency, both
freed Belesys from the danger threatening him and
allowed him to keep the silver and gold which he had
carried off; likewise, he did not even take from him
the governorship over Babylon which had originally

? abroQópov Rhodomann : abro$ópov.

443

DIODORUS OF SICILY

oUk d$eíAero, dxjaas ueltovas elvat ràs é£ abro
Trpoyeyevmuévas eUDepyeaías TOP ÜaTepov àOuem-
párov. OuflonÜeíans 866 Tfs Émieikclas oU TV
TvxoÜcav cUvoiav üua! xal Oófav mapà TÓv
dÜvàv àmqvéykaro, grávrowv kpwóvrov á£toy elvat
Ts ÉacuXeias Tüv oÜUTo pocevexÜévra ois
dóucgaagi. 0 8 ov 'ApÜdkms Toig kaTà TV
mÓNuv Émieuküs TpoceveyÜeis abrovs nuév xarà
kdjas Owkige, Tàs ias xTyüceis CkdaoTous
dTo80ís, T4v 66 mÓMww cis &BaQos karéakarev.
émewra, TÓv Te Ópyvpov kai xpuvgov TOv ék Tis
vvpüs UmoXeubÜévra moXXÀv Ovra mTaXávTov
à&Tekóp4ae T?) Mm&as eis 'Exfárava.

"H uév obv ?yeuovía rÀv'Aaacvpiev àmó Nívov
&rapeivaga TpiákovTa pv ryevedás, érn 66 melo
TÓv xxiv kai Tpia.koa Lov, vró My9óev kareXU0 m
TÜV Tpoeiprjuévov TpómOV.

29. 'Huiv 8' ox àvápuoa ov elvat Boket repli
TOv év BafvXdvi XaX6aiev kal T?s àpyatórgros
abTÀv Üpaxéa OwXOev, fva. umBev mapaXe(imopev
TÓv fiev uvüpys. XaAÓalo: rolvvv TÓv ápxato-
TárGv Üvres BafvXaviov Tf uév Óupéget Tíjs
qoNreías TapamNngiav éyovau Táfw Tols kaT.
AlywrTov iepeÜügt mpós ryàp Tjj Ücpameíg TÀv
cov cTera'yuévot Távra Tüv ToU Üm»v xpovov
$iXocodoloet, ueyiaTgv Bobav Éxovres év áacpo-
Aya. &vréxovrat e eni TOÀ! xal pavTucs,
TroLoUpevo, Tpopp3jgeis Trepi TOv peXXóvTOV, kal
"Qv pév kaÜapuots, rTQüp O6 Üvaíaw, vràv O5
&AXats TLciv éTqO6aís dmoTpomàs kakdv xal
8 reXevonets üryaÜ àv mreugdvrau Tropitew. | éumreipiav
! $a Dindorf: àAAd.

444

BOOK II. 28. 5-29. 3

been given to him, saying that his former services
were greater than his subsequent misdeeds. When
this act of clemency was noised about, he won no
ordinary loyalty on the part of his subjects as well as
renown among the nations, all judging that a man
who had conducted himself in this wise towards
wrongdoers was worthy of the kingship. Arbaces,
however, showing clemency towards the inhabitants
of the city, settled them in villages and returned to
each man his personal possessions, but the city he
levelled to the ground. "Then the silver and gold,
amounting to many talents, which had been left in
the pyre, he collected and took off to Ecbatana in
Media.

So the empire of the Assyrians, which had endured
from the time of Ninus through thirty generations,
for more than one thousand three hundred years,
was destroyed by the Medes in the manner described
above.

29. But to us it seems not inappropriate to speak
briefly of the Chaldaeans of Babylon and of their
antiquity, that we may omit nothing which is
worthy of record. Now the Chaldaeans, belonging as
they do to the most ancient inhabitants of Babylonia,
have about the same position among the divisions of
the state as that occupied by the priests of Egypt ; for
being assigned to the service of the gods they spend
their entire life in study, their greatest renown being
inthe field of astrology. But they occupy themselves
largely with soothsaying as well, making predictions
about future events, and in some cases by purifica-
tions, in others by sacrifices, and in others by some
other eharms they attempt to effect the averting of
evil things and the fulfilment of the good. They are

445

DIODORUS OF SICILY

8' éyove, xal Tíjes Óià TÓv oiwvOv pav,
évvmrvicov T€ kai repárov é£nyrjaeis dmojaívovraa.
oük àcóQws B6 mowÜvrat kal rà Tepl Tv iepo-
c«oríav dkpos émvrvyxávew vopitovres.! n
Tz» 86 rovrov ná0gciv ámávrow oUxy Opoiav
qro.0Ü0vraL Oíe TÀ TOL.GÜT ÉmwTQÓeVovcu TOV
"ExXXvew. Tapà pév yàp Tots XaXM$aiois ek
yévovs 4j rovrov duXocodía mapa&é&orau, Kai
mais Tapà "TaTpós Braóéxeraa, rÓ» &XXav
Aevrovpry.Qv raaGv ümoXekvpévos. $i «ai *yoveis
&xovres 0:8aakáXovs ápa pnév àdÜovos &mavra
pavÜávovciv, üpa $6 vois maparyyexXopévots
vpocéxovci TicTéVovres — QeBauórepov. erreur
ebÜUe éx maíbev avvrpedópevot Tos pab pac
peyáNqv éEw mepvmoioüvras 64, ve TÓ Tf)s rjAucias
eb8(Barov kal Già vo mAíjÜos ToU mpoakaprepov-
pévov Xpóvov. i we
IIapà 6é vois "EXXgsiv 0 "roXXots áTapa-
ckeUcs? Tpocubv OwWé move vis duiXoaoóías
&Trerat, kai péxpi TivÓs duXoTovijaas ámrij Me
vepigacÜeis vmo fuorucis Xpeias*. OA yoL 9
Tiveg émi duXogodíav dmoÓvvres | épyyokaBias
Évekev mapauévovaiv év TQ papa, kauvoro-
poüvres áel epi TÓv peyíorov Ooyudrov kai
TOÍS "pÓ a)TÓV oUk dkoXovÉoUrres. Tovyapobv
oí uév BápBapo: Biapévovres émi rv abràv del
BeBalos écaa ra Xaufdávovaiw, oi 8 " EXXqves ToU

! vouí(ovres D, Vogel: Bekker and Dindorf follow the
Vulgate in reading ouí(ovrai and think that some words
have been lost after &có$ws 5€.

3 «oAAoís üraparkeóos Vogel: mwoAUs &mapdokevos.

446

BOOK II. 29. 3-6

also skilled in soothsaying by the flight of birds, and
they give out interpretations of both dreams and
portents. They also show marked ability in making
divinations from the observation of the entrails of
animals, deeming that in this branch they are
eminently successful.

The training which they receive in all these matters
is not the same as that of the Greeks who follow such
practices. For among the Chaldaeans the scientific
study of these subjects is passed down in the family,
and son takes it over from father, being relieved of
all other services in the state. Since, therefore, they
have their parents for teachers, they not only are
taught everything ungrudgingly but also at the same
time they give heed to the precepts of their teachers
with a more unwavering trust. Furthermore, since
they are bred in these teachings from childhood up,
they attain a great skill in them, both because of the
ease with which youth is taught and because of the
great amount of time which is devoted to this study.

Among the Greeks, on the contrary, the student
who takes up a large number of subjects without
preparation turns to the higher studies only quite
late, and then, after labouring upon them to some
extent, gives them up, being distracted by the
necessity of earning a livclihood; and but a few
here and there really strip for the higher studies
and continue in the pursuit of them as a profit-
making business, and these are always trying to make
innovations jn connection with the most important
doctrines instead of following in the path of their
predecessors. 'The result of this is that the bar-
barians, by sticking to the same things always, keep
a firm hold on every detail, while the Greeks, on

447

DIODORUS OF SICILY

ka.Tà T?)v épyoXaBíav képBovs aroxatouevoi kacvàs
aipéa eis kTífovat, xal repli TOv peyíarav Oecpn-
páTov dXXijAots &vri&oEobvres Buxovoety "o.c.
TOUS pavOávovras iai Tàs Yruxàs abTÓ» TXavá-
aa, Tóv vrávra Btov €v aiepa, rwogévas ! «al
gnóev OAXcg mic Tec aL Bvvapévas Befaíws: às
yov éniaveaáras aipéacis Tv $iXogópov et Ti$
ákptBós e£erátou, 7Aei vov 6 0cor ebprjaeu &ae-
poíaas dXX5Aev kal epi TÀv ueyia Tov Ookàv
évavría Gofatovaas.

30. Oí 8' otv XaXBatoi vv uév ToD xkómpuov
$icw áibióv $acuw elva,. kal yumre éE ápxfis
yyéveat» ea xneéva, unie DaTepov $0opày éqrt-
GéfeaÜau, Tov 5 TÓV ÜAcv ái Te kai Óukó-
gpugiy 0cía TL TT pO! oía eyeyovévaa, «ai vOv ékaa Ta
TÀv e» obpavà ,yuvopuevav oDX s ÉrvXev oj
avrouáras AXX ópuauévy TU Kai BeBaías
8 Kevpopévr Oeüv kpíaet cwvreXeia Oa. TÓ» o
c Tpov TOM X povíovs vaparmpijaeus TreTTOLT). VOL,
Kal Tüe é«áa TOV Kivjgets T€ Kai vvápeis áxpi[Be-
cTaTA TüvTOV àvÜporav émreyvoxóres, TTOXAÓ
TÓP ueXMóvrov DURS TpoXéyova TOÍS
3 ávÉpárrois. peyia tqv àé? $acw elvai Oeopíav
kai 6)vagav Trepi ToUs TrévTe ácTépas TOUS TMvm-
Tas KaXovpuévovs, obs éxeivo, rauf) pev &puqveis
Ovopátovauv, iGía 68 TÓv bro TÓv EXXfvov Kpóvov
c ds émidavéararoy 66 xai meia a kai

1 qivouévas Coraes ; *yevouévas- * 3t Dindorf : re.

1 ie. ío mankind of the will of the gods, as explained
below.
* Saturn.

448

BOOK II. 29. 6-3o. 3

the other hand, aiming at the profit to be made out
of the business, keep founding new schools and,
wrangling with each other over the most important
matters of speculation, bring it about that their
pupils hold conflicting views, and that their minds,
vacillating throughout their lives and unable to be-
lieve anything at all with firm conviction, simply
wander in confusion. It is at any rate true that, if
a man were to examine carefully the most famous
scliools of the philosophers, he would find them differ-
ing from one another to the uttermost degree and
maintaining opposite opinions regarding the most
fundamental tcenets.

30. Now, as the Chaldaeans say, the world is by its
nature eternal, and neither had a first beginning nor
will at a latcr timc suffer destruction; furthermore,
both the disposition and the orderly arrangement of
ihe universe have come about by virtue of a divine
providence, and to-day whatever takes place in the
heavens is in every instance brought to pass, not at
haphazard nor by virtue of any spontaneous action,
but by some fixed and firmly determined divine
decision. And since they have observed the stars
over a long period of time and have noted both the
movements and the influences of each of them with
greater precision than any other men, they foretell
to mankind many things that will take place in the
future. But above allin importance, they say, is the
study of the influence of the five stars known as
planets, which they call **Interpreters "! when
Speaking of them as a group, but if referring to them
singly, the one named Cronus ? by the Greeks, which
is the most conspicuous and presages more events and
such as are of greater importance than the others,

449

DIODORUS OF SICILY

péyia Ta mpoagpaivorra, kaXoüciw '"HAíov: roUs
8 dXXovs rérrapas ópoíos rois map' ')piv áo Tpo-
Aéyors óvouátovatv, " Apeos, "'AdpoGírns, 'Eppob,
Aiós. Gà roÜro )' abroDg épugveis xaXobouv,
ór. rTÀÓv GXXcov AcTépev àmXavàv Óvrov xal
rera/yuévn sropeía uíav mrepijopàv éxóvrev obroi
uóvoi opeíav ióíav Tow vpuevo: TÀ uéAXovra
ytveaÜat Beikvvovatv, épumvevovres rois àvÜpó-
mois Tijv TOV Ücóv &vvorav.) rà uév yàp Ou cíjs
&vaTOXSs, rà 66 &ià rijg ÓUaews, rwà 66 Gu mi)s
xpóas mpoanpaíveiv $aciv abToUs rois mpoaéxetw
àkpifàs fovXAnÜctar moré uà» yàp mvevuárov
neyé8n &Xoüv abrovs, roré 0? Üu pov 1) kavuá-
Tov bmepBoXás, éari 66 Óre koumràv áaTépov
émiroXds, ér; 66 dALov re kal aeXijvns. éxXetyress,
Kai ceiguoUs, xal TO aovoXov mácas Tàs é« ToÜ
qepiéyovros "yevvouévas "epiaTáaeig GeAXiuovs
Te kai fXaflfepàs o) uóvov &veaiv 1? TóToO!s,
áXXà xai BaciXeDat kal rois TvyobDaiw iOvoTats.

"(mo 86 Tiv roUvTcv $opà» Xéyovai reráxyOa.
Tpiákovra dacTépas, obs mpocayopevovci fov-
Aaíovus ÜcoUs: rovrov 88 ToUe uév üuicem TOUS
Umép yv TÓTOVS edopáv, TOUS L3 uiaews ToUs?
bró Tjv yv, Tà xar. àvÜpoymrovs ériokomobvras
dua kai rà xarà Tov obpavóv avu[daivovra: Oi
8 juepàv Béxa méumeoÜa,. TÓv uv Óvo mpós
To)g káTo xaÜdmep dyyeXov éva ry daTépov,

1 éypyoiay Dindorf : etvoiav.
? $ Vogel, following CD; xe! Bekker and Dindorf,

following the other MS3.
3 covs added by Reiske.

1 Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter.

450

BOOK II. 3o. 3-6

they call the star of Helius, whereas the other four
they designate as the stars of Ares, Aphrodite,
Hermes, and Zeus,! as do our astrologers. The reason
why they call them ** Interpreters " is that whereas
all the other stars are fixed and follow a single circuit
in a regular course, these alone, by virtue of following
each its own course, point out future events, thus
interpreting to mankind the design of the gods. For
sometimes by their risings, sometimes by their set-
tings, and again by their colour, the Chaldaeans say,
they give signs of coming events to such as are
wiling to observe them closely; for at one time
they show forth mighty storms of winds, at another
excessive rains or heat, at times the appearance of
comets, also eclipses of both sun and moon, and
earthquakes, and in a word all the conditions which
owe their origin to the atmosphere and work both
benefits and harm, not only to whole peoples or
regions, but also to kings and to persons of private
station.

Under the course in which these planets move are
situated, according to them, thirty stars,* which they
designate as "' counselling gods "; of these one half
oversee the regions above the earth and the other
half those beneath the earth, having under their
purview the affairs of mankind and likewise those of
the heavens; and every ten days one of the stars
above is sent as a messenger, so to speak, to the stars

* According to Bouché-Leclereq, L'Asirologie Grecque, p.
43,n.4, Diodorus has confused here two distinct systems,
that of the thirty-six stars known as decans, which Baby-
lonian astrology designated as rulers of ten degrees in each
zodiac, and that of the thirty stars which the Egyptians be-
lieoved to be gods, each of whom presided over one of the
thirty days of the month.

451

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TÀyp 8 jmà fjv crpós ToUs áve Tdv óuoLos &va,
kai ravTqv Cxew a)ToUs dopà» ópispévuv KG
7 mepióbq kekvptpévqv alcvio. Tv Ücdv 8& Toj-
vov kupíovus elvaí ac Obexa. Tv &piÜpóv, àv
&xáa Te pijva xal rà Ódc0era Xeyouévov Co8iov
ev v poavénovat. 5ià, 8e ToUTOV aci moiciaÜat
Ti» mopeíav TÓv Te ijuov kal Tiv aeMjenv Kai
méyre ToUs mAávmyras àarépas, ToU uv 1Mov TÓV
l&rov Nov. ev évavTQ veXoÜvros, Tíjs 96 aeXj-
vys éy uoi Tijv i&íav mepioGov &iamropevouévs.
31. Tà» 8? wAavürev i6 fxacTov! Exyew
Bpópov wal BujXXavyuéves. kal mouciXas xpijatat
rois ráxeat kai Tjj rÀv xpóvev Bupéaew TmMela Ta
88 mpós ràs yevécews TÓ» ávÜpomev cvpuBáx-
AeaÜat Tovrovs To)s áaTépas áryaÜá Te xai
kaxá- &ià 88 vfje roUrov Üccds Te kai Üeopías
páMaoTa y.weakew rà avpatvovra ois àvÜpo-
2 vow. TemodjoÜa. 86 aci mpopprjaeis áXXots
re BaatXeÜauv obk. ÓNiyois kal TÓ xaramoXepn)-
cavr. Aapetov 'AXeEávÓpo xal rois. uerà raUra
Bacuescaciw "Avrvyóvo Te kal XeXeUkp TÓ
Nikdropi, éy draco, 96 vois puÜciow ebaTox-
xévau Sokoüciv: Umép Óv uei? và kaTà uépos
3 éy olketorépows áva'ypádrouev aipois. T poXé-
yovct 86 kai ois iOuoTats TÀ. uéAXovra c vp faít-
vew oÜTos eboTóyes ÓOocTe TOoUe weipaÜévvas
Oavpátew T sywópevov kal peitov 1) kar. àvÜpa-
mor jyetoÜat. —
4 Merà 86 vov ÜgÓiakóv kíkXov elkoci xai

3 íBwv fkacrov Vogel: fkaeror Thor Vulgate, Dekker,
Dindorf.

452

(———————— CJH-— ———

BOOK II. 3o. 6-31. 4

below, and again in like manner one of the stars
below the earth to those above, and this movement of
theirs is fixed and determined by means of an orbit
which is unchanging for ever. Twelve of these gods,
they say, hold chief authority, and to each of these
the Chaldaeans assign a month and one of the signs
of the zodiac, as they are called. And through the
midst of these signs, they say, both the sun and
moon and the five planets make their course, the
sun completing his cycle in a year and the moon
traversing her circuit in a month.

31. Each of the planets, according to them, has its
own particular course, and its velocities and periods
of time are subject to change and variation. These
stars it is which exert the greatest influence for both
good and evil upon the nativity of men; and it is
chiefly from the nature of these planets and the
study of them that they know what is in store for
mankind. And they have made predictions, they
say, not only to numerous other kings, but also to
Alexander, who defeated Darius, and to Antigonus
and Seleucus Nicator who afterwards became kings,
and in all their prophecies they are thought to have
hit the truth. But of these things we shall write in
detail on à more appropriate occasion. Moreover,
they also foretell to men in private station what will
befall them, and with such accuracy that those who
have made trial of them marvel at the feat and believe
that it transcends the power of man.

Beyond the circle of the zodiac they designate

1 For prophecics to Alexander op. Book 17. 112, and to
Antigonus, Book 19. 55.

? $ueis Vogel: omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
453

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Térrapas ddopítovaiww dáoTépas, dw ToUg gv
"uices év rois Bopelo:s uépeat, voUs 9' julaces
€v Tos vorío:s TeráxÜat aci, kal rovrov robs
név opouévovus rQv tóvrov clvat kavrapiÜuobat,
ToUs b' ádaveis rois rereXevTQkóat mpoacwpíaÜa,
vouítovatv, oÜs ÓtacTàs TÓv ÓXcv Tpocayo-
5 pebovaiw. m0 Távra Ó6 rà mpoepmuéva 3v
aeXijvnv dépeaÜat Xévyovaiw, &yryva a £v. Tfjs »yfjs
obcav 80ià Tv Bap)órgra, Óuamopevouévgv 9 év
€AaxíaTo xpóve TÓv éavTís Opónov, ob Óià Tijv
ófvrmra Tíjs dopás, àXXà Óià rjv fpax)rmra
6 ToU kÜkXov. UT, O6 TÓ às dXXÓTpiov Éyei xal
Oiór. às. ékXel reu moveirat Óià T0 axíac pa Tíjs
yfjs rapa Ajoua, Xéyovat rois " EXXgat. — repli 5€
Ts KG&rà TOv jjAwov ékXeljrems daÜeveo váras
áToÓcífews dépovres o) voXuósi mpoXéyew o08
ákpus bmép raír9s mreprypádew ! vois xpóvovs.
7 qrepi 66 Tíje 'yfjs iGwordáras áàToDdaems mowbvrar,
Aéyovres Umápyew abT)v axadoc8f kal koíXqv,
KaL TOXXÓs xai miÜavàs dmo8efew eUmopobci
vepí Te Ta/T2S kal mepl TOv dXXowv TOv karà
Tóv kócuov: bmwép Óv Tà xarà uépos Owebiévai
Tis vrokeuuévgs (a Topías àXXóTpiov. elvat voy-
8 Üouev. oÜro uévroL ye OwufjeBauoaauT dv cis
vpocqkóvros Or. XaAOaio. neyiaTqv Cw v
ácTpoXoyía TOv áTávTev dvÜporrev Cyovat kal
OióTL Tela Tyv. ériuéXeiav érovjoavro. raírgs
9 Tfjg Üecpías. epi 66 roD mX:Üovs TÀv érÓw, £v
ols $act T?)v Ücopíav àv xarà vóv kócuov e-
moitjaÜa, TÓ aja Tyua TOv. XaXSalov, o0k dv ig
pa&ies mui TeUceiev* érüv yàp érrà kal rerrapá-
kovra pvupiáóas xal vpeis émi raíTaus XDudoas
454

BOOK Il. 3r. 4-9

twenty-four other stars, of which one half, they
say, are situated in the northern parts and one half
in the southern, and of these those which are
visible they assigu to the world of the living, while
those which are invisible they regard as being
adjacent to the dead, and so they call them
* Judges of the Universe." And under all the
stars hitherto mentioned the moon, according to
them, takes her way, being nearest the earth because
of her weight and completing her course in a very
brief period of time, not by reason of her great
velocity, but because her orbit is so short. They also
agree with the Greeks in saying that her light is
reflected and that her eclipses are due to the shadow
of the earth. Regarding the eclipse of the sum,
however, they offer the weakest kind of explanation,
and do not presume to predict it or to define the times
of its occurrence with any precision. Again, in
connection with the earth they make assertions
entirely peculiar to themselves, saying that it is
shaped like a boat and hollow, and they offer many
plausible arguments about both the earth and all
other bodies in the firmament, a full discussion of
which we feel would be alien to our history. This

oint, however, a man may fittingly maintain, that
the Chaldaeans have of all men the greatest grasp of
astrology, and that they have bestowed the greatest
diligence upon the study of it. But as to the number
of years which, according to their statements, the
order of the Chaldaeans has spent on the study of
the bodies of the universe, a man can scarcely
believe them; for they reckon that, down to
INNER COME MEC C OA -

1 wepiypápeiw Wesseling : mapa'ypáQew.

455

DIODORUS OF SICILY

es T)v 'AXeftárvópov $uifaeiw yeyovévai xaT-
apiÜuoüciw, dd! rov TÓ maXaiv Jpfavro Tràv
dcTpcov às mapa ropa eis rotta Dat.

10 — Kai mepl uév XaXGalov dpkeaÜnoópueÜa. rois
puOetatw, iva. uj uakpórepov dToTAavoueÜa cis
oixeías iaTopías* mepl 06 vj "Acavpíev Baaci-
Aeías de bmó Mijóe» xareAv6m T poetpnicóTes
émáviuev ü0ev éEéBmuev.

32. "Emel 66 Qtadwrobotw oi maXatóravot TOv
cvyypaóéev -epl fe eyioTys TÓv My&ev
*"yeuorías, oixetov eivai OraAaufdávouev — Toig
$«XaXnÜos Tàs páEeis (a opety fovXouévots Tiv
Oia$opàv TrÀv icTopto'ypáboev cap áXXNyXa

2 Ocivoi. 'Hpó8oros uév odv karà Eépfmqv ryeyovós
Tos Xpóvois dueiv 'Acevplovs &ry mevraxóaia
"TpóTepov Tíjs 'Aaías dpEavras bmà Myóov kara-
AvÜOSva,, Émevra. BaciXéa uv py6éva. yevéa at
TÓV áudicBnrjcovra TOv ÜXev émw] TT0ÀAXdg
yeveds, Tàe O6 mOXew xaÜ' éavràg TATTOULÉVas
OrowkeiaÜa, OnuokpaTiKÓs TÓ Ob reXevratov
To0XXQv érÀv OueXÜ0óvrwv aíipeÜjva: BaaiMa
vapà Toís Mjóots dvÓpa Oicatoc vp Otádoopov,

3 óvoua Kvafdpov. Tobrov 86 TrpTOV ÉmiXeipija at
* poa d/yea Üa. ToUs T AyatoXópovs, kal rois M356ots
Apxmyóv *yevécÜni Tüe QV ÜXwv syyeuovías-
€mevra TOUS ékyóvovs ácl T p0G KQ/TG.KTC HévOUS
ToXMv Tfs Ouópov xópas avfnoai Tv Paci-
Xeíav uéypi ' Aavvárnyovs ob karamoXeunÜévrosg

D €——————— MÓN S

! King of Persia, 486—464 B.C.; Herodotus was born in the
deeade 490-80 s.c. The passage is Herodotus 1. 95 ff., where,
however, the years are given as five hundred and twenty.

456

BOOK IL 3r. 9-32. 5

Alexander's crossing over into Asia, it has been four 334 p.0.
hundred and seventy-three thousand years, since
they began in early times to make their observations
ars.
EC. as the Chaldaeans are concerned we shall P.
satisfied with what has been said, that we may not
wander too far from the matter proper to our history s
and now that we have given an account ofthe pos
tion of the kingdom of the Assyrians by the N 3 es
we shall return to the point at which we digressed. :
32. Since the earliest writers of history are *
variance concerning the mighty empire of das
Medes, we feel that it is incumbent upon those w m
would write the history of events with a love for n
to set forth side by side the different accounts of the
historians. Now Herodotus, who lived in the re
of Xerxes,! gives this account: After the Assyrians
had ruled Asia for five hundred years they were con ES
quered by the Medes, and thereafter no king Re
for many generations to lay claim to supreme Du
but the city-states, enjoying a regimen of deer p ,
were administered in a democratic fashion ; fina "o
however, after many years a man distinguished Oo
his justice, named Cyaxares,? was chosen king ene.
the Medes. He wasthe first to try to attach to mn. ;
the neighbouring peoples and became for the MS
the founder of their universal empire; and after m
his descendants extended the kingdom by p
adding a great deal of the adjoining CouHu until i
reign of Astyages who was conquered by Cyrus .
i ings, Deioces, Phraortes, an
t Managed dn ry Ui mentioned here

i i 1. 96 ff., but
iod is really the Deioces o Herodotus ) ;
I rpeen in Book 8 16, mentions a Deioces, ** the king of the

Medes.'' 487

UE €--
—
*

DIODORUS OF SICILY

bTÓ Kópov xai llepsQv. epi dw vv jue Trà
kejáNaua. TpoewprkóTes Tà xarà pépos ÜcTepov
ákptBàs áva'ypánjoev, émreibày. émi ToUs oikeious
Xpóvovs emiBáXo pev: &aTà ryàp TÓ 6e/repov Éros
Tfjs émraxai&ekárns "OXvymiábos npé8n BaciXeUs
bro Miyjbev Kvatápns xa6' 'HoóBorov.

4 Krnaías à 9 Kví(8ios rois uév ypóvots bmüpte
kaTà Tv Kópov eTpaeiav émi "ApraEépEnv vóv
áBeX.dóv, yevópevos 9' aiyuáXoros, xal &à Tijv
baTpuciy emo Tuv ávaXn$ÓOeis bmó ToÜ Baci-
Mos, émraxatóexa érg ÜreréAeoe riu puevos bm
avTOÜ. obTos obv dm«sw éx rÓv facwukóv
8ióOepóv, &v als oi Ilépsa, vàs TaXaids mpáfeis
kaTá Twa vópov elxov a vvrera'yuévas, oXvmpay-
povijrat Tà. xa" &aaov kai avvratápevos! Tijv

5 icropíav eis ro); "EAXqvas éÉeveyweiv. d$moiv
oUv nerà Tv kaTáNvatv Tíje ' Acavpiov Tryyeuovias
Mj8ovs mpocTívai Tis 'Acías 'ApBáxov Baci-
Aetovros ToU ZapbavámaAXXov KaTaTOXepijcavTos,

6 «agór mpocipyrat ToUTov Ó' dpEavros rn voi
Aebmovra TOv Tpváxovra &uaGéEaoÓat T)». Baci-
Meiav TOV vióy Mavéákmv, v üp£at Tije "Aaías
£y mrevrikovra. perà 66 roÜrov Tpidkovra này
ér fac vebaat. Xoócapuov, Tevrükovra 86
Apróxav, 850 86 Trpós Toig eixogi TÓv Tpoc-
arpevouevov "ApBiávgy, verrapákovra 86 'Ap-
TG OV.

33. 'Esi 86 roórov cvoTivau uéyav móXeuov

! cvrralduevos Gemistus: evvratduevor.

Herodotus puts the accession of Deioces (the Cyaxares of
Diodorus) in 699 z.c. (cp. How and Wells, Er equis on
Herodotus, 1. pp. 383 ff.), if the defeat of Astyages by Cyrus

458

BOOK IL. 32. 3-33. !

the Persians. We have for the present given only the 549 s.c.
most important of these events in summary and shall
later give a detailed account of them one by one
when we come to the periods in which they fall; for
itwas in the second yearof theSeventeenth Olympiad,
according to Herodotus, that Cyaxares was chosen 711-10
king by the Medes.! E
Ctesias of Cnidus, on the other hand, lived during
the time when Cyrus? made his expedition against 401 s.c.
Artaxerxes his brother, and having been made
prisoner and then retained by Artaxerxes because of
his medical knowledge, he enjoyed a position of
honour with him for seventeen years? Now Ctesias
says that from the royal records, in which the Per-
sians in accordance with a certain law of theirs kept
an account of their ancient affairs, he carefully in-
vestigated the facts about each king, and when he
had composed his history he published it to the
Greeks. This, then, is his account: After the de-
struction of the Assyrian Empire the Medes were the
chief power in Asia under their king Arbaces, who
conquered Sardanapallus, as has been told before.*
And when he had reigned twenty-eight years his
son Maudaces succeeded to the throne and reigned
over Ásia fifty years. After him Sosarmus ruled for
thirty years, Artycas for fifty, the king known as
Arbianes for twenty-two, and Artaeus for forty years.
33. During the reign of Artaeus a great war broke

occurred in 549 s.c. (cp. T'he Cambridge Ancient. History, 4.
p. 7) and not, as formerly held, in 550.

? Cyrus the Younger, the story of whose struggle with his
brother for the throne is told in the 4nabasis of Xenophon.

3 According to Plutarch (Artaxerxes, 1l ff.), Ctesias was
already in the king's retinue at the time,

* Cp. chaps. 23 ff.

459

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Tois M 5j8ois ,pós .Ka8ovatovs &ià Troia bras
aivías. Ilapo ovv TOv llépo nv, avuatóuevor ém'
&vpela «ai a vvéaet «ai rais dXXats áperats, GíXov
T€ irápfai TÓ BaciXet xai uéyiua Tov io x0cat TYv
2 perexóvrev ToÜ flasiXiucoD avvebpiov. robrov 8
bmrà ToU BaaiXéos éy Tiv kpiaet XvmrÜévra $vyyeiv
uerà mebÀv u&v TpuG XéALenv, (mrréov 56 xiMov eis
Ka&ovatovs, Tap ols yv ékóebouévos Tiv iB(av
abeX Qi TQ uáXic TAa ÓvvaaTeUovTL karà ToUTOUS
3 ToUs TÓTm OUS. yevóuevov 9 dmooTáTQv xal Téi-
cavra TÓ cÜpTav &vos ávTéyecÜat Tie éXev-
Oepías, aipeÜva. cTpaTyyüv O0i& Tj)v Avbpeiav.
erevra TuvÜavóuevov áOpoitouévgs ém' ajróv
ueyáXqv 8vagav, kaÜomXíaa,. rovs Kaóovaiovs
rav8npel, kai kara aTparorrebebaat Tpós Tas els
T?» X&pav eicGoXais Éyovra To)s cUwTAavTas
4 oix eXdrTovs elogt puptábmv. ToU 66 BaciXéus
Apraíov a Tpareaavros éT' abTóv pUupidciv
óy8o)kovra náxn kpartjaat xai TXeiovs uév rÓv
merraxua uupíoy áveXeiv, Tov 8' dXXqv Ovvapav
éxBaAeiv ek Tis Ka8oveiev xópas. O40 xai
Tapà Toís eyxtopíows Üavpatóuevov aipeÜtvat e
BaciXéia «ai Tiv M&íav avvexós XenXaretv xal
5 mávra TÓTOV «a rad cipem. neyáxgs 88 8óEms
Tvxóvra, al yrjpa HéAXovra xaracTpébew TÓv
Bor, ápàv 0éc0a, TapaaTQcágevov Tüv 0:a9exó-
uevov T)v ápxv, óvw$ u96émore QuX va evra.
Tiv €xÜpav KaóoUcio. mpós Mij&ovs- ei 88 aóv-
Oowro ópoXovías, éEóXeis vyevénÜat Tos Te ámó
6 roD vyévovs avroO «ai KaGovotovs ávavras. Oià
07 ravras Tàe airías àel voXepakQe do xnkévat
[RROITIVIN mwpós Mqgéovs, kal gmoémore ois
460

BOOK Il. 33. 1-6

out between the Medes and the Cadusii, for the
following reasons. Parsondes, a Persian, a man
renowned for his valour and intelligence and every
other virtue, was both a friend of the king's and the
most influential of the members of the royal council.
Feeling himself aggrieved by the king in a certain
decision, he fled with three thousand foot-soldiers
and a thousand horsemen to the Cadusii, to one of
whom, the most influential man in those parts, he had
given his sister in marriage. And now that he had
become a rebel, he persuaded the entire people to
vindicate their freedom and was chosen general be-
cause of his valour. Then, learning that a great force
was being gathered against him, he armed the whole
nation of the Cadusii and pitched his camp before the
passes leading into the country, having a force of no
less than two hundred thousand men all told. And
although the king Artaeus advanced against him
with eight hundred thousand soldiers, Parsondes
defeated him in battle and slew more than fifty
thousand of his followers, and drove the rest of the
army out of the country of the Cadusii. And for
this exploit he was so admired by the people ofthe land
that he was chosen king, and he plundered Media
without ceasing and laid waste every district of the
country. And after he had attained great fame and
was about to die of old age, he called to his side his
successor to the throne and required of him an oath
that the Cadusii should never put an end to their
enmity towards the Medes, adding that, if peace
Were ever made with them, it meant the destruction
of his line and of the whole race of the Cadusii. 'These,
then, were the reasons why the Cadusii were always
inveterate enemies of the Medes, and had never been

461

DIODORUS OF SICILY

TobTav BaciXebaww bmKóove vyeyovéva,, uéxpi
ob Képos eis IIépaas ueréoTQoe Tijv Tyyepovíav.

E 34. Tóv Dr Myjbov faciuXebcat uerà Tov
Apraíov Téevri)v Apróvgv uév Érm Óvo mpOs
Tois elkoct, "AoTiBápav Bà rerrapákovra. émi
8e TOUTOV IHáp8ovs ámocTávras Myóev Xáxais

2 Tü» Te Xópav xal Tiv "TÓMw ÉyXewpícav Siómep
gvaTávTOs TOMéuov TOÍS ZXdákats Tpós Mayjoove
em Er mÀeÍe wevécÜas Te páxas ok Abas
Kkaií cvxvOv map dpuóorépois avaupeÜévrov T
TeAevraiov eipijviv a?roUs éri TroicÓe cvvOécDa:,
IIdpBovs né bro Miyj$ovs reráxÜau vv Bé
mpolmapyóvrev éxarépovs kvpiebcavras díXovs
elvau kai avuuáxovs dAXQXow cis Tóv ümavra
xpóvov.

3 Baawxebca: 86 róre rÓv Xaxàv wyvvatka TÀ
«aTà mÓXeuov étyAoxviav xai TOÀlum Te xal
mpáfe, oA) Ouadépovaav TÀv év Xáxaus vyvvaa-
Kàv, üvoua Zapivav. xaÜóXov uév o)v TO £Üvos
roUTo vyvvaixas AXxípovs éxew kai kowewvotcas
Toi àvbpáci TÓv év Tois moAXépgot kiwÓbvov,
TaUTQqv 8€ Aéyerat TQ T€ káXXet yevéaÜat aa v
ékmpemreaárqy! «ai Taie émtfjokais kal Tos

4 kaTà uépos éyyeipiipaat ÜavuacTiv. TÓv pév
yàp mTX9gtoxopev fapfápev Tovs émw»puévovs
TÓ Üpácew xai xara&ovXovuévovs TÓ &Üvos TÓv
£axóv waramOXeuijsat, Ts 06 xeópas moXX9v
é£npepáaas, KG TrÓXetg oUK OXiyas kTícai, kal
TÓ GUvoXor ejOatwuovéoTepov Tv Üíov TÀv ópo-

5 eÜvàv mowjcat. 010 xal TOUS Éyxcopíovs uerà

1 dmpenearárqr D, Vogel: ebmpemeovd
: : ea Tür» Vulgate
Dindorf. Me ! HUS TPTMMSN

462

BOOK II. 33. 6-34. 5

subjected to the Median kings up to the time when
Cyrus transferred the Empire of the Medes to the
Persians.

34. After the death of Artaeus, Ctesias continues,
Artynes ruled over the Medes for twenty-two years,
and Astibaras for forty. During the reign of the
latter the Parthians revolted from the Medes and
entrusted both their country and their city to the
hands of the Sacae. This led to a war between the
Sacae and the Medes, which lasted many years, and
after no small number of battles and the loss of many
lives on both sides, they finally agreed to peace on
the following terms, that the Parthians should be
subject to the Medes, but that both peoples should
retain their former possessions and be friends and
allies for ever.

At that time the Sacae were ruled by a woman
named Zarina, who was devoted to warfare and was in
daring and efficiency by far the foremost of the women
of the Sacae. Now this people, in general, have
courageous women who share with their husbands
the dangers of war, but she, it is said, was the most
conspicuous of them all for her beauty and remark-
able as well in respect to both her designs and what-
ever she undertook. For she subdued such of the
neighbouring barbarian peoples as had become proud
because of their boldness and were trying to enslave
the people of the Sacae, and into much of her own
realm she introduced civilized life, founded not a few
cities, and, in a word, made the life of her people
happier. Conscquently her countrymen after her

463

—

DIODORUS OF SICILY

Ti» TeAevrjs a)Tis xápiw dmoüióvras TÓv
eDepyeaiy kai Tífjs àperíis uv)povevovras ráóov
oixo80ufjcaL TroNU TOv Üvrov Trap. avTOls Urep-
éxovra: VToaTücapévovs yàp vrvpapíóa vpi-yovov
TpiÓv uéy a Tatov éxáa qv TTAevpàv abTíje kaTa-
ckeváaat TO uíj«os, T0 9 Dvros. a Ta&iatov, eis 0EU
cuvqyuévus Ts kopudij- émwaTíjoa, 06 TQ cáo
xal xpuatv eikóva, koXoTucijv, kal T.uàs T)peukàs
dTovetpat, kai TdXXa, Trávra peyaXompeméa epa
sroteiy TOv Tols "poyóvois abris avyxoprÜévrov.

'AeriBápa 88 ToU jacu/Xéus rà» Myónv 6&v

3
Exflarávois *5pa TeAevrücavros Tiv dpx5wv
'AemávSar Tv vióv &aücfacÜai, àv Vmó vÀv
'ExXMjvev 'AaTudygv xaXoóuevov. ToUTov Ó
v7ó Kipov ro) llépcov karamoXegurÜévros pera-
qeaetv Tin faciXeíav eig Ilépoas, vrepi àv 7jueis
TÀ kaTà pépos év mois (&ois xpóvois dxpuBas
àva'ypá Nrouev.

Ilepl uév oiv Tfjs Aacvpícov xai Myóev Baci-
Aeíae kal Tíje TOv avyypadéov Quadevías ikavds
cipfjaÜa, vouitouev: epi 6e Tíjs "Iv6wfs xal TÀv
v ab) uvÜoXoyovpévov év uépei Gé£uev.

464

BOOK II. 34. 5-7

death, in gratitude for her benefactions and in
remembrance of her virtues, built her a tomb which
was far the largest of any in thcir land; for they
erected a triangular pyramid, making the length of
each side three stades and the height one stade, and
bringing it to à point at the top; and on the tomb
they also placed a colossal gilded statue of her and
accorded her the honours belonging to heroes, and
all the other honours they bestowed upon her were
more magnificent than those which had fallen to the
lot of her ancestors.

When, Ctesias continues, Astibaras, the king of
the Medes, died of old age in Ecbatana, his son
Aspandas, whom the Greeks call Astyages, succeeded
to the throne. And when he had been defeated by
Cyrus the Persian, the kingdom passed to the Persians.
Of them we shall give a detailed and exact aecount
atthe proper time.!

Concerning the kingdoms of the Assyrians and of
the Medes, and eoncerning the disagreement in the
accounts of thc historians, we consider that enough
has been said; now we shall discuss India and then,
in turn, recount the legends of that land.

1 This was in the Ninth Book.

A PARTIAL INDEX OF PROPER

NAMES!
AQCHELOUS, 141 Armenia, 851 f.
Acberousia, 329 f. Arginoé, 113
Aetisanes, 207 f. Artaeus, 459 ff.
Aegyptus, 53, 61 (bis), 215 Artaxerxes, 459
Aéetua, 61 Artyeas, 459
Agamemnon, 423 Ariynes, 463
Agatharchides, 147 f. Ascalon, 359
Agyrium, 19 Aspandas, 465
Alcaeus, 77 Assyria, 349 passim
Alemené, 77 Assyrian empire, 423, 429 ff. , 445

Alexander the Grest, 15, 21, 83, 179,
193, 291, 453, 457

Alexandria, 179

Amasis, 207, 231 f., 237 f.,323 f.

Ammon, 47, 51, 163 f.

Ammon, oracle, 397, 417

Amoais, 223

Anaxagoras, 29, 133, 137

Antaeus, giant, 67

Antaeus, governor of Egypt, 56

Antaeus, village, 67

Antigonus, 453

Anubis, 57, 295 f.

Aphrodité, 47, 57, 335, 359, 451

Apis, 69, 239 ff.

Apollo, 47, 57, 59, 83, 337 tf.

Apollodorus, 21

Apriea, 2385 f.

Arabia, 63, 187, 351

Arabia Felix, 01

Arbaces, 429 passim, 459

Arbianes, 459

Archimedes, 115

Areopagus, 259

Area, 451

Argos, 79, 91

Ariaeus, 351

Armaeus, 223

Astapus, 131
Astibaras, 463, 465
Asty, 91

Astyages, 407 f., 465
Atbena, 43, 4D, 55
Athenaeus, 417 f.
Athens, 91 passim
Athyrtis, 189
Attica, 63

Babylon, in Egypt, 197

Babylon, in Mesopotamia, 91, 351,
311 ff., 383

Babylonia, 387 passim

Bactra, 360 ff., 401, 403, 417

Bactriana, 363 ff.

Bactrians, 169, 353 £., 363 ft.

Bagistanus, 393

Barathra, 99 f.

Barcé, 237

Barzanes, 353

Belesys, 429 passim

Belus, 91

Bithynia, 356 |

Boochoris, 159, 224 f., 271, 321 ]

Bolgii, 131

Borcanii, 356

Bouairis, 293

1 A complete Index will appear in the last volume.

467

INDEX

Bubastns, 89
Busiris, governor of Egypt, 05
Busiris, king of Egypt, 161, 235, 301

Cadmus, Egyptian, 73 f.

Cadmus, Greek writer, 127

Cadusii, 355, 459 ff.

Cambyses, 109, 115, 157, 105, 175,
239, 325

Canis Maior, 89

Caria, 221, 355

Carmanii, 355

Caspian Gates, 355

Caucasus Mountains, 149

Cecrops, 93

Celta, 21 (bis)

Cephisus, 141

Cephren, 219 f.

Cerberus, 329

Ceryces, 9b 9

Cetes, 213

Chaldaeans, 91, 279, 445 passim

Charon, 315, 331

Chauon, 393

Chemmis, 215

Chemmo, 57

Choromnnei, 355

Oleitarchus, 373

Cocytus, 331

Coele-&yria, 99, 101, 355

Colchl, 91, 193

Cotta, 439

Crocodilopolis, 305

Cronus, 47, 89

Otesias, 199, 353, 363 f., 371, 373
(bis), 399, 405, 417, 423, 459

Cyaxares, 457 f.

Cyclades, 125, 193

Cyprus, 403

Cyrené, 237

Cyrus, the Great, 463, 465

Cyrus, the Younger, 459

Daedalus, 211, 327, 333

Danaus, 91, 331

pacta the Great, 111 f., 209, 325,
6.

Darius Codomannus, 453

Delta, 101, 113 f.

Demeter, 43, 47, 49, 95, 327

Demiurgi, 93

Democritns, 137 f., 327, 336

Derhlci, 355

Derceto, 359

Deucalion, 37

468

Dionyslus, 363 f.

Dionysus, 39, 51, 71, 73 f., 87, 327 f.
Diospolis. See Thebes

Drangi, 355

Echatana, 395 f.

Egypt, 33-341 passim, 355

Egyptus (the Nile), 61

Egyptus, king of Egypt, 181

Eleusis, 95

Elis, 323

Ephorus, 33, 127, 139 f.

Erechtheus, 93, 95

Ethiopia, 61, 109 f., 115, 133 passim,
191 f., 397 ff.

Ethiopians (of Assyria), 423

Eudoxus, 327, 337

Eumolpidae, 95

Eumolpus, 39

Eupatrids, 93

Euphrates, 387 f.

Euripldes, 29, 133, 137

Galaemenes, 437
Ganges, 193

Ge Meter, 43
Geomoroi, 93
Gerousia, 259
Glaucopis, 45

Hades, 9, 317 f.

Hecataeus, 167

Hecate, 331

Helen, of Troy, 333 f.

Heliopolis, 201, 207, 259, 329

E n Egyptian king and god, 47,

Helius, name of planet, 451

Hellanicus, 127

Hcephaestus, 41 f., 47, 69, 189, 201

Hera, 47, 335, 383

Heracles, 11, 55, 61, 67, 75, 77, 79

Hermes, 47, 53, 55, 157, 319, 329

Hermes, name of planet, 451

Herodes, 21

Hovrowa, 127, 131, 135 ff., 241, 399,

Hestia, 47, 321

Homer, 5, 39, 41, 43, 45, 61, 163, 229,
321, 329, 333 passim

Horus, 65, 81, 83, 157

Hyapates, 361

Hydaspes, river, 149

Hydaspes, son of Semiramis, 361

Hyrcanii, 355

INDEX
Iao, 321 Muszes, 59
Ilium, 197, 213 Mycerinus, 221
Inarcs, 223

India, 63, 149, 401 passim

Indus, 403, 415 f.

Io, 79

Yonisa, 231

Iopé, 101

Ysis, 37-51 passim, 69-89 passim,
157 f., 297, 301

Isis, name of star, 89

Ister, 89

Julius Caesar, 21

Lacedaemon, 21

Leontopolis, 289

Lethe, 331

Lihya, 131 passim, 189, 397

Llihya, mother of Belus, 91

Lycurgus, king of Thrace, 63

Lycurgus, Spartan lawgiver, 319, 327,
335

Macedon, 57, 63

Maria, 237

Maron, 59, 63

Marrus, 211, 333

Matris, 77

Maudaces, 459

Mesnder, 141

Meiampus, 327, 333

Memnon, 425 f.

Memphis, 69, 125, 177 passim, 231,
259, 291, 333

Menas, 157, 159 f., 303 f.

Mencherinus. See Mycerinus

Mendes, city of Egypt, 289

Mendes, king of Egypt, 211, 333

Menelaus, 197 f.

Menestheus, 93

Meroé, city, 109, 131

Meroe, island, 109

Meroé, mother of Camhyses, 109

Minos, 211, 319

Minotaur, 211

Mneves, 319 f.

Mnevis, 69, 289 ff.

Moeris, king of Egypt, 181 ff.

Moeris, Lake of, 181 ft., 227, 289,
308 f.

Momemphis, 231, 335

Moyses (Moses), 321

Musaeus, 327

Musegetes, 59

Nasamones, 131

Necho, 111

Nile, 61, 105—143 passim

Nileus, 215

Nilometcr, 125

Nilopolis, 291

Nineveh, 357, 371, 427, 433 passim

Ninus, city. See Nineveh

Ninus, king of Assyria, 349-371
passim, 379

Ninyas, 371, 397, 417, 419 f.

Nysa, In Arahia Felix, 51 f., 87

Nysa, in India, 63

Nysaeus, 87

Oceané, 43, 61

Oceanus, 43, 329

Ocnus, 331

Oenopidea, 145 f., 327, 335 f.

Onnes, 361, 367, 369 f.

Orontes, 395

Orpheus, 39, 43, 73 f., 239, 315,
321 t.

Osiris, 37 f., 47-87 passim, 291 f.,
297, 803

Osymandyas, 167, 169, 175

Oxyartes, 365 ff.

Pan, 57, 299
Paraetacenó, 387
Paraetonium, 101
Parsondes, 461 f.
Parthians, 463
Parthyaei, 355
Pelusium, 201
Persepolis, 165
Perseus, 79

Perseus, king of Macedon, 407
Persis, 355, 397

Petes, 93

Pharnus, 353

Pharos, 101

Philae, 69 f.

Philip, of Macedon, 16
Plato, 327, 335

Pinto, 79

Polycrates, 323 f.
Polydamna, 333 f.

** Portals of the Bun,'' 329
Poseidon, 91

Priam, 428

Priapus, 299

469

INDEX

Prometheus, 61

Proteus, 213

Psammetichus, 111, 229 ff.
Ptolemy, canal, 113

Ptolemy Auletes, 157

Ptolemy Lagus, 103, 165, 167, 291
Ptolemy Philadelphus, 113, 129
Pythagoras, 239, 327, 335

Red Sea, 113, 193
Remphis, 213 f.
Rhea, 47, 388
Rhinocolura, 209
Rhodopis, 223
Rhoecua, 337
Rome, 19, 865

Bahaco, 225 f.

Sacae, 463

Sais, 91

BSarapls, 79

Bardanapallus, 423, 429-445 passim,
459

Sasychis, 321

Satyrs, 59, 299

Selencus Nicator, 453
Semelé, 73 f.

Semiramis, 199, 359—419 passim
Berbonis, 99 f.

Sesoósis, 185-205 passim, 321
Bimmas, 361

Sirius, name of Osiris, 39
Birius, star, 59

Bolon, 239, 265, 273, 327, 335
Sosané, 369

Sosarmus, 459

Stabrohatea, 401-417 passim
Busa, 165, 425

Tana!s (Don), 193, 353, 356

Tapyri, 355

Telecles, 337 ff.

Telemachus, 333 f.

Teutamus, 423

Thales, 131

Thehaid, 35, 49, 51, 57

Thehes, 49, 51, 73, 161 passim, 259

Theodorus, 337 ff.

"Theopompus, 127

Thesmophorus, 49, 79

Thonis, 61

"Thucydides, 127

Tigris, 387 f.

Titans, 81, 333

Tithonus, 423 f.

Tnephachthns, 159 f,

"Triptolemus, 59, 62

"Tritogeneia, 45

Trogodytes, 99, 131

Troían War, 21 (bis), 23, 77 (bis), 79,
423 ff.

Trojans, 493 f.

Troy, 197

Typhon, 47, 65, 71, 301 passim

Uchoreus, 177

Xenophon, 127
Xerxes, 205, 363, 457

Zalmozis, 321

Zarcaeus, 395

Zarina, 463 f.
Zathraustes, 321

Zeus, 41, 47, 15, 335, 393
Zeus, planet, 451

Zeus Belus, 379, 381, 388

MAPS

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Hooper.

CaruLLus. F. W. Cornish. TiBuLLUs. J. B. Postgate. PERVIGILIUM
VzNERIS. J. W. Mackail. Revised by G. P. Goold.

Crrsus: DE MtpiciNA.. W. G. Spencer... 3 Vols.

CicERo: BRuTUS and OnArToR.. G. L. Hendrickson and H. M. Hubbell.

[CiceRo]: Ap HrnENNIUM. H. Caplan.

CicEROo: DE Onarons, etc. 2 Vols. Vol. I. Dr Onaronz, Books I and
II. E. W. Sutton and H. Rackham. Vol. II. DE Ogarong, Book
IIl. DEÉFATO; PARADOXA STOICORUM; DE PARTITIONE ORATORIA. H.
Rackham.

CicERO: De FiNIBUSs. H. Rackham.

CicERO: Dt INvENTIONE, etc. H. M. Hubbell.

CicERO: DE NATURA DEORUM and ÁcADEMICA. H. Rackham.

CicERo: Dr Orricus. Walter Miller.

CicERO: Dx Rz PusLicA and Dr Lecisus.. Clinton W. Keyes.

CicERo: Dr SENECTUTE, D& AMicmi, Dre DiviNATIONE. W. A.
Falconer.

CicERO: IN CariLINAM, Pno FLAcco, PRo MuneNA, PRo SuLLA.. New
version by C. Macdonald.

CicERo: LETTERS TO ArricUS.. E. O. Winstedt. 3 Vols.

CicERo: LErreRS TO His FiigNos.. W. Glynn Williams, M. Cary, M.
Henderson. 4 Vols. S

CicERo: PuiLiPrics.. W. C. A. Ker.

CicERo: Pno AncHiA, Posr REorruM, Dre Dowvo, DE HanusPiCUM RE-
SPONSIS, Pao PLANCIO. N. H. Watts.

CicERO: PRO CAaEciNA, Pho LEGE MANILIA, PRO CLuENTIO, PRo RABIRIO.
H. Grosc Hodge.

CicERo: PRo CarLio, De PnoviNcis CoNsuLaRIBUS, Pro Barso. R.
Gardner.

CicEROo: PRo MiLoNE, IN PisoNEM, PRo ScAukgO, Po FoNrEIO, PRO
RaBiRo PosruMo, Pmo ManmcELLO, Pmo LiGARio, PRo REGE
DgiorAgO. N. H. Watts.

CicERO: PRo QuiNcrIo, PRo Roscio AMERINO, PRo Roscio CoMoEoo,
CowrTRA RuLLuM. J. H. Freese.

CicERo: PRo Sesrio, IN VariNIUM. R. Gardner.

CicERo: TuscuLAN DisPUTATIONS. J. E. King.

CiCERO: VERRINE OnarioNs.. L. H. G. Greenwood. 2 Vols.

CraAupiAN. M. Platnauer. 2 Vols.

CorLuMegLLA: Dr Rz RusricA. D& AngBoRIBUS. H. B. Ash, E. S. Forster
and E. Heffner. 3 Vols.

Cunrius, Q.: HisTORY OF ALEXANDER. J. C. Rolfe. 2 Vols.

FLomus. E.S. Forster.

FRoNTINUS: STRATAGEMS and AQUEDUCTS. C. E. Bennett and M. B.
McElwain.

FRoNTO: CORRESPONDENCE. C. R. Haines. 2 Vols.

GrLLms. J. C. Rolfe. 3 Vols.

HoRAcE: Oors and EPopes. C. E. Bennett.

HoRacE: SarinEs, EpiSTLES, Ans PorrICA.. H. R. Fairclough.

JEROME: SELECTEO LerrERS.. F. A. Wright. '

JuvENAL and PERnsius. G. G. Ramsay.

Livv. B. O. Foster, F. G. Moore, Evan T. Sage, and A. C. Schlesinger
and R. M. Gecer (General Index). 14 Vols.

LucaN. J. D. Duff.

LucmEGUS. W. H. D. Rouse. Revised by M. F. Smith.

MaNiLIUS.. G. P. Goold.

Manriar.. W. C. A. Ker. 2 Vols. Revised by E. H. Warmington

MiNon LariN POETS: from PusLiLIUS Svnus to RuriLiUS NAMATIANUS,
including GaATTIUS, CaLPURNIUS SiCULUS, NEMESIANUS, AVIANUS
and others, with "Aetna" and the "Phoenix." J. Wight Duíf and
Arnold M. Duff. 2 Vols.

MiNucius FELIX. Cf. TERTULLIAN.

NEPos, ConNELIUS. J. C. Rolfc.

o e LovE and OrHER PoeMs. J. H. Mozley. Revised by

Ovip: FAsrt.. Sir James G. Frazer. Revised by G. P. Goold.

Ovip: HEROIDES and AMORES. Grant Showerman. Revised by G. P
Goold i

Ovip: METAMORPHOSES. F.J. Miller. 2Vols. Revised by G. P. Goold.

Ovip: TaisTIA and Ex PoNro.. A.L. Whecler. Revised by G. P. Goold.

PERSIUS. Cf. JUvENAL.

PERviGiLIUM VENERIS. Cf. CATULLUS.

PErRONIUS. M. Heseltine. SENECA: A
Rouse. Revised by E. H. WaBhlnston. MD

PHAEORUS and BaBRIUS (Greek). B. EF. Perry.

PLAurUS. Paul Nixon. 5 Vols.

px E PaNEGYRICUS. Betty Radice. 2 Vols.

LINY: NATURAL HisrORY. IO Vols. Vols. I.-V. -
ham. VL-VIW. W.H.S.Jomes. X. DE Eichbniz ^ et

PnorERTIUS. H. E. Butler.

PaUoENTIUS. H.J. Thomson. 2 Vols.

QuiriLIAN.. H. E. Butler. 4 Vols.

REMAINS OF OLD LariN. E. H. Warmington. 4Vols. Vol.I. (ENNIUS
AND CarciLiUs) Vol. II. (Livius, NAEVIUS PACUVIUS, ACcIUS)
Vol. III. (Lucittus and Laws or XII TaBres) Vol. IV. (ARcHAIC
INSCRIPTIONS).

Res GesrAE Drvi Aucusri.. Cf. VELLEIUS PATERCULUS.

SarLusr. J. C. Rolfe.

ScmiPrORES HisTORIAE AUGUSTAE. D. Magic. 3 Vols.

SEEN "s ErpEn: CoNrROVERSIAE, SUASORIAE. M. Winterbottom.
ols.

SENECA; APOCOLOCYNTOSIS. Cf. PETRONIUS.

SENECA: EPISTULAE MoRALEs. R. M. Gummere. 3 Vols.

SENECA: MonAL Essavs. J. W. Basore. 3 Vols.

SENECA: TRAGEDIES. F. J. Miller. 2 Vols.

SENECA: NATURALES QuAESTIONES. T. H. ConCORAN. 2 Vots.

SipoNiUs: PoEMs and LErrERs. 'W. B. Anderson. 2 Vols.

Sinius Irauicus.. J. D. Duff. 2 Vols.

Sranus. J. H. Mozley. 2 Vok.

SurroNIUs. J. C. Rolfe. 2 Vols.

Tacmus: DiaLocus. Sir Wm. Peterson. AGRICOLA and GERMANIA.
Maurice Hutton. Revised by M. Winterbottom, R. M. Ogilvie,
E. H. Warmington.

Tacrrus: HisToRIES and ANNALS. C. H. Moore and J. Jackson. 4 Vols.

TERENCE. John Sargeaunt. 2 Vols.

TERTULLIAN: APOLOGIA and De SrEcrAcuLis. T. R. 5
"dw E s. T. R. Glover. MiNUCIUS

TiBULLUS. Cf. CaruLLus.

VALERIUS FLAcCUS. J. H. Mozley.

VankO: DE LiNGUA LATiNA,. R. G. Kent. 2 Vols.

VELLEIUS PATERCULUS and Res GESTAE Divi Aucusri.. F. W. SurPLEv.
ViRGIL.. H. R. Fairclough. 2 Vols.

VrrRUVIUS: DE ARCHITECTURA. F. Granger. 2 Vols.

Greek Authors

ACHILLES Tatius. S. Gaselec.

AELIAN: ON THE NATURE OF ÁNIMALS. A.F. Scholfield. 3 Vols.

AENEAS TACTICUS. ASCLEPIOOOTUS and ONASANOER. The Illinois Greek
Club

AESCHINES. C. D. Adams.

ArscHvLUs. H. Weir Smyth. 2 Vols.

ALCIPHRON, AELIAN, PHILOSTRATUS: LETTERS. À. R. Benner and F. H.
Fobes.

ANDOCIOES, ANTIPHON. Cf. MiNoR Arric Onarons Vol. I.

APOLLODORUS. Sir James G. Frazer. 2 Vols.

APOLLONIUS RHoDIUS. R. C. Seaton.

APosTOLIC FATHERS. Kirsopp Lake. 2 Vols.

APPIAN: ROMAN HisTOonv. Horace Whitc. 4 Vols.

ARATUS. Cf. CALLIMACHUS.

ARISTIOES: OgAriONs. C. A. Behr.

ARISTOPHANES. Benjamin Bickley Rogers. 3 Vols. Verse trans.

ARNISTOTLE: ART OF RHETORIC. J. H. Freesce.

ARISTOTLE: ÁTHENIAN CONSTITUTION, EUOEMIAN ETHICS, VICES ANO
ViRTUES.. H. Rackham. ,

ARISTOTLE: GENERATION OF ANIMALS. A. L. Peck.

ARISTOTLE: HISTORIA ANIMALIUM. A.L.Peck. Vols. I-II.

ARISTOTLE: MErAPHYSICS. H. Tredennick. 2 Vols.

ARISTOTLE: METEOROLOGICA. H. D. P. Lec. ,

ARISTOTLE: MtNok Wonks. 'W. S. Hett.. On Colours, On Things
Heard, On Physiognomies, On Plants, On Marvellous Things
Heard, Mechanical Problems, On Indivisible Lines, On Situations
and Names of Winds, On Melissus, Xenophanes, and Gorgias.

ARISTOTLE: NICOMACHEAN ETHics. H. Rackham.

ARISTOTLE: OECONOMICA and MacGNA MonALIA. G. C. Armstrong (with
MrrAPHvsics, Vol. II).

ARISTOTLE: ON THE HEAVENS. W. K. C. Guthrie.

ARISTOTLE: ON THE SOUL, PARVA NaTURALIA, ON BnEATH. W. S. Hett.

ARISTOTLE: CATEGORIES, ON INTERPRETATION, PRIOR ANALYTICS. H. P.
Cooke and H. Tredennick.

ARISTOTLE: POSTERIOR ANALYTICS, Topics. H. Tredennick and E. S.
Forster.
ARISTOTLE: ON SoPHISTICAL REFUTATIONS.
On Coming-to-be and Passing-Away, On the Cosmos. E. S. Forster
and D. J. Furley.
ARISTOTLE: PARTS OF ANIMALS. A. L. Peck; MOTION AND PROGRESSION
OF ANIMALS. E. S. Forster.
ARISTOTLE: PHysics. Rev. P. Wicksteed and F. M. Cornford. 2 Vols.
ARISTOTLE: PoErics and LoNGINUs. W. Hamilton Fyfe; DEMETRIUS ON
SrvLE. W. Rhys Roberts.
ARISTOTLE: PoLrrics. H. Rackham.
ARISTOTLE: PRoBLEMS. W. S. Hett. 2 Vols.
ARISTOTLE: RHETORICA AD ALEXANORUM (with PRoBLEMs. Vol.II). H.
Rackham.
ARRIAN: HISTORY OF ALEXANOER and INo(CA.. Rev. E. Iliffe Robson. 2
Vols. New version P. Brunt.
ATHENAEUS: DtiPNOSOPHISTAE. C. B. Gulick. 7 Vols.
Basnius and PHAEORUS (Latin). B. E. Perry.
Sr. Basti: Lerregs.. R. J. Deferrari. 4 Vols.
CALLIMACHUS: FRAGMENTS. C. A. Trypanis. MUSAEUS: HERO ANO
LEANDER. T. Gelzer and C. Whitman.
CALLIMACHUS, Hymns and Epigrams and LvcorHRON. A. W. Mair;
ARATUS. G. R. Mair.
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. Rev. G. W. Butterworth.
CorLurHus. Cf. OrriAN.
DarHNIS ANO CHLoE. Thornley's translation revised by J. M.
Edmonds: and PaAmrHENIUS. S. Gaselec.
DEMosrHENES l.: OrvNTHIACS, PHiLIPPICS and MiNOR OnaArIONS
L-XVII. and XX. J. H. Vince.
DEMOSTHENES II.: DE CoRoNA and De FALsA LEGATIONE. C. A. Vince
and J. H. Vince.
DEMOSTHENES III.: MEIOIAS, ANDROTION, ARISTOCRATES, TIMOCRATES
and AnisTOGEITON I. and II... H. Vince.
DEwosrHENES IV.-VI.: PRIVATE ORATIONS and IN NEAERAM. A. T.
Murray.
DrMosrHENES VII.: FUNERAL SPEECH, Enoric EssAv, EXORDIA and
LerreRS. N. W. and N. J. DeWitt.
Dio Cassius: RoMAN HisroRy.. E. Cary. 9 Vols.
Dio CHRvsosroM. J. W. Cohoon and H. Lamar Crosby. 5 Vols.
DiopoRus StcuLUs. 12 Vols. Vols. L-VI. C. H. Oldfather. Vol.
VII. C. L. Sherman. Vol.VIII. C. B. Welles. Vols. IX. and X.
R.M. Geer. Vol. XI. F. Walton. Vol. XII. F. Walton. Gencral
Index. R. M. Geer.
Diocsn LaERTIUS. R.D. Hicks. 2Vols. New Introduction by H. S.
ng.
DioNvstus or HALICARNASSUS: ROMAN ANTIQUITIES.. Spelman's trans-
lation revised by E. Cary. 7 Vols.

DioNvsiUus or HALICARNASSUS: CRIricAL EssAvs. S. Usher. 2 Vols.

EPicrErUs. W. A. Oldfather. 2 Vols.

EummipEs. A. S. Way. 4 Vols. Verse trans.

EusrBIUs: EccLEsASTICAL Hisromv. Kirsopp Lake and J. E. L.
Oulton. 2 Vols.

GALEN: ON THE NATURAL FACULTIES. À. J. Brock.

GnEEK ANTHOLOGY. W. R. Paton. 5 Vols.

GnxEK Bucouic Poers (THEOCRITUS, BION, MoscHus). J. M. Edmonds.

GERE pues ANO IAMBUS with the ANACREONTEA. J. M. Edmonds. 2

ols.

GnerK Lvnic.. D. A. Campbell. 4 Vols. Vols. I. and II.

GREEK MATHEMATICAL Wonks. [vor Thomas. 2 Vols.

HrnooAS. Cf. THEOPHRASTUS: CHARACTERS.

HrROOIAN. C. R. Whittaker. 2 Vols.

Hrmoporus. A. D. Godley. 4 Vols.

Hzstoo ANo THE HoMERnIC HvMNs. H. G. Evelyn White.

HiPPOCRATES and the FRAGMENTS OF HERACLEITUS. W. H. S. Jones and
E. T. Withington. 7 Vols. Vols. I.-VI.

HoMER: [Lrao.. À. T. Murray. 2 Vols.

Horn: OovssEv.. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols.

Isagus. E. W. Forster.

IsocmATES. George Norlin and LaRue Van Hook. 3 Vols.

[Sr. JouN DAMASCENE]: BARLAAM AND IoASAPH. Rev. G. R. Wood-
ward, Harold Mattingly and D. M. Lang.

JosepHus. I0 Vols. Vols. L-IV. H. Thackeray. Vol. V. H.
Thackeray and R. Marcus. Vols. VL-VII. R. Marcus. Vol.
VIII R. Marcus and Allen Wikgren. Vols. IX.-X. L. H.
Feldman.

JuLiN. Wilmer Cave Wright. 3 Vols.

LipANIUS. A. F. Norman. 2 Vols..

LuciaN. 8Vols. Vols.L-V. A.M.Harmon. Vol.VÍ. K. Kilburn.
Vols. VII.-VIII. M. D. Macleod.

LvcoPHRON. Cf. CALLIMACHUS.

LvRA GRAECA, [II. J. M. Edmonds. (Vols. [.and II. havé been re-
placed by GEEK Lynic [. and Il )

Lvsis. W. R. M. Lamb.

MantErHO. W. G. Waddell.

Mancus AunzLIUS.. C. R. Haines.

MENANDER. W. G. Arnott. 3 Vols. Vol. l.

MiNon Arric OgaTORS (ANTIPHON, ANDOCIOES, LvCURGUS, DEMAOES,
DiNARCHUS, HvPERIOES).. K. J. Maidment and J. O. Burtt. 2 Vols.

MusaEUs: HERO ANO LEANOER. Cf. CALLIMACHUS.

NowNos: DioNvsiACA. W. H. D. Rousc. 3 Vols.

OpPtAN, CoLLvTHUS, TavPHIODORUS. A. W. Mair.

Papvnt. NoN-LirERARY SELECTIONS. A. S. Hunt and C. C. Edgar. 9
Vols. LrrERARY SELECTIONS (Poetry). D. L. Pagc.

PaARTHENIUS. Cf. DAPHNIS ANO CHLOE.
PausANIAS: DEsckIPrION OF GREECE. W. H. S. Jones. 4 Vols. and
z ber Ven sra by R. E. Wycherlcy.
ILO. ols. Vols. I.-V. F. H. Colson and Rev. G. H. i
Vols. VL.-IX. F.H.Colson. Vol X. F. wu Peer
J. W. Earp. Ó
PuiLo: two supplementary Vols. (Translation only.) Ralph Marcus.
PuiLosrRATUS: THE LiFE oF APOLLONIUS OF TvANA. F. C, Conybeare
2 Vols. :
PHiLOSTRATUS: [MAGINES; CALLISTRATUS: DrESCRIPTIONS. A. Fairbanks.
PurLosrRATUS and EuwaPIUs: Lives or THE SoPHisrs. Wilmer Cave
Wright.
PiNOAR. Sir J. E. Sandys.
PLATO: CHARMIOES, ALCIBIAOES,
MiNos and EPrNOMIS. W. KM Eeets eb
PLATO: CRATYLUS, PARMENIOES, GREATER HiPPIAS, LESSER HiPPIAS. H.
N. Fowler. à
PLATO: EuTHYPHRO, APOLOGY, CRrro, PHAEDO, PHaEORUS. H. N
Fowler. i
PLATO: LAcHES, PROTAGORAS, MENO, EuTHYOEMUS. W. R. M. Lamb.
PLATO: LAws. Rev. R. G. Bury. 2 Vols.
PLATO: Lvsis, SvMPosiUM, Goncias. W. R. M. Lamb.
PrAro: REPUBLIC. Paul Shorey. 2 Vols.
PLATO: STATESMAN, PurLEBUS. H. N. Fowler; IoN. W. R. M. Lamb.
PLATO: THEAETETUS and Soruisr. H. N. Fowler.
PLATO: TIMAEUS, CRnrriAS, CLEITOPHON, MENEXENUS, EPISTULAE. Rev
R. G. Bury. |
en A. H. Armstrong. 7 Vols.
LUTARCH: MomALiA. 16 Vols. Vols. L-V. F.C. i
W. C. Helmbold. Vols. VII. and XIV. P CHE Ie Lacy ia B.
Einarson. Vol. VIII. P. A. Clement and H. B. Hoffleit. Vol.
IX. E.L. Minar, Jr., F. H. Sandbach, W. C. Helmbold. Vol. X
H. N. Fowler. Vol. XI. L. Pearson and F. H. Sandbach. Vol.
XII. H. Cherniss and W. C. Helmbold. Vol. XIII. I-2. H. Cher-
niss. Vol. XV. F. H. Sandbach.
PrLuTARCH: THE PARALLEL Lives. B. Perrin. 11 Vols.
PoLvBius. W.R. Paton. 6 Vols.
PRocoPius. H. B. Dewing. 7 Vols.
ProLEMy: TErRABIBLOS. F. E. Robbins.
QuiNTUS SMYRNAEUS. À.S. Way. Verse trans.
SExrus EMPiRICUS.. Rev. R. G. Bury. 4 Vols.
SorHocLes. F.Storr. 2 Vols. Verse trans.
SrRABO: GEOGRAPHY. Horace L. Jones. 8 Vols.
THtEocnmrrUS. Cf. GREEK Buconic Pogrs.
THEOPMARUUS: CHaRAacrERS. J. M. Edmonds. HrRooas, etc. A. D.
X.

TutopHRASTUS: ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS. Sir Arthur Hort, Bart. 2 Vols.

THEorHRASTUS: DE Causis PLANTARUM. GG. K. K. Link and B. Einar-
son. 3 Vols. Vol. I.

THucvpipes. C. F. Smith. 4 Vols.

TnveHropoRmUS. Cf. OpPrAN.

XENOPHON: CyRoPAEDIA. Walter Miller. 2 Vols.

XrENoPHON: HELLENICA. C. L. Brownson. 2 Vols.

XENoPHON: ANABASIS. C. L. Brownson.

XENOPHON: MEMORABILIA and Ogconuaeus. E. C. Marchant. Svw-
POSIUM and APoLocy. O. J. Todd.

XENorHoN: ScRIiPTA MINORA. E. C. Marchant. CONSTITUTION OF THE
ATHENIANS. G. W. Bowersock.

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