The Annals of the World, History 1 · Age of the world 6 (3 of 18)
Four moneths after his passing the Hellelpont with his army, Xerxes coming to Athens, found it abandoned by all the inhabitants thereof; what time Callias was Praetor, or Lord Chancelor there, [Herod. lib. 8. c. 51.] In which year also, Anaxagoras of Clazomenae, a scholar of Anaximenes the Milesian, being but 20 years of age, was made publique reader of Phylosophy in Athens, as Laertius, out of Demetrius Phalereus in his Catalogue of the 50 Praetors, or Lord Chancellors of Athens, in his life reporteth, Phylosophy being then first brought out of Ionia, and planted in the city of Athens, as Clemens Alexan. [lib. 1. strom.] saith, to wit, at what time, Xerxes, when he had taken Athens, took also a multitude of books, which Pisistratus, and the Athenians had there stored up, and setting all the rest of the city, (save the Castle) on fire, sent them away into Persia, as A. Gellius [lib. 17. Noct. Attica.] ralateth. In which exception yet of the Castle, I cannot easily assent unto him; since Herodotus saith plainly, that all that Acropolis or Citadel was burnt down, [lib. 8. cap. 53.] and so doth Ctesias; and Diodorus Sic. further affirmeth, that the Temple of Minerva, which was undoubtedly in the Castle, was then also ruined.
The further Xerxes marched into Greece, the more nations still joyned with him; the Melienses, the Dorienses, the Locri, the Baeothians, Caristians, Andrians, Teniaus, and sundry other: whereby it came to passe, that his forces, by land and sea, were no less, at Salamis and Athens, than when he first landed at Sepias, and came to Thermopylae, [Herod. lib. 8. cap. 66.] which those verses of Eschilus before mentioned, seem also to imply, where he tells us, that at the fight at Salamis, there were 1000. or 1207 ships of his, and that Cresias sayes, that in that fight, the Persians had a thousand ships not to speak of Plutarch in his discourse, De glor. Athen. (i.e.) of the glory of the Athenians, where he saith, that that victory of Themistocles at Salamis, was gotten with the losse of a thousand ships of the enemies. At which sea fight before Salamis, the Grecians fleet was far greater than when they fought at Artemisium, to wit, 380 talls ships of war; whereof there were in all but 16. from Sparta; but the Athenians had there 180. [Id. ib. cap. 42; 43, 44, 48, 62.] And with him, for the number of the Athenian ships, agreeth Plutarch, in the Life of Themistocles. not to trouble the reader here, with that place of Herod, [lib. 8. cap. 61.] nor of Diod. Sic. [lib. 15.] where, speaking of the Athenians, they say, that they had in it, 200 ships, foreign, (i.e.) fully manned and furnished, Eschylus sayes, that the whole number of the Grecian ships in the fight before Salamis, was but 300. besides ten other of an extraordinary bignesse: though Cresias writes, that there were 700 of the Grecian fleet. There were lost in this fight of the Grecian ships, to the number of 40; of the Persian, 200; besides those which were taken with the men in them, as Diodor. Sic. [lib. 11.] hath it, whereas Cresias reports, that the Persians in that fight, lost 500 ships. But Artemisia, the Queen of Halicarnassus, who came to aid Xerxes in this war, behaved her self most manfully in this fight; so that as in Xerxes, a man might see a womanly timourousnesse, so in her he might perceive, a most heroick courage, [Justin. lib. 2. cap. 12.] insomuch, that Xerxes himself upon this occasion was heard to say, That his men had plaid the women, and the women the men, in that service. [Her. l. 8. c. 88.]
And so it came to passe, that by the leading indeed of Eurybiades, the Lacedemonian, but the sage and prudent counsel, and great prowesse of Themistocles the Athenian; a victory was gotten at Salamis every way equal to that at Marathan: but in setting down the time when this battle was fought, Plutarch is found very divers and differing from himself. For in the life of Lysander, and in his discourse, of the glory of the Athenians, he placeth it as done in the 16 day of the monethmonth Munichou, (which is the first of the vernal months, with the Athenians; but in the Life of Camylus; as on the the 20 day of Boedromian, which was their third monethmonth in Summer. Tis true, in the Bay of Saron, which is otherwise called, the Bay of Salamis, as [Strabo in his eighth book] witnesseth, between the two Islands of Salamis an Egina, there was a nights fight at sea, between 10 Lacedemonian ships, commanded by Gorgopas, and 13 Athenian ships, commanded by Eunomus, near unto Zoster, a fore-land of the Isthmus of Attica, in the dayes of Artarxerxes memor, king of Persia, of which Xenophon, in his fifth book of his History of the Greeks, maketh mention in this wise. In a sea fight made by moon-light, Gorgopas took 4 tall ships of war, and drawing them after him, carryed them away to Egina: and the rest of the Athenian fleet fled home to their port of Piraeum, but because as upon the 16 day of that Lunary monethmonth among the Athenians, upon which Gorgopas set upon that smal fleet of the Athenians, it happened to be the full of the moon, by the benefit whereof, the Athenian fleet saved it self, with the loss only of 4 ships, therefore did the Athenians as it seemeth consecrate that day ever after, to Diana, and kept it holy-day to her honour; whereupon it was, that Plutarch confounding this later sea fight, fought at Salamis, with that other, fought in the same place against Xerxes, in that discourse of his, of the glory of the Athenians, thorough error wrote of it in this manner: They consecrated, saith he, the 16 day of the monethmonth Munichion to Diana, because upon that day, after the victory gotten by the Grecians, the Goddess appeared full that night: for that the victory of the Greeks against Xerxes was gotten about the 20 day of Boedromion, both Plutarch in a Treatise of his, Of dayes, quoted by himself in the life of Camillus declareth; and it plainly appeareth in Herodotus: for that at that time, the Eleusinian Mysteries were celebrated by the Athenians, Herodotus plainly sheweth, [lib. 8. ca. 65.] the chief day of which solemnity, was upon the twentieth of the monethmonth Boedromion, on which the mysterious Pomp of Iacchus was openly shewed to the people, as appeareth out of the same Pl…tarch, in the life of Camillus above mentioned: whence also it was, that when The mistocles would stay his country-men from pursuing the enemies, after their defeate at Salamis, when they fled, used this speech unto them: Now, saith he, let us stay… Greece, and take care of our selves and families, and look to the till age and sowing of our land, seeing the enemy is quite ejected out of it; and when the Spring comes on, then will we take a time to saile into Hellespont and Ionia. Argument sufficient, that the Persians were vanquished at Salamis, not in the beginning of the spring, but in the later end of summer.
After the fight Xerxes put to death certain of the Phenicians, which were the first that fled, and threatned the rest of them with punishments answerable to their deservings; for fear whereof, the Phenicians returned that day to Africa; but the night after, they put over all into Asia, [Diod. Sic. l. 11. in the 1 year of the 75 Olympiade.] Many other ships also, fearing more the rage of the King, than the fury of the enemy, slunk away, every one to his own home, [Justin lib. 2. c. 12.]
Xerxes, terrified with this disaster at sea, committed his sons to Ar…emesia the Queen, by her to be transported to Ephesus, with Hermotimus their Governour, [Herod. lib. 8. ca. 103. 107.]
Cleombrotus of Sparta, brother to Leonidas, which died at Thermopylae, to stop the passage against Xerxes his coming by land into Peloponesus, caused a wall to be drawn athwart the neck of land which is called, Isthmus Corinthiacus, [Id. ib. ca. 71.] but whiles he was offering of a sacrifice against the Persians, the sun in the firmament lost his light, and grew dark: whereupon he withdrew his army which was imployed in that fortification, and shortly after died: unto whom succeeded his son Pausanias, as cousin-germain and Tutor of Plistarchus, a child, the son of Leonidas deceased, [Id. lib. 9. ca. 10.] But the Prutenian account gives us an Eclipse of the Sun of 8 digits and 32 minutes, upon the 2 day of October, after the Julian Calender, at one of the clock 39 minutes in the after-noon, in this year.
Themistocles, to send Xerxes packing the more speedily out of Greece, sent a seigned message to him from Salamis, that the Grecians had a purpose to send a Fleet of Ships to Hellespont, there to burn or break his bridge; which he no sooner heard, but he provided with all speed to get him gone out of Europ: into Asia, [Herod. lib. 8. ca. 110. Diod. Sic. lib. 11. in 1 year of 75. Olympiade: and Plut. in the life of Themistocles.]
Resolving therefore to be gone, he sent away his Fleet from Phalerus to Hellespont, to keep the bridge there, for his passage: and himself with Mardomus, and his land army accompanying him, marched speedily towards Thessalie, [Herod. lib. 8. cap. 107. 113, 115.]
Mardonius coming with Xerxes into Thessalie, chose out of all his army, three hundred thousand men, which he kept with him to go on with the conquest of Greece; and with them, because the time of the year for keeping the field was past, he wintered in Thessalia, [Ib. ca. 113. 114.] and herein with him agrees Justin out of Trogus, [lib. 2. ca. 13.] and Plutarch in the life of Aristides, though Diod. Sic. saith, that there stayed with him no lesse than four hundred thousand men.
In this meane while, the Lacedaemonians by the command of the Oracle at Delphos, sent a Herald to Xerxes, to require reparation of him for the death of their King Leonidas: unto whom he returned this answer; that Mardonius should pay them their due. After which, leaving Mardonius in Thessalie, he hasted away to the Hellespont; taking along with him a very inconsiderable part of his army for his guard: but left the rest to be brought after him, by Hydarnes, [Herod. lib. 8. cap. 114. 115, 118.]
As for those land Forces which he left behind him with Mardonius: first a famine, then a pestilence, fell upon them; and so foule was the mortality among them, that the high-wayes lay strawed with the dead carcases of them, and both birds and beasts of prey, followed the army by the sent, where ever they went, [Ib. ca. 115. Justin lib. 2. cap. 13.]
In Asia, they that were called Archaeanactidae, held the kingdom of Bosphorus Cimmerius 40 years long, [Diod. Sic. lib. 12.] in 3 year of 85 Olympiade. These had their beginning from Archaeanactes of Mitylene; who is said to have built Sigaeum, with the stones digged out of the ruines of Troy, [Strabo. lib. 13.]
Xerxes at 45 dayes end, Year of the World 3525. a. came to the passage at Hellespont, as saith Herod. [lib. 8. ca. 115.] Emil. Probus bates a third part of that time in the life of Themistocles: where he saith, that upon the way wherein he spent six moneths, in going into Europe, upon the same he spent lesse than thirty dayes, in his return from thence into Asia.
Xerxes finding his bridge broken down with the rage of Winter-stormes; for very fear, put over in a poor fisher-boat: And truly it was a thing worth the fight, and a rare example of humane frailty and change of things in this world, to see him lie skulking in a little wherry, whom a little before, the whole Sea seemed too little to contain; and him distitute of a page to waite upon him under whose army, the very earth earstwhiles, seemed to groane for the burden of it, [Justin lib. 2. cap. 13.]
The land Forces also, which followed him under the conduct of Hydarves, coming thither, and finding the bridge broken down, passed over in boats to Abydus: and there finding more plenty of victuals than they had upon their way, what with gorging themselves with meat, what with change of water, they dyed by heaps; the rest accompanied Xerxes to Sardes, [Herod. lib. 8. c. 117.]
Xerxes, whiles he was upon the way to Sardes, sent Megabyzus to spoile the Temple of Delphos, but when he desired to be excused, Mattacus an Eunuch undertook it, and having done the errand he was sent in, returned to him; [Ctesias.]
News being brought to Sufa, by the Courriers which were sent, that Xerxes had taken Athens, put the Persians into such a fit of mirth, that they strewed all the streets with mirtle boughs, and burnt frankincense in them: and set themselves wholy to sacrificing; and feasting: But when the second tidings came of his overthrow at Salamis; that put them into such a consternation of mind, that every man rent his garments, and filled all places with howlings and lamentations, [Herod. l. 8. c. 99.] which mourning of theirs, Eschylus hath described, and set out to the life, in Persis.
The fleet which remained, and the sea-men which were therein left, having wasted over the land forces, out of Chersonesus to Abydus, wintered at Cuma in Eolia, [Herod. lib. 8. c. 130.]
Artabazus the son of Pharnabazus, having accompanied Xerxes with 60 thousand souldiers to Hellespont, seeing him safely landed in Asia side; took his journey back again and staid about Pallene: seeing that Mardonius himself had taken up his winter quarter in Macedonia and Thessalia, and looked not after the rest of the army: and during his abode there, finding that the City of Potidea, with Pallene, had already revolted from the Persian, and Olynthus in termes to do the like, he clapt down before Potidea and Olynthus, and besieged them both at once, and having taken Olynthus, and put all the Bottiean inhabitants thereof to the sword, he committed the place to the keeping of Critobulus of Torona, a Chalcedonian born, [Id. lib. 8. c. 126, 127.]
When the Persians had now lain 3 months before Potidea, a huge tide of the sea, brake in upon them, in their trenches, which made them raise their siege; yet many of them perished with that inundation; and when others sought to save themselves by swimming, the Potideans went in boats, and knockt them in the head; those that escaped, Artabazus took, and carried with him into Thessalie to Mardonius, [Ib. c. 129.]
In the first of the spring, Year of the World b. the remainder of the Persian fleet, which had wintered at Cuma, put over to the Isle of Samos, where some other of their fellowes had taken up their winter quarter. The greatest part in this Navie, were Persian and Median souldiers: and to them came shortly after certain Commanders, as, Mardoutes Fitz Bargeus, and Artanites Fitz Artacheus, who staying there, kept all Ionia from revolting, having a fleet of 300 sail, (reckoning in the Ionians that were with them) at their command, [Ib. c. 130.] But Diodorus saith, that they were no lesse than 400 sail, which lay then at Samos, waiting the motion of the Ionians: in this 2 year of the 75 Olympiade.
The Grecian fleet consisting of one hundred and ten ships, under two Commanders, Leotychides king of the Spartans, and Xanthippus an Athenian, went to Egina, where certain messengers came to them out of Ionia; to beseech them, all delay set apart, to come and relieve them in Ionia; and with much adoe, drew them as far as to Delos, thitherward, [Herod. lib. 8. c. 131. 132.] and yet Diodorus tells us, that having staid some certain dayes at Egina, they then, of themselves, failed to Delos, with 250 tall ships of war.
Xerxes is said to have built both a Palace, Year of the World c. and a Castle at Celene in Phrygia, Xen. in his Expedition of Cyrus, [lib. 1.]
Mardonius with his army came to Athens, not yet reinhabited, ten months after it was first taken by Xerxes: and there ruined and burnt down, what ever Xerxes had left standing, and thence marched into the countrey of Megare, which was the fathest place that the Persians were at westward, in all Greece, [Herodotus, lib. 9. cap. 3. 13. 14.]
Whiles the Grecian fleet lay at Delos, Year of the World d. messengers came to them from Samos, praying them to succour both themselves, and the rest of the Greek nation, which dwelt in Asia, against the Persians. Leotychides the king of Sparta, at a Council of war resolved to set all the Greek Cities at liberty from the Persians: and they entering a league with the Samians, came with their whole fleet to Samos, and lay close under the Temple of Juno, providing there for a sea fight, against the Persians, [Id. ib. cap. 89. 91. 95. with Diod. Sic. lib. 11.]
The Commanders of the Persian navy, continuing still at Samos, and hearing that the Grecians were coming against them, and finding themselves not able to match them at sea; suffered the Phenician ships all to be gone; but with the rest sailed to Micale, which is a fore-land, or promontory in Ionia: where the land army lay, left there on purpose by Xerxes, to keep Ionia in order; consisting of 60000 men, under the command of Tigranes, who was the tallest and goodliest man to look to, of all the Persians: There, near to the Temple of Ceres, of Eleusis, they drew up their ships, and enclosed them with a rampart, which they fortified with stones and stakes, and such materials as the place afforded, [Herodotus, lib. 9. cap. 95. 96.] and withal, sent to Sardes, and other places adjoyning: for more land forces: so that they made up a body of an hundred thousand men: making provision also, of all other things necessary for the war, [Diodorus, lib. 11.]
In an encounter of the horse, near a place called Erythrae in Beotia, between the Grecians and Persians, a commander of the Persians called Masistius, but by the Greeks, Macisias, happened to be slain; for whom, great lamentation was made by the Persians, [Herodotus, lib. 9. cap. 20. 22. 24. and Plutarch, in the Life of Aristide.]
The Grecians, under the conduct of Pausanias the son of Cleombrotus, routed the Persian army at Platea: which, as Ctesias saith, consisted of one hundred and twenty thousand fighting men. Emil. Probus, in his Pausanias, saith there were of them, two hundred thousand foot, and twenty thousand horse; and Plutarch in the life of Aristides affirms, that there were no fewer, than three hundred thousand: to which three hundred thousand, Herodotus addeth also, all the Grecian auxiliaries, which Mardonius had then with him in pay, which he guesseth to have amounted to fifty thousand, [lib. 9. cap. 311.] and Diodorus Siculus, to the 75 Olympiade, saith, that Mardonius, besides those which Xerxes left him, had out of Thracia and Macedonia, and other confederate places, above two hundred thousand souldiers, and that he had in all, an army consisting of five hundred thousand men: In the Grecian army, Ctesias reckons not above seven thousand and three hundred men: whereas Herodotus and Plutarch affirme, that of the Athenian party alone, there were no lesse than eight thousand men: and that the whole Grecian army consisted either of one hundred thousand fighting men: as Diodorus Siculus, Trogus, Pompe…us, and Orosius, or of one hundred and ten thousand, as Herodotus, [lib. 9. cap. 29.] saies: of whom there fell in this battle, not above one thousand three hundred and sixty, as Plutarch in the Life of Aristides reports; though Diod, Sic. saith, there were slain of them in that fight, above 10000.
Mardonius the son in law, (not of Xerxes, as Emil. Probus, in the life of Pausanias hath it, but) of Darius, who was father to Xerxes, as I shewed before, in the year of the world 3510. General of all this army, was slain in this fight, by a stone flung at him, by Aimnestus, or Arimnestus, a man of Sparta, [Herodotus, lib. 1. cap. 63.] Plutarch in the Life of Aristides, and Pausanias, [lib. 1.] for we may not belive Ctesias, who saies, that he was only hurt, and so got away for that time, and that being commanded afterward, to spoile the Temple of Apollo, he was there killed, with a storme of haile that fell upon him: though Justin out of Trogus, and out of Justin Orosius reports, that Mardonius, accompanyed with a very small number, escaped away thence, as out of a shipwrack.
The Persian army, having lost their General, fled to a fortresse of theirs, made up of wood, and the Grecians, having forced it, slew therein above one hundred thousand of them, [Diodorus Siculus,] so that of three hundred thousand of them, there were not left full three thousand men; besides 40000 only, which fled away with Artabazus, [Her. l. 9. c. 69.]
Leotychides, who commanded at sea, coming to Mycale, dealt with the Ionians to fall off from the Persians, whom they served: and what with his own army, what with their help, he obtained there a most memorable victory; wherein he slew above 30 thousand Persians; besides Mardontes, who commanded them by sea, and Tigranes, who was General by land: but two other great Commanders of their fleete, Artayntes, and Ithramitres fled; the rest that escaped, betook themselves to the tops of the promontory of Mycale, [Id. ib. from c. 97. to 104. with Diod. Sic. l. 11.]
Both these fights fell out near to two Temples of Ceres of Elensis, and upon the same day of the same month: that at Platea in Europe, early in the morning; that other at Mycale in Asia, later in the afternoone; and so swilt winged was fame in spreading the news hereof, that at so far a distance, and in so few houres space, the report of the victory at Platea, came to them at Mycale; the same day, before they began to fight there, [Id. ib. cap. 99. 130. with Justin lib. 2. c. 14.] though Diod. Sic. thinks (and that more probably) that Leotychides heard nothing at all of what was done at Platea, but cunningly cast abroad such a rumor among his souldiers, to put the more courage thereby into their heares, by way of a stratagem. Now the day of these two battels [Elian. Var. Hist. lib. 2. ca. 25.] saith, was the sixth of the monethmonth Thargeleon, the 2 monethmonth in the Spring, with the Athenians; which Plutarch with more judgement saith, was in the monethmonth Boedromion, which was the 3 monethmonth in Summer; and that either upon the 3 day thereof; as [in the life of Camillus, and in his discourse of the glory of the Athenians,] or upon the fourth, as in [the life of Aristides:] and so this fight at Micale, was in the second year after Xerxes his first passage over into Greece, [Herod. lib. 7. ca. 80.]
Hereupon all Ionia revolted from the Persian, [Herod. lib. 9. ca. 103.] together with the Eolians and Islands bordering upon both, [Diod. Sic. lib. 11.]
The Greeks having set fire upon, and consumed the Persian ships and camps; returned to the Isle of Samos, and there entered into a consultation how to transplant all the Ionian nation (yea and the Eolian too, as Diod. hath it) out of Asia, (where they seemed to be too openly exposed to the danger of the Persian cruelty) into Greece: But the Athenians fearing least the Ionians, which were now a Colony of their own, would by this means become common to the rest of Greece; opposed it, and told them, that themselves, as tied to them in blood, would never be wanting to their defence; and therefore desired that they might continue still where they were in Asia, [Herod. ib. ca. 105. Diod. ib. in 2 years of 75 Olympiade.]
They of the continent of Greece, entered into a firm association and league with them of Samos, Chios, Lesbos, and other Islanders, who had joyned in this War against the Persian; and having plighted their faith each to other with a solemn oath, to continue firm in this association, and never to break the bond now made between them: sailed in a body towards Hellespont, and in their way thitherward, came to an anchor first at a Foreland called Lectium; being there taken short by a contrary winde: but the winde coming faire again, they passed on, and came to Abydus; and when they found the bridges there already broken down, which was the principal cause of their going thither, Leotychides with his men of Peloponesus returned home; but the Athenians with their Captain Xanthippus, and (as Thucidides saith,) with their associates out of Ionia and Hellespont, which had revolted from the Persians, passed over from Abydus into Chersonesus, and there besieged Sestos: now Artayctes, a Persian born, and a wicked man, was Governour of that province, appointed by Xerxes: and because that Town was fenced with a very strong Wall, therefore as well others of the neighbouring places; as O…basus himself, a Persian born, who had laid up all the Flags and Stremers, and other furniture of the bridges at Cardya, left that place, and put himself into Sestos also, [Herod. ib. ca. 105. 113, 114, 115.]
Artabazus the son of Pharnaces, who with 40000 men fled out of the battel at Plataea, hastened away thorough the countries of Phocis, Thessalie, and Macedonia, into Thracia; and cutting the nearest way over-land, came unto Byzantium: having left many of his men behind him in his march; which were either knockt in head by the Thracians, or died with hunger, and travel on the way: and from Byzantium he got shipping, and passed over into Asia, [Id. ib. ca. 65. 69, 76, 88.]
But those few which had saved themselves in the top of the rocks, in the Foreland or Promontory of Micale, repaired to Sardes, from whence Xerxes was not yet gone. In that journey, when Masystes, one of the sons of Darius Hystaspes, had charged Artayntes, one of the chief Commanders of the Fleet at Mycale, among other reproachful words, that he had carried himself basely in that service, and more like a woman than a man; and was therefore assaulted by Artayntes with his naked sword: Xenagoras of Halicarnassus stept in, bare off the blow, and saved Masystes from that present danger: and Xerxes, for so saving his brothers life, made him Governour of all Cilicia, [ib. cap. 106.]
But whiles Xerxes spent his time at Sardes, he there sell desperately in love with his brother Masystes wife; whom when he had often sollicited to adultery, and could not prevaile that way, he thereupon married Artaynta, hers and his brother Masystes his daughter, to his own son: Darius hoping to get his will of her the more easily by this occasion. Which done, and the wedding ended, he returned toward Susa, [Ib. cap. 107.] leaving part of his army at Sardes, to continue the War against the Grecians, [Diod. Sic. an. 2, of 75. Olympiade.
Xerxes in his flight burnt the Oracle of Apollo Didymeus in Branchis, Year of the World 3526 as he did all the other Temples in Asia, save that at Ephesus; those of Branchis having, without resistance, delivered up the treasury of their god, went altogether along with him, fearing least, if they stayed behind, they should have been punished for sacrilege and treason both. [Strabo. lib. 14. with Solinus cap. 40.] Herodotus saith that Xerxes, going from Sardes, went to Susa: Diodorus, that he went to Ecbatane. Ctesias writeth, that he went from Babylon to Persia: Arrianus in his book of Alexanders Acts, affirmeth that coming to Babylon, he there demolished the Temple of Belus, and all other consecrated places; and with them, the Sepulchre of Belus; as Strabo, [lib. 16.] saith, who also there tells us, that he took away the statue of Belus, made all of massie gold, of twelve cubits high; and when the Priests opposed it, and would not suffer it to be removed, he slew him also, as we read in Herod. [lib. 1. cap. 183.]
While the Athenians lay at the siege of Sestos, and, the Autumn coming on, could not take it, they fell into a consultation to leave it; but the people within, were so near driven with famine, that they were faine to boile their very bedcords and eat them; so that Artayctes and Oebasus, with many of the Persians, gat down the walls by night, and fled; which the inhabitants perceiving early the next morning, signified the same to the Athenians, and opened their gates unto them, [Herodotus, lib. 9. cap. 116, 117.]
When there was now a great number of prisoners taken, what at Sestos, what at Byzantium by the Athenians, and their confederates in the army; the confederates, of their own accord, offered to refer the division and sharing of that prey, to Cimon, a young Gentleman of the Athenians, to be made as he should think good; and they would stand to it, who falling presently to work, set all the persons on the one hand, and all the cloaths and ornaments which they ware, on the other, and then bad them take their choice; saying, that the Athenians would content themselves, with that part which they left: their Associates, by the perswasion, of Herophytus of Samos, chose the cloaths and ornaments, as of far greater value, than the bare bodies of the prisoners, and left the bodies, as not made for labour, to the Athenians. But soon after, the friends and kinsmen of the prisoners, coming out of Phrygia and Lydia; redeemed those prisoners at a great rate, wherewith Cimon maintained the fleet four whole moneths after, and brought moreover a very considerable stock of silver and gold into the treasury at Athens. This act first gave a reputation of wit and wisdom unto Cimon among the Athenians; and they having gotten so much money by the bargain, laughed at their fellows, by whom they had formerly been laughed at, [Plutarch, in the life of Cimon, and Polyaenus, lib. 1. Stratag.]
When Oebasus had gotten away into Thracia, the Thracians, called Absynthii, took him, and sacrified him to their god Plestorus; and put his followers, some to one kind of death, some to another. Artayntes and his followers, they seized on at Egos potamus, and carryed him prisoner to Sestos: and by the sea side, where Xerxes had made his bridge, or as others say, upon a hill near the city Madytus, set up gibets, and there hung them up, stoning his own son first to death before his eyes. These things thus done, the Athenians returned into Greece, carrying with them besides moneys, the flags and streamers, ornaments of the bridges, which had been made over the Hellespont, purposing to hang them up as trophies in their Temples. And this was all that was done this year, [Herod. lib. 9. cap. 118, 119, 120.] Xanthippus leaving a garrison in Sestos, dismissed all strangers, and he with his own companies returned to Athens; and so the war of the Medes, as they call it, came to an end, after it had lasted full two years, [Diod. Sic. lib. 11.] in the 75. Olympiade.
Bagapates the Eunuch, The Julian Period. 4236 when he had continued sitting by the tomb of Darius 7 years, Year before Christ 478 died. [Ctes.]
Megabysus accused his wife Amyris, Xerxes his daughter, of adultery; who blamed his daughter for it, very sharply, [Ctesias] whiles he himself lay wallowing all the while in adultery and incest both; for turning his lewd affection… now from his Brother Masystes his wife, to their daughter Artaynta, whom he had now made his own daughter in law; he lay with her continually at Susa. [Herod. lib. 9. cap. 107, 108.]
Pausanias the son of Cleombrotus, Year of the World 3527 who was sent Gene…ral of the Grecians from Lacedemonia, The Julian Period. 4237 to free such Greek cities, Year before Christ 477 as were yet held by the garrisons of the Persians, with 20 ships out of Peloponesus, and 30 more from Athens, (Diodor. saith 50.) commanded by Aristides made a voyage into Cyprus, and there restored many cities, which were hitherto held by Persian garrisons to their native liberty, [Thucid. lib. 1. Diodor. Sic. in the 4 year of the 75 Olympiade.]
Xerxes celebrating his coronation day, gave to his Queen Amestris, who asked it of him for a boon, Masystes his brothers wife; whose paps, nostrils, ears, lips, and tongue she presently caused to be cut off, and so sent her home again; whereupon Masystes, conspiring with his own children, purposed to get him privily away with them into the province of Bactria, whereof himself was then Governour, and to raise both them and the Sacae to a rebellion against the king, but was intercepted by the way, by Xerxes his Souldiers; and both he and his children, and all that were in his company put to the sword, [Herod. lib. 9. from chap. 108. to 112.] And that government of Bactria, Xerxes bestowed upon his own son Hystaspes, [Diod. Sic. in the 4 year of the 78 Olympiade.]
Pausanias, Year of the World 3528 after his return out of Cyprus, The Julian Period. 4238 went and took Byzantium: Year before Christ 476 and then, without the privity of his associates in the war, sent the Persians whom he had there taken (some of them being Xerxes his neer friends and kinsmen; giving it out that they were fled) home to Xerxes, safe and sound, and all this businesse he negotiated, by one Gongylus an Eretrian born, whom also he imployed with letters unto Xerxes, wherein he desired his daughter in marriage: and in lieu thereof he undertook and promised, to bring Sparta, and all Greece, into his subjection. Glad was Xerxes at this newes, and presently wrote back unto him by Artabazus the son of Pharnaces, whom for this purpose he dispatched away to the sea side; that at a shorter distance he might the more easily communicate his counsels with Pausanias: and therefore gave him the Government of the province of Dascylis, calling home Magabates, who was Governour there before. And when Pausanias upon these hopes grew more insolent than before, and began to live after the Persian garbe, and carryed himself more ruggedly and imperiously towards those who were in league with that State, the greater part of them, and especially the Ionians, and others who had been lately freed from their slavery under the Persians, fell all to the Athenians, and desired rather to serve under them, [Thucid. lib. 1.]
Pausanias being hereof accused by the friends and associates of the Spartans, Year of the World 3529 was presently sent for, The Julian Period. 4239 to return home from Byzantium; Year before Christ 475 where being found guilty and condemned for some private misdemeanors; yet was wholly acquitted from all suspition of treason against the State: Neverthelesse he was put from the Government of Hellespont; yet thither he went again without leave asking, in a ship of his own providing; to the end that under colour of prosecuting the war on the behalf of the Grecians in those parts, he might the better negotiate and drive on his own designes with Xerxes: and therefore when the Athenians would not suffer him to nestle in Byzantium, he returned not to Sparta, but staied at Colonae in Troas: whereupon he was again accused at Sparta, that he held intelligence with the Persians, and that it was for no good, that he stayed hovering so long in those parts. Wherefore, being sent for again by the Ephori, so soon as he came, they threw him into prison: but upon a hearing he was again acquitted, [Id. ib.]
But when the Principality of Greece, Year of the World 3530 in hatred to Pausanias was taken from the Lacedaemonians, The Julian Period. 4240 and settled upon the Athenians: Year before Christ 474 they under a colour of revenging the wrong done to the several countries by the common enemy, made a tax of what monies, and what ships, the particular cities should contribute against the Persians: whereunto the cities both of Greece, and of the Grecians in Asia, readily agreed for the common safeties sake. The first tax made, amounted to 460. (not as Diodorus hath it, 560.) talents: to be laid up in the Isle of Delos, as in the common treasury of all Greece, [Thucid, lib. 1 Diod. lib. 11. Justin lib. 16. cap. 3. Plutarch and Emil. Probus, in the life of Aristides.]
Pausanias, being discovered by Argilius, his love-boy, to whom he committed his last letters sent to Aartabazus, was by the Ephori starved to death, [Thucid. lib. 1. Diod. lib. 11. Emil. Prob. in the Life of Pausanias.]
Artabazus, Year of the World 3531 an Hyrcanian borne, Captain of the Guard, and one who was above all others of greatest credit and authority with King Xerxes, as his father Artasyras was before with Darius; conspiring with Mithridates an Eunuch, Chamberlaine to the King, (Cresias calls him Spamitres or Aspamitres) who was his intimate friend and nearkinsman, being let into the bed-chamber with his seven sons, all robustious young men, by night, slew Xerxes as he lay in his bed: and in the deep of the night, went speedily to Artaxerxes, told him that Darius, (who was the eldest of the three sons of Xerxes) had killed his father, that he might the sooner come to the Crown, (which Elian. lib. 13. cap. 3. delivers, as if it had been so indeed:) but by this false tale, he perswaded Artaxerxes, to set the Kings Guard upon his brother Darius: and they slew him, [Ctesias, Diod. Justin lib. 3. cap. 1.]
Thus by Artabanus his means, Artaxerxes came to the Crown. Ctesias, who was a man of a milde disposition, and full of magnanimity withal: surnamed Longimanus, because his right hand, was longer than his left. [Plutarch in the beginning of the life of Artaxerxes.] But the 7 first moneths of his reign, are by Euseb. in his Chron. attributed to Artabanus: because that for so long, he ruled all things, as it should seem, in Artaxerxes his name; for though Diodorus intimates, that Artabanus himself was presently done to death, after his murders committed upon Xerxes and Darius; yet that there was some time passed between, appears by the more full narrations of the matter, both by Cresias, and also by Justin.
Themistocles of Athens, being suspected of the conspiracy with Pausanias for the betraying of Greece into the hands of the Persians, was searched for, and had be been taken, had out of all doubt died for it: and therefore he fled out of Greece, and came to Pydna (a Town lying in the Thermaic bay of Macedonia) & there finding a Merchant's ship going into Ionia, put himself aboard her. But by tempest, she was carried into the middest of the Athenian army, which lay at the siege of Naxos. But the Master of the Barque being well fee'd by Themistocles, lay a whole night and a day at an anchor without the Athenian Fleet; and so when the tempest was over, came safe to Ephesus, [Thucid. lib. 1. Emil. Prob. in the life of themistocles. Polyaen. lib. 1. stratag.] Plutarch reports that he came to Cuma, and there found that many Sea Captains laid waite to take him, especially Ergoteles and Theodorus, for that Xerxes had promised 200. talents to whosoever should bring in his head: and therefore, he conveyed himself privily from thence, and came to a little town called Egas in Eolia: and there lay close for a few dayes, in the house of one Nicogenes, a very wealthy man in those parts, and one who was very well acquainted, and familiar, with divers of the kings nearest attendants: Diodorus calls him Lysitheis, and sayes further, that he was a man of so very great wealth, that when Xerxes passed that way, he feasted both him and all his army, in a very bountiful manner. By this good Host's means, was put into a close waggon, such as the kings, and other great mens harlots used, among the Persians, to be carryed in: and that he came safe into Persia, both Plutarch and Thucidides agree; though Thucidides onelyonly saith, that he went also the way from the sea side into Persia, in the company of a certain Persian: now Herodotus tells us, that from Ephesus to Sardes, it is 3 dayes journey, and from thence to Susa 3 moneths, [lib. 5. c. 50, 53, 54.]
Artabanus purposing now to destroy Artaxerxes, as he had formerly done his father and brother; disclosed his intention unto Megabyzus, whom he knew to be malcontent, for the jealousie he had conceived of his wives disloialty, Amytis, sister unto Artaxerxes himself: and they sware secrecy each to other: but Megabysus, presently went and disclosed the matter to the king; who thereupon put Artabanus to death, and then also came to light, his practises concerning the death both of Xerxes, and also of Darius. And then Aspamitres, or Spamitres the eunuch, who was of counsel with him in both, was put to a most bitter death, by certain racks, and other engines in a boat (described more at large by Plutarch, in the life of Artaxerxes) [Ctesias.] For Megabysus, Justin puts Becabasus, as consort with Artabanus in this plot; and sets out the manner of Artabanus his death in this wise. Artaxerxes, saith he, fearing the number of Artabanus his children, commanded all the army to be ready in the field the next day, for that he would take a view of them, both how many they were, and also how every man could stand to his armes, wherefore, when Artabanus was there present in armor, Artaxerxes said, that his own corselet was a little with the shortest for him, and that he would change with Artabanus: and when Artabanus at his command, had put off his corselet, Artaxerxes ran his naked body thorough with his sword, out of which measure of his corselet, we may well learn, by the way, that Artaxerxes, was not at this time so very a boy or child, as Justin makes him, but that he was at mans estate; and so old, as that the Scripture tells us, that in the seventh year of his kingdom, he was grown a father, [Ezra 7. 23.]
After Artabanus his death, there was a battail fought between his friends, and the other Persians, wherein three of his sons were slain; and Megabysus, on the other side, sorely wounded, whereat both Artaxerxes himself and his sisters, Amytis, Megabysus his wife, and Rhodogyne, and his mother Amestris, much grieved; and hardly at length was Megabyzus recovered by the great skill and industry of one Apollonis, a Physitian, or Chirurgion, of the Isle of Coos: But hereupon all Bactria revolted from Artaxerxes, and another Artabanus was there made Governour, between whom and them, a field was sought, where they parted upon eaven terms, so saith Ctesias: where yet those words, foreign, are ambiguously spoken; for either it may be meant, as I have here expressed it, according to the construction thereof made by Hen. Stephanus; that there was another Artabanus made Governour of Bactria, in stead of the former, or that there was at this time another Artabanus, formerly Governour of that province, differing from him that was lately put to death; if we take the later sense, then this revolt of the Bactrians must be referred to a later time; but if the first, then to the present. For that at this present, Hystaspes, Xerxes his son, was Governour of Bactria, we learn out of Diodor. Sic. and that he was the middle brother between Darius, and Artaxerxes, we find in Ctesias: and every man may think, that it stood with a great deal of reason, that Hystaspes seeing his younger brother Artaxerxes preferred before him in the kingdom, would stir up, not onelyonly the Bactrians, whose governour he then was, but also all his other friends, for the recovery of his right.
Eusebius in his Chron. noteth, that in the fourth year of this 76 Olympiade, (upon which we now are) it was, that Themistocles fled to the Persians, which sureth well enough with that which is delivered by Thucidides; who placeth the coming of Themistocles to Artaxerxes, between the siege of Naxos, and that famous victory gotten over the Persians, at the mouth of the river Eurymedon by Cimon the Athenian; and withall, maketh the beginning of the reign of Artaxerxes, to fall in with the same time, for he saith, That Themistocles sent letters to Artaxerxes, foreign, (i.e.) when he was come newly to the crown, wherein he both craved his favour, and offered him his service against the Greeks: from whence we may fully discerne the true beginning of Artaxerxes his reign, which was almost full nine years sooner, than it is commonly said to have been.
Plutarch out of Phanias reports, that Themistocles was brought to Artaxerxes his presence, by Artabanus, a Colonel; and out of Eratosthenes that he obtained this favour at that Colonels hand, by the means of his Lie-by; which was a wench of Eretria: but doth not explain, what Artabanus this was: whether he, who affecting the kingdom, was slain by Artaxerxes; or that Arabanus to whom Xerxes, seven years before, when he went into Greece, committed the Government of his kingdome. For if he mean the first, then Themistocles his coming to Artaxerxes, must needs be within the first seven months after his coming to the crown; according to Euseb. his account: but if any other, than his coming to the king, might also have fallen upon any other month of the same first year, which will very well also suit with that place of Thucidides above mentioned; where he said, that he was brought to Artaxerxes, when he was newly come to the crown. Now that it was the office of the Colonel, or Chiliarch, being the second officer in the kingdom, to bring such as were to be admitted to the presence of the king, appeareth plainly by Emilius Probus, in the Life of Conon; and by Elian, [lib. 1.] Varius Histor. [cap. 21.]
When Themistocles, was thus graciously received, and welcomed by the king, a new danger grew upon him by the means of Mandane a daughter of Darius Hystaspes: for she having lost all her children in the sea-sight before Salamis, and not being able to prevaile with the king, tried and sollicited all her friends and great men about the Court, and at last stirred up the common people it self, to be revenged of this Themistocles, for the hurt he had done them in that battle. And when they all in a hurry came flocking into the Court, Artaxerxes told them fairely, that he would refer the whole matter to the judgment of his Lords: and so, by appointing a long time, for the preparing and hearing, and determining of this great cause, he found the means to deliver Themistocles, out of the peoples hands, for the present, [Diod. Sic. lib. 11.]
In the second battel, Year of the World 3532 between the Persians and the Bactrians, The Julian Period. 4242 by reason of a strong tempestuous wind, Year before Christ 472 sitting in their faces, Artaxerxes got the victory of them, and reduced them wholy to his subjection, [Ctesias.]
Themistocles, when he had spent a whole year in learning, as well as possibly he could the Persian tongue, and withal, was grown perfect in the lawes and customes of the country, and then coming to his trial, did not only quit himself from all objections made against him, but grew moreover into such favour with the King, as no Grecian was ever in before: for he not only used to carry him abroad with him a hunting, but also to call him to his private delights and recreations at home, insomuch, that he was admitted to the presence of Amestris the kings mother, and conversed familiarly with her. He bestowed on him also, a Persian wife, of noble parentage, excellent for beauty, and goodnesse of disposition; besides servants to attend upon him, cupboards of pla…e of all sorts, and all othe things, not only for his necessary use, but even for delight and pleasure, [Thucidides, lib. 1. Diodorus Siculus, lib. 11. Plutarch in the Life of Themistocles.]
When Demaratus the Lacedemonian, who returned out of Greece with Xerxes, was fallen into the kings high displeasure, for that he came riding into Sardes in his Chariot, wearing his turbant upright, upon his head, in a kingly fashion; upon the mediation, and entreaty of Themistocles, he assuaged his anger, and grew friends with him again: [Plut. in Them. with Sen. lib. 6. de Benefic. 31.]
Themistocles being made Governor of the province of Magnesia, returned into Asia; [Thucid. lib. 1.]
In his return, he escaped a great danger, intended toward him, by the lying in wait of Epyxius, a Persian, Governor of the Vpper Phrigia, and the Pisidians, and he escaped it by the forewarning of Dindymena, the mother of the gods, in a dream which he had, as he lay sleeping at noone: in memory whereof, he built her a Temple at Magnesia: and made his own daughter Muesiptolema to be consecrated Priestesse to her, Plutarch in Themistocles: or, as some will have it, his wife; as in Strabo, [lib. 14.]
But that Themistocles might appear in Asia, with the greater lustre, the king gave him, besides the government of the province of Magnesia, the very city of Magnesia, upon Meander, which paid the king yearly, fifty talents, to find him bread for his Table; and Lampsacus in Hellespont, to buy him wine to his meat; and Myus, at the mouth of Meander, for his second course. Neanthes Cyzicenus, and Phanias and Atheneus, [lib. 1. c. 27.] adde two Cities more, in the country of Troas, to wit, Percotes and Palescepsis, to furnish him with cloaths, and carpets, [Thucid. 1. Diod. lib. 11. Plut. and Emil. Prob. in the Life of Themistocles.
Cimon the son of Miltiades, Year of the World 3532 who was General in the field at Marathon, The Julian Period 3243 being now himself made General by the Athenians against the Persians, Year before Christ 471 set out of the Pyreum at Athens, with 200. fighting ships: which afterward, what out of Ionia, what out of other parts, he encreased to the number of 300. and with this Fleet he set saile for the coast of Caria: where all the sea towns, which had been at any time heretofore planted by Grecians, presently revolted to him from the Persians. The rest which were possessed by the natives of the country, & held by the Persian garrisons, he set upon, and took them all by pure force of war. Having thus dispatched the errand he came on, in Caria, he passed into Lycia: and in like manner took in all there too; and when as upon their submission to the Athenian government, he demanded shipping of them, his Navy was forthwith exceedingly much encreased, [Diod. lib. 11.]
The Persians listed what men they could out of other the Kings Dominions, for land service; but for shipping, they sent to the Phoenicians, Cyprians, and Cilicians. The chief Commander of all the Persian Fleet, when it came together, was Tithraustes, a bastard son of Xerxes, [Id. ib.] Ephorus saith, that he was Admiral of the Fleet, and Pherendates Commander by land: But Callisthenes saith, that Ariomandes the son of Gobryas, commanded the army, [Plut. in Cimone.]
After the Athenians had subdued Naxos, Year of the World 3534 as Thucidides, The Julian Period. 4244 in his first book teacheth us. Year before Christ 470 They and their confederates under the conduct of their General Cimon, in one and the same day, put to flight the Persians, both in a sea-fight, not far from the Isle of Cyprus, and also in a fight at land, at the mouth of the river Eurymedon in Pamphylia, the 3 year of the 77 Olympiade: as [Diod. Sic. lib. 11.] reporteth; who was of opinion, (and so was Justin, lib. 2. in fine,) that Xerxes was yet living: contrary to what Thucidides affirmeth, who yet of all other, lived nearest to that time. And therefore Eusebius is in the righter, who placeth this great victory in the 4 year of Artaxerxes; with this further note upon it: Cimon obtained this victory by sea and land against the Persians, near the River Eurymedon; and so the war with the Medes ended. For from the beginning of Artaxerxes reign (as we have put it according to Thucidides his account) his fourth year fell in with the third year of the 77 Olympiade, here mentioned by Diodorus, though Eusebius missorting the first year of his reign, with the first year of the 79 Olympiade, must of necessity in consequence thereof, have placed his 4 year, with the 4 year of the same Olympiade. But the best way will be, to set down this whole matter in order as we find it in Diodor. and Plutarch, thus.
When Cimon had heard, that the Kings Captains had taken up their Station with a great army by land, and a fleet by sea, in the coast of Pamphylia; he to keep the sea, that they might not come within the Chelidonian Islands, went with 200. saile from Cnidus and Triopium, and came to the city of the Phaselites, who were Grecians: and because they would not receive his Navy into their Port, nor fall off from the Persian, he fired their country, and assaulted their city. Neverthelesse, at the intercession of those of Chios, who were in the Fleet, a peace was made, upon condition that they should pay down ten talents ready money, follow Cimon, and partake in the war against the Persians, [Plut. in the life of Cimon.]
Then Cimon, understanding that the Persian Fleet hovered about the coast of Cyprus; set presently sail towards them, with 250. ships against 340. of theirs: Diod. Though Ephorus saith that the Persians were 350. and Phanodemus 600. strong: yet these did nothing worthy of so great a Navy; but they that were next the land, abandoned their ships, and fled to land, to the army that there was ready ranged in battel aray: the rest were set upon by Cimon, taken, and put to the sword, [Plutarch.] Thucidides saith, that they took all the Phoenician ships, to the number of 200. and sunk them every one, [Emil. Probus in the life of Cimon] saith that, he overcame and took all the Fleet of the Cyprians and Phoenicians, to the number of 200. saile. Diodorus, that the Athenians having sunk many of their ships, took 100. with the men in them prisoners, and that the rest when the souldiers were fled out of them into Cyprus, came all empty into their hands: which yet to have been taken full of souldiers appears by those Verses, which the Athenians made and offered to their god; found both in Diodorus, and also in Aristides his 2 Platonic Oration.
For these when souldiers all were kill'd at land,
An hundred Ships of the Phoenicians took,
All full of men.
Plutarch also in his little discourse of the Athenian glory, saith that Cimon brought from Eurymedon about 100. ships of war of the Phoenicians. But Diodorus affirms, that he took not onelyonly more than 100. but also full 340. ships, that is, the whole Persian Navy, and 20000. men in them.
Nor was Cimon satisfied with this victory at sea; but presently put over with his Fleet, and set upon the land army of the Persians in Asia which he saw ranged upon the shoar, near the mouth of the river Eurymedon; which the better to effect, he put all his own souldiers, into the enemies bottoms, which he had taken, and clad them all in Persian attire; whereupon they conceiving them to have been their own ships, hailed them as friends. Cimon therefore, so soon as the night came on, (and it was very dark without moon-shine,) landed his men, who breaking suddainly into the enemies Camp, slew all they met with, and killed one of the two chief Commanders, Pherendates, the kings brothers son, as he lay in his pavilion; and after a while made them (all amazed as they were with this sodain onslat,) to betake them to their heeles, [Diodorus.] And of this Stratagem, Polyaenus, [lib. 1.] maketh mention, saving that by a mistake, he saith, that Cimon so landed his men in Cyprus, and not in Pamphilia; and so doth Julius Frontinus, in the end of his 4 book: where Conon is found written instead of Cimon.
Cimon moreover took 80 of the Phaenicians ships, riding near Hydrus, and were not in the fight, nor had heard any incling of it, [Plutarch.]
This year Cimon setting saile from Athens, Year of the World 3535 with four tall men of war, The Julian Period. 4245 took 13 ships of the Persians, Year before Christ 469 in the Chersonese of Thracia, and driving out thence, both Persians and Thracians, possessed the place for the Athenians; and so wrought the matter, that in all Asia from Ionia to Pamphylia, there was not any body of a Persian army to be seen, [Plut. in the Life of Cimon.] And thence it came to passe, that Pericles, who this year began to have the principality at Athens, with 50 ships, and Ephialtes with 30 more, sailing beyond the Chelidonian Islands, in the sea of Pamphylia, saw never a sail of any Persian fleet all the way, as Plutarch out of Calisthenes reporteth: and Isocrates, in his Panathenaic, sayes, that neither a Persian man of war, durst appear nearer Greece, than the port Phaselis, nor any company of them by land, over the river Halys: yet Diod. writes, that the Persians seeing the encrease of the Athenian power fell to building of ships faster than ever.
Ezra the Priest, Year of the World 3537 a Scribe (or a Lawyer) skill'd in the Law of Moses, The Julian Period. 4247 obtained a large patent, Year before Christ 467 and was therewith sent by Artaxerxes the king and his seven counsellours to settle the Jewish Common-wealth, and to reform the Church at Jerusalem; by which patent, it was again made lawfull, for all Jews that would, not onelyonly to go themselves, but also to send or carry with them what gold or silver, either the king and his nobles, or the Jews themselves would offer to their God: there were also thereby given all sorts of furniture for the Lords house, and order given to the Tresurers beyond the river, to supply them with all other necessaries, out of the kings exchequer; and that all that attended any way upon the service of the Temple, should be free from tribute; and all the people was suffered, to live according to their own laws, [Ezra 7. 11, 26.]
In the seventh year of Artaxerxes, the first day of the first monethmonth, Ezra, with a great multitude of the Jews, set out from Babylon, [Ezra 7. 6, 7, 9. chap. 8. 1, 14.]
Ezra and his company spent 3 dayes at their Tents at Ahava; till the Levites, which were wanting, came unto them: when all were come together, Ezra commanded a solemn fast to be kept, and prayer to be made unto God, to prosper them in their journey, and consigned all the gold and silver, which was consecrated to God, into the hands of 12 choyse men of the Priests, and to as many of the Levites, [Ezra 8. 13, 30.]
Upon the 12 day of the the first monethmonth, Year of the World b. they removed from the river Ahava, and upon the 10 day of the 5 monethmonth, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes his reign, they arrived at Jerusalem: and there rested themselves three dayes, [Ezra 7. 8, 9. chap. 8. 30, 32.]
Upon the 4 day of the 5 monethmonth, the gold and silver which they had brought, was weighed out, and with the other furniture was laid up, in the house of the Lord: and they which returned offered also their sacrifices unto God: which done, the kings edicts were presented to the Governours and rulers beyond the river; who, thereupon, shewed all favour to the people, and house of the Lord, [Ezra 8. 33, 36.]
Ezra,3…38. understanding that the Israelites had entred into affinity with the heathen; mournes, fasts, and openly made intercession to God, to avert his wrathfull indignation from them, [Ezra 9.] And when many of the people also made great lamention for the same, Shecanias advised Ezra to move the people, that they would binde themselves by a vow to God, to put away their heathenish wives, and the children which they had by them: which was done accordingly, [chap, 10. 1.]
Warning was given to all such, as were returned out of the captivity, that they should appear at Jerusalem within three dayes, upon a great penalty to those, which should then be found absent. Wherefore all the men of Juda and Benjamin, coming together in the court of the Temple, the 20 day of the 9 monethmonth, and there quaking, what with the horror of the thing they came about, what with the bitternesse of the weather; Ezra commanded them every male to separate himself from his heathenish wife, who readily consenting thereunto; and desiring further, that Judges might be appointed to see that order put in execution: there were forthwith appointed two out of the order of the Priests, and two adjuncts more out of the Levites to assist them, in taking the cognisance of cases of this nature, [chap. 10. 7. 15.]
This examination held from the first day of the 10 monethmonth, Year of the World b. to the first of the first monethmonth, The Julian Period. 4248 and so in two moneths space, Year before Christ 466 was all this businesse of the strange wives dispatched, [c. 10. 16, 17.]
Themistocles died of a naturall death at Magnesia, Year of the World d. or as others will have it, of poyson voluntarily taken, when he saw, that he could not perform what he had undertaken to the King, for the subduing of Greece, [Thuc. lib. 1.] Cicero saith in his Laelius, that he killed himself, 20 years after the death of Coriolan; which according to Dionysius Halicarnassaeus his reckoning, falls in just with the 3 year of the 78 Olymp. upon which year there is this note put by Eusebius in his Chron. Themistocles, saith he, whom his own worth had made the conqueror, his countries injuriousnesse made the General, of the Persians: Neverthelesse, that he might keep himself from going in hostile manner against it; he appointed to offer a sacrifice, at which, taking a bowle full of the bulls bloud, he drank it off, and so fell down, as a noble sacrifice of piety, dead before the Altar; which so memorable a departure of his out of this life wrought this effect, that Greece should never need another Themistocles after him. Against which manner of his death, yet Tully in his Brutus, makes Pompo Atticus to argue in this wise: For as you now, saith he, tell us a tale of Coriolan, so Clitarchus and Stratocles do the like of …hemistocles; for of whom Thucidides, who was an Athenian himself, and nobly born, and an excellent man, and who lived not long after him, saith only that he dyed, and that he was privily buried in some place in Attica, and that there was some suspition, that he made away himself by poison; of him these men write, that when he had sacrificed a bull, he took of the blood of him in a basin, and quaffing it off, fell down dead in the place: Though indeed before the writing of this History by Thucidides, the Athenians themselves had heard it from Aristophanes, in Equitibus; which Comedy he wrote and taught in Athens, the 7 year of the Peloponesian war, when Stratocles was Pretor, or L. Chancelor of Athens, that he died with drinking of bulls bloud. Year of the World 3540
Jubily, The Julian Period. 4249 20. Year before Christ 465
Inaros the son of Psammeticus king of Lybia (not a Lydian as Ctesias hath it) going from Marea, Year of the World 3544 a City bordering upon Pharus, The Julian Period. 4254 turned away the greater part of Egypt, Year before Christ 460 from the obedience of Artaxerxes; and being made and proclaimed king by them, sent for the Athenians, from Cyprus, who by chance were there at that time, imploied in a war, with two hundred fail of ships, partly of their own, partly of their allies and friends, [Thucid. lib. 1.]
Artaxerxes hearing of the Egyptians revolt, presently gathered an army out of all his dominions, and rigg'd up a Navie, sparing for no pains nor cost therein, Diodorus Siculus, 2 year, 79 Olympiade. forerunning here in Thucidides his more exact accompt, by two ful years.
Artaxerxes purposed to go himself in the head of this army into Egypt: but upon his friends dissuasion, he gave that off, and sent his Brother Achemenes in that voiage with 400 thousand foote, and 80 sail of ships, [Ctesias.] and Diodorus agreeth with him for the sending of Achemenes General in this Egyptian war: but saith that he was Darius his son, and Artaxerxes his own great Uncle; and he gave him 300 thousand horse and foot, wherewith to go upon that service; meaning hereby Achemenes the son of Darius Hystaspis, and Atossa, unto whom Xerxes had formerly committed the kingdom of Egypt, which himself had subdued, to be governed, [Herodotus, lib. 7. cap. 7. & 97.]
Achamenes, Year of the World 3545 al. Achamenides, coming into Egypt, sate down with his army upon the bank of the river Nile; and having refreshed his army a while, after their long march, prepared to give them battle: They on the other side, having gotten together what forces they could make out of Egypt and Liba, lay still, waiting for the coming of the Athenians, [Diod. Sic.]
The Athenians, coming from sea; and entering the mouth of the Nile, quickly made themselves masters of the river, [Thucid.] Inaros, together with Charam…tis, who was Ammiral of a fleet of 40 ships, sent from Athens, got a victory at sea; wherein of 50 Persian ships, they took 20. with all the men in them; and sunk the other thirty, [Ctesias.] But Diodorns Siculus tells us, that the whole Athenian fleet which lay before Cyprus, and consisted of 200 saile, came at this time into Egypt; not forty ships only, as Ctesias said.
Inaros, with his own Egyptians, and this supply of the Athenians, fought also a battel with the Persians by land: wherein for a while the Persians, by reason of their overpowring multitude, had the better; but when the Athenians came and made a strong impression on them, and made the wing which they encountered with, to retire, many of them died in the place; and the rest of the Persian army betook themselves to their heeles: in which flight, there was a huge slaughter made of them, [Diodor.] for of 400 thousand men, which Achemenides brought into the field, there fell that day, together with himself, 100 thousand: for he died of a wound which he received from Inaros his own hand, and his body was sent to Artaxerxes, [Ctesias.] Herodotus also makes mention [lib. 3. c. 12. and lib. 7. c. 7.] of one Achamenes a son of Darius, and of other Persians, slain by Inaros a Lybian, son of Psammitichus, in a place called Papremes.
The Athenians following the chace upon the Persians, took two parts of Memphis, and assaulted the third part also, called the white Wall, whereinto the Persians and Medes were fled: [Thucid. and Diod.]
Artaxerxes, Year of the World 3546 hearing of this great overthrow, The Julian Period. 4256 dispatched away presently, Year before Christ 458 Megabasus a Persian, to Sparta, with a masse of money, to stir up the Peloponesians to a war against the Athenians, thinking that this would draw home the Athenians out of Egypt, But the Lacedaemonians would none of his money, nor yeild to any of his demands: which the King perceiving, he called Megabazu… home again with the monies which were left; and commanded Megabyzus the son of Zoppyrus to provide himself for a journey into Egypt. [Id. ib.] to wit, that Megabysus, who was formerly General in Xerxes his army; as [Herod. lib. 7. cap. 82.] and married Xerxes his daughter, Amytis: as Ctesias, the son of that Zopyrus, who recovered Babylon to Darius the son of Hystaspes: as Herod. in the very end of his third book saith.
Artabazus and Megabyzus designed Commanders for the war in Egypt, Year of the World 3547 carryed with them out of their own country, The Julian Period. 4257 horse and foot 300. thousand men, Year before Christ 457 [Diod.] but Ctesias saith onelyonly 200. thousand.
When they were come into the part of Cilicia and Phoenicia, the Commanders thought fit there to rest a while, and to refresh the army after so long a march: meane while they command the Cilicians, Cyprians, and Phoenicians to rig up and provide the Navy: and they in a trice provided 300. sail of tall ships, which were forthwith furnished with sea-men and souldiers, with store of ammunition, and all things fit and necessary for a sea-fight. Diod. Admiral of which Fleet was appointed Oriscus, [Ctesias.]
In making of which preparations, and in training and exercising their men in arms, and making them apt and serviceable for the war, they spent almost a whole year; mean while the Athenians presse the siege of the Fort of White-wall in Memphis: But when the Persians within manfully defended it, and the Athenians saw no possibility of taking it by assault; yet they lay before it all this year, [Diod.]
The Persian Commanders in Asia having all things fitted, Year of the World 3548 march from thence thorough Syria, The Julian Period. 4258 and Phoenicia, Year before Christ 456 with their land Army; their Navy of 300. saile coasting them still as they went: Until at last, they came to Memphis, [Diod.] where to those two hundred thousand which they brought with them, there joyned three hundred thousand more of those which Achaemenides had left in Egypt. Between these and the Egyptians there was a stout battel fought, and many fell on either side; but most of the Egyptians. At length Megabyzus with his own hand wounded Inaros in the thigh: whereupon he fled, and put himself into a most strong hold, called Byblus, in the Isle of Prosopitis in the river of Nile; and with him the Grecians which were left, and not slain with Charamites their General; and all Egypt besides save onelyonly that Fort of Byblus, followed the part of Megabysus. [Ctesias.]
Megabysus having driven all, both Egyptians and Grecians out of the field, and out of Memphis, and shut them up all in the little Isle of Prosopitis; continued the siege of them there, one yeare and six moneths. [Thucid lib. 1.]
In the 20 year of the reign of Artaxerxes, Year of the World 3550. a. in the 9 monethmonth called Cisleu, Nehemias being then at Susa, where the Kings of Persia used to keep their Winter-quarter: as Athenaeus [Deipnosoph. 12.] teacheth us, having received news how ill matters went with the Jewes at Jerusalem, namely, that the wall thereof was broken down, and the gates consumed with fire; fell to mourning, and fasted and prayed to God, that he would remit the sins of his people, and give to himself grace and favour in the sight of the King, [Nehem. 1. 1, 11.]
In the same 20 year of the King, Year of the World c. in the monethmonth Nisan, when the time came that Nehemiah in his turn was to attend upon the King; (for he was one of the Cup-bearers to him) and both King and Queen, (whom I suppose to be her whom Ctesias calls Damaspia) took notice of his sorrowful and dejected looks; he opened the cause thereof unto them, and obtained from the King a grant, not onelyonly to be Governour of all Judea; but also to rebuild Jerusalem, [Neh. 11. 1, 6.] and from this time, begins the account of Daniels 70 weeks, [Dan. 9. 24, 25.]
Nehemiah furnished now with a Commission, and equipage from the King, in spight of Sanballat the Horonite of Moab, and of Tobia the Ammonite, the Governour of some place thereabouts; comes to Jerusalem, begins the work, and answereth them who laughed at him for undertaking so idle a businesse as that was, [Nehem. 11. 7, 20.]
The Persian Commanders in Egypt, laied the channel of the river which compassed the Isle of Prosopitis dry, turning the water another way by ditches, which they cut; and so lest the Athenian ships aground: and now was Prosopitis no longer an Island, but joyned to, and made a part of the Continent. As soon therefore as the Egyptians saw the Athenian ships, in what case they were, they took a fright, and presently, not careing what became of them, made their own peace with the Persians: and the Athenians for their parts, seeing themselves thus deserted by the Egyptians, and their ships made uselesse, set them all on fire, that the enemy might not gain them. The Persians therefore now passing the channel on dry foot, entered the Island, and by a fight at land took it neverthelesse, seeing the excesse of valour in the Athenians, and remembring what losses they had formerly received by them, were content to come to a fair agreement and composition with them, that they should all, (and there were six thousand of them) depart out of Egypt, with bag and baggage; and return home when they would, [Thucid. Diod. Ctesias.]
And thus the fortunes of the Athenians in Egypt, where they had spun out the war six years, came to nothing: and Egypt returned into Artaxerxes his power and obedience again, all save Amyrtaeus, who was king of those which dwelt in the fen countries of Egypt; for him they could not take in, both because of the vastnesse of the fen it self, and also for that the inhabitants thereof were a most warlike nation, [Thucid. lib. 1.]
Eliashib, Year of the World d. the son of Joiakim, the son of Jehu (or Jehoshua) the High Priest, and the rest of the Jews, every one in his place, fel in hand very stoutly with the building of the wal of Jerusalem, [Nehem. 3.] beginning on the fourth day of the fifth monethmonth Ab. as is gathered out of chap. 6. 15. ib.
Sanballat and Tobias, with the Samaritans, and other enemies of the Jews, first fell a laughing and scoffing at this new work: but when they saw the wall half up, they left their mocking, and laid their heads together, and consulted how to destroy the builders, which when Nehemias understood, he first praied to God, and then began to order his men, all in a military way; and so put by the purpose and practise of their enemies, [chap. 4. ib.]
Nehemias, vponupon the complaints and outcries of the people, taketh an order to have them all freed, the slaves of their bondage, the debtor of their debts; and those that had pawn'd or mortgaged their lands or goods, of their forfeitures; and himself to give an example in so good and charitable a work, released his own debts, and all engagements of lands or goods made unto him, and …ased the poorer sort of publique taxes, and contribution, and gave liberally of his own unto them that wanted, [chap. 4. ib.]
But Nehemias was not onelyonly in danger from Sanballat, and other enemies abroad, but also from false prophets and false brethren at home, which sought to hinder the work no lesse than the other did. All which difficulties well overcome, the wall in fifty two dayes was finished, to wit, upon the 25 day of the sixth monethmonth called E…ul, do their enemies at home and abroad, what they could to the contrary, [chap. 6. ib.]
The dedication of the wall was performed with much celebrity, and great joy, [Neh. 12. 27, 43.]
Then did Nehemiah take into consideration the several offices belonging to the house of the Lord, appoints Governours over the city, and orders the guards thereof; and calling their congregation together, takes a note, of all that had returned out of the captivity, that ont of them a number might be selected, to people and store the city now it was built, with inhabitants: all which, every one according to his ability, made their several offerings unto God, [Neh. c. 7.]
When 50 saile of Grecian ships were sent into Egypt, to serve in their room, who had been there so long already, it …ell out, that they knowing nothing of what had happened to their countrey men there, came to anchor at Mendesium, which is one of the mouths of Nilus. There as they lay, the Persian sat upon them from the land, and the Phenicians by sea, and destroyed the greatest part of them; few escaped to carry news into Greece. And even of that great army which was there before, few returned into Greece again, but were lost as they passed thorough the deserts of Lybia, to get unto Cyrene. And this was the end, which that great voyage of the Athenians into Egypt came unto, [Thucid. lib. 1.]
In the feast of Trompets, Year of the World 3551 the first day of the seventh monethmonth, when all the Jews came together at Jerusalem, the Law of God was by Ezra red and expounded to them, at the hearing whereof, when they were all sorely grieved, and fell a weeping, they were heartned up by Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites, and by them perswaded to keep that feast, with meriment and joy of minde, [Nehem. 8. 1, 2, 12.]
Upon the second day of the same monethmonth, Ezra, was consulted withall, by the Elders of the families, and by the Priests and levites, concerning certain doubts arising upon the reading of the Law, and it was enjoyned them to keep the feast of Tabernacles, [Nehem. 8. 13, 14, 15,] abroad in the fields, and in booths made of boughs, according to the Law, [Lev. 23. 40.]
Upon the 15 day, and the six dayes following, the feast of Tabernacles was celebrated with great care and devotion, and for seven dayes together, the law of God was read in their ears, and the eight day also was kept very solemnly, according as was prescribed,[Levit. 23. 36.] Neither was there the like feast of Tabernacles kept from the dayes of Josua the son of Nun, unto that time, and there was great joy made at it, [Ib. 17. 18.] Of which the Jews in their greater Chronicle, [cap. 30.] speak in this manner; It may be said that he compareth the return of the children of Israel into the land, in the dayes of Ezra, with that of their first entring into it in the dayes of Joshua: and as in the dayes of Joshua they were bound to tithes, to the years of Shemitae, or Remission, and to Jubilies, and to the hallowing of their walled towns: so now in their return in the time of Ezra, they were in like manner obliged to the law of Tithes, of the years of Shemitae or releaseings, of Jubilies, and to the hallowing of their walled Cities; and they rejoyced greately before the Lord.
Upon the 24 of this monethmonth, the Israelites which returned, separating themselves from all strangers, made publick profession of their repentance, [Nehem. 9.] and renewing their covenant with God, bound themselves to the observation of the Law of God and of his Worship, [chap. 10.] and in special of that Law, [Levit. 25. 4. Deut. 15. 1, 2.] concering the tillage of their land, and exaction of debts: and of letting their land rest every seventh year, [Nehem. 10. 31.]
The chief Heads of the people seated themselves all at Hierusalem; the rest cast lots, according to which every tenth man, should inhabit and have his dwelling in the holy City. [Nehem. 11. with 1 Chron. ca. 9.]
Megabyzus, Year of the World c. leaving Sartamah Governour of Egypt, returned to Artaxerxes with Inarus, and certain of the Grecians in his company; having given them his word, that they should have no hurt done unto them; which Artaxerxes himself carefully observed and performed toward them, though grievously incensed against Inaros for having slain his brother Achaemenides, Insomuch, that when his mother Amestris (instead of which, the name of Amytis is here crept into Cresias) desired vengeance to be taken of Inaros, and the Grecians, and even of Megabyzus himself; her son in law the King, denyed her request, [Ctesias.]
The Athenians send Cimon their General with a Fleet of 200. sail of their own, Year of the World 3554 and their confederates into Cyprus: The Julian Period. 4264 of which sixty went away into Egypt to Amyrtaeus, Year before Christ 450 who continued still in the fenny country of Egypt: the rest besieged Citium a City in Cyprus, [Thucid. lib. 1.] At this time Artabazus and Megabyzus commanded the Persian Army; the first of which Artabazus lay with the Fleet consisting of 300. sail, about Cyprus: the other with his land Forces, which amounted to the number of 300. thousand men, remained in Cilicia, [Diod. Sic. lib. 12. in the 3 year of 82 Olympiade]
Cimon sent certain messengers to the Temple of Ammon, to consult the Oracle there, about some secret matter, [Plutarch in the life of Cimon.]
In the siege of Citium in Cyprus, Year of the World 3555 (as Thucidides saith) Cimon died; The Julian Period. 4265 either of a natural disease, Year before Christ 449 (as Emil. Probus hath it) or, as others, of a wound which he received in a fight against the enemy. Being ready to depart this life, he advised those that were about him to conceale his death, and to get them gone with all the speed they could. And it fell out, that neither friends nor foes knowing any thing of his death, all the Greek army returned home safe, under the conduct, (as Phanedemus speaketh) of Cimon when he had been a whole monethmonth dead; But they who were sent to consult the Oracle, having received no other answer, but that Cimon was already with him: returned to their fellows in Egypt, and understood by them that Cimon died, at that very time, when that answer was made unto them, [Plut. in the life of Cimon.]
When the Grecian army returned out of Egypt, they which lay before Citium in Cyprus, being sorely pressed with famine, raised their siege from thence, and sailed to Salamis in the same Isle: where they fought with the Phoenicians, Cyprians, and Cilicians, both by sea and land. In the sea-fight, they sunk many ships of the enemies Navy, and took a hundred bottomes, with all the souldier; and Marriners in them: and the rest they pursued as far as unto Phoenicia it self: But the Persians with such of the ships as were left, fled into Cilicia, where Megabyzus with the army lay. And the Athenians making thither ward with all possible speed, landed their men upon the open shoar, and set upon the enemy. In which fight, Anaxicrates who commanded the Fleet, behaving himself in most manful wise, died a most noble and heroick death. The rest having gotten the victory, and made a great slaughter of their foes, returned to their ships; and came home all in company with those, which were upon their way returning out of Egypt, [Diod. Sic. in the 3 and 4 year of the 82 Olympiade,] as he stands corrected out of Thucidides. But Elian writeth, that the Athenians lost in Egypt 200. tall men of War, and in Cyprus, 150. with all their tackle, ammunition, and furniture, in them, [Elian. Variar. Histor. lib. 5. cap. 10.]
Artaxerxes, hearing of the loss of his men in Cyprus, advised with his Council concerning this war; and in the end it was resolved, that it was for the good of that kingdom, that peace should be made with the Grecians. Therefore the King wrote his letters to the Captains and Commanders in Cyprus that they should at any hand, and upon any terms come to a treaty, and conclude a peace with the Grecians. Hereupon Artabazus and Megabyzus dispatched away messengers to Athens, there to treat of a peace; and when the Athenians had consented to the conditions by them proposed, they also sent commissioners on their part with full power and authority, the chief of which was Callias, the son of Hipponicus, [Diod, in the 4. year of the 82. Olympiade.] At which time also the men of Argos, sent their messengers to Susa, to know of Artaxerxes, whether he thought the league and friendship which they had heretofore made with his father Xerxes, did continue still; or whether they were held by him as enemies. To whom Artaxerxes returned this answer, that the league continued by all means, and that he held no City more friend to him than that of Argos was, [Herodotus, lib. 7. cap. 151.]
The peace between the Athenians and their confederates on the one side, and the Persians on the other, was concluded on, upon these conditions, That the Grecian cities, in all Asia, should enjoy their own liberty, and rights. That no Persian Governour, should at any time come within three dayes journey of the Sea: that there should no ship of war, of either side be found riding out, between Phaselis, and the Cyanean Iles: or as Plutarch expresseth it, That the king should not have any beakedship, or man of war surging in all the sea, between the Cyanean, and the Chel…donian Islands.
Now when the King and his Council of war had subscribed to these articles, then the Athenians also, took their oath, that they would not in hostile manner invade any of the kings Provinces, [Diod, ut sup.]
It is said also, that they built an altar in memory of this peace, and that they heaped many honours upon Callias, who had been the contriver and procurer of it, [Plut, in the life of Cimon.]
Artaxerxes tired out with the importune sollicitation of his mother, Year of the World 3556 which for five years space she continually used unto him, The Julian Period. 4266 at length gave up Inaros the Egyptian, Year before Christ 448 king, and the Greeks that came with him into hit hand; whereupon the Queen caused the body of Inarus to be so rackt, and stretched out, and wreathed several wayes, that he hung upon three several crosses at one time: as for the Grecians she caused fifty of them (for she could catch no more) to have their heads smitten off. [Ctesias.] Thucidides saith that Inarus king of Lybia, was taken by trechery and crucified; yet Herodotus telleth us, that his son Thammyras, by the favour of the Persians, held the Principality in Egypt; which his father had held before him, [lib. 3. c. 15.]
Megabyzus, being sorely grieved for the death of Inaros and those Grecians, asked leave that he might go to his own government in Syria: and had under hand sent away thither, the rest of the Grecians which had escaped; and he following after, so soon as he came thither revolted from the king: and gathered an army of 150000 men, Ctesias.]
Against Megabyzus was sent Osiris, Year of the World 3557 with an army of 200 thousand men: The Julian Period. 4267 they fought and in the fight, Year before Christ 447 Osiris wounded Megabyzus with a dart in the thigh, two inches deep: and he likewise wounded Osiris with a dart, first in the thigh, and then in the shoulder; with which Osiris fell from his horse; but Megabyzus took him about by the middle, and saved him, many of the Persians fell: and the two sons of Megabyzus, Z…yrus and Artipsyus, fought valiantly that day: so that Megabyzus had the better of it, and having gotten in the end a full victory, had great care of Osiris and sent him to Artaxerxes, who demanded him at his hands, [Ctesias.]
Against Megabyzus was sent another army, Year of the World 3558 whereof was general Menostanes, The Julian Period. 4268 or Menostates, Year before Christ 446 son to Artarius, Governor of Babylon, and brother to king Artaxerxes; who met and fought, and Megabyzus wounded Menostanes in the shoulder: and also in the head; yet was neither of those wounds mortal: but upon those wounds received, he and all his whole army left the field and fled, and Megabyzus obtained a most glorious victory, [Ctesias.]
Artarius, first by messengers, then Artoxares the Eunuch, a Paphlagonian born, and Amestris, the Queen mother, perswaded Megabyzus, to come to an agreement with the king: and with much a do could Artarius himself, and Amytis his wife, and Artoxares, who was now 20 years of age, and Petisas, Osiris his son, prevaile with him to come unto the king: and when he was come, the king sent him word, that he freely pardoned him all his by-past offences. But when a while after, the king went a hunting, and there a lyon set upon him, and Megabyzus, seeing the lyon raised upon his hinder feet, slew him with his spear; the king growing wroth with him, because he had done it, before he himself had given the lyon any blow, commanded his head to be taken off: yet upon the intercession of Amestris, & Amytis & others, his life was spared, and he sent away and confined to a certain Island, called Cirta, in the read sea: Artoxares also, the Eunuch, for having oft-times spoken liberally to the king, on the behalf of Magabyzus was bannished into Armenia, [Ctesias.]
Herodotus, Year of the World 3559 when he had read his books at Athens, The Julian Period. 4269 before the Council there; Year before Christ 445 was much honoured for them, as saith Euseb. in his Chron. where Scaliger noteth, that Herodotus wrote his books, before his going into great Greece; not in great Greece it self, as some imagine, following herein Pliny, and we shall see more in the year subsequent. But I observe, that in these his books, mention is often made of the Peloponesian War, both in [the 7 book cap. 137. and in the 9 book cap. 72.] In the former of which is related a thing done in the 2 year of that War; and in the later, a thing acted in the 19 year thereof at Decelaea: full 33 years after the time consigned by Euseb. to the reading of his books at Athens. See more after in the year 3596. and 3597.
In the first year of the 84 Olympiade, Year of the World 3560 when Praxiteles was Praetor or L. Chancelor of Athens, The Julian Period. 4270 12 years before the Peloponesian war began: the Athenians sent a Plantation or Colony of theirs into Great Greece, Year before Christ 444 to rebuild a certain decayed City there, called Thuri…: which Colony was carried thither by Lysias, a youth, at that time, of 15 years of age, and no more, [Plutarch and Dionysius Halicarnassaeus in the life of Lysias the Orator] And Herodotus being then 41 years old, who though he were born at Halicarnassus in Caria; yet obtained he the surname of Thurius afterward foreign, (i.e.) because he was one who had his part in carrying that Colony or Plantation to Thurii: as strabo saith in his 14 book: Now this 84 Olympiade fell in with the 310. year of the nativity of Rome, according to Varroes account. In which year Pliny saith, that Herodotus compiled his History at Thurii in Italy, [lib. 12. cap. 4.] as we touched in the precedent year.
In this year all wars were laied asleep throughout Asia, Year of the World 3562 Greece, The Julian Period. 4272 Sicily, Year before Christ 442 Italy, Gaule, Spain, and almost all the World over, [Diod. Sic. 3. year of the 84 Olympiade.]
Nehemias, when he had governed Judea 12 years, (i.e.) from the 20 year of the reign of Artaxerxes, to the 32 of the same, returned to the King, [Nehem. 5. 14. and chap. 13. 6.]
In his absence Eliashib the Priest, which was over the Chamber of the House of God, having contracted affinity with Tobia: had prepared him a fair chamber in the court of the temple: in which chamber, were formerly wont to be laid up and kept the hallowed Gifts and Tithes. And the son of Joiada the son of Eliashib the High Priest, (who was a different man from Eliashib, of whom I spake before) became son in law, and had married the daughter of Sanballat the Horonite; which disorders, with sundry others which had crept in, in his absence, Nehemias upon his return to Jerusalem with a new Commission, quickly redressed, and severely punished, [Nehem. 13.]
Megabyzus when he had lived now full five years in banishment; Year of the World 3563 fled out of the Island where he was confined, The Julian Period. 4273 and faining himself to be a Pisagas, Year before Christ 441 (1. a Leper in the Persian language, and one to whom no man might approach) came home to his own wife Amytis: and what by her, what by Amestris the Kings mother, was in the end reconciled to the King: who thereupon made him sit at table with him, as he had done in former times: and when he had lived 76 years he died; for which the King grieved very sorely. [Ctesias.]
In this year began a war between the Samians and Milesians, Year of the World 3564 about the city of Priene, The Julian Period. 4274 (i.) the sixth year in the beginning thereof, Year before Christ 441 (Thucidides hath it) after the 30 years peace and league made between the Athenians and Lacedaemonians: and in the 4 year about the middest thereof, of the 84 Olympiade as Diodorus noteth. Now Priene was a City in Caria, which the Samians and Milesians, each laid claim to as their own: the Milesians finding themselves too weak at blowes, drew unto their party some of the Samians, who desired an alteration of things in their own State: and with them repaired to Athens, and there complained of the injurious carriage of the Citizens of Samos: whereupon the Athenians sent unto them, requiring them to surcease their armes, and to come and debate the matter in difference, before them at Athens. Which when the Samians refused to do, Pericles prevailed to have open War proclaimed against them: and all this in favour of his wench Aspasia, that famous Courtisan, and one whom he doted on, not so much for her beauty, as for her wit; and because she was the daughter of one Axiochus, who was a Milesian borne. The Athenians therefore sending a Fleet of 40 sail, under the command of Pericles, easily took the City of Samos, and changed the Aristocraty thereof into a democratical kind of Government.
But presently after, Pericles was returned from Samos, there arose among them a terrible sedition: some striving to maintain the new establisht popular Government, and others holding that the old Aristocratical was the better. They therefore who disliked the Democratical, conspiring with the chief men of the city, sent into Asia, to Pissuthnes the son of Hystaspes Governour of Sardes; and having made a confederacy with him, obtained of him a company of 700. souldiers; with which putting over in the still of the night into the Isle of Samos: they there joyned with other of their consorts, who attended their coming, and so altogether surprized and took the Town, and professing themselves open enemies to the Athenians, took the whole Garrison of them that there was, with the Captain and Officers, and sent them all for a present to Pissuthnes: which done, they forthwith march against Miletus, having drawn the inhabitants of Byzantium also into their confederacy against the Athenians.