were first of all explored by them. Their vessels were not round, but of fifty oars. On their touching at Tartessus, they conciliated the favour of Arganthonius", sovereign of the place; he had then governed the Tartessians for the space of eighty years, and he lived to the age of one hundred and twenty. Upon that occasion he formed such a regard for the Phocæans, that soliciting them to leave Ionia, he gave them permission to choose within his territories whatever situation they might prefer. On their refusal of his offer, and when he heard from them that the power bystinus, and most commodious, in consequence, it was for the purposes of navigation and trade. This people gave their name not only to the island and river on which their city was built, but also to the whole country, which was called Tartessus. Bochart informs us, that Gades and Carteia were anciently called Tartessus, and thinks that the former was built by the Tarshish of Scripture, immediately after the dispersion, and the two latter, long afterwards, by the Phoenicians. 211 Arganthonius.]-That Herodotus may not, in this instance, be accused of falsehood, be it known that in these our times, an Englishman of the name of Thomas Parr, lived to the age of one hundred and fifty-three. He was invited from his residence in the country to London, by king Charles, as a miracle of longevity, where he died, the change of air and of diet not agreeing with him. In all probability if he had staid at home, he might have lived longer. What is more remarkable, at the age of one hundred, he was tried for his life; ob vim illatam virgini.-Palmerius.-This is not correct. Parr was not tried for his life, but convicted in the Spiritual Court of bastardy, for which he did pe-. nance.-T. power of the Mede was continually increasing, he supplied them with money to build walls to their city. The extent of the walls, which were of many furlongs, the size of the stones, with the skill of the workmanship, sufficiently attest the donor's liberality. CLXIV. The Phocæans being thus provided with walls, Harpagus advanced and attacked their city. He offered them terms, and engaged to leave them unmolested, if they would suffer one of their towers to be demolished, and give up some one edifice for a sacred purpose. From their aversion to servitude, the inhabitants requested a day to deliberate on his proposal; desiring him in that interval to withdraw his forces. Harpagus avowed himself conscious of their intentions, but granted their request. Immediately on his retiring from their walls, the Phocæans prepared their fifty-oar'd galleys, in which they placed their families and effects. They collected also the statues 212 Some one edifice.]—This passage is involved in some obscurity. The commentators understand a temple, M. Reiske wishes to make an addition of the word mithre. But the Persians did not confine the Deity within walls. Perhaps, says Wesseling, Harpagus was satisfied with their consecrating one single building, in token of subjection. For my own part, I think that the king, having a palace in every large town of his dominions, the building which Harpagus demanded, was probably intended for his residence, when-, ever he might happen to visit Phocæa; or it might perhaps be intended for the governor, his representative.-Larcher. statues and votive offerings from their temples, leaving only paintings, and such works of iron or of stone as could not easily be removed. With these they embarked, and directed their course to Chios. Thus deserted by its inhabitants, the Persians took possession of Phocæa. CLXV. On their arrival at Chios, they made proposals for the purchase of the Ænussæ islands; not succeeding in their object, as the Chians were afraid of being by these means injured in their commerce, the Phocæans proceeded to Cyrnus*. In this place, twenty years before, they had, under some oracular direction, built a town, to which they gave the name of Alalia. Arganthonius in the mean while had died, and the Phocæans in their way to Cyrnus touched at Phocæa, where they put to death every one of the garrison, which had been left by Harpagus for the defence of the place. After this, they bound themselves under solemn curses never to desert each other. They farther agreed by an oath never to return to Phocæa, till a red-hot ball of iron, which they threw into the sea, should rise again. Notwithstanding these engagements, the greater part of them were, during the voyage, seized with so tender and such affectionate regret for their ancient residence, that they returned to Phocæa. Such of them as adhered to their former solemn resolutions, proceeded on their course from Anussæ to Cyrnus. CLXVI. Here 3 CLXVI. Here they settled, lived in peace with the ancient inhabitants, for the space of five years, and erected some temples. In consequence, however, of their commmitting depredations on all their neighbours, the Tyrrhenians and Carthaginians collected a fleet of sixty vessels, to oppose them. The Phocæans on their part were not inactive; they also fitted out sixty vessels, and advanced to meet their adversaries on the Sardinian sea. The fleets engaged, the Phocæans conquered, but obtained what might be termed a Cadmean victory"". They lost forty of their vessels, and the twenty which remained were unfit for all service. Returning, therefore, to Alalia, they got together their families and effects, loaded their ships with all that they could carry, and, abandoning Cyrnus*, directed their course to Rhegium. CLXVII. On board the vessels which were taken by the enemy, were a number of prisoners, most 213 Cadmean victory.]-The origin of this proverb is variously related. Suidas says, amongst other things, that it became a proverb, because Cadmus having destroyed the dragon, which guarded a fountain sacred to Mars, lived afterwards for the space of eight years in servitude to Mars. It was applied universally to those whose ostensible superiority was accompanied with real disadvantage. See many curious particulars on this subject in the Adagia of Erasmus, under the Artic. Cadmea Victoria. * Herodotus occasionally mentions most of the larger islands of the Mediterranean. Cyrnus is Corsica. See Rennel, p. 42. most of whom were carried on shore, and stoned to death. After which enormity, it happened that all the men, cattle, and different animals belonging to Agyllat, which approached this spot, were seized with convulsions, and deformity of one kind or other. This circumstance, and a wish to atone for their crime, induced the people of Agylla to consult the Delphic oracle. The Pythian directed them to perform, what is still observed as a custom among them: they instituted magnificent funeral rites in honour of those who had been slain, and they introduced gymnastic and equestrian exercises in their honour. Such was the fate of this portion of the Phocæans. They who retired to Rhegium took possession of a part of Enotria‡, and built a city called Hyela. To this they were persuaded by a man of Posidonia, who instructed them that the oracle really intended them to build a mausoleum to the hero Cyrnus, and not a city in the island of that name. Such is the history of the Phocæans of Ionia, CLXVIII. The fortune of the Teians was nearly similar; Harpagus having taken their city by blockade, they embarked, and passed over into Thrace; This was Cære in Etruria. Enotria is part of Italy. See Rennel again, p. 42. They first attempted to settle in the Enussæan islands, adjacent to Chios, thence they proceeded to Cyrnus (Corsica) where they had previously founded a city named Alalia, and finally to Enotria, where they built the city of Hyela, in the tract between Pæstum and Cape Palinurus, |