DIODORUS OF

SICILY
IN T W E L V E V O L U M E S

I
B O O K S I A N D II, 1 - 3 4

W I T H A N E N G L I S H T R A N S L A T IO N B Y

C. H. O LD FATH ER

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS

C A M BR ID G E, MASSACHUSETTS
LO N D O N , ENGLAND
THE LO E B C LASSIC AL LIBRARY
F O U N D E D BY JAM ES LO E B

E D IT E D BY

G. P. GOOLD

P R E V IO U S E D IT O R S

T. E. PAGE E. CAPPS
W . H. D. ROUSE L. A. POST
E. H . W AH M IN G TON

D IO D O R U S OF SICILY
I

LCL 279
 First published 1933
Reprinted 1946, i960, 1968, 1989

is b n 0- 674- 99307-1

Printed in Great Britain by St. Edmundsbury Press Ltd,

Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, on wood-free paper.
Bound by Hunter ¿7 Foulis Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland.
 CONTENTS
PAOIC
GENERAL INTRODUCTION . . . * Vli

INTRODUCTION TO BOOKS I - I I , 3 4 . . . XXVI

BOOK I . . . . . . . 1

book ii . . . . . . 343

A PARTIAL INDEX OF PROPER NAMES . . 467

MAPS 471
 INTRODUCTION

G eneral I ntroduction
W ith but one exception antiquity affords no
further information on the life and work of Diodorus
o f Sicily than is to be found in his own Library o f
History. The exception is St. Jerome, who, in his
Chronology under the Year of Abraham 1968
( = 49 b.c.), writes: “ Diodorus of Sicily, a writer of
Greek history, became illustrious.” 1
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.2 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 hdbetur
(p. 155, i, ed. Helm). This date must mark the first appear­
ance of a portion of his History.
2 A t 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,
“ A t the same time the Cymaeans were at peace.”
vii
 INTRODUCTION

have been gathering material for his history is the

180th Olympiad (60/59-57/6 d.c.), in the course o f
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 o f ‘ friend ’ ”
by the Romans (1. 83. 8). Ptolemy X I, “ the Piper,”
had ascended the throne o f the last nominally
independent Hellenistic kingdom in 80 b .c., and
after waiting twenty years, a period in which the
Roman Senate would neither avow nor repudiate
him, finally secured recognition by the Senate
through the efforts o f Caesar and Pompey in 59 b.c.1
This embassy is not mentioned in the Roman sources,
but the huge sum required of Ptolemy by Caesar
and Pompey in exchange for this recognition must
certainly have required some such a diplomatic
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 o f this recognition o f 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 : Societates ac regna pretio dedil

(sc. Caesar), ut qui uni Ptolemaeo prope sex milia talentorum
suo Pompeique nomine dbstulerit. Ptolem y was driven from
his throne by the people in 57 and restored by Gabinius in
55; cp. the comments o f Butler-Cary, ad loc.
viii
 INTRODUCTION
Diodorus had already commenced his work as early
as 56 b .c . This is evident from the passage (1. 44.
1-4) 1 in which he lists the number o f years during
which Egypt was under the control o f 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 o f Egypt by Alexander is put by
Diodorus (17. 49) in the year 331 b . c ., he must have
been at work upon the composition o f his Library o f
History at least as early as 56 b .c .
The latest contemporary event mentioned by
Diodorus is a reference to the city o f 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.” This may have
taken place in 36 b .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
meted out to it.2 The founding o f this colony
1 The significance o f this evidence has, so far as I know,
been overlooked by previous writers, even by 0 . Cuntz, De
A ugustoP linii geographicorum auclore (B onn , 1888), pp. 32 ff.,
who has listed m ost fu lly the references in D iodorus to co n ­
tem porary events.
2 This is the date first suggested by O. Cuntz, op. cit., p. 35,
accepted as “ p ro b a b le ” b y B eloch , Die Bevölkerung der
griechisch-römischen Welt, p. 337, and by Schwartz, B -E 2.,
5. 663, and fu lly approved b y K om em ann, B -E 2., 4. 526.
ix
 INTRODUCTION
has been placed also in 21 b . c ., the year in which,
according to Cassius Dio (54. 7. 1), Augustus re­
organized Sicily; *1 but it seems most improbable
that such an act o f angry revenge should have been
delayed for fifteen years on the occasion o f 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 (1. 4. 1) that
he had spent thirty years in the composition o f 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 o f this period must surely be set some years
before 59 b . 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 o f the great admiration o f the Roman Empire
expressed by Diodorus it is difficult to believe that

Cassius D io (49. 12. 5) states that, after the defeat o f Sextus

Pompey and the humbling o f Lepidus in 36 b . 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.I.L., X , p. 718; Römische
Forschung, 2. p. 549, n. 1, of C. Wachsmuth, Über das Geschichts­
werk des Sikelioten Diodoros (Leipzig, 1892), I, p. 3, and of
M. Büdinger, Die Universalhistorie im Alterthume, 114, n. 4.
x
 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 o f Egypt in
the Roman Empire in 30 b . c . And this accords
with the statement o f Suidas,1 that the floruit of
Diodorus fell in the period of Augustus Caesar and
before.2
The task which Diodorus set himself was to write
one o f “ the general histories ” (ai Koival io-roptai),34
or “ the general events ” (ai Koival irpafris) 4 (1. 4. 6;
5. 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 b . c . he had seen the entire
Mediterranean shore brought under the control of
Rome by Pompey— Egypt was still independent
only in name, for its kings held their throne at the
will o f the Roman Senate— the sea swept clean o f
pirates, Roman supremacy extended “ to the bounds

1 ytyove (sc. AidScupos) St 4trl tu>v xp^v(av Avyinrrov Kai'.oapos

real ¿‘Ktiuu.
2 Although parts of his History must have appeared by
49 b . c ., it is reasonable to suppose that Diodorus published it
as a whole, with consequent revision, at one time, between
36 and 30 b .c . at the latest; cp. below, p. xvi, n. 1.
3 Dionysius o f Halicarnassus (1. 6 ) uses the same words in
speaking of the writings o f Timaeus.
4 Cp. 1. 3. 2, when he contrasts “ isolated wars waged by a
single nation or a single state ’ ’ with “ the general events ’ ’
(at Koma1 irpi&is). 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).
xi
 INTRODUCTION
of the inhabited world ” (1. 4. 3). If Diodorus had
not witnessed the celebration of this incorporation
o f the Eastern world in the Roman state, he had
certainly heard from others o f the great triumph of
Pompey in 61 b.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 o f Rome the Stoic idea of a
cosmopolis was on the way to becoming an actuality.
All mankind was coming to form a “ common ”
civilization, a “ common ” society, and Diodorus
could speak o f a “ common life ” in the sense that
the whole Mediterranean world was now interested
in the same things and what benefited one nation
was o f common value to all. I f the term “ Western
civilization ” may properly include two cultures so
different, for instance, as those of the United States
and Spain, it is no exaggeration to say that by
60 b.c. Syrian, Greek, Iberian and Roman had
become one. The limitations o f the old city state,
whereby a man was a stranger in any city but the
one of his origin, were gone for ever. Surely, then,
the history o f each one o f these nations was a matter
of interest to all, since the past o f every people was
making its distinctive contribution to this most
catholic o f all civilizations, and he who would gather
the records of all these peoples and present them in
convenient form would have “ composed a treatise
o f 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
 INTRODUCTION
deny him at all events the apology of Propertius
(2. 10. 6) :
in magnis et voluisse sat 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 o f 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 o f 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 o f 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 ” (jroXX^ l/j.-n-eipio.,!. 4.4) with
their language. In the general 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
1 So Christ-Schmid, Griechische Litteralurgesckickle a (1920),
2. p. 403, n. 9, but without basis, as had been shown by G.
Sigwart, Römische Fasten und Annalen bei Diodor (Greisswald,
1906), pp. 5 f.
xiii
 INTRODUCTION
Other criticisms on this score, such as that he did
not know the meaning of bellare cum aliquot must
be held in abeyance, so long as the question whether
Diodorus in his account o f Roman affairs used a
Latin or Greek source (or sources) is still subjudice.
And since criticism is beginning to adopt a more
reasonable attitude toward Diodorus,1 2 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 b . c ., the year of
Julius Caesar’s first consulship. O f the forty Books
only the first five and Books X I-X X are preserved,
although fragments o f the other twenty-five are
found in different authors, notably in Eusebius and
Byzantine excerptors. According to his own plan
(1. 4. 6-7), Books I-V I embraced the period before
the Trojan War, the first three treating o f the history
of the non-Greeks, the other three, o f that o f the
Greeks. The next eleven, Books V II-X V II, 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 b .c ., i.e. to
include the year 61/60 b .c .3 A s 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.

2 0 . Leuze, Die römische Jahrzählung (Tübingen, 1909), gives
the most recent detailed defence of Diodorus; cp. p. 78,
n. 107, for the exaggerated detractions by Reuss, Wachsmuth,
and Schwartz.
2 Cp. Leuze, op. cit., p. 72.
xiv
 INTRODUCTION
since for that earlier period there existed no chrono­
logical table “ that was trustworthy,” 1 but for the
subsequent period he records that he followed the
Chronology of Apollodorus of Athens 2 in setting 80
years between the Trojan War (1184 b .c .) and the
Return o f the Heracleidae (1104 b .c .), thence 328
years to the First Olympiad (776/5 b . c .), and from
the First Olympiad to the beginning o f the Celtic
War (60/59 b . c .), a date which Apollodorus did not
reach, Diodorus counted 730 years. There can be
no question about the correctness o f these numbers
of years, 80, 328, 730, because in the next sentence
he makes the sum o f them 1138; and yet 730 years
after the First Olympiad is 46/5 b . 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 b .c ., the latest fragment mentioning
the conspiracy of Catiline in 63, and he states
specifically that his History closed before the year
60/59 b .c .3
The contents o f the several Books are briefly:
Book I : The myths, kings and customs of Egypt.
Book I I : History of Assyria, description o f 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, Il-L 2., 5. 665, argues that he could
not have used the Chronology of Castor; but Beloch, Bomische
Geschichte, p. 122, properly calls the attention of Schwartz to
this passage and its ttkjtc uolic-vov.
2 His Chronology spanned the years 1184/3 to at least
120/19 b . c .
2 For a possible explanation of this discrepancy, cp. below,
p. xix.
XV
 INTRODUCTION
Book I I I : Ethiopia, the Amazons o f Africa, the
inhabitants o f Atlantis and the origins o f the
first gods.
Book IV : The principal Greek gods, the Argonauts,
Theseus, the Seven against Thebes.
Book V : The islands and peoples o f the West,
Rhodes and Crete.
Books V I - X : Fragments, from the Trojan War to
480 b . c .
Commencing with Book X I the Library o f History
covers:
Book X I : Years 480-451 b . c .
Book X II: Years 450-416 b . c .
Book X I I I : Years 415-405 b . c .
Book X IV : Years 404—387 b .c .
Book X V : Years 386-361 b . c .
Book X V I: Years 360-336 b .c .
Book X V I I: Years 335-324 b .c .
Book X V III: Years 323-318 b . c .
Book X IX : Years 317-311 b . c .
Book X X : Years 310-302 b . c .
Books X X I -X L : Fragments, years 301-60 b . c .

To compose a history o f the entire world down to

his day was “ an immense labour,” as Diodorus says
(1. 3. 6), looking back upon it,1 because the material
1 The Preface was certainly (cp. 1. 4. 6 ) revised after the
whole work had been completed. Diodorus laments (40. 8 )
that parts of his work had reached the public before his final
revision and publication as a whole, probably in 49 B.c. (see
above, p. vii, n. 1). Just how seriously his words are to be taken
remains a question. Might they not be a reserved suggestion
to the reading public that, in order to get his final account,
they should purchase the latest revision ?
xvi
 INTRODUCTION
for it lay scattered about in so many different authors,
and because the authors themselves varied so widely.
Perhaps this was his way o f telling his readers that
what they should expect o f his history is no more
than a compilation o f what former writers had set
down. And the choice o f so unusual a title, Library
o f History,1 is further evidence that Diodorus made
no pretence of doing anything more than giving a
convenient summary o f events which were to be
found in greater detail in many works. The alloca­
tion o f this and that bit o f information among the
various writers whom Diodorus names has occupied
the attention o f many scholars.2 The earlier view
was that Diodorus took a single author and copied
him for many chapters and even Books o f 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 o f his work, he
used at the same time other writers as well. It is
the feeling o f the present translator that there is
much more o f the individuality o f Diodorus in his
Library o f 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.3
1 Pliny, Nat. H ist., Preface, 25, praised this straightforward
title (Apud Graecos desiit nugari Diodorus el ЪфКюв^хф
historiam suam inscripsit).
2 A convenient summary and rebuttal of some of the
earlier literature is given by L. 0 . Brocher, Moderne Quellen-
forscher und antike Geschichtschreiber (Innsbruch, 1882),
pp. 83 ff.
3 I fully subscribe to the following words o f Jacoby, F. Or.
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 he 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 1st— and he uses this date even for
tfye 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 still 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 b . 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 D iodor nicht bloss mit der Scheere
gearbeitet hat, sondern auch mit der Feder und mit dem
K opf.”

xviii
 INTRODUCTION
(3. 38. 2 ; 5. 21. 2; 5. 22. 1) he remarks that he will
speak o f 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 b . c . It has been
suggested by Schwartz1 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 o f 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 b . c ., which
would make an excellent stopping-point. In March
o f 45 b . 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 b . c ., which year, mark­
ing the agreement reached by Caesar, Pompey and
Crassus, was a definite turning-point in the history
o f the Roman Republic. The “ 1138 years ” may
be explained in two ways. Since some of his Books,
and presumably the earlier ones, came into the
hands o f 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.

i B-E2., 5. 665.
xix
 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 o f his views and interests.
Again and again, and not alone in the Preface to
the First Book, the Stoic doctrine of the utilitas of
history is stressed, and nowhere does he demand
that history be entertaining. O f 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. 77. 1). 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 extolling them and to
cepsure evil characters; the 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. D
receive the praise which is due to noble men. More
often than any extant ancient historian Diodorus
stresses the view that history should instruct in the
good life. 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, how 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 o f the oracle, increased in
XX
 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 b . 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 o f 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 believe 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
o f 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 o f less value. In the period from 480
to 301 b .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 b . c . Thucydides devotes only a little more than
thirty chapters; Diodorus covers it more fully
(11. 37-12. 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 years
YYl
 INTRODUCTION
430-362 B .c ., since the history o f this period is
covered in the contemporary accounts o f Thucydides
and Xenophon. For the years 362-302 b .c . Diodorus
is again the only consecutive literary account, and
although the Epitome by Justin of the History o f
Philip by Pompeius Trogus is preserved for the
earlier period, and the Anabasis o f Arrian and The
History o f Alexander the Great by Q. Curtius Rufus,
more than half o f which is extant, for the years
336-323, Diodorus offers the only chronological sur­
vey o f the period o f Philip, and supplements the
writers mentioned and contemporary sources in many
matters. For the period o f the Successors to
Alexander, 323-302 b . c . (Books X V III-X X ), he is
the chief literary authority and his history o f this
period assumes, therefore, an importance which it
does not possess for the other years. These three
Books are based mainly upon the work o f Hieronymus
o f Cardia, an historian o f outstanding ability who
brought to his account both the experience gained
in the service, first o f Eumenes, and then o f Anti-
gonus, and an exceptional sense o f the importance
o f the history o f the period. As for Sicily, it has
well been said that no history o f that island could
be written were it not for Diodorus, and as for
Roman history, the Fasti o f Diodorus are recognized
in the most recent research to be by far the oldest
and most trustworthy.
One merit even those critics 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
o f 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 o f his source. A kindly judg­
ment upon such errors may be found in the words
o f 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 o f Samos, who was a
careful scholar, because he erred in the company of
many others.” 1

E ditions and T ranslations

The following are the more important editions:

Poggio Bracciolini: Latin translation o f Books
I - V ; published at Bologna, 1472, and many times
thereafter at Paris, Venice and Lyons.
Vincentius Opsopoeus: the first Greek edition,
containing Books X V I-X X only ; Basel, 1539.
H. Stephanus: Greek edition o f Books I-V , X I -
X X , and some fragments o f Books X X I -X L ; Geneva,
1559.
L. Rhodoman: the edition o f Stephanus with a
Latin translation, indices and chronological tables;
Hanau, 1604.
Petrus Wesseling: the Greek text, and the Latin
version o f Rhodoman, with the critical work of
former scholars; 2 vols., Amsterdam, 1746. This is
the only annotated edition o f Diodorus and a monu­
ment o f zeal and scholarship.
1 Ad Att. 6 . 1. 18 '. “ Num idcirco Duris Samim, 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. Eichstädt: the Greek text o f Books I-V ,
X -X I V ; 2 vols., Halle, 1800-1802.
L. Dindorf: four editions of the Greek te x t: 4
vols., Leipzig (Weidmann), 1826; 5 vols., with critical
apparatus, Leipzig (Hartmann), 1828-31; 2 vols. in
a Didot edition, the Latin by C. Müller, Paris,
1842-4; 5 vols., Leipzig (Teubner), 1866-8.
I. Bekker: the Greek text; 4 vols., Leipzig
(Teubner), 1853-4.
The present text is based upon that of Vogel-
Fischer, Leipzig (Teubner), 1888 if., 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 o f the lexlus 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
o f Books I-X , Stuttgart, 1866-9, with many notes,
has also been of considerable aid in the preparation
o f this translation. It is hoped that infelicities of
xxiv
 INTRODUCTION
the present translation will be viewed by scholars
with some indulgence, in consideration o f the fact
that it is the first in English for more than two
hundred years.
One feature o f the style o f 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.
Y et at times he inserts into this reported speech
sentences o f 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 I have not
done so if it involved any great interruption of the
flow of his narrative.

M anuscripts
A. Codex Coislinianus, of the 15th century.
B. Codex Mutinensis, o f 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, o f the 15th century.
N. Codex Vindobonensis, of the 16th century.
The designations o f 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. o f the “ second class,” i.e. of all but A B D.
xxv
 INTRODUCTION

I ntroduction to B ooks I—II , 34

After the Preface to his whole work Diodorus
describes the origin o f animal life, and then, “ since
Egypt is the country where mythology places the
origin o f 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. His 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 Hecataeus of Abdera, who
visited Egypt early in the 3rd century b . c ., for his
account o f the customs of the Egyptians, upon
Agatharchides of Cnidus, an historian and geographer
of the 2nd century b .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 o f the land for nearly three hundred years
and was widely used in the better circles, and hence
he was not in such danger o f 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, Artaxerxes Mnemon, returning
to Greece some time after 390 b . c . Ctesias wrote a
xxvi
 INTRODUCTION
Persica in twenty-three Books, the first six o f which
dealt with Assyrian and Median history. Whether
Diodorus used Ctesias directly or through a medium
is still a question.1 He also used Cleitarchus and
“ certain of those who at a later time crossed into
Asia with Alexander ” (2. 7. 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 o f 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 I
 TdSe e v e a r i v ev ту ттрыту тыv CONTENTS OF THE FIRST BOOK
А ю Ь ы р о ь fiifiA a v OF DIODORUS

U p o o ip io v ttj 4 оХт]ч тграуратеСач.

Introduction to the entire work (chaps. 1-5).
Пер! тип' тгар A ¡уптгтинч Xeyopevuiv trepl т rjs t o v On the accounts given by the Egyptians about the
Korrpov yevecre0)9.
origin o f the universe (chaps. 6-7).
П cpi. tuiv в run' ocroi тгоХееч eKTirrav к а т Л lyvTTTinu On the gods who founded cities in Egypt.1
1 1 tp'i tuiv TvpuiTuiv yevopevuiv dv6jiuminv Kill tov traXaio- On the first men and the earliest manner of life
rarov fiw v.
(chap. 8).
Пер! тт)Ч to>v a0avaTu>v ri/irjs ка1 тг)ч tw v vauiv ката-
On the honour paid to the immortals and the
<TKeVTj4.
building o f the temples to them.1
П epl тг]ч т о тго в е та ч Tijs к а т А г / v t t o v ^шрач ка1 tuiv
On the topography o f the land o f Egypt and the
Trepl to v NtiXov ttotu /io v тгn p ah o tn X o y ия:p.rvuiv, ri)s те
marvels related about the river N ile; the causes also
t o v t o v TrXrjpmo'etOi тач a i r ¡as 1 «at т u>v [аторькия' ка\
o f its flooding and the opinions thereupon o f the
ф 1Ао<тоф<м атгофасгееч.
historians and the philosophers (chaps. 30 ff.).
Iltp i raiv ттpuiruiv yevopevuiv к а т А Гугтгтог fia m X e u iv
On the first kings o f Egypt and their individual
ка1 tuiv к а т а рероч ai'Tuiv тгpa^ewv.
deeds (chaps. 44 ff.).
IIi/н к а т а о KII’UIV tuiv irvp ap ibu iv tuiv av aур аф о рё ш гу
On the construction o f the pyramids which are
«V Т 014 етгта 0avpa£opevoi4 ерушч.
listed among the seven wonders o f the world (chaps.
H tp l tuiv vopuiv ка1 tuiv ?пкасгтг)р1шу.
63 ff.).
11 tp l тй>v афеершреушу L uiuiv тгар’ Л ¡уптгтипч. On the laws and the courts o f law (chaps. 69 ff.).
Пер! tuiv vnpi'ji.uiv tuiv Trepl тооч тетеХеотукотач тгар 1
On the animals held sacred among the Egyptians
Aiyi'TTTLVis yevopevuiv.
(chaps. 83 ff.).
Iltp i tuiv 'E X X ijvuiv ocroi rwv €7ri ira iO tia Oavpafcopevwv
On the customs o f the Egyptians touching the
тгарараХоутеч е1ч A ly v trT o v кп1 тго\Х а tuiv ^ fiijaipuiv
dead (chaps. 91 ff).
р а в т 'т е ч p rri'jv ry к ат е1ч ttjv EAXaSa. 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 Some verb is needed here, such as treptexei, which is
found in chap. 42, from which most of this outline is 1 There are no chapters which are especially devoted to
drawn. this topic.
3 3
 A I O A Q P O Y
TOT 2IKEAIHTOT
B IB A IO 0 H K H 2 I2 T O P IK H 2
B IB A 0 2 IIPi2TH
1. Tot? Ttt? icoivai icnoplai TrpaypaTevcrapei'oi,<i
peydXai ¿¿dpira? dirovepeiv Si/eaiov irdvrai dv-
OpooTrovs, OTt rot? tStoi? 7rofot? ax£eA?}crat top
koivov /3tov eefnXoTtppdrjaav d/civhvvov yap St-
daaicaXiav tov crvpfyipovTO'i elcrrjyrjadpevoi ko X-
XI<jtt)v epireipiav Sia t ?}? irpaypareiai Tavriji
2 7T€pt7roiov(Ti Tot? avayivdxrkovcuv. p pev yap etc
Tips ireipas ktcdcTTOv pddrjcni pera ttoXXwv ttovcov
zeal Kivhvvwv iroiel twv yppaipcov eVacrra Sta-
yivcbaKeiv, ical Bia tovto tuiv ppaxov o TroXv-rretpo-
ra roi pera peyaXwv arv^Vparcov
7toXXwv dv9punrwv iSey aarea ical voov eyvw
7) be St a Tr}i icnopLai irepcycvopevr] aiivean toiv
dXXoTpicov diroTtvyparcov re ical KaTopdcoparcov
3 direipaTov Ka/cdiv ’¿XeL TVV diSacricaXiav. eirena
Tvavra'i dvdpCDirovi, peTexpvTas pev tTji Trpos
1 Here Diodorus markedly connects “ universal” {Kowal)
history with human society “ as a whole” (koiv6s). Cp. the
Introduction, pp. xif.
3 Odysseus. The quotation is from the Odyssey 1. 3.
4 aspiration of these writers to marshal all men, who,
THE LIBRARY OF HISTORY
or
DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK i
1. It is fitting that all men should ever accord
great gratitude to those writers who have composed
universal1 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 o f our
heroes 23suffered great misfortunes before he
O f many men the cities saw and learned
Their thoughts ;—
yet the understanding o f the failures and successes
of other men, which is acquired by the study of
history, affords a schooling that is free from actual
experience o f ills. Furthermore, it has been the
5
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
àXXpXovs avyyevetas, tottols Se /cat %povots
StetjTp/coTas, e<j)tXoTtp,pdpaav vtt'o pdav /cal Tpv
avTpv avvra^tv àyayeîv, œa-rrep Ttvès vvovpyol
T ps de tas irpovolas yevpdévTes. è/ceLvp Te yàp
rpv tcùv opcùpevcùv âoTpœv Sia/cbappaiv /cal Tas
tcùv àvdpdnrcov cf/vaets els /cotvpv dvaXoylav <rvv-
Oeiaa /cv/cXeî avve^cbs airavra tov aicbva, to
èirtfiàXXov ê/cdaTOis etc Tps ireTrpwpévps ptept-
Çovaa, ot Te Tas /cotvàs Tps oi/covpévps irpd^ets
/cadd-rrep puas 7rôXecos àvaypd-^ravTes eva Xoyov
/cal Kotvov Xp-pptaTiaTripiov twv awTeTeXeaptévcov
4 (LTréSei^av Tas éavTcbv TrpaypuiTeias. /caXbv yàp
to Svvatrûat to Is tcùv âXXœv àyvoppaat 7rpos
SiépOcoatv xppadat -rrapaSeLypacri, /cal -repos Ta
avy/cvpovvTa ttoi/clXcùs /caTa tov ftiov ey^etv pp
ÇpTpcrtv tcùv TTpaTTOptévcov, âXXà pippenv tcùv
èirtTeTevypévœv. /cal yàp tous TrpeafîvTaTovs
Taîs pXuciais àiravTes tcùv vecûTepov erpo/cpivovaiv
èv Taîs crvpftovXiais àtà Tpv è/c tov %povov irept-
yeyevppévpv avToîs èpiretpiav ps toctovtov virep-
é)(eiv avpj3é/3pice Tpv è/c Tps ienopias pddpatv
oaov /cal tm 7rXpâet tcùv irpaypdTwv -rrpoTepovaav
avTpv è-rreyvcù/capev. Sto /cal npos âirdcras r à ç
tov 18 iov ireptcnàcreis XPV^^P-^dTpv àv tis elvai
5 vopiaeie Tpv TavTps àvdXp\lriv. tols pev yàp
vecùTepots Tpv tcùv yeyppa/cbTcov -rreptiroieî avv-
etrtv, toÎs Sè 7rpea/3vTepots TroXXaTrXacTidÇet Tpv
vnapy^ovaav èp-rreiptav, /cal tous pèv ISid/Tas
1 The reference is to the Stoic doctrine of the universal
kinship of mankind.
6
BOOK I. I. 3-5
although united one to another by their kinship,1
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 o f the
inhabited world as though they were those of a
single state, have made of their treatises a single
reckoning o f past, events and a common clearing­
house o f 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 o f 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 it is 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
7
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
allows руероу'еач катаетKevd^ei, тооч S’ руероуач
т ш Bed трч Во%рч авауатктрш ттротреттетае ток
каккеетток тшу ерушу ¿Triyeipeiv, ^wpt? Be t o v -
т ш у Toix; pev еттратештач ток рета тру reXei пру
еттаьуок ётоеротерооч катасткеоа^ее ттроч той?
оттер трч ттатреВоч KivBvvov4, тоьч Be тгоурроич
т ш у аувреЬтгшу так alcovioK /Зкаетфррёак атто-
треттее тг)Ч « r l тру какСау орррч.
2. Ка#оХои Be Bed тру ек таьтрч етт' ауабш
pvpppv ol pev ктеатае ттокешу yevecrdai ттрое-
ккрбретау, oi Be уороьч elerpypaaerdai тгерее’хрутач
тф Koivw /Зеш тpv аетфакееау, vok kol В' етпегтр-
рач ка1 те%уач e^evpelv ефекотеррбретау ттроч
evepyeeriav тои уёуоич т ш у аувршттшу. e$j аттеёу-
т ш у йе етиртткрроорёурч трч еоВаероуеач, атто-
Воте'оу тшу еттаёушу то ттрштееоу тр тоитшу
2 ракеетт аьтеа, ёеттореа. руртёоу yap elval таи-
ттjv фькака pev трч т ш у aljiokoymv аретрч,
рартора Вё трч т ш у фаикшу какеач, еоеруетеу
Вё t o v k o i v o v уеуоьч тшу аувршттшу. ei yap
р т ш у ev аВои pvOokoyla тру уттобеетеу ттетгкает-
pevpv e^overa ттокка ovpl3dkkerai ток ауврш-
7ток ттроч everefietav ка1 Векаюсгууру, ттоетш
p a k k o v 1 уттокртттёоу тру ттрофртеу трч акрвееач
leTTopiav, трч окрч фСкоетофеач olovel рртротгокеу
oiierav, ¿mencevdcrai Bvvaerdai та рвр pakkov
3 ттроч какокауавеау ; тгаутеч у ар аувршттое Bid
1 ¿иаЛЛш/ Bekker, V ogel: omitted СЕ, liindorf.
1 The Greek “ metropolis,” the “ home country” or “ mother-
city ” of all the colonies 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 Athenseus 104 B,
8 9
BOOK I. i. 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 o f 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,
tire foremost meed o f 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 o f 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 o f truth, she who is, as it were, the
mother-city1 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 o f our nature,
where Chrysippus calls the Qastrology of Archestratus a
“ metropolis ” of the philosophy o f Epicurus.
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
Ttjv Tpt cpvaecot dcrdeveiav ftiovcn pev a/capiaiov
Tt pepot tov TravTOt aicbvot, TeTeXevTp/cacn Be
iravTa tov varepov %povov, /cal rots pev ev tco
£pv ppSev agioXoyov irpa^aaiv dpa rats tcov
acopaTcov t eXevTait crvvaTrodvpa/cei /cal r a aXXa
ttavra ra /card tov filov, Toit Be Si dpeTpv
Trepnroipaapevoit Bot;av a t wpageit airavTa tov
aicdva pvr/povevovTai, Siafiocopevai to> OeioTaTcp
tpt icTTopiat cnopaTL.
4 KaXov S’, olpai, r o t ? ev cf/povovai dvpTcov
ttovcov dvTi/caTaXXd^acrdai Tpv aOavaTOV ei/epp-
piav. H pa/cXpt pev yap opoXoyeiTai iravTa
tov yevopevov avTcp /caT av9 pcoirovt %povov
inropeivai peydXovt /cal avve^eit irovovt /cal /civ-
Bvvovt e/covcricot, X.va to yeito? tcov av6 peotreov
evepyeTpaat Tvypp Tpt dOavaaiat' tcov Be dXXcov
ayadcov avSpcov oi pev pptoi/ccdv, ol Be icroOecov
TipSiv ’¿ tv^ ov, ttdvTet Be peydXoiv eiraivcov
p^ico8paav, Tat apeTat avTcov Tpt icTTopiat
5 avadavaTL^ovapt. r a pev yap aXXa pvppeia
Biapevei %povov oX'iyov, vtto ttoXXcov avaipovpeva
irepiaTaaecov, p Se Tpt IcnopLat Bvvapit eV t
iracrav Tpv oi/covpevpv Sip/covcra tov iravTa
t aXXa Xvpaivopevov y^povov e^ei cpvXa/ca Tpt
aicovlov TrapaBoaecot to it eiriyivopevoit.
"ZvpfidXXeTai S’ ainp /cal itpot Xoyov Bvvapiv,
ov /cdXXiov eTepov ov/c av Tit paSicot evpoi.
6 TOVTcp yap oi pev "EXXpvet tcov ftapfiapcov, oi
Be ireTraiSevpevoi tcov diraiSevTcov irpoe^ovai,
ttpot Be Toi/Toit Bid povov tovtov Svvarov ¿ cttiv
io
BOOK I. 2. 3—6
live but an infinitesimal portion o f eternity and are
dead throughout all subsequent tim e; 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
o f 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
willingly, 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 o f 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 o f 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 o f speech
alone that one man is able to gain ascendancy over
XX
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
eva to) v 7toXXwv ireptyeveodaf tcaßoXou Be
<1■xuvercu Träv to nrporeßev toiovtov ottoiov av
y tov XeyovTOS Bvvapts rrapacnfio-y, kcu t o u ?
dyaßoix; ävBpas d^tovs Xoyov Trpoaayopevopev,
cos tovto to Trpanelov tt}? apeTfjs TeptireTron)-
7 pevovs. et? TrXeiw Be pept] tovtov Bipprjpevov,
crvpßatvet tt)v pev TrotriTiKfjv repireiv paXXov
rpTrep ¿)(f>e\eiv, rf)v Be vopodecriav KoXd^etv, ov
BiBaa/ceiv, TrapaTrXrjaio)^ Be Kal t aXXa peprj ra
pev prjBev o-vpßdXXecrßai 7Tpos evBatpovlav, rä
Be peptypevrjv e%ett> t a> ervpfyepovTi ttjv ßXdßrjv,
evta Be KaTeyjrevaßai t ?}? aXrjßeias, povqv Se ttjv
laropiav, avptfxovovVTCöV ev avTrj tmd Xoywv
T o t ? epyoK, diravra rdXXa ^pf/aipa t fj ypatpfj
8 7TepteiXrppevar opäcrßat yap avrrjv TrpoTpeiro-
pevrjv 67 r t BiKaioovvrjv, Karriyopovtrav tcov <f>av-
Xwv, eyKwptd^ovcrav t o i )? ayaßovs, to crvvoXov
epiretpiav peyitTTrjv Treptirotovcrav t ot? evTvy'ya-
vovcn.
3. Ato Kal öewpovvTes fjpei<; BiKatas ¿7roSo^?}?
TvyxdvovTas t o u ? TavTrjv TrpaypaTevcrapevovs
Trpofi’y ßripev eirl tov opotov tt?? inroßecreo)^ £ffXov.
eTTLCTTficravTe<; Be tov vovv rot? 7rpo fipcov avy-
ypatpevatv cnreBe^dpeßa pev eo? evi pdXurTa tt} v
irpoaLpetnv avrmv, ov pfjv e^etpydtrßai irpos to
crvpfyepov K a T d 1 t o BvvaTov Ta<; TrpaypaTeias
2 avTcov vTreXdßopev. Keipevrjs yap tois äva-
ytvdxTKOvcn Ti}? axpeXeia? ev to> irXeicrTa<; Kal
7tocklX(otttT iz ? Trepi<TTd<rei<;Xapßdveiv, ot irXetuTot
pev evos 2 eßvovs fj ptä<; 77-oXeco? avTOTeXet<;
TToXepovi aveypai^rav, oXtyoi 3’ ¿ 7 7 0 to>v dp^atwv
1 Karo. Stephanus: nah 2 h'bs added by Porson.
12
BOOK I. 2. 6-3. 2
the many; and, in general, the impression made by
every measure that is proposed corresponds to the
power o f the speaker who presents it, and we describe
great and good men as “ worthy o f 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 a 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
1 t’.c. worthy to be the subject of speech. a£i6\oyos is a
favourite word of Diodorus in the usual meaning of “ dis­
tinguished,” “ notable.”
13
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 3. 2-s

Хроуш у a p ^ á p evo i т а я / с о с у а я 7т р а ^ е с я h r e x e í p p - to their own day, to record the events connected

c r a v а у а у р а ф е / у p e x P 1 T ^ v к а @' а и т о у я / c a i p c b v , with all peoples ; and o f the latter, some have not
/ c a l т о ь т ш у o í p e v т о у я о 1 /с е 1 о у я x p ó v o w ; é / c á - attached to the several events their own proper dates,
(ТТ01Ч o v T rapé^ev^av, oí Se тая тш у ¡3 ap¡3ápoiv and others have passed over the deeds o f barbarian
чгра^есч v irep éjip cra v, e n S' o í p e v тая т га Х а /а я
peoples ; and some, again, have rejected the ancient
legends because o f the difficulties involved in their
р ь в о Х о у С а я S e a т р у S v c r x é p e i a v т ря т г р а у р . а т е с а я
treatment, while others have failed to complete the
¿T reS o /cip a a a v, oí Se т р v у т г о а т а с п у тt j s е т п / З о Х р я
plan to which they had set their hand, their lives
ov аьует еХ еаау, р еаоХ а(Зрвеут ея tov fíío v vtto
having been cut short by fate.1 And of those who
3 т ря тт ет гршреуря. тш у Se т р у ет п /З о Х р у т аит ся have undertaken this account of all peoples not one
гря т г р а у р а т е с а я т г е т г о / р р е у ш у о у 8 е 1 я т р о е / З с ф а ere has continued his history beyond the Macedonian
т р у i c n o p í a v к а т ш т е р ш тш у Ш а / с е 8 о ы / с ш у / c a i p c b v period. For while some have closed their accounts
o í p e v y a p et? т а я ФСХ' п г т г о у 7т р а ^ е с я , o í S ’ et? with the deeds of Philip, others with those of
та? ' A X e ^ á v S p o u , п у е я S ’ eí? тои? StaSó^ov? rj Alexander, and some with the Diadochi or the
roo? е т п у о у о ь я к а т е а т р е ф а у т а я а у у т а ^ е с я ' Epigoni,2 yet, despite the number and importance
7 т о Х Х шу Se / c a l р e y á X c o v т ш у р е т а та у т а of the events subsequent to these and extending
т гра^еш у ат т оХеХесрреуш у p ¿ x p i той кав' ррая even to our own lifetime which have been left
/З ю и т ш у i а т о р ю у р а ф ш у o v S e 1я е т ге(З аХ ет о а ь т а я neglected, no historian has essayed to treat of them
р ш я сгуут а^еш я т герсураф р т г р а у р а т е у а а а в а с S ia
within the compass of a single narrative, because of
the magnitude of the undertaking. For this reason,
4 то реуевоя тря утговесте шя. S ib /cal S iep p ip -
since both the dates o f the events and the events
реуш у1 тш у те хроуш у ка\ тш у ттра^ешу év
themselves lie scattered about in numerous treatises
т гХеюсп т граурат е1а1Я /cal 8сафоро1Я crvyypa-
and in divers authors, the knowledge of them
ф е ь о '1 S u a T r e p í X p T j -тоя р тоьтш у а уаХ р-ф ся y í- becomes difficult for the mind to encompass and for
ует ас /ca l Sv<т pvppóvevт oя. the memory to retain.
6 Е^етаа-аоте? ovv тая екаат оь тоьтш у S ia - Consequently, after we had examined the com­
в е а е с я e / e p í v a p e v у т т о в е а / у с а т о р и с р у ттp a y р а т е у - position of each of these authors’ works, we resolved
аасгвас тру тгХе1 сгт а pev ш ф еХ рсгас Svvapévpv, to write a history after a plan which might yield to
1 bieppippevaiv Hertlein and Bezzel: ip p ip p iv a v . whose death brought his history to a close with the year
340 B.c., although he had witnessed the stirring events of the
1 Of the writers who may be said to have composed universal subsequent twenty years.
histories, Diodorus may have had in mind Herodotus, who had 2 The Diadochi, or Successors, were those rulers who shortly
no chronological system, Anaximenes of Lampsacus, who after 323 B.c. formed separate kingdoms out of the territory
confined his H e lle n ic a , as the title shows, to the Greeks, and conquered by Alexander. The Epigoni were the next and
Ephorus of Cyme, who omitted the mythological period and succeeding generations.
14 IS
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
eXd-^icTTa Se tovs dvayivcba/covTas evoxXrjcrov-
6 erav. el ya p tis tcis e h pvt) prjv irapaSeSopsvas
tov avpiravTOs /coapov irpd^eis, aterrrep tivos
p ia s TroXeois, ap^apevos airo tmv dpxaiOTaTwv
Xpovoiv ditaypdijrai /cara to Svvarov p e x p i tcov
Ka6 avTov /caipSiv, irovov pev av iroXvv viro-
p eiva i SrjXov o n , itp a yp a ie ia v Se iraaoiv ev x p y -
aTOTaTrjv crvvTa^aiTO tois (ftiXavayvaxTTOvaiv.
7 efeVrai yap e/c TavTijs e/camov 777309 ipv ISlav
viTocnacnv eTOipws Xap/3dveiv to xpi)aip°v,
8 dxxirep e/c peydXijs dpvopevov irriyrjs. tois pev
yap eirifiaXXopevois Sie^ievai ras ratv toctovtoiv
avyypacfteoov laropias irpcoTOv pev ov paSiov
eviropr)crai tojv eis ttjv xPe^av iriirTovcroiv ¡31-
f3X(ov, eireira Sia tt/v dvwpaXiav /cai to irXijdos
T03V crvvTaypaTwv Sva/caTaXijirTos yiverai TeXecos
/cal Svaecfn/cTos rj tcov ireirpaypevcov avdXrj-tp-is'
r/ S’ ev p ia s 1 avvTatjeas irepiypacftr) irpayparela
to Toiv 7rpa^ecov elpopevov '¿xovera ttjv pev
dvdyvaicnv ¿Toiptjv TrapeyeTai, ttjv S’ dvdXrjifnv
eXel TravTeXois evirapa/coXovdrjTov. /caOoXov Se
tcov aXXcov ToaovTOV virepex^iv TavTijv r/yr/Teov
oaip xP^GL^dnepov ¿ ctti to irav tov pepovs ccai to
avvex^s tov Siepprjypevov, irpbs Se tovtois to
Sit]Kpi/3copevov toIs XP°vol<> T°v pV&b yivcocnco-
pevov Tiaiv eirpd^dp /caipois.
4. AiSirep r/peis opcovTes TavTijv ttjv virodecnv
XpvtTipooTaTTjv pev overav, 1roXXov Se irovov tcai
Xpovov irpoaSeopevyv, Tpid/covTa pev eTrj irepl
avTtjv eirpaypaTevOppev, peTU Se iroXXrjs /ca/co-
1 fxias Schafer : fuq,.
16
BOOK I. 3 . 5- 4 . r
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 o f 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
17
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
7TadeLwi Kal kiv Bvvcov hrpXdopev troXXpv tt/? re
'Aerias Kal Tps Fjvpconps, ’Lva totv dvayKaiOTaTonv
Kal 7rXeicrToiv p ep a v a v T o m a i yevpdarpev
noXXa yap napa Tas ayvoias t S>v t Sttcov Bip-
papTOV ov% oi rv^ ovres totv avyypacpecov, aXXa
2 Tives Kal Tali' Tjj Bo%p nenpwTevKOTarv. acpoppjj
Be npos ttjv eni/3oXpv ravTrjv e^pperdpeOa
pdXicna pev rfj 7rpos ttjv npaypareiav em dv pia,
Bi fjv naaiv dvdpdrnois to Bokovv anopov elvai
Tvyy/dvei avvTeXelas, en en a Kal tjj ev 'Vdpp
■yoppyia1 tu>v ttpos Tpv vnoKeipevpv vnodeeriv
3 avpKOVTcov. p yap Tainps Tps 7ro\e&>? vttepo%p,
BiaTeivovcra tt} Bvvapei 7rpos Ta nepaTa tt)s
oIkovpevps, eToipoTaTas Kal ttXeltrTas pplv
dcpoppa<;^.TTapeay_eTO napeniBpppcracnv ev avTjj
4 nXeico xpovov. ¿¡pels yap e f ’ A yvpLov tt)s
HiKeXias ovTes, Kal Bid ttjv eiripi^iav tois ev
tjj vpaqr noXXpv epneipiav tt;? P otpa Lotv Bia~
XeKTOv nepm enoippevoi, ttaaas rd? Tp<; pye-
povias Tainps ttpitheis aKpiftars aveXaftopev ¿ k
totv nap’ ¿Keivois vnopvppaTorv ¿k noXXcbv
5 xpovarv TCTppppevoiv. nenoippeda Be Tpv dpyrjv
ttjs itnoplas ano totv pvdoXoyovpevurv nap’
"EXXpaC Te Kal fiapfiapois, e^eTacravTes ra nap’
¿KacrTop; laTOpovpeva KaTa tovs ap^aiovs xpo-
vovs, e<p’ otrov pplv Bvvapis-
6 ’ E7rei B’ p p e v i i n o Q e a i s e ^ e i T e X o s , a l / 3 i / 3 X o i
Se p e X P 1 T ° v v ^ v d v e K B o T o i T v y ^ d v o v c n v o v c r a i ,
1 tt) . . , x°pyyi% H ertlein: 8ia rfyv . . .
1 On the travels undertaken by Diodorus in preparation for
tho writing of his history, see the Introduction, p. xiii.
18
BOOK I. 4. 1-6
dangers we have visited a large portion o f 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 o f 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 o f 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,2 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-
8 The prevailing language in Sicily in this period was Greek.
On the acquaintance of Diodorus with Latin see the Intro­
duction, pp. xiii f .
*9
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 4. 6-5. i

^ovX opai /З р а х еа irp o b io p L a cu 7r e p l оХрч трч sent a brief preliminary outline of the work as a
ж раурат еьач. twv y a p /3 i/3 X w v p p .lv eg p e v ai whole. Our first six Books embrace the events and
ж ре о т а с T r e p i e ^ o v i r i та? тгро twv T p c o u c & v 7r p d g e i 4 legends previous to the Trojan War, the first three
teal ровоХоусач, /ca l tovtwv ai pev 7r p o p y o v - setting forth the antiquities of the barbarians, and
the next three almost exclusively those of the
pevai тре1ч та? ¡3ар(3арш ач, ai b’ egp4 a^eSov
Greeks; 1* in the following eleven we have written
та? twv ’E X X p v w v архаю Х оусач' ev be ra ts
a universal history of events from the Trojan War
рет а TaiiTO? evbe/ca та? a7ro twv ' Г р о п к ш р kolvo.4
to the death of Alexander; and in the succeeding
T T pageii a v a y e y p a e f / a p e v ecu? трч ’A X e g d v b p o v
twenty-three Books we have given an orderly account
7 теХеотрч' e v b e т ал ч e g p 4 e b c o c n / c a l трсаХ /З с /З Х о с ч of all subsequent events down to the beginning of
та? Х о с ж а ч аж ааач кат ет d g a p e v peX PL трч the war between the Romans and the Celts, in the
dpXVS T°v 'P w p a i o i 4 77700 ?
c r v c r T a v T O f 7r o X e p o v course of which the commander, Gaius Julius Caesar,
КеЛ.тоо?, к а в ' o v p y o v p e v o 4 Гаго? ’ IouX-io? who has been deified because of his deeds, subdued
К а Ъ т а р о b i d та? 77p a g e i n ж р о а а у о р е о в е 1 ч в е о? the most numerous and most warlike tribes of the
кат еж оХеррае p e v т а ж Х е с с гт а к а л р а х ^ р с о т а т а Celts, and advanced the Roman Empire as far as the
twv К е Х т а/ v e d v p , ж р о е / З с / З а а е b e T p v p y e p o v i a v British Isles. The first events of this war occurred
т рч 'Pcо р р ч Р 'ё х Р 1 T ^>v R p e T T a viK & v vpaw v' in the first year of the One Hundred and Eightieth eo-rs
tovtov b' ai жр&тас T rpagei4 е ж е т е Х еа в р а -av
Olympiad, when Herodes was archon in Athens.2 B-0,
5. As for the periods included in this work,
’О Х и р т п а Ь о ч трч екат оат рч к аХ оуЬоркоат рч
we do not attempt to fix with any strictness the
кат а то irp u n o v ето? етг a p x o v T 04 ' A O p v p c n v
limits of those before the Trojan War, because no
'Н/э w b o v .
trustworthy chronological table covering them has
5. T w v be xpovwv tovtcov ж еp i e i X p p p e v w v ev
come into our hands: but from the Trojan War U84
т аот р тр ж р а у р а т е с а тооч pev ж р о twv T pwiKwv we follow Apollodorus of Athens3 in setting th e BC-
ov b copLooped а ( З е / З а ш ч Sia to ppbev ж а р а ж р у р а interval from then to the Return of the Heracleidae 110 4
ж a p e l X p ф e v a l ж ер1 tovtwv ж l o ^ т e v o p e v o v , а ж о be as eighty years, from then to the First Olympiad B-°-
twv TpwiKwv а к oXovdw4 ’А ж о Х Х о Ь с о р с р тсЗ ’ А в р - three hundred and twenty-eight years, reckoning 776-6
valco TiQepev oybopKovT' е т р ж р о ч Tpv Kadobov the dates by the reigns of the kings of Lacedaemon, BC'
twv ' HpaKXecbwv , а ж о be т а о т р ч еж1 Tpv жpwтpv 2 On these periods and dates, as given more fully in the
О Х о р ж с а Ь а bval X e^ ovT a twv TpiaKoaiwv каХ following paragraph, see the Introduction, p. xv.
TpiaKovTa, avXXoyigopevoi toi/ч xpbv°v4 а ж о twv 3 A philosopher and historian of the second century b .c .
whose C hronology covered the years 1184-119 B.c. The
ev AaKebaipovi ffacnXevaavTwv, а ж о be т рч C hronology of Castor of Rhodes, of the first century b .c ., which
came down to 60 B.c., and was probably also used by Diodorus
1 For the subjects o f the several Books see the Introduction, after the date where Apollodorus stopped, included the period
pp. x v if. before the Trojan War.
20 21
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK I. 5. 1-6. 2
i r p w T r j s ’O X v p T r i a S o s e l s T t j v d p y r j v to v K e X r i/c o v
and from the First Olympiad to the beginning of the
i r o X e p o v , f j v T e X e v T r jv i r e i r o i r i p e O a t t js Ic n o p ia s ,
Celtic War, which we have made the end o f our
e T T r a K o a t a x a i T p ia K O V T a ' w i n e t t )v o X t) v ir p a y - history, seven hundred and thirty years; so that
p a r e i a v r / p w v r e r r a p a K O V T a / 3 l / 3 X o w o v c r a v T r e p ie - oar whole treatise o f forty Books embraces eleven
y e iv err] B v c rl X e iir o v T a tw v y iX lw v e ic a T o v hundred and thirty-eight years, exclusive o f the
T € T T a p a .K o v T a y w p ls tw v ypovw v tw v tt e p ie y o v - periods which embrace the events before the Trojan
tw v Tas npo tw v T p w iic w v tt p a n e ls . War.
2 T a v T a p e v o v v a ic p i/3 w s ir p o B iw p ic r d p e d a , ¡3 o v - We have given at the outset this precise outline,
X opevoi to vs pev a v a y iv c o a K o v r a s e ls e v v o ia v since we desire to inform our readers about the pro­
a y a y e lv tt/s o X r j s 7r p o O e a e w s , to v s Be B i a a t c e v d ^ e i v ject as a whole, and at the same time to deter those
e lw B o T a s T a s f i l f iX o v s a ir o T p e ^ r a i to v X v p a iv e c r d a i who are accustomed to make their books by com­
T a s a X X o T p i a s 7r p a y p a T e l a s . Z )p Z v b e w a p 1 o X r jv pilation,1 from mutilating works o f which they are not
T r jv l a T o p l a v T a p e v yp a < j> e v T a x a X c o s p r j p e T e y e T w
the authors. And throughout our entire history
it is to be hoped that what we have done well may
4 > O o vo v , r a B e a y v o r j O e v T a T v y y a v e T W B io p d w a e w s
not be the object o f envy, and that the matters
v i to tw v B vvaTW Tepw v.
wherein our knowledge is defective may receive
3 A ie X t] X v 6 o T e s Be vnep wv T rp o yp o vp ed a , t t jv
correction at the hands of more able historians.
67r a y y e X i a v T r js y p a e ftr js / 3 e / 3 c u o v v e y y e i p t j a o p e v . Now that we have set forth the plan and purpose
6 . I le p t p e v o v v 6 e w v T i v a s e v v o i a s e c r y o v o i
o f our undertaking we shall attempt to make good
our promise of such a treatise.
ir p w T O i K a T a B e l^ a v r e s T ip a v to B e lo v , te a l tw v

pvdoX oyovpevw v ire p l e /c d c T o v 1 tw v dO avaTw v, 6. Concerning the various conceptions of the gods
Ta pev 7r o X X a aw TagaaB ai ir a p r /c r o p e v 2 K aT formed by those who were the first to introduce
I B la v B id to t t jv vTToB ecnv to v ttjv tto X X ov X o yo v the worship of the deity, and concerning the myths
T rp o a B e la B a i, o a a 8’ a v t a ls ir p o /c e ip e v a is i c n o p i a i s which are told about each of the immortals, although
o lx e la 3 B o tjw p e v v ir a p y e iv , T ra p a d r /a o p e v ¿v we shall refrain from setting forth the most part
K e c f> a X a io is , Zva p r jB e v tw v a K o r js a% Lw v ¿ t t i ^ t}- in detail, since such a procedure would require a
2 r fjT a i. ir e p l Be to v yevovs tw v a T rd vT w v a vO p w - long account, yet whatever on these subjects we
may feel to be pertinent to the several parts of our
1 So Dindorf : Trfpl t w p.vQo\oyovp.4it(av (K aarov. proposed history we shall present in a summary
2 nap’hcronev Madvig : netpa(r6fif6at
fashion, that nothing which is worth hearing may
3 ol/cua Vogel : ea;t;ora.
be found missing. Concerning, however, every race
1 In Book 40. 8 Diodorus remarks that some of his Books
had been circulated before the publication of the work as a whole. Whether they had been materially altered, as was
often done by the diaskeuasts, is not known.
22
23
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 6. 2-7. i

ttc o v t e a l tc o v ir p a y d e v T c o v ev ro t? y v c o p i^ o p e v o u ; of men, and all events that have taken place in the
p e p e a i tt}? o l / c o v p e v r j ^ , d>? a v e v S e y p T a t t c e p l tc o v known parts of the inhabited world, we shall give
ovtco T r a X a ic b v , d/cpi/3cb<; d v a y p a ^ f r o p e v a ir b tcov
an accurate account, so far as that is possible in the
3 a p y a c o T a tc o v y p o v c o v a p ^ d p e v o i . i r e p l t rj<; ir p c o - case of things that happened so long ago, beginning
t t }$ t o I v v v yeveaeco^ tcov d vO pdnrcov B crral yeyo -
with the earliest times. Now as regards the first
origin of mankind two opinions have arisen among
v a a i v a T r o / f o d a e a 7r a p a roi<? v o p i p c o T a T o i s tc o v re
the best authorities both on nature and on history.
^ ¡ v a io X o y c o v /c a l tcov io T o p i/c c b v oi pev yap
One group, which takes the position that the universe
avTcbv d y e v v r jT o v /c a l a fy O a p r o v v ir o a T p a d p e v o i
did not come into being and will not decay, has
to p K o crp o v, a c r r e i^ p v a v T O /c a l to yepos tcov av-
declared that the race of men also has existed from
0 pcoTTCov e f aicbvo< ; v i r d p y e t v , p r jS e T r o T e tt}? a v T c b v eternity, there having never been a time when
T e /c v c b o e c o ? d p y r j v e a y i j / c v i a s . o i S e y e v v r j T o v /c a l men were first begotten; the other group, however,
( f> d a p T o v e l v a i v o p l a a v T e < ; e c fo r ja a v o p o ic o s e /c e iv c o 1 which holds that the universe came into being and
t on ? a v d p c b ir o v < ; T v y e lv Ttj<; irp c o T y ; yeveaecos will decay, has declared that, like it, men had their
c o p i a p e v o i 1; y p o v o a . first origin at a definite time.1
7. K a r a y a p tt/v el; d.pyfj< ; tcov oX cov c r v c r T a c r iv 7. When in the beginning, as their account runs, the
p d a v e y e c v ib e a v o v p a v o v T € / c a l y r j v , p e p i y p e v t ] 1; universe was being formed,both heaven and earth were
avTcbv t r js cf}vaeco<r p e T a be T a in a S ia c r T a v T c o v indistinguishable in appearance, since their elements
tcov c r c o p a T c o v wn dX X pX cov, top pev /c b a p o v were intermingled : then, when their bodies separated
T r e p iX a fie lv d ir a c r a v ttjp opcopevpv iv avTcb
from one another, the universe took on in all its parts
the ordered form in which it is now seen; the air
c r v v T a l j iP , top S ' d e p a Kivpcreco<; T v y e l v a v v e y o v * ;,
set up a continual motion, and the fiery element in
/ c a l to p e v TrvpcbSe<; a v T o v i r p o 1; tou ? peTecopoTa-
it gathered into the highest regions, since anything
tov ; tottov; a v v S p a p e lv , a v c o c f/e p o v s o va rj< ; T r js
of such a nature moves upward by reason of its
T O ia v T r js c jo v a e c o i S id ttjp /co u cjo o T T jT a ' acp' fjs
lightness (and it is for this reason that the sun and
atTta? top p e p r f K i o v / c a l to X o n r o v i r X i tcov the multitude of other stars became involved in the
aaTpcov e v a T r o X ijc p O r jv a i Trj ir d a y S iv y to Se universal whirl); while all that was mud-like and
tX v c b S e s /c a l doX epbv p eT a tt) ? tcov i /y p c b v avy- thick and contained an admixture of moisture sank
/cpiaeco c; e ir l ta v T o /c a T a c r T r jv a i, S ia to /3 a p o f because of its weight into one place; and as this
1 ¿Kelvtp Rhodom an: iucivois. Peripatetics, and was defended by Theophrastus against Zeno,
the founder of the Stoic school. The arguments used by
Theophrastus are found in Philo Judaeus, D e A e te rn ita te
1 That the universe, as well as the earth and the human M u n d i, especially chaps. 23-27; ep. E. Zeller, A r isto tle a n d the
race, was eternal was the view of Aristotle and the early E a rlie r P erip a te tic s (Eng. transl.), 2. pp. 380 f.
24 25
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 7. 2-6
2 e iX o v p e v o v S’ év é a v r a avveyw s k a l avcnpe^ ó- continually turned about upon itself and became
pevov1 ¿k pév tcúv v y p aiv tt ¡ v O á X c m a v , ék Se compressed, out o f the wet it formed the sea, and
tcúv crTepepvicúTepcúV Troirjcrcu t r¡v yr¡v TrrfXc¿Br¡ out of what was firmer, the land, which was like
3 K a l w a vT eX cú s á ir a X p v . T a v T r jv Se ró p e v ir p c ú T o v potter’s clay and entirely soft. But as the sun’s
tov 7r e p l tov r j X i o v T c v p b s K a T a X á p t j r a v T o s T r fj^ iv fire shone upon the land, it first o f all became firm,
X a f t e í v , e ir e iT a B ia t r¡v d e p p a a í a v d v a ^ v p o v p é v r /s and then, since its surface was in a ferment because
tt)s é m f y a v e í a s a v v o i B f j c r a í T i v a tcúv v y p a i v Kara of the warmth, portions of the wet swelled up in
tt o X X o v s t o 7t o v S i /c a l y e v é a d a i i r e p l a v T a c r -p ir e B ó v a s
masses in many places, and in these pustules covered
v p é c r i X e i n o í s i r e p i e y p p é v a s ' o w e p é v tois é X e c n / c a l
with delicate membranes made their appearance.
Such a phenomenon can be seen even yet in swamps
tois X i p v á ^ o v c n tcúv tottcúv €ti K a l v v v ¿ p a c r d a i
and marshy places whenever, the ground having
y i v ó p e v o v , é i r e i B a v r f j s % c ú p a s K a r e i f r u y p é v r j s a cpvcú
become cold, the air suddenly and without any
B i a w p o s o a r ¡ p y é v r j T a i , p r ¡ X a fñ c ú v t Í]V p e T a / 3 o X r ¡ v
gradual change becomes intensely warm. And
4 ek tov K a T ¿ X íy o v . f cooyovovpévcúv Se tcúv v y p aiv while the wet was being impregnated with life by
B ia Trjs d e p p a a ía s t o v eíp rjp évov T p ó iro v T a s p ev reason o f the warmth in the manner described, by
v v K T a s X a p jü á v e iv a í n i K a tt /v Tpocprjv ¿K Trjs ttl - night the living things forthwith received their
TCTOvcrps ceno tov ire p ié y o vT O S ópí'^ Xr¡s, Tas S nourishment from the mist that fell from the envelop­
r¡p ép as v iro tov KavpaTos cn e p e o v crO a i' to B ing air, and by day were made solid by the intense
ecr^ aTov tcúv Kvocj/opovpévcúv tt ¡ v T e X e ía v a v ^ rja iv h eat; and finally, when the embryos had attained
X a 0 óvTcúV, K a l tcúv vpévcov B iaK avd évTcúv re Kal their full development and the membranes had been
irepcppayévTcúv , á v a tp v íjv a i T ra v T o B a iro v s t v i ro v s thoroughly heated and broken open, there was pro­
5 toicúv. tovtcúv Se ra pev irX e ía T rjS d e p p a a ía s duced every form of animal life.1 O f these, such as
KeKOivcúvrjKOTa arpos t o v s peTecopovs to t t o v s a ire X -
had partaken of the most warmth set off to the
d e iv y e v ó p e v a TCTrjvá, T a Se yecí/Bovs d v T e ^ ó p e v a
higher regions, having become winged, and such as
retained an earthy consistency came to be numbered
(TvyKpícrecús év Ttj tcúv épireTU/v K a l tcúv aX X m v
in the class of creeping things and of the other
tcúv é m y eícú v Tcí^ei K a T a p iQ p r¡ 6r¡v a i, Ta Se land animals, while those whose composition partook
(pvcrecús vypas p á X ic T T a peTe¡Xr¡cf>¿Ta i r p os to v
the most of the wet element gathered into the region
¿p o y e v fj t Óttov crv v B p a p e lv , o v o p a c rd é v T a ttX cútÚ. congenial to them, receiving the name o f water
6 tc ¡ v Se yrjv ael paXXov crTepeovpévrjv v iró re tov animals. And since the earth constantly grew more
rre p l tov rfX io v irv p b s Kal tcúv TrvevpaTCúv t o solid through the action o f the sun’s fire and o f the
T e X e v T a io v p rjK e T i B v v a a d a i prjBév tcúv pei^óvcov winds, it was finally no longer able to generate any
1 So V o g e l: xal <rv<rTpt<p¿/cfpop <7u«x“ s Vulgate, Bekker,
Dindorf. 1 Cp. chap. 10. 2.
2Ó 27
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
^азоуоуесу, aX)C ек тз]Ч тгроч aXXrfXa piljei04
екаата yevvdadai тазу e р-фу-^азу.
7 ’'E ouce Be 7repl тт)ч тазу oXwv фуаеыч ovB'
Шзрпг1Вг]Ч ВьафыуеЪ то1ч nrpoeipr)pivots, равг)тг)ч
03v ’ A va^ayopov тоу фуаскоу1* ev ya p rfj M e\ a -
устгттр riBrjcnv оутыч,
ыч оурауоч те ya ld т pv рорфр pda’
67Гel B' e^oypiaOpaav аХХрХазу Bl^a,
TiKTOVcn 7таута кауеВыкау е1ч фаоч,
BevBpp, тгетг/уа, вг/рач, оуч в' aXprj трефе1 ,
уеуоч те вуртазу.
8. K at 7геpi pev тг/ч ттрштрч тазу оХазу yeve-
сгеозч r o ia v r a 7гаресХрфареу, тоуч В’ е£ архуч
уеууцвеутач тазу dv6 розттыу фаа\у ev ¿лактаз ка1
вррсазВес /31ы кавеатазтач cnropdBrjv етг1 тач
уорач e^ievai, ка1 ттроафереаваь тг)Ч те /Зотаурч
тrjv тгроаруеататру ка1 тоуч ауторатоуч атто
2 тазу ВеуВрыу картгоуч. кал тгоХероурёуоуч pev
утго тазу вт)р1ыу aXXpXoi4 /Зорвеиу утго тоу аурф е-
роуточ ВсВаакореУОУЧ, ав рос^ореуоуч Se Bid тоу
фо/Зоу етгсу1 уазаке1 У ек той ката рикроу тоуч
3 аХХг]Хыу туттоуч. тт)ч фыут)ч S’ a a p p o v ка1
аиуке’у у pevr]4 оуарч ёк тоу кат' oXiyov Всарвpoyv
тач Хе\есч, ка\ тгроч аХХрХоуч тсвеутач аур/ЗоХа
тгер\ екаатоу тазу viroKeipevwv yvwpipov а ф ’ш су
ауто?ч тгощаас тrjv irepl аттаутыу epppveiav.
4 тоюутыу ¿>€ ауатрратыу уьуореуыу кав' аттааау
тrjv olKovpevrjv, o v x орофыуоу ттаутач 6%eif TVV
1 Erg. 488, Nauck.
a G. Busolt, “ Diodor’ s Verhaltniss z. Stoicismus,” J a h r b .
cl. P h il. 139 (1889), 297 ff., ascribes to Posidonius most of the
Preface of Diodorus, but finds in this and the preceding
28
BOOK I. 7. 6-8. 4
o f the larger animals, but each kind o f living creatures
was now begotten by breeding with one another.
And apparently Euripides also, who was a pupil
o f Anaxagoras the natural philosopher, is not opposed
to this account o f the nature o f the universe, for in
his M e l a n i p p e 1 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 o f mortals.
8. Concerning the first generation of the universe
this is the account which we have received.2 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 o f wild trees.
Then, since they were attacked by the wild beasts,
they came to each other’s aid, being instructed by
expediency, and when gathered together in this way
by reason o f 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 o f the inhabited world, not all men had the
chapter Epicurean influence. The fact is that Diodorus’
philosophy, if he may be said to have had any, was highly
eclectic.
29
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BiaXeicTov, eKamwv ws eri/^e aw ra^av twv tcis
Xe^eis' Sio Kal rravToiovs re vrrdp^ai xapaKTppas
SiaXeKTWv Kal Ta irpara yevopieva avaT^piara
twv aTrdvTwv edvwv dpxeyova yeveaBai.
5 Tov? ovv irpwTOVS twv dvdpwirwv pipSevos twv
7r pos fiiov ^ppaipLmv evpppievov eirnrovws Sidyeiv,
yvpivovs piev eadfjTOs ovTas, oiKpcrews Se Kal Trupbs
ar/deis, Tpoifirjs S' r/ptepov TravTeXws dvevvorjrovs.
6 Kal yap rpv avyKopuSpv Trjs ayplas rpcxf.rps dyvo-
ovvTas pipSepuav twv Kapirwv els r a 9 evSelas
iroieiadai TrapaOeaiv Sio Kal ttoXXou9 aiiTwv
aTroXXvadai Kara robs ^eipicbvair Sia re to tfrvxos
7 /tat t ^ j/ <t7tdviv Trjs Tpocfirj9 . e/t Se ro t ) 1 /ta r ’
bXlyov vito Trjs rrelpas SiSaaKopievovs el's re r a
CT7rijXaia Karaifievyeiv ev tw xeipiwvi Kal twv
Kaprrwv tovs (puXarreadai Svvapievov9 dirori-
8 OeaOai. yvwadevTOS Se tov Tropos Kal twv aXXwv
twv xppaipioov Kara puKpov Kal ras re^vas evpe-
drjvai Kal t aXXa r a Svvdpieva top koivov ¡3iov
9 wcfjeXrjaai. KaOoXov yap iravTwv rpv %peiav
aiirp v SiSaaKaXov yeveaOai tois avOpwirois,
iiifypyovpievpv o'lKeiws Tpv eKaarov piaOpaiv
evtyvel %ww Kal avvepyovs '¿xovti npos airavra
X^ipas Kal Xoyov Kal 'jrvxps ayxlvoiav.
10 K a t irepl piev Trjs irpwTps yeveaews twv dv-
Opwirwv Kal tov rraXaioTaTov [Slov r o t 9 ppOelaiv
apKeaOpabpieOa, (TToxatopevoi Ttjs avpipieTpias.
9. Ilep t Se twv 7rpd^ewv twv irapaSeSopievwv
piev els pivppipv, yevopievwv Se ev tois yvwpi^opievois
tottois Trjs oiKOvpievps, Sie^ievai ireipaaopieda.
1 tov Schafer : tovtov.
3°
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 o f the world.
Now the first men, since none o f 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 o f its fruits against their
needs ; consequently large numbers of them perished
in the winters because o f 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 o f 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 o f mind.
And as regards the first origin of men and their
earliest manner o f life we shall be satisfied with
what has been said, since we would keep due propor­
tion in our account. 9. But as regards all the events
which have been handed down to memory and took
place in the known regions o f the inhabited world, we
shall now undertake to give a full account o f them.
31
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 T ou ? pep ovp прштооч опар^артач ¡ЗааиХетч
ovt avTol XeyeiP ey(ppep oí/те тшр ’unopucu/v тог?
€7таууеХХорероич elbévai аьукатат1 верева• abv-
varov yap тур evpeaip тшр урарратшр ov т и ?
éivat, naXaiap шате тог? прштотч (3aaiXevaiP
уХткшттЬа yepéadai• el Sé тг? ка) tovto avy-
%шруаа1 , to ye та/v таторюурафшр уероч ттар-
теХшч фа1рета1 решат), тф котрф ¡31ш аореата-
3 рерор. ттер) Sé туч той yépov4 ард^атотуточ ov
ророр арф/афЗутог/атр f,E ХХуреч, аХХа к а г поХХо)
тшр (3ap/3ápwp, éavTOi/ч ахлоу^ворач Хеуортеч ка)
пршторч тшр атгартшр арв ршпшр еиретач уереа-
ва1 тшр ¿P тф ¡31ш у_рг)а1р,шр, ка) т а ? уерорерач
п а р ’ аЬтотч ттpátjei.4 ек пХе1атшр %роршр араура-
4 фуч у^шават. уре1ч Sé пер) pep туч екаатшр
паХаштуточ такр/[3еч ка) т 1ршр т тротеpel та евру
тшр аХХшр тог? %рог<ог? ка) поаотч етеатр ovk ар
bтоpía al р ев а, та Sé Х еу¿pepa ттар екаатотч тгер)
т»}? ар^атотуточ ка) тшр паХаьшр пра^ешр ер
кефаХато/ч араура’форер, атиурт^орерот tí}? аи р-
б ретртач. тгер) ттрштшр Sé тшр / З а р / З а р ш р ¡ > ié £ i-
рер, ovk а р у(сц ,от ерои ч аотоич yyovpepoT тшр
'Е Х Х у р ш р , каваттер ’(Ефоро? ет рукер, а Х Х а ттро-
ЬтеХветр ftovXópepoi т а п Х е т а т а тшр тгер г а й т о и ч ,
оттшч apíápepoí тшр п а р а тог? " Е Х Х у а т р laTOpov-
р е р ш р pr¡beplap е р таг? а р у ^ а ю Х о у т а т ч е т е р о у е р у
6 пра^тр парер/ЗаХшрер. ene) Sé ката тур
ÁlyvnTOP вешр те уереаетч Ьпар^ат ривоХо-
yoí/ртат, a t те тшр аатршр ару^атотатат п а р а -
32
BOOK I. д. 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 o f 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 o f 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 the
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
cuss 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 interpolate 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 o f the stars are said to have
33
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 9. 6-10. 3

Ttjpri& eK e vp fja d a i X eyo vT a i, 717509 Be tovtov; been made, and where, furthermore, many note­
■ jrp d ^ei; a ljio X o y o i t e a l 7r o X X a l p i e y a X c o v avBpcbv worthy deeds of great men are recorded, we shall
i c n o p o v v T c u , T r o t r j a o p e d a T r j ; l a T o p l a ; ttjv a p x v v
begin our history with the events connected with
Egypt.
B i d twv t e a r A iy u T T T o v ir p a y O e v r a iv .
10. Now the Egyptians have an account like this :
10. 4>acrt toLvvv A iy v m io i Kara ttjv e£
When in the beginning the universe came into being,
Q'PXV'* T“>v dXcov yevecnv irpu/TOv; avOpdirov; men first came into existence in Egypt, both because
yeveadai Kara Tpv AiyvnTOv Bid re T-qv of the favourable climate of the land and because of
ev/epaaiav t »/9 %copa9 /cal Bid tt/v cf/vaiv rod the nature of the Nile. For this stream, since it
NeiXov. tovtov yap 7roXvyovov ovra /cal Ta<; produces much life and provides a spontaneous supply
Tpo(j)d; avTOtf/vei; irapexppievov paSiav; e/CTpe<peiv of food, easily supports whatever living things have
to ^atoyovTjdeVTa- Tr/v re yap tov /caXapiov pl^av been engendered; for both the root of the reed
/cal tov XcotSv, €ti Be tov A ly v im o v /cvapiov /cal and the lotus, as well as the Egyptian bean and
to KaXovpevov Kopaaiov /cal 7roXXd ToiavQ' eTepa c o r s a e u m , as it is called, and many other similar
Tpotf/rjv eTOippv Trapej^eadai to> yevei tS>v dvdped- plants, supply the race of men with nourishment
2 ttcov. tt); S' e £ d p ^ r ji Trap’ a ¿ to ¿9 ^ c o o y o v L a ; all ready for use.1 As proof that animal life appeared
Te/cpippiov i r e i p d / V T a i c j / e p e i v to / c a l v v v Bti ttjv first of all in their land they would offer the fact
e v ® r j / 3 a i S i ' x w p a v / c a r d T iva< ; / c a i p o v 9 tocovtov ;
that even at the present day the soil of the Thebaid
at certain times generates mice in such numbers
i c a l r r j X i / c o v T o v ; p , v 9 y e v v a v 5 > c n e tov; I B o v T a ; to
and of such size as to astonish all who have witnessed
yivo p ievo v e /C T rX rjT T e adai• ev 'io v ; y a p avTuv «09
the phenomenon ; for some of them are fully formed
p ,ev tov <TTq8ovs /cal twv epnrpoaO Lw v rroSw v
as far as the breast and front feet and are able to
B iaT eT V T T M crdai /ca l K ivrjcn v X a p ,fid v e iv , to Be
move, while the rest of the body is unformed, the
X o n r o v tov <T(i>p,aTo; e y e i v d B i a T V i r w T O V , p e v o v e r r ] ; clod of earth still retaining its natural character.
3 eTi Kara rf/vaiv Trj; ficoXov. e/c tovtov S’ elvai And from this fact it is manifest that, when the
(f/avepov OTi /caTa ttjv e£ dp^fj? tov Koapiov < jv- world was first taking shape, the land of Egypt could
crTacriv Trj; 7579 ev/cpaTOV KadeaTtuar]; piaXiaT av better than any other have been the place where
ea'xe Tpv yeveaiv to>v av6pwrrwv r) /caT A iyv irrov mankind came into being because of the well-
X(bpa‘ /cal ya p vvv, ovSapov tt/9 aXXrj9 yfj 9 tempered nature of its soil; for even at the present
(pvov<n]<; ovSev twv toiovtwv, ev piovp TavTp time, while the soil of no other country generates
any such things, in it alone certain living creatures

1 These plants are more fully described in chap. 34. For of such food is described. The co rsa e u m was the tuber of the
Nile water-lily.
the “ root of the reed ” cp. chap. 80, where the preparation
34 35
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 10. 3 -11. i

Ѳ е ш р е І а Ѳ а І тi v a тшѵ е р - ф ѵ ^ ш ѵ т т араВ о^ ш ч £ ш о у о - may be seen coming into being in a marvellous

ѵоѵреѵа. fashion.
4 Ka0óA.ou Bè X é yo vcriv, erre кат а тоѵ eVt In general, they say that if in the flood which
А е ѵ к а А іш ѵ о ч y e v ó p e v o v к ат акХ ѵст роѵ е ф Ѳ а р у та occurred in the time of Deucalion most living things
т г Х е і а т а тшѵ £ ш ш ѵ , е і к о ч р а Х іа т а В іа а еа ш а Ѳ а і were destroyed, it is probable that the inhabitants
т оѵч к а т а т уѵ Аіуѵт т т оѵ viro туѵ p ea y p ß p ia v
o f southern Egypt survived rather than any others,
since their country is rainless for the most part; or
к ат оікоѵ ѵ т ач , шч аѵ туч хш рач аѵт ш ѵ оѵсгуч
if, as some maintain, the destruction o f living things
avopßpov кат а то ттХеіатоѵ, е іт е , к аѲ ат т ер т іѵ е ч
was complete and the earth then brought forth
ф ас т і, т га ѵ т е Х о ѵ ч у е ѵ о р е ѵ у ч тшѵ е р ф ѵ х ш ѵ ф Ѳ о р а ч
again new forms o f animals, nevertheless, even on
у yrį ттаХіѵ è£ архуч к а іѵ а ч уѵеуке тш ѵ £шшѵ such a supposition the first genesis of living things
ф ѵ а е і ч , о р ш ч к а Х к а т а т оѵ т оѵ тоѵ Х о у о ѵ ттреттеіѵ fittingly attaches to this country. For when the
туѵ à p x y y ò v тшѵ е р г ф ѵ ^ ш ѵ уеѵ еа іѵ ттроаатттеіѵ moisture from the abundant rains, which fell among
5 т аѵт у ту %<0/oą. rrj? y à p т а р а т оіч а Х Х о і ч еттор- other peoples, was mingled with the intense heat
ß p ia s тш ттар еаѵ т оіч 1 8 у іѵ о р еѵ ш каѵрат і which prevails in Egypt itself, it is reasonable to
р іуеіа уч еік о ч еѵкрат от ат оѵ у е ѵ е а Ѳ а і тоѵ àepa suppose that the air became very well tempered for
6 ттроч т у ѵ ėį; а р х ѵ ч та>і' ттаѵтшѵ į ш о у о ѵ і а ѵ . каі the first generation of all living things. Indeed, even
yàp èv т о іч каѲ' урач ert Х Р °ѵ °іЧ кат а туѵ in our day during the inundations of Egypt the
еттікХѵсгтоѵ А іу ѵ т т т о ѵ èv rotę о ф ір о іч тшѵ generation o f forms of animal life can clearly be
ѵВатшѵ фаѵерш ч ¿рааѲаі у еѵѵш реѵач ф ѵ а еіч
seen taking place in the pools which remain the
7 ерф ѵхш ѵ от аѵ yàp тоѵ тт от ароѵ туѵ àva^có-
longest; for, whenever the river has begun to recede
and the sun has thoroughly dried the surface of the
р у а і ѵ т т о ю ѵ р е ѵ о ѵ т у ѵ ттрштуѵ т у ч і Х ѵ о ч о у Х ю ч
slime, living animals, they say, take shape, some of
В іа ^ ур а ѵ у, фааі а ѵ ѵ іа т а а Ѳ а і £ш а, тi v a реѵ
them fully formed, but some only half so and still
е іч т еХ оч а т т у р т іа р е ѵ а , т і ѵ а Be у р і т е Х у к а і ттроч
actually united with the very earth.
a b ту а ѵ р ф ѵ у ту у у . 11. Now the men o f Egypt, they say, when ages
11. Toù? В’ о ѵ ѵ к а т А іу ѵ т т т о ѵ аѵѲ рш тто ѵч то ago they came into existence, as they looked up at
7т а Х а і о ѵ уеѵореѵоѵч, a v a ß X e -ф аѵт ач еіч тоѵ the firmament and were struck with both awe and
к о а р о ѵ к а і т у ѵ тшѵ о Х ш ѵ ф ѵ а і ѵ кат ат т Хауеѵт ач wonder at the nature of the universe, conceived that
те 2 к а і Ѳ а ѵ р а а а ѵ т а ч , v T r o X a ß e l v e l v a i Вѵо Ѳеоѵч two gods were both eternal and first, namely, the
аіВ іоѵ ч те каі тг рштоѵ ч, тоѵ те у Х ю ѵ каі туѵ sun and the moon, whom they called respectively
аеХ уѵуѵ, ш ѵ тоѵ р е ѵ 'О а ір іѵ , т уѵ Bè ’ Iспѵ оѵо- Osiris and Isis, these appellations having in each

1 f.avTols Vogel: éavrijs D, аѵтоіs F, Бекксг, Dindorf. 8 T f Vogel : omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
36 37
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. II. 1-5

fiderai, diro twos èrvfiov reOeitrrjs e/carepas rrjs case been based upon a certain meaning in them.
2 7rpoar/yopias Tainrjs. p.eOepp.r]vevop.eva>v yap For when the names are translated into Greek Osiris
tovtcov els tov 'EXXrjviKov rrjs SiaXé/CTOv rpóirov
means “ many-eyed,” and properly so; for in shed­
ding his rays in every direction he surveys with
elvai tov p.èv “O cripiv iroXvó(f>0aXp.ov, el/cÓTcos•
many eyes, as it were, all land and sea. And the
7ravTa’XJj yap eiTifidXXovTa ras àterivas ìócrirep
words of the p o e t1 are also in agreement with this
oefidaXpols ttoXXois ftXerreiv enraerav yrjv «at conception when he says :
OdXarrav. «at tov TroirjTrjv Sé Xeyeiv avpafiaiva
tovtois
The sun, who sees all things and hears all things.

rjéX iós O', o s irdvT ¿(fiopa «at r r d v r ' erra/covei.

And o f the ancient Greek writers o f mythology some
give to Osiris the name Dionysus or, with a slight
3 t 5>v Se i r a p ' " E X X p a i r r r a X a i c o v p . v 6 o X ó y c o v r i v e s change in form, Sirius. One o f them, Eumolpus,
tov "O t r i p i v A ió vv a o v irp o a o v o p .d ^ o v a i «at in his B a c c h i c H y m n speaks of
'S.eipiov T r a p w v v p o i s ' Sìv dLv p o X i r o s p.'ev iv ro is
Our Dionysus, shining like a star,
B a«^t«ot? e i r e c r i (f)rj(riv With fiery eye in ev’ry ray ;
d a rp o e fia rj A ió v v a r o v ev d /eT iv ea cri iro p a riró v, while Orpheus 2 says ;
'O p < p e v s Sé And this is why men call him Shining One
T O vveK a puv /c a X e o v a i t& d v rjrd re «at òuóvvaov.
And Dionysus.

4 (fratr i S é T i v e s « a t r ò e v a p . p . a a v r à ) to rrjs veftp iS o s

Some say that Osiris is also represented with the
cloak o f fawn-skin about his shoulders3 as imitating
d iro rrjs t S>v d e r r p e o v rro iK tX ia s rrepirj(f)O ai. rrjv
the sky spangled with the stars. As for Isis, when
S e ’ Icrtit p L e 6 e p p . r f v e v o p À v r ) v e i v a i n a X a ia v , reO ei-
translated the word means “ ancient,” the name
p.é v r j s rrjs 77 p o t r r j y o p i a s arri) T rjs d iS lo v «at having been given her because her birth was from
n ra X a ià s y evé treco s. tcépara S’ a i i r f j e m n O e a c r i v everlasting and ancient. And they put horns on her
d iro T e T r js ox fretos r j v é y o v a a (p a i v e r a t /caO ' ov head both because o f the appearance which she has
à v -y_ pó vo v v T r d p x j ) p , r j v o e i S r j s , « a t ¿770 r r j s t c a O i e - to the eye when the moon is crescent-shaped, and
p io pL e vrjs a i / r f j / 3 o o s i r a p A ly v rn io is. because among the Egyptians a cow is held sacred
6 T outou ? Se to vs O eovs v tfrie r ra v T a i rov a v p .- to her.
r r a v r a K o tr p to v S i o i / c e i v r p é t p o v T a s r e /c a i a v ^ o v r a s These two gods, they hold, regulate the entire
universe, giving both nourishment and increase to
1 “ The poet ” for the Greeks was H omer; the line occurs 2 Frg. 237, Kern.
frequently, e.g. O d yssey 12. 323. * That is, as Dionysus was com monly represented.
38 39
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
irdvTa t pcpepea iv cbpaa dopaTcp /civ/jaei t rjv
TrepioBov airapT^ovaai'i, Ty t € eapivfj /cal Oepivfj
/cal ^eipepivy- TavTas 8’ evavTicoTciTyv dXXyXais
ttjv cf>vaiv ¿'Xpvaa'i diraprL^eiv tov evcavTOV
dpia TJ7 avpcf/covia- cf/vaiv Se avpftdXXeadai
TcXecaTyv eis ttj» t cbv diravTcov J cooyoviav to>v
decbv tovtcov t bv pev 7rvpcoSov; /cal TrvevpaTO*;,
ttjv 8e vypov /cal £rjpov, /coivi} S’ dpcf>OTepov<:
depos• /cal 8ia tovtcov ttavTa yevvaadai /cal
6 Tpecf>ea9ai. Bib /cal to pev airav acbpa tj}? t ¿bv
oXcov <j>vaeco<; e£ yXiov /cal a eX yv yi dirapTi^eadai,
ra 8e tovtcov pepy nevTe to, Trpoeiprjpeva, to re
7rvevpa /cal to TTvp /cal to fjypov, eri Se to vypov
/cal to TeXevTalov to aepmSe?, cbairep etr dvdpco-
7tov /cecf/aXrjv /cal xelp a s /cal iro8a<; /cal t aXXa
peprj /caTapidpovpev, tov a vrov Tpoirov to acbpa
tov /coapov avytcelaOai nrav e/c tcov irpoeipr)-
pevcov.
12. T ovtcov S’ e/caaTov 6ebv voplaai /cal
7Tpoayyopiav I8lav e/cdaTcp deivai /caTa to ol/ceiov
TpcoTov's 8iaXe/CTcp xpyaapevovs SiypOpcopevt]
too ?
2 tcov /caT AiyvnTOV dvdpcoTTcov. to pev ovv Trvevpa
A i a Trpoaayopevaai pedepprjvevopevrj? ttj? Xe^ecos,
bv aiTiov ovTa tov tyv^i/cov to I? ^oioi? evbpiaav
vTrdp^eiv TrdvTcov oloveL t iva TraTepa. avpcj>co-
velv Se TooTot? cf>avl /cal tov ¿Trccj/aveaTaTOv
tcov Trap "HXXTjai ttoitjtcov enrl tov 6eov tovtov
XeyovTa
TraT7]p dvSpcbv Te decbv Te.
3 to Se irvp pedepp/ r]vevopevov"llcpaiaTov ovopdaai,
v o p l a a v Ta? p e y a v e i v a i d e o v / c a l 7r o X X d a v p -
40
BOOK I. ii. 5- i 3. 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
air-like—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. And they
say that the most renowned of the Greek poets 1
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-
1 Homer; the phrase occurs in many passages.
4i
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
ßdXX eaßai irdaiv et? yepeaip re Kal TeXeiav
4 av^r/crtp. Tt]P Se yT]P axnrep dyyelop Tt t &v
(pvopepcop {nroXap.ßdpopTa<; pnjTepa irpocrayopev-
aai- Kal tov<! " EXXrjpas Se Taurrjv TrapaTrX'paici><;
Ar^pir)Tpap KaXelp, ßpa% v p,eraTedeiert)*; Sia top
Xpopop Ttj; Xe^etu?' to ya p traXaiop opopid^eaOai
yr)p p,rjTepa, KaOdirep Kal TOp'Opefiea irpoerpaprv-
pelp X eyopra
p,t)Tt)p i r d p T i o p , A rjp,rjTrjp TrXovToSoTeipa.
5 to S’ vypop opopidcrai Xeyoverl too? 7raXaiovs
ilKedprjp,1 0 p,e6epp,t)pev6p.epop p,ep elpai Tpoeptjv
prjTepa, irap’ e’otoi? Se t &v ’ EXXrjvwv ’ÜKeapop
inrap^eip vTreiXfj^>6ai, irepl ov Kal top TroitjTtjp
Xeyeip
’ilKeapOP T6 dewp yepeaip Kal pnpTepa rTr)$vp.
6 ot yap AlyvTTTioi vopti^ovaip 'VlKeavov elpai top
irap aoTot? iroTapoP NetXoi/, 7r/oo? m Kal t a?
twp ßeatp yepecreis v n a p lfa r Trj<; yap irden]*;
oiKovp,epr)<; x a r a p.oprjp tt)p A iy u in o p elpai
7roXet? 7roXXa? inro tcop apyaiiop deebp eKTierpie-
p a;, oilop Ato?, HXtoo, Eppai), AtroXXwpo*;,
Tlapos, EiXeidvias, aXXeop irXeiopeop.
7 Too S’ aepa irpoerayopevaal (paerip ’ A ßtjpäp
p,e$epp,t]pevofiept)<; ttj? Xe£e&>?, Kal Ato? dvyaTepa
popiaai t avTTjp, Kal irapdepop viroemptraerdat
Sia re to afjtdopop elpai epvcrei top depa Kal top
aKpoTaTOP eire^eip tottop tov crvpnraPTo; Koerpiov
Sioirep ¿ k Tfj<; Kopvcfirjs tov A io ; p.vdoXoyt]6f]vai
1 'ilK fdrrjv W esseling: F, ¿iKtav6v CD.
1 Frg. 302, Kem.
42
BOOK I. 12. 3-7
tributes much both to the birth and full development
of all things. The earth, again, they looked upon as
a kind o f 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 o f tim e; for in olden
times they called her G£ Meter (Earth Mother), to
which Orpheus 1 bears witness when he speaks of
Earth the Mother o f all, Demeter giver o f wealth.
And the wet, according to them, was called by the
men o f old Oceane, which, when translated, means
Fostering-mother, though some o f the Greeks have
taken it to be Oceanus, in connection with whom
the poet 2 also speaks of
Oceanus source o f 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.3
The air, they say, they called Athena, as the name
is translated, and they considered her to be the
daughter of Zeus and conceived o f 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.
2 Tethys was the wife of Oceanus. The line is from the
I lia d 14. 302.
3 By the time Diodorus visited Egypt many an old
Egyptian city bore a Greek name, such as Diospoli 3 (cp.
chap. 45), Heliopolis, Hermupolis, Apollinopolis, Panopolis,
and the like.
43
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
8 ravrTjv yevea9ai. a>vofida9ai Be avrtjv Tpiro-
yeveiav arro rov rpls fieraftdXXeiv avrrjs rrjv
tpvaiv tear eviavrov, eapos real 9epovs Kal Xel'
fiwvos- Xeyea9ai 8’ avrtjv Kal YXavKannv, ov%
manrep evioi rd>v ’E X X i j v c o v vireXafiov, arro rov
robs ocp9aXfiobs e%eiv yXavKovs’ rovro ¡xev yap
evades vrrdpyeiw dXX' arro rov rov aepa rrjv
rrpoaotyiv e%eiv eyyXavKOv.
9 <Y>aal Se robs rrevre 9eovs rows irpoeipppevovs
rraaav rrjv oiKOVfievrjv errnropevea9ai, (pavra^o-
fievovs rois dv9pdmois ev lepajv v fiopcpais,
earl B' ore els dv9pd>rro)V ISeas rj riviov aXXiov
fierafidXXovras' Kal rovro p.r/ fiv9a>Ses vrrdp^eiv,
dXXd Bvvarov, elrrep ovroi rrp'os dXrfieidv elaiv
ol rrdvr a yevvcbvres. Kal rov rroirfrrfv Be els
10 Aiyvrrrov rrapafiaXbvra Kal fieraa^ovra rrapa
roiv iepeiov ra>v roiovriov Xoyeov 9eivai rrov Kara
rfjv rroirjaiv t o rrpoeiprffievov d>s yivofievov,
Kal re 9eol ¡¡eivoiaiv eoiKores dXXoSarroiai
navroioi reXe9ovres emarpaxpibai rroXrjas,
dv9pdnra>v v/3p(v re Kal evvofi'njv eaoplhvres.
Ilept fiev o v v ra>v e v ovp a vip 9ed>v K a l y e v e a i v
a l B i o v e a x’ r j K o r a i v r o a a v r a X e y o v a i v A l y v r r n o i .
13. ’’AXXovs S ’ £K rovrevv em yeiovs yevea9ai
(paaiv, vrrap^avras fiev 9vifrovs, Bid Be avveaiv
Kal KOivrjv dv9pd>rra>v evepyealav rerew^bras rrfs
a9avaalas, S)V evlovs Kal /BaaiXeis yeyovevai Kara
2 rrjv A ’lyvrrrov. fie9epfirfvevofieva>v S ’ avrebv rivds
fiev ofuovvfiovs VTrdpyfeiv rois ovpaviois, rivds
S’ IBiav eayr\Kevai rrpoarfyoplav, "H Xiov re Kal
44
BOOK I. 12. 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),1 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 2 sets forth as actual fact what
has been said:
The gods, in strangers’ form from alien lands,
Frequent the cities o f 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 o f their sagacity and the good
services which they rendered to all men, attained
immortality, some o f 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
1 This common epithet of Athena in Homer is more
generally taken to mean “ gleaming-eyed.”
2 O dyssey 17. 485-7.
45
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 13. 2-14. i

Kpovov /cal 'P eav, ert Be A t a tov into tivcov Helius, Cronus, and Rhea, and also the Zeus who is
”A ppa>va npocrayopevopevov, irpos Be Toirrot? called Ammon by some, and besides these Hera and
' H p a v K a l " H < $ > a iG T o v , e n S’ ' E a r i a v / c a l r e X e v - Hephaestus, also Hestia, and, finally, Hermes.
Talov ' E p p r j v . Kal i r p a / T o v p e v "H X ion f i a c n X e v - Helius was the first king of the Egyptians, his name
c r a i Tcov K a T t S> K a T
A i y v m o v , o p a / v v p o v ovta
being the same as that o f the heavenly star.1 Some
of the priests, however, say that Hephaestus was
3 ovpavbv aaTpcp. evioi Be twv lepeasv <paal
their first king, since he was the discoverer of fire
TrpMTOv " HcpaidTOv (iacnXevaai, 7rupo? evpeTpv
and received the rule because of this service to
yevopevov Kal Bia T-pv ev^ppcnLav TavTpv mankind; for once, when a tree on the mountains
Tv%ovTa tj/? pyepovla^ yevopevov yap ev rot 9 had been struck by lightning and the forest near by
opeai Kepavvo/3oXov BevBpov Kal tt}? ttXpaiov was ablaze, Hephaestus went up to it, for it was
vXpf KaopevT)1; npocreXdovTa Tbv"H<j)aiaTov Kara winter-time, and greatly enjoyed the heat; as the
Tpv %eipepiov wpav padpvai Bia<f>ep6vTcos enl ri) fire died down he kept adding fuel to it, and while
deppaaLa, XrjyovTO\r Be tov 7711/30? ael T?j? 0X77? keeping the fire going in this way he invited the
¿7TifidXXeiv, Kal tovtq) t S> rpoircp Biarrjpovvra rest of mankind to enjoy the advantage which
to ttD/3 TTpOKaAeiaOai1 too? aXXov? dv6 pb/nov*; came from it. Then Cronus became the ruler, and
4 77 /30? T p v el~ a i / T o v yivo p evp v ev^ p p crT ia v. peTa upon marrying his sister Rhea he begat Osiris and
Be T a v T a tov Kpovov a p g a i, Kal yijp a vT a ttjv Isis, according to some writers of mythology, but,
aBeX<f>pv 'P e a v yevvpaai /cara p e v rtoa? two according to the majority, Zeus and Hera, whose
high achievements gave them dominion over the
pvdoX oym v " O a ip iv Kal ^Icriv, KaTa Be too?
entire universe. From these last were sprung five
n X e a n 00? A La t € Kal "H pav, 00? Bi apeTpv
gods, one born on each of the five days which the
fia cn X evcra i tov avpnavTos K ocrpov. ¿k Be
Egyptians intercalate; 2 the names of these children
TovTcov y e v e a d a i nevTe tfeov?, K a d ’ e K a a T p v two were Osiris and Isis, and also Typhon, Apollo, and
enayopevcov n a p ’ A ly v m io is n e v d ’ p p e p m v eoo? Aphrodite; and Osiris when translated is Dionysus,
yevvpdevTO ?• ovopaTa Be u ira p ^ a i Tot? Te/eow- and Isis is more similar to Demeter than to any
d e la iv ’O a ip tv Kal *I c n v , eTi Be T vtfx S va Kal other goddess; and after Osiris married Isis and
5 A n oX X o/v a Kac A<f>poBirpv Kal tov pev ’ O aipiv succeeded to the kingship he did many things of
pedepppvevopevov eivai Aiovvaov, Tpv Be 'la iv service to the social life of man.
eyyioTa 77W ? ApppTpav. Tavrpv Be yppavTa tov 14. Osiris was the first, they record, to make man-
IQ cnpiv Kal Tpv fiaoiXeiav BiaBegapevov n oXXa
1 That is, the sun.
•npa^ai npos evepyeaiav tov koivov /3iov. 2 The Egyptians used a calendar of twelve months of thirty
14. Yipa/Tov pev yap iravaai t ?/? aXXpXotpayias days each, with five days intercalated at the end of the year.
1 irpoKa\uff6at Dindorf : TrpoffKaKctadcu.
Cp. chap. 50.
46 47
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
to twv dv9pwirwv yevos, evpovarjc; p,ev “ IcrtSo?
TOV T€ TOV 7TVpOV KCU Ti}? ICpiOfjs KapTTOV, <f>vo-
p,evov p,ev <o<? 6Ti)^6 Kara ttjv opav p,era t t } ?
dX\.rj<i ¡3OTavrjc;, ayvoovpievov Be into twv av9pw-
ttwv, tov Be ’ OalpiBo? eTnvorjaapikvov /cal ttjv
tovtwv /caTepyaaiav twv /capirwv, rjBkw<; p.era-
decrdai 7ravTa1} ttjv Tpotf/rjv Bid re ttjv tjBovtjv t t } ?
fivaews twv eiipe9kvTwv teal Bid t o 4*aivea9ai
avp,<pepov inrdp-^eiv direye.aOai Ti}? tear dXXrjXwv
2 ¿ / ¿ ott/ to ?. piapTvpiov 8e tpkpovcn tt}? eiipkaew<;
twv elprjjikvwv /capirwv to Trjpovpievov reap
avToi? kg apxaicov vopap,ov gTt ydp /cal vvv
/card tov 9epiap,ov Toils irpd>Tov<; dp,Tj9kvTa‘i
(TTa'xyf; OkvTas too ? av9 pwirovs /coirTea9ai tt\ tj-
alov tov BpdypiaTO? /cal ttjv ’ Iaiv ava/caXeitrdai,
/cal tovto irpaTTeiv tijitjv dirovkjxovTas ttj 6ew
twv evprjpikvwv icaTa tov eg apxrjs tt}? ebpeaews
3 /caipov. Trap eviaK Be twv iroXewv /cal TOi?
’ Itreiot? ev Tfi Tropnrrj p,eTa twv aW w v cf>epea9ai,
/cal 7rv9p,eva<; irvpwv /cal /cpi9wv, dirop,vrjpovevjia
twv eg dpXV^ TV @eV fyiXoTexywi evpe9evtwv .
9eivai Be <paai /cal v6p,ov<; ttjv *Iaiv, /ca9’ oo?
aX X ijX ois StBovai too ? av9pwirovt; to Bi/caiov /cal
tt}? d9kap,ov /Sta? /cal o/Speo)? 7ravaaa9ai Bid
4 too ¿7TO tt}? Tijiwpiac; (fibfiov Bio /cal tov<;
iraXaiovs "EiWr]va<; ttjv £\rjprjTpav 9eapotpopov
ovop,ageiv, a>? twv vopiwv irpwTOV biro TavTi/?
Te9eipievwv.
15. K T ta a t <f>aai too ? irepl too "Oaipiv
iroXiv ev tt) Srj/3aiBi tt} /caT AlyviTTOv e/ca-
TopnrvXov, rjv e’/ceiooo? p,ev eirwvvpiov iroiijaai tt}?
/ tt/ t / to?, too ? Be pieTayeveaTepowi avTrjv ovop,dgeiv
48
BOOK I. 14. 1-15. i
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 o f 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 o f 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 o f 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,1 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,2 and some named it
1 Law-giver. 2 City of Zeus.
49
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK I. 15. 1-7
2 Ato? ttoXiv, eviovs S e ®rj/3as. dp<f>icr/3i)TeiTai S ’ Thebes. There is no agreement, however, as to
t) /ctictis Trjs TroXecos Taints ov pdvov ttapa tois when this city was founded, not only among the
crvyypacf/evaiv, aXXa /cal Trap’ avrois tois nar historians, but even among the priests of Egypt
AXyviTTov iepevai- ttoXXoI yap laTopovcriv ov% themselves; for many writers say that Thebes was
vtto tu>v irepl tov ”Oaipiv /cTiaOfjvai t <x ? ©r^/Sa?, not founded by Osiris, but many years later by a
aXXa voXXoii varepov ereertv vtto tivos fiacriXecos, certain king of whom we shall give a detailed account
rrepi ov ra Kara pepos ev tois oi/ceiois %povois in connection with his period.1 Osiris, they add,
3 dvaypd.yjrop.ev. ISpvaaadai Se /cal lepov t S) v also built a temple to his parents, Zeus and Hera,
yovecov Aios re /cal "Hpas a^ioXoyov t g > re which was famous both for its size and its costliness
peyeOei /cal t fj Xonrfj TroXvTeXela, /cal vaovs in general, and two golden chapels to Zeus, the
Xpvcrovs Siw Aios, t o v pev pel^ova t o v ovpaviov, larger one to him as god of heaven, the smaller one
t o v Se eXaTTOva t o v ftefiaaiXev/coTos /cal TraTpos
to him as former king and father of the Egyptians,
in which role he is called by some Ammon. He also
4 a v T c b v , o v T i v e s “A p p c o v a / c a X o v a i . /cara-
made golden chapels for the rest o f the gods men­
c r /c e v a c r a i S e /c a l t S>v a X X c o v 6 e S s v t 5>v tr p o e t p r j p e -
tioned above, allotting honours to each o f them and
vcov v a o v s x p v c r o v s , d>v e/cacrT<p T i p a s a r r o v e l p a i
appointing priests to have charge over these. Special
/c a l K a T a < j T r \ a a i tovs ¿ tti p e X o p e v o v s i e p e i s . ir p o - esteem at the court of Osiris and Isis was also
T ip d a d a i Se ir a p a t 5> ' O a i p i S i / c a l T rj ’'IcrtSt tovs accorded to those who should invent any of the arts
ra ? T e ) ( y a s d v e v p i c r / c o v T a s r) p e d o S e v o v T a s t l t d>v or devise any useful process; consequently, since
6 ^p-qaipcov Sioirep ev tt) ®r)ftaiSi %aX/covpyeicov copper and gold mines had been discovered in the
evpedevTwv /cal %pvaei(ov ottXu t c /caTacr/cevd- Thebaid, they fashioned implements with which they
aaaOai, Si d>v to. Orjpia KTeivovTas /cal ttjv yrjv killed the wild beasts and worked the soil, and thus
epya£opevov<; cftiXoTipcos ¿¡¡ppepwaai rrjv ^cbpav, in eager rivalry brought the country under cultiva­
dydXpaTa re /cal ^pvaovs vaovs /caTaa/cevdaaadat, tion, and they made images o f the gods and mag­
TU/v Oecbv Stairpeireis. nificent golden chapels for their worship.
6 TeveoO ai 8e i c a l < j > i X o y e u ) p y o v tov vO e n p i v , / c a l Osiris, they say, was also interested in agriculture
T parpfjvai p e v T r/s e v S a i p o v o s ' A p a f i l a s ev Nvarj and was reared in Nysa, a city of Arabia Felix near
T rX r jc rio v A iy v m o v , A io s ovra ira iS a , /cal ttjv
Egypt, being a son o f Zeus; and the name which
he bears among the Greeks is derived both from
irp o a r/yo p L a v ej(eiv tra p d tois "E X X t/ o i v an to re
his father and from the birthplace, since he is called
tov tta T p o s Kai tov tottov A io vv a o v ovopaa-
Dionysus.2 Mention is also made o f Nysa by the
7 O e v T a .1 p e p v r ja O a i Se t r js N v a tjs /c a l tov
1 The founder was a certain Busiris, according to chap. 45.
1 bvopiacBevTa V o g e l: utTovouairOivTa F, Bekker, Dindorf. 2 A far-fetched etymology : D io - (from D io s, the genitive
form of the nominative Z e u s ) and N y s u s {N y sa ).
5° 51
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
irocrjTrjv ev tok vjuvoi?, otl irepl ttjv
yeyovev, ev dis Xeyei
ecTTi Be Tt9 Noo-»?, v t t a r o v o p o 5 a v d e o v v X r j ,
ttjXov Q o i v i t c r p ;, c r ^ e B o v A l y v i r i o i o p o d c a v .
8 evpeirjv S’ ainov yeveaOai cjracrl apireXov
irepl ttjv N vtrav, /cal t rjv /caiepyaalav toC TavTijs
/capirov irpoaeircvorjaavTa irpd/Tov o'ivcp XPV~
aacr&ai, /cal ScBd^ac tops aXXovs dv9pd/irov<; ttjv
re (jrvTeiav ttj<; apireXov /cal ttjv xPVfflv r °u
olvov /cal ttjv avy/copiBrjv ai/Tov /cal Trjprjcnv,
9 Tipacr9ai 8 vtt ai/Tov pdXiaTa ttdvTcov top
Epprjv, 8iacf)6pcp cjrvaei /cexoprjyrjpevov irpo<;
eirivoiav tcop Bvvapevcov dxf/eXrjcrai top koivov
filov.
16. 'T 7ro yap tovtov irponov pev ttjv re
tcoivrjv SidXe/cTov 8iap9pco9rjvai /cal iroXXa tup
dvwvvpav Tv^eiv irpoarjyopia9, ttjv t e evpecriv
tcov ypappaTcov yeveaOai /ecu tcl irepl ra? reap
6eoiv Tipas /cal 9vala<; BiaTaxSrjvar irepi re
t % To/v darpwv Taneto? /cal irepl Trjs tcov (f>9oyyocv
dppovia1; /cal tfivaews tovtov irpdiTov yeveaOai
irapaTrjprjTrjv, /cal iraXaLtnpa9 evperrjv virdp^at,
/cal T179 evpv9pia<; /cal tyjs irepl to craipa irpe-
irovcrr]1; irXaaeaPi eiripeXi]9rjvai. Xvpav re vev-
pivrjv irocrjaai TplxppBov, ptprjadpevov ra? /car
eviavTov copas' tpec<; yap avTov virocrTrjo'aa9ai
<f>9oyyov$, o^i/v /cal jdapvv /cal peaov, o^vv pep
diro tov depovs, /3apvv Be diro tov xeipb)p°<;,
2 peaov Be diro tov eapo<;. /cal t o o ? " E U r j i / a i
BcBd^ai tovtov t a irepl Trjv epprjvelav, virep cop
52
BOOK I. 15. 7-16. 2
AlyvirTov poet in his Hymns,1 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 Phoenice 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 o f 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 o f 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 high from the summer, the low
from the winter, and the medium from the spring.
The Greeks also were taught by him how to expound
{ h e r m e n e ia ) their thoughts, and it was for this reason
1 Homeric Hymns 1. 8-9.
53
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 16. 2-17. 3

’Е р р у ѵ аѵтоѵ ш ѵ о р а а Ѳ а і. каѲоХоѵ Ве тоѵ ч that he was given the name Hermes. In a word,
тгері тоѵ "О а і р і ѵ т оѵ т оѵ ё % о ѵ т а ч і е р о у р а р р а т е а Osiris, taking him for his priestly scribe, communi­
спгаѵт аѵтш т гр о а а ѵ а к о іѵ о ѵ а Ѳ а і каі р а Х іа т а cated with him on every matter and used his counsel
у^руаѲ аі тт) тоѵтоѵ a v p ¡ 3 o v X Í a . к а і туч е Х а і а ч above that o f all others. The olive tree also, they
Be то ф ѵ т о ѵ аѵт оѵ evp eîv, àXX' оѵк ’А Ѳ у ѵ а ѵ , claim, was his discovery, not Athena’s, as Greeks say.
шаттер г' Е Х Х у ѵ е ч ф а а і . 17. O f Osiris they say that, being of a beneficent
17. Тор Be ’ О а і р і ѵ X é y o v a i v , ш а т ер еѵ ер ует ік о ѵ turn o f mind, and eager for glory, he gathered
о ѵ т а к а і ф і Х о В о ^ о ѵ , атрат оттеВоѵ р е у а аѵат уаа- together a great army, with the intention o f visiting
а Ѳ а і , В і а ѵ о о ѵ р е ѵ о ѵ ет ге Х Ѳ е іѵ а т г а а а ѵ т у ѵ о і к о ѵ р е - all the inhabited earth and teaching the race of men
v r ¡ v к а і B i B d ^ a i то у е ѵ о ч тшѵ аѵѲршттшѵ т у ѵ те how to cultivate the vine and sow wheat and barley;
туч арт геХоѵ ф ѵ т еіаѵ каі тоѵ аттороѵ т оѵ те for he supposed that if he made men give up their
2 т гѵріѵоѵ каі к ріѲ 'іѵ оѵ карттоѵ• ѵтг о Х а р / З а ѵ е і ѵ savagery and adopt a gentle manner o f life he would
yàp а ѵ т о ѵ оті ттаѵаач туч а у р і о т у т о ч т оѵ ч à v - receive immortal honours because o f the magnitude
Ѳ рш ігоѵч к а і В іа іт уч ÿ p é p o v р е т а Х а $ е і ѵ т го іу а а ч o f his benefactions. And this did in fact take place,
т ірш ѵ аѲаѵат ш ѵ теѵ^етаі В іа то реуеѲ оч туч since not only the men o f his time who received this
еѵ ер уеа іа ч . о п е р Ву к а і у е ѵ е а Ѳ а г оѵ роѵ оѵ у а р gift, but all succeeding generations as well, because
т оѵ ч к а т ' ё к е і ѵ о ѵ ч т оѵ ч %р о ѵ о ѵ ч тѵ^рѵтач т уч o f the delight which they take in the foods which
ош реач т аѵт уч, аКХа каі т гаѵт ач т оѵ ч рет а were discovered, have honoured those who intro­
т а ѵ т а е т г і у е ѵ о р е ѵ о ѵ ч В і а т у ѵ è v т а іч е ѵ р е Ѳ е І а а і ч duced them as gods most illustrious.
т р о ф а і ч % а р і т а т оѵ ч е і а у у у а а р е ѵ о ѵ ч ш ч е т т іф а ѵ е -
Now after Osiris had established the affairs of
ат ат оѵч Ѳеоѵч т ет ір ук еѵ а і.
Egypt and turned the supreme power over to Isis
3 Т ор В' o v v "О а і р і ѵ ф а а і т а к а т а т у ѵ А і у ѵ т т т о ѵ
his wife, they say that he placed Hermes at her
кат аат уааѵт а каі туѵ тшѵ оХш ѵ ууер о ѵ іа ѵ
side as counsellor because his prudence raised him
“l a t B i ту у ѵ ѵ а і к і т гараВ оѵт а, т аѵт у р е ѵ тгара-
above the king’s other friends, and as general of
кат аат уааі a vp fto vX o v тоѵ 'E p p y v B ià то
all the land under his sway he left Heracles, who was
ф роѵуаеі т оѵ т оѵ В іа ф ер еіѵ тшѵ аХХш ѵ ф іХ ш ѵ,
both his kinsman and renowned for his valour and
каі ат рат г)уоѵ реѵ а т г о Х іт ге іѵ аттаауч туч ѵф'
аѵт оѵ %cô/3aç 'Н/эалХе'а y é v e i те т г р о а у к о ѵ т а к а і
physical strength, while as governors he appointed
Ѳ а ѵ р а ^ о р е ѵ о ѵ ітг' à v B p e i a те к а і а ш р а т о ч р ш р у ,
Busiris over those parts of Egypt which lie towards
іт гір еХ ут а ч Ве та^аі тшѵ реѵ тгроч Фо і ѵ і к у ѵ Phoenicia and border upon the sea and Antaeus
к ек Х ір еѵ ш ѵ р ер ш ѵ каі тшѵ етгі Ѳ а Х а т т у тотгшѵ over those adjoining Ethiopia and L ibya; then he
Вo v a ip iv , тшѵ Ве к а т а т у ѵ А і Ѳ ю т г і а ѵ к а і А ф ѵ у ѵ
54 55
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 17. 3-18. 2
’A рт алор, avTov S' ек тг/ч А 'луй т т т о у /л е т а т r/ч himself left E gypt with his army to make his cam­
В у р а р е ш ч d v a ^ e v ^ a i т гроч тг/р а т р а т е л а р , е % о р т а paign, taking in his company also his brother, whom
/л е в ' айт ой кал то р аВ еХ ф ор, op ol " Е Х Х г /р е ч the Greeks call Apollo. A nd it was Apollo, they
4 'А т т о Х Х ш р а каХ ойалр. е й р е т г /р Ве ка1 т ойт ор say, who discovered the laurel, a garland o f which
ф аал уереавал т ой ф ат ой тг/ч В а ф р г /ч , г)р ка1 all men place about the head o f this god above
т т ерлт лвеа а л т ойт ш тш в е ш раХ лст т а ттартеч а р - all others. The discovery o f ivy is also attributed
врш т т ол. т о й S e к л т т о й тг/р е й р е с п р а р а т л б е а а л р
to Osiris by the Egyptians and made sacred to this
god, j ust as the Greeks also do in th e case o f Dionysus.
’ О а л р л В л , к а Х к а в л е р о й а л р а й т о р т ойт ш тш в е ш ,
And in the Egyptian language, they say, the ivy is
б кават т ер каХ oi " ^й Х Х т /р е ч А лорйаш . кал кат а
called the “ plant o f Osiris ” and for purposes o f
тг/р А луут т т лш р /л е р 1 В л а Х е к т о р о р о р а ^ е а в а л ф а с п
dedication is preferred to the vine, since the latter
to p klttop ф у т о р 'О а л р л В о ч , т т р о к е к р л а в а л S e тг/ч sheds its leaves while the former ever remains
а р т г е Х о у т о й т о р т гроч т г/р а ф л е р ш а л р S ia т о т г/р g re e n ; the same rule, moreover, the ancients have
рер ф аХ Х орроеср, to p Se ттарта то р ^ророр followed in the case o f other plants also which are
d e iO a X f/ S i a p e p e w оттер т о й ч т т а Х а ю й ч к а Х еф ' perennially green, ascribing, for instance, the myrtle
ет ерш р ф ат ш р аеХ ваХ Х орт ш р т гет го сг/к ер а л, тт/ to Aphrodite and the laurel to Apollo.
рер ’А ф р о В й т г / тг/р p v p a i p r / p , тф S ' ’А т г б Х Х ш р л 18. Now Osiris was accompanied on his campaign,
т г/р В а ф р т /р т т р о а а -ф а р т а ч .2 as the Egyptian account goes, by his two sons
18. Тш S ' ovp 'O a ip iS l ааресттрат ействал Svo Anubis and M acedon, who were distinguished for
Xeyovcnp v i o v 4 ' A t > o v (3L p те к а Х Ш акеВога, S ia - their valour. Both o f them carried the most notable
ф ерорт ач d p S p eia . а р ф о т е р о а ч B e x p i j a a c r f f a i толч accoutrements o f war, taken from certain animals
е т п с л / р о т а т о л ч оттХолч атто тлрш р £ш шр о й к арол-
whose character was not unlike the boldness o f the
men, Anubis wearing a d og ’s skin and Macedon
келш р тг/ 7терХ а й т о й ч е й т о Х р л а • t o p p e p у а р
the fore-parts o f a w o lf; and it is for this reason
“A p o v f i i p 7т е р л б е а б а л к и р г / р , т о р 8 е Ш а к е В о р а
that these animals are held in honour among the
Xv k o v 7гро т орт /р * а ф ’ r/ ч а л ’ тлач к а Х т а £ ш а т а й т а
Egyptians. He also took Pan along on his campaign,
2 т л р г / б г / р а л 7т а р а толч А л у а т т т л о л ч . т г а р а Х а / З е л р S ' who is held in special honour by the E gyptians; for
еттХ тг/р ст т рат е лар к а Х т о р Пат'а, В л а ф е р о р т ш ч the inhabitants o f the land have not only set up
утто т ш р А л у у т г т л ш р т л р ш р е р о р • т о й т ш у а р тойч statues o f him at every temple but have also named
е у х ш р л о у ч о й р о р о р а у а Х р а т а ттетголг/керал к а т а a city after him in the Thebaid, called by the natives
7тар л е р о р , а Х Х а к а Х т т о Х лр ет тш рурор к а т а тг/р Chemmo, which when translated means City o f Pan.1
® г/{ЗалВ а, к а Х о ур ер г/р рер утто тш р еууш рлш р
1 The god Min, being ithyphallic, was usually identified
Х . е р р ш , р е в е р р т / p e v o p e p r / p Ве Па^о? ттоХ лр. avp- by the Greeks with Pan; cp. Herodotus, 2. 46.
1 ¡iiv Bekker, V o g e l: omitted C F , Dindorf. * tj 5’ ‘AOrji'a jrjy iKaiav added F, Bekker, Dindorf.
56 57
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 18. 2-19. 1
ет теаѲаі S e к а і т уч у е с о р у і а ч е р т т е і р і а р ё х о р т а ч , In his company were also men who were experienced
туч p è p ттері т у р арт геХ ор ф ѵ т еіач М арата, т оѵ in agriculture, such as Maron in the cultivation of
Se к а т а тор c titop спт ороѵ к а і туч 0 X175 а ѵ у к о - the vine, and Triptolemus in the sowing o f grain
3 p iS y 5 Трпгт оХ ерор. тгартшр S' еѵт рет гы ѵ уе- and in every step in the harvesting o f it. And when
р о р е ѵ ш р тор " О а і р і р , e v ^ á p e p o р то іч Ѳ еоі5 Ѳ р е ф е ір all his preparations had been completed Osiris made
тур к о р у р P ¿X P l яр e l i А іу ѵ т т т о р а р а к а р ф у , т у р a vow to the gods that he would let his hair grow
т гореіар 7т о і е і а Ѳ а і S i А іѲ ю т гіа ч • Si fjp а іт іа р until his return to Egypt and then made his way
péxpt ты р peanépw p Х Р ° ѴШѴ е р к т х ѵ с т а і то ттері through Ethiopia; and this is the reason why this
т уч коруч p ó p ip o p т гар’ А іу ѵ т т т іо іч , каі тоѵч
custom with regard to their hair was observed
among the Egyptians until recent times, and why
т тоюѵрероѵч тач ат т о 8 ур іа ч p é x p i туч еіч o ik o p
those who journeyed abroad let their hair grow
а ѵ а к о р і8 у ч ко р о т р о ф еір .
until their return home.
4 "O pti S’ аѵтф ттері т ур А ІѲ ю т гІар à хѲ ураі
While he was in Ethiopia, their account continues,
Хеуоѵсп тгроч а ѵ т о р то тсо ѵ Ѣ а т ѵ р ш р уероч , оѵч
the Satyr people were brought to him, who, they
ф аст ір етгі т уч оафѵоч е%ет к б р а ч . еіѵ а і уар say, have hair upon their loins. For Osiris was
top " O c r i p i p ф і Х о у е Х ш т а те к а і х я і р о ѵ т а р о ѵ а і к у laughter-loving and fond o f music and the dance ;
каі х°Р °^' KaL' т г е р ш у е а Ѳ а і ттХуѲоч р о ѵ - consequently he took with him a multitude of
а о ѵ р у ш р , ер о іч т гарѲеѵоѵч è p p é a 8 ѵ р а р е ѵ а ч a S e i p musicians, among whom were nine maidens who
каі кат а та аХХа т гет гаі8еѵреѵач, тач ттара could sing and were trained in the other arts, these
т оіч " К Х Х у а і ѵ ¿рора^орерач М оѵаач’ тоѵтш р S’ maidens being those who among the Greeks are
ууеш Ѳ аі тор 'А т г о Х Х ш р а Х е у о ѵ с т і ѵ , а ф ’ оѵ каі called the Muses ; and their leader (h e g e t e s ), as the
б À io v a y y e T y p аѵтор ф р о р а а Ѳ а і. т оѵ ч те Ѣ а т ѵ р о ѵ ч account goes, was Apollo, who was for that reason
тгроч о р ху/т іР каі p eX w S ia v каі ттастар а ѵ е а і ѵ also given the name Musegetes. As for the Satyrs,
кал ira iS ià p о р т а ч е ѵ Ѳ е т о ѵ ч т т а р а Х у ф Ѳ у ѵ а і тгроч
they were taken along on the campaign because they
т у р а т р а т е і а р * о ѵ у а р т т о Х е р ік о р е і р а і т ор Q a ip ip
were proficient in dancing and singing and every
kind o f relaxation and pastime ; for Osiris was not
o ì/S è т г а р а т а Ц е іч а ѵ р і а т а а Ѳ а і к а і к ір &ѵ р о ѵ ч , а т е
warlike, nor did he have to organize pitched battles
тгаѵточ ёѲроѵч шч Ѳеоѵ ат т о8ех< >ре ѵ оѵ S ià тач
or engagements, since every people received him as
6 е ѵ е р у е а іа ч . кат а 8е тур А ІѲ ю т гІар 8 і8 а £ а ѵ т а
a god because of his benefactions. In Ethiopia he
т оѵ ч а р Ѳ рсотто ѵ ч тФ ттері т у р у е с о р у і а ѵ к а і тгоХеіч instructed the inhabitants in agriculture and founded
Ф Ц ю Х о у о ѵ ч к т і а а ѵ т а к а т а Х іт т е іѵ т оѵ ч ет т ір е Х у с го - some notable cities, and then left behind him men
р е р о ѵ ч т у ч ^сора? к а 'і ф о р о ѵ ч т г р а Ц о р е ѵ о ѵ ч • to govern the country and collect the tribute.
19. Т о ѵ т ш р 8 ’ о р т о о р ттері т а ѵ т а , т о р N e ì X ó p 19. While Osiris and his army were thus employed,
ф асгі кат а т ур т оѵ а еір іо ѵ асттроѵ ¿ттпоХур, the Nile, they say, at the time of the rising o f Sirius,
58 59
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
¿v co tcaipw paXicjTa eicode nXrjpovadai, payevTa
KaTa/cXvadi noXXrjv T/79 A ly v m o v , /cal paXiaTa
tovto to p-epos eneXOeiv ov lipopridevs etye tt]v
enipeXeiav Siacf/OapevTcov Be a^/eSov dndvTcov
t 5>v Kara TavTTjv t rjv j^wpav tov Upopydea Sia
rrjv Xvnrjv KivSvveveiv e/cXmeiv tov /3 Lov eKOvalw;.
2 Bid Be t Tjv o^vTrjra icai tt) v [Blav tov /cat -
eve%9evTO<i pevpaTos tov pev noTapov ’ AeTov
ovopacrdr\vai, tov B’ 'H pa/cXea, peyaXenij3oXov
ovTa /cal ttjv avBpelav e^rfXwKOTa, to Te yevo-
pevov e/cprjypa ra^etu? epcf/pd^ai /cal tov iroTapov
3 eirl Ttjv npovnap^acav pvaiv anoaTpeijrai. Bio
/cal tcov nap' "EjXXtjcti noirjTwv tiva<; eis pvOov
ayayelv to npa-^dev, ¿ 9 'Hpa/cAeou9 tov aeTov
avrjprj/coTOt tov to tov Tipoprjdecos rjnap eaOiovTa.
4 tov Be TroTapbv apy/aioTaTOv pev ovopa cry^etv
'Cl/cedvrjv, 0 9 ecniv eXXrjviaTl ’il/c e a iw eneiTa
Bid to yevopevov e/cprjypa cpaaiv 'AeTov ovopaa-
drjvai, vcjTepov S ’ A iyw TOv ano tov ¡3aaiXev-
cravTO'i T7}9 %<wpa9 npocrayopevdrjvai■ papTvpelv
Be /cal tov noirjTrjv XeyovTa
<TTrj<ra S’ ev A lyvm co noTapw veas dpcpie-
XLcrcra1;.
yap ttjv /caXovpevrjv ®cbviv epf3aXXovTo<;
/c a r a
6t9 OaXaTTav tov noTapov, tovtov tov tottov
epnopiov elvai to naXaiov T/j? A lyvn T ov TeXev-
Taia<; Be Tv^eiv alnov rj9 vvv e%et npo<rr]yopia<;
ano tov (BacriXevcravTos KeiXeo)<i.
6 Tor S’ ovv ”Oaipiv napayevbpevov enl Tovt
T7}9 AW ionias opov; tov noTapbv el; dpcj/OTepcov
t 5>v pepcbv ydpacnv avaXafielv, «crre /ca ra ttjv
60
BOOK I. 19. 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 Aetus ; 1 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 Oceane, which in Greek is
Oceanus; then because of this flood, they say, it
was called Aetus, 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: 2
On the river Aegyptus my curved 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.
a O dyssey 14. 258.
61
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 19. 5-20. 3

т гХураспѵ а ѵ т о ѵ туѵ %á p a v р . у X i p , v á ^ e i v тгa p a at flood-time it might not form stagnant pools over
то <т іір ф ё р о ѵ , a X X a S iá т іѵ аѵ к а т еа к еѵ а а р .ёѵ а ѵ
the land to its detriment, but that the flood-water
might be let upon the countryside, in a gentle flow
Ѳѵраѵ еісга ф іеа Ѳ а і то р е ѵ р .а т т раач каѲ' оаоѵ
as it might be needed, through gates which he had
6 аѵ $ x p eía . ёттеіта т го іу а а а Ѳ а і т уѵ ттореіаѵ
built. After this he continued his march through
Si 'А р а /З іа ч т ара т уѵ ЕрѵѲраѵ ѲаХаттаѵ еач
Arabia along the shore of the Red Sea1 as far as
7 ’I v S á v каі т о ѵ ттёраточ туч о і к о ѵ р .ё ѵ у ч . кт іа си India and the limits of the inhabited world. He also
Se к а і 7т оХ еіч оѵк о Х іуа ч ёѵ ’ Іі>Soi4, ёѵ а і ч каі founded not a few cities in India, one of which he
Nñcrai' o v o p , á a a i , /Зоѵ Х оріеѵ оѵ р ,ѵ ур ,еіо ѵ а т го Х п ге іѵ named Nysa, wishing to leave there a memorial of
ёк еіѵ уч к а Ѳ ' у ѵ ёт р а ф у кат А іуѵт гт оѵ. фѵт еѵааі that city in Egypt where he had been reared. He
йе каі кпт оѵ ё ѵ т у ттар Т^йоГ? Núcrjj, к а і S ia - also planted ivy in the Indian Nysa, and throughout
р,ёѵ еіѵ тоѵто то ф ѵ т о ѵ ё ѵ ё к е і ѵ а р , о ѵ а тёр тотга India and those countries which border upon it the
т а ѵ те к а т а т у ѵ ’Iv S iK y v к а і туѵ S p ,o p o v y a á p a v . plant to this day is still to be found only in this
В ттоХХа йе к а і а Х Х а а у р е і а т у ч ё а ѵ т о ѵ т т ар оѵ сгіач region. And many other signs of his stay he left
атг о Х е Х о іт г é v а і кат’ ёк еіѵ уѵ туѵ %ш р а ѵ , S i аѵ in that country, which have led the Indians of a later
т гроа^Ѳёѵтач тоѵч ріет ауеѵ еат ёроѵ ч таѵ ’ Iv S á v time to lay claim to the god and say that he was by
а р ,ф іа /3 у т у а а і тоѵ Ѳеоѵ, Х ёуоѵт ач ’I v S o v еіѵ а і
birth a native of India.
20. Osiris also took an interest in hunting elephants,
то у ё ѵ о ч .
and everywhere left behind him inscribed pillars tell­
20. ГеѵёаѲ аі йе каі ттері т у ѵ т а ѵ е Х е ф а ѵ т а ѵ
ing of his campaign. And he visited all the other
Ѳ ураѵ, каі ат уХач ттаѵта’Х р ѵ к а т а Х п геіѵ 1 т уч
nations of Asia as well and crossed into Europe at
iS ía 4 ат рат еіач. ё т ге Х Ѳ е іѵ йе каі т аХХа та the Hellespont. In Thrace he slew Lycurgus, the
кат а туѵ ’А с г і а ѵ ёѲ ѵу, к а і т т ераіаѲ уѵ аі к а т а king of the barbarians, who opposed his undertak­
2 тоѵ Ч ё іХ Х у а т го ѵ т о ѵ еіч т уѵ J L v p á i r y v . каі кат а ings, and Maron, who was now old, he left there to
реѵ туѵ (д р іік уѵ А ѵкоѵруоѵ тоѵ /З а сп Х ёа т аѵ supervise the culture of the plants which he intro­
fta p fü á p a v ё ѵ а ѵ т ю ѵ р ,еѵ о ѵ т оіч ѵтг аѵтоѵ жрат- duced into that land and caused him to found a city
т о р іё ѵ о іч а т т о к т е іѵ а і, Мápava йе уур а іо ѵ ySy to bear his name, which he called Maroneia. Mace-
к а Ѳ е а т а т а к а т а Х п г е і ѵ ё т г і р .е Х у т у ѵ т а ѵ ё ѵ т а ѵ т у don his son, moreover, he left as king of Macedonia,
ту o p a ф ѵт еѵ оріёѵ аѵ , к а і к т іа т уѵ аѵт оѵ т г о іу а а і which was named after him, while to Triptolemus he
т у ч ё т г а ѵ ѵ р л ѵ ттоХеач, у ѵ o v o p ,á a a i Ма р а ѵ еіа ѵ . assigned the care of agriculture in Attica. Finally,
3 каі М а к ей от р ,ё ѵ тоѵ ѵ і о ѵ а т г о Х п г е і ѵ /З а а іХ ё а Osiris in this way visited all the inhabited world and
т уч атг ёк еіѵ оѵ т грооауореѵѲ еІоуч А іа к еёо ѵ іа ч , 1 Not the present Red Sea, but the Persian Gulf and the
Т ригт оХ ёра й’ ё т гіт р ё -ф а і т а ч к а т а т у ѵ ’А ттік у ѵ Indian Ocean.
у еа р уіа ч . т ёХ оч йе тоѵ ѵО с п р і ѵ т гаааѵ туѵ 1 катаХпгеіѵ гтаѵтаxov Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf,
Ó2 63
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 20. 3-21. 4
o ' l K O v p e p p p е п е Х в о У т а tov koipov ß l o v то1ч ppe- advanced community life by the introduction o f the
4 рсот ат ок к а р п о 1 ч evep y eT p cra i. e l Be т к X °^ P a fruits which are most easily cultivated. And if any
то ф у т о р трч d p n e X o v pp n p o a S ix o iT O , S iS d g a i country did not admit o f the growing o f the vine
то e к т рч к р с в р ч к а т а а к е о а ^ о р е р о р п о р а , Х е ш б - he introduced the drink prepared from barley,1 which
p e v o v o il ttoX v т рч i r e p l tov o l v o v e v w S l a 4 те к а л is little inferior to wine in aroma and in strength.
б S v v d p e u > 4. епареХ ворт а S’ е1ч трр A ty w T o v
On his return to Egypt he brought with him the
a v v a n o K o p ia a i Sw pd те n а р т а х о в е у та кратктта
very greatest presents from every quarter and by
reason o f the magnitude o f his benefactions received
к а 1 S i d то р ё у е в о ч toiv e v e p y e c r i c o v сгурп еф ш рр-
the gift of immortality with the approval o f all
p evp v X a ß e iv п а р а n ä a i тp v d d a v a a i a v к а л т р у
men and honour equal to that offered to the gods of
6 Icrpv то 1ч o vp a vlo i4 T ip p v . рет а Se таит eg
heaven. After this he passed from the midst o f men
avdpw nw v elч 9 eo ii4 рет асгт арт а ти^еи* vtto
into the company o f the gods and received from
“IcrtSo? кал 'E p p o v dvcnw v кал twp ä X X w v twv Isis and Hermes sacrifices and every other highest
етлфауестт ат ш у T ip w v . тоитоич S e к а 1 теХетач honour. These also instituted rites for him and
K aT a S eig a i кал поХХа русгт ькш ч e l a p y p a a a 9 a i , introduced many things of a mystic nature, magni­
реуаХ урорт ач той веоь трр S v v a p i v , fying in this way the power of the god.
21. T w v S ' l e p e w v i r e p l т рч ’O c r i p i S o 4 т еХ е У т рч 21. Although the priests of Osiris had from the
eg d p x a lco v ev апорррт ок т га р е С Х р ф о т о з р , тф earliest times received the account of his death as a
X p ö p tp 1г о т е e r v v e ß p S id tivw p е1ч тоуч i то Х Х оуч matter not to be divulged, in the course of years it
2 e g e v e x ^ p v a i то c n w n w p e v o v . фа<т1 y a p рорёрш ч came about that through some of their number this
ß a a iX ev o vT a т рч A ly v n T o v тор ”O a i p i v vno
hidden knowledge was published to the many. This
is the story as they give i t : When Osiris was ruling
Туф ы роч d va ip ed p va i т а5еХф оу, ß ia io v ка1
over Egypt as its lawful king, he was murdered by
daeßov4 орточ‘ o v S i e X o v T a то а ш р а tov ф ореу-
his brother Typhon, a violent and impious m an;
в ё р т о ч еёч e g к а 1 е Х к о с п р ё р р S o v v a i twp rrvven iQ e-
Typhon then divided the body of the slain man into
p e v c o v ёк ас гт са p e p l S a , ß o v X o p e v o v п а р т а ч р е т а с г -
twenty-six pieces and gave one portion to each of
X e iv тоу русгоуч, кал S id tovtov 1 vo p ig o vT a the band of murderers, since he wanted all of them
а ур а ую р к т т а ч egeiv к а 1 ф у Х а к а ч трч ß a a i X e l a 4 to share in the pollution and felt that in this way
3 ß e ß a l o v 4. трр Se , lc riv а8еХ ф рр oucrap O a lp i- he would have in them steadfast supporters and
S 04 к а л y v v a i K a р е т е Х в е Ъ top ф орор, c rv v a y w v i- defenders of his rule. But Isis, the sister and wife
gopevov tov i r a i S o 4 a i /трч " f l p o v , aveX ovaav Se of Osiris, avenged his murder with the aid of her
т ор Tуф ш ра ка1 тоуч a v p n p d g a v T a 4 ß a criX eva a s. son Horus, and after slaying Typhon and his accom­
4 т рч A ly v irT o v . у eveadai Se трр pdxpv пара plices became queen over Egypt. The struggle
1 m i r o v V o g e l: ra v ra Vulgate, Beklier, Dindorf. 1 The Egyptian beer, called below zy th o s (chap. 34).
64 65
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 2i. 4-8
tov 7г о т а р о у тгХт/ a i o v туч vvv ’A v r a L o v K w p y 4 between them took place on the banks o f the Nile
к а Х о у р е у у ч , y v K e ic r O c u p e v X e y o v c n v e v tw кат а near the village now known as Antaeus, which, they
tt]v 'A p a f i l a v p ep ei, Tyv tt p o cryyo p ia v S' '¿Xе Lv say, lies on the Arabian side of the river and derives
a iro tov коХаавеут оч уф ' Н ракХеооч A V T a io v, its name from that Antaeus,1 a contemporary of
В to v кат а T y v 'O a ip i8 o 4 y X iK ia v ye v o p e v o v . Tyv Osiris, who was punished by Heracles. Now Isis re­
S’ о vp * I a iv ттаута т а p e p y той а о зр а т о ч irX yv covered all the pieces of the body except the privates,
tw v a lS o L w v a v e v p e iv fio v X o p e v y v Se Tyv т ау- and wishing that the burial-place of her husband
8роч т аф уу d S y X o v v o i y a a i кал T ip w p e v y v т а р а
should remain secret and yet be honoured by all the
inhabitants of Egypt, she fulfilled her purpose in
т г а с п Т01Ч T y v A ly v irr o v кат оькоусп, a vvT eX ea a i
somewhat the following manner. Over each piece
to S o ^ a v TO iw Se t iv i троттш. е к сит т ш tw v pepw v
of the body, as the account goes, she fashioned out
ire p n rX d a a i X e y o va iv a v T y v tvttov d v6 p w rro eiS y,
o f spices and wax a human figure about the size of
T ra p a irX ya io v 'O a ip iS i то р е у е в о ч , ¿1; a p w p a T w v Osiris ; then summoning the priests group by group,
6 кал куроу- elaK aX eaap ev y v Se к а т а yevy tw v she required of all of them an oath that they would
lepewv e^opKLaai ттаутач pySevl SyXw aeiv ту у reveal to no one the trust which she was going to
Sodyaopevyv а Ь то 1ч 7ГIg t i v , к а т ISiav S’ е к а а т 01 Ч confide to them, and taking each group of them
elirelv OTt p o v o i 4 екеХуоьч w a p a T iO e T a i тгр> t o v apart privately she said that she was consigning to
сгшраточ та ф у у , кал t w v evepyecnwv v iro p v y a a - them alone the burial of the body, and after remind­
a a v 7гapaK aX ecrai ваф гаутач ev т о 1ч iS io i 4 tottoi 4 ing them o f the benefactions of Osiris she exhorted
то a w p a T ip a v озч Oeov to v Otrip iv, к а в te p w a a i them to bury his body in their own district and pay
Se кал t w v у ivopevwv тгар’ a v T 0i 4 £wwv ev ottoiov honours to him as to a god, and to consecrate to
av ¡BovXyOwcn, ка\ t o v t ev pev t w £yv T ip a v , him also some one that they might choose o f the
каваттер кал ттротероу t o v “O a ip iv , р е т а Se туу
animals native to their district, pay it while living
the honours which they had formerly rendered to
теХ еатуу туч ороХач eKelvw к у 8еьач a^iovv.
Osiris, and upon its death accord it the same
7 ¡H ovX opevyv Se Tyv * Ia iv Kai tw X va iT e X eZ
kind of funeral as they had given to him. And since
т грот рефгааваи тоуч 1ере1ч етгХ тач тгp o e i p r j -
Isis wished to induce the priests to render these
реуач т срач, то трХтор р е р о ч туч ¿ (¿ р а ч аутоХч honours by the incentive of their own profit also,
Sovvai ттроч тач tw v 6ew v верат геьач те каь she gave them the third part of the country to defray
8 ХепоуруХач. тоуч 8’ 1ере1ч X eyeT a i, pvypo- the cost of the worship and service of the gods.
уеуоут ач tw v 'O a ip iS o 4 evep yecn w v x a i ту iтара- And the priests, it is said, being mindful of the
benefactions of Osiris and eager to please the queen
1 Antaeus was a giant of Libya, the son of Poseidon
and Earth, who was slain by Heracles (cp. Book 4. 17. 4). whenever he touched his mother Earth and Heracles over­
According to one version of th© story he received strength came him only by holding him in the air.
66 67
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
KaXovcrrj fiovXopevovs yapi^eaOai, 717509 Be tov-
tois rat XvcriTeXel TrpoKX-rjBevTat, irdvTa Trpa!;cu
9 Kara ttjv ’TcriSo9 vttoOtjktjv. Bio Kal pe^pi tov
vvv £KacTT0V<: twv iepewv vnoXapfiaveiv Trap'
eavTOL9 Te6d<f>0ai tov "Ocnpiv, Kal rd re e£ dp^rp;
KadiepwdevTa £q>a Tipav, Kal TeXevT-rjadvTWV
avTwv ev rat9 Tafiais dvaveovcrOai to tov 'OaLpiBos
10 irev6o<;. tov< ; Be Tavpov<; tov9 i'e/50159, tov re
ovopa^opevov ' A ttiv Kal tov M.veviv, ’ OaipiBi
Ka6 lepwBfjvai, Kal tovtov9 aefieaQai KaBdirep
Oeoii9 KOivfj KaTa8eix@Vvai irdaiv AI^ vtttlok'
11 Tai'na yap r a £a>a toi9 evpovtri tov tov ctitov
KapTrbv avvepyrjcrai paXiaTa Trpo<; Te tov
cnropov Kal Tas Koivas cnravTwv ek tt/ 9 yewpyias
a x p eX eia s.
22. Trjv Be 'la lv <f>aai peTa ttjv 'OcripiBos
TeXevTtjv opocrai prjBevos dvBpot eri crvvovaiav
TrpoaBe^e<r6ai,x BiaTeXecrai Be tov Xoittov tov
ftiov xpovov fiaa¿Xevovaav vopipwTaTa Kal r a i 9
€19 too 9 dpxppevow; evepyeaiaiK diravTa<i virep-
2 /SaXXopevrjv. opoLw9 Be Kal TavTtjv peTaaTaaav
e£ civOpcoTTCov TV)(eiv ddavaTiov Tipwv Kal Ta<f>rjvai
KaTa tijv M.ep<f>iv, ottov BeiKWTai pe^pi tov vvv
0 crrjKo<;, VTrdpxwv ev t S> Tepevei tov 'H ^atcrT ou.
3 evioi Be <f>aaiv ovk ev M ep<f>ei KeiaBai Ta acbpaTa
tovtcov twv 6ewv, dXX’ ¿ttI twv opwv tt)9 AldioirLa'i
Kal Trjs AlyvTTTOv KaTa ttjv ev tw N eiXw vfjaov,
Keipevrjv pev 77/509 T<xi9 KaXovpevais O t\ at9,
1 irpoir5i£e(r0ai H ertlein : Trpo(rd€^a(r8ai.
1 Cp. chaps. 84 f.
2 Though the island of Philae, once “ the pearl of Egypt,”
was a sacred place o f early Egypt, the beautiful temples which
68
BOOK I. 21. 8-22. 3
who was petitioning th em , and in cited as well by
their own profit, did everyth in g ju st as Isis had
su ggested. It is for this reason that even to this
day each group o f priests supposes that Osiris lies
buried in their district, pays honours to the animals
which w ere originally consecrated to him , and,
w hen these die, renew s in the funeral rites for them
the m ourning for Osiris. T h e consecration to Osiris,
how ever, o f the sacred bulls, which are given the
names A pis and M nevis,1 and the worship o f them
as gods w ere introduced generally am ong all the
E gyptians, since these animals had, m ore than any
others, rendered aid to those who discovered the
fruit o f th e grain, in conn ection w ith both the sow­
ing o f the seed and with every agricultural labour
from which m ankind profits.
22. Isis, th ey say, after the death o f Osiris took
a vow never to marry another m an, and passed the
rem ainder o f her life reigning over the land with
com plete respect for the law and surpassing all
sovereigns in benefactions to her subjects. A n d like
her husband she also, when she passed from am ong
m en, received im m ortal honours and was bu ried near
M em phis, where her shrine is p oin ted out to this day
in the tem ple-area o f H ephaestus. A ccord in g to
som e writers, h ow ever, the bodies o f these tw o gods
rest, n ot in M em phis, b u t on the border b etw een
E g y p t and E thiopia, on the island in the Nile which
lies near the city w hich is called Philae,2 but is
have made it so famous were constructions of the Ptolemies of
the last two centuries B .c . 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.
69
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 22. 3-7

e ^ o v a a v B e ттр о с т р у o p L a v ат го т о й с т р р ^ е ^ р к о т о ч referred to because of this burial as the Holy Field.

4 i e p o v ir e B L o v , a p p e ia Be tovtov B e iK v v o v a iv ev In proof of this they point to remains which still
T jj vp crcp т а р tjj B ia p e v o v r a тo v те т аф ор т ov survive on this island, both to the tomb constructed
к а т е с т к е р а с г р е р о р ’O a l p i B i , K O iv fj T i p i o p e v o v v i to
for Osiris, which is honoured in common by all the
тш р кат A iy v T T T o v ie p e o o v , к а Х т а ? тгерХ tovtov
priests of Egypt, and to the three hundred and sixty
libation bowls which are placed around i t ; for the
6 K e ip e v a 4 е^ркорт а каХ т р ш ко а Х а ч ^ о а ?’ т арт ач
priests appointed over these bowls fill them each day
уар кав' ека ст т р р ppepav уаХ акт оч rrX p p o vv
with milk, singing all the while a dirge in which they
tops т гроч т о и тог? т а у в е р т а ч ie p e c s , к а Х d p p v e iv
call upon the names of these gods. It is for this
6 а р а к а Х о р р е р о о ч та t & v 6eS> v o v o p a T a . B i a тах>- reason that travellers are not allowed to set foot on
тт]р Be т р р а 1 т 1 а р к а Х т р р v p a o v T a in p v а /З а т о у this island. And all the inhabitants o f the Thebaid,
elva i то1ч tra p io v c ri.1 каХ ттартач tops ttjp which is the oldest portion of Egypt, hold it to be the
® p /3 a iB a к а т о 1 к о 0 р т а ч , р т гер еат Х р ару^ают ат р strongest oath when a man swears “ by Osiris who
трч A l y v i T T o v , p e y i c n o v оркоу K p tv e iv , от ар t i? lieth in Philae.”
tov ”0 c r i p i v top ev Фi X a i 4 K e i p e v o v o p o c r p . Now the parts of the body of Osiris which were
Та pep ovv aveppedevTa tov ’O a i p i B o 4 pepp found were honoured with burial, they say, in the
т афрч а^кабрраХ ф асп tov e lp p p e v o v T p o iro v, to manner described above, but the privates, according
Be aiB o io v v i to pev T рф ы п/оч els тор т гот арор to them, were thrown by Typlion into the Nile
р1фрра1 X e y o v a i 2 B id to p rjB eva tw v avvepyp-
because no one of his accomplices was willing to take
them. Y et Isis thought them as worthy of divine
a a v T i o v a v T o X a f i e i v / З о р Х р в р р а с , i n to Be т р ч * i & l B o 4
honours as the other parts, for, fashioning a likeness
o v B e v i j T T O v тш р a X X c o v a X f i w O r j v a i T i p S y v l a o d e o i v
of them, she set it up in the temples, commanded
e v те y a p т о к 1 е ро1ч e i B w X o p a v T o v к а т а а к е р а а а -
that it be honoured, and made it the object of the
a a v T i p a v K a T a B e i ^ a i к а Х к а т а т а ? те Хет а ? к а Х highest regard and reverence in the rites and sacri­
т а ? д р с гХ а ч т а ? тш в е й тортш у с р о р е р а ч eiт р о т а - fices accorded to the god. Consequently the Greeks
тор T T O irjaai каХ тгХеХатор a e f i a c r p o v T u y y d v e i v . too, inasmuch as they received from Egypt the cele­
7 B io каХ торч ' Е Х Х р у а ч , ei\ АХурт тт ор т г а р е 1 Х р ф о т а ч brations of the orgies and the festivals connected
та тгерХ торч орум сгрорч каХ та? А ю ур сп о .к а ч with Dionysus, honour this member in both the
е о р т а ч , T i p a v тоОто то p o p i o v e v те то1ч р р а т р р Х о к mysteries and the initiatory rites and sacrifices of
к аХ та1ч тоО в е о р tovtov т е Х е т а к те к а Х 9 v c r i a i 4 , this god, giving it the name “ phallus.” 1
орора^орт ач арт о ф а Х Х о у.
1 P. Foucart ( L e C u lte de D io n y s o s en A ttiq u e ) maintained
1 т ois TrapiodfTi Vogel, following nearly all the MSS. : wAljv the Egyptian origin of the rites of Dionysus, but his view was
toIi ie p e v m E, Bekker, Dindorf. strongly opposed by L. R . Farnell (T h e C u lts o f the C reek
2 \4 y o v m deleted by Bekker, Dindorf. C ity S ta te s, 5. pp. 174 ff.).

70 71
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK L 23 . 1-5

23. E I v a i S é eTT) ( p a c r l v à i r b ’O c r i p i S o f K a l 23. The number of years from Osiris and Isis,
“I c r i S o f ew f T?}? ’A X e l f d v S p o v ß a c r i X e i a f tov they say, to the reign of Alexander, who founded 331
K T i c r a v T O f è v A ì y u T T T ù ) t rjv è i r w v v p i o v a v T o v i r o X i v the city which bears his name in Egypt, is over ten B.O.
T rX eiw twv p i v p i m v , w f 8’ é v i o i y p d c f o v c n , ß p a - ^ v thousand, but, according to other writers, a little
2 Xe'nrovTa twv Siapvpiwv Kal rpiay(iXiwv. t o v ? less than twenty-three thousand. And those who
Se Xe'yovraf èv Orjßaif t ì } ? BoiwTiaf yeyovévai say that the god 1 was born of Semele and Zeus in
Boeotian Thebes are, according to the priests, simply
tov deòv è/c ’ß.epeXrjf Kal A co? (fiacri a%eSia^eiv.
inventing the tale. For they say that Orpheus,
’O pcféa ydp et? Aìyvmov TrapaßaXovTa Kal
upon visiting Egypt and participating in the initia­
pxTacr^óvTa Trjf TeXeTrjf « a t twv A lovvaiaKwv tion and mysteries of Dionysus, adopted them and
pMcmqpiwv peTuXaßelv} rot? Sè 2 KaS/tetot? <f>LXov as a favour to the descendants of Cadmus, since he
ovTa Kal Tipiwpevov vtr avtwv peTadeivai tov was kindly disposed to them and received honours
Oeov t>}v yévecriv é/ceivoi? y^apilfopevov t o v ? 8 ’ at their hands, transferred the birth of the god to
q^Aov? rà /¿èv Sta ttjv ayvoiav, rà Sè Sia rò Thebes; and the common people, partly out of
ßovXecrdai tov deòv "YAXpva vopd^ecrdai, irpoa- ignorance and partly out of their desire to have the
Sélfacrdai Trpoapvwf Taf reAerà? Kal rà /¿vcr- god thought to be a Greek, eagerly accepted his
3 Tripla. à<poppàf S’ e%eiv tov ’ O pcféa irpòf ttjv initiatory rites and mysteries. What led Orpheus
pieTadeaiv Tr/f t o v #eov yeveaeu.>? tc /eat TeXeTÌjf to transfer the birth and rites of the god, they say,
ToiavTaf. was something like this.
4 KaS/tov e’« ® i ) ß w v ò v T a twv A l y u T T T i w v y e v v r j - Cadmus, who was a citizen of Egyptian Thebes,
aai crvv a X X o i f T e K v o i f K a l 2,ep,éX r]v, T a v T p v Se
begat several children, o f whom one was Semele;
vcf>' otov S r/T roT e3 ( f d a p e t a a v éyK vov ye v é a d a i,
she was violated by an unknown person, became
pregnant, and after seven months gave birth to a
Kal te K e l v e m à p .p v w v S leX d ó vT w v ß pécpof tt) v
child whose appearance was such as the Egyptians
o\fn v oló vire p ol KaT A i y v i r tov tov 'O c r ip iv
hold had been that of Osiris. Now such a child is not
yeyovévai v o p i^o v a r ^ w o y c v e t c r d a i S ' ovk e l w d é v a i
usually brought into the world alive, either because
t Ò toiovtov, e i T e p p ß o v X o p é v w v etVe
twv 6 e w v
it is contrary to the will o f the gods or because the
5 Trjf (pvaewf p.rj avy\ w p °va rjf. KdSp.ov S' aicrdó- law o f nature does not admit o f it. But when
pievov t Ò yeyovóf, Kal ^ prjcrp.òv c^ ovto SiaTppeiv Cadmus found out what had taken place, having
t Ò twv iraTepwv vòpipa, %pvaw aai Te to ßpe<f>of at the same time a reply from an oracle commanding
Kal Taf KadrjKOvaaf avTw Troipaacrdai OvcrLaf, him to observe the laws of his fathers, he both
1 fx fra X a ß flv Vogel : ¡icraXa&6vra A E, Bekker, Dindorf. gilded the infant and paid it the appropriate sacri­
2 Sè V o g e l : T€ D , B e k k e r , D in d orf, fices, on the ground that there had been a sort of
3 So Stephanus : v irò t o v Stjtot«. 1 Dionysus.
72
73
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 23. 5-24. i
¿9 €7r i c f / a v e i a s tiv o s /ca r a vd p d o iro vs ’O c r i p i B o s epiphany1 o f Osiris among men. The fatherhood o f
6 yeyevypevys. avayfrai Be /cal ttjv y e v e a iv eis the child he attributed to Zeus, in this way magni­
A la , aep ivvvo v T a tov *O a i p i v /cal tyjs c j / O a p e i a r i s fying Osiris and averting slander from his violated
ttjv B i a / 3 o \ r ; v a cj> a ip o vp ,evo v B io /cal ira p a rot? daughter; and this is the reason why the tale was
W
EX X rja iv e/cB o8rjvai X o y o v ¿ 9 17 E a B p b o v X e p ,e X r ] given out among the Greeks to the effect that
T ero /cev e/c A ib s " O a ip iv. ev Be tois vcnepov Semelê, the daughter o f Cadmus, was the mother o f
X p o v o is ’ Opcf/ea, p .e y a k i) v e y o v T a B oijav ira p a , r o t s Osiris by Zeus. Now at a later time Orpheus, who
" EX X r j a i v ¿ i r l p e X w b i a / c a l T e X e T a i s / c a l d e o X o y i a i s ,
was held in high regard among the Greeks for his
singing, initiatory rites, and instructions on things
e iri^ evc o d fjva i to is K a B p eio is /cal Bia<j>epovTa> 9
divine, was entertained as a guest by the descendants
7 ev T a is ® ii/3 a is T ip ,r)O ijv a i. p erea yrj/co T a Be
o f Cadmus and accorded unusual honours in Thebes.
to iv 7r a p ' A l y v i r r i o i s O eoX oyovpievcov p e i e v e y /c e l v
And since he had become conversant with the teach­
T ijv ’O a i p i B o s tov ira X a io v y e v e a iv eirl tovs
ings o f the Egyptians about the gods, he transferred
v e c o T e p o v s x p o v o v s , x a p i ^ o p L e v o v Be to is K a B p ,e io is the birth o f the ancient Osiris to more recent times,
e v a T ^ a a a d a i /ca ivrjv T eX eT rjv, /c a d r) v i r a p a B o v v a i and, out o f regard for the descendants o f Cadmus,
to is p , v o v p , e v o i s e/c % e p , e X 779 / c a l A t o s y e y e v v r j a O a i instituted a new initiation, in the ritual o f which the
tov A io vv a o v. tovs B’ a v d p m i r o v s T a p . e v B i a t t jv initiates were given the account that Dionysus had
a yvo ia v elja ira T co p Iv o vs, T a Be B i a t i j v ’O p c j / e c o s been born o f Semelê and Zeus. A nd the people
a ^ io iria T ia v /ca l B o ^ a v ev to is t o io v t o is irp o a - observed these initiatory rites, partly because they
e ~ ) (p v T a s, to Be p , e y i < n o v rjBecos i r p o a B e ^ o p i e v o v s were deceived through their ignorance, partly
tov Oeov " E X X rjva v o p i^ o p e v o v , /c a d a ir e p i r p o e L p r j- because they were attracted to them b y the trust­
8 Tai, %prjaaaOai Tais TeXeTais. eirena irapa- worthiness o f Orpheus and his reputation in such
XaftovTcov TQ>v p.v6oypa,<f>cov /cai iroiijTobv t o matters, and most o f all because they were glad
to receive the god as a Greek, which, as has been
yevos, epnreirXrjcrOai Ta OeaTpa, /cal t o i s iiriyivo-
said, is what he was considered to be. Later, after
pievois la\vpav iriaTiv /ecu dpieTaOeTov yeveaffai.
the writers o f myths and poets had taken over this
K a d o X o v Be cf>aai tovs " E X X rjva s e ^ iB ia ^ e a d a i
account o f his ancestry, the theatres became filled
tovs ¿irK pavecrT aT O V S ripcoas Te /cal deovs, eTi
with it and among following generations faith in the
B’ a i r o i / c i a s T a s i r a p ' e a v T i b v . story grew stubborn and immutable.
24. K a l y a p 'H p a /c X e a to yevos A iy in rrio v In general, they say, the Greeks appropriate to
themselves the most renowned o f both Egyptian
1 i.e ., an appearance in the flesh of a deity. Cp. Book 2.
47. 6 f., where it is related that Apollo visited the Hyper­ heroes and gods, and so also the colonies sent out
boreans every nineteen years at the time of the vernal by them.
equinox. 24. Heracles, for instance, was by birth an
74 75
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 24. 1-4
ovTa, Si avBpeiav eireXdeZv iroW-qv t ?j ? o I k o v - Egyptian, who by virtue of his manly vigour visited
pevr]<;, /cal Trjv eirl r//? A i/3uj;? deadai arrperjv a large part of the inhabited world and set up his
2 v i r e p o v i r e i p w v T C U t a? a,TroBei^ei<; T r a p a t m v pillar in Libya ; 1 and their proofs of this assertion
E X X 'p v c o v X a p f t d v e i v . opoXoyovpevov ya p o v t 09 they endeavour to draw from the Greeks themselves.
T rapa ir a a iv oti T o l l ’O X v / n r i o i ? d e o Z s ' H p a / c X i j s For inasmuch as it is generally accepted that Hera­
a vvrjyw via a T O top T rp o i r o v s y'iya vT a < i tt o X epov, cles fought on the side of the Olympian gods in their
( p a c r l T j j y f i p r ) B a p a i< i a p p o T T e i v y e y e v v r j K e v a i r o v i war against the Giants, they say that it in no way
yiya vra < i /ca ra tt)v r j X u c i a v r) v o i " E X X - p v e s ( f i a a i v
accords with the age of the earth for the Giants to
'H p a / c X e a y e y e v r\a 6 a i, yevea irp o re p o v tm v
have been born in the period when, as the Greeks
say, Heracles lived, which was a generation before
TpcoiK cbv, a X X a paXXov, co? a v r o l X e y o v a i , K a r a
the Trojan War, 2 but rather at the time, as their
tt)v e £ dpyprp y e v e a iv to iv avdpw rnov d ir ¿ /ceivp s
own account gives it, when mankind first appeared
pev yap 7r a p ' iX iyv T n lo a ; err] K a a a p iQ p e la O a i on the earth; for from the latter time to the present
irX e 'u o tm v p v p i w v , d i r o Be tw v T p c o i K w v e’X d r r o j the Egyptians reckon more than ten thousand years,
3 to )v 'yiX L ta v tea l Sia K o a L o iv. o poicos Be to tb but from the Trojan War less than tw'elve hundred.
p o ira X o v Kal t t }v X eovT rjv to> ira X a ia i irp e ir e iv Likewise, both the club and the lion’s skin are
'H p a t c X e l S i a to KaT ¿ tc e lv o v i tov<
s X P ° v o v s py)ira> appropriate to their ancient Heracles, because in
tm v 07rX cov eupT]pevw v too ? a v 9 p a > ir o v < ; to k pev those days arms had not yet been invented, and
£ v X o i< ; d p v v e a Q a i too ? a vT iT a T T o p e vo w r, ra t? Be men defended themselves against their enemies with
S o p a Z s T c o v 6 r ) p i o o v a K e T T a a T r ] p l o i < i ottXois x p r j a d a i . clubs of wood and used the hides of animals for
Kal A to? p e v v i o v a v tov d v a y o p e v o v a i, p rjT p b f Be defensive armour. They also designate him as the
4 779 e a T i v o v < p a a i y i v b b a K e i v . t o v B' el; ' A X K p i j v r ] < ;
son of Zeus, but about the identity of his mother
yevopevov vaTepov 7r X e i o a t v eT ea iv fj pvpioi< ;,
they say that they know nothing. The son of
Alcmene, who was born more than ten thousand
’A X x a Z o v ¿k y e v e T r js K a X o v p e v o v , v a T e p o v H p a K X e a
years later and was called Alcaeus 3 at birth, in later
p e T o v o p a a d i j v a i , 0 0 % o n S i " H p a v eV^e /e\eo9, ¿09
life became known instead as Heracles, not because
<f>r]aiv 0 M a - T p i s , a X X ’ o t i T p v avrpv e^rjXcoKob';
he gained glory (k l e o s ) by the aid of Hera, as Matris
irp o a L p ea iv 'Hpa/cAet r a ira X a iS ) Trjv ¿KeLvov says, but because, having avowed the same principles
B o ^ a v d p a K a l i r p o a 'q y o p ia v ¿K X rjp o vo p -p a e. as the ancient Heracles, he inherited that one’s fame
and name as well.4
1 The Pillars of Heracles are described in Book 4. 18. 4-7.
2 Heracles, according to Greek mythology, was a con­ s Alcaeus was the name of the grandfather of Heracles.
temporary of Laomedon, the father of Priam king of Troy, The career of Heracles is recounted in Book 4. 9 ff.
and with the help of Poseidon built for him the walls of 1 The date of Matris, who was the author of an encomium
Troy. upon Heracles, is unknown.
76 77
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 24. 5-25. 2
The account of the Egyptians agrees also with the
5 р ф ш р е Х р Be тоХч Ь ф е а о т ш р Х е у о р е р о к каХ
tradition which has been handed down among the
трр т ара т ок r/E X X p a i p ¿к ттоХХшр y ^ p o v w v
Greeks since very early times, to the effect that
т тараВеВореррр ф р р р р , oti каварар т р р y i ) р тшр
Heracles cleared the earth of wild beasts, a story
в р р ш р ¿T T o ir /a e p ' 1 \ р а к Х р ч ' оттер р р В а р ш ч а р р о т -
which is in no way suitable for a man who lived in
т€1Р тф yeyoPOTi а - ^ е В о р кат а тооч Тр ш ь к о о ч approximately the period of the Trojan War, when
ХроРооч, от е т& тгХеХстта рерр т рч оХкоореррч most parts of the inhabited world had already been
е ^ р р е р ш т о у е ш р у С а к к а Х т го Х е с п к а Х T r X p 6 e i тшр reclaimed from their wild state by agriculture and
6 кат оскоирт ш р трр хш рар т т арт а^о В . раХХор cities and the multitude of men settled everywhere
ovp T p eireip тф уеуорот ь кат а т ои ч архаХоич over the land. Accordingly this reclamation of the
Х р о р о о ч т р р р р е р ш с п р трч %л>/эа?, к а т и т х ^ о р е р ш р land suits better a man who lived in early times,
СТ1 тшр а р врш т т ш р vtto то0 7т Х р в о о ч т ш р в р р ш р , when men were still held in subjection by the vast
ка1 раХитта кат а трр A i y v i r тор рч 1 трр numbers of wild beasts, a state of affairs which was
vire p K e ip e p p p %со/эаг pexpi tov pop ep p p o p elp a i 2 especially true in the case of Egypt, the upper part
7 каХ врркЬВр. еХ коч yap таотрч шч тгатрХВоч
of which is to this day desert and infested with wild
т г р о р о р в е р т а тор И р а к Х е а , к а Х к а в а р а р т р р урр
beasts. Indeed it is reasonable to suppose that the
first concern of Heracles was for this country as his
тшр в р р ш р т о щ а а р т а , T a p a B o v p a i т о к у е ш р у о к
birthplace, and that, after he had cleared the land of
трр x ^ P a v > K a i Sta т р р e v e p y e a ia p tv x sip и
’ т овеои
wild beasts, he presented it to the peasants, and for
8 Т 1р р ч ■ фааХ Be к а Х top T I e p a e a y e y o p e p a i кат this benefaction was accorded divine honours. And
А Х у р т г т о р , к а Х трч ’ I <пВоч т р р y e p e c r i p Ьтто тшр they say that Perseus also was born in Egypt, and
’Е Х Х ррш р е к "Аруоч рет аф ересгвар p v d o X o y o v p - that the origin of Isis is transferred by the Greeks
тш р т р р ’ 1а) т р р е ' к ¡Зооч tvttop р е т а р о р ф ш в е Х а а р . to Argos in the myth which tells of that Io who was
25. КавоХ оь Be ттоХХр тСч е а т 1 В с а ф ш р Х а ттерХ changed into a heifer.
т о ьт ш р тшр в е ш р . трр а ь т р р yap ol p e p ’ Ia ip , 25. In general, there is great disagreement over
o i Be А р р р т р а р , o l Be ® е < т р о ф о р о р , o l Se 'i.eX p p p p , these gods. For the same goddess is called by some
oi Be "Hpav, oi Be т гааак т ак т гр о а р уо р 'ш к Isis, by others Demeter, by others Thesmophorus,
2 o p o p a ^ o u a i. top Be ’’O a i p i p oi pep Харат пр, oi by others Selenfe, by others Hera, while still others
Bk A iopvctop, ol Be П Х о о т ш р а , o i Be *rA р р ш р а , apply to her all these names. Osiris has been given
Т1реч Be A L a , тгоХХоХ Be П а р а top а о т о р p e p o - the name Sarapis by some, Dionysus by others,
р С к а с т и X e y o v a i Be Т 1ре ч S a p a i r i p e l p a i тор т а р а
Pluto by others, Ammon by others, Zeus by some,
and many have considered Pan to be the same god;
т о к 'Е Х Х р сп П Хоотш ра орора^орерор.
and some say that Sarapis is the god whom the
1 For V ogel reads ка1 and retains obuay below. Greeks call Pluto.
2 eIvai Dindorf : ovcrav.
78 79
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
<3?acri S' A lyvrrrioi rqv 'l a iv (jiappaxccv re
ttoXX iSv rrpo<i vyieiav super iv yeyovevai x a l rrj<;
larpixipj err lari]pqt; peydX qv e%etv ep n eip la v
3 Sio xa l rv^oucrav rrjs affavacrias errl ra t? 9epa-
’neiai'i rtbv dvdpdnrwv p d X ia ra %aipeiv, xa l x a r a
rob ? inrvoui rots d^ioucri SiSovat ^ oqdijpara,
cjjavepw1; em Seixvv pevqv rqv re iSiav erricpdveiav
xa l to rrpbt rou t Seopevov1; rwv dvd pdrunv
4 evepyerixov. drroSei£eis Se rourcov cfiaal cjjepeiv
eavrou? ov pvd oX oyia<> o/roico? Tot? "E XXqaiv,
dXXa rrpanels evapyeK' rraaav yap ayeSov rqv
olxovpevqv paprvpeiv ea v ro it, eit ra s raurr)?
Ti/ia? (juXoripoupeupv Sia rrjv tv r a it deparreiais
5 emcjrdveiav. x a ra yap rou t vrrvov? ecjnara-
pevrjv SiSSvai roi? x d p v o v a i fforjthjpara irpot r a?
vocrovs, xal rou t vrraxouaavra^ aurfj rrapaSo^o)<i
uyia^ecrdar xa l rroXXov<; pev urro ra>v larpaiv
Sia rrjv SvaxoXiav rod voar'jparo1; arreXm a-
9evra<; into ravrq<i aco^eadai, crv%iiovs Se rravre-
Xw? rrqporOevra1; ra s opacrei? fj n v a rd>v aXXcov
pepwv ro v acoparo<i, ora v rrpo? ravrrjv rrjv deov
xaracfruycoaiv, eit rrjv rrpovirdp^aaav arroxaffi-
6 aracrdai rd^iv. evpeiv S' avrrjv xa i ro r 77?
d0avaaia<i (fiappaxov, Si ov rov vlov *ilpov, urro
ru v Tiravcov em ftovX evdevra x a l vexpov evpe-
Oevra xad' uSaros, prj povov dvacrrrjaai, Soucrav
1 A reference to the common practice of incubation, briefly
described below. The patients spent the nights in the
temple-precincts and were ministered to in their sleep by
the god. An interesting picture of such an incubation is in
80
BOOK I. 25. 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 1 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 2 is their witness, in that
it eagerly contributes to the honours o f Isis because
she manifests herself in 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 h er; 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
Aristophanes, 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 the
temple of Asclepius to be healed.
2 Under the influence of the Ptolemie3, soon after 300 u.c.,
the cult of Isis began to spread over the Mediterranean, and
by the time of Diodorus was in practically every city of any
importance.
81
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 25. 6-26. 5

т pv aXXa каХ трч авауааХач Troipaai soul again, but also made him immortal. And it
7 fj,€Ta\aj3eiv. 8оке2 S' иататоч тшу вешу оуточ appears that Horus was the last of the gods to be
¡васпХеостас juera тру tov ттатроч 'Оа1рс8оч ¿ij king after his father Osiris departed from among
ауврштгшу р,етаатаспу. тоу 8е *ilpov реверрьр- men. Moreover, they say that the name Horus,
vevopevov фаасу 'АттоХХшуа vnapxeiv, /cat, тру when translated, is Apollo, and that, having been
те сатрскру ка\ тру pavmcpv утго трч рертроч instructed by his mother Isis in both medicine and
"Iai8оч 8с8ахвеута 8ia тшу хрраршу /cal тшу divination, he is now a benefactor of the race of
вератгешу еиеруетесу то тшу ауврштгшу уеуоч. men through his oracular responses and his healings.
26. О I 8 ' 1 ере2ч т ш у А с у у т п ш у т о у х Р ° v o v 26. The priests of the Egyptians, reckoning the
атто т рч 'HXiou ( З а а С Х е с а ч a v W o y i ^ o p e v o i р е % р с time from the reign of Helius to the crossing of 331
т рч ’ A X e g d v S p o v 8 с а ( 3 а а е ю ч е1ч т р у ' A a i a v ф а а Х у Alexander into Asia, say that it was in round num- B'°'
v ird p x ecy ¿т ш у раАш т а тгшч 8 ш р .у р 2 ш у час bers twenty-three thousand years. And, as their
2 т рит хскш у. рш вокоуоЪ ас 8 е к а \ тшу в е ш у тоич
legends say, the most ancient of the gods ruled more
р ' е у а р х а ю т а т о и ч f i a o i X e v o a i т г Х е ш тшу Х1\ шу than twelve hundred years and the later ones not
к а л В с а к о а ш у ¿т ш у, т о и ч 8 е р е т а у е у е е г т е р о о ч оук
less than three hundred. But since this great num­
3 еХ а т т ш тш у т р / а к о а ш у . аттсатоо 8 ' оуточ тоу
ber of years surpasses belief, some men would main­
т г'К рвооч тшу ¿ т ш у , ¿ i r i x e i p o v a c тсуеч X e y e i v от с
tain that in early times, before the movement of the
то 7т а Х а с о у , ойттш т рч ттерХ tov p X i o v куурст еш ч
sun had as yet been recognized, it was customary
¿т геууш ареурч, crw efU acve к а т а т р у трч стеХрурч
to reckon the year by the lunar cycle. Consequently,
4 7repioSov ауеавас тоу ¿viavTov. Sionep тшу ¿тшу
тршкоувррершу оутшу ovk aSvvaTov elvai /Зе/Зсш- since the year consisted o f thirty days, it was not
кеуас Т1уач етр j(LXia ка\ SiaKoaia• каХ yap vvv impossible that some men lived twelve hundred
8ш8екаррушу 1 оутшу тшу ¿усаутшу ovk o\iyov4 years; for in our own time, when our year consists
б оттер е к а т о у е т р £ р у . т гарат т Х рспа 8е X eyovoi of twelve months, not a few men live over one
каХ ттерХ тшу т рю коы а ет р 8 о ко уутш у a p £ a i‘ hundred years. A similar explanation they also
кат ¿ к е с у о о ч у а р т о о ч X P ° V0V<> T ° v ei/zauToi/ give regarding those who are supposed to have
а т г а р т с ^ е а в а с т е т т а р с п р р а Х т о2ч y t v o p e v o i 4 к а т а reigned for three hundred years; for at their time,
т ач екаст т ш у тшу X P ° va> v <*>Pa S> o lo v еароч, namely, the year was composed of the four months
в е р о у ч , x eW '',v ° S ' о ф ’ р ч алт сач каХ ттар ¿ v t o i 4 which comprise the seasons o f each year, that is,
тш у ’И Х Х р у ш у т оич ¿усаут оич ш роуч каХ есст вас spring, summer, and winter; and it is for this reason
that among some of the Greeks the years are called
1 $и>$ека(х4}У(су Dindorf : SvofcalbtKa fit\vS>v.
82 83
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
real та? кат его? маурафач (Ьроурафеач тгросга-
yopeveerdai.
6 О I В’ o v v А е у б т г т и и р о в о Х о у о о с п к а т а t t jv
“1оч£о? r / X i K c a v y e y o v e v a i T iv a .4 T r o X v a w p a T O V 4
t o v 4 V iто p e v t w v 'Е X X p v w v o v o p a £ o p e v o v 4 y i -
уарт ач, Ь ф ' e a v T w v B e . . -1 В и а к о с г p o v p e v o v ;
т ерат ш В ш ч епХ tw v le p w v ка\ TvnTopevov4 vtto
7 twv ттерХ tov "Oaipiv. evioi pev ovv аотоЬч
ypyevei4 фaa^lv vndp^ai, проафатоо туч twv
%wwv yeveaew4 ек туч урч Ьтгархооарч, evioi
Xeyovai awpaT04 pa>pfl Bieveyx6vTa4 ка1
7ГоХХач ттра^ееч ¿TriTeXe<Tapevov4 атго tov crvpfie-
8 /Золото? pveoXoypOfjvai Tro\vawpaTOV4. avp-
фwvelтae Se iтара тоХч ттХе'кттогч cm. тоеч ттерХ tov
A ia кас tov "Oaipiv беоеч noXepov evaTpaapevoi
ттdvT€4 avppedpaav.
27. NopoOeTpcrai Be фасп топ? A ly v -ггтiov4
пара то koivov евоч twv avepdnrwv yapelv
аВеХфач Bid to yeyovo4 ev TOVTO14 трч ’'1спВоч
eniTevypa' тavTpv yap crvvoiKpcracrav 'OaipiBi
ти аВеХфф, каХ dnoeavovT04 opoaacxav ovSevo4
eri avvovaiav avBpo4 npoaBe^eadai,2 peTeXBeiv
tov те ф¿vov TavBpo4 каХ BiaTeXecrai fiacnXevov-
crav vopepwTaTa, каХ то avvoXov nXeiaTwv каХ
peyLcxTwv dyadwv ai,Tiav yevecr6ai 7raaiv dvdpw-
2 7T014. Bid Bp таотач тач аХтеач катаВее^вpvai
pel£ovo4 e£ovaia4 каХ террч Tvyy_dveiv ttjv
1 Vogel suggests that a noun has dropped out here.
2 тгро(г^(^€(гва1 D in dorf: ‘тгросЬ^аавш.
1 “ Records of the seasons.” This designation for yearly
records was used, for instance, by the inhabitants of the
island of Naxos.
84
BOOK I. 26. 5-27. 2
“ seasons ” ( h o r o t ) and that their yearly records are
given the name “ horographs.” 1
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, 2 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,3 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 o f 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 o f 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
2 But the Giants of Greek m ythology were represented
with “ huge,” not “ m any,” bodies.
3 Cp. G enesis 6 . 4 : “ There were giants in the earth in
those da ys; 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.”
85
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 27. 2-4
fSaaikiercrav tov j3acn\e<o<;, /cal irapa rot? ¿Sitorat? power and honour than the king and that among
Kvpieveiv tt)V yvval/ca TavSpos, ev Trj t?}? Trpot/cb\r private persons the wife should enjoy authority over
her husband,1 the husbands agreeing in the marriage
avyypadrj tvpocjopLOKoyovvTaiv tcov yaptovvTcov contract that they will be obedient in all things to
airavra ireidap')(riaeiv Tfj yap-ovptevrj.1 their wives.2
Now I am not unaware that some historians give
3 Ou* ayvoat Se Sioti Tires tcov avyypacpeojv the following account o f Isis and Osiris: The tombs
aTrcxj/aivovTai tou? racf/ovs rtov 9ecov tovtcov of these gods lie in Nysa in Arabia, and for this
reason Dionysus is also called Nysaeus. And in that
vttap%eiv ev N very tt)$ ’A pafiLas, a<fi’ r/s /cal place there stands also a stele o f each of the gods
N vcratov tov Atovvcrov wvop,aadai. elvat Se /cal bearing an inscription in hieroglyphs. On the stele
o f Isis it runs: “ I am Isis, the queen o f every land,
aTr\kr\v e/carepov tcov 9eu>v ¿tttyeypap.pevpv rot? she who was instructed o f Hermes, and whatsoever
4 le/sot? ypdppaatv. eirl ptev ovv Trjs "IcnSos em- laws I have established, these can no man make.
1 Cp. Sophocles, O e d ip u s a t C olonus, 337 f f.:
yeypacj}9ai “ ’ £ 70» ’ Irris elpu rj fiaaiXiaaa iraarjc; Their thoughts and actions all
•)(copa<;, rj vaiSev9elcra vtto 'Eppiov, /cal oaa eya> Are framed and modelled on Egyptian ways.
For there the men sit at the loom indoors
evopLo9eT7}0'a, oi/Sels aura SvvaTai 'kvaai. eyed While the wives slave abroad for daily bread.
(Tr. by Storr, in L .C .L .)
1 Here A B D E N a d d : Tatpijvai 5e A iy o vffi rfyv r l<riv iv s Here some MSS. add the following sentences (cp. critical
M*n<peif read’ p -ixp 1 tov vvv beiKW cdai rb v C7]k 6v , i v r$> note), which are taken almost bodily from chap. 2 2 .2 -6 : “ And
teptevei tov H<pa((TTOv. eviot 5« <pa<ri r a cw/xaTa to>v 6ewv they say that Isis is buried in Memphis, where her tomb is
tovtwv [KtiffBai n a rk t ^ v iv QiAats tov NeiAov vri<rov> fljtrxfp pointed out to this day in the temple-area of Hephaestus.
irpocip7]Tai p.oi added by A E N which stop at this point, B D According to some writers, however, the bodies of these gods
continuing] eirl tu>v Zptov KetcQai tt)s A idtoxias Kal rrjs A iy v x T o v [rest in Philae on the island in the Nile, as I have already
Kara rfyv i v Ne/A.y v?io'ov> t ^ v Keifxivi)v fxev ix l Tats $ (A a tsf stated] rest on the border between Ethiopia and Egypt, on
tx o v ffa v 5^ t 8 xpocayopevd/xevov a xb tov (Tv/x&€&t)k 6t c s Upbv the island in the Nile which lies near Philae, but is referred to
ireSiov (ryjueiov 5e tovtov beiK vlovciv iv ttj vfitry TavTy 5ta - because of this burial as the H oly Field. In proof of this they
¡xivovTa tov re Tatpov KaTecKevacptevov ’OtnpiSt, Koivy Tifxdifxevov point to the tomb which was constructed for Osiris on this
vxb tosv Kar' AiyvtTTOv UpeoiV icai tpatri irepl tovtov Ketjuevas island and is honoured in common by all the priests of Egypt;
Xoas e£r}tcovTa Kai TptaKOcias* TavTas yap Ka8* eKdaT'qv 7]fxepav and they mention three hundred and sixty libation bowls
yaAaKTos xA ypovv tovs x pbs tovtois T a x ^ i^ r a s tepets Kal Bpyvelv which are placed around it; for the priests appointed over
avatcaAovaivovs ra tw v 6¿a>v ov6fx ara. 5ia raiirrjv 5e r V aW tav these bowls fill them each day with milk, singing all the while
Kal t $)v vrjaov &&aTov elvai xA$)v rots lepevo'i. Kal xd vT a s Tobs a dirge in which they call upon the names of these gods. It is
t ^]v ©rj^aiSa KaTOtKovvras, H\xep ic T lv apxcuoTaT7] rrjs AlybirTOv,
for this reason that only the priests are allowed to set foot on
fieyiGTOV ‘¿pKov Kpiveiv , Srav t i s *Oo'tptv rb v iv $ (A a ts Keifxevov this island. And all the inhabitants of the Thebaid, which is
b fiiffy .
the oldest portion of Egypt, hold it to be the strongest oath
when a man swears ‘ by Osiris who lieth in Philae.’ ”
86 ‘
«7
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 27. 4-6
e l p i r) to v veco T U T o v K .p o v o v deov dvyaTpp ir p e c r - void. I am the eldest daughter o f the youngest god
ß v r a T r ]• eyd> e l p i yvvrj te a l d S e X ijp r j ’O a ip iS o < t Cronus ; I am the wife and sister o f the king Osiris ;
ß a a i X e i »?• eyd> e l p i rj T r p d n r ) K a p v o v d v 6 p d n r o i< ; I am she who first discovered fruits for mankind; I
e v p o v c r a ’ eyed elp i p r jT p p " V tp o v to v ß a a iX e o i; ' am the mother of Horus the king; I am she who
e y co e l p i Tj ¿ v tw a a rp eo to> ev t & kvv I e ir n e X ~ riseth in the star that is in the Constellation of
X ovaa’ epol B o u /S a crro? 77 7r o \ i9 a h c o S o p p 6 r). the D o g ; 1 by me was the city of Bubastus built.
5 %aipe %aipe A iy v m e tj 6pe\fra(rd pe. e tt\ Se Farewell, farewell, O Egypt that nurtured me.”
t ??9’ OalpiSo<; ¿myeypdcfrOcu Xeyerai “ IlaTrjp pev And on the stele o f Osiris the inscription is said to
¿cnl poi K povo; vecoTaTO; dewv airavToiv, elpl Se run: “ My father is Cronus, the youngest of all the
“O aipi; o ßacnXevs, o cnpaTevcra; enl iracrav gods, and I am Osiris the king, who campaigned
over every country as far as the uninhabited regions
bpav ew5 gt? Toy? doiKrjTov; tottov; tmv ’ I vSobv
of India and the lands to the north, even to the
Ka\ tov; irpo; apKTOV KeKXipevov; , pe%pi "h n p ov
sources of the river Ister,2 and again to the remain­
TroTappv irrjyorv, ical 7rdXiv eirl raXXa pepr) e&)9 ing parts of the world as far as Oceanus. I am the
tuKeavov. elpl Se vio; Kpovov TrpeaßvTaTo;, Kai eldest son of Cronus, and being sprung from a fair
ßXacrTo; ¿ k KaXov re Kal evyevov; wov 1 aireppa and noble egg 3 I was begotten a seed of kindred birth
avyyeve; iyevvt'jdrjv ypepa;. Kai ovk etm totto; to Day. There is no region o f the inhabited world
7-779 oiKovpev779 ei9 ov eyo) ovk a<f)iypai, SiaSov; to which I have not come, dispensing to all men the
6 iracnv wv eyw evpeTy; 2 eyevoprjv.” Toaavra things of which I was the discoverer.” So much of
T(bv yeypappevoov ev Tal; cnrfXcu'i <j>a(Tl Svvaadai the inscriptions on the stelae can be read, they say,
avayvwvai, rd S’ dXXa ovTa 7rXeiio KaTe<p8 dp0at but the rest of the writing, which was of greater
Sid tov xpovov. t d pev ovv irepi T779 Tatpr); t 5>v extent, has been destroyed by time. However this
8 eS>v TOvTwv SiaipioveiTai 7rapd T019 irXeltnoi; Sia may be, varying accounts of the burial of these gods
to tov1 ; lepel9 ev aTroppriToi; vapeiXyipoTa; tt) v are found in most writers by reason o f the fact that
the priests, having received the exact facts about
1 $ov Wesseling : wlov C, y cii G, vdiov other MSS. There was Chaos at first, and Darkness, and Night,
2 iöptTrjs Wesseling : tvepytT rjs. and Tartarus vasty and dism al;
But the Earth was not there, nor the Sky, nor the Air,
1 According to Pseudo-Eratosthenes ( C a la ste rism u s , 3 3) th e till at length in the bosom abysmal
star on the head of Canis Maior was called Isis as well as Sirius. Of Darkness an egg, from the whirlwind conceived,
2 The Danube. was laid by the sable-plumed Night.
3 This may be drawn from the Orphic legends which con­ And out of that egg, as the seasons revolved,
ceived of the undeveloped universe as a mystic egg, from sprang Love, the entrancing, the bright,
which came Phanes, the first principle of life. Cp. the parody Love brilliant and bold with his pinions of gold,
of the Orphic cosmogony in Aristophanes, T h e B ir d s , 693 ff.: like a whirlwind, refulgent and sparkling!
(Tr. by Rogers, in L .C .L .)
88 89
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
тгерХ тоутшу aicpífteiav p y /ЗоуХесгваг таХувеч
екферегу е1ч тоуч тгоХХоуч, шч av каХ KtvSvvmv
етпкегреушу то1ч татгоррута trepé тыл вешу тоутшу
pyvvoacn v е1ч тоуч о%Хоуч.
28. О i S’ ovv AlyvTTTiol фасп каХ рета таОта
аттогк'гач тгХеХатач ég A iyín ttov ката traaav
Siacrirapyvai туу oÍKOvpévyv. е1ч BafívXébva pév
yap a ya yelv аттоХкоУч BjJXoi' tov vopigópevov
IlotretScoi/oí elvai кал A i/Зоуч• ov trapa tov E уфра-
туу тготароу Ka6iSpv6évTa тоуч те Íepei4 катаату-
aaaO ai тгарагтХуаХшч то1ч кат A tyv-rnov атеХегч
ка\ тгаауч Хе1тоору1ач dtroXeXvpevov4, ov4
Ba/3vXa>vtoi KaXovcn XaXSaiov4, тач те tтара-
туруаегч тшу аатршу тоутоуч troiéiaQai, p ip ov-
реуоуч тоуч trap A íy v tn ío i4 1ере1ч кал футкоуч,
2 ет1 Se аатроХоуоУЧ. X éyovai Sé каХ тоуч irepl
tov Aavabv оррувелтач орош ч екеХвел avvoiKiaai
Tr¡v аруают Útt¡v a^eSov тшу trap "XLXXyai
tróXeojy ”Аруоч, то те тшу К 0Х%шу евлоч év тш
Л оутш каХ то тшу 'lovSaítov ava p ea ov Ара/Зьач
ка\ '2vpía4 oÍKLaac Ttva.4 оррувелтач trap еаотшу
3 Ыо кал trapa толч yévecn тоутоьч ек traXaiov
trapaSeSóaOai то trepiTepveiv тоуч уелушрелоуч
tralSa4, eg A iy v tn o v ретеуууеуреуоу tov vop.ip.ov.
4 каХ тоуч ’Авууа'юуч Sé фаагу атгоСкоуч elvai
^аХтшл тшу ég AíyytTTOV, каХ ireiptavTai туч
оХкеготуточ талтуч ферегу сiiroSeígei4’ trapa
povoi 4 yap тшу 'E W jjvwv туу troXiv аату
KaXeiadai, ретеуууеуреууч туч тгроаууоргач atro
tov trap’ аутоХч ’ Аатеоч- етt йе1 туу troXiTeíav
туу avTyv еа^укелаг Tiígiv каХ Siaípeaiv ту trap
1 5е Dindorf : те.
9о
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 inhabited 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 ; 1 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 o f the Colchi in Pontus
and that of the Jews, which lies between Arabia 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 circumcise 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 o f such a
relationship ; for the Athenians are the only Greeks
who call their city “ Asty,” a name brought over
from the city Asty in Egypt. Furthermore, their
body politic had the same classification and division
1 On the exemption of the priests of Egypt from taxation,
cp. chap. 73 ; on the Chaldaeans, cp. Book 2. 29 f.
91
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 28. 4-29. i

5 A.iyu7TTL0L<;, еХч rp ia p ip y b ia v e p y O e ic ry кал o f the people as is found in Egypt, where the citizens
ттразтуу pev v ira p ^ a i p ep ib a тооч е от гат рХ Ь ач
have been divided into three orders: the first
Athenian class consisted of the “ eupatrids,” 1 as
каХоореуооч, oiT iveч 1 viryo ^ o v ev ira ib e ia pd-
they were called, being those who were such as had
Х ь с гт а Ь еат е т р ь ф о т е ч к аХ т у ч р е у з а т у ч у^еазреуоз
received the best education and were held worthy
т х р у ч тгаратгХустХазч топ? кат А Х уьт гт оу t e p e v c r r
of the highest honour, as is the case with the priests
Ьеьт ерау be T a ^ iv yeveaO ai т уу tw v уеазроразу of E gyp t; the second was that of the “ geomoroi,” 2
та) v оф еС Х оут aiv от гХ а к е к т у а в а 1, к а Х тгоХе/ x e l v who were expected to possess arms and to serve in
оттер туч тгоХеазч оро'ш ч то1ч кат АХ 'уотгт оу defence of the state, like those in Egypt who are
o vo p a ^ o p evo i4 уеазруоеч каХ тооч р а у л р о о ч т гар- known as husbandmen and supply the warriors; and
е^ореуо^ч' тe X e v T a i a v be p e p ib a к а т а р ь в р у в у у а ь the last class was reckoned to be that of the “ demi-
т у у тазу b y p i o v р у а з у тазу т а ч / З а у а и а о ь ч т е^уач urgoi, ” 3 who practise the mechanical arts and
p e T a y _ e b p i f y p e v o 3 v к аХ Х е п о ь р у Х а ч теХооутазу тач render only the most menial services to the state,
ауаукаю т ат ач, то ттараттХуоеоУ т гою ьауч туч this class among the Egyptians having a similar
т а ^ е о з ч т а ь т у ч тгар' А1уьттт1о1Ч. function.
6 Yeyovevai be кал тазу у у е р о у а з у Т1уач A iy v -
Moreover, certain of the rulers of Athens were
originally Egyptians, they say. Petes, 4 for instance,
тгтХоич т а р а топ? ’ A 6 y v a i o i 4 ‘ tov у а р Н ет уу т ' оу
the father of that Menestheus who took part in the
•п а т е р а Ш е у е а в е а з ч tov а т р а т е о а а у т о ч е1ч T p o i a v
expedition against Troy, having clearly been an
ф ауеразч А Л у хзт гт ю у Ь т а р ^ а у т а T v ^ e lv ьат ероу
Egyptian, later obtained citizenship at Athens and
'A d y v y a i тгоХ^теХач те каХ /ЗаспХ еХач. . . . the kingship.5 . . . He was of double form, and yet
7 Ь х ф о о д ч Ь' ахз т о ь у е у о у о т о ч , тоЬч p e v АвууаХ оьч the Athenians are unable from their own point of
р у b v v a a d a i к а т а т у у I b i a v ит т оат ас п у c n r o b o v v a i view to give the true explanation o f this nature of
ттерХ т у ч ф о с г е а з ч т а ь т у ч т а ч а Х у в е Х ч а 1 т 1 а ч , e v his, although it is patent to all that it w7as because
реааз K e i p i v o v 7r d a i v oti b v o i v T roX iT eitbv р е т а - of his double citizenship, Greek and barbarian, that
a'X a3V ,'Y iX X yv(K y4 к а л ¡ З а р /З а р о у , В е ф ууч e v o p i a d y , he was held to be of double form, that is, part
то p e v е % а з у р е р о ч O y p i o v , то be аувразт гои. animal and part man.
29. 'О роХазч b e тоутоз к а Х тb y ’ Epe^#ea Xeyovai 29. In the same way, they continue, Erechtheus
то у е у о ч А ь у и т г т ю у о у т а f i a a i X e v a a i тазу ’ А в у у а з у , also, who was by birth an Egyptian, became king of

1 d ln v ts V o g e l: o'lnves lepoiroioi. 3 i.e . “ workers for the people.”

4 Called Peteus in I lia d 2. 552.
6 There is a break at this point in the text, since what
1 i.e. “ of noble sires.” follows can refer only to Cecrops, the traditional first king of
2 i.e . “ holders of a share of land.” Athens, whose body in the lower part was that of a serpent.

92 93
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 29. 1-4

тош итач т1Рач ферорт еч атгоЬе[^е1ч‘ yepopépcop Athens, and in proof of this they offer the following
y à p ô p o X o y o v рер ш ч а и % р ш р p e y d X c o p к а т а rrâcrav considerations. Once when there was a great
tr% ebov Tr jv o i K o v p é v r j v тгX r jp A l y i n n o v b i à т р р drought, as is generally agreed, which extended
Ib io r^ ra Trj4 х ш р а ч , к а 1 ф в о р а ч е т п у е р о р е р р ч over practically all the inhabited earth except Egypt
because o f the peculiar character of that country,
тш р те к а р т г ш р к а 1 т гХ^воич арврш т гш р,
and there followed a destruction both of crops and
A l y v T T T o v t o v ’ Е р е ^ в е а K o p i a a i b i à тг)Р a v y y é -
o f men in great numbers, Erechtheus, through his
v e t a v a i T o v т г Х р в о ч е1ч т а ч ’A ^ ijw ç 1 а р в ' ш р
racial connection with Egypt, brought from there to
т 01)4 eu т гаворт ач fta criX éa кат аст т раас тор Athens a great supply o f grain, and in return those
2 evepyeT rjp. т ои т ор b è т г а р а Х а / З б р т а ttjp rjy ep o - who had enjoyed this aid made their benefactor
p ia p K a T a b eîÇ a i тач теХетач тг)ч А - р р р т р о ч èp king. After he had secured the throne he insti­
' E iX e u a ip i каХ та p v a T t j p i a i r o t r j a a i , р е т е р е у к о р т а tuted the initiatory rites of Demeter in Eleusis and
то тгерХ тоитсор p o p i p o p èfj А1у ит ттои. каХ тт} ? 1 established the mysteries, transferring their ritual
веои Se т га р о и с гХ а р е1ч tt jp ’A tt ik t jp y e y o p v îa p from Egypt. And the tradition that an advent of
кат а т о и т ои ч тоич % р 6 р о и ч T r a p a b e b o a d a i кат& the goddess into Attica also took place at that time
Х б у о р , <Ьч а р тш р ет тшриршр т а и т р ч к а р т г ш р тоге is reasonable, since it was then that the fruits which
к о р к т в е р т ш р е1ч т а ч ' А в т / р а ч , к а \ b i à т ои т о b o ^ a i are named after her were brought to Athens, and
ttoX i p а р ^ р ч тт]Р e v p e a i p y e y o p é p a i т ои сгттер- this is why it was thought that the discovery o f the
3 раточ, Ьшрт)<тарерг]Ч тт)ч A rjprjT po4. o p o X o yeîp
seed had been made again, as though Demeter had
bestowed the gift. And the Athenians on their
b è к аХ тоич ' А в р р а Х о и ч <т /ЗаспХ еиорт оч ’Ере%-
part agree that it was in the reign o f Erechtheus,
веш ч каХ тш р карт гш р b tà tt jp â p o p ftp ia p тгро-
when a lack of rain had wiped out the crops, that
рф аркт рерш р т] трч А т ) р р т р о ч е у е р е т о тгароигтХа
Demeter came to them with the gift of grain.
тгроч аитоич каХ tj Ь ш р е а т о и сгХтои. тгроч bè Furthermore, the initiatory rites and mysteries of
тоитор at теХетаХ к а Х т а ристтт/рш т а и т р ч тт}ч this goddess were instituted in Eleusis at that time.
4 веои тоте кат еЬеХхв^аар èp ’ЕX e v a îp i. та, те And their sacrifices as well as their ancient cere­
тгерХ т а ч в и а Х а ч к а Х тач а р-^ агот рт ач ш ааитш ч monies are observed by the Athenians in the same
e x’ e t p ’А в р р а Х о и ч к а Х т ои ч АХуитгтХоич • тоич p è p way as by the Egyptians; for the Eumolpidae were
yàp Е и р о Х т г Х Ь а ч сото тш р кат А Х
’ уитгтор Хереш р derived from the priests o f Egypt and the Ceryces
р е т е р т ) р е х в а 1 , т ои ч b è К р р и к а ч ап о тш р тгасгто- from the p a s t o p k o r o i . 1 They are also the only Greeks
форш р. трр те TI d t p ророич тшр 'Е Х Х -цршр
Ceryces (“ H eralds” ) were two noble Athenian families, in
1 ка\ rîjï Ii N, Веккег, Vogel : sa l rrjv rr,s Tfertlein, Dimlorf. charge of the more important religious ceremonies of Attica;
the p a sto p k o ro i were those Egyptian priests who carried in
1 The Eumolpidae (“ Descendants of Eumolpus ” ) and the processions small shrines of the gods.

Q4 95
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 29. 4-30. 3

o p v v e i v , / c a l rat? I h e a w /c a l t o w f j d e a i v o p o i o r a - who swear by Isis, and they closely resemble the

5 Ton? e l v a i r o w A i y v T n l o w . i r o X X d h e / c a l a X X a Egyptians in both their appearance and manners.
By many other statements like these, spoken more
ronrot? T r a p a T r X 'i j a i a X e y o v T e 1; ( f / i X o T i p o T e p o v f jir e p
out o f a love for glory than with regard for the
a X r j O i v d n e p o v , «5? 7 ’ e p o l c f / a i v e r a i , r f j 1; d i r o i / c i a '?
truth, as I see the matter, they claim Athens as a
r a v r 779 d p t ^ i c r ^ p r o v e n h i a r r j v h o % a v ttj? 7roXeco?.
colony o f theirs because o f the fame o f that city.
K a#o\ou Se ir X e ic r T a * ; c n r o i/c ia s A ly v n r io i
In general, the Egyptians say that their ancestors
c jja a iv e / c i r e p ’^ - a i ron? eavrcbv ir p o y h v o w ; iir l sent forth numerous colonies to many parts o f the
i r o X X a p e p p t ?}? o l/c o v p e v r /< ; h i d re t t jv in r e p o ^ p v inhabited world, by reason o f the pre-eminence o f
TO iv ¡ 3 a < T iX e v a d v T a > v T r a p a v T o h i c a l h i d r p v v i r e p - their former kings and their excessive population;
6 /3 o X /j v tt)? T r o X v a v 8 p o ) T r ia < ; ' v ir e p d>v p / j r e ano- but since they offer no precise proof whatsoever for
Set^eto? < j)e p o p e v r ]<> p ij h e p i a < ; d /c p ij3 o v < ; p r j r e a v y - these statements, and since no historian worthy of
ypa<f>ea)<; d ^ i O T r i c r r o v p . a p T v p o v v r o s , o v /c e / c p i v a p e v credence testifies in their support, we have not
v i r a p y e i v r a X e y b p e v a y p a c p f j 1; a ^ i a . thought that their accounts merited recording.
K a l T rep l p e v tc o v deoX oyovpevcov T ra p ’ A l y v - So far as the ideas o f the Egyptians about the
t t t Lo w T-79
T o o a u d ’ r jp .lv e l p p a O w , o r o ^ a ^ o p e v o w gods are concerned, let what we have said suffice,
since we are aiming at due proportion in our account ,1
c r v p p e T p L a f ir e p l §6 T7 9 %copa? /c a l Ton NetXon
but with regard to the land, the Nile, and every­
/c a l t &v aX X cov tm v d/corj<; d t j i u ' v e v /c e c j/a X a io w
thing else worth hearing about we shall endeavour,
e /c a a T a h ie tjie v a i ir e ip a a o p e O a .
in each case, to give the several facts in summary.
30. 'H y a p A iy v jr T O < ; / c e l r a i p e v p d X i a T a 7rta?
30. The land o f E gypt stretches in a general way
K ara p e a r jp fip ia v , o ^ v p O T r /r i he < fivc u /c ji /c a l from north to south, and in natural strength and
/c a X X e i ^ c o p a s o v /c o X iy c p h o /c e l 7T p o e ^ e i v tu / v eh beauty o f landscape is reputed to excel in no small
2 ¡S a c n X e ia v a c j/c o p ic r p e v c o v to ttco v. d ir o pev yap degree all other regions that have been formed into
t r js Suereto? ¿>){vpa>/cev a v r y v rj eprjpo< ; / c a l d i j p i u / - kingdoms. For on the west it is fortified by the
S79 t ?}? A ij3iiT]< ;, e ir l ttoX v pev ir a p e /C T e l v o v c r a , desert o f Libya, which is full o f wild beasts and
h id he T p v a v v h p la v /c a l t t jv Tp? c n r d a r j s
c n r d v iv extends along its border for a long distance, and by
rpo(f>fj<: e ^ o v a a ryv on p o v o v e -n 'n t o v o v ,
h ie ^ o h o v reason o f its lack o f rain and want o f every kind of
d X X a / c a l i r a v r e X a i ? ¿ T r i / c i v h v v o v e/c h k TCOV 7T/709 food makes the passage through it not only toilsome
v o t o v p e p c o v 01 r e / c a T a p d / c r a i t o o N e iX o v /c a l but even highly dangerous; while on the south the
3 r d / v opd> v Ta a v v o p i ^ o v r a t o v t o w d i r o y a p rrj<: same protection is afforded by the cataracts o f the
Nile and the mountains flanking them, since from
1 T. Birt (D a s a n tik e B u ch w escn , pp. 151 ff.) feels that by effort to keep the severaf Books of his history of approxi­
this phrase, which is often used by Diodorus, he referred to his mately the same size.
96 97
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 30. 3-7
T p a > yo 8 vT iK i}4 1 к a l tw v è tr ^ d r w v тт}ч A ìd io ir L a ? the country of the Trogodytes 1 and the farthest
/i e p w v «/то? < n a 8 L w v irevT a K K T y^ iX iw v к а \ tr e v T a - parts of Ethiopia, over a distance of five thousand
koct Lw v ovt€ irX e v a a i 8 ia tov тт от ар од p txèiov five hundred stades, it is not easy to sail by the
о v r e тгеЩ T r o p e v ß r j v a c p i ] T v ^ ó v r a ß a c n X i / c r j s rj river or to journey by land, unless a man is fitted
4 7ГаитеХсЬч реуаХрч rivo? %opr]yia4. twv Se 7rpòs out like a king or at least on a very great scale.
tt] v àvaToXrjv vevóvTwv pepwv та pèv ó -потароч And as for the parts of the country facing the east,
w^vpwKe, та 8' epi]poi; arepierei ка1 ireSia теХра- some are fortified by the river and some are embraced
rw8p rà irpotrayopevopeva Ъаравра. есгтч yàp by a desert and a swampy flat called the Barathra.2
ava péaov трч K oiXt;? 2upia? /caì тг/ч A ly v in o v For between Coele-Syria and Egypt there lies a
lake, quite narrow, but marvellously deep and some
XLpvt] t (5 pèv тгХатес стерт) тгартекш?, tw 8è
two hundred stades in length, which is called Ser-
ßa0ei 6avpdaio4, то 8è рг/коч in i 8iaKocrLov4 bonis 3 and offers unexpected perils to those who
ттарркоусга <ттaSiovs, i] irpocrayopeveTai pèv approach it in ignorance of its nature. For since
¿ZepiScovi?, т ot? 8 aTreipois twv ttpoaireXa^óvTwv the body of the water is narrow, like a ribbon, and
5 à véX iria T 0 V 4 етпферес K iv8 v vo v4 . enevov yàp surrounded on all sides by great dunes, when there
tov реурат оч орто? ка\ T a iv ia т гарат гХ раш у, are constant south winds great quantities of sand
0 ivw v те p e y d X w v чтаутр T repi/ce^ u pevcov, èiret- are strewn over it. This sand hides the surface of
8àp v Ót o i cupe^ei? тгреиссоочр, ¿ T T ia eiera i irX rj- the water and makes the outline of the lake con­
6 004 àppov. avTV Se то pèv v 8w p кат а ttjv tinuous with the solid land and entirely indistin­
è m < f> d v e ia v à a r jp o v ir o ie ì, tov 8è тг]Ч X ip v r j4 guishable from it. For this reason many who were
T v i t o v (Tvp<f>vfj тг] y k p a w к а 1 к а т а i r à v à è i d y v w c r - unacquainted with the peculiar nature of the place
tov. 810 к а 1 7r o X X o l t w v à y v o o v v tw v ttjv I 8ió - have disappeared together with whole armies,4 when
т г]т а tov t Ótt ov рет а (T T p a T evp a T w v oXw v
they wandered from the beaten road. For as the
sand is walked upon it gives way but gradually,
‘п ф а у С г т в р а а у тг}ч v i r o K e i p é v r ] 4 0 8 0 O 8 ш р а р т о у т е ч .
deceiving with a kind of malevolent cunning those
1 1] p è v y à p а р р о ч ек tov кат o X l y o v т гат о v p é v r ]
rr]V è v S o a iv X a p ß a v e i, ка\ той? e ir iß d X X o v T a 4 The famous Barathron, or “ P it,” at Athens was a cleft west
of the H ill of the Nymphs into which condemned criminals
1 For this form, without the see Vogel I. lxxii and were flung.
Kallenberg, T e x t k r i ti k u n d S p ra c h g eb ra u ch D io d o rs, I. 1. a Cp. Milton, P a ra d ise L o st, 2. 502 ff. :
A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog
1 The “ Cave-dwellers” are located by Diodorus along the Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old,
Red Sea as for north as the Greek port of Berenice, and are Where armies whole have sunk.
described at length in Book 3. 32 f.
2 The word comes from a root meaning “ to devour,” which 1 An instance of the loss of part of an army is given in Book
suits the nature o f the region, as Diodorus observes below. 16. 46.
08 99

DIODORUS OF SICILY
arcnrep irpovola t ivi rrovppd TrapaicpoveTcu, p-k%pi
av otov Xa/3ovre? virovoiav tov crvpfipaopevov
ftopdpaarcriv eavTOis, ovk ovcrps e n (jrvyps ov8e
8 aarTppias. o yap viro tov TeXpaTOS K ara vivo-
pevos oin e vpxeaS ai 8>vvaTai, irapatpovpevps Trjs
IXvos Tpv tov adrpaTOs Kivpcnv, o u t i/cftr/vai
KaTiax^ei, ppSev '¿X(ov cnepepviov els eirifta a iv
/-tep.iyp.evps yap Trjs a p p ov to is vypois, /cal 8ia
tovto tps e/caTepcov cfrvaears pXXoiwpevps, crvp-
fialvei tov tottov pr/Te iropevTOV elvai pr/Te TrXar-
9 tov. hioirep ol tois pepeai tovtois e-TTiffdXXovTes
(jrepopevoi 7epos tov j3v8bv ol/hepiav dvTiXp-^nv
fSopOeias e^ovai, avyKaToXiaOavovaps Trjs ap p ov
tf/s rrapd Ta xeiX p. t a pev ovv 7Tpoeipppeva
7re8la TOiainpv e^ovTa Tpv tfrvcnv ol/celas gtv%e
Trpoapyopias, bvopacrOevTa B dpaOpa.
31. 'H/ret? 8’ eirel Ta ttepl totv airo Trjs
Xepaov Tpiorv peparv tmv oxvpovvTarv Tpv A'lyv-
tttov 8ipX0opev, irpoodpaopev tois elpppevois to
2 Xenropevov. p TeTapTp toivvv irXevpd ttacra
crXeBov dXipevar d a X cm p irpoa/cXv^opevp trpofie-
jSXpTai to KlyxnTTiov ireX ayos, o tov p ev trapa-
7tX ovv e%6i pa/cpoTaTov, Tpv 8’ enrofiaenv Tpv h rl
Tpv x,a>pav b v a irp oa op p ia rov diro yap T lapano-
viov Trjs Ai/3vps ears 'lbrrps Trjs ev Trj K oiXp
’S.vpia, ovtos tov TrapdirXov cnahiurv axe8ov
TrevTa/CMTXiXiarv, ovk '¿otiv evpeiv aatfraXp Xipeva
3 irXpv tov Qdpov. %copi? 8e tovtwv Taivia Trap'
oXpv cr^eSov Tpv A ’lyvTTTOV rrappKei tois airelpois
1 That part of the Mediterranean lying off Egypt.
lo o
BOOK I. 30. 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 has 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 fortify Egypt by land we
shall add to them the one yet remaining. 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.1 The voyage
along the coast of this sea is exceedingly long,
and any landing is especially difficult; for from
Paraetonium2 in Libya as far as lo p e 3 in Coele-
Syria, a voyage along the coast o f some five
thousand stades, there is not to be found a safe
harbour except Pharos. 4 And, apart from these
considerations, a sandbank extends along practically
the whole length o f Egypt, not discernible to any
2 The first important city on the coast west of Alexandria.
3 Joppa.
1 The island which lies before Alexandria and gave its name
to the harbour.
10 1
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 3!. 3-8
4 тш р ттроагттХеортшр а в е ш р р т о ч ' b io irep o i top е к who approach without previous experience o f these
т г е Х а у о и ч к ХрЬурор е к - т г е ф е у у е р а 1 р о р Х ^ о р т е ч , кал waters. Consequently those who think that they
b id tt)v a y v o i a v aarpepoi 717309 ttjv y r j p ката- have escaped the peril o f the sea, and in their ignor­
тгХеортеч, е ^ а Х ф р г )9 е т т ок еХ Х орт ш р тш р акафш р ance turn with gladness towards the shore, suffer
unexpected shipwreck when their vessels suddenly
б аре Х тгХат ш ч v a v a y o v c n v evio i be b id тr jv r a i r e i -
run aground; and now and then mariners who
р о т р т а тт)ч у ш р а ч ov b v p a p e p o i T T p o lb ea d a i тт]Р
cannot see land in time because the country lies so
y f jp Х а р в d p o v a i p еаит оич ектг'пттортеч o i p e p els low are cast ashore before they realize it, some of
e X d > b e i4 к а Х Х с р р а ^ о р т а ч тоттоуч, o i b ’ е1ч % ¿ p a p them on marshy and swampy places and others on a
eprjpop. desert region.
6 fH pep ovp Ал уу т т т оч т тарта^овер ф уапкш ч
The land o f Egypt, then, is fortified on all sides
by nature in the manner described, and is oblong
ш 'х у р ш т а ь top e l p p p e v o p т ротгор, т и йе а у ^ р р а п
in shape, having a coast-line of two thousand stades
i r a p a p r j i c r j s o v a a b i a ^ i X i c o p p e p а т а Ь Х ш р e % e i тг/р and extending inland about six thousand stades.
т г а р а в а Х а т т ю р - r r X e v p d p , 619 p e a b y e i o p S’ dppKei In density of population it far surpassed o f old all
a^ebop етгХ ат аЬ 'ю уч e i;a K ic rx iX io v 4 . iro X va p - known regions o f the inhabited world, and even
вршттСа b e to p e p 7т а Х а ь о р 7гоЛ.и 7Гp o e a ^ e п а р т ш р in our own day is thought to be second to none
other; for in ancient times it had over eighteen
тшр у р ш р ^ о р е р ш р т сп гш р кат а тг)Р о1коурерг)р,
thousand important villages and cities, as can be
Kai кав' -ррач be ovbepo9 тшр аХХшр Ьокеi
seen entered in their sacred records, while under
7 Хе1тт еаваг етгХ рер у ар тшр ар^аш р %роРШР Ptolemy son o f Lagus 1 these were reckoned at
е& Хе к ш р а ч а^ю Хоуоич к а Х ттоХеьч тгХе'юУч тшр over thirty thousand,2 this great number continuing
руриш р кал Ькт акьахХХш р, ¿9 ер т а1 ч iep a iq down to our own time. The total population, they
а р а у р а ф а ь ч о р а р е а т 1 к а т а к е ^ ш p i e r p e v o v , етгХ b e
say, was o f old about seven million and the number
П т оХераХоу той A a y o v т гХ есоуч тшр т р ш р у р ь ш р
2 Herodotus (2.177) gives the number of “ inhabited cities ”
r) p iG р г \ в г ) а а р , шр то т гХ г/в о ч b ia p e p e p r/кер ешч in the time of Amasis (sixth century B.c.) as twenty thousand.
8 тш р к а в г)рач х р о р ш р . tov b e с г у р т г а р т о ч Х а о у
The “ over thirty thousand ’ ’ of Diodorus may be approxi­
mately correct, when the “ villages ’ ’ are included, although
то р е р 7Гa X a i o p ф а а ь yeyopepai ттерХ е-т гт акоаХ ач he may he using the figures given by Theocritus (17. 82 ff.),
who was bom about 305 B.C. and performed a feat of metrical
juggling of the number 33,333 : “ The cities builded therein
1 Ptolemy Lagus, general of Alexander the Great, was the are three hundreds and three thousands and three tens of
founder of the line of the Ptolemies. He obtained the governor­ thousands, and threes twain and nines three, and in them
ship of Egypt shortly after the death of Alexander in 323 b .o., the lord and master of all is proud Ptolemy ” (tr. Edmonds,
assumed the title of king in 305, and reigned until 283.
in L.G.L.).
102
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 31. 8-32. 4

p iip id S a s , ка\ кав' урач Se оик еХ ат т оич e lp a i has remained no less down to our day .1 It is for this
9 to v tc o p.1 S io каХ т о и ч a p % a io v < ; ß a a i X e i 4 1 а т о - reason that, acoording to our historical accounts,
povai кат а тy p A ly v T T O v еруа peydX a ка\ the ancient kings o f E gypt built great and marvel­
б а и р а а т а S ia т уч T o X u ^ e ip ia 4 к а т а а к е и а а а и т а ч lous works with the aid o f so many hands and left
аварат а т уч еаит ш р S o !jy 4 a T o X i T e i v vTopvy-
in them immortal monuments to their glory. But
these matters we shall set forth in detail a little
/х а т а . аХХа т гер\ p e p т оит ш р та кат а рероч
later ; now we shall tell o f the nature o f the river
p iK p o v Ь ст т ерор d p a y p d -ф о р е р , т ер1 Se т уч т од
and the distinctive features o f the country.
т от арои ф иаеш ч ка1 тш р кат а т ур % ш рар
32. The Nile flows from south to north, having its
IS iw /x d T w p pup S ie ^ ip e p .
sources in regions which have never been seen,
32. О yap NeZXo? ф е р е т а 1 p e p ат о p e a y p ß p la 4 since they lie in the desert at the extremity of
ет ь т ур аркт ор,та ? т у у а ч е % ш р е к т о т охр Ethiopia in a country that cannot be approached
а о р а т о х р , di KeiPTai т у ч е а у / Х т у ч А 1 в ю т 1 а ч к а т а because o f the excessive heat. Being as it is the
т ур е р у р о р , а т р о а 'п о и т уч у /ш р а ч о и а у ч S i d т ур largest o f all rivers as well as the one which traverses
2 т ои к а и р а т о ч V T e p ß o X y p . реукт т оч S’ шр тш р the greatest territory, it forms great windings, now
ат арт ш р т от арш р кал т Х е1ат ур уур S ie ^ iw p turning towards the east and Arabia, now bending
карт ач T o ie iT a i реуаХ ач, т от е рер ет 1 т ур back towards the west and Libya ; for its course
а р а т о Х у р к а 1 т у р ’A p a ß i a v ет ш т р еф ш р , т от е S' from the mountains o f Ethiopia to where it empties
ет I т ур S v a ip к е й т у р A i ß v y p ек к Х 1р ш р ' ф е р е т а 1 into the sea is a distance, inclusive o f its windings,
уар атго тш р A W io t ik o x p орш р pe% pi т уч е1ч
o f some twelve thousand stades. In its lower
stretches it is more and more reduced in volume,
ваХ ат т ар ёл/ЗоАт)? e n d S ia раХш т а тш ч p v p ia
as the flow is drawn off to the two continents .2 O f
3 к а л S i o y l X i a а и р аХ ч T o i e i T a i к а р т а 1 ч , 2 к а т а
the streams which thus break off from it, those
S e too? и т о к а т ш т о т о и ч а и а т е Х Х е т а 1 to Z? о у к о 1ч
which turn off into Libya are swallowed up by the
del раХХор, ат оат ш рерои т ои реират оч ет '
4 арф от ерач та ? ут е1роич. тш р S' ат оащ ^о-
1 U. Wileken (op. critical note) feels that this sum for the
population of Egypt about the middle o f the first century
р е р ш р р е р ш р то р е р е1ч т у р A i ß v y p ¿k k X ip o p иф ' B .c . is approximately correct. Josephus (J e w is h W a r, 2. 385),
writing a little more than a century later, gives the population
1 All MSS. except М read -rpiaKoaiav, which has been as 7,500,000, exclusive of Alexandria. In Book 17. 52. 6 D io­
deleted by every editor since Dindorf. But U. W ilcken dorus says that the “ free inhabitants ” of that city numbered
(G riechische O stra ka a u s Ä g y p te n u n d N u b ie n , 1., pp. 489 f.) over 300,000.
follows Ed. Meyer in feeling that T pitvcoaiw is a corruption 2 The earlier Greek writers made the Nile the dividing line
and makes a strong case for тобтшу, which I have between the continents of Asia and Africa.
adopted.
2 irepieiArjipe be Kal vfjffovs i v avrep ката p ev ~T]f AKhoTLay eÏKoai bvoîv VTaSiwr ¿ m l ~ Û эгЛотоу added by G F from
ЙАЛау те тгАeiovs Kal piav evpeyeßr], ttjу ovopa^operrjv Mepdijy, chap. 33. 1.
104
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 32. 4-9
dpcpcov Karairiverai to /3d#o? e^ovcrps avLarov, sand, which lies there to an incredible depth, while
to S’ els t fjv ’ A p afila v evavTccos ela^eo/xevov els those which pour in the opposite direction into
t e\fia,Ta Tra/i/xeyeOr) teal Xipcvas etcipeireiai pceya- Arabia are diverted into immense fens and large
5 X a s / c a l T r e p io i/c o v p c e v a s y e v e a i t t o X X o t s . e l s S e marshes 1 on whose shores dwell many peoples. But
tt)v A t y u T T T o v e p ./ 3 d X X e i tt} p .e v S e /c a a r a b l a i v , where it enters Egypt it has a width of ten stades,
tt} S ’ e X a T T O v tovtcdv, ov/c ¿ tt’ e v d e l a s <j>ep6pt,evos,
sometimes less, and flows, not in a straight course,
but in windings of every sort; for it twists now
dXXa /c a p n r a s ir a v T o la s tr o io v p c e v o s ' ttotc pcev
towards the east, now towards the west, and at
yap e X iT T e r a t, 7r p o s tt)V ea>, T r o r e S e 7r p o s ttjv
times even towards the south, turning entirely bach
e a ir e p a v , e c n 1 S’ o re ir p o s ttjv p .e a r j p ,/3 p l a v , e l s
upon itself. For sharp hills extend along both sides
6 tovttLctco Xap,/3dva>v ttjv naXippoiav. opt) yap of the river, which occupy much of the land border­
eg e/carepov pcepovs tov irora p ov Trapr/tcet,, ttoXXtjv ing upon it and are cut through by precipitous
pev tt)s irapairoiap.ias ene^ovTa, SieiXyppeva ravines, in which are narrow defiles; and when it
Se (fidpaygi tcaTa/cprjpcvois1 (TTevovopois, ols comes to these hills the stream rushes rapidly back­
epvnhnov to pevpa TraXicrcrvTeZ Sia tt/s ireSidSos, ward through the level country, 8 and after being
/cal 7rpos ttjv pear)p /3plav etj) l/cavov tottov borne southward over an area o f considerable extent
eve)( 0ev iraXiv eirl ttjv Kara 1fivaiv fyopav resumes once more its natural course.
cnro/ca8i(TTaTai. Distinguished as it is in these respects above all
7 T r jX iK a v T r ] v S ’ e^cov in r e p o jfy v ev ir a a iv o other streams, the Nile is also the only river which
ir o r a p o s ovTO s p o v o s t S>v a X X c o v a v e v fic a s /c a l makes its way without violence or onrushing waves,
/c v p a T c o S o v s o p p r /s t tjv p v a i v T r o ie iT a t,, 7r X r j v e v except at the cataracts, as they are called. This is
a place which is only about ten stades in length, but
8 Tots icaXovpevois /caTapd/crais. tottos y a p Tt?
has a steep descent and is shut in by precipices so
6(tti pr)/cei pev d>s Se/ca cnaSiwv, /caravTijs Se /cal
as to form a narrow cleft, rugged in its entire length
/cpr/pvols avy/cXetopevos els <t t evrjv evTopr)v, diras
and ravine-like, full, moreover, o f huge boulders
¿6 Tpaj(ys /cal (f/apayywSrjs, e n Se ireTpovs e^cov which stand out of the water like peaks. And since
•vrvKvovs /cal peyd X ovs ¿01/coTas a/coireXois■ tov the river is split about these boulders with great
Se pevpaTOS irepi tovtovs ayi'Qopevov fiiaioTepov force and is often turned back so that it rushes in
/cal 7roXXd/cis Sid t as ey/coiras dva/cXcopevov 7rpos the opposite direction because o f the obstacles,
evavTtav ttjv /cara/fiopav avviaTavTa/, Sivai 8av- remarkable whirlpools are formed; the middle space,
9 p a c n a I ' 7rd? S ’ o p c e a d g w v t o t t o s v t t o T r js tt a X i p - moreover, for its entire length is filled with foam
1 Herodotus (2. 32) speaks of “ large marshes” on the
1 KaTO.KpT)fxvois Capps : ko.\ KprifxvoTs. upper course of the Nile.
2 i.e . the valley which lies between the hills.
I06 107
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 32. 9-33. 3

р о іа ч афроѵ те т гХ уроѵт аі каі тotę ттроаюѵаі made by the backward rush of the water, and strikes
реуаХ уѵ ттар к у е т с и кат ат гХ у^ іѵ ' каі уар у those who approach it with great terror. And, in
кат афора той т гот ароѵ оѵ т ш ч е с т I v о ^ еіа каі fact, the descent of the river is so swift and violent
10 ¡ З і а і о ч с оат е Ь о к е і ѵ р у 8 е ѵ / З е Х о ѵ ч 8 і а ф е р е і ѵ . кат а that it appears to the eye like the very rush of an
8е т уѵ т т Х у р ш а іѵ т оѵ N eiX o v, тшѵ акот т еХ ш ѵ arrow. During the flood-time o f the Nile, when the
кат акХѵ^ореѵш ѵ каі ттаѵточ т оѵ т ра^ѵѵоѵточ peaked rocks are covered and the entire rapids are
тотгоѵ тер ттХуѲеі т оѵ реѵрат оч каХѵт гт ореѵоѵ, hidden by the large volume of the water, some men
кат ат гХ еоѵаі реѵ т іѵ еч кат а тоѵ кат аракт оѵ descend the cataract when they find the winds
Х ар(Заѵоѵт еч еѵ аѵ т іоѵ ч т оѵ ч аѵероѵч, а ѵ ат т Х еѵ - against them , 1 but no man can make his way up it,
а а і 8е оѵ 8еІч 8 ѵ ѵ а т а і, ѵ ік с о а у ч туч тоѵ т гот ароѵ since the force of the river overcomes every human
11 /3 І а ч т г а а а ѵ етт іѵошѵ а ѵ Ѳ р ш т г і ѵ у ѵ . кат аракт ам device. Now there are still other cataracts of this
р е ѵ о ѵ ѵ e t a i томоѵтом т г\е м о ѵ ч , р е у к т т о ч 8' о тгроч nature, but the largest is the one on the border
тotę реѲ ор м ом ч т уч АІѲмотгмач те к а і т у ч А м у ѵ т г т о ѵ . between Ethiopia and Egypt.
33. Н ер іеіХ р ф е 8' о тготароч каі ѵусгоѵч еѵ 33. The Nile also embraces islands within its
а ѵ т ш , к а т а р е ѵ т у ѵ АІѲмотт іаѵ а Х Х а ч те тгХемоѵч waters, of which there are many in Ethiopia and
к а і р м а ѵ е ѵ р е у е Ѳ у , т у ѵ o v o p a Į o p e v y v Ш е р о у ѵ , еѵ one of considerable extent called Meroe, on which
у каі тгоХмч е а т і ѵ а ^ м о Х о у о ч о р о о ѵ ѵ р о ч т у ѵ у а ш , there also lies a famous city bearing the same name
ктмааѵточ аѵт уѵ К .а р /З ѵ а о ѵ каі Ѳереѵоѵ туѵ
as the island, which was founded by Cambyses and
тгр о с г у у о р м а ѵ атто туч р ут роч аѵт оѵ Ы ероуч.
named by him after his mother Meroe. This island,
2 т аѵтуѵ 8е тш реѵ ахурат м фаамѵ ѵ т гархеіѵ
they say, has the shape of a long shield and in size
Ѳ ѵреш т гарат гХ уам аѵ, тш Зе р е у е Ѳ е м тгоХѵ 7т роехем ѵ
far surpasses the other islands in these parts; for
тшѵ a X X w v ѵ у а с о ѵ тшѵ е ѵ тоѵтомч то іч тоттомч' то
they state that it is three thousand stades long and
реѵ уар рукоч аѵт уч еіѵ а і Хеуоѵам спа8м ш ѵ
a thousand wide. It also- contains not a few cities,
т рмах мХмш ѵ, то 8е тгХаточ % A iW . '¿Xe l v
the most famous o f which is Meroe. Extending
аѵт уѵ к а і ттоХемч о ѵ к о Х м у а ч , ш ѵ е т т м ф аѵ еат ат уѵ
3 ѵттархемѵ т у ѵ Мероуѵ. т гарукемѵ 8е туч ѵ у а о ѵ
the entire length o f the island where it is washed
тоѵ т гермкХѵ^ореѵоѵ т га ѵт а тотгоѵ ¿ 7го реѵ т уч
by the river there are, on the side towards Libya,
А м / З ѵ у ч Ѳ і ѵ а ч '¿ х р ѵ т а ч а р р о ѵ р е у е Ѳ о ч а е р ю ѵ , ¿ 7гс dunes containing an infinite amount o f sand, and, on
8е туч ’А р а ф і і а ч к р у р ѵ о ѵ ч кат еррш уот ач. ѵтт ар-
the side towards Arabia, rugged cliffs. There are
X eiv 8>’ еѵ аѵту каі рет аХ Х а ХРѵ а°ѵ те Kai
also to be found in it mines of gold, silver, iron, and
dpyvpov к а і сп8уроѵ каі х а Акоѵ' тгроч 8 е тоѵ­ copper, and it contains in addition much ebony and
т оіч е х еіѵ 7г Х у Ѳ о ч е/3еѵ оѵ , ХмѲсоѵ те т гоХ ѵ т еХ ш ѵ 1 t.e. and so are able to check their speed by using the sails.
10 9
ю8
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 33. 3-9
4 yevt] TravToSaird. /caOoXov S e Toaavraf vrjaov*> every kind o f precious stone. Speaking generally,
•noieiv tov iTOTapbv co<TT6 t o u ? a/covovTaf firj the river forms so many islands that the report of
paSc'cuf 7rc(TTeu<rai' X^P^ V^P T'^t/ TrepctcXv^o- them can scarcely be credited; for, apart from the
pevcov tottcov ev ra> /caXovpevco A e X r a r a ? aXXaf regions surrounded by water in what is called the
elvai vpaovf trXeiovf r a w eirTa/cocricov, a>v rdf Delta, there are more than seven hundred other
/¿ e n V7T0 A iBiottcov eiravTXovpevaf yecopyeiadai islands, of which some are irrigated by the Ethiopians
Keyxpcp, r a ? S e TrXppeif virdpxeiv o<f>e<ov /cal and planted with millet, though others are so overrun
by snakes and dog-faced baboons 1 and other animals
/cvvo/cecfidXcov /cal aXXcov 8rjpicov TravToSairwv, /cal o f every kind that human beings cannot set foot
Sea tovto aTrpoaiTOvf elvai Toif avOpcoiroif. upon them.
5 'O S' ovv N eiX oi «a ra rp v A ly v in o v e lf
Now where the Nile in its course through Egypt
7 r \e ia > p e p r j c r ^ i ¡ ¿ o p e v o f i r o i e i to /c a X o v p e v o v d ir o divides into several streams it forms the region
6 tov a x n P a ro < i A ekTa. to vto v Se ra ? pev which is called from its shape the Delta. The
ir X e v p d f /c a T a y p d c fie i T a T e X e v T a ia tc o v pevpd- two sides of the Delta are described by the outer­
tcov, t t )v Se ffd c r iv d v a ir X p p o i to Se% opevov most branches, while its base is formed by the
7 T r e X a y o f ra ? e / c ( 3 o X d f to v tt o Tapov. e ^ lr ja i S' sea which receives the discharge from the several
e lf T r jv ddXaTTav em a a T o /a a a iv , a>v to pev outlets of the river. It empties into the sea in
ir p b f ea) /c e /c X ip e v o v t e a l irp d /T O V / c a X e i T a i II?7\ou- seven mouths, of which the first, beginning at the
a ia /c o v , to S e SevTepov 'Y a v i T i / c o v , eira MenS?7- east, is called the Pelusiac, the second the Tanitic,
a io v /c a l < $> aT viT i/cov /c a l 2 ,e @ e v v v T i/c o v , eTi Se
then the Mendesian, Phatnitic, and Sebennytic, then
H oX /3 1 t iv o v , /c a l T e X e v T a i o v K a v c o / 3 iK o v , o T iv e f
the Bolbitine, and finally the Canopic, which is
called by some the Heracleotic. There are also
8 'Hpa/cXecoTi/cov ovopd^ovaiv. etJTi Se /cal eTepa
other mouths, built by the hand o f man, about which
<TTop.aTa x elP01T0'LTlTCL’ irepi cov ovSev KaTeirelyei there is no special need to write. At each mouth
ypd<f>eiv. e</>’ e/cd<jT(p Se iroXif TeTeixicnai Siai- is a walled city, which is divided into two parts by
povpevrj t <£ TTOTapicp /cal icaO’ e/carepov pepof Trjf the river and provided on each side o f the month
¿/cftoXrjf ^evypaai /cal cpvXa/caif ev/calpoif Siei- with pontoon bridges and guard-houses at suitable
XrjppevT). aTro S e t o v TLrfXovtria/cov cnopaTOf points. From the Pelusiac mouth there is an arti­
Stcbpvl; etTTt xeipoTToirjTOf elf t o v ’Apaftiov ficial canal to the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea.
9 k o X t t o v /cal t t j v ‘EpvOpav ddXaTTav. TavTtjv S ’ The first to undertake the construction of this was
¿TTe/3dXeT0 irpa/TOf /caTacr/cevd^eiv N eicd>f o Necho the son o f Psammetichus, and after him
'Eap.puqTixpv, peTa S e t o v t o v Aapelof o Hepcrrjf, Darius the Persian made progress with the work for
/cal TTpo/cotyaf Toif epyoif ecof Tivof t o TeXeuraiov
1 These are described in Book 3. 35.
no I ll
 D IO D O R U S O F S IC IL Y BOOK I. 33. 9-3 4. 2

10 e e a c r e v a i/T r jv ааьут еХ еат оУ ebebax^V 7 < ip vtto

a time but finally left it unfinished; 1 for he was
informed by certain persons that if he dug through
тi v a w oti, S c o p v t;a < ; тo v l a d p o v аХ т ю ч e tn a t, т ой
the neck of land he would be responsible for the
к а т а к Х у < т в г ] у а е тrjv A X y v m o v ' р е т е ш р о т е р а у y a p
submergence of Egypt, for they pointed out to him
a tr e b e iK W o v v ir d p x e tv т уч A ly v n T O v ttjv ’ E p v - that the Red Sea was higher than Egypt . 2 At a
11 6 p a v ваХат т ау. vtn ep o v be о Ьеит ероч ПтоХе- later time the second Ptolemy completed it and in 285-246
раеоч (т иует еХеаеу a v т ру, /ca l к а т а тo v ет пкае- the most suitable spot constructed an ingenious B'°‘
ротатоу тотгоу е р г/х а у^ а а т о те феХ от ехУ О У kind o f a lock. This he opened, whenever he wished
to pass through, and quickly closed again, a con­
Ьеаф рауp a . то йт о S' ¿ g y v o e y e v , оттоте f i o v X o n o
trivance which usage proved to be highly successful.
S i a T r X e v o ’a i , каХ та^ею? т гаХеу crvveKX eeev, ev­ The river which flows through this canal is named
il сгтод;(»9 ек Х а р /З а уо р е у у ч туч эдэеьа?. о be bed Ptolemy, after the builder o f it, and has at its mouth
т уч Ь ш рохоч т айт уч реш у т от ароч оуора^ет ае the city called Arsinoe.
pev атто т о й кат аакеьаааут оч ПтоХе/zaIof, етт\ 34. The Delta is much like Sicily in shape, and
its sides are each seven hundred and fifty stades
b e т у ч е к / З о Х у ч ттоХеу e%€t т у р т г р о а а у о p e v o p e v r / v
long and its base, where it is washed by the sea,
'A p a e v o y v . thirteen hundred stades. This island is intersected
34. То S’ ovv А еХ т а ту Х екеХ еа тa> < т х у р а т1 by many artificial canals and includes the fairest
тта р а т г Х у а e o v v i r d p x o v twv p e v т г Х е ь р ш у е к а т е р а у land in Egypt. For since it is alluvial soil and well
e 'x e e с г т а Ь ш у е т т т а к о а е ш у к а Х т т е у т у к о у т а , тy v be watered, it produces many crops of every kind,
fid a e v ваХ ат т у т т роакХ ь^ореууу ат аЬ еш у х ^Х ш у
inasmuch as the river by its annual rise regularly
deposits on it fresh slime, and the inhabitants easily
2 каХ т р еа ко сгеш у. у be уусгоч айт у т го Х Х а Х ч
irrigate its whole area by means o f a contrivance
b e w p v lje x et’P ° '7 r0 lV T 0 1 '' Ь еееХ ут гт а е каХ х сS p a v
the Nile a little above Bubastig, followed the Wadi Tumilat
т гереехее к а Х Х е а т у у т уч A ly v tn o v . т гот арохш - to the Bitter Lakes, and then turned south, along the course of
ат оч yap ova а кае кат аррот оч 7Го Х Х о у ч кае the present canal, to the Red Sea. Its construction has been
placed as far back as the 19th and even the 12th Dynasty. At
т т аут оЬ ат ойч ек ф е р е е к а р т го и ч , т ой p e v т гот арой
any rate, it was again put in operation by Darius, as is clear from
b ia т уу кат ет о ч d v d fta a tv veapav IX vv dee the inscription on the best-preserved of the five stelae discovered:
“ I am a Persian. From Persia I captured Egypt. I commanded
кат ах^оут оч, тшу S ’ а у в р ш т гш у р а Ь е ш ч а т га сга у
this canal to be built from the Nile, which flows in Egypt, to
арЬ еииут ш у bed т еуо ч p y x c i v y 4 , y v ¿ т ге у о у с ге p e v the Sea which comes from Persia. So was this canal built,
as I had commanded, and ships passed from Egypt through
1 Necho reigned from 609 to 593 b .c., Darius from 521 to this canal to Persia, as was my purpose ” (translation in R. W.
485 B.c. Rogers, H is to r y o f A n c ie n t P e rs ia , p. 120). Remains show that
2 This canal, not to be confused with the Suez Canal, left it was about 150 feet wide and 16 to 17 feet deep.
112 “ 3
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 34. 2-9

’A p x i p y S > y 4 0 2\ у р а к о с п о ч , o v o p d ^ e T a t Se d i b tov which was invented by Archimedes of Syracuse and

^ХУрат оч к о \К ьа ч .
3 П paetav S e той NeiAov туу pvatv irotovpevov,
кал yyv noAAyv ка1 тгаутоЬатгуу катафероуточ,
eri S e ката тоич ко1Аоуч тотгоуч AtpvdgovT04,
4 eAy yiverai тгарфора. pl^ai yap ev аутоХч
фуоутаь тгаутоЬаттаХ тfj yevaei кал картгшу кал
кауАшу iSia^ovaai фиаееч, тгоААа аур/ЗаХАо-
pevat то14 алгоро1Ч тшу аув ршттшу ка1 то??
б daOeveat ттроч аутаркешу. ov yap povov трофач
irapexpvTai тго1к1Аач ка\ ттаоч. то?? 8eopevot4
етоХрач кал ЗафпАееч, dAAa каХ тшу аААшу тшу
ew то gyv ауаука'шу ovk oAiya фероусп ¡Зоуву-
6 рата1 Ашточ те у ар фьетаь ттоАьч, e g o v ката-
<TKevd£ovo4,v артоуч o l кат A t y v m o v S v v a p e v o v 4
екттАуроуу туу футкуу тоу ашраточ e v S e i a v , то
те К10шрюу 8ау\пАе<ттатоу утгар\оу фереь тоу
7 каАоуреуоу М уут гт ю у куароу.
S e y S p o iv y e v r j i r A e i o v a , к а 1 тоутшу a ! p e v o v o p a ^ o -
pevat ire p a a la i к арт т оу Зш ф ороу
y A v K v rrjT i, рет еуехвеут оч eg A l6 io iria 4
Л ераш у tov ф у т о у каО' ov K a ip o v
8 екратуаеи екеХушу тшу тоттшу тшу £е сгукарХушу
at ре у тоу тшу роршу карттоу фероуспу, at S e тоу
т014 <tvkoi4 ерферт), кat trap oAov o’xcSov tov evt-
аутоу аутоу фуореиоу avpfiaivet too ? аттороуч
9 катафууру e T o i p y v e^eiy туч evSeta4. та Se ¡Зата
KaAovpeva 1 awdyeTai pev ката тy v атго^шруглу
1 pv^apia after Ka\ovfj.tva 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
114
is called, after its shape, a screw. 1
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,
o f a 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 o f life ; the lotus, for instance, grows
in great profusion, and from it the Egyptians make
a bread which is able to satisfy the physical needs
o f the body, and the c i b o r i u m , which is found in great
е<ттt Se каХ abundance, bears what is called the “ Egyptian ”
bean .2 There are also many kinds of trees, of which
e leven ту
that called p e r s e a , 3 which was introduced from
Ethiopia by the Persians when Cambyses conquered
viro
those regions, has an unusually sweet fruit, while
К а р /З о а уч
o f the fig-mulberry 4 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.
2 The N e lu m b iu m sp e c io s u m ; cp. Theophrastus, E n q u ir y
in to P la n ts , 4. 8. 7 (tr. b y Hort in L .C .L .) .
3 The M im u s o p s S c h im p e r i; cp. Theophrastus, ib id . 4. 2. 5.
4 The F ic u s S y c a m o r u s ; cp. Theophrastus, ib id . 6 . 6 . 4.
Ir5
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 34. 9-35. 5

r o v ir o r a p o v , S ta Se r y v yX v/cvryra rys (I)vaea>s receding and by reason o f its natural sweetness is

a vrà /v iv rpayynaros pépei /ca r a v a X ia /c e r a i. eaten as a dessert. The Egyptians also make a
10 / c a r a a / c e v a į o v a l 8 è t c a ì è/c r c b v / c p iB c o v h l y v r r n o i drink out of barley which they call z y t h o s , the bou­
rrbp.a X e irrb p e v o v ov rroX v rys rrepl rbv o lvov quet o f which is not much inferior to that o f wine.
11 evco S ia s, o / c a X o v a i 8 ,v6 o s. xposvrai Se /c a ì rr p o s Into their lamps they pour for lighting purposes,
ryv rS iv X v ^ vc o v tca va iv ė m y ė o v r e s àvr eX a io v not the oil o f the olive, but a kind which is extracted
ro à rro d X i^ o p evo v e/c r t v o s cf/vro v, r r p o a a y o p e v b - from a plant and called k i k i . 1 Many other plants,
p e v o v 8 è tci/ci. rro X X à 8è /cal àXXa ra S u va /.i e v a capable o f supplying men with the necessities of
r a s à va y/ca ia s %pe£aę i r a p é ^ e a d a i r o ìs d vB p d n ro is life, grow in Egypt in great abundance, but it would
S ayfriX y caverai K ara ryv A iyv rrro v, vrrèp o>v be a long task to tell about them.
p a / c p o v à v eÌt) y p a c j j e i v . 35. As for animals, the Nile breeds many of
35. ® yp ia 8’ ó N e ìX o s rpé<f>ei i r o X X à p , e v / c a ì peculiar form, and two which surpass the others,
àXXa ra is iS éa is é^yXX aypéva, évo 8è S id tfio p a , the crocodile and what is called the “ horse.” 2 Of
rbv re /cpo/cbS eiX ov /cal r b v /ca X o v p evo v 'i rr rr ov. these animals the crocodile grows to be the largest
2 r o v r c o v 8 ’ b p .ev tcpo/cbh eiX os ef è X a yirjro v y iv e r a i
from the smallest beginning, since this animal lays
p é y i a r o s , ( ó s à v <pà p . è v r o v £a>ov r o v r o v r i / c r o v r o s
eggs about the size o f those o f a goose, but after
ro ìs x v veto is rra p a rrX ya ia , rov Se y e v v y d é v r o s
the young is hatched it grows to be as long as six­
3 a vįjo p ėvo v p - é x p i r r y x < b v è/c/cai8e/ca. tcaì p a /c p b -
teen cubits. It is as long-lived as man, and has no
ftio v p.év eanv ¿s /car' a v B pcnrrov, y X d s r r a v Se
tongue. The body o f the animal is wondrously
ov/c e x el‘ 8è ao>p,a B avpaaróòs vnb rys
protected by nature; for its skin is covered all over
(f> vaeto s w x v p w r a i • r b p . è v y à p 8 ép p ,a a v r o v rr& v
with scales and is remarkably hard, and there are
(f> oX i8torbv ie ri /caì rrį a /cX y p b ryn 8 id c f > o p o v ,
many teeth in both jaws, two being tusks, much
b S b v r e s 8' é £ à p u f i o r é p w v r c o v p,e p<bv vrrdpxovai
r r o X X o i , S v o S e o i x a v X i b 8 o v r e s r r o X v re a p e y é d e i
larger than the rest. It devours the flesh not only
4 rebv àXXcov S ia X X à rro vres. a a p /c o c jra y e ì 8' ov
o f men but also o f any land animal which approaches
p .b vo v à v B p w r t o v s , à X A à /c a ì róòv à X X cov re o v erri
the river. The bites which it makes are huge and
rys yys £a>(ùv rà rrpoarreX d^ ovra rat rrorap.<į>. severe and it lacerates terribly with its claws, and
tcaì rà p .èv Syypara rro ieì àSpà tcaì yaX erra, whatever part o f the flesh it tears it renders alto­
ro ìs 8' o vvia i S e iv tò s a r r a p d r r e i , /ca ì r b S i a i p e B è v gether difficult to heal. In early times the Egyptians
rys aa p /cb s rravreX óòs àrrepya^erai S v a i a r ov. used to catch these beasts with hooks baited with
5 eO yp evero 8è r a v r a rà f aia rb p,èv r r a X a i b v viro 1 Castor-oil.
r w v A ly v rrric o v à y /c ia r p o is e x o v a iv èm S eS eX e a a - 2 Called by the Greeks also h ip p o p o ta m o s , “ horse of the
river,” and “ horse of the Nile.”
iió 117
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
pevat velat adpKat, vcrrepov Se rrore pev hiKrvoit
Tra^ecnv wcnrepel rivet l^dvt, nrore S’ ep/3oXloit
cnBrjpolt e/c t S>v a/caruv rvrrropeva avvexcbt elt
6 Tpv Kecf>aXtjv. rrXrjdot S avrcbv dpvdprov e a n
Kara re rov rrorapov Kal ra t 7rapaKeipevat
Xlpvat, cbt av rroXvyovcov re ovrcov /cal arravlcot
vito rcbv avdpdbrrwv avaipovpevcov rcbv pev
yap eyyuiplow rent TrXelaroit vop.ip.ov ea n v cbt
deov aefitadai rov KpoKobeiXov, rolt S’ aXXo-
<pvXoit dXvaireXrjt ea n v r) drjpa rravreXcbt, o v k
7 ovarjt eSco&lpov rijt aapKOt. dXX’ opeot rov
rrXrjdovt rovrov cpvopevov Kara ra>v dvdpdnrcov
rj cpvcrit /carecncevacre peya $or\Qt)pa' b yap
tcaXovpevot lyvevpwv, rTaparrXrjcriot cbv piKpcb
k v v I, nepiepyerai ra rcbv KpoKoheiXcov cvd avv-
rplftcov, TiKTOvrot rov %cbov rcapd rov rrorapov,
Kal ro Oavpacricbrarov, ovre Kareadlcov ovre
cbcpeXovpevot ovSev StareXei cpvaiK^v riva %pelav
Kal narr\vayKaapevr)v evepybbv elt avdpcbrrcav
euepyeaiav.
8 'O Se KaXovpevot irrrrot ra> peyeOei pev ecrriv
o v k eXarrcov my^cov rrevre, rerpdrrovt S cbv Kal
StXvXot rraparrXpaicot roit fioval rovt j(avXi6-
hovrat '¿XeL p el& vt rcbv dyplcov vcbv, rpelt e£
apeporepeov rcbv pepebv, ebra Se Kal KepKov Kal
cpcovrjv irrrrcp rrapepcpepr}, ro S’ oXov Kvrot rov
acbparot o v k dvopoiov eXecpavri, Kal heppa
9 rrdvrcov crxeSov rcbv drjplcov laxvporarov. rrord-
piov Se 1 vrrapxov Kal x ePcral°v Ta? P^v vpepat
ev roit vSaai rroiei yvpva^opevov Kara ftadovt,
ra t Se vvKrat errl rrjt %u>pa? Karaveperai rov re
crirov Kal rov x^Prov, ware ei rroXvreKvov fjv
n8
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 o f 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 o f most o f the natives o f Egypt
to worship the crocodile as a god, while for foreigners
there is no profit whatsoever in the hunting o f 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 i c h n e u m o n , which is about the size o f a
small dog, goes about breaking the eggs o f the
crocodiles, since the animal lays them on the banks
o f the river, and— what is most astonishing o f all—
without eating them or profiting in any way it con­
tinually performs a service which, in a sense, has
been prescribed by nature and forced upon the
animal for the benefit o f men.
The animal called the “ horse ” is not less than
five cubits high, and is four-footed and cloven-hoofed
like the o x ; it has tusks larger than those o f the wild
boar, three on each side, and ears and tail and a
cry somewhat like those o f the horse ; but the trunk
o f its body, as a whole, is not unlike that o f the
elephant, and its skin is the toughest o f 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 were1
1 Si Dindorf : y a p .
119
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
tovto to %5>ov Kal icar eviavrbv etiktev, ¿Xv-
/laivET av oXoa^epco? r a ? yewpyias t a? /car'
10 A'Cyvmov. dXiaKETai Se Kal tovto TroXv^eipia
TO)V TVTTTOVTOJV TOt? atSppoZ? ¿pj3 o X io t f OTTOV
yap av <fiavfj, crvvdyovaiv eit avTO irXola, « a t
TTEpi(TTavTE<: KaTaTpavpaTi^ovcriv (oaiTEp Ticrl
KOTTEvenv Eirl a t Sppols ayKiaTpois, eIO' evI tosv
Ep.iTayevTOiv EvdmovTES ap^as aTviriuva ? acj>idai,
p^XP1 ° TOl; irapaXvOfj yEvopsvov E^aipov,
11 T p v p s v o v v trdpKa aKXrjpav e^et « a t S v a v E i T T o v ,
TOiv S' evtocOev ovSev eS c o S i p o v , ovte c r i r X a y x y o v
OUT EyKOtXlOV.
36. Xcept? Se T03V slp-ppEvaiv dtjpiwv o N eiX o?
'¿xel iravTola ykvr] fyOveov Kal Kara to irXf/Oo^
dm<na- r o t? yap e’y^eeptot? ov povov ek tuv
irpo(T(j)dT(o<; aXivKopEVoiv irapEX^Tai SayjnXrj tt) v
diroXavaiv, aXXa Kal irXfjOos eIs r a p t ^ e t a f
2 dvirjmv avEKXEnnov. KaOoXov Se r a t? et? dv-
8pa>irov<; EVEpyeolaui virEpftdXXsi iravTa<; rot)?
« a r a Trjv oIkovpivijv TTOTapov<i. Tt?? yap irXppoi-
aetu? ttjv a p xvv “ 7r° 8Epivwv TpoirSiV iroiovpevo ?
a u fe r a t pEV peXP1 T0'' t^r/pe-pia? r p ? pETOiroipivijs,
ETrdywv S’ aet veav iXvv /3peX€t TPV 7 ^ " opoio><:
tt/v te dpyrjv Kal airbpipov Kai (j>VTEvaipov
TocrouTOV XP°V0V dcrov av ol yeoipyovvTE'>
3 ^copait EdEXpcrwcn. tov yap vSaTos 7rpaea>?
(¡>epopEvov paSiw<; diroTpeirovtriv avTOV piKpol<:
Xdopacn, Kal irdXiv Eirdyouaiv EUX^poi1! tout a
4 Siaipovvre?, orait S ofp avp(f>€pEiv. Ka8oXov Se
ToaavTTjv ro t? /ter spyois EVKomav irapexeTai,
ro t? S’ dvdp(oiroi<! XvtriTeXEiav, w a r e tou ? pei>
ttX eLcttov<; tmv yEcopy&v r o t? dva^ppaivopEvoit
120
BOOK I. 35. 9-36. 4
prolific and reproduced each year, it would entirely
destroy the farms o f 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 o f chisel fitted with iron
barbs, 1 and then, fastening the end o f a rope of tow
to one o f 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 2 nor
the intestines.
36. Beside the beasts above mentioned the Nile
contains every variety o f 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 generally, we may say that the Nile
surpasses all the rivers o f 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
flow, they easily divert the river from their fields
by small dams of earth, and then, by cutting these,
as 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
1 i.e. a harpoon. 2 t.e. the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys.
12 1
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
тг/? yr/ч totoi4 ефштарёрооч каХ то атёрра
¡ЗаХХортач ¿Tayetp та ¡Зоакг/рата, ка.1 T0VT014
аурттатт/аартач /лета тёттарач г) тёрте рт/рач
атгартау етX тор верит/лор, ер'юуч йе коофо1ч
аротр01Ч ётауауортач /Зра%ешч тт/р етфарешр
тг/ч /Зе/Зреурёрт/ч %(Ьрач аагроуч apatpeiadai татр
картагр хшрХч Ьатарт/ч тоХХт/ч каХ какотавеХач.
6 оХ с о ч у а р т а а а y e a p y l a т а р а / л е р то»? a X X o i 4
евре<т1 /лет а реуаХ агр араХш рат сор ка\
т агрш р bioiK eiT ai, т ара й’ А1уут т ю
’ 1ч
¿Ха%[<тто1 Ч Ь а т а р т / p a a t к а Х topoi4 а у у к о р Х £ е т а 1 .
г/ те а р т е Х о ф у т о ч о / л о ш ч а р Ь е у о р ё р т / b a y f r i X e t a p
6 oipov то»? ey-)(a>pioi4 TapaaKevd^ei. oi be XеP~
aevelP еааартеч тт/р x^pap тт/р ёт1кекХуарёрт/р
каХ то»? T0ipPL0L4 арертеч рт/Хо/Зотор bid то
тХт/воч тг/ч ро/лг/ ч Ь1ч текорта кал Ь1ч атокарерта
та тро/Зата картоштаь.
7 То b e y i p o p e p o p тер\ тт/р dpaf3acnp той N e i X o v
то»? pep Ibovat ваураатор фаХрета», то»? й’
aKOvaaat тартеХшч аткттор. татр у ар аХХагр
тотаршр атартсор терХ та? вертрслч тротач
еХаттоурёрагр каХ ката тор ё^т/ч XP°V0V тои
вероУЧ del раХХор татемоу/лёрсор, оуточ ророч
тоте тт/р1 архт/Р Ха/Зшр тг/ч тХт/ршаешч етХ
тоооутор ау^етаь кав r/рерар агате то теХеитаХор
8 тааар ах^Ьор ет1кХи£е1Ртт/рАХуутттор. агааутазч
be таХьр е1ч тоирартХор рета/ЗаХюр2 top iaop
1 Trjv omitted by F, Bekker, Dindorf.
8 fitr a & a W a v 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 i t ; 1 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 o f grain without much
expense or exertion. For, generally speaking, every
т аХа1-
kind of field labour among other peoples entails
great expense and toil, but among the Egyptians
p o p o t4
alone is the harvest gathered in with very slight
outlay o f money and labour. Also the land planted
with the vine, being irrigated as are the other fields,
yields an abundant supply o f 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 o f the rich pasturage, lamb twice
and are twice shorn every year. 2
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 o f 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
1 A monument of the Old Kingdom represents sheep
treading in the seed (the reproduction appears in J. H. Breasted,
A H is to r y o f E g y p t, p. 92).
8 Cp. the O d yssey 4. 86.
123
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 36. 8-12

y^povov ¡ca d ' p p e p a v I k to v te a r o X iy o v T c n r e iv o v - course and for an equal length o f time gradually
tcu , P & X P 1 **,v 6t? T V V T r p o v T r d p f f a a a v a< friicr]Tcu
falls each day, until it has returned to its former
ra % iv . t e a l tj}? p e v ^copa? o v e n p ; 7r e B i d B o s , t w v
level. And since the land is a level plain, while the
B e 7r o X e w v i c a l tw v K w p w v , ’¿ t i Be tw v d y p o iK iw v
cities and villages, as well as the farm-houses, lie
on artificial mounds, the scene comes to resemble
K e i p e v w v e i r i X e l P ° T r o ir jT w v y w p a T w v , rj T rp o a o ^ r i< ;
the Cyclades Islands. 1 The wild land animals for
9 opoia yiveTdi Tah K vtcXacn. vrjcois. twv Be X eP~ the larger part are cut off by the river and perish in
craLwv Orjpiwv r a iroXXa pev inro tov iroTapov its waters, but a few escape by fleeing to higher
TrepiXrj<f>0evTa Bia<f>0eipeTM fScnni^opeva, Tiva B’ ground; the herds and flocks, however, are main­
eh tov<; peTewpoTepov<: ¿KfpevyovTa tottov; Biaaib- tained at the time of the flood in the villages and
£V t a t, tcl Be {iocncrjpaTa kclto. tov t j } ? dvaftao’ews farm-houses, where fodder is stored up for them in
Xpovov ev t a h icwpais teal Tah dypoiKiai<> Bia- advance. The masses of the people, being relieved
TpecpeTCti, TrponapacrKeva^opevr]<; a in oh Trjs Tpo- of their labours during the entire time of the in­
10 <£?}?. oi B’ oxX oi ir d v T a to v tt}? ir X r j p i b c e w t ; undation, turn to recreation, feasting all the while
X p o v o v a ir o X e X v p e v o i tw v epyw v e h a v e a iv t pe- and enjoying without hindrance every device of
ttovtcu , <
t vvexw s ecm w pevoi k m ir d i v T w v tw v pleasure. And because o f the anxiety occasioned
7T/30? r /B o v r jv d v r jK O V T w v a vepT T oB i(T T W < ; d i r o X a v - by the rise of the river the kings have constructed
11 0 VTe<;. Bid Be tt/v dywviav Trjv ¿ k Tfj<; dvaftatrews a Nilometer 2 at Memphis, where those who are
charged with the administration o f it accurately
tov iroTapov yivopevpv KaTeaKevatnai N e tX o -
measure the rise and despatch messages to the
cTKOirelov vnto twv ftaaiXewv ev Trj M epcpei’ iv
cities, and inform them exactly how many cubits or
Toincp Be Ttjv dvdfiacriv aKpiftws eKpeTpovvTef oi fingers the river has risen and when it has commenced
Ttjv TOVTov BioiKTjcnv exovTe<; e^airocneXXovcnv to fall. In this manner the entire nation, when it
eh Tas 7ToXeis ¿iriaToXds, BiatratyovvTes irotrovt has learned that the river has ceased rising and
7r ^ e t ? rj BaKTvXovi avafiefirjKev 0 TOTapb<; Kai begun to fall, is relieved o f its anxiety, while at the
7TOT6 ttjv a p xvv TreTToir]Tai Ttjs ¿XaTTwaewt. same time all immediately know in advance how
12 B i d Be to v T O io v T o v T p o ir o v r?}? pev a y w v ia s large the next harvest will be, since the Egyptians
a i r o X v e T a t 7ra? o \ a o ? , T r v O o p e v o s tt)v tt)s av^p- have kept an accurate record o f their observations
aew < ; eh T O v v a v T io v p e T a fio X ijv , to Be tt X r jO o f o f this kind over a long period o f terms.
tw v e o ’o p e v w v K a p i r w v e v 6 i> s c n r a v T s t T r p o e i r e y v w -
1 These are small islands, some of which “ cluster” (as the
K a a iv , ¿k tto X Xwv x P ° va3V T r a p a T - p p ijc r e w ; name signifies) about the island of Delos.
T d V T r js ir a p a Toh A ly v ir T io ii a K p iftw s dvaye- s The Nilometer (Diodorus calls it in fact a “ N iloscope” )
y p a p p e v r p t. is described by Strabo (17. 1. 48) as a well on the bank of the
Nile with lines on the wall to indicate the stage of the river.

124 I2 5
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 7 . M e y á X ? ;? S’ ovcrrjs атор1ач теpl тг)ч tov
тотароу тХг/рантеW4 , ёттисеуеьрщасгь to XXoI twv
те фСХоаофшУ кал twv îenopiKWV ánoBiBóvai1 t À ç
Tavrrji; а1т1ач, тгеpi wv èv кефаХашч èpovpev, 'iva
ргрте рак pas то iwрева тач тарек/Застеьч рг/те
аурафор то тара Trâaiv èm^provpevov àiroXei-
2 7Twpev. оХшч yàp утер тт}ч àvafîàcrew4 tov
N eiXov кал twv Ttjywv, ёт1 Sè t t ) ç ei’ç ваХаттар
ек/ЗоХг)ч кал twv aXXwv wv <¡Xei &1афора>у тара
Toùç аХХооч тотароуч, реуктточ wv twv KaTà
Tr¡v oÍKOvpév-pv, Tiv€4 pèv twv <тvyypaфéwv
à t Xô>4 ovk eToXppaav ovBev eiTeîv, каьтер
ешвотеч pr¡Kvveiv èvloTe тер1 xeipáppov tov
tv x ¿ vto4, tiv €4 S ¿Ti(3aXopevoi Xeyeiv тер\ twv
e TiÇrjTOvpévwv ToXii tt¡4 аХг)6е1ач StppapTov.
3 oí pèv yàp тер1 tov 'EXXáviKOV к al KáSpov, eTi
8’ 'Екатамр, ка1 тартеч oí toiovtoi, TaXaiol
тартатаспр ортеч, e îç тач pvdw8ei4 атофа-
4 crei4 àTeKXivav 'Н р о З о т о ? Se о тоХутрау-
pwv, el ка1 Ti4 аХХоч, уеуоршч ка1 тоХХг/ч
i <ттор1ач ёрте/роч €TLKex^lpVK€ ттерь t o v t w v
aTo8i8¿vai Xóyov, r¡KoXovdr¡KW4 Sè àvTiXeyo-
pévaí 4 VTOvoiai4 еур1акетаи' Ееуофйу Sè кал
® o v k v 818t] 4, ¿Taivoíipevoi ката тг/v áXrjdeiav t w v
ioTopiwv, атесгхо1>то TeXéw4 ката Tr¡v урафт)р
t w v t Ót w v t w v кат’ A ïyvi t t o v ol Sé Tepl tov
“ Ефороу ка1 (Эеотортор раХиата tcÍ v t w v е1ч
тaï/т етптавертеч г)китта тг/ч àX-рвешч ететухоу.
1 ànoSovvcu A B E , Dindorf.
1 These early chroniclers belonged to the group whom
Thucydides (1. 21) called logographoi (“ writers of prose” )
to distinguish them from the writers of epic. The two chief
126
BOOK I. 37. 1-4
37. Since there is great difficulty in explaining
the swelling of the river, many philosophers and
historians have undertaken to set forth the causes
of i t ; 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,1 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 is 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 E gypt; 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 B.O.; the historical character of Cadmus of Miletus (fl.
sixth century B.c.) is questioned by Schmid-Stahlin (Geschichte
der griechischen Literatur, 1. pp. 691 f . ) ; Hecataeus of Miletus
visited Egypt before 526 b . c . and died soon after 494 b . c .
127
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
Kal Bie<T<j>d\7]crav oinoi ттаутеч ov Sid Tpv ape-
5 Xeiav, dXXa Bia тrjv трч x сорач iBiSTpTa. atro
yap twv apxaiwv XP°va>v äxpi П т oXepatov т ov
<t>i\aBe\<f>ov тгроаауореувеуточ ov% оттшч Tive4
т ci)v 'EXXpvav inrepeßaXov ei4 AWioirlav, aXX’
ovBe P-^XP1 T“>v °РШ 1> тт)? AiyvwTov irpoaaveßp-
a a v ovtcos ä^eva irdvTa pv та wepl той? тотгоуч
тоутоуч ка1 таутеХшч eiriKivBvva• той Be irpoeipp-
pevov ßa<riXea>4 рев' 'E\Xijwic?j? Bvvdpea>4 et?
AWioiriav irpcoTOV атратеьааУточ ¿ттеууюствр та
ката tt)v X'^Pav Tainpv ¿Kpißecnepov diro tov-
twv тa>v XP°va>v-
6 T?}? pev ovv t&v TrpoTepcov аууурафесм ayvoLa4
то/аотач та? а1т1ач crvveßp yevea6ai‘ та? Se
труач тov NetXov, каХ тov tottov e£ ov Xapßdvei
Tpv apxvv тоv pevp-аточ, eopaKevai pev pexpi
ToovBe Tfflt IcrTOpiwv ypa^opevoiv ovBe'14 elppKev
ovB' aKorjv апеф^ато тара tcov eopaKevai
7 Biaßeßaiovpevav, Bio каl tov тграураточ е1ч
vTrovoiav ка1 катаатохасгp ov vidavov KaTav-
TCOVT04, 01 pev кат AiyvrrTov 1ере2ч diro tov
TrepippeovT04 Tpv o'iKovpevpv ¿¡Keavov фасгю ainov
Tpv oviTTacriv Xapßdveiv, vy te? pev ovBev
Xeyovt€4, aixopia Be Tpv airopiav Хуоутеч Kal
Xoyov ферортеч е1ч tticttiv a in o v 1 ттоХХрч ttL-
1 avrbv Stephanus : аитссг.
1 The second of the line, who reigned from 285 to 246 B.c.
Following the custom of the Egyptian kings (cp. chap. 27)
he married his sister Arsinoe, and upon her death (or possibly
even before; cp. J. Beloch, G riechische G eschichte, IV . 2. p,
128
BOOK I. 37. 4-7
error on the part of all these writers was due, not
to their negligence, but to the peculiar character o f
the country. For from earliest times until Ptolemy
who was called Philadelphus, 1 not only did no
Greeks ever cross over into Ethiopia, but none
ascended even as far as the boundaries o f 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 o f 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 o f the
Nile and the region where the stream arises, not a
man, down to the time o f the writing o f 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 f.) established a cult of himself as
ruler and of his sister-wife and consort as theoi ad elp h o i
(“ Brother-Sister Gods ” ). The epithet p h ila d elp h o s (“ sister-
loving ” ) was never borne by Ptolemy II during his lifetime;
to his contemporaries he was known as “ Ptolemy the son
of P tolem y” (cp. E. R. Bevan, A H is to r y o f E g y p t u n d er
the P to le m a ic D y n a s ty , p. 56, and Ferguson in C am bridge
A n c ie n t H is to r y , 7, p. 17.
129
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
8 СГТ6Ш? 7r p o a S e ó p e v o v tc o v S é T p io y o S v T io v o l p e r -
a v a a T i l v T e s е к т ш у avon тоттшу S i a к а й р а , тгросг-
a y o p e v ó p e v o i S é BóX ytoí ,1 X é y o v m v ¿ p ijjá c r e is
T i v a s e l v a i ттерХ t o v s t o t t o v s ¿ K e ív o v s , ei£ w v a v t i s
<r v X X o y ic r a iT O S i o t i тго Х Х ш у 7щ у ш у et? e ra t o t t o v
а в p o i ^ o p é v a v c rv v L u T a T C U то р е й р а т ой N et\ o v
Si,о /eat т т оХ ууоуш т ат оу a v r b v v i r á p x e i v ттаутшу
9 ТШУ yVWpL^OflévOÚV ТТОТарШУ. ol Sé TTeplOIKOÜvTeS
tt¡v vr¡aov rr¡v ovopa%opévr¡v X\epor¡v, oís кал
раХктт äv т is аоукатаво1 то, тr¡s pév ката то
ir1 6 avbv eüprjcnXoylas т toXv K e^piapévois, тшу
S é tottqjv тшу ¡¿цтоуреушу еуукхта Keipévois, то-
аойтоу cnréxovcn тov Xéyeiv ti 7repi тоутшу
¿Kpißcbs шстте кал тог тготароу Аататтоуу ттроа-
r/yopevKaaiv, оттер еатI реверрг/уеубреуоу et? tt¡v
'ЕХХт/гсог SiáXeKTOv ек той акотоу? vScop.
10 OvToi pév ov V Tip N etXy tt¡s év ro t? tottois
ádecopijcrías кал tt¡s ISías a yvoías oiKeiav етa£av
irpoerrjyoplav r¡piv 8* аХт]6есгтато$ elvai SoKet
Xóyos o ттХештоу aTtéyixjv той ттросптои^раточ.
11 оук ayvow S é o n t t jv ttpos t t jv еш той ттотарой
TOVTOV Kai TTjv irpbs écnrépav Alßvrjv афор1 %шу
'HpóSoTOS ауат1вг)сп A iß v a i t o I s ovopa^opévois
ТЯасгаршсп t t ¡ v aKpißr) dewplav той peidpov, Kal
фцспу ек Tivos Xipv-rjS XapßavovTa t t ¡ v apxvv
Tov NeiXot» фереава 1 Sia ^oópa? Aí6io-iTiKr¡s
арувг)тоу ov fiTjv avTodev ойте ro t? eiTroücri
Aißvcnv, e ITTер кол irpbs aXr¡6eiav eípr¡Kaaiv,
ойте t ¿> аууурафеХ ттроаектеоу avairoSeiKTa
XéyovTi.
1 B¿\.ytoi C D F , V o g e l: рбКуш A B E , Bekker, Dindorf.
13 0
BOOK 1. 37. 7-11
On the other hand, those Trogodytes, 1 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 o f all known rivers. But the inhabi­
tants o f the country about the island called Meroe,
with whom a man would be most likely to agree,
since they are far removed from the art of finding
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 a name
which accords with the want o f 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, 2 when distinguishing between the Libya
which lies to the east and that which lies to the
west o f this river, attributes to the Libyans known
as the Nasamones the exact observation o f the
stream, and says that the Nile rises in a certain lake
and then flows through the land o f Ethiopia for a
distance beyond telling; and yet assuredly no hasty
assent should be given to the statements either of
Libyans, even though they may have spoken truth­
fully, or o f the historian when what he says does not
admit o f proof.
1 Cp. p. 98, n. 1. * Book 2. 32.
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK I. 38. 1-6
38. 'E iir e iB r j Be т а v т г р у ш р к а с трч
irepl
38. Now that we have discussed the sources and
pva е ш ч avTov BieX.rjXveap.ev, т г е с р а с т о р е в а та?
course of the Nile we shall endeavour to set forth
2 ситсач o c i r o b c B o v a c т р ч тгХг]рсеитешч- ® аХрч pev
the causes of its swelling. Thales, who is called one
ovv, el? twv err т а аофш у орора^орероч, фг]стс of the seven wise men, says that when the etesian
Toil? ет расач а рт с т гре орт ач т асч ек/ЗоХ асч tov winds 1 blow against the mouths o f the river they
T rorapov KtoXveiv е1ч в а Х а т т а р т т р о у е ш в а ь то hinder the flow o f the water into the sea, and that
p e v p a , /cal S e a tout’ a i n o v T r X t j p o v p e v o v еж с- this is the reason why it rises and overflows Egypt,
/c\v£ecv Tarreivrjv ovaav /cal т геВ саВ а т р р A c y v i r - which is low and a level plain. But this explanation,
3 tov. tov Be Xoyov tovtov, к а т е р eivac ВокоОрточ plausible as it appears, may easily be shown to be
TriOavov, paScov e^eXey^ac to 'ф е О В о ч . el yap false. For if what he said were true, all the rivers
r jv а Х р в е ч to ttpoecprjpevov, 01 т готар оХ ж а у т е ч whose mouths face the etesian winds would rise in
av ос тосч е т р а с а с ч е р а р т с а ч та? е к / З о Х а ч е у о р т е ч a similar way; but since this is the case nowhere in
е т г о с о ш т о TTjv opocav avajHacnv ov pijSapov трч the inhabited world the true cause of the swelling
ocKovpevrj4 <Tvp/3alvovT04 £т]тг]теор е т е р а р а с т с а р must be sought elsewhere. Anaxagoras the physical
philosopher has declared that the cause of the rising
4 aXrjdcvrjV тг)Ч тгХ^ршаешч. 'Ара^ауорач В’ о
is the melting snow in Ethiopia, and the poet
фр/тскоч атгефррато тг)ч ауа/Зааесоч астсар eivac Euripides, a pupil of his, is in agreement with him.
Tijv TrjKopevrjv %cova ката трр А'свсотгсиу, ф кас At least he writes : 2
о тгосртрч Е\vpcTrlBrj4 ра9ртт)ч шр г/коХоиврке•
Хеуес у ovv He quit Nile’s waters, fairest that gush from earth,
The Nile which, drawn from Ethiop land, the
N e c X o v X n rcbv к а Х Х са т о р ¿к у а с а ч vB m p, black
09 е к р е Х а р /З р о т о с о тгХрроут ас р о а ч Man’s home, flows with full flood when melts the
А'свсоттсВоч у р ч , rjv cK a v таку snow.
5 ка'с T a v T T j v Be тт/р а т г о ф а а с р o v т г о Х Х у ч avT cpprj- But the fact is that this statement also requires
<тешч В е с а в а с сгрр/Зе/Зрке, ф ауерой тгастсу орточ but a brief refutation, since it is clear to everyone
отс Весе тг)р v T r e p / 3 o X r j v т ю р к а а р а т ш р аВоратор that the excessive heat makes it impossible that
6 х ^орсс тгстгтесу тгерс т р р А Ю сот гсау кавоХор уар any snow should fall in Ethiopia; for, speaking
тгерс тоЬ ч T07T0V4 тоЬторч о с п е т г а у о ч о'бте л /г О ^ о ч generally, in those regions there is no frost or cold
осев’ о Х ш ч х е с р ш р о ч е р ф а а с ч уср ет а с, к а с р а Х с а т а or any sign whatsoever o f winter, and this is especially
тгерс T t j p d v d ^ a c r c v tov N e c X o v , e l Be тсч к а с true at the time o f the rising of the Nile. And even
the term is not a precise one, as Diodorus shows in the following
1 Thales doubtless meant by “ etesian ” the north-west
chapter.
winds which blow in summer from the Mediterranean, but
2 Frg. 228, Nauck2. .
13 2
133
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 38. 6-12
a u y ^ o ip y a a i y ió v o s e ív a i ^ X y O o s ¿v то is оттер if a man should admit the existence of great quanti­
A W io T r ía v to t t o is , '¿ p o is è \ é y ) / e r a i то ijre v B o s Tys ties of snow in the regions beyond Ethiopia, the
7 ат гоф асгеах;' ттàs yàp TTOTapos diro %i¿vos р е ш у falsity of the statement is still shown by this fact:
opoXoyovpevios a ú p a s dvaBíBwm i¡rv ^ /p a s каХ to v every river which flows out of snow gives out cool
a e p a 7ra%wef тгерХ Be t o v NeíXoi/ póvov тшу breezes, as is generally agreed, and thickens the
•п от а рш у оите vét^ovs unoardaeis virdp^ovaiy
air about it; but the Nile is the only river about
out aìipai ijrv^paX yívovTai ov6 ’ ó dyp тта^и- which no clouds form, and where no cool breezes
verai. rise and the air is not thickened.
Herodotus 1 says that the size of the Nile at its
8 H p oS oro? Bé фу ai tov NeiXov eívai pev фиае1
swelling is its natural one, but that as the sun travels
Ti]XiKOVTOv yXiKos yiverat ката туу 7тХуршаьу, over Lilpya in the winter it draws up to itself from
¿v Sé tm tov yXiov ката туу Ai¡3vyv the Nile a great amount of moisture, and this is the
ферореуоу етпаттааваь irpos kavTov тгоХХуу reason why at that season the river becomes smaller
vypaaíav ¿ k tov N eíXov, ка1 Bid тоито 7repi tovs than its natural size ; but at the beginning of summer,
Kaipovs tovtovs тара фиту еХаттоуа yíveadai when the sun turns back in its course towards the
9 to v п о т а р о У t o v Bè dépovs h riaTavTOS ат го^ш - north, it dries out and thus reduces the level of both
р о и ут а ту ф о р а to v yXiov irpos Tas dpKTovs the rivers of Greece and those of every other land
ava^ypaiveiv к а \ Taireivovv t o v s те тгерХ туу whose geographical position is like that of Greece.2
EXXáSa 7roTapovs к а \ t o v s к а т а т уу dXXyv Consequently there is no occasion for surprise, he says,
10 ^óipav т у у óp o Lois ¿Keívy Keipévyv. о и к е т ovv in the phenomenon of the Nile; for, as a matter of
elvai 7rapdBo^ov то yivópevov тгерХ to v NetXon’ fact, it does not increase in volume in the hot season
ov yàp èv t o I s к а и р а с п у av^eadai, к а т а tov
and then fall in the winter, for the reason just given.
Now the answer to be made to this explanation also
XeipLòva Bè Tarreivovadai Bid т у у npoeipypévyv
is that it would follow that, if the sun drew moisture
11 a i T i a v . р у т е о у o í/у каХ ir p o s t o v t o v o t i к а в у к о у
to itself from the Nile in the winter, it would also
y v , шаттер d ir o t o v N e iX o v туу v y p a a í a v 6 y X io s take some moisture from all the other rivers of
е ф è a vT Ò v етпаттатат к а т а t o v s t o v y e ip à iv o s Libya and reduce the flow of their waters. But
K a ip o v s , вито) каХ d ir o тшу a X X w v т ш у к а т а since nowhere in Libya is anything like this to be
т уу A i j ü v y v d v T o iv 7тот аршу d v a X a p / 3 d v e i v t i seen taking place, it is clear that the historian is
т ш у и у р ш у каХ T a n e i v o v v та ф е р о р е у а р е и р а т а . caught inventing an explanation; for the fact is
12 етгеХ В’ ovB apov tt¡ s A ifívys ovBèv towvtov that the rivers of Greece increase in winter, not
y ivo p evo v веш реХтаь, ire p ^ a v S is ò avyypaф evs
a ^ eB id ^ w v evp ia K eT a i’ каХ yap oí 7терХ т уу 1 Book 2. 25.
'EXXáSa 7тотароХ т уу a v ^ y a iv èv тф ^ eip S ivi 2 i.e. in the north latitude.
134 135
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 38. 12-39. б

Xapfiávovmv ov Si.a то ракротероу афХегтаавае because the sun is farther away, but by reason of
tov yXiov, áXXa Šia то лХувоч twv yivopévwv the enormous rainfall.
opfipwv. 39. Democritus of Abdera 1 says that it is not the
39. Аурокрпоч S' o 'A/3SypÍTy4 <į>r)<Av ov tov regions of the south that are covered with snow, as
Trepl t yv peaypfipíav t ¿ ttov yioviKeadai, кавалер
Euripides and Anaxagoras have asserted, but only
those of the north, and that this is evident to every­
elpyKev E vpmXSy4 каХ 'Avaįayopaę, áXXa tov
one. The great quantities of heaped-up snow in
тгерХ та? арктооч, каХ tovto ep.<į>ave<; elvai лаеп. the northern regions still remain frozen until about
2 то Sé лХувоч tуч <jwpevopévr¡4 plovos ¿v tok the time of the winter solstice, but when in summer
¡ЗореХок pepeen тгерХ pév та? тролач péveiv its solid masses are broken up by the heat, a great
л е л у у o?, év Sé тш Oépei, SiaXvopévwv viro туч melting sets up, and this brings about the formation
веррааХач twv iráywv nroXXyv тyKeSóva ylve- of many thick clouds in the higher altitudes, since
erBai, каХ Sia tovto 7roXXa yevvaadai каХ ira^éa the vapour rises upwards in large quantities. These
veíp-rj лерХ t o o ? p.€T6 wpoT6pov 4 twv tottwv, SaiIn- clouds are then driven by the etesian winds until
ХоОч туч ava0vpiáaew4 лроч то оф'оч alpopévy 4 . they strike the highest mountains in the whole
3 тайта S' viто twv ¿Tycríwv ¿XavveaOai, pé^pi av earth, which, he says, are those of Ethiopia; then
otov лроалеау ток p eyХаток opeen twv ката by their violent impact upon these peaks, lofty as
Tyv OLKOVpevyv, a tpycnv eivai тгерХ тyv А1в ю л lav' they are, they cause torrential rains which swell
ел eк а лроч tovtok ovenv ХгфуХок ¡3ialw4 the river, to the greatest extent at the season of
вpavópeva л арреуевек op¡3pov4 yevvav, é£ wv
the etesian winds. But it is easy for anyone to refute
this explanation also, if he will but note with pre­
лХуроосгвае tov лотарт рехХктта ката Tyv twv
cision the time when the increase of the river takes
i етy a X w v wpav. p á S io v Sé каХ to vto v é^eXéy^ai
place; for the Nile begins to swell at the summer
? x p o v o v 4 туч a vįya ew 4 акрсХЗХЬч e ^ e T a ^ o v T a ’
too
solstice, when the etesian winds are not yet blow­
о ycip Ne tX o 4 ap^eTūi pév лХ уродавае к а т а т кч ing, and commences to fall after the autumnal
6 ep iva ,4 тролач, оо7т&> tw v етy a í w v лveóvт w v, equinox, when the same winds have long since ceased.
X y y e i S' v e n e p o v ХаурерХач ф в lv o л w p lv y ч , л а Х а с Whenever, therefore, the precise knowledge derived
5 лpoлeлavpévwv etpypévwv avépwv.
twv otūv from experience prevails over the plausibility of
ovv у туч леХрач ак pi Beta катса^иу Tyv twv mere argumentation, while we should recognize the
Xoywv л^вavoтy^a, Tyv pev éлívolav TavSpos man’s ingenuity, yet no credence should be given
а л oSeKTeov, Tyv Sé лХегтю ток ол' avTov Хеуо- to his statements. Indeed, I pass over the further
6 pévoK ov SoTeov. л ap íypi yap каХ Sioti t o o ? fact that the etesian winds can be seen to blow just
етуоХач XSeiv écm v ovSév ti páXXov ало туч 1 Democritus was a contemporary of Socrates and the
first Greek who attempted to embrace in his writings all the
knowledge of his time.
137
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 39. 6-9
äpicrov треортач утер туч еотерач• ой ß opeai as much from the west as from the north; since
Уар оиВ атapKTiai popoi, dXXa каХ oi треортеч Borean and Aparctian 1 winds are not the only winds
атго вер1 руч Виоешч аруесгтси ко1 ршроио1 туч т ш р which are called etesian, but also the Argestean,
етуошр троаууорХач. то те Xeyeip соч реуитта which blow from the direction of the sun’s summer
ov p ß a ip ei т ш р оршр VTrapxeiv та терХ тур setting. 2 Also the statement that by general agree­
АьвютХар о v povop dpaToBeiKTOP eoTip, ¿АЛ’ ment the highest mountains are those of Ethiopia
ovBe тур 7tiotip e%ei Bia туч ераруеХач 1 crvУХШ~ is not only advanced without any proof, but it does
povpepyp. not possess, either, the credibility which is accorded
to facts established by observation.3
7 ”Е фороч Ве касротатур аХтХар еХафершр тва-
Ephorus, who presents the most recent explana­
poXoyeiv рер Teiparai, туч 8’ аХувеХач оиВаршч tion, endeavours to adduce a plausible argument,
етптиу)£аршр вешреХтai. фуа1 у ар тур А ’Хуиттор but, as may be seen, by no means arrives at the
атааар ovo ар тотарохшотор каХ y_avpyp, етi truth. For he says that all Egypt, being alluvial
Ве кюуршВу тур фиоср, рауаВач те реуаХач каХ soil and spongy,4 and in nature like pumice-stone, is
Ви]реке1ч eX€lv’ &е тоьтшр е1ч еартур ара- full of large and continuous cracks, through which
Xapßdpeip vypov тХудоч, каХ ката рер тур it takes up a great amount of water; this it retains
Xeipepipyp шрар ovpexeip ер карту тодто, ката within itself during the winter season, but in the
Ве тур Oepivyp шатер ХВрштач Т1рач е£ аЬтуч 7тар- summer season it pours this out from itself every­
таховер dpiepai, каХ Bia т о р т ш р тХуроор to v where like sweat, as it were, and by means of this
8 тотарор. о Ве оруураферч оиточ ои ророр yplp exudation it causes the flood of the river. But this
фа1рета1 ру тевеарероч тур фио1р тшр ката historian, as it appears to us, has not only never
personally observed the nature of the country in
тур AiyviTTOP т о т ш р , äXXa руВе тара т ш р
Egypt, but has not even inquired with any care
еХВотшр та ката тур х^рар таитур етсреХшч
about it of those who are acquainted with the char­
9 т е т р о р е р о ч . т р ш т о р р е р у d p , е'Хтер е’£ a i n f /ч acter of this land. For in the first place, if the
т уч AlyvTTOV о N е 2 Х о ч т у р a v g y o i p e X d p ß a p e p , Nile derived its increase from Egypt itself, it would
ovk ар ер Т 0 1ч арш т ерш p e p e a i p ¿т Хуроит о, B id then not experience a flood in its upper stretches,
те 7тетршВоРЧ к а Х о т е р е а ч %сора? ф е р о р е р о ч ' pvp where it flows through a stony and solid country;
Ве тХ еХш тш р е^акю х^ХХ ш р ат аВш р B ia т уч yet, as a matter of fact, it floods while flowing over
А Х вю т Х ач реш р тур 7т Х у р ш о 1 Р e^et т рХ р у a course of more than six thousand stades through
1 ivapytias Wesseling : Ivepycias. a i.e. there is no evidence from witnesses that they appear
to be exceedingly high.
1 Two names given to north winds. * The words mean literally “ poured out by a river ” and
2 t.e. the north-west. “ gaping.”
138 139
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 39. 9-40. 1
10 ifravcrai TrjS AlyvtrTov. etreiT el pep to pevpca Ethiopia before ever it touches Egypt. Secondly,
tov NeiXov raireivoTepov rtp twp /card ttjp 7rora- if the stream of the Nile were, on the one hand,
poywcrTOp yrjp apauo/xaTmv, ¿ttitroXalow; ap lower than the rifts in the alluvial soil, the cracks
eivai rav paydBa<; avpefiaipe, /caO' a ? dBvparop would then be on the surface and so great an amount
rjv Biapeveip touovto TrXrjdo9 {/¿aTO ? 1 el B' of water could not possibly remain in them; and if,
v-frrfXoTepop Tontop eirelyep o 7r o ra /io ? to/p on the other hand, the river occupied a higher level
apauopaTcop, dBvpaTOp tjp ¿/c t 5/p TcnreiPOTepcop than the rifts, there could not possibly be a flow of
/coiXcopaToop « 9 TTjp vyjfTjXoTepap ¿ 7Tt<f>dpeiap t t jp water from the lower hollows to the higher surface.
t S>p vypd)p avppvcnp yipeaOcu. In general, can any man think it possible that the
11 K a O o X o v Be T i t a p B v p a r o p r j y t j c j a i T o r o v s e/c exudations from rifts in the ground should produce
t Q>p K a r a ttjp y r j p a p a u o p A r c o p I B p d / T a t to- so great an increase in the waters of the river that
a a in rjp a vffrjcn p tov T T O T a p o v iro ielp &><tt 6 vtt practically all Egypt is inundated by i t ! For I
avrov ayeB op T raaap ttjp A i y v / T T O P ¿1 r i / c X v ^ e -
pass over the false statements of Ephorus about the
cjQ ai ; d c fip p i y a p / c a l to - f r e v B o t r r j t r e 7r o r a -
ground being alluvial and the water being stored
poyoxrTov yrjt /ca l t S>p ¿p ro lt a p a im p a cn
up in the rifts, since the refutation of them is mani­
T T ] p o v /x e p o )p vB drcop, ep<papd>p optup to/p ep
fest. For instance, the Meander river in Asia has
12 rovTOit eXeyycop. 0 peep yap MaiavBpot 7roTap.bc;
laid down a great amount of alluvial land, yet
/caTa tt)p ’ Acnap 7ToXXpp ydrpap ireirolp/ce
not a single one of the phenomena attending the
TTOTapoyaxTTOP, ep fj tu>p avpfiaiPOPTayp irepi
Trjp dpaTfXrjpwcnp tov NeiXou to uvpoXop ovBep flooding of the Nile is to be seen in its case. And like
13 OecopeiTai ytpopevop. opoiwt Se tout « ttepl p.ep
the Meander the river in Acarnania known as the
tt /p 'A/capvavlav 0 /caXovp.eiot ’ A yeXwos iroTa-
Acheloiis, and the Cephisus in Boeotia, which flows
pot, Trepl Be TTjp BouoTiap 0 K-pcfucrot cfepbp.epot out of Phocis, have built up not a little land, and in
e/c to>p <X>co/ceo)p Trpoa/ceyco/cep ov/c oXiyrjp ympap, the case of both there is clear proof that the his­
¿<f> d>p apufoTepcop ¿XeyyeTai (favep&t to yjrevBot torian’s statements are erroneous. However, under
t o v avyypacfecot. dXXa yap ov/c ap Tit Trap' no circumstances would any man look for strict
Etpopo) ^r/Tpaeiep e/c travTOt Tp’o-nov Ta/cpif3et, accuracy in Ephorus, when he sees that in many
opd)p avTOp ep rroXXolt oiXiycopriKOTa Trjt dXrj- matters he has paid little regard to the truth.
Oelat, 40. Certain of the wise men in Memphis have
40. Taw B e p M e p a f e i T i p e t ( f i X o c r o t f x o p ¿ T r e y e i - undertaken to advance an explanation of the flood­
p p a a v a i T i a v ( f e p e ip T rjt ir X - q p d x r e a t a p e jf e X e y /c r o p ing, which is incapable of disproof rather than
p . d X X o p fj tt i d a p r j v , Tj T T o K h o l c s v y / c a T a T e & e i P T a i . credible, and yet it is accepted by many. They
14 0 14 1
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 40. 2-5

2 B ia ip o vp ev o i yap ttjv yrjv eh rp ia pepr) ф асrlv divide the earth into three parts, and say that one
vird p x eiv ev pev то кат а ttjv rip e rep a v o ' ik o v -
part is that which forms our inhabited world, that
the second is exactly opposed to these regions in its
p evrjv, e re p o v Вс to tovtok; rot? tottoi4 d vT iire-
seasons, and that the third lies between these two
7т о р в о ч rat? ырасч, to Be Tphov рет а^о pev but is uninhabited by reason of the heat. 1 Now if
K e la Q a i tovtcov, i n r a p ^ e i v Be B i d K a v p a doiK TjTOV . the Nile rose in the winter, it would be clear that
3 el pev ovv о NetXo? a vefia ive кат а tov tov it was receiving its additional waters from our zone
X eipcovos K a ip o v , B rjX ov a v 1 v ir rjp -^ e v to? ек тт)ч because o f the heavy rains which fall with us in that
кав г)рач £ o) vt]<; X a p /3 d ve i tt jv e irlp p v a iv B id
season especially; but since, on the contrary, its
flood occurs in the summer, it is probable that in
to tte p l tovtov4 row? K aipov4 p a X ic n a y iv e a d a i
the regions opposite to us the winter storms are
tra p ' rjp iv та? ет гор{Зр1ач‘ e trei Be T O v v a v T io v being produced and that the surplus waters o f those
7r e p i то вероч тгХт/ p o v T a i , iriO a v o v elva i кат а distant regions flow into our inhabited world. And
топ? a vT iK eip evo vi tottov4 y e v v a a d a i too? eip w - it is for this reason that no man can journey to the
va4, кал to -rrX eovd^ ov t o >v кат ¿ K e i v o v 4 too? sources of the Nile, because the river flows from the
opposite zone through the uninhabited one. A
Т 07 Г 0 И? vBaTcov eh тr j v кав' г)рач o iK o vp evrjv
further witness to this is the excessive sweetness of
4 ф ереавас. B io к а 1 ттроч та? т пруач tov NetX o v the water of the N ile; for in the course of the river
p rjB eva BvvaaB ai ira p e X B eiv, a>? av ек ttJ? through the torrid zone it is tempered by the heat,
e v a v T i a s ^d)vrj4 B i d т у ч d o iK rjro v ф ероры оо tov and that is the reason for its being the sweetest of
iro T d p o v. p a p T v p e iv £e t o v t o i 4 ка\ ttjv in rep fio X riv all rivers, inasmuch as by the law o f nature that
TTj4 y X v K V T T ] T 0 4 tov кат а tov N eiX o v v Ваточ' which is fiery always sweetens 2 what is wet.
But this explanation admits of an obvious rebuttal,
Sta yap тr}4 K a T a K eK a vp evi)4 avrov peovra
for plainly it is quite impossible for a river to flow
K aB eifrecrB at, Kai B id tovto yX vK vTaTov elva i
uphill into our inhabited world from the inhabited
TravT cov tcov iro T a p w v , а т е ф о а -ei tov irv p d }B o v 4 world opposite to ours, especially if one holds to
ira v to v y p o v a i r o y X v K a i v o v T 04.
1 i.e., they postulated a south temperate zone, correspond­
б Опт 0 4 В' о Хоуоч e% ei pev T iv a 2 irp o ^ e ip o v
ing to the north temperate, and separated from it by the
a v T lp p y a iv , OTi 7гаите\бо? dBvvaTov elva i Воке1 torrid zone. The Nile, according to them, rose in the south
temperate zone. They were not in fact so far astray in the
iro T a p o v ек тт}ч d v T i K e i p e v r /ч o i K o v p e v r j 4 eh tj]v
matter, the White Nile rising just a little south of the equator,
rjp e T ep a v d va ф ep e < т вa l, к а л раХкт т ’ ei Tt? vt to - although the waters of the annual inundation come from
the Blue Nile, which has its sources in the table-land of Abys­
1 b.v added by Hertlein.
sinia.
2 Tiva D, Vogel: rtva (pavcp&v xal other MSS., Bekker. 2 i.e ., water is freshened (“ sweetened ” ) by being heated.
Dindorf.
14 2 !4 3
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 40. 5-41. i
вопо <тфа1р о е 1 В у тy v у yv vT ra p x eiv. кал yhp the theory that the earth is shaped like a sphere.
edv т i? т 0 14 X o y o i 4 к а т а т о Х р у т а ч ¡3ia% yT ai тy v And indeed, if any man makes bold to do violence,
ev a p y e ia v , у ye ф успч t o jv тт раурат ш у о у В а р ш ч by means of mere words, to facts established by
(T v yy o jp rja ei. кавоХоу pev yap avegeX eyKTO v observation, Nature at least will in no wise yield to
а т г о ф а о -i v e i a y y o v p e v o i , Kai T yv a o iK y ro v y m p a v him. For, in general, such men think that, by
peTagv тid e p e v o i, т аут у В ш ф еу^ есгва1 тоуч
introducing a proposition incapable of being dis­
6 a.K pif3ei4 еХ еухрьч vo p ii/o va T b U a io v Be той? proved and placing the uninhabited region between
the two inhabited ones, they will in this way avoid
irepi тi v i o v 8 ia /3 e f3 a io v p e v o v 4 у т ри e v a p y e ia v
all precise refutations of their argument; but the
ira p ex ^ Q a i paprvpovaav у та? a iro B e ig e w
proper course for such as take a firm position on any
X a p fia veiv eg apXV4 <т уукех<аруреуач. ттшч B e .
matter is either to adduce the observed facts as
роуоч о N еТ Х оч ¿ g ¿ K e iv y 4 туч o i K o v p e v r p ф е р е т а ь evidence or to find their proofs in statements which
тгроч тоуч кав' урач тотгоуч ; е1коч yap elva i have been agreed upon at the outset. But how can
Kai ет ероуч т готароуч, каватт ер ка\ tra p yp lv . the Nile be the only river which flows from that
7 у те т у ч тгер\ то у В ш р у Х У к у т у т о ч а1т 1а тг а у т е Х ю ч inhabited world to our parts ? For it is reasonable
аХоуоч. e l y h p к а ве-ф о р еуо ч vtto twv каурат ш у to suppose that other rivers as well are to be found
о т готароч eyX y/ca lveT o , т гоХууоУ О Ч оук av yv there, just as there are many among us. More­
о у В е 7т о 1 к 1 Х а ч ¿ х в о ш у к а л O y p l w v 1 В е а ч e l x e ‘ i r a v over, the cause which they advance for the sweet­
y a p у В ш р i n то т у ч ттуршВоУч ф у с ге с о ч а Х Х о ш в е у ness of the water is altogether absurd. For if the
8 аХХотрштатоУ ест !/ш оуоу1ач . Всотгер ту
river were sweetened by being tempered by the
w a p e ia a y o p e v r) к а в е ’ф - у а е ь туч ф уаеш ч тоу
heat, it would not be so productive as it is of life, •
nor contain so many kinds of fishes and animals;
NeiXou т гаут ат гат р е у а у т ю у р е у у ч tyevB efc та?
for all water upon being changed by the fiery element
e iр у р е у а ч а ' т а ч туч т гХ ур ш а еш ч у у у т e o v .
is quite incapable o f generating life. Therefore,
41. 0 1уотг1Вуч Вё о Х1оч ф ут кат а p e v Tyv
since by the “ tempering ” process which they intro­
Q epivyv wpav та уВата кат а Tyv yyv elva i duce they entirely change the real nature of the
ф -vxpa, tov Be х ^ 1р.в>УОЧ T o v v a v T i o v верра, ка\ Nile, the causes which they advance for its flooding
тоуто e v B y X o v етг1 тш у /З а в е е м фреат ш у y i v e a в а г must be considered false.
кат а pev yap т уу акруу тоу ^et/nSim? у к 1ат а 41. Oenopides o f Chios 1 says that in the summer
то уВш р ev аут оХ ч утг d p x e iv ■фухроу, кат а 8е the waters under the earth are cold, but in the
та реукт т а каурат а 'ф ух р о т а т о у eg аутсоу winter, on the contrary, warm; and that this may
be clearly observed in deep wells, for in midwinter
1 Practically nothing more is known of Oenopides than their water is least cold, while in the hottest weather
that he was an astronomer and mathematician of the fifth
century b . c .
14 4 145
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
2 vypbv ava<f>epe<70ai. Sio /cal tov N elXov evXoycos
Kara pev tov ^eipoiva pi/cpov elvai /cal crvcrTeXXe-
cr0at, Sia to ttjv pev Kara yfjv 0eppacrlav to
ttoX v Trjs vypas ovcrlas dvaXicr/ceiv, op/3povs Se
/caTO, ttjv Atyvittov prj ylvecT0ai' /caTa Se to
0epos pTj/ceTi ttjs /caTcl yrjv airavaXcbcrea>s yivo-
pevrjs ¿v to is /caTa /3a0os tottois TrXrjpova0ai
tt)v /caTa (pvcriv avTov pvcriv dvepiroSicrTcos.
3 prjTeov Se /cal itpos tovtov oti iroXXol iroTapol
t 5>v /caTa ttjv AiftvTjv opolcos pev /ceipevoi tois
cnopacri, irapaTrXrjcriovs Se ra? pvcreis ttoiov-
pevoi, ttjv avaftacriv ov/c exovcriv dvdXoyov to>
N eiXco' TovvavTiov yap ev pev Tip %eip,covi
TrXrjpovpevot, /caTa Se to 0epos XrjyovTes eXeyxovcri
to yfrevSos tov ireipcapevov to is iri0avois /caTa-
pidyeaOai ttjv aXrj0eiav.
4 “EyyiaTa Se Trj ciXtj0ela TrpocreXrjXv0ev ’ A ya-
0apxiSrjs o KviStos. (pijcrl yap /caT eviavTov ev
toIs /caTcl ttjv AWioirlav opecri yive<j0ai ovveyels
op/3povs dirb 0eptvcbv Tpoircbv pexpi ttjs peTo-
5 trcopivrjs IcrTjpeplas• evXoycos ovv tov N eiXov ev
p.ev To/ ■^eipebvi crvcrTeXXecr0ai, ttjv /caTa (pvcriv
e^ovTa pvcriv airo povcov tcov trrjycbv, Kara Se
to 0epos Sid tov s e/c%eop.evovs bpftpovs Xajjifid-
6 v e i v ttjv a v ^ T j a i v . e l Se to ? a iT ia s prjS els
S o v v a i S v v a T a i P ^ X P 1 T ° v v ^ v r V ’> r <bv v S a T c o v
y e v e c r e c o s , o v i r p o a r j / c e i v 1 d 0 e T e l a 0 a i ttjv l S l a v
d iro c p a criv n r o X X d y a p ttjv ( p v c r i v e v a v T i c o s c p i p e i v ,
cov t as a lria s o v / c e c p t/c T o v d v 0 p c l y j r o i s d /c p t / 3 a > s
1 vptxriiKcu' Rhodomann: vpo<riiKtt.
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, since the
heat in the earth consumes the larger part o f the
moisture and there are no rains in E gyp t; 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 N ile;
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.1 His explanation is as
follows: Every year continuous rains fall in the
mountains of Ethiopia 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
d iro - 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 o f which are beyond the power o f mankind
1 Agatharchides was a historian and geographer of the
second century b . o .
147
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 41. б-io
7 e^ evp eip . p a p rv p e lv Be то1ч иф’ ёаот оо Xeyo- to discover. As to his own statement, he adds, testi­
p ep o i4 к а \ то y i p o p e p o p irepi Т 1гач тотгорч тг}ч mony to its truth is furnished by what takes place in
’А а 1 а ч ‘ тгроч p e p yap T 0 14 o p o i4 т рч % кь61ач certain regions o f Asia. For on the borders o f Scythia
Т01Ч тгроч то К а о к а а ю р ороч аоратттоосп, тгаре- which abut upon the Caucasus mountains, annually,
Х р Х о в о т о ч г)^г] tov xeip.üH io4, к а в ' ё к а а т о р ёточ
after the winter is over, exceptionally heavy snow­
storms occur over many consecutive days; in the
р и ф е т о о ч e % a i a L o v 4 y l p e a B a i а р р е ^ ш ч етг1 т г о Х Х а ч
northern parts of India at certain seasons hailstones
ррерач, ер Вё то2ч тгр о ч ßoppäp еат рарреросч
come beating down which in size and quantity
pepeai тт)ч ’I p Bi k t ) 4 d> p ia p ep o i4 K a ip o h ка\
surpass belief; about the Hydaspes river continuous
Х<лХа£ао ат гю т оо то реуевоч ка\ то T rX r j9 o 4
rains fall at the opening of summer; and in Ethiopia,
к а т а р а т т е 1 Р, к а 1 irepi рёр тор ' Т В а а т г р р тгота- likewise, the same thing occurs some days later, this
р о р d p x o p e p o v О ероРч а и р е х е с ч o p ß p o o 4 y i v e a d a i , climatical condition, in its regular recurrence, always
кат а Be tt jp A tä io ir ia p р е в ’ р р е р а ч Т1р а ч таото causing storms in the neighbouring regions. And
a o p ß a ip eip , к а \ т а о т р р т рр т гер'ю т асп р к о к Х о о - so, he argues, it is nothing surprising if in Ethiopia
peppp ael торч стррех^Ч тотгорч %ei/id£eii\ as well, which lies above Egypt, continuous rains in
8 орВёр орр elpai тгараВо^ор el ка\ ката трр the mountains, beating down during the summer,
AWioirlao тг/р Keipeppp оттёр Клуотттоо аооехеьч swell the river, especially since the plain fact itself
ер ток ореспр opßpoi катараттортеч ер тф aepei is witnessed to by the barbarians who inhabit those
irXrjpovai т о р ттотарор, аХХшч те кал трч ерар- regions. And if what has been said is of a nature
уе 1ач 1 аотрч рартороореррч отго т ш р irepi тооч opposite to what occurs among us, it should not be
9 тотгорч o Ik o p v t w p ß a p ß d p c o p . e l Be тосч 7r a p ’
disbelieved on that score; for the south wind, for
example, with us is accompanied by stormy weather,
p p i p y i p o p e v o i 4 e p a v r i a v eYei т а Х е у о р е р а ф о с п р ,
but in Ethiopia by clear skies, and in Europe the
op 0 1a торт ат пат рт еор Kat, y a p т ор ротор tra p
north winds are violent, but in that land they are
ррлр р ёр e h a i x e iß e p io p , i r e p i Be т р р A W i o i r i a p
gentle and light.
a W
’ p io p O T rapxeiP , кал тач ß o p e l o o 4 т гр о а ч i r e p i With regard, then, to the flooding of the Nile,
р е р тг)р Е о р ш т г р р е р т о р о о ч e l v a i , к а т ’ е к е 1 р р р Вё though we are able to answer with more varied
тг)Р х<1>p a p ß X r j x p n s к а 1 а т о р о о ч . а arguments all who have offered explanations of it,
10 K a i тгер1 рёр трч тгХррФаешч тоС NeiXov, Во- we shall rest content with what has been said, in
papevoi iroiKiXojTepop артептеьр тгроч атгартач, order that we may not overstep the principle of
аркеавраорева то1ч еёрррероьч, "pa рр трр ё% brevity which we resolved upon at the beginning.
aPXV$ ppiP irpoKeipeprjp aoPToplao inrepßaipw- And since we have divided this Book into two parts
pep. eirel Be трр ßlßXop таотрр Bid то реуевоч
; к at iravreKais atrOtfCts added by D.
1 ivapydas Wesseling: ¿vepytias.
148 I49
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
el<; 8vo fiepr} SirjpijKafiev, (TToya^op^voi tt }<; trvp.-
p£Tpia<;, ttjv irproTr/v p.epL8a t £>v i<nopovp.evwv
avToii nepiypd\jropev, ra 8e o-vveyri tw v Kara
tt ) v A ty v m o v i<iTopovfiev(ov ¿v tt ) Sevrepa Kara-
Tcitjopev, dp’x jjv TTOir)adp.evoi frjv dnayyekiav tw v
yevop.evwv fiaaiKewv Trjq A ly v m o v /cal too
7raKaioTaTOV ¡3Lov nap' A iyon rioi1;.
BOOK I. 41. 10
because o f its length, inasmuch as we are aiming at
due proportion in our account, 1 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 o f the
earliest manner of life among the Egyptians.
1 Cp. p. 96, n. 1.
 M E P I2 A E T T E P A T H S n P ilT H S B I B A O T 1 PART TWO OF THE FIRST BOOK
42. T/;ç 7Tp co T T js t w v A i o S w p o v ß l ß X w v S i à t o 42. T he First Book o f Diodorus being divided
péyeüos et’ç S v o ß i ß X o v ç S i p p p p é v y ç rj i r p w T p p è v because of its length into two volumes, the first
TTe p i e \ e i ir p o o ip io v i r e p i oXy<: t tjç i r p a y p a r e l a ^
contains the preface to the whole treatise and the
tc a l T a X e y ô p e v a T ra p ' A ly v in io K tr e p i tjJç tov
accounts given by the Egyptians o f the genesis o f the
Ko a p o v ye v e c re w < t /c a l T17Ç t S )v oXw v è£
world and the first forming o f the universe; then he
a v a T a a e w s , 7rpoç S è toutoiç trepi t w v d e w v , ôcroi
tells o f the gods who founded cities in Egypt and
tr o X e is ÏK T ic r a v n a T A ïy v ir T o v è n w v v p o v ^ é a v tw v
named them after themselves, of the first men and
TTOi r j a a v T e ç , ir e p i re tw v ir p w T w v y evopévw v
the earliest manner o f life, o f the honour paid to the
à v d p w ir w v K a ï to v ir a X a io T a T o v ß io v , t rj<; T e tw v
immortals and the building of their temples to them,
àûavaTw v T ip p s K aï t r ji tw v vaw v K a T a c n c e v i Jç,
then of the topography of Egypt and the marvels
S è T re p l T17Ç T O T T o Q ecria s t ryç (taT A i y v m o v
% wpa<; x a ï tw v ir e p i t o v N e îX o v ir o T a p o v v a p a -
related about the river Nile, and also o f the causesof its
S o Ç o X o y o v p é v w v , t ^ ç re toutou T r X p p w a e w s rà ç
flooding and the opinions thereupon o f the historians
curtaç x a ï t w v l a T o p i K W V K a ï ÿ i X o a ô ÿ w v à i r o i f i d - and the philosophers as well as the refutation o f each
<retç, êVi S è Taç 7T/30Ç ¡¡K a a T O v t w v a v y y p a ÿ é w v writer. 1 In this volume we shall discuss the topics
2 à v T i p p t j a eur eV T a v T j ] S è T rj ß i ß X w T a a v v e ^ f j which come next in order after the foregoing. We
to Îç T rp o e ip r )p é v o i< ; S i é Ç i p e v . à p ^ b p e d a Sè à ir b shall begin with the first kings of Egypt and set forth
t w v y e v o p é v w v r r p w T w v /car’ A l y o m o v ß a a i X e w v , their individual deeds down to King Amasis, after we 569-526
Kaï r à ç « a r a pépo<t avTwv 7 rpdÇeis ÈKdpaôpeda have first described in summary fashion the most B.O.
péxpi ' ApdaiSos t o v ßaaiXews, TrpoeKÔépevoi ancient manner o f life in Egypt.
KeÿaXaiwSû ç t ^ ï; àp^aiOTÛTrjv àywyrjv t w v KaT 43. As for their means of living in primitive times,
AïyVTTTOV. the Egyptians, they say, in the earliest period got
43. Bio) 7 a/) t o TraXaiov AlyvTTTÎovt; <f>acn
1 Thia sentence as it stands is almost certainly not from
%prjcrOai t 0 pèv âpxaioTaTov iroav ¿aOiovTas Kaï the hand of Diodorus. But the following words do not
connect well with the end of chapter 41. In Book 17, which
1 Tins title is found in A. is also broken into two Parts, the narrative continues without
any such interruption as occurs here.
152 *53
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
twv eV t o î ç eXeai yivopévoiv tovç KavXovç Kal
Taç piÇaç, ireîpav hid Trjç 7 evcrecoç é/cdaTOV Xap,-
ftdvovTaç, Trpdnqv 8è Kal p,dAi<na irpocrevéyKaadai
TrjV bvopa'Çop.évqv dypusuTlv 8ià to Kal Trj yXvKV-
tt/ ti Siaijjopov elvai Kal Tqv Tpoijjqv àpKoîicrav
2 7Tapé'xecrdat. t o î ç crd)p.aai tcôv àvOpoyirwv Kal yàp
t o î ç KTrjvecn TavTtjv dewpeîcrdai irpoaqvrj Kal Ta'xy
tovç oyKovç avTwv TTpooavaTpéÿeiv. 810 Kal
Trjç evxpVa"rlas Ttjç 7repl ttjv fioTavqv ravrqv
p.vqp.ovevovTaç tovç âvdpdrTTOvç piéxpi tov vvv,
OTav irpoç Oeovç f3a8lÇu>cn, tt} x eiPL TavTqç Xap.-
fidvovTaç irpoaev'xecrdaf oïovTai yàp tov avOpio-
ttov '¿Xeiov Kal Xip.vâ>8 eç elvai Çârov, dira t s Trjç
XeiOTqTOs reKp.aipop.evoi Kal t rjç <f>v<riKrjç ttoio-
t qToç, eTi 8 e tov irpocrheicrdai Tpo<f>rjç Trjç iiypâç
3 p.âXXov rj Trjç Çrjpâç. SevTépav 8è Xéyovcnv êxeiv
Siaywyqv tovç Alyvimovç ttjv twv l^Ovcov
fipâcriv, 7toXXtjv 8a\jriXeiav 7Tape^opevov tov
7TOTap,ov, Kal /xdXicrO’ o t c pieTa ttjv àvdfîacnv
4 Taireivovpievoç àva^qpaivoiTO. o/xoiwç 8è Kal tûv
/3o<TKqp.aT(ov evia aapKO<f>ayelv, Kal T a î ç hopaîç
tûv KaTeo6iop,evcov ècrOrjcn xprjcrüai, Kal ràç
oÎKrj<reiç €K tcùv KaXdpuov KaTacrKevdÇecrdai.
*Xvr) TOVTojv 8iap.éveiv ttapà t o î ç vopieûai
toîç Kat AïyviTTOv, ovç airavTdç <paoi /xéxpi
tov vvv p,q8epiav àXXqv oÏKqcnv rj ttjv èk tojv
KaXdpuov ’¿Xelv, 8oKip.dÇovTaç àpKeîadai TauTrj.
5 TToXXoùç 8è xpovovç t o u t o u tôt /3 ît o SieÇaya-
yàvTaç 1 t 0 TeXevTaîov e V t tovç èborbipiovç p,eTa-
firjvai Kapwovç, wv elvai Kal tov e’ /r toîi Xcotov
yivop.evov dpTov. Kal tovtcov ttjv evpecnv oi p,èv
1 Sit^ayayévras Dindorf : SifflayoyTas.
154
BOOK I. 43. i-s
their food from herbs and the stalks and roots o f the
plants which grew in the marshes, making trial of
each one o f them by tasting it, and the first one eaten
by them and the most favoured was that called
Agrostis, 1 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 o f this fact the natives, in remembrance of
the usefulness o f this plant, to this day, when
approaching the gods, hold some o f it in their hands
as they pray to them ; for they believe that man is a
creature o f swamp and marsh, basing this conclusion
on the smoothness o f 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, o f which the river provided a great abundance,
especially at the time when it receded after its flood
and dried up. 2 They also ate the flesh o f some o f the
pasturing animals, using for clothing the skins o f the
beasts that were eaten, and their dwellings they built
out o f reeds. And traces o f these customs still remain
among the herdsmen o f 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 o f time they finally turned to the edible
fruits of the earth, among which may be included the
bread made from the lotus. The discovery o f these
1 D o g ’ s -t o o t h grass.
* T h is m u st refer t o th e d ry in g -u p o f th e p o o ls le ft b y th e
flo o d .
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 43. 5-44. 3

et? T y v ’ I<7 i v d v a < f> e p o v a iv , oi S' e tf T iv a tw v

is attributed by some to Isis,1 but by others to one of
•n a X a i w v f3 a < n X e w v to v o v o p .a g o p .e v o v Myvav.
their early kings called Menas. The priests, how­
ever, have the story that the discoverer of the
6 o i S ' iepet<; e v p e T y v tw v p , e v 1 i r a i S e i w v ic a i tw v
branches of learning and of the arts was Hermes, but
Teyvw v p .v 9 o X o y o v c n 'E p p . y v y e y o v e v a i , t w v
tov
that it was their kings who discovered such things as
S ' et? t o v ¡3 L o v d v a y x a i w v r o t ? /SaiTiXei? 1 S i o /c a l
are necessary for existence; and that this was the
t o 7ra X a i o v T r a p a S L S o a d c u ra ? / 3 a<7 i\eia? p .y t o t?
reason why the kingship in early times was bestowed,
exyovoi< > t w v a p g d v T w v , d X X a r o i? T r X e i a T a x a l not upon the sons of their former rulers, but upon
p - e y ic r T a t o i T X y9o< ; e v e p y e T o v c n v , elre i r p o x a X o v - such as conferred the greatest and most numerous
p .e v w v t w v a v O p d n r w v t o v ? ecf>’ e a v T w v /3 a e n X e i< ; benefits upon the peoples, whether it be that the
€7ri T r jv x o i v y v e v e p y e a i a v , etVe / c a l x a T d X y 9 e i a v inhabitants in this way sought to provoke their kings
e v T a i s i e p a i s a v a y p a < j)c u < ; ovtw T r a p e iX y c p o T W V . to useful service for the benefit of all, or that they
44. M u d o X o y o v a i S ' a v T w v Tire? t o p ,e v ir p w T O v have in very truth received an account to this effect
d p g a i tt)? A i y i n n o v 9eov< : te a l y p w a v e T t) ^ p a ^ v in their sacred writings.
X e tT T o v T a tw v p v p lw v /c a l o x T a x ia x iX iw v , te a l 44. Some of them give the story that at first gods
9 e w v e a ^ a T o v fia e n X e v e ra i tov ’T<t i So? r f l p o v vtt'
and heroes ruled Egypt for a little less than eighteen
thousand years, the last of the gods to rule being
d vdpw T rw v Se T yv j^ w pav [ B e fia c n X e v c r d a L c p a a iv
Horus, the son of Isis; and mortals have been kings
eT7] 2 f i p a y y X e i T r o v T a tw v T r e v T a /a a x iX iw v p -e y jn
over their country, they say, for a little less than five
t yi exaT oaT yi xal bySoyxoaTys ’ OXvp.viaSo1;, thousand years down to the One Hundred and 60-56
K a6' yv yp.ei<; p e v T r a p e /3 d X o p e v ei? A H y v i t t o v , Eightieth Olympiad, the time when we visited Egypt B0
¿ / 3 a e r iX e v e S e I T T o X e p - a i o s o v e o s A i o v v a o s y ^ p y p a - and the king was Ptolemy, who took the name of The
2 T ig w v . to vtw v S'e T a pev T rX e ic T T a x a T a c r y ^ e iv New Dionysus.2 For most of this period the rule
T y v d p % y v e y % w p io v < ; f3 a criX ei< ;, o X i y a S e A W L o i r a ? was held by native kings, and for a small part of it by
te a l l l e p a a v te a l Ma*re8 ora?. A id io T r a s pev ovv Ethiopians, Persians, and Macedonians. 3 Now four
d p g a i T € T T a p a sf o v xaTC l to e g y f, aXA,’ e x S i a c n y - Ethiopians held the throne, not consecutively but
p a T O S , '¿Ty T a i r d v T a ¡ 3 p a % v X e i i r o v T a tw v e g /c a l with intervals between, for a little less than thirty-
3 t p i a / c o v T a ’ T l e p a a? S ' y y y a a c r d a i K a p f i v c r o v t o v six years in all; and the Persians, after their king
/3 a c r i X e w i toi ? o v X o i s x a T a c r T p e r J r a p e v o v t o e9vo<; Cambyses had subdued the nation by arms, ruled for
i r e v T e 7rpo? toi ? e x a r o v x a l T p i a x o v T a ’¿ T e e n e r v v one hundred and thirty-five years, including the
2 Ptolemy X I (80-51 b .c .), better known as Auletes (“ The
1 twv ¡lev Dindorf : ¡itv twv. Piper ” ) and as the father of the famous Cleopatra.
i airb Wloipt&os before It t\deleted by Dindorf. 3 The Ethiopian Period (Twenty-fifth Dynasty), ca. 715­
663 B.c.; the Persian, 525-332 b .c .; on the Macedonian,
1 Cp. chap. H . 332-30 b .c ., see the Introduction, pp. ixff.
156 157
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 44. 3-45. 2

т а і ч тшѵ А і у ѵ п т і ш ѵ а п о а т а с г е а і ѵ , а ч е п о і у с г а ѵ т о periods of revolt on the part of the Egyptians which

ф ереіѵ оѵ S v v á p e v o i туѵ т р а х ѵ т у т а Т ѴЧ ё п і а т а - they raised because they were unable to endure the
с г і а ч к а і т у ѵ е і ч т оѵч ё у х ш р і о ѵ ч Ѳ е о ѵ ч а а е / З е і а ѵ . harshness of their dominion and their lack o f respect
1 ёахлт оѵч Sé М акеВоѵач apgai каі т оѵ ч ano for the native gods. Last o f all the Macedonians and
У ІакеВоѵш ѵ ё£ ёту проч т оіч В іа к о а іо іч каі
their dynasty held rule for two hundred and seventy-
ё^Ворукоѵт а. т оѵ ч S é Х о і п о ѵ ч х р 0 ѵ ° ѵ ч а п а ѵ т а ч
six years. For the rest of the time all the kings o f the
land were natives, four hundred and seventy of them
В іа т еХ есга і /З а а іХ е ѵ о ѵ т а ч туч х ш р а $ ё у х о у р 'ю ѵ ч ,
being men and five women. About all o f them the
а ѵ В р а ч р ё ѵ é/ З В о р у к о ѵ т а проч т оіч т е т р а к о а і о і ч ,
priests had records which were regularly handed
уѵ ѵ а ік а ч Sé пеѵт е- тгері шѵ апаѵт ш ѵ оі реѵ
down in their sacred books to each successive priest
іереіч e íx ov аѵаураф ач ёѵ т аіч Іер а іч /З і@ Х о іч from early times, giving the stature o f each o f the
ек п а Х а іш ѵ хР°ѵш ѵ áel т о іч S ia S ¿ x o i4 т гара- former kings, a description o f his character, and what
ВеВорёѵач, о п уХ ік о ч ёкасгт оч тшѵ fia a iX e v - he had done during his reign; as for us, however, it
a á v тшѵ ёуеѵет о тш р е у ё Ѳ е і каі оп о іо ч тіч ту would be a long task to write of each of them sever­
фѵсгеі к а і т а к а т а т оѵч І В І о ѵ ч X P 0V0Vlt ё к а а т ш ally, and superfluous also, seeing that most of the
б т т рахѲёѵт а• у р і ѵ Sé п е р і ё к а а т о ѵ т а к а т а р ё р о ч material included is o f no profit. Consequently we
р а к р о ѵ а ѵ e t y к а і т ге р 'іе р у о ѵ у р а ф е і ѵ , ш ч а ѵ тшѵ shall undertake to recount briefly only the most
п Х еісгт ш ѵ а Х Р Ц вт ш ѵ п е р і е і Х у р р е ѵ ш ѵ . S i ó n e p тшѵ important of the facts which deserve a place in
а ^ іш ѵ Іа т о р іа ч та кѵ ріш т ат а аѵѵт орш ч S ie ^ ié v a i history.
п е ір а а о р е Ѳ а .
45. After the gods the first king o f Egypt, accord­
45. Мета т оѵ ч Ѳеоѵч т оіѵ ѵ ѵ прш тоѵ фааі
ing to the priests, was Menas, who taught the people
to worship gods and offer sacrifices, and also to supply
( З а а і Х е ѵ а ’а і т у ч A í y v m o v Ш у ѵ а ѵ , к а і к а т а В е і ^ а і
themselves with tables and couches and to use costly
тоіч Х а о іч Ѳеоѵч те a é /З еа Ѳ а і каі Ѳ ѵ а іа ч ё п і-
bedding, and, in a word, introduced luxury and an
т е Х е іѵ , п р о ч S é т о ѵ т о іч т т а р а т І Ѳ е а Ѳ а і т р а п ё ^ а ч
extravagant manner o f life. For this reason when,
каі к Х І ѵ а ч к а і а т р ш р ѵ у п о Х ѵ т е Х е і Х Р У т Ѳ а і, к а і many generations later, Tnephachthus,1 the father
то с г ѵ ѵ о Х о ѵ т р ѵ ф у ѵ к а і п о Х ѵ т е Х у / З і о ѵ е і а у у у - o f Bocchoris the wise, was king and, while on a cam­
2 а а а Ѳ а і. В іо к а і ттоХХаіч ѵ с г т е р о ѵ у е ѵ е а і ч f i a c n - paign in Arabia, ran short of supplies because the
Хеѵоѵт а Тѵёф ахѲ оѵ тоѵ Bo/e^ópíSo? т оѵ аофоѵ country was desert and rough, we are told that he
п а т е р а Х ё у о ѵ а і ѵ е і ч т у ѵ ’A p a / 3 í a v с г т р а т е ѵ с г а ѵ т а , was obliged to go without food for one day and then
тшѵ ё п іт уВ еш ѵ аѵтоѵ S iá те туѵ еруp ía ѵ каі to live on quite simple fare at the home o f some
тач В ѵ а х ш р ' і а ч ёк Х іп о ѵ т ш ѵ , а ѵ а у к а а Ѳ у ѵ а і p í a v ordinary folk in private station, and that he, enjoying
урёраѵ е ѵ В е а у е ѵ о р е ѵ о ѵ Х Р }і а а а Ѳ а і В іаіт у пт аѵ - 1 Not identified. Wiedemann conjected that he might be
т еХ ш ч е ѵ т е Х е і п а р а т іс п тшѵ т ѵ х о ѵ т ш ѵ іВ іш т ш ѵ , Tef-sucht, of the 23rd Dynasty.
15« 159
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
•padevTa Be icad' inrepfioXrjv KaTayvdtvai Trjf
Tpvipfjf Kal tw KaraBei^avTi ttjv iroXvTeXeiav
eg d pxps fiaaiX ei Karapacrdai- ovtco B' ey/cdpBiov
avTcb Tt]V p.eTaj3o\T)v yeveadai Tpv irepi ttjv
fipobaiv ical iroaiv Kal Ko’n rjv S a re tt} v Kardpav
avaypatyai aolf iepolf ypap,p,aaiv elf top top
A ibf vaov ev ® rjfia if o Bt) BoKei p.aXiaTa aiTiov
yeveadai tov p.p Biap.elvai rpv Bo£av tov Mrjva
3 Kal r d f Tip,df elf tovf varepov x p ov ov f, e^rjf B'
clptjai X eyerai tov irpoeipppevov fiaaiXecof TOVf
aT oyovovf Bvo 7rpbf t oif irei’TtjicovTa t o v f a ira v ra f
ear) irXeii*) rmv ^iXltov Kal TeTTapaKOVTa• e<p' wv
p,rjBev a^iov d.vaypa(f}rjf yeveadai.
4 M ctA Be r a v ra K araarad evaof /SaaiXewf
HovalpiBof Kal twv tovtov iraXiv ¿Kyovcov oktco,
tov TeXevTalov bpdtvvpjov dvTa Tip irpd>Tm <j>aal
KTiaai ttjv into p.ev twv 1 AlyvnTieov KaXovp.evrjv
A ibf 7toX iv ttjv p,eydX-f]v, vtto Be twv 'E XXtjvcov
©p/3a?. tov p,ev ovv irepl^oXov a ln ov viroaTrj-
a a a d a i aTaBlwv eKaTov Kal TeTTapaKOVTa, oIko -
Bop,rjp,aai Be p.eyaXotf Kal va oif ¿ kttpeireai Kal
TOif aXXotf dvadpp,aai Koapipaai davp,aaT(bf
5 op.oloof Be Kal Taf t asv IBiwtwv olKiaf, d f p,ev
TeTpa)po<f)OVf, d f Se TrevTcopbipovf KaTaaKevaaai,
Kal KadoXov ttjv ttoXiv evBaip.oveaTaTr]v ov p.ovov
twv KaT' AiyvTTTov, aXXa Kal twv aXXwv iraawv
6 T T oifjaai. Bid Be t -q v i n r e p f i o X r j v T r j f i r e p l a i n r j v
elnToplaf T6 Kal Bvvdpewf elf trdvTa tottov Trif
16 0
BOOK I. 45. 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 he inscribed his curse in hiero­
glyphs on the temple of Zeus in Thebes; and this,
in fact, appears to be 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 w’orthy
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 1
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 o f 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 “ City of Zeus,” the Diospolis Magna of the Romans.
The Egyptian name by which it was most commonly known
was N u (or No), “ the city.”
1 Tali' omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
l6 l
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 45. 6-46. 2

j) i) p ) ) 4 8 i a 8 e 8 o p e p r j 4 i n (p e p p r ) а в a t каХ to p n o tr jr tjv region, even the poet, we are told, has mentioned it
a v r r js ф а а с р iv 0I 4 X e y e i when he says : 1
o i) 8 ’ o a a ® 7ф а ч Nay, not for all the wealth
A i y v m i a 4, 0 6 1 пХ еХ ат а 8o p o t4 evi кт црат а Of Thebes in Egypt, where in ev’ry hall
кеХт аь, There lieth treasure vast ; a hundred are
a id ’ е к а т о p n v X o i e l e n , S ip K o a L O i 8 ’ a v ек d a ttjp
Her gates, and warriors by each issue forth
а р е р е ч i ^ O i \ v e v a i a v v i n n o i a i v каХ о ^ е а ф р р .
Two hundred, each o f them with car and steeds.

7 epioi 8e фаарр ov поХач екатор еа^г/керар ttjp Some, however, tell us that it was not one hundred
noXip, аХХа noXXa каХ peyaXa nponvXaia twp “ gates ” (p u l a i ) which the city had, but rather many
great propylaea in front o f its temples, and that it
iepwp, аф’ wp екаторпоХоР wpopaadai, кавапереХ
was from these that the title “ hundred-gated ” was
noXvnvXop. 8iapvpia 8’ аррата проч dXrj6et,ap
given it, that is, “ having many gateways.” Yet
ilj аЬтт)ч е 1ч тодч поХерооч екпореоеаваг тооч twenty thousand chariots did in truth, we are told,
yap in n шрач екатор yeyopepai ката ttjp пара- pass out from it to war ; for there were once scattered
потар'мр ttjp апо Мерфешч dy^pi ® т]/Зшр twp along the river from Memphis to the Thebes which is
ката ttjp Aif3 injp, екаатоо 8ej(ppepov ара 8ia- over against Libya one hundred post-stations, 2 each
ko<tLov4 innov 4, wp €ti pvp та depeXia 8eiKPva6ai, one having accommodation for two hundred horses,
46. Ov popop Se tovtop top fiaaiXea 7rapei- whose foundations are pointed out even to this day.
Х-рфарер, aXXa каХ twp оатерор apljdpTWP 46. Not only this king, we have been informed, but
поХХооч et? ttjp av^rjaip тг/ч noXew4 пеф1Хот1- also many o f the later rulers devoted their attention
prjadai. аРавг)расri те yap П0ХХ014 каХ реуаХепч to the development of the city. For no city under
аруороХч каХ хроаоХч, sti 8’ еХефарт1Р01ч, каХ the sun has ever been so adorned by votive offerings,
koX ottikwp dp8pidptwp nXijdet,, проч Se тоотоьч
made of silver and gold and ivory, in such number
катаакеоаХч popoXidwv ofieXia kwp prj8eplap twp and o f such size, by such a multitude o f colossal
statues, and, finally, by obelisks made o f single
2 vito top rfXiop ov tw KeKO<jpr)<j6ai. TeTTapwp yap
blocks o f stone. O f four temples erected there the
iepwp KaTaaKevaadePTWP то те каХХоч каХ то oldest 3 is a source o f wonder for both its beauty and
реуевоч ваораатор 1 elpai то паХаштатор, size, having a circuit o f thirteen stades, a height of
тршкаХ8ека pep tn a 8Lwp ttjp перХретрор, перте
8е каХ теттаракорта nrjywp то рфгоч, еХкосп 2 Stables where relays of horses were kept. Eichstâdt
would reject the whole of § 7 as spurious, and the words tûv
1 ваицаттЪч D, Vogel : Gav<ia<TT'2v tv О, Bekker, Dindorf. Kara AiQinjv appear to be unnecessary.
3 This is undoubtedly the Great Temple of Ammon at
1 Iliad 9. 381-4, where Achilles replies to Odysseus, reject­ Kamak, the most imposing of all the monuments of Egypt.
ing the proffer of gifts from Agamemnon.
162
163
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
8è Kal TeTTclpcûv Tro8âv to 7rXaroç totv toL^côv.
3 cucoXovdov 8 è Tjj p,eyaXoTrpeTreLa ravrrj kal tov
èv avrâ) KocrpLOv tü)v àvadrjfid.TO)v yevécrOcu,
ri) Te èaTrdvT) OavpMaTov Kal r jj %eipovpyia
4 7repiTTüy; elpyacrfiévov. ras p,èv ovv olKobofiàg
8iap.ep.evr)Kevai P^XP1 Tr">v vemrépwv x p b vw , rov
b' âpyvpov Kal XPV(T° V KCLi TVV bi èXétfiavTog
Kai Xi0eia >? TroXvTeXeiav into Tlepacbv aeavXy-
crOai Kad' ovg Kaipovg èvéïrpycre Ta /tar' AïyvirTov
iepà K apfivcryg- ore 8y tpaai to Ùç ü épcraç
peTeveyKOVTag Tyv eviroplav Tavryv eiç tt)V 'Aaiav
Kal T e^ w ra ç A lyvirrov TrapaXaftovTas * a r a -
aKevdaai tcl 7Tepi/36r)Ta fiaaiXeia Ta, Te èv
HepaeTrbXei Kal Ta èv Xovcroig Kal Ta èv MySia.
5 ToaoÛTO 8e TrXfj0og XP0H^t <ov dirofialvovai
yeyovevai Tore /ccit’ AïyvirTov èbcne totv KaTa
tt)V avXyaiv aTroXeippdTwv KaTaKavdévTwv Ta
avvaxOévTa KaTa puKpov evpe0f/vai XPvai ° v H^v
7TXslco tùtv TpiaKoaicov TaXdvtotv, dpyvpîov 8' ovk
eXaTTO) totv Siax^XÎcav Kai TpiaKoaLcov TaXdvTorv,
6 elvai 8e (fiacre Kal td<pov<; èvTav0a twv àpxa,io)v
f3aaiXeû)v 0avfiacrTovii Kal totv peTayevecnépcov
r o îç « ç tcl TrapaTTXr)(TLa cf)iXoTip,ovp,évoL<; virep-
¡3oXyv ovk airoXeiTTovtag,
7 O 1 fièv ovv lepeî<; eK tcûv àvaypa<pâ>v ècfiacrav
evpiaKeiv eina irpoc; to Îç tétt apdKOVTa rd</>ooç
fiaaiXiKOvc;' en? 8 è II t oXepaïov tov A d y o v 8 1 a-
peivai cfiacriv émaKaiEeKa pbvov, a>v Ta TroXXà
KaT€<f)0apTO Ka0' oûç irape^aXopev
■¡IpÆÎç e t ç eKelvovi? r o ù ç Tonovg, èirl rrjç êKaTocrTÎ)ç
8 Kal oy8oT)KO(TTT)<; ’ OXopiri d8o<;. ov povov 8' ol
BOOK I. 46. 2-8
forty-five cubits, and walls twenty-four feet thick.
In keeping with this magnificence was also the em­
bellishment o f the votive offerings within the circuit
wall, marvellous for the money spent upon it and
exquisitely wrought as to workmanship. Now the
buildings o f 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 ; 1 and it 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 o f 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 o f gold and no less
than two thousand three hundred talents o f silver.
There are also in this city, they say, remarkable
tombs o f the early kings and o f 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
Ptolemy son of Lagus, they say,only fifteen remained, 323-283
most of which had been destroyed at the time we B0,
visited those regions, in the One Hundred and go-66
Eightieth Olympiad. Not only do the priests o f Ba
1 Cambyses was in Egypt from 525 to 522 B .c. The account
of his excesses against the Egyptian religion and customs,
given in great detail by Herodotus (3. 16 ff.), is almost cer­
tainly much exaggerated (see Gray in The Cambridge Ancient
History, 4. pp. 22-3, but cp. Hall, ibid. 3. pp. 311-12) ; at any
rate they fall toward the end of his stay in the country.
165
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
/car’ AïyvTTTOv lepeli è/c tm v àvaypa<f>à>v laropov-
aiv, àXXà Kaì ttoX X o Ì tw v 'EXXrjVMv t &v ttapa-
/3a\óvTa>v p,èv eli Taç @jJ/5aç èirì ÜToXepacov
tov Adyov, avvTai;ap,évwv 8è ràç Alyvim a/cài
iffToplaì, mv etTTt «ai 'E/caraîoç, ovptfiatvovai
tocì £<£’ 7)p.S)v elpppévon.
47. ’A tto yàp tmv Trpd/Tœv tdtjxov, èv oli
7rapa8é8oTCU raç 7raXXa/ciSai toù A iòi TeÔd<j>9ai,
8é/ca (TTaSicov <pr)criv vttdpfjat fiaotXéwi pvrjpa
tov irpoaayopevOévToi O avpav8vov. tovtov 8è
/card pèv rpv eïcro8ov inrdpyeiv ttiiXcòva \L60v
ttoikIXov, to pèv prjKOi StrrXeOpov, to 8' injroi
TtTTapdtcovra tcal ttcvtc 7Tr)%S>v 8ceX6 ovTt 8’
avTov eïvat XiOivov TreploTuXov TeTpdywvov,
e/cdaT-tji irXevpâi ovapi TCTTapcov irXéOpwv
vtrppeïadai 8' àvTt twv kcovoîv Ç&>8ia irrj^ûv
è/c/cai8e/ca povoXtffa, tov tvttov eli tov àp^aîov
TpoTrov elpyaa péva- tt}v opoÿpv Te irâcrav ètri
vXaTOi 8voîv òpyvicòv vwdpxeiv povóXtOov,
à(TTépai èv Kvavœ /caTaireTroi/ccXpévpv êÇrji 8è
tov irepiffTvXov tovtov trdXtv eTepav eicro8ov
/cal rrvXSiva tà pèv dXXa TrapairApacov tm
irpoeipppévcp, yXvrpaîi 8è iravToiaa trepiTTorepov
elpyaapévov trapà 8è Tpv eïaoSov àvSptdvrai
elvai t péli êvbi tovì irdvTai Xl6ov p.éXavoi1
tov 2 i itjvîtov, /cal tovtoùv eva pèv tcadppcevov
1 peAaros Hertlein : Meyrovos.
1 Hecataeua of Abdera was an historian of the early third
century B.c,, author of an A ig y p tia k a , from which the following
description (47. 1-49. 5) of the tomb of Osymandyas (Miiller,
166
BOOK I. 46. 8 -4 7 . 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 o f whom was Hecataeus,1 *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 o f the king
known as Osymandyas.8 A t its entrance there is a
pylon, constructed o f variegated stone, two plethra
in breadth and forty-five cubits high ; passing through
this one enters a rectangular peristyle, built o f stone,
four plethra long on each side ; it is supported, in
place o f pillars, by monolithic figures sixteen cubits
high, wrought in the ancient manner as to shape ; 3
and the entire ceiling, which is two fathoms wide,
consists o f 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 o f relief;
beside the entrance are three statues, each of a single
block o f black stone from Syene, o f which one, that
F ra g m e n ta h isto rico ru m G raecorum , 2. 389-91) is drawn. What
Diodorus gives here is no more than a paraphrase, not a
quotation, of Hecataeus (cp. the Introduction, p. xvii).
2 This is the great sanctuary erected by Rainses II for
his mortuary service and known to every visitor at Thebes
as the Kamesseum. In chap. 49, where Diodorus is not
following Hecataeus, he calls it specifically a “ tomb.” H. R.
Hall (A n c ie n t H is to r y o f the N e a r F a s t6, p. 317) derives the
name Osymandyas from User-ma-Ra (or “ Uashmuariya ”
as the Semites wrote it), one of the royal names of Ramses.
z These were square pillars with engaged statues of Osiris,
but they were not monoliths (cp. H. R. Hall, l.c ., with illustra­
tion).
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
virapyeiv peyiarov travTiov ro)v kclt A iyv m ov,
oil tov iroha peTpovpevov vnepfidW eiv Tovt kind
np^eit, eTepovt Se Bvo 7 rpo? top? yovaai, tov
pev ¿k Be^icov, tov Be e% evcovvpcov, dvyaTpot
teal ppTpot, Tip peyedei Xenropevovt tov irpoeipp-
4 pevov. to S' epyov tovto pp povov elvai Kara
to peyedot onroBo^pt a^iov, d W a /cal tt) Te^vp
GavpauTov Kal Trj tov \idov <j>vaei Biacf>epov, cot
av ev TrpUKOvTcp peyedei ppTe BiaifrvdBot ppTe
KpXiBot ppBepiat Oecopovpevpt. emyeypacpdai B'
eir avTov “ Batri\evt ffaaiAecov ’O avpavBvat
elpi. el ¿e Tit elBevai (3ov\eTai npXiKot elpl
ical 7tov Keipai, viKaTco ti tcov epebv epycov.”
5 elvai Be Kal a W p v elKova Tpt ppTpot avTov Kad'
avTtjv nrpy&v eiKoai povbXidov, e%ovaav Be Tpeit
fiaaiXeiat eirl Tpt KecjiaXpt, at Biaappaiveiv
oTi Kal 0vyd.T7]p Kal yvvp Kal ppTpp /3aaiXecot
virpp^e.
6 M e ra Be tov i r v X v v a irepiiTTvXov e lv a i tov
7rp o T ep o v ¿¡jio X o y co T ep o v , ev <p yX vcfrd t vird p-^ eiv
ir a v T o ia t o p X o v a a t tov ir o X e p o v tov yevopevov
avTcp Trpbt T o v t ev T oit B a K T p oit a i r o a T a v T a f
ecf>' o v t ea T p a T ev a O a i tte^cov p e v t c t t ap a K ov T a
p v p id c n v , l i n r e v a i Be B ia p v p io it, e l t TeTTapa
p e p p B ip p p p e v p t Trjt i r d a p t (TTpaTiat, oov cn rd v-
tcov v i o v t t o v fia criX ecot ecr ^ e w i T pv p y e p o v ia v .
48. Kat /cara pev tov irpcoTOV tcov Toi^cov
tov fiaaiXea KaTeuKevdadai iroXiopKOvvTa Tei%ot
into noTapov irepippvTOv Kai irpoKivowevovra
1 T h e e stim ated w eigh t o f th is colossus oi R a m se s I I is
on e th ou san d to n s.
r68
BOOK I. 47. 3-48. 1
is seated, is the largest o f any in Egypt , 1 the foot
measuring over seven cubits, while the other two at
the knees of this, the one on the right and tlje 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 o f its artistic quality
and excellent because o f the nature o f 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 o f Kings am I, Osymandyas. I f anyone
would know how great I am and where I lie, let him
surpass one o f 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 o f a king.
Beyond the pylon, he says, there is a peristyle more
remarkable than the former on e; in it there are all
manner o f 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
o f sons o f the king.2
48. On the first wall the king, he says, is represented
in the act o f besieging a walled city which is sur­
rounded by a river, and of leading the attack against
2 T h is is th e c am p a ig n o f R a m s e s I I a g a in st th e H ittite s
in 1288 B .c. a n d th e g re a t b a t tle aroun d th e c it y o f K a d e sh
on th e upper O rontes. T h e b a ttle has been f u lly described
b y J . H . B re a ste d , The Battle of Kadesh (D ecen n ial P u b lic a ­
tio n s o f th e U n iv e r sity o f C h icago , 19 04 ), w ho estim ates the
size o f th e a r m y a t lit t le m ore th an 20,000.
169
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
7Г/Э0? rivas uvTCT€Tayfi€vov<i fi€T<i XeovTOS, crvv-
ayasvi^opevov tov dpplou к а т а т г Х ц к т м ш г inrep
ov to>v e^pyovpevmv ol pev е ф а с г а р тгрод aXpOeiav
XeipopOp XeovTa т р е ф оpev ov {лto tov / З а с п Х е с о д
avyKivSvveveiv а и т ф к а т а та? ра^ач к а Х Tpoir-qv
iroieiv twv evavTioov Sia Tpv aXKrjv, Tiveg S’
to-Topovv oTi кав’ virepfioXrjv dvSpelo? £jv к а Х
фоггис&*\ eavTov> eyKwpid&iv fiovXopevos, Bid
TV4 TOV XeovTog eiKovog ttjv Biddeaiv eavTov t ?}?
2 '¡r y x f i1; e cn jp a iv e v. ev Be тш SevTepcp тоХ^ш той?
a lx p a X t o T o v s viro t o v /ЗаочХе'м? d y o p e v o v g e lp y d -
( r f l c u ^ a те a iB o ia K ai тад vei/oa? ovk e x o vT a g ,
Sj, d>v BoKelv BrjXovaOaL Oi o t i та!? y jrvxa lg
a v a v S p o i K a i ката тад ev то ! ? Beivots evep yela g
3 d x e ip e s rjvciv. tov Be T p 'n o v ’¿ x e iv у Х о ф а ч
ir a v T o ia s каХ B la ir peireig у р а ф а д , Si & v SrjX ov<j6ai
fto vO ycn ag t o v / З а а ч Х е а ) ? каХ в p la p /S o v a iro to v
4 iro X e p o v K a T a y o p e v o v . ката Be p e a o v to v ire p l-
cttv X ov v ir a id p io v ¡3 m pov <ркоВорт)сгва1 t o v к а Х -
X ia T o v XLOov ttj те x eip a v p y ia S id ^ o p o v каХ тф
5 реуевес' Oavpaaiov, ката Ье tov TeXevTalov
to%xov VTrapxeiv avSpidvTa<> Kadripevovg Svo povo-
Xidovg етгта кал eiKoai irr)X&>v, тар on? elaoBovg
треХч J k tov irepiaTvXov KaTeaKevdadai, кав’
a? oikov virapxeiv vir ¿(jtv Xov, (¿Belov Tpoirov
KaTeaKevaapAvov, eKaaTijv irXevpav '¿xovTa S l-
6 7rXedpov. ev T o in w S ' e lv a i тгХувод dvSptdvTosv
1 фортисм V o g e l : форпког V u lg a t e , B e k k e r , D in d o rf.
1 T h is sentence is a p p a r e n tly n o t fro m H e ca ta e u s.
B re a ste d (l.c., pp. 4 4 - 5 ) h old s th a t th is lio n is pu relv
d ec o ra tive, th ou gh the reliefs o f th e b a ttle show a ta m e lion
acco m p an y in g R a m s e s on th e cam p aign .
17 0
BOOK I. 48. 1-6
opposing troops; he is accompanied by a lion, which is
aiding him with terrifying effect. O f 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 o f the lion.1 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 o f warfare.2
The third wall carries every manner o f relief and
excellent paintings, which portray the king perform­
ing a sacrifice of oxen and celebrating a triumph after
the war. In the centre o f the peristyle there had
been constructed o f the most beautiful stone an altar,
open to the sky, both excellent in its workmanship
and marvellous because o f its size. By the last wall
are two monolithic seated statues, twenty-seven
cubits high, beside which are set three entrances
from the peristyle; and by way o f these entrances one
comes into a hall whose roof was supported by
pillars, constructed in the style o f an Odeum ,3 and
measuring two plethra on each side. In this hall
there are many wooden statues representing parties
2 T h e reliefs o f th e b a t tle show R a m s e s in h is ch ario t an d
th e severed han ds o f th e s la in , n o t o f th e c a p tiv e s , being cast
before him (B re a ste d , l.c., p . 4 5 ).
3 i.e. a M usic H a ll, d istin gu ish ed , in g en era l, b y th e a n cien ts
fro m a th eatre b y it s ro o f and su p p o rtin g p illa rs . T h is is
th e g re a t h y p o sty le h a ll behind th e second co u rt (cp. the
P la n in Baedeker's Egypt, o pp. p . 3 0 1 ).
171
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 48. 6-49. 3

g v X iv w v , b ia trrjjx a lv o v т ot>? а ц ф к г ¡Зт)трсте1 Ч 1 in litigation, whose eyes are fixed upon the judges
ё^оут ач каХ т гроа /ЗА ет т оу т ач то1ч тач В1кач who decide their cases; and these, in turn, are
K p iv o v a f т о и т о и ч S' ¿ ф ' е у о ч t w v t o i ^ w v ё у у е - shown in relief on one of the walls, to the number of
уХ аф вас т рьакоут а tov a p id fio v a ^ e t/эа ?,2 к а Х thirty and without any hands, 1 and in their midst
кат а то p-eaov rov d p yiB iK a a T rfv, ё^оут а rt}v
the chief justice, with a figure of Truth hanging from
'A X r j d e i a v e g г)ртт)р,еуг]у ек tov т р а -^rjX ov ка\
his neck and holding his eyes closed, and at his side a
great number of books. And these figures show by
т оv i Ь ф ваХ ро Vi етприопта, 3 ка i ¡Зф Х Х ю у a v T w
their attitude that the judges shall receive no gift and
ira p a K eifiev o v ттХрвоч" таьт ач Be та? е Х к о у а ч that the chief justice shall have his eyes upon the
e v S eiK w a d a i b id tov <т^г/р.аточ от t той? p ' e v truth alone.2
Вткаеттач o v S e v B e l X a p i f i d v e i v , t o v d p x ^ i K a t n r j v 49. Next to these courts, he says, is an ambulatory
Be ттроч pLovrjv f i X e i r e i v tt jv а Х р в е ш у . crowded with buildings of every kind, in which there
49. 'E g rj4 B>' v i r d p ^ e i v ттерХттатоу o 'Lk w v i r a v T O - are representations of the foods that are sweetest to
B aT tw v ттХург), к а б ' oft? m a v T o la yevi) f i p w tw v the taste, o f every variety. Here are to be found
кат ет т кеоааваь tw v ттроч d -rro X a va iv r)BL <nwv. reliefs in which the king, adorned in colours, is
2 кав' ov Si) уХофаХч evTV^elv^ eivai кал %pwp.a<Tiv represented as offering to the god the gold and silver
¿TTrivdiapevov t o v /3acriXea, фероута тф веф which he received each year from the silver and gold
'Xpvffov каХ dpyvpov, ov eg атгаат/ч eXapi^ave mines of all E gypt; and an inscription below gives
ttj 4 AlyinrTov кат' eviavTov ек t w v dpyvpeiwv
also the total amount, which, summed up according
каХ ^pvaeiwv peTaXXwv vtтоуеурафвас Be каХ to its value in silver, is thirty-two million minas.
Next comes the sacred library, which bears the
то ттХрвоч, о аоукефаХаюоцеуоу е1ч apyvpLov
inscription “ Healing-place o f the Soul,” and contigu­
Xoyov eivai jivwv TpiayCh!ia4 кал (пакоаХач
ous to this building are statues of all the gods of
3 pivpidBa4. egfji S’ virdpyeiv TrjV lepav fiijBXio- Egypt, to each of whom the king in like manner
BriKTjv, еф' f/ч ётпуеурафваь 'Hv^rji iaTpeiov, makes the offering appropriate to him, as though he
a v v e ^ e f ? Be таотт] t w v кат' A ’iyvTtt ov dewv were submitting proof before Osiris and his assessors
d-rrdvTwv еХкоуач, t o v /3aaiXew4 opioXwi Bwpo-
фородуточ a TrpotrfjKOV rjv ёкасттои, каватгер 1 A word to th is effect, which is fo u n d in a d escrip tio n o f
evBeiKvvp-evov ттроч те t o v ”Ocripiv каХ tov? “ figures in T h e b e s ” b y P lu ta rc h (On Isis and Osiris, 10 ),
m u st a lm o st c e rta in ly h av e sto od in the t e x t , to g iv e a basis
1 тas before apupi<T&r)r-iitrets omitted by D, V o g e l: retained fo r th e th o u g h t in th e n e x t sen ten ce th a t th e ju d ges sh ou ld
by Bekker, Dindorf. n o t receive g ift s ; cp . P lu ta rc h , l.c., us ddupov apa t V Sucaio-
2 ¿ x f ‘Pa 1 added by Hertlein, cp. Plutarch, ilo r . 3 5 5 A. <rvvi)v Kal avevrevKTov ohaav (“ sh ow in g th a t ju stice should
3 fTrifjLVovTa Hertlein : i~Tlioo ta k e no g ifts an d sh ou ld b e in ac c essib le to in flu e n c e” ).
1 The text is defective. Iieiske conjectures y\v<pas iv 2 On th is Su p rem e C o u rt see ch ap . 7 5 .
то ХЧ- ISeiv eivai.
172 m
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 49. 3-50. i
in the underworld that to the end o f his days he had
катш п а р еВ р о Р ч o n tod / З со р e’fe r e X e a e p evcre(3a>v
lived a life of piety and justice towards both men
к а с В с к а с о т г р а у ш р тгроч те а р в р ш т г о р ч к а с в е о й ч . and gods. Next to the library and separated from
o f i o T o t j ^ o v Be т у ( З с ^ Х с о в у к у к а т е с г к е Р а а в а с пе- it by a party wall is an exquisitely constructed hall,
рсттшч aih c ov ескоаскХ срор, e% ovra той те Асоч which contains a table with couches for twenty and
кас туч " Н р а ч , етс Вё той /Засп Х еш ч , ескорач, statues o f Zeus and Hera as well as o f the king;
ер ф Вокеср к а с то аш рса той ¿ЗасгсХёшч ерте-
here, it would seem, the body of the king is also
buried. In a circle about this building are many
ваф вас. крк Хш 8е тортор т гХувоч о'скурат ш р
chambers which contain excellent paintings o f all
к а т е а к е р а с г в а с у р а ф у р ¿х о р т ш р ёкттретгу т гарт ш р the animals which are held sacred in Egypt. There
тш р кавсерш усёрш р ер А сурп т со £фш р- a v d /З ааср is an ascent leading through these chambers to the
те Вс айтшр elva c ттроч o X o v 1 тор т афор• ур tomb as a whole. A t the top o f this ascent there is
ВсеХвойаср vird p ^ ec v eirc той р - р у ц а т о ч kvk X op a circular border of gold crowning the monument,
three hundred and sixty-five cubits in circumference
Xpuaovv т рсакоасш р кас ё^укорт а ка1 тгёрте
and one cubit thick ; 1 upon this the days o f the year
7т у х ш р т у р i r e p i реетp o p , то Be тг а%оч 2 i r y ^ v a i o p -
are inscribed, one in each cubit of length, and by each
ет уеураф веи Be /cal В суруавас кав' екаат ор day the risings and settings of the stars as nature
iry % vp тач урсёрач той ерсарт ой, т г а р а у е у р а р ,- ordains them and the signs indicating the effects
рсёр ш р тш р кат а фраер усрорсерш р тосч а а т р о с ч which the Egyptian astrologers hold that they
арат оХш р те кас В р с ге ш р кас тш р B id тайтач
produce.2 This border, they said, had been plun­
dered by Cambyses and the Persians when he
еттстеХоррсёршр ет саурсаасш р кат а тойч A сур-
conquered Egypt.
тгтсорч аат роХ оуорч. т ой т ор Be top k v k X o p ртго Such, they say, was the tomb of Osymandyas the
Ka^t/Sucoii ка1 Л ер а ш р е ф а а а р a e a v X y a ва с к а в ’ king, which is considered far to have excelled all
о й ч Х Р ° vov<> ё к р а т у а е р А с у х п г т о Р . others, not only in the amount of money lavished
T o p peep o i i p ’O a v p c a p B v o v т ой @ а с п Х ё ш ч т а ф о р upon it, but also in the ingenuity shown by the
тоюйтор у е о е а в а с ф а а с и , оч ov рсорор Вокес ту
artificers.
50. The Thebans say that they are the earliest of
кат а т ур B a ird p yp x °p y y ia iro X v тшр аХХш р
all men and the first people among whom philosophy 3
Всереукеср, ¿ХХа кас т у тшр т е у у с т ш р ¿ т р о с а .
1 In place o f “ one cubit th ick ” one should certainly
50. О с Be O y f i a i o c ф а а с р ё а р т о й ч а р х а с о т а т о р ч expect “ one cubit wide.’ ’ In that case the space for the
e lv a c п а р т ш р арврш т гш р, к а с т а р ё а р т о с ч тгрштосч portrayal of each day would be one cubit square.
2 Here ends the account drawn, except for occasional re­
1 6‘ \o v has been suspected. Hertlein conjectured Икроу, marks of Diodorus, from Hecataeus.
“ to the top of the tom b.” 2 i.e. in the wider sense of study of knowledge.
2 tra c es all editors. Capps conjectures n A aros.
174 175
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 50. 1-4
< f> i\o a o (f)ia v те e v p fja d a i ка\ t t jv етг а к р 1@ еч and the exact science o f the stars were discovered,
a a T p o X o y ia v , a p a ;ympa? a v T 0 i 4 a v v e p -
каХ т г/ч since their country enables them to observe more dis­
у о р а щ т гроч то тг/ X a v y e a T e p o v o p a v та? е т г п о Х а ч tinctly than others the risings and settings of the stars.
2 те ка1 S vcreis ты р асгтршп. tSiw? 8 e к а Х т а Peculiar to them also is their ordering of the months
тгер1 той? p r/v a s аитос? t e a l той? e v i a v T o v s and years. For they do not reckon the days by the
В гат ет ах^си-1 та? y a p г /р е р а ч ov/c d y o v a i к а т а
moon, but by the sun, making their month of thirty
days, and they add five and a quarter days 1 to the
a eX rjvrjv , d X X a кат а top r f X t o v , т р 1 а к о р в т ] р е р о р ч
twelve months and in this way fill out the cycle of the
pev T iffep evo i тоЬч р г р > а ч , тгерте В г)рерач к а \
year. But they do not intercalate months or
т е т а р т о р то2ч В ы В е к а p p a l v етг d y o v a i , к а 1 торты
subtract days, as most o f the Greeks do. They
т ы т рот гы to v e v ta v a to v kvk X ov а рат гХ т )p o v a i v .
appear to have made careful observations of the
¿ p j3 o X ip o v 4 Be p fjv a ^ ovk a y o v a iv ovB ' ррерач eclipses both of the sun and of the moon, and predict
v fy a ip o v a i, кават т ер o l ir X e la T o i т ы р \L X X r j v w v . them, foretelling without error all the events which
ire p l Be тыр ек Х е1 ф геы р f/X io v те ка\ аеХ рур^ actually occur.
а к р 1 /3 ы ч ет геакеф да1 B o K o v a i, ка\ T r p o p p r ja e i? O f the descendants of this king, the eighth, known
ir e p l to vtcov т го ю и о т а с , it dvrа та кат а рероч as Uchoreus, founded Memphis, the most renowned
y iv o p e v a т г р о Х е у о р т е ч а В с а т гт ы т ы ч . city o f Egypt. For he chose the most favourable
3 Td>v Be to vto v т о й { З а а 1Х е ы ч а т г о у о р ы р о у В о о ч spot in all the land, where the Nile divides into
о 2 ттp o a a y o p e v O е \ч Ои^ореи? ектгеге tt o X i v Ш е р - several branches to f o r m the “ Delta,” as it is called
<p t v , е т п ф а р е а т а т р р т ы р к а т А Х у о т г т о р , е ^ е - from its shape ; and the result was that the city,
Х е^ат о pev yap то тго р ет икаьрот ат оу ат га а т )ч
excellently situated as it was at the gates o f the
Delta, continually controlled the commerce passing
тг/ч % ы р а ч , ottov ах^орероч о NetXo? et? 7r X e l o v a
into upper Egypt. Now he gave the city a circum­
pepr) TTO iel то K aX ovpevov ат го to v ахррат оч
ference of one hundred and fifty stades, and made it
ДеХта- B io ка\ a v v e jd r ) t t jv tt o X i v еока1ры ч
K e ip e v r jv етгl ты р кХ еьдры р e lv a i K v p ie v o v a a v record o f their ever officially intercalating a day every four
4 ты р et? t t jv aval %oopau аиатгХеоитши. to p e v years, as, indeed, Diodorus tells us in the next sentence (cp.
T h e C am bridge A n c ie n t H is to r y , 1. p. 168). The distinct
ovv T r e p i/ З о Х о р т/}? т го Х е ы ч етг o i y a e а т а В С ы р contribution of the Egyptians to the calendar was the rejection
екат ор ка\ т герт ркорт а, тf j v В' ¿хорот рт а ка\ of the lunar month and the recognition that the length of
the divisions of the year should be conventional. It was
1 Camusatus conjectured S ia re ra xT a i, which is adopted by this conventional month which Julius Caesar introduced into
Bekker, Dindorf.
the lunar month calendar of the Romans, practically all
a airt t o u irarpbs after 6 omitted by C F.
ancient writers saying in one way or another that the idea
for his calendar came from Egypt (cp. J. H . Breasted, A
1 The Egyptians undoubtedly knew the proper length of
H isto r y o f E g y p t, pp. 32-3).
the year, but their year was one o f 365 days and there is no
17 6 177
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 50. 4-51. i
T t j v e v - ^ p r j a T L a v O a v p a c r T r j v , TO id> 8e t i v i T p o ir u t remarkably strong and adapted to its purpose by
6 tcaiaa/cevdaa?. peovTo? yap tov N eiXov irepl works o f the following nature. Since the Nile flowed
Ttjv iroXiv teal tcard ta? dvaffdaet,? ¿ttikXv ^ovto?, around the city and covered it at the time of inunda­
airo pev tov votov irpoeftaXeTO ■ySipa irap- tion, he threw out a huge mound o f earth on the
peyede?, irpo? pev ttjv irX fpoaiv tov iroiapov south to serve as a barrier against the swelling o f the
irpoffXrjpaTo?, 7T/3o? 8e tov? dirb t P/? ytj? iroXe- river and also as a citadel against the attacks of
piov? dtcpoiroXew? e%ov tu^i v etc Se twv aXXwv enemies by land; and all around the other sides he
pepwv iravraxpOev wpv^e Xipvpv peydXrjv teal dug a large and deep lake, which, by taking up the
/Sadeiav, fj to cnfioSpov tov iroTapov he^opevr) force of the river and occupying all the space about
teal iravTa tov irepl ttjv ttoXiv tottov irXrjpovcra, the city except where the mound had been thrown up,
gave it remarkable strength. And so happily did the
irXfjv fj to yibpa tcaTeertcevacrTO, davpatnfjv
founder o f the city reckon upon the suitableness of
6 eiroiei Ttjv o^upoTJ/Ta. ov too 8e tcaXcb? o ktloa? the site that practically all subsequent kings left
avTrjv etTToxdcraTO Ttj? t 5>v tottcov evtcaipia? merre Thebes and established both their palaces and
tov? etffj? ¡3acnXei? a^eSov airavTa? tcaiaXiirovia? official residences here. Consequently from this
Ta? <8>ij/3a? Ta re fiacriXeia teal tt/v oitcrjcnv ev time Thebes began to wane and Memphis to increase, 1
TavTi) iroieicrdai. 8ioirep diro tovtcov tmv xpo- until the time o f Alexander the king; for after he
vatv rjpifaTO Taireivouadai pev Ta irepl Ta? ® jjfia?, had founded the city on the sea which bears his name,
avifecrOai 8e Ta irepl Ttjv M eptftiv, eat? ’AXe- all the kings o f Egypt after him concentrated their
gdvSpov tov fiacnXeeo?- tovtov yap eirl daXaTTrj interest on the development of it. Some adorned it
Ttjv eircbvvpov avTU> iroXiv ol/cicravTO? oi tcaTa with magnificent palaces, some with docks and
to eifrj? fiucnXevaavTe? Ttj? A lyv in ov irdvTe? harbours, and others with further notable dedications
7 e if u X o T i p i j O r jc r a v e i? t t jv T a v T tj? a v i f t j a t v . oi pev and buildings, to such an extent that it is generally
yap fia c r iX e io t? p e y a X o ir p e ir e a iv , oi 8 e v e w p io i?
reckoned the first or second city of the inhabited
world. But a detailed description o f this city we
te a l X i p e c n v , o i 8 ' e T e p o i? d v a d p p a o i te a l te a T a -
shall set forth in the appropriate period .2
c n c e v a ir p a c T i v a ^ i o X o y o i ? e i r l to o o vto v e tc o a p r jc r a v
51. The founder o f Memphis, after constructing
a v T tjv at <rre ir a p d T o i? ir X e ia -T O i? ir p d n r jv fj
the mound and the lake, erected a palace, which,
8evT epav d p iO p e ia G a i t <
ov tc a T a T r /v o itc o v p e v tjv
while not inferior to those o f other nations, yet was
ir o X e w v . aXXa ire p l p e v tu v ttj? tu tc a T a p e p o ?
1 In common with all the Greek writers, Diodorus knew
ev t o i? i 8 i o i ? x p o v o i ? a v a y p a - ^ r o p e v .
nothing about the chronological development of Egyptian
5 1 . 'O Se tt]v M e p t f n v K T C cra? p e T a T tjv to v history. The great period of Thebes was to come with the
X io p a T o ? t e a l T tj? X i p v t j ? t c a T a a / c e v i / v w t c o S o p p a e Eighteenth Dynasty, after 1600 B.c., many centuries sub­
sequent to the founding of Memphis.
fia c n X e ia tw v pev ira p d to l? a X X o i? o v X e c ir o - 2 Alexandria is more fully described in Book 17. 52.
17 8 179
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
fie v a , t t )? Be n p o f t a a iX e v a d v T a v
t wv peya-
2 X o ifr v y ia 9 /cal
cjn X o K aX iaf ov/c a £ ia . ol y a p
e y y a p i o i to p p e p ev tu > %rjp yp o p o p eineXr/
n a P T e X a s e lva t p o p i^ o v a i, to p Be p e T a t i } p
TeX evrrjp B i’ a perrjp p p p p o p e v d p a o p e p o p n e p l
n X e t a T o v n o io v P T a i, /cal r a ? p e p T a p £a>in a p
ol/cpoev; /caTcCXvoevs o p o p d ^ o v a ip , a s o X iy o v
y p o p o p ep T a v T a is oI kovptcop p p a p , t o v s Be T a p
TeTeXevTTjKOTU/p T ilt o n s d iB io v s oi/covs n p o a a y o -
p e v o v a tv , a s ep a B o v BtareXovPTcop to p a n e ip o p
a l a p a ' B io n e p r a p p ep /cara t a s ol/cias /c a ra -
a /c e va v op cf/popTi^ovot, Trept Be r a ? Tacfras
vn e p j 3 oXrjv ov/c d iro X e in o v c n cfu X oTip las.
3 T t)P Be n p o e ip p p e p p p n o X iv o p o p a a d p p a i t ipes
(f/aatp d n o ttjs d v y a T p o s t o v K T ia a vT o s a in p p
/3 f l f f i X e u ? . r a u r ^ s Be pvO oXoyovcrtp e p a a d p p a i
to p TTOTaptop N e t \ o i > o p o ia Q ep T a t a v p a , /cal
y e p v ija a i t o p e n ' dpeTjj O a v p a a d e p T a n a p a t o is
¿y y a p t o t s A i y o m o p , d<p' ov /cal Tpp a v p n a a a p
4 yapap T v y e lp T ps n p o a r jy o p ia s - BiaBe^dpepOP
y a p t o v t o p Tt]P rjy ep o p la p yepecr8ai fta cn X ea
(f>iXap& panop /cal Bi/catop /cal /caOoXov a n o v -
Balop ep n a a r Bio /cal p e y a X y s d n o B o y rjs d £ io v -
pepop v i to ndpTcop B id Tpp evp o ia p T v y e lp t j }?
n p o e tp y p e p p s T ip rjs.
5 M e T a Be t o p n p o eip p p ep o p f3 a a iX e a B a B ex a
y e v e a t s v c n e p o p S t a B e ^ d p e p o s t //p /caT A 'i y v m o p
p y e p o p ia p M o t p t ? ¿ p p e p t fj M epcf/ei K a T eaicevaae
T a fto p eia n p o n u X a ia , T y p e y a X o n p e n e L a n o X ii
tcop aXXcop v n e p e y o P T a , ¿ n a p a Be Trjs n o X e a s
a n o Be/ca a y o l p a p X ip p y p a p v ^ e t fj pep e v y p y -
oTtct d a v p a u T p v , T a Be peyeO ei T a p e p y a p
18 0
BOOK I. 51. 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 o f 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 o f “ lodgings ” to the dwellings o f 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 o f zeal.
The aforementioned city was named, according to
some, after the daughter o f the king who founded it.
They tell the story that she was loved by the river
Nile, who had assumed the form o f 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 o f his good­
will, he received the honour mentioned.
Twelve generations after the king just named,
Moeris succeeded to the throne o f Egypt and built
in Memphis itself the north propylaea, which far
surpasses the others in magnificence, while ten
schoeni1 above the city he excavated a lake which
was remarkable for its utility and an undertaking of
1 H ero d o tu s ( 2 . 6) s a y s t h a t th e schoenus w a s an E g y p t ia n
m ea su re, eq ual to s ix t y eta d es o r a p p r o x im a te ly seven
m iles, b u t ac co rd in g to S tra b o ( 17 . 1. 2 4 ) it v a rie d from t h ir ty
to one h u n d red a n d tw e n t y s ta d e s. A t a n y r a te th e F a y u m
is a b o u t s ix t y m iles fro m th e site o f a n cie n t M em phis.
18 1
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
6 atricrrov• ttjv pev yap -rrepiperpov avTrjs cj/acriv
virap^eiv maSicov Tpiay^iXioni /cal e^a/cocricov, to
Be fiddos ev Tot? TrXilaTois pepecnv opyvitbv
TrevTTjKovTa• co<rT6 ti? ov/c av avaXoyi^opevos to
peye6o<: too /caracncevdcrparos el/corcos ^rjT-paai
TTocrcu pvpiaSe? dvBpd/v iv 7rocrot? ctecri tovto
7 <rvvereXecrav ; ttjv Se y^peiav ttjv e« TavTij? «at
/coivcoipeXiav t ot? rr)V A ly v m o v ol/covcnv, eVt Se
ttjv too /3atrtXe&>? ¿7rivoiav, ov/c av t t? ewaiveaeie
Trjs aXp(9eta? a£t&>?.
52. E7rei.S?) yap o /tei/ NetXo? a/piapevas
eTTOielro ta? dvafidcreis, r) Se %wpa ttjv ev/cap-
Triav ttapecr/ceva^ev diro t ?j? ¿/ceivov crvpperpiat,
et? vttoBo^ tjv too 7rXeooafooTO? oSaTo? a/pvije ttjv
Xipvrjv, 07Tco? prpre Bid to TrXrj&o? t ?;? putreo)?
¿ttikX v ^cov a/caipay; ttjv •ycopav eXrj /cal Xipvas
/caTa<r/cevd£r], prjr eXaTTco too avp^epovTos t ^ o
TrXrjpaxTiv 7rotoop.ei'o? tt; Xei^ruBpia too? /capirov^
2 XvpaivrjTai. /cal 8id>pv%a pev e/c too irorapov
/carea/cevacev et? Tpo Xipvrjv oyBoptcovra pev
cnaBiuiv to ptf/cos, tpiirXeOpov Be to tcX uto?-
Bed Be ravTijs 7tot6 p.eo Se^opteoo? too iro-rapbv,
7TOT6 S’ diroarpeffiaiv, Trapelxero t ot? yempyot?
rrjv two i/Bdrcov ev/caiplav, avoiyopevou too
o-ToptaTo? «a i iraXiv /cXewpevov ^JtXoTe^ow? «at
7roXoSa7rdow?‘ oo« eXarTco yap two TrevT-q/covTa
TaXaoTwo Satravav 7/v dvay/cr) tov dvoc^ai jHovXo-
pievov rj /cXelcrai to 7tpoeiprjpevov /cajaa/cevaapa.
3 8iapepevi)/ce S’ r/ Xipvr) Tt]v eu^pjycTTtait 7rape^o-
pteop Tot? «aT A lyv m ov ew? two «a # ’ ppta?
Xpovcov, /cal ttjv irpocrqyopLav diro tov /cara-
BOOK I. 51. 5-52. 3
incredible magnitude.1 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 well as for the ingenuity
o f 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 the 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,2 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 o f 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
1 The reference is to the great depression known as the
Fayum, 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.
1 i.e . about nine miles long and three hundred feet wide.
*83
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 52. 3-53. I

акеиааарт оч '¿Xei> к а Х о и p é v y /теур г to v vvv the name o f its builder, being called to this day the
4 M o t p iS o ç X i j x v r }. о S’ ovv /3 a cri\ eù ç орут т ш р
Lake o f Moeris. Now the king in excavating it left
a spot in the centre, where he built a tomb and two
т аут ур кат еХ пт ер êv /¿ e e r y тоттор, è p m т аф ор
pyramids, a stade in height, one for himself and the
ш коЬ оруае /c a l S v o 7Т У р а р с Ь а ч , т у p p è p e a v T o îi, other for his wife, on the tops o f which he placed stone
т ур Se т у ч y v p a i /сб ч , c r r a b ia ia ч то у-ф -оч, ёф ’ statues seated upon thrones, thinking that by these
wv ет геа т уа ер e i /е о р а ч X i6 iv c i4 кавурерач tr r l monuments he would leave behind him an imperish­
epovov, v o fiiÇ c a v b ià т оут ш р tco p еруш р d d d p a - able commemoration o f his good deeds. The income
accruing from the fish taken from the lake he gave to
to p é a in o v ка т а Х е с ф е с р т ур eV ’ а у а в ш ppÿpyp.
his wife for her unguents and general embellishment,
5 тур B' è/c туч Х ср руч д 7го тар ьуви ш р y l p o p i p y p the value of the catch amounting to a talent of silver
irpo a o èo p еВш/се т у y v p a i K i 7r p o ç p i/p a / c a l top daily ; 1 for there are twenty-two different kinds of
â X X o p к аХ Хш т парор, ф ер о у а уч туч в у р а ч à p y v - fish in the lake, they say, and they are caught in such
6 p io v таХартор éк d a туч у р е р а ч " eï/coai y d p /cal abundance that the people engaged in salting them,
Suo y é p y тшр кат a i /тур ф а а с р pyélumn et рас,
though exceedingly many, can scarcely keep up with
their task.
к а \ тоаоутор аутшр â X ia /cea O a i ттХувоч шате
Now this is the account which the Egyptians give
торч тгроакартероуртач тасч T a p t ^ e t 'a t ç ортач of Moeris.
ттартгХуве1ч В у а х е р ш ч ттерсусреавас тш р еруш р. 53. Sesoosis,2 they say, who became king seven
lle p t peep ovp M o t p tS o ç то a а й в ' la T o p o îia ip generations later, performed more renowned and
AlyVTTTlOl. greater deeds than did any o f his predecessors.
And since, with regard to this king, not only are the
53. Ъ еа о ш а ср Sé ф ааср ï/атерор етгта уереасч
Greek writers at variance with one another but also
/З а асХ еа у ерорерор етпфареататач к a l реусат ач
тшр ттро аутоу 7тра^есч ет пт еХёааавас. eV et Sè the catch, but only for the six months when the water “ flows
from the lake.” A daily catch of the value of more than a
тгер\ TOVTOv to v (ЗаасХеш ч où ророр o i a v y y p a - thousand dollars and a cost of fifty times that sum for
фесч oi т а р а то!ч ' F.X X y a i Ьсат еф ш рукаас тгроч opening the locks seem highly improbable.
* Practically all Greek and Latin writers called him
1 This practice is better known in the case of the Persian Sesostris, and about him stories gathered as about no other
rulers. Villages in Syria had been given the Queen Mother ruler in ancient history with the exception of Alexander the
“ for her girdle ’ ’ (cp. the English “ pin-money ” ; Xenophon, Great. “ In Greek times Sesostris had long since become
A n a b a s is , 1. 4. 9), and when Themistocles was received by but a legendary figure which cannot be identified with any
the Persian king after his exile from Athens three cities of particular king ” (J. H. Breasted, A H is to r y o f E g y p t, p. 189).
Asia Minor were given him— Magnesia for bread, Lampsacus But certain facts narrated in connection with him were
for wine, and Myus for meat (Thucydides, 1 . 138. 5 j. certainly drawn from memories of the reign of Ramses II of
Herodotus (2.149; gives the same figure for the income from the Nineteenth Dynasty.
18 4 185
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK I. 53. 1-6
aXXqXov4, a W a ка\ ти v кат' A l j v t t t o v o T те
among the Egyptians the priests and the poets who
еерееч teal ol Bed тг/ч шВг]ч avTov eyK(opea£ovTe4
sing his praises give conflicting stories, we for our part
ovx op.oXoyovjj.eva Xeyovaev, qpee4 тгеерааорева
shall endeavour to give the most probable account
та тпвауеотата teal тоеч Inrapyovcnv ете ката and that which most nearly agrees with the monu­
Tqv xeopav aqpeloi4 та раХеата avp^atvovvTa ments still standing in the land. Now at the birth of
2 ВеёХвеЪ . у e v v q d e v T 04 y a p т ой ^ . е а о ш а ю ч ¿ i r o e q - Sesoosis his father did a thing worthy of a great man
a e v о ira T tjp a v T o v р е у а Х о т г р е т г е ч те к а е f i a c n X e - and a king: Gathering together from over all Egypt
kov 1 tov4 yap кат а тq v avTqv qpepav yevvq- the male children which had been born on the same
вы т ач itа е В а ч ej; о Х р ч t % A ly in n o v a vva ya y w v day and assigning to them nurses and guardians, he
к а е т р о ф о й ч к а е тойч e i r e p e X q a o p e v o v ч е т г е о т р о а ч prescribed the same training and education for them
TTjv a v T q v a y e o y q v к а е i r a e B e e a v ¿opeere тоеч i r d c r e v , all, on the theory that those who had been reared in
vn o X a p fid vco v to 1/4 р а Х е а т а a vvT раф еот ач кае the closest companionship and had enjoyed the same
тг)ч a v r f j 4 i r a p p q a e a s кеко ер ш р г/к о т а ч evvovend- frank relationship would be most loyal and as fellow-
т ооч к а е e r v v a y c o v e o -тач e v тоеч т го Х е р о е ч а р е е г т о ь ч
combatants in the wars most brave. He amply
provided for their every need and then trained the
3 еаеавае. ira v T a Be S a i /п Х еоч j(p p q yq cra 4 Bee-
youths by unremitting exercises and hardships; for
i r o v q a e тойч т га е В а ч e v y v p v a c r e o e 4 o v v e y j e o i кае
no one of them was allowed to have anything to eat
iro v o e4 ’ ovB eve yap ain eo v egrjv irp o a e v e y K a c rO a e
unless he had first run one hundred and eighty stades. 1
трофq v , el p q irpoT epov B pdpoe с гт аВ еои ч e K a T o v
Consequently upon attaining to manhood they were
4 кае oyBoqKOVTa. Bio кае iravTe4 avBp<o6evTe4 all veritable athletes of robustness of body, and in
virqp^av aOXqTal pev тоеч creopacnv ейршатое, spirit qualified for leadership and endurance because
qyepoveKoe Be кае картерекое таеч у/ео^аеч Bed ttjv of the training which they had received in the most
t w v apiaTcov етгnqhevpaTeov ayeoyqv. excellent pursuits.
6 To p e v o v v ir p e o T O v b '¡Хесгошспч а т госгт аХ ееч First of all Sesoosis, his companions also accom­
vtto т ой тгат ро ч р е т а B v v d p e a >4 ееч T q v ' A p a f S l a v , panying him, was sent by his father with an army
crverT paTevopeveov ка.1 т¿ov аорт рбфеор, тгере те into Arabia, where he was subjected to the laborious
тач dqpa4 B ietrovqO q кае т аеч avvBpeae4 кае training of hunting wild animals and, after hardening
<jTT avocnTeai4 еукарт ер^аач кат еат рёф гат о то himself to the privations o f thirst and hunger, con­
edvo4 a ira v то т¿ov ’A p a f t c o v , 2 dBovXanov tov
quered the entire nation o f the Arabs, which had
never been enslaved before his d a y; and then, on
6 7гp o той xpovov y e y o v o 4 ‘ етгеета ееч т ой ч тгроч
being sent to the regions to the west, he subdued the
Tqv eerw epav тотгооч атгоеттаХееч T q v irX ela T q v
1 About twenty miles.
1 Bekker and Dindorf follow II in omitting i-noirttrev and
adding tn p a ^ f after flaai\iKO v.
2 ’A p a f i w W esseling: papfidpair.
18 6
187
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
т?5? А ф щ ч vtttjkoovетгыуаатэ, тгартеХсоч veos
7 wv ttjv rfkucLav. тov Be гггатроч TeXevTTjcravTo<{
BiaBe^apevo^ тrjv /SaaiXeiav кал так ттрокат-
еруаавеш ак тгра^есп р.етешршвеьч, етте0аХето
8 ttjv oIkovpLtvrjV /сатактрааавси. evioi Be Xeyov-
cnv avTov vito туч ¿Bias воуатроч ’ Авортюч
ттаракАщвгрни тгроч ttjv twv oXwv Bwaareiav,
rjv o! p,ev avveaei nroXv twv aXXwv 8ia<f>epov(rdv
фа(Т1 BiBdfjai tov ттатера раВшч ¿aop.evyv12 ttjv
(TTpaTeLav, oi Be p,avTiKy yjpwp.evyv кал то pieXXov
eaeadai ttpoyivwaKovaav eк те туч вотскуч ка\
туч eyK0ip,yaew4 туч ev ток 1ерок, еть В ' ек 2 twv
9 ката tov ovpavov yivop.evwv aypiflwv. yeypd-
фасп Be Tives ка\ Bi Sti ката ttjv yevecnv tov
£е<госоачо? о тгатур avTov кав vttvov Boljai tov
"Н фаигтор avTW Xeyeiv oti тгасгуч туч olkov-
10 p,evy4 о yevvydeK т а к кратуаеС Bid TavTyv
ovv ttjv aiTiav tov p.ev ттатера t o o ? уХсккотач
tov irpoeiprjp,evov ddpolaai ка1 /ЗаспХскуч dyw-
yfj? agiwaai, TrpoKaTaaKeva^6p,evov е к ttjv twv
oXwv етгIdeaiv, ainov S’ dvBpwffevTa кал ту tov
ffeov irpoppycrei TicnevaavTa KaTeve^Oyvai тгроч
ttjv elpy/xevyv cnpaTelav.
54. Про? Se TavTyv ttjv eTnftoXyv Trpunov p,ev
ttjv тгроч ainov evvoiav катеакеоаае тгааь ток
кат AiyviTTOv, yyovpievo4 Beiv t o o ? p,ev аоатра-
теооота? eTot/ito? vnep twv yyovprevwv diro-
OvtjcrKeiv, t o o ? S’ aTroXenrop,evov4 eirl twv
iraTpiBwv pLrjBev vewTepi^eiv, el p,eXXei ttjv irpoal-
1 %v before itTojiivriv deleted by Dindorf.
2 5’ Ы Capps : 5«.
l88
BOOK I. 53. 6-5 1. I
larger part of Libya, though in years still no more than
a youth. 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 o f 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,1 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 Sesoosis,
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 o f 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;
cp. p. 80, n. 1.
189
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 54. 1-55. I

lands should not rise in revolt. He therefore showed

2 p e a r i v 67 rt te X o s afjetv. Bio Kal ird v ra s etc tw v
kindnesses to everyone by all means at his disposal,
¿v B e x o p e v c o v e v r j p y e r e i , tovs p'ev X P V pdiT oyv Bo>-
winning over some by presents o f money, others by
p e a is iicO ep cn reva v, tovs Be x < b p a s Boc re i, T i v a s Be
gifts o f land, and others by remission o f penalties,
t i p i a p i a s d i r o X v a e i , i r d v i a s Be t c u s o p i X i a i s K a l and the entire people he attached to himself by his
tt ) r c b v T p o i T w v e m e i K e i a i r p o a r i y e T O • t w v re y a p
friendly intercourse and kindly ways; for he set free
fia a iX u c w v ey/cX rjp d rco v d ir a vta s aOwovs aefirjice unharmed everyone who was held for some crime
Kal tovs irp b s a p y v p io v a v y K e n A e ip e v o v s d ir e X v c e against the king and cancelled the obligations of
to v 'xpeovs, ovtos iro X X o v T rX rjd o vs ev T a is those who were in prison for debt, there being a great
3 < f> vX aic ais . T tjv Be xwpav a ira c a v els e£ Kal multitude in the gaols. And dividing the entire
rptaK O V T a peprj B ieX div, a K a X o va iv A ly v ir iio i land into thirty-six parts which the Egyptians call
vopovs, e n e a ry a e v d ira a i vopdpxas tovs eirtp e - nomes, he set over each a nomarch, who should
X rja o p evo vs tw v re irp o c o B c o v twv /3a< riX iK (bv K a l superintend the collection o f the royal revenues
B i o i K r ] a o v T a s d r r a v T a rd K a i a T a s l B i a s p e p l B a s . and administer all the affairs o f his division. He
4 eireXe^aio Be K a l1 tu>v dvBpwv tovs Tais pw pais then chose out the strongest o f the men and formed
an army worthy o f the greatness o f his undertaking;
Biafjrepovras Kal cvvecntjcaTO rnpaToireBov ai-iov
for he enlisted six hundred thousand foot-soldiers,
tov peyeOovs tt)s eVi/SoX^?- Kareypa^fre ya p
twenty-four thousand cavalry, and twenty-seven
7re^aw pev e^rjKovia pvpidBas, 'nrireis Be Biapv- thousand war chariots. In command o f the several
piovs Kal T€TpaKiaxiXiovs, ^evyrf Be TroXepicTTjpia divisions of his troops he set his companions, who were
6 B ia p vp ia K a l eiT T a K ia x lX ia . eirl Be t as K ara by this time inured to warfare, had striven after a
pepos tjy e p o v ia s toov c T p a T io n w v erage tovs reputation for valour from their youth, and cherished
<r v v T p o < p o v s , e v r j d X r j K O T a s p e v t)B tj t o I s tt o X e p o is, with a brotherly love both their king and one another,
dpeT Tjv B’ i^ rjX u K O T a s ¿k iraL B w v, evvo ia v Se the number of them being over seventeen hundred.
aBeXxf>iKT]v exovTas irpos re tov fH a a iX e a Kal And upon all these commanders he bestowed allot­
7T p o s a X X rjX o vs, o v T a s tov a p id p h v irX elo vs t q >v ments of the best land in Egypt, in order that, enjoy­
6 x^ X icov K a l ew T aK oaioov. T r a c i Be t o Is irp o e ip y - ing sufficient income and lacking nothing, they might
p e v o is K a T eK X rip o vx V G t T hv d p i a r r j v t f j s x <*>P a 'S, sedulously practise the art o f war.
o ira > s ¿’ x o v T e s iK a va s irp o c o B o vs Kal p tjB evos
55. After he had made ready his army he marched
e v B e e i s d v T e s d c K o i c i ta i r e p l tovs iro X e p o v s.
first o f all against the Ethiopians who dwell south of
Egypt, and after conquering them he forced that
55. K a T a c K e v d c a s Be ti) v B v va p iv ecT paT evaev
people to pay a tribute in ebony, gold and the
e i r l T rp coT O vs A l d i o i r a s tovs irp o s tt ) p ea r]p /3 p la
K a io iK O vvra s, Kal K a ia iro X ep ria a s rptdyK acre to
rovTtcv after ical deleted by Dindorf.
e d v o s < p o p o v s T e X e l v e ( 3 e v o v K a l X P V(T0V K a L T d>v
iqo 191
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 55. i-7

2 éX ecfiávrú )v robs oSóvra<>. eiretr eí<¡ pév rr¡v . tusks of elephants. Then he sent out a fleet of
’E p v d p a v 0áX arrav airé a retX e aroX ov vecbv four hundred ships into the Red Sea,1 being the
r e r p a / c o a i c a v , i r p w r o < ; r c b v é y x o i p í a i v p e r n e a aicáif>r) first Egyptian to build warships, and not only took
v a v i r p y p a á p e v o s , ica t T a ? re in ja o vs Ta? év ro ts possession of the islands in those waters, but also
TOTTOt? ica re/cr^ a a ro ical rrpi r/irelp o v Ta T rapa
subdued the coast of the mainland as far as India,
while he himself made his way by land with his army
0 a X a r r a v p i p i 7 ¡ c a r e a r p i c a r o p é % p t rr¡<¡ Tí>Si/r?7?•
and subdued all Asia. Not only did he, in fact, visit
avroi Sé pera rfj<¡ S v v á p e w s ire ^ y rr¡v ir op e í a v
the territory which was afterwards won by Alexander
iro tr¡a á p evo < ; K a rea rp ei¡ra ro ira a a v rijv 'A a ía v .
of Macedón, but also certain peoples into whose
3 ov póvov yap rr¡v v a r e p o v vrr ’A X e tjá v S p o v rov country Alexander did not cross. For he even
M atceS ó vo v K a r a /c T > } 6 e la a v % á>pav éirrfxO ev, a X X a passed over the river Ganges and visited all of India
/eat n v a ro )v é d v w v w v é/ceívo*
> ov ira p é fía X e v e¿? as far as the ocean, as well as the tribes of the
4 rr¡v x w p a v . ical y a p r o v T á y y i j v i r o r a p o v S té /3 r) Scythians as far as the river Tana'is, which divides
ical r r jv ’I v S t i c r j v éirfjX O e i r a a a v e&)? á n c e a v o v i c a l Europe from A sia; and it was at this time, they say,
ra rébv X kv0 wv é8vr] pé% pt TaimiSo? i r o r a p o v that some of the Egyptians, having been left behind
rov S io p i& vro s rr¡v E v p t b i r p v a í r o r r / s ’A a í a < ¡ ‘ near the Lake Maeotis, founded the nation o f the
o r e Si] ( j > a a i r a i v A í y v i r r í w v r t v a < ; K a r a X e i ( j > 0 é v r a < ; Colchi. 2 And the proof which they offer of the
7r e p l r T jv M a tw riv X íp v p v avarr¡aaa6at rb rebv Egyptian origin o f this nation is the fact that the
5 KoX^eor edvo<¡. o r í S é r o v r o r o yé v o < ¡ A í y v i r r t a -
Colchi practise circumcision even as the Egyptians
do, the custom continuing among the colonists sent
ic ó v éart a r¡p eío v elva t rb ire p tr é p v e a d a t rov ?
out from Egypt as it also did in the case of the Jews.
a v0pb)irov< ¡ ira pairX r¡aíü )< ; roí<¡ ica r A íy v irro v ,
In the same way he brought all the rest of Asia into
S ta p évo vro s rov vo p tp o v ira p a to?? a iro tK O K ,
subjection as well as most of the Cyclades islands.
K a O á ir e p ical i r a p a TOt? ’IouSaiot?. And after he had crossed into Europe and was on his
6 'O poí(ú<¡ Sé ical rr¡v X o tirrjv A a ía v a ira a a v way through the whole length o f Thrace he nearly
virpKOOV é iro ip a a r o icat rcbv K v ic X á S w v vpacov lost his army through lack of food and the difficult
ras irX eíov< ;. Sta@a<; S e¡? rr¡v E v p cb irrjv ical nature of the land. Consequently he fixed the limits
S teíjiío v a i r a a a v rr¡v ® p á ic r)v éicivS vvev a ev á iro - o f his expedition in Thrace, and set up stelae in many
fia X eív rr¡v S vva p tv S ta a irá v tv rpo^>r¡¡; /cal parts of the regions which he had acquired; and
7 róircav S va ^ co p ta s. S ioirep o p ta rr¡? a rp a reía < ¡ these carried the following inscription in the Egyptian
i r o t p a á p e v o s év rf¡ ® p á ic p , a r p X a s /c a r e a ic e v a a e v 1 N ot the present Red Sea, but the Persian Gulf and the
é v ir o X X o í< ; r ó ir o i< ¡ r c b v v i r ’ a v r o v i c a r a i c r p O é v r c ú v Indian Ocean.
avrat Sé r tjv é ir iy p a < f > r ¡ v e l } ¿ o v A í y v i r r í o t < ¡ y p á p - 2 The Tana'is river and the Lake Maeotis are the Don and
the Sea o f A zof respectively, but the country o f the Colchi
is generally placed in the Caucasus.
192
193
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 55. 7-12
fjM.cn т о к Х е р о к X e y o p e v o K , “ T rjvBe rfjv x^pav writing which is called “ sacred ” : “ This land the
от т Хок кат еат реф -ат о т ок еаитоС j3 a a t X e v 4 King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Sesoosis, subdued
fia a tX e m v кал Веатготг]4 Веаттотшр Н еаош ак" with his own arms.” And he fashioned the stele with
8 tt] v Be a T r f k p v к а т е а к е и а а е р e ^ o v a a v a lB o to v ev a representation, in case the enemy people were war­
pev т 0 14 p a ^ tp o K e d vea tv a v B p o 4, ev Be т ок like, of the privy parts o f a man, but in case they were
d y e v v e a t к а л B e t X o K y v v a t K 0 4 , атго t o v к у р ш т е р о ь abject and cowardly, o f those o f a woman, holding
pepov4 тг ) р B i d O e a t v тг)4 е к а а т ш р ф у х * ) 4 ф а р е р ш - that the quality o f the spirit of each people would be
9 Ttir-qv т ок e T n y i v o p e v o K eaeadat p o p i'Q o iv . ev set forth most clearly to succeeding generations by
ерХ ок Т0ТГ014 к а \ ttjv eavTov к а т е а к е и а а е р
Be
the dominant member o f the body . 1 And in some
е1кора XtOivt)v, т оЦ а кал Xoy^rjv e^ovaav, тш places he also erected a stone statue of himself, armed
with bow and arrows and a spear, in height four cubits
peyeOet т е т т а р с п т г а Х а с а т а к pet^ova тш р тет-
and four palms, which was indeed his own stature.2
Tapoiv Trpyjusv, г]Клко4 ш р к а Х avT04 ervy^avep, lie dealt gently with all conquered peoples and, after
10 eirieiKa>4 Be т г р о с т е р е ^ в е 'к atraai т о к х л г о т е т а у - concluding his campaign in nine years, commanded
р е р о к к а Х а и р т е Х е а а 4 т г р а т р а т е Х а р ¿v ereaiv the nations to bring presents each year to Egypt
evvea, т0 14 pev eOveat к а т а Bvvap.iv т г р о а е т а ^ е according to their ability, while he himself, assembling
Вш роф ореЪ кат evtavTov е '14 А Х ’ уитгтор, а Ь т о 4 a multitude o f captives which has never been sur­
8' авроХаа4 аХ^раХш т ш р те кал тш р аХХш р passed and a mass o f other booty, returned to his
Хаф урш р тгXrj6 o 4 avvTrepQXrjTov ¿ттаррХвер et4 country, having accomplished the greatest deeds of
тт)Р тгатрХВа, р е у Х а т а 4 т гра^ек тшр тгро аотои any king of Egypt to his day. All the temples of
11 KaTei.pyaap.ev04. к а л т а p ev iepd 7т а р т а т а к а т Egypt, moreover, he adorned with notable votive
А Х
’ уутгтор d va 6r)paatv a t f i o X o y o K к а ь а к о Х о к offerings and spoils, and honoured with gifts accord­
екоарг]ае, тш р B e а т р а т с ш т ш р tov4 а р В р а у а в г ) - ing to his merits every soldier who had distinguished
12 а а р т а 4 В ш р е а к к а т а тг)Р d ^ X a v ¿ т Х р р а е . кавоХоу
himself for bravery. And in general, as a result of
this campaign not only did the army, which had
Se атго ov povov 97 a v v a v -
т аут г )4 тг)4 а т р а т е Х а 4
bravely shared in the deeds o f the king and had
B p a y a d i j a a a a BvvapK peyaXrjv e v i r o p t a v KTtjaa-
gathered great wealth, make a brilliant homeward
pevi) ttjv ¿travoSop h rotrjaaTO Xapirpdv, dXXct к а \ journey, but it also came to pass that all Egypt was
тг)р A X y v i t to v cLTTaaav a v v e /Зг) iravTota4 ш ф е Х е Х а 4 filled to overflowing with benefits of every kind.
ертгХг]авг]Ра1 .
unique in this period for its scorn of the conquered negroes,
1 H. R . Hall (T h e A n c ie n t H is to r y o f the N e a r E a st “, pp, is strikingly reminiscent of the stelae described in this passage
161-2) gives a translation of a stele set up at Semneh by and by Herodotus 2. 102.
Senusret III of the Twelfth Dynasty, who is often identified 2 About seven feet; cp. the bed of Og, king of Bashan
with the Sesoosis of Diodorus, and observes that its language, (D e n t. 3. 11), which was nine cubits long and four wide; “ is
it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon ? ’ ’
194
195
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 56. 1-4

56. 'О S'e 1 е с г о ш с п ч а т о а т у т а ч т а т Х у в у а т о 56. Sesoosis now relieved his peoples of the labours
тш р т о Х е р ь к ш р е р у ш р то1ч p e v а у р а р В р а у а в rja a c r c
of war and granted to the comrades who had bravely
shared in his deeds a care-free life in the enjoyment
ауре^ш руае т ур раат ш уур ка1 т ур ат оХаУ спр
of the good things which they had won, while he
тш р к а т а к т у в е р т ш р а у а в ш р , а у т о ч Be ф 1 Х о В о ^ о ч
himself, being ambitious for glory and intent upon
шр каХ туч еХч тор аХш ра рруруч ореуореро?
everlasting fame, constructed works which were
кат еакеуааер еруа реуаХ а каХ ваураат а та?? great and marvellous in their conception as well as
e m p o i a i ' i к с й таХч ^ о р у у Х а г ч , е а у т ш p e p а в а р а т о р in the lavishness with which their cost was provided,
т ер1т ою урт а Bogav, тоХч В АХуут т Хо1ч т ур e ls winning in this way immortal glory for himself
а т г а р т а т ор % р о р о р ааф аХ еьар рет а раат ш руч. and for the Egyptians security combined with ease
2 т р ш т о р p e v у а р атго в е ш р d p g a p e v o 4 ш к о В б р у а е р for all time. For beginning with the gods first, he
ер т аааьч таХч кат ’ А Х
’ ууттор т оХеспр iepov built in each city of Egypt a temple to the god who
O eov tov раХкт т а 7т ар екасгт01ч T ip m p e v o v . was held in special reverence by its inhabitants.1
т р о ч Be та? еруааХ ач тш р p e v АХуут т Хш р o v B e v a On these labours he used no Egyptians, but con­
т а р е Х а / З е , Bi а о т ш р Be тшр а Х х р а А ш т ш р а т а р т а structed them all by the hands of his captives alone ;
кат еакеуаае- B io n ep етХ т гас п то?? ХероХч ет е-
and for this reason he placed an inscription on every
ураф ер со? o v B 6 1? е у х ш р ю ч еХч аита реро^вуке.
temple to the effect that no native had toiled upon
it. And it is said that the captives brought from
3 X e y e T a i B e т ш р а Х ^ р а Х ш т ш р той? е к т у ч Ва/Зи-
Babylonia revolted from the king, being unable to
Х ш р с а ч а Х о р т а ч ат о< т т ура1 t o v f t а с п Х е ш ч , р у
endure the hardships entailed by his works; and
В о р а р е р о и ч tp e p e i p та? e v то?? е р у о ь ч т а Х а п г ш р Х а ч •
they, seizing a strong position on the banks of the
оЬч кат аХ аЗорероьч т ара то р т от арор y p o p io v river, maintained a warfare against the Egyptians
карт ерор то?? А Х у у т т Х о ь ч к а Х т у р
B ia T o X e p e lv and ravaged the neighbouring territory, but finally,
а о р е у у у ч \ ш р а р к а т а ф д е Х р е с р , те\о? B e В о ве Х с г у ч on being granted an amnesty, they established a
aSeta? а у т о Х ч к а т о / к у а а 1 т о р т о т о р , о р к а Х алто colony on the spot, which they also named Babylon
4 туч тат рХ В оч Ъ а[ЗиХ ш ра T p o cra yo p ev a ra i. Bi after their native land. For a similar reason, they
аХтьа ч Be т арат ХуаХоУЧ фааХр ш рорасгвас каХ say, the city o f Troy likewise, which even to this
т ур Тросам т у р ет1 1 vvv ova a v т ара top N e lX o v day exists on the bank of the Nile, received its name : 2
top pep yap М « >еХаор eg ’ IX X o v т Хеорт а рет а for Menelaus, on his voyage from Ilium with a great
1 ка\ after I n omitted by D and Vogel, retained by Bekker name, in perpetuating which the king stopped at no desecra­
and Dindorf. tion or destruction of the ancient monuments of the country ”
(J. H. Breasted, H is to r y o f E g y p t, p. 443).
1 “ Few of the great temples of Egypt have not some 2 Strabo (17.1.34) mentions a village of this name near the
chamber, hall, colonnade or pylon which bears his (liamses II) pyramids.
196 197
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 56. 4- 57- 3
ir o X X w v a i^ p a X w T a i v i r a p a f i a X e ì v et? A l y v i r r o v , number of captives, crossed over into E gypt; and
to vs St Tp c o a i a ir o o -T c iv T a i a v T o v K a T a X a /3 e < j0 a i the Trojans, revolting from him, seized a certain
r iv a to tto v /cat, S ia ir o X e p y a a i péxpi otov avy- place and maintained a warfare until he granted
y a > p t]6 e ia rj< ; a x n o i '? t ^? à<r<£a\eta? ’¿ K T i a a v i r o X i v , them safety and freedom, whereupon they founded
5 fjv bpw vvpov a v T o v ? ir o iy a a i rfj ir a T p lS i. ovk a city, to which they gave the name o f their native
a y v o o ) S ' OTi ir e p l tcòv e l p y p e v a v ir ó X e w v K r^ a ia ? land. I am not unaware that regarding the cities
ó Kw8to? S ia e fx b p o )'; I m o p y a e , <f>rj<ra<; tc o v p e i à named above Ctesias of Cnidus has given a different
i r a p a j 3 a X o v T a > v et? A i y v i r i o v T i v a s
iZ e p ip a p iS o s account, saying that some o f those who had come
è /C T i/c é v c u T a in a n , d ir o t S>p IS L to v ir a ip ib a iv into Egypt with Semiramis founded them, calling
6 0 e p tevou? t t j v ir p o tn /y o p ia v . ire p ì Se to vtcov to
them after their native lands.1 But on such matters
pèv àX y0è< ; è /c 0 é (r 0 a i p e r a à /c p ifte ia s ov p a S io v ,
as these it is not easy to set forth the precise truth,
and yet the disagreements among historians must
to S ’ àvaypa< f> rj< ; à ^ i à x r a i T a S ia fy o o v o v p e v a ir a p à
be considered worthy of record, in order that the
to Ìs a v y y p a x fie v c n v à v a y /c a io v , 07T0>? a / c é p a t o s rj
reader may be able to decide upon the truth without
i r e p l t fj? à X y B e i a s K p i o i s à ir o k e iir p T a t t o Ìs ava-
prejudice.
y iv a x n c o v a iv .
57. Now Sesoosis threw up many great mounds
57. 'O 8’ o v v heaóoK TK ^tu/tara i r o X X à tc a ì of earth and moved to them such cities as happened
peyàX a K a 'r a a i c e v à a a ? rà ? 7ro\et? et? T a v r a to be situated on ground that was not naturally
p e i t ì ì K i a e v , o t r a i p r j ( fiv a i/c c ò s to eSa<f>o<; e T v y y j x v o v elevated, in order that at the time o f the flooding
è ir r jp p é v o v e%ou<ra.t, otto)? i c a i a Ta? TrXijpcócrei? of the river both the inhabitants and their herds
to v i r o T a p o v /c a T C ìe f) v y à s e y a o f f i v à / c i v S v v o v s ot re might have a safe place of retreat. And over the
2 à v 0 p u > ir o i te a l Ta K T r /v y . te m a ir à a a v Se tt/v entire land from Memphis to the sea he dug frequent
Xp i p a v T r jv à i r o Mé/r<£e<n? S i r i 0 d X a r T a v w p v ^ e canals leading from the river, his purpose being that
irv K v a < ; è« to v i r o T a p o v Steópu^a?, 'iv a T a ? p ì v the people might carry out the harvesting o f their
a v y K o p iS à < ; t o ìv tc a p ir S ìv ir o iw v r a L a v v T o p a x ; tc a l
crops quickly and easily, and that, through the con­
p a S i tu?, Tctt? S e i r p ò s à X X r fX o v * ; t Ò>v X a w v è m - stant intercourse of the peasants with one another,
every district might enjoy both an easy livelihood
p i t j i a K tc a l i r n a i t o A t o it o i? v i r d p x y p a c n ó i v y
and a great abundance o f all things which minister
x a l ir d v T c o v t Sì v i r p o >
? à ir o X a v c r iv ir o X X y S a \} r tX e ia ‘
to man’s enjoyment. The greatest result o f this
to Sè p é y u n o v , irpb<; Ta? tm v i r o X e p i c o v è(f>6Sov<;
work, however, was that he made the country secure
ò%ii p à v t c a l S v a é p f i o X o v è i r o i y c e t t j v % a > p a v and difficult o f access against attacks by enemies;
3 t Òi< y à p i r p ò t o v x p ó v o v 7) K p a T ic r T i) tì}? A l y v - for practically all the best part o f Egypt, which
1 This campaign o f Semiramis is described in Book 2. 14;
on Ctesias cp. the Introduction, pp. x x v if.
199
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
tttov ira oa a-^eSov lirn-daipos o v a a Kal Tat?
avvwpim v evßaTOS dir ¿Kelvov tov x povov 8id to
7rXrjßos tw v ¿k tov iroTapov 8iwpv%wv 8vcre(j)o8w-
4 TCLTrj yeyovev. eVeiytcre 8e Kal ttjv nrpos ava-
ToXd? vevovaav TrXevpav Trjs AlyvirTOV 7rpo? Ta?
¿7to t ^? X vplas Kal Trjs 'A p a ß ia s ep ß oX as airo
n^Xona-too p exp i HXiovTroXews 81a t >)s epppov,
to prjKOs eirl aTaSiovs ^tXtou? Kal irevTaKoaiov9.
5 evavjrpypaaTO 8e Kal 7rXolov Ke8pivov to pbv
prjKOS irpxwv 8iaKoaiwv ko.1 oySo^KOVTa, ttjv 8'
¿7n(j)dv€iav ex o v Tpv pev e^wßev eirixpvaov, ttjv
8’ evboßev KaTtjpyvpwpevrjv Kal tovto pev
aveßrjKe tw ßew tw pdXiaTa ev O rjßais Tipw-
pevw, 8vo T£ 1 Xißlvovs oßeXiaKovs ¿ k tov ffKXppov
Xißov TTTix*bv T0 v'jroi etKoai irpos toI? eKaTov,
etj> wv eireypa-ty-e to re peyeßos tt}? 8vvdpews Kal
to 7rXrjßos twv TTpoao8wv Kal tov apißpov twv
KaTanoXeppßevTWV eßvw v ev M eptyei 8’ ev tw
tov 'H^aiaTOv lepw povoXlßovs eiKovas eavTov
TB Kal T??9 yWaiKOS TO V'jroS TpiUKOVTa 7rr^xwv,
twv 8' viwv eiKoat, irrjxwv, 81a, a v p in w p a ToibvSe.
8 ¿k t 77? peydXrjs a rp a reia s äiaKapip-avros eis
AiyvTTTOv tov X eaow aios Kal 8iaTplßovTOs irepl
to IltjXoua'tot', eaTiwv avTov o a8eX(f>os peTa
Tps yvvatKOs Kal twv tbkvwv eirißovXpv avve-
a-Tija-aTO■ dvairavaapevwv ydp ai/TWV diro Trjs
peßrjs, exw v KaXdpov £rjpov 7rXrjßos e« XP°V0V
TTapeaKevaapevov, Kal tovto vvktos tt) cTKrjvrj
1 t« Wesseling : Je.
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 o f Egypt which faces
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 o f hard stone one hundred and twenty
cubits high, upon which he inscribed the magnitude
o f his army, the multitude o f his revenues, and the
number o f the peoples he had subdued; also in
Memphis in the temples o f Hephaestus he dedicated
monolithic statues o f himself and o f his wife, thirty
cubits high,1 and o f his sons, twenty cubits high,
the occasion of their erection being as follows. When
Sesodsis had returned to Egypt after his great cam­
paign and was tarrying at Pelusium, his brother,
who was entertaining Sesoosis and his wife and
children, plotted against them ; for when they had
fallen asleep after the drinking he piled great
quantities o f 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 Sesodsis closely follows that
given by Herodotus 2. 102 ff. Near Memphis are two colossi
o f Ramses II, the larger of which was about forty-two feet
high, approximately the thirty cubits o f Diodorus and of
Herodotus 2. 110 (B a e d e k e r's E g y p t , p. 141).
201
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 57. 6-58. 3

7 7r e p i ô e i s , è v é ï r p r j a e v . â(fiva> 8 è tov i r v p b s è / c X a p - set them afire. When the fire suddenly blazed up,
y j/a v r o s o l p À v èirl rrjs d ep a irela s tov f 3 a a i \ é c o s those who had been assigned to wait upon the king
r e r a y t i é v o i i r a p e j 3 o r ] d o v v à y e v v c ô s à>s ai/ o l v w p é v o i . came to his aid in a churlish fashion, as would men
o 8è Secrococrt? àpÿorépas ras ^eîpaç à v a r e i v a s heavy with wine, but Sesoôsis, raising both hands to
the heavens with a prayer to the gods for the preserva­
/cal v i r 'e p r r j s aw rppLas tSiv r e 7ra i 8 c o v t e a l r r j s
tion o f his children and wife, dashed out safe through
y vva i/co s r o is ô e o î s e v % â p .e v o s 8 ie^ éirecre 8 i à rrjs
the flames. For this unexpected escape he honoured
8 cf/X oyôs- a co d els 8è ira p a 8 6 i;a > s ro i/s âX X ovs
the rest o f the gods with votive offerings, as stated
6eoi)<i er L prj crev à v a ô r)p .a a i, te a d o r i irp o e ip p r a i,
above, and Hephaestus most o f all, on the ground
rravrcov 8è p a X ia ra tov " î l c f ) a i c r r o v , cùs ¿ 7r ô that it was by his intervention that he had been saved.
tovtov r e r e ^ w ç t îj ç acorrjplas. 58. Although many great deeds have been credited
58. IIoW<Si> 2è /cat p eya X io v i r e p l tov % e a ô a > - to Sesoôsis, his magnificence seems best to have been
env v ira p ^ â vT w v 8otcei p e y a X o ï r p e u é a r a r o v a î n â t shown in the treatment which he accorded to the
y e y o v é v a i to a v v T é X o v p c e v o v è v r a ï s è^ 6 8 o is irepl foreign potentates when he went forth from his
2 rovs pyepovas. r â >v yàp K a ra ireiro X ep r) p éva tv palace. The kings whom he had allowed to con­
èdv& v ol re ras a vy/cex < ^ p i]p éva s fü aaC X eias tinue their rule over the peoples which he had
ëxovres /cal tô>v âXXwv ol ras p e y ia ra s 177e- subdued and all others who had received from him
p o v ia s ira p e iX ij/p ô re s à irr/vT m v els A ly v ir ro v èv the most important positions o f command would
ra /c ro is x p o v o is (pépovres 8 â> pa' o v s o fia criX e vs
present themselves in Egypt at specified times,
bringing him gifts, and the king would welcome
è/c8e x b p e v o s eV /tèf toîç a X X o ï s è r l p a / c a l 8 ia < p e -
them and in all other matters show them honour and
povreas irp o rjyev, o iro re 8è irpos iepov rj i r o X i v
special preferment ; but whenever he intended to
h p o a l e v a i p é X X o i , r o v s l i r i r o v s à i r o tov r e d p i i r i r o v
visit a temple or city he would remove the horses
Xvcov u ire Ç e u y v v e v àvrl tovtcov tca rà T erra pas from his four-horse chariot and in their place yoke
to v s re fia a iX e îs /cal tous aXX ovs r)yepovas, the kings and other potentates, taking them four at
èvh eiK vvp evo s, a>ç a lero, irâ a iv oti tovs rô>v a time, in this way showing to all men, as he thought,
â X X i o v K p a n c T T O v s /cal 8 1 à p errjv è ir u p a v e a r d r o v s that, having conquered the mightiest of other kings
K a ra iro X ep iq a a s els â p iX X a v àperr)s ovtc ¿’ X e 1 and those most renowned for their excellence, he
3 tov B vvâpevov crvy/cp id r/va i. S otceî 8’ ovros o now had no one who could compete with him for
fia criX e vs ira v ra s tous irc b iro re yevopévovs èv the prize o f excellence. This king is thought to
êfjo va ia is v irep /3 e/3 t)/céva i ra ïs Te iro X ep itca îs have surpassed all former rulers in power and military
i r p d Ç e c n /cal tS> p e y é d e i /cal r â irX ijd ei rtà v re exploits, and also in the magnitude and number of
à va d rjp â ro ù v /c a l r c o v e p y w v râ>v / c a r e c r tc e v a c r p é - the votive offerings and public works which he built
vù iv /c a r A ïy v ir ro v . ërij 8è rp'ia irp o s r o i s r p i a -
in Egypt. And after a reign of thirty-three years
202 203
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK 1. 58. 3-59. 2
kovta f3 a < T b X eva a < ; e/c 7T p o a b p e a e c o s e ^ e X n r e top he deliberately took his own life, his eyesight having
j3 b o v , vttoXcttovtcov a in o v t cov ¿ fifia T c o v K al failed him ; and this act won for him the admiration
tovto T T p a tja s o v p .o v o v ir a p d rot? l e p e v a b v , a X X a not only of the priests of Egypt but of the other
K al 7r a p a T ot? i i 'X X o i ? AlyvTVTbO b< ; ¿ O a v p a a d r), inhabitants as well, for it was thought that he had
Bogas 777 p e y a X o T jr v % b a t d>v T r e T T p a y p e v a iv
caused the end of his life to comport with the loftiness
U K oX ovdop T r e T r o b fja d a i t tjv tov ¡ 3 io v K ara-
of spirit shown in his achievements.
So great became the fame of this king and so
CTTpO$>rjV.
enduring through the ages that when, many genera­
4 ’ E ttI TOaovTO 8’ ’¿ a ^ v a e Kal Siereive to i ?
tions later, Egypt fell under the power of the Persians
Xpovois rj Bo^a tovtov tov fiacnXecos w a re tt}? and Darius, the father of Xerxes, was bent upon
A b y v r n o v 7 ToXXaA yeveabt vcrrepov Treaovcnjs viro placing a statue of himself in Memphis before that
t t)v e^ o va iav tqov YLepaSiv, Kal A apeiov tov of Sesoosis, the chief priest opposed it in a speech
iZeptjov TraTpo^i (nrovBdaavTos ev Me/i<£ei tt/v which he made in an assembly of the priests, to the
IBiav e’lKova <t t r)<jai irpo t ? } ? 1 Secrocouto?, 0 pev effect that Darius had not yet surpassed the deeds
a p ^ iep evs avTel-rre X oyov irpoTedevTO? ev ¿kk Xt}- of Sesoosis; and the king was far from being angered,
aba T(6v lepeoov, aTro<f>T)vdp,evo<; tu? ovttcq Actpeto? but, on the contrary, being pleased at his frankness
virepfiefirjKe t a ? Setroiotrto? 7 rp a fet?, o Se ¡Hacrb- of speech, said that he would strive not to be found
X e vf ov% 07TC09 riyavaKTijaev, aXX a Kal TovvavTbov behind that ruler in any point when he had attained
■ f/affels 67Tt tt} Trappriaia aTrovBdcrebv ebfirjaev his years, and asked them to base their judgment
07TC09 KaTCb pr/Bev eKeivov Xebdfidebr) fibuiaas tov
upon the deeds o f each at the same age, for that was
the fairest test of their excellence.
bcrov xpovov, Kal ttapeKaXeb crvyKplvebv t « ?
As regards Sesoosis, then, we shall rest content
rfXbKbd>Tb8a<; 7 rpafei?- tovtov y a p BiKaboTaTOv
with what has been said.
eX ey^o v elvab t t}? dpeTrpi. 59. But his son, succeeding to the throne and
5 Ilept /zejr ovv 2,eaod><Tbo<; dpKe<j9r]<r6pe6a Tot? assuming his father’s appellation, did not accom­
Xoyob<i rot? pr/debabv. plish a single thing in war or otherwise worthy of
5 9 . O S’ iuo? a vT o v BbaBe^dpevo^ ttjv /3a<rb- mention, though he did have a singular experience.1
Xebav Kal ttjv tov iraTpcv; irpocrr/yoplav eavTco He lost his sight, either because he shared in his
TTepidepevos irpd^bv u'cv iroXepbKpv r) p v p p 7;? father’s bodily constitution or, as some fictitiously
d^Lav ovB’ rjvTbvovv crvveTeXeaaTO, crvpTTTcopaTi relate, because o f his impiety towards the river,
2 Be Trepbeneaev iBia^ovTb. ¿<t t epydy pev y a p t 7 7 9 since once when caught in a storm upon it he had
opdaeax; etVe Bid ttjv 7rpo? tov TraTepa tt}? 1 The following folk story, with some variations, is given
<j>vcreeo<: KObvavlav eW ', to? Tore? pvOoXoyovab, Bbd in Herodotus 2, 111.
tt)v els tov TroTctpbov aaefiebav, ev a> ^eipa^opevos
1 ttpb T7js Dindorf : irpb rrjs t o v .
204 205
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
7TOT6 to tpepopevov pevpa /caTtj/covTiae' Sia he
t rjv aTV^iav avay/caoBels Kara^vyelv €7rl ttjv
r&v Qeotv (HofjBeiav, em xpovovs l/cavovs TrXeLoTats
OvaLcu<; teal Ttpals to Belov e^t\ao/copevos ovSe-
3 ptas ¿Tvyxave TroXvcoplas' T&> he/cmw S' erei
pavTeias avT& yevopevys Tipyaat re top Beov
top ev 'HXiooTroXet /cal yvvai/cos ovpio vi^eadai
to icpbawnov f/Tis erepov treipav dvSpos ov/c
etXrjcf/e, t S>v pev yvvaucwv airo Tys ISLas apiga-
pevos /cal iroXXas eljeracras ovhepiav evpev ahid-
cj/Bopov irXyv /ctjTTovpov tivos, L)v vyiys yevopevos
eyr/pe’ ras S’ aXXas £d>cras ev /ccopp Ttvl /care-
tcavaev, yv A lyv in ioi Sia to crvpiTToapa tovto
4 irpoayyopevaav iephv /3cbXov t S> S’ ev 'HAtov-
TroXei 6e& rd s %dp£ra? atrovepoov Tys evepye-
a ia s Kara rov xpr/apbv ofteXicrtcovs aveBy/ce Svo
povoXLBovg, t o p ev TrXaTOS o/cto ), to he prj/cos
■nr)X<bv e/caTov.
60. MeTa Se tovtov top fiacrtXea av^voi to>v
hiaSe^apevcov Tyv apxyv Tives ovhev etrpafjav
uvay paiprjs a^iov, woXXats S’ varepov ye veals
“A pa a is yevopevos [daaiXevs yp xe T<bv oxXoav
ffiaiOTepov- iroXXovs pev yap ttapa to SL/caiov
eTipa/peiTO, avxvovs he twv ovaicbv eoTepicnce,
irdcn S' vTrepoTTTUcws ical /caTa trap VTrepytpavcos
2 TrpoaedjepeTO. p^XP1 P^v °^v Tlv0$ ol TraaxovTes
e/capTepovv, ov Svvdpevoi /cm' ovheva Tpotrov
dpvvaadai too? trXeov laxvovTas • eirel S’
' A/cTiaavys o two AIB iottw fiacnXevs eoTpa-
Tevaev etr avTov, totc too piaovs /caipov Xa-
1 One of these obelisks still stands, of red granite of Syene
and 66 feet high. The largest obelisk in the world, that
2 o6
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
the other 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,1 eight cubits wide and one hundred high.
60. After this king a long line o f successors on
the throne accomplished no deed worth recording.
But Amasis, who became king many generations
later, ruled the masses o f the people with great 509- 52«
harshness; many he punished unjustly, great num- B-a
bers he deprived o f 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,2 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 o f Diodorus
seems a little to o big.
2 A. Wiedemann {Ä g y p tisc h e G eschichte, p. 582, n. 1) thinks
that Actisanes is no more than a double of the Ethiopian
Sabaco of chap. 65.
207
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
3 fiovT O i 1 direcrTijcrav o i irXelaTO i. Sioirep paSico i
a in o v yeiptud&vTo*; rj p e v A ly v ir T O i eireaev viro
tijv tcov A W io irco v fia c n X e ia v , o S ' ’ A /C T ia a v i)i
avO pcoirivcoi ¿vey/ca i tijv e v r v ^ i a v em ei/ccbi
4 irpocrecpepero toli vir o r e r a y p e v o c i' ot€ St) /cal
crvveTeXecrev tStov r i irepl tovi X r jc n d i, o v i e
d a v a ic o a a i tovi e v o x o v i otine oXocrxepcbi ¿(p elt
5 aTipcoptjTOV?• crvvayaycbv ydp eg diraeryi Trji
scopas tovi ev ey/cXtjpaatv ovi a i /ca/covpyLai,
/cal ti) v Sidyvcocriv avTcov Bucaicndi-pv iroii)crd-
pevoi, rjOpoiaev airavTai tovi /caTaSeSi/cacrp,evovi,
diroTepcbv S ’ avTcov to vi pv/CTrjpai /caTco/cicrev ev
Toll ecr^etTOi? Trji eprpjiov,2 /ciicrai iroXiv tijv diro
tov avpirrcoparoi tcov ol/ci)Topcov 'P ivo/coXovpa
irpoerayopevdelcrav.
6 A vtt) Be /ceipevt) irpoi t oii peOopion Trji
AlyvirTov /cal ‘Z vpiai ov pa/epav tov iraprj/covToi
aiycaXov irdvrcov crx^Bov tcov irpoi dvdpcoirivtjv
7 B l a n a v dvrjKovTcov ¿<TTepr]Tar i r e p i e x e i p e v y d p
avTtjV %<u/7a irXrjpr/i d X p v p iS o i, evTOi Se tov
T e ix o v i o X iy o v e cttiv vBcop ev (fipeaai, /cal tovto
B iecpdappevov /cal ir a v T e X w i tt} y e v a e i iri/cpov.
8 /caTcpKcae S ’ avToi/i eh TavTijv Tpv x^/pav, oircoi
prjre tovi eg apxrji eiriTrjBevOevTai fiLovi Sicitt)-
povvTei XvpaLvcovTat, tovi pr)Sev dSi/covvTai, pr)Te
/caTcc t a i irpoi tovi aXXovi eiripigiai dyvoov-
9 p e v o i XavO dvcocnv. d X X opeoi e/cpt<fievTei e l i
X<opav eprjpov /cal iravTcov erX^Sov tcov XPV&ipwv
a iro p o v eirevo rja a v ftlo v ol/celov Ttji irep l a v T o i/i
e v S e ia i, d v a y /ca g o vcrp i Trji cpvaecoi ir p o i t /jv
1 A afiovros D indorf: A a S o n e s .
! tph/iov D, Bekker, Vogel ffnjuou -^tep-xs Vulgate, Diiulorf.
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 o f the Ethiopians. But Actisanes
carried his good fortune as a man should and con­
ducted himself 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 o f 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 1 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
o f 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 their 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 i.e. Nose-clipped.
209
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 6o. 9-62. i

10 a v r o p i a v r r d p r a p e r j y a p d c r d a c . K a X a p e r j v y h p K e e-
every possible means to combat their destitution.
For instance, by cutting down reeds in the neighbour­
povret €k rrjt opeopov y cb p a t, Kal ra v rrjp erye-
hood and splitting them, they made long nets, which
£ovte t , Xeva n a p a fi/jK rj /ca re e rtc e v a ^o v , r a v r a ¿>e
they set up along the beach for a distance of many
rrapa top a ey/a X o v errl noXXovt erra8eovt
stades and hunted quails; for these are driven in
ta ra p re t red 6 -rjpa /> rm p o p r v y cop erroeovpro• large coveys from the open sea, and in hunting them
4> epoprai y a p o v r o e /c a r ’ ayeX at p e e e g o p a t e/c r o v they caught a sufficient number to provide themselves
rreX ayovf o u t O r jp e v o v r e t rjO poe^op r r X f j d o t i/c a p o p with food.
ei t S e a r p o c j / r j p e a v r o e t . 61. After the death of this king the Egyptians
61. Too 8e ß aaeXecot rovrov re X evrrjcra p ro t regained the control of their government and placed
d veK rrja a vro rr jp d p y r j p K i y v r r r e o i , /cal K a r e e r r r j- on the throne a native king, Mendes, whom some call
c ra p ¿ y y c b p i o v ß a e r e X e a X \ e v 8 rjv, op r e v e t M a p p o p Marrus. So far as war is concerned this ruler did not
2 7r p o a o p o p e a ^ o v a i p . ovrot 8 e i t o X e p e i K r jv peev r r p a - accomplish anything at all, but he did build himself a
g ip o u S ’ rjp rip o vp evereX ecraro, ra e fio v 8’ avreb tomb known as the Labyrinth ,1 which was not so
/careerK evacre top o v o p e a ^ o p e p o v X a ß v p i v O o p , o i / y remarkable for its size as it was impossible to imitate
ovreo K a r a to p e e y e d o t r c o p e p y c o v d a v p e a a r o p w t in respect to its ingenious design; for a man who
tt p ot rrjp c jn X o r e y p ia p 8 v a peeperjrop' o y a p ela eX -
enters it cannot easily find his way out, unless he gets
a guide who is thoroughly acquainted with the
6 cop eIt avrop ov 8vvarae paSecot rrjp egoSov
structure. And some say that Daedalus, visiting
evp elp , eap per) rt/yrj repot o S rjy o v rravreXcot
Egypt and admiring the skill shown in the building,
3 eprreepov. cpacrl 8 e r i p e t /cal top A a i 8 a X o v e l t also constructed for Minos, the king of Crete, a
h X y v m o v rrapaßaX opra Kal Ö a vp d a a p ra ttjp e p labyrinth like the one in Egypt, in which was kept, as
r o T t e p y o i t r e y v r j v K a r a a K e v d e r a e r5> ß a a e X e v o p r e the myth relates, the beast called Minotaur. How­
rfjt K p rjrrjt M iP< o X a ß vp tp O o p opoeop re p K a r ever, the labyrinth in Crete has entirely disappeared,
A iy v /rr o v , ep co yeveadai top pvdoX oyovere whether it be that some ruler razed it to the ground
4 X e y o p e p o v Mtocora v p o p . a X X ’ o peep K a r a r r j p or that time effaced the work, but the one in Egypt
Kprjrrjp qcpapeadrj re X e c o t, eere 8 v p d c n o v r e p o t has stood intact in its entire structure down to our
K ara crK a -ty -a p ro t eere rov ypopov rovpyop X v p e r j- lifetime.
vapepov o Se K a r A eyvrrrop aKepaeop rrjp 62. After the death of this king there were no
o X r j p K a r a c T K e v t j p r e r r j p r j K e p e e y p e r o v K a 6 ’ rjp e d t rulers for five generations, and then a man of obscure
ßeov. 1 This building is described in chap. 66. The classical
62. Merd Se rrjp rov ßaaiXecot rovrov reXevrrjp authors did not agree on the name of its builder and the
Mendes or Marrus of Diodorus is otherwise entirely unknown
erre yepeat rrepre yevopevrjt avapyeat rcop a8o^cop
(cp. A. Wiedemann, Ä g y p tis c h e G eschichte, p. 259).
210 211
 DIODORUS OF SICILE
т к г)реву /ЗаспХерч, ov A ly iim io t pev ovopd^oput
К е т ? jpa, тара Se ток " E XXyatv elvat 8оке1
Лрштеич о ката top ’ lXiaKov уеуорФч тбХерор.
2 tovtov 8e 7rapa 8e 8opevop twv те T v e p p a T w v e%eiv
epTeipiav кал тур рорфур perafBdXXeiv оте pev
ек £wwv трторч, оте 8e е1ч 8ev8pov у тгОр у ti
twv aXXwv, opoXoyoppeva toptok appftaivei к а Х
3 торч 1 е р е к Xeyeiv тгерХ а р т о р . ек pev yap т у ч
р е т а twv dtjTpoXoywv <rpp/3iwa-ew4, yv eVoteito
< 7 W £ ^ m ? , epTeipiav eaxyKevai top /3aaiXea twv
toiovtwv, е к 8e top vopipop top 7TapaSeSopevop
т о к ¡ З а с п Х е о а с то -гтерХ т а ч р е т а { З о Х а ч т у ч 1 8 е а ч
4 pvdoXoyydrjvai тара ток " Е XXyatv. ev edet
yap eivat ток кат’ AlyviTTOV SvvdcrTaK irep n i-
Oeadat тгерХ тур кефаХур Xeov twv каХ Tadpwv
кал SpaKovTwv троторач, a y p e ia туч а р х у ч ’ каХ
7тоте pev 8ер8ра, тоте 8е тор, eaTi 8’ оте каХ
OvpiapaTwv evwSwv exetv етХ туч кефаХуч оЬк
dXtya, каХ 8ta tovtwv ара pev еаътооч е к
еотретемр Koapetv, а р а 8е тоЬч аХХооч ei?
кататХу^ср ayetv каХ 8etai8aipova btadeaiv,
б Мег^ Sk т у р Прсотеа)? т е Х е о т у р 8 t a 8e ^ d p e v o 4
т ур f i a a t X e t a v о v i o 4 'Р е р ф к В с е т е Х е а е т г а р т а
тор tov % yv x p o v o v е т п р е Х о р е р о ч twv T p o a o b w v
к аХ a w p e v w p т а р т а х о в е р tov t Xovtop, 8 t a 8 e
p iK p o yfrvx ia v каХ фСХаруорьар увооч ооте ек
аравурат а dew v орт е1ч e v e p y e a i a v d v 6 pwTwv
1 Diodorus in his account of Proteus follows Herodotus
(2 . 1 1 2 ff.), who, it has been suggested, may have confused
an Egyptian title, Prouti, with the familiar “ Proteus” (cp.
How and Wells, A C o m m e n ta ry on H ero d o tu s, 1. p. 223). Cetes,
apparently, cannot be identified with any Egyptian ruler.
212
BOOK I. 62. 1-5
origin was chosen king, whom the Egyptians call
Cetes, but who among the Greeks is thought to be
that Proteus 1 who lived at the time o f 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. 2
On the death o f Proteus his son Remphis 3 suc­
ceeded to the throne. This 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-
s On some of these insignia cp. J. H . Breasted, H is to r y of
E g y p t, p. 38; the snake was the symbol of the Northern
Kingdom, the sacred uraeus.
3 Ramses III, the Rhampsinitus in connection with whom
Herodotus (2. 121) recounts the famous tale of the thieves.
213
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
6 ovBèv àvpXcocre. Bib ical yevôpevos ov ftaa-iXevs
aXX oiKovopos dyadbs àvri ttjs eV’ dpeTjj BoÇrjs
aneXine ttXelcna XPVP,aTa toùv irpo axnov fiacn-
XevadvTûôV’ dpyvpov 1 yàp xal xpvuoîi 23 napa-
BéBoTai crvvayayelv avTov eis TSTTapd/covTa
pivpidBas raXdvTcov.
63. T o u t o u Bè TeXevTpaavTos eVt yeveàs en Ta
BieBé^avTO ttjv àpxpv ftacriXels àpydi navreXât
Kai 7Tpos àvetriv /cal tpviprjv airaina TrpaTTovTes.
Biônep èv Tais lepais dvayparais ovBèv avrSsv
èpyov 7ToXvTeXès ovBè trpâftç lanopLas à%ia
7TapaBéBoTai ttXtjv êvos NetXécuç, d<p' ov <rvpj3aivei
tov noTapov ovopiaadrjvai^ N eîXov, to npo Tov
KaXovpevov A ïy v m o v ovros Be nXeicnas ev/cai-
povs Biwpvxas KaTa<TK€vaaas xal noXXà nepl ttjv
evxpTjmiav tov NeiXou cjnXoTippdels aiTios
KaTecrTT) r â TTOTapip TavTrjs ttjs tTpocrpyopias-
2 ’ O y B o o s Bè f t a c r i X e v s y e v b p e v o s Xé/a/ttç ô M ep ,-
(piTT js r j p tje p , è v e r p T r e v T T jK o v T a , n a n e o / c e v a o e
ttjv p e y L a T p v twv T p i â r v - n v p a p i B w v twv è v to i s
€TTTa To i s eTTityavecndTOis èp yo ïs d p iO p .o v pèvcov.
3 a in a i Bè /ceipevai KaTa ttjv A i/3 vtjv ttjs M épcpews
aTrexpvcn cn a B io vs è/caTov /cal ehcooi, tov Bè
NetXou 7T€VT€ ttpos toîs T€TTapa/covTa, tôt Bè
peyedei twv ëpyw v /cal ttj KaTa ttjv %eipoupyia v
t £Xv V 4 0avp,acTTTjv Tiva KaTd-nXp^iv n a p é x o v T a i
4 tois 6ew pevois. rj p,èv yàp peylaTp TeTpdnXevpos
1 ipyvpiov D, Bekker, Dindorf.
2 Xpvirtou Bekker, Dindorf.
3 ài'oua'TÛ;}i’aL A B D, Bekker, Vogel: wvopiiffBai Vulgate,
Dindorf.
4 So Reiske : Text'îji' xttpovpyitf.
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 o f a
fame based upon virtue he left a treasure larger than
that o f any king before him ; for according to tradi­
tion he amassed some four hundred thousand talents
o f silver and gold.
63. After Remphis 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 number 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.
Bè The eighth king, Chemmis1 of Memphis, ruled
fifty years and constructed the largest of the three
pyramids, which are numbered among the seven
wonders of the world. These pyramids, which are
situated on the side o f 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 o f 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 b .c .) after Ramses III o f the Twentieth
Dynasty (c. 1200 b . o .) .
2IS
 D IO D O R U S O F S IC IL Y BOOK I. 63. 4 -9

ovaa tu c r ^ fia n ttjp h rl rf/? ¡ B a a e u s i r X e v p d v has a base length on each side of seven plethra and a
e/cdcrT T]v '¿X eL T ~ X e 9 p u p k in d , to 8' v ' j r o ’i irX eop height of over six plethra; it also gradually tapers
tup eg rrX e9pup‘ a vp a yu yrjp 8’ e/c tov /caT
to the top, where each side is six cubits long. 1 The
entire construction is of hard stone, which is difficult
o X ly o p X a p jB d v o v a a p e x p t tj;? /copvcfirjt; e/cd<TTrjp
to work but lasts for ever; for though no fewer than
5 7r X e v p a p 7rotet 7t t j x u p eg. ira a a Be arepeov a thousand years have elapsed, as they say, to our
X l 9 o v i c a r e o K e v a a r a i , Trjp p e p ¿pya crla v exoPTog lifetime, or, as some writers have it, more than three
Svaxepr}, tt)v Be S i a p o p / j p a t c o p i o p - o v /c e X a T T o p u p thousand four hundred, the stones remain to this day
yap rj x ^ X i u p ¿ tup , co? c fr a c n , S i e X r f X v 9 o T u p et? still preserving their original position and the entire
structure undecayed. It is said that the stone was
t op / c a 9 ' T)pd<; f i i o p , to? B e e p i o i y p a c f r o v c r i , i r X e i o -
conveyed over a great distance from Arabia 2 and
pup rj T p i a x t - X i u p /ca l T eT p a /co criu p , B ia p e p o v c n
that the construction was effected by means of
p e x p i tov pvp o l X L 9 o i T 7)P e g dpxfj<> c r v p 9 e < r ip / c a l mounds, since cranes had not yet been invented at
T 7)p o X r j p / c a T a c n c e v r j v d a r j m o p 8 ia<f>vXaTTOPTe<;. that time; and the most remarkable thing in the
6 X eyerai Be top pep X19op e/c t ?j? ’A p a ftia s arro account is that, though the constructions were on
7toXXov SiaaTTjpaTOt /copicr9rjpai, ttjp Be /caTa- such a great scale and the country round about them
consists o f nothing but sand, not a trace remains
a/cevrjp Bid ^m/tarom yep ea 9ai, pp iru tup p p x a v u p
either of any mound or of the dressing o f the stones,
7 evprjpepup /caT e/ceipov<; Tovf xpovovv teal to so that they do not have the appearance o f being the
9avpacnd)TaTOP, TrfXi/covTUp epyup /caTea/cevaa- slow handiwork o f men but look like a sudden crea­
pe pup /cal tov rrepiexoPTOS tottov napT 0<; appm- tion, as though they had been made by some god and
Sovt 0 PT0f ovSep ’¿XPOf oine tov ^ m / t a T O ? o u t s set down bodily in the surrounding sand. Certain
t »}? tup \ i 9up geaTovpyiat aTroXeiTrea9ai, 1 u in e
Egyptians would make a marvel out of these things,
saying that, inasmuch as the mounds were built of
Bo/ceiv prj KaT oXiyop vir dp9pd>TTup epyaaiat, salt and saltpetre, when the river was let in it melted
dXXd avXXp/3Br]p ucrirep vrto 9eov tipos to icaTa- them down and completely effaced them without the
a/cevacrpa Te9rjpai Trap ei? rr /p irepiexovaap appop. intervention of man’s hand. However, there is not a
8 ¿m xeipovai B e Tine? tup AlyviTTiuv TepaToXoyeiv 1 Including the facing, which has now almost entirely
vrrep tovtup , XeyopTes to? eg dXup /cal PiTpov tup disappeared, the Great Pyramid was originally about 768
feet broad on the base and 482 feet high.
XupaTup yeyopoTUP eVa</>e#et? 0 1 roTapos eTrjgep 2 The term “ A rabia” also designated the region lying
avTa /cal TraPTeXug r/cpdpicrev dpev tt)? x^po^oirf- between the Nile and the Red Sea, as in Herodotus (2. 8) and
Strabo (17. 1. 34). Apparently all the material for the Great
9 tov 7rpaypaTeias. ov pp v /cal TaXrj9 e<; ovT uf
Pyramid came from the immediate neighbourhood (cp.
1 « 7roAft7TFTai II, Beltker, Dindorf. B a ed eker’s E g y p t, pp. 124-5).
216 217
 D IO D O R U S O F S IC IL Y
e^et, ^ rijv TroXvxeipias Ttjs r a ^ m /ra ra
fiaXovtrrjs irdXtv to nav epyov els ttjv irpovirap-
Xovaav cnroKaTeaTadtj Tajftv’ rpicucovTa pev
yap Kal e f pvpia 8es dv8pd>v, ws <f>aai, r a t ? to>v
epycov XetTovpylats irpocrrjhpevaav, to & 7rai>
KaracrKevaapa TeXos eV^e poyis eTwj/ eiKocrt
SteXdovTCov.
64. T e X e u T ^ o -a v ro? Se tov fiacrtXeois tovtov
Ste8e£aTO Ttjv apx*)v o a 8eX<f>os Keiftptjv Kal r/p^ev
err) e f 7rpos tois trevTtjKovTa’ evtoi 8e (jtaatv ovk
aSeXtfiov, aXX’ viov napaXaftetv Ttjv dpx^v,
2 ovopa^opevov Xa/3pvrjv. avpifxoveiTai 8 e irapd
Traenv oti IfrfXwaas o 8 ia 8 etfdpevos ttjv tov irpo-
ftaaiXevcravTOs irpoaipeaiv KaTeaKevaae Tr/v
BevTepav trvpaplSa, Tfj pev KaTa tt)v xetpovpylav
t^XVV 1 TrapairXrjcriav Tfj irpoeipppevtj, t S> 8 e
peyedei iroXv Xenropevpv, av Ttjs ev Tfj fideret
3 irXevpas eKaaTqs ovatjs aTa8iaias. ¿Tnyeypamat
8’ €7rl Ttjs pellfovos to nXfjdos Twv dvaXwdevTwv
XpvpaToov, a )? els Xaxava Kal crvppalav tois
epyaTais ptjvveTat2 8ia Ttjs ypacjttjs TaXavTa
8e8aTravrjadai trXelco tcov x^Xlotv Kal ¿¡faKoalrov.
4 Tj 8' eXaTTiov dvenlypaipos pev ectTtv, dvd/3aaiv
8' exei S ta pids t S>v TrXevpcbv eyKeKoXappevrjv.
to) v 8e fiacnXeav tq>v KaTaaKevaadvTotv axnds
eavTOis Taipovs avveftt) pt)8eTepov aincov Tats
5 TTvpaplcnv evTaipfjvat' to. yap TrXtjdt) 8td r e TaXat-
irioplav Ttjv ev tois epyots Kal 8 ia to tovtovs tovs
fiacnXeis wpa Kal ¡Hiata 7roXXa trpalfai 8 t
opyrjs elxe tovs alTiovs, Kal Ta crwpuna t’/ttelXet
1 So Reiske : t4xvtjv xf p'k'PtVi .
2 fiTIvvtTou Vogel : (cal urji’v t r a i C, Bekker, Dindorf.
218
BOOK I. 63. 9-6 4. 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 cam e; 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. 1
64. Upon the death of this king his brother
Cephren 2 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 o f 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.3 And an inscrip­
tion on the larger pyramid gives the sum o f 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.
2 The Chephren of Herodotus (2. 127), Khafre of the
monuments.
3 i’.e. six plethra, while the former was seven.
219
 D IO D O R U S O F S IC IL Y BOOK I. 64. 5-10

S ia crva a eiv / c a l p e d ' v f t p e o i ? e /c p i\J r e iv e/c to>v their bodies asunder and cast them in despite out of
6 rd(f>cov Sio /cal TeXevTav e/caTepo? eveneiXaTo the tombs. Consequently each ruler when dying
T ot? irpoap/covcriv ev dtrppcp tottw /cal Xddpa enjoined upon his kinsmen to bury his body secretly
6 d\frai to aS/p,a. in an unmarked place. 1
After these rulers Mycerinus,2 to whom some give
M e T a S e tovtov; e y e v e r o f i a a i X e b ; M v / c e p i v o ; ,
the name Mencherinus, a son of the builder o f the
ov T iv e ; M e y ^ e p iv o v ovopa^ovcnv, vlo ; Siv tov
first pyramid, became king. He undertook the
7 rro tp a a vT o ; Tpv 7T p o r e p a v irv p a p iS a . ovto; S’
construction of a third pyramid, but died before the
em ^aX opevo; t p n rjv /ca ra cn cevd ^ eiv, irp o r e p o v
entire structure had been completed. The base
¿T eX eu T r/ae i r p l v p to i r a v e p y o v X a f S e l v a v v r e - length of each side he made three plethra, and for
X e ia v . Tp; pev yap f3dcrew<; e/cdcrT pv T rXevpdv fifteen courses he built the walls o f black stone 3 like
vT rea T p cra T o trX eB pcov r p i w v , too ? Se to /^ oo? in i that found about Thebes, but the rest of it he filled
p e v T r e v T e / c a i S e / c a S o p o v ; / c a r e a / c e v a c r e v e/c p e X a v o ; out with stone like that found in the other pyramids.
X iB o v t a) ® pf3ai/cu> T r a p a T r X p a i o v , to Se X o n r o v In size this structure falls behind those mentioned
d v e T r X p p o i c r e v e/c X i B w v o p o l c o v T a t ? a X X a t ? i r v p a - above, but far surpasses them in the skill displayed
8 picriv. tS> Se
peyeBei Xenropevov tovto to epyov in its execution and the great cost of the stone ; and
tq>v irpoeipppevcav Tp /caTa ttjv y^e/povpylav Te^vp on the north side of the pyramid is an inscription
7toX v SiaXXaTTei /cal Tp tov Xidov TroXvTeXela• stating that its builder was Mycerinus. This ruler,
emyeypatrTai Se /caTa rpv ¡3 opeiov ai/Tp; irXevpav they say, out o f indignation at the cruelty of his
predecessors aspired to live an honourable life and
9 0 /caTatT/cevdaa; ai/Tpv M.v/ceplvo<;. tovtov Se
one devoted to the welfare of his subjects; and he
cf>aai piapcravTa t pv tuiv irpo^acnXevadvTwv continually did many other things which might best
¿>poT T jT a ^pXSicTai ¡3iov ¿TTieacp / c a l 7rpo? t o o ? help to evoke the goodwill o f the people towards
dp^opevov; evepyeTucov, /cal 7roieiv ainov awe^S); himself, and more especially, when he gave audiences,
aXXa T6 TrXeloi Si Siv pv paXiaTa e/c/caXeaacrBai he spent a great amount o f money, giving presents to
Tpv tov 7rXpBov; 7T/5o? ainov evvoiav, /cal /caTa such honest men as he thought had not fared in the
tov; xpppaTicrpov; dvaXicr/ceiv XPVH-’iTcov TrXpBo;, courts of law as they deserved.
SiSovTa Scoped; twv eiriei/cSiv toi; Sokovctiv ¿ v There are also three more pyramids, each of which
Ta i; Kpiaeai pp /caTci Tpoirov airaXXaTTeiv. is one plethrum long on each side and in general
10 Eteri Se / c a l a X X a i T p e i ; i r v p a p i S e ; , o>v e / c d a T p grave from robbers,” and other considerations all show that
p e v i r X e v p a i r X e d p i a i a v i r d p x e i , to S’ o X o v e p y o v this cannot have been the case (cp. B a ed eker’s E g y p t, pp.
123, 126).
2 The Menkaure of the monuments.
1 The remains, such as “ massive blocks of granite, placed 3 The lower courses of the third pyramid are of red granite,
in position after the interment of the mummy to protect the the “ Ethiopian stone ” of Herodotus 2. 134.
220 221
 D IO D O R U S O F S IC IL Y BOOK I. 64. 10-65. i

i r a p a n X ^ a i o v r fj K araerK evrj r a h aXXat? r r X r j p top construction is like the others save in size ; and these
peyedovf ra u ra ? Be <f>acri tops irp o e ip r/p ep o p s pyramids, they say, were built by the three kings
r p e h f t a c n X e h r a h IB la is K aracncevdcrcu y p p a ig iv . named above for their wives.
11 O p o X o y e i r a i Be T a u r a r a epya rroX ii ir p o e ^ e i v It is generally agreed that these monuments far
reop ic a r A iy vT T T O V op p o p o p re p / 3 d p e i r e a p K a r a -
surpass all other constructions in Egypt, not only in
their massiveness and cost but also in the skill dis­
erKepaapareop Kai ra h B a rrd v a is, aXXa K a \ r p
played by their builders. And they say that the
12 < f n \ o r e x v i a reap epyaaapeoeov. KaL <f>acn B eip
architects o f the monuments are more deserving of
6 a v p .d ^ e ip paXXop tops d p x i r e / c r o p a s reop epyeop
admiration than the kings who furnished the means
rj row fia eriX eis tops Trapacrxop,epov< ; ra ? e h for their execution; for in bringing their plans to
r a i n a xoprjyla< ;‘ tops p e p y a p r a h IB ia is i¡ r p ^ a h completion the former called upon their individual
Kai r a h ef)iX o n p la is, tops Be rep K X r j p o p o p p d e p r i souls and their zeal for honour, but the latter only used
irX oprep K a i r a h a X X o r p i a i s K a K O P ^ la is eiri r e X o s the wealth which they had inherited and the grievous
13 a y a y e l p rrjp rr p o a ip e c n p , ire p i Be re o p r r p p a p l B e o p toil o f other men. But with regard to the pyramids
o vlep oXeos opte r r a p a rot? e y x e o p lo i s o i r e it a pa there is no complete agreement among either the
roh eroyypaefceoai a v p r b e o v e lr a i- ol pep y a p tops inhabitants of the country or the historians; for
rrp o eip rjp e p o p ti fia exiX e h tea ra a K epdo a i efja a 'tp according to some the kings mentioned above were
abrds, o l Be e r e p o o s Tw as 1 o l o p r p p p e p 1 p eyi- their builders, according to others they were different
<
j t t )p T T O ip a a i X e y o p e n p A p p a i o p , r p p Be B e o r e p a p
kings ; for instance, it is said that Armaeus built the
14 ' Apeocnp, rpp Be rp lrp p 'Ip a peop . raorpp S’
largest, Amosis the second, and Inaros the third.
And this last pyramid, some say, is the tomb o f the
e pioi X e y o p a i PoSa> 7rtS o? rde f> op e l p a i r r j s e r a l p a s ,
courtesan Rhodopis, 1 for some o f the nomarchs2
r js e f i a a i r e a p p o p a p x & P n p a s e p a c r r a s y e p o p e p o o s
became her lovers, as the account goes, and out of
B id efn X o crro p yia p e m re X e a a t, K o w fj to K ara-
their passion for her carried the building through to
aKepaapa.
completion as a joint undertaking.
65. MeTa Be tops rrp o eip rip ep o p s fta a iX e h 65. After the kings mentioned above Bocchoris 3
1 p iv omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
Naucratis in the Delta (cp. Herodotus 2. 134 ff.). The in­
1 As regards Rhodopis the theory of H. R. Hall (J o u r n a l oj fatuation for her of Sappho’s brother Charaxus invoked
H e llen ic S tu d ie s , 24 (1904), pp. 208-13) is attractive: The Sappho’s rebuke; cp. Edmonds, L y r a G raeca, I. p. 205
Sphinx, the cheeks of which were tinted red, was called by the ( L .O .L .).
Greeks “ Rhodopis” (“ rosy-cheeked ” ), and erroneously sup­ 2 The governors of the provinces (nomes) of Egypt.
posed to be female. Later they took it to be a portrait of 2 On Bocchoris cp. chaps. 79 and 94. His Egyptian name
the greatest Rhodopis they knew, the rosy-cheeked Doricha was Bokenranef (c . 726— c. 712 B .C .), the second of the two
(although Athenaeus, 13. 596 b , denies that her name was kings of the Twenty-fourth Dynasty (cp. T h e C am bridge
Doricha), the famous courtesan of the Milesian colony of A n c ie n t H isto r y , 3. 276 f.).
222 223
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 65. 1-7

SieSeljaTO ttjv ap^rjv B o/c^op t?, r a pev ooopaTi succeeded to the throne, a man who was altogether
TravTeXcbs €VKaTa<f}povrjTO<;) ayxivoia Se iroXii contemptible in personal appearance but in sagacity
2 Scacfiepcov to>v TrpoftacriXevcrdvTwv. itoXXois S’
far surpassed all former kings. Much later Egypt
was ruled by Sabaco, 1 who was by birth an Ethiopian
vurepov 'xpovots efiaaiXevcre rrjs AlyvirTov Sa-
and yet in piety and uprightness far surpassed his
fid/cwv, to pev yevos o>v AlOio^jr, evaefteia Se /cal
predecessors. A proof o f his goodness may be found
Xp/jaTOT/jTC ttoX v Siacpepwv tcov irpo avTov. in his abolition of the severest one of the customary
3 Trjs f.Lev ovv ernei/ceLas avTov Xdftoi tls av Te/cptf- penalties (I refer to the taking o f life); for instead
piov to to)v vopipwv ttpoffTipLav apai to peyujTov, of executing the condemned he put them in chains at
4 Xeyco Se tt)v tov %r)v < T T e p r ) c n v dvTi yap tov forced labour for the cities, and by their services
Oa v a T o v 1 tovs /ca T a S i/c a a d e v T a s rjv d y /c a '£ e X et- constructed many dykes and dug out not a few well-
T o vp yetv rat? i r d k e a i S e S e p e v o v s , / c a l S i a tovtcov placed canals; for he held that in this way he had
7T o W a pev x (aPL a T a / c a T e a / c e v a ^ e v , o v / c o X i y a t S e reduced for those who were being chastised the
Sid>pv% a$ o /p vT T ev ev/ca ip o vs• vtte X d p f t a v e yap severity o f their punishment, while for the cities he
to Z? p e v / c o X a ^ o p e v o v ; to tjJ? T ip a> pia < ; d i r o T o p o v had procured, in exchange for useless penalties,
rfX a T T w /ceva i, T a fc Se iro X ea iv uvt I T T p o cn ip a /v
something of great utility. And the excessiveness
d v o x j/e X o b v p e y d X r / v e v 'y p r ^ a T i a v T repnreT roiri/cevaL ,2
of his piety may be inferred from a vision which he
had in a dream and his consequent abdication of the
5 ttjv Se T7)s eiaefieias inrep/3oXrjv crvXXoyiaaiT
throne. For he thought that the god of Thebes
civ Ti? e/c tj)? /rara tov oveipov cfcavTacrias /cal
told him while he slept that he would not be able to
6 T))<; icaTa ttjv dpy 7)v cnroBe/rea)?. eSotje pev yap reign over Egypt in happiness or for any great length
/caTa tov vttvov Xeyeiv ainw tov ¿ v Qrjftavi deov of time, unless he should cut the bodies of all the
OTi ftaaiXeveiv ov SvvrjaeTai t r)<; Aiyinrrov priests in twain and accompanied by his retinue pass
pa/caplws ovSe ntoX vv %povov, eav pi) tov? iepeis through the very midst of them .2 And when this
awavTas SiaTepwv Sia peawv ai/Tcbv SieXdy peTct dream came again and again, he summoned the
7 t rjt depaTreias. iToXXa/ci<; Se tovtov yivopevov priests from all over the land and told them that by
peTaTrepifrdpevos TravTa^oOev toi)? lepeis e<f>7) his presence in the country he was offending the g o d ;
Xvireiv tov Oeov ev tt) P’^va>v‘ °i> ydp av 2 This story is reminiscent of the belief that one may be
preserved from harm by passing between the parts of a
1 6a.va.Tovv Diiulorf. sacrificed animal; cp. Genesis, 15. 10, 17 ; J e r e m ia h , 34. 18-19,
2 Tino.ruXvai Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. 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
1 Shabaka (c. 712— c. 700 B.C.), the first king of the Twenty- might pass between them on its way to the conquest of
fifth Dynasty. Greece.
224 225
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 65. 7-66. 3

avrà T o ia v ra 7троеттаттеьу к а т а top vttvov. for were that not the case such a command would
8 атеХвсоу opv ßopXeadai кавароч ттауточ ррегорч not be given to him in his sleep. And so he would
airobovvai то %yv ту TTeirpwpévy päXXov у Xpirwv rather, he continued, departing pure o f all defilement
from the land, deliver his life to destiny than offend
тор Kvpiov к а л рьауач dereßel <f>ovtp tov iStov
the Lord, stain his own life by an impious slaughter,
ßlov äpxet,v туч A iyv n T ov ка1 тгерач тоьч èy^w- and reign over Egypt. And in the end he returned
рьоьч атгоВооч тур ßaerbXelav ¿TravrjXdev eh тур the kingdom to the Egyptians and retired again to
Aidiomav. Ethiopia.
66. ’ Amputa? Se уерореруч ката тур Аьуртттор 66. There being no head o f the government in
èir '¿ту Spo, Kal twv '¿yXoiv et? тара-^ач ка! Egypt for two years, and the masses betaking them­
форорч ерфрХьоРЧ Tpenopévwv, етгоьуетауто apvw- selves to tumults and the killing o f one another,
pocriav oi реуьегтоь twv yyepóveov SeóSeKa• erppe- the twelve most important leaders formed a solemn
Ьрерааутеч Se èv Мерфеь каХ <тррвукач ypaifrd- league among themselves, and after they had met
pevoi 7Гepì туч проч аХХуХорЧ оророьач Kai together for counsel in Memphis and had drawn up
2 тгьатешч d v é S e i^ a v еартоЬч ß a e re X e h . èir ’ ет у agreements setting forth their mutual goodwill and
Se т герт екаьЬека кат а торч о р к о р ч каХ тач
loyalty they proclaimed themselves kings. After
ороХоуьач ар^арт еч каХ т ур тгроч ¿ХХ уХ оРч
they had reigned in accordance with their oaths and
promises and had maintained their mutual concord
ó p ó v o ia v Ь с а т у р у а а р т е ч , eireß d X o vT o к а т а а к е р а -
for a period o f fifteen years, they set about to con­
сгa i KOivbv éa P T w v т а ф о р , 'iva к а в а т т е р èv тф £yv
struct a common tomb for themselves, their thought
еруооррт еч аХ Х уХ оьч twv lerwv е т р у у а р о р T ip w v , being that, just as in their lifetime they had cherished
opto) к а Х р е т а т уу т е Х е о т у у èv èvX тотгер twv a cordial regard for one another and enjoyed equal
a w p a T w v K e ip èvw v то катает к е о а е т б е р p v y p a K oivy honours, so also after their death their bodies would
3 ттерье\у тур twv еитафеvtwv Sógav. е1ч тартур all rest in one place and the memorial which they had
Se туи em ßoXyv фьХокаХорртеч ееттгеоетар рттер- erected would hold in one embrace the glory o f those
ßaXeerdai тф реуевеь twv epywv аттартач торч ттро buried within. Being full of zeal for this undertaking
apTWV. екХе^арероь у dp тотгоу тара tov eienrXoov they eagerly strove to surpass all preceding rulers in
top eh тур MotpiSo? 1 Xipvyv èv ту A iß py кате- the magnitude o f their structure. For selecting a
еткеоа^ор tov тафор ек twv KaXXboTwv XiPwv, каь site at the entrance to Lake Moeris in Libya 1 they
тф pèv erхуро-ть TeTpdywvov ртееттуегарто, тф constructed their tomb of the finest stone, and they
Se реуевеь enaSiaiav екаеттур irXeopdv, r a t ? Se made it in form a square but in magnitude a stade in
length on each side ; and in the carvings and, indeed,
уХрфаьч каХ T a t ? аХХаьч XelP0VPrYLal<> PVepßoXyv
in all the workmanship they left nothing wherein
1 MotpiSot Wesseling : pvptSot. 1 ».e. on the west side of the Nile.
227
226
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK I. 66. 3-10
4 оук а ж е Х ь ж о у тойч еж t y t v о p e v о 1 4 . е1<теХвоут1 p e v
succeeding rulers could excel them .1 For as a man
yap t o v 7r e p l f i o X o v оТ к о ч p v жер1<ттуХоч, ё к а а т р ч passed through the enclosing wall he found himself
ж Хеорач ¿к т ет т аракоут а k io v w v ауаж Хрроу- in a court surrounded by columns, forty on each side,
реурч, ка\ tovtov p o v o X id o 4 pv орофр, ф ат уа1ч and the roof o f the court consisted of a single stone,
h ta yeyX v p p e v p к а \ у р а ф а й ч ё к а ф о р о ь ч жеж оисйХ- which was worked into coffers 2 and adorned with
5 p e i >р. ei% e 8е трч ж атр18оч т рч екси ттоу twv excellent paintings. This court also contained
(За а ь Х e w v й ж о р у р р а т а к а л twv le p w v к а \ O v a iw v memorials of the native district of each king and of the
tw v e v a v T tj тайч к а Х Х и т т а у >у р а ф а й ч ф С Х о т е ^ У ш ч temples and sacrificial rites therein, artistically por­
6 S e S p p io v p y p p e v a . к а в о Х о у Se T o i a v T p v тр ж о Х у - trayed in most beautiful paintings. And in general,
T e X eia кай т рХ скаут ру тм p e y e d e t тру й ж о а т а сп у the kings are said to have made the plan of their
той т а ф о у Хеует a t ж оураааваь т ой ч /ЗаспХ ейч,
tomb on such an expensive and enormous scale that,
шит el рр жро той avvT eX ecrai тру еж1 / З о Х р у
had they not died before the execution of their
purpose, they would have left no possibility for others
кат еХ увраау, p p b e p ia v av уж ер /З о Х р у ет ер ос ч
to surpass them, so far as the construction of monu­
жроч к а т а а к е у р у e p y w v аж оХсж ейу.
ments is concerned.
7 'A p td v T w v 8 е tovtwv т рч А й у й ж т о у ж е у т е к а й -
After these kings had reigned over Egypt for
8 е к а ет р а у у е / З р т р у f S a a i X e l a v её? e v a ттерш труаь fifteen years it came to pass that the sovereignty
8 8 i a т о ш й т а ч а1т1ач. Ч 'а р р р т щ о ч о 1 а 1 ’т рч, е1ч devolved upon one man for the following reasons.
шу twv ВсоВека ¡ 3 a a t X e w v к а л tw v ж ара ваХат т ау Psammetichus of Sais, who was one of the twelve 68| “ ®09
pepw v K v p ie v w v , ж аре'ьует о форт1а ж асп тойч kings and in charge of the regions lying along the ' ’
ip iro p o i4 , раХитта Be тойч те Фo l v t g i ка1 тойч sea, furnished wares for all merchants and especially
9 "КХХреп. Sta, Se1 тою утоу т рот го у та те ек for the Phoenicians and the Greeks; and since in
т р ч 1В1ач 'х р о р а ч Х у с п т е Х с Ь ч 8 ш т 1 в е р е у о ч ка1 tw v this manner he disposed of the products of his own
ж а р а тойч а Х Х о к е в у е с п ф u o p e v w v p e T a X a p / S d v w v , district at a profit and exchanged them for those of
o v p o v o v ейж орйау ег^е р е у а Х р у а Х Х а к а \ фйХйау other peoples, he was not only possessed of great
10 жроч ёвур ка\ Виуаат ач. B ia Se тайта ф асп
wealth but also enjoyed friendly relations with
peoples and rulers. And this wras the reason, they
ф в о у р с т а у т а ч айта> т ой ч а Х Х о у ч / З а а й Х е й ч жоХ е~
say, why the other kings became envious and opened
pov ¿ tjeveyK eiv. evio i Se tw v a p ^ a lw y avyypa-
war against him. Some of the early historians,3
ф ew v руво Х о уо й сп xPV^M -^v yeveaO ai тойч p y e -
however, tell this fanciful story: The generals had
1 roC after 5б deleted by Dindorf.*6
1
Twelfth Dynasty (cp. The Cambridge A ncient History, 1. p.
1 This is the Labyrinth which was mentioned before in chap. 309; J. H. Breasted, p. 194).
61. It was the seat of the central government, and was not 2 i.e. ornamental panels were deeply recessed in the stone.
built by the “ twelve kings,” but by Amenemhet III of the 3 The account is given by Herodotus 2. 151 f.
228 229
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 66. 10-67. 1
received an oracle to the effect that the first one of
p o o iv , о? à v аит ш р ¿ к ф са Х р ч тгршточ
their number to pour a libation from a bronze bowl
ev М ерф еь отте'юр тш веш , K p a r r jo e iv avròv
to the god in Memphis should rule over all Egypt,
г г а о р ч тт)ч A i y v m o v t o p S e 'Sfap.p.rjTL'Xpv, è ^ e v é y - and when one of the priests brought out of the temple
к а рт оч ек той le p o v тшр tep éa v тсроч ф ш Хач eleven 1 golden bowls, Psammetichus took off his
е 'р Ь ек а 1 у _ р ь а а ч , r r e p ie X Ó p e v o v тp v гт ерекеф аХ аХ ар helmet and poured the libation from it. Now his
11 o rre io a i. v m o o p é v o v 4 2 o v v т ооч о р р а р х о р т а ч r ò colleagues, although suspecting his act, were not yet
T r p a y ß e v à i токтеЪси p e v avròv pp ß o v X rid fjv a i, ready to put him to death, but drove him instead
ф р у а В е д о а с è è tcaì тгp o o r d ^ a i S t a r p i ß e i v è v то1ч from public life, with orders that he should spend his
12 eX eoi rots' гт ара в а Х а т т а р . еХте èr j S i a r a v r p p days in the marshes along the sea. Whether they
r p v a i r i a v e t’ r e è i a top ф в б р о р , к а в о п rrp o eip ^ ra t, fell out for this reason or because of the envy which,
y e v o p é v t ] 4 тг)Ч В с а ф о р а ч , ò p è v 3 4 r a p p r j r i x o 4 ёк as mentioned above, they felt towards him, at any
re трч K a p ia s ка! тг)ч Tomta? рю воф брооч
rate Psammetichus, calling mercenaries from Caria
p e r arre р -ф а р ер о ч éviк р о е ira p a rd ^ e i rrepì rró X iv
and Ionia, overcame the others in a pitched battle
near the city called Momemphis, and of the kings
T7]v ò p o p a ^ o p é p r j v М .ш р е р ф 1р, тш р è’ à v rira ^ a -
who opposed him some were slain in the battle and
pevcov ß a o iX e c o v oi p ev кат а rpv p ó .y j]v à vp p é-
some were driven out into Libya and were no longer
вроар, oi è ei4 A iß vp v екВио-^верт еч оикеп able to dispute with him for the throne.
r r e p ì т рч а р х р ч lo j^ v o a p à p ф lo ß p т r¡o a l. 67. After Psammetichus had established his
67. T i}? è ' о Х р ч ß a o i X e i a 4 к р р с е б о а ч о T a /r - authority over the entire kingdom he built for the
ррпхоч тш p èv èv М ер ф ес веш то тгроч ёш god in Memphis the east propylon and the enclosure
r r p o r r v X a io v к а т е о к е ь а о е ка\ тш р а ш r ò v тгерХ- about the temple, supporting it with colossi 2 twelve
ß o X o v , K 0X 0TT 0Ì14 Ь т гоот роач a prì тшр ксо рш р cubits high in place of pillars; and among the
В ш В ек ат грхесч’ тосч Se р ю воф оросч х шР гсоу mercenaries he distributed notable gifts over and
ш р о Х о у р р е р ш р о у р т а ^ еш р В ю р еа ч те а ^ ю Х о у о р ч above their promised pay, gave them the region
a r r e v e ip e кас та к а Х о р р е р а от ра т бггеВ а тогтор called The Camps to dwell in, and apportioned to
о1ке1р еЬ ш ке каХ x < ó p a v 7 т оХХрр к а т е к Х у р о р х ^ о е them much land in the region lying a little up the
p iK p o v етгарш той П г / Х о р о ь а к о й ат орат оч’ ои ч
river from the Pelusiac mouth; they being subse­
quently removed thence by Amasis, who reigned
èvrevdev "А р а а ьч vorep ov гг 0X X 0Ì 4 e r e o i ß a o i-
1 A ll former editors retain the reading “ tw elve” of the
1 Reading erScna ( i a) with Herodotus 2. 151 for the MSS.; but the parallel account in Herodotus gives the number
Ы5ска (iß') of the MSS. ; cp. E. Evers, E in B eitrag zur as “ eleven,” thus furnishing the occasion for the use of his
Untersuchung d er Quellenbenutzung bei D iodor , p. 26. helmet by Psammetichus.
2 umSofzerous Hindorf : vmibop-lvovs. 2 Here are meant square pillars with an attached statue
8 p.cv Vogel : fi tv yàp Vulgate, Bekker : д.Ъ obv Dindorf. in front; cp. p. 167, n. 3.
230 231
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 67. 1-7

2 \ e v a a < ; à v é a T p a e /ca l /caT cv/cia ev e iç M é p t f n v . 8 ià many years later, and settled by him in Memphis.1
8è Tt ù v f u a d o t p ô p a i v / c a T w p O w / c a x ; tjjv / 3 a a i X e l a v And since Psammetichus had established his rule
o '' F a p p r ) T i y o < i to Ùt o î ç to X o n r o v p d X i a T èvetrL- with the aid o f the mercenaries, he henceforth
arêve rà K ara rrjv à p j(rjv /ca l B ie re K e a e Çevo- entrusted these before others with the administra­
3 Tpo(f>iï>v peydXas bvvdpei^. arparevaarTO*; 8 ' tion o f his empire and regularly maintained large
mercenary forces. Once in connection with a cam­
etç TTjv Xvpiav avTOv /cal Kara r à ç irapard^eic;
paign in Syria, when he was giving the mercenaries
roù ç p'ev piaÛoÿbpovs irpoTipSivToç /cal tuttoj/toç
a more honourable place in his order o f battle by
eiç ra 8 e!jià péprj, ro ù ç 8 ' èyy^wpiov; At ipoTepov putting them on the right wing and showing the
ayovTos /cal tov evd/vvpov tottov àirovépovTOç native troops less honour b y assigning them the
(fiaXayyoç, oi pèv AlyinrTioi 8cà ttjv vj3pcv position on the left wing o f thephalanx,the Egyptians,
TrapoÇvvÛét/Te'i /cal yevopevoi to 7tXr)6 o<; irXeiovc; angered by this slight and being over two hundred
tcûv eï/coai pvpid 8wv ¿TreaT/jaav /cal Trporjyov thousand strong, revolted and set out for Ethiopia,
67r AidioTriaf, /ce/cpi/coTes I8 lav ydipav éavToîç having determined to win for themselves a country
4 /ca T a /C T a a Ô a r o 8e fta a iX e v '; to pèv irpâ/T O v o f their own. The king at first sent some o f his
67r e p y j r é T i v a s tw v rjy ep b vw v ro ù ç a T r o X o y q a o - generals to make excuse for the dishonour done to
pevovf UTrep ttjç ¿ ti p i a f , a>ç 5’ où 7r p o a e t y o v them, but since no heed was paid to these he set out
a ù r o îç , aÙToç p e T a t ô >v cj/iX cov èbicvSje irX o lo if. in person after them by boat, accompanied b y his
5 irpoayovToiv 8 ' avTcov 7tapa tov N elXov /cal t o v ç friends. And when they still continued their march
along the Nile and were about to cross the boundary
opovç inrep[3aXXovTtt)v r ¡7 ? A îyvi ttov, ¿8eÎTo peTa-
o f E gypt, he besought them to change their purpose
vofjaai /cal tcov re lepâ/v /cal tcûv 7raTpL8(nv, eTi
and reminded them o f their temples, their homeland,
6 Sù «rai yvvat/ccov fcai rétcvcov vTrefxifjLvrjafeev* oi and o f their wives and children. But they, all crying
8 âpa TrdvTeç àva^o/jaavTe!: /cal r o tç kovtok aloud and striking their spears against their shields,
t àç à(T7ri 8aç 7raTÛ£avTeç ëcpacrav, ecoç av /cvpcev-
declared that so long as they had weapons in their
wai t Sjv oirXoùv, pq 8i<i><; evprjoeiv iraTpibas' hands they would easily find homelands ; and lifting
àvaaTeiXdpevoL 8 è roù ç %cTcova<; /cal Ta yevvrj- their garments and pointing to their genitals they
Ti/cà pép-t] 1 tov acopaTos 8ei'¡¿avTes oÎite yvvai/ccbv said that so long as they had those they would never
ovTe Te/cvoùv dirop^aeiv ëcj/aaav TavT’ e^ ovreç. be in want either o f wives or o f children. A fter such
7 ToiavTT] 8 è peyaXoïjrvxiq y^ppadpevoi /cal « a r a - a display o f high courage and o f utter disdain for
1 /iôpia G, Bekker, Dindorf.
Tell Defenneh on the Pelusiac arm of the Nile, now a canal.
The mercenaries were thus strategically placed at the Syrian
1 A similar account is in Herodotus (2. 154), who locates entrance into Egypt.
(2. 30) the Camps more precisely at Daphnae, the modern
232 233
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK I. 67. 7-68. I
фрорраарт еч тш р т гара тоХч aXXoi? реуьат ш р
what among other men is regarded as of the greatest
e l v a i Во к о р р т ш р , к а т е Х а / З о р т о p e p т р ч A W i O T r L a 4
consequence, they seized the best part of Ethiopia,
ttjv к р а т ь а т р р , к а т а к Х ^ р о р ^ р а а р т е ч Be т г о Х Х р р and after apportioning much land among themselves
% copap ¿p r a v r y к а т ш к р а а р .
they made their home there. 1
8 'О £e ' З ' а р р р т щ о ч етг1 p e p торгов op р е т р ' ш ч Although Psammetichus was greatly grieved over
е Х р т т р в р , т а Be к а т а т р р A l y v m o v Вш т а^ач ка \ these things, he put in order the affairs of Egypt,
та>р т г р о а о В ш р е т п р е Х о р е р о ч т гроч те ’А в р р а ' ю о ч looked after the royal revenues, and then formed
к а ь тграч тшр а Х Х м р ' b X A X p v a v a v p p a y L a v еттогр- alliances with both Athens and certain other Greek
9 <т а т о . ерррует ес Be каХ тшр £ерш р торч еве- states. He also regularly treated with kindness any
Хортрр1 е1ч трр A iy vT T T O P алгоВрроррт ач, каХ foreigners who sojourned in Egypt o f their own free
<p i X e X X p p 03V В ш ф е р о р т ш ч торч рсорч трр 'ЕХХт;- will, and was so great an admirer o f the Hellenes that
р г к р р ¿ B L B a ^ e тгa i B e i a p ' к а б о Х о р £е т грш т оч тш р
he gave his sons a Greek education; and, speaking
кат A ty p -jT T o p ¡Зат Х еш р dvew ^e то1ч аХХогч
generally, he was the first Egyptian king to open to
other nations the trading-places throughout the rest 2
евресп та кат а трр аХХрр2 %шp a p e p ir o p ia
of Egypt and to offer a large measure of security to
каХ т гоХХрр а а ф а Х е ш р тоХч к а т а т г Х е о Р с п ¡¿ерогч
strangers from across the seas. For his predecessors
10 7т а р е щ е т о . oi pev yap 7тро тортор Врраат ер-
in power had consistently closed Egypt to strangers,
а а р т е ч а / З а т о р е т г оь орр то1ч £ e p o i 4 т р р А Х урт т т ор, either killing or enslaving any who touched its shores.
торч р е р форерортеч, торч Be к а т а В о р Х о р р е р о i тш р Indeed, it was because of the objection to strangers
11 кат атсХеоРТШ Р. ка\ уар г/ ттe p l top B o p a i p i p on the part of the people that the impiety o f Busiris
a a e /S e ia B id трр тш р еу^ш рш р <1%е р L a p B i e / З о р в р became a byword among the Greeks, although this
т г а р а то1ч " X d X X p a i p , орк o i i a a рер т гроч аХр- impiety was not actually such as it was described,
вегар, B ia Be трр от гер/ЗоХ рр трч ароргач е1ч but was made into a fictitious myth because of the
ррвор ттХаара к а т а ~ ) ( ш р 1а в е Х а а . exceptional disrespect of the Egyptians for ordinary
68 . Мета Be 'У а р р р т щ о р рат ерор теттарсп customs.
уереаХч 'А т г р Х р ч e /3 a a iX e p a ep ет р Вpal тгХегш 68. Four generations after Psammetichus, Apries 588-566
тш р eiK O a i. ат рат ераач Be B p p d p ea ip аВраХч
was king for twenty-two years. He made a cam- B‘a
т г е ^ а ь ч те к а \ р а р т г к а Х ч етгI К о т г р о р к а \ Ф о 1Р 1к р р ,
paign with strong land and sea forces against Cyprus
1 ¿ в * \ 01/тт]1/ Kalker : eBtKovri. 2 This reading of the MSS., which has disturbed some
2 Reiske would delete &AAifv, as is done by Bekker and editors, may properly be retained. It is understood from the
Dindorf, or read oAriv. beginning of the chapter that Psammetichus could allow
foreigners to trade only in the regions of which he was governor.
1 This story of the Deserters is given by Herodotus (2. 30), Upon becoming king he extends that privilege over “ the rest ”
but in less detail. of Egypt.
234
235
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 68. 1-6

X iE w va p e v к а т а крат оч elX e, т а ч E' а Х Х а ч т ач and Phoenicia, took Sidon by storm, and so terrified
ev ту Ф о м к у т гбХ ек к а т а п Х у ^ а р е у о ч т г р о а у у а - the other cities of Phoenicia that he secured their
у е т о • ¿ у Х к у а е Её к а Х v а у р а х } a р е у а Х у Ф оХуькач submission; he also defeated the Phoenicians and
те к а \ К у п р Х о у ч , к а Х Х а ф - y p w v а в р о Х с г а ч ттХувоч
Cyprians in a great sea-battle and returned to Egypt
2 е т г а у у Х в е у е1ч АХ уутттоу. р е т а Ее т а у т а E v v a p i v
with much booty. After this he sent a strong native
force against Cyrene and Barce and, when the larger
т гё р ф га ч dEpav тазу о р о е в у о з у ётгХ Кvp yvyv кал
part of it was lost, the survivors became estranged
Ъ аркуу, каХ то ттХеХатоу аут уч d iro ß a X w v,
from him ; for they felt that he had organized the ex­
аХ Х от рХ оУ Ч ¿’ с г х е г ° уч Езш аы веут ач' X nroXaßovTe4 pedition with a view to its destruction in order that
yap avTov етт a w w X e i a a w T a t j a i т у у а т р а т е Х а у , his rule over the rest of the Egyptians might be more
оттсоч а с г ф а Х е с г т е р о у а р Х У тш у Хопгазу А 1 у у п т ш у , secure, and so they revolted. The man sent by the
3 d irecn ycra v. атгоатаХ еХч Ее тгроч тоутоуч ут то king to treat with them, one Amasis, a prominent
т ой ß a c n X e a >4 ' ' А р а с п ч , a v y p е р ф а у у ч А Х у у т г т ю ч , Egyptian, paid no attention to the orders given him to
tw v pev рувеут ш у1 Ьтт аитоС тгроч o p o vo ia v effect a reconciliation, but, on the contrary, increased
уреХ уае, т оууаут ю у (з ёкеХ уоуч т грот реф гареуоч their estrangement, joined their revolt, and was him­
е1ч а Х Х о т р ю т у т а сгууаттесгту к аХ ß a a i X e v 4 а у т о ч self chosen king.1 When a little later all the rest of
4 уреву. рет оу тго Х у у Её X P ° V0V к аХ тазу d X X w v the native Egyptians also went over to Amasis, the
еух ш р 'ш у ат гаут ш у сгуует пвереуы у, о ßacnX ev4 king was in such straits that he was forced to flee for
Е ш т гороуреуоч у л а у к а а в у кат аф ууеХу eVi тоуч
safety to the mercenaries, who numbered some thirty
thousand men. A pitched battle accordingly took
5 рьавоф ороуч, оут ач е1ч т рк т р у р Х о У Ч . уеуореууч
place near the village of Maria and the Egyptians
оуу т т арат а^е ш ч ттерХ т у у M d p e ta v казруу, каХ
prevailed in the struggle; Apries fell alive into the
тшу A iyvT T T iw v ту ра-ху крат уааут озу, о pev
hands of the enemy and was strangled to death, and
'А т г р Х у ч ^ а з у р у в е Х ч a v y x ß y каХ а т р а у у а Х к т в е Х ч * Amasis, arranging the affairs of the kingdom in
ет еХ еит усгеу, " А р а с п ч Её Е с а т а ^ а ч та к а т а т уу whatever manner seemed to him best, ruled over the
ß a c n X e ia v ¿9 ттот ё Е о ^ е у а у т с о с г у р ф е р е с у , у р х е Egyptians in accordance with the laws and was held
у о р Х р о з ч тозу АХуутгтХозу к а Х р е у а Х у ч етy y x a v e v in great favour. He also reduced the cities of Cyprus
6 атгоЕохУЧ. к а т е а т р ё ф г а т о Её к аХ т а ч e v К у т г р а з and adorned many temples with noteworthy votive
ттоХесч к а с тr o X X d tw v Xepwv е к о а р у с г е у dvaQ y- offerings. After a reign of fifty-five years he ended
p a a iv a t j w X o y o i 4. ßacnX eycra4 S’ ёт у тгёуте
1 Amasis (Ahmose II of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty) reigned
1 Bekker and Dindorf, following Wesseling, read ¡грвечтшу 569—526-5 B.c., the first three years of his reign coinciding
and retain 4vт о \й у of the MSS. after bp.6volav ; Vogel with the last three years of Apries.
following Eichstädt, retains р-цвеутшу o f the MSS. and
deletes ivroXatv. tTTpayya\ia6els D in dorf: trrp a yya X ^efts.
236 237
 BOOK I. 68. 6-69. 6
DIODORUS OF SICILY
his days at, the time when Cambyses, the king of the
7 rpo? tols ire v T ^ K O v ra K c n e tn p e-ty-e t 'ov /3lov
Persians, attacked Egypt, in the third year o f the
Ka.8 ' b p x p o v o v K a p ^ vcrrjs o tm v I l e p a u v ¡ 3 a .c n - Sixty-third Olympiad, that in which Parmenides of
X evs ecnpaTevaev eirl ttjv A ijvtttop, Kara to Camarina won the “ stadion.” 1
Tpirov ¿'t o ? T rjs e g r i K o a T r j s K a l T p i T p s ’O X v p i u a S o s , 69. Now that we have discussed sufficiently the
r) v i v i r c a c n a B i o v I l a p p e v i B r j s K a p a p i v a l o s . deeds of the kings of Egypt from the very earliest
69. ’ E7ret Be ra s tup ev A ly i n n u ftacnXeuv times down to the death of Amasis, we shall record
irpa^eis diro tup ap^aiOTaTuv xpovcov BieXtjXv- the other events in their proper chronological setting;
Oapev apKovvTus pe%pi tt}s ’A paaiB os TeXevTrjs, but at this point we shall give a summary account of
r a ? Xonras dvaypayjropev ev r o t ? oI kciois xpovois • the customs of Egypt, both those which are especially
2 irepl Be tup voplpu v to t /car A iy v in o v vvv strange and those which can be of most value to our
Bie^ipev ev Kecf>aXalois r a re irapaBotjoTaTa Kal readers. For many of the customs that obtained in
r a p a X icn a u<j>eXrjaai Bvvdpeva t o v ? a va yivu -
ancient days among the Egyptians have not only
been accepted by the present inhabitants but have
aKOVTas. 7roXXd yap tup iraXaiuv eduv to t
aroused no little admiration among the Greeks ; and
7 evopevuv Trap' A ly v in lo is ov povov irapci to is for that reason those men who have won the greatest
eyxu p lois (iTroBoxyS eVv^ev, aXXa Kal 7rapa tois repute in intellectual things have been eager to visit
3 E X\ t7o-iv ov perpiax; eOavpdcrBiy Bioirep ol Egypt in order to acquaint themselves with its laws
peyicrroi tup ev iraiBela Bo^aadev tup erpiXori- and institutions, which they considered to be worthy
prjdpoav els A l y v n o v irapa&aXeiv, iva p erd - of note. For despite the fact that for the reasons
axcaai tup r e popup Kal tup eim pB evpaT u v to? mentioned above strangers found it difficult in early
4 a ljio X o yu v ovtuv. K a l i r e p y a p T r j s x u p a s t o times to enter the country, it was nevertheless eagerly
i r a X a i o v B v c r e i r i f t a T o v tois % e v o i s o v c r p s B i d t a? visited by Orpheus and the poet Homer in the earliest
irp o e ip p p e v a s a 'n ia s , opus ecnrevaav els a vT rjv times and in later times by many others, such as
ira p a fta X eiv tup p e v a p ^ a i o T a r u v ’0 pcf>evs K a l Pythagoras of Samos and Solon the lawgiver. 2 Now
o iroirjT Tjs " O p r j p o s , t u p Be p e r a y e v e c n e p u p a X X o i
it is maintained by the Egyptians that it was they
T6 7c X e l o v s Kal Ilvd a yo p a s o 2 d p i o s , €t i Be
who first discovered writing and the observation of
the stars, who also discovered the basic principles of
5 H o X u v o v o p o Q ¿ tt]s. X eyovcn r o lv v v A ly v w T io i
geometry and most of the arts, and established the
T ra p ' a v T O is rr /v re tup ypappdruv e v p e a iv
best laws. And the best proof of all this, they say,
y e v e a d a i K a l T p v tup a c n p u v T r a p a T p p T j a i v , i r p o s
lies in the fact that Egypt for more than four
Bk toutois t d re K ara Tpv y e u p e r p la v O e u p r j-
p a ra K al ir X e i c n a s e v p e O r j v a i ,
tup T e ^ v u v ta s 1 The famous foot-race at Olympia, 606| feet long.
6 vopovs re t o v ? dplcnovs Tedrjvai. Kal t ovtuv 2 Cp. for Orpheus, chap. 23, for Homer, chap. 12, for
Pythagoras and Solon, chap. 98.
p eyia irjv cnroBei^iv fyacnv elvai to tt)s A ly v in o v
239
238
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 69. 6-70. 3

ттХекы т S>v ет гт а к о а ш р к а л гет p a K i a y j X l w v ¿т ар thousand seven hundred years was ruled over by kings
/ 3 a a i X e v a a i ток/ч тгХекпУч е у у е р е к ч к а \ r r j v у л о р а р of whom the majority were native Egyptians, and
еЬ В агроуеат ат рр vndpgai трч ат гаарч oI k o v - that the land was the most prosperous of the whole
реррч' т аут а y a p ovk ар тготе y e p e a O a i рр ov
inhabited world; for these things could never have
ты р арв р ш т т ш р ХрШ) и е р с о р к р а т к а т о г ч ёвеаг ка1
been true of any people which did not enjoy most
excellent customs and laws and the institutions which
p o p . o i 4 к а \ то1ч к а т а т г а а а р тгa i B e k a p е т п т р В е у -
promote culture o f every kind. Now as for the
7 p a a ip . o a a pep ovv Нройото? к а к т1 Реч т а р т ач
stories invented by Herodotus and certain writers on
А г у у т ш ы р тгра^егч а у р т а ^ а р е р ш р i a ^ e S i a K a a i p ,
Egyptian affairs, who deliberately preferred to the
екоуаьш ч т грокркрарт еч т рч аХрвекач то т г а р а - truth the telling of marvellous tales and the invention
B o ^ o X o yeip каХ рувоуч тгХатт егр ф гухаугоукач of myths for the delectation of their readers, these we
е р е к а , т г а р р а о р е р , а у т а Be тсс т г а р а т о1 ч i e p e v a i shall omit, and we shall set forth only what appears
то1ч к а т АХууттт ор е р т а1ч а р а у р а ф а Х ч у е у р а р - in the written records of the priests of Egypt and has
р е р а фСКоткршч е^ р т а к о т е ч е к в р а о р е в а . passed our careful scrutiny.
70. И р ш т о р p e p t o Lp v p o i / 3 a a i \ e i 4 а у т ш р f i i o p 70. In the first place, then, the life which the kings
e J x ° P o v x о р о ю р Т 0 14 a \ X o i 4 то1ч е р р о р а р у г к а Х ч o f the Egyptians lived was not like that of other men
e^ o v a ia l.4 o d a i к а Х т га р т а т г р а т т о у а 1 кат а t t jp who enjoy autocratic power and do in all matters
еа ут ш р i r p o a i p e a i p арут т еувурш ч, a X k ' р р ат гарт а exactly as they please without being held to account,
т ет аурера роропр етптауаХч, ov ророр та тгерХ
but all their acts were regulated by prescriptions set
forth in laws, not only their administrative acts, but
тоуч хрррат гароуч, а \Х а к а Х т а тгерХ t t jp к а в ’
also those that had to do with the way in which they
2 р р е р а р В ш у ш у р р каХ BLanap. тгерХ p e p у а р т рр
spent their time from day to day, and with the food
верат геш р аут ш р оуВеХч рр оут аруурш ррт оч
which they ate. In the matter of their servants, for
o i /т о к к о у е р р ч В о у \ о ч , а \ Х а т ар ет пфареат ат ш р instance, not one was a slave, such as had been
t e p e w p v io l тгартеч, ут гер e i K o a i p e p ё т р у е у о р о т е ч , acquired by purchase or born in the home, but all
T reiraLB eypevoi Be каХ К гат а тш р ороеврш р, Хра were sons of the most distinguished priests, over
тоуч ет преХраорероуч тоу аш рат оч к аХ ттааар twenty years old and the best educated of their
ррерар каХ рукт а т гроаеВреуорт ач о /За а Х Х еи ч fellow-countrymen, in order that the king, by virtue of
¿’ х о у р а р к а т о у ч р р В е р етптрВеур ф а у Х о р • оуВеХч his having the noblest men to care for his person and
уар ётгХ тгХео р к а к к а ч т гр о /З а к р е г В у р а а т р ч , ¿ а р to attend him throughout both day and night, might
рр тоуч кпгррет раорт ач ¿хр та1ч е т п 9 у р к а 1 ч. follow no low practices; for no ruler advances far
3 В ь а т е т а у р е р а 1 В' р а а р а к те т рч р р е р а ч к а Х т рч 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
240 241
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK I. 70. 3-8
v v /c t o s c o p a i, /caff’a? e/c i r a v T O S r p o w o v / c a f f f j / c o v
plan, and at the specified hours it was absolutely
rjv tov /3a a i X e a T r p a T T e i v t o a v v T C T a y p e v o v , o v
required of the king that he should do what the laws
4 to BeBoypevov eav t 5>. ecoffev pev yap eyepffevra stipulated and not what he thought best. For
\af3eiv avTov eBei irpcoTOV t a? wavTa^offev aire- instance, in the morning, as soon as he was awake,
(TTaXpevas e ircaToXds, iva BvvqTai irdvra /card he first of all had to receive the letters which had been
Tpoirov xprjpaTL^eiv /cal TrpaTTeiv, eIBcos d/cpi/3cbs sent from all sides, the purpose being that he might
e/caaTa tcov /card Tqv fiacrcXeiav awreXovpevcov be able to despatch all administrative business and
en en a Xovcrdpevov /cal t ot? T r j s dpxfjs avaaq- perform every act properly, being thus accurately
pois p er eaffqros Xapirpas /coapqaavTa to acopa informed about everything that was being done
ffi/aai tow ffeol9. throughout his kingdom. Then, after he had bathed
5 T6 /3 copco T r p o a a ^ f f e v T c o v tcov f f v p a T c o v e d o s and bedecked his body with rich garments and the
q v tov d p y i e p e a ot d v T a irX q a io v tov f t a a i X e c o s insignia of his office, he had to sacrifice to the gods.
ev y e a ffa i peydXq Trj cf/covrj, TrepieaTcoTos tov When the victims had been brought to the altar
n X q ffo v s tcov A l y v T n l c o v , Bovvai Tqv tc v y t e i a v
it was the custom for the high priest to stand near
the king, with the common people of Egypt gathered
/ c a l T a X X a d y a f f a i r a v T a ^ co [ i a a C X e i B i a T q p o v v T i
around, and pray in a loud voice that health and
6 t a 77/309 to0 9 v i r o T S T a y p e v o v ^ Bl/caia. a vffo p o X o -
all the other good things of life be given the king
yela ffa i B Tjv ava y/ca lo v /cal Tas /c a T a pepos
if he maintains justice towards his subjects. And
dpeTa9 avTov, XeyovTa Bioti 77/309 Te T0 0 9 ffe o v s an open confession had also to be made o f each and
eva eftcb9 «a l 77/309 to 0 9 dvffp co rro vs qpepcoTaTa every virtue of the king, the priest saying that
B ia /c e iT a r ey/cp a T q 9 T6 y a p e a T i /c a l S i'/c a io 9 /cal towards the gods he was piously disposed and
p eya X o tfcv^o s, en S' dyjrevB qs /ca l p eT a B o T i/co s towards men most kindly; for he was self-controlled
tcov d y a f f w v / c a l / c a f f o X o v T r a a q s e m f f v p l a s / c p e i T - and just and magnanimous, truthful, and generous
tcov, / c a l Tas /A6 I3 T i p c o p l a s ¿Xuttovs tt)9 d ^ l a s with his possessions, and, in a word, superior to
¿TriT iffelf toIs a p a p T q p a a i, Ta9 Se ^ a p i T a s every desire, and that he punished crimes less
p e c ^ o v a s T q s e v e p y e a l a s a T r o B i B o v s tois e v e p y e T q - severely than they deserved and rendered to his
7 a a a i. 7T o X X a B e / c a l d X X a ’R a p a i c X q a i a tovtois benefactors a gratitude exceeding the benefaction.
B i e X f f c o v o / c a T e v ^ o p e v o s to T e X e v T a i o v i n r e p tcov
And after reciting much more in a similar vein he
concluded his prayer with a curse concerning things
a y v o o v p e v c o v d p a v e i r o i e i T O , tov p e v f i a a c X e a tcov
done in error, exempting the king from all blame
ey/cX rjpaT cov eg a ip o vp evo s, els Be to 09 virq p e-
therefor and asking that both the evil consequences
T O v v T a s / c a l S i S a g a v T a s to c f i a v X a / c a l T q v f i X a f i q v
and the punishment should fall upon those who
8 «a t T7)i> T i p c o p l a v d g i c b v d i r o a / c q - ^ r a c . T a in a B'
served him and had taught him evil things. All
e i r p a T T e v a p a p e v e l s B e i c n B a i p o v l a v / c a l ffe o c f/iX q this he would do, partly to lead the king to fear
242
243
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 70. 8-71. i

/S i o v tov fta a iX é a irp o T p e n o p e v o s, âpa Be /cal the gods and live a life pleasing to them, and partly
K a r a tp o i T o v K f j v ê d i Ç c o v o i l B i d m /cp â s vovO eTr/- to accustom him to a proper manner o f conduct,
a e c o s , à X X à B i ' è i r a i v w v / c e y a p i a p é v c o v / c a l 7rpoç not by sharp admonitions, but through praises that
9 à p e T t j v p d X i a r ' à vrj/c b vT co v. p e r a Be r a v r a t o v were agreeable and most conducive to virtue. After
/3a<7t\eti)? i e p o a / c o T T i j a a p é v o v p o c r y j p / c a l / c a X - this, when the king had performed the divination
from the entrails o f a calf and had found the omens
X ie p fja a v T o s , o p 'ev lep o yp a p p a T evs ira p a v eyi-
good, the sacred scribe read before the assemblage
va ia /cé t iv a s a vp fS o vX ia s a vp cfiep o va a s /cal
from out of the sacred books some o f the edifying
irp a l-eis i/c tc ù v iepcbv ¡¡U ftX w v tw v em c f i a v e - counsels and deeds o f their most distinguished men,
cttutcov à v B p ê ù v , Ôi r c o s 0 tüv o X cov t /j v fjy e p o v ia v in order that he who held the supreme leadership
e^cov rà ç /c a X X ia ra ç irp o a ip é a e is t fj B ia v o ia should first contemplate in his mind the most excel­
O eooprjaat? ovtcû tt p o s ttjv T e ra y p evr/v t Si v /ca ra lent general principles and then turn to the pre­
10 p e p o s tp e i r i j T a i B to i/crja iv. ov yàp povov tov scribed administration of the several functions. For
X p r j p c m Ç e i v fj / c p i v e i v r \ v / c a i p o s ¿1 p i a p é v o s , à X X à there was a set time not only for his holding audiences
/cal tov i r e p n r a T r j a a i /ca l X o v a a a d a i /cal /co ip tj- or rendering judgments, but even for his taking a
d rjva i p e T a Trjs y v v a i / c b s /c a l / c a O o X o v tw v /caT a walk, bathing, and sleeping with his wife, and, in a
11 tov /3lov ttpaTTOpévcov àirâvTwv. tpocfiaî*; B' word, for every act o f his life. And it was the
e 8os r)v avTOis âiraXaîs 1 XPPa @al’ Kpba pev custom for the kings to partake o f delicate food,
poa^o/v /cal y/jvwv povcov 2 irpoacf/epopevovs, eating no other meat than veal and duck, and
drinking only a prescribed amount o f wine, which
olvov Be Ta/cTov Tt peTpov irLvovTas pfj Bvvapevov
was not enough to make them unreasonably surfeited
12 irX rja p o v fjv â/ca ip o v fj p éd rjv ire p n ro ifja a i. /ca-
or drunken. And, speaking generally, their whole
8oXov Bè Ta Trepl ttjv BLanav ovtcos V Trfjpye
diet was ordered with such continence that it had
avppeTpw s B ia T e T a y p é v a üaTe B o/c eîv p f j vopo- the appearance o f having been drawn up, not by a
O eT tjv, àXXà tov â p ia T o v tw v ia T p w v avvT€Ta- lawgiver, but by the most skilled o f their physicians,
yévai t fjs v y i e l a s a T o y a Ç o p e v o v . with only their health in view.
71. T ï a p a B ô Ç o v B’ eiva i Bo k o v v t o s tov p fj 71. Strange as it may appear that the king did
irâ a a v eyeiv èffo va ia v tov fia a iX éa t fjs /ca 6 ' not have the entire control o f his daily fare, far
fjp ep a v Tpocf/fjs, 7r o X X w d a vp a a ico T ep o v fjv to more remarkable still was the fact that kings were
p fjT e B u cd Ç eiv p fp r e y p r jp a T Î Ç e iv to t vybv a vT o ls not allowed to render any legal decision or transact
itje îv a i, p rjB b T i p w p i j a a a d a i p y B e v a Bi v fip iv fj any business at random or to punish anyone through
B ia O vpov f) T iva d X X rjv a iT ia v aBucov, à\\à malice or in anger or for any other unjust reason,
1 à v a h a îs Vogel (cp. chap. 84. 5) : i n h a h II, Bekker,
2 /iivciv Vogel : Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
Dindorf.
244 245
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 71. 1-72. i
but only in accordance with the established laws
/cadarrep oi irepl e/cdarcov /ceipevoi vopoi ’irpocr-
relative to each offence. And in following the
2 ¿TO.TTOV. Tavra Be Kara to edo; irpaTTOvre;
dictates of custom in these matters, so far were they
o\>x 07TC0? r/yava/cTovv rj wpoaeKOTTTOv r a t? from being indignant or taking offence in their souls,
rjrv^aif,1 aXXa t ovvavriov rjyovvTO eavrov; £rjv that, on the contrary, they actually held that they
3 / ¡ h o v p a / c a p i d o r a r o v tov; p e v y a p aXXov? d v 6 p d ) - led a most happy life ; for they believed that all
7tov? e v o p i ^ o v a X o y i a T c o ; rot? < f > v a u e o h T r a O e t r i other men, in thoughtlessly following their natural
X a p i& p evo v ; 7roXXa i r p a r r e i v t w v < f> e p o v n o v passions, commit many acts which bring them
/3Xd/3a? rj kivBvvovs, t e a l ttoW clki^ e’viovs e i S o r a i injuries and perils, and that oftentimes some who
o t i p e X X o v a i v d p a p r d v e i v p r j B e v f jT T O v i r p a r r e i v realize that they are about to commit a sin neverthe­
t a ( j j a v X a K a n a x ^ o p e v o v ; vtt e p c o r o ? rj p i t r o v ; less do base acts when overpowered by love or hatred
rj T iv o t erepov n dO ov;, eavrov? S’ e^ r/X co/cora; or some other passion, while they, on the other hand,
{ 3 i o v top vito t d>v (fipovipcordrcov dvB pcbv wp o i c e / c p i - by virtue of their having cultivated a manner of
4 pevov tX a ^ /crro i? Trepnrivreiv dyvoppacn. t o i -
life which had been chosen before all others by the
most prudent o f all men, fell into the fewest mistakes.
ainr) Be x p (a/u‘^vcov tcoi/ fiaaiXerov BiKatoavvrj
And since the kings followed so righteous a course
Trpbs too? in ro T er a y p e v o v ; , rd n r X r jd r j ra i; eh
in dealing with their subjects, the people manifested
too? pyovpevov; evvo ia i; rra tra v a vyye vu crjv
a goodwill towards their rulers which surpassed even
(p iX o a T o p yia v vT repefidX X eT O ' ov yap povov to the affection they had for their own kinsmen; for
a v a -T tjp a T tbv iepecov, aXXa «a t a vX X p fiB p v not only the order o f the priests but, in short, all
arravre; oi /ca r A iy vT rro v ovx ovrco yvvaucw v the inhabitants o f Egypt were less concerned for
teat, reKveov teal t cbv aXXoov t &v inrapxovT eov their wives and children and their other cherished
a v ro i; a y a d w v ¿(ppovn^ov a ; t rj; tcov / 3 a c r iX e a > v possessions than for the safety o f their kings. Conse­
5 acn^aXe/a?. r o iy a p o v v T rX ela ro v p e v x p o v o v r w v quently, during most o f the time covered by the
p v r j p o v e v o p e v c o v f i a c n X e c o v T r o X i T i /c r j v / c a r a a r a a i v reigns o f the kings o f whom we have a record, they
eT rjprjcrav, e v B a i p o v e c n a T O V Be f t l o v '¿ x o v r e ; B ie - maintained an orderly civil government and con­
te X e a a v , ear; e p e i v e v f] i r p o e i p p p e v r j tc o v vopcov tinued to enjoy a most felicitous life, so long as the
a w ra ^i;, irp o ; Be t o v t o i; edvm v re T rX eiarcov
system o f laws described was in force; and, more
than that, they conquered more nations and achieved
eire/ep a rsera v /cat p e y i a r o v ; tt X o v t o v ; ecrX o v > K aL
greater wealth than any other people, and adorned
t a? p e v ;^<upa? e p y o i ; «a t K a r a c n c e v a c r p a c n v
their lands with monuments and buildings never to
d v v i v e p i i K r j T o i ’; , r a ; B e 7roXet? d v a d i j p a c r i tto X v -
be surpassed, and their cities with costly dedications
reXeat /cat r r a v T o i o i ; e K o c r p r j o - a v . o f every description.
72. Kat ra /¿era rrjv re X evrijV Be y i v o p e v a 72. Again, the Egyptian ceremonies which fol_
1 M SS., V o g e l: ruvaij Dindorf. 247
246
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 72. 1-5

тшv f t a a i X e a v пара то1ч A l y v m l o i 4 oil p i K p a v lowed upon the death of a king afforded no small
à n ò S e i t j i v е щ е 1 т у ч tov n X y 6 o v 4 e v v o i a 4 е1ч т о о ч proof of the goodwill of the people towards their
y y o v p é v o v 4 ‘ е1ч a v e n a l a d y T O v y à p xà p iv у T ip i) rulers; for the fact that the honour which they
r iB e p é v y p a p T v p l a v à v ó ffe v T o v п е р с е щ е туч à X y - paid was to one who was insensible of it constituted
an authentic testimony to its sincerity. For when
2 ве1ач■ ¿поте у ар i/cX ein o i пч tov /3i o v тш v
any king died all the inhabitants of Egypt united in
/3 a a i\é ù )v , паут еч o i к а т а три A i y v m o v koivov
mourning for him, rending their garments, closing
à v y p o v v r o n é v 0 o 4, к а \ т ач p è v е о в у т а ч к а т е р р у т -
the temples, stopping the sacrifices, and celebrating
TOVTO, т а S' ie p à оиоекХею у каХ тач выт1ач no festivals for seventy-two days; and plastering
епещ оу ка\ тач еорт ач ovk yyov еф' урерач their heads with mud and wrapping strips of linen
ё/ЗВ орукоУ т а ка\ Suo- к а т а п е п Х а а p è v o i S e т ач cloth below their breasts, women as well as men
кеф аХ ач пуХ ш к а \ n e p i e t p i a p i v o t < rtvS óva 4 v n o - went about in groups o f two or three hundred, and
катш тoi v p a a Tol v орош ч ауВреч ка\ у о у а 1кеч twice each day, reciting the dirge in a rhythmic chant,
n ep tįa a v авромт веут еч к а т а S ia K o a lo v 4 у трш - they sang the praises o f the deceased, recalling his
к о с п о ь ч , к а Х tov p e v O p y v o v è v p v 6 pS> р е т шВуч virtues; nor would they eat the flesh o f any living
7r o i o v p e v o i В1 ч туч урерач ет ёрш у е у к ш р 1 о 1 ч, thing or food prepared from wheat, and they abstained
avaK aX ovpevoi ttjv а р е т у у той тетеХеитукоточ, from wine and luxury o f any sort. And no one would
т р о ф rp> S' o m e т у у a n o тш у ¿рф ео^еоv o m e т уу a n o ever have seen fit to make use of baths or unguents
tov n v p o v п р о а е ф е р о у т о , tov те o C
’ vov K a i п а а у ч
or soft bedding, nay more, would not even have
dared to indulge in sexual pleasures, but every
3 n ó X v T e X e ia 4 а п е щ о у т о . o v S e '14 S' à v o m e Х о о т р о 1 ч
Egyptian grieved and mourned during those seventy-
от à X e lp p a a iv om e а т р ш р у а Х ч п р о е 1 Х е т о XPV~
two days as if it were his own beloved child that had
a d a i , o v p y v o vS è n роч та а ф р о Ы ы а n p o a e X O e iv
died. But during this interval they had made
àv ¿ T oX prjaev, àXXà кавапер ауапут оО t Ókvov splendid preparations for the burial, and on the last
т еХеот уааут оч ёкаат оч перш Виуоч yivó p evo 4 day, placing the coffin containing the body before
4 è n e v O e i тач e lp r )p é v a 4 у р е р а ч . èv S e т о о т ш тш the entrance to the tomb, they set up, as custom
X p o vtp та проч тафуу Харпрш ч пареакеоаа- prescribed, a tribunal to sit in judgment upon the
p e v o i, ка1 ту T e X e v T a ia тшу у р е р ш у веут еч т уу deeds done by the deceased during his life. And
to a o ip a expvcrav X d p va /ca про т уч etę tov when permission had been given to anyone who so
тафоу e la ó S o v, проет 1весгау кат а vópov тш wished to lay complaint against him, the priests
т е т е Х е о т г ) к 6 т 1 к р п у р ю у т ш у è v тш ¡31ш n p a x & i v - praised all his noble deeds one after another, and
б тшу. В о в е ё а у ч S' è £ o v o i a 4 тш / 3 o v X o p é v a > к а т у -
yo p eiv, ol pèv 1 е р е 1ч еуекш p ia llo у ёкаат а toiv
1 e?xe Bekker, Vogel : iptpti A B , Dindorf.
каХш ч a m į> пра^верт ш у S iei;ióvT e4, a l Sè п р о ч
248 249
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK I. 72. 5-73. 3
тq v ёкф орау avvpypevai p vp ia S e4 тш у оуА ш у
¿ K o v o v a a i а у у е т г е у ф р р о о у , el t v ^ ol к а Х ш ч f3e/3i- the common people who had gathered in myriads
б шло)?, el Be pq, ro v va vrlo v ё в о р б /З о о у . ксй to the funeral, listening to them, shouted their
ttoX X oi тш у /Засп Х еш У S ia Tqv tov т Хрвооч approval if the king had led a worthy life, but if
e va vT ia x n v ат геат еррвраау т рч ёрф ауоО ч ксй
he had not, they raised a clamour of protest. And
in fact many kings have been deprived o f the public
vo p ip o v тафрч' B io ксй c rvvefia iv e тоич тру
burial customarily accorded them because o f the
/3 a a i X e i a v S iaS e% opevov4 p q povov S ia тач a p T i
opposition of the people ; 1 the result was, conse­
р р в е ' к т а ч а 1 т 1 а ч S i K a i o v p a y e i v , а Х Х а к а \ S i a to v
quently, that the successive kings practised justice,
ф о/Зоу т рч р е т а т ру теХеотру ё а о р е у р ч v /Зреш ч not merely for the reasons just mentioned, but also
те t o v а ш р а т о ч к с й ( З Х а < т ф р р 1 а ч е1ч а т г а у т а t o v because o f their fear o f the despite which would be
a lw va . shown their body after death and o f eternal
Т шу pev ovv ire p l тооч a p % a io v4 /ЗаспХ есч obloquy.
v o p i p c o v та р е у к т т а таит’ ё а т ю . O f the customs, then, touching the early kings
73. T 779 A ly in n o v Be T r d c r q 4 е1ч тгХесш p e p q these are the most important.
S i p p p p e v p 4, d>v ёкаегт оу кат а тру 'E X X p v i K p v 73. And since Egypt as a whole is divided into
B idX eK T O v o v o p a ^ e T a t у о р о ч , ёф ' ёкаат ср тетактас several parts which in Greek are called nomes, over
у о р а р ^ р ч о T q v а т г а у т ш у ё % ш у e i r i p e X e i a v те к а \ each of these a nomarch is appointed who is charged
2 ф роут сёа. трч Be - )( ш р а ч а т а а р ч е1ч T p l a pepq
with both the oversight and care o f all its affairs.
В срррреурч тру р е у ттрсотру e%6 t p ep lB a то <rv-
Furthermore, the entire country is divided into
three parts, the first o f which is held by the order
ат рра тш у lep e c o v , р е у й т т р ч ёутротгрч т о у у а у о у
o f the priests, which is accorded the greatest venera­
т ара тосч е у % а > р 1 о 1 ч S i d те т р у е 1 ч т ооч в е о о ч
tion by the inhabitants both because these men
eirip e X e ia v ка\ S ia то тгХе 1 а т р у avvecnv т ооч
have charge o f the worship o f the gods and because
3 а у В р а ч тоотоич е к T a i S e i a 4 е'кт ф ёреабa i . ёк Вё by virtue o f their education they bring to bear a
tovtcov т ш у т г р о а о В ш у т а ч те 6 о а 1 а ч а т г а а а ч тач higher intelligence than others. With the income
кат A i’ y v T T o v avvTeXovcn ка\ т ооч v n ррет ач from these holdings 2 o f land they perform all the
т рефоосп каХ т а1ч 1В1асч хреьсич -)(p p q yo va iv' sacrifices throughout Egypt, maintain their assist­
o i n e y a p т ач т ш у в е ш у Т 1 р а ч ш о ут о S e i v а Х Х а т т е с у , ants, and minister to their own needs; for it has
аХХ vtto те т ш у а о т ш у del ка\ т гарат гХ раш ч always been held that the honours paid to the gods
should never be changed, but should ever be per­
1 Two instances of this are given in chap. 64. formed by the same men and in the same manner,
2 The Harris Papyrus o f the twelfth century B.c. gives the
only definite figures of the vast holdings of the temples. and some fifteen per cent, of the land, not to mention property
They owned at that time about two per cent, of the population of other nature, and their power materially increased in the
250 succeeding centuries.
251
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
ffvVTe\eia@cu,ovT€ tovs TravTwv 7rpofiovXevopevovs
4 evheels eivai twv dvay/caiwv. /caOoXov yap irepi
twv peyicnwv ovtoi ntpoftovXevopevoi, crwhcaTpi-
(Bovcri Tft) ¡3aaiXel, twv pev avvepyoi, twv he
elayyyTal /cal Schdcr/caXoi yivopevoi, /cal hia pev
Tys dcnpoXoyias /cal Tys iepocr/comas ra peX-
XovTa ttpoa>]palvovres, e/c he twv ev rats iepals
fiifTXois avayeypappevwv 7rpd^ewv Tas wcf/eXyaai
5 Bvvapevas Trapavayivwcr/covTes• ov yap, wairep
7rapa toIs "EXXyaiv, els avyp y pla yvvy Tyv
iepwavvyv irapeiXy/pev, dXXd iroXXol irepi Tas
twv dewv Ovcnas /cal Tipas hiaTpifiovcn, /cal tois
e/cyovois tt)v opoiav tov ¡3iov irpoaipeaiv irapahi-
hoaaiv. eicrl he ovtol ttuvtwv re areX ei? /cal Sev-
TepevovTes peTa tov [iacnXea Tais tc ho^ats /cal
r a t? e^ovaiais.
6 Tyv he hevrepav poipav oi fiaaiXels irapeiXy-
ipacnv eis Trpoaohovs, d<$ wv el's re to vs voXe-
povs xppyyovai /cal Tyv 7repl ai/Tovs XapirpoTyTa
hiacpvXaTTOvcri, /cal tovs pev avhpayadyaavTas
hwpeals « a r a Tyv atjiav Tipwai, tovs h’ ihiwTas
hid Tyv e/c tovtwv eviropiav ov fSairTi^ovcn Tats
elacpopals•
7 Tyv he peplha Tyv TeXevTalav expvacv oi
paycpoc /caXovpevoi /cal 7rpos t as XeiTovpytas
Tas eis Tyv cnpaTeiav vira/covovTes, 'Lv oi /civhv-
vevovTes evvovcTTaToc Ty X^/pa hia Tyv /cXy-
pov~)(iav ovTes irpoOvpws eiciheyo/VTai to, avp/3ai-
8 vovTa /caTa tovs iroXepovs Beivd. cctottov yap
yv Tyv pev twv airdvTWV crwTypiav tovtois
¿TriTpeireiv, virep ov he aywviovvTai pyhev avTois
vndpxeiv /caTa Tyv x^Pav airovhys a^iov to he
252
BOOK I. 73- 3-8
and that those who deliberate on behalf o f all should
not lack the necessities 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 o f astrology and o f 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 o f life. They also
pay no taxes o f 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 o f such
allotment of land and thus may eagerly face the
perils o f war. For it would be absurd to entrust the
safety o f 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
pceyicrrov, evwopovfievovt; avrovs paSiw<; t e/cpo-
Troirjcreiv, /cal Std t o v t o ttj p irokvavdpcoiriav
/caraa/cevaaecp,1 ware pep TrpoaSeicrOai jjepi/cfp;
9 Svpdpeewi ttjp y^copav. opcoiws S’ optoi Ttjp
rd^iv TavTtjv e/c trpoyopwp SiaSeyopiepoi rat? peep
twp 7rarepcov apSpayaOlaus TTpoTpe-rrovTai 7rpo?
Tpv dvSpelav, e/c 7raiSwp Se foXwTal yipopeepoe
twp iroXepu/cwp epywp dpi/cpToi rat? ToXpcau; /cal
rat? ep-rreipiaa avoßaipovaip.
74. ’'Earl S’ erepa <TVVTayp,aTa tj}? 7roXtreta?
Tpia, to re t w p popewp /cal t o t w p yewpy&p, €ti
Se t o t w p Te^piTcbp. ol p,ep o v p yecopyol pu/epov
t w o ? Trjv /capTTo<f>6pop yfjp t /]p trapd t o p ß a a i-
Xew<; /cal t w p iepewp /cal t w p p,ayip,wp puerdov-
peepoi SiaTeXovai t o p 7rdpTa y^popop irepl Ttjp
epyaaiap oWe? rfj<; y^wpav i/c pp-rrlov Se avpTpe-
/fiopeepoi rat? yewpyi/cais €7TipceXeiav; ttoX v 7rpo-
ey/ovai t w p 7rapa rot? aXXois edvecn yewpywp
2 rai? epnretpiaif;• /cal yap ttjp Tp<; yp<; ipvcrip
/cal ttjp twp vSaTwp eirippvcnp, ert Se tops
/caipovi tov T£ enropov /cal top depiapeov /cal
T77? äXXps twp /capwwp avy/cop,iSfj<; ä/cpiße/TTaTa
•/raPTWP yipwa/covcn, to, peep e/c t?;? twp Tvpoyopwp
7TapaTT)pr]<jew% peaOovTes, ta S’ e« r/)? iSia<?
3 ireipa<; ScSay(d¿PTe<;. 0 S avTcx; Xoyos e’erri «at
Trepl t w p popcewp, 01 ttj p t w p OpepcpeaTwp eVt-
pceXeiap e/c -rraTepwp wenrep /cXrjpopopdas popew
7TapaXapeßdvoPTe<; ¿ p ßiw KTrjvoTpojiw SiaTeXovcn
4 iraPTa top top £t}p ^popop, /cal 7roXXd peep irapd
twp Trpoyopwp 7rpo<? depaireiap /cal SiaTpotfipp
apia ttjp twp ßoa/copLepwP TrapeeXpcpaaip, ov/c oXiya
1 K a T a / T K fv d & fiv Stephanus: K a T a tr u e u d fc iv .
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.1
74. There are three other classes o f 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 receive 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
ancestors 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 fi.
255
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 74. 4-7
S' a u ro i S ia rbv e is T a u ra % r/X o v r r p o a e u p i- by reason of tlieir own interest in such matters;
C TK O uai, Ka\ to O a u p a a ic b r a r o v , S ia tt)v u tte p -
and the most astonishing fact is that, by reason of
their unusual application to such matters, the men
/3 o X l] v t t js e is r a u r a a r r o u S ijs o i r e o p v id o r p o c f> o i
who have charge of poultry and geese, in addition
Kal o i ^ r jv o ^ o a K o l x e o p is r r js rra p a t o is a X X o is to producing them in the natural way known to all
d v d p c o ir o is ¿k r p v a e io s a u v r e X o v p e v r js yeveaecos mankind, raise them by their own hands, by virtue
tc o v e i p r jp e v c o v ^ c lc o v a u ro i S ia r r js iS ia s <f>iXo- of a skill peculiar to them, in numbers beyond
r e x y ia s a p u d r jr o v ir X r jd o s opvecov a d p o i^ o u a iv
telling; for they do not use the birds for hatching
the eggs, but, in effecting this themselves artificially
5 ou ya p errcp d ^o u a i S ia tc o v o p v iO c o v , ¿XX’ a u ro i
by their own wit and skill in an astounding manner,
n a p a S o l - c o s x e i p o u p y o u v r e s r f j a u v e a e i K a l < f) i\o - they are not surpassed by the operations of nature.1
T e x y ia t f j s (f> u a iK r/s ¿ v e p y e l a s ouk d r r o X e iir o v T a i. Furthermore, one may see that the crafts also
6 ’AXXa prjv Kal t as re^vas iSeiv eerri irapa among the Egyptians are very diligently cultivated
and brought to their proper development; for they
t ois A iyu m iois pdXiara SiarreTrovqpevas Kal
are the only people where all the craftsmen are
irpos t b Kadr\KOv reXos Sir]Kpi/3a>p,evas' rrapa forbidden to follow any other occupation or belong to
p,ovois yap t ourois oi Stjpioupyol rravres o u t ' any other class of citizens than those stipulated by the
epyaaias dXXrjs oure TroXiriKijs ragecos pera- laws and handed down to them from their parents,
the result being that neither ill-will towards a teacher
Xap/3dveiv ecbvTai irXrjv ttjs ¿ k to jv vopcov
nor political distractions nor any other thing inter­
oopiapevrjs Kal irapa tcov yovecov rrapaSeSopevps, feres with their interest in their work. For whereas
ware p ’jre SiSaoKciXou <f)6ovov pr)Te ttoX i t i k o u s among all other peoples it can be observed that the
rrepianaapous pijr aXXo prjSev eprroSi^eiv artisans are distracted in mind by many things,
7 a u rco v t rjv e i s ra ura a rr o u S tjv . rra p a pev yap
and through the desire to advance themselves do
not stick exclusively to their own occupation; for
t o is d X X o is iS e iv e a r l to u s r e x y l r a s ir e p i tt o X X cl
some try their hands at agriculture, some dabble in
T tj S ia v o ia ir e p ia r r c o p e v o u s Kal S ia r r jv ir X e o - trade, and some cling to two or three crafts, and
v e tjia v prj pevovras to va p d rra v enl r fjs iS ia s in states having a democratic form o f government
e p y a a ia s ' oi pev yap ecpam ovTai y e c o p y ia s , oi vast numbers o f them, trooping to the meetings o f the
Assembly, ruin the work o f the government, while
S ’ e p ir o p ia s K o iv c o v o u a iv , oi Se S u o iv rj T p ic b v
they make a profit for themselves at the expense of
r e x v c b v d v r e x o v T a i , r c X e io T O i S ’ e v r a i s S r j p o K p a -
r o u p e v a is r r o X e a iv e l? Tci? ¿ K K X r ja ia s a uvrpe- 1 According to Aristotle (H isto ria A n im a liu m , 6 . 2) this
X ovTes tt/ v pev ir o X n e ia v X u p a iv o v r a i, to Sb artificial hatching was effected by burying the eggs in dung.
256 257
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
XvaneXes TrepnroiovvTcu irapd tup p,i<r0o8o-
tovptuv rrapd 8e tok AlyvirrioK, ei t i? tup
teypirup p.eTacrj(pi t ?)? TroXireiav y re^pas
rrXeiov9 epyd^ono, peydXaii irepnrnrTei Tip,u-
piaiv.
8 /¿eii ovv 8iaipecup Tys iroXiTeias kcu ryp
ry<; ISias rd^eu<; emp-eXeiav 8id rrpoyopuv Toiav-
ryv e a x ov °'1 T0 iroAxubv ryp A lyvirrop Karoi-
KOVVTi'i.
75. Ilept 8e ra s Kpicret,9 ov ryp Tvxpvcrav
eiroiovpTo cnrovSyp, yyoiip£POi ras' ¿v rot? 8uca-
aTt)pioi<t aTro<f>daei<; p,eyiaryp porryp Ttp koipu
2 /3 L(p <f>epeip 77/309 dptpoTepa. 8rfXov yap fjv oti
tup p,ev Trapavop.ovvT(ov KoXa£op.eveov, tup 8’
d8i/covp.ev(ov ¡3oy0eia‘; rvy^avoprup, apiary 8iop-
doocris earai tup dp.apTyp.aTup1 el 8' o $ o / 3 o 9
0 yipop,epo<; ex tup Kpicreup r o b ? irapapopovaip
dvarperroiro xpypaaLP y ^ d p t c r i f , eaope pyp
3 eupup rov koipov (iiov avy^vcnp. Siorrep ¿ k
tup ¿irKpapearaTup rroXeup tow aplarovi
ap8pa<i dTro8eiKPvpre<; 8iKa<rTa<i koipow ovk
aTreTvyxavop ry<; TTpoaipeaeus. e(j HXiov yap
rroXewi Kal ®y(Hup Kal 8eKa 8ucao-Ta‘;
e£ eicaatt/9 Trpoetcpwop' Kal tovto to <rvpe8piop
ovk eSoKei XeineaOai tup 'A$ypyat,p Apeoirayi-
tup y tup rrapd AaKe8aipovloi<t yepoprup.
4 eVei 8e avveXOouv oi rpiaKOPTa, eireKpipop
e% eavTUp eva top apicnop, Kal tovtop pep
dpxi8lKa<TTyp KaOiaraPTO, els 8e to tovtov tottop
1 Speaking as an aristocrat, Diodorus is criticising the
democracies o f Greeee, Athens in all probability being es­
pecially in his mind, where the citizens, according to him, leave
258
BOOK 1. 7 4 . 7- 7 5. 4
others who pay them their wage,1 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 o f the citizens,
maintained by the early inhabitants of Egypt, and
their devotion to their own class which they inherited
from their ancestors.
75. In their administration of justice the Egyptians
also showed no merely casual interest, holding that
the decisions of the courts exercise the greatest
influence upon community life, and this in each
o f 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
succour 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 o f 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
or of the Elders 2 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.
2 The bodies were known as the Council of the Areopagus
and the Gerousia respectively; the latter is described in Book
17. 104.
259
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
aireerTeXXev r/ 7roXt? eTepov SucacrTr/v. aWTa^en
S'e twv dvayicaiwv irapd tov fiaaiXews tois /lev
hucacrTais l/eaval 777)09 SiaTpocf>r/v e^opr/yovvTO,
5 to) S’ apxiSucaeTTrj iroXXaTrXdcnoi. eejiopei S'
OVTO9 7repl tov Tpa^rjXov ere xpverrjs aXvcrew9
r/pTr/fxevov £w8iov twv TroXvTeXwv Xidwv, 0
7rpoerr/yopevov AXydetav. twv S’ a/xiicr^r/Tricrewv
i)pX°VT° eireiSiiv 1 tt/v T 7 9 'AXr/6 eia<; eireova o
5 dpxi 8 ucacJTT}<; irpoadoiTO. twv Se ttcLvtwv vo/xwv
ev ftiftXiois oktw yeypa/i/ievwv, real tov twv
Trapareei/ievwv T0 I9 Sueamai1;, edos f/v tov /iev
KdTrjyopov ypdyfrai read ev wv eve/eaXei real 7r<u9
yeyove real tt/v a£iav tov d 8 uer//xaTo<> rj tt?9
ftXd/Sr/s, tov aTroXoyovptevov Se XaftovTa to
XpruxaTicrdev into twv avTiSircwv dvTiypdy\rai
777)09 etcacFTOv ¿ 9 ovie eirpa^ev rj npdt;a<; ovk
r/Sirer/aev rj dSuer/crae; eXaTTOvos £17777779 a%io<; ecrti
7 Tvyeiv. €7ren a vo/u/xov f/v tov reaTr/yopov dvTi-
ypdyjrai teal iraXiv tov anoXoyovp.evov dvTcdeivcu.
dpL(f>OTe'pwv Se twv dvTiSirewv to. yeypa/xpAva Sis
toI9 SucaoTais Sovtwv, to Tr/vueavT' eSei T0 0 9
/nev TpidtcovTa T779 yvw/xa<; ev dXXr/XoK; dirofyaL-
vecrffai, tov dp/^iSireacTTr/v Se to £w 8lov tt?9
' AXi/0eia<; irpoaTLOeaOai rf/ erepa twv d/iefuerfir/-
Tr/crewv.
76. TovTtp Se tw Tpoirw T a 9 repicrei<; 7rdcra 9
crvvTeXeiv TO0 9 AlyviTTLovs, vo/xL%ovTa<> ere pev
tov Xeyeiv tovs crvvr/yopov<; noXXa tok Si/eawis
eirieneoTr/aeiv real yap t <X9 Te^vas twv pr/Topwv
real t f/v tt/<; inrorepiaewi yor/Teiav real r a twv
1 ¿irei5i; Bekker, Dindorf.
260
BOOK I. 75. 4-76. i
another ju d g e. A llow ances to provide for their needs
w ere supplied b y the kin g, to the ju d g es sufficient for
their m aintenance, and m any tim es as m uch to the
c h ie f ju stice. T h e latter regularly w ore suspended
from his n eck b y a g olden chain a small im age m ade o f
precious stones, w hich th ey called Truth ; the hearings
o f the pleas com m en ced w henever the c h ie f ju stice
put on the im age o f Truth. T h e entire b od y o f
the laws was w ritten dow n in eigh t volum es which
lay before the ju d g es, and the custom was th at the
accuser should presen t in w riting the particulars o f
his com plaint, n am ely, the charge, h ow the thing
h appen ed, and the am ount o f injury or dam age done,
w hereupon the defen dan t w ould take the docum ent
su bm itted b y his opponents in the suit and reply in
w riting to each charge, to the effect either that he
did n ot com m it the d eed , or, i f he did, th at he was
n ot guilty o f w ron gdoing, or, i f he was g u ilty o f
w ron gdoing, that he should receive a ligh ter penalty.
A fte r that, the law required that the accuser should
reply to this in w riting and that th e defendant
should offer a rebuttal. A n d after both parties had
tw ice presen ted their statem ents in w riting to the
ju d g es, it was the du ty o f the thirty at once to
declare their opinions am ong them selves and o f the
c h ie f ju stice to place the im age o f Truth upon one
or the other o f the tw o pleas w hich had been
presented.
76. This was the m anner, as their accoun t g oes, in
which the E gyptians con du cted all court p roceed ­
ings, since th ey believed that i f the advocates w ere
allow ed to speak th ey w ould greatly b eclou d the
ju stice o f a c a s e ; for th ey knew that the clever
devices o f orators, the cunning w itchery o f their
261
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 76. 1-77. 2
K ivSvvevovTo>v SaK pva tto\ \ o v <} irpoT peireaQ ai delivery, and the tears o f the accused w ould influence
ir a p o p a v to t <ov vo / icov ¿ ttoto / io v K al ttjv t rj<; m any to overlook th e severity o f the laws and the
2 dXrjOdas aK.pLj3a.av dewpeladai yovv too ? eirai-
strictness o f tr u th ; at any rate th ey w ere aware
that m en w ho are h igh ly respected as ju d g es are
vov/xevov>f ev tm Kpiveiv iroWaKis fj Si ¿nrarr/v often carried away b y the eloquence o f the advo­
fj Sia ijrvxayioyLav rj Sid to 7t/oo? tov e\eov cates, either because th ey are deceiv ed , or because
iraOos crvveK<$>epop,evov<; tt; Swa/xei to>v avvijyo- th ey are won over b y the sp eaker’s charm , or because
povvTiov' 6K Se tov ypafyeiv Ta S'lKaia tou ? the em otion o f p ity has been aroused in t h e m ; 1
bu t b y having the parties to a suit present their
avTiSinovs (iovto Tas Kpicreis aicpi/3eis eaeadai,
pleas in w riting, it was their opinion that the ju d g ­
3 y v j i v o a v t S>v i r p a y / M i T i D V 6 e u > p o v j i e v w v . ovtco m ents w ould be strict, only th e bare facts being
y a p 1 j i a X i U T a j x f j T e too? eoc^oei? t 5>v j 3 p a S v - taken into accoun t. F or in that case there would
T e p i o v T f k e o v e K T r j a e i v j i f j T e tov<; e v r j 6 \ r j K O T a < ; twv b e the least chance th at g ifted speakers w ould have
an advantage over the slower, or the w ell-practised
a i r e i p c o v j i f j T e too? y j r e v a T a s K a l toX/xt?/ooo? tq>v
over the in exp erien ced, or the audacious liars over
<j)i\ a \ r j 6 i a v Kal K a T ec n a X jievw v toi ? fjO ea i, those w ho w ere truth-loving and restrained in char­
rrdvTas S' ¿it ' l< jr jt t ev^eaO ai t a>v S iK a U o v, acter, b u t all w ould g e t their ju st dues on an equal
L/cavbv x p o v o v ek tu>v v o j u o v X a p ,f3 a v o v T (o v to) v footin g , since b y the provision o f the laws ample
jiev avT iS iK io v ¿£eTacrai Ta 7r a p a W fjX c o v , toiv
tim e is taken, on the one hand b y th e disputants for
the exam ination o f the argum ents o f the other side,
Se S i K a c n w v c r v y u p i v a i T a T ra p ' d fu jso T ep io v.
and, on the oth er hand, b y the ju d g es for the com ­
7 7 . ’E7T€i Se t » ;? vo/iodeaias epvfjaOrjjiev, ov/c parison o f the allegations o f both parties.
avoLceiov elvai T77? viroKeijiev>]<; icrTopiat vofii- 77. Since w e have spoken o f their legislation, we
%o/aev eKdeadai t w v vojuov oaoi irapa Tot? feel that it w ill n ot be foreign to the plan o f our
history to presen t such laws o f the E gyptians as
At707TTtot? TraXaioTTjTi SifjveyKav fj ira p rjW a y-
w ere especially old or took on an extraordinary
pevrjv Tat;iv ecryov fj t o ai>vo\ov ohpeXeiav t o i ? form , or, in general, can be o f help to lovers of
2 <piXavayvwaTovai SvvavTai irapaayeGftai. irpS)- reading. N ow in the first place, their penalty for
tov jiev ovv /caTa t w v eiriopKwv OdvaTos fjv Trap' perjurers was death, on the ground that such m en
are guilty o f the tw o greatest transgressions— being
aoTOt? to irpooTijLOV, <0 ? Svo Ta jieyicrTa ttoiovv -
im pious tow ards the gods and overthrow ing the
t w v avojifjjiaTa, deovs t s daej3ovvT(ov Kal Ttjv

1 It is interesting to observe that the Egyptians are sup­

1 tiv after y a p deleted by Dindorf. posed to be familiar with the weaknesses of the Attic courts.
262 263
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 77. 2-6
peyunpv t& v 7r a p d v O p d / r r o p t t Lc t t i v a v a r p e - mightiest pledge known among men.1 Again, if a
3 ttovtu/v . eire n a e’t rt? i v 0 B 0) K ara t t j v y u t p a v man, walking on a road in Egypt, saw a person
I B w v < f> o v e v 6 p e v o v a v O p a n r o v p to / c a d o X o v ¡3 L a t o v being killed or, in a word, suffering any kind of
t1 t r a c r ^ o v T a pp pvaano BvvaTof d>v, O avarw violence and did not come to his aid if able to do
T r e p n r e a e t v a x f> e tX e v ' e l B e 7r/509 a X p O e t a v B id to
so, he had to die; and if he was truly prevented
aBvvaTO V p p /ca T icrxvcra i f i o p d p a a t , p p v v a a l y e from aiding the person because of inability, he was
travTcof axpetX e Tovf \y tttw ; /ca l e i r e ^ t e v a t T p v
in any case required to lodge information against
the bandits and to bring an action against their
■ tra p a v o p ta v tov Be TavTa pp 7r p d ^ a v T a / c a r d
lawless act; and in case he failed to do this as the
tov v o p o v eBet p a c n t y o v c r O a i t eTaypevaf 77X77709
law required, it was required that he be scourged
/cat Tram p elp yea O a t Tpocfppf eirl Tpep p p ep a f.
with a fixed number of stripes and be deprived of
4 oi Be '¡J revB & f T tveov /ca T p y o p p a a v T e f a xf/etX o v every kind of food for three days. Those who brought
tovto 7r a O e t v b to p a v/co tfia vT p O etcn v erera/cro false accusations against others had to suffer the
irp o c m p o v, etirep eTV% ov tc a T a B u c a a d evT ef. penalty that would have been meted out to the
5 TrpoaeTeTa/C TO Be /ca l ird a t to p A ly v m L o p accused persons had they been adjudged guilty.
a tro y p d fp e o O a t irp o f Tovf dpXovTaf ¿770 t Lvopv All Egyptians were also severally required to submit
e/ca a T o f iro p t^eT a t tov ¡3lov, /ca l tov ev r o v T o if to the magistrates a written declaration o f the sources
yjre v a a p e v o v 7*7 7r o p o v a B t/co v e t r n e X o v v T a O a va T co of their livelihood, and any man making a false declara­
T re p n riT n etv fjv d va y/ca lo v. XeyeTat Be tovtov tion or gaining an unlawful means o f livelihood 2 had
tov vopov i n to XoXcovof ira p a fia X o vT O f e lf to pay the death penalty. And it is said that Solon,
6 A t y v n T O v e p T a f ’A d p v a f p e T e v e x O f j v a t . e t B e T p after his visit to Egypt, brought this law to Athens.3
If anyone intentionally killed a free man or a slave
e K o v a t o ) 9 c n r o / C T e i v a t t o v e X e v O e p o v p t o v Bo v X o v ,
the laws enjoined that he be put to death; for they,
a T T oSvpcr/ceiv tovtov oi vopot irpoaeTaT T O V , a p a
in the first place, wished that it should not be through
p e v i S o v X o p e v o t p p T a p B t a t p o p a t 9 7-779 7-0^779, aXXa the accidental differences in men’s condition in life
Tap t &v irp a ^ e to v e irtfio X a p e ip yecrd a t trd vT a f but through the principles governing their actions
¿770 T o i v c j j a v X w v , a p a Be B id 7-779 t &v Bo v X m v that all men should be restrained from evil deeds,
(f / p o v T i B o f e d t ^ o v T e f T o i / f d v O p d i r o v f 7 7 0 X 1) p a X X o v and, on the other hand, they sought to accustom
e l f T o v f e X e v O e p o v 9 p p B e v 0 X 0 )9 e ^ a p a p r d v e i v . mankind, through such consideration for slaves, to
refrain all the more from committing any offence
1 Cp. Euripides, M e d e a , 412-13: ecav S’ ovk I t i n ltrris Upapc whatever against freemen.
(“ a pledge given in the name of the gods no longer stands
firm ” ). 8 Herodotus (2. 177) makes the same statement, but
2 Cp. Herodotus, 2. 177: airo/f/alvovTa hiKaipv £opv Plutarch {Solon, 31), on the authority of Theophrastus,
(“ unless he proved that he had a just way of life” ). attributes a similar law, not to Solon, but to Peisistratus.
264 265
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 77. 7-10
In the case of parents who had slain their children,
7 Ka l K ara pèv twv y o v k w v tw v a v o K T e iv d v T w v
though the laws did not prescribe death, yet the
Ta T€Kva davarov pèv ov% w p ia a v, ppépa<ì Bè
offenders had to hold the dead body in their arms
t p el? zeal vvktcis 1'era? avvedo)? pv à vw y/ca lo v for three successive days and nights, under the sur­
v e p i e i X p i p o T a ? tov veK pov vvo p év eiv <j>v\a/cr)<; veillance of a state guard; for it was not considered
vapeBpevovaps B p p o a la s' ov yap B 'lK a io v vve- just to deprive o f life those who had given life to
X p tf > 6 p t o t o v f i l o v ( T T e p i a t c e i v ro ù ? t o v {3 cov t o ì ? their children, but rather by a warning which brought
v a ia i B eSio/coT as, vovdeTpaei Bè pdXXov Xvvpv with it pain and repentance to turn them from such
e^ovap Kal p eT a p éX eia v à v o T p é v e iv tw v to io v - deeds. But for children who had killed their parents
8 twv è y y e ip p p à a w v naTci Bè twv t Bk v w v twv they reserved an extraordinary punishment; for it
y o v e is (p o v e v a d v T w v T i p w p l a v è ^ p X X a y p é v p v eO p- was required that those found guilty o f this crime
K av è S e i y à p roù? / c a T a & i / c a a O é v T a s é v i t o v - should have pieces of flesh about the size of a finger
rot? K a X a p o i s o f j é a i B a K T v X i a l a p e p p t o v a w p a T o s cut out o f their bodies with sharp reeds and then be
K aT aT pr)9evT a< ; è v à i c d v d a i < ; i c a T a i c d e a O a i £ w v T a < ;'
put on a bed of thorns and burned alive; for they
held that to take by violence the life o f those who
p e y i a r o v t w v è v a v 6 p d > v o i < ; à B i K p p a T w v K p iv o v T € < i
had given them life was the greatest crime possible
to fiia iw s to £pv a cjya ip eia d a i tw v ttjv ¡¿copv
to man. Pregnant women who had been condemned
9 aurot? B s B w k o t w v . tw v Be y v v a i K w v twv /cara- to death were not executed until they had been
B u c a a d e ia w v O avaTW rà? èy/cvo v; p p d a v a T O v a d a i delivered. The same law has also been enacted by
v p lv àv T ezcw ai. Kal tovto to vb p ip o v v o W o l many Greek states, since they held it entirely unjust
K a i tw v E B X X pvw v K a T e B e ilja v , p y o v p e v o i v a v T e X w s that the innocent should suffer the same punishment
a B iK o v e i v a i to ppBèv à B iK p a a v tw à B iK p a a v T i as the guilty, that a penalty should be exacted of
T p s a v T r p p eT e% eiv T ip w p ia s , K a l v a p a v o p p p a T o s two for only one transgression, and, further, that,
évof yevo p k vo v vapà B vo iv X a p /S a v e iv to vpba- since the crime had been actuated by an evil inten­
T i p o v , v p o s Be t o v t o i s K a T a v p o a l p e a i v vovppàv tion, a being as yet without intelligence should re­
a w T e X e a d e v T O f t o v à B i K p p a T O S to p p B e p i a v v w ceive the same correction, and, what is the most
a vvea iv èyov v i to T p v b p o ia v a yeiv K o X a a i v , to important consideration, that in view o f the fact
Bè v d v T w v p é y i a T o v , oti ra t? K v o v a a i s I B l a t »;? that the guilt had been laid at the door of the preg­
a m a ? è v e v p v e y p é v p < ; o v B a p w s v p o a p K e i to k o i v o v
nant mother it was by no means proper that the child,
who belongs to the father as well as to the mother,
LO v a T p o s K a l p p T p b s t Bk vo v a v a l p e l a d a i ' è v t a p s
should be despatched; for a man may properly
y a p à v tì ? c j y a v X o v s B i a X a j 3 o i K piTa< ; rou? re t o v
consider judges who spare the life o f a murderer to
e v o f t o v t w e f io v w a w t ^ o v T a s K a l t o v <; to p p B è v o\cu?
be no worse than other judges who destroy that
à B iK p a a v a v v a v a ip o v v a a s . which is guilty o f no crime whatsoever.
266 267
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
LI T w r ¡xev ovv (poviKwv vop,wv oi paXioTa 80 -
kovvtss ¿TTiTeTev^dai toiovtoI Tives T/aav.
78. T&w 8 aXXwv o p-ev irepl twv troXepwv
Kelpevos Kara twv tt)v ra^iv Xittovtwv rj to
irapayyeXdev vnto twv rjyepovwv prj ttoiovvtwv
€TaTT€ •npourip.ov oil 8 dvaT0v, aXXa tt]v ea^aTrjv
2 a T ip ia v el 8 ’ vctTepov Tats av 8 payadiai<; virep-
ftaXoiVTO ra ? a ri/ita?, e h rrjv ttpointdp^aaav
irappT)<Ti,av dirOKadiaTa, a p a pev t o v vopodeTov
SeivoTepav Tipwplav ttoiovvtov ttjv aTipiav tj to v
davaTOV, cva to peyiaTov t w v kcucwv edlcrp
TrdvTa'> Kplveiv tt) v ala^vvrjv, a p a 8 e t o v <; pev
6 avaTw 6 evTa$ r)yeiTO prjSev ¿xfieXrjcreiv to v kolvov
/3 lov, t o v <: 8 e aTcpw&evTa<; ayaBwv ttoX X wv
a h lo v i eaead ai 8 ia ttjv em d vp la v t ?}? TTapppala?.
3 Kal twv pev Ta airoppr^Ta Toh TroXeploK airay-
yeiXavTwv eireTaTTev o vopo<; ¿KTepveodai ttjv
yXwTTav, twv 8e to vopiapa irapaKOiTTovTwv tj
peTpa Kal crTadpa TrapaTroiovvTwv r} irapayXv-
(povTwv ra ? cr<fipayi8a<;, cti 8e twv ypappaTewv
twv yjrevSeh ■xprjpaTiapovv ypa<j)6vTwv r) aepai-
povvTwv ti twv eyyeypappevwv, Kal twv to,?
yfrev8eh <rvyypa<f)d<; ¿TTitpepovTWV, ap<poT£pa<;
¿KeXevcrev airoKOTneadat, Ta<; '\eipa ?, ottw<; oh
eKaaTO<; pepecn tov awpaTos irapevoprjaev, eh
Taina KoXa^opevos avTO<; pev pe%pi TeXevTrjs
avlaTov e^r] ttjv crvpcfiopdv, tov<> 8’ aXXov? 8ia
Trj<; I8ia<; Tipwpias vovOeTwv diroTpeirp twv
opoLwv ti TtpaTTeiv.
1 The significance of this word, which summed up as well
as any the ideal of Greek freedom and of the Athenian
democracy, cannot be included in a 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.
78. 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. 1 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 case 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 scribes who made
false entries or erased items, and o f 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 a man was as good as any other, that he could
hold up hia head among hia fellowa. “ Position of self­
respect and equality ” is approximately what it means in
this sentence and the following.
269
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 I I i/cpol Be /ecu irepl t Ssv yvvaitcwv vbpoi -Trap'
ainois virfipxov. tov pev yap ftiaaapevov
yvvaitca ¿Xev9 epav irpocreTaijav dirotcoine<j9 ai
t a alBoia, vopicravTes tov toiovtov pia irpa^ei
irapavopto rpia ta p ey im a tow tcatccov evrjpyr)-
Kevai, tt)v v/3 piv /cal ttjv <$6opav /cal ttjv twv
5 T€kvtov a v y y y c n v el Be T t ? ireiaa<: pov)(evaai, tov
pev avBpa pa/3Boi<; p ^ i \ t a ? if\i]ya<; Xap/3aveiv
e/ceXevov, t 1)? Be yw aucoq tt]v piva /coXo/3ova9ai,
viroXapf3dvovT€<; Beiv T t } ? 1r p o ? davyx<bpr)TOv
a/cpaaiav KaXXeoiritopevpq a<fiaipe9fjvai to, p a -
XiaTa KOtrpovvTa ttjv evirpeireiav.
79. Ton? Be irepl tqjv avp/3 oXaia>v vopov;
B o /c ^ o p tS o ?elvai (fiaai. irpoaTanovai Be tov<;
pev acrvyypa<f>a Baveicrapevovi, av prj cfida/ccocriv
ocjjelXeiv, opbaavia^ airoXvea 9 ai tov Bavelov,
irpdnov pev 07T&)? ev peydXco Ti.9 ep.evoi t o u ? op/rou?
2 BeiaiBaipovcbaf irpoBrjXov yap ovt0 ? o n too
7r oXXd/cis opoaavTi avp^rjaeiai Trjv irlan v diro-
ftaXeiv, Tva Trjs evxpva Teas pp cnepr]9f/t irepl ttXel-
a io v 7r d ? T t ? a^et1 to prj /caiavTav eirl tov op/cov
eirei9' vireXdpfiavev 0 vopo9eTi]q tt)v bXqv irlanv
ev tt) /caXo/cdya9ia iroir/aaq irpOTpe'^rea9ai iravTaq
airovBaiov; elvai t o ? ? f)9eaiv, iva pi) 7r t c r T e c o ?
dvd^ioi Biaf3Xr)9(b(rf irpoq Be TOVTOiq aBi/cov e/cpivev
elvai tovs % ( » p t ? op/cov ttiaTev9eviaq irepl totv
avTOiv trvpfioXaiwv opoaavTaq prj Tvyxdveiv
iricnewi. tov< ? Be p eia avyypacpr/q BaveiaavTaq
1 ii|€t Cobet : e|«i.
1 Cp. chap. 65 .
270
BOOK I. 78. 4-79. 2
Severe also were their laws touching women. For
if a 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
out 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.1 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 o f 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 o f 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
271
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
i z e o b X v e B i d t o v tozcov t o z e e i p a X a i o v i r X e o v i r o i e i v
rj B i i r X d a i o v .
3 T o w Be otpeiXbvTcov ttjv '¿K irpa^tv t w v Baveieov
eze tt / s overlap p o v o v erroi^aaTO , t o Be crSrpa kclt '
o vB eva Tpoirov elacrev v ir d p x e t v a y d r y ip o v , f jy o v -
pevo<> Beiv e lv a i T a s p e v zcTrjcreie; tuzv epyaerapevorv
r) ir a p d KvpLov t w o s ev B w p e a h X a fio vT io v, r a Be
crdzpaTa Ttbv 7roXeeov, "v a T a ? zea6rjzeovaa<: X ei-
T o v p y ia s e x w c n v a t nToXei<> /eat /c a rd iro X ep o v zeal
zcaT e ip rjv ijv a r o iro v y a p t o 1 tTTpaTiwTijv e h
tov vrrep Trjs ira T p iB o s ir p o io v r a zcivBvvov, el
t v ^ o i , repos B aveio v viro t o v m erTeveravTOs d r r a -
y e crd a i, zeal tt / s t u >v IB iu n & v rrX eo vefjias evezea
4 zeivBvveveiv T r jv z e o iv r jv drravTW V e r e o T r jp ia v . Bozeei
Be zeal t o v t o v t o v v o p o v o S o Xeov e h T a s ’ A dzjvas
peTeveyzeeiv, ov u ivo p a a e a e ie r a x ^ e ia v , d r r o X v a a s
t o v s rro X iT a s a r r a v r a s tuzv errl T o h a c o p a a i r r e m -
5 erTevpeveav Baveieov. pepcjzovTai Be t iv es ovze
dXoyoos t o h rrXeicrTOis to) v rrap a T o h " E XXrjcri
vopodeT&zv, o iT ives orrX a p e v zeal a p o T p o v zeal
a X X a T(bv dvayzeaiO TaTcov ezecbXvcrav i v e ^ v p a
X a p fia v e e r d a i rrpos B aveio v, t o v s Be t o v t o i s %prj-
cropevovs avvexfbpzjcrav d y w y ip o v s e lv a i.
80. 'Tirrjpxe Be zeal irepl t w v zeXerrTebv vo p o s
reap' A l y v m l o i s IB u b ra T o s. ezeeXeue y a p t o o ?
p e v 2 ¡¡o v X o p e v o v s '¿XeiV T a v T ijv T r jv ep y a crla v
1 t b Bekker : rov.
2 ucv D in d orf: fir) D, omitted by all other MSS.
1 The famous S e isa ch th eia (“ shaking off of burdens” ) of
Solon in 594 b . c . declared void existing pledges in land,
272
BOOK I. 79. 2-80. i
with a written bond was forbidden to do more than
double the principal from the interest.
In the case o f 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. For it 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 o f all. And it appears that
Solon took this law also to Athens, calling it a “ dis-
burdenment,” 1 when he absolved all the 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 all men enslaved for debt, and probably
cancelled all debts which involved any form o f personal
servitude, by these measures effecting the complete freedom
of all debt slaves or debt serfs in Attica (cp. Adcock in T h e
C am bridge A n c ie n t H is to r y , 4. p. 37 f.).
273
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
mroypatpeadai 7 7 7 ) 0 ? top ap^itpcopa, Kal t o toXair'ev
opoXoyoos avatfiepeiv Trapay^prjpa 77 7 )0 9 e/ceivov,
Toils Se airoXeaapTas TrapairXrjaLws airoypdfpetv
alneo KaO' skclcttov toov diroXonXoToop, 7Tpom i-
OevTas top T6 tottov Kal ttjp rjpApap Kal ttjp
2 clopav Ka6' fjp dirboXeaep.1 tovtoo Se t w Tpoirop
irapToop eTolpoo9 eiipiaKopevoip, eSei t o p dvoXe-
craPTa t o TeTapTO P pepos t t js afjias S o pto , k t 77-
aatrOai to , eavTov popa. dSvpaTov ydp o p t o s
t o v TrdpTas aTroaTrjaai t rjs k X otttjs evpe iropop 6
popoOeTrjs Si’ oil Trap t o diroXopepop awOrjaeTai
piKpdop SiSopepoop XvTpcop,
3 Yapovai Se Trap' A iy v m io is oi pep iepeis
piap, toop S’ aXXcop oaas dp e/caaTos TrpoaipfjTar
Kal to, yeppaipepa trdpTa Tpe^ovaip e’ j\ apdyKTjs
epeKa trjs TroXvavdpanrias, ¿ 9 Taints peyiaTa
avpfiaXXopeprjs irpos evSaipopLap x copas t £ Kal
■jroXeoop, poOop S’ oiiheva toop yePPrjdepToop popL-
£ovaip, ovS’ ap e£ dpyvpaoprjTov prjTpos yepprjdrj•
4 KaOoXov ydp inreiXrjfyaai top iraTepa popop
aiTioP eipai Trjs yepeaeoos, ttjp Se pr]Tepa Tpoijoijp
Kal x<i>pap irape^eadai t & /3pe<fiei, Kal twp Sep-
Spwp appepa pep KaXovai r d Kapiroipopa, OrfXea
Se Td prj (fiepopTa tops Kapirovs, epaPTioos tois
6 r/EiXX7]c i , Tpeojoovtri Se r a 7raiSia peTa tipos
eix^peias dSairdpov Kal iraPTeXSos dir Lotto v
eifrTjpaTa yap a in ois X0PVy°o(riv e « tipos peT
1 airioKffffv A B D, V og el: a.-Kwki(Tau Bekker, Dilldorf,
ATTCjSaAe I I .
274
BOOK I. 80. 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
o f 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 ; 1 and the
Egyptians are required to raise all their children
in order to increase the population, 2 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 o f 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 o f happy-
go-lucky fashion that in its inexpensiveness quite
surpasses belief; for they serve them with stews
1 According to Herodotus (2. 92) monogamy was the
prevailing custom, but he was certainly in error so far as the
wealthier classes were concerned.
2 i.e . the exposure of children, which was still practised
among some Greeks in Diodorus’ day, was forbidden.
275
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 80. 5-81. 4
evreXelas er o ip o v 1 yivopeva, Kal twv 4k rrjs made o f any stuff that is ready to hand and cheap,
f3u/3Xou rrvQpevwv rods Svvapevovs els ro rrvp and give them such stalks o f the byblos plant as can
eyKpv0ea9ai, Kal rwv pi^wv seal rwv KavXwv rwv be roasted in the coals, and the roots and stems of
marsh plants, either raw or boiled or baked. And
eXeiwv rd /lev wpa, ta S’ eifrovres, rd S’ orrrwvres,
since most o f the children are reared without shoes
6 SiSbaaiv. a v v r r o S p r w v S e K a l y v p v w v r w v r r X e i - or clothing because o f the mildness o f the climate
a r w v rpecf/o p evw v S id r p v e v K p a a la v r w v rorrw v, o f the country, the entire expense incurred by the
tt)v r r d a a v S a r r a v r / v o i y o v e i s , & x p i a v e l s y X l K i a v parents o f a child until it comes to maturity is not
eXOrj to re /e v o v , o v rr X e lw rr o io v c r i S p a x p w v el/cocn . more than twenty drachmas. These are the leading
Si as a ir la s p a X ia ra rfjv A iyv rrro v c r v p ^ a lv e i
reasons why E gypt has such an extraordinarily
large population, and it is because o f this fact that
r r o X v a v O p w r r l a S ia cf/ep eiv, /c a l S i d r o v r o r r X e ie r r a s
she possesses a vast number o f great monuments.
e x elv p e y d X w v e p y w v /c a r a a /c e v d s . 81. In the education o f their sons the priests
81. IlatSevovcn Se rods vlods oi pev lepeis teach them two kinds o f writing, that which is called
ypdppara Sirra, ra re lepa KaXoupeva /cal t a “ sacred ” and that which is used in the more general
KOivoTepav exovra rrjv padpaiv. yewperplav Se instruction.1 Geometry 2 and arithmetic are given
special attention. For the river, by changing the
2 /cal t t jv d p i 9 p .t ) T i K r j v erri rrX eov e /c v o v o v a iv . o
face o f the country each year in manifold ways, gives
pev yap 7r o r a p o s /ca r evia vr'o v r t o ik i X ws p e r a -
rise to many and varied disputes between neighbours
o -x vP & T i& v T VV X ^ P a v iro X X d s /cal T ra vro ia s over their boundary lines, and these disputes cannot
apcf/ia ^ y r y a e i s rroiei irep i r w v o p w v t o is y e ir v iw a i, be easily tested out with any exactness unless a
ravras 8 ’ o v p a S io v a /c p ii3 w s e tje X e y tja i p rj yeco­ geometer works out the truth scientifically by the
p erpov t t jv a X p d e ia v e/c r r j s 4 p rreip ia s p ed o S e v -
application o f his experience. And arithmetic is
serviceable with reference to the business affairs
3 aavros. y S’ a p iO p /jn /c /j rrp o s r e r a s K a ra rov
connected with making a living and also in applying
¡ S io v o ’l K o v o p i a s a v r o is X P rl a l lx e d e i / c a l r r p o s r d the principles o f geom etry, and likewise is o f no
y e w p e r p i a s O e w p / j p a r a , r r p o s S e r o u r o i s ovk o X l y a small assistance to students o f astrology as well.
o v p fid X X e r a i K a l r o is r d rre p l rr jv d a r p o X o y ia v For the positions and arrangements o f the stars as
4 eK iro v o v a iv . e rrip e X o v s2 y a p , el K al rra p a ricriv
being that in general use in the time of Diodorus. In common
1fetr' €To i f i o u Capps :
cv T c K tia s ev rcK eta s t r o u t 7;5. with Herodotus (2. 36), Diodorus fails to distinguish between
s / tt[tit\o v s Dindorf : J ttuuA u s . the first and second.
2 Here “ geom etry” is used in its original meaning,
1 There were, in fact, three kinds o f Egyptian writing, ( 1 ) “ measurement of the earth,’ ’ and “ geometer ’ ’ below means
the hieroglyphic, (2) the hieratic, and (3) the demotic, the last “ surveyor.’ ’
276 277
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 81. 4-7
аХ Х олч, к а 'л т га р ' А луот т т лолч т г а р а т г /р г /а е т ч well as their motions have always been the subject
т рууароралр a l тш р аст т рш р т а ^ е л ч те к а 1 к л р г /а е л ч - of careful observation among the Egyptians, if any­
к а 'л та? / л е р 1 ттерХ ё к а а т ш р а р а у р а ф а ч ¿ £ е т ш р where in the world; they have preserved to this day
а т гл а т ш р тш т гХ г/вел ф рХ ат т ооалр, ек т гаХ алш р the records concerning each of these stars over an
урорш р е ^ г /Х ш /л е р р ч т га р ’ а р т о л ч тг/ч тгер'л т а и т а incredible number of years, this subject of study
а т го р В г/ч , т а ч Вё 2 тш р тг Х а р г /т ш р а а т е р ш р к л р г /а е л ч having been zealously preserved among them from
/ c a l т гер ло В о Р ч / c a l а т г /р л у /л о р ч , етл Be т а ч ё к а ст т о р ancient times, and they have also observed with the
B p p d /лелч т гроч т а ч тш р £ш ш р у е р е а е л ч , тлрш р e lc r lp utmost avidity the motions and orbits and stoppings
ауавш р rj какш р ат геруаат лкал, ф л Х о т л /л о т а т а o f the planets, as well as the influences of each one
5 т га р а т ет г/р г/к а ст л. кал тгоХХаклч /л е р т олч а р в р ш - on the generation of all living things— the good or
тт014 т ш р а р т о л ч /л е Х Х о р т ш р а т т а р т г/а ест ва л к а т а
the evil effects, namely, of which they are the cause.
And while they are often successful in predicting to
то р (З ло р 7г р о Х е у о р т е ч ¿т глт рууароиспр, орк
men the events which are going to befall them in the
оХ луаклч Be к а р т г ш р ф в о р а ч г/ т о р р а р т л о р т го Х р -
course of their lives, not infrequently they foretell
ка р т гла ч, етл Be ро с г о р ч колрач арвр ш т го лч rj destructions of the crops or, on the other hand,
¡ З о а к г / р л а а лр е а о / л е р а ч т т роаг/р ла лр о о сгл, стелет/ л о р ч те abundant yields, and pestilences that are to attack
к а 'л к а т а к Х а с т /л о и ч /c a l к о /лг/ т ш р аст т ер ш р етгл- men or beasts, and as a result o f their long observa­
т о Х а ч к а 'л ттарта т а т олч т тоХХолч а В р р а т о р е у е л р tions they have prior knowledge of earthquakes and
В о к о С р т а т г/р ет глурш ет лр, е к тгоХ Х ор у р о р о и 3 floods, of the risings o f the comets, and of all things
6 т г а р а т г /р г /а е ш ч у е у е р г //л ё р г /ч ,т т р о у л Р ш с г к о р а л . фаст'л which the ordinary man looks upon as beyond all
Be к а 'л т ооч ер В а /З и Х ш р л Х а Х В а л о Р ч , ат т о лк о р ч finding out. And according to them the Chaldaeans
А л у р т г т л ш р о р т а ч , т г/р B o tja p е у е л р т г/р тгер'л тг/ч of Babylon, being colonists from Egypt, enjoy the
аат роХ оулач т т ара тш р лереозр /л а в о р т а ч тш р fame which they have for their astrology because they
А / у р т гт лш р . learned that science from the priests o f Egypt.
7 То о’ а Х Х о тгХт/доч т ш р А 'лурт т т лш р е к тталВсор
As to the general mass of the Egyptians, they are
/л а р в а р е л т т ара тш р т т ат ёрш р rj аоууерш р т ач
instructed from their childhood by their fathers or
kinsmen in the practices proper to each manner of
тгер'л ё к а а т о р /З л о р е т и т г /В е о а е л ч , к а в а т г е р ттроел-
life as previously described by us ; 1 but as for reading
р г / к а / л е р - y p d /л /л а т а В' етг оХ луор В лВ аакооалр4
and writing, the Egyptians at large give their
ору ат т арт еч, dX X ’ ol т ач т еурач /л е т а у е л р л £ о - children only a superficial instruction in them, and
/л е р о л /л а Х л а т а . т гаХ алат рар Вё к а 'л /ло о ст лк г/р not all do this, but for the most part only those who
are engaged in the crafts. In wrestling and music,
1 /Л* omitted by F, Bekker, Dindorf.
2 5e Y o g e l: re. 1 Cp. chaps. 43, 70, 74.
8 TroAAot x p d you Bekker, V o g e l: то\ихрог1ои F, Dindorf.
* SiSdtrKovrai Reiske, Bekker, Dindorf.
278
279
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
oil vopipov e’cTTi Trap aitTois pavddveiv' inro-
Xapfidvoveri yap etc pev twv Ka6’ rjpepav ev
Tfj TraXaiarpa yvpvaaieov t o w veovs o v%
iiyieiav efetn, aXXa pdiprjv bXiyoxpoviov /cal
7ravTeXebs eiriKivSvvov, tt)v Se povaitepv vopi-
¡¡ovenv oil povov axprjo-Tov inrdp^eiv, dXXd icai
¡3Xa/3epdv, cbs' 1 etedi]Xvvovcrav tat twv d/covovraiv
irv x d s.
82. TAs Si voaovs ttp o
O e p a t r e v o v a t to, a w p a r a teX v a p o K
tcai ep eT o is, eveoTe pev KaO’ etederrqv
evio T e Se t pet? rj t €t t apa? f)pepa< ; S ia X e iT r o v T e s .
2 (fiaai ya p Trdarjs Tpoeftfjs dvaSodeLarjt; to trXeov
eivai Trepm ov, aef> ov yevvaaffai to,<; voaovs"
ioare Tpv ttpoeepppevpv Oepatreiav dvaipovcrav
Tas ap^d? t ?j? vooov pdXiejT av Trapaateevderai
3 T7)v iiyieiav. Kara Se Ta? o-TpaTeia? teal t a ?
eV t2 T-p? ^(¿pa? etcSypias depairevovTai TrdvTe<;
oiiSeva pierOov ISla SiSbvTes• ot ^ ap iarpol r a ?
/ier Tpo<j>a<; etc tov teoivoit X apflavovai, t <z? Se
depatreia? irpoadyoveri /card vbpov eyypaeftov,
vtto 3 ttoXX wv teal SeSo^aerpeveov iaTpeov ap^aieov
a vyyeyp a p p evov. teav rot? e« t >?? t'epd? ¡SLfiXov
vopois dvayivcoaieopevoK dteoXovOpaavTe? dSy-
vaTTjawo’L o’werai tov teapvovTa, dOeooi irav t o ?
¿yteXrjpaTOs dtroXvovTai, eav Se ti trapd Ta
yeypappeva 7Toif/ereoai, ffavaTOv ttpLcnv iiiropevov-
(Tiv, rjyovpevov tov vopoOeTov ttj? «V ttoXX wv
Xpoveov TTapaTeTTjp^pevp^ depaireia<; teal avvTe-
1 after is deleted by Hertlein.
2 eVl omitted by F, Bekker, Dindorf.
3 uiri> Dindorf : ¿ ttX
280
BOOK I. 81. 7-82. 3
however, it is not customary among them to receive
any instruction at all ; 1 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 o f the listeners effeminate.
82. In order to prevent sicknesses they look after
the health of their bodies by means o f drenches,
te a a a X a p f l a v o p e v ot, fastings, and emetics, 2 sometimes every day and some­
i c a i i/7j<
tt€uu 5 times at intervals of three or four days. For they
r\p A p a v, say that the larger part o f 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 o f any private fe e ; 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 o f 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
1 Diodorus is contrasting the Egyptian attitude toward
these subjects with the emphasis laid upon them in Greek
education.
2 Cp. Herodotus 2. 77.
281

DIODORUS OF SICILY
T a y fjÀvrj<; o tto t ù ìv à p L tn o iv xe^Mxaw ò X i y o v s à v
y e v e a d a i a v v e T o n é p o v ì.
83. Ilept Se tcùv àtfiiepaipévaiv tfòrov kot
KìyvwTOV et/cóxeo? <f>aiveTcu TroXXol*; irapaSo^ov
to yivopevov tcai fijx^ffeeo? à%iov. aé/3ovTai yàp
evia tùìv £<óav A ly v m io i ko.9 ' virep/3oXì]v oli
f wvra póvov, àXXà tcal TeXevT rjaavTa, olov
aiXovpovs Kal x où? t^vevpova<; Kal Kvvas, ext
S' iepa/cas Kal x à ? KaXovpéva<; Trap' al/ToU i/3ei<;,
npòs Se xouxot? t oiii re X vkovì K a l r o v i KpoKo-
SelXov^ Kal erepa TOiavra irXelùi, Trepi Siv x à?
a m a ? àiroSiSóvai ireipaaopeQa, fìpayéa irpórepov
VTrep alitùìv SteXOóvre?.
2 H p ó ù T o v p è v y à p é/caa-Tù> y é v e i t&v a e f i a o p o v
TvyyavóvTw v %có(0 V à ffu e p o n a i ^cópa c jie p o v a a
ir p ó a o S o v àpK O vaav et? è i r i p e X e i a v K a l T p o tp r jv
a l i tùìv' i r o i o v v i a i S e K a l #eoÌ? tioiv eù^à? v i r e p
tùìv i r a i S c ù v o i K a r A i y v w r o v tùìv Ik x >}? v ó a o v
a o i d é v T o i v ¡ ¿ v p r j a a v re? y à p xà? xptya? K a l n p o s
à p y v p i o v rj % p v a i o v a T r j a a fx e ? S i S ó a a i t o v ó -
p ia p a xot? ¿ 7 r ip e X o p é v o i< ; tùìv tr p o e i p T j p é v ù iv
3 £ùiùìv. oi Se xot? pèv iép a ^ i Kpéa /caxaxe/tnonxe?
Kal 7rpoaKa.Xovp.evoi p ey à X p Trj cpùivjj Trexoyttéfot?
àvappÌTTTovoi, pey^pi àv SégcovTai, xot? S’ a lX o v-
pois K a l xot? iy v e v p o a i KaTaOp v in o v T e s xoù?
à'pxou? et? y d X a Kal iroTnrv^ovTe<; TrapaTidéaaiv
fj tùìv ¿x Ovùìv tùìv ¿ k tov N eiXov /ca x a x e /ttw x e ?
cò/tcò? a n l^ o v a iv ' ùìaavTùi? Se Kal tùìv àXXcov
£ùiùiv eKaoTùì yévei tt)v à ppó^ovaav TpotfìTjv x°PV~
4 y o v a t. xà? Se y t v o p é v a ? ir e p l T a v T a X e n o v p y l a ?
oì> x o l o v è K K X i v o v a i v t) xot? o^ X ot? y e v é a d a i
282
BOOK I. 82. 3-83. 4
period and had been originally prescribed by the
ablest practitioners.
83. As 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,
such as cats, 1 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 o f 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 o f land which returns a revenue sufficient for
their care 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 o f the other kinds of animals
is provided with the appropriate food. And as for the
various services which these animals require, the
Egyptians not only do not try to avoid them or feel
1 T h e fa m o u s d is cu s s io n of th e c a ts o f E gypt is in
H e r o d o tu s , 2. 6 6 -7 .
283
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 83. 4-8
катафауеХч ¿Traur^vvovTai, rovvavTiov 8’ w? ashamed to be seen by the crowds as they perform
irepl1 та? реуСсгтач т 5>v вешу yivSpevoi т 1рач them, but on the contrary, in the belief that they are
aepvvvovTai каХ рета арреХшу iSiav irepiep^ovTai engaged in the most serious rites of divine worship,
та? 7ГoXet? ка1 тг)у %wpav. тгорршвеу 8’ оутеч they assume airs of importance, and wearing special
фауероI тХушу %шшу ej(pvai rrjv empeXeiav, vtto insignia make the rounds of the cities and the
тшу атгаутшутшу 2 irpoaKWoCvTai каХ Tip&vTai. countryside. And since it can be seen from afar
5 "O rav 8’ аптовd v r) ti тш у elprjр е у ш у , tn vS o vi in the service of what animals they are engaged, all
к а т а к а Х и ф г а у те? «at рет ’ оХрш уцч та а т увт ] who meet them fall down before them and render
к ат ат гХ г)% ареуо1 ф ероит у et? та? Ta/Dt^eta?- them honour.
ет гепа верат геивеут ш у аитш у K e S p ia к а л тоГ?
When one of these animals dies they wrap it in
fine linen and then, wailing and beating their breasts,
S v v a p e v o K evco S la v т га р еуеа ва и каХ т т оХ и^роую у
carry it off to be embalmed; and after it has been
т ой с г ш р а т о ч T rjp rji T iv в а т г т о и с п у ¿ у 1 е р а 1 ч в р к а ь ч .
treated with cedar oil and such spices as have the
6 о? 8’ a v тоитшу тt tcoi' fa'ow ¿«оде 8 1а ф в е Х р р ,
quality of imparting a pleasant odour and of pre­
вауат ш ire p iv in T e i, vX rjv eäv a lX o vp o v 17 ttjv serving the body for a long time ,1 *3they lay it away in
Iß iv а т г о к т е Х у у таит a 8e ¿av те екш у eäv те a consecrated tomb. And whoever intentionally
акш у атгоктеСур, ттаутшч вауат ш тгер1 тг'пхте1 , kills one of these animals is put to death, unless it be
тшу о'хХ ш у (TVVTр е ~ х р у т ш у ка1 тоу ттра^аута a cat or an ibis that he kills; but if he kills one of
8е1 у 6тата Ь гат свеут ш у, к а л tout evioT e тграт- these, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he is
7 тоутшу ävev крХсгешч. &iä 8е тоу епХ tovtoi? certainly put to death, for the common people gather
ф6ßov oi deaadpevoL тевуркоч ti тоитшу тшу in crowds and deal with the perpetrator most cruelly,
£фшуатгоатаутеч ракрау ßo&aiv oSvpopevoL те каХ sometimes doing this without waiting for a trial.
papTvpopevoL катеСХг)фва1, аито 3 тетеХеитркоч• And because of their fear of such a punishment any
8 оит ш 8 ’ e v та!? тш у о ^ Х ш у - ф и ^ а с ч е у т е т у к е у т)
who have caught sight o f one of these animals lying
dead withdraw to a great distance and shout with
тгроч та £ ш а таита S eicn S a ip o via к аХ то1ч
lamentations and protestations that they found the
т гавеаьу арет авет ш ч е к а с п о ч S i d K e n a i тгроч тг)У
animal already dead. So deeply implanted also in
тоитшу T i p i j v , шсгте к а Х к а в ’ o v povov ПтоХе- the hearts of the common people is their superstitious
ра1оч pev о ß a c n X e i /ч итго Рш раш у оитгш
regard for these animals and so unalterable are the
emotions cherished by every man regarding the
1 is irepl Dindorf : Strirep els. honour due to them that once, at the time when
8 airavTfivTwv Wesseling: атгагтачл
3 кате1\т1(рвси тЬ Vulgate ; Vogel deletes тб. Reiske Ptolemy their king had not as yet been given by the
conjectured avrh and is followed by Eekker and Dindorf. 1 According to Herodotus (2. 87) this was a less expensive
method of embalming.
284 285
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 83. 8-84. 3
irp o a rjy o p e v T O o l S’ o-yXoi i r a a a v elaecf/e- Romans the appellation of “ friend ” 1 and the
povro a T ro vS rjv e K d e p a ir e v o v T e 1; tovs T rapeT nSr]- people were exercising all zeal in courting the
pcovvT as tcov GL7T0 t ^ ? ’ i T a A - t a ? /ecu airevSovT e<; favour of the embassy from Italy which was then
p v r j S e p d a v dcjjo ppc rjv e y K X r f p c a T o s r/ T ro X e pcov S o v v a i visiting Egypt and, in their fear, were intent upon
S id t ov cf>6/3ov, aT T O K reiv a v T o ? 'P c o p i a l o v t iv o s giving no cause for complaint or war, when one of
a l X o v p o v , / c a l t o v 7r \ / j 6 ov<: a v v S p a p i b v T o < ; e i r l tt ) v the Romans killed a cat and the multitude rushed
O L /c ia v Toi> T r p d ^ a v T o s, o v 6 ' o l TrepupdevTe'> v i to in a crowd to his house, neither the officials sent by
tov /3aai\.eco<; ap^ ovre? ¿ ttI t pv n a p a lT T ja iv
the king to beg the man off nor the fear of Rome
which all the people felt were enough to save the man
oM ' o /coivbs a iro tt }<; 'P coper)’; cfi6/3 09
from punishment, even though his act had been an
¿^eXeaO ai rp ? t ip u o p la < ; top a vO p co iro v, /c a ln e p
accident. And this incident we relate, not from
9 a / c o v a l c o 1; t o v t o ir e n p a ^ /o T a . /c a l tout' ovk e£ hearsay, but we saw it with our own eyes on the
aKofj<; p p e t? la r o p o iip e v , d X X .' avrol K ara ty/ v
occasion o f the visit we made to Egypt.
y e y e v i ) p - e v r /v r jp .iv e m S r j p l a v / c a r A iy v m o v eopa- 84. But if what has been said seems to many
/e b r e f. incredible and like a fanciful tale, what is to follow
84. 'A r r la T c o v Se c fy a iv o p e v to v ttoW o i s tcov will appear far more extraordinary. Once, they
e ip p p e v c o v /c a l pvO oK ir a p a T r X r ja lc o v TroX kS> say, when the inhabitants of Egypt were being hard
T r a p a S o ^ o T e p a ( p a v - r j a e r a i T a p e T a r a i n a p r jO r ja o - pressed by a famine, many in their need laid hands
peva. X ip w yap 7to t € m e& pevw v tcov /c a r ’ upon their fellows, yet not a single man was even
A i y v m o v efra e n ttoX X o v <; d X X i) X c o v p e v d r fr a a O a i accused of having partaken of the sacred animals.
S id tt )V e v S e ia v , tcov S' d c p ie p c o p e v c o v £cocov to Furthermore, whenever a dog is found dead in any
T r a p d ir a v ppo a It l a v cr^eev p r jS e r a ir p o a c v r j- house, every inmate o f it shaves his entire body and
2 v e y d a t. aXXa p ijv ye /c a l /c a 8 ' fjv dv o l/c la v
goes into mourning, and what is more astonishing
than this, if any wine or grain or any other thing
e v p e d fj kvcov T e T e X e v T t)kco<;, £ v p a iv T a i T rd vT es o l
necessary to life happens to be stored in the building
KaT o l/c o v o v Te? o X o v to acopa ic a l ir o io v v T a i
where one o f these animals has expired, they would
7rev6o<>, /c a l to to vtov B a v p a a ic o T e p o v , e a v oivo<;
never think o f using it thereafter for any purpose.
rj a i T 0 ? 17 tl tcov 7rp o? tov /3 lo v d v a y /c a lc v v And if they happen to be making a military expedition
T vyyavrj K e lp e v o v ev rot? o l/c p p a a iv ov to %rjv in another country, they ransom the captive cats
e^eX n re t1 tcov 6 r \p lc o v , ovk dv €Ti ^ p r ja a a O a i and hawks and bring them back to Egypt, and this
3 7rpo? o v S e v a i/T o is in r o p e lv e ta v . K av ev aX X rj they do sometimes even when their supply o f money
X a>P 1} nov (T T p a T evo p cevo i T v x c o a i, X v T p o i/p e v o i
T o v f a lX o v p o v s K a l to u ? le p a K a < ; K a T a y o v a i v e l; 1 On the date o f this incident, cp. the Introduction, p.
viii.
A iy v T T T O V Kal tovto ir p a T T O v a iv e v lo T e tcov
286 287
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 e<f>o8i(ov aiiTovs vttoXottovtoov. to. 8e yivbpeva
7repl tov ’ A m v tov ev M epof>ei teal tov Mi/eOii/
tov ev HA.t0u7r0A.et teal to irepl tov Tpdyov tov
ev MevBrjTi, irpos Se tovtois tov KpoKoBeiXov toi
ta n a tt]v MotptSo? X lpvyv Kal tov XeovTa toi
Tpefyopevov ev Ty KaXovpevy AeovToov iroXei, tea,
7ToXXa ToiavO' eTepa, 8iyyyaaaQ ai pev ev^epes
dirayyeiXavTa Be TrurTevPyvai 7rapa t 01s pit
5 Tedeapevois BvatcoXov. TavTa ya p iv iepols p e i
irepofioXots tp efa ra i, depairevovai 8’ avTa ttoXX o'
twv afyoXoywv av8pa>v Tpotfias 8i8ovTes to )
TroXvTeXeaTaTa?• aepi8aX iv yap y x ° v & P °t
eyjrovTes ev yaXa/CTi Kal ireppaTa TTavTo8airi
peXiTi <f>vpa>VT€S, Kal Kpea x v veia Ttt /¿ei/ eifrovTesi
t a 81 0TTT(bvTe<: dveKXelTnws x op yyov cn , t 01s S
tbpocpdyois 7roXXd t S)v opvewv OypevovTes irapa
/3dXXovai, Kal to KaOoXov peydXyv elatfiepovTa
6 cnrovhyv els Tyv TroXvTeXeiav t ys tpo<f>fjs. Xov
t pols ts ■yXiapols X P a:>fi e v 0 1 l c a '1' pvpoLS toi
KpaTiaTois aXei(f)ovTes Kal TravTo8aTzas eva)8ia
dvptcbvTes oil biaXeinovai, aTpoopvas T6 t d
TroXoTeXecTTUTas Kal Kocrpov evirpeiry X ° P rl
yoven, Kal tobv avvovai&v ottoos Tvyxdvy Kan
(fyvaiv oj>povTl8a TroiovvTat, Tyv peylenyv, Trpos
8e tovtois opo(f)vXovs dyXelas ¿Kaatu> tcov £q>cov
to ? eveibeaTaTas avvTpefyovaiv, as 7raXXaKiBas
Trpocrayopevovcn Kal Oepairevovai tais peylaTais
7 Bairavais Kal X en ov p yia is. eav 8e TeXevTyay
Ti,1 irevdovai pev laa t 015 dyairyTcbv TeKvoov
cnepopevois, BdiTTOvcn Se ov Kara Tyv eavTcbv
8vvapiv, aXXa noXv Tyv d^lav Tys eavTobv
1 t / Dindorf : t is .
288
BOOK I. 84. 3-7
for the journey is running short. As for the ceremonies
connected with the Apis of Memphis, the Mnevis of
Heliopolis 1 and the goat o f Mendes, as well as with
the crocodile of the Lake o f 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 o f 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 o f sweet­
meat made with honey, and the 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 water, 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 o f 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 a manner not in keeping with their ability but
1 The bulls Apis and Mnevis are described in the following
chapter.
289
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 84. 7-85. 4
going far beyond the value of their estates. For
8 o v a ia s V7r e p / 3 d X X o v r e s . perd ya p rpv ’A X e £ a v -
instance, after the death of Alexander and just
Spov reX evrpv, T lro X e p a lo v rov Ad y o v rra p ei-
subsequently to the taking over o f Egypt by Ptolemy
X p ip o ro s apri rpv A l’ y v r r r o v , erv% ev ev M ep<f>et the son of Lagus, it happened that the Apis in
reX evrpaas o 'A rris yppa' o Be r p v em p eX eia v Memphis died of old a ge; and the man who was
e^cor avrov rpv re p ro ip a a p e v p v ^o p p y l a v , charged with the care o f him spent on his burial not
ovaav rrdvv rroX X pv, els racppv arraaav eSa- only the whole of the very large sum which had
rravpae Kal rrapd rov T lro X e p a lo v rrevrpK ovra been provided for the animal’s maintenance, but also
a p yvp lo v rdX avra rrp o a eS a veia a ro . Kal K aff borrowed in addition fifty talents 1 of silver from
ppas Be r i v e s rw v ra £q> a r a v r a rperpovrw v els Ptolemy. And even in our own day some o f the
rds ra rfia s a v r w v ovk eX arrov rw v eK arov ra- keepers o f these animals have spent on their burial
X avreov B eS a rra vp K a a iv. not less than one hundred talents.
85. llp o a O ereo v Be ro is e ip p p evo is ra X e irro - 85. There should be added to what has been said
peva ra>v y i v o p e v w v rrepl r o v iepov ravpov rov
what still remains to be told concerning the ceremonies
connected with the sacred bull called Apis. After
ovopa^bpevov ' A m v . o r a v y a p r e X e v r p a a s ra c fc p
he has died and has received a magnificent burial,
peyaX orrperrw s, ^ p ro va iv oi rrepl ravr’ ovres
the priests who are charged with this duty seek
levels p o a y o v eyovra K ara ro aw pa rrapdappa
out a young bull which has on its body markings
2 ra rr a p a r r X p a ia rw> rrp o vrra p ^a vrr ora v S'
similar to those o f its predecessor; and when it has
evpedp, ra pev rrX p d p ro v rrev& ovs a r r o X v e r a i, been found the people cease their mourning and the
rw v B' le p e io v o ls eanv e r r ip e X e s ayovai rov priests who have the care o f it first take the young
p o a j(o v ro pev rr p o ir o v e ls NetX o v r r o X iv , ev bull to Nilopolis, where it is kept forty days, and then,
p r p e < j)o v a iv avrov ecp’ ppepas rerra p a K O vra , putting it on a state barge fitted out with a gilded
e r r e ir e ls d a X a p p y o v vavv o ’t K p p a K ey^pvaw pevov cabin, conduct it as a god to the sanctuary of
e 'x p v a a v e p /3 ifid a a v r e s <Bs 8eov a v a y o v a iv e ls Hephaestus at Memphis. During these forty days
3 M ep<f>iv e ls rb ro v 'T h p a i a r o u rep evo s. ev Be only women may look at i t ; these stand facing it and
r a ls rr p o e ip p p e v a is rerrapaK O vd' p p e p a is povov pulling up their garments show their genitals, but
o p w a iv a v r o v a l y v v a iK e s K a r a rrp b a w rro v ia r a - henceforth they are forever prevented from coming
pevai K a l B e iK v v o v a iv dvaavpdpevai ra eavrav
into the presence of this god. Some explain the origin
y e v v p r iK a p o p ia , ro v B aXXov % povov arravra
of the honour accorded this bull in this way, saying
that at the death of Osiris his soul passed into this
K eK w X vpevov e a r lv e ls o ijr iv avras ep^eadai
i rovrw ra> 6 e<p. rps Be r o v f3obs rovrov n pps
1 The intrinsic value of a talent was about one thousand
a lrla v evio i tp e p o v a i X e y o v r e s o n reX evrpaavros dollars or two hundred and fifty pounds sterling.
'O a ip iS o s els rovrov p 'frv^ p perearp, Kal Bid
291
290
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 85. 4-86. 3
rau ra S ta reX ei pexpi rov vvv del K ara rd$ animal, and therefore up to this day has always passed
a v a S e i i ; € i< ; avrov p e d la ra p ew t) 7 rpo? to w ? pera- into its successors at the times of the manifestation
5 yevearepovs' evio i Se X eyovai T eX evT rjtravT o s of Osiris; 1 but some say that when Osiris died at
O cn p iS o s v i to Ti i(f)d>vo<; rd /¿6 X77 a v v a y a y o v a a v the hands of Typhon Isis collected the members of
T 7) v ’’ l c r i v et? /3otin i j u X i v p v e p f i a X e i v f t v a a i v a his body and put them in an ox ( b o u s ) , made of wood
T r e p if 3 e (3 \T )/ie v T ] v , / c a l S i d t o u t 0 /cal t rjv i r o X i v covered over with fine linen, and because of this
o vo p a a O ijv a i B o v a ip iv . 7roXXa S e / c a l d X X a the city was called Bousiris. Many other stories
pvdoX oyovcn 7r e p l to v ' ' A tt i S o s , v t c e p cov p a / c p b v are told about the Apis, but we feel that it would
■pyovpeOa ra 1 /cad' e/ca crro v S ie ^ ie v a i. be a long task to recount all the details regarding
86. riavTa Se f l a v p d c n a /cal pei£co i r i a T e o .)? them.
86. Since all the practices of the Egyptians in
e T r n e X o v v T e '? ot « st A t y w r n o v et? ra n p c o p e v a
their worship of animals are astonishing and beyond
%S>a TToXX'pv a r r o p i a v T r a p e y o v r a i rot? ra? a i n a ?
belief, they occasion much difficulty for those who
2 tovtcov £ r j T o v c n v . o i p e v o v v i e p e i s a v r c b v a r r o p - would seek out their origins and causes. Now their
prjT ov ti S o y p a r r e p l tovtcov e ' x o v a i v , 0 r r p o e i p r / - priests have on this subject a teaching which may not
/ c a p e v e v too? d e o X o y o v p e v o a vtt' a vT to v, o i Se be divulged, as we have already stated in connection
7 roXXot T<»n A lyw rn ico v rpef? a lria ? T a in a n d n o - with their accounts of the gods , 2 but the majority of
S i S o a a i v , cov T t j v p e v Trpd/TTjv p v d c n S r ) T r a v r e X a n ; the Egyptians give the following three causes, the
3 «at Trj? apxal/CT)<; ¿ ttX o t t j t o ’; o l / c e i a v . <f>a<rl y a p first o f which belongs entirely to the realm of fable
r o v ? etj dpyfi<; y e v o p e v o v < ; d e o v s , oX lyov<; o v r a s and is in keeping with the simplicity of primitive
/cal /c a T ia x v o p e v o v s in ro to v 7r X y d o v s /ca l tt)<; times. They say, namely, that the gods who came
a v o p i a t ; tojv y p y e v d j v d v d p o n r o y v , o p o i c o d r j v a L n o t into existence in the beginning, being few in number
ooi?, «a : Sta too to io vt ov TpoTcov Stacjsvyeiv t rjv and overpowered by the multitude and the lawless­
copoTTjTa /cal /3iav a in c o v v cn ep ov Se tojv /card
ness o f earth-born men, 3 took on the forms of certain
animals, and in this way saved themselves from the
tov KOapov TrdvTcov /cpaTrjaavTas, /cal t o k atVtoi?
savagery and violence o f mankind; but afterwards,
t ?7? e£ dpxf/s acoTT)pia<i x d p iv d n oS iS ovras, acfjie-
when they had established their power over all things
1 ra H e r tle in : r i. in the universe, out of gratitude to the animals which
had been responsible for their salvation at the outset,
1 The Apis Bull was considered the “ living soul of Osiris ” upon his forehead; the appearance of a new Apis Bull was
and, according to Plutarch {O n I s i s a n d O siris, 43), was regarded as a new manifestation of Osiris upon earth (cp.
begotten, not by a bull, but by a “ generative ray of light, E. A. W . Budge, O siris a n d the E g y p tia n R e su rre c tio n , 1. pp.
which streamed from the moon and rested upon a cow when
60, 397 fi.).
she was in heat.” Apis was a black bull with a white blaze
2 In chap. 21. 3 i.e . the Chants.
292
293
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
pcoircu t a? <£wrei? avTav off dcjxopoulbdpcrap, Kal
KaTahel^ai t o 7? apdpdmopi t o Tpe<j>eip pep %£>PTa
iroXvTeXebs, ddm eip he TeXevTpcraPTa.
4 A e v r e p a v he X eyovcnp a lr ia v , o t i t o iraXaiop
ol /car A t y v i n o p hia Tpp d ra ^ ia v Tpp ¿ v to>
aTpaToirehco iToXAals p d x a c s viro tcop irX paco-
Xcdpcop f)TT7)$evT£? eirepopaap avpO ppa cfaopeiv
5 £7rl twv Taypdiwp. <j>aaIv ovp /caraa/cevacraPTai
ei/copas t cop fa! ujp a pvp Tipcbac, Kal 7Tp^aPTav
eirl <ravpiuip, <j)opeip too? pyepopas, /cal hia
TOVTOv Toil rpoirov ypcopi^eip e/cacnop ps ¿ip
avpT ajjew peydXa he ovpfiaXXopepps avTOP?
ttJ? hid tovtcop evra^iaf npos Tpp pi/cpp, ho^ai
Tps aooTppiav a in a yeyopepai to, £rpa- x^Ptv °^v
aoTOi? tou? av8pdnrov'i dirohovpai fiovXopepovi
et? effof /cararagai t cop ei/cacrdepTcop rore pphep
KTeipew, dXXa aefiopevowi diropepeiv rpv irpotipp-
peppp eiripeXeiap /cal Tippp.
8 7 . T p irp p h' a ir la v ¿ep o v c n ttj ? dp<jn<T^pjp-
creco? tooP £<po)p Tpp XPe 'i a v > Vv e/caaTOp avrcbp
irpocrcfiepeTai irpos ip p dxfieXeiap t o o koipov
2 Kal t 5)p apdpdnrmp. Tpp pep yap dpXeiap /3ooo
epyaTas TiKTeip Kal Tpp eXaippap Tps yps dpovp,
to Be irpofiaia SI? pep TiKTeip Kal t o o ? eptot?
Tpp crKeirpp dpa Kal Tpp evaxppoavppp irepi-
iroceip, to> Be yaXaKTi Kal t w Tvpip Tpocfids
irapexecrdac irpoappeis dpa Kal haip-iXeis. top
he Kvpa irpov T6 t o ? dppas elpac xPV'JlPi0V KaL
Trpo? Tpp cf/vXaKpp• hioirep top deop top Trap
aoTOt? KaXovpepop ”A povJ3ip Tcapeiadyovcri « 0 0 0 ?
'¿xopta Ke<f)dXpp, ¿prpatpoPTes oti oaipaTocf/vXatr
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 o f carrying
standards before the several divisions. Consequently,
they say, the commanders fashioned 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. And since 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 o f 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
jUiov 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 workers1 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 i.e. oxen.
295
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 fjp tu>p ir e p l top ”0 c r ip ip /c a l r tjp *Iaip. epioi Se
4>aai rrjt “ I c r t S o ? 7rpor)yovp,epov<; tow / c v p a s /ca9'
op /caipbp ¿tyrei top "OaipiP, rd re drjpia /cal
t ow aTrapTUPras direipyeip, eVt S ’ evpoi/ccbi
S ia / c e ip e p o v v av^rjTelp d>pvop,epov<;• S to tea l toi?
laetoK TrpoTTopeveadai to i)? ic v p a s /c a T a ttjp
TrofXTTrjp, tup KaTaSei^dpTutp tovto to vop.ip.op
4 crppaiPovTOip TT/p iraXaiav tov %q>ov xdpiv. /cal
top peep alXovpop 777)0 ? re Ta? dcnriSas 9avdaipa
Sa/cvovaas evOeTOP virapyeiv /cal taXXa Sa/ceTa
tq>p epTrcTcop, top S’ i%p€Vfiopa tcop /cpo/coSeiXeop
TrapaTppovPTa tow 7 odou? ra /caTaXrpf>9evTa t <op
wS>p avpTpifteiP, /cal t avT eVt/ieXco? /cal tfnXo-
5 Tipcot evepyelv pr/Sep (bcfieXovpePop. tovto S’ ei
pr/ crvpe/3aive yivea9ai, Sta to TrXrj9o<; t5)v yev-
vwpevtov Pppicov affaTOP dp yepecrdai top iroTapov.
aTroXXvcr9ai Se /cal tow /cpo/coSeiXov<; avTow
vno tov 7rpoeiprjpepov fcoov 7rapaSogcos /cal
■rraPTeXdii an iut ov pevip pe9oScp- too? yap i%vev-
popa<> /cvXiopevov; ev Tip 7tt/Xui j(aaK0PT(ov aina/p
/ca9' op av xpdpov ettI t /;? x*Pa0V KaffevScoatP
eicrrrrjSdv Sid tov <xTop,aTO? et? peaop to o ibpa*
en en a avpTOfuw ttjv /coiXiap SiacfrayopTas avTow
pep ukipSvpco<i e^iepai, too? Se tovto Tra96vTa<;
6 pe/epow iroielp 7rapaxprjpia. tmp S' oppecov t/jp
pep i /3ip x P rlaitirlv vTrdpxeiv Trpw T 6 t o o ? o $ e t ?
/cal T a ? a/cpiSa<> /cal t a ? /cdpnas, top S' lepa/ca
7r p o ? t o o ? a/copiriovs /cal /cepacrTas /cal Ta pi/cpa
t cop Sa/ceTa/p dr/picov Ta pdXiaTa t o o ? ap9pd>-
7 7too? a v a i p o v v T a . e p i o i S e X e y o v a i T i p a a 9 a i to
%q>op tovto S t a to too? papT ei<> o l w p o i s to£?
lep a tji xpM pcvov; n p o X ey eiv Ta peX X ovra to t ?
296
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
w'ould 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.1 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 SIC ILY BOOK I. 87. 7-88. 3
8 A ly v T r r io i? , r ip e ? Be <f>a<riv ¿p toi? a p ^ a - to i? Egyptia.ns events which are to come. Others,
X p o p o i? le p a fe a / 3 i / 3 X t o p e v e y / c e l v e l? © j j/ 3 a ? toi? however, say that in primitive times a hawk brought
te p e v a i (f>oivi/cq> p a p p a ri T r e p i e iX r j p e p o p , e^ov to the priests in Thebes a book wrapped about with
yeypappepa? ia ? rd> p 6eo> p d e p a - r r e ia ? re K al a purple band, which contained written directions
r ip a f B io 1 K al tov? ie p o y p a p p a r e i? (f> opeip concerning the worship of the gods and the honours
< f> oiviK ovv pappa K al m epov le p a K o ? era T rj? due to them ; and it is for this reason, they add,
9 Ke<j>aXrj?. rb v B ' a eT O P @ f?/9 a tot T i p a i c r i S i d to
that the sacred scribes wear on their heads a purple
fia a iX iK o p e iv a i B o K e lp tovto to %q>op K a l tov
band and the wing o f a hawk. The eagle also is
honoured by the Thebans because it is believed to
A io? d £ io p .
be a royal animal and worthy of Zeus.
88. T o v B e rpdyop dvedecocrap, Kadairep Kal
8 8 . They have deified the goat, just as the Greeks
rrapa toi? EW rjai TeTipfjadai Xeyovai top are said to have honoured Priapus,1 because o f the
Tlpiairop, B ia to yepprjTiKop popiop’ to pep generative member; for this animal has a very great
yap £q>op elpai tovto Karcocpepecrrarop 717309 Ta? propensity for copulation, and it is fitting that
crvpovaia?, to B e popiop tov acoparo? to tt}? honour be shown to that member o f the body which
yepecrew? atnop ripaadai vpoa-rjKOPTO)?, ¿ 9 av is the cause of generation, being, as it were, the primal
xnrdpxpp apxeyopop tt)? to>p a>p <f>vaea>?. author of all animal life. And, in general, not only
2 KaOoXov Be to alSoiop ovk Alyvirriov? pop op, the Egyptians but not a few other peoples as well
aXXd Kal twp aXXap ovk oXtyov? Ka&iepioKevai have in the rites they observe treated the male
Kara to.? reXerd?, co9 airiop ri)? tcop %a>a>p member as sacred, on the ground that it is the cause
yepeaew?' tov? re lepei? tov? irapaXa^opra? Ta? of the generation of all creatures; and the priests
TTaTpiKa? lepooavpa? Kar Aiyvirrov tovtw toj in Egypt who have inherited their priestly offices
from their fathers are initiated first into the mysteries
3 6ea> irp5)TOP pveiadai. Kal tov? IIa v a 9 Se Kal
of this god. And both the Pans and the Satyrs,
tov? Xarvpov? cpacrlp eveKa t >)? avTrj? atria?
they say, are worshipped by men for the same reason;
Tipaadai Trap apdpwTroi?’ Bio Kal rd? eiKopa? and this is why most peoples set up in their sacred
avroyp aparidepai tov9 irXeiarov? ¿p toi? iepoi? places statues of them showing the phallus erect
eprerapepa? Kal rfj tov rpayov tpvcrei irapa- and resembling a goat’s in nature, since according
TrXrjaia?- t o yap £q>op tovto irapaBeSoadai irpo? to tradition this animal is most efficient in copulation;
r a ? avpovaia? inrdpxeio epepyeararop- ¿Keipoi?2 consequently, by representing these creatures in such
ovp Bid Taint]? TTj? ip<f>daea>? %a/ 3tv arroBiBovai fashion, the dedicants are returning thanks to them
trepl tt]? TToXvreKpia? rrj? eavroop, for their own numerous offspring.
1 5i!> V o g e l: Si6irep Vulgate, Bekker, DLndorf.
1 ¿Kfivois Bekker, V o g el: ix tir o v s Vulgate, Dindorf. 1 Priapus is discussed in Book 4. 6.
298
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 88. 4 —6

4 Tow? 8e r a v p o v s r o b s l e p o v s , X e y c o B e t o v T e The sacred bulls— I refer to the Apis and the

/ c a l t o v M v e v i v , T i p a a d a i T T a p a T rX y c rL a x ;
* A v iv Mnevis—are honoured like the gods, as Osiris com­
Tot? 0eoi< ;, ’O a i p i B o s K a r a B e l ^ a v r o s , a p . a p e v B id manded, both because o f their use in farming and
also because the fame of those who discovered the
rp v T iji y e io p y ia s x p e la v , a p a B e ic a l B ia to t 5>v
fruits o f the earth is handed down by the labours o f
e v p o vtcov T o iii K a p ir o v s ryv rat? r o v r a v
B o ij a v these animals to succeeding generations for all time.
e p y a c r ia is ir a p a B o a ip o v yeyovevai rot? p , e r a - Red oxen, however, may be sacrificed, because it
yeve& T epoK et? a ir a v r a to v a lo iv a . t o v <; Be is thought that this was the colour o f Typhon, who
TTVppov<; [ S o v ? ( T v y x w p y B r j v a i S v e i v B i d to B o /c e lv plotted against Osiris and was then punished by Isis
t o io v t o v tw x P ^ lx a T l yeyovevai T v ip w v a to v
for the death o f her husband. Men also, if they
were o f the same colour as Typhon, were sacrificed,
e T r i( 3 o v X e v < r a v T a p e v 'O c n p i B i, tv ^ ovtci B e T ip o o -
they say, in ancient times by the kings at the tomb
5 p /a? vtto T r js ’ IcrtSo? B id tov T avB po< : c p o v o v . /c a l of Osiris; however, only a few Egyptians are now
to) v a v d p u iT T tn v B e too? o p o ^ p w /L ta T O U ? t 5 T v f p w v i found red in colour, but the majority o f such are
to ir a X a io v vno tu v fta c n X e o o v c p a c ri O veadai non-Egyptians, and this is why the story spread
irpo<; t £> Ta<p(p 1 'O a ip iB o v t m v p e v o v v among the Greeks o f the slaying o f foreigners by
Busiris, although Busiris was not the name o f the
A l y v i r r i r o v o X i y o v s Tina? e v p i c n c e o d c u T r v p p o v ^ ,
king but of the tomb o f Osiris, which is called that
T cb v Be ¡¡evcov too? tr X e i o v v B io K a l i r e p l Ty<;
in the language o f the land. 1
BouarptSo? ^ e v o i t T o v i a ? T r a p d t ot? WE X X y a i v The wolves are honoured, they say, because their
e v itr x v tr a i to v pvdov, ov to v /3 a a iX e o )< : b v o p a ^ o - nature is so much like that o f dogs, for the natures
pevov Bot/crtpiSo?, d X X a t o v 'O c r i piBo<; T iic p o v o f these two animals are little different from each
r a v T t j v e^ooTo? T y v tt p o c r y y o p i a v (taTa T y v two other and hence offspring is produced by their inter­
breeding. But the Egyptians offer another explana­
e y X 'j ) p ( o ) v B ia X e /c T o v .
tion for the honour accorded this animal, although
6 Too? Se X vkovs T ip a a d a i X e y o v cn B id T yv it pertains more to the realm o f m yth; for they
7r p o ? too ? Kvva<; T ys < £ocrew ? o p o iO T y ra ' f i p a x v say that in early times when Isis, aided by her son
y a p B iaX aTTO VTat a v T o v s Tab's (p v a e a l T a t ? e m -
1 Herodotus (2. 45) denies the existence of human sacrifices
p i ^ ia v i f o o y o v e iv ef aX X yX co v, tp ip o v a i B' and there was probably none in his day. But the sacrifice of
A ly v iT T io i Kal aXXyv a iT ia v ttj? too £wot> captives is attested by the monuments o f the Eighteenth and
Nineteenth Dynasties, and J. G. Frazer {T h e G olden B o u g h , 2.
tootoo T ip rjs p v d iK W T e p a v to y a p ir a X a io v cpaai pp. 254 ff.) finds in this account of Diodorus and a similar story
t » /? T crtS o ? p-eTa tov traiBb<: "ilp o v p e X X o v c ry i given by Plutarch (O n I s i s a n d O siris, 73), on the authority of
Manetho, evidence for the annual sacrifice of a red-haired man
1 t !p V o g e l: tov B, Bekker, Dindorf. to prevent the failure o f the crops.
300 301
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BiaycovifycrO ai 77730? Tu<pcova ira p a y evec rB a i /3o?7-
Bov e £ a,Bov tov '’ Q crip iv tco tskvcp K al r fj y v v a i/c l
X vkco ttjv o-^riv opLOLcodevrcf avaipeBevTO S ovv
tov Tu^wno? T o vt K paT rjcravra ? /c a ra S e ig a i ti-
p,av to %S>ov ov ttj? oifrecoi eTricpaveicrps to v m a v
7 ¿TrrjKoXovBpcrev. evioi Se Xeyovcn, tcov A W iottcov
crTpaTevixdvTav ¿ttI Ttjv AlyvirTOV, aBpoicrdeicrat
TrapnrXrjBeit ¿ y e X a ? X vkcov ¿/¿Stoical too? eVeX-
0 ovTaf ex rrj? ^copa? inrep irbXiv ttjv ovopuafr-
pcevpv ’ E X e c p avTivr/v 816 /cal tov re vop-ov
e/celvov AvKoiroXiT-pv ovopaaBpvai Kal ra £a>a
Ta TTpoecpppceva TV^elv Tpi Ti/uijs.
89. A e n r e r a i S ' r \p lv e iir e lv ir e p i
K o B e iX c o v a ir o d e c o c r e a y i, in r e p fj<;
B ia ir o p o v a i 7r&i? tcov B p p ic o v tovtcov a a p K o c p a -
y o v v T c o v too? a v B pco7roo? e v o p ,o 6 e T r j 6 p T i p , a v tc r a
2 Oeoit too ? Ta BeivoTaTa BiaTiBevTa1 ;. cpacrlv oiiv
tt}? % w pa? t ^ o 0xvpoTijTa Trapex^Bai p,p piovov
tov 7roTapiov, aAXa K a l 1toX v piaXXov too ? eo
avTco K p o K o S e i X o v s • Bib K a l too ? XpaTat t o i i s t c 1
¿7 to tt}? ’ A p a / 3 ia ? « a t At/3o»7? /¿jj ToXpdv
8 iaviixe<r0 ai tov N eiXov, <poj3 ovp.evovs to TrXijdos
t bov Bppicov tooto 8’ ovk av ttote yevkaBai iroXe-
piovp-evcov tcov £wcov K a l Bid tcov craypvevovTcov
3 apBpv avaipedevTcov. ecrTi Be Kal aX X o? X oyo?
MTTopovpevos nepl tcov Bnqpicov tovtcov. cpaal
yap Tive<; tcov dpxaioov Tiva ftaaiXecov, tov npocr-
ayopevop,evov M qvav, SicoKopievov inro tcov iBLcov
Kvvcov KaTacpvyeiv et? ttjv M otptS o? KaXovpievrjv
Xip.vpv, eireiB' inro KpOKoBeiXov irapaBo^cot ava-
1 re 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 o f a wolf; and
so, upon the death o f 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 o f bands of wolves (l y k o i )
gathered together and drove the invaders out o f the
country, pursuing them beyond the city named
Elephantine; and therefore that nome was given
the name Lycopolite 1 and these animals were
granted the honour in question.
rp? tcov K p o - 89. It remains for us to speak of the deification of
ol 7r X e i u T o i crocodiles, a subject regarding which most men are
entirely at a loss to explain how, when these beasts
eat the flesh o f men, it ever became the law to
honour like the gods creatures o f 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 i t ; 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 still another
account is given of these beasts. For some say
that once one o f 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
1 i.e. “ of the City of the W olves.”
3°3
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 89. 3-5
Хуфвеута els то т repay алтеуе^в ijvai. туч 8 е back and carried him to the other side. Wishing to
аштурёач Xtipiv airoBiBovai ¡iovXopevov тм %сош show his gratitude to the beast for saving him, he
tt o X l v KTiaai тгХуalov ovopdaavra КрокоВеёХшУ founded a city near the place and named it City of
KaTaSet^at Be ксй то?9 еу%шр1о1Ч шч deov9 Tipav the Crocodiles; and he commanded the natives of
таит а та %юа ка\ туу Xipvyv avTOis els трофуу the region to worship these animals as gods and
dvadeivar еутадва Be ка1 т ov тафоу еаотш dedicated the lake to them for their sustenance ;
катаакеоаааи TrvpaplBa тетратгХеороу етпату- and in that place he also constructed his own tomb,
erecting a pyramid with four sides, and built the
ааута, ка1 t o v Oavpa^opevov irapd tto X X o i s
Labyrinth which is admired by many.1
Xafivpivdov olKoBopfjaai.
A similar diversity of customs exists, according
i T la p a ir X r jc n a Be к а 1 ir e p l т ы v a X X co v X e y o v a iv ,
to their accounts, with regard to everything else,
v i r e p S )v т а к а в ’ ё к а а т о у р а к р о у d v e'irj у р а ф е и у . but it would be a long task to set forth the details
o tl yap т уч ш ф еХ еьач еуека т уч e ls to v /31 о у concerning them .2 That they have adopted these
оутш ч е а у т о у ч e W i K a a i , ф а у е р о у e l v a i 7r a a i v 1 ¿ к customs for themselves because of the advantage
т од 7т о Х Х а т ш у e B c o B ip w v т га р ’ а В т о 1 ч e v i o v s p y accruing therefrom to their life is clear to all from
т т роаф ереет ват . T iv a s p e v y a p ф акш у, T iv a s Be the fact that there are those among them who will
K vdpw v, e v io v s Be тvp d > v у кроррьш у у tlvw v not touch many particular kinds o f food. Some,
аХХш у /З р ш р а т ш у то ттараттау py y e v e a d a i, for instance, abstain entirely from lentils, others
т го Х Х ш у (п т а р ^о ут ш у к а т а т ур A iy v t r T o v , B y X o v from beans, and some from cheese or onions or certain
т т о ю и ут а ч Bl o t i В сВ акт еоу е а т !у еаот оич2 тш у
other foods, there being many kinds o f food in Egypt,
•y_ p y a l p t o v d ir e ^ e a d a i, ка\ Bi o ti т га у т ш у тт аут а
showing in this way that men must be taught
to deny themselves things that are useful, and that
еавш ут ш у ovSev av е^уркеае тшу d v a X ia K O -
if all ate o f everything the supply o f no article of
5 рёушу. каI етёрач 8’ а1т1ач фероутеч Tives фаспу
consumption would hold out. But some adduce
етгi тшу 7таХашу /ЗаепХёшу ттоХХактч афьата- other causes and say that, since under the early
pevov тод ттХувоуч ка1 аурфроуодуточ ката тшу kings the multitude were often revolting and con­
ууоореушу, тшу (ПааёХешу тiva avveaei Bia- spiring against their rulers, one o f the kings who
фероута BieXeadai рёу тyv -)(шрау е1ч ттХеш was especially wise divided the land into a number
pepy, кав ’ ёкаеттоу 8 avTcov катаВеТ^ат то?ч o f parts and commanded the inhabitants of each to
ey^eoplots aefteaBai тi %epov у трофуч Tivos py revere a certain animal or else not to eat a certain
yeveadai, оттшч екаатшу то pev тгар’ avTOis food, his thought being that, with each group of
1 n a a iv V o g e l: фатip Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. 2 Herodotus (2. 35) sums- up this matter by saying that
2 eavTovs Vogel: a v ro vs Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. the Egyptians “ have made themselves customs and laws
contrary to those of all other men.”
1 In chap. 61 the builder of the Labyrinth is Mendes.
3°4 3°S
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK I. 89. 5-90. 2
TLjj.tufj.evov a e f i o p é v c o v , r é o v he n a p à ro is a X X o is
people revering what was honoured among themselves
à (j)iepcopévcov f c a r a f f ip o v o v v r f o v , p / j S é n o r e ¿ p o v o r j-
but despising what was sacred to all the rest, all the
6 aai Svvcovrai navres oi /ca r A ïy v n ro v . /cal inhabitants of Egypt would never be able to be of
ro î/ro èK réov ànoreX eapdrcov <f> avepov e iv a r one mind. And this purpose, they declare, is clear
navras yàp rovs n X p a io x d jp o vs n p o s à X X /jX o vs from the results ; for every group o f people is at odds
S ia < f> é p e a 6 a i , n p o c n c o n r o v r a s r a ï s e l s r à n p o e i p p - with its neighbours, being offended at their violations
peva n a p a vo p la is. o f the customs mentioned above.
^90. <t>epovai S è / c a i r i v e s r o i a v r p v a l r L a v r r js 90. Some advance some such reason as the following
réov Çaxov àfp Leprû cre fo s. avvayopévcov yàp èv for their deification o f the animals. When men,
àpxfl réov d v d p d n c o v è/c r o C O p p id S o vs @ io v, ro they say, first ceased living like the beasts and
fiev n p é ô ro v à X X tjX o vs tc a rea d ieiv tcal n o X e p e î v , gathered into groups, at the outset they kept
aei ro v nXeov Svvapevov r o v à c r d e v é a r e p o v /c a ri-
devouring each other and warring among them­
selves, the more powerful ever prevailing over the
axvovros-^ perà Sè r a v r a rovs rïj papy Xem o-
weaker ; but later those who were deficient in
pévovs vno rov a v p fp é p o v r o s h ih a x û é vrcis à d p o i-
strength, taught by expediency, grouped together
Çeadai /cai n o irja a i cn jp eio v ea vro îs etc réov
and took for the device upon their standard one of
v a r e p o v /caO iepcodévrcov Çœcov i r p o s S è to v to ro the animals which was later made sacred ; then,
a 'q p eïo v réov aei S eS io n o v avvrpexôvrcov, ov/c when those who were from time to time in fear
eù/cara<f> povt)rov ro îs èn in d e /ié v o is y i v e a û a’ i ro flocked to this symbol, an organized body was
2 crva rrjp a ' ro S avro /cai réov âX X cov n o io v v r c o v formed which was not to be despised by any who
S i a c r r p v a i p e v r a n X rjô r] / c a r à a v a r p p a r a , r o Sè attacked it. And when everybody else did the
Çépov r o tî}ç à a < f > a X e i a s é / c a a r o i s y e v é p e v o v a l n o v same thing, the whole people came to be divided
r i f i é o v r v x e ï v l a o ô e i o v , ¿>s r à p é y i a r ' e v r j p y e r r j / c ô s • into organized bodies, and in the case o f each the
Si ¿ n e p â x p i réôv v v v xpovcov r à réov A l y v n r i c o v animal which had been responsible for its safety was
èdvrj S ie a rr jK o r a n p â v r à n a p ’ é a v r o îs e£ àpxhs accorded honours like those belonging to the gods, as
r é o v Çaifov K a ô i e p c o B é v r a . having rendered to them the greatest service possible ;
v Ka^oXou Sé ( p a c r i r o i i s A l y v n r l o v s vnèp rovs
and this is why to this day the several groups o f the
Egyptians differ from each other in that each group
âX X ovs^ à v ô p t ô n o v s evx a p ia rco s S i a / c e î c r d a i 7r p o s
honours the animals which it originally made sacred.
nâv ro evepyerovv, v o p iÇ o v ra s p eyla rr/v èm -
In general, they say, the Egyptians surpass all
K o v p l a v e ï v a i ré ô @i<p r r j v à p o i / 3 r j v r r j s 7 rp 'o s r o v s
other peoples in showing gratitude for every bene­
e v e p y e r a s x a P l T 0 ^' S r j X o v y a p eïva i S io n navres faction, since they hold that the return o f gratitude
to benefactors is a very great resource in life ; for
it is clear that all men will want to bestow their
3°7
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 90. 2-91. 3
7rpo? e v e p y e a i a v о р р л а о ѵ а і т оѵ т ш ѵ р а Х і а т а тга р ’ benefactions preferably upon those who they see
oh а ѵ о р ш а і к а Х Х ю т а Ѳ г / а а ѵ р іа Ѳ г / с г о р е ѵ а ч та? will most honourably treasure up the favours they
3 %аргта?. B i d Be т а ч а ѵ т а ч а і т і а ч В о к о ѵ а і ѵ bestow. And it is apparently on these grounds
А і у ѵ т т т ю і т оѵч е а ѵ т ш ѵ ß а а і Х е і ч т г р о а к ѵ ѵ е і ѵ те that the Egyptians prostrate themselves before
к а і т і р а ѵ «и? 7Гр о ч d X r / Ѳ е і а ѵ о ѵ т а ч Ѳ е о ѵ ч , а р а their kings and honour them as being in very truth
р ё ѵ о ѵ к а ѵ е ѵ В а і р о ѵ і о ѵ т і ѵ о ч т г р о ѵ о і а ч ѵ о р іі^ о ѵ т е ч gods, holding, on the one hand, that it was not
аѵтоѵч тет е ѵ у е ѵ а і ті)? тш ѵ о Х ш ѵ е£ оѵ <т £ач , а р а
without the influence o f some divine providence that
these men have attained to the supreme power, and
Be т оѵч ß o v X o p e v o V 4 те к а і В ѵ ѵ а р е ѵ о ѵ ч т а р е у і а т
feeling, also, that such as have the will and the
е ѵ е р у е т е і ѵ r/ у о ѵ р е ѵ о і Ѳ е і а ч р е т е у е і ѵ ф ѵ а е ш ч ■
strength to confer the greatest benefactions share
4 Пері реѵ оѵѵ тшѵ е х ф і е р ш р е ѵ ш ѵ £ш юѵ еі каі
in the divine nature.
т гет гХ еоѵака/хеѵ, аХ Х ’ оѵѵ уе та р а Х іа т а Ѳаѵ- Now if we have dwelt over-long on the topic of
р а ^ о р е ѵ а тшѵ т,тар А і у ѵ т г т ' ю і ч ѵ о р і р а В і е ѵ к р і ѵ р - the sacred animals, we have at least thoroughly
кареѵ. considered those customs of the Egyptians that men
91. О і> х ук ісгт а В’ а ѵ тіч т г ѵ Ѳ о р е ѵ о ч т а тгері most marvel at.
т оѵ ч тетеХеѵтркотач ѵ о р ір а тш ѵ А іуѵ т гт іш ѵ 91. But not least will a man marvel at the peculi­
Ѳ а ѵ р а а а і т р ѵ І В іб т р т а тшѵ е Ѳ ш ѵ . от а ѵ у а р тіч arity of the customs of the Egyptians when he
а т го Ѳ а ѵ г) пт ар а ѵ т а л ч , о і р е ѵ < т ѵ у у е ѵ е іч к а л ф і Х о і learns of their usages with respect to the dead. For
ттаѵтеч кататтХаттореѵоі тгт/Хш та? кеф аХ ач whenever anyone dies among them, all his relatives
т т е р і е р х о ѵ т а і тг/ѵ ттоХіѵ Ѳ р г / ѵ о ѵ ѵ т е ч , е ш ч а ѵ тафт/ч and friends, plastering their heads with mud, roam
т ѵхл то а ш р а . о ѵ р г / ѵ о ѵ те Х о ѵ т р ш ѵ о ѵ те о і’ ѵ о ѵ
about the city lamenting, until the body receives
burial. Nay more, during that time they indulge in
о ѵ те т у ч а Х Х р ч т р о ф г /ч а^ю Х оуоѵ peT a X a p ß а-
neither baths, nor wine, nor in any other food worth
ѵоѵспѵ, оѵте ео-Ѳ г/тач Х арт грач ire p tß d X X o v T a i.
mentioning, nor do they put on bright clothing.
2 тшѵ Be т а ф ш ѵ тpet? v i r d p x o v o i т а £ е і ч , г/ те т гоХ ѵ -
There are three classes o f burial, the most expensive,
теХесгтатт/ к а і р е а р к а і татхеіѵотатт/ . кат а рёѵ the medium, and the most humble. And if the first
оѵѵ тг)ѵ тгрштг/ѵ а ѵ а Х іа к еа Ѳ а і ф асгіѵ а р уѵ р іо ѵ is used the cost, they say, is a talent of silver, if
т аХаѵт оѵ, кат а Be тг/ѵ Веѵт ераѵ рѵач еік ост і, the second, twenty minae, and if the last, the expense
кат а Be т цѵ е а ^ а тг/ѵ ттаѵтеХшч о Х 'іуоѵ ті is, they say, very little indeed. Now the men who
3 В а т г а ѵ г /р а у іѵ е с г Ѳ а і Х ё у о ѵ а і ѵ . о і р ё ѵ о ѵ ѵ т а treat the bodies are skilled artisans who have
а ш р а т а Ѳ ерат геѵоѵт еч е іс п т е ^ ѵ іт а і, тг/ѵ ёт гш т г/- received this professional knowledge as a family
р г / ѵ т аѵт г/ѵ е к у ё ѵ о ѵ ч тга p e i X r / ф от е ч ' о ѵт о і Вё tradition; and these lay before the relatives o f the
у р а ф г / ѵ ё к а а т о ѵ т ш ѵ е іч та? т а ф а ч В а т т а ѵш р еѵ ш ѵ deceased a price-list of every item connected with
тоіч о ік е іо іч тшѵ т е Х е ѵ т р а а ѵ т ш ѵ т г р о а е ѵ е у к а ѵ т е ч
3°8
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 91. 3-6

irrep a /rc b a i r i v a rp o r ro v f t o v X o v r a i r p v O eparreL av the burial, and ask them in what manner they wish
4 y eveadai rov crcoparoç. b io p o X o yp a d p evo i Se the body to be treated. When an agreement has
r r e p i 7Ta v r a / v /ca l r o v ve/cpbv r r a p a X a f i o v r e s , r o i s been reached on every detail and they have taken
re ra y p e v o i^ èrrl rpv /ca reiO icrp é v p v ë m p eX eia v
the body, they turn it over to men who have been
to a â / p a r r a p a S i S o a a i . /cal r r p d / r o s p è v o ypap-
assigned to the service and have become inured to it.
The first is the scribe, as he is called, who, when the
parevs X e yo p evo 'i r e û é i ' toç %a/xa! rov crd>paro<i
body has been laid on the ground, circumscribes on
em tt)V X a y o v a rr e p l y p d c p e i r p v evib vvp o v oaov
the left flank the extent o f the incision ; then the one
Set è i a r e p e î v " ë rreira S’ o X eyo p evo ç rra p a a x icrrp ^
called the slitter 1 cuts the flesh, as the law com­
X i O o v ex<e>v A i O i o r r i / c b v / c a l S i a r e p à / v coç o 1 vopos mands, with an Ethiopian stone 2 and at once takes
/ceX evei rpv crdp/ca, rrapaxp p p a cpevyei b p o p /p , to flight on the run, while those present set out after
S ic o / c o v r c o v r w v a v p r r a p b v r c ù v / c a l X ld o i< ; f i a X X b v - him, pelting him with stones, heaping curses on him,
ro iv , k n Se / c a r a p w p é v a / v /ca l /ca O a rre p e l r o p va o < ; and trying, as it were, to turn the profanation on
etç è/ceîvov r p e r r o v r c o v vrroX apf9dvovai y dp p ia p - his head; for in their eyes everyone is an object
r o v e l v a i r r d v r a r o v o p ocpvX 'p a d / p a n ¡3Lav r r p o a - of general hatred who applies violence to the body
( p é p o v r a /cal r p a v p a r a rro io vvra /ca l /c a û b X o v r i o f a man of the same tribe or wounds him or, in
ica/cov â r r e p y a Ç ô p e v o v . general, does him any harm.
5 Ot ra p i^ e v ra l Sè / c a X . o v p . e v o i rrdcrp<; p è v n p r p ; The men called embalmers, however, are con­
tcai r r o X v a /p ia 'i à ^ i o v v r a i , t o îç r e iep evcri c w o v r e s
sidered worthy o f every honour and consideration,
associating with the priests and even coming and
/cai Taç etç l e p o v e i a o S o v ç d / c c o X v r c o ç coç / c a d a p o l
going in the temples without hindrance, as being
r r o i o v v r a i • 7Tpoç Sè r p v 9 e p a r r e i a v r o v r r a p e a x 117'
undefiled. When they have gathered to treat the
p e v o v o d > p a r o < i à 9 p o i a 6 é v r a > v a v r c b v etç / c a 9 i p a i
body after it has been slit open, one of them thrusts
r p v %etpa T’ 7Ç toû v e / c p o v r o p p < ; etç r o v his hand through the opening in the corpse into the
6 d > p a / c a / c a l r r d v r a è Ç a i p e î 2 %<M/3 tç v e c p p â / v / c a l trunk and extracts everything but the kidneys and
/ c a p S i a s , ë r e p o s Sè / c a O a i p e i r â > v è y / c o i X i a i v ë / c a - heart, and another one cleanses each o f the viscera,
c r r o v kX v Çoùv o ï v c p c p o i v i / c e Lœ / c a l 9 v p i a p a c r i . washing them in palm wine and spices. And in
6 / c a O o X o v Sè 7 r d v r o t r û p a r o p è v r r p & r o v / c e b p i a general, they carefully dress the whole body for over
1 &s 6 Vogel : o ra Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. that of Diodorus, supplements it in many respects. It was
2 4Çaipe7 Dindorf : èÇaipet. probably of obsidian or flint, such as are frequently found
in graves with mummies. For the use of such primitive
1 Lit. “ one who rips up lengthwise,” i.e . opens by slitting implements in ancient religious ceremonies, cp. J o s h u a , 5. 3 :
2 The same name is given this knife in Herodotus, 2. 86, “ Make thee knives of flint and circumcise again the children
whose description of embalming, although not so detailed as of Israel a second time.”
310 3”
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 91. 6-92. 2

к а 1 T ic n v а Х Х о к e i п р с е Х е с а ч a i r i o v a i v еф> р р е р а ч thirty days, first with cedar oil and certain other
т т Х ею ич tw v т р ш к о р т а , ет гест а a p , v p v p к а \ к и а - preparations, and then with myrrh, cinnamon, and
p ,w /jtw к с й то?ч B v v a p .e v o i 4 рьр p t o v o v i r o X v ^ p o v i o v such spices as have the faculty not only o f preserving
T p p p c n v j1 d.Wa ка\ Tpv evw B L av 7rape^e<rf?ar it for a long time but also o f giving it a fragrant
верат геосгарт еч Be 2 7r a p a B i B o a a i т оьч a v y y e v e a 1
odour. And after treating the body they return it
to v T e T e X e v T tjK O T O S ovtw 4 екаат оу tw v tov
to the relatives o f the deceased, every member o f it
having been so preserved intact that even the hair
а о зр ьа т о ч p e X w v а к е р а ю у т ет рррречор w are каl
on the eyelids and brows remains, the entire appear­
та? етг1 т о2ч /З Х е ф а р о к кал т а1ч оф риас
ance o f the body is unchanged, and the cast o f its
т рщ ач B ia p e v e iv ка\ т ру оХрр т г р о о о -ф с р to v
shape is recognizable. This explains why many
c c w p ,a T 0 4 а т г а р а Х Х а к т о у e l v a i к а \ тор т рч р о р ф р ч Egyptians keep the bodies o f their ancestors in costly
7 tvtco v y v w p i^ e a 6 a i' B io кал т гоХ Х о! tw v A ly v - chambers and gaze face to face upon those who died
7t t i w v ev о 1 к р р .а с п п го Х и т е Х е с п ф иХ ат т орт еч та many generations before their own birth, so that,
a w p -а т а tw v 7r p o y o v w v , кат o \jn p opw ai т оич as they look upon the stature and proportions and
у е р е а к т го Х Х а 2 ч т р ч e a v T w v y e v e a e w 4 т с р о т ет еХ еь - the features o f the countenance o f each, they
т ркот ач, иктте e K a c r T w v та те р е у е в р кал т ач experience a strange enjoyment, as though they
т т ерю ^ач tw v aw paTW V, eri Be то рч т рч отчего? had lived with those on whom they gaze.
Х аракт ррач opw pevov4 тсa p d B o ^ o v ^ v x a y w y ia v 92. When the body is ready to be buried the
7r a p e x e c r d a i кават сер арр^е^ш кот ач т ок dew - family announces the day o f interment to the judges
р е р о к .3
and to the relatives and friends o f the deceased, and
solemnly affirms that he who has just passed away
92. ToO Be реХХоуточ ватгтеавас асораточ
— giving his name— “ is about to cross the lake.”
оi (туууересч icpoXeyovai трр ррерау трч тафрч
Then, when the judges, forty-two in number,1 have
то?ч те ВскаатаХч ка\ то1ч avyyevecnv, ’¿ t i Be assembled and have taken seats in a hemicycle which
ф1Хок тои тетеХеьтркоточ, кал Вш/Зе/ЗаюОутас has been built across the lake, the b a r is 2 is launched,
от1 Biafdaiveiv peXXei трр XLpvpv, Хеуортеч which has been prepared in advance by men espe-
2 Tovvopa тоС ретрХХахот0 4 ■ етсеста тсарауеро-
pevwv BiKaaTwv Bval 7rXeiovwv4 t w v теттара- 1 These judges correspond to the forty-two judges or
assessors before each of whom the dead man must declare
коута, кал KadiadvTwv erci t i p o 4 ppiKVKXiov in the next world that he had not committed a certain sin
катесгKevaapevov irepav трч Хсрррч, p pev /Зарсч (B o o k o f the D ea d , Chap. CX X V ).
кавеХкетас, катесгкеиасгpevp тсротероу inch tw v 2 The name given the scows used on the Nile and described
in Herodotus 2. 96.
1 T-f]pT](riv Wesseling : ttip ^ tciv I), TTjpeiV II.
8 8« V o g e l: omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
8 вейipevois Dindorf : Bewpovpevens. 4 iT\ei&vu.'v Dindorf : тт\е'ш.
312 3I3
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 92. 2-5
T a v T T jv e y b v T td v rr jv ¿ T r ip e X e ia v , e fy e a r q K e Se daily engaged in that service, and which is in the
T avTTi o rro p d p e v t , o v A l y v r m o i K a r a t t jv IS ia v charge of the boatman whom the Egyptians in their
3 S ia X e K r o v o v o p a ^ o v a i ^ a p c o v a . S i o K a i <f> aatv language call c h a r m d For this reason they insist
O p<j>ea t o r r a X a i o v e h A i y v i r r o v T r a p a / 3 a X o v r a that Orpheus, having visited Egypt in ancient
K a i d e a a a p . e v o v t o v t o to v o p i p o v , p v d o i r o i f j a a i times and witnessed this custom, merely invented
ta Kad a S o v , ta p e v p ip r ja d p e v o v , t a, S ' a v r o v his account of Hades, in part reproducing this prac­
iS ia 7rX a a d p e v o v v ir e p 1 ov ta K ara p ep o < ; tice and in part inventing on his own account; but
4 p iK p o v varepov a v a y p d y fr o p e v . ov p r jv dXXa
this point we shall discuss more fully a little later.2
A t any rate, after the b a r i s has been launched into
/3dpeco? et? r r jv X ip v r jv K a d e X K V a d e i a r j ’; ,
the lake but before the coffin containing the body
i T p i v 7) t t jv X apvana t r jv to v v e t c p o v e ^ o v a a v eh
is set in it, the law gives permission to anyone who
a v T r jv T id e a d a i, ru> /3 o v X o p e v a > K a n jy o p e lv o
wishes to arraign the dead person. Now if anyone
vop o < i e l j o v a i a v S i S w a i v . ia v p ev o v v t t? r r a p e X - presents himself and makes a charge, and shows that
d (o v e y /c a X e a rj K ai S e i^ r j fU e fiic o K o r a K a K & s, ol the dead man had led an evil life, the judges announce
p e v K p n a l t d? y v c o p a s r r a a iv 2 a r r o t p a i v o v r a i , to the decision to all and the body is denied the cus­
Se a w p a e i p y e r a i r fjij e i d i a p e v y s t eav S' o tomary burial; but if it shall appear that the accuser
e y K a X e a a < : S o i j y p r j S iK a iw < ; K a r r / y o p e i v , p e y a X o i f has made an unjust charge he is severely punished.
5 ir e p im r r r e i T r p o a r ip o is . ora v Se p r jS e h v ir a - When no accuser appears or the one who presents
K o v a r j K a r r j y o p o s rj r r a p e X d w v y v a a d y a v K O (f> a v r i} 'i himself is discovered to be a slanderer, the relatives
v ir a p x e iv , oi p e v a v y y e v e h d i r o d e p e v o i to tte v d o s put their mourning aside and laud the deceased.
e y K io p ia ^ o v a i tb v r e r e X e v r r jK o r a , K ai ir e p i pev And of his ancestry, indeed, they say nothing, as
to v yevovi ovSev X e y o v a iv , w a rrep ir a p a Toh
the Greeks do, since they hold that all Egyptians are
equally well born, but after recounting his training and
E X X i/a iv , V T T o X a p ftd v o v T e s a i r a v r a s o p o iio s e v -
education from childhood, they describe his righteous­
y e v e h e l v a i too? /car A iy v m o v , t t jv S’ ek 7 raiSo9
ness and justice after he attained to manhood, also
a y e o y r jv K ai ir a iS e ia v S ie X d o v r e < i, i r d X i v avSpo?
his self-control and his other virtues, and call upon
yeyo vo ro? tt]v e v a e /S e ia v K a i S iK a io a u v y v , e n Se
the gods of the lower world to receive him into the
Tyv e y /c p d r e ia v K ai t d?
d\Xa? a p e r a s a v r o v company of the righteous ; and the multitude shouts
S i e ^ e p x o v r a i , K a i r r a p a K a X o v a i too? K a r a d e o v i its assent and extols the glory of the deceased, as of
S e g a a d a i a v v o i K o v t o h e v a e f t e a r to S e r r X f j d o ?
1 Professor J. A. Wilson, of the Oriental Institute of the
67re v (f> r] p e i K a i a r r o a e p v v v e i t t j v S o % a v t o v r e r e ­ University of Chicago, kindly writes m e: “ There is no
evidence to support the statement of Diodorus that the
1 virep V ogel: irepi O F , Bekker, Dindorf. Egyptians called the underworld ferryman, or any boatman
8 ircicnv omitted by C F, Bekker, Dindorf. connected with death, C h a ro n .”
3 Cp. chap. 96.
314 315
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 92. 5-93. 3
XevTTjKOTOS, co? to v a lw v a S ia T p i/3 eiv peX X ovros one who is about to spend eternity in Hades among
6 icad' aSov /X6Ta tcov evaejU S iv. to Se <rd>pa the righteous. Those who have private sepulchres
T iO e a a iv ol pev ISlov<; e % o v Te? ra^oo? ev rai? lay the body in a vault reserved for it, but those who
a n o S eS eiyp eva K ok S’ o v % v i r a p y o v a i
O r jK a K , possess none construct a new chamber in their own
td<f>a)V /c rq a e K , K a iv b v oiK rjpa ir o io v a i K a r a Trjv home, and stand the coffin upright against the
IS ia v ou cia v, Ka\ irp o t top da<f>aXeaTaTOv t 5>v firmest wall. Any also who are forbidden burial
t o l’x uyv opOrjv i a T a a i Trjv X apvcuca. teal too?
because of the accusations brought against them or
because their bodies have been made security for a
KtdXvopevovi ; Se S ta t a? K aT rjyo pias rj 77-/30?
loan they lay away in their own homes ; and it some­
Sd ve io v VTro6r)Ka<; O d rrT ea d a i t id e a a i K a r a Trjv
times happens that their sons’ sons, when they have
IS ia v o iic ia v o i? v o r e p o v evLoTe iralSusv rralSe<;
become prosperous and paid off the debt or cleared
607Toprjo-avTes Kal tcov tc a v p fio X a ic o v teal tcov them o f the charges, give them later a magnificent
¿yK X pp a T co v drroX vcravT es p ey a X o irp eiro vc; Tacf>rj<; funeral.
aiftovoi,. 93. It is a most sacred duty, in the eyes of the
93. 'Zep.voTdTov Se SteiXrjirTai Trap' AlyvirrloK Egyptians, that they should be seen to honour their
to too ? y ©vet? rj too ? 77/3070000? cfavrjvai irepLTTo- parents or ancestors all the more after they have
Tepov T6T1p.pK.0Tct? et? tt) v alcoviov oiKrjcnv pera- passed to their eternal home. Another custom of
crTaoTa?. vbp.Lp.ov 8’ e’cTTi 7ra / 3’ aoT ot? teat to theirs is to put up the bodies of their deceased
SiSbvai to. acbpaTa tcov TeTeXevTijKOTcov yovecov parents as security for a loan; and failure to repay
ei? vTroO-ij/cTjv Saveiov to i ? Se /i)) XvaapevoK such debts is attended with the deepest disgrace as
0W180? Te to pkyurTov dtcoXovdei Kal peTa ttjv
well as with deprivation o f burial at death. And a
person may well admire the men who established
2 T e X e v r r /v c jT e p r ja K T a c fr js , davpdaai S' av t i?
these customs, because they strove to inculcate in
Trpoar)K .bvTus< ; tov<; T a v T a S t a T a l f a v T a s , oti tt) v
the inhabitants, so far as was possible, virtuousness
e i r ie L K e i a v K a l tt)V c n r o v S a i o T r j T a t coo f) 6 c b v ovk
and excellence o f character, by means not only of
¿ k tt/? tcov IfcbvTcov o p iX ia < i p o v o v , d X X a K a l t 77? their converse with the living but also o f their burial
T&io T € T e \e V T i]K O T (i> v ta e f i j s Kal B e p a ir e la ^ elf)’ and affectionate care o f the dead. For the Greeks
0 0 ov fjv evSe% opevov Tot? d v d p c o r r o K e v o i K e i o v v have handed down their beliefs in such matters—in
3 e c f iX o T ip ijO r jc T a v . oi pev yap "F .X X rjve< i pvdoK the honour paid to the righteous and the punishment
T rerrX a a p e vo K K a l c f tjp a is S ia /3 ef3 X r)p eva K tj/ o o f the wicked—by means of fanciful tales and dis­
7re/3i. tovtcov ttlcttiv i r a p e S c o K a v ,1 tt) v T e tow credited legends; consequently these accounts not
e v c r e fic b v T i p r j v K a l T r jv two T ro v r jp c b v T i p c o p i a v only cannot avail to spur their people on to the best
T o iy a p o v v o v)( o lo v la y y a a i SvvaTai TavTa
r r p O T p e i f r a a d a i tov<; a v d p o m o v s em top a p i o ’T o v irapeScaKav Vogel : 7rapa5e5c6f<a<ri B, Bekkcr, Dindorf.
3 i6 3*7
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 93. 3-94. 2

ß io v, dX X a T o vva vrio v vvo tw v ф ах> \ш у y X e v a - life, but, on the contrary, being scoffed at by worthless
£opeva ж оХХуч кат аф роуусгею ч T v y ^ a v o v a i'
men, are received with contempt. But among the
Egyptians, since these matters do not belong to the
4 ж ара Be то« А 1уож т 'ю 1ч ov p v 9 w B o v 4, aXX’
realm o f myth but men see with their own eyes that
орат уч то1ч pev ж оууро1ч туч K o X a a e w 4, то« punishment is meted out to the wicked and honour
В’ а у а в о 1 ч т у ч т г р у ч o v o - у ч , к а 0 ’ е к а а т у v y p e p a v
to the good, every day o f their lives both the wicked
арфот ероо tw v еаото?ч ж р о а у к о и т г м В ж ор1р у у - and the good are reminded o f their obligations and
u K o v T a i, ка1 B ia tovto v tov тротгои у 1 р е у ш т у in this way the greatest and most profitable amend­
каь аурф орсот ат р B i 6p 0 w a i 4 y L v e r a i tw v ydw v. ment o f men’s characters is effected. And the best
к р а т 'к т т о у ч B \ o l p a i , t w v v o p w v ууут еоу ovk ¿£ laws, in my opinion, must be held to be, not those
w v evTroрю т ат оьч, a X X ’ ef w v етг1 €1 к е а т а т о и ч то« by which men become most prosperous, but those by
у9есп ка\ т гоХ т кш т ат оич crvpßyaeT ai yeveadai which they become most virtuous in character and
too ? a vd p w tro v s. best fitted for citizenship.
94. 'P j; t 6oo B ' T jp iv к а л i r e p l tw v yevopevw v 94. We must speak also o f the lawgivers who have
vopodeTW v кат A ty v T r T o v tw v ov t c o ? e£yX - arisen in Egypt and who instituted customs unusual
X aypeva кал т гараВ о^а v o p ip a к а т а В е ^ а у tw v.
and strange. After the establishment o f settled life
рет а y a p T yv tr a X a i ä v tov к а т ’ A ty v iT T O v ß io v
in Egypt in early times, which took place, according
to the mythical account, in the period of the gods and
ка т а сгт а сп у, т уу p v d o X o y o v p e v y v y e y o v e v a i еж 1
heroes, the first, they say, to persuade the multitudes
те tw v 0ew v ка1 tw v ypw w v, ir e la a i ф аа1
to use written laws was Mneves, 1 a man not only
7rp w T O V e y y р а ж т о к v o p o i 4 p y a a a d a i та ж Х у0у
great o f soul but also in his life the most public-
tov M vevyv, ävB pa кал т у " ty v ^ y peyav K a i tw spirited o f all lawgivers whose names are recorded.
ß iw K o iv o T a T o v tw v pvypovevopevw v. ж рогт- According to the tradition he claimed that Hermes
T T o i y d y v a i В' a v T w tov ' E p p y v B e S w K e v a i t o v t o v s, had given the laws to him, with the assurance that
«9 p e y d X w v d y a d w v а ’п ’ю о ч e a o p e v o v 4 , к а в а т т е р they would be the cause o f great blessings, just as
ттар " E i X X y a i T r o ir jir a i ф а т у ev pev т у К .р у т у among the Greeks, they say, Minos did in Crete and
M Ivw a , 7т а р а Se A a K e B a i p o v i o i s A v K o v p y o v , to v Lycurgus among the Lacedaemonians, the former
p e v т г а р а А 104 , t o v Be ттар’ ' A ttB X X w vos ф у ст аут а saying that he received his laws from Zeus and the
2 tovto v^ ж а р е с Х у ф е у а 1. кал ж ар ет ерок Be latter his from Apollo. Also among several other
ж Х еlo c n v e O v e a i ж а р а В е В о т а 1 tovto то уеуоч т уч peoples tradition says that this kind o f a device was
67r i v o i a s vndp^ai ка\ ж оХ Х соу dyadw v a iT io v
used and was the cause o f much good to such as
1 Apparently Mneves is only a variant of the name Menas of
1 ц Bekker, V o g e l: omitted by Vulgate and Dindorf. chaps. 43 and 45 (cp. A. Wiedemann, Ä g y p tis c h e G eschichte,
p. 163, n. 1).
319
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 94. 2-5
yevecrdai т ок ir e t a d e l a y 7т а р а pèv yàp ток believed it. Thus it is recorded that among the
Ap ia vo i4 Z aO p a va T 'q v la T o p o v c n tov àyadbv Arians Zathraustes 1 claimed that the Good Spirit
S a ip o va 1гросп го1 р а а а в а 1 t o v <; vópov<; avrà) gave him his laws, among the people known as the
S i S ó v a i , ттара S è rot? ò vo p a lfo p évo K Гет ак ток Getae who represent themselves to be immortal
ат гавауат p o v e ri Z d X p o ^ iv waavTws ttjv koiv tjv
Zalmoxis 2 asserted the same of their common god­
Ea T ia v , ira p d Sè т ок 'lo vS a lo K M w vo -tjv top
dess Hestia, and among the Jews Moyses referred his
laws to the god who is invoked as Iao . 3 They all did
'laèù è iriK a X o u p e v o v 6 eóv, etre d a v p a a T rjv tcaì
this either because they believed that a conception
d e t a v o X co? e v v o i a v e l v a t i c p i v a v T a s ttjv p é X X o v a a v
which would help humanity was marvellous and
àxf>eXtj<Tei.v а у в р ш т г ы у тгХ1]во<;, еНте к а 1 irpb<; ttjv
wholly divine, or because they held that the common
viT epoyrjV к а 1 S v v a p . i v тш р e v p e lv X e y o p é v w v t o v <;
crowd would be more likely to obey the laws if their
vopovs а т г о /З Х е ф г а р т а to v oyjX ov pàXXov vjra - gaze were directed towards the majesty and power
K o v a e a d a t S taX a/3óvT a< ;. o f those to whom their laws were ascribed.
3 A evrep o v Se vo р о в é r p v A ly v im o l ф аоч, уе- A second lawgiver, according to the Egyptians,
veadai X c ta v ^ iv , àvSpa avvéaei S u a t^ é p o v r a . was Sasychis, 4* a man of unusual understanding. He
T ovT ov S è ттроч т о к v ir d p y ^ o v c n vópoK аХХа те made sundry additions to the existing laws and, in
тгp o a d e l v a i ка1 та ir e p l t t jv tcov decSv T ip r jv particular, laid down with the greatest precision the
ет п р еХ еа т а т а S ta r d ^ a t, e v рет ро Sè к а 1 уеш р ет р 1 а ч rites to be used in honouring the gods, and he was
yevéadai /c a l t t jv ir e p i tw v à o T p a iv d e w p la v те
the inventor o f geometry and taught his countrymen
ка1 ir a p a T /jp p a iv S iS d lja i to vs è y j( w p io v < ; .
both to speculate about the stars and to observe
them. A third one, they tell us, was the king
4 T p ÌT o v Sè X éyo vac 1ie a ó c o c r i v tov fta a iX é a prj
Sesoosis,6 who not only performed the most renowned
póvov т сК т гоХ ерчсач т гра^ек ¿т пф ареат ат ач
deeds in war of any king of Egypt but also organized
кат еp y d a а а в a i tmv /с а т ' А Х уы т т ор, àXXà ка1
the rules governing the warrior class 8 and, in con­
ттер1 то p d ^ i p o v е в р о ч v o p o d e c r i a v а и а т р а а а в а с , formity with these, set in order all the regulations
к а 1 та акоХоива та 7rep l ttjv а т р а т е 1 а р a v p - that have to do with military campaigns. A fourth
5 iravTa S m k o c t prjaai. тетартор S è vopodkTrjv lawgiver, they say, was the king Bocchoris,7 a wise
фасп yevéadai В ¿ K j f o p i v t o v /ЗаспХеа, аофор
3 This pronunciation seems to reflect a Hebrew form
1 This form o f the name is much nearer to the old Iranian Y abu ; cp. P s a lm s 68. 4 > “ His name is Jah.”
form, Zarathustra, than the later corruption Zoroaster. 4 Sasychis is the Asychis of Herodotus (2. 136), identified
2 Herodotus (4. 93 ff.) gives more details about Zalm oxis.or with Shepseskaf of the Fourth Dynasty by H. R. Hall,
Gebeleizis, as he also calls him, and the Getae “ who pretend A n c ie n t H is to r y o f the N e a r E a s t 6, p. 127.
to he immortal.” Strabo (7. 3. 5) calls him Zamolxis and 6 Cp. chaps. 53 fi.
makes him a former slave of Pythagoras, a story already known 6 Cp. chap. 73.
to Herodotus and rejected by him. 7 Mentioned before in chaps. 45, 65, 79.
320 321
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 94. 5-95. 3
r iv a /c a l ir a v o v p y la S ia fy é p o v T a . to vto v ovv sort o f a man and conspicuous for his craftiness. He
Sia r â ^ a i tÙ i r e p l r o ù ç fia c n X e is a ir a v r a /c a l rà drew up all the regulations which governed the kings
7r e p l T 60V < r v p ./3 o \a i( o v i! ; a /c p i/3 £ ) < r a r yevéadai 8’ and gave precision to the laws on contracts ; and so
avT O V /c a l T r e p l rà ç K p i a e i s o ï n w c r w e r o v œ are wise was he in his judicial decisions as well, that
7r o X X à t S>v {n r avTov S ia y v a /a d e v T a /v S ià t t jv many o f his judgments are remembered for their
jr e p iT T O T T jT a p ,v r p x o v e v e a 9 a i p ie X P 1 T ^ iv Ka@' excellence even to our day. And they add that he
77/iâ ç x P ° va3V. X éyovcn S’ avTov v ir a p ^ a i T ip was very weak in body, and that by disposition he
p ,è v < i( d p ,a r i 7r a v T e X w s a a d e v ij, tô > Sè T poT rcp
was the most avaricious o f all their kings.
95. A fter Bocchoris, they say, their king Amasis 1 569-5se
T rd vT w v ^ n X o x p f] p M T d )T a T O v .
gave attention to the laws, who, according to their B0’
95. Merci S e tovtov i r p o a e X d e l v X éyovai roîç
accounts, drew up the rules governing the nomarchs
né/rocç " A p .a c r iv rov fia c r iX é a , ov ic n o p o v c n Ta
and the entire administration o f Egypt. And tra­
7r e p i TOv<t v o p . d p x a s S i a T d Ç a i /c a l Ta ir e p l t t jv
dition describes him as exceedingly wise and in
avpnraaav o l/c o v o p d a v r% A ly in n o u . ir a p a S é - disposition virtuous and just, for which reasons the
SoTai Sè crvveTÔ ç Te y e y o v é v a i K a d ’ v T r e p fio X T jv Egyptians invested him with the kingship, although
/c a l Tov Tpo T ro v ¿ T r ie u c ijS /c a l 8 i/c a io f S>v e v e /c a he was not o f the royal line. They say also that the
/c a l roùç A iy v m L o v i aurai ir e p iT e d e i/c é v a i ttjv citizens o f Elis, when they were giving their attention
2 à p X T jv o v /c o v T i y é v o w ; f i a c r i X i / c o v . c p a a l S è /c a l to the Olympic Games, sent an embassy to him to
T oùç ’ HAecouç, cnrovSdÇ ovT as T re p l r o v ’ O X v p -- ask how they could be conducted with the greatest
t t i k 'ov 1 àyâva, ir p e a fie v T a s d ir o tn e lX a i 7rpoç fairness, and that he replied, “ Provided no man o f
avTov è p o n r j c r o v T a 'i 1rai? à v y é v o iT O S i/c a io T a T o s ' Elis participates.” And though Polycrates, the
To v S’ e i- jr e îv , ¿àv p ,r j8 e ls ’ HAeîoç d y w v i 'C r j T a i .
ruler o f the Samians, had been on terms o f friendship
with him, when he began oppressing both citizens
3 T lo X v /c p a T o v i Sè to v X apdcov S v v d c n o v a w T e d e i-
and such foreigners as put in at Samos, it is said that
p -évo v 7rpoç avTov c fu X ia v , /c a l f t i a i c o s ir p o a c j/e -
Amasis at first sent an embassy to him and urged
p o p .é v o v roc? re n o X iT a is /c a l roc? eîç Sâ/con him to moderation ; and when no attention was paid
K aT aT rX éova 1 Ç é v o is , to p ,è v ir p ô n o v X éyeTai to this, he wrote a letter in which he broke up the
T r ç e c r fîe v T à t; d v o c r T e i X a v T a i r a p a / c a X e ï v a v T o v è r r l relations o f friendship and hospitality that had existed
t t jv p .e T p io T T ] T a ' o v T rpoaéxovT os 8’ avTov roc? between them ; for he did not wish, as he said, to
X S y oc? ¿ T n a T o X r j v y p d i j r a i t t jv ( f/iX ia v /c a l t t jv be plunged into grief in a short while, knowing right
Çe v i a v tt jv npos avTov 8 ia X v ô p .e v o v ' ov yàp
f t o v X e c r d a i X v i r r j d f j v a i a v v T o p i u x ; è a v T O V , à/cpi/3â><; 1 Cp. chap. 68. The story of the embassy of Eleans is given
more fully in Herodotus (2 . 160), where, however, the Egyptian
1 *0 \u/iir<«î>v Vogel : OA.u/iTrta/fî>v C, Bekker, Dindorf. king consulted is called Psammis.

322 323
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
el8oTa Bioti 1 TrXqcrcov ecn lv ai/Tu to /ca/cus
icadecv ovtu irpoeaTrj/coTc ttjs t vpavvc8os. d av-
paaOrp/ac 8 aiiTov <f>acrc n a p a tocs "EX X^crt 8ca
re TtjV eTrce'c/cecav /cal 8ca to t &> YloXv/cpaTec
T ayeu s anofirjvai t a pijOevra.
4 "EtKTov Se XeyeTac top Sep^ov Trarepa Aapecov
tocs vopocs eTTicTTTjvai tocs twv AlyvirTCup'
fuarjaavra yap ttjp nrapavopcav Tqp els t <x /car
AtyvnTOV lepa yevopevr/p vtto K apfivaov too
TrpoftacriXevcravTos ?rfXucrac /3 cov eircecKfj /cal
5 <f>cXodeov. opcXfjaac pep yap avTocs2 rots
iepevcn rocs ev A ly in n u /cal peraXa/3 elv avrbp
T-rjs Te OeoXoycas3 /cal tup ¿p Tals cepacs
ftcftXocs apayeypappevuv irpd^euv e/c 8e tovtup
icTTOprjaapTa Trjp Te peyaXo^/vycap tup dpyaluv
fiacrcXeup /cal ttjp els tovs dpyopevovs evvocap
pcpqaaaBac top 4 e/cecvuv ftlov, /cal Sea tovto
TrfXucavTqsTvyelpTiprjs ucrd' virb tup A ly v m lu p
t^upTa pep 6eov irpocrayopeveaOai5 popov tup
uttuptup fiaacXeup, TeXeuTqaapTa 8e Tipup
Tvyelv ccruv tocs to ttaXacop PopcpuTaTa fiacrc-
Xevcracrc tcaT AcyvirTOV.
6 pep ovv Kocvrjv vopoOecrcav crvPTeXecrdrjpai
(paaev 07ro tup ecpqpepuv dv8pup, /cal 861; qs
tv yelp Trjs 8ca8e8opevqs trapa tocs aXXocs• ev
8e tocs vtTTepov ypovocs noXXa tup /caXus
eyeev Sokovvtuv vopcpuv cpacrl /ccvqOfjpac, M a « -
8ovup enc/cpaTqcrdvTuv /cal /caTaXvcrdvTuv els
TeXos tt) p fiaacXelav tup eyyupcuv.
1 Sion V o g e l: St i Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
2 a vrtn s V ogel: aiirby Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
3 avT u v after 6 co \o yia s 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.
A 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 521-430
which his predecessor, Cambyses, had shown in his B'°'
treatment 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 o f 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
destroyed once and for all the kingship of the native
line.
1 rb y Reiske: r u y .
6 7Tpo<rayopcvco$ai Bekker, V ogel: npotrayopeudi/yai II, Din-
dorf.
325
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 96. 1-5
96. T oi/ twi/ 8' i5ju.ii/ BtevKpivrjjjieviiov prjTeov 96. But now that we have examined these matters,
o a o i t S)v tra p ' E X X iju t B eB o^aapievav etrl o v v e a e i we must enumerate what Greeks, who have won
K a i w a iB e ia ir a p ilB a X o v e t? AiyVTTTov ev r o i ? fame for their wisdom and learning, visited Egypt
«pyelior? xpoz/oi?, « ,a tutv ¿vta vO a vopipoov Kai in ancient times, in order to become acquainted with
2 r i j ? 1 ir a iB e ia s ; /t e r d c r ^ c o c r ii/. oi ya p le p e is t Stv
its customs and learning. For the priests o f Egypt
A iy v im w v K T T o p o v tr iv e/c totv d v a y p c u p io v totv
recount from the records o f their sacred books that
they were visited in early times by Orpheus, Musaeus,
ev rat? l e p a i t /3 i/3 X o i< ; T r a p a j U a X e i v i r p o t eai/roi/?2
Melampus, and Daedalus, also by the poet Homer
ro 7r a X a i o v ’ O p < p e a re /tat Mouercuoi/ /tai Me-
and Lycurgus o f Sparta, later by Solon of Athens
X a p i r o B a K a i A a i S a X o v , i r p o s Se T O V T o i ^ O p i r j p o v
and the philosopher Plato, and that there also came
re to v ttoitjttjv K a i A v K o v p y o v t ov X t r a p n d r r j v , Pythagoras of Samos and the mathematician Eudoxus, 1
eri Be X o X a i v a to v 'A Q r j v a i o v K ai H X arcova rov as well as Democritus of Abdera and Oenopides 2 of
(fr iX o a o tp o v , e X d e iv Be K ai T lv O a y o p a v to v Chios. As evidence for the visits o f all these men
X a p iio v Kai to v fia d r jp a T i-K o v E v B o t jo v , e T i Be they point in some cases to their statues and in others
A tj/io K p iT o v to v ’A @ 8 r j p i T r j v K a i O i v o m B r j v to v to places or buildings 3 which bear their names, and
3 Xiov. TravTtov Be tovtcov arjpela BeiKVvovcn they offer proofs from the branch o f learning which
tu>v p,ev elKovas, totv Be tottcov rj KaTaaKevaa- each one of these men pursued, arguing that all the
fiaTcov ofioovvfiovv TTpoorjyopLas, e« re ttj<; eKacrto> things for which they were admired among the
£r)X6o8eio-t]S TraiBeias diroBei^ei1; (jrepovai, avv- Greeks were transferred from Egypt.
terraz/Te? e’f AiyvvTOV p,eTevTjvej(6ai irdvTa 8i
Orpheus, for instance, brought from Egypt most
o f his mystic ceremonies, the orgiastic rites that
d>v irapa to I? WE XXrjcriv edav/idadTjaav.
accompanied his wanderings, and his fabulous
4 O p<f>ea pev yap tmv jivotikotv TeXeToov to.
account o f his experiences in Hades. For the rite
•nXeima Kai Ta 7 repi ttjv eavTov irXdvrjv opyia- o f Osiris is the same as that o f Dionysus and that of
%opeva Kai ttjv toov ev aBov pvdoiroiiav dire- Isis very similar to that o f Demeter, the names alone
5 veyKaodai. ttjv pev yap ’OaipiBos TeXeTrjv ttj having been interchanged; and the punishments in
A iovvaov ttjv aiiTTjv eivai, ttjv Be ttj<; “I triBos Hades of the unrighteous, the Fields of the Righteous,
ttj ttj<: ArjprjTposr opioioTaTTjv inrapyeiv, tutv and the fantastic conceptions, current among the
ovojxutotv jLovoiv3 evrjXXaypevorv r a ? Se totv
uaefiarv ev aBov Tipuopias Kai toii? totv evcrefiurv 1 The famous astronomer, geographer, and mathematician
of Cnidus, pupil of Plato. His stay in Egypt is well attested.
Xei/iibvas Kai ta? 7 rapa roi? ttoXXois elBcoXo- 3 Cp. p. 336, n. 1.
1 t v s V o g e l: omitted Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. 3 For instance, according to Strabo (17. 1. 29), in Heliopolis
2 touTolis V o g e l: auTots Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. were pointed out the houses where Plato and Eudoxus had
3 jiovtov V o g e l: jrivov Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. stopped.
326 327
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 96. 5-7
т оиач ауат ет Х аары ач T a p e ia a y a y e lv p ip p a a - many, which are figments of the imagination— all
pevov та y iv o p e v a т ерь та? тафа? та? к а т these were introduced by Orpheus in imitation of the
6 A iy v T T O V . tov p . l v у d p 1p-VXOTTOfJ.Trbv 'E p f i f f V Egyptian funeral customs. Hermes, for instance,
ката то T a X a i o v v o p .ifj.o v тар X i y v T r i o i g d v a - the Conductor of Souls, according to the ancient
y a y o v T a то tov * A t i 8o4 a w p a p e ^ p i T i v o g тара- Egyptian custom, brings up the body of the Apis to
8 i 8 o v a i tm 7r e p i K e i p e v t p T p v tov K e p ß e p o v трото- a certain point and then gives it over to one who
ppv. tov 8 ’ 'Орфешч тоvtо K a T a 8 e i ^ a v T 0 4 тара wears the mask o f Cerberus. And after Orpheus
тo i 4 ' E X X p a i tov " O p p p o v акоХоившч tovtw had introduced this notion among the Greeks,
d e i v a i ката тp v T o i p a i v
Homer 1 followed it when he wrote :

’ U p p i ß 8e y jr v x a ? К v X X p v io g e g e K a X e iT o Cyllenian Hermes then did summon forth

av8pw v pvpuT ppw v, e%e S e p d ß 8 o v р е т a y c p a l v . The suitors’ souls, holding his wand in hand.
е1 т а T a X i v V T o ß d v T a X e y e i v And again a little further 2 on he says :
т ар 8' ic r a v 'Ü K e a v o v те роа? ка\ А е о к а 8а They passed Oceanus’ streams, the Gleaming
TSTprjV, Rock,
р8е тар' ' HeXtою тгиХа? кал 8ppov 'Oveipcov The Portals of the Sun, the Land of Dreams;
fp a a v al\]ra 8' ikovto кат' а<тфо8еХои Xeipwva, And now they reached the Meadow o f Asphodel,
ev6a те vaiovai \jrv%at, eiSwXa Kapovrwv. Where dwell the Souls, the shades o f men
outworn.
7 ilKeavov pev oiiv KaXeiv tov TOTapov 8id то
той? AiyvTTiovs' ката Tpv I8iav 8idXeKTov Now he calls the river “ Oceanus ” 3 because in their
ilKeavov Xeyeiv tov NeiXov, 'H Xiov 8e тоХач language the Egyptians speak o f the Nile as Oceanus ;
the “ Portals of the Sun ” (H e l i o p y l a i ) is his name for
Tpv to Xiv т pv т wv 'HX iotoX itwv, Xeipwva 8'
the city of Heliopolis ; and “ Meadows,” the mythical
ovopa^eiv,1 Tpv pvdoXoyovpevpv oiKpaiv twv
dwelling of the dead, is his term for the place near
peTTjXXaxorwv, tov тара Tpv Xtpvpv totov Tpv the lake which is called Acherousia, which is near
KaXovpevpv pev ’ Axepovaiav, тХра-iov 8e ovaav Memphis, and around it are fairest meadows, o f a
трч Шерфеюч, ovtwv t epi avTpv Xeipwvaiv ка.Х- marsh-land and lotus and reeds. The same explana­
Xiutwv, eXovg ка 1 Xwtov каь KaXdpov. ако- tion also serves for the statement that the dwelling of
Xov9a>4 8' elppadai Kai то катошеЪ тоЬч the dead is in these regions, since the most and the
TeXevTparavTa4 ev tovtoi4 toi? tot 014 81a, то largest tombs of the Egyptians are situated there, the
та? twv AiyvTTiwv тафа? та? ттХе1<гтач ка\
1 O dyssey 24. 1-2. 2 I b id . 11-14.
р е у ’штач evTavßa у ivecrQai, 8мторвpevopevwv 3 As a matter of fact the only name for the Nile in Homer
1 8’ ovojjafrtv Eichstädt: 8< vouißtv. is A ig y p to s .
328 329
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK I. 96. 7-97. 3
fiev т ар рекрар S i d те тov т о т а р о й к с й тг}ч dead being ferried across both the river and Lake
A % e p o va ia <
? XLppr)?, TiOepepap S e т а р а а р а т а р Acherousia and their bodies laid in the vaults
е1ч t o ? е р т а й в а Keipevas в ^ к а ч . situated there.
8 Х о р ф а р е 1 р S e ка.1 т d X X a т а т а р а т0 14 ''E x ­ The other myths about Hades, current among the
p e rt к а в a S o v p v O o X o y o v p e p a то1ч e T i v v v Greeks, also agree with the customs which are prac­
y i p o p e p o i ' > к а т ' A i y v T T O P " to p e p y a p S i a K o p i ^ o p tised even now in Egypt. For the boat which
та аарат а t Xoiov ß d p i v K a X eicrO a i, то S' receives the bodies is called b a r i s ,1 and the passenger’s
67T i ß a O p o p 1 т а T o p O p e i S L S o a d a i , K a X o v p e p a fee is given to the boatman, who in the Egyptian
tongue is called c h a r o n . And near these regions,
9 кат а ttjp e y x a p i o p S iaX eK T O p 'x a p co vi. elva i
they say, are also the “ Shades,” which is a temple
Se Xeyovcn irX rja io v т от т от ар т оут ар Kal
o f Hecate, and “ portals ” of Cocytus and Lethe,
егкот ш ч Екат т )ч i e p o v ка1 т уХач К акут ой ка1
which are covered at intervals with bands of bronze. 2
Ат]6т] ? S i e i X r j p p e p a 4 х а Х к о к ¿ x e v c r i p . vird p x eiv There are, moreover, other portals, namely, those of
Se ка1 аХХач t гуХач ’A Х г ) в е С а ч , ка1 irX rja io v Truth, and near them stands a headless statue 3 of
т о ут а р ei'S aX op а к е ф а Х о р e a T a v a i Д¡куч. Justice.
97. Ilo W d Se Kai т ар äXXaP тар pepvO o- 97. Many other things as well, o f which mythology
T o iy p e p a p S ia p ep eip т ар А 1у у т т ю
’ 1 Ч, SiaT rj- tells, are still to be found among the Egyptians, the
роуреруч 6Tt туч троаууо р 1 а ч кал туч ер та name being still preserved and the customs actually
2 ir p a T T e ip e p e p y e ia f. е р p iep y a p ’ А к а р в а р ir o X e i, being practised. In the city of Acanthi, for instance,
ттерар т о й NetX o v к а т а тур A iß y y p а т о a T a S ia p across the Nile in the direction o f Libya one hundred
екатор кал e iK o c n туч М ерф еач, i т1вор e ip a i and twenty stades from Memphis, there is a per­
т ет рурерор, et? op т ар ie p e a p ¿¡¿¿¡корта к а .1 forated jar to which three hundred and sixty priests,
T p ia K o a io v s кав’ екаат ур урерар vSap фереср
one each day, bring water from the Nile ; 4 and not
far from there the actual performance of the myth
3 et? a l /т о р е к т ой NetX o v ' т у р S e т е р 1 top "О kvop2
of Ocnus 5 is to be seen in one of their festivals,
р у в о т с и а р S e i’ K p v a d a i т Х у а ' ю р кат а rt p a т а р у -
where a single man is weaving at one end of a long
yvp ip а у р т е Х о у р е р у р , т Х е к о р т о ч p e p ероч d p S p o 4
2 The Greek word may mean “ statue’ ’ and “ shade,” the
d p x w <TX01V‘‘0 V р а к pap, тоХХар S’ ек тар latter meaning occuring in the last line of the passage above
from Homer.
1 v S ß i< rp .a r h u o ß o \ h r after h п'/Завриг deleted by Schäfer. 4 This is a reference to the fifty daughters of Danaus, who
2 " O kvov Stephanus : ovov.
after death were condemned to the endless labour of pouring
water into vessels with holes.
1 Cp. chap. 92; b a n s is also a Greek word for boat. 5 Ocnus was another figure of the Greek underworld who
2 The bronze bands would resemble the rays of the “ Portals was represented as continually labouring at the weaving of a
of the Sun,” in the passage from Homer cited above. rope which was devoured by an unseen ass behind him as
rapidly as it was woven.
33 ° 331
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 birLaco Xvovtcov to itXeKopevov. MeXapiroBa Be
(¡migi peTeveyKelv e£ AlyvirTOV to, A lovvaą vopi-
£opeva TeXeiadai irapa Tolę "EXX^crt Kal ra
7re/5t Kpovov pvSoXoyovpeva zeal ra irepl riję
Tn avopa^iaę Kai to gvvoXov tt}V irepl ra iraBrj
5 t S>v dearv iGTOpiav. top Be AaiBaXov Xeyovaiv
diropiprjGaaSai ttjv tov Xa/3upiv8ov irXoKrjv tov
BiapevovToę pev pexpi tov vvv Kaipov, oiKoBopij-
devTosr Be, <09 pev Tiveę (Įzaaiv, viro M evBrjToę,
<«9 B eviot Xeyovaiv, irrrb M dppov tov /3a<rtAe<09,
iroXXols eTeai irpOTepov t j j 9 Mtfco fiaaiKelaę.
6 tov re pvdpov t 5>v ap'yaiav kūt Atyviraov
dvBpiavTav tov ūvtov eivai too, viro AaiSdXov
KaTaaKevaadeiai irapa Tolę f,EXX?/<r£. to 8e
koAX igtov irpoirvXov ev M eprf>ei tov 'H (f>ai-
GTeiov AaiBaXov dp^neKTOvfjaai, zeal davpaa-
8evTa Tvy^elv eiKovoę £vXivr}<i kuto. to irpoeipp-
aevov iepbv Talę IBiaię %ep<rt Bebppiovpyppevpę,
irepaę Be Bid ttįv evfyvtav d^icodevia peydXrp Boįrję
Kai 7roXXa irpoaeįevpovTa Tv%elv laoSecov ripcov
KaTa yap piav to>v irpoę tfj Meprfiei vrjaoiv ¿ tl
Kal vvv lepov elvai AaiBaXov Tipdzpevov viro tcov
eyxwpliov.
7 TI79 S’ 'O prjpov irapovaiaę aXXa tb arjpeia
<fzepovai Kal paX iaia ttjv Trję ’KXevrję yevopevpv
irapa, MeneXdco Ti)Xepd%ov tfzappaKeiav Kal
Xp8pv t (bv avpfieftrjKoTav KaKwv, to yap vi]-
irevdeę (ĮzdppaKov, b XajBeiv (fiijaiv o iroirjTiję ttjv
' EXevpv e k t (bv A lyvm lcov @ );/?&>f irapa IIoXo-
1 Cp. ohap. 61.
2 i.e. “ quieting pain.” Cp. Odyssey i. 220-21: ati-iV ip’
¿5 olvoy &a\€ (pdpfiaKov, žvdey Širivov, yriirevQes r’ &xoh6y re,
332
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 a 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,1
but according to others, by king Marrus, many years
before the reign of Minos. And the proportions of
the ancient statues o f 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 o f admiration and was granted a statue o f
himself in wood, which was made by his 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 Menelaus, For it is manifest that
the poet had acquired exact knowledge of the
“ nepenthic” 2 drug which he says Helen brought
from Egyptian Thebes, given her by Polydamna the
Kaxuy avivTwv. “ Straightway she cast into the wine
of which they were drinking a drug to quiet all pain and
strife, and bring forgetfulness of every ill ” (tr. Murray in
L.C.L.).
333
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 97. 7-98. 3

S a p p p 4 т рч ®шроч уораскоч, акрфш ч ¿¡¡рт акшч

wife of Thon ; for, th e y allege, even to this day th e
ф с и р е т с и • ет i y a p к ей pup та? e v т аи т у у и р а с к а ч w omen o f th is city use th is pow erful rem edy, and in
ancient tim es, th e y say, a d ru g to cure anger and
ту т р о е с р р р е р у Svvapei %prj< * в а с X i y o v m , i c a i
sorrow was discovered exclusively am ong th e women
т ара рорасч т а 14 А ю а т о Х ст /а ср ек 7r a X c u w v
o f D iospolis; b u t T hebes an d Diospolis, th e y add,
Xpoveov орурч /cat Хйт рч фарракор ейрраваь
are th e sam e city. A gain, A phrodite is called
ф асгг тач Se ® p / 3 a? /c a l A to? toXip трр ай т рр “ golden ” 1 by th e natives in accordance w ith an
8 viT apxecv. трр те 'А ф р о Ы т р р орора^егт вас old trad itio n , an d n ear th e city which is called
т ара тоГ? еухш рсосч x P v a Vv т аХсиач т а р а - M om em phis th e re is a plain “ of golden A p h ro d ite.”
Восгешч, ка1 T eS io p e lp a i каХоирерор хриарч Likew ise, th e m yths which are rela ted about th e
А ф р о & С т г) ч тер1 трр ovopa^opevpp М ш рерф ср. dalliance o f Zeus and H era and o f th e ir jo u rn ey to
9 т а те т е р 1 t o p A La к а \ трр "Н р а р pvO oX oyov- E th io p ia h e also g o t from E g y p t; for each year
р е р а т е р е т рч a v p o v o i a 4 / c a t т ри е1ч A W i o m a p am ong th e E g y p tian s th e shrine o f Zeus is carried
i / c S p p i a p ё к е с в е р аи т 'ор р е т е р е у к е с р ' /сат e v i a v T o v across th e river into L ibya and th e n b ro u g h t back
yap т ара тосч Аьуит т сосч тор реш р той Асоч some days la ter, as if th e god w ere arriving from
т ераю йсгвас тор т от арор есч трр A ifivp p , ка1
E thiopia ; an d as for th e dalliance o f th ese deities,
in th e ir festal g ath erin g s th e p riests carry th e shrines
рев' ррерач т /рач t o X ip ет сат рефеср, а >? ё£
of b o th to an elevation th a t has been strew n with
А свю т сач т ой в е о й т а р о р т о ч • т р р те a v p o v a i a v
flowers o f every description .2
тш р веш р т ой тозр, е р талч т а р р у и р е с п тш р раш р
98. Lycurgus also and P lato an d Solon, th e y say,
аракорс^орерш р арфот ерш р есч ороч арвесп incorporated m any E g y p tia n custom s into th e ir own
тартососч о т о тш р l e p e w v к а т е а т р ш р е р о р . legislation. A nd P yth ag o ras learned from E gyptians
98. K at А и к о й р у о р Se к а 1 П Хатш ра к а 1 ' ¿ .¿ Х ш р а his teachings ab o u t th e gods, his geom etrical pro­
т о Х Х а тш р е £ А ' с у й т т о и р о р с р ш р е1ч т а ч ё а и т ш р positions and th eo ry o f num bers, as well as th e tran s­
2 кат ат а^ас роровеасач. Ill/в а у о р а р те т а к а т а m igration of th e soul into every living th in g . D em o­
тор t e p o p Х о у о р ка.1 та кат а уесорет рсар в е ш р р р а т а critus 3 also, as th e y assert, sp en t five years am ong
кас та wepl тоич а р с в р о ь ч , етс Se трр ее? т ар th em an d was in stru c ted in m any m a tte rs relating
£ ш ор т р ч ф и х р ч и ет а /З о Х р р р а в е Ъ т ар' A ly v - to astrology. O enopides likewise passed some tim e
3 тт ш р. й т о Х а р / З а р о о с п S e к а'с А р р о к р с т о р т а р ' 2 The Homeric passage which Diodorus has in mind is in the
аитосч ет р 8 /,а т р сф а с терте Kal т оХХа S iS a - 14th Book of the I l ia d (11. 346 ff.) : “ The son o f Kronos
Хвррас тш р кат а трр аат роХоусар. т ор те clasped his consort in his arms. And beneath them the divine
earth sent forth fresh new grass, and dewy lotus, and crocus,
O lp o T iS p p оросш ч ст ор8ьат р1ф арт а тосч iepevoi and hyacinth, thick and soft . . . ” (tr. Lang, Leaf, Myers).
3 Democritus of Abdera, the distinguished scientist of the
1 A reference to the epithet constantly used by Homer to fifth century B.c., author of the “ a tom ic” theory.
describe Aphrodite.
334 335
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 98. 3-6
«at а с т т р о Х б у о і ? р р а Ѳ е іѵ аХХа те каі р -а Х іа т а w ith th e priests an d astrologers and learned am ong
тоѵ rjX ia ico v кѵкХоѵ со? X o^ r/v pev '¿yet. T tjv o th er things ab o u t th e orbit of th e sun, th a t it has
ж о р еіа ѵ , еѵ аѵ т іаѵ Be rots' а Х Х о іч аст троіч тт)ѵ an oblique course an d moves in a direction opposite
4 фораѵ т г о іе іт с и . тга ратгХг]стшд Be каі тоѵ to th a t of th e o th er sta rs . 1 L ike th e others, Eudoxus
І&ѵВоЦоѵ асттp o X o y r j c r a v T a t r a p ' а ѵ т о і ч к а і іт о Х Х а
stu d ied astrology w ith th em and acquired a notable
fam e for th e g re a t am ount of useful know ledge which
тшѵ хр траір^ шѵ еi? тоѵ? " Е Х Х г/ѵ а ч екВ оѵт а т ѵ у е іѵ
he dissem inated am ong th e Greeks.
аЦ юХоуоѵ B o^ ijs.
Also of th e ancient sculptors th e m ost renow ned so-
б Тшѵ те ауаХрат ож ош ѵ тшѵ ж а Х а іш ѵ тоѵ? j ourned am ong th em , nam ely, Telecles andT heodorus,
р а Х іа т а В іш ѵ о р а а р еѵ о ѵ д В іат ет ріф еѵ аі ж ар' th e sons of R hoecus, who ex ecuted for th e people
avTot? Т т ) Х е к Х е а к а і % е о В ш р о ѵ , тоѵ? 'Р о і к о ѵ of Samos th e w ooden 2 sta tu e of th e P y th ian Apollo.
pev vtov?, к а т а с т к е ѵ а а а ѵ т а д Be t o i s S a/u 'o t? то For one h alf of th e sta tu e , as th e account is given,
6 т оѵ А т гоХХ ш ѵоч т оѵ П ѵѲ Іоѵ £оаѵоѵ. т оѵ у а р was w orked by Telecles in Samos, an d th e o th e r half
а у а Х р іа т о і? еѵ Е а р ш реѵ ѵжо Т ц Х е к Х е о ѵ і іа т о - was finished by his b ro th er T heodorus a t E p h e su s;
р е і т а і то т \р .ш ѵ В г } р и о ѵ р у і ] Ѳ г ) ѵ а і , к а т а Se ttjv and w hen th e two p arts w ere b ro u g h t to g e th e r th e y
Е фесгоѵ ѵіто т а В е Х ф о ѵ ® еоВш роѵ то е т е р о ѵ fitted so perfectly th a t th e whole w ork h ad th e
/tepo? о ѵ ѵ т е Х е о д у ѵ а г а ѵ ѵ т е Ѳ е ѵ т а Be 7гро? а Х - appearance of having b ee n done by one m an. This 3
Хт)Ха т а р-ер-р а ѵ р . ф ш ѵ е І ѵ оѵтсо? шсгте В о к е і ѵ “ Ich würde die Stelle aus Diodor dem Sizilier (um 50 v.
ѵф еѵо? то 7таѵ е р у о ѵ ст ѵѵт ет еХ ес гѲ аі.1 тоѵто Chr.), die nicht so einfach ist wie sie scheint, am liebsten nur
griechisch abdrucken, aber damit wäre dem Leser nicht
1 еруоѵ (тѵѵтетеХе'о-Ѳш V o g e l: аы /ха калеггкеѵітВш CF, gedient; ich muss zeigen, wde ich sie auffasse. W . Schubart
Веккег, Dindorf. und U.v. Wilamowitz bin ich dafür dankbar, dass sie, denen
der ägyptische Sachverhalt nicht so klar vor Augen steht, mich
1 Oenopides of Chios was a mathematician and astronomer an einigen Stellen davor bewahrt haben, ihn in Diodors Worte
of the fifth century b .c . According to this statement he hineinzudeuten. Ein Trost in meiner Verlegenheit ist mir
observed the obliquity of the ecliptic, which we now know to gewesen, dass v. Wilamowitz mir schrieb, ‘ Die Übersetzung
be about 23£°. The fact that the sun’ s motion on the celestial der Diodorstelle ist in der Tat knifflich, da er seine Vorlage,
sphere is slower than that of the stars causes an apparently Heraklit [a slip of the pen for “ Hecataeqs ” — Tr.] von Abdera
retrograde movement of the sun relative to the stars. (um 300 v. Chr.), verschwommen wiedergibt und überhaupt ein
2 Doubtless the cult statue. so miserabler Skribent ist.’ Ich wage folgende freie Über­
3 The following sentences are perplexing. The translator is setzung :
comforted by the knowledge that they have vexed others who “ . . . Dieses Werkverfahren (nämlich Statuen aus einzeln
are more experienced both in Egyptian art and in Greek. gefertigen Hälften zusammenzusetzen) soll bei den Hellenen
This passage has been discussed last by Heinrich Schafer nirgends in Gebrauch sein, dagegen bei den Ägyptern meistens
( V o n ä g yp tisc h er K u n s t3, Leipzig, 1930, pp. 350-51), and the angewendet werden. (Nur dort sei es denkbar.) Bei ihnen
remarks and translation of so distinguished an authority on nämlich bestimme man den symmetrischen Bau der Statuen
Egyptian art deserve to be cited, and in the original. nicht nach der freien Entscheidung des Auges, wie bei den
337
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 98. 6-9

o€ то 76^09 тг;9 €руа<па<; т гара p .ev r o t 9 КлЛ/^оч m ethod of w orking is practised now here am ong th e
р р В а р ы ч е т п т р В е у е е г в а ь , т г а р а S e то1ч А 1 у у т г т 1 0 1 ч
G reeks, b u t is followed generally am ong th e E g y p ­
7 раХктта a w re X e ia d a i. тгар ¿ K e iv o iq у ap ovk
tians. For w ith th em th e sym m etrical proportions
of th e statu es are n o t fixed in accordance w ith th e
алто т рч кат а тру o p a triv ф аут асгьач т р у ст ур-
appearance th e y p resen t to th e a rtis t’s eye, as is
рет рьау ты у ауаХ рат ы у K p iv e a d a i, кавалгер
done am ong th e G reeks, b u t as soon as th e y lay out
:п а р а то1ч " E X X p t r i v , ¿ЛЛ’ eireiB a v то у ч Х [воуч
th e stones and, afte r apportioning th e m , are ready
кат акХьуы сп1 ка.1 рерьааут еч к а т е р у астыута1 , to w ork on th em , a t th a t stag e th e y ta k e th e pro­
то трУ1 к а у т а то ä v a X o y o v алго тыv ¿Х а^сгт ы у portions, from th e sm allest p arts to th e la rg e st;
8 етг1 т а р е у ш т а X a p ß d v e a - в а г т o v у а р тгаиточ for, dividing th e stru ctu re of th e en tire body into
' V \ > Л * V /
<т ы р а т о ч т р у к а т а т т к е ь р у eiq е у K a i e iK o c n р е р р tw enty-one p arts an d o n e-fo u rth 1 in addition, th ey
ка.1 тгро<ткт1 т е т а р т о у B ia i p o v p e v o v 4 тру оХру express in this w ay th e com plete figure in its sym ­
¿■ •jroSi& ovai а у р р е т р ь а у t o v ty p o v . B io ir e p о т а у m etrical proportions. C onsequently, so soon as th e
тгер\ t o v p e y e d o v q o l т е % у 2т а 1 тгр о ч a X X p X o v q artisans agree as to th e size of th e sta tu e , th e y
а и у в ы у т а 1 , ■ у ы р к т в е у т е ч атг аХХрХыу ст урфы уа sep arate an d proceed to tu rn o ut th e various sizes
к ат ает K e v a ^ o v m та реуевр ты у е/ууы у оитыч assigned to th em , in such a w ay th a t th e y correspond,
акрф ыч ые гт е е к т г Х р ^ с у r r a p e ^ e iv т р у 1Вчотрта
and th e y do it so accurately th a t th e peculiarity of
th e ir system excites am azem en t . 2 A nd th e w ooden
9 т рч т т р а у р а т е 'ь а ч а и т ы у . то В' ¿у тр % ары
sta tu e in Samos, in conform ity w ith th e ingenious
I jo a v o v с г и р ф ы у ы ч тр т ы у АВ уит гт сы у ф С К о т е у у ь а
m eth o d of th e E g y p tian s, was cu t into two p arts
катФ т ру короф ру2 Bi ~)(o t o p o v p e v o v B io p i^ ei v
from th e top of th e h ea d down to th e p riv ate p arts
1 к а т а к \1 п х п Веккег, V ogel: Dindorf conjectured на та-
£dvu><Ti. parts has been found in any modern writer. W. Deonna
2 Kopv<f>i]v Rhodomann : opo<t>4}v. (D édale o u la S ta tu e de la Grèce A rc h a ïq u e , 2 vols., Paris, 1930)
translates this sentence, and then adds ( 1 . p. 229): “ Mais
Hellenen, sondern, nachdem man die Blöcke hingelegt und l’étude de l’art égyptien révèle que celui-ci a connu, comme
gesondert zugerichtet habe, hielten sich die Arbeiter dann, tout autre art, des proportions très variables, tantôt courtes,
jeder innerhalb seiner Hälfte, aber auch in bezug auf die tantôt élancées, suivant les temps, et souvent à même époque,
andere, an dieselben Verhältnisse von den kleinsten bis zu den et qu’il n’est pas possible de fixer un canon précis.”
grössten Teilen. Sie zerlegten nämlich die Höhe des ganzen 2 Since the Egyptian artist had no idea of perspective, each
Körpers in einundzwanzig und ein Viertel Teile, und erreichten part of a figure, or each member of a group, was portrayed as
so den symmetrischen Aufbau der Menschengestalt. Hätten if seen from directly in front. Therefore the first training of
sich also die (beiden) Bildhauer einmal über die Grösse (der an artist consisted in the making of the separate members of
Statue) geeinigt, so stimmten sie, selbst von einander getrennt, the body, which accounts for the many heads, hands, legs, feet,
die Einzelmasse ihrer Werkteile so genau zueinander, dass man which come from the Egyptian schools of art. Schafer (l.c.,
ganz verblüfft sei über dieses ihr eigentümliches Verfahren. p. 316, cp. p. 389) suggests that this practice may have given
So bestehe das Kultbild in Samos, etc.” Diodorus the idea that the Egyptians made their statues out
1 N 0 explanation of the “ twenty-one and one-fourth” of previously prepared blocks of stone.
338 339
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK I. 98. 9 -iQ

tov £ojov to fiecrov fieXP1 f&v alB oitov, icra^ov an d th e sta tu e was divided in th e m iddle, each p a rt
o/ioiw ? eavrrp nravToOev elvai S’ avTo Xeyovcri exactly m atching th e o th e r a t every point. A nd
Kara to 7r\et<rTov ttapefujiepes tol? AiyvTniois, th e y say th a t th is sta tu e is for th e m ost p a rt ra th e r
to? av t o ? fiev xeipas e%ov irapaTeTa/ieva?, Ta Be sim ilar to those o f E g y p t, as having th e arm s stretch e d
cKeXrj hia(3e{SrfK0Ta. stiffly down th e sides an d th e legs se p arate d in a
10 Ilepi fiev ovv t S>v kcit A'iyvirTov laTopovfievwv stride.
x a l fivjjfiTfs a^icov a p / c e l Ta ppOevTa- tf/ieis Be
Now reg ard in g E g y p t, th e events which history
records and th e things th a t deserve to b e m entioned,
Kara Tifv ev apxfj t»}? /Si/SXov irpoOeaiv ra?
th is account is sufficient; and we shall p resen t in th e
ef>?? 7rp a fe t? x a l fivOoXoyias ev ttj fieTa ravTrjv n e x t Book, in keeping w ith our profession a t th e
B i e g i f i e v , a p x p v Troirjaafievoi ra xaTti Trjv ' A a l a v
beginning of th is Book, th e events an d legendary
rols A aavpiovi irpaxOema. accounts n e x t in order, beginning w ith th e p a rt
play ed by th e Assyrians in Asia.

340 341
BOOK II
 T a le evecrTiv f v ту SevT ep a тир
A io S m p o v f t if iX a v
Hepi Nd'Ov tov тгрштоу (ЗатлХеосгауточ ката tjjv ’Aaiav
ка! twv {17r’ avrov npa^OivTOiv.
Пер! туч 2ep.tpap.i8os у eveVea)s «a! ttJs irep! avryv
av^yae шч.
O s NtVos 6 /Jao-tXevs eyjjpe ryv %(.pLpapiv 8ia rpv
aptryv аутуч-
Os S e p tp a p is TeXevT^o-aPTOT Nivou StaOefapeVp r i p
fiaaiXtiav тгоХХач ка! peyaX as 7rpa£as eirereXeVaro.
K tmtis Ba/JuXSvos ка! туч кат avTyv китиакиуч
атгаууеХш.12
Пере тоС крераотоС Xeyopevov кужоу ка! twv aXXwv
twv к ата t ~)v Ba/3uXojvtav 7rapa8o£ajv.
%трат(Сa S epipapiSos ets A ly v n o v ка! AWioTiav, Ztl
8e rpv I vSikjJv.
Пер! тшу airoyopajv таутуч a тшр )3а<п Аа.чпи'тон' ката
Tyv A<riav Kai туч кат’ аьтоуч труфуч те ка! равурсач.
Os eayuTOS SapSavairaXAos 6 {1щлХ(гч 8(а труфуу
ате/ЗаХе ryv ap^yv утго ’Ар/Закоу tov M jJooij.
Пер! тшг ХаХ8а:он' ка! туч тгаратуруасыч ТОН'
a (TTpwv.
П ер! tojv [ЗаслХсшу twv к а т а т !р M ^Stav ка! т р ; тер!
tojjtojv 8а офиннам т а р а Tots 1<тторюурафо1ч.
Пер! тоттоОллач туч IvSudjs ка! twv к ат а tj)v yojpav
фуорсуojv кае tojv т а р ’ ’IvSols vopipwv.
1 ¿ 7гау7 еЛ|'а omitted by D, Vogel.
2 xal after та-ит-ns deleted by Dindorf.
344
CO N TENTS O F T H E SECO N D BOOK
O F D IO D O R U S
On N inus, th e first k ing in A sia, an d his deeds
(chaps. 1-3).
On th e b irth of Sem iram is and h e r rise (chaps.
4-5).
How K ing Ninus m arried Semiramis because of
h e r ou tstan d in g ability (chap. 6 ).
H ow Sem iram is, ascending th e th ro n e on th e death
of N inus, accom plished m any g re a t deeds (chap. 7).
T he founding o f Babylon an d an account of its
building (chaps. 7-9).
On th e h anging g ard en , as it is called, an d th e
o th er astonishing things in Babylonia (chaps. 10-13).
T he cam paign o f Sem iram is ag ain st E g y p t,
E thiopia, and In d ia (chaps. 14-20).
On h er descendants who w ere kings in A sia and
th e ir luxury and sluggishness (chaps. 2 1 - 2 2 ).
H ow S ardanapallus, th e la st k in g , because of his
luxuriousness lost his th ro n e to A rbaces th e M ede
(chaps. 23-28).
On th e C haldaeans an d th e ir observation of th e
stars (chaps. 29-31).
On th e kings of M edia an d th e d isag reem en t of
historians upon th em (chaps. 32-34).
On th e topography of In d ia an d th e products of
th e land, and on th e custom s of th e Indians (chaps.
35-42).
345
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY CONTENTS OF THE SECOND BOOK
ITcpl ^ k v Oojv kol1 A p a ^ o v a i v к а l \ т г€ р /З о р ш у , On th e Scythians, A m azons, an d H yperboreans
IIcp l rijs ’Apa/Stas каХ t Sjv кат avTrjv <f>vop.€vcoy /cal (chaps. 43-47).
pvOokoyovpivojv. On A rabia, an d th e products o f th e lan d an d its
licpi т w vrj(T(ov t w iv Tyj p.e<jy]p.fipia. к ата tov ьжбауоу legends (chaps. 48-54).
€Vp€0€lOW. On th e islands which have been discovered to the
south in th e ocean (chaps. 55-60).

346 347
 B IB A O S A ETTEPA B O O K II

1. 'H fl€ V 7T p b T a U T T ji f i l f i X o i T r ji o X r)i avv- T h e preceding Book, being th e first o f th e whole

T c ig e c o ç o v c r a TTpâiTrj T r e p i é ^ e i rà ç t e a r A ïy v r r T o v work, em braces th e facts which concern E g y p t, am ong
7r p d g e i i ’ èv a h v ir d p x e i Ta re ir e p l t Û>v deûv
which are included b oth th e m yths re la te d by th e
E g y p tian s ab o u t th e ir gods an d ab o u t th e n atu re
ir a p A l y v j r T Î o i i p .v 6 o X o y o v p ,e v a K a l ir e p l T r ji tou
o f th e Nile, and th e o th er m arvels w hich are told
N e iX o v vcreoùi /c a l T a X X a r à i r e p l t o v ttO T a p .o û
ab o u t this river, as well as a description o f th e land
tovto v T r a p a è o ^ o X o y o v p ,e v a , i r p t s S e t o u t o u tr e p l
of E g y p t and th e acts o f each of th e ir ancient kings.
Te t fji KaT A ïy v ir T O v g u ip a i t c a ï to >v à p ^ a i c o v N ex t in order cam e th e stru ctu res know n as th e
/3 a < r i\e o ù v T a v<f> é /c d c rT O v T r p a ^ d k v T a . é ^ r ji £è pyram ids, which are listed am ong th e seven w onders
K a T e T W )(d r)a a v al K aTacnceval tcûv tr v p a p , i 8 a ) v o f th e world. A fter th a t we discussed such m atters
T S)V à v a y p a c f> o p .é v ù ) V è v T o h ém à d a v p a Ç o p é v o ii co nnected w ith th e laws an d th e courts of law, and also
2 è p yo ïi. erreiTa1 èhrjXdopÆV irepï t Ô>v vôpoùv /cal w ith th e anim als which are considered sacred am ong
TS>v SiKaoTpplùiV, 6tî Sè tcûv à<f>iepa)p.éva)v Çwoùv th e E g y p tian s, as excite adm iration and w onder,
Trap A l y v m i o n Ta 6avp,aÇop,eva, n p o i 8è toutou algo th e ir customs w ith resp ect to th e dead, an d th en
Ta ttepl t 5>v TeTeXevTTjKOTcov v ô p ip a , Kal t 5>v nam ed such G reeks as w ere n o ted for th e ir learning,
EXX-pvœv oaoi t S>v èirl iraiheia 9avp,aÇop,éva>v who, upon visiting E g y p t an d b eing in stru c ted in
Trapa^àXÔvTei e h A ïy v irT o v Kal -jroXXà t S>v m any useful things, th ereu p o n tran sfe rred th em to
XP’p alp.mv p,a0ôvT6i p.eTpveyKav e li t rjv 'E W a S a .
G reece. A nd in th is p rese n t Book we shall se t forth
th e events which took place in A sia in th e ancient
3 è v TavTï] S' d v a y p d ' è f o p . e v r à ç KaTcL t rjv ' A t r l a v
period, beginning w ith th e tim e w hen th e Assyrians
y e v o / x é v a i T r p d Ç e i i è v t o h à p ^ a l o n j ^ p o v o n , ti /v
w ere th e dom inant power.
àpxvv ¿ 7to tf j i t Si v ’A a a v p l w v fjy e p .o v la i Troirj-
In th e earliest ag e, th e n , th e kings o f A sia w ere
c râ p ,evo i, native-born, and in connection w ith th em no m em ory
4 To iraXaiov tolvuv KaTa t rjv A crlav vtrrjpxov is p reserved o f eith er a n otable deed or a personal
èyx<i>pioi fiaoiX eh, 5>v oute irpâ^n èiritT-ppoi oïne nam e. T he first to b e h anded down by trad itio n
ovop.a p.vppoveûeTai. TrpSjTOi Sè tcûv eh ioTOplav to history an d m em ory for us as one who achieved
Kal pvripsqv irapahehopÀvcav pplv N tvoi è fiaaiXeùi g re a t deeds is N inus, k ing of th e A ssyrians, an d of him
tcûv 'Acrcrvplcûv pceyaXas irpâ^eii èireTeXécraTO'
1 eiretTa Bekker, Vogel : cireira 8è D, Dindorf,
348 349
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
irep i o v t a K a r a p e p o s d v a y p a tp e iv T reipaaopeO a.
y e v o p e v o s y a p cpvaei 7roXepi/cbs ical tyXa/Ttjs ttj?
dpeTrjs /ca0 d>TrXicre t o >v vecav t o v s /c p a T ia T o v s 1
y v p v d a a s B a i/T o vs 7rX e lo v a -%povov <rvvtj0 eis
¿iroi-qae ird a rj /ca/cova 0 ela /cal n oX ep i/cols k i v -
5 Bvvois. avaTpadpevos ovv cnpaToireBov a£io-
Xoyov avppa^lav ¿voiija-aTO 71750? ’Apiaiov tov
ftacnXea Trjs ' Apaftias, fj /car' e/celvovs too?
■%povois eBo/cei nXp0eiv dX/cipcov dvBpu/v. ecm
oe ical KaOoXov tovto to e0vos <piXeXev0epov /cal
/car' ovBeva Tpoirov 7tpoaBej(op^vov eirrjXvv
pyepova- Bionep ov0’ ot two n e p a w fiacnXeis
vcnepov ov0 oi two M a/ceBovcov, /caiirep irXelaTOv
ur^vaavTes, rjBvin]07]aav tovto to e0vos /caTa-
6 B o v X d )a a a 0 a i. / c a 0 o X o v y a p p ’A p a f t i a B v a i r o X e -
pr)TO‘; ecsTi £e v t/c a is B vvdpeai B id to t /¡v pev
e p p p o v a vT rjs e lv a i, t rjv Be a v v B p o v / c a l B i e i X r j p -
pevpv (ppeacn /c e /c p v p p e v o v ; /cal p o vo is to ??
7 ey^copiois yvo)pi^opevots. 0 B ovv two ’A aavplcov
ftaaiXei/s N ioo? too SvvacnevovTa two ’A/oa/9wo
TrapaXajBd/v ecnpaTevae peTa 7roXXrjs Bvvdpecos
eirl Ba/3o\w oi.oo? /caToi/covvTas dpopov j^d/pav'
KaT e/ceivovs Be too? xp ovovs f) pev vvv ova a B a / 3 o-
Xcbv ov/c rjv ¿KTiapevr], /caTa Be Ttjv B afivXcoviav
vTTpp^ov aXXai iroXeis d^toXoyoi- paBi w? Be
^eipwcrapevos too? ey)(0)piovs Bid to two ev tois
7roXepois /civBvvcov direlpca? €%eto, t ovtois pev
£Ta£e t eXelv /cat eviavTov wpiapevovs cpopovs,
tov Be j3aaiXea two /caTairoXepr)0evTa/v \a/3 w o
8 peTa two TE/cowo ai^paX u/T O V dire/CTeive. peTa
Be T a V T a n o X X o ls 7rXrj0ecnv els t //v ’A ppevlav ep-
/3 aXd>v /cal T to a ? two TroXecov d v a c n a T O v s iro irja a s
35°
BOOK II. I. 4-8
we shall now endeavour to give a d etailed account.
F or b eing by n a tu re a w arlike m an an d em ulous of
valour, h e supplied th e stro n g est o f th e young m en
w ith arm s, an d by train in g them for a considerable
tim e h e accustom ed th em to every hardship and all
th e d angers o f war. A n d w hen now he had collected
a n otable arm y, h e form ed an alliance w ith A riaeus,
th e k in g o f A rabia, a co untry which in those tim es
seems to have abounded in brave m en. Now, in
general, th is n atio n is one which loves freedom and
u nder no circum stances subm its to a foreign r u le r ;
consequently n eith er th e kings o f th e Persians a t a
la te r tim e nor those o f th e M acedonians, th o u g h th e
m ost pow erful of th e ir day, w ere ever able to enslave
this nation. For A rabia is, in general, a difficult
co untry for a foreign arm y to cam paign in, p a rt of it
being d esert an d p a rt o f it w aterless an d supplied
a t intervals w ith wells which are hidden an d known
only to th e n ativ es .1 N inus, how ever, th e k in g o f th e
A ssyrians, ta k in g along th e ru ler o f th e A rabians as
an ally, m ade a cam paign w ith a g re a t arm y against
th e B abylonians whose country b o rd ered upon his-—in
those tim es th e p rese n t city o f Babylon had n o t y e t
been founded, b u t th e re w ere o th er n otable cities in
B abylonia— an d afte r easily subduing th e in h ab itan ts
of th a t region because o f th e ir inexperience in th e
d an g ers o f w ar, he laid upon th em th e yearly p ay m en t
o f fixed trib u te s, b u t th e k ing o f th e conquered,
whom he took captive along w ith his children, he p u t
to d eath . T h en , invading A rm enia in g re a t force
and laying w aste some o f its cities, h e struck te rro r
1 Arabia and its peoples are more fully described in chaps.
48 ff.
351
 D IO D O R U S O F S IC IL Y
KdTeTrXij^aTO t o u ? ¿y^cúpíov;- Bióirep o fiaaiAevs
avTwv T5ap£ávr}<;, ópcov aí/rov ovk afyopLayov ovra,
peerá 7toW cúv Bcúpcúv áirr¡vrrjae /cal 7rav ecfcrjae
9 iroir¡aeiv to irpoaraTropcevov. ó Be N ívo<; peeya-
X o - v /f ó ^ w ? ama) xprjaápcevos t í } ? t c 'Appievias
avvey^cúprjaev áp-^eiv Kal cjúíXov ovra irépvweiv
arpanáv kcu rr/v ^oprjyíav ra> acjúerépeo arparo-
iréBcp. áel Be pcáXXov avíjópeevos earparevaev eí?
10 T ijv M .r¡B ía v. 6 Be r a v r r j c ; /SatríXeu? *t>ápvo<;
iraparaijapcevoc; á ^ ioX óycp B vvápiec kcu X e tc ji O e ís ,
tcúv r e a r p a n c ú T c ú v toví 7rXetou? 1 air é f t a X e kcu
avTO<: p e e r á tÍ kvcúv k m á K a l y w a i K O S at^/iáXwTOS
Xíjc^élet? a v e c n a v p w O r /.
2 . O vtcó Bk tcúv irpaypLarcov ra> N iv e o irpo-
yiúpovvrcúv Beivpv einOvpíav ea^e tou Kara-
arpé^raaOac ir¡v ' A aíav áiraaav r rjv evr o?
TaváiSo? Kal N eíXov &>? eirlirav yap toI<; evrv-
^ovaiv r) tcúv irpaypLarcov evpoia 2 r r¡v r ov
irXeíovo<; éiriOvpáav irapíarrjaL. Bióirep t í }? peev
M pSía? aarpáirrjv eva tcúv irepl avrov cf>íXcúv
Karéarpaev, avTO? B' éirpei ra Kara rr¡v 'Aaíav
e0vr¡ Karaarperfropcevos, Kal xpóvov kimaKaiBe-
Kaerr] KaravaXcoaas irXrjv I vS wií Kal HaKTpcavcov
2 tcúv áXXcov áirávTCúv Kvpiot eyévero. tá ? peev
ovv Ka6' eKaara pealas f¡ tov ápiOpcov áirávTCúv
tcúv KaTairoXepLrjdévTcúv ov8el<: tcúv avyypacf>écov
ai>éypa\jre, ta 8’ eircai)peorara tcúv edvcbv clko-
Xov9 cú<; Krpaía tcú KviBícp ireipaaopueOa avvropLcos
éiriBpapeeív.
3 Karearpe^aro peev yap t í } ? irapadaXaTTÍov
1 irAfíous V o g e l : ttAcíittovs V u lg a te , B e k k e r , D iu d o rf.
35 2
BOOK II. I. 8-2 . 3
into th e in h a b ita n ts; consequently th e ir king
Barzanes, realizing th a t h e was no m atch for him in
b a ttle , m e t him w ith m any p resents and announced
th a t he would obey his every com m and. B u t Ninus
tre a te d him w ith g re a t m agnanim ity, and agreed th a t
he should n o t only continue to rule over A rm enia
b u t should also, as his friend, furnish a co ntingent
and supplies for th e A ssyrian arm y. A nd as his power
continually increased, h e m ade a cam paign against
M edia. A nd th e king o f this country, P harnus,
m eetin g him in b a ttle w ith a form idable force, was
d efeated , and he b o th lost th e larg er p a rt o f his
soldiers, and him self, being ta k en captive along with
his seven sons an d wife, was crucified.
2. Since th e un d ertak in g s of Ninus w ere prospering
in th is w ay, h e was seized w ith a pow erful desire to
subdue all of Asia th a t lies betw een th e T anais 1 and
th e N ile ; for, as a g en eral th in g , w hen m en enjoy
good fo rtu n e, th e stead y cu rre n t of th e ir success
prom pts in th em th e desire for m ore. Consequently
he m ade one o f his friends satrap o f M edia, while he
him self set ab o u t th e task o f subduing th e nations of
Asia, and w ithin a period of seventeen years he becam e
m aster of th em all ex cep t th e Indians and B actrians.
Now no historian has recorded th e b attle s w ith each
nation or th e n um ber o f all th e peoples conquered,
b u t we shall u n d ertak e to run over briefly th e m ost
im p o rtan t nations, as given in th e account of Ctesias
of Cnidus . 2
O f th e lands which lie on th e sea and o f th e others
1 T h e D on.
2 On C tesias see th e In tro d u c tio n , p p . x x v i - x x v i i .
2 eüpoia H e rw e rd e n : cnippoia.
353
 D IO D O R U S O F S IC IL Y
Kal ttjs a vvexp vs ^capa? ry v re AiyvnTOV Kal
^ oivIktjv, €ti Be K oiXpv Hvplav Kal KiXiKiav Kal
Tlapef.wXlav Kal AvKiav, irpos Be Tainais ttjv re
K apiav Kal <\>puyiav 1 Kal AvBiav, TrpoarjydyeTO
Be T1)V re TpwaSa Kal Tpv e<f>’ ’ EXXpaTrbvTw
<$>pvyiav Kal ElpoirovTiBa Kal 13tdvviav Kal Ka7r-
7raBoKiav Kal r a Kara tov n ovtov eßvrj ß a p ß a p a
KarotKovvTa pe%pi TavaiBos, ¿Kvplevae Be tt)s
re K.aBovcria)v ^wpas Kal 'YaiTvpwv, e n B'
'TpKavicov Kal A payyw v, irpos Be tovtois
A epßiKwv Kal K appaviw v Kal Xw popvalon’, eri
Be BopKavioov Kal U apßvalw v, eTrrfXße Be Kal
t rjv TlepalBa Kal tt]V Xovcnavrjv Kal rr/v KaXov-
pevrp) K a cm a v p v , eis rjv elaiv ela ßoX a l cneval
TravTeXws, Bio Kal irpoaayopevovTai E a a m a i
4 7riiXai. 7roXXä Be Kal aXXa twv eXaTTOvwv
eßvwv Trpoar/ydyeio, irepl wv piaKpov av eirj
Xeyeiv. rfjs Be BaKTpiavrjs ovaps BvcreiaßoXov
Kal TrXrjßrj p a^lpw v avBpwv expv<rqs, eireiBp
ToXXd irovrjcras airpaKTOS eyevero, tov pev irpos
B aKTptavovs iroXepov eis erepov dveßdXero
Kaipov, ra s Be Bvvdpeis dvayayw v eis ttjv
’A aavplav e^eXe^aro tottov evQerov eis troXews
p e y d X r / s kt Ictiv.
3. 'E iufyavecndTas yap irpd^eis twv trpo avToii
Kareipyacrpevos eairevBe TijXiKavTpv K iia a i to
peyeßos 7rbXiv wcrre prj povov avTpv elvai p e y l-
(TTtjv twv tote ovawv /tara iraaav ttjv o ’iKovpevpv,
dXXd prjBe twv peTayeveaTepwv erepov eT ißa X o-
2 pevov paBlws av virepßeaßai. tov p ev oiiv twv
’ A paßw v ß a a iX ea Tippcras Bwpois Kal Xacpvpois
peyaX oT pen eaiv direXvae peTa Trjs iBias c rrp a rta ?
354
BOOK II. 2. 3-3 . 2
which border on these, Ninus subdued E gypt and
Phoenicia, then Coele-Syria, Cilicia, Pamphylia, and
Lycia, and also Caria, Phrygia, and L y d ia; 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 T anais; 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 P arth y aei; and he invaded both
Persis and Susiana and Caspiana, as it is called, which
is entered by exceedingly narrow passes, known for
th a t 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
m ultitudes of warlike 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, th at not only would
it be the largest of any which then existed in the whole
inhabited world, but also th at no other ruler of a later
tim e 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
1 Kal Mvotav after <Dpuyiav, omitted by D, is deleted by
Kallenberg, Textkritik und Sprachgebrauch Diodors, 1. 4.
355

DIODORUS OF SICILY
et? tt] v oixelap, au xo? he r a ? 7ravra^odev hvpdpei<;
xai TTapacncevas iraPTtOP tup ¿TriTrjheloiP adpoiaas
irapa top E vtfrpaTTjp irorapov exTicre ttoXiv ev
TeTeixicrpeppp, eTepoppxes auTtj? vTrocnr)<jdp,evo<;
to cr%7)pa. el^e he twp pep paxpoTepusv TcXevpdrv
eicarepav rj itoXi <; exarov xai TrevT^xoPTa cnahioop,
tu>v he ftpaxvTepcov evevpxoPTa. hto xai tov
avpiravTOs irepi/3 oXov o-vcnadevTOS ex cnahiav
rerpaxoaiutv xai oyhoijxovra t fjs eXirihos ov
hieyfreuadt)- TrfXixavrpv yap iroXiv oiiheh varepov
exriae xara r e to peye 6 o<; tov trepiftoXov xai rrjv
Tcepi to tci^ o? peyaXonpeireiap. to pep yap
v-y/roi ei%e to Tet^o? 7rohwv exaTov, to he TrXaToi
Tpicnv dppaaip nrirdaipop f)v ol he avp-rrapTes
Tvvpyoi top pep apiOpov fjcrav % t\ioi xai irePTa-
xocnoi, to 8 ’ uxjro? efyov Trohwv hiaxocriarp.
xaTipxiae h et? avTrjv t Sjv pep 'Aaavpiayv too ?
7r\ei<TTOO? xai hvpaTwraTov?, ¿77-0 8 e two dXXcop
eOpibv too ? /3 ovXopevovs. xai Ttjv pev ttoXlp
1opopaaep d<fi eavTov N inon, toj? he xaToixicrOelcn
7roXXrjp T77? opbpov -^dpas irpocrcbpiaev.
4 . E776t 8e peTo. Ttjv X Tiaiv TavT-qv 0 N t o o ?
e m p a T e v a ev eirl Tr/p WaxTpiaprjp, ¿p rj 2 e p ip a p iv
'eyppe TrjV eTrKpapeaTaTpv d-jracr&v t w o y v v a ix w o
cop 7ra p eiX ifya p ep , d p a y x a lo p e a r i irepl a in r p
irpoeiireiP 7t w ? ex Tatreiprp to^ tj? et? TrjjXixainrjp
Ttporj-^Op hofjav.
1 The city of Nineveh, which lay on the east bank of the
Tigris, 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.
2 It is believed with reason that behind the mythical figure
of Semiramis, made famous by Greek and Roman legend,
356
BOOK II. 3. 2-4. I
re tu rn to th e ir own co untry and th e n , g ath erin g his
forces from every q u a rte r and all th e necessary
m aterial, he founded on th e E u p h rates riv er a c ity 1
which was well fortified w ith walls, giving it th e form
o f a rectangle. T h e longer sides o f th e city were
each one h u n d red and fifty stades in le n g th , an d th e
sh o rter ninety. A nd so, since th e to ta l circuit
com prised four h u n d red and eig h ty stades, h e was
n ot disappointed in his hope, since a city its equal,
in resp ect to eith er th e le n g th of its circuit or th e
magnificence of its walls, was never founded by any
m an afte r his tim e. F or th e wall h ad a h eig h t of
one h u n d red fee t and its w idth was sufficient for th ree
chariots ab reast to drive u p o n ; and th e sum to tal of
its tow ers was one thousand five h u n d red , and th eir
h eig h t was two h u n d red feet. H e se ttle d in it
b oth A ssyrians, who co n stitu ted th e m ajo rity o f th e
population and had th e g re a te st pow er, an d any who
wished to come from all o th e r nations. A nd to th e
city he gave his own nam e, Ninus, and he included
w ithin th e te rrito ry of its colonists a large p a rt of
th e neighbouring country.
4. Since after th e founding of th is city Ninus m ade
a cam paign ag ain st B actriana, w here he m arried
Sem iram is , 2 th e m ost renow ned of all w omen of whom
we have any record, it is necessary first of all to tell
how she rose from a lowly fortune to such fame.
“ a sort of Assyrian Catherine II, distinguished equally in war
and for sensuality ’ ’ (How and Wells, A Commentary on Herodo­
tus, 1. p. 143), lies the historical 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 Assyrian power (see
The Cambridge A ncient History, 3. pp. 27 f., 183-4).
357
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 4. 2-4
2 К а т а т р у X v p c a v r o i v v v есгтс ттбХсч ’А с т к а Х ш у , Now th e re is in Syria a city know n as Ascalon, and
t e a l т а и т р ч o v k ат тшве у X c p c v p p c e y d X p / c a l / З а в е с а n o t far from it a larg e and deep lake, full of fish. On
ттХрррч с’ ^ в у ш у . ттара йе т аут ру vird p x ec те- its shore is a p recin ct of a famous goddess whom th e
рс еуоч в е а ч ет т сф ауод ч, p v ovoped^ovaev ol Xvpoc Syrians call D e rc e to ; 1 an d this goddess has th e head
Аеркет оОу a v тр 8е то pcev ттроашттоу е% ес of a woman b u t all th e rest of h er body is th a t of a
у у у а с к о ч , то 8 аХХо етшреа ттa v ¿ х в у о ч 8 i d т с у а ч
fish, th e reason being som ething like this. T he
story as given by th e m ost learned of th e inhabitants
3 т осаут ач астсач. рсувоХ оуоуасу ol Хоусш т ат ос
of th e region is as follows : A phrodite, being offended
тш у е у х ш р е ш у т р у ’А ф р о 8с т р у ттрост к ол/га ста у тр
w ith th is goddess, inspired in h er a violent passion
тт роесрррсеур в е а Setv o v ep.[3 a X elv ерш т а v e a v l a / c o v
for a certain handsom e y o u th am ong h er v o ta ries;
т суоч т ш у в у о у т ш у o v k а е с 8 о у ч ' тру 8е А еркет оО у and D erceto gave h erself to th e S yrian an d bore a
р с с у е с а а у ты X v p a > y e v v p a a c pcev в у у а т е р а , к а т а с - d au g h ter, b u t th e n , filled w ith sham e of h e r sinful
аууувеш ау 8 ’ етт1 тосч ррсарт ррсеуосч то у pcev deed, she killed th e y outh and exposed th e child
уеаусст коу аф аусаас, то 8е тгас8 с о у elч т суач in a rocky d esert region, while as for herself, from
ерррсоуч кас ттетрш8 есч то тто уч е к в е с у а с -1 еаут ру sham e an d g rief she th rew herself into th e lake and
8е 8 са тру а к
’ т ^ у у р у к а с Хуттру p c y j r a a a v е1ч т р у was changed as to th e form of h e r body into a fish ;
Хсрсуру рсет аахррсат савруас тоу то у асо р с а т о ч an d it is for th is reason th a t th e Syrians to th is day
ту т то у есч с ^ в у у 8 io кал то уч Х о р о о ч р е е х р е той ab stain from this anim al an d honour th e ir fish as gods.
vvv ат т ехеавас то утоу то у %ш о у к а с терсау то уч
B u t ab o u t th e region w here th e babe was exposed
4 схвуч шч веоуч. ттерс 8е тоу тотгоу оттоу то
a g re a t m u ltitu d e of doves had th e ir nests, and by
th em th e child was n u rtu re d in an astounding and
(Зреф оч е^ет евр т гХрвоуч тт ер са тер ш у еууеот -
miraculous m a n n e r; for some of th e doves k e p t th e
т еуоуточ ттара8 о ^ ш ч кал 8 асрсоу'сшч утто то утш у
body of th e babe w arm on all sides by covering it
то ira c h lo v Ьсат реф есгвас тач pcev yap т асч
w ith th e ir wings, while others, w hen th e y observed
T TT ep vfjc тт ерсехоустач то аш реа т ой /Зреф ооч
th a t th e cowherds and th e o th er keepers w ere absent
ттаут а^овеу ваХт те су, тач 8 ек тшу ст ууеуууч from th e n earby steadings, b ro u g h t m ilk therefrom
ет т ауХ е ш у, оттоте т рр р ст еса у то уч те ¡З о у к о Х оуч in th e ir beaks an d fed th e babe by p u ttin g it drop
к а с т о у ч а Х Х о У ч уорсес ч ат тоут ач , 2 e v тш стторсатс
фероуст ач у а Х а 8сат реф есу т га р а сгт а ^ о уа а ч ауа 1 Another name for the Phoenician Astarte. Herodotus
(1. 105) calls the goddess of Ascalon the “ Heavenly Aphro­
1 So Rhodomann : 4к6c7vcu 4v oTs тгоККои nkridovc irepiffTtp&v dite.”
ivvoadveiy ewdoros 1гара5б£ш$ rpoipris ка\ <rccTT]pta$ r v x €*v тЬ
&pf<po$ ( “ where a great multitude of doves were wont to
have their nests and where the babe came upon nourish­
ment and safety in an astounding manner” ). Almost the 2 ¿inWas Ursinus, Vogel : omitted A C D F G ; Mnivras all
very same words are repeated in the following sentence. other MSS., Bekker, Dindorf.
358 359
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 4. 4-5. 2
5 /i e a o v tc o v % e iX c b v . e v ia v a io v Se tov T r a ib io v by drop between its lips. And when the child was a
yevopevov K al cnepeunepac; T p o cjo fjs ir p o o 8 e o - year old and in need o f more solid nourishment,
pevov, Ta$ -n e p u n ep a s a ir o K v i^ o v c r a i a tr o tc o v the doves, pecking off bits from the cheeses, supplied
T vpcbv T ra p eyeo d a c. Tpocf>rjv d p K o v a a v . t o v <; 8e it with sufficient nourishment. Now when the keepers
v o p e ls e tr a v io v r a ? te a l O ecopovvTas n T e p i/3 e f3 p c o - returned and saw that the cheeses had been nibbled
pevovt Tov$ Tvpovs davpdaai to tt a pdbo^ov about the edges, they were astonished at the strange
T ra p a T r ]p r )< ja v T a < i ovv K al pa6ovT a< ; t >]v a lr la v
happening; they accordingly kept a look-out, and
on discovering the cause found the infant, which
6 e v p e l v to @pecf>o<s, 8ia<f>epov r a K a X X e i. evO i/s
was o f surpassing beauty. A t once, then, bringing
o v v a v r b K o p ia a v T a < ; e i ? t ?)v e T r a v X iv 8 c o p y a a c T $ a i
it to their steadings they turned it over to the keeper
to ) trpoeoT riK O T i tcov /3 a o i\iK U > v k tijvco v , o v o p a
o f the royal herds, whose name was Simmas; and
X i p p a - K a l t o v t o v a T e K v o v o v T a to tta ib t o v
Simmas, being childless, gave every care to the rear­
T pecpeiv o> ? 6 1l y a T p io v p e T a ir a c n 79 e V t / z e \ e i a ? , ing o f the girl, as his own daughter, and called her
o v o p a G tp e v o v Z e p .lp a p .iv , o ir e p ¿ o t I K a T a T p v Semiramis, a name slightly altered from the word
tcov X v p c o v h id X eK T O v T rapcovopacr p e v o v d ir o tcov which, in the language o f the Syrians, means
TTe p iiiT e p c o v , a ? d i r e K e ivto v tcov ^ p o v c o v o l K a T a “ doves,” birds which since that time all the
X v p l a v a.TTavTe’i 8 ie T e X ecra v cos # e d ? T ip cb vT es. inhabitants o f Syria have continued to honour as
5. Ta p e v o vv K aT a ttjv y e v e a e v tj}? X e p i p a - goddesses.
pi8o< ; p v d o X o y o v p e v a o^eSov tavT ’¿ o t i v . ijB rj 5. Such, then, is in substance the story that is told
8 a v T i/i r fX iK la v e ^ o v a r jc ; y a p o v K a l tu > K a X X e t about the birth o f Semiramis. And when she had
tto X v Ta$ a W a ? ir a p O e v o v < ; b ia c fie p o v c r r js , d ir e - already come to the age o f marriage and far surpassed
crrdX r] tt a pd /3a<Ti\eci>? v n a p ^ o ^ ¿TTiaK ey^r6pevo< ; all the other maidens in beauty, an officer was sent
Ta fia a iX iK a K T p v r )' o v t o <; 8’ e K a X e iT o pev from the king’s court to inspect the royal herds ;
O vvr)< ;, T rp w T O S 8' r)v tcov ek tov fia a C X iK o v his name was Onnes, and he stood first among the
a v v e b p i o v K a l tt;? S i>pia<; a tr a a r jc ; d ir o 8 e 8 e iy p e v o < i members o f the king’s council and had been appointed
governor over all Syria. He stopped with Simmas,
vT ra p xo s. o? K a T a X v a a t ? i r a p a tco h i p p a K a l
and on seeing Semiramis was captivated by her
G e w p i j a a? ttjv X e p ifa p iv e O r tp e v d p tco K c iX X e r
beauty ; consequently he earnestly entreated Simmas
8 io K a l tov X i p p a K a T a b e r j d e l s a i n c o S o i i v a i ttjv
to give him the maiden in lawful marriage and took
ir a p d e v o v et? y a p o v e v v o p o v , d i r p y a y e v a v T r / v et? her off to Ninus, where he married her and begat
N iv o v , K al yi/'/xa? e y e v v T /a e 8 v o T r a l S a s , 'T a T r a T t j v two sons, Hyapates and Hydaspes. A nd since the
2 K a l 'T b d o ir r jv . t t )<; 8e X e p i p d p ib o s i-^ o v e r p t K a l other qualities o f Semiramis were in keeping with
T a X X a a K o X o v d a T-rj i r e p l t i jv o ^ f n v e v i r p e i r e l a , e r v v e - the beauty o f her countenance, it turned out that
/3 a iv e tov a v b p a T e X e c o s in r ’ a y r ^ ? 8 e 8 o v X c b o 0 a t, her husband became completely enslaved by her,
360
361
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 5. 2-6

kcu p r j B e v avev ttj<; ¿K eLvrjt; y v d z p z j s irp a rro v ra and since he would do nothing without her advice
K arevarox^iv ¿v iracn. he prospered in everything.
3 K a d ' o v Brj x p o v o v b f i a c n X e v s , erreiB T j t o , tt e p l It was at just this time that the king, now that he
r t j v k t Lo tiv Tf)<? o p .w v v p .o v ir o X e w e ; c r w e r e X e c r e , had completed the founding o f the city which bore
e r r p a r e v e iv e ir i B a /c r p ia v o v s ¿ r r e x e ip p a e v . e ib w $
his name, undertook his campaign against the
Bactrians. And since he was well aware o f the
Se r d r e t t X tjB tj t e a l t t j v o X k t jv r w v a v B p w v ,
great number and the valour o f these men, and realized
en Se t t j v x ^ o p a v ’¿ x o v a a v t t o X X o v ? t o t t o v s
that the country had many places which because o f
o n r p o c n r o v '; B ia t t jv o x v p o r r jr a , K areX egev eg
their strength could not be approached by an enemy,
avavrw v tw v vtt avrov edvw v crrp a n w rw v
he enrolled a great host o f soldiers from all the nations
T r X fjd o s ’ i r r e l y a p rrje; 7T p o r e p o v c r r p a r e ia < ; iit t o -
under his sw ay; for as he had come off badly in his
rerevxw t r jv , e c n r e v B e T r o X X a i r X a a i o v i r r a p a y e v e - earlier campaign, he was resolved on appearing
4 crBai Bvvdpei ttpos rrjv Ba/crpt-av/jv. avvaxBeiarjt before Bactriana with a force many times as large
Be Trjs arpanae; rravraxoBev TjpiBprjQzjaav, (L? as theirs. Accordingly, after the army had been
K.tt)cr t a ? ev T a t ? taropLais avayeyparpe, iregwv assembled from every source, it numbered, as
pev eKarov e/3SopTjKovra pvpidBes, 'nnrewv Be Ctesias has stated in his history, one million seven
pia TrXelovs rwv eiKocri pvpidBwv, appara Be hundred thousand foot-soldiers, two hundred and ten
BpeTravTjifiopa puepov aTroXeiirovra rwv pvpiwv thousand cavalry, and slightly less than ten thousand
egaKoaimv. six hundred scythe-bearing chariots.
Now at first hearing the great size o f the army is
6 “ EcrTt p ev ovv aTTiarov rol<; a v rb d ev aKovcraai
incredible, but it will not seem at all impossible to
to 7 rXfjBo1 ; rfjs a r p a n a s , ov pfjv dB vvarov y e
any who consider the great extent o f Asia and
(pavzjcrerai r o t ? avadew povcri t o t ?5? ’ A c t a ?
the vast numbers o f the peoples who inhabit it.
peyedo<; zeal r a irXrjBrj rw v K arou covvrw v avrrjv For if a man, disregarding the campaign o f Darius
edvw v. ei y a p Tt? aijjeh rr/v erri X xvB a ? A a p eio v against the Scythians with eight hundred thousand1
a r p a r e ia v p e r a oyBorjKovra pvpidBw v /cal ttjv men and the crossing made by Xerxes against
S ep gov Siaftacriv etrl ttjv ' E X X a S a T o t ? a v a - Greece with a host beyond number,2 should consider
p iB p ^ rois TTXrjBeari, ra<; ¿x8e<s 1 zeal rrpazjv a w r e - the events which have taken place in Europe only
Xecr8elcra<; ir p a g e n ¿ tti r i ;? Eupco7T7;? crKeijraiTo, yesterday or the day before, he would the more
6 r u x i o v a v 7 T ie r r o v TjX’P 'j a l r ° to p r jB e v . K ara, p e v quickly come to regard the statement as credible.
ovv ttjv 2 , i K e X i a v o A i o v v c r i o s e k p ia < ; rrj<; r w v In Sicily, for instance, Dionysius led forth on his
1 Herodotus (4. 87) makes the number 700,000, exclusive of
1 tx0' s Vogel: Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. the fleet.
2 Op. Book 11. 3.
363
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. 5. 6-6. 2

X v р а к о а ё ы р 7т о Х е ы ч e ^ y y a y e p etrl та ? ат рат еёач cam paigns from th e single city of th e Syracusans

тге^ы р p e v ЬыЬека рурш Ьач, 1 тттге1 ч S« рурёоуч one hu n d red an d tw en ty thousand foot-soldiers and
к а 1 8io " x i\io v< i, рауч be р а к р а ч el; ё р а ч X i p e p o 4 tw elve thousand cavalry, an d from a single harbour
т е т р а к о с п а ч , ы р y c r a p e p t a i т е т р у р е 1 ч /с си тгерт у-
four hu n d red w arships, some o f which w ere q uadri­
1 p e i4 ‘ 'P ы р а л о ь b e р ь к р о р ттро т ы р ’ A v v i / 3 a i / c £ ) v rem es an d q u in q u e re m es; 1 an d th e Rom ans, a
little before th e tim e of H annibal, foreseeing th e
i c a i p w v , 7т р о о р ы р е р о ь то реуевоч т оу iro X e p o v ,
m agnitude of th e w ar, enrolled all th e m en in Italy
к а т е у р а -ф -а р т о щ к а т а т ур 'I r a X i a p ет пт уЬ еёоуч
who w ere fit for m ilitary service, both citizens and
et? 1 ат рат еш р ттоХётач т е ка1 ауррахоуч, ыр allies, an d th e to ta l sum of th e m fell only a little
о аурт гач арьвроч рикрор слгеХ пге тыр ё к а тор short of one m illion; and y e t as regards th e num ber
рурсаЬ ы р• к а 'п о ь у ерека т гХ увоуч а р вр ы т гы р of in h ab itan ts a m an would n ot com pare all Italy
т ур 1 т а \1 а р Ь Х ур о ук dp Т 14 c r v y K p i p e i e 7т роч w ith a single one of th e nations of A sia.2 L e t these
ер е в р о ч т ы р к а т а т у р ’ A a L a p . т а у т а p e p о у р facts, th e n , be a sufficient reply on our p a rt to those
у р л р е ё р у а в ы 7т роч т о у ч е к т у ч р у р 7r e p l та? who try to estim ate th e populations of th e nations of
т т о Х ек о у а у ч е р у р ь а ч т е к р а ь р о р ё р о у ч т у р 7т а Х а ш р A sia in ancient tim es on th e stre n g th of inferences
т ы р е в р ы р т т о Х у а р в ры т т ёар. draw n from th e desolation which a t th e p resen t tim e
6. 'О 5’ ovp N Lpo 4 р е т а т о а а у т у ч Ь у р а р е ы ч prevails in its cities.
ат рат еуоач е1ч т ур B a K T p ia p y p ураука^ет о,
6. Now Ninus in his cam paign against B actriana
Ь у а е 1а ^ о Х ы р т ы р т о т т ы р к а л а т е р ы р о р т ы р , к а т а
w ith so large a force was com pelled, because access
to th e country was difficult and th e passes were
2 рероч a yeip тур b v p a p ip . у уар Ъакт рш ру
narrow , to advance his arm y in divisions. For th e
Х шР а 7го Х Х а ь ч ка\ p e y d X a i4 оькоурёру 7т о Х е с п
country of B actriana, th o u g h th e re w ere m any large
рш р рер ещ ер ет пф ареат ат ур, ер у c r v p e /3 a i p e p
cities for th e people to dw ell in, h ad one which was
eip a i ка1 та jH a a i\eia - аут у Ь’ ёкаХеьт о рер th e m ost famous, th is being th e city containing th e
Вакт ра, реуевеь be кал ту кат а т у р ак р о т т о Х с р royal p a la c e ; it was called B actra, an d in size and in
oxvpoTyTi ttoX v 7т а а ы р b ie e f ie p e . [За сп Х еуы р Ь’ th e stren g th o f its acropolis was by far th e first of
аут уч О ^Уарт уч кат еураф гер ат тарт ач тоуч ер th em all. T he king of th e country, O x y artes, had
1 tV after d s omitted by C D and deleted by V og el: at least 200 men, which makes a minimum for the fleet of
retained by Bekker, Dindorf. 80.000 rowers and marines. The larger vessels would, of
course, carry larger crews. According to Polybius (1. 26) the
1 Diodorus assumes that his readers are familiar with the quinqueremes of the Romans in the third century B.c. carried
fact that the vessel constituting the body o f this fleet was the S00 rowers and 120 marines.
trireme, the standard warship o f the period of Dionysius (fourth 2 Polybius (2. 24.16) estimates the total number of Romans
century B.c.); the quadriremes and quinqueremes were the and allies capable of bearing arms at this time (c. 225 B.c.) as
next two larger classes. The complement o f the trireme was 700.000 foot-soldiers and 70,000 cavalry.
364 365
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. 6. 2-6
r jX u c ia uTyOareta? out a s , o'l to v a p i d p o v r/d p o L a - enrolled all th e m en of m ilitary ag e, and th ey had
3 dpaav eh TerrapaKOvra p v p i a 8 a < d v a Xa f t w v b een g ath ered to th e num ber of four hundred
ovv tt] v 8vvap.iv /cal Toh TroXepLoit diravT^aas thousand. So tak in g this force w ith him and m eeting
7 rept ra? eLaf3oXd<;, eiaae / e jo? t ?/9 t o v N Lvov th e enem y a t th e passes, he allowed a division of th e
<TTpaTia<i etcrfiaXeiv eirel 8' e8o^ev i/cavov airo- arm y o f Ninus to en ter th e c o u n try ; and w hen he
fiefip/cevai ra>v iroXeplwv irXrjdo^ eh t o ire8Lov, th o u g h t th a t a sufficient num ber of th e enem y had
efera^e tt ] v l8Lav 8vvap.iv. yevopevrj<; 8e pdx'P'i debouched into th e plain he drew o u t his own forces
Layvpa<i ol lia/crpiavol t o o ? ’A aavptow; Tpe\Ira- in b attle-o rd er. A fierce struggle th e n ensued in
\ \ £ \ / « r 1 I1 which th e B actrians p u t th e Assyrians to flight, and
p e v o i /cat t o v o ic o y p o v p e X P 1 T0)v v n e p /cetp e vca v
pursuing th e m as far as th e m ountains which over­
o p S iv T T o iijc rd p e v o i 8 ie c f)d e ip a v t Si v T ro X ep la /v e h
looked th e field, killed ab o u t one h u n d red thousand
4 8e/ca pvpid8a<;. pe to. 8e TavTa irdatp; tt}9 Svvd-
o f th e enem y. B u t la ter, w hen th e whole A ssyrian
peo>? eto-f3aXovcrr]<;, /cpaTovpevoi Toh TrXpdeai force en tered th e ir country, th e B actrians, over­
/caTa TroXets direxdiprjaav, e/cacnot r a t ? 18Lat<? pow ered by th e m u ltitu d e of th em , w ithdrew city by
TraTptcri ^orjdrjuovTet. ra ? pev ovv aXXa<? o city, each group in ten d in g to d efend its ow nhom eland.
N t V o ? ¿xeipwaaTo pa8Lm<;, r a S e B d « T / o a 8id r e A nd so Ninus easily subdued all th e o th e r cities, b u t
o x v p o T i} T a /cal t t jv e v a in fj n a p a a / c e v r jv B actra, because of its stren g th an d th e eq u ipm ent for
f / b w a T e t /ca T a /cpa T o s e X e iv . war which it contained, h e was unable to ta k e by
5 I I o X v x p o v t o v 8 e tj/9 r r o X i o p / c l a s y i v o p e v t j s , 1 o storm .
t r js % e p i p a p i 8 o <
? a v r j p , e p a /T i/c c b s e x < v v 7e p o s t t / v B u t w hen th e siege was proving a long affair th e
y v v a t/c a /c a t avaTpaTevopevos t £> ¡ S a a t X e l , p e T - husband of Sem iram is, who was enam oured of his
€7r e p ^ jr a T O T t] v a v d p o n r o v . rj 8 e a v v e a e t /c a l T o X p t j wife an d was m aking th e cam paign w ith th e king,
te a t t o h a X X o v i t o h T p b s e m c j/d v e ia v a w r e i v o v a i
se n t for th e woman. A nd she, endow ed as she was
w ith understanding, daring, and all th e oth er
/c e x o p r y y q p e v r } /c a ip b v e X a fie v e T r iS e i^ a a d a i t t jv
qualities which co ntribute to distinction, seized th e
6 t8lav dpeTrjV. Trpd>Tov pev ovv 7toXXgov rjpepd/v
opportunity to display h er native ability. F irst of
o8ov peXXovaa Siarropeveadai aToXpv eirpay- all, th e n , since she was ab o u t to se t o ut upon a jo u rn ey
paTevaaTo 81’ ^ 9 ov/c fjv biayva/vat t o v nepi- o f m any days, she devised a g arb which m ade it im­
fiefiXripevov iroTepov avrjp eaTiv rj yvvrj. avTt] possible to distinguish w h eth er th e w earer of i t was a
8' fjv evxp*]crTG<; ai/Tfj 77/309 re ra 9 ev Toh m an or a woman. This dress was well ad a p te d to her
Kavpacnv bbotTropLas, eh to 8t,aTr)prjaai to v t o v needs, as regards b o th h e r travelling in th e h e a t, for
amparos %pcoTa, /cal 77/309 t <z9 ev t & rrpaTTeiv p ro tectin g th e colour of her skin, and h er convenience
o fiovXoiTo XP€^a 9 > evKLvrjTOf oScra /cal veavt/ctj, in doing w hatever she m ig h t wish to do, since it
1 yivofievtts Gemistu3 : yeyo/iiv/js. was quite pliable and suitable to a young person, and,
366 367
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
Kal rb avpoXop roaavrr) t i s errfjp avrfj ^ dpi?*
varepop M t;Soo? -pypcrapepovs rfjs ’A<ria?
(popelv rr/p hepipapièos crroXrjP, K a l pierà ravO'
7 opoia>s Il epa as. rrapayepopepij è' et? ttjv BaKrpia-
vrjv Kal KaracrKeyjrapépTj rà rrepl rtjp rroXiopKiap,
éd>pa Kara pèp rà rreèia Kal too? eveifióèovs rà)p
to 7ra)o irpoafioXas yipopépas, 7rpò? Se tt) i> à «p ó-
rroXip ovèépa rrpoaiópra èia rijp òxvpórrjra, Kal
too? èVSoo àrroXéXoirróras r à? èvravda (pvXaKas
Kal rrapa{3or)0ovpras T o t ? e V t T u f f i /e ctT to t e t ^ o f f i
8 Kivèvpevovcri. èiorrep rrapaXa/3ovcra Tuffi crrparia)-
Tuffi rovs rrerpofiareip elwdoras, Kal pera rovrayp
èia npos xaXerrf/s ({¡àpayyos rrpoaava^àaa, Kar-
eXàjiìero pépos rrjs aKporroXews Kal T o t ? rroXiop-
Kovcn rb Karà ro rreèlop rei^os èar\pn)vev. oi
è' epèop erri rfj KaraXr/ijrei rfjs aKpas KararrXa-
yévres è^éXirrop rà reiyr) Kal rfjp awrrjpiav
àrreypwaap.
9 Tovrop èè rbp rpórrop àXovcrrjs rfjs iróXews ò
fiacnXevs Oavpaaas rrjp àperfjp rfjs yvpaiKos
rb pep rrpcbrop peyaXais èwpeals avrfjP èriprjcre,
perà èè ra vra èia rb KaXXos rfjs àp6pcórrov cr^mp
ipwriKws errereipijae rbp àpèpa rreLOeip ¿KovaUos
a vrà rrapa^coprìcrai, èrrayyeiXdpepos apri ravrtjs
rfjs j^dpiros avrà) avpoiKieip rrjp lèiap Ovyarépa
10 ha)adpr]p. èva^epàìs è avrov (jjépopros, fjrreL-
Xrjtrep ÌKKo^reip ras ópaaeis pr) rrpo%eipa>s vrrrj-
perovpros Tot? rrpoardypaaip. ó èè ’'O pprjs àpa
1 xd-PLSbefore ns D, Dindorf.
1 The Median dress was distinguished from that of the
Greeks by its covering for the head, a long coat with sleeves
368
BOOK II. 6. 6-10
in a word, was so a ttra c tiv e th a t in la te r tim es th e
M edes, who were th e n dom inant in Asia, always
wore th e g arb of Sem iram is, as did th e Persians
afte r th e m .1 Now w hen Semiramis arrived in
B actriana and observed th e progress of th e siege,
she n oted th a t it was on th e plains an d a t positions
which w ere easily assailed th a t attack s w ere being
m ade, b u t th a t no one ever assaulted th e acropolis
because of its strong position, and th a t its defenders
h ad left th e ir posts th e re and w ere com ing to th e aid
of those who w ere h ard pressed on th e walls below.
C onsequently, ta k in g w ith h er such soldiers as were
accustom ed to clam bering up rocky h eig h ts, an d m aking
her w ay w ith th em up th ro u g h a certain difficult
ravine, she seized a p a rt of th e acropolis and gave a
signal to those who w ere besieging th e wall down in
th e plain. T h ereupon th e defenders of th e city,
struck w ith te rro r a t th e seizure o f th e h eig h t, left
th e walls an d abandoned all hope of saving them selves.
W hen th e city had been ta k e n in th is w ay, th e king,
m arvelling a t th e ability of th e woman, a t first
honoured her w ith g re a t gifts, and la te r, becom ing
in fatu ated w ith h er because of h e r b ea u ty , trie d to
persuade h er husband to yield h er to him o f his own
accord, offering in re tu rn for this favour to give him
his own d au g h ter Sosane to wife. B u t w hen th e m an
took his offer w ith ill g race, Ninus th re a te n e d to
p u t o u t his eyes unless he a t once acceded to his
commands. A nd O nnes, p artly o u t of fear of th e
extending to the hands, trousers, and boots. Strabo (11.13. 9)
expressed the contempt generally felt for it by the Greeks when,
in observing that the Persians adopted this garb, he adds that
“ they submitted to wear feminine robes instead of going naked
orlightly clad, and to cover their bodies all over with clothes.”
369
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 6. 10-7. 2
pev xa? t o v /3acriX eo)< ; axretXa? Setaa?, a p a fie k in g ’s th rea ts an d p artly o ut of his passion for his
fii a t o v e p a n a t r e p ii r e a o o v X v T T y tiv I t e a l p a v i a , wife, fell into a k ind of frenzy an d m adness, p u t a
ftp b y o v eavT w tr e p tO e ls d v e /c p e p a c r e . ¿ L e p ip a p is rope ab o u t his neck, an d h an g ed himself. Such,
pev o v v S td T o ia v r a s a ir ia ? e ls fia a iX itc o v rjX O e th e n , w ere th e circum stances w hereby Semiramis
ir p o a y r jp a . atta in e d th e position o f queen.
7. 'O fie NtVo? tov? re ev Hdtcrpot? 7rapeXafie 7. Ninus secured th e treasu res of B actra, which
drjcravpov?, ex o v ra ? ttoX vv apyvpov re /tat contained a g re a t am ount o f b o th gold an d silver,
Xpvaov, teal ra tcara rrjv HatcTpiavrjv K ara- an d after settlin g th e affairs of B actriana disbanded his
forces. A fter this he b e g a t by Sem iram is a son N inyas,
aTrjcra? axTeXt/ae ra ? Svvapei?. /¿era fie xai/xa
and th e n died, leaving his wife as queen. Semiramis
yevvya a ? etc 'ZepipapiSo? vlbv Nivitav e’xeXei'ntjere,
b u ried Ninus in th e precinct of th e palace an d erected
ttjv yvvaitca dnoXinoov fiaa iX iaa a v. tov fie
over his tom b a very large m ound, nine stades high
Nivov rj 'ZepLpapi? eOayfrev ev rot? /SaatXetot?, and te n wide, as Ctesias says. C onsequently, since
teal tcaTeatcevaaev err avrw x<bpa rrappeyede?, th e city lay on a plain along th e E u p h rates, th e
ov to pev v\fro? rjv evvea tjTaSLwv, to fi evpo?, &>? m ound was visible for a distance of m any stad es, like
2 (fvycri K.T t]cria<:, fie/ta. S i b t c a i t t j ? 7roXew? t r a p a an acropolis; an d th is m ound stands, th e y say, even
tov R vcpparyv ev treSL w tceip evij? d tro n o X X a tv to th is day, th o u g h Ninus was razed to th e ground
(T T a S lo iv e t p a i v e r o to X^Pa x a d a ire p ei t 1? dtepo- b y th e M edes w hen th e y d estroyed th e em pire of
7T o X i t ' b teal pe% pi tov vvv <f>a<ri S ia p eveiv, th e A ssyrians . 1
t c a i t r e p ttj ? N ivo v tca re a tc a p p e v rj? irn b M^Stoi/, Sem iram is, whose n a tu re m ade h er eag er for g reat
ore t c a r e X v a a v ttjv ’A c r c r v p i w v f i a c n X e i a v . exploits and am bitious to surpass th e fam e o f her
'H fie X e p i p a p i ? , o v e r a ( f t v a e i p e y a X e n i f i o X o ? predecessor on th e th ro n e, set h er m ind upon found­
teal c p iX o T ip o vp evp ty So^y tov /3 e/3 a a iX ev/c o ra
ing a city in Babylonia, and afte r securing th e
architects of all th e world and skilled artisan s and
T rp b avry? v rcep O ea d a i, ttoXiv pev etreftd X eT O
m aking all th e o th e r necessary p rep aratio n s, she
K T i^ eiv ev ryB a f t v X c o v i a , e t r i X e ^ a p e v r j fie to v ? g ath ered to g e th e r from h er en tire kingdom two
T r a v T a x p d e v a p x i T e / C T O v a ? t e a l xe^iaxa?, ext fie million m en to com plete th e w ork . 2 T aking th e
ttjv a X X r j v x ° P riy'L a v t r a p a a t c e v a a a p e v r j , avv-
r j y a y e v e’f a t r a u i j ? r f j ? f i a a i X e i a ? 7rpo? xj) i/ xwi/ of a nation than of a city ” (Aristotle, P o litic s , 3. 3. 5), made
upon the Greeks. The older city was badly damaged by the
epycov crvvre X eia v dvSpcbv p vp ia S a ? S ta tco a ia ? . sack of Sennacherib (c. 689 B.c.). The same ruler, however,
commenced the work of rebuilding it, a task which was
continued by successive kings of Assyria. The Chaldaean
1 In 612 b . c . Nebuchadrezzar (605-562 b . o .) further embellished it, making
2 The following picture of Babylon serves to show the it the most magnificent city of Asia, and it is his city which
impression which this great city, whose “ circuit was that more was known to the classical writers.
370 371
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. 7. 3-5
3 d ir o X a ß o v a a Be to v K vcp p a rp v ir o r a p o v e ls Euphrates river into the centre she threw about the
pecrov ir e p ie ß d A e r o t e i% o ? r f/ 7 r o \e i c n a B la v city a wall with great towers set at frequent intervals,
e ^ p /c o v r a /c a l T p ia /c o o iw v , B ie iX p p p e v o v ir v p y o n the wall being three hundred and sixty stades 1
T rvK vo h /c a l w?
p e y a X o v ; ,1 c j/r ja i K r p a la < ; o in circumference, as Ctesias o f Cnidus says, but accord­
K v iB io s , <u? B e K Xeira/s^o? /c a l t o >v vcrrep o v ing to the account o f Cleitarchus and certain o f those
per 'A X e ^ d v B p o v B ia ß d v T a /v e ls t t jv 'A a l a v T ires
who at a later time crossed into Asia with Alexander,
three hundred and sixty-five stades ; 2 and these
d v e y p a \ j r a v , r p t a / c o a i u / v e tjr j/c o v r a i r e v r e t n a S i c a v
latter add that it was her desire to make the number
/cat, i c p o c s T id e a c r i v b n , t u >v i'a c o v p p e p c o v ei? tov
o f stades the same as the days in the year. Making
¿v ia v T O v ovaw v e t^ iX o n p r jd p tov ia o v d p i.d p .b v
baked bricks fast in bitumen she built a wall with a
4 t to v cnaB Lw v v T r o a r p c r a a d a i, otttclc; Be ir X iv - height, as Ctesias says, o f fifty fathoms, but, as some
dov<; et? a a c j/a X T O V evB paapevp r e c to s /c a r e ­ later writers have recorded, o f fifty cubits ,3 and
er / c e v a a e to pev iii|ro?, cos' p e v K r p a i a s ( j/r ja i, wide enough for more than two chariots abreast to
■ n e v T /jic o v T a o p y v i u / v , to? B> e v i o i t w v v e c o r e p o iv drive u p on ; and the towers numbered two hundred
e y p a ijr a v , ttt^ S / v T ie v T r j/c o v T a , to B e 7rXdro? and fifty, their height and width corresponding to
rrX eo v r) B v a lv dppacnv lir ir d a ip o v T r v p y o w ; Be the massive scale o f the wall. Now it need occasion
tov p e v d p i d p o v B ia / c o c r i o v s / c a l T r e v T p / c o v r a , to no wonder that, considering the great length o f the
B> i/s fr o s 2 / c a l 7rXaTO? e l; a v a X o y o v t & ß a p e i r S /v circuit wall, Semiramis constructed a small number o f
5 Kara t o Tei^o? epywv. ov XPV Be davpa^eev tow ers; for since over a long distance the city was
ec tt)Xi /covtov to peyedos tov trepißoXov /cad- surrounded by swamps, she decided not to build
towers along that space, the swamps offering a sufficient
ea-TtOTO? oXiyovs rrvpyov? /carecr/cevao-ev errl
natural defence. And all along between the dwell­
7toX vv yap tottov rp t 7roXeco? eXetri irepie^o-
ings and the walls a road was left two plethra wide.
pevps, Kara tovtov tov tottov ovk eBo^ev avrrj
■jrvpyovs oi/coBopelv, t t ) ? (j/vaeois; twv eXoiv i/cavpv 1 About forty miles.
irape'xppevp'i b^vpoTpra. dva pecrov Be ra>v 2 Herodotus (1. 178) makes the circuit of the walls 480
stades, Strabo (16. 1. 5) 385, although this number has been
ol/cicov /cal t S/v Tet^cor 0 8 0 ? irdvrp /careXeXenrTO generally taken by editors to be an error of the MSS. for 365,
BLirXedpos. thus bringing him into agreement with Cleitarchus and
Quintus Curtius 5. 4.
1 So Eichstädt, who deletes after p e y i \ o i s : “ And such 3 i.e . either 300 feet high or 75 feet high. Herodotus, l.c .,
was the massiveness of the works that the width of the gives the height as 200 “ royal cubits ” (c. 335 feet).
walls was sufficient to allow six chariots to drive abreast
upon it, and their height was unbelievable to those who
only hear of it.” Tzetzes, Chil. 9. 569 : rb 5* iirpos bpyviutv k ^ so v ra , ¿is 5’ kyioi
a Jacoby, F . O r. H i s t ., s.v. K le ita r c h o s, frg. 10, adds tuv vsooTfpuv fpaffi, k^i/KovTa ( “ their height being sixty
op yviu v after üipos and adopts the reading of A B D and fathoms, but, as some later writers say, sixty cubits” ).
372 373
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. 8. 1-3

8. 11/30? Be t Tjv otjvT T jra tt/? tovtwv ol/co- 8. In order to ex p ed ite th e building of these
S o fiia s etca a T W twv <f>lXwv c r T a B t o v B iefieT p ifa e,
constructions she apportioned a stad e to each o f her
friends, furnishing sufficient m aterial for th e ir task
Bovaa tt ) v et? t o v t o y o p r j y i a v / c a l B i a -
l/ca v/jv
and d irectin g th em to com plete th e ir work w ithin a
reXo? ¿7r i d e l v a i t o i <; e p y o i s e v
tceX eva a p .evr) year. A nd when th e y h ad finished th ese assign­
2 iviavTW. 5iv TroiTjaavTcov to T r p o a T a ^ B e v pceTa m en ts w ith g re a t speed she g ratefu lly accep ted
TroXXrj<; airovBris, tovtwv piev atreBe^aro tt/v th e ir zeal, b u t she took for h erself th e construction
<f>ikoTip,iav, avTT) Be ttaTa to uTevunaTov ftepos of a bridge 1 five stades long a t th e narrow est point
of th e river, skilfully sinking th e piers, which stood
tov 7roTap.ov yecj/vpav aTaBlwv tret>Te to fir}/co<;
tw elve fee t ap a rt, into its bed. A nd th e stones,
tcaTea/cevacrev, et? ¡iivdbv cjnXore^vw<; /caOelaa which w ere set firmly to g e th er, she bonded w ith iron
tov<: Kiovas, ot BiedTTpKecrav air dXXi}Xwv TroBas cram ps, an d th e jo in ts o f th e cram ps 2 she filled by
BdiBeKa. TOi/f Be avvepeiSopievovi XcOov<; Topp,oi<; pouring in lead. A gain, before th e piers on th e
triBr/poK BteXdp,/3 ave, /cal ta ? tovtwv dppovLa<; side which would receive th e cu rren t she constructed
eirXrjpov fioXi/3 Bov ¿VTij/covcra. toi<; Be /cioai cutw aters whose sides w ere rounded to tu rn off th e
w ater an d which grad u ally dim inished to th e w idth
irpo twv to pevfia Beyopevwv irXevpwv ywia a ?
o f th e pier, in order th a t th e sharp points o f th e
irpoKaTecncevaaev eyovaas ttjv dnopporjv irepi- cutw aters m ig h t divide th e im petus o f th e stream ,
4>epr) /cal avvBeBepevrjv /caT oXLyov e<o? tov while th e rounded sides, yielding to its force, m ig h t
fcaT(i tov Kiova icXaTOv*;, 07Tio? a t fiev Trepl Ta<; soften th e violence o f th e riv er .3 This bridge, th en ,
ywvLa<; o%vTr)Te<; Teptvwcn ttjv /caTacf/opav tov floored as it was w ith beam s o f ced ar an d cypress
pevfiaTO<;, ai Be neptcf/epeiaL tt} tovtov fiia and w ith palm logs of exceptional size an d having a
w idth of th irty feet, is considered to have been inferior
avvel/covaai irpavvwcrt, tt^v crtfioBpoTTfTa tov in technical skill to none of th e works o f Semiramis.
3 T T O T a fio v . t) p ,e v ovv y e c jiv p a , /c eB p iva i< ; /c a l A nd on each side of th e river she bu ilt an expensive
K V 7 ra p iT T L v a i< ; So/cot?, eVt Be tp o iv i/c w v crT eX e^ecnv
apart. An inscription of Nebuchadrezzar ascribes this bridge
v T c e p p ie y e O e a i K a T e o T e y a a fie v r j «a t T p id /c o v r a to his father Nabopolassar (R. Koldewey, T h e E x c a v a tio n s a t
B a b y lo n (Eng. transi.), pp. 197-99).
ir o B w v ovaa to t\-X a T O i, ovB evof e B o /c e i twv
2 Or “ of the stones” (so Liddell-Scott-Jones). But the
X e /u p d fic B o s epyw v tt ) (fn X o T e ^ v la X e L ir e a d a i. use of cramps and dowels, sunk into the stones and made
e l; e /c a T e p o v Be p te p o v i tov TTO Tapov /tp r y jr iB a fast by pouring in molten lead, was the accepted bonding
method in the classic period of Greek architecture, and
dove-tailed wooden cramps laid in bitumen have been found
1 Some of the piers of this “ most ancient stone bridge of in Babylon (Koldewey, l.c ., p. 177).
which we have any record ’ ’ have been discovered. They are 3 The sides of the piers, as remains show, were convex at
twenty-one metres long, nine wide, and are placed nine metres the north ends and then sharply receded to a point.
374 375
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 8. 3-6

т гоХот еХу кат еакеьаае т га р а т т 'К г а ё а р кат а то quay 1 o f ab o u t th e sam e w idth as th e walls and
тгХаточ т 0 14 T eiX
’ e a iv ёттХ ат аВёоич екат ор one hu n d red and sixty stades long.
ё^укорт а. Sem iram is also b u ilt two palaces on th e very banks
’И к о В о р у а е Вё к а \ f t a a l X e i a В и т Х а т а р avTov
o f th e river, one a t each end o f th e bridge, h er in te n ­
top ттотарор e£ e /c a r e p o v рёрооч туч уеф орач,
tion being th a t from th em she m ig h t be able b oth to
look dow n over th e en tire city and to hold th e keys,
e it 5 )v a p 1 epeX X e т у р те тt o X lv аттастар к а т о -
as it w ere, to its m ost im p o rta n t sections. A nd
7 t t € v <t e i v 2 ка1 каватт ереё та ? кХеёч e l j e i p тшр
since th e E u p h ra te s river passed th ro u g h th e centre
4 етпкатротатшр туч ттоХешч тотгш р. tov В’
of Babylon and flowed in a southerly direction, one
Х^бфратоо B ia рёауч туч Ва$оХш роч рёорточ palace faced th e rising and th e o th er th e se ttin g sun,
каХ ттроч p e a y p fip ia p кат аф ерорероо, тшр an d b oth had been constructed on a lavish scale.
(ЗаспХ еш р та рер ттроч а р а т о Х у р epeve, та Be For in th e case of th e one w hich faced w est she m ade
ттроч B v a lP , арф от ера Be ттоХотеХшч кат - th e len g th o f its first or o u ter circuit wall sixty stades,
есгкеоаат о. той pep уа р 3 ттроч е а т т ёрар K e i- fortifying it w ith lofty walls, which h ad been built
pepov рёроьч ¿ттоёусте тор ттрштор т ге р ё /З о Х о р a t g re a t cost an d w ere o f b u rn ed brick. A nd w ithin
е^ркорт а сгт аВ ёш р, ЬфуХоХч каХ т гоХьт еХео i th is she b u ilt a second, circular in form ,2 in th e bricks
тe i x e a i p ш ^ирш рерор, ¿£ отттуч тт Хёрвоь. ет е- o f w hich, before th e y were baked, wild anim als of
р о р В’ ер т о ч tovtov к ок Х о т ер у кат еакеоаст е, к а в ’ every k ind had been engraved, and by th e ingenious
use o f colours th ese figures reproduced th e actual
о р е р ш р а ё ч ет1 т а к ттХьрвоич В1 ететрттшто в у р ё а
appearance of th e anim als th e m se lv es; this circuit
ттартоВатта ту тш р % рш рат ш р ф С Х от е ^
’ рХа, т у р
wall had a len g th of forty stades, a w idth o f th ree
б аХубемр a ir o p ip o v p e p a • обточ В’ о ттерё/ЗоХоч
hu n d red bricks, an d a h eig h t, as Ctesias says, o f fifty
ур то р е р рукоч сгт аВ ёш р т ет таракорта, то Вё
fa th o m s; th e h eig h t o f th e tow ers, how ever, was
тгХаточ еттХ тр с а к о а ё а ч 4 ттХёрбоьч , то В' Сф гоч, seventy fathom s. A nd she b u ilt w ithin th ese two
шч К туаёач фусгёр, о р у ы ш р т т ерт ук орт а• тш р Вё y e t a th ird circuit wall, which enclosed an acropolis
ттбрушр б т г у р х е то О ф о ч оруош р е/ЗВ ор?}корт а. whose circum ference was tw en ty stades in len g th ,
6 кат еакебаае Вё кал трёт ор е р В о т ё р ш т г е р ё /З о Х о р , b u t th e h eig h t and w idth of th e stru ctu re sur­
оч irepiei-)(ep икрот гоХ ср, у ч у рер ттериретроч у р passed th e dim ensions o f th e m iddle circuit wall.
ат аВсш р еькосп, то Вё ьф оч5 каХ тгХаточ туч
оёкоВорсач Ь т т ер аё ро р tov pecrov т её^ооч т ур 1 Cp. Herodotus 1. 180.
s Koldewey (i.c., p. 130) holds that the Greek word may not
1 after а р а deleted by Dindorf. be translated “ circular,” preferring “ annular, enclosed in
2 катотггеи&еи' Dindorf : катотгтсьау, itself, not open on one side, like the outer peribolos,” his
3 els тЬ after ya p deleted by Dindorf. reason being that a “ circular peribolos is found nowhere in
4 rpiaxocrias D in dorf: rptafcoaiovs. 5 Vtyos Wurm : ¡¿Tikos .. Babylon.’ ’

376 377
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 8. 6-9. I

K .cnaG K evr)v. evyerav S' e v те тоЕ? 7т о р у о е ч кси O n b o th th e tow ers an d th e walls th e re w ere again
теЕ^еоч %<pa ira v T o S a ira фСКотеууш ч тоеч те anim als o f every kind, ingeniously ex ecu ted by th e
Х реорасп каХ т о1ч t w v tvttoiv а т е о р е р у р а е т ь use of colours as well as b y th e realistic im itation of
к а т е а кеоаетp e v a - то S’ o X o v етгетгоеуто K v v y y i o v th e several ty p e s ; an d th e whole h ad been m ade to
T T avT oiw v B y p ie o v v ird p x o v пХ уреч, eov y c r a v та
rep rese n t a h u n t, com plete in every d etail, o f all
sorts o f wild anim als, an d th e ir size was m ore th an
реуеву irX eo v у T ryx& v теттdpeov. кат еет кева-
four cubits. A m ong th e anim als, m oreover, Semi­
<тто S' ev аотоеч teal у Х ерерарл аф' l i t ттоv
ram is h ad also b een p o rtray ed , on horseback and in
ita p S a X iv axo vT i^ o vcra , каХ vX yerio v a i /т уч о
th e a c t o f hurling a javelin a t a leopard, an d n earby
avyp N L vo4 i r a i a s v etc X e i P ° <! ^ 0 V T a X° У Х ??• was h e r h usband N inus, in th e a c t o f th ru stin g his
7 еттеатуете S e к а Х т г о Х а ч т р п т а ч ,1 w v v i r y p x o v spear in to a lion a t close q u arte rs . 1 In this wall she
S m a l 2 д;аХлгаЕ S ia р у х ^ щ ч d v o iy o p e v a e . also se t trip le g ates, tw o of which w ere o f bronze and
T a in a pev ovv та (ЗастХХееа к а Х тер р е у е в е ь w ere opened by a m echanical device.
каХ т ал катает к е о а л ttoX v тгроеЕ^е t &v ovtosv Now th is palace far surpassed in b o th size and
еттХ в а т е р а p e p y t o v т го т а р о С . ex elva y a p el^e details of execution th e one on th e o th e r b ank of
tov p e v tre p ljU o X o v tov теЕ%ои? т р е а к о г т а етта- th e river. For th e circuit w all o f th e la tte r, m ade
S ic o v ej; отттуч i r X L v Q o v , d v T i Se туч тгe p l т а %<pa o f b u rn ed brick, was only th irty stades long, and
феХотех^Хач ^ аХ « а? elx o va 4 N inon к а л 2 е/н- in stead of th e ingenious p o rtray al o f anim als it
p a p i S o 4 каХ t w v v ir d p x e o v , eVt Se А ю ч , o v K a X o v - h ad bronze statu es of Ninus an d Sem iram is an d th e ir
e r tv o i B a f i v X e i v i o i В fjX ov’ evyerav Se каХ т гара-
officers, an d one also o f Zeus, whom th e Babylonians
call B e lu s; 2 an d on it w ere also p o rtra y ed b oth
т а% ел каХ x v v y y i a ir a v T o S a v d , iro iK iX y v -ф- v x a -
b attle-scenes an d h u n ts o f every k in d , w hich filled
y w y i a v n a p e x o p e v a т о л вееорегоеч.
those who gazed th ereo n w ith varied em otions of
9. М ета Se т а Ъ т а т у ч B a j3 v X a > v i a 4 е к Х е £ а - pleasure.
p e v y tov T a r r e iv o T a T O v tottov ¿ n o i y e r e Segapevyv
9. A fter this Sem iram is picked o u t th e low est spot
TeTpdyeovov, уч yv екает т у т гХеора e n a S ie o v in Babylonia and b u ilt a square reservoir, w hich was
T p e a K o e rL e o v , отттуч T r X iv d o v кае ает фаХт оо th re e h u n d red stades long on each s id e ; it was con­
K aT eerK evacrpevyv каХ то ¡ 3 d в о ч '¿ x o v c r a v ir o S e o v stru cted o f bak ed brick an d b itu m en , an d h ad a
1 ¿<p’ after T p irra s deleted by Dindorf. wild animals there W'as found only one human face, that of
2 berral Wurm : biatrext. a woman in white enamel. “ We can scarcely doubt, there­
fore,” he says, “ that Diodorus was describing the enamels of
1 Koldewey { lx ., pp. 129-31) identifies this palace with what the Persian building, and that the white face of a woman is the
he calls the Persian Building, and finds traces of the three same that Ctesias recognized as a portrait of Semiramis.”
circuit walls (p erib o lo i ). It is a striking coincidence that 2 “ Zeus Belus” was the name by which the Babylonian
among the fragments of glazed bricks depicting a chase of Bel-Marduk was known among the Greeks.
378 379
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. 9. 1-5
2 т ріакоѵ т а каі тгеѵте. еіч таѵтцѵ В’ аттоатре- d ep th of thirty-five feet. T hen, div ertin g th e river
■фааа тоѵ тготароѵ кат еакеѵааеѵ ек тшѵ етгі into it, she b u ilt an un d erg ro u n d passage-w ay from
таВе /З а а іХ е ш ѵ еіч Ѳ ат ера В н а р ѵ уіг е£ отгтг)ч one palace to th e o th e r ; and m aking it o f b u rn ed
Be т гХ іѵ Ѳ о ѵ а ѵ ѵ о ік о В о р г)а а а а та? карарач е£ brick, she co ated th e v au lted cham bers on both
екат ероѵ рероѵч аафаХт ш к а т е х р і а е ѵ rjy jrp p evp , sides w ith h o t b itu m en until she h ad m ade th e
р е Х Р 1 ° ^ '1 т°
" л а х о ч tot) ^pter/іато ? e r r o L r / a e тгт]хшѵ
thickness of this coating four cubits. T h e side walls
o f th e passage-w ay w ere tw en ty bricks th ick and
теттаршѵ. т ?)? Se В і ш р ѵ х о ч ѵтттірхрѵ о і р е ѵ т о і ^ о і
tw elve fe e t high, exclusive o f th e barrel-vault, and
то тгХаточ eVt тгХ'іѵѲоѵч е і к о а і , то S’ ѵ \( го ч % ш р і ч
th e w idth o f th e passage-w ay was fifteen fee t. A nd
тт)? к а р ф Ѳ е і а г ) ч т]гаХІВоч ттоВшѵ В ш В е к а , то Se
afte r this construction h ad been finished in only seven
3 тгХаточ 7тоВшѵ т т е ѵ т е к а іВ е к а . е ѵ р р е р а і ч S’ е т т а days she le t th e river back again into its old channel,
к а т а а к еѵ а а Ѳ еіа ч д ч аѵтт)ч а т т о к а т е а т р а е тоѵ тто- an d so, since th e strea m flowed above th e passage­
тароѵ етгі т р ѵ т г р о ѵ т т а р х о ѵ а а ѵ р ѵ а і ѵ , ш а т е тоѵ w ay, Sem iram is was able to go across from one palace
реѵрат оч ет гаѵш тт]Ч В і ш р ѵ х о ч ф ерореѵоѵ Вѵѵа- to th e o th e r w ith o u t passing over th e river. A t each
аѲаі т rjv ^ . е р і р а р і ѵ е к тшѵ ттераѵ ¡ З а а і Х е і ш ѵ етгі end o f th e passage-w ay she also se t bronze g ates
Ѳ ат ера В іа т го р еѵ еа Ѳ а і (іг) В іа/Заіѵ оѵ сгаѵ тоѵ w hich stood until th e tim e o f th e P ersian rule.
т готароѵ. еттеатг\ае Be каі т гѵ Х а ч ту В іш р ѵ х і A fter this she b u ilt in th e ce n tre o f th e city a
ХаХкач еф ’ екат ероѵ рероч, at В іе р е іѵ а ѵ ре% рі tem p le 1 o f Zeus whom, as we have said, th e B aby­
тг)ч 2 П е р а ш ѵ В а а і Х е і а ч . lonians call Belus. Now since w ith reg a rd to this
4 М ета Se т аѵта еѵ pearj тт} т гоХ еі кат ­ tem p le th e historians are a t variance, an d since tim e
еакеѵааеѵ Іероѵ Д(о?, оѵ к а Х о ѵ а і ѵ оі И а /З ѵ Х ы -
has caused th e stru ctu re to fall in ruins, it is impossible
to give th e ex a ct facts concerning it. B u t all agree
ѵ ю і, каѲаттер еір -р к а р е ѵ , В rjX ov. тгері тоѵтоѵ
th a t it was exceedingly high, and th a t in it th e Chal-
Be тшѵ а ѵ у у р а ф е ш ѵ В і а ф ш ѵ о ѵ ѵ т ш ѵ , к а і т о ѵ к а т а -
daeans m ade th e ir observations o f th e stars, whose
а к е ѵ а а р а т о ч B t a тоѵ Х Р ° Ѵ0Ѵ кататтетттшкоточ,
risings an d settin g s could be accu rately observed by
о ѵ к еа т іѵ а т гоф рѵ ааѲ аі. т а к р і/З еч . оро Х о у еіт а і reason o f th e h eig h t o f th e stru ctu re . Now th e entire
В’ v y f r r jX b v у е у е ѵ р а Ѳ а і к а Ѳ ' ѵт гер/ЗоХ рѵ, к а і то о? building was ingeniously co n stru cted a t g re a t expense
Х а Х В а іо ѵ ч еѵ аѵтш та? тшѵ а а т р ш ѵ тгеттоіг)аѲаі
1 What follows is a description o f the great ziggurat, or stage­
т гарат гіргіаеіч, акр і/З ш ч Ѳеш роѵреѵш ѵ тшѵ т’ tower, of E-temen-ana-ki, the “ foundation stone of heaven and
аѵат оХш ѵ каі Вѵаеш ѵ В іа то т оѵ кат аакеѵа- earth.” According to Herodotus (1. 181) it had eight stories,
5 а р а т о ч ѵт]гоч. тr/ч В’ оХт)ч о і к о В о р і а ч еі; а а ф а Х - but E. Unger (B a b y lo n (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
1 оѵ D, Vogel : '¿тоѵ С, В еккег, Dindorf. time there gathered about it the Hebrew myth of the Tower
2 тшѵ after тт)* omitted by C D, Vogel. of Babel (cp. T h e C am bridge A n c ie n t H is to r y , I, pp. 503 ff.).
380 38l
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 9. s-io. I
tov /c a l T r X lv d o v T r e c fn X o T e x v p p e v q s ir o X v T e X c b s , o f bitumen and brick, and at the top o f the ascent
e7r’ a / c p a s tijs ava^daecos T p la /c a T e a /c e v a a e v Semiramis set up three statues o f hammered gold, o f
dyaX paTa % p vcrd c r c fiv p p X a T a ,A cos, " U p a s , Zeus, Hera, and Rhea. O f these statues that o f Zeus
'P e a i. tovtcov 8 e to p e v tovAto? e c T ^ / c o s f) v represented him erect and striding forward, and,
/c a l S t a f i e f i r j / c o s , v t r d p y ^ o v 8 e 1 iro 8 < b v re rra p a - being forty feet high, weighed a thousand Babylonian
K O V Ta to p p /c o s c n a d p o v e tx e Xl^ (av ^o -X a v T c o v
talents; that o f Rhea showed her seated on a golden
B a ftv X c o v ic o v to 8 e ttjs 'Pea? eVi 8i<f>pov / c a d p - throne and was o f the same weight as that o f Z eu s;
and at her knees stood two lions, while near by were
pevov XPva °v T° v a T a d p o v et^e t o > T rp o e c -
huge serpents o f silver, each one weighing thirty
p r jp e v c p ' e i r l 8 e twv yovaTcov a v T /js e l a - T r jK e a a v
talents. The statue o f Hera was also standing,
X eo vres 8vot /c a l T r X p a io v o c fie is v ir e p p e y e 8 e t,s
weighing eight hundred talents, and in her right hand
apyvpoc, T p id tc o v T a TaXdvTcov exaaTO S e^con to
she held a snake by the head and in her left a sceptre
6 fia p o s . to 8e T-rjs "H p a ? b c t rj/c o s f) v a y a X p a , studded with precious stones. A table for all three
aTadpov '¿X o v TaXdvTcov o /c T a /c o a tc o v , /c a l t jj statues, made o f hammered gold, stood before them,
pev 8 e ^ ia %eipt /carel^e t t js ice< h a X rjs o c f/tv , T-rj forty feet long, fifteen wide, and weighing five
7 8 ' dpLC Tepa c n c rjT T T p o v Xi 8 okoXXt)tov. tovtois hundred talents. Upon it rested two drinking-cups,
8e n a a t kou’T] ir a p e /c e iT O T p d i r e ^ a X P V (JV c c c p u p p - weighing thirty talents. And there were censers as
XaTO S, to p e v p fjic o s noSw v T B T T a p d /c o v T a , to well, also two in number but weighing each three
8 ' e v p o s T r e v T e /c a i8 e /c a , a T a d p o v ' ¿ x o v a a T a X d v T c o v hundred talents, and also three gold mixing bowls,
ir e v T a /c o a im v . ¿ttI 8e T a v T r js e n e /c e tv T O 8 iio o f which the one belonging to Zeus weighed twelve
/c a p x y c ta , a T a d p o v e^onra T p i d / c o v T a T a X a v T c o v . hundred Babylonian talents and the other two six
8 rjaav 8 e /cal dvpiaTppia tov pev apidpov iaa, hundred each. But all these were later carried off as
spoil by the kings o f the Persians,1 while as for the
tov 8 e aTadpov e/caTepov TaXdvTcov Tpiaxoaicov
palaces and the other buildings, time has either
virrjpxov 8 e /cal /cpaTrjpes XPV(T°1 Tptls, d>v o entirely effaced them or left them in ruins; and in
pev tov A ibs elX/ce TaXavTa B aftvXwvca ^tXta fact o f Babylon itself but a small part is inhabited at
/cal 8 ia/coata, twv 8 ’ aXXcov exaTepos e^axbaia. this time, and most o f the area within its walls is
9 dXXa TavTa pev ol tcov Uepawv fiaaiXels iiaTepov given over to agriculture.
eavX->]aav tcov 8 e f3 aaCXelwv /cal twv dXXwv 10. There was also, beside the acropolis, the Hang-
/caTaa/cevaapaTcov b xpovos to, pev oXoaxepws
rjtpdviae, Ta 8 ' eXvppvaTO- /cal yap avTrjs Trjs 1 Babylon was taken by the Persians in 539 b .c .

B aftvXwvos vvv ftpaxv r t pepos ol/ceiTai, to 8 e

irXeicTTOv evTOS ret^oo? yecopyetTai. 1 Vogel follows D in reading Se here and deletes it after
ffradfiov.
10. ' rT i r f j p x e /eat o K p e p a a T o s / c a X o v p e v o s
382 383
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
KTjTros 7rapa ttjv aKpotrokiv, oil ¿iepupapuBos,
¿XXd TtPoy varepov Svpov /3 aalke(o<> KaTatruevd-
<ravTO<i X^PLV 7 vvcu/cbs 7TakkaKTj<r TavTtjv yap
(pairiv oi/aav to yevos YLepaiBa ical tov<; ev Toh
opeai keip,diva<; liri^pTOvaav d^iaxrai tov fSaaiXea
pup,Tjaaa6 at Bid Ttjs tov (pvTovpyeiov (pi\oT€^via<i
2 T r)v T r js U e p c r ¿ B o s %<opay IB iO T T jT a . e<7Tt B o
77apaSeicroy t t j v p ,e v i r k e v p a v e K a c n r j v 7r a p e i c -
Telvwv e h TeTxapa i r k e O p a , t t j v B e T r p o a f i a m v
o p e i v r j v K a l ra ? o i/co B o p ,ia < : akka < > e!j a k k t o v € % (№ ,
3 axTTe ttjv TrpotToyjrtv eivai OeaTpoetBrj. inro Se
r a t? KaTeaKevaap,evat<; dvajiduecnv ancoBop/rjVTO
avptyyes, cnrav /xev inroBexopievcu to tov <f>VTOvp-
yeiov fidpos, dkkijkwv B’ eic tov kclt bkiyov del
pu/cpov VTrepexpvaai K<nd ttjv irpo<r(3 a<Tiv rj B'
dviOTUTw avptyl - oiiaa ttevTrjtcovTa Trrjx<ov to
vyjro’i elxev ¿ tt’ a vTjj1 tov irapaBeiaov ttjv avar-
TaTTjv ¿Tri<j>dveiav avve^iaovp.evrjv to> Trepi/3 ok(p
4 T(dv 677dk^ecov. eireiO' oi p,ev toIx 01 77oXvxeXcoy
KdTecncevacrpAvoi to 77a ^ o ? elxov ttoBStv et/coai
Bvo, T(bv Be BiejjoBwv e/cdtTTij to 7rXdxoy Be/ca.
Ta? B' opocfras KaTedTeya^ov kiOivai Bokol, to /xev
p,rjK0 t (tvv Tah eTnfiokah '¿xovcrai ttoBwv eiacaL-
6 8 e/ea, to Be 7rX itxo 5 r e r r dparv. to B ¿ tti Tah
BoKoh bpofycojxa TrporTOV p.ev eix ev vireaTpayiivov
Kakap,ov p,eTa 7roXXT)y a<T<f>dkTov, //.era Be TaiiTa
irkivOov ottttjv Biirkrjv ev yvi\rw BeBep,evrjv, TpiTtjv
B' emfiokrjv eBexeTO2 p,oki0 as <7x6705 7rpo5 to
p,rj BuKvelaOai K ara /3 d 0 o<; ttjv ¿ k tov ^cop.aToy
voTiBa. eVt Be tovtols eaeadtpevTO yrj<; hcavov
1 i<p' airtf Bekker, Dindorf.
2 e’Sc'xiTO Vogel; ¿ireSe'xero C, Bekker, Dindorf.
384
BOOK II. 10. 1-5
ing G arden, as it is called, which was bu ilt, n o t by
Sem iram is, b u t by a la te r Syrian k ing to please one of
his concubines; for she, th e y say, b eing a P ersian by
race and longing for th e m eadow s o f h er m ountains,
asked th e king to im itate, th ro u g h th e artifice of a
p la n ted gard en , th e distinctive landscape o f P ersia . 1
T he p ark 2 ex ten d ed four p le th ra on each side, and
since th e approach to th e g arden sloped like a hillside
an d th e several p a rts o f th e stru ctu re rose from one
an o th er tie r on tie r, th e appearance o f th e whole
resem bled th a t o f a th e a tre . W hen th e ascending
terraces h ad been built, th e re had been constructed
b en e ath th em galleries which carried th e en tire
w eig h t o f th e p la n te d g ard en and rose little by little
one above th e o th e r along th e ap p ro a ch ; an d th e
upperm ost gallery, which was fifty cubits high,
bore th e highest surface o f th e p ark , which
was m ade level w ith th e circuit wall o f th e
b attle m en ts o f th e city. F u rth erm o re, th e walls,
which h ad been co n stru cted a t g re a t expense, w ere
tw enty-tw o fe e t th ick , w hile th e passage-w ay b e­
tw een each two walls was te n fee t wide. T h e roofs
o f th e galleries w ere covered over w ith beam s of
stone six teen fe e t long, inclusive o f th e overlap, and
four fee t wide. T h e roof above th ese beam s had
first a lay er o f reeds laid in g re a t q u an tities of
b itu m en , over th is tw o courses o f b ak ed brick bonded
by cem ent, and as a th ird lay er a covering o f lead, to
th e end th a t th e m oisture from th e soil m ig h t n ot
p e n e tra te b en eath . O n all th is again ea rth h ad been
1 The “ Hanging Gardens ’ ’ were built by the Chaldaean
Nebuchadrezzar (605-562 B.c.) for his wife Amyhia, a Median
princess.
2 Paradeisos, “ park,” a word borrowed from the Persian,
meant no more than a wooded enclosure.
385
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 10. 5-11. 2
/Забоч, аркоир1 т а1ч тш р реуХат ш р ВерВршр piled to a d ep th sufficient for th e roots o f th e larg est
p lea ts' то В' ё В а ф о ч е^ш раХкт рерор ттХуреч ур tr e e s ; and th e ground, w hen levelled off, was thickly
ттартоВаттшр B e v B p c o v тшр В р р а р е р ш р к а т а те то p la n te d w ith trees o f every k ind th a t, by th e ir g re a t
size or any o th e r charm , could give pleasure to th e
реуевоч ка\ т ур dXX yp y^dpiP тооч веш рёроич
beholder. A nd since th e galleries, each p rojecting
6 • ф у х < л ,у ш у у а а 1 . at Be а у р р у у е ч та фш т а Ве%о- beyond an o th er, all received th e lig h t, th e y con­
pei> ai т а1 ч B i ’ а Х Х у Х ш р глте ро') (а 1ч ттоХХач к аХ tain ed m an y royal lodgings of every d e sc rip tio n ;
ттартоВаттач e i x o v ВмСтач /З а а с Х т к а ч ’ p i a S’ ур an d th e re was one gallery w hich co ntained openings
ек туч а р ш тат >¡4 ет ф ареёач Всат орач exovaа leading from th e topm ost surface and m achines for
ка1 ттроч т а ч еттартХусгеьч тш р уВатш р о р у а р а ,
supplying th e g ard en w ith w ater, th e m achines raising
th e w ater in g re a t abundance from th e river, although
Bi ш р а р е а т г а т о т г Х у в о ч ИВаточ ек т ой т г о т а р о и ,
no one outside could see it being done. Now this
руВ ероч тш р ё ^ ш в е р то y i p o p e v o p a v p tB e ip B vpa- p ark , as I have said, was a la te r construction . 1
pepov. о о т о ч p e p o v p о т г а р а В е к т о ч , to ? i r p o e l i r o p , 11. Sem iram is founded o th e r cities also along th e
v c n e p o p кат еакеиаст ву. E u p h ra te s an d T igris rivers, in w hich she estab ­
11. 'H Be % e p i p a p t 4 ёкткте к а л аХХач тгбХетч lished trading-places for th e m erch an ts who b ro u g h t
goods from M edia, P arae tac en e , an d all th e n eigh­
7т а р а тор т гот арор тор те Еуф рат ур ка1 тор
bouring region. F or th e E u p h ra te s an d Tigris, th e
T t y p i p , е р а 1 ч e p i r o p i a к а т е а к е и а а е то1 ч форт Ха
m ost n otable, one m ay say, o f all th e rivers o f Asia
B ia K o p i^ o va ip ек туч М уВоач кал Y la p a n a - a fte r th e Nile an d G anges, have th e ir sources in th e
куруч ка1 т т аауч туч сгореууоч Х ° ° Яа ?. рет а m ountains of A rm en ia an d are two tho u san d five
<уар тор N elX o p кал Т аууур ор т е ч е т и а у р 6 т а т о 1 h u n d red stades a p a rt a t th e ir origin, an d afte r flowing
охеВ>ор т ш р к а т а т ур ’ A a i a p т гот арш р E i /ф р а т у ч
th ro u g h M edia and P araetacen e th e y en ter M eso­
potam ia, which th e y enclose betw een th em , thus
ка\ T iy p i4 тач рёр пууач ex o va ip ек тш р
'А ррерХ ш р орш р, B iea T yK a a i В атг аХХуХш р for this : (1) hewn stone, rarely found elsewhere in Babylon,
was used in its construction; ( 2 ) the walls, especially the central
2 о т а В ь о о ч В к т х ^ Х 'ю о ч к а \ 7т е р т а к о а Х о о ч " е р е х & е р т е ч ones, are unusually thick, as if to bear some heavy burden;
Be B i d М у В Х а ч каХ Н арапакуруч e p ffd X X o u a tp (3) the presence of a well, unique among the many found in the
ruins of the city, which consists of three adjoining shafts, the
е1ч т у р Местоттотa p i а р , ур ат го Х а р /За р о р т еч есч two outer and oblong ones presumably being used for an end­
less chain of buckets, and the central and square shaft serving
1 apnovv Gemistus : аркобцеиоу. as an inspection-chamber. L. W . King (.4 H is to r y o f B a b y lo n ,
pp. 46-50) recognizes the force of these arguments, but is
1 Koldewey (l . c pp. 91-100) would identify a vaulted inclined “ to hope for a more convincing site for the gardens.”
building in a corner of Nebuchadrezzar’s palace with this E. Unger ( B a b y lo n , pp. 216 ff.) accepts the identification of
“ hanging garden.” Certain considerations speak strongly Koldewey.
386
387
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK II. II. 2-12. I
peaov a 'l n o i K a r e a r p a a v r fj xd p a ra vrp s rrj<;
ir p o a p y o p ia * ; ' pera he ra vra rp v B a fiv X c o v ia v giving this nam e to th e co u n try . 1 A fter th is th ey
h i e X B o v r e s 1 e h r -p v ' E p v B p d v e t j e p e v y o v r a i B a X a r -
pass th ro u g h Babylonia an d em pty into th e R ed S ea .2
3 ta v . peydX ot 8 ovres /c a l a v ^ v r jv j^ c o p a v h ia -
M oreover, since th e y are g re a t stream s an d traverse
a spacious te rrito ry th e y offer m any advantages to
rropevopevoi T ro X X a s d c f> o p p a s rrapexpvrai roh
m en who follow a m e rc h an t t r a d e ; and it is due to
e p tr o p iK y x p o o p e v o i s e p y a a i a • h i o /c a l a v p fia iv e i
this fac t th a t th e regions along th e ir banks are filled
tow T r a p a T r o r a p io v s to tto vs ir X p p e is v ir d p ^ e iv
w ith prosperous trading-places w hich co n trib u te
e p r r o p lo o v e v h a i p o v w v /c a l p e y d X a a v p f i a X X o p e v c o v
g rea tly to th e fam e of Babylonia.
TTpos t pv H a fiv X o o v ia s e r ru p d v e ia v . Sem iram is q u arried o u t a stone from th e m ountains
4 'H Se S f/u p a /u ? e/c t &v ’A p p e v i c o v o p o o v X i B o v of A rm enia w hich was one h u n d red an d th irty feet
erepe to pev ppK os ir o h S /v eK a ro v /c a l r p ia - long and tw enty-five fee t w ide an d th ic k ; and this she
5 K o v r a , r o h e r r X d r o t /c a l 7ra^o? e'b c o o t. /c a l hauled by m eans o f m any m u ltitu d es of yokes of
rrevre• ro v ro v he tt o X X o i s tt X pB eai £evyd> v m ules and oxen to th e river an d th e re loaded it on a
opeuccdv r e /c a l fio e i/c u /v / c a r a y a y o v c r a rrp o t ro v raft, on w hich she bro u g h t it down th e stream to
r r o r a p o v ir r e f t i f ta a e v errl r p v c r x ,e h ia v errl r a v r p s B ab y lo n ia; she th e n se t it up beside th e m ost famous
he r r a p a /c o p L a a c r a 2 K a r a r o v p e v p a r o ? p e x P 1 T% stre e t, an astonishing sig h t to all who passed by.
B a /S o \o / v i a s earpaev avrov rra p d rp v e ir ia p p o - A nd th is stone is called by some an obelisk 3 from its
r d r p v ohov, rra p a h o ^o v B ea p a roh rr a p io v c n v ov
shape, and th e y n um ber it am ong th e seven w onders
r iv e ? o v o p d ^ o v a iv d ir o ro v o x p p a r c x ; o fte X la K o v ,
of th e world.
12. A lthough th e sights to b e seen in Babylonia
ov ev roh errrd roh K a r o v o p a ^ o p e v o it e p y o is
are m any and singular, n o t th e le ast w onderful is th e
K a r a p iB p o v c r i.
enorm ous am ount of b itu m en w hich th e country
12. n o W cS t1 he K a l rra p a h o ^ c o v o vroov B e a p d - p ro d u ce s; so g re a t is th e supply of th is th a t it n ot
r o jv K ara rp v B a fiv X to v ia v ov% p K io r a B avpd- only suffices for th e ir buildings, which are num erous
gerai K al ro tt X pBo<; r p i ; ev a v r fj y e v v c o p e 'v p i; an d large, b u t th e com mon people also, g ath erin g a t
d a tj/a X r o v ro a o vro v yap ecrnv coare p p povov th e place , 4 draw it o ut w ithout an y restriction, and
ra h ro a a v r a is K al r p X iK a v r a v ; o h o h o p ia is
1 Meaning the “ region between the rivers.” Neither of
h ia p K e lv , d X X a K al a vX X eyo p evo v rov Xaov e ir l the rivers touches either Media or Paraetacene, which lies
rov ro rro v d < j)eih (b <? dpveaB ai K al % p p a iv o v r a between Media and Persis.
2 t.e. the Persian Gulf. For Diodorus, as for Herodotus (cp.
1. 1), the “ Red Sea ” was all the water south o f Asia. Our
1 5i€\0<Wei Gemistus : Z u \6 v r e s . “ Red Sea ” is the “ Arabian Gulf ” of Diodorus (cp. 1. 33. 8 ).
2 irapaKQjxlaacra V o ge l: KaraKouicraira II, Bekker, Din- 3 Obelisk is a diminutive of obelos (“ a spit ” ).
dorf. 4 According to Herodotus (1. 179) the place was eight days’
journey from Babylon at the source of the river Is, which was
388 a tributary of the Euphrates.
389
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. i2. i - i 3. i

2 ¡cae.iv avTi f vX oov. d v a p i6 p r y r < i> v Be to tt X fjO o s

drying it b u m it in place of wood. A nd countless as
avO pooTTCov d p v o p e v a tv tc a O d ir e p etc tw os ir p y p s is th e m u ltitu d e of m en who draw it out, th e am ount
peyaX qs a tc e p a to v B ia p e v e i to ir X p p m p a . eoTi rem ains undim inished, as if derived from some im ­
Be >eai T r X q a io v t t )s ir q y q < ; T a iiT p s dvdB ocns m ense source. M oreover, near this source th e re is a
T « p e v p e y e O e i f i p a x e l a , B v v a p .iv Be d a v p d a i o v vent-hole, of no g re a t size b u t of rem arkable potency.
exp vcra . T r p o fta X X e i1 yap o tT p o v d e ld iB r j te a l F or it em its a heavy sulphurous vapour w hich brings
¡ 3 a p v v , <0 to TTpoaeX dbv f S>ov a i r a v a i r o d v - q a t c e i , d eath to all living c reatu res th a t approach it, and th ey
ir e p iT T l t t t o v o g e ia te a l ir a p a B o ^ r p T e X e v T r j' ir v e v - m e e t w ith an end sw ift and s tr a n g e ; for afte r being
p a T o s y a p t e a T o x y X P ° V0V v i r o p L e lv a v B ta tp O e ip e T a L , su b jected for a tim e to a rete n tio n of th e b re a th th ey
tc a d a ir e p K w X v o p e v q s T q s tov T r v e v p a T O s e /c c fto p a s are killed, as th o u g h th e expulsion o f th e b re a th were
vtto t t js T r p o c n r e a o v a q s T a i s a v a i r v o a l s B v v a p e a ts - being p rev e n ted by th e force which has a tta c k e d th e
e v O v s B e B io iB e i te a l T T i p m p a T a i to a d t p a , p a X ic r T a processes of re sp ira tio n ; and im m ediately th e body
3 tov ? irepl tovtrvevpova tottov?. ecrTt Be teal swells an d blows u p , p articu larly in th e region about
irepav tov iroTapov Xipvq cnepeov ’¿ xovaa tov th e lungs. A nd th e re is also across th e river a lake
Trepi aliTqv tvttov, 2 et? r\v oTav tis epfip t 5) v whose edge offers solid footing, an d if any m an,
airecpatv, oXcyov pev vtjx6™ X P ° vov> irpoioov B’ un acq u ain ted w ith it, en ters it he swims for a short
et? to peaov tcadatrep into twos /Sta? tcaTa- tim e, b u t as h e advances tow ards th e cen tre he is
(jTTCLTai• eav t S> Be ^opdatv teal irdXw avacrTpe-^rai d rag g ed down as th o u g h b y a ce rtain fo rc e ; an d when
irpoatpovpevos avTexeTai pev Trjs etcjjdaews, avTi- he begins to help him self an d m akes up his m ind to
airutpevcp B vtto twos eouce• teal to pev irpStTov tu rn back to shore again, th o u g h he struggles to
aTTOvetcpovrai tov ? irbBas, eiTa to, crtceXr] pexpi e x tricate him self, it appears as if he w ere being
t rjs ocrtftvos, to Be TeXevTaiov oXov to acbpa vaptep hauled back by som ething e ls e ; and he becom es
tcpaTtjOels (ftepeTai irp'os fivOov, teal peT oXlyov b enum bed, first in his fee t, th e n in his legs as far as
TeTeXevTTjtccos av aft aXXeTat.
th e groin, and finally, overcome by num bness in his
Tle/ot p e v o v v tcov e v t \) H a f t v X w v i a d a v p a ^ o -
whole body, he is carried to th e b o tto m , and a little
p e v e a v a p tc e iT U ) to, p q d e v T a .
la te r is cast up dead.
13. 'H B e i Z e p i p a p i s ¿ T re iB p t o i ? e p y o t s d t r e d p / c e
Now concerning th e w onders of B abylonia le t w hat
ir e p a s , d v e g e v fe v eVt M p B i a s p e T a i r o X X r j s B v v d -
has been said suffice.
p e c o s ’ K a T a V T T jc r a a -a B e i r p o s o p o s to t c a X o v p e v o v
13. A fter Sem iram is had m ade an end of h e r build­
1 irp o & iW fi V o g e l: irpoaiSaW fi Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
ing operations she se t forth in th e d irection of M edia
3 tvttov Reiske t 6 itov .
: w ith a g re a t force. A nd when she h ad arrived a t
39i
390
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
H a y ic r T a v o v t t X tjctI o v avTov K aT eaT paroneB evae,
K al K aT eaK evaae v a p d iB e ia o v , os Tpv pev tr e p l-
p e T p o v r jv B co B eK a c n a h L w v , ¿ v ir e B im Be /te ip e v o s
e 'X e T ip y p p p e y a X r /p , ef ? dpB eveaO ai a w e ffa iv e
7 plain, contained a g re a t spring by m eans o f which
2 to <f>VTOvpyelov. to Be B a yla T a vo p 0/50? e a rl
p ev iepov A (o ? , e/c Be tov tta p a top trapdB eiaov
pepovs atroTopaBas e%ei 7 re r p a s els vijros d p a re i-
vovcras em aK alB eK a araB lovs. ov to KaTtinaTov
pepos /caragvcraTa t tjp IBlav eve^a p a ^ev ehcopa,
Bopv<f>opovs avTrj TrapaoTijcracra e/carop. eir-
eyp a tye Be Kal S v p io is yp d p p a c n p els tt)p irerpap
OTi "¿epipapis t ols a d y p a c n tois tw p oikoX ov -
Oovvtcop vTro^vylcop diro tov ireSlov ^ to c ra c ra top
1 rpoeipppevov Kprjppop Bid tovtcop els t r/p aKpd>-
peiap TTpouape/Sp.
3 E i nev& ev B dva^evlja a a Kal irapayevopevr]
71750? Xauoya iroXiv trjs MrjSias KaTevorjaev ev
t ip i peTeoopip ireBltp ireTpav tco t s v\jret Kal t S>
peyeOei KaTaTrXtjKTiKpv. ¿ pt ad d ' ov v eTepov
irapaBetaov {meppeyedr} KaTeaKevacrev, ev p ea to
TTjp ireTpap d.TroXa/3ovaa, Ka6' f)v olKoBopppaTa
iroXvTeXi) 7rpos Tpvcj}fjp eTrolpaev, el; d>p to, t 6
KaTa top irapaB etaov airedewpei (f>VT0Vpyeia Kal
ird a a v ttjp cn p a T id p ’jrapepf3e/3Xr]KvZav ev tw
4 ireBtco. ev tovtw Be tw tottw a v ^ v o v evBiaTpl-
yjraaa xpovov Kal TrdvTiov tu p els Tpvffrrjv dpr\Kov-
to) p d iro X a v a a a a , y rjp a i pep voplpoos ovk p d e X i j -
1 T his is the earliest m ention of the m odem Behistun, near
the “ Gate of A s ia ” on the old highway between Babylon
and E ebatana, Diodorus preserving the original form of the
name B agistana, “ place of the Gods ” or “ of God.” The great
inscription, which became the R osetta Stone of cuneiform, was
392
BOOK II. 13. 1-4
th e m ountain know n as B agistanus ,1 she encam ped
n ear it and laid o u t a p ark , w hich h ad a circum ­
ference o f tw elve stades and, being situ a te d in th e
h er plantings could be irrig ated . T he B agistanus
m ountain is sacred to Zeus and on th e side facing
th e p ark has sheer cliffs which rise to a h eig h t of
seventeen stades. T he low est p a rt o f th ese she
sm oothed off an d engraved th ereo n a likeness of
h erself w ith a hu n d red spearm en a t h er side. A nd
she also p u t th is inscription on th e cliff in S y ria n 2
le tte r s : “ Sem iram is, w ith th e pack-saddles of th e
beasts o f burden in her arm y, b u ilt up a m ound from
th e plain an d th ereb y clim bed this precipice, even to
its very rid g e.”
S ettin g forth from th a t place an d arriving a t th e
city of Chauon in M edia, she noticed on a certain
high p lateau a rock both of strik in g h eig h t an d mass.
Accordingly, she laid o u t th e re an o th er p ark o f g rea t
size, p u ttin g th e rock in th e m iddle o f it, an d on th e
rock she erected , to satisfy her ta ste for lu xury, some
very costly buildings from w’hich she used to look
down both upon h er plantings in th e p ark an d on th e
whole arm y encam ped on th e plain. In this place
she passed a long tim e an d enjoyed to th e full every
device th a t co n trib u ted to luxury ; she was unwilling,
how ever, to co n tra ct a lawful m arriag e, being afraid
placed there about 516 b . o . to recount the defeat by Darius of
the rebellion which broke out in the reign of Cambyses. I t
stands about five hundred feet above the ground and the
magnificent sculptures represent the rebellious satraps, two
a tte n d an ts of the king, and Darius making the gesture of
adoration before the sacred sym bol of A huram azda. See
L. W . K ing and R . C. Thom pson, The Inscription of Darius the
Great at Behistun.
2 i.e. Assyrian.
393
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
aev, evXaftovptvp ppirore aTeprjdrj tfjs dp^rj<;,
emXeyopevr) 8e t tov arpaTitoTuv t ow? evirpeireia
hia^tepovrwi tovtois epiayeTo, /cal irdvTa<i tovs
avTTj ’rrXrjcndcravTa'i rjcf/avi^e.
5 M e T a 8e T a v ra ¿ tt ’ E « / 3 a T a w » f ttjv iropelav
iroirjcrapevri irapeyeveTO ttpo 9 opo9 t o Zap/calov
/caX ovpevov tovto 8' eirl ttoXX oix; iraprj/cov
ctta8iov<; « a t ttXr/pe<; o f /cprjpva/v /cal <f>apdyycov
pa/cpav e t ^ e t ^ i> TrepLo8ov. e^nXoTLpeiTo ovv
a p a p ev p v tjp eiov d O d varov eavrrjs diroX iireiv,
a p a 8e a v v T op ov Troujcracrdai ttjv oSo v Sioirep
tov <{ r e /cpr]pvov<; /caTa/coyjracra /cal tov <; /coiXovs
T07T009 %cotraaa a v v T op ov « a t 7roXoTeXi) « a r -
ecr/cevacrev o8ov, f) p e x P 1 t o o i>w 2,epLpapi8o<;
6 «aXetTat. irapayev^Oeltra 8' ei<s ’ E /cfidrava,
•7ro\.Lv ev ire8la> Keipevrjv, /caTecr/cevaaev ev avTrj
iroXvieXf/ BaoiXeia /cal rrjv aXXpv empeXeiav
eTroirjaaTO tov tottov TrepmoTepav. dvv8pov
yap ovar)<; Trj<; i roXe&>9 « a t prjbapov avveyyvs
v’rrap’xpva'q'i irrjyrp, ¿iroi'paev avrrjv irdaav
KaTappvTOv, eirayayovcra irXelaTOV /cal «aXXt-
<
ttov v8cop peTa. TroXX^9 /ca/coTra0eia<; T6 «a t
7 8airdvr]<;. T03V yap ’E/cBcnavcov to? 8d8e/ca cna-
8iov<; aire^ov eoTiv opo<; o /caXelraL pev ’O povTt]<;,
Tfj 8e Tpa^vTrjTL /cal to> 7rpo9 i!y o ? dvareivovTi
peyeOei 8ia<fiopov, to? av ttjv irpocrfiacnv e%ov
opBiov et»? t ^9 a«p<upeta9 cnaSuov et/coai irevTe.
e« darrkpov 8e pepov<; ovar/s Xlpvrjs peyaXr)<; els
TTorapbv e/c/3aXXov<Tri<;, 8iecr/cayfre to irpoeipppevov
8 opo 9 « aT a t rjv pL^av. rjv 8’ 17 8iS)pvg to p ev
7rX aT 09 7ro8S)v TT€VTeKai8e/ca, to 8' vijros tst Tapd-
/covra‘ 8l rj<; eira ya yov cra tov e « t ^9 X lpvps
394
BOOK II. 13. 4-8
th a t she m ig h t b e deprived o f h e r suprem e position,
b u t choosing o ut th e m ost handsom e o f th e soldiers
she consorted w ith th em and th e n m ad e aw ay w ith
all who had lain w ith her.
A fter th is she advanced in th e direction o f E cb a­
ta n a an d arrived a t th e m ountain called Z arca eu s ; 1
an d since this ex ten d e d m any stades an d was full of
cliffs an d chasm s it ren d e re d th e jo u rn ey round a long
one. A nd so she becam e am bitious b oth to leave an
im m ortal m onum ent o f h erself and a t th e sam e tim e
to sh o rten h er w a y ; consequently she cu t through
th e cliffs, filled up th e low places, an d th u s a t g re a t
expense bu ilt a sh o rt ro ad , which to th is day is called
th e road o f Sem iram is. U pon arriving a t E cb atan a,
a city which lies on th e plain, she b u ilt in it an exp en ­
sive palace an d in every o th e r way gave ra th e r
exceptional atte n tio n to th e region. For since th e
city h ad no w ater supply and th e re was no spring in
its vicinity, she m ade th e whole of it well w atered by
bringing to it w ith m uch hardship an d expense an
abundance o f th e p u re st w ater. For a t a distance
from E cb a tan a o f ab o u t tw elve stades is a m ountain,
which is called O rontes and is unusual for its ru g g ed ­
ness and enorm ous h eig h t, since th e ascent, straig h t
to its sum m it, is tw enty-five stades. A nd since a
g re a t lake, which em p tied into a river, lay on th e
o th e r side, she m ade a cu ttin g th ro u g h th e base o f this
m ountain. T h e tu n n e l was fifteen fe e t w ide an d forty
fe e t h ig h ; and th ro u g h it she b ro u g h t in th e river
1 The Zagros range.
395
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 13. 8-14. 4
7T o r a f i o v епХррш ст е трѵ n o \iv ѵЬаточ. таѵта which flowed from th e lake, an d filled th e city w ith
/л еѵ о ѵ ѵ е п о і р а е ѵ е ѵ т р М p h la . w ater. Now this is w hat she did in M edia.
14. М е т а he т аѵта епрХѲ е трѵ те Перст ІЬа 14. A fter this she visited Persis an d every other
ка\ трѵ а Х Х р ѵ % ю р а ѵ апасгаѵ рч епррхе кат а country over w hich she ru led th ro u g h o u t Asia.
тру Аспаѵ. 7г а ѵ т а у о ѵ Se т а р ,е ѵ o p t ] к а і та ? E veryw here she cu t th ro u g h th e m ountains an d th e
апоррш уач 7гетра? Ь і а к о п т о ѵ с т а к ат ест кеѵ аст еѵ precipitous cliffs and constructed expensive roads,
о Ь о ѵ ч п о Х ѵ т е Х е і ч , е ѵ h e т оіч п е Ы о і ч ет гоіе і х ш р , а т а ,
while on th e plains she m ade m ounds, som etim es
constructing th em as tom bs for those o f h e r generals
7готе р . е ѵ т а ф о ѵ ч к а т а а к е ѵ с і ^ о ѵ с т а т о іч т еХ е ѵт ш сгі
who died, an d som etim es founding cities on th eir
тшѵ р у е р о ѵ ш ѵ , тг о т е h e п б Х е і ч е ѵ т оіч аѵ а с т т р р а с т і
tops. A nd it was also h er custom , w henever she
2 кат оікі^оѵст а. е і ш Ѳ е і he к а і кат а т а ч сттрато-
m ade cam p, to build little m ounds, upon which
7Ге Ь е і а ч р ік р а уозрм т а к а т а а к еѵ а ^ еіѵ , іф ' шѵ se ttin g h e r te n t she could look down upon all th e
каѲ істт аста т р ѵ i h i a v а к р ѵ р ѵ а т г а с г а ѵ к а т ш п т е ѵ е encam pm ent. As a consequence m any o f th e works
т рѵ i r a p e p f j o X p v h i o к а і ттоХХа к а т а т рѵ ’А с т і а ѵ she b u ilt th ro u g h o u t Asia rem ain to th is day an d are
Р’і х р і тоѵ ѵѵѵ h ia p evei тшѵ ѵтг' екеіѵ рч кат а­ called W orks of Sem iram is . 1
еткеѵ аст Ѳ еѵ т ш ѵ к а і к а Х е і т а і 3 L e p . i p d p . ih o 4 е р у а . A fter this she visited all E g y p t, an d afte r subduing
3 М ета h e т а ѵ т а т рѵ те А і у ѵ п т о ѵ п а с т а ѵ еттрХѲе m ost o f L ibya she w ent also to th e oracle o f A m m on 2
каі трч А і/З ѵ р ч та п Х е іс т т а кат аст т реф гареѵр to inquire o f th e god reg ard in g h er own end. A nd
7т а р р Х Ѳ е ѵ еіч “А р р ш ѵ а , х Р Ѵ а о Н-Ір Ѵ Т Ѵ Ѳ еш тгері th e account runs th a t th e answ er was given h e r th a t
трч ІЬ іач теХеѵтрч. Хеует аі h’ аѵтр уеѵеаѲ аі she would disappear from am ong m en an d receive
Хоую ѵ е% а ѵ Ѳ р а п г ш ѵ а ф а ѵ к т Ѳ р а е с т Ѳ а і к а і кат а
undying honour am ong some of th e peoples o f Asia,
an d th a t this would ta k e place w hen h er son N inyas
трѵ ’А с т і а ѵ т га р ’ еѵ іоіч тшѵ еѲѵш ѵ аѲаѵат оѵ
should conspire ag ain st her. T h en upon h e r retu rn
теѵ^ естѲаі т і р р ч • 07ге/э е а е а Ѳ а і к а Ѳ ' оѵ а ѵ ^ р о ѵ о ѵ
from th ese regions she visited m ost of E th io p ia, sub­
4 о ѵ іоч а ѵ т р N tim a? е п і / З о ѵ Х е ѵ а р . апо he тоѵ-
duing it as she w en t an d inspecting th e w onders o f th e
тшѵ у е ѵ о р е ѵ р трч А І Ѳ ю п і а ч е п р Х Ѳ е т а п Х е і а т а land. F or in th a t co u n try , th ey say, th e re is a lake,
к а т ает т реф ореѵр к а і та к а т а трѵ х ш р а ѵ Ѳ еш р еѵ р square in form, writh a p erim ete r o f some h u n d red and
napaho^a. elva i yap еѵ аѵт р ф асп Х ір ѵ р ѵ sixty fee t, and its w ate r is like cinnabar in colour and
т ет рауш ѵоѵ, трѵ р е ѵ п ер ір ет р о ѵ e^ovaav поЬш ѵ th e odour o f it is exceeding sw eet, n o t unlike th a t of
шч екат оѵ е^ркоѵт а, то h’ vhw p тр реѵ %/эоа
парапХ рспоѵ K ivv a fta p ei, трѵ h’ о ст ррѵ каѲ' Diodorus as well as to-day and are the remains of ancient
ѵ п ер /З о Х р ѵ p h eia v, оѵк аѵорш оѵ оіѵш п а Х а іш • dwelling sites.
2 The shrine of Zeus-Ammon in the Oasis o f Siwah, which is
described in Book 17. 50, in connection with the celebrated
1 This is obviously an attempt to explain the many mounds visit to it of Alexander.
which dotted the landscape of this region in the time of
396 397
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
S u v a p iv S ' e% eiv T ra p a S o ^ o v t o v y a p irio vT a
4>acrlv elg p a v i a v e p i r ’i ir T e iv kcu ir d v d ' a. nrpoTepov
SieXaO ev d p a p r r ja a ^ e a v T o v /caTTjyopeiv. t o i5
p e v o v v T a v r a X eyo vcriv o v k a v t i 5 paSLm 5
a vy/caT adoiT O .
15. Tacfjdg Se tgov TeXevTT]<rdvTcov ISico5 1 ol
Kara tt)v AWioiriav voiovvTar Tapr^evaavTeg
yap t & a gopa r a ical TrepfyeavTes avrolt ttoXXtjv
veXov itTTatriv €7ri aTjjXrjg, Scrre toi5 7rapiovai
<f>aivecrdai Sia r r 75 veXov to tov TeTeXevT/jxoTO1}
2 crcopa, Kaddirep 'H/>oSoto5 eiprj/ce. K.Tr]criag S' 6
K 1 /1 S1 0 5 diro<paivopevo<; t o v t o v c^eStdfetv, auro?
< t o pev auipa Tapi^eveadai, Ttjv pevToi ye
veXov pr) uepvytiadai yvpvols rot 5 ampacn- /eara-
KavQrpaeaQal yap Tat/Ta /cal XvpavOevTa TeXecos
3 tt)V opoioTTjTa prj Svvrjaecrdai StaTrjpelv. Sio /cal
•Xpvariv e'ucova /caTaa/cevd^eodai KoiXrjv, els f}v
evTedevTO<i t o v ve/cpov irepl Tpv el/cova yelaOai
Trjv veXov t o v Se /caTaa/cevdapaTOi TedevTOt eirl
t o v Tacf/ov Sia r »?5 veXov (fiavrjvai t o v ■ypvaov
4 atfraspoiaypevov t o > t eTeXevTT)/co t 1. t o v s pev ovv
TrXovaLov; ai/Twv ovtgo ddiTTeodai (fyrjcn, t o w ? S'
¿XaTTOva<i /caTaXnrovTat overlap dpyvpd<; Tvy%a-
veiv el/covos, t o v s Se Trevr)Ta<; /cepapivipf- tt ] v Se
veXov iratriv e£ap/ceiv Sia t o nXeiaTijv yevvaadai
1 ISlas Bekker, V o g e l: W a s Dindorf.
1 Herodotus (3. 24) says nothing o f the sort. According to
him the body is shrunk and covered with gypsum, which is
painted in such a way as to make it resemble a living man;
then “ they set it within a hollow pillar of h ye lo s.” It is diffi­
cult to understand how some translators and commentators
take this word to mean “ porcelain,’ ’ for Herodotus goes on
398
BOOK II. 14. 4-15. 4
old w in e ; m oreover, it has a rem arkable p o w e r; for
whoever has dru n k o f it, th e y say, falls into a frenzy
an d accuses h im self o f every sin which h e had
form erly com m itted in secret. H ow ever, a m an m ay
n o t readily ag ree w ith those who tell such things.
15. In th e burial of th e ir dead th e in h a b ita n ts of
E thiopia follow custom s peculiar to th e m se lv es; for
afte r th e y have em balm ed th e body an d have poured
a heavy coat o f glass over it th e y sta n d it on a pillar,
so th a t th e body o f th e dead m an is visible th ro u g h
th e glass to th o se who pass by. This is th e sta te m e n t
o f H ero d o tu s . 1 B u t C tesias o f Cnidus, declaring th a t
H erodotus is in v en tin g a ta le , gives for his p a r t this
account. T he body is indeed em balm ed, b u t glass is
n o t poured ab o u t th e n ak ed bodies, for th e y would be
b u rn ed an d so com pletely disfigured th a t th e y could
no longer preserve th e ir likeness. For th is reason
th e y fashion a hollow sta tu e o f gold an d w hen th e
corpse has been p u t into th is th e y pour th e glass over
th e sta tu e , an d th e figure, p rep ared in th is w ay, is
th e n placed a t th e tom b, an d th e gold, fashioned as it
is to resem ble th e deceased, is seen th ro u g h th e glass.
Now th e rich am ong th e m are b u ried in th is wise, he
says, b u t those who leave a sm aller e sta te receive a
silver sta tu e , an d th e poor one m ade o f earth en w are ;
as for th e glass, th e re is enough o f it for everyone,
to say that “ it is quarried by them in abundance and is easy
to work.” In Herodotus’ day it probably meant some trans­
parent stone, perhaps alabaster (cp. M. L. Trowbridge,
P hilo lo g ica l S tu d ie s i n A n c ie n t G lass (University of Illinois
Studies in Language and Literature, 1928), pp. 23 ff.); but by
the time of Diodorus h yelos was the term used for “ glass.”
Strabo (17. 2. 3) agrees with Diodorus in saying that in one
manner of burial the Ethiopians “ poured glass over ’ ’ the
bodies of the dead.
399
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
Kara ttjv Aldioirlav Kal TeXecos 7rapa tois
5 iy^copiots emiroXa^eiv. Trepl he tS)v voplpcov
tcov rrapa tois A lOioyJri Kal tcov aXXcov tcov yivo-
pevcov ev rfj tovtcov %copa ra KVpicoTaTa Kal
pvppijs agta piKpov vcTTepov avaypd-^ropev, orav
Kal r a ? 7raXaias aiiTcbv 7Tpageis Kal pvdoXoytas
hte^lcopev.
16. 'H he 'Zepipapis KaTaaTijaaaa rd re « a r a
ttjv AWioirlav Kal ttjv AtyviTTOV eiravrjXde per a
t rjs hvvdpecos els B a tcrp a ttjs ’ A alas. e^ot/cra Se
Suvapeis peydXas Kal iroXv^poviov elprjvrjv ayovaa
cfuXoTtpcos eaye irpaljai ti Xapirpov Kara voXe-
2 pov. TTwdavopevTj he to t Stv ’ I i>8coi> edvos
peyicnov elvai tcov « a r a ttjv olKovpevtjv Kal
•irXeicnrjv Te Kal KaXXiaTrjv ycbpav vepecrdai,
hievoeiTO arparevetv els ttjv ’ I voiktjv, rjs efiaai-
Xeve pev 2 ra /3 p o/3 a T p ? KaT ¿Kelvovs tovs
Xpovous, arparicorcov h' el^ev dvapldprjTov
TrXrjdos* vtttjp^ ov h ai/Tco Kal eXecjravTes rroXXol
Kad' inrepftoXrjv Xapirpcbs KeKocrprjpevoi tois els
3 tov rroXepov KaTairXrjKTiKois. rj yap ’ I vhiKTj
ydrpa hidfyopos ovaa tco KaXXei Kal iroXXots
hieiXrjppevrj iroTapois dpheveTal Te TroXXa^ov Kal
hiTTobs Ka8 eKacnov eviavTov eictfrepei Kapirovs*
hib Kal tcov 7rpos to %rjv eTrnrjheicov toctovtov
e^et TrXrjdos cdcTTe hid iravros acf>6ovov arroXavcriv
tois eyypoplois Trapeyeadai. Xeyerai he pTjheiroTe
KaT avT-rjv yeyovevai criTohelav rj ipOopdv Kapnwv
4 hid ttjv evKpacriav tcov tottcov. e%ei he Kal tS>v
eXecjrdvTcov d m orov TrXrjdos, ot Tats Te dXKais
x a l ra ts tov acbjunos pcbpats ttoXv irpoe^ovai
tcov ¿v tt) Aifivrj yivopevcov, opolcos he ^ pvcrov,
400
BOOK II. 15. 4-16. 4
since it occurs in g re a t abundance in E th io p ia and is
q u ite cu rren t am ong th e in h ab itan ts. W ith reg ard to
th e customs prevailing am ong th e E thiopians and th e
o th er features of th e ir co untry we shall a little la te r
set forth those th a t are th e m ost im p o rta n t and
deserving of record, a t w hich tim e we shall also re ­
count th eir early deeds an d th e ir m y thology . 1
16. B ut after Sem iram is had p u t in order th e affairs
o f E thiopia and E g y p t she re tu rn e d w ith h e r force to
B actra in Asia. A nd since she h ad g re a t forces and
h ad been at peace for some tim e she becam e eag er to
achieve some brilliant exploit in war. A nd w hen she
was inform ed th a t th e Indian nation was th e largest
one in th e world and likewise possessed b o th th e
m ost extensive an d th e fairest country, she purposed
to m ake a cam paign into In d ia .2 S tabrobates a t
th a t tim e was king o f th e country an d had a m u ltitu d e
of soldiers w ithout n u m b e r; an d m any elephants
w ere also a t his disposal, fitted o ut in an exceedingly
splendid fashion w ith such things as w ould strike
te rro r in war. F or India is a land o f unusual b e a u ty ,
and since it is trav ersed by m any rivers it is supplied
w ith w ater over its whole area and yields tw o harvests
each y e a r ; consequently it has such an abundance of
th e necessities o f life th a t a t all tim es it favours its
in h ab itan ts w ith a bounteous en joym ent of them .
A nd it is said th a t because of th e favourable clim ate
in those p arts th e co untry has never experienced a
famine or a d estru ctio n of crops. I t also has an
unbelievable m u ltitu d e of elephants, which both in
courage and in stre n g th of body far surpass those of
1 T h is is d o n e in B o o k 3 . 5 ff.
2 T h is c a m p a i g n w a s d o u b t e d a l r e a d y b y t h e a n c i e n t w r i t e r s ;
c p . S t r a b o 15. 1. 5 f.
401
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 16. 4-8
a p y v p o v , aiS r/p o v, ^ а Х к о ѵ 77750 9 S e т о ѵ т о іч Х і Ѳ ш ѵ
L ibya, and likewise gold, silver, iron, and c o p p e r;
ттаѵто'ішѵ к а і т го Х ѵ т е Х ш ѵ е а т і ѵ e v a v r f j т гХ у Ѳ о ч , furtherm ore, w ithin its borders are to be found g re a t
ёті 8e тшѵ аХХш ѵ атгаѵтшѵ ( г % е 8 Ьѵ тшѵ 777509 q u an tities of precious stones of every k ind an d of
т р ѵ ф у ѵ к а і ттХоѵтоѵ 8 іа т е і ѵ о ѵ т ш ѵ . practically all o th er things which co n trib u te to
'Т т гер шѵ та к а т а р е р о ч у Ц е р і р а р і ч а к о ѵ а а о а luxury and w ealth . 1
7ГР °Ѵ Х @ Ѵ р у 8 ё ѵ т г р о а 8 і к т ) Ѳ е і а а тоѵ тгроч ’І ѵ 8 о ѵ ч W hen Sem iram is had received a detailed account
б е^ еѵ еук еіѵ тт оХероѵ. о р ш а а 8’ аит уѵ р еуа Х ш ѵ o f th ese facts she was led to begin h er w ar ag ain st th e
каѲ’ ѵтге р/ЗоХг)Ѵ т грооВ еореѵуѵ 8ѵѵареш ѵ, е£- Indians, although she had been done no in ju ry by
еп ер 'ф еѵ а у у ё Х о ѵ ч е іч ат т ааач тач аат рат т еіач,1 th em . A nd realizing th a t she need ed an exceedingly
8 іа к е Х е ѵ < т а р е ѵ у т оіч е т т а р ^ о іч к а т а у р а ф е і ѵ тшѵ
g re a t force in addition to w hat she h ad she despatched
ѵ е ш ѵ т оѵ ч а р і а т о ѵ ч , 8 оѵ<та тоѵ а р і Ѳ р о ѵ кат а та
m essengers to all th e satrapies, com m anding th e
governors to enrol th e b rav est of th e young m en and
реуеѲ у тшѵ еѲ ѵш ѵ т гроаёт а^е 8ё тгасгі кат а-
se ttin g th e ir qu o ta in accordance w ith th e size of each
а к еѵ а ^ еіѵ к а іѵ а ч ттаѵоттХіач каі т оіч а Х Х о іч
n a tio n ; and she fu rth e r ordered th em all to m ake
аттааі Х ар т т р ш ч т т арауІѵеаѲ аі кекоаруреѵоѵч new suits of arm our and to b e a t han d , brilliantly
6 рет а т р іт о ѵ €т 09 619 В а к т р а . рет ет т ерф -а т о 8 е equipped in every o th e r respect, a t B actra on th e
каі ѵаѵттууоѵч ек те Ф о іѵ ік у9 каі І^ ѵ р іа ч каі th ird y ear th e re a fte r. She also sum m oned ship­
Т&лттроѵ к а і ті)ч а Х Х у 9 т у ч т г а р а Ѳ а Х а т т і о ѵ х ш р а ч , w rights from Phoenicia, Syria, Cyprus, an d th e rest
о іч афѲоѵоѵ ѵХуѵ рет ауауоѵаа 8 іекеХеѵ<тато of th e lands along th e sea, and shipping th ith e r an
7 к а т а а к е ѵ а ^ е і ѵ т т о т а р іа ттХоІа 8 і а і р е т а . о уар abundance of tim b er she ordered th e m to build river
'1 ѵ 8 оч тт отароч, р ё у і а т о ч ш ѵ тш ѵ ттері т оѵ ч тоттоѵч boats which could b e ta k e n to pieces. F o r th e Indus
каі т у ѵ / З а с г і Х е І а ѵ а и т у ч о р і ^ ш ѵ , т го Х Х ш ѵ ттросг- river, by reason of its being th e larg est in th a t
вйвіто т гХ о іш ѵ 77/509 т€ т у ѵ 8 i a f i a a i v к а і тгроч то region and th e boundary of h er kingdom , required
т оѵ ч ’1758009 ¿ 7го тоѵтшѵ а р ѵ ѵ а а Ѳ а і • ттері 8 ё тоѵ m any boats, some for th e passage across an d others
77 о т а р о ѵ оѵк оѵауч ѵХ у9 а ѵ а ук а іо ѵ уѵ ек туч
from which to defend th e form er from th e In d ia n s;
В а к т р і а ѵ у ч тгеЩ т т а р а к о р І ^ е а Ѳ а і т а ттХоІа.
and since th e re was no tim b er n ear th e river th e
boats had to b e b ro u g h t from B actrian a by land.
8 Ѳ еш роѵ аа 8’ у І^ е р ір а р іч еаѵт уѵ ёѵ ту тшѵ
O bserving th a t she was g rea tly inferior because of
еХ еф аѵ т ш ѵ %/эвіа т гоХ іі Х е п г о р ё ѵ у ѵ , ё т г е ѵ о у а а т о 2 h er lack o f elep h an ts, Sem iram is conceived th e plan
к а т й а к е ѵ а ^ е іѵ е і Ъ ш Х а 3 т оѵ т ш ѵ т ш ѵ £ ш ш ѵ , ¿Xтті-
of m aking dum m ies like th ese anim als, in th e hope
% о ѵ а а к а т а т т Х у ^ е а Ѳ а і т о ѵ ч ’1 ѵ 8 о ііч 8 і а т о v o p i ^ e i v th a t th e Indians would b e struck w ith te rro r because
1 (татрашіат Dindorf : (ттратоя-еЗе/ау. 1 India is more fully described in chaps. 35 if.
* ті after iirte o fa a T o deleted by Hertlein.
3 eiSo>Aa V o g e l: iSiwfia.
402
403
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK IL 16. 8-17. 2

арторч py8’ elpai то стрроХор ¿Хефартач ¿zeros of th e ir b elief th a t no elephants ever existed a t all
9 тшр ката, тур ’ I p8iKyv. етпХе^аета 8è fioâzv a p a rt from those found in India. Accordingly she
реХегршр тригкорта pppidbas та piIv Kpéa rots chose o ut th ree h u n d red thousand black oxen and
reypiraïs ка1 roîç ттроч тур тшр катаеткера- d istrib u ted th e ir m e at am ong h er artisans an d th e
етратшр înrypeerLap тетаурерок hiépeipe, ras 8è m en who had been assigned to th e ta sk of m aking
¡Hvpcras аорратгтооаа ка1 уортор тгХурорета th e figures, b u t th e hides she sew ed to g eth er
and stuffed w ith straw , and th u s m ade dum m ies,
катеакебааер ееВшХа, ката 7тар атторерорреру
copying in every d etail th e n atu ral appearance of
тур тшр Çwwp тортшр фрыр. екаеттор 8è тор­ th ese animals. E ach dum m y had w ithin it a m an to
тшр eïyep ¿ рточ ар8ра тор етпреХуаорерор кас ta k e care of it an d a cam el and, w hen it was m oved
каруХор, рф’ op ферорерор фартааёар то1ч by th e la tte r, to those who saw it from a distance it
тгорршвер opéoaip àXydzpo0 вур'юр 7таре'ьуето. looked like an actual anim al. A nd th e artisans who
10 ol 8е гаС т а ка т а ет кер ег^о р т еч a in fj r e y p îr a i were engaged in m aking th ese dum m ies for her
-т г р о а е к а р т е р о р р т otç e p y o is ер tipi irepifüôXep w orked a t th e ir ta sk in a certain co u rt which had
irepirpKobnpypévq) ка\ тт рХач 'ey opt z т уроррерач b een surrounded by a wall an d had g ates which were
¿ т п р е Х ш ч , w a r e p y b é p a р у т е т ш р еет ш вер è Ç ié p a i carefully g u ard ed , so th a t no w orker w ithin could
тe y p i T W P р у т е т ш р ë l j w в е р e îe u é p a i 7rpos а р т о р ч . pass o ut and no one from outside could come in to
tovto 8 ' ¿ттоьуетер, от гш ч р у 8 е \ ч тшр е ^ ш в е р ’¿¿¡у то them . This she did in order th a t no one from th e
y ip ô p e p o p py8è S ia T r é e r y ф > ]р у 7т роч '1р 8 орч r r e p ï
outside m ig h t see w h at was tak in g place an d th a t no
rep o rt ab o u t th e dum m ies m ig h t escape to th e
ТОРТ ШР.
Indians.
17. ’ E 7rel S’ a ï те р у е ч к а .1 т а û y p l a кат -
17. W hen th e boats an d th e beasts h ad been p re­
еакераавует ар ¿р т ок S v c r lp ёт ееи, тш тритер
p ared in th e two allo tted years, on th e th ird she
рет ет герф ат о т ач т гар т а уо вер 8 p v d p e i4 е1ч т у р
sum m oned her forces from everyw here to B actriana.
B a K T p ia p y p . то 8е т т Х уво ч т уч авро1авееауч A nd th e m u ltitu d e of th e arm y which was assem bled,
ст т рат еач у р , ш ч К т усгкач о К р 18 ю ч а р е у р а ф е , as Ctesias of Cnidus has recorded, was th re e million
т ге^ш р p è p T p z a K o a i a i р р р е а В е ч , 'птттешр b e еХ коет е 1 foot-soldiers, tw o h u n d red thousand cavalry, and one
2 рррш Ьеч, аррат ш р 8е В ека ррри18еч. Ь т гур уо р hu n d red thousand chariots. T here w ere also m en
8è к а \ â i ' 8 p 64 ¿тг1 к а р у Х ш р o y o v p e v o i , p a y a i р а ч m ounted on cam els, carrying swords four cubits long,
т ет рапууесч ёуорт еч, тор а р евp o p ta o i тоХч as m any in num ber as th e chariots. A nd river boats
d p p a a z. райч 8è т гот аркач кат еет керает е 8 ia i- which could be ta k e n a p a rt she bu ilt to th e num ber of
рет ач B ia y iX la s , а1ч 7т а р е а к е р а е т а т о каруХ орч two thousand, and she h ad collected camels to carry
т ач тте^у т г а р а к о р ^ о в е т а ч та ет каф у. ¿ф орорр th e vessels overland. Camels also bore th e dum m ies
1 cIkoci V o g e l : тгъитъкортаС , B e k k e r , D in d o r f.
404 40S
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 17. 2-6

Be Kal t a t w v eXecjtavTwv el'SwXa KaprfXoi, k u 9 o t i o f th e elephants, as has been m e n tio n ed ; an d th e

irpoeipriTai' 77/00? B' a v r a s Tot'S iirnow; ol <npa-
soldiers, by bringing th e ir horses up to th ese camels,
accustom ed th e m n o t to fear th e savage n atu re of
TiwTai crw ayovres crvvrjdeLt; etroiovv too pt]
th e b easts .1 A sim ilar th in g was also done m any
3 (p o fte ic r & a i r t j v d y p i o T t j T a r w v O r jp iw v . to i r a p a -
years la te r by P erseus, th e king of th e M acedonians,
ir X r )c n o v Be 7r 0 XX015 I t e c r iv vcrT epov e ir p a ^ e
before his decisive conflict w ith th e Rom ans who had
T l e p c r e v s o t w v M a K e B b v w v f i a a i X e w ?, o r e w p o s elephants from L ib y a . 2 B u t n eith er in his case did
'Y w p a io v i epueX X e B ia K iv B v v e v e iv I ^ ootos etc it tu rn o u t th a t th e zeal and ingenuity displayed in
A ifiv r jS ¿X ecpavT as. ¿X X ’ o v t e K e iv c p p o T r r jv such m a tte rs h ad any effect on th e conflict, nor in th a t
e v e y x e i v e h too i r o X e p o v c r v v e ( 3 p T t j v i r e p l t a of Sem iram is, as will be shown m ore precisely in our
T o ia v r a c n r o v B tjv K a l c p i X o T e 'X v i a v o v tc X e p u p a - fu rth e r account.
p tB r ire p l cov a K p c fte a r e p o v o i r p o 'i w v X oyo< ; W hen S tab ro b ates, th e king of th e Indians, h eard
B rjX c o crei. of th e im m ensity of th e forces m entioned an d of th e
4 'O Be tw v l v B w v /3 a c r iX e v < ; X T a f i p o f f a T t ] ? o r v v - exceedingly g re a t p reparations which h ad been m ade
d a v o p c e v o s ta r e p e y e O tj tw v o vo p .a ^ o p .e v w v1 B v v a - for th e w ar, h e was anxious to surpass Sem iram is in
pew v Kal Tpv in rep fio X p v ttjs e h too 7r o X e p o v every respect. F irst of all, th e n , he m ade four thou­
T ra p a a K e vrif, ecnrevB ev ev a i r a a i v virep d ea O a i t t )V
sand river boats o ut of reeds ; for along its rivers and
m arshy places In d ia produces a g re a t abundance of
5 X e p ip a p iv . K al ir p w T o v pev ¿k too K aXdpov
reeds, so large in d iam eter th a t a m an cannot easily
K aTeaK evaae ir X o la ir o T a p ia tctp a K i a ^ i X i a ' rj
p u t his arm s ab o u t th em ; 3 and it is said, furtherm ore,
yap I v B i K tj ir a p a tc toos t r o T a p o i x ; K al toos
th a t ships b u ilt of th e se are exceedingly serviceable,
e X w B e is T07T0O5 c p e p e i K a X d p o v 7r X ^ o s , oo to since th is wood does n o t rot. M oreover, h e gave
ir d y o < ; ovk av p a B iw s dv6 p w rro < ; T r e p iX a /3 o r g re a t care to th e p rep aratio n of his arm s an d by
X e y e T a i Be K a l to s ¿k to vtw v K aTaaK eva^opevaf visiting all In d ia g a th e re d a far g re a te r force th a n
v a v s B ia c p o p o v s K O T a t ^ o % p e i a v i n r d p - ^ e i v , o v e r t /? th a t which had been collected by Sem iram is. F u r-
6 d a tjT T T O V T a v T t j s T i j s v X t] $ . T ro irjcrd p ev o < ; B e K a l
T tjs tw v o t t X cov K a T a iT K tv r j< ; 2 7t o X X tjv ¿ t r i p e X e t a v elephants, and that a man within them imitated their
trumpeting. The horses of the Macedonians were led up to
K a l 7r d a a v e i r e X d w v T t j v ’ I v B iK tjv r)8 p o t,c re B v v a p . i v these and thus accustomed to the appearance and trumpeting
ir o X v p e i^ o v a ttjs £ e p ip a p iB i tr v v a ^ d e L c r r j^ . of the Roman elephants. Zonaras (9. 22) adds that the
dummies were also smeared with an ointment “ to give them
1 bvoixaC°V^vo)v V ogel: tToipLa^optvuv F, Bekker, Dindorf. a dreadful odour.’ ’
3 KaraoKevrjs V o g e l: TrapattKCVTis II, Bekker, Dindorf. 3 In Book 17. 90. 5 Diodorus describes trees of India which
four men can scarcely get their arms about, and Strabo
1 i.e. the elephants. (15. 1. 56), on the authority of Megasthenes, speaks of reeds
2 In the Third Macedonian War, 171-167 B.c., Polyaenus some of which are three cubits and others six in diameter.
(4. 20) says that Perseus constructed wooden dummies of
406 407
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
7 Troirjcrdfievos Be Kal tmv dypiotv eXe<f>dvt<ov drjpav
Kal iroXXaTrXaaidcras t o u ? ttpovirdpxovTas, etco-
aprjaev aTravTas tok et? tov troXepov KaTairXrj-
8 ktucoI s Xapirpws' S i b Kal avvej3aive K a r a ttjv
e<f>o8ov avTcov B i d re t o trXrjOos Kal ttjv errrl totv
0copaKL(ov KaTaaK€VT)V dvvrrotTTaTOv dvdponrivrj
ifrvaei (paiveadai ttjv eirupaveiav.
18. ’ E7T61 S' aincp Trdvra Ta 1 7rpo? tov 7roXe-
pov KareaKeiiaaTO, rrrpbs ttjv l^epipapiv Ka8' oSov
ovaav cnreaTeiXev ayyeXovs, eyKaXd>v oti Trpo-
Karapy^erai tov rrroXepov prjSev dSiKTjdehra•
7ToXXa Be Kal apprjTa KaT avTTj<j erru p a?2
/3Xaa(j>TjpTjcra<: Sid toiv ypappaTorv Kal deovs
eTTipapTvpdpevo<i, TjireiXei KaTaTroXeprjcra1; avTTjv
2 crTavpai npoar/Xcbaeiv. rj Se %epipapi<; dva-
yvovoa ttjv ¿ ttkjtoXtjv Kal KaTayeXdaaaa t <ov
yeypappevwv, Sia totv epycov eipTjae tov ’ I vSov
■neipdoeadai Trj? 7repl avTtjv apeTrjs, eirel Be
Trpodyovaa peTa t t } ? Svvdpews ejrl tov 'IvSbv
TTOTapbv irapeyevrjdrj, KaTeXafie Ta toiv iroXepiorv
3 TrXola 7rpo? pdxVv eTOipa. Btonep Kal avTi]
KaTapTtaaaa ta^eco? Ta? vav<s Kal rrrXrjpdiaaaa
toiv KpaTiGTwv ¿TTiftaTcbv avveaTijaaTo /ca rd tov
TTOTapbv vavpa^iav, avptfnXoTtpovpevoov Kal
toiv TrapepftefiXriKOTOTV 7rapd t o peiOpov Tre^wv.
4 iirl 7roXvv Be Xpovov tov kivBvvov TrapaTeivovTO<;
Kal TTpoOvpws eKaTeporv dya>viaapeva>v, to TeXev-
Talov fj Xepipapis eviKijcre Kal 8ie<j)deipe toiv
7rXolwv irepl crvveXafie 8 alxpa-Xdnov^
5 ovk oXiyov ?. ¿TTapOelcra Be ttj viktj Ta? ev tw
1 ra added by Gemistus.
408
BOOK II. 17. 7-18. s
th erm o re, holding a h u n t of th e wild elephants an d
m ultiplying m any tim es th e n um ber already a t his
disposal, he fitted th em all o ut splendidly w ith such
things as would strik e te rro r in w a r ; and th e conse­
quence was th a t w hen th e y advanced to th e a tta c k
th e m u ltitu d e of th em as well as th e tow ers upon
th eir backs m ade th em ap p ear like a th in g beyond
th e power of hum an n a tu re to w ithstand.
18. W hen he h ad m ade all his preparations for th e
w ar he despatched m essengers to Sem iram is, who
was already on th e road, accusing h er of being th e
aggressor in th e w ar although she h ad been in ju red
in no re s p e c t; th e n , in th e course of his le tte r, after
saying m any slanderous things ag ain st h er as being
a stru m p e t an d calling upon th e gods as w itnesses, he
th re a te n e d h er w ith crucifixion w hen he h ad d efeated
her. Sem iram is, how ever, on read in g his le tte r
dism issed his sta te m en ts w ith la u g h ter an d re ­
m arked, “ I t will b e in deeds 1 th a t th e Indian will
m ake tria l o f m y valour.” A nd w hen h er advance
b ro u g h t her w ith h er force to th e Indus river she
found th e boats of th e enem y rea d y for b attle .
Consequently she on h er side, hastily p u ttin g to g e th er
her boats and m anning th em w ith h er b est m arines,
joined b a ttle on th e river, while th e foot-soldiers
which w ere draw n up along th e banks also p artici­
p a te d eagerly in th e contest. T he stru g g le raged
for a long tim e and b o th sides fought spiritedly, b u t
finally Semiramis was victorious and d estroyed about
a thousand o f th e boats, tak in g also not a few m en
prisoners. E la ted now by h er victory, she reduced to
1 i.e. and not in words.
2 ¿is €t aipas V o g e l: ¿s kralpav G, eis kraipiiav F and
accepted by all editors.
409
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 18. 5-8

TTOTapcp v y c ro v i /cal 7r o X e i ? e^yvSpaTroSicraTO, /cal slavery th e islands in th e river an d th e cities on

a v v y y a y e v al% paXcoTcov acopaTcov inrep r d i Se/ca th e m and g ath ered in m ore th a n one hu n d red
p v p id B a s . th o u san d captives.
M e r a Se Tai/d' 0 pev tcov ’ I vScov fiacriXei/i A fter th ese events th e k ing o f th e Indians w ithdrew
dnyyaye ttjv B v v a p . i v diro tov iroTapov, irpocr- his force from th e river, giving th e appearance of
Troiovpevoi pev ava^copeiv Bid cf>6/3ov, Ty S’ re tre a tin g in fear b u t actually w ith th e in ten tio n of
aXydeia fiovXopevoi t o u ? 7roXepiovi 7rpoTpe- enticing th e enem y to cross th e river. T hereupon
6 1¡ r a c r O a i S i a f i f j v a i tov t r o T a p o v . r) S e l i e p i p a p n , Semiramis, now th a t h er undertakings w ere pro sp er­
/c a r d v o i/v a i/T y tcov i r p a y p a T c o v 7T p o j(c o p o v v T c o v , ing as she w ished, spanned th e river w ith a costly
e^evge tov i r o T a p o v /c a T a a /c e v d c r a a a 7r o X v T e X y and larg e bridge, b y m eans o f which she g o t all
/c a l p e y a X r jv 7 e c f /v p a v , Si 179 cn ra cra v S ia /c o - h er forces acro ss; an d th e n she left sixty thousand
p lc r a a a ttjv B v v a p iv e ir l pev tov £evypaT O 9 m en to g u ard th e pontoon bridge, w hile w ith th e rest
c j / v X a /c y v /c a T e X n re v dvB pcbv e ^ a /c ia p v p lc o v , Ty
o f h er arm y she advanced in p u rsu it of th e Indians,
S’ aXXy (T T p a T ia 1r p o y y e v e ir iS n o /c o v c r a toix;
th e dum m y elep h an ts leading th e w ay in order th a t
T p So u ? , irp o y y o v p e v c o v tcov e iB c o X c o v , o ir c o i oi
th e en em y ’s spies m ig h t rep o rt to th e king th e
tcov i r o X e p i c o v / c a T a a / c o i r o i tco f i a a i X e i c n r a y y e i -
m u ltitu d e of th ese anim als in h er arm y. N or was she
7 Xcocn to ir X y d o i tcov Trap' ai/Ty dypLcov. ov
deceived in th is h o p e ; on th e co n trary , w hen those
S ie^reva O y S e /caTa y e tovto T y i e \ 7 r iS o i, a W a
who h ad been desp atch ed to spy h er o ut rep o rted to
tcov eirl /ca Ta a /co n yv e/cnepcj/devTcov r o t ? T i i S o i ?
th e Indians th e m u ltitu d e of elephants am ong th e
a ira y ye X X o vT co v to ir X y d o i tcov 7r a p a T oh
enem y, th e y w ere all a t a loss to discover from
T ro X eplo ii eXecj/dvTcov, c n ra v T e i Biyrropoi/VTo
Trodev a i/T y crvva/coXovdei toctovto 7r X y $ o i 6 y -
w here such a m u ltitu d e of beasts as accom panied
8 p ic o v . o v p y v e p e i v e y e to y jr e v B o i n X e i c o x p o v o v
her could have come. H ow ever, th e deception did n ot
/c p V T T T o p e v o v tcov y a p 7r a p a Ty i e p i p d p i B i rem ain a secret for lo n g ; for some of Sem iram is’
o T p a T e v o p e v c o v Tire? /c a T e X y c p O y c r a v vv/cto<; e v Ty troops w ere cau g h t neglecting th e ir n ig h t w atches in
c r T p a T O -r r e S e ia p a O v p o v v T e i r a i r e p i ra ? c j / v X a / c d i ’ th e cam p, an d th ese, in fear of th e consequent punish­
cj)o/3y6evTe<> Be ttjv e i r a / c o X o v O o v a a v T ip c o p la v m en t, d eserted to th e enem y an d po in ted o ut to
y i / T o p o X y c r a v 7r p o ? r o r ? n o X e p i o v i /c a l ttjv /c a T a th em th e ir m istake reg ard in g th e n a tu re o f th e
tov f e X e c f/a v T a i ir X d v y v d n y /y e iX a v . ecp' oh elephants. E ncouraged by this inform ation, th e king
d a p p y a a i 0 tcov ’ I vB cd v f i a a i X e v i / c a l Ty S v v d p e i of th e Indians, a fte r inform ing his arm y ab o u t th e
B i a y y e i X a i to, i r e p l tcov eiB c o X c o v , ¿ T re c rT p e y jre v e i r l dum m ies, set his forces in array an d tu rn ed about
T o i / i ’A c T c r v p L o v i Siara^a? T y v B v v a p i v . to face th e A ssyrians.
410 4 11
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 19. 1-5

19. To S’ avro Kal tj}? 2 , e p i p d p t S o < ; e m r e - 19. Sem iram is likewise m arshalled h er forces, and
\ov< rr]t, «9 f/yyia a v aW jyXot? r a a r p a r o r r e S a , as th e tw o arm ies neared each o th er S tab ro b ates, th e
'¡L ra jS p o ftd rip i o rcbv IvScbv /3a <riX eu<; irp o a ir- king of th e Indians, desp atch ed his cavalry an d chariots
ecrreiX e t toXv r r p b r f j < i < p d X a y y o < ; T01/9 irrrrei*; p e r a
far in advance of th e m ain body. B u t th e queen
sto u tly w ithstood th e a tta c k o f th e cavalry, and since
2 rcbv appdrcov. Seijapevr]'; Se T779 fta criX ia crris
th e elephants which she had fab ricated had been
e v p c b c rr c iy ; Tt] v ecpoSov rcbv cm recov, Kal rcbv
statio n ed a t equal intervals in front o f th e m ain body
K a r e c jK e v a a p e v c o v eX ecpdvrcov rrpo rrj*; c p d X a y y o s
of troops, it cam e ab o u t th a t th e horses o f th e
ev ’¿ c ro is S ia o rrjp a a L reraypevw v, a vvefia cve
Indians shied a t them . For w hereas a t a distance
3 7T T v p e a & a i ro v<s rcbv ’I v S c b v irn ro vs. rd yap th e dum m ies looked like th e actual animals w ith
etS ayX a rro p p co d ev p e v o p o i a v e l y e r r j v rrpocjo^lriv which th e horses o f th e Indians w ere acq uainted and
T0Z9 d X ^ P i v o l s d r j p i o a , ol<s c j v v q d e a d v r e s o i rcbv th erefo re charged upon th em boldly enough, y e t on
’I v S c b v 'irrrro i re B a p p r jK o r a > < ; irp o c rirrrre v o v ’ rol<s n earer contact th e odour which reached th e horses was
S’ e y y ic r a c n v r) r e o a p r ) r r p o c je (S a X X e v dcrvvriO yyi unfam iliar, and th e n th e o th er differences, which
Kal raX X a S iacfyopav ex°vra rr d v r a rrappeyeO rj ta k e n all to g e th er w ere very g re a t, threw th em into
tovs 'iiTTrovs oXoaxepcbc; crvverdparre. oto Kal u tte r confusion. C onsequently some o f th e Indians
rcbv ’ I vScov oi pev errl rrjv yrp> errnrrov, oi Se w ere throw n to th e ground, while others, since th eir
r c b v %cpcov d i r e i d o v v r c o v r o t s x & X t - v o t 1; «9 e r v y x a - horses would n ot obey th e rein, w ere carried w ith
vev1 els to o ? n r o X e p io v < s e^ em rrrov pera rcbv
th e ir m ounts pell-m ell into th e m idst of th e enem y.
T h en Sem iram is, who was in th e b a ttle w ith a select
4 K o pi^ ovrcov a v r o v s cm rcov. t) Se ^ . e p i p a p a p e r a
b and o f soldiers, m ade skilful use of h e r advantage
arpancordyv em X eK rcov p a x o p evt] Kal rc b r r p o -
and p u t th e Indians to flight. B u t although these
re p rjp a ri Se%i5><; X P tl c r a P ^ v V too9 ’ I v S o v s erpe- fled tow ards th e b attle-lin e, K ing S tabrobates, un­
ijra ro . dbv c f y v y o v r c o v r r p o 1; r p v c p d X a y y a 2 ra- dism ayed, advanced th e ranks o f his foot-soldiers,
0po/3drr)< ; 0 f t a a i X e 09 o v K a ra rrX a yels errpyaye keep in g th e elephants in fro n t, while he himself,
ra<s r c b v r r e^ cbv rd ^ eis, r r p o r jy o v p e v c o v rc bv eX e- ta k in g his position on th e rig h t wing and fighting
c f yavr cov, aoro9 S’ errl rov S eijio v K eparos re- from th e m ost pow erful o f th e beasts, charged in
raypevos Kal rrjv pdxvv drrl rov K p a ria ro v terrify in g fashion upon th e queen, whom chance had
B rjpiov rr o to v p e v o s e m jya ye K a r a rr X r jK riK o yi errl placed opposite him. A nd since th e re st o f th e
rrjv f i a a i X u r a a v K a r a v r o v rv x iK cb t re ra y p e v rjv . elephants followed his exam ple, th e arm y of Semi­
5 to S’ avro Kal rcbv aXXoov eX ccjydvrcov rroirj- ram is w ithstood b u t a sh o rt tim e th e a tta c k of th e
a d v r c o v 7] p e r a r r p S epipdpiS o< s S v v a p is /3 p a x v v b e a s ts ; for th e anim als, by virtue of th e ir e x tra ­
vrrecrrr] x p d v o v rrjv r c b v O r jp ic o v e c p o S o v rd yap
ordinary courage and th e confidence which th e y felt
tc b a S iacjyopa T £U 9 d X K a i< s dvra Kal to » 9 IS lac 9 1 € rv y x * v * i' V ogel: €Tvyx°-vov A B G , Bekker, Piridorf.
4 12 413
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 19. 5-9

p copai< ; T reT T o iO o T a ir d v ja tov v c fn a T a p e v o v in th e ir pow er, easily d estroyed everyone who tried
6 paB ¿«a? a v p p e i. B io i r e p 7roXv? te a l ir a v T o lo < ; to w ithstand th em . C onsequently th e re was a g rea t
e y lv e T o <f>ovo<;, T a v pev v i to to v ? 7ro£a? v w o w i - slau g h ter, which was effected in various w ays, some
being tram p led b en e ath th e ir fee t, others ripped up
7ttovtcov , tw v Be to Z? o S o v a iv d v a c r '^ i ^ o p . e v w v ,
b y th e ir tusks, an d a n um ber tossed into th e air by
iv ic o v Be rat? T r p o j3 o a /c lc r iv avappnTTO vpevm v.
th e ir tru n k s. A nd since a g re a t m u ltitu d e of
a v j(y o v Se ttX i j 6 o v <; v e / e p w v a w p e v o p e v o v /c a l tov
corpses lay piled one upon th e o th er and th e d anger
/a v B v v o v t o t? o p d /a i B e iv b v e /c T r X r j^ iv / c a l <f>o/3ov aroused terrib le consternation an d fear in those who
i r a p u T T a v T O ?, ovSe'i? c t i p e v e iv eVi t ?}? Tafeta? w itnessed th e sight, n o t a m an had th e courage to
¿ToXpa. hold his position an y longer.
7 Tpa7revTO? ovv tov 7T\ijdov<; 7 ravTO? o /SaatXev? Now w hen th e en tire m u ltitu d e tu rn e d in flight th e
to w 'lvBwv e V ’ ainrjv efiid^eTO tt) v 'Lepipap.iv. king of th e Indians pressed his a tta c k upon Semi­
/cat t o pev irpSiTOV eir e/ceivrjv To£evaa<; <?tv%£ ramis herself. A nd first he le t fly an arrow an d struck
tov /Spatio vo?, eireiT lucovTicra*; BtrfXaae Bid tov h er on th e arm , an d th e n w ith his javelin h e pierced
vu / t o v t t ) ? fiaoikicroTjs;, tvXayLat e v e ^ e t o -»;? t t j ? th e back o f th e queen, b u t only w ith a glancing blow ;
77 X77777 ?' Siojrep ovSev iradovaa BeLvov 77 Lept- and since for th is reason Sem iram is was n ot seriously
papis Ta^eco? cupLTnrevae, 7roXv Xenropevov tcaTa injured she rode sw iftly aw ay, th e pursuing b east
8 t o Ta%o? t o v Bico/covto<; drjpiov. 7ravTcov Se being m uch inferior in speed. B ut since all were
fleeing to th e pontoon b ridge an d so g re a t a m u ltitu d e
<pevyovT av 67rt t ^ v a^ eS iav , touovtov ttXijOov';
was forcing its w ay in to a single narrow space, some of
ei? eva /cal cnevov fiia^opevov tottov oi pev Ttp
the q u ee n ’s soldiers perished by being tram p led upon
/3acnXiao"r)<; vir aXXrjXwv aTreOvrja/cov ervp- by one an o th er and b y cavalry and foot-soldiers being
iraTOvpevoi /cal <f>vpopevoi ira pa fyvcnv d v a p lf throw n to g e th er in u n n atu ral confusion, an d w hen th e
i7T7ret5 Te /cat ire^ol, twv Se ’ IvScov ¿wi/cer pevcov Indians pressed h ard upon th em a violent crowding
mapb<; eylveTO fiia io s eirl Trjs yecf> vpa<; Sta t o v took place on th e bridge because of th e ir te rro r, so
</>o/?ov, StTTe 7roXXov? e^co0ovpevov<; e<f>’ e/caTepa th a t m any w ere pushed to eith er side o f th e bridge
peprj Trp ye<f>vpa<> e p ir lin e iv et? t o v iroTapov. an d fell into th e river. As for Sem iram is, when th e
9 77 Se L e p i p a p v s , ¿ T reiB rj to T r \e lc r T o v p ep o < ; twv larg est p a rt o f th e survivors o f th e b a ttle h ad found
a T rb T 77? pdxV S B ia tr c o ^ o p e v o / v S ta tov iro T a p o v safety b y p u ttin g th e river behind th em , she cu t th e
e T V ^ e T 77? d a c p a X e ia * ; , c n r e /c o tfr e tov? avve^ovT a? fastenings which held th e bridge to g e th e r ; an d w hen
S ea y z o v ? tt) v yecpvpav 5>v X v d e v T t o v 77 p e v c r x e B i a these w ere loosened th e pontoon bridge, having been
KaTa 7roXXa B ia ip e d e ia a p eprj /c a l avxyov< ; etf>'
broken a p a rt a t m any points and bearing g rea t
num bers o f th e pursuing Indians, was carried down
eavTrj< ; e^ovaa twv Buoicovtcov ’ Iv S m v v 7r o tt J?
in hap h azard fashion by th e violence o f th e cu rren t
tov p e v /z a T O ? a<f>oBpoTr)TO<; ¿ 5 e T V ^ e /c a T r jv e x O r ) ,

4 14
4i 5
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 19. 9-20. 4
te a l tr o X X o v s pep tu/p ’ IvSnm B ie c f/d e ip e , tjj Se an d caused th e d eath of m any o f th e Indians, b u t for
2 e p ip d p iB i iro X X p v a a c j> d X e ia p T r a p e u /c e v a u e , Sem iram is it was th e m eans of com plete safety, th e
/ c c o X v u a u a T p p t S)p n r o X e p l w v e i r a i n p p h i a f S a a i v . enem y now being p rev e n ted from crossing over
10 p e T a Be Tavd' o p e p tm u 'I p BS/v f i a a i X e v s , B io - against her. A fter th ese events th e king o f th e
u p p iw v a v Tq> y e v o p e v o o v / c a l tgop p d v T e c o v a i r o - Indians rem ained inactive, since heavenly omens
< paivopeva> p a p p a lvecrO a i top T T O T a p o p pep B ia-
ap p eared to him which his seers in te rp re te d to m ean
th a t he m ust n o t cross th e river, an d Sem iram is,
f i a i v e i v , p t r v ^ i a p e c r x e v > p Be % e p l p a p i s d X X a y i / p
after exchanging prisoners, m ade h er way back to
iro ip cra p evp t &p a ix va -X d n cop eira p rfx d ep els
B actra w ith th e loss of tw o-thirds of h er force.
B d /erp a , B v o p e p p T rjs B v p d p e a >9 a r r o f i e f i X - p i c v i a .
20. Some tim e la ter her son N inyas conspired
20. M exa Be t i v a x p o v o v vtto N i v v o v tov v l o v ag ain st h er th ro u g h th e agency of a certain eunuch ;
Bi e o v o v X o v two ? e i r i f i o v X e v d e i o - a , /c a l to T r a p an d rem em bering th e prophecy given h e r by
" A p p r a v o ? X o y i o p d v a p e i o c r a p e v p , top e T n f i o v X e v - A m m on ,1 she did n ot punish th e conspirator, b u t, on
c r a P T a /c a /c b v o v B e P e l p y d c r a T O , T O v v a v T i o v Be ttjp th e co n trary , afte r tu rn in g th e kingdom over to him
fia c r iX e ia v avT& T ra p a B o vcra /c a l ro t? v ir d p x o is an d com m anding th e governors to obey him , she a t
a / c o v e iP e /c e lv o v irp o u T a ^ a u a , Ta^ew? p ^ d p i u e p once disappeared, as if she were going to be tra n s­
eavrpp, cos eh d e o v ? /c a T a top x p V ^ f ^ o p peTa- la ted to th e gods as th e oracle h ad predicted. Some,
2 uTpaopepp. evioi Be pvdoXoyovvTes tfiaaiv ai/Tpv m aking a m y th of it, say th a t she tu rn e d into a dove
yeveoOai TrepiuTepdp, /cal iroXXcbp oppecop eis and flew off in th e com pany of m any birds which
Tpp ol/clav /caTaireTacrdepTcop peT e/celpcop e/erre- alighted on her dwelling, an d th is, th e y say, is th e
reason w hy th e A ssyrians worship th e dove as a god,
TaaOpvai- Bio /cal t o w ’ Acravplovs Tpp irepi-
thus deifying Semiramis. Be th a t as it m ay, this
o-Tepap Tipdp cos deov, drradavaTl^ovTa9 Tpp
woman, afte r having been queen over all Asia with
ILepipapiP. avTp pep ovp ¡SaaiXevcraoa Trjs th e exception of In d ia, passed aw ay in th e m anner
'A ulas airdups irXpp 'I pBwp eTeXevTpue top m entioned above, having lived sixty-tw o years and
Trpoeipppepop Tpovop, ¡3idocracra pep eTp egp/coPTa having reigned forty-tw o.
Bvo, fiaaiXevcracra Be Bvo 717309 tois TeTTapd/covTa. Such, th en , is th e account th a t Ctesias of Cnidus has
3 K ttjchc^ pep ovp 0 K fi§ i0 9 7repl XepipdpiBos given about Semiramis ; b u t A thenaeus 2 and certain
Toiavd' iuTopp/ceP' 'A.6pvaios Be /cai Tipes twp oth er historians say th a t she w'as a comely courtesan
aAXcop avyypaipecoP (jiaolp avTpv ¿Tatpap ye- and because o f h er b eau ty was loved by th e king of
yopePai evirpeirp, /cal Bia to /caXXos epcori/ccos th e Assyrians. Now a t first she wras accorded only
4 €%eti3 a v r p s top f i a c n X e a twp 'A a u v p i c o v . to a m oderate acceptance in th e palace, b u t la te r, when
p e p ovp TTp& TO v p e T p l a s a v T p p d ir o B o x p S T vyya- 1 Cp. chap. 14.
v e iv ep tois f i a a i X e l o i s , p e T a Be T a v T a y v p a ia p 3 Nothing is known about this Athenaeus.
4 16 417
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 20. 4-21. 3
dvayopevO eZcrav yvvaZxa nreZaai rov fia cn X ea she h ad been proclaim ed a lawful wife, she persuaded
r r e i ’0 ’ ¿ ¡ p e p a s a v r r j T r a p a x a)P V , T a l T V^ / 3 a a i X e l a s . th e king to yield th e royal prerogatives to h e r for a
5 r p v 8e X e p i p a p i v a v a X a $ o v a a v t o t c o x r j T r r p o v perio d of five days .1 A nd Sem iram is, upon receiving
/cal rpv ffa a iX eio v crroX rjv K ara pev rrjv th e scep tre an d th e reg al g arb , on th e first day held
7 rp c a r p v ppepav evca x ia v rroirjcrai /cal peya- high festival an d gave a m agnificent b an q u et, a t
X oirperrij SeZrrva, ev o ts robs rcav Svvapecav which she p ersu ad ed th e com m anders o f th e m ilitary
r j y e p o v a s / c a l r r a v r a s r o b s e m c f / a v e a r d r o v s rr eZ crai forces an d all th e g re a te st dignitaries to co-operate
( j v fi'jv p d r r e i v e a vrjj’ rjj S’ v c n e p a ia rov re w ith h e r ; an d on th e second d ay , w hile th e people
rrX rjd o vs /ca l ra /v a ^ ioX oycardrcav avSpcav cos
an d th e m ost notable citizens w ere paying h er th e ir
respects as queen, she arrested h e r h u sband an d p u t
¡S a criX ia cra v d e p a n e v o v r c a v rov pev avSpa x a ra -
h im in p riso n ; an d since she was b y n a tu re a woman
fia X elv els r r jv e l p x r y v , a v r r j v he cfivaei p e y a X -
o f g re a t designs an d bold as well, she seized th e th ro n e
errifio X o v ovcrav /cal roX prfpav x a ra a x e lv Tb v
an d rem aining q u een u n til old ag e accom plished
apxpv, xal p ^ x p i yppcas fia o iX e u a a a a v rroX X a m any g re a t things. Such, th e n , are th e conflicting
/ca l p e y d X a x a re p ya cra a d a i. rrepl p e v o v v rcav accounts which m ay be found in th e historians
/c a rd 1 % e p ip a p iv ro ia b ra s a vriX o yla s elva i reg ard in g th e career o f Sem iram is.
c r v p jia iv e i rr a p a rocs a vy y p a fy e v c n . 21. A fter h e r d ea th N inyas, th e son o f Ninus and
. M e ra
2 1 Se rov ra v rijs davarov N ivva s o Sem iram is, succeeded to th e th ro n e an d h a d a
N inon / c a l J L ep ip a p iS o s v io s rra p a X a ficb v rrjv peaceful reig n , since h e in no wise em u lated his
apxvv VPXev elp p v ix c a s, ro cfuX orroX epov xal m o th e r’s fondness for w ar an d h e r adventurous
x e x ivS vvev p evo v rrjs pprpos ovSapcas f pX cdcras• spirit. For in th e first place, he sp en t all his tim e
2 rrpcarov p e v yap ev ro ls /3a a i X e i o i s rov arra vra in th e palace, seen b y no one b u t his concubines and
Xpovov S ierp ifiev, In r’ obSevos opcapevos n X rjv th e eunuchs who a tte n d e d him , and devoted his life
rcav rra X X a x iS c a v x a l rcav rre p l a v r o v eunou^cou, to luxury and idleness and th e co n sisten t avoidance
o f any suffering or an x iety , holding th e end and aim
e£jj X o v Se rp v cfip v x a l p a d v p i a v x a l r o prfSerrore
o f a h appy reign to be th e en jo y m en t of every kind
x a x o rra O elv p p S e p ep ip va v, vrro X a p j3 d vco v ( 3 a a i-
o f pleasu re w ith o u t restra in t. M oreover, having
X e ia s e b S a lp o v o s e l v a i r e X o s r o rrd cra is x P V cr^ a i
in view th e safety o f his crown and th e fear
3 ra ls rjS ovaZ s a v e m x c a X v r c a s . rr p o s Se r r jv dcrcpd-
X e ia v rrjs dpxps xa l rov K ara rcav dpxopevcav prominent feature of this was the killing of a criminal who had
been permitted for five days to wear the king’s robes, to sit on
1 Vogel follows D in omitting t )¡v after K ara.
his throne, to issue decrees, and even to consort with his
concubines, and who, after this brief tenure of office, was
1 Thefollowinglegend contains a reference to the Babylonian scourged and executed. Cp. J. G. Frazer, T h e G o ld e n B o u g h ,
Sacaea, which was almost certainly a New Year’ s festival. A Pt. I ll, T h e D y i n g G o d , pp. 113-17.
418 419
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
yivofievov <f)6/3ov kcit eviavTov p.eTeirep.TreTo
<TTpaTi<t)TGOv apiOfiov dtptap.evov Kal arpcmyybv
4 a ? ro edvov? exaoTov, /c a l to p.'ev e/c TrdvTatv
ddpoioOev arparevpia ¿ ktos t j /? 7roX eto? avvei%ev,
eKamov Totv edvotv tov evvovaraiov t u v irepl
avTov airoBeLKvvatv ?jyepiova’ tov 8’ evtavTov
BieXtioVTOS pL€T€7r£pL7T€T0 TTaXiV dlTO TOtV ¿dvwv
t o u ? fcroi/? cTTpaTtcoTa?, /c a l t o o ? irpoTepovi dire­
ct Xvev a ? r a ? iraTpiBas. ov a'WTeXovp.evov <rvv-
e/Baive to o ? viro ttjv fiaaiXeiav Teraypievowi airav-
T a ? 1 KaTaireirXri^dat, deatpovvTa? a e l p e y a X a ?
Bvvdp,ei<; ev viraidprp aTpaTOTre8evop,eva<; Kal t <h ?
a<£icrTa/x€i/ot? 17 p t) Treidap^ovatv eToipvqv oitaav
6 TipiatpCav. Ta? ¿e /caT’ eviavTov aXXaya? tu>v
cTTpaTicoTwv eirevorjaev, "va irplv rj KaXcb<; yvata-
Orjvai t o o ? cttpaTpyovs Kal tovs aXXovs aTravTas
0 7 r aXXrjXotv, e/cacTTO? el? ttjv I8lav hiayropity)Tai
7raTpiSa- o yap 7 7 0 X 0 ? ^pooo? tt)? cTpaTeta?
ep,Treipiav re Totv Kara tov iroXepiov Kal <ppovr)p,a
Tois pyep-oai irepnLdpai, Kal to TrXelaTOv dtftopp,a<;
7rape^eTai peyaXa? 7rpo? diroaTaaiv Kal avvat-
7 p,ocnav KaTa Totv pyovpLevatv. to Be p,p8' vrp'
eoo? t <oi/ e^otdev dewpeladai tt;? pel/ Trepl avTov
Tpvcfvps ayvoiav TrapeL^eTO vd a i, KaBdirep Be
deov dopaTov Bid tov (ftofiov e/caaTo? ooSe Xoyro
/3Xacnpr/pieiv ¿ToXp,a. GTpaTrjyoiv; Be Kal aaTpd-
7ra? /cal 8ioiKi]Tas, eVt Be BtKacrTas Kad' eKaaTov
e6vo<> diroBei^a^ Kal tdXXa irdvTa StaTcifa? w?
7t o t ’ eSo^ev ainat crupapepeiv, tov tov f y o ^ povov
KaTepeivev ev tfj Nivat.
8 Ilapa7rXycrift)? B e tovtco K a l oi Xonrol f i a a i X e i s ,
1 a ir a v r a s Vogel: v a fr a s Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
420
BOOK II. 21. 3-8
he felt w ith reference to his subjects, h e used to
sum m on each y ear a fixed num ber o f soldiers an d a
g eneral from each n atio n an d to k eep th e arm y,
which h ad been g a th e re d in this w ay from all his
su b ject peoples, outside his capital, appointing as
com m ander o f each natio n one o f th e m ost tru s t­
w orthy m en in his service ; an d a t th e en d of th e year
h e would sum m on from his peoples a second equal
num ber o f soldiers an d dismiss th e form er to th eir
countries. T he resu lt o f this device was th a t all
those su b ject to his rule w ere filled w ith aw e, seeing
a t all tim es a g re a t host encam ped in th e open and
p u nishm ent ready to fall on any who reb elled or would
n o t yield obedience. This annual change of th e
soldiers was devised by him in order th a t, before
th e generals an d all th e o th e r com m anders of th e
arm y should becom e w ell acq u ain ted w ith each
o th er, every m an of th em would have been sep arated
from th e re st an d have gone back to his own country ;
for long service in th e field b o th gives th e com m anders
experience in th e arts o f w ar an d fills th em w ith
arrogance, and, above all, it offers g re a t opportunities
for rebellion and for p lo ttin g ag'ainst th e ir rulers.
A nd th e fact th a t he was seen by no one outside th e
palace m ade everyone ig n o ran t of th e lu x u ry of his
m anner o f life, an d th ro u g h th e ir fear of him , as o f an
unseen god, each m an d ared n o t show d isrespect of
him even in word. So by appointing generals,
satrap s, financial officers, and judges for each nation
an d arranging all o th e r m a tte rs as h e fe lt a t any tim e
to b e to his ad v an tag e, he rem ained for his lifetim e
in th e city of Ninus.
T h e rest of th e kings also followed his exam ple, son
421
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 21. 8-22. 3

т гасч тга р а т га т р о ч B t,a B eX o p e v o 4 т y v d p X y v , ёттХ succeeding fa th e r upon th e th ro n e, an d reig n ed for

У e v e a .4 т рш корт а e fia a lX e v a a v p e X p i 2 a p B a va - th irty g enerations down to S ard an ap allu s; for it was
7r a X X o v e ir l to vto v yap у tw v ’A c r c r v p i w v yye-
u nder this ru ler th a t th e E m p ire o f th e A ssyrians
fell to th e M edes, a fte r it h ad la ste d m ore th a n 612 b . c.
p o v ia рет ет геаер et? M t^Soi/?, ё т у B ia p e iv a c r a
th irte e n h u n d red y ea rs ,1 as Ctesias o f Cnidus says in
т т Х еш tw v X iX iw v /c a l T p ia /c o c r iw v ,1 кават гер
his Second Book.
фг]<т1 К тустХач о К р ХВю ч e v т у В е р т е р а /3 i/3 X < p .
22. T h ere is no special need o f giving all th e nam es
22. Т а 8 ’ о р о р а т а т га р т а 2 t S>v f i a c n X e w v к а Х o f th e kings an d th e n u m b er o f years w hich each of
то т т Х уво ч tw v ¿t w v wv ё/састт оч e 8 a a i X e v < r e v th em reig n ed because n o th in g was done by th e m which
ov кат ет т еХуес у р а ф е с р B lcl to pyB ev v ir avTw v m erits m entioning. For th e only ev en t w hich has
тгет граХ в а с рруруч a % io v . povy yap т ет ер % ер been recorded is th e desp atch by th e A ssyrians to
араураф уч у 7т е р ф в е и г а a v p p a y la тоХч T p w c r l v th e T rojans o f an allied force, w hich was u n d er th e
v iт Ac r a v p i w v , у ч е а т р а т у у е с M e p v w v о T i d c o v o v . com m and of M em non th e son of T ithonus. F or
2 T evT tip o v yap fia c n X e v o v T 0 4 т у ч ’А а Х а ч , оч y v w hen T eu tam u s, th e y say, was ru ler o f A sia, being
еисостточ a v o H i v i / o v тo v X £ e p i p d p i 8 o 4, фастХ той? th e tw e n tie th in succession from N inyas th e son of
рет Ay a p k p v o v o 4 " ХХХХХурач еттХ Тp o ia v ат рат ей- Sem iram is, th e G reeks m ad e an expedition against ca. 119 0
аас, т ур yyepovXav ¿X ovtw v туч 'А а Х а ч tw v
T roy w ith A gam em non, a t a tim e w hen th e A ssyrians B'°'
A a a v p i w v ёт у irX eX w tw v X iX iw v. к а Х тo v p e v had controlled A sia for m ore th a n a thousand years.
H pcapov fta p vvo p evo v tw iro X e p w каХ f t a a i X e v -
A nd P riam , who was k ing o f th e T road and a vassal
o f th e k in g o f th e A ssyrians, b eing h ard pressed by
ovTa т уч Т р с р а В о ч , Хптукоор 8' о р т а tw fia a iX e i
th e w ar, sen t an em bassy to th e k in g req u estin g a id ;
tw v ’A a a v p i w v , тгеp y j r a i, п р о ч a i n o v т рест /Зеит ач
an d T eu tam u s d esp atch ed te n th o u san d E thiopians
тгерс /9о у в е с а ч ' to p 8ё TevTapov pvpLov4 pev
an d a like num ber o f th e m en o f Susiana along w ith
Асвиот гач, а Х Х о о ч Be т о а о р т о о ч £ o v c r i a v o v 4 a v v two h u n d red chariots, having app o in ted as g eneral
a p p a a i ВсакоаХ от ч ё Ц а т го а т е Х Х а с , а т р а т у у о р е т п- M em non th e son o f T ith o n u s . 2 Now T ithonus, who
3 кат аат уаарт а М ep vo va тор T i d w v o v . каХ тор
dotus (7. 70) speaks of “ the Ethiopians of the East,” probably
1 i n 5’ ¿/Скотта after rptaKocriu'v deleted by Dindorf ; cp. meaning the Assyrians. Plato (Laws 6 8 0 c) also mentions
ch. 28. 8 . help sent to Priam by the Assyrians. The account here has
2 згагта V og el: tt&v t m E, Bekker, Dindorf. 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 brother of Priam, and
1 Names of kings of Assyria are now known from as early as having him travel to the east “ as far as Ethiopia,” where he
ca. 2500 b . c . begot Memnon by Dawn. When tradition began to place the
2 The earliest Greek tradition knew the Ethiopians as “ the Homeric Ethiopians in Libya, Memnon came to be associated
farthest of men,” who dwelt on the stream Oceanus. Hero- with Thebes in Egypt.
422 423
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 22. 3-23. I

pèv T iQ w p o p , к а т е к е и р о ь ч т оич x p o v o v s т рч was a t th a t tim e g en eral o f Persis, was th e m ost

П e p a iB o 4 out а а т р а т р у о р , e v ù o K ip e îp -п а р а rô t highly esteem ed o f th e governors a t th e k in g ’s court,
fü a c n X e î раХ кт т а twp K aQ eaTapépw p ет гар^ш р, an d M em non, who was in th e bloom o f m anhood,
т ор Bè M é p p o p a т р р p X t K i a p а к р а ^ о р т а è ia e fr é p e tp was distinguished b o th for his b rav ery an d for his
à p B p e i a те к а 1 - ф у ^ р ч Х а р т г р 6 т рт 1 . o Î K o B o p p a a t, nobility o f spirit. H e also b u ilt th e palace in th e
8 ' aîiTOP € 7 rï т р ч а к р а ч т а è p £ 0 0 0 -0 1 4 f t a a i X e i a u p p er city o f Susa w hich stood un til th e tim e o f th e
та B ia p e lv a P T a pé% pi т рч П ерст ш р р у е р о р ’с а ч , P ersian E m pire an d was called afte r him M e m n o n ian ;
к Х р в е р т а В’ ат г’ е к е ь р о о Ш е р р о р е м - к а т а ет K e v d a a i
m oreover, he co n stru cted th ro u g h th e co untry a
Bè к а л B ià т рч ^ w p a s Х е ы ф б р о р ¿В ор т рр p é ^ p i
public highw ay w hich bears th e nam e M em nonian
to th is tim e. B u t th e E thiopians who b o rd er upon
4 T w p p v p 'хрореор o p o p a Ç o p é p p p X \ e p o ô p e i a p . elp -
E g y p t dispute this, m ain tain in g th a t th is m an was
фмт/ЗртоС-сп Bè K a l o i i r e p l т р р A ï y v i T T O P A i d Loir еч,
a n ativ e o f th e ir co u n try , and th e y p o in t o u t an
Хеуорт еч èp е к е ь р е п ч то1ч т6тго1 ч y e y o p é p a i тор an cien t palace w hich to th is day, th e y say, bears th e
â v B p a тойтор, к а \ f i a a l X e i a i r a X a i à Bc l k p v o v c u p , nam e M em nonian. A t any ra te , th e account runs th a t
a péxp1 T° û t’û p o p o p â ^ e a d a i ф а о -i M e p p o p eta . M em non w ent to th e aid o f th e T rojans w ith tw en ty
5 o ù p p p à X X à toÎ4 Tpeoal Х е у е т ai / З о р в р о - a i top th o u san d foot-soldiers an d tw o h u n d red c h a rio ts;
Meppopa р е т а B i c r p v p i w p p è p Tre Ç w p, а р р а т ш р Bè an d h e was adm ired for his b rav ery and slew m any
B iaK oaL w p• o p 6 a v p a c r 6 p o a L те Bt à p B p e ia p ка\ G reeks in th e fighting, b u t was finally am bushed
7т о Х Х о ь ч a p e X e Î P è p та1ч p â ~ ) ( a i 4 twp 'E i X X p p w p , by th e T hessalians an d sla in ; w hereupon th e
то Be T eX evT alop vtto веттa X w p ¿реВреиверт а E th io p ian s recovered his body, b u rn ed th e corpse,
кат ааф аурраг tov Bè егш рат оч тоич А161от гач an d took th e bones back to T ithonus. Such is th e
е у к р а т е 1ч у е р о р е р о и ч кат акаоаае те тор р е к p o p account concerning M em non th a t is given in th e
ка\ та ост а ттроч T lO w p o p à iro K o p ia a i. irepï
royal records, according to w h at th e barbarians
pèp ovp M ерророч T o ia v T èp та1ч ¡З асп Х ькасч
say.
23. S ardanapallus, th e th irtie th in succession from
¿1Раурафа1ч 1 а т о р е ш ва 1 ф а о 1 Р ol fiâ p fia p o t.
N inus, who founded th e em pire, an d th e la st k ing of
23. £ арВ арат гаХ Х оч Sé, трсакоат оч pèp ojp
th e A ssyrians, o u td id all his predecessors in luxury and
атго N iw u той аоат раарероо трр p yep o via p ,
sluggishness .1 For n o t to m ention th e fac t th a t he
е а ^ а т о ч Bè у е р о р е р о ч ’A a a v p i w p ¡ЗаспХейч, v tr e p p - was n o t seen by any m an residing outside th e palace,
pep аттарт ач тойч тгро а й т о й т р о ф р к а л p a d v p i a . h e lived th e life o f a woman, an d spending his days
Х ШР1Ч y à p т о й p p B ' йф’ е р о ч twp è Ç w d e p o p a a d a i
/3 lop kÇ pc re у ь р а ь к о ч , к a l ош ьт ш рероч pèp рет а (cp. chaps. 25 if.). Sin-shar-ishkun, the last king of Assyria,
was a worthy descendant of his vigorous predecessors on the
1 The following account of the dissolute Sardanapallus is not Assyrian throne, and defended a dying empire with energy.
borne out by the documents, nor indeed by Diodorus himself Cp. The Cambridge Ancient History, 3. pp. 128 If., 296 f.
424
425
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 23. 1-4
тш р т г а Х Х а /а В ш р , т т о р ф ь р а р 8e каХ та р а Х а к ш - in th e com pany o f his concubines an d spinning
т ат а тшр ер Х ш р т аХ ааю аруш р, <тт о Х р р рер p urple g arm en ts an d w orking th e so ftest of wool, he
y v p a itc e la p ¿ p e 8 e 8 i)K e i, то 8 е т р о а ш т о р каХ -к а р h ad assum ed th e fem inine g arb an d so covered his face
то аш ра у}привХ ок ка\ т ок аХХок т ок тшр and in d eed his en tire body w ith w hitening cosm etics
e T a ip w p ¿ m T T ] 8 e v p a < T ip ат гаХ ш т ерор т га а р ч yv- and th e o th e r ung u en ts used by courtesans, th a t he
2 p a i /соч т роф ерач ка т есгк еН а сгт о . еттетр 8 е р с г е 8е ren d ered it m ore d elicate th a n th a t o f any luxury-
Kai t t jp ф ш ррр e % eip y v p a i K w 8 r ] к а Х к а т а топ? loving woman. H e also took care to m ake even his
7т о т о р ч ои ророр 7тотшр к а Х /З р ш т ш р т ы р 8 v p a - voice to b e like a w om an’s, an d a t his carousals n o t only
рерш р р а Х ш т а та ? 7) 8 о р а ч ттa p e x e a d a i erwe%<u? to indulge regularly in those drinks an d viands which
a iroX aveiP , а Х Х а каХ та? а ф р о 8 кт 1а к а ч т ер ф гек
could offer th e g re a te st p leasure, b u t also to pursue
th e delights o f love w ith m en as w ell as w ith w om en ;
р е т а 8 ш к е 1Р а р 8р о ч ара каХ уираскбч- ¿хррт о
for h e practised sexual indulgence o f b o th kinds
уар т ак етг арф от ера avpovaX aK a p e 8 r j p , т8]ч
w ith o u t re stra in t, showing n o t th e le ast concern for
е к тг)ч т т р а ^еш ч a l a ' ^ v p r j ^ o v 8 e p о Х ю ч ф р о р т Х ^ ш р .
th e disgrace a tte n d in g such conduct. To such an
3 £774 т о а о О т о Se т т р о р ^ в р т р о ф р ч к а Х тт}ч а Х с г ^ Х а т у ч excess did he go o f luxury an d o f th e m ost sham eless
p 8 o p r j4 к а Х акрааХ ач шстт ¿ т п ,к р 8 е ю р e l ? а Ь т о р sensual pleasure an d in tem p eran ce, th a t he com posed
T T O ip c ja i каX r r a p a y y e lX a i т ок 8 ia 8 o % O K т уч a funeral dirge for h im self and com m anded his suc­
apxv ? р е т а т р р e a v T o v т е Х е а т р р еттХ то р т аф ор cessors upon th e th ro n e to inscribe it upon his tom b
е T r i y p d y j r a i то а и у у р а ф е р р е р итт' е к е Х р о о / З а р / З а р к afte r his d e a th ; it was com posed by him in a foreign
к ш ч , р е в е р р р р е о в ' е р 8 е о а т е р о р итго т 1р о ч " Е Х Х рроч, language b u t was afterw ards tra n sla te d by a G reek
as follow s:
е и еХ 8 ш ч o ti вррт оч еф оч, сор вьрор a eg e1
т ерт горероч d a X iy c r r daPO PTi a o i o vtk оррак. K now ing full well th a t th o u w ert m o rtal born,
каХ yap еуш атто 8 о ч e lp i, N X vov реуаХ рч T hy h e a rt lift up, ta k e th y d elig h t in fe a s ts ;
/З а с п Х е а а а ч .
W hen dead no pleasure m ore is th in e. T hus I,
таО т’ ¿’ х 00 о а а е ф а у о р каХ еф и /Зркт а каХ рет
W ho once o ’er m ig h ty Ninus ru led , am n au g h t
B u t dust. Y e t th e se are m ine w hich gave m e joy
ер ш т о ч
In life— th e food I a te , m y w antonness,
т €р7гр €7т а в о р , та 8 е тгоХХа каХ o X /3 ia кеХра
A nd love’s d elights. B u t all those o th e r things
Х е Х б ь т гт а 1 . 2
M en deem felicities are left behind.
4 то ю уто ч 8' шр тор т ро т го р o il ророр аот оч Because he was a m an o f th is ch aracter, n o t only did
а Х а хр о зч кат еат реф ге тор /3Хор, аХХа каХ t t jp he end his own life in a disgraceful m anner, b u t he
1 Йе£е Tzetzes, C 'h ilia d e III. 453, who preserves the first
three lines of the poetry : 8 f£ai A I), 8ci£ai B. 2 AeAui'Toi in Athenaeus 336a.
426
427
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 23. 4-24. 4
A a a v p U iiv fjy e p o v la v d p S r jv a v e r p e ^ jr e , 7t o X v - caused th e to ta l destru ctio n o f th e A ssyrian E m pire,
%,p o v L u n a T r / v y e v o p e v r j v t Sj v p , v r ] p o v e v o p e v c o v . w hich h ad endured longer th a n any o th e r know n to
history.
2 4 . ’A p P a i e r ) ? y a p T4?, M 7780? p ,e v t o y e i >0 $,
24. T he facts are th e s e : 1 A certain A rbaces, a
a v S p e la Se /c a l X a p .T r p o T r jT i S ia c f/e p c o v , M ede by race, an d conspicuous for his bravery and
e c r T p a T r j y e i M r'] S to p tow i c a r e v ia v T o v ¿ K i c e p ir o - nobility of spirit, was th e g eneral o f th e co n tin g en t
p ie v c o v 6i? T tjv N iv o v . K ara Se t t jv c n p a T e ia v o f M edes which was se n t each y ear to N inus. A nd
y e v o jie v o s a v v r jd r jt; t & a T p a T r jy c b tc o v Ba fiv - having m ade th e acq uaintance during th is service of
th e g eneral o f th e Babylonians, he was u rged by
X c o v ic o v , v i t e /c e L v o v T r a p e /c X /jd /] /c a T a X v c r a i t t jv
him to overthrow th e em pire o f th e Assyrians.
2 t S )v A a a v p im v r jy e p o v la v . rjv S’ ovtos o v o p ia Now this m a n ’s nam e was Belesys, an d h e was th e
p ,e v BeXecn;?, tu jv S’ le p e c o v e m a ijp o T a T O ? , 01 )? m ost distinguished of those p riests whom th e
H a fiv X c o v io i ic a X o v a t X a X S a i o u?. e p .T r e i p ia v o v v Babylonians call Chaldaeans. A nd since as a con­
sequence h e had th e fullest experience of astrology
'¿Xw v p e y ia r p v a < jT p o X o y ia < i re /c a l /ia v T i/c rj< ;
and divination, he was w ont to foretell th e fu tu re
TTpoeX eye ro£? 7roW of? to d ’/ r o ^ r j a o p . e v o v d S i a - unerringly to th e people in g e n e ra l; th erefo re, being
7t t c o t w S io /c a l O a v p . a & p . e v o ’i eVt rooTOi? raj g rea tly adm ired for th is gift, he also p red icted to
o -T p a T r /y c p tcov M r /O w v ovti cftiX rp vpoehrev o ti th e g en eral o f th e M edes, who was his friend, th a t it
was certainly fate d for him to b e k ing over all th e
Tr a v T u t s a i / T o v S e i f t a c n X e v c r a i ■ n d a r j’i r?}? ^w pa?
te rrito ry which was th e n held by Sardanapallus.
3 rj<: a p x e i ' E a p S a v d i r a X X o ^ . b S ’ ’A p f3 d /c r )< ? eVat- A rbaces, com m ending th e m an, prom ised to give him
veera? tov a v S p a , t o v t w p . e v e T r r j y y e i X a T o S b b a e i v th e sa tra p y of B abylonia when th e aifair should be
a a T p a ire ia v t ?}? B a f S v X c o v L a s , Trj<; i r p a ^ e w ; eirl consum m ated, and for his p a rt, like a m an elated by a
reXo? e X O o v c n j ?, a o ro ? Se / c a d a i r e p e l t iv o s Oeov
m essage from some god, b oth e n tered into a league
w ith th e com m anders o f th e o th er nations and
cfxovfj p,6 Teo ) p i e r d e l s t o i <; T e rjy e jio a i tw v aXXcov
assiduously invited th em all to b an q u ets and social
ed va/v crw icT TaT O /cal 7rpo? to.? ecrT ia a ei? /cat g ath erin g s, establishing th ereb y a friendship with
/co iva s o p ,iX ia < ; e/cTevd><; a i r a v T a ? T r a p e X d p , j 3 a v e , each o f them . H e was resolved also to see th e king
4 c j/iX ia v /c a T a a /c e v d ^ c o v 1 7rpo? e /c a a T O v . e tp iX o T i- face to face and to observe his whole m an n er o f life.
C onsequently he gave one o f th e eunuchs a golden
pcrjOrj Se /c a l top fia c r iX e a /c u t otJc iv IS e iv /c a l
tov T o v T O V j3 io v oXov /c a T a a /c e ^ jr a a d a i. S io T r e p
1 The kernel of truth in the account which follows lies in the
Sov<; T i v i t w v e v v o v x e o v X P v a Vv fa a X r jv iia r jx O r j fact that Nineveh fell before the combined attacks of the
Median Cyaxarcs and the Chaldaean Nabopolassar.
1 KaratTKevu^tvv Gemistus : i y Karao Ktui^iav.
428 429
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 24. 4-8

71750? to v X a p B a v d ir a X X o v , /cal Ttjv r e Tpvrpijv bowl as a p rese n t and gain ed ad m ittan ce to Sardana-
avTov /cal to v yvvac/ccdBr] toov ¿TUTrjBevpaTcov p a llu s; and w hen he h ad observed a t close h an d both
KrfXov d/cpi/3 S>s /caTavoijcras /caTetjopdvrjae p e v t o v his luxuriousness an d his love of effem inate pursuits
/3 aaiX ea>s oi>? ovBevos d ^ lo v , irp o rjy d p Be troX v an d practices, he despised th e k in g as w orthy of no
p a X X o v a v T e y e a d a i tcov Bodeiacov eXiriBcov vtto
consideration and was led all th e m ore to cling to th e
hopes w hich h ad b een held o u t to him by th e Chal-
5 to v X a X B a lo v . TeXos Be a v v c o p o a la v eTrocqaaT O
daean. A nd th e conclusion o f th e m a tte r was th a t he
7rpos to v BeXecrw, a x n e a vT o v p e v M 7 S00? form ed a conspiracy w ith Belesys, w hereby h e should
aTrocTTrjaat. /cal II e p a a s , e/celvov Be ir e la a i Ba/3o-
him self move th e M edes and Persians to revolt while
Xcoviovs Koivcovrjaai t t js irpa^ecos /cal to v tcov th e la tte r should p ersuade th e Babylonians to join th e
A p a / 3 cov r/y ep,ova cjocXov ovT a TrpoaXa/ 3 e o d a t u n d erta k in g an d should secure th e help o f th e com ­
irpo s TrjV tcov oXcov eirld ecn v. m an d er o f th e A rabs, who was his friend, for th e
6 'D ? B 0 eviavcrios Trjs aTpaTelas BieXrjXvdei a tte m p t to secure th e suprem e control.
Xpovos, BiaBoxfjS B' 6T epas eXdovaps (nraXvdpaav W hen th e y e a r’s tim e of th e ir service in th e k in g ’s
ol irpoTepoi /caTci to edos et? r a ? traTpiBa? , a rm y 1 h ad passed and, an o th er force, having arrived
evTavda o 'Ap/3dicrjs eireiae t o o ? pev MjjSou? to replace th e m , th e relieved m en had been dis­
em deadac t fj ftacnXeia, Ylepaas B' eir eXevdepla m issed as usual to th e ir hom es, th ereu p o n A rbaces
/coivcovrjaai Trjs avvoopoala?.1 irapaicXrialoos Be persu ad ed th e M edes to a tta c k th e A ssyrian kingdom
/cal o BeXeo'o? t o o ? T e J$a/3vXcovlovs eireurev an d th e Persians to join in th e conspiracy, on the
condition o f receiving th e ir freedom . 2 Belesys too
dvTexeadai t fjs eXevOeplas, /cal Trpea/3evaas els
in sim ilar fashion b o th persu ad ed th e Babylonians
'Apafilav TrapeaT-paaTO t o v rjyoi/pevov tcov
to strik e for th e ir freedom , and sending an em bassy
eyxcopicov, ovTa cf/iXov avTov /cal %evov, peTacr^elv
to A rabia, won over th e com m ander of th e people
7 t fjs ¿ T T iO e a e c o s. to v B’ e v ia v a lo v X P ° V 0V & ie X -
o f th a t country, a frien d of his who exchanged
Oo v to s i r d v T e s ovtoi ir X r )d o s a T p a T io o T c b v avv- hospitality w ith him , to join in th e attac k . A nd
ayayovTes r]/co v 7r a v B p p e l ir p o s tt ) v N Lvov, to > after a y e a r’s tim e all th ese leaders g a th e re d a m u lti­
pev X oycp B ia B o x p v ayovT es, co? 70 a vvpdes, t fj tu d e of soldiers and cam e w ith all th e ir forces to
B' a X r jd e ia /c a T a X v a o v T e s t r jv tcov ’A o a v p l c o v N inus, ostensibly b ringing up replacem ents, as was
8 / ¡y e p o v la v . d d p o io d e v r c o v o v v tcov ir p o e ip r jp e v w v th e custom , b u t in fac t w ith th e in ten tio n o f d estro y ­
t d pcov edvoov e ls e v a tottov , o p e v a v p n a s
6t t ing th e em pire o f th e A ssyrians. Now w hen these
ai/Tcov d p i d p o s in r r jp x e v e ls T e T T a p d /c o v T a p v - four nations h ad g a th e re d into one place th e whole
n um ber o f th em am ounted to four h u n d red thousand
1 tTvv(cfxo<rias Dinclorf : yycfiovias.
1 Cp. chap. 2 1 . 8 i.e . from the Assyrians.

43° 431
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 24. 8-25. 5
m en, and w hen th e y had assem bled into one cam p
p td S a s , e ls p la v Se 7T a p e p / 3 o X r j p avveX dovT es
th e y took counsel to g e th e r concerning th e b est plan
e /3 o v X e v o v T O /c o tv r} i r e p t tow a v p fy e p o v r o s .
to pursue.
25. ^ a p S a v a T r a X X o s Be y v o v s Trjv cnro a ra m v
25. As for S ardanapallus, so soon as he becam e
evdvs e^qyayev h t a i/T o v s T a s d ir b tup a X X u v aw are o f th e revolt, he led forth ag ain st th e rebels
e O vu v S v v d p e ts . /c a l to p e v i r p u T o v y e v o p e v p s e v th e contingents w hich h ad come from th e re st of
•7u 7r e S lc p irapaTa^eus e X e l$ > 9 ¡ jc r a v o l tt; v d i r o - th e nations. A nd a t first, when b a ttle was joined
a r a c r iv T r o tp a d p e v o t, / c a l 7toXX ovs d ir o fia X o P T e s on th e plain, those who w ere m aking th e revolt were
a v v e S tu ^ O r ja -a v e ls opos a T re^ov r fjs Ninon d efeated , and after heavy losses w ere pursu ed to a
2 crra S io vs e/3Sop7jK O V Ta' peTa Se ravra 7r d X t v m ountain which was seventy stades d ista n t from
/ca T a ftd vT u v avTuv els to ttcSIop /ca l irp o s N in u s; b u t afterw ards, when th e y cam e down again
p d ^ v T r a p a a /c e v a ^ o p e v u v , 0 p e v 1 ,a p S a v d T ra X X o s into th e plain an d w ere preparing for b a ttle , S ardana­
a V T iT a ^ a s Tpv IS la v crT paT tav T TpoairecrT eiX e pallus m arshalled his arm y ag ain st th em and des­
77/ 3 0 ? to T ( b v 7T o X e p l m v aTpaToveSov tovs K t j p v - p atch e d heralds to th e cam p o f th e enem y to m ake
% ovTas Scoti ^apSavaTraX X os tois p e v d v e X o v c r t v
th is p ro cla m atio n : “ Sardanapallus will give two
’A p / 3 d / c r p > top M fjSov S u a e t %p v a l o v Sta /co cria
h u n d red ta len ts o f gold to anyone who slays Arbaces
th e M ed e, an d will m ake a p rese n t o f tw ice th a t
TaX avTa, tois Se £uvTa ira p a S o vc u y^pppaTa
am ount to anyone who delivers him up alive an d will
pev ScoppaeTai S is T oaavTa, tt/s Se M rjS la s
also appoint him governor over M ed ia.” Likewise he
3 w7r a p y o v 1 / c a T a o T r j c e / . T rapaT rX r/aiu s 2 S ' eTTtjy- prom ised to rew ard any who would eith er slay
yecXaTo S u a eiv Supeas t o is B e X e a v v top Ba/3w- Belesys th e Babylonian or ta k e him alive. B ut
X co vio v aveX ovcnv rj ^coyppaacnv. ovSevbs Se since no m an paid any a tte n tio n to th e proclam ation,
7rpoaeyovTOs t o is /ciq p vyp a a t, a vvrj-^ re pdyqv, he joined b a ttle , slew m any of th e rebels, and
/ c a l 7r o X X o v s pev e c j/o v e v c r e tuv diro a T a T u v, to pursu ed th e rem ain d er o f th e m u ltitu d e into th eir
S a X X o irX rjO os a v v e S l u ^ e v e l s ttjv e v t o i s o p e c r i encam pm ent in th e m ountains.
T T apepf3oX rjv. A rbaces, having lost h e a rt because o f th ese defeats,
4 01 Sk 776/31 top ’A p / 3 d / c p v S ia Tas yTTas now convened a m e etin g of his friends an d called
d O v p o v v T e? a v v r j y a y o v tu v ( fitX io v a v v e S p io v /c a l upon th em to consider w hat should b e done. Now
5 Trpoedrj/cav fiovXpv tL Seoi TvpdiTTetv, ol irXel- th e m ajority said th a t th e y should retire to th eir
(TT0 1 pev ovv ecj/aaav Selv els Tas naTplSas respective countries, seize stro n g positions, and so far
as possible p rep a re th e re w hatev er else would be
aTTievai /cal tottovs oyvpovs /caTaXapf3dvecr6ai
/cat tuv aXXuv tuv els top 7roXepov yprjo-lpuv
2 For napa/rKrtaius Gemistus, followed by Bekker and
1 Sirapx0" Vogel : fira p xo v Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. Dindorf, conjectured jrapair\Ti<rias.

432 433
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
tt)v evBe'^o/xev'ijv napacrKevrjv iroieicrd ar
8 o B a ffv X cov iot, ^njcrat Toiit deoii ? avTOit
crTjfiaiveiv [¿era ttovcov Kal KaKowaOeLat eirl
t eXo? a £ eiv ttjv irpoaipecnv, Kal t aX Xa ir a p a x a -
Xecrat ev 8 exop ev cot, eiretcrev airavT a ? inro/ieveiv
6 toii? Kiv8vvovt- yevofievrjt ovv TpiTpt irapa-
Ta^ecot 7rdXiv o ftaaiXevt eviKTjcre, Kal Trjt ts
napepi^oXijt toiv cnrocnaTcbv ¿KvpLevae Kal Tout
r)TTT]devTas ¿8ico^e fie%pi tcov opcov t »79 MaffvXco-
JHa?’ <rvve/3r} 8e Kal tov ’ A pftaKTjv avTOV Xap,-
irpoTaTa KivSvvevaavTa Kal iroXXovt aveXovra
7 t o i v ' Aaaupicov y e v e c r d a i rpavp-arlav. ttjX i k o v -
tcov 8 ’ eXaTTtofiaTcov K a r a to crvvexet
p.evcov T o i t d cf> ecrT r)K ocn v , o i t a t r j y e p i o v i a t
exovT et aweXir i a a v T e t i r e p l T r jt v t K p t i r a p -
ec T K e v a ^ o v T O 8 ia x c o p i^ e c r 6 a i ir p o t
8 eKacTTOi Toirovt. 8e BeXecru? ev inTaLOpcp ttjv
o
vi>KTa 8it)ypvirvrjKcot Kal 7repl Ttjv tcov acrrpcov
irapaTiipr)cTiv cfiiXoTiaijOeit, ecfirjcre Tolt aTrrfXm-
Koai Ta irpa.yp.aTa, av irevO' rjpepat dvapelvcoaiv,
avTopaTrjv rj^eiv 0orj6eiav Kal peTafioXrjv ecrecrOai
toiv oXcov irappeyeOr] elt Tovvavriov’ ravra yap
opav 8ia Trjt tcov acrTpcov epireipiat irpocrppai-
vovvat avToit Toilt Oeovt- Kal irapeKclXet TavTat
T a? ppepat peivavTat irelpav Xafieiv Trjt ¿ ¿ ta ?
Texvpt xal Trjt tcov decbv evepyecrlat.
26. M eTaKXrjOevTcov ovv irdvTcov irdXiv Kal
t o v copiapkvov XP°V0V dvapeivdvTcov, rjKe Tit
diray ykXXcav 8 io t i 8vvapit ¿ k Trjt HaKTpiavrjt
direaTaXpkvrj tco ¡SaaiXei irXrjaiov e cttI iropevo-
2 pkvrj KaTa crirov8rjv. e8o^ev ovv roit irepi t o v
Ap/3aKT}V airavTrjaai ro t? arparpyoit ttjv
434
BOOK II. 25. 5-26. 2
BeXeau? useful for th e w a r ; b u t Belesys th e Babylonian, by
m aintaining th a t th e gods w ere prom ising th e m by
signs th a t w ith labours and hardship th e y would bring
th e ir en terp rise to a successful end, an d encouraging
th e m in every o th er w ay as m uch as h e could, p er­
suaded th em all to rem ain to face fu rth e r perils. So
th e re was a th ird b a ttle , an d again th e k ing was
victorious, ca p tu red th e cam p of th e rebels, and
pursued th e d efeated foe as far as th e boundaries of
B ab y lo n ia; an d it also h ap p en ed th a t A rbaces
himself, who h ad fought m ost brilliantly and h ad
slain m any A ssyrians, was w ounded. A nd now th a t
y iv o -
th e rebels had suffered defeats so decisive following
one upon th e o th e r, th e ir com m anders, abandoning
all hope o f victory, w ere p rep arin g to disperse each
T out o I k c Lo v t
to his own country. B u t Belesys, who h ad passed a
sleepless n ig h t in th e open an d h ad devoted him self
to th e observation of th e stars, said to those who h ad
lost hope in th e ir cause, “ I f you will w ait five days
help will come o f its own accord, an d th e re will be a
m ig h ty change to th e opposite in th e whole situ a tio n ;
for from m y long stu d y o f th e stars I see th e gods
foretelling th is to u s.” A nd he ap pealed to th em to
w ait th a t m any days an d te s t his own skill and th e
good will of th e gods.
26. So after th e y h ad all been called back an d h ad
w aited th e stip u lated tim e, th e re cam e a m essenger
w ith th e news th a t a force which h ad been desp atch ed
from B actriana to th e king was n ear a t h an d , advan­
cing w ith all speed. A rbaces, accordingly, decided to
go to m eet th e ir generals by th e sh o rtest ro u te,
435
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. 26. 2—
6

r a ^ ia r r jv d v a X a fio v T a ? to / v a T p a T io n o /v to ¿ 9 ta k in g along th e b e st and m ost agile of his troops,

K p a T itT T O v i kcu pa X u n ' eufwi/ot/?, otto)?, av p rj so th a t, in case th e y should be unable to persuade
h t a tcov X o y a r v too? B a K T p i a v o v s h v v w v r a i T r e l a a i th e B actrians by argum ents to join in th e revolt, th e y
Tot? ottX o i ? j3 id < ra )V T a t, p e r a -
a v v c n r o a T r jv c u ,
m ight reso rt to arm s to force th em to share w ith th em
3 a\elv to>v aindov eXirihorv. reXo? he 1 irp'os ttjv
in th e sam e hopes. B u t th e outcom e was th a t th e
new-comers gladly listened to th e call to freedom ,
eXevOepLav acrpeva)<; vira/covaavTarv to pev 7rpw-
first th e com m anders and th e n th e en tire force, and
t ov t S>v rjyepovwv, enreira /cal ttj<; oXrj<; hvvdpew?,
th e y all encam ped in th e sam e place.
iravres ev rao T w /caTeaTpcnoTreheuaav. I t happ en ed a t this very tim e th a t th e king of th e
4 O tc hrj avvefitj
t ov ¡3acnXea tcov 'Acrtrvpicov A ssyrians, who was unaw are of th e defection o f th e
ttjv pev diroataaiv tq»v Ba/cTpiavotv ayvoovvTa, B actrians and had becom e elated over his past
t at? he 7TpoyeyevT}pevai<; evrjpepLaa perecopia- successes, tu rn ed to indulgence and divided am ong
devra, TpaTrrjvai it po; avecnv, /cal t ot? arparuo- his soldiers for a feast anim als and g re a t q uantities
Tat? hiahovvai nrpo<; evoryiav lepela /cal ir\r}9o<s of b o th wine and all o th er provisions. C onsequently,
oivov Te « a t tS>v aXXcov eirirpheLcov. hiotrep ttj<; since th e whole arm y was carousing, A rbaces, learning
hvvapeus dirdar/t; earuopevr/?, ol irepl top from some d eserters of th e relaxation an d dru n k en ­
A p/3d/CT}v trapd tivojv ainopoXcov irvOopevoi ttjv ness in th e camp of th e enem y, m ade his a tta c k upon
ev Trj irapepftoXj} twv iroXepLcov paOvpiav /cal it unexpectedly in th e n ig h t. A nd as it was an as­
peOrjv, W/CT09 drrpoaho/c>}TO)<i ttjv eirwecriv ¿ttoitj- sau lt of organized m en upon disorganized and of
read y m en upon u n p rep ared , th e y won possession of
5 aavro. • n p o c n r e a o v T e 'i he crw reraypevoi pev
th e cam p, and after slaying m any of th e soldiers
a tT V V T a /c T o i< i, e r o ip o i h’ d tr a p a c r /c e v o is , r r jt re
pursued th e rest of th em as far as th e city. A fter
7 ra p e p /3 o X r}< ; e /c p d r r ja a v /c a l to tv tn p a T U o r w v
th is th e king nam ed for th e chief com m and Galae-
tt o X X ovs dveX ovres too? a X X o v t pe% pi t »;? tto- m enes, his wife’s b ro th er, and gave his own atten tio n
6 Xew? /c a r e h ic o t j a v . p e r a h e r a v r a o p e v ¡3aaC X ev< ; to th e affairs w ithin th e city. B ut th e rebels, draw ing
T a X a i p e v t j v t o v d h e X t p o v t y js y v v a i / c o ; d r r o h e i ^ a ^ up th e ir forces in th e plain before th e city, overcame
c n p a T T jy o v , aoTo? tw o K ara ttjv 7to X iv ¿7 r i p e - th e A ssyrians in two b attle s, and th e y n ot only slew
X e ta v ¿T T O ieiT O ' o i h ’ d i r o a T a T a i /c a T a t o T r e h io v G alaem enes, b u t of th e opposing forces th e y cut
to 7r p o Trj<s T T o X ec o t i r a p a T a ^ a p e v o i h v a l pdycu< ; down some in th e ir flight, while others, who had been
e v iK ija a v too? ’A o o o p to o ?, /c a l to v t€ V a X a i- sh u t o u t from en terin g th e city and forced to leap into
p e v r jv d v e i X o v / c a l two a v T C T a ^ a p e v a v too? p e v
e v t tj 1p v y j j / c a T e a t p a ^ a v , too? 8’ d 7 ro /c X ei< T 6 e vT a < ;
T ty ; ei? ttjv ttoX iv e ir a v o h o v /cat c r v v a v a y / c a - 1 For Tt'Xos 5e Vogel proposes t o u t s » ’ St or &y, unless, as
tr9 e v T a < ; eaoTOO? p tin e iv et? too E v < p p a T r jv he suggests, there is a large lacuna.
436 437
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. 26. 6-27. i

7 7T o r a p o v i t X tjv o X iy c a v a i r a v r a ? d v e l X o v . toctovto the Euphrates river, they destroyed almost to a man.

Be irX rjd o < ; fjv t &v < f> o vevd ev T c o v & m e to <f>ep6- So great was the multitude o f the slain that the water
pevov pevpa x p a d e v a i p a r i r r / v y p o a v eif>' i t c a v o v o f the stream, mingled with the blood, was changed in
tottov p e r a f t a X e I v . e ir e ir a ro d j3 a < r iX e Q )f avy- colour over a considerable distance. Furthermore,
x X e u r d e v T O 1; e l s T T o X io p x la v ir o X X a t u >v e d v ta v now that the king was shut up in the city and be­
a l i e n a r o , e tc d c r r o v 77/30? r r jv ¿ X e v d e p L a v a v r o p o - sieged there, many o f the nations revolted, going
X c v v T O t. over in each case to the side o f liberty.
8 'O B e % a p B a v d .T r a X X o < ; opo> v r rjv o X tjv f i a c i - Sardanapallus, realizing that his entire kingdom
X e ia v e v rot? p e y ic T T O K o v t r a v x i v B v v o t ,?, too? was in the greatest danger, sent his three sons and
p e v v io v s T p e ls o v r a ? x a l d v y a r e p a s B vo p e r a two daughters together with much o f his treasure to
tto X X m v y p p p a r e o v e i s I I a < f> X a y o v ia v d i r e a r e i X e Paphlagonia to the governor Cotta, who was the most
77/309 K o t t c l v too e - n a p y o v , o v r a two a p y o p e v a t v loyal o f his subjects, while he himself, despatching
e v v o v c T T a r o v , aoTO? Be ¡3 i/3 X ia < f)o p o v< ; d i r o t T r e i X a t ; letter-carriers to all his subjects, summoned forces
7 T /o o ? a i r a v r a s t o v s v t t ' a v r o v t e r a y p e v o v } p e t - and made preparations for the siege. Now there was a
ejrepLTreTO B vvdpen? «at Ta 777309 t t j v i r o X i o p i d a v prophecy which had come down to him from his
9 7r a p e c T K e v a ^ e T o . r jv B ’ a in u > X o y io v 77a p a B e B o - ancestors: “ No enemy will ever take Ninus by storm
pevov he irp o y o v e o v OTt tt ) v N to o o ovB et? eX el unless the river shall first becom e the city’s enem y.”
kclto , /e p d r o s, eav p rj irp o T e p o v 0 T rorapbi Trj Assuming, therefore, that this would never be, he
n o X e i y e v p r a i T r o X e p to s . v n o X a p fid v e a v o v v r o d -
held out in hope, his thought being to endure the
to p y jB e T r o r e e a e a ffa i, T a t? e X ir ic r iv d v r e ly e ,
siege and await the troops which would be sent from
B ia v o o v p e v o s in ro p e v e e v T r jv ir o X io p /e ia v xal Ta
his subjects.
ir a p a tw o v ir o r e r a y p e v c o v 1 d ir o fT T a X r jc r o p e v a
27. The rebels, elated at their successes, pressed
( T T p a T o i r e B a 77p o e r B e y e e r d e u ?
the siege, but because o f the strength o f the walls they
27. O l B ’ d v o m a T a i T ot? i r p o T e p ^ p a c n v e t r a p -
were unable to do any harm to the men in the c it y ;
d e v r e s ir p o a e x e iV T o p e v r f} T r o X io p ie ia , B i d Be T r jv
for neither engines for throwing stones, nor shelters
o y v p o T r jr a tw o r e ty e b v o iiB e v r jB v v a v T O f3 X d \fr a i
tor sappers,1 nor battering-rams devised to overthrow
Tov<; ev T jj 7r o X e r T r e r p o fio X o i y a p rj yeX hvai
walls had as yet been invented at that time. M ore-
yoH TTpLBe9 ^ «p tot 7 7 /3 0 ? d v a r p o v T jv p e p r jy a v p -
pevoi r e iy d iv o v ir e o /co t ’ e/cet 0009 t o o ? « a t / 3o o ? 1 The ( “ t o r t o is e s ” ; cp . th e R o m a n testudo)
w ere stro n g m o v e a b le sh ed s o r ro o fs, u n d er w hose
X a n r r pities
1 fiiroTiraytiiVaiv V o g e l : ena.pxa»' A B D , B e k k e r , D in d o rf. p ro te c tio n sa p p e rs a n d m in ers cou ld w o rk . In B o o k 2 0 . 9 1 . 8
a Trpoat>exfiT0ai V o g e l : irpotreBe'xfTo V u lg a t e , B e k k e r , D in- t h e y a re c o n tra ste d w ith sh ed s w h ic h c a rrie d b a tte rin g -ra m s
d o rf. (xeA w rat npiotp&poi).

438 439
 D IO D O R U S O F S IC IL Y
BOOK II. 27. 1-28. i
e v p r jv T O . totv S ' e ir n r jS e lc o v d ir d v T c o v oi K ara
over, th e in h ab itan ts of th e city h ad a g re a t abundance
t r jv 7r o X i v 7r o X X r j v e ty o v S a \jr lX e ia v , ir p o v e v o r j-
o f all provisions, since th e k ing had ta k en th o u g h t on
p e v o v tov /3 a < r tX e c o s tovtov tov p e p o v s . S io Kal th a t score. C onsequently th e siege d rag g ed on, and
X p o v i^ o v a r js ttjs T r o X io p K ia s 67r’ e r r ) p e v Svo for two years th e y pressed th e ir a tta c k , m aking
ir p o a e K e iv T O ir p o a ffo X a s ir o io v p e v o i tois T e l x e c n assaults on th e walls an d p rev en tin g th e in h ab itan ts
K a l tf j s 67ti t r jv x o b p a v e ^ o S o v tou? eV tt}? 7roX.e<M? of th e city from going o u t into th e c o u n try ; b u t in
e l p y o v T e s ‘ tcS T p iT c p S ' € T € i a v v e x d r s b p /3 p c o v th e th ird y ear, afte r th e re h ad been heavy and con­
peydX w v K a r a p p a y e v T io v <tvv€/3tj tov E v ( f> p d T ijv tinuous rains, it cam e to pass th a t th e E u p h rates,
peyav yevopevov T6 p e p o s ttjs 7ro-
/c a T a /c X u a a i running very full, b oth in u n d a ted a portion of th e
\ 6 <m? / c a t K a T a / 3 u X e i v to t et^o? 67rl a T a S l o v s city an d broke down th e walls for a distance of
2 eiKocnv. e v T a v d a o /3 a<riX evs v o p la a s T6T6- tw en ty stades. A t this th e king, believing th a t th e
X e a d a i tov X P V ^ p b v /cal t !j ttoXci tov 7r o T a p o v oracle h ad b een fulfilled an d th a t th e river had
y e y o v e v a i cfravepcbs TroXepiov, direyvco ttjv acoTtj-
plainly becom e th e c ity ’s enem y, abandoned hope of
saving himself. A nd in order th a t he m ig h t n o t fall
p la v . iv a Se prj tois itoXe p lo ts l/n o x e lp io s
into th e hands of th e enem y, h e b u ilt an enorm ous
ykvrprai, Trvpav ev t01s /3 a a iX e lo is /caTea/cevacrev
p yre 1 in his palace, h eap ed upon it all his gold and
in rep peyedtj, ical tov t c x P v a ° " Kai T o n d p y v p o v silver as well as every article of th e royal w ardrobe,
a ir a v T a , 77700? Se tovtois ttjv /3 aaiX i/c?jv eaOrjTa an d th e n , sh u ttin g his concubines an d eunuchs in
7r a a a v eirl T a vT tjv eacopevae, t <z ? Se 7ra X X a /ciS a s th e room which had been bu ilt in th e m iddle of th e
Kal tovs e i/v o v x o v s a v y K X e la a s els tov ev p ea rj p y re, he consigned b o th th em an d him self an d his
Trj 7Tvpa K a T e a K e u a a p ev o v oIkov d p a tovtois palace to th e flames. T he rebels, on learning o f th e
a i r a a i v e a vT o v te K a l t <z /3 a a lX e ia K a rE K a v a ev. d ea th o f S ardanapalius, took th e city by forcing an
3 oi S ' aTrocTTaTai irvdopevoi ttjv dird/Xeiav ttjv en tran ce w here th e wall had fallen, and clothing
2 apSavairdXXov, ttjs pev TrbXews EKpaT/jaav A rbaces in th e royal g arb salu ted him as king and
eimrecFovTes KaTa to ttetttutkos pepos tov Telxovs, p u t in his hands th e suprem e au th o rity .
tov S Apf3aK/]v evSvtxavTes ttjv /BaaiXiKTjv 28. T hereupon, afte r th e new king h ad d istrib u ted
(TToXrjv ttpoa-rjybpevcxav /3acnXea, Kal ttjv totv am ong th e generals who had aided him in th e stru g g le
oXcov e^ovalav eTreTpe^rav. gifts corresponding to th e ir several d eserts, an d as he
was appointing satraps over th e nations, Belesys th e
28. " E v O a Srj tov f t a a i X e w s toIs a v v a y a r v i a a -
Babylonian, who had foretold to A rbaces th a t he
p e v o i s ( T T p a T T jy o ls S w p e d s tc S t a S o v T o s KaTa ttjv
would b e king of A sia, com ing to him , rem inded him
a ^ ia v K a l a a T p a i r a s eO vdrv K a d i c n d v T o s , T r p o v e X -
O orv a v T io BeAecri/? o B a /3 v X d > v i o s , o T r p o e n r ib v 1 Diodorus greatly abridged the description of this pyre by
Ctesias, since Athenaeus (12. 38), who derived his account of
O T i ¡ B a a i X e v s e c n a i ttjs ’ A a l a s , ttjs te e v e p y e a l a s it also from Ctesias, gives many more details concerning it.
440
441
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 28. 1-5
viTe/xvtjae Kal Ba/3vXcbvo<; dpxpv rj^lov
ttjv of his good services, and asked th a t he b e given th e
2 Bovval, tcaddirep apxps virea^ero. airefyaL- governorship of B abylon, as h ad b een prom ised a t th e
veTO Be Kal Kara t o w k i v S v v o v s eavTov evxvv outset. H e also explained th a t w hen th e ir cause
TreTroir/adai t £> B?j\&) Y apBavairdXXov KpaTrj- was endangered he h ad m ade a vow to Belus th a t, if
6ivTo<i Kal tiov 1 ffaaiXeuov ep.TrvpiadevTa>v airo- Sardanapallus w ere d efeated and his palace w ent up
Ko/ueiv ttjv airoBbv ttjv ¿ k t o v t w v els B a/3v- in flames, he would bring its ashes to B abylon, an d
Xarva, Kal ttX t jo io v t o v TepLevovt t o v deov Kal depositing th em n ear th e riv er an d th e sacred
precinct of th e god h e would construct a m ound
t o v iroTap.ov KaTadejxevov KaTatjKevdaeiv
which, for all who sailed down th e E u p h rates, would
to 7rape£ojievov Tots' Kara t o v Bv(ppaTTjv ir\eov-
sta n d as an etern al m em orial of th e m an who had
criv aBavaTOV vtrop,VT]p,a t o v KaTaXvcravTO? ttjv overthrow n th e rule o f th e Assyrians. This req u est
3 ’Acravpiarv dpx'jv. tovto 8 TjTeiTO nTvdbjievbi he m ade because he h ad learned from a certain
tivos evvovyrov to, irepl tov apyvpov Kal xpvaov , eunuch, who had m ade his escape an d come to
ov BiaBpdvTa Kal irpw avTov avTopoXrjaavTa Belesys and was k e p t hidden by him , of th e facts
4 K a T eK p vyjrev. o 8 ’ ’A p j3 a K T j< ; tovtcov o v S e v elB c os regarding th e silver an d gold. Now since A rbaces
B i a to i r a v T a s t o w ¿v tok fia a iX e io is a v jK a T a - knew nothing of this, by reason of th e fact th a t all
K a r jv a i T(p ¡ B a a i X e l , ttjv re a i r o B o v d i r o K o j r i a a i th e inm ates of th e palace h ad been b u rn ed along w ith
K al ttjv B a ftv X a r v a e y ^ e iv a T eX rj a v v e )/(b p p a e v . th e king, he allowed him b oth to carry th e ashes away
e l d ’ o jx e v BeXecru? i r X o l a i r a p a a T p a d p - e v o t j i s t o , and to hold Babylon w ithout th e p ay m en t of trib u te .
T tji j a i r o S o v t o irX e ic r T O V t o v re a p y v p o v K a l t o v
T hereupon Belesys procured boats an d a t once sen t
X p vcro v c r v v T o p -c w d n e a T e iX e v eh B a fiv X w v a - o
off to Babylon along w ith th e ashes practically all th e
silver an d g o ld ; an d th e king, having been inform ed
Be fia c u X e w , p .r jv v 6 e ia T j( ; aw ed t t js ir p d ^ e u x ;
of th e act which Belesys had been cau g h t p erp e tra tin g ,
a v T O tfx b p o v , 2 ¿ ¿ «a a r a ? d n e S e i ^ e tow c r v v a y c o v i-
appointed as ju d g es th e generals who h ad served w ith
5 aap.evow tnpaTqyow. irpd^avTO<: 8’ opoXo-tov
him in th e war. A n d w hen th e accused acknow ledged
yovvTOS dSiKeiv, to ¡xev BiKacrTtjpiov avTov Oava- his g uilt, th e co u rt sen ten ced him to d e a th , b u t th e
tov KaTeyva>, o Be fiaaiXew, p.eyaXb\lrv)£o<: arv king, being a m agnanim ous m an an d wishing to
Kal ttjv dp%rjv ttjs rjyepovLas ¡3ovXojievo<; eiueiKrj m ake his rule a t th e o u tset know n for clem ency, both
TTapeyecrdaL, totv ts kivSvvcov direXvae tov freed Belesys from th e d an g er th re a te n in g him and
B eXecrvv Kal tov dnoKeKOpuajxevov apyvpov Kal allowed him to keep th e silver an d gold which h e had
Xpvcrov ’¿Xeiv crvvexbbppcrev o/xoiew Be Kal ttjv carried off; likew ise, h e did n ot even ta k e from him
e£ dpxps Bodelaav e^ovalav t % Ba/3vXcbvo<i th e governorship over Babylon which h ad originally

1 iW a w after tu v added by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf. auTotpwpov Rhodomann : avro<p6pov.

442 443
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
ovk d<j>eiXeTO, <^trj(ja<; pei&vas elvai Tas eg avTOv
irpoyeyevt)peva<i evepyeaias tow vcttepov dSucr)-
6 p a T w v . hiafiorjdeierr]? he rfjs ¿TTieuceias ov t i]v
Tv^ovcrav evvoiav apa 1 ical hogav irapa twv
e d v w v av7]veyKaTO, nrdvTwv K p iv o v T w v a g io v elvai
7-779 fiaaXeias tov ovtw 7rpoaeve^0evra Toh
7 ahuci]<Ta<riv. o h' ovv ’Apffdicrjs Toh Kara rrjv
7rhXiv eTTiencd><i ttpoaeveydeh avTOv<; pev /card
Kwpa<; hiwKiae, T a 9 ihias KT-queis e/cdaTois
awohovs, t tjv he ttoXiv eh eha<f>o<; Karecr/ca^ev.
eirena tov re dpyvpov Kai ypvaov t ov ¿k 7-779
TTvpas vvo\ei<j>OevTa nroXXwv ovra TaXdvTwv
direKopiae T 779 M.rjhia<; eh \\K/3aTava.
8 'H p e v o v v r j y e p o v i a twv ' A a a v p i w v d i r o N L v o v
h ia p e iv a a a tp i d / c o v r a pev y e v e d s , e r t ] h e T r X e iw
twv y i X i w v ic a l T p i a K o c r i w v , v i r b K a T e X v d -q
to v ttp o e i p i ) p e v o v T p o i r o v .
29. ' l l p i v h ’ ovk d v d p p o a T o v e lv a i h o K e i ir e p i
twv ¿ v H a f i v X w v i X a X h a i w v K a i T 779 d p y a i o T T j T O i
a v twv ¡ 3 p a y e a h i e X O e iv , i v a p r j h e v T r a p a X e l i r w p e v
2 twv dg'iwv pvrjprjs. XaXhaioi toivvv twv apyaio-
TaTwv ovT £9 B afivXwviwv tfj ixev hiaipeaei T 779
TroXneia<; TrapaTrXrjcriav eyovai Tagiv Toh KaT
Aiyvtnov iepevai• 77/309 yap tt) depaireia twv
0ewv TeTaypevoi irdvTa r ov tov £rjv ypovov
QiXocrotfsovcn, peyi<m)v hogav eyovTCs ¿v dcnpo-
Xoyia. dvTeyovTai h’ eirl 7toXv Kai pavTiKrj<t,
Troiovpevoi irpopp-qaei9 irepl twv peXXovtwv, Kai
twv pev Kaffappoh, twv he dvaiais, twv h’
aXXai<> Tlcrlv e-rrwhah aTTOTpOTra9 KaKWV Kai
3 TtXeicocreis ayaffwv ireipwvTai iropi^eiv. ¿pireipiav
1 i'uu D in dorf: aKKd.
444
BOOK II. 28. 5-29. 3
b een given to him , saying th a t his form er services
w ere g re a te r th a n his subsequent m isdeeds. W hen
this act of clem ency was noised about, he won no
ordinary loyalty on th e p a rt of his subjects as well as
renow n am ong th e nations, all ju d g in g th a t a m an
who had conducted him self in this wise tow ards
wrongdoers was w orthy of th e kingship. A rbaces,
how ever, showing clem ency tow ards th e in h ab itan ts
of th e city, se ttle d th em in villages and retu rn ed to
each m an his personal possessions, b u t th e city he
levelled to th e ground. T h en th e silver and gold,
am ounting to m any ta len ts, which had been left in
th e p y re, he collected and took off to E cb atan a in
M edia.
So th e em pire of th e A ssyrians, which had endured
from th e tim e of Ninus th ro u g h th irty generations,
for m ore th a n one th o u san d th re e h u n d red years,
was destroyed by th e M edes in th e m an n er described
above.
29. B u t to us it seems n ot inappropriate to speak
briefly of th e C haldaeans of Babylon an d of th eir
an tiq u ity , th a t we m ay om it nothing which is
w orthy of record. Now th e Chaldaeans, belonging as
th e y do to th e m ost ancient in h ab itan ts of Babylonia,
have about th e sam e position am ong th e divisions of
th e sta te as th a t occupied by th e priests of E g y p t; for
being assigned to th e service of th e gods th e y spend
th e ir en tire life in study, th e ir g re a te st renow n being
in th e field of astrology. B u t th e y occupy them selves
largely w ith soothsaying as well, m aking predictions
ab o u t fu tu re events, and in some cases by purifica­
tions, in others by sacrifices, and in others by some
o th e r charms th e y a tte m p t to effect th e av ertin g of
evil things and th e fulfilm ent of th e good. T h ey are
445
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 29. 3-6

S’ e x o v c n кал тт)Ч S ia tw v o iw v w v p a v T i K r )ч ,
also skilled in soothsaying by th e flight o f birds, and
th e y give o u t in terp retatio n s of b oth dream s an d
e v v T v i w v т е /ссй тe p a T w v e l;r)y r)c r e i4 а т о ф а ь р о р т а ь .
portents. T hey also show m arked ability in m aking
ovk аа о ф ьк; Se T o io v v T a i кал т а T e p i T tjv le p o -
divinations from th e observation o f th e entrails of
( T K O ir ia v а к р о > ч e T n v y x d v e i v v o p i & v те ? . 1
anim als, deem ing th a t in this branch th e y are
T r jv S e to vtwv p a d r i a i v aTavTw v o ilx o p o ia v em inently successful.
T o io v v T a i то1ч та, T O ia v т e T iT y S e v o v a i twv T he train in g which th e y receive in all th e se m a tte rs
4 'E X X r j v w v . т ара pev yap то1ч X a X S a io i4 ёк is n o t th e same as th a t o f th e G reeks who follow such
yevoV 4 Tj to vtwv ф ёХ оаоф Ха T a p a S e S o T a i, кал practices. F or am ong th e Chaldaeans th e scientific
та1ч т ара татроч S ia S e ^ e ra i, tw v dXXw v study o f th ese subjects is passed down in th e fam ily,
X e n o v p y i w v T a c r w v d iT o X e X v p e v o 4 - Stо к а л y o v e l f an d son tak es it over from fath er, bein g relieved of
¿’ х о у т е ч S iS a a /c d \o v 4 apa pev афворю ч ат арт а all o th er services in th e state. Since, th erefo re, th ey
pavO avovcnv, ap a Se rot? T a p a y y e X X o p e v o i4 have th e ir p aren ts for teachers, th e y n ot only are
T p ocrexovai тит тех юртеч /З е/За ю т ер о р . ет еп' ta u g h t everything ungrudgingly b u t also a t th e same
еЬвьч ек t u LSwv <tv vt р е ф о р е р о ь то1ч р а в г /p a a i
tim e th e y give heed to th e precepts of th e ir teachers
p e y d X r j v e%t,p т е р ь т о ю И р т а с S i d те то тг)ч р Х и к Х а ч
w ith a m ore unw avering tru st. F u rth erm o re, since
th e y are b red in th ese teachings from childhood up,
e v S l b a K T o v к а л S i a то т Х г / в о ч тo v т роакарт ерор-
th e y a tta in a g re a t skill in th em , b o th because o f th e
pevov xpovov.
ease w ith which y o u th is ta u g h t and because o f th e
6 Пара Se то1ч " E X X ’i j a i v о т оХХо1ч ат ара-
g re a t am ount o f tim e which is devoted to this study.
crK evw 4 2 т роаш р ол/re т от е тг)ч ф С Х оаоф ьач A m ong th e G reeks, on th e co n trary , th e stu d en t
ат т ет ас, кал p i-X P 1 T lv 0 4 ф Р Х о т о р р а а ч а т г /Х в е who tak es up a large num ber o f subjects w ithout
т ер ю -т а о вё ьч i n то /З ш т с к р ч Х Р € 'м ч ' o X iy o i Se prep aratio n tu rn s to th e higher studies only quite
T iv e 4 ет 1 ф ёХ оаоф ьар ат оВ орт еч е р у о Х а /З с а ч late, and th e n , after labouring upon th e m to some
ерекер т a p a p e v o v a iv ev tw р а в г ) р а т 1, к а ь р о т о - e x te n t, gives them up, being d istracted by th e
p o iiv T e 4 del т ер1 tw v p e y io T w v SoypaTw v каь necessity of earn in g a livelihood; an d b u t a few
б т о2ч т р о a i ) T w v ovk акоХ орвоО рт еч. T o iy a p o v v h ere an d th e re really strip for th e higher studies
oi pev /3 d p /3 a p o i В ш р е р о р т е ч ет ь tw v avT w v del and continue in th e p u rsu it of them as a profit­
/3 e /3 a iw 4 ё к а а т а X a p /3 d v o v a i v , o i S ' r Е Х Х г)р е ч тov m aking business, and th ese are always try in g to m ake
innovations in connection w ith th e m ost im p o rtan t
1 vofiifavres D, V o g e l: Bekker and Dindorf follow the doctrines instead of following in th e p a th o f th eir
Vulgate in reading vo/j-i^oprai, and think that some words predecessors. T he resu lt of this is th a t th e b ar­
have been lost after aai/puis be. barians, by sticking to th e sam e things always, keep
2 n o W o ts curapa/TKevois V o g e l : rrohvs anapaa/revos. a firm hold on every detail, while th e G reeks, on

446 447
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 29. 6-30. 3

K a r a rr jv e p y o \ a / 3 i a v K e p B o vs a r o y ^ a ^ o p e v o i «a ir à ç th e o th er hand, aim ing a t th e profit to be m ade out

a l p é c r e i s K r i 'Ç n v o i , K a ï r r e p ï r o i v p e y i a r o i v d e o ip r j- o f th e business, keep founding new schools and,
p d r o iv d \ \ r , \ o i s à v r iB o ^ o v v r e s B iy ^ o v o e îv r r o i o v a i
w rangling w ith each o th e r over th e m ost im portant
m a tte rs of speculation, bring it ab o u t th a t th eir
rov< s p a v d d v o v r a s K a ï r a s ijr v x a s a v r w v r r \a v â -
pupils hold conflicting views, and th a t th e ir minds,
a d a i, ro v rr d v r a fiL o v èv a lo ip a y iv o p é v a s 1 K aï
vacillating th ro u g h o u t th e ir lives and unable to b e­
p r /B è v oXtuç m c r r e v c r a i B v v a p é v a s /3 e /3 a io is • r a s
lieve an y th in g a t all w ith firm conviction, simply
y o v v è m i f i a v e c r r d r a s a t p e a e i s r o i v (f>i\oa6<f>a>v e ï n s w ander in confusion. I t is a t any ra te tru e th a t, if
a K p i f t S i s è ^ e r d Ç o i , r f k e î c r r o v o a o v e v p r jc r e i B ia ifie - a m an w ere to exam ine carefully th e m ost famous
povcras ¿X X r/X coi' K a ï r r e p ï r o i v p e y i a r a i v B o ^ S iv schools of th e philosophers, he would find th em differ­
è v a v r l a B o ^ a 'Ç o v a a s . ing from one an o th er to th e u tte rm o st degree and
30. 0 1 B’ ovv ILaXBaioi rijv pev rov Kocrpov m aintaining opposite opinions reg ard in g th e m ost
cfivaiv diBiov (fiaaiv elvai Kaï pr/re e^ dp^rjs fundam ental ten ets.
yéveaiv ¿a'xr/Kevai pi]0' vcrrepov (fcâopàv èm - 30. Now, as th e Chaldaeans say, th e world is by its
Bé^eaffai, rrjv Bè rwv bXoïv rdÇiv re Kaï BiaKo- n atu re etern al, and n eith er had a first beginning nor
appaiv delà n vï rrpovoLa yeyovévai, Kaï vvv eKaara will a t a la te r tim e suffer d estru c tio n ; furtherm ore,
rûv èv ovpavôi yivopevaiv ov% dis érv^ev ovS' b oth th e disposition and th e orderly arran g em en t of
avro parois à X X ’ oipicrpévy n v ï Kaï /3 e /3 aiois th e universe have come ab o u t by virtue of a divine
providence, and to-day w hatever tak es place in the
2 K £K vpoipévtj d eôiv Kplcrei a vvreX eîcrd a i. ro iv B'
heavens is in every instance b ro u g h t to pass, n ot a t
â a r p o i v r r o X v ^ p o v io v s rra p a rrjp rjcreis rrerroirjpevoi,
haphazard nor by virtue of any spontaneous action,
K a ï r d s e K a c r r o v K ivijcreis r e K a ï B v v d p e i s a K p i f i é -
b u t by some fixed and firmly d eterm in ed divine
crrara rrd v ro iv dvdp d irro iv èrre y v a iK o re s, rroW à decision. A nd since th e y have observed th e stars
rô iv p e W à v ro iv a v p f î a i veiv rrpoX eyovcri ro îs over a long period o f tim e and have no ted b oth th e
3 dvOpdirrois. peylarijv B é 2 ifiaaiv elvai deoiplav m ovem ents and th e influences of each of th em with
Kaï Bvvapiv rrepï rods rrévre ciarépas rods rrXdvr)- g re a te r precision th a n any other m en, th e y foretell
ras KaXovpévovs, ods eKeîvoi KOivjj pev epptjveîs to m ankind m any things th a t will ta k e place in th e
ovopdÇovaiv, I B l a Bè rov vrro roiv E XXrjvoiv Kpovov fu tu re. B u t above all in im portance, th e y say, is th e
ovopaÇbpevov, imcfiavéararov Bè Kaï rfkelara Kaï study o f th e influence of th e five stars know n as
planets, which th e y call “ In te rp re te rs ” 1 when
1 yivoucyas Coraës : yevofifvas* 2 5e Dindorf : r«. speaking of them as a group, b u t if referring to them
singly, th e one nam ed Cronus 2 by th e G reeks, which
1 i.e. to mankind of the will of the gods, as explained
below,
is th e m ost conspicuous and presages m ore events and
2 Saturn. such as are of g rea ter im portance th a n th e others,
448 449
 D IO D O R U S OF SIC ILY
BOOK II. 30. 3-6
реут т а ттрострp a i v o v T a , K a X o v a iv T D u o ir тоОч
they call the star o f Helius, whereas the other four
B ' a X X o v q т е т т а р а ч о р о ш ч то1ч t r a p t j p .i v асттро- they designate as the stars o f Ares, Aphrodite,
X o y o i 4 o v o p d ^ o v c n v , " А р е о ч , ’А ф р о В Х т р ч , 'Е p p o v , Hermes, and Zeus ,1 as do our astrologers. The reason
4 Аюч. B id to vto В' аО тоО ч ерррресч каХоОспр, why they call them “ Interpreters ” is that whereas
o ti тшр аХХш р асттершр ат т Х арш р ovrw v te a X all the other stars are fixed and follow a single circuit
т е т а у р е р р i r o p e i a p L a v т т е р с ф о р а р ¿% о р т ш р ovtoi in a regular course, these alone, by virtue o f following
povoi T ro p eL a v IB ia v ir o io v p e v o i та реХХорт а each its own course, point out future events, thus
yL vecrdai B eucvvovcnv, ерррреО орт еч тосч а р в р ш - interpreting to mankind the design o f the gods. For
7rot? T t j v т ш р в е ш р e v v o i a v . 1 та p e v y a p B i d т рч sometimes by their risings, sometimes by their set­
а р а т о Х р ч , т а B e B i d т рч ВОстешч, T i v a Be B i d трч tings, and again by their colour, the Chaldaeans say,
Х р о а ч 7гp o c r p p a L v e i v фастХр аО т оО ч тоОч 7r p o c r e ^ e i v they give signs o f coming events to such as are
б а к р с/З ш ч /Зо о Х р весст г 7готе pev yap 7т р е о р а т ш р
willing to observe them closely; for at one time
they show forth mighty storms o f winds, at another
р е у е в р B tj X o v v а и т о и ч , п о т е Be о р / З р ш р г) к а о р а -
excessive rains or heat, at times the appearance of
тш р и т г е р /З о Х а ч , естт1 Be оте коррт ш р асттершр
comets, also eclipses o f both sun and moon, and
¿ т п т о Х а ч , e T i B e p X l o v те к а Х с т е Х рррч ¿ K X e i\fr e i4 ,
earthquakes, and in a word all the conditions which
к а Х а е ш р о О ч , к а Х то c r v v o X o v 7тастач т а ч ¿ к тоО
owe their origin to the atmosphere and work both
7тер1 е х о Р т о ч уеррсорерач т герю т ааеьч ш ф еХсрооч benefits and harm, not only to whole peoples or
те каХ ¡ЗХ а(Зерач ov povov еврестср р г тоттосч, regions, but also to kings and to persons o f private
d X X d к аХ f i a a i X e v c n к а Х тосч tv ^ o v c t ip ¿Вш т асч. station.
6 'Т 7Г0 Be т р р to v tco p ф о р а р X e y o v c r i т е т а у в а 1 Under the course in which these planets move are
T p i d /с о р т а аат ерач, оЬч irpocrayopevovcn fto v- situated, according to them, thirty stars,2 which they
ХаХооч в е о б ч • to v tco p Be тоОч p e v рр'сстесч тоОч designate as “ counselling gods ” ; o f these one half
Оттер у p v тотгоуч е ф о р а р , тоОч В ррсстесч т о О ч 3 oversee the regions above the earth and the other
Отто т р р у р р , т а к а т а р д р ш т г о о ч етпеткоттоуртач half those beneath the earth, having under their
ара каХ т а к а т а тор ovpapov a v p j S a i v o v T a ’ B ia purview the affairs o f mankind and likewise those o f
В' р р е р ш р Века ттерттеавас тш р pev а.рш ттроч the heavens; and every ten days one o f the stars
тоОч к а т ш каваттер ayyeX ov eva тсор асттерш р,
above is sent as a messenger, so to speak, to the stars

1 evvoiav Diildorf : eivoiav. 2 According to Bouche-Leclercq, L ’A stro lo g ie G recque, p.

2 Tf Vogel, following C D F ; na't Bekker and Diildorf, 43, n. 4, Diodorus has confused here two distinct systems,
that of the thirty-six stars known as decans, which Baby­
following the other MSS.
lonian astrology designated as rulers of ten degrees in each
3 t o v s added by Reiske.
zodiac, and that of the thirty stars which the Egyptians be­
1 Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter. lieved to be gods, each of whom presided over one of the
thirty days of the month.
450 451
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 30. 6-31. 4
tw v B’ i n to y r j v i r p b s T o y ? a v c o i r a X i v o p ,o ic o ? e v a , below, and again in like m anner one o f th e stars
Kal ra vr r)v e % e iv auT ou? c fio p a v ¿ > p tc rp evT )v Kal below th e earth to those above, and th is m ovem ent of
7 T rep io B co K e K v p c o p e v p v a lc o v ic p . tc o v O ecdv B e tov - th eirs is fixed an d d eterm ined by m eans of an orbit
tc o v / c v p l o v i e l v a L c f i a a i S w S e /c a r o v d p i f f p o v , toy which is unchanging for ever. Tw elve o f th e se gods,
e/cd tT T rp p r / v a /ecu, tcov B coB e/ca X e y o p e v c o v ¡¿coBicov th ey say, hold ch ief au th o rity , and to each of these
ev ir p o a v e p o v c n . B id B e to vtc o v cf/a crl n o i e l a Q a i th e C haldaeans assign a m onth an d one of th e signs
tt)v rr o p e ia v tov re r f X i o v /c a l r r \ v c r e X r /v r jv /c a l
of th e zodiac, as th e y are called. A nd th ro u g h th e
7r e v r e T o y ? T rX d vp ra c; a< rT epa?, r o v p e v r jX io v to p
m idst of th ese signs, th e y say, b o th th e sun and
moon and th e five planets m ake th e ir course, th e
iB io v kvk X ov ev e v ta v r a T e X o d v r o t , ttj? B e creX-p-
sun com pleting his cycle in a year and th e moon
v r js e v p r j v l t t ]V I B i a v i r e p i o B o v B i a i r o p e v o p e v r i 'i .
trav ersin g h er circu it in a m onth.
31. Tajy Be irX a vrjT W v IB io v e /c a a r o v 12 e^ e iv
31. E ach of th e p lan ets, according to th em , has its
B p o p o v /cal B ir jX X a y a eveo s /cal ttol /clX ok ; ^ p rja O a i own p articu lar course, an d its velocities an d periods
t o Is r d y ^ e a i / c a l r f j rd > v % p o v c o v B i a i p e a e i . i r X e i a r a of tim e are su b ject to change and variation. These
Be 7r p o ? Ta? yeve <rei<; tc o v dvdpdnrcov crvp fid X - stars it is w hich e x e rt th e g re a te st influence for both
XecrO ai to vto vs tovs acnepac; dyadd T€ /ca l good and evil upon th e n ativity of m e n ; an d it is
/c a / c a • B i d Be rr)<; to vtco v (£ycred>? Te K a l 0ecopia < ; chiefly from th e n atu re of th ese p lan ets and th e
p d X i a T a yivcotT K eiv td c r v p f i a i v o v r a to i? d v d p c b - study of th em th a t th e y know w hat is in store for
2 7roi?. T r e T r o ir jc r d a i Be c j/a a i TTpopppaeK a X X o i< ; m ankind. A nd th e y have m ade predictions, th ey
Te fiacnXevcuv o v /c o X i y oi? « a l tm KaTaTToXeprj- say, n o t only to num erous o th er kings, b u t also to
aavTi A a p e io v A X e^avB pco Kal t o i? peTa TavTa A lexander, who d efeated D arius, and to A ntigonus
fia a iX e v a a a iv A v r iy o v c o t€ Kal SekeuKio t& an d Seleucus N icator who afterw ards becam e kings,
N i / e u T o p i , e v a r r a c r i B e r o i 1; p r j O e l a i v e v a T o ^ r } - and in all th e ir prophecies th e y are th o u g h t to have
Kevai B o k o v c j i v I t r e p cbv ¡ ¡ p e l s 2 Ta Kara pepo? h it th e tru th . B ut of th ese things we shall w rite in
d etail on a m ore ap p ro p riate occasion .1 M oreover,
3 e v o i K e i o T e p o i i a v a y p d ^ r o p e v K a i p o b r. i r p o X e -
th ey also foretell to m en in p riv ate station w h at will
y o v o i Be K a l t o i? iS ic o T a t ? T a p e X X o v T a a v p fia l-
befall th em , and w ith such accuracy th a t those who
v e iv OVTCO'r evaToyw ^ w ene to vs t Te i p a O evT as
have m ade trial of th em m arvel a t th e fe a t an d believe
O a v p a ^ e i v to y i v o p e v o v K a l p e i f y v fj « st’ dvdpco- th a t it tran scen d s th e pow er o f m an.
7r o v -/¡y e ic r O a i.
Beyond th e circle of th e zodiac th e y designate
4 M eT a Be tov ft p B ia K o v kvk X ov e iK o c n Kal
1 For prophecies to Alexander cp. Book 17. 112, and to
Antigonus, Book 19. 55.
1 XBiov '¿krotov Vogel: tKutVTop ISiov Vulgate, Bekker,
Dindorf.
2 rj/iois Vogel: omitted by Vulgate, Bekker, Dindorf.
452 453
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. 31. 4-9

теттарач^ а ф о р '^ о о а ю аат ерач, шр roi)ę рёр tw enty-four o th er stars, o f which one half, th ey
p p i a e i 4 ¿v j o k fto p eio K p ep ea i, тоич 8 ' p p i a e i 4 say, are situ ate d in th e n o rth ern p a rts and one h alf
ер то м ротюсч т е т а х в с и ф а а ё, ксй тоутшv той? in th e southern, and of these those which are
p-ev о р ш р е р о и ч тшр %шртшр e l v a i к а т а р о в p o v a i , visible th ey assign to th e world o f th e living, while
those which are invisible th e y reg a rd as being
тоо? 8' аф ареёч то м т ет еХеит ркбас т гроаш рьават
ad jac en t to th e dead, an d so th e y call them
' оуч 8 т к а а т а ч тшр о Х ш р т т р о а а у о -
p o p i^ o va ip ,
“ Ju d g e s of th e U niverse.” A nd under all th e
5 p e v o y a L P . 07го ттарта 8 ё т а T rp o e i.p p p .e p а т р р stars h ith erto m entioned th e moon, according to
а е Х р р р р ф е р е а в а 1 X e y o v a i p , ё у у с а т а р ё р тг}? y r j ę
th em , tak es h er w ay, being n ea rest th e ea rth because
ооа-ао 8 м т р р $ а р \> т р т а , 8 м т т о р е у о р ё р р р 8 ’ ер o f h e r w eight an d com pleting h e r course in a very
¿ Х а л а т а ) ХРОРш т о р ё а у т р ч 8 р 6 р о р , оо 8 i a т р р b rief period of tim e, n o t by reason o f h e r g re a t
о^ут рт а т рч ф орач, аХХа 8 ia т рр /З р а х у т р т а velocity, b u t because h er o rb it is so short. T hey also
6 тоо ку кХ оу. от1 8 е то ф ш ч а Х Х о т р ю р e^ei кai ag ree w ith th e G reeks in saying th a t h er lig h t is
8 loti та ? е к Х е ё ф г е к ттте1 т а 1 8 м то а к ё а а р а трч reflected and th a t h er eclipses are due to th e shadow
у р ч т га р а т т Х р а t a Х ё у о v a i то м "ЕХ Х ^ оч. 7тер \ 8 ё of th e ea rth . R egarding th e eclipse of th e sun,
т рч кат а тор рХю р ек Х е1 ф еш ч аавереат ат ач how ever, th ey offer th e w eakest k in d of explanation,
’ е 1 Ч ф ёрорт еч
атто8 е ф оу тоХрш аt тгр о Х е у е ю оу8 ’ and do n o t presum e to p red ic t it or to define th e tim es
а к р ф ш ч оттёр т а у т р ч ттер1 у р а ф е 1 Р 1 тоич х Р ороуч.
o f its occurrence w ith any precision. A gain, in
7 ттерХ 8 ё т р ч у р ч 1 8 ш т а т а ч а т т о ф а а е с ч т т о ю о р т а р connection w ith th e ea rth th ey m ake assertions
en tirely peculiar to them selves, saying th a t it is
Х еуорт еч ут т архем аут рр акаф оеф р к а \ к о ’С Х р р ,
shaped like a b o at and hollow, and th ey offer m any
к а 1 т го Х Х а ч ^ к а \ т п в а р а ч а т т о 8 е ^е т ч e v T r o p o v a t,
plausible argum ents ab o u t b oth th e ea rth an d ail
i r e p i те т а у т р ч K a i ттерь тшр а Х Х ш р т ш р к а т а
o th er bodies in th e firm am ent, a full discussion of
тор к о а р о р •' оттёр шр т а кат а рероч S ie ^ ie p a i which we feel would be alien to our history. This
т рч ут т окесреррч кт т орм ч аХХот рю р e l p a i р о р .1 - point, how ever, a m an m ay fittingly m aintain, th a t
8 frpep. tovto peproi у е 8 ш / 3 е @ а ш а а 1 т а р тм th e C haldaeans have o f all m en th e g re a te st grasp of
ттроаркортшч otl X.aX 8 aloi р б у с а т р р e^ip ¿ р astrology, and th a t th e y have bestow ed th e g re a te st
аат роХоуёа тшр аттартшр а р в р ш т г ш р ' ¿ x o v a i к а 1 diligence upon th e stu d y of it. B u t as to th e num ber
8 сот1 7т Х е ь а т р р ет преХетар ет госраарт о таут рч o f years which, according to th e ir sta te m en ts, th e
9 т рч в е ш р м ч . ттерс 8 е тоо т т Х рвооч тшр ет ш р, ер order o f th e C haldaeans has sp en t on th e stu d y of
о 1 ч ф а с п т р р в е ш р ё а р тшр к а т а т ор к о а р о р тте- th e bodies of th e universe, a m an can scarcely
т т ощ ават то а о а т р р а тшр К а Х 8 а ш р , о о к ар тм believe th e m ; for th e y reckon th a t, down to
р а 8 ш ч т п а т е о а е ю р • ет ш р у а р еттта к а \ т е т т а р а -
корта р у р 1а 8ач ка\ трем етг\ таотам 'уС Х м 8ач
1 TTff>iypd<pfiv Wesseling : тгараурафиу.

454 455
 DIODORUS OF SICILY
«9 tt; d AXeijdvSpou hid/3aoip yeyovevai tcar-
apiOpoucnp, dtp otov to 7raXaiov yp^avro to>p
acnpaip t ¿ 9 7r a p a r f;p ijc m 9 iroieladai.
10 K a t 7repl pep X a X h a i a>v dpicecrOyaopeBa tois
ppOelaiv, iva pp pcucpoTepov dnonAapcopeda t i /9
ol/ceia9 ioTopiai1 irepl he Tys ’A cravpicop /3a.cn-
\e 1 a 9 ft)9 vito MiJSft)l) icaTeXvdrj npoeiprjKuTe9
eirdvipev odev e£e/3rjpep.
32. ’ E7T6t ¿6 hiapon’ovaiv ol iraAaioTaTOi toip
(Tvyypapecop 7repi tt}9 peyi<TTii<; tcpp Xirjhcop
■/¡yepovia,'r, oi/celov elvat, hiaXap/3dpopeP t o / 9
piAaXr)dco< ; tck; irpa^eis laTopelv ¡BovAopepoa tt)v
hiapopav t w laTopioypdpcov Trap’ aXAr/Xa
2 Qelvai. 'H / oo£ oto 9 ^ez) oun .vara ’S.ep^yp yeyopco<;
Tot9 ^ /)o r o £9 cpyalp ’ A.aavptov<; ¿V)/ irevTaKoaia
■npoTepov T779 A <710.9 ap/javr o 9 vtto Alphcav KaTa-
Xvdtjpai, en en a ¡3aaiAea peev pyheva yeveaOat
top cifipia/3yT/¡aopTa tcop oXcop em rroAAds
yeved<;, Ta 9 8 e 77-o\ei9 /raS’ eavTa9 TaTTopepas
BioiKeladai hypoKpaTiK &>9 - to 8 e TeAevTalop
ttoXXcop eTcoP hceAdovTcop atpeOypai /3acnAea
irapa toI<; M ?;Bot 9 avhpa hucaioavpp Sidpopov,
3 opopa Kva^dpr/p. tovtop he irpu>TOP eTTiyeipr)a<u
irpoadyeaQat, tov <; TrXyaio^copovt;, /cal topt M ?j 8 o £9
apxvyop yepeadai T 99 Torn oXcop yyepoplas’
e ir e iT a tops e ic y o v o v 9 ael ir p o a K a T a ic T c a p e v o v i
TroXXpp Trjs opopov XwPa 9 a v^fjcrai Tpp fiacn-
Xetan p ^ X P 1 A a T v u y o v s tov K a T a ir o A e p y O e v T O 9
1 King of Persia, 486-464 B .c.; Herodotus was born in the
decade 490-80 B.c. The passage is Herodotus 1. 95 ff., where,
however, the years are given as five hundred and twenty.
456
BOOK II. 31. 9-32. 3
A lexander’s crossing over into A sia, it has been four 334 b . c .
h u n d red and sev en ty -th ree thousand years, since
th e y beg an in early tim es to m ake th e ir observations
of th e stars.
So far as th e Chaldaeans are concerned we shall be
satisfied w ith w hat has been said, th a t we m ay n o t
w ander too far from th e m a tte r p ro p er to our history ;
and now th a t we have given an account o f th e destru c­
tion of th e kingdom o f th e A ssyrians by th e M edes
we shall re tu rn to th e po in t a t which we digressed.
32. Since th e earliest w riters of history are at
variance concerning th e m ig h ty em pire o f th e
M edes, we feel th a t it is incum bent upon those who
would w rite th e history of events w ith a love for tru th
to set forth side b y side th e different accounts of th e
historians. Now H erodotus, who lived in th e tim e
of X erx es , 1 gives th is a c c o u n t: A fter th e A ssyrians
had ru led A sia for five h u n d red y ea rs th e y w ere con­
q uered by th e M edes, and th e re a fte r no k ing arose <¡12 b . c .
for m any gen eratio n s to lay claim to suprem e pow er,
b u t th e city -states, enjoying a regim en o f th e ir own,
w ere adm inistered in a dem ocratic fash io n ; finally,
how ever, after m any y ears a m an distinguished for
his ju stice , nam ed C yaxares ,2 was chosen k in g am ong
th e M edes. H e was th e first to try to a tta c h to him self
th e neighbouring peoples an d becam e for th e M edes
th e founder o f th e ir universal e m p ire ; and a fte r him
his descendants ex ten d e d th e kingdom by continually
adding a g re a t d eal o f th e adjoining co u n try , u n til th e
reign o f A styages who was conquered b y Cyrus and
2 Herodotus mentions three kings, Deioces, Phraortes, and
Cyaxares, before Astyages. The Cyaxares mentioned here
by Diodorus is really the Deioces of Herodotus I. 9 6 f f ., but
Diodorus, in Book 8. 16, mentions a Deioces, “ the king of the
Medes.”
457
 DIODORUS OF SICILY BOOK II. 33. 3-33. I
v i to K - i i p o v к а і Н е р а ш ѵ . тгері w v vvv ур еіч та the Persians. We have for the present given only the 549 b . c .
к еф а Х а іа т г р о е ір у к о т е * ; т а кат а рероч ѵат ероѵ most important of these events in summary and shall
а к р і 0 ш ч d v a y p d y j r o p e v , e i r e i S a v ітті т оѵ ч о і к е ' ю ѵ ч later give a detailed account of them one by one
Х р о ѵ о ѵ ч ¿ т гі/З а Х ш р еѵ к а т а у а р то б е ѵ т е р о ѵ ёточ when we come to the periods in which they fall; for
т у ч е т т т а к а & е к а т у ч ’О Х ѵ р т п а 8 о ч у р е Ѳ у /Зас т іХ е ѵч it was in the second year of the Seventeenth Olympiad,
ѵтго MrjStoi' К ѵ а ^ а р у ч к а Ѳ ' 'Нроботоѵ. according to Herodotus, that Cyaxares was chosen 711-10
4 К т усгіач S e о К.ѵСВіоч т о іч р е ѵ Х Р ° Ѵ°ІЧ ѵттур^е king by the Medes.1 B'°‘
к а т а т у ѵ К ѵ р о ѵ а т р а т е і а ѵ етті ’А р т а ^ е р ^ у ѵ тоѵ Ctesias of Cnidus, on the other hand, lived during
аВеХфоѵ, уеѵореѵоч S а іх р а Х ю т о ч , каі S id туѵ
the time when Cyrus 2 made his expedition against 401 b . c.
іа т р ік уѵ ет гіат уруѵ а ѵ а Х у ф Ѳ е Іч ѵтго т оѵ / З а с г і -
Artaxerxes his brother, and having been made
prisoner and then retained by Artaxerxes because of
Хешч, ет т т акаіЬека ет у Ь іет еХ еае т ір ш р е ѵ о ч ѵтт
his medical knowledge, he enjoyed a position of
аѵт оѵ. оѵточ оѵѵ ф уа іѵ ек тшѵ ¡З а а іХ ік ш ѵ
honour with him for seventeen years.3 Now Ctesias
Ь і ф Ѳ е р ш ѵ , еѵ а і ч о і Т і е р а а і та? 7т а Х а і а ч тт р а ^ е і ч says that from the royal records, in which the Per­
к а т а т і ѵ а ѵ о р о ѵ е і ^ о ѵ а ѵ ѵ т е т а у р е ѵ а ч , ттоХѵттрау- sians in accordance with a certain law of theirs kept
р о ѵ у а а і та к а Ѳ ' ёкасгт оѵ к а і а ѵ ѵ т а ^ а р е ѵ о ч 1 туѵ an account of their ancient affairs, he carefully in­
5 іа т о р іа ѵ е іч тоѵч " Е Х Х у ѵ а ч е^ еѵ еук еіѵ . ф уа іѵ vestigated the facts about each king, and when he
о5 ѵ р е т а т уѵ к а т а Х ѵ а і ѵ туч ’Аега ѵ р ш ѵ уу е р о ѵ іа ч had composed his history he published it to the
М?;£ои? т т роат уѵаі туч ’А а і а ч ’А р / З а к о ѵ / З а а і - Greeks. This, then, is his account: After the de­
Хеѵоѵт оч тоѵ 2 a p S a v d n a X X o v кат ат гоХ еруааѵт оч, struction of the Assyrian F.mpire the Medes were the
6 к а Ѳ о т і т т ро еірут а і, т оѵт о ѵ S ’ а р ^ а ѵ т о ч '¿ т у S v cl chief power in Asia under their king Arbaces, who
ХеСттоѵта т ш ѵ т р іа к о ѵ т а S i a S e ^ a a P a i т уѵ ¡ З а а і - conquered Sardanapallus, as has been told before.4
X e L a v т оѵ ѵ і о ѵ М а ѵ Ь а к у ѵ , о ѵ а р ^ а і т уч А а і а ч And when he had reigned twenty-eight years his
ёт у т т еѵт укоѵт а, р е т а S e т о ѵт о ѵ т р іа к о ѵ т а р е ѵ son Maudaces succeeded to the throne and reigned
ёт у / З а а і Х е ѵ а а і 2 ш а а р р о ѵ , т т еѵт укоѵт а Se over Asia fifty years. After him Sosarmus ruled for
thirty years, Artycas for fifty, the king known as
’ А р т ѵ к а ѵ , S v o S e ттроч т оіч е і к о а і т оѵ ттроа-
Arbianes for twenty-two, and Artaeus for forty years.
а у о р е ѵ о р е ѵ о ѵ ’ A p f i i d v y v , т е т т а р а к о ѵт а Ье ’А р -
33. During the reign of Artaeus a great war broke
т а іо ѵ .
33. ’Е 7ГІ 8е т о ѵ т о ѵ а ѵ а т у ѵ а і р е у а ѵ т тоХероѵ occurred in 549 B.c. (cp. T h e C am bridge A n c ie n t H is to r y , 4.
p. 7) and not, as formerly held, in 550.
1 <xwTa£dfX€vos Gemistus : (гѵѵта£аy ev o v . 2 Cyrus the Younger, the story of whose struggle with his
brother for the throne is told in the A n a b a s is of Xenophon.
1 Herodotus puts the accession of Deioces (the Cyaxares of 3 According to Plutarch (A r ta x e r x e s , 11 ff.), Ctesias was
Diodorus) in 699 b .c . (cp. How and Wells, A C om m e n ta r y on already in the king’s retinue at the time.
H e r o d o tu s , 1. pp. 383 ff.), if the defeat of Astyages by Cyrus 4 Cp. chaps. 23 ff.
458 459
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY BOOK II. 33. 1-6
TOi? 7T/90? Kahovalov<; hid Toiauras o u t betw een th e M edes an d th e Cadusii, for th e
airias. I I apawvhpv t o v U epapv, Oavpa'Qopevov i n following reasons. Parsondes, a P ersian, a m an
dvhpeia /cal avveaei /cal ral<; aXXai<; aperat?, cfiiXov renow ned for his valour an d intelligence an d every
re vn d p ^a i tco j3aaiXei /cal peyicnov la y v a a i t o ) v o th e r virtue, was b o th a friend o f th e k in g ’s an d the
2 p e T e x o v r a /v to v fta a iX u c o v a v v e h p io v . to vto v h' m ost influential o f th e m em bers of th e royal council.
v i to to v /?aorXe&)? e v t iv i /c p ia e i X v n p O e v T a c f/v y e iv F eeling him self aggrieved by th e k ing in a certain
p e T a n e ^ t o v p e v T p i a x i X i w v , iT T n e w v h e ^tXi to v ei? decision, h e fled w ith th re e thousand foot-soldiers
K a h o v a io v s , T ra p ' ol<; p v i/c h e h o p e v o < ; Tpv Ih ia v
and a th o u san d horsem en to th e Cadusii, to one o f
whom, th e m ost influential m an in those p arts, he had
aheX cppv to > p a X ia T a h w a cT evo vT i K ara to vto v ?
given his sister in m arriage. A nd now th a t he had
3 tou? t o t t o v ?. yevopevov S’ a n o a T a T p v /c a l n e i -
becom e a rebel, he p ersu ad ed th e en tire people to
aavra to avpnav edvo? dvTexeadai T rj? eX ev- vindicate th eir freedom and was chosen g eneral b e­
d e p la ? , a ip e O p v a i aTpaTpyov S ia Tpv d v h p e ia v . cause of his valour. T hen, learning th a t a g re a t force
enena nvvdavopevov d B p o i^ o p e v p v in ' a i/T o v was being g ath ered ag ain st him , he arm ed th e whole
peyaX pv h v v a p iv , /c a B o n X ia a l K aSovarov?
to v ? n atio n of th e Cadusii and p itc h ed his cam p before th e
n a v h p p e i , /c a l / c a T a a T p a T o n e h e v a a i n p o ? T a Z ? ei? passes leading into th e country, having a force of no
t p v x ^ ° P a v e i a j 3 o X a l ? '¿X ovTO ~cov? a v p n a v T a ? iess th an two h u n d red thousand m en all told. A nd
4 ovk eX a T T O v ? e i/c o a i p v p id h c o v . to v h e fia a i X e c D ? although th e k ing A rtaeu s advanced against him
'A p r a io v aTpaTevaavTO ? in a i/T o v p v p id a iv w ith eig h t h u n d red thousand soldiers, P arsondes
o y h o p / c o v T a p d x p / c p a T p a a i /cat. n X e i o v ? p e v t S>v d efeated him in b a ttle and slew m ore th a n fifty
n e v T a /c ia p v p ic o v dveX eZ v, Tpv S' aXXpv h v v a p iv
thousand o f his followers, an d drove th e re st o f th e
arm y o ut of th e co untry o f th e Cadusii. A nd for
e /c /3 a X e Z v i/c T rj? K a h o v a ic o v %a>pa?. h ib /c a l
th is exploit h e was so adm ired by th e people o f th e land
napa to Z? i y x c o p i o i ? B avpa^opevov Te
a ip e B p v a i
th a t he was chosen king, and he p lundered M edia
/ 3 a a iX e a /c a l T p v M p h i a v a v v e x < b ? X e p X a T e Z v /c a l
w ithout ceasing and laid w aste every d istrict o f th e
5 ndvTa T o n o v /c a T a c f) 6 td p e iv . p e y d X p '> h e h o ^ p ?
country. A nd afte r he had attain ed g re a t fam e and
TvxovTa, /c a l y p p a peX X ovTa /c a T a a T p e fy e iv to v
was ab o u t to die of old age, h e called to his side his
¡3 L o v , d p a v B e a B a i n a p a a T p a d p e v o v to v h /a h e x o - successor to th e th ro n e and req u ired o f him an oath
pevov Tpv dpxpv, onco? pphenoTe h ia X v a c o v T a i th a t th e Cadusii should never p u t an end to th eir
t pv ex& pav M phov?' el h e a v v -
K a h o i/a io i n p o ? en m ity tow ards th e M edes, adding th a t, if peace
B o i v t o o p o X o y l a ? , e ^ c o X e i? y e v e a & a i t o v ? re a n o w ere ever m ade w ith th em , it m e a n t th e destruction
6 t o v y e v o v '> a i / T o v /c a l K a S oiW oo? a n a v T a ? . h i a o f his line and of th e whole race of th e Cadusii. T hese,
h p T a i n a n to ; a ’n i a ? ¿e l n o X e p a c a i ? i a x p / c e v a i th e n , w7ere th e reasons why th e Cadusii w ere always
KaSoutrtW? Trpo? M jjSoo?, / c a l p p h e n o T e t o Z? in v e terate enem ies o f th e M edes, an d had n ev er been
460 461
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
tovtwp f t a a i X e v c n p virrjKoow; y e y o v é v a i , p é ^ p i
ov K vpo<; eiç T i e p a a f p e T e c n p a e ttjp p y e p o p ia p .
34. T w p ëè M p ë w p f i a a i X e v a a i p e r à r p v
A p r c u o v TeXevTrjp ’A p T v v r / v p è p sttj ë vo npo<;
to Îç etKoai,’ A o T i f i d p a p ëè T e j j a p a K o v i a . ènl
ëè tovtov U d p d o v < ; à n o a j a m a s M rç ê c o y Z a K a K
2 Tf)v T6 x w p a v Kaï ttjp noXip èy^eipicrar ëiônep
avmâvTO<; noX épov t oîç 2 d * a iç n p o s M t^Souç
eV 6T7] 7rXeiw yepéadai re p d ^ a s ovk oXÎya<;
Kaï av)(pwp n a p ' ap(fioT6poi<i àpaipeôé pt wp to
reX evraîov elppprjp aïnou*; è n l t oîaêe avv&éadai,
Ild p ^ o u ç peu v n b M?/3ouç re x d y 6 a i , twp ëè
npovnapxovT cov 'exatepovç K vpievaavras (piXovs
eivai Kcà a v p p d x o v t; dXXr/Xoïç eiç top â n a p r a
Xpopop.
3 B aaiXevaai, ëè rore twp 2 a/coop yvpaîtca r d
K ara 7ToXepop èÇrjXwKvîap Kaï ToXprj re Kaï
n p d ^ e i 7toX v ëiafiépovaap twp ip 'Zd/cap; yv p a i-
kwp , opopa Z apipap. /ca&oXov pèp ovp to èûpo'i
tovto yvpal/cas àX/cipov<; e%eip Kaï Koipwpovaa<{
tocç à p ë p d a i twp èp toîç noXépop; Kipëvpwp,
TavTrjp ëè XéyeTai tw Te k dXXei yepéadai. n a a w p
eKnpenetjTdiTrjP1 Kaï t a ïs ènif3oXaî<i Kaï to Îç
4 « a r à pepos e y ^ e ip p p a a i ûavpaaTtjp. tw p pèp
y a p nXn)aioxwpwp fBapftdpwp to Ùç ènrjppépovs
TW dpdaei Kaï KaTaëovXovpepovs to edpo<; twp
Z a/cwp KaTanoXeprjaai, ëè ^eôpaç noXXrjp
è ^ p e p w a a i , Kaï noXeis ovk oXÎya<; KTÎcrai, Kaï
to avvoXov evëaipopétJTepov tov (3Lov twp ôpo-
5 edpwp novpaai. ëio Kaï t oùç ey ^ w p io v s peTa
1 eKirp^-rvearar^y D, Vogel : evTrpiTrtar&Tqv Vulgate. Bekker.
Dindorf.
462
BOOK II. 33. 6-34- 5
subjected to th e M edian kings up to th e tim e when
Cyrus tran sferred th e E m pire of th e M edes to th e
Persians.
34. A fter th e d ea th o f A rtaeu s, C tesias continues,
A rty n es ruled over th e M edes for tw en ty -tw o years,
and A stibaras for forty. D u rin g th e reign of th e
la tte r th e P arth ian s revolted from th e M edes and
e n tru sted b oth th e ir country an d th e ir city to th e
hands of th e Sacae. This led to a w ar betw een th e
Sacae and th e M edes, w hich lasted m any years, and
after no small n u m b er of b attle s and th e loss of m any
lives on both sides, th e y finally ag reed to peace on
th e following term s, th a t th e P arth ian s should be
su b ject to th e M edes, b u t th a t b oth peoples should
retain th e ir form er possessions and be friends and
allies for ever.
A t th a t tim e th e Sacae w ere ruled by a woman
nam ed Z arina, who was devoted to w arfare and was in
daring and efficiency by far th e forem ost o f th e women
of th e Sacae. Now this people, in general, have
courageous w om en who share w ith th e ir husbands
th e dangers of w ar, b u t she, it is said, was th e m ost
conspicuous of th em all for h er b ea u ty and rem ark ­
able as well in resp e ct to b oth h er designs an d w h at­
ever she undertook. For she subdued such of th e
neighbouring barb arian peoples as h ad becom e proud
because of th e ir boldness an d w ere try in g to enslave
th e people of th e Sacae, an d into m uch o f h er own
realm she introduced civilized life, founded n o t a few
cities, and, in a word, m ade th e life of h er people
happier. Consequently h er countrym en a fte r her
463
 DIODORUS OF SIC ILY
tt] v TeXevTTjv avT^<i X “Plv diroSiSovTat t w v
evepyeacwv /cal t ?}? aperrjt pvppovevovTa*; Tacpov
oc/coBoprjcrai ttoX v t w v o v t w v Trap' ai/Toh virep-
expvra' vTToaTTjaapevov; ya p TrvpaplSa t plywvov
Tpiwv pev cnaSiw v e/cdaTtjv trXevpav av t ?}? Kara-
cr/cevdaai to prj/co<;, to S’ v\jro<; m a S ia lo v, els ogv
avvrjypevrjs t % KOpv<firp?• ¿TTiaTpaai Be to > Tacpw
/cai XPV!7VV et-Kova /coX o t t i /ct/ v , Kai Tipds ¿¡pooi/cas
dirovecpat, teal t aXXa irdvTa peyaXoirpeTremepa
7roieiv t w v Toh wpoyovois avTrjs avyxwppOev t w v .
6 AcTTiftdpa Be tov ftaaiXew ; twv ev
E^jSaTaj/ot? y ppa t eXevTtj a avroi; ttjv dpxpv
A ct7ravSav tov viov SiaBe^aaOai, tov in to twv
KXXtjvwv AtTTvdyrjv /caXovpevov. tovtov S’
in to K vpov tov Ylepaov KaTaTroXeprjdevTos p e ia -
ireaelv Tpv fiaaiX eiav e h Tiepaas, irepl wv p p eh
t a KaTCL pepo<; ev t o h iSloi<; x p ° vol*> a/cpi/3w<;
dva'/pa\jropev.
7 Ile p t pev ovv t % ’AaavpLwv /cal M rjSwv /3aai -
X aa? /cal t % twv avyypacf>ewv Scacjiwvias i/cavw<;
elppadai vopl^oaev irepl Be rij? ’I vSi/cr/1; /cal twv
ev a v ry pvdoXoyov pevwv ev pepei Bie^ipev.
464
BOOK II. 34. 5-7
d eath , in g ra titu d e for h er benefactions and in
rem em brance of h e r virtues, b u ilt h e r a tom b which
was far th e la rg e st o f any in th e ir la n d ; for th ey
ere cte d a tria n g u lar pyram id, m aking th e len g th of
each side th ree stadcs and th e h eig h t one stad e, and
b ringing it to a p o in t a t th e t o p ; and on th e tom b
th e y also placed a colossal gilded sta tu e o f h er and
accorded her th e honours belonging to heroes, and
all th e o th er honours th ey bestow ed upon h er were
m ore m agnificent th a n those which had fallen to th e
lo t of h er ancestors.
W hen, Ctesias continues, A stibaras, th e k ing of
th e M edes, died of old age in E cb a tan a , his son
A spandas, whom th e G reeks call A styages, succeeded
to th e th ro n e. A nd w hen he had been d efeated by
Cyrus th e Persian, th e kingdom passed to th e Persians.
O f them we shall give a d etailed and exact account
a t th e proper tim e.1
Concerning th e kingdom s of th e A ssyrians an d of
th e M edes, and concerning th e disag reem en t in th e
accounts of th e historians, we consider th a t enough
has been s a id ; now we shall discuss In d ia and then,
in tu rn , recount th e legends of th a t land.
1 This was in the Ninth Book.
465
 A PARTIAL INDEX OF PROPER
NAMES 1
ACHELOUS, 141 Armenia, 351 f.
Acherousia, 329 f. Arsinoe, 113
Accisanes, 207 f. Artaeus, 459 ff.
Aegyptus, 53, 61 (bis), 215 Artaxerxes, 459
Aetus, 61 Artycas, 459
Agamemnon, 423 Artynes, 463
Agatharchides, 147 f. Ascalon, 359
Agyrium, 19 Aspandas, 465
Alcaeus, 77 Assyria, 349 possim
AlcmenS, 77 Assyrian empire, 423, 429 fl., 445
Alexander the Great, 15, 21, 83, 179, Astapus, 131
193, 291, 453, 457 Astibaras, 463, 405
Alexandria, 179 Asty, 91
Amasis, 207, 231 L , 237 f ., 323 f. Astyages, 457 f ., 465
Am m on, 47, 51, 163 f. Athena, 43, 45, 55
Am m on, oracle, 397, 417 Athenaeus, 417 f.
Amosis, 223 Athens, 91 passim
Anaxagoras, 29, 133, 137 Athyrtis, 189
Antaeus, giant, 67 A ttica, 63
Antaeus, governor of Egypt, 55
Antaeus, village, 67 Babylon, in Egypt, 197
Ajitigonus, 453 Babylon, in Mesopotamia, 91, 351,
Anubis, 57, 295 f. 371 ff., 383
Aphrodite, 47, 57, 335, 359, 451 Babylonia, 387 possim
Apis, 69, 239 ff. Bactra, 365 ff., 401, 403, 417
Apollo, 47, 57, 59, 83, 337 ff. Bactriana, 363 ff.
Apollodorus, 21 Bactriana, 169, 353 f ., 363 ff.
Apries, 235 f. Bagistanus, 393
Arabia, 63, 187, 351 Barathra, 99 f.
Arabia Felix, 51 Barcé, 237
Arbaces, 429 ■ passim, 459 Barzanes, 353
Arbi&nes, 459 Belesys, 429 passim
Archimedes, 115 Belus, 91
Areopagus, 259 Bithynia, 355
Ares, 451 Bocchoris, 159, 224 f ., 271, 321
Argos, 79, 91 Bolgii, 131
Ari&eus, 351 Borcanii, 355
Annaeus, 223 Bousiris, 293

1A com plete Index will appear in the last volume.

467
 INDEX
Bubastus, 89 Dionysius, 363 f.
Busiris, governor o f Egypt, 55 Dionysus, 39, 51, 71, 73 f ., 87, 327 f.
Busiris, king of E gypt, 161, 235, 301 Diospolis. See Thebes
Drangi, 355
Cadmus, Egyptian, 73 f.
Cadmus, Greek writer, 127 Ecbatana, 395 f.
Cadusii, 355, 459 ff. E gypt, 33-341 passim, 355
Cambyses, 109, 115, 157, 165, 175, Egyptus (the Nile), 61
239, 325 Egyptus, king o f Egypt, 181
Canis Maior, 89 Eleusis, 95
Caria, 231, 355 Elis, 323
Carmanii, 355 Ephorus, 33, 127, 139 f.
Caspian Gates, 355 Erechtheus, 93, 95
Caucasus Mountains, 149 Ethiopia, 61, 109 f ., 115, 133 passim,
Cecrops, 93 191 f ., 397 e .
Celts, 21 (bis) Ethiopians (o f Assyria), 423
Cephisus, 141 Eudoxus, 327, 337
Cephren, 219 f. Eumolpidae, 95
Cerberus, 329 Eumolpus, 39
Ceryces, 95 Eupatrids, 93
Cetes, 213 Euphrates, 387 f.
Chaldaeans, 91, 279, 445 passim Euripides, 29, 133, 137
Charon, 315, 331
C h auon,393 Galaemenes, 437
Chemmis, 215 Ganges, 193
Chemmo, 57 Ge Meter, 43
Choromnaei, 355 Geomoroi, 93
Cleitarchus, 373 Gerousia, 259
Cocytus, 331 Glaucopis, 45
Coele-Syria, 99, 101, 355
Colchi, 91,193 H ades, 9, 317 f.
Cotta, 439 Hecataeus, 167
Crocodilopoiis, 305 Hecate, 331
Cronus, 47, 89 Helen, o f Troy, 333 f.
Ctesias, 199, 353, 363 f ., 371, 373 Heliopolis, 201, 207, 259, 329
(bis), 399, 405, 417, 423, 459 Helius, Egyptian king and god, 47,
Cyaxares, 457 f. 83 ’
Cyclades, 125,193 Helius, name o f planet, 451
Cyprus, 403 Hellanicus, 127
Cyrene, 237 Hephaestus, 41 f .,4 7 , 69, 189, 201
Cyrus, the Great, 463, 465 H era, 47, 336, 383
Cyrus, the Younger, 459 Heracles, 11, 55, 61, 67, 75, 77, 79
Hermes, 47, 53, 55, 157, 319, 329
Daedalus, 211, 327, 333 Hermes, name o f planet, 451
Danaus, 91, 331 Herodes, 21
Darius, the Great, 111 f ., 205, 325, H erodotus, 127, 131, 135 ff., 241, 399,
363 457 f.
Darius Codomannus, 453 Hestia, 47, 321
D elta, 101,113 f. H om er, 6, 39, 41, 43, 45, 61, 163, 239,
Demeter, 43, 47, 49, 95, 327 327, 329, 333 passim
Demiurgi, 93 Horus, 65, 81, 83, 157
Democritus, 137 f ., 327, 335 H yapates, 361
Derbici, 355 Hydaspes, river, 149
Derceto, 359 Hydaspes, son o f Semiramis, 361
Deucalion, 37 Hyrcanii, 355

468
 INDEX
I a o , 321 Muses, 59
Ilium, 197, 213 Mycerinus, 221
Inares, 223
India, 63, 149, 401 passim Nasamones, 131
Indus, 403, 415 f. Necho, 111
l o , 79 Nile, 61, 105-143 passim
Ionia, 231 Nileus, 215
Iop£, 101 Nilometer, 125
Isis, 37-51 passim, 69-89 passim, Nilopolis, 291
157 f ., 297, 301 Nineveh, 357, 371, 427, 433 passim
Isis, name of star, 89 Ninus, city. See Nineveh
Ister, 89 Ninus, king o f Assyria, 349-371
passim, 379
Julius Caesar, 21 Ninyas, 371, 397, 417, 419 f.
Nysa, in Arabia Felix, 51 f ., 87
Lacedaemon, 21 N ysa, in India, 63
Leontopolis, 289 Nysaeus, 87
Lethe, 331
L ibya, 131 passim, 189, 397 OceanS, 43, 61
Libya, m other of Belus, 91 Oceanus, 43, 329
Lycurgus, king of Thrace, 63 Ocnus, 331
Lycurgus, Spartan lawgiver, 319, 327, Oenopides, 145 f., 327, 335 f.
335 Onnes, 361, 367, 369 f.
Orontes, 395
Macedon, 57, 63 Orpheus, 39, 43, 73 f ., 239, 315,
Maria, 237 327 f.
Maron, 59, 63 Osiris, 37 f ., 47-87 passim, 291 f.,
Marrus, 211, 333 297, 303
Matris, 77 Osymandyas, 167, 169, 175
Maudaces, 459 Oxyartes, 365 ff.
Meander, 141
Melampus, 327, 333 Pan, 57, 299
Memnon, 425 f. Paraetacene, 387
Memphis, 69, 125, 177 passim, 231, Paraetonium, 101
259, 291, 333 Parsondes, 461 f.
Menas, 157, 159 f., 303 f. Parthians, 463
Mencherinus. See Mycerinus Parthyaei, 355
Mendes, city of E gypt, 289 Pelusium, 201
Mendes, king of Egypt, 211, 333 Persepolis, 165
Menelaus, 197 f. Perseus, 79
Menestheus, 93 Perseus, king o f Macedon, 407
Meroe, city, 109, 131 Persis, 355, 397
Meroe, island, 109 Petes, 93
Meroe, m other of Cambyses, 109 Pharnus, 353
Minos, 211, 319 Pharos, 101
Minotaur, 211 Philae, 69 f.
Mneves, 319 f. Philip, o f M acedon, 15
Mnevis, 69, 289 ff. Plato, 327, 335
Moeris, king of E gypt, 181 ff. Pluto, 79
Moeris, Lake o f, 181 ff., 227, 289, Polycrates, 323 f.
303 f. Polydamna, 333 f.
Momempbis, 231, 335 “ Portals of the Sun,” 329
Moyses (Moses), 321 Poseidon, 91
Musaeus, 327 Priam, 423
Husegetes, 59 Priapus, 299
469
 INDEX
Prometheus, 61 Tanais (D on), 193, 353, 356
Proteus, 213 Tapyri, 355
Psammetichus, 111, 229 3. Telecles, 337 ff.
Ptolem y, canal, 113 Telemachus, 333 f.
Ptolem y Auletes, 157 Teutainus, 423
Ptolem y Lagus, 103, 165, 167, 291 Thales, 131
Ptolem y Philadelphus, 113, 129 Thebaid, 35, 49, 51, 57
Pythagoras, 239, 327, 335 Thebes, 49, 51, 73, 161 passim, 259
Theodorus, 337 ff.
R ed S e a ,113,193 Theopom pus, 127
Remphis, 213 f. Thesmophorus, 49, 79
Rhea, 47, 383 Thonis, 61
Rhinocolura, 209 Thucydides, 127
Rhodopis, 223 Tigris, 387 f.
Rhoecus, 337 Titans, 81, 333
R om e, 19, 365 Tithonus, 423 f.
Tnephachthus, 159 f.
Sabaco, 225 f. Triptolemus, 59, 63
Sacae, 463 Tritogeneia, 45
Sais, 91 Trogodytes, 99, 131
Sarapis, 79 Trojan W ar, 21 (bis), 23, 77 (6w), 79,
Sardanapallus, 423, 429-445 passim, 423 ff.
459 Trojans, 423 f.
Sasychis, 321 T r o y ,197
Satyrs, 59, 299 Typhon, 47, 65, 71, 301 passim
Seleucus N icator, 453
Semel6, 73 f. Uchoreus, 177
Semiramis, 199, 350-419 passim
Serbonis, 99 f. X e n o p h o n ,127
Sesoosis, 185-205 passim, 321 X erxes, 205, 363, 457
Simmas, 361
Sirius, name o f Osiris, 39 Zalmoxis, 321
Sirius, star, 59 Zarcaeus, 395
Solon, 239, 265, 273, 327, 335 Zarina, 463 f.
Sosane, 369 Zathraustes, 321
Sosarmus, 459 Zeus, 41, 47, 75, 335, 393
Stabrobates, 401-417 passim Zeus, planet, 451
Susa, 165, 425 Zeus Belus, 379, 381, 383
MAPS