by Herodotus
103. Cybele or Rhea, whose worship (common throughout Asia) passed from the Phrygians to the lonian Greeks, and thence to their colonies.
104. See chs. 18, 19, and 54.
105. Herodotus is the earliest writer who mentions Anacharsis. There is no sufficient reason to doubt the fact of his travels.
106. Istria, Ister or Istropolis, at the mouth of the Danube or Ister, was a colony of the Milesians.
107. Compare Adonijah’s request to be given one of his father’s (David’s) wives (I Kings ii, 17–25). Such marriages were forbidden by the Jewish law (Lev. xviii, 8 etc.), but they were no doubt common among other nations.
108. See vii, 137. Sitalces was contemporary with Herodotus. He died BC 424 (Thucydides iv, 101).
109. Perhaps Sparadocus, the father of Seuthes.
110. See ch. 52.
111. The Greek amphora contained nearly nine of our gallons; whence it appears that this bowl would have held about 5400 gallons, or over 85 hogsheads. (The ‘Great Tun’ at Heidelberg holds above 800 hogsheads.)
112. The cautious temper of Artabanus again appears, vii, 10.
113. Compare the similar story told of Xerxes, see vii, 39.
114. Chalcedon was situated on the Asiatic side, at the point where the Bosphorus opens into the sea of Marmora.
115. Otherwise called the Symplegades [which, in Greek myth, crushed all vessels that tried to pass between them. Milton speaks of these ‘justling rocks’, in reference to the story of Jason and the Argonauts (Paradise Lost ii, 1017) – E.H.B.].
116. The temple at the mouth of the strait mentioned below, ch. 87.
117. These measurements are extremely incorrect.
118. By the length of the Propontis we must understand here the distance from the lower mouth of the Bosphorus to the upper end of the Hellespont.
119. The length of the Dardanelles is, as nearly as possible, 40 miles. Its breadth at the narrowest part is about one mile.
120. This is a mistake. It is possible that the Palus Maeotis (Sea of Azov) may have been very greatly larger in the time of Herodotus than it is at present.
121. It was natural that the Persians, who set up trilingual inscriptions in the central provinces for the benefit of their Arian, Semitic, and Tatar populations, should leave bilingual records in other places.
122. That is, Artemis, who had established or preserved their city. (Compare the Latin, Jupiter Stator.)
123. The Danube divides at present near Isatcha, between Brailow and Ismail; but we cannot be certain that the division was always at this place .
124. Perinthus (afterwards Heraclea) lay upon the Propontis, in lat. 41°, long. 28°, nearly. Its site is marked by the modern Erekli (see v, 1).
125. The Agrianes is undoubtedly the modern Erkene, which runs into the Maritza (Hebrus) to the north of the range of Rhodope (Despoto Dagh). The Contadesdus is the river of Karishtiran.
126. Concerning the site of Aenus see vii, 58.
127. See i, 4.
128. The country of the Odrysae was the great plain in the centre of which now stands the city of Adrianople.
129. It is not quite clear by which route Darius crossed the Balkan.
130. The identity of the Getae with the Goths of later times is more than a plausible conjecture.
131. Compare the customs of the Calyndians (i, 172), and the Psylli (iv, 173).
132. Thracian slaves were very numerous in Greece.
133. The mountains lie only along the southern coast of the Crimea. All the rest of the peninsula belongs to the steppes.
134. By the ‘rough’ or ‘rugged’ Chersonese, Herodotus plainly intends the eastern part of the Crimea.
135. Brindisi.
136. [See Macan’s Herodotus, vol. ii, p. 32. – E.H.B.]
137. The virgin goddess of the Tauri was more generally identified by the Greeks with their own Artemis. The legend of Iphigenia is probably a more Greek fancy, having the Tauric custom of offering human sacrifices as its basis.
138. This anticipation of the theory of Plato (Republic v) is curious. Was Plato indebted to Herodotus?
139. The story recalls the loup-garou of France. [The were-wolf constantly appears in modern folklore. – E.H.B.]
140. As Herodotus recedes from the sea his accounts become more mythic, and less trustworthy.
141. Or ‘Men-eaters’.
142. Or ‘Black-cloaks’. This is probably a translation of the native name.
143. A border of fur is commonly seen to edge the coat worn by the Scythians in the sepulchral vases and other remains.
144. Some Amazons were supposed to live in Asia, others in Africa.
145. That is to say, as they were all alike beardless, they took them for an army of youths.
146. This is of course the origin of the myth narrated above. That the Sarmatian women had these habits seems to be a certain fact.
147. Alluding to the Scythian invasion of Asia in the time of Cyaxares. See Book i chs. 103-5, and see ch. 1 of this Book.
148. The division of Scopasis (see ch. 120).
149. That is, the town Gelonus. See ch. 108.
150. Mentioned above, ch. 22.
151. This appears to be the stream called the Hyrgis in ch. 57.
152. The conjecture is probable that these supposed ‘forts’ were ruined barrows – perhaps of larger size and better material than common. Herodotus would hear of them from the Greek traders.
153. The divisions of Idanthyrsus and Taxacis (see ch. 120).
154. The tombs of the kings seem to be meant.
155. See ch. 5.
156. We now hear for the first time of the Scythians having infantry. It is scarcely possible that they really possessed any such force. The nomad natives of these countries have always lived on horseback, and are utterly helpless on foot.
157. See ch. 120.
158. Concerning the mode in which this sovereignty came into the family of Miltiades, see Book vi, chs. 34–6.
159. Except Byzantium, all these places are on the Asiatic side.
160. Of whom we hear again, see v, 37-8.
161. That Darius led an expedition into Scythia, across the Canal of Constantinople and the Danube, may be regarded as historically certain.
162. See ch. 167.
163. The myth ran, that in Lemnos at the time of the Argonautic expedition there were no males, the women having revenged their ill-treatment upon the men by murdering them all. The Argonauts touched at the island, and were received with great favour. They stayed some months, and the subsequent population of the island was the fruit of this visit. Hypsipyle, the queen, had twin sons by Jason.
164. See vi, 138.
165. Taÿgetum or Taÿgetus (Pliny) is the high mountain-range west of the valley of the Eurotas, the modern Pentadactylon.
166. The Argonauts generally were called Minyae.
167. According to some, Heracles himself was one of the Argonauts and accompanied the expedition beyond Lemnos. But the reference here is evidently to Castor and Pollux, the two great heroes of Sparta, who are always enumerated among the companions of Jason.
168. Castor and Pollux.
169. Thera is the island, or group of islands, now known by the name of Santorini, lying to the south of the other Cyclades.
170. It is conjectured that the real ‘purpose’ was to found a settlement for dyeing, as the murex, which furnished the precious Tyrian purple, was plentiful in that part of the Mediterranean.
171. Triaconters were vessels of 30 oars, 15 on each side, in which the rowers all sat upon the same level. Compare the account given of penteconters (see i, 152).
172. Itanus lay at the eastern extremity of Crete.
173. There can be little doubt
that Platea is the small island of Bomba, which lies off the African coast in the gulf of the same name, lat. 32° 20’, long. 23° 15’.
174. About £1460 of our money. The entire profit was therefore between £14,000 and £15,000. [1996 note: for the comparative value of money, see also Book ii, note 333.]
175. Concerning the eminence of Samos in the arts, see Bk. iii, ch. 60.
176. Of this practice we have another instance, see vi, 62.
177. If Platea is Bomba, the Aziris of Herodotus must be sought in the valley of the Temimeh, the ancient Paliurus.
178. The friendly terms on which the Greeks stand towards the natives at the first, is here very apparent. Their position resembles that of the first English settlers in America.
179. The beauty and fertility of the Cyrenaica are celebrated by all who visit it.
180. See ii, 161.
181. There is no difficulty in determining the exact site of Cyrene. The Arabic name Grennah (or in the Doric Greek of the place, Kurana) is sufficiently close to mark the identity of the ruined city, which is so called, with the Cyrene of former times. The country around Grennah is celebrated for its fertility.
182. Mantinea was situated near the eastern frontier of Arcadia.
183. Demonax, the Mantinean lawgiver.
184. Who would be principally Ionians.
185. The early kings of the various Grecian states, like those of Rome, were uniformly priests likewise.
186. It is not very easy to see how either Cyrene or Barca could be regarded as islands.
187. See iii, 13 and 91.
188. The Maraphians were the Persian tribe next in dignity to the Pasargadae. (See i, 125.)
189. Compare the Middle Ages droit de cuissage [ius primae noctis – E.H.B.].
190. This famous plant, the laserpitium of the Romans, which is figured upon most of the Cyrenaean and Barcaean coins, was celebrated both as an article of food and also for its medicinal virtues. It formed an important element in the ancient commerce of Cyrene.
191. The Asbystae, being neighbours of the Cyrenaeans, were well known to the Greeks.
192. The Cyrenaeans were famous for their skill in chariot-driving.
193. Tauchira retains its name as Taukra, Tokrah, or Terkera. Considerable ruins mark the site.
194. They dwelt around the shores of the Greater Syrtis (see ii 32).
195. This place retains its name unchanged. It lies on the great route from Egypt to Fezzan.
196. So the Muslim law of ablution allows sand to be used where water cannot be procured.
197. Compare vii, 70.
198. Perhaps the Wad’ el Kháhan has the best right to be considered the ancient Cinyps.
199. The country of the Lotophagi is evidently the Peninsula of Zarzis, which is the only tract projecting from this part of the coast. They are thus brought into the position usually assigned them, the neighbourhood of the Lesser Syrtis, or Gulf of Khabs.
200. The lotus is evidently the rhamnus, now called in Arabic sidr, the fruit Nebk. It looks and tastes rather like a bad crab-apple. It has a single stone within it. To Ulysses it was as inconvenient as modern ‘gold-diggings’ to ship captains, since he had the greatest difficulty in keeping his sailors to the ship when they had once tasted it (Homer, Odyssey ix, 84 to 96).
201. Perhaps this is the origin of the Homeric myth (Odyssey ix, 74 et seqq.).
202. This is the earliest form of the legend, and hence the epithet Tritogeneia, so frequently applied to this goddess.
203. In the Oases salt is in great abundance, and sometimes a large space is covered with an incrustation of it, which breaks like frozen mud or shallow water, under the feet. Springs frequently rise from the sand in that desert and sometimes on the top of hillocks of sand, where the water, as Herodotus says, is always cool and sweet; the coolness being caused by the evaporation.
204. Siwah, which is undoubtedly where the temple of Ammon stood (see ii, 26), lies at the distance of 400 geographical miles, or not less than 20 days’ journey, from Thebes.
205. See ii, 42.
206. [It still bears the name of Aujileh – E.H.B.].
207. The modern Fezzan.
208. Perhaps it would be better to translate ‘the Ethiopians who dwell in holes.’ Troglodytes have always abounded in Africa.
209. The earlier writers (Homer, Hesiod, etc.) intended by that name the Peak of Tenerife, of which they had some indistinct knowledge derived from Phoenician sources. The later, unacquainted with the great Western Ocean, placed Atlas in Africa, first regarding it as a single mountain, and then, as their geographical knowledge increased and they found there was no very remarkable mountain in north-western Africa, as a mountain chain. Herodotus is a writer of the transition period. His description is only applicable to the peak, while his locality is Africa – not, however, the western coast, but an inland tract, probably south-eastern Algeria. Thus his mountain, if it is to be considered as having any foundation at all on fact, must represent the eastern, not the western, extremity of the Atlas chain.
210. Herodotus, it should be observed, knows that the African coast projects beyond the pillars.
211. They have been found in the Oasis of Ammon and in the western part of Fezzan.
212. The rock-salt of Africa is, in fact, of three colours.
213. He alludes to the great Sahara.
214. Herodotus here indicates that he is about to resume the account of the sea-coast tribes, which was broken off at the end of ch. 180.
215. Burning with a red-hot iron is still practised in these countries for the cure of diseases.
216. See ii, 77. The Tuaregs have, of all existing tribes, the best right to be regarded as the descendants of Herodotus’ Libyans.
217. See ii, 50.
218. Vermilion is abundant in North Africa. Red shoes are commonly worn at Tripoli. Red shawls and mantles are frequent in the interior. The African nations, too, continue to excel in the dressing and dyeing of leather.
219. Can Herodotus intend to assert a connection between Greece and Libya proper in the ante-Homeric times?
220. The ancient Britons often buried their dead in a sitting posture, the hands raised to the neck, and the elbows close to the knees.
221. See ch. 180. Herodotus here proceeds in his enumeration of the tribes of the coast.
222. Elephants are not now found in the countries north of the desert. It is uncertain what animal Herodotus intends by his ‘horned ass’; probably some kind of antelope.
223. The wild ass can live in the worst parts of the desert and needs probably less water than almost any animal. Still, however, there are no doubt times when ‘the wild asses quench their thirst.’ (Ps. civ, 11)
224. It is impossible to say what animal is here intended.
225. Herodotus does not mention the camel, which may have been introduced later.
226. This immense lizard, or monitor, is very common in parts of Africa.
227. The jerboa (Dipus jaculus of Linnaeus) is undoubtedly intended.
228. The trade of the Carthaginians with the western coast of Africa (outside the Straits of Gibraltar) has been fully proved.
229. The Egyptians are omitted, because Egypt is reckoned to Asia (see ii, 17; iv, 39 and 41).
230. See i, 193.
231. The Euesperites are the inhabitants of a town situated at the eastern extremity of the Greater Syrtis, between the Borean or Northern Promontory (Cape Teiones) and Tauchira. The Ptolemies changed its name to Berenice, which has since been corrupted into Benghazi.
232. Kiepert gives the height of the upper plateau of Cyrene at 1700 feet.
233. Compare the punishment of the Babylonians by Darius (see iii, 159).
234. This whole account of the danger and escape of C
yrene is exceedingly improbable.
235. The manner of her death cannot fail to recall the end of Herod Agrippa (Acts xii, 23).
Book Five
1. The Persians left behind by King Darius in Europe, who had Megabazus for their general, [1] reduced, before any other Hellespontine state, the people of Perinthus, [2] who had no mind to become subjects of the king. Now the Perinthians had ere this been roughly handled by another nation, the Paeonians. For the Paeonians from about the Strymon were once bidden by an oracle to make war upon the Perinthians, and if these latter, when the camps faced one another, challenged them by name to fight, then to venture on a battle, but if otherwise, not to make the hazard. The Paeonians followed the advice. Now the men of Perinthus drew out to meet them in the skirts of their city; and a threefold single combat was fought on challenge given. Man to man, and horse to horse, and dog to dog, was the strife waged; and the Perinthians, winners of two combats out of the three, in their joy had raised the paean; when the Paeonians, struck by the thought that this was what the oracle had meant, passed the word one to another, saying, ‘Now of a surety has the oracle been fulfilled for us; now our work begins.’ Then the Paeonians set upon the Perinthians in the midst of their paean, and defeated them utterly, leaving but few of them alive.
2. Such was the affair of the Paeonians, which happened a long time previously. At this time the Perinthians, after a brave struggle for freedom, were overcome by numbers, and yielded to Megabazus and his Persians. After Perinthus had been brought under, Megabazus led his host through Thrace, subduing to the dominion of the king all the towns and all the nations of those parts. [3] For the king’s command to him was, that he should conquer Thrace.
3. The Thracians are the most powerful people in the world, except, of course, the Indians; [4] and if they had one head, or were agreed among themselves, it is my belief that their match could not be found anywhere, and that they would very far surpass all other nations. But such union is impossible for them, and there are no means of ever bringing it about. Herein therefore consists their weakness. The Thracians bear many names in the different regions of their country, but all of them have like usages in every respect, excepting only the Getae, [5] the Trausi, and those who dwell above the people of Creston. [6]