THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY
FOUNDED BY JAMES LOEB, LL.D.
EDITED BY
E. H. WARMINGTON, m.a., f.b.hist.soc.
FORMER EDITORS
fT. E. PAGE, C.H., LiTT.D. fE. CAPPS, ph.d., ll.d.
tW. H. D. ROUSE, LITT.D. L. A. POST, l.h.d.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
II
303
DIODOEUS OF SICILY
IN TWELVE VOLUMES
II
BOOKS II {continued) 35-IV, 58
WITH AN EXGLISH TRANSLATION BY
C. H. OLDFATHER
PROFESSOR OP AKCIENT HISTORY AND LANGUAGES,
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBR.\SKA
LONDON
WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS
MOMLXVn
y
rn
0-4
.^5^7/
First printed 1935
Reprinted 1953, 1961, 1967
Printed in Great Britain
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION TO BOOKS II, 35-IV, 58 . . . vii
BOOK II (continued) 1
BOOK III 85
BOOK IV, 1-58 335
A PARTIAL INDEX OF PROPER NAMES .... 535
MAPS
1. ASIA At end
2. AEGYPTUS-ETHIOPIA „
INTRODUCTION
Books II, 35-IV, 58
Book II, 35^2 is devoted to a brief description
of India which was ultimately derived from
Megasthenes. Although Diodorus does not mention
this author, his use of him is established by the
similarity between his account of India and the
Indica of Arrian and the description of that land
by Strabo, both of whom avowedly drew their
material from that ^vTiter. Megasthenes was in
the service of Seleucus Nicator and in connection
with embassies to the court of king Sandracottus
(Chandragupta) at Patna was in India for some time
between 302 and 291 b.c. In his Indica in four
Books he was not guilty of the romances of Ctesias,
but it is plain that he was imposed upon by inter-
preters and guides, as was Herodotus on his visit
to Egypt. It cannot be known whether Diodorus
used Alegasthenes directly or through a medium ;
his failure to mention his name a single time is a
little surprising, if he used him directly.^ The
Scythians, the Amazons of Asia Minor, and the
Hj'perboreans are then briefly discussed, and
Chapters 48-54 are devoted to Sp-ia, Palestine, and
Arabia. It is thought that this last section may go
* On Megasthenes see now B. C. J. Timmer, Megasthenes en
de Indische Maatschappij, Amsterdam, 1930.
vii
INTRODUCTION
back to the Stoic philosopher, Poseidonius of Apameia,
especially because of its explanation of the varied
colouring of birds and different kinds of animals as
being due to the " helpful influence and strength
of the sun." The Book closes with a description
of a fabulous people Hving in a political Utopia on
an island " in the ocean to the south," the account
purporting to be the adventure of a certain lambulus,
which may indeed be the name of the author of the
original tale.
The Third Book opens with an account of the
Ethiopians on the upper Nile, then describes the
working of the gold mines on the border between
Egypt and Ethiopia, and includes a long discussion
of the Red Sea and the peoples dwelling about it,
with some mention of the tribes along the shores of
the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Much of
this material was drawn from the geographer
Agatharchides of Cnidus, whose work. On the Red
Sea, is preserved to us in the excerpts of Photius.
This work of Agatharchides, composed in the latter
part of the second century b.c, embraced five Books
and is on the whole a sober and fairly trustworthy
discussion of that region ; much of it was certainly
based upon the stories and accounts of travellers
in these parts and on personal observation. With
chapter 49 Diodorus turns to Libya and embarks
upon the myths of the Libyans about the Gorgons
and Amazons, this subject serving to lead him over
into Greek mythology, which is the theme of the
entire Fourth Book.
Since, as Diodorus tells us, Ephorus, and Callis-
thenes and Theopompus, contemporaries of Ephorus,
had not included the mytlis in their histories,
viii
INTRODUCTION
Diodorus opens the Fourth Book \^ith a defence of
his exposition of Greek mythology. The gods were
once kings and heroes who have been deified becaiise
of the great benefits which they conferred upon
mankind; they have been the object of veneration
by men of old and we " should not fail to chei-ish
and maintain for the gods the pious devotion which
has been handed doAvn to us from our fathers " (ch.
8. 5) ; if their deeds appear superhuman it is because
they are measured by the weakness of the men of
Diodorus' day. Much of this material was drawn
directly from Dionysius of Mitylene who hved in
Alexandria in the second century B.C. and composed,
doubtless vnth the aid of the library in that city
and certainly with considerable indulgence in the
romantic, his Kyklos, a kind of encyclopaedia of
mythology, which included accounts of the Argonauts,
Dionysus, the Amazons, events connected -with, the
Trojan War, and all this he described with such
devotion and assiduity that he was given the nick-
name Skytobrachion (" of the leathern arm "). It
is generally held that for his account of Heracles
Diodorus took generously from a Praise of Heracles
by Matris of Thebes,^ who is otherwise unkno^^Ti
and composed his encomium with vigorous rhetorical
nourishes, taking care to mention every maiden
ravished by Heracles and her child, in order to
establish Heraclean ancestry for the numerous
families in the Greek world which raised such a
claim. But here and there, when he touched the
western Mediterranean, Diodorus used Timaeus of
Tauromenium, who, an exile in Athens for the best
* Cp. E. Holzer, Matris, ein Beitrag zur Qicdlenkritik
DiodoTS, Program Tubingen, 1881.
ix
INTRODUCTION
fifty years of his life, completed, not long before his
death about 250 b.c. and almost altogether from
Uterary sources, a history of Sicily and the western
Mediterranean in thirty-eight Books. Any attempt
to continue further the quest for the sources of
Diodorus in this section of his work must run into
the sands.
THE LIBRARY OF HISTORY
OF
DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK II
AIOAOPOY
TOT SIKEAinTOT
BIBAIOeHKHS I2T0PIKHS
BIBA02 AEYTEPA
35. *H TOLVVV ^IvSlktj TerpdirXevpo's ovaa rip
axT^P-O-TL, TTjv fX€V TTpos OLVaToXas vevovaav
TrXevpav Kal rrjv Trpog ^ piea-qfji^pLav r] pLeyaXr]
TTepLex^L OdXarra, ttjv he rrpos rag apKrovs to
'H/xaiSov opos hietpyei rrjs YjKvOias, riv KaroiKOvai
Tcov TdKvdwv ol TTpoaayopevopevoL Sa/<:af rrjV Se
rerdprrjv ^ Trpos Svaiav earpappeviqv hLeiXrifjyev 6
'Ivoo? irpooayopevcpevos 7TOTap,6s, pceyiaTOS cov
2 raJv TTavrcov perd top JSelXov. to Se peyeOos
TTJs oXrjg ^IvhiKTJs (f)acrLv VTrdp^^LV (ztto /xev
dvaroXdJv Trpos Svacv Siapvpicov oKTaKiaxt-Xicov
araSiojv, drro Se tcov dpKTOJV npog pLea-qp^ptav
TpiopLvpiajv Sloxi-Xlcov. Tr^XiKauTf] S ovaa to
pieyedos SoKet tov Koapov p.dXiaTa Trepiex^iv
Tov Twv 6epLva)v rpoTTCov kvkXov, Kai TToXXaxjj
p-kv irr' aKpag ttjs 'IrStKT^s" tSei^ eoTiv aaKLOVs
ovras Tous yvd>p.ovag, vvktos Se rd? dpKTOvs
* rT]v TTpos Bekker : Trpos D, rrjv Trpos ttjv Vulgate.
* Tijv after rerdprT^v omitted by D, Bekker, Vogel.
^ The Indian Ocean.
THE LIBRARY OF HISTORY
OF
DIODORUS OF SICILY
BOOK II
35. Now India is four-sided in shape and the side
which faces east and that which faces south are em-
braced by the Great Sea,^ while that which faces
north is separated by the Emodus range of mountains
from that part of Scythia which is inhabited by the
Scythians known as the Sacae ; and the fourth side,
which is turned towards the west, is marked off by
the river known as the Indus, which is the largest
of all streams after the Nile. As for its magnitude,
India as a whole, they say, extends from east to west
twenty-eight thousand stades, and from north to
south thirty-two thousand. And because it is of
such magnitude, it is believed to take in a greater
extent of the sun's course in summer ^ than any other
part of the world, and in many places at the Cape
of India the gnomons of sundials may be seen which
do not cast a shadow, while at night the Bears are
* Lit. " of the summer turnings " of the sun, i.e., the course
which the sun seems to traverse in the heavens from the
solstice on June 22 to the equinox in September, corresponding
to the part of the earth lying between the Tropic of Cancer
and the equator.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
ddeojpi^Tovs' iv 8e rot? ecr;\;aTots' ovS' aurov tov
dpKTOvpov (j^aiveadaL- Kad' ov Sr) tottov ^ (f)aaL
/cat rds oKids K€KXia9ai Trpos jjiearjfji^pLav.
3 'H S' ow 'IvSlkt] ttoAAo, p,ev opiq koI p.eydXa
e;^et SeVSpecrt TravToSaTJoXg Kap7TL[xoLg TTXiqdovra,
TToAAa 8e TreSta /cat jxeydXa Kap7TO(f>opa, rep pbev
/caAAet Sidfjiopa, TTorapLcJov he TrXrjdeaL Scappeo-
fieva. rd ttoAAo. 8e rrjs x^P'^^ apSeuerat, /cat
8ia rovTO hiTTOVs e^^i- roug /car eros' KapTTOvs'
^(jowv re TravroSaTToJi' yejjLei hia(f>opojv rols fxeye-
deai /cat rat? aA/catj, rdav p.ev X'^paaiiov, rcov
4 8e /cat TTr~i]va)v. /cat TrAetaTOUS' 8e /cat fxeyiarovs
eXejiavTas eKTpe(l>ei, x'^PVY^^^^ '^^^ Tpo(j>ds d<j>d6-
vovs, 8t' as rat? pojp-ats rd O-qpia ravra ttoXv
TTpoex^i- TdJv Kard rrjv At,^vrjv yewojpuevcov 8to
Kat TToXXojv drjpeuopLevcDV vtto tcov IvScov /cat
TTpos Tovs TToXejXLKOus dycovas KaraaKeva^opievcov
[xeydXas avfi^aLvei porrds ytveadai Trpos ttjv
VLKrjV.
36. 'OfjLOLOJS 8e /cat Tovs dvdpcoTTOVS rj ttoXu-
KapTTLa Tperf>ovaa rot? re dt'aCTTT^/xacrt rojv ctcd-
pLarcDV /cat rotj oy/cot? VTTep<j)epovras /cara-
CT/ceya^ef etVat 8 ayroi)? crujjL^aLvet Kat rrpos
rds rexi'CLS e7TLar'i]p.ovas, cos dv depa jxev
eXKovras Kadapov, vhatp he XeTTTopLepearaTov
2 TTLVOvras. r) he yrj TTdpLcjiopos ovaa tols rjixepois
KapTTols ex^i' Kal (fyXe^as Karayelovs 7TO/\Xa)v /cat
TravrohaTTcbv jxeraXXcuv ytverai yap ev avrfj
TToXvs p^ev dpyvpos /cat XP''^'^°^> °^'^ oXiyos he
XO-Xkos /cat Gthrjpos, ert he KaxTiTepos /cat raAAa
rd npos Koapiov re Kal ;^petW /cat TToXeiXLKr^v
^ TOTTOV Hertlein : rponov,
4
BOOK II. 35. 2-36. 2
not visible ; in the most southerly parts not even
Arcturus can be seen, and indeed in that region, they
say, the shadows fall towards the south.^
Now India has many lofty mountains that abound
in fruit trees of every variety, and many large and
fertile plains, which are remarkable for their beauty
and are supplied with water by a multitude of rivers.
The larger part of the country is well watered and
for this reason yields two crops each year ; and it
abounds in all kinds of animals, remarkable for their
great size and strength, land animals as well as
birds. It also breeds elephants both in the greatest
numbers and of the largest size, providing them with
sustenance in abundance, and it is because of this
food that the elephants of this land are much more
powerful than those produced in Libya ; consequently
large numbers of them are made captive by the
Indians and trained for warfare, and it is found that
they play a great part in turning the scale to victory.
36. The same is true of the inhabitants also, the
abundant supply of food making them of unusual
height and bulk of body ; and another result is that
they are also skilled in the arts, since they breathe
a pure air and drink water of the finest quality.
And the earth, in addition to producing everj'^ fruit
which admits of cultivation, also contains rich under-
ground veins of every kind of ore ; for there are
found in it much silver and gold, not a Uttle copper
and iron, and tin also and whatever else is suitable
^ Cp. Strabo, 2. 5. 37 : " In all the regions that lie between
the tropic and the equator the shadows fall in both directions,
that is, towards the north and towards the south . . . and
the inhabitants are called Amphiscians " (i.e., "throwing
shadows both ways "; tr. of Jones in L.C.L.).
DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 TTapaaKevTjv avqKovra. xcopi^ 8e rthv hrnxrj-
TpiaKOiv KapTTCOv (f)veTaL Kara rrjv ^Iv^iktju ttoXXtj
fi€V Keyxpos, dpSevofievr] rfj rcov 7T0Tap,i(x}V va-
fiaTCov Sai/jiXeia, ttoXv S oairpiov /cat ^id^opov,
en S' opvl,a /cat o TrpoaayopevopLevo^ ^oanopos,
Kai fierd raur' aAAa ttoAAo. tcov rrpos 8tarpo<f>'f]v
Xpr]<yL[jiO)v /cat TovTcov rd ttoAAo. inrapx^t av-
TO(f>vr]. ovK oXiyovs 8e /cat dXXovs eStoSt/xoys"
Kapnovs (f>€p€t Suvafxevovs Tpi<f>eiv t,(x)a, Trepl (ov
fxaKpov dv €17] ypd(f)€LV.
4 Ato /cat (fiaat [xrjSeTTOTe Trjv ^IvSlktjv €TTLa)(^elv
AtjLtof Tj KadoXov GTrdvLV TCOV 77/30? rpo(f>riv
^jxepov dvqKovTCDV. StrrcDv ydp opi^pcov iv avrfj
yivofjievcov /ca0' eKaarov eros, rov fxkv x^ipiepLvov ,
Kadd TTapd rotg aAAot?, o cnropos rd)v TTvpivojv
ytVerat Kap-ncov, tov S' irepov /caret t7]v depLvrjV
rpoTTTjv ^ aTTeipeadai cru/x^atVet rrjv opul^av /cat
TOV ^oanopov, ert 8e a-qcrapLov /cat Key^pov
/cara 8e to TrAetaTov djjicfiOTepoLs rot? KaprroLs
oi /cara tt^v IvSt/crji/ emTvyxdvovaL, TrdvTOJv 8e,
T€X€a<f>opovpLev(xiV daTepov tcov Kapncov, ovk
5 diTOTvyxdvovaLV . ol re avTopLaTi^ovres Kapiroi
/cat at /cara tous" eAtaSetS' tottou? 0ud/xei^at /5t^at
Sid(f)opoi. rat? yXvKVTiqaLV ovaai ttoAAt)!' nape-
XpvTat, TOt? dvdpcoTTOis SaifjcXetav rrdvTa ydp
uxehov Tct /caret n^j/ ;^ajpat' 7re8ta yAu/cetai' e;)^et
rTjv (XTTO rait' TtOTapLoov t/c/ict8a /cat ri^i' (xtto rciii'
ofx^pcov TCOV ev tco depet '^ /car ei/taurov' kukXlktj
Ttvi TTepLoSip TTapado^cos elcodoTcov yiveadai,
* Ko^* ^v after Tponrjv deleted by Vogel.
^ ytvo/te'vcov after ^epei deleted by Reiske.
BOOK II. 36. 2-5
for adornment, necessity, and the trappings of war.
In addition to the grain of Demeter ^ there grows
throughout India much millet, which is irrigated by
the abundance of running water supphed by the
rivers, pulse in large quantities and of superior
quality, rice also and the plant called hosporos,^ and
in addition to these many more plants which are useful
for food ; and most of these are native to the country.
It also yields not a few other edible fruits, that are
able to sustain animal life, but to write about them
would be a long task.
This is the reason, they say, why a famine has
never visited India ^ or, in general, any scarcity of
what is suitable for gentle fare. For since there are
two rainy seasons in the country each year, during
the winter rains the sowing is made of the wheat
crops as among other peoples, while in the second,
which comes at the summer solstice, it is the general
practice to plant the rice and bosporos, as well as
sesame and millet; and in most years the Indians
are successful in both crops, and they never lose
everything, since the fruit of one or the other sowing
comes to maturity. The fruits also which flourish
wild and the roots which grow in the marshy places,
by reason of their remarkable sweetness, provide
the people with a great abundance of food. For
practically all the plains of India enjoy the sweet
moisture from the rivers and from the rains which
come with astonishing regularity, in a kind of fixed
1 Wheat.
2 A kind of millet ; called bosmoron in Strabo, 15.1. 13.
^ This statement may be true in the sense of a general and
protracted famine; but the Buddhist records often refer to
scarcity of food because of drought or floods; cp. The
Cambridge History of hidia, I. p. 203.
1
DIODORUS OF SICILY
SaipiXeta ^ ■^(XLapcbv ttltttovtcjov vSdrajv ck tov
TTepiexovTOS aipos, koI ras eV TOt? e'Aecrt pt^ag
eipovTOS TOV Kavjiaros, koL pboXiara rdv pLeydXcov
6 KaXapicov. arvp^dXXovrai §e vra/xz Tot? 'IvSot?
/cat TO. voixi/JLa Trpog to /^.T^SeTrore eVSeia;' Tpo<j)rjs
Trap* avTOLs etvai,' rrapa. pikv yap toIs dXXois
avdpdoTTOis OL TToXefiLOL KaTa^deipovTCS ttjv ^copav
ay€a)pyr]TOV Karacr/ceua^ouai, irapa 8e to-utols
T(x)v yeojpyoJv Lepuw icat d(y6Xcov icoixevcov, ol
TrXr^GLOv Tojv TTapaTa^ecov yecopyovvres dve-
7 TTaiaQrjTOL tojv klvSvvojv elaiv. dp^^OTepoi yap
Ol TToXepiovvTes dAAi^Aous' p^ev OLTTOKTeLvovacv ev
Tats [xaxo-Ls, Tovs Se Trepl ttjv yecopyiav ouTas
iwaiv d^Xa^etg, ai? kolvovs ovTas aTrdvTCOv
evepyeTas, ra? re ;^tupa? tojv avTiiroXepovvTcxiv
ovT ep-TTvpL^ovGLV ovT€ 8ev8poTO[ji.ovaiv .
37. "^X^'' ^^ '^'^'' TTOTapiOVS Tj X'^P^ '^^'^ ^\vha)V
TToXXovs Kal fieydXavs ttXcotovs, ot ra? Trrjyds
€xovTes €V TOLS opeat tols npog tols dpKTOVs
KeKXifxevoLS (fyepovTai Sia Tr]s TreSiaSos", cSv ovK
oXiyoi (jvpp.iayovT€s dAAT^Aotj €p.^dXXov(nv els
2 TTOTapLOV TOV ovo pLat,6 pL€Vov Vdyyrjv. ovtos 8e
TO irXdTOs yiv6p,€vos oTahiojv TpidKovTa ^eperat
/xer dno ttjs dpKTOV vpos pLearjjx^piav, i^epev-
yerai S els tov wKeavov, diroXapi^dviov els to
TTpos eco p-epos to edvos to tojv Fai'Sa/Ji.Saii',
3 TrXelaTovs ^xov /cat pieyiuTOVs eXe(j)avTas . Sto
/cat TVS ;\;cLipa? TavTrjs ovSels rrcjiroTe ^aoiXevs
enrjXvs eKpdTiqae, TrdvTCJV tcvv dXXoedvayv <f>o^ov-
^ Scuf/iXelq. Oldfather : BaipiXeta D, 8aiJtLXeiav A B, Bekker,
Dindorf, Vogel, Bai/iiXeiav . . , aepos omitted II.
8
BOOK II. 36. 5-37- 3
cycle, every year in the summer, since warm showers
fall in abundance from the enveloping atmosphere and
the heat ripens^ the roots in the marshes, especially
those of the tall reeds. Furthermore, the customs
of the Indians contribute towards there never being
any lack of food among them ; for whereas in the
case of all the rest of mankind their enemies ravage
the land and cause it to remain uncultivated, yet
among the Indians the workers of the soil are let
alone as sacred and inviolable, and such of them as
labour near the battle-hnes have no feeUng of the
dangers. For although both parties to the war kill
one another in their hostilities, yet they leave unin-
jured those who are engaged in tilhng the soil,
considering that they are the common benefactors
of all, nor do they burn the lands of their opponents
or cut down their orchards.
37. The land of the Indians has also many large
navigable rivers which have their sources in the
mountains lying to the north and then flow through
the level country ; and not a few of these unite and
empty into the river kno^\^l as the Ganges. This
river, which is thirty stades in width, flows from north
to south and empties into the ocean, forming the
boundary towards the east of the tribe of the
Gandaridae, which possesses the greatest number of
elephants and the largest in size. G^nsequently no
foreign king has ever subdued this country, all alien
1 Literally, "boils" or "heats." Strabo (15. 1. 20) says
that what other peoples call the " ripening " of fruits is called
by the Indians the " heating."
9
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fxlvcov TO re ttXtjOos /cat Trjv aXKrjV rcov drjpLcov.
Koi yap AXe^avSpos 6 MaKeScav aTrdcrrjs rrj^
*Aaias KpaTijcras fiovovs rovs TavSapiSas ovk
CTToXefJirjae' Karavrrjaas yap ctti tov Tdyyr^v
7Torap.6v jLtera Trdarjs ttjs Sum/xeo)?, koI tovs
dXXovs IvSovs KaraTToXejJi'qaas, d)s eTTvdero roiis
TavSaplSas ^X^''^ rerpaKiayLXiovs eAe^ai/ra?
TToXe/jLLKcos KeKoapLTiixlvovs , oLTTeyvo) rrjv en avrovs
aTparetav.
4 *0 Se 77 apairXiqa LOS rw Tdyyrj TTora^os',
Trpoaayopevofxevos 8e 'IvSo?, dpxerai fxev o/xoto)?
diTO rci)v dpKTCov, iix^dXXojv 8e els rov ojKeavov
a^opt^et T'qv Yvhucr^v ttoXXt^v 8e Ste^tcov 7re-
StaSa ■)(^d>pav Sexerai 770Ta/xoi)s" ovk oXtyovs
ttAcotovs, emcpaveararovs o 1 rraviv Kai 1 oa-
5 airriv /cat ^AKealvov. p^oipt? 8e tovtchv oKXo
TrXrjdos TTorafiiov TravrodaTrcbv Siappet /cat Trotet
Kard(f}vrov '^ ttoXXols KrjTTevfiaat /cat Kapnols
iravrohaTTols r-qv y^copav. rod he Kara rovs
TTOTapiovs TrXrjdovs /cat ri]s roJv vSdrcov vrrep^oXrjs
alrtav (fiepovoLv ol Trap* avrols ^tAoao^ot /cat
6 ^voLKOi roLavTiqv' ttjs 'IvSlktjs (/>aat rds Trepi-
Keipbivas xchpas, r-qv re 1jKv9a)v /cat JiaKrpiavcvv,
en he /cat rcbv ^Apiavajv, vifjrjXorepas elvac rijs
*lv8LKrjs, coar evXoycos els Trjv VTTOKeifievrjV )(a)pav
Travraxodev avppeovcras rds Xi^dhas e/c rov /car'
oXiyov TTOielv rovs tottovs Kadvypovs /cat yevvdv
^ Kwra^vrov Dindorf : KorappuTov.
1 A fuller account of this incident is given in Book 17. 93.
But Alexander did not reach the river system of the Ganges,
the error being due to a confusion of the Ganges with the
lo
BOOK II. 37. 3-6
nations being fearful of both the multitude and the
strength of the beasts. In fact even Alexander of
Macedon, although he had subdued all Asia, refrained
from making war upon the Gandaridae alone of all
peoples ; for when he had arrived at the Ganges
river with his entire anxiy, after his conquest of the
rest of the Indians, upon learning that the Gandaridae
had four thousand elephants equipped for war he
gave up his campaign against them.^
The river which is nearly the equal of the Ganges
and is called the Indus rises like the Ganges in the
north, but as it empties into the ocean forms a
boundary of India ; and in its course through an
expanse of level plain it receives not a few navigable
rivers, the most notable being the Hypanis,^ Hydaspes,
and Acesinus. And in addition to these three rivers
a vast number of others of every description traverse
the country and bring it about that the land is planted
in many gardens and crops of every description.
Now for the multitude of rivers and the exceptional
supply of water the philosophers and students of
nature among them advance the folloAving cause :
The countries which surround India, they say, such
as Scythia, Bactria, and Ariana, are higher than
India, and so it is reasonable to assume that the
waters which come together frona every side into the
country lying below them, gradually cause the regions
to become soaked and to generate a multitude of
Sutlej, a tributary of the Indus ; cp. W. W. Tarn, " Alexander
and the Ganges," Journal of Hellenic Studies, 43 (1923), 93 &.
* In Book 17. 93. 1 and Arrian, 5. 24. 8, this river is called
the Hyphasis, which is the name preferred by most modem
writers. Strabo (15. 1. 27, 32), however, calls it the Hypanis,
and Quintus Curtius (9. 1 . 35), Hypasis.
u
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TToraiicbv TrXrjdog. lSlov Se tl avfJi^aLvei Trepi
Tiva Tcbv Kara rrjv *lvSiKr)v TToraixaJv rov ovofia-
t,6ixevov HtXXav, peovra 8' e/c rtvo? oficovvfiov
Kprjvrjs' em yap tovtov fxovov rcov aTrdvTUiv irora-
fjLcov ovSev rcbv eyMjSaAAo/xeVcov els avrov eTTtTrAet,
TTOvra S' 61? rov ^vdov KaraSveraL rrapaSo^ajg.
38. Trjv S' oXrjv ^IvScKTjv ovaav VTrepneyedrj
Aeyerat KaroLKelv eOvrj ttoAAo, /cat TravroBaTrd, Kal
Tovrcov pLTjhev ex^i^v rr)v i^ ^PXV^ yiveaiv err-qXvv,
aAAa TTavra SokcIv VTrdpxeiv avroxOova, Trpos 8e
TOUTOts" /u.7jre ^€vlk7]v OLTTOiKLav TTpoaSex^crdaL TTcoTTore
p,rjr els aXXo edvos ^ dvearaXKevai . [xvOoXoyovaL
8e rovs dpxo.Lordrovs dv6 panrovs rpo(j>aZs fJiev Ke-
XP^fydai roLS avrofxdrcjjs <f)VOfX€VOis e/c rrjs yrjs Kap-
TTolg, eadi^ai. 8e rats Sopals rcov iyxcoplcov t,a)COV,
KaddTTep /cat Tra/)' "KXAr^aiv, o/ioiajs" Se /cat rojv
rexyojv to? evpeaeig /cat rcov dXXcov rcov irpos ^iov
XP'i^cTLncov e/c rov /car' oXtyov yeveadai, rrjs
XP^i'OLS avrrjs v^riyov pievT)s ev(f>veX t,c^cp Kat avvep-
yovs exovri irpos ajravra ;^etpas' /cat Xoyov /cat
^VXV^ dyxi'^oiav.
M.v6oXoyovoL 8e irapd roZs 'Ii'Sots' ol Xoyicxj-
raroL, rrepl ou ^ KadrJKOV av ecr] crvvropLcos
hLeXOeiv. <l)aaL yap ev rols apxaiordrois
XpovoLS, Trap' avrols ert rcov dvdpcoiTcov KcofxrjSov
oLKovvrctiv, TTapayeveadai rov l^iowaov e/c ra>v
TTpos earrepav roTTCov exovra SvvajjLLV d^LoXoyov
eTreXdelv 8e rrjv ^IvSlktjv aTraaav, pLiqhepLids ovcttjs
^ dXXo eOvos MSS., Bekker: dXXoedvets emendation of
Dindorf and adopted by Vogel (cp. ch. 39. 4).
2 ov Vogel : CUV F, Bekker, Dindorf.
' The same wonls appear in Book 1. 8. 9.
12
BOOK II. 37. 6-38. 3
rivers. And a peculiar thing happens in the case of
one of the rivers of India, known as the Silla, which
flows from a spring of the same name ; for it is the only
river in the world possessing the characteristic that
nothing cast into it floats, but that everj^thing,
strange to say, sinks to the bottom.
38. Now India as a whole, being of a vast extent,
is inhabited, as we are told, by many peoples of every
description, and not one of them had its first origin
in a foreign land, but all of them are thought to be
autochthonous ; it never receives any colony from
abroad nor has it ever sent one to any other people.
According to their myths the earliest human beings
used for food the fruits of the earth which grew v^-ild,
and for clothing the skins of the native animals, as
was done by the Greeks. Similarly too the discover}'
of the several arts and of all other things which
are useful for Bfe was made gradually, necessity
itself showing the way to a creature which was well
endowed by nature and had, as its assistants for every
purpose, hands and speech and sagacity of mind.^
The most learned men among the Indians recount
a myth which it may be appropriate to set forth in
brief form. This, then, is what they say : In the
earliest times, when the inhabitants of their land were
still dwelling in scattered clan- villages, ^ Dionysus
came to them from the regions to the west of them
Avith a notable army; and he traversed all India,
since there was as yet no notable city which would
* It was the teaching of Aristotle that the State (or city)
rises out of the Household through the intermediate institu-
tion of the Village. So the Indians, in this case, were in
the second stage of this evolution ; Dionysus, as is stated
below, combines the villages into cities and thus makes the
good life possible.
S3
DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 d^LoXoyov TToAeto? ^ Svvafievrjg dvrird^aadai. em-
yevo^evojv Se Kavfxdrcov ixeydXcou, kol tojv rod
AiovvGov arparLcoTwv Xoljxlkt] vocrco Sta</)0eipo-
[xevcjov, avveaei hia^epovra tov rjy€[j,6va rovTOv
dirayayelv ro arparoTrehov ck tojv 7T€Slvwv tottcdv
els TTjv 6p€LV7]V iv Tavrrj ^ 8e nveovTcov ifjuxpoJv dvi-
fjLiov Kai rcx>v vafxariaicov vhdrcov KaOapojv peovrcov
rrpos aurat? ralg rrrjyals, aTraXXayrjvaL rrjg vocrov
TO arparoTrehov. ovo[Jidl,€adai 8e ttjs opeLvrjs rov
roTTov Tovrov ^sl-qpov, Kad ov o Ato^'UCTos' e^erpeijie
rds Swdfieis €k rrjs vocrov d<f>^ ov St) /cat Toys'
"EAArji'as' TTepi rod deov tovtov TrapaSeSoj/ceVat
TOLS fierayeveaTepois redpd(f)dai tov i^iovvaov iv
5 Merd 8e raura Trjg Trapadiaeoi? tcov Kap-
TTcbv iTnixeXr]d4vTa yLteraStSovat rot? Iv'Sots", Kal
TTjv evpeoLV tov o'lvov Kai tcov dXXojv roJv elg
TOV ^iov )(pr]aL[xa}v TrapaSovvai.. Trpos 8e tovtols
TToXecov T€ d^LoXoycov yevrjdrjvat KTiaTrjv, jueraya-
yovTa rd? Kco/xa? et? toi)? evderovs tottovs, nixdv
re /caraSet^at to delov koI voyiovs elcrrjyqaaad ac
Kai hiKaGrripia, KadoXov Se noXXiov Kai KaXtov
epyojv eiarjyr^TTjV yevofxevov deov vopLiadrjvai /cat
6 TV')(^eZv dOavdrajv Tipicov. taropovai 8 avrov /cat
yvvaiK(jL)v TrXrjdos jLterd tov CTpaTOTieSov Trepidye-
aQai, /cat Kara rds iv tols TToXejJiOLs Trapard^eig
TVjJLTrdvois KOI KVfx^dXois Kexpyjordoit,, pi-qTroi adXTTiy-
yos evprjjjLevrjg. ^aaiXevaavTa 8e Trdcnqs ttjs IvSt-
1 TTJs after iroXeivs omitted CD, Dindorf, Vogel, retained by
Bekker.
2 ev TavTTj Dindorf, Vogel : ivravda C F, Bekker.
14
BOOK II. 38. 3-6
have been able to oppose him. But when an op-
pressive heat came and the soldiers of Dionysus were
being consumed by a pestilential sickness, this leader,
who was conspicuous for his wisdom, led his army
out of the plains into the hill-country ; here, where
cool breezes blew and the spring waters flowed pure
at their very sources, the army got rid of its sickness.
The name of this region of the hill-country, where
Dionysus relieved his forces of the sickness, is
Meros ; and it is because of this fact that the Greeks
have handed do\vn to posterity in their account of
this god the story that Dionysus was nourished in a
thigh (meros). ^
After this he took in hand the storing of the fruits
and shared this knowledge with the Indians, and he
communicated to them the discovery of wine and
of all the other things useful for Hfe. Furthermore,
he became the founder of notable cities by gathering
the villages together in well-situated regions, and
he both taught them to honour the deity and intro-
duced laws and courts ; and, in brief, since he had
been the introducer of many good works he was
regarded as a god and received immortal honours.
They also recount that he carried along with his
aiTny a great number of women, and that when he
joined battle in his wars he used the sounds of
drums and cymbals, since the trumpet had not yet
been discovered. And after he had reigned over all
' When Zeus, at the request of Semele, appeared to her with
his thunderbolts, the sight was too much for her mortal eyes
and her child by Zeus, Dionysus, was bom untimely. Zeus
covered the babe in his thigh until it came to maturity. There
is no agreement among modem writers on the location of
Meros.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Krjs errj Zvo Trpos rots TTevrt^Kovra yqpq. TeXevrrjcrai.
htahe^afxivovg 8e rovs vlovs aurov ttjv rjyefJLOvlav
del TOt? a<^' iavTcov aTToXiTTelv ttjv dpx'rjv to Se
reXevratov TToXXais yeveais varepov KaTaXvOelcrrjs
Ti]s ^yefiovLag dr]iJiOKpaTr]9rjvaL ras TToXeis.
39. Ilepl iiev ovv rod Aiovvaov Kal rcov oltto-
yovoiv auTOv roiavra ixvdoXoyovaiv ol ttjv opeivrjv
TTJs ^IvSlktjs KaroiKovvres . tov re 'Hpa/cAea ^aal
Trap' avrots yeyevrjadai, Kai TTapaTrXrjaLcos rot?
"EiXXrjai ro re porraXov Kal rrjv Xeovrrjv avrco
2 TrpoaaTTrovcn. rfj he rod Gwfiaros P'Jjp-XI '^'^'- o^Xkyj
TToXXo) rcov dXXojv dvBpcoTTcov 8i.eveyKeLv, /cat
Kadapdv TTOirjaat. rwv drjpicov yrjv re Kal OdXarrav.
yn^fxavra 8e TrXelovs yvvaiKas vlovs fJLev ttoXXovs,
dvyarepa 8e [liav yewrjaai, /cat rovrcjov ev-qXiKcov
yevojJLevcov Trdcrav rrjV IvhiKrjV hieXofJisvov elg taas
TOt? reKVOLg /xepiSas", aTravras rovg vlov? aTToSet^at
^aaiXea?, fxiav Be dvyarepa Opeipavra Kal ravriqv
a ^aaiXiaaav cxTroSet^at. KrLariqv re TToXecov ovk
oAtycuP' yeveadaL, Kal rovrojv rrjv eTTL<j)aveardrrjV /cat
IxeyLarrjv Trpoaayopevaai WaXi^oOpa. KaraaKev-
acrat 8' iv avrfj Kal ^aoiXeta TToXvreXrj Kal
TrXrjdos OLKrjropajv Kadihpvaai' rrjV re ttoXlv
6-)(ypu)(jaL rd(f)poLS dftoAoyots" TToraixiois v8aat
4 TrXrjpovfxevaLs^ Kal rov /xev 'H/aa/cAea rr]V i^
dvdpdnrojv fxerdaraaiv TTOtriadp.evov ddavdrov
rvx^^v TLfxrjs, rovs 8' dTToyovovs avrov ^aai-
Xevcravras em TroAAa? yevedg Kal irpd^eis d^io-
Xoyovs ixerax£i-pi-cra[xevovs p.r]re arparelav virep-
^ nXripovixevais Rhodomann : TTXrjpovfievois G F, irXrjpovfievrjv
ots D.
i6
BOOK II. 38. 6-39. 4
India for fifty-two years he died of old age. His
sons, who succeeded to the sovereignty, passed the
rule on successively to their descendants; but
finally, many generations later, their sovereignty
was dissolved and the cities received a democratic
form of government.
39. As for Dionysus, then, and his descendants,
such is the myth as it is related by the inhabitants
of the hill-country of India. And with regard to
Heracles they say that he was born among them and
they assign to him, in common >\ith the Greeks,
both the club and the lion's skin. Moreover, as
their account tells us, he was far superior to all
other men in strength of body and in courage, and
cleared both land and sea of their \vi\d. beasts. And
marrying several wives, he begot many sons, but
only one daughter ; and when his sons attained to
manhood, dividing all India into as many parts as
he had male children, he appointed all his sons
kings, and rearing his single daughter he appointed
her also a queen.^ Likewise, he became the founder
of not a few cities, the most renowned and largest of
which he called Palibothra. In this city he also
constructed a costly palace and settled a multitude
of inhabitants, and he fortified it Avith remarkable
ditches which were filled A\ith water from the river.
And when Heracles passed from among men he
received immortal honour, but his descendants,
though they held the kingsliip during many genera-
tions and accomplished notable deeds, made no
campaign beyond their own frontiers and despatched
1 Arrian, Indica, 8 f., gives a much fuller account of this
daughter, whose name was Pandaea.
17
DIODORUS OF SICILY
opiov vocqaacrdat, ixrjre airoLKiav els aAAo eOuos ^
aTToaretkaL. varepov Se TToAAot? erecrt ra? TrAe terras'
fJL€V Tcijv TToXecov hrjfxoKpaTTjdTJvai, TLvaJv 8' idvcov
Tas ^aatXelas Sta/ieti/at [J'^XP'' '^V^ ^AXe^dvhpou
Sia^daeajs.
5 No/Ltt/Ltoji^ 8' OVTCOV TTapd rots 'Ii^Sots' ivLOjv i^r^X-
Xayjievcov davfMaaLcoTarov dv tls rj-yqaatro ro Kara-
SeL^Oev v7t6 Tcbv dp^p-ioiv Trap* avroZs <j)iXoa6(f)Ojv
vevojjLoderrjrai yap Trap* avroTs SovXov jxev p,r]hiva
elvai TO TTapdrtav, eXevdepovg 8' vTrdpxovras Tr)v
laoTTjTa TL[xdv iv Trdcn. roi)? ydp jxadovras jj-tJO^
virepex^LV pL-qd^ VTTOTTLTrreiV dXXois KpdriGTOV e^€LV
^iov Trpos drrdaas rds TTepiardaeig- evrjdes ' ydp
elvai vopLovs p-^v Itt' tcrrjs ndepac Trdcn, rdg S'
avvovalas ^ dva)p,dXovs /caracr/ceua^etv.
40, To 8e TTav ttXtjOos rd)V ^\vhd)V els eirrd p^eprj
hLjjprjTai, Sv eoTi ro piev TrpdJrov (7varr]pLa ^tAoad-
^a)v, rrX-qdei puev rcov dXXcov p,epdjv XeiTTopevov ,
Trj §' eTTL^ayeia TrdvTCOV rrpcoTevov. aXeLTOvpyiqTOi
ydp ovres ol (j)iX6ao<j)OL Trdcr-qs VTTOvpyias ovd
erepcov Kvpievovaiv ovd' V(j>' irepajv Sea7T6t,ovTaL.
2 TTapaXap-^dvovTai, S' vtto piev rdtu ISicoriJov eis re ras
iv TO) ^Lcp Qvaias koX els rds tu)v TereXevTr]KOT(xiv
einpeXeias, ojs Oeols yeyovores Trpoa^iXecrraTOL
Koi TTepl rcbv iv aSou pidXiar ipLirelpoiS exovres,
ravTris tc ttJs" virovpyias Sojpd re /cat rip-as
^ aAAo edvos CF, Dindorf, Bekker: aXXoedvels remaining
MSS., Vogel.
* evTjOes Rhodomann : €in]9eis-
* So Capps : ovaias MSS., Vogel, i^ovalas Dindorf, Bekker.
l8
BOOK II. 39. 4-40. 2
no colony to any other people. But many years
later most of the cities had received a democratic
form of government, although among certain tribes
the kingship endured until the time when Alexander
crossed over into Asia. 334 b.c.
As for the customs of the Indians which are
peculiar to them, a man may consider one which
was drawn up by their ancient vdse men to be the
most worthy of admiration ; for the law has ordained
that under no circumstances shall anyone among
them be a slave, but that all shall be free and respect
the principle of equaUty in all persons. For
those, they think, who have learned neither to
domineer over others nor to subject themselves to
others ^^ill enjoy a manner of life best suited to all
circumstances ; since it is silly to make laws on the
basis of equality for all persons, and yet to establish
inequalities in social intercourse.
40. The Avhole multitude of the Indians is divided
into seven castes,^ the first of which is formed of the
order of the philosophers, which in number is smaller
than the rest of the castes, but in dignity ranks first.
For being exempt from any ser\ice to the state the
philosophers are neither the masters nor the servants
of the others. But they are called upon by the
private citizens both to offer the sacrifices which are
required in their lifetime and to perform the rites
for the dead, as having proved themselves to be
most dear to the gods and as being especially ex-
perienced in the matters that relate to the under-
world, and for this service they receive both notable
1 Cp. the account of the castes in Strabo, 15. 1. 39 ff., and
in Arrian, Indica, 11 ff., and the article "Caste" in the
Encyclopaedia Britannica.
19
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Xafjc^dvovaLV d^toAoyou?' to) Se kolvco rGiv ^Yv^Giv
fjieydXas Trapi-^ovTai ^peias 7TapaXa[Ji^avo[xevoL fxev
Kara ro veov erog cttI ttjv fjieyoiXrjv avvoSov, Tvpo-
Xeyovres Se rot? TrXijOeaL Tiepl av-)(^yba)v /cat eTTopb-
^pias, en 8' dvepbcov einrvoLag /cat voacov /cat roiv
dXXcov rojv Svvap,€V(x}v tovs aKovovras dxfyeXrjcrai.
3 rd piiXXovra yap irpoaKovaavres ot re ttoXXol /cat o
^aatXevg eKTrX-qpovaiv del to pieXXov e/cAetVetv' Kat
TTpoKaTaaKevdtjOvaiv dei tl tcou ■)(pri(jip.a>v. 6 8'
dTTorv^div rGiv ^iXoao^oiv ev rats Trpopprjaeaw
dXXrjv fxev ovSefxlav dvaSex^rai ripLcopLav t) ^Xaa-
<f>r}[XLav, d(f)ajvos Se StareAet tov Xoittov ^lov.
4 Aevrepov S' cctti pepos to rcbv yeoipydv, oc Tip
TrX-qQei tcov dXXojv ttoXv Trpoex^iv SoKOuaiv. outoi
Se TToXepcov /cat ttjs olAAtj? XcLTOvpyiag dj>eipLevoL
7T€pl ra? yeojpyias daxoXovvrai' /cat ouSet? dv
TToXip^ios TTeptTVxdjv yecopyo) /card ttjv xcLp^^ ahiKT]-
aetev dV/ dAA' o)? kolvovs evepyiras rjyoupievoi
5 Trdarjs dSi/cia? d7T€)(OVTaL. StoTrep d^idcjiOopog rj
^ojpa hiap-lvovaa /cat Kaprrols ^pldovaa TToXXiqv
drroXavaiv 7rape;\;eTat tcSi/ iTTLTrjSeLcov tols dvdpco-
TTOLs. ^LOvaL S' eVt T7JS" x^P^^ /xextt TeKVOju Kat
yvvaiKcbv ot yecopyol, /cat tt^? et? ttjv ttoXiv /cara-
^daeojs TravTeXdJs d<f)6aTriKaaL. rrj? Se p^'copa?
pLiodovs TeAouCTt to) ^ttCTtAet Std to Trdaav tt^v
^IvStKrjv ^aaLXiK-qv elvai, tSituTTj 8e p,rjSevL yrjv
1 ai> D, Dindorf, Vogel : omitted by Vulgate, Bekker.
20
BOOK II. 40. 2-5
gifts and honours. Moreover, they furnish great
services to the whole body of the Indians, since
they are invited at the beginning of the year to the
Great Synod and foretell to the multitude droughts
and rains, as ■well as the favourable blo^ving of -winds,
and epidemics, and whatever else can be of aid to
their auditors. For both the common folk and the
king, by learning in advance what is going to take
place, store up from time to time that of which
there will be a shortage and prepare beforehand
from time to time anything that will be needed.
And the philosopher who has erred ^ in his predic-
tions is subjected to no other punishment than
obloquy and keeps silence for the remainder of his
hfe.
The second caste is that of the farmers, who, it
would appear, are far more numerous than the rest.
These, being exempt from war duties and every
other service to the state, devote their entire time
to labour in the fields ; and no enemy, coming upon
a farmer in the country, would think of doing him
injury, but they look upon the farmers as common
benefactors and therefore refrain from every injury
to them." Consequently the land, remaining as it
does unravaged and being laden vvith fruits, pro-
vides the inhabitants -with a great supply of pro-
visions. And the farmers spend their hves upon
the land with their children and wives and refrain
entirely from coming down into the city. For the
land they pay rent to the king, since all India is
royal land and no man of private station is permitted
1 Strabo {loc. cit.) says he must have erred " three
times.' '
2 Cp. chap. 36. 6 f.
31
DIODORUS OF SICILY
T7]v et? TO ^aaiXiKov reXovaL,
6 LpiTOV O eCTTL (j)vXoV TO TCOV ^ovKoXcov Kal
TTOLfxevcov Kal KadoXov Travroiv tcov vofu-ewv, ol
TToXtv ixkv r] Kcofirjv ovk olkovgl, aKr^vLTTj Se jSt'co
Xpojvrai, ol 8' avrol Kal Kvvqyovvres Kadapav
TTOLOVOL T7]V ^^ajpav opvecov T€ Kal dripioiv. et?
ravra S auKovvres Kal cfyiXorexvovvres "^ i^7][X€pov(n
TTjv IvhiK-qv, TrXrjdovaav ttoXXcov Kal TTavToSavtov
6-qpLcov re Kat opviojv tcov KareaOiovTajv to. airip-
fiaTa TCOV yeojpycbv.
41. TeTapTOV S' €CTTt pbipc; to rwv t€xvltcov' Kal
TOVTCov ol fjiev elaiv ottXottoiol, ol Se rots' yecopyoXg
7] TiCTLV d'AAoi? Ttt XPV^'-H-'^ TTpos VTrqpeGLav KaTa-
aKevd^ovaiv. ovtol 8' ov jjlovov dreAets' elcrLv, dXXd
Kai OLTOfieTpLav €K tov ^aaiXiKov Xafx^dvovm.
2 ITe/LtTTTOv 8e TO ^ GTpaTLcoTLKov, els TOVS TToXefMOVS
evdeTOVVy rep jxev TrX-qdei hevTcpov, dviaei 8e Kal
7rat8ta TrXeiaTT) xpf^P'^vov iv rat? elprjvais- rpe^erat
8 e/c TOV ^aaiXiKou irdv to TrXrjdos tcov aTpaTLcoTCov
KaL TCOV TToXepLUTCOV LTTTTCOV TG ACttt cXe (f^dvTCOV .
3 "Ektov 8' eart to tcov icjiopcov ovtol 8e TroAf-
TTpaypovovvTes TravTa Kat i(f)opcovTeg Ta Kara ttjv
IvSlktjv drrayyeXXovat, Tot? ^aaiXevaiv, idv 8' -jj
ttoXls avTutv d^aaiXevTOS fj, tols dp^ovaiv.
4 "E/SSo/xoi^ 8 €CTTt pepos TO ^ovXevov pukv Kai
ovveSpevov Tolg virep tcov kolvcov ^ovXevopevoig,
TrX-qOet- /xev iXd^torov , evyeveia 8e Kal <j>povijaei
^ <f>iXoTexi'ovvTes B D, Vogel : (juXonovovmes F, Dindorf,
Bekker, <j)iXoGo<f>ovvT€s A C.
* TO added by Hertlcin.
^ i.e. of the produce.
22
BOOK II. 40. 5-41. 4
to possess any ground ; and apart from the rental
they pay a fourth part^ into the royal treasury.
The third division is that of the neatherds and
shepherds, and, in general, of all the herdsmen who
do not dwell in a city or village but spend their
lives in tents ; and these men are also hunters and
rid the country of both birds and wild beasts. And
since they are practised in this calling and follow
it with zest they are bringing India under cultiva-
tion, although it still abounds in many wild beasts
and birds of every kind, which eat up the seeds
sown by the farmers.
41. The fourth caste is that of the artisans; of
these some are armourers and some fabricate for the
farmers or certain others the things useful for the
services they perform. And they are not only
exempt from paying taxes but they even receive
rations from the royal treasury.
The fifth caste is that of the military, which is at
hand in case of war; they are second in point of
number and indulge to the fullest in relaxation and
pastimes in the periods of peace. And the main-
tenance of the whole multitude of the soldiers and
of the horses and elephants for use in war is met
out of the royal treasury.
The sixth caste is that of the inspectors. These
men inquire into and inspect everything that is
going on throughout India, and report back to the
kings or, in case the state to which they are attached
has no king, to the magistrates.
The seventh caste is that of the deliberators and
councillors, whose concern is with the decisions which
affect the common welfare. In point of number this
group is the smallest, but in nobihty of birth and
VOL. II. B
DIODORUS OF SICILY
/xaAtCTTtt 6avixat,6yievov' €k tovtojv yap ol re
avfX^ovXoL Tolg ^aaiXevaiv elaiv ot re SioiK-qrai
Tcbv KOivaJv /cat ot St/cacrrat rcvv diJi(f)ia^rjTovjji€vcov ,
/cat KadoXov rovs ^yefxoi'ag /cat rovs dpxovras
e/c rovTcov exovai.
5 To. [xev ovv fJ-ept) ri^g SirjprjiJievrjg 77oAiTeta? Trap'
'Ii'Sots' Gx^hov ravr eariv ovk e^ean Se ya/xetv
e| a'AAou yevovs t] TrpoaLpeaeis rj ri-)(}'as fierax^i-
pit,€a9aL, olov arpaTLcoTrjv ovra yeojpyelv ■^
r€XVLTr]v ovra ^LXoao<j)eZv.
42. "Ep^et 8 Tj roJv Ii'Soji' X^P'^ TrXeLGTOvs /cat
p.eyiorovs iXe(j>avTas, olXktj re /cat jxeyeOet ttoXv
Siacfyepovrag. ox^verai Be tovto to C,a)ov ov^
(Lairep rives (f)aaiv, i^rjXXayjxevcos, dXX ofiOLcos
LTTTTOLs /cat roLS dXXoLS rerpoLTToaL ^ojots" kvougi
he rovs p^ev eXaxicrrovg pirjvag e/c/catSe/ca, rovs Se
2 TrXelarovs oKroj/catSe/ca. riKTOVGt 8e Kaddrrep
iTTTTOi Ko.rd ro TrXeZorov ev, /cat rpecfyovGi ro yev-
vquev at ^ [xrjrepes eir err] e^. L,a)GL o ot TrAetcrrot
KaOdirep 6 pLaKpo^Lcoraros dvdpcoTTOS, ol Se
pdXiGra yrjpaGavres ^rrj Sta/cocrta.
3 ilitcrt oe Trap Ivoots" /cat cTTt Toys' qevovs apxov-
res rerayp-evoi Kal <f)povrit,ovres ottcos p-rjSeLs ^evos
dSt/CTjraf Tot? S' dppwGrovGL rcov ^evatv larpovs
elodyovGi /cat rrjv dXXrjv eTTipLeXeiav TTOiovvrai, Kal
reXevr'qGavras ddirrovGLv, en he rd KaraXei^devra
4 ^pTy/iara rot? TrpoGiqKOVGLV aTTohihoaGLv. ot re
htKaorat ras KpiGeis Trap avrolg a/cpt^cDy
Staytv'cua/couCTt, /cat TTLKpdJs rols dfiaprdvovGi
7TpoG<f>epovTai,.
^ ai added by Reiske.
24
BOOK II. 41. 4-42. 4
wisdom the most worthy of admiration ; for from
their body are dra^vTi the advisers for the kings and
the administrators of the affairs of state and the
judges of disputes, and, speaking generally, they take
their leaders and magistrates from among these men.
Such in general terms are the groups into which
the body pohtic of the Indians is divided. Further-
more, no one is allowed to marry a person of another
caste or to follow another calling or trade, as, for
instance, that one who is a soldier should become a
farmer, or an artisan should become a philosopher.
42. The country of the Indians also possesses a
vast number of enormous elephants, which far sur-
pass all others both in strength and in size. Nor
does this animal cover the female in a peculiar
manner, as some say, but in the same way as horses
and all other four-footed beasts ; and their period
of gestation is in some cases sixteen months at the
least and in other cases eighteen months at the
most. They bi'ing forth, like horses, but one young
for the most part, and the females suckle their
young for six years. The span of life for most of
them is about that of men Avho attain the greatest
age, though some which have reached the highest
age have hved two hundred years.
There are among the Indians also magistrates ap-
pointed for foreigners who take care that no foreigner
shall be ^vTonged ; moreover, should any foreigner
fall sick they bring him a physician and care for
him in every other way, and if he dies they bury
him and even turn over such property as he has
left to his relatives. Again, their judges examine
accurately matters of dispute and proceed rigorously
against such as are guilty of "WTongdoing.
25
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Ilepi fxev ovv rrjs 'IvSi/cr^? kol tcov Kar aurrjv ap-
■^^aLoXoyovfievcDV dpKeadrja6[Jieda rot? prjOecaLv.
43. riept Se rcov HkvOcov tcov olkovvtcov rrjv opio-
pov ■)((Lpav iv pLepei Sie^Ljxev. ovtol yap to pev e|
^PXV^ oAtyTjt' ivepioVTO ^(copav, vcrTcpov Se /car' oAt-
yov av^rjdevTeg Std ras" aAwra? /cat ttjv avhpeiav
TToXXr^v pev KaT€KTr]aavTO )(a)pav, to S edvos elg
peydXrjv -qyepoviav /cat Sd^ar TrpoT^yayov'. to puev
ovv TTpcjTov Tvapd Tov Apd^rjv TTOTapiov oXiyoi /car-
cpKOVV TTavTeXaJs /cat Sta ttjv dSo^Lav /cara^po-
vovpievoi' eva Se tcov dp)(aicov exovTes ^aatAe'a
(jyiXoTToXepov /cat Sta^eporra aTpaTrjyta TrpoaeKT-q-
aavTO x^uipav, T-fjg p,€V opeLvrjg ecus Trpos tov
K.avKaaov, ttjs Se TreStv':^? Ta Ttapa tov ojKeavov
/cat TTjv Matoirtv Xtpiviqv /cat TrjV dXXrjv ^cvpav ecus
TamiSo? TTOTapou.
"YoTepov Se pvdoXoyovai 'TiKvOai Trap" aVTols
yeveaOai yr^yevrj TrapOevov TavTiqv S ^X^''^
Ta p,kv dvco p^eprj tov acop-aTOS y-^XP'- '''V^ ^(^vrjs yv-
vaiKela, to. Se KaTcoTepa e^^tSi'T^?. TavTTj Se At'a
pLiyevTa yevvrjaac TratSa TtKvdrjV bvopa. tovtov Se
yevopevov eTTLcpaveoTaTov tcov Trpo avTOV tovs Xa-
ov? d^' iavTov YiKvdag Trpoaayopevaai. tcov Se
(XTToyovcov tovtov tov ^aaiXecos dSeXcf)ous Svo
yeveadai Siac/iopovg dpCTfj, /cat tov p.ev HaAov', tov
Se NctTTT^i^ ct)vop,dadat. tovtcov S' emc^avetg irpd-
^et? KaTepyaaapevcov /cat SieAo|(xeVcov tt^v ^aaiXeiav ,
dcj)' CKaTcpov TOVS Xaovs tovs p^v IlaAous", tovs
1 The Aras.
^ The Sea of Azof.
26
BOOK II. 42. 4-43. 4
As for India, then, and its antiquities we shall be
satisfied with what has been said.
43. But now, in turn, we shall discuss the Scytliians
who inhabit the country bordering upon India.
This people originally possessed Uttle territory, but
later, as they gradually increased in power, they
seized much territory by reason of their deeds of
might and their bravery and advanced their nation
to great leadership and reno\\ni. At first, then, they
dwelt on the Araxes ^ river, altogether few in number
and despised because of their lack of renown ; but
since one of their early kings was warlike and of
unusual skill as a general they acquired territory, in
the mountains as far as the Caucasus, and in the
steppes along the ocean and Lake Maeotis ^ and the
rest of that country as far as the Tana'is ^ river.
At a later time, as the Scythians recount the myth,
there was born among them a maiden sprung from
the earth ; the upper parts of her body as far as her
waist were those of a woman, but the lower parts
were those of a snake. With her Zeus lay and begat
a son whose name was Scythes. This son became
more famous than any who had preceded him and
called the folk Scythians after his own name. Now
among the descendants of this king there Avere two
brothers who were distinguished for their valour, the
one named Palus and the other Napes.* And since
these two performed renowned deeds and divided
the kingship between them, some of the people
were called Pali after one of them and some Napae
s The Don.
* A similar story is in Herodotus (4. 8 ff.), where, however,
the father is Heracles and the sons are Agathyrsus, Gelonus,
and Scythes.
27
DIODORUS OF SICILY
8e NaTra? TTpocrayopevdrjvai. fjiera 8e nvas xpovovg
Tovs aTToyovous rovrcov rcov ^aatXeojv avhpeia kol
aTparr^yia SceveyKovTas TToXXrjv fxev Trepav rod Ta-
vaiSo? TTorajJiov x^P^^ KaraaTpeifjaaOat, p-ixP'' ''"1^
QpaKTjs, im 8e ddrepa {J-ep-q arparevaavras Staret-
vat rfj Swdfiei. ^ fJ-expi- "tov /car' AiyvTrrov Net'Aoy.
6 TToXXd 8e arat [xeydXa rcov dvd {xeaov tovtcdv
iOvojv KaraBovXcDaafMevovs Trpo^t^daaL rrjv rjye-
fjioviav rcov HkvOojv rfj [xev em rov Trpos dvaroXdg
d)K€av6v, rfj 8' eTTi rrjv Kaarriav ddXarrav /cat
MatojTti' Xiixvrjv' rjv^ijOrj yap eVt ttoXu rovro ro
eOvog /cat ^aaiXeis eax^v d^LoXoyovg, d(j)* wv rovs
fji€v Sa/cas' TTpoaayopevd-rjvai, rovg 8e ^aaaayira^,
rivds 8' 'ApLixacTTTOvg, /cat rovroig ofxolcog dXXovs
6 TrXetovag. vvo Se rovrcuv rcov ^aaiXeojv ttoXXo. [jl€v
/cat roJv dXXcDV rcov KaraTToXepirjdevrojv idvaJv
[lercoKLaOaL, Svo 8e fxeyiarag a770i/cta? yevecrOai,
riqv fJLev e/c rcov Aacrvpicov fxeraaradelaav et? r7]v
ixera^v x<^po-v tt^? re YiacjiXayovLas Kal rod Ilovrov,
rrjV 8 e/c rrjs MrySta? Trapd rov Ta^'atV KadiSpv-
delaav, rjs rovs Xaovs Saupo/xara? ovojiaadrjvaL.
7 rovrovg 8 varepov ttoXXols ereaiv av^i]devras
TTopdijaaL 7ToXXy]v rrjs S/cu^ta?, /cat rovg Karairo-
XepL'qdevras dphrjv dvaipovvras eprjfxov TTOtrjaai ro
irXelarov p-epos rrjs x'^P'^^-
44. Merd 8e ravra dvapx^as yevop,evrjs Kara
r'^v TiKvdiav, i^aoiXevaav yuvat/ce? dXKfj 8ta^6-
^ TTj Swa/ift II, Dindorf, Vogel (cp. 1. 4. 3) : t^v Swa^tv
A B D, Bekker.
1 Probably the south side of the Black Sea is meant;
cp. chap. 46. 2.
28
BOOK II. 43. 4-44. I
aftei- the other. But some time later the descendants
of these kings, because of their unusual valour and
skill as generals, subdued much of the territory
beyond the TanaTs river as far as Thrace, and
advancing mth their armies to the other side ^ they
extended their power as far as the Nile in Egypt.^
And after ensla\'ing many great peoples which lay
between the Thracians and the Egyptians they
advanced the empire of the Scythians on the one
side as far as the ocean to the east, and on the
other side to the Caspian Sea and Lake Maeotis ;
for this people increased to great strength and had
notable kings, one of whom gave his name to the
Sacae, another to the Massagetae, another to the
Arimaspi, and several other tribes received their
names in like manner. It was by these kings that
many of the conquered peoples were removed to
other homes, and two of these became very great
colonies : the one was composed of Assyrians ^ and
was removed to the land between Paphlagonia and
Pontus, and the other was drawn from Media and
planted along the Tanais, its people receiving the
name Sauromatae. Many years later this people
became powerful and ravaged a large part of Scythia,
and destroying utterly all whom they subdued they
turned most of the land into a desert.
44. After these events there came in Scythia a
period of revolutions, in which the sovereigns were
women endowed vvith exceptional valour. For
- In this incursion, which occurred between 630 and 625
B.C., the Scjiihians overran Palestine, but according to Herodo-
tus (1. 105) were turned back from Egypt by Psammetichus.
A vivid picture of these foes from the north is preserved in
Jeremiah, 4-5 passim.
3 These are the " White Syrians " of Strabo (12. 3. 9).
29
DIODORUS OF SICILY
povaai. iv tovtols yap rot? edveatv at yvvaiKe?
yvixvd^ovraL Trpos TToXefiov TrapaTrXrjaiaJS rots'
dvSpdaL /cat rat? avSpetat? ovSev XeLTTovrai rtov
dvSpcvv. 8t6 /cat yvvaiKcov eTncpavcjv vroAAat Kat
/xeyaAat Trpd^eis eTrereXeaOrjaav ov jxovov Kara
T7]V JjKvOiav, dXXd Kat /caret Tiqv ojxopov TavTTjg
2 ^copav. J^vpov pt,ev yap rod Hepaojv jSafftAeco?
TrXelcfTov laxvcravTOS rcov Kad^ avrov /cat arparev-
aavTOS d^ioXoyoLs BwajxecrLV els TrjV H/cu^tav, rj
jSaCTt'AtcTCTa ra)v ILkvOcov to re arpaTO-nehov ru)v
riepacov KareKoipe Kat tov Vivpov alxfxdXoiTOV
y€v6p,€VOV dvearavpcoae' to re avoTadkv edvos
Ta)V * AiJLal,6vojv tooovtov dvhpeia hLrjveyKev oiUT€
[xrj fjLovov TToXXrjv )(^a)pav ofiopov /caraSpa/xeti^,
aAAa /cat ttoXXi^v ttjs ^vpujTTiq? /cat rTy? Aaia?
3 KaTaoTpeipaoOaL. rjjxels 8 eTreihri vrept tcov
^ AfxatjOvibojv €fx\rqa9-qixev , ovk dvoiKei-ov etvat
vopLL^o/JLev SieXdetv Trepi avTcov, el /cat Sta ttjv
TTapaSo^oXoyLav pivdoLS ofioia (^avqaeTaL Ta prjdivTa.
45. Hapct TOV QeppLcuSovTa Toivvv TTOTap-ov edvovs
KpaTOVVTOS ^ yvvaiKOKpaTovpievov , /cat rcui^ yvvai-
Kcov opiolcog Tols dvSpaaL Tag TtoXepuKas xpeias
pieTa)(eLptl,o[ievcov, (f>aal piiav e^ avToJv ^aaLXtKrjv
e^ovoiav expvaav dXKxj Kat po^P-J] Stevey/cetv
avaTTjaapievriv he yvvaiKihv aTpaToirehov yvpLvdaai
re TOVTO /cat rti'a? Ta)V 6p.6pcov KaTaTroXep,rjaat,
2 av^op,evr]g Be ttjs TTepi avTTjV dpeTTJs re /cat 86^r]s
^ KpaTOVVTOS MSS: KaroiKovvTos Rhodomann, Dindorf,
Vogel.
3°
BOOK II. 44. 1-45. 2
among these peoples the women train for war just
as do the men and in acts of manly valour are in no
mse inferior to the men. Consequently distinguished
women have been the authors of many great deeds,
not in Scythia alone, but also in the territory border-
ing upon it. For instance, when Cyrus the king
of the Persians, the mightiest ruler of his day, made
a campaign with a vast army into Scythia, the queen
of the Scythians not only cut the army of the Per-
sians to pieces but she even took Cyrus prisoner and
crucified him ^ ; and the nation of the Amazons,
after it was once organized, was so distinguished for
its manly prowess that it not only overran much of
the neighbom'ing territory but even subdued a large
part of Europe and Asia. But for our part, since
we have mentioned the Amazons, we feel that it is
not foreign to our purpose to discuss them, even
though what we shall say will be so marvellous that
it will resemble a tale from mythology.
45. Now in the country along the Thermodon
river,2 as the account goes, the sovereignty was in
the hands of a people among whom the women held
the supreme power, and its women performed the
services of war just as did the men. Of these
women one, who possessed the royal authority, was
remarkable for her prowess in war and her bodily
strength, and gathering together an army of women
she drilled it in the use of arms and subdued in war
some of the neighbouring peoples. And since her
valour and fame increased, she made war upon
* There are many different accounts of the death of Cyrus,
but they all agree that he met his end fighting on the far
eastern border of his empire.
2 In Pontus (cp. Strabo, 12. 3. 14-15).
31
DIODORUS OF SICILY
avvexios irrL ra Tr^-qaioxiopo. rcbv idvcx>v arpareveiv,
Kai TTJs TVX'TjS evpoovGTjs (fipovqiJLaTOS liXTTLpbTrXaadai,
/cat Ovyarepa {xev "Apeo? avrrju irpoaayopevaai,
rots S' dvSpdai TrpoaveZp^at rds raXaoLovpyiag
/cat rag rayv yvvaiKcov /car o'tKovg ipyaaias.
vofJLOvg re /caraSet^at, 8t' Jjv rds p-^v yvvaiKag
€771 rovg TToXepLLKovg dycovas Trpoayeiv, rot? 8'
3 avSpdat Tarreivcoaiv koX hovXeiav TrepLaTTreLV. rcov
8e yevvojpiivcov rovs p,ev dppevas eTrrjpovv to. re
GKeXrj /cat rovs ^pa^l-ovas, dxp'tjcrrovg /caracr/ceua-
l,ovT€S TTpos rds TToXep^LKas xP^^^S) Tcov 8e d-qXvre-
pcov Tov he^Lov piaarov eTre/caov, Iva ptrj Kara rds
d/c/xa? ^ Twp acop^drajv eTratpo/xevos" ivoxXfj' d(f>' "^g
atTta? avpL^rjvaL to edvos tcov 'Ap.at,6vo)V Tavriqg
4 Tvx^tv rfjg Trpoariyopiag. KadoXov he Siacf)epouaav
avTTjv GVV€(J€L KOI (jrpaTrjyia ttoXlv fxkv Kriaai
p,eydXrjv rrapd rag e/Cj8oAa? tov Qepp-coSovTog TTora-
fjiov, Towo/xa QepLiarKvpav, Kat ^aatXeia /caracr/ceya-
aai TTepL^orjra, Kara 8e ra? GTpaTeias iTnp,€Xop.e-
vrjv TToXv rrjs evra^iag to /Ltev TrpojTov /caraTToAe-
pLTJaai TrdvTag Tovg opiopovg P-^XP^ '^°^ TamtSo?
5 TTora/xoy. Kat TavT-qv p,€V <f>aai raura? Tag
TTpd^eig iTTLTeXeaap^evrjv /cat /caret Tiva p-dx'QV
Xap.TTpG)g dyojVLaap,€V7jv 'qpcoiKojg TeXevTrjaai tov
^LOV.
46. ALahe^ap^evrjV 8e ttjv TavTTjg dvyarepa ttjv
^auiXelav ^rjAtoo-ai p,€V ttjv dpeTrjv rrjg p,rjrp6s,
VTTep^aXeaOaL Se rat? Kara piipog Trpd^eai. Tag
^ aKfias Dindorf : fidxas.
32
BOOK II. 45. 2-46. I
people after people of neighbouring lands, and as
the tide of her fortune continued favourable, she was
so filled with pride that she gave herself the appella-
tion of Daughter of Ares ; but to the men she
assigned the spinning of wool and such other domestic
duties as belong to women. Laws also were estab-
lished by her, by virtue of which she led forth the
women to the contests of war, but upon the men
she fastened humiliation and slavery. And as for
their children, they mutilated both the legs and the
arms of the males, incapacitating them in this way
for the demands of war, and in the case of the females
they seared the right breast that it might not pro-
ject when their bodies matured and be in the way;
and it is for this reason that the nation of the
Amazons received the appellation it bears.^ In
general, this queen was remarkable for her intelli-
gence and ability as a general, and she founded a
great city named Themiscyra at the mouth of the
Thermodon river and built there a famous palace ;
furthermore, in her campaigns she devoted much
attention to miUtary discipline and at the outset
subdued all her neighbours as far as the Tanais river.
And this queen, they say, accomplished the deeds
which have been mentioned, and fighting brilliantly
in a certain battle she ended her life heroically.
46. The daughter of this queen, the account con-
tinues, on succeeding to the throne emulated the
excellence of her mother, and even surpassed her in
1 Amazon is commonly derived from d and fxa^os, a form
of fj-aoTos ("breast"), and so means "without a breast,"
because the right breast was got rid of, that it might not
hinder the use of the bow. For a slightly different account,
cp. Book 3. 53.
33
DIODORUS OF SICILY
[xev yap irapOivovs a-no ttjs Trpcorrjs rjXiKias ev re
rats d-jpaig yvjxvdl,eLV Kol Kad' 7j[ji€pav dcxKelv rd
TTpos TToXejxov dvqKovra, KaraSel^aL 8e kol dvaias
pieyaXoTTpeTTels "Apet re kol 'Apre/xiSt rfi Trpoaa-
2 yopevo[xevr) TavpoTToXo)' arparevaaaav 8' els Tqv
TTepav rod TavdtSog TTorapLov ^(^(vpav KaraTToXefiijaai
Trdvra ra edvrj rd avve^cf] /Lte;)^pt rrjs QpaKrjS'
dvaKdfJufjaaav Se jxerd ttoXXojv Xa<f)vpcxiv els rrjv
olKeiav vaovs p-eyaXoTTpeTrels KaracrKevdaat, rcov
TTpoeiprjpievajv deoJu, /cat rdJv VTTorerayjxevcjv eTTiei-
Kcos dpxovaav aTTodox'rjs rvy)(dveiv rrjs fieylcrrrjs.
arparevaai he /cat €77t ddrepa p^ep-q, /cat ttoAAt^i'
rr^S" 'Aata? KaraKry^aaadat, /cat Staretvat rfj
SvvdfjieL p-expi- t"']^ Hvpias.
3 Merd he rrjV ravrrjs reXevrrjv del rds TTpoarj-
Kovcras rep yevei StaSep^o/LteVa? rrjv ^aaiXeiav
dp^ai piev e7n<f)ava)s, av^rjaai Se ro edvos rdJv
'A/Lta^owSa>r hwdpiei re /cat ho^rj. p.erd Se
ravra TroAAat? yeveals varepov, hia^e^orjpievrjs
Kara Trdaav riqv oiKovpbevqv rrjs Tvepl avrds
dperrjs, 'Hpa/cAea (f)aal rov e^ 'AXKpiT^vrjs /cat
Aids' ddXov Xa^elv Trap* ^vpvaOecos rov 'ImToXvrrjs
4 rrjs ApLa!!,6vos C^^crrrjpa. SiOTrep arparevaai pcev av-
rov, TTapard^ei Se pieydXr] viK-qaavra ro re arparo-
Tvehov ra>v ApiaZ,6vcov KaraKoipat Kai rr]v 'iTTVoXvrrjv
pLerd rod t,a>arrjpos t^coyprjaavra rd edvos rovro
reXeojs avvrplipaL. StoTrep rovs rrepioLKovvras ^o-p-
pdpovs rrjs p-ev dadeveias avrwv Kara^povr^aavras ,
34
BOOK II. 46. 1-4
some particular deeds. For instance, she exercised
in the chase the maidens from their earhest girlhood
and drilled them daily in the arts of war, and she
also established magnificent festivals both to Ares
and to the Artemis who is called Tauropolus.^ Then
she campaigned against the territory lying beyond
the Tanais and subdued all the peoples one after
another as far as Thrace ; and returning to her
native land mth much booty she built magnificent
shrines to the deities mentioned above, and by
reason of her kindly rule over her subjects received
from them the greatest approbation. She also cam-
paigned on the other side ^ and subdued a large
part of Asia and extended her power as far as Syria.
After the death of this queen, as their account
continues, women of her family, succeeding to the
queenship from time to time, ruled with distinction
and advanced the nation of the Amazons in both
power and fame. And many generations after these
events, when the excellence of these women had
been noised abroad through the whole inhabited
world, they say that Heracles, the son of Alcmene
and Zeus, was assigned by Eurystheus the Labour
of securing the girdle of Hippolyte the Amazon.^
Consequently he embarked on this campaign, and
coming off victorious in a great battle he not only
cut to pieces the army of Amazons but also, after
taking captive Hippolyte together with her girdle,
completely crushed this nation. Consequently the
neighbouring barbarians, despising the weakness of
^ The Taurian Artemis, so well known from the Iphigeneia
among the Taurians of Euripides.
^ i.e. south of the Black Sea.
^ The story is given in detail in Book 4. 16.
35
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Ta)v 5e Kad' eavrovg ixv-qaLKaK-qaavrag , noXe-
fXTJaaL GVve)(oJ9 to edvos inl rocrovrov tucrre
/X7]S ovofxa rov yevovs rcov ^ Aixal,ovihcov arroXi-
5 77611^. yuera yap riqv 'HpaKAeou? crrparelav 6X1-
yoLs varepov erecn Kara rov TpcoiKov TToXep-ov ^aai
n et'^ecrtAeiai' rrfv ^aaiXevovaav rdv viroXeXeLp,-
p-eviov 'Afxa^oviSajv, "Apeos pikv ovaav dvyarepa,
(f)6vov S iiKJyvXiov iTTiTeXeaajJievrjv , (f>vyelv Ik ttjs
TTarpiSos 8 to. TO jJLvaos. avp.pi.ax'qaaaav Se tols
Tpcocrt [xera rrjv "E/cropo? reXevrrjV noXXovg
aveXelv roJv '^XX'qvojv, dpiarevaaaav S' avrrjv
ev TTJ TTapard^ei Karaarpei/jai rov ^lov rjpcoiKOJs
6 VTT A^iXXecog dvaipedeXaau. rwv p.ev ovv 'A/za-
l,ovihcx)v iaxdrrjv Tavrrjv Xlyovaiv avSpeia Sievey-
Kelv, Kat TO XoLTTOv dec to eOvog TaTieivovpevov
aaOevrjaai TravreXchs' Sio Kat /cara rovs veojTepovs
Kaipovs, eneLSdv TLves irepL Trjg avrajv dvSpeias
Ste^tcuCTi, [JLvdovs rjyovvraL TreTrXaafievovs rag
7T€pL Tojv Apiat,ovL8cov dp)(atoXoyLas.
47. 'H/xets- S' eTTel to. Trpos dpKTOvs /ce/cAt/i,eVa
p^ep-q TTJs Acrias' 'q^Livaap.ev dvaypa(j)7]g, ovk
avoLKCLOv ett'at vopiLl,op.ev to. Trept tcov '^Trep^opiojv
p,v6oXoyovp.€va SceXdelv. rcov yap rds TraAatd?
pivdoXoytas dvayeypacjiOToyv 'EKarato? Kat Tives
erepoL ^aaiv iv toIs dvTLrrepag ttjs KeArtKTy?
TOTTOLs Kara tov ajKeavov eti^at vrjaov ovk eXdrroj
^ Quintus Smyrnaeus (1. 24 f.) says that she killed her sister
Hippolyte on a hunt, whUe hurling her spear at a stag.
^ There seems good reason (see R. Hennig, " Die Anfange
des kultxn-ellen und Handelsverkehr in der Mittelmeerwelt,"
Historische Zeitschrift, 139 (1928), 1-33) to see in this people
who live " beyond the north wind," as their name signifies,
36
BOOK II. 46. 4-47. I
this people and remembering against them their past
injuries, waged continuous wars against the nation
to such a degree that they left in existence not even
the name of the race of the Amazons. For a few
years after the campaign of Heracles against them,
they say, during the time of the Trojan War, Penthe-
sileia, the queen of the surviving Amazons, who was
a daughter of Ares and had slain one of her kindred,
fled from her native land because of the sacrilege.^
And fighting as an ally of the Trojans after the
death of Hector she slew many of the Greeks, and
after gaining distinction in the struggle she ended
her hfe heroically at the hands of Achilles. Now
they say that Penthesileia was the last of the
Amazons to ^^■in distinction for bravery and that
for the future the race diminished more and more
and then lost all its strength ; consequently in later
times, whenever any writers recount their prowess,
men consider the ancient stories about the Amazons
to be fictitious tales.
47. Now for our part, since we have seen fit to
make mention of the regions of Asia which he to
the north, we feel that it ^vill not be foreign to our
purpose to discuss the legendary accounts of the
Hyperboreans.^ Of those who have written about
the ancient myths, Hecataeus and certain others
say that in the regions beyond the land of the
Celts ^ there Ues in the ocean an island no smaller
an early acquaintance of the Greeks, through the medium of
the Celts, with Britain and its inhabitants. In this chapter
Apollo would be the Celtic sun-god Borvon, and the " sacred
precinct ' ' of Apollo would be the famous Stone Age remains
of Stonehenge.
^ i.e. GauJ.
37
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTJs St/ceAia?. TavTTjv VTrapxetv fiev Kara rag
apKTOUS, KaroLKetodai he vtto tojv ovojxa^oiJilvoiv
'^Trep^opeoiV olTTO tov TToppcoTepco Keladai. rrjs
^opeiov Tjvorjs' ovaav S' avrrjv evyecov re /cat
TTaiJL(f>opov, eVt S' evKpaaia SLa(f)epovaav, Slttovs
2 Kar' eVo? eK(f>ipeiv KapTTOvg. pLvdoXoyovai 8
iv avrfi ttjv Arjrd) yeyovevaf Sto /<at tov KitoXXci}
IxdXiara rcbv dXXwv de(i)V Trap' avrols rifJidadaf
elvai S' avrov? wanep lepels rivas AttoAAcdvos'
Sia TO TOV deov tovtov Kad r]p.epav vtt avTCOv
vfxvelo6ai /xer' (ohris avvexcos kolI TLjJidaOaL 8ia-
(fyepovTcog. vnapx^i'V 8e /cat /card ttjv vrjaov
TejXGVog T€ 'AttoAAcovos" iJL€yaXoTTp€7T€S /cat vaov
d^LoXoyov dvadijfxaai ttoXXoIs KeKoapcrjiJievov, cr^at-
3 poeihrj TO) cr;)^r^jLtaTt. /cat ttoXcv p.€V VTrapx^LV
lepdv TOV deov tovtov, TGiv 8e KaTO'icovvTCDV
avTTjv Tovs TrAetCTTOUs' etvat KidapiaTas, /cat
o-we;)(aj? ev to) vaai Kidapl/^ovTas vpuvovs Xeyetv t(x>
deep pieT (phris, dTTOcrepivvvovTas clvtov tcls Trpd^eis.
4 "^x^iv 8e tovs 'YTTcp^opeovs ISiav TLvd SidXeKTOv,
/cat TTpos TOVS "KXXrjvas ocKeioTaTa hiaKeladai,
/cat pidXiaTa irpos tovs ^AdrjvaLovs /cat AtjXlovs,
e/c TraAatcoi' XP^^^^ TrapetAr^i^ora? TrjV evvoLav
TavTYjv. /cat Tcov 'KXX'qvcov TLvds pLvdoXoyouat
Trapa^aXelv els 'TTrep^opeovs, /cat dvaO-qpiaTa
TToXvTeXrj /caraAtTretv ypdycp^aaiv EAAT^i^t/cot? evrt-
5 yeypapupieva. cbaavTws 8e /cat e/c twv 'YiTep^opecDV
1 The mother by Zeus of Apollo and Artemis.
2 The island of Delos was from the earhest period of the
Greek civilization a centre of the worship of Apollo.
38
BOOK II. 47. 1-5
than Sicily. This island, the account continues, is
situated in the north and is inhabited by the H3rper-
boreans, who are called by that name because their
home is beyond the point whence the north wind
(Boreas) blows ; and the island is both fertile and
productive of every crop, and since it has an unusually
temperate climate it produces two harvests each
year. Moreover, the follomng legend is told con-
cerning it : Leto ^ was born on this island, and for
that reason Apollo is honoured among them above
all other gods ; and the inhabitants are looked upon
as priests of Apollo, after a manner, since daily they
praise this god continuously in song and honour him
exceedingly. And there is also on the island both
a magnificent sacred precinct of Apollo and a notable
temple which is adorned with many votive offerings
and is spherical in shape. Fux'thermore, a city is
there which is sacred to this god, and the majority
of its inhabitants are players on the cithara; and
these continually play on this instrument in the
temple and sing hymns of praise to the god, glorifying
his deeds.
The Hyperboreans also have a language, we are
informed, which is peculiar to them, and are most
friendly disposed towards the Greeks, and especially
towards the Athenians and the Delians,- who have in-
herited this good-Avill from most ancient times. The
myth also relates that certain Greeks visited the
Hyperboreans and left behind them there costly
votive offerings bearing inscriptions in Greek letters.
And in the same way Abaris,^ a Hyperborean, came
^ Abaris is apparently a purely mjrthical figure, who in
some authors sailed on his arrow, as on a witch's broomstick,
through the air over rivers and seas.
39
DIODORUS OF SICILY
"A^apLV els rr]v 'EAAaSa Karavr-^aavra to TraXatov
avaawaaL rrjv rrpos AtjAiows' evvoidv re Kal
(jvyyeveiav. (f)aai Se Kal ttjv aeXrjvrjv e/c Tavrrjs
TTJg viquov (^aiveadac TravreXaJs oXiyov aTre^ouaav
rrjs yrj? Kai rivag i^o)(ag ■yecuSetS' e^ovaav iv
6 avTTJ <f)avepa.s. Xeyerai 8e /cat rov deov St'
irojv iweaKaiScKa Karavrdv els ttjv vfjuov, iv
ots at Twv darpcov OLTTOKaTaardaets CTrt reXos
dyovrai' koL 8td tovto tov iweaKaLheKaerrj
■y^povov VTTo rcjv 'EAAi^vcov MeVcoros' eviavrov
6vo[xdl,€a6aL. Kara Se ttjv eincj^dveiav ravrrjv tov
deov KiOapit^eiv re /cat ■yope'uei.v avve)(a)S Tas ru/cra?
aTTO larjixepia's eapivrjs €co9 TrXeidSos dvaroXfjs errl
rots' tSiot? evripLepripiaai Tepiroj-ievov. ^aaiXeveiv
Se TTJg TToXecos TavTTjg Kal tov re/Jievovs e7Tdp)(eLV
Tovg ovopiaLopievovs BopeaSas", diroyovov; ovTas
Bope'ou, /cat Kara yevos del htabe-yeodai Tag
dpxds.
48. TovTO)v 8' rjpi.iv SievKpivqpievcvv p.era^i^d-
aopiev TOV Xoyov enl rd erepa p-ipT) rrj? Aatas rd
p-T] rerevxdra rrjg dvaypacf)rjs, /cat pLdXiara rd
Kard TTjv ^Apa^Lav. avrr] ydp Keirat pcev p^era^v
Supta? Kal rrjs AlyuTrrov, ttoXXoIs Se /cat Travroha-
TTols edveoL StetATjTTTat. ra ptev ovv Trpos rrjV ecu
p-ipy] KarotKOVGLV "Apa^es ous 6vopLdt,ova(, Na^a-
raiovs, vepLopievot ■)(d)pav rrjv p.ev eprjpLov, rrjv Se
2 dvvhpoVy oXiyrjv Se KapTTO^opov. eyovai Se ^lov
XrjarpLKov, Kai ttoXXtjv rr]s opLopov ■^(^ojpas Kararpe-
1 The " Metonic Cycle " is described in Book 12. 36. The
cycle of Meton, which was introduced in Athens in 432 B.C.,
was designed to reconcile the lunar and the solar year, the latter
being reckoned at 365 j^g days. That this nineteen-year cycle
40
BOOK II. 47. 5-48. 2
to Greece in ancient times and renewed the good-
will and kinship of his people to the Delians. They
say also that the moon, as viewed from this island,
appears to be but a little distance from the earth
and to have upon it prominences, like those of the
earth, which are \'isible to the eye. The account is
also given that the god visits the island every nine-
teen years, the period in which the return of the
stars to the same place in the heavens is accom-
plished ; and for this reason the nineteen-year period
is called by the Greeks the " year of Meton." ^ At
the time of this appearance of the god he both plays
on the cithara and dances continuously the night
through from the vernal equinox until the rising of
the Pleiades, expressing in this manner his delight
in his successes. And the kings of this city and the
supervisors of the sacred precinct are called Boreadae,
since they are descendants of Boreas, and the
succession to these positions is always kept in their
family.
48. But now that we have examined these matters
we shall turn our account to the other parts of Asia
which have not yet been described, and more espe-
cially to Arabia. This land is situated between
Syria and Egypt, and is divided among many peoples
of diverse characteristics. Now the eastern parts are
inhabited by Arabs, who bear the name of Naba-
taeans and range over a country which is partly desert
and partly waterless, though a small section of it is
fruitful. And they lead a life of brigandage, and
overrunning a large part of the neighbouring terri-
wa^s actually inaugurated at this time has been maintained,
most recently, by W. B. Dinsmoor, The Archons of Athens in
the Hellenistic Age (1931), pp. 320-1 and passim.
41
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Xovre? Xr^arevovaiv, ovres Svaj-iaxot Kara tovs
TToXefjiovg. Kara yap rrjv dvuSpov -y^cLpav Aeyo-
jjieirqv KareoKevaKOTes evKaipa ^peara, /cat ravra
TTeTTOLTjKores ToZs dXXois edveaLv -"^ ayp-coara, crvfx-
(pevyovaLV els rrjv )^a)pav Tavrrfv aKLvhvvoiS.
3 avToi jjiev yap etSore? rd KaraKeKpvpipLeva rcjv
uSctTcov, KaL TavT dvoiyovTcg, xpdJVTai SaipiXeai
TTOTOig' OL he TOVTOvg eTTLSicoKovres dXXoedvels
GTravL^ovTeg rijg vSpeias Sia tt^i^ dyvoLav rcJov <f)ped-
T(x)v, ol fiev aTToXXwraL Sid ttjv airdviv rdjv vSdrcov,
ol Se 77oAAa KaKOTTadrjaavres fioyig els rrjV
4 OLKeiav acx)t,ovraL. hioirep ol Tavrrjv rrjv ■)(a>pav
KaroLKOvvres ' Apa^es, ovreg hvaKaraTToXepiT^TOL,
SiareXovaiv dSovXcorot, irpos he rovrois cttt^Xw
fjiev 7]ye[JL6va ro Trapdrrav ov it poahe-^ovr at, hiare-
XovcTL he Trjv eXevOepiav hiacjivXaTTOvreg dadXevrov .
5 hiOTTep ovr Aaavpiot to TraAaiot' ovd ol M.'qhajv
Kal Hepadjv, en he MaKehovcjv ^aaiXeLS rjhvvq-
Orjcrav avTovs KarahovXcoaaadat, TToXXdg fiev Kal
lieydXas hwdp^eis en avTovg dyayovreg, ovherroTe
he rds eTTi^oXdg avvreXeaavres .
6 "Eart 8' ev rrj x^P^ "^^^ NajSaratcov Kai rrerpa
KaO^ vTTep^oXrjV o^vpa, piiav dvd^acriv exovaa,
hi rjs Kar oXlyovg dva^aLVovreg dTToridevTai
ras dTTOUKevag. Xlj^vt] re pLeyaXt] <f)epovaa ttoXXtjv
^ aXXoLs eOveacv MSS. : dXXoedveaiv Dindorf, Vogel.
1 A fuller description of this custom is given in Book 19. 94
in connection with the expedition of Antigonus against the
Nabataeans.
^ Cp. chap. 1. 5.
^ The city of Petra (rock); cp. Book 19. 97 and Strabo,
16. 21.
42
BOOK II. 48. 2-6
tory they pillage it, being difficult to overcome in
war. For in the waterless region, as it is called,
they have dug wells at convenient intervals and
have kept the knowledge of them hidden from the
peoples of all other nations, and so they retreat in a
body into this region out of danger.^ For since they
themselves know about the places of hidden water
and open them up, they have for their use drinking
water in abundance ; but such other peoples as
pursue them, being in want of a watering-place by
reason of their ignorance of the wells, in some cases
perish because of the lack of water and in other
cases regain their native land in safety only ^vith
difficulty and after suffering many ills. Conse-
quently the Arabs who inhabit this country, being
difficult to overcome in war, remain ahvays un-
enslaved; furthermore, they never at any time
accept a man of another country as their over-lord
and continue to maintain their liberty unimpaired.
Consequently neither the Assyrians of old, nor the
kings of the Medes and Persians, nor yet those of
the Macedonians have been able to enslave them,
and although they led many great forces against
them, they never brought their attempts to a
successful conclusion. 2
There is also in the land of the Nabataeans a
rock,^ which is exceedingly strong since it has but
one approach, and using this ascent they mount it a
few at a time and thus store their possessions in
safety. And a large lake ■* is also there which pro-
* The Dead Sea ; cp. Strabo 16. 42 f . The remamder of thia
chapter appears in the same words in Book 19. 98, which has
been the basis of many changes m the text of the present
passage.
43
DIODORUS OF SICILY
da(f)aXrov , ef rjs Xajx^dvovaiv ovk oAt'ya? Trpoao-
7 Sou?, avriq 8' e;s^ei to [xev ixrJKO? araBicov cu?
TTevraKoaiajv , ro 8e ttXcitos cos i^TJKovra, to 8'
vSajp SvaaJhes Kal SiaTTLKpov, waTe [ir] Swacr^at
/ai^t' l-)(dvv Tp4(f>eLv pLiqT aXXo tojv Kad uSaro?
etwdoTCDV ^oJCDi' etvai. ifJi^aXXovTcov 8 et? avTiqv
TTOTapLcbv pieyaXcov ttj yXvKVTTjTi SLa(f>6pa)v, tovtojv
[JL€V TTepiyiveTai Kara ti^v hvaoohiav, i^ avTrjs
8e pidarjs /car eviavTOV eK^vaa aacfxxXTOV pieyedog
TTOTe pL€v pLei^ov rj TpiirXedpov, euTL 8 otg hvolv
TrXedpcov e<^' w^ Sr] uvvrjOois ol TrepioiKovv-
re? ^dp^apoL to pcev /xet^ov KaXovuL Taupov, to 8'
8 eXaTTOv pi6a)(OV €Trovopidt,ovaLV. eTnTrXeovcrrjs 8e Trjs
dacjxiXTOU TTeXaylag 6 tvttos ^ (j>aiv€Tai tols ^ i$
OLTToaT-qpiaTOs decopovaiv olovei vrjaog. ttjv 8' eKiTTCO-
aiv TTJs da(f)dXTOv ovp^^aiveL (f)avepdv yiveadat Tolg
dvdpojTTOLs 7Tp6 rjp.epa)v ei/cocrf* kvkXco yap Trjs
Xijxvqg em TToXXovg crraSiou? dapLT] TrpoaTnTTTei jLierd
TTvevp^aTog, /cat Tra? o Trept tov tottov dpyvpos re
/cat xpvaos Kal )(aXK6s aTro^dXXeL ttjv tStoTTjra tov
)(pa)piaTOS. dXX' avTYj piev aTro/ca^tararat irdXiv,
eTTethdv dva(l>va"r]9rjvaL ^ avpL^jj rrdaav Tr]v da^aX-
Tov 6 8e TrXr^oiov tottos epiirvpos cov Kal Svacohrjg
TTOiel TO, {Tcojuara tcov dvdpwncov lirivoaa Kal rravTe-
9 AtD? oXtyoxpovLa. dyadr] 8 eari (J)Olvi.k6(I>vtos oaiqv
avT'rjg uvji^aiveL TTOTapLols bceiXrjfjiOaL ^p-qatpioig
r) Trrjyats hwapievats dpSevetv. yti'erat Se Trept
^ ^ Wesseling : cDv.
^ TVTTOS Schtifer : tottos,
^ /Liev after rots deleted by Dindorf.
* hvo after elnoai deleted by Dindorf.
^ ava<l>va7jd'^vai Dindorf: avacfivafjaai.
44
BOOK II. 48. 6-9
duces asphalt in abundance, and from it they derive
not a little revenue. It has a length of about five
hundred stades and a wdth of about sixty, and its
water is so ill-smelling and so very bitter that it
cannot support fish or any of the other animals
which commonly live in water. And although great
rivers of remarkable sweetness empty into it, the
lake gets the better of them by reason of its evil
smell, and from its centre it spouts forth once a year
a great mass of asphalt,^ which sometimes extends
for more than three plethra, and sometimes for only
two ; and when this occurs the barbarians who live
about the lake usually call the larger flow a " bull "
and to the smaller one they give the name " calf."
Since the asphalt floats on the surface of the lake,
to those who view it from a distance it takes the
appearance of an island. And the fact is that the
emission of the asphalt is made knowTi to the natives
twenty days before it takes place ; for to a distance
of many stades around the lake the odour, borne on
the Nvind, assails them, and every piece of silver and
gold and brass in the locality loses its characteristic
lustre. But this returns again as soon as all the
asphalt has been spouted forth ; and the region
round about, by reason of its being exposed to fire
and to the evil odours, renders the bodies of the
inhabitants susceptible to disease and makes the
people very short-lived. Yet the land is good for
the groAving of palms, wherever it happens to be
traversed by rivers with usable water or to be
suppUed mth springs wliich can irrigate it. And
^ Asphalt even now occasionally floats ashore from the
Dead Sea.
45
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tovs roTTOVg tovtovs ^ iv avXcovi rivi /cat to koXov-
fjLevov ^dXaaixov, i^ ov rrpocroSov aSpav ^ Xafi^d-
vovcnv, ovSafiov fxev rrjs dXX'qg oiKovfxevrjg evpi-
aKOjJievov rod (f)VTOV rovrov, rfjg 8' e^ avTOV
■^peias eis" (fidpfiaKa TOt? tarpoZ? Kad^ VTTep^oXrjv
evdeTOvarjg.
49. 'H 8' i)(oiJi€vrj rrjs dvvSpov /cat ep'qpLov
■^(Lpas 'Apaf^ia roaovro 8ta0epet rauTT^S" ojaTe hid
TO TrXrjdo's TOiv ev avTrj (f)VO[Jievojv KapTTcov re Kat
Tcov dXXcov dyaOcbv ^v8aL[Xova Apa^Cav irpoaayo-
2 pevOi^vaL. KaAa/xov [xev yap /cat a)(olvov /cat ttjv
dXXrjv vXrjv tt^v dpcoixarc^ovaav TroXXrjv (j)ipeL /cat
KadoXov TTavTohaird? (f>vXXajv eva)hi,as, /cat tcov
dTTO(7Tal,6vTCi)V SaKpvcov oajxaZ'S TTOt/ctAat? Stet-
XrjTTTai' T'^v Te yap ap.vpvav Kat tov 7Tpoa<f)iXe-
OTarov tols Oeolg e'is re ttjv OLKOvjjLevnrjv aTraaav
hiaTTopLTTipLOV Xi^avcoTOV at TavTrjs ^ iaxo-TLal (j)€-
3 povai. TOV he koutov /cat Kaaias, €Tl he KLvafxo)-
fjLOV Kat TCOV dXXa>v tcov toiovtcov ^opTOt Kat
ddfjivoL jSa^etat ToaavTai 7T€<j)VKaaLV cogtg Ta irapd
Tols a'AAot? OTTavLcog em ^cofious Oecov TiOip^eva
Trap cKetVot? Kat KXi^dvcov vTrdpx^LV eKKavpLaTa,
Kal TO. TTapd TOt? aAAot? puKpcp helyp-aTt V7Tdp)(ovTa
^ TOVTOVS omitted by C D F, Vogel ; but cp. 19. 98. 4.
* dSpav Vogel, from 19. 98. 4 : fiiKpav D, Bekker, who adds
ov, XafiTTpav II, Dindorf.
^ aiTavTTjs Reiske : 077' avT'^s al Tavr-qs-
1 The Jordan valley at Jericho.
2 Strabo (16. 2. 41) briefly describes how the resin, perhaps
the Biblical " balm of Gilead," was extracted from this tree.
46
BOOK II. 48. 9-49. 3
there is also found in these regions in a certain
valley ^ the balsam tree, as it is called, from which
they receive a substantial revenue, since this tree is
found nowhere else in the inhabited world and the
use of it for medicinal pui*poses is most highly valued
by physicians.^
49.^ That part of Arabia which borders upon the
waterless and desert country is so different from it
that, because both of the multitude of fruits which
grow therein and of its other good things, it has
been called Arabia Fehx. For the reed * and the
rush ^ and every other growth that has a spicy scent
are produced in great abundance, as is also, speaking
generally, every kind of fragrant substance which is
derived from leaves, and the land is distinguished in
its several parts by the varied odours of the gums
which drip from them ; for myrrh and that frank-
incense which is most dear to the gods and is ex-
ported throughout the entire inhabited world are
pi'oduced in the farthest parts of this land. And
kostos ^ and cassia ' and cinnamon and all other
plants of this nature ^ grow there in fields and
thickets of such depth that what all other peoples
sparingly place upon the altars of the gods is
actually used by them as fuel under their pots, and
what is found among all other peoples in small speci-
* Chaps. 49-53 are commonly attributed to Posidonius
(cp. Jacoby, FGE HIST., No. 87, F 114).
* The " sweet reed " (sweet-flag) of Theophrastus, Enquiry
into Plants, 9. 7. 1, 3 (Vol. 2, pp. 247 f. in L.C.L. tr. by Hort).
* Ginger-grass; cp. ibid.
* Saussurea Lappa; cp. ibid.
' Cinnamomum iners, idem, 9. 5. 3 (Vol. 2, pp. 243 f. in
L.G.L.).
* i.e. aromatic plants.
47
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Trap' eKeivois ari^dSag oiKeTiKag cttl tcov olklcov
TTapex^aOaL. ro re KaXovfxevov KivayLajfJiov 8ta-
(f)opov p^petav Trapexofxevov /cat p-qrivrj Kat repe-
^ivdos aTrXaros evaj8r]s ^uerat Trept rovs roTTOvg.
4 iv 8e rots opeatv ov p.6vov iXaTt] /cat TrevKTj (f)veTai
Sai/riAi^s', dAAa /cat KeSpog koI apKevdog anXarog
/cat TO KaXov[JL€vov ^oparov. 77oAAat 8e /cat
aAAai (f>va€tg eycoSet? KapTTO(f)opovaai rag aTToppotag
/cat TrpoarrvevaeLg e-)(ovai roZg eyyicraai Trpoar]-
veardrag. /cat yap avro ro rrjg yrjg €)(€l ri
<f)vaLK6v evarpLov /cat dvpadpauLV r]8eatv ioiKog.
5 8 to /cat /caret rtva? rorrovg rrjg 'Apa^Lag opvrro-
fxevqg rrjg yrjg evpioKovraL c^Xe^eg evcvoetg, iov
fieraXXevopevwv e^atcrtot ro pceyeOog Xaropnai
yivovrar e/c 8e rovrojv rag oiKiag crvXXeyovreg
KaraaKevdt,ovoLV atg orav e/c rov rrepie-^ovrog
TrpooTriacooL (/re/caSe?, to SLarrjKopevov ^ vtto ^
rrjg iKfxdhog crvppel elg rag appioydg raJv Xidcov,
/cat rrrjyvvpLevov aviX(f)veig d7T€pydt,erai roL)(ovg.
50. MeraAAeuerat 8e Kara. rr]v ^ Apafiiav /cat o
vpoaayopevopcvog dirvpog XP^^°^> °^X (JJcrT^ep
rrapd rolg a'AAot? e/c ifjrjypidrwv KaOeipopievog,
dAA' evOvg opurropLevog evpiaKerat ro ^ piiyedog
Kapvoig KaaravaiKoZg TTapaTrXi^aiog , rrjv Se ;Ypoaj'
ovroj (l>XoycoSrjg cjare rovg ivripordrovg Xidovg
VTTO rcov re^yirajv evhedivrag TTOieiv rd /cdAAtara
^ TO Siar-qKonevov Wesseling : to omitted A D, 8ia to
TrjKOfievov C F.
■^ VTTO Dindorf : diro.
^ /xev after to added by Jaeoby,
1 Turpentine tree; cp. Theophrastua, ibid. 3. 15. 3-4 and
passim.
48
BOOK 11. 49. 3-50. I
mens there supplies material for the mattresses of
the servants in their homes. Moreover, the cinnamon,
as it is called, which is exceptionally useful, and resin
of the pine, and the terebinth,^ are produced in these
regions in great abundance and of sweet odour. And
in the mountains grow not only silver fir and pine in
abundance, but also cedar and the Phoenician cedar ^
in abundance and horaton,^ as it is called. There
are also many other kinds of fruit-bearing plants of
sweet odour, which yield sap and fragrances most
pleasing to such as approach them. Indeed the very
earth itself is by its nature full of a vapour which is
hke sweet incense. Consequently, in certain regions
of Arabia, when the earth is dug up, there are
discovered veins of sweet odour, in the working of
which quarries of extraordinary magnitude are
formed; and fi'om these they gather stones and
build their houses. And as for their houses, when-
ever rain drops from the enveloping atmosphere,
that part * which is melted down by the moisture
flows into the joints of the stones and hardening
there makes the walls solid throughout.
50. There is also mined in Arabia the gold called
fireless," ^ which is not smelted from ores, as is
done among all other peoples, but is dug out directly
from the earth ; it is found in nuggets about the
size of chestnuts, and is so fiery-red in colour that
when it is used by artisans as a setting for the most
precious gems it makes the fairest of adornments.
^ These two cedars are distinguished iu Theophrastus,
ibid. 3. 12. 3^ (Vol. 2, pp. 235 f. in L.C.L.).
^ Juniper.
* Presumably, the clay of the roof.
^ i.e. unsmelted.
49
DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 Toiiv Koaix-qixdroiv. dpeixfjidrcov re TravrodaTTCov
ToaovTO /car' avrr^v VTrapx^i- ttXtjOos cjare kdvrj
TToAAo. vo/xa8a ^lov ^prjjjieva hvvaadai KaXoJg
hiar pi<f)eoQ at y airov [xev [xr] 7TpoaSe6[X€va, rfj S'
aTTO rovTCOV 8ai/(iAeia )(oprjyovpi€va. OrjpLOJV re
ttXtjOos dXKLfxcov rj 7Tpoaopit,ovaa rfj Hvpia rpi<fi€i'
Kol yap Xlovras /cat TrapSaAei? ev avrfj ttoXXo)
TrXeiovas Koi pieil^ovs /cat rat? dA/cat? Sta^dpous"
TTe<j)VK€vai rJTTep iv rfj Al^vyj GVix^t^r]K€' Trpog
8e TGI/Tots' ot KaXovpievoi Baf^vXcovioL riypeLS'
3 <f>epei he /cat ^aia ht,(f)vrj /cat ixepayixeva ralg
tSe'at?, (Lv al fxev ovofxat,6[Jievat arpovOoKaiirjXot,
7TepLeLX'q(f>acn rols rvTTolg pLiyfiara TrrrfVcuv ^ /cat
Kap.'qXcov OLKoXovOcog rfj TTpoaiqyopia. ro fxev yap
fieyeOos exovcri veoyevel KaixiqXix) TTaparrXrjaLov ,
ras 8e /ce^aAd? 7Te<f>pLKVLas ^ dpi^l XerrraXg, rov'S
8' 6(f)9aXjJious ixeydXovs Kat Kara rrjv ^(^poav
[jLeXavas, drrapaXXaKrovs Kara rov rvirov /cat ro
4 yjpGi^a. TOt? TcDv KafirjXayv. p,aKporpd-)(r]Xov 8
VTrdpxov pvyxos exei ^po-X^ TravreXcog /cat et?
o^if avv7]yfX€Vov. eTrrepcorai Se rapaotg /xaAa/co*?^
rerpix^JfJ-evois, Kat Sval uKeXeat, arr]pL[,6[jievov /cat
TTOCTt 8t;^7yAots' ;)^epcratov d/xa ^atVerat /cat TTTqvov.
5 Std 8e TO ^dpos ov Svi'dpievov e^dpai /cat Trereadai
Kara rrjs yrjs (jokIcos aKpo^arel, /cat hiojKopLevov
VTTO rcbv LTTTrecov rois ttooi. rovs VTroTnirrovras
Xidovs ovrcos evrovcos aTToa^evhova Trpog rovs
hioiKovras ware TToXXdKLs KaprepaZs TrXrjyals
^ TTTrjvoJv Rhodomann, Dindorf, Bekker : xW^*' MSS.,
Vogel.
^ TTe(f>piKvias Co bet : Tre^ivKVLas.
50
BOOK II. 50. 2-5
There is also in the land such a multitude of herds
that many tribes which have chosen a nomad life
are able to fare right well, experiencing no want of
grain but being provided for in abundance by their
herds. That part of the country which borders upon
Syria breeds a multitude of fierce wild beasts ; for
the lions and leopards there are far more numerous
and larger and superior in ferocity as compared with
those of Libya, and in addition to these there are
the Babylonian tigers, as they are called. And it
produces animals which are of double form and
mingled in their natures, to which belong the strutho-
cameli, which, as their name implies, embrace in
their form the compound of a bird ^ and of a camel.
For in size they are like a newly-born camel, but
their heads bristle with fine hair, and their eyes are
large and black, indistinguishable in general appear-
ance and colour from those of the camel. It is also
long-necked and has a beak which is very short and
contracted to a sharp point. And since it has AAings
with feathers which are covered with a fine hair,
and is supported upon two legs and on feet with
cloven hoofs, it has the appearance of a land animal
as well as of a bird. But being unable by reason of
its weight to raise itself in the air and to fly, it
SAviftly skims over the land, and when pursued by
hunters on horseback with its feet it hurls stones as
from a sling upon its pursuers, and Avith such force
1 The MSS. write "of a goose." Oppian, Cynegdica,
3. 483, says that the animal was of the nature of a camel and
of an " ostrich " (strouthos).
^ fiaXaKcos suggested by Vogel, adopted by Jacoby:
(xaXaKois-
51
DIODORUS OF SICILY
avTOVS TTepiTTLTTTeiv. eTTeihav Se TrepiKardXrjTTTOV
6 17, Tiqv K€(j>aXr]v et? rti^a ddjjivov t) roiavrrjv
aKe7Tr)V dTTOKpvTrreTai, ovx, cos oiovrai rives,
dcf>poavvrj Kal vooBpor'iqri ipvxrjs Sta to jxrj ^Xeireiv
erepovs jLt^jS' avro ^Xerreadat ScaXapc^dvov i5^'
irepcov, dAAo. Sid to rod acopiaros €)(€LV tovto to
piepos aaOevearaTOV aKe-rnqv avrco ^ Trpds acorrjpLav
7 TTepiTTOiel' dyadiq yap r) (f)vais SthdoKaXos aTraat
TOi? ^ipoLs TTpds hiarripriGiv ov piovov iaurdjv,
dXXd Kai Twv yevvwpLevcov, Sta rrjs cruyyevovs
(f)LXot,(DLas rds Sta8o;i^a? els dtSiov dyovaa hiapiovrjs
kvkXov.
51. At Se KaXovpievai KapirjXoTrapBdXeis rrjv^
pii^iv dpi(l)OTepa)V exouat rcov ev rij TTpoarjyopia
TTepLeiXrjppievojv t,(t)OJV. rw puev yap pLeyedei puKpo-
repaL ra)v KapLrjXojv etai Kat ^paxvrpaxfjXoTepaL ,^
rrjv 8e Ke(f)aXrjv Kat rrjv rajv opipidTCOV SidOeaiv
■naphdXei 7TapepL(f)epets^ SiarervTrojurai' to 8e
Kara ttjv pdx'-v Kvprcopia TTapepL(f>epes exovaai
KapirjXcp, TO) ;)^paj/xaTt Kat rfj rpixiiioei TrapSdXecnv
eoLKaoLV opiOLOJS Se Kat rr]v ovpdv p,aKpdv exovaai
2 TTjV Tov drjpiov (j^vuiv dTToruTTOVvrai . yivovrai 8e
Kat TpayeXa(j)Oi Kal ^ov^aXoi Kat a'AAa -nXeico yevtj
SipLop(f)a t,cpa)v Kat rrjv avvdeoiv eK rcov TrXeZarov
rr]v cf)vaiv Kexcopi-crp-^vajv ep^ovra, Treot d)v rd Kard
^ avToJ Jacoby : ai^roj.
'■^ fiev after r-qv deleted by Dindorf.
^ ijLaKpoTpaxrjXorepai has been suggested.
* TTapeiJ-ffyepeis Hertlein : npoaefi^epfj D, irpoaefufxp^i A B,
nape ft(f)e pel C
52
BOOK II. 50. 5-51. 2
that they often receive severe wounds. And when-
ever it is overtaken and surrounded, it hides its head
in a bush or some such shelter, not, as some men
suppose, because of its folly and stupidity of spirit,
as if it thought that since it could not see the others
it could not itself be seen by others either, but
because its head is the weakest part of its body it
seeks a shelter for it in order to save its life ; for
Nature is an excellent instructor of all animals for
the preservation not only of their own lives but also
of their offspring, since by planting in them an
innate love of life she leads successive generations
into an eternal cycle of continued existence.
51. The camelopards,^ as they are called, represent
the mixing of the two animals which are included in
the name given to it. For in size they are smaller
than the camel and have shorter necks,^ but in the
head and the arrangement of the eyes they are
formed very much like a leopard ; and although they
have a hump on the back like the camel, yet A\ith
respect to colour and hair they are Uke leopards ;
likewise in the possession of a long tail they imitate
the nature of this wild beast. There are also bred
tragelaphoi (goat-stags) and bubali ^ and many
other varieties of animals which are of double form
and combine in one body the natures of creatures
most widely different, about all of which it would
^ " Camel-leopards," or giraffes.
' "Longer necks" has been suggested. Agatharchides
(ap. Photius 455. 4) had said that their necks were so long that
they could get their food from the " tops of trees." Giraffes
had been exhibited in Alexandria in the third century B.C.,
and one was brought to Rome by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.
(Dio 43. 23).
3 Apparently a kind of antelope.
53
DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 jJidpog jxaKpov av eirj ypd^eiv. hoKel yap -q avvey-
yi^ovaa xcopa rfj fiea-qix^pta rrjv dcj)^ -qXiou SuvafiLV
t,coTiKcordrrjv ovaav ttoXXtju ipTTveladaL, /cat 8ta
rovTo TToXXoJv Kai ttoiklXcov, ert 8e KaXcbv I^oxjjv
4 (j)vaeL'5 yewdv 8ia Se ra? aura? atrtas" Kara [xev
rrjV AtyvTTTOV tovs t€ KpoKoSeiXoug <f>veGdaL Kal
Toi)^ TTorapiiovs lttttov;, Kara Se rr^v KidLOTnav /cat
Trjv TTJs At^wTj? epiqpiov eXe(l)dvrcov re TrXrjOog Kal
TiavrohaTTcov 6(j)€d>v re koI rcov dXXoiv drjpiojv
Kal SpaKovrojv i^T^XXayixeva)v rots' re pLeyeOeai Kal
rat's aXKaZs, op.oia>s Se Kac rovs vrept rrjv IvhiKrjv
iXe(f)avras, VTrep^dXXovra^ rolg re oyKois Kal
rrXrjQeaiVy ert 8e rais dXKalg.
52. Ov fjiovov 8' iv ravrai? ratg )(wpaLS C<?ct yev-
vdrai rat? ISeats e^rjXXayixeva 8td rrjV a(f> rjXtov
avvepyiav Kal SvvafJiLV, dXXd Kal XlOojv -navroicov
€K(f)vaeis hLd(f)opoi rats ;\;jooats' Kal rats XaptTrporrjat
2 8ta^ai'etS'. rovs yap KpvardXXovs Xtdovs ^X^''^ ''"1^
uvaraatv e^ vSaros Kadapov Trayevros ovx vtto
tfjvxovs, aAA' VTTO deiov irvpos SvvdfJteojs, 8t t]v
dai^TTrovs ptev avrovs StajLteVeiv, ^a(/)rjvat 8e ttoXv-
3 p6p(f)C0S dvadvp^tdaei TTvevptaros. aptapdyhovs yap
Kal rd KaXovpeva ^rjpvXXta Kara rds iv rots
XaXKOvpyetoLs pteraXXetas ytvopeva Sta rr]V arro
rdjv deiojv ^a(f)7]v Kal avvSeatv avyxpoi^^adai, rovs
he ;YpuaoAt^oi;s" vtto KaTTVwhovs dvadvpttduecos
rjXtov depporrjrt <f>vopevovs Xeyovat rvyxdveiv
4 rovrov rov ;Ypa)jUaTOS'. 8t6 Kal rovs ovopta-
t,opevovs tpevSoxpvcrovs KaraaKevdt,ead at Sta rov
dviqrov Kal vtt' dvOpcoTTCov yeyovoros TTvpos ^arrro-
^ Perhaps emeralds.
54
BOOK II. 51. 2-52. 4
be a long task to ^vrite in detail. For it would seem
that the land which lies to the south breathes in a
great deal of the sun's strength, which is the greatest
source of life, and that, for that reason, it generates
breeds of beautiful animals in great number and of
varied colour ; and that for the same reason there
are produced in Egypt both the crocodiles and the
river-horses, in Ethiopia and in the desert of Libya
a multitude of elephants and of reptiles of every
variety and of all other AWld beasts and of serpents,
which differ from one another in size and ferocity,
and likewse in India the elephants of exceptional
bulk and number and ferocity.
52, In these countries are generated not only
animals which differ from one another in form because
of the helpful influence and strength of the sun, but
also outcroppings of every kind of precious stone
which are unusual in colour and resplendent in
brilliancy. For the rock-crystals, so we are in-
formed, are composed of pure water which has been
hardened, not by the action of cold, but by the
influence of a divine fire, and for this reason they
are never subject to corruption and take on many
hues when they are breathed upon. For instance
smaragdi ^ and beryllia^ as they are called, which
are found in the shafts of the copper mines, receive
their colour by having been dipped and bound
together in a bath of sulphur, and the chrysohths,^
they say, which are produced by a smoky exhalation
due to the heat of the sun, thereby get the colour
they have. For this reason what is called " false
gold," we are told, is fabricated by mortal fire, made
* A diminutive of the word beryl.
" " Grold-stones," perhaps the topaz.
55
VOL. II. r
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fievcov Tcjv KpvaraXXcxiv. ra? Se rojv avOpaKcov
(f>vaeis (jiOJTOs Svvafjicv epLTnXrjdeZaav rfj TT-q^ei
(fiaalv ^ aTTOTeXelv rco fidXXov /cat rJTrov to.? iv
6 avTOLS hia^opas. TrapaTrX-qaicos Se /cat rag rcov
opveojv jJiop(f)as eTn')(p(jjt,€adai, ras fi^v oXo7Top<f)vpovs
<f>aivop,evas, ras 8e /caret fJiepog Travroiais ;\;pdai?
hiciXr]ixixevag' to. pikv yap <f)\6y iva, ra 8e KpoKcohr],
Tim 8e (jpLapayhit^ovTa, ttoAAo. 8e xpvaoeiSrj
(f)aiv€adai Kara rag rrpog to ^cjg ey/cAtaet? avTcJL)v,
/cat KadoXov 7roAuet8et? /cat Svaepfirjvevrovs airore-
Xeladai ^(poas' oirep /cat e77t ttJ? /car ou/aavor
tpt8o? opdadai yiv6pi€Vov vtto rod irepi rov •^Xlov
6 (fxjirog. e/c 8e ToyrcDV rovg <f>VGLoX6yovg avXXoytl^o-
fxevovs arro^aLveadai 8toTt /cat tt^i^ dvajdev rrjs
ruiv TTpoetprjixevtov CK^vaeois TTOLKiXiav e^aipev
ri avyyevrjg deppiaoLa, avvepyrjaavrog rjXLov rod
7 l^ojOTTOLOvvrog rag CKaarcov piop^dg. KadoXov 8e
/cat rrj? vre/at to, aV^T^ hia<j>opdg rrjg p^^pda? /cat
TT^S" TTj? yT^? TTOiKiXiag rovrov vvapxeiv alriov /cat
SrjpiLovpyov ov rrjv ^vglktjv ivepyeiav rag 6v7]rdg
r€)(yag piip,rjaapL€vag ^aTrreiv eKaara /cat ttolklXXglv ,
8 fxaOrjrpLag yevopiivag rrjg (f>va€cog. rd p,ev yap XP<^~
pt,ara ro (f)a)g dire pyd^ead at, rag 8e oor/xd? rcvv Kap-
TTCov /cat TO.? ISiorrjrag rdv yyXuiv, ert Se rd
pLeyedj] rdJv l,a)0iv /cat rag CKaarov Stadeaecg,
TTpog 8e rovroig rdg rrjg yijg cSiorrjrag, yevvdv rrjv
^ <f)aalv Rhodomann : (f>vaiv.
^ Such as carbuncles, rubies, and garnets.
56
BOOK II. 52. 4-8
by man, by dipping the rock crystals into it. And
as for the natural qualities of the dark-red stones,^
it is the influence of the light, as it is compressed
to a greater or less degree in them when they are
hardening, which, they say, accounts for their differ-
ences. In hke manner, it is reported, the different
kinds of birds get their colouring, some kinds appear-
ing to the eye as pure red, other kinds marked with
colours of every variety one after the other ; for
some birds are flaming red in appearance, others
saffron yellow, some emerald green, and many of
the colour of gold when they turn towards the light,
and, in brief, hues are produced in great variety and
difficult to describe ; and tlris same thing can be
seen taking place in the case of the rainbow in the
heavens by reason of the hght of the sun. And it
is from these facts that the students of nature draw
their arguments when they affirm that the variety of
colouring that is put forth by the things which we
have mentioned above was caused by the heat
coincident with their creation which dyed them, the
sun, which is the source of Ufe, assisting in the pro-
duction of each several kind. And it is generally
true, they continue, that of the differences in the
hues of the flowers and of the varied colours of the
earth the sun is the cause and creator ; and the
arts of mortal men, imitating the working of the sun
in the physical world, impart colouring and varied
hues to every object, having been instructed in this
by nature. For the colours, they continue, are pro-
duced by the light, and like-wise the odours of the
fruits and the distinctive quahty of their juices, the
different sizes of the animals and their several forms,
and the peculiarities which the earth shows, all are
57
DIODORUS OF SICILY
irept Tov TjAtov depfiaaLav, elg 7ToXuTpa(f)rj )(^copav
Kai yoviixov vScop ivddXrrovaav /cat Srjfjuovpyov
9 yLvojJievrjv rrjg eKaarov ^vaecos. StoTrep ovre rj
riapia Xvyhog out aXXr] daufial^ofxdvrj rrcrpa rots
^Apa^lois XldoLs e^iaojd'TjvaL Svvarai ,Sv XanTTpordTrj
fjLev 7] XevKOTTjg, ^apvrarog Se o (JTaOpLos, 17 8e
Aetorrj? VTrep^oX-qv irdpotg ovk OLTToXeLTTOuaa. atria
Se rrjg j^cupa? rrjg Kara fJicpos ISlottjtos, KaOdnep
TTpoeliTOv, 7) TrepL TOV tJXlov hvvafJLLS, Oepixaaia
pLev TT-q^aaa, ^rjpoTYjTL he TnX'^aaaa, ^dyyei he
XapiTTpvvaaa.
53. Ato Kat TO TuJv opveojv yevos TrXeianqs deppia-
atas K€KO(,vci)vr]KOs iyeveTO htd piev ttjv Kovcfior-qTa
TTTrjvov, hid he ttjv dcf)^ rjXiov avvepyiav ttolklXov,
Kat pidXiara Kara Tag TvpoaKeipLevag ^ -qXio)
2 -^cLpas. rj piev yap Ba^uAcovia Tad)va)V eKrpecjiei,
TrXrjdos TTavTOuus )(p6aLS eTT'qvdiap.evcov, at S^ rrjg
Suptas" iaxo-Tiau tfjirraKovs /cat 7Top(f)vpLa>vas Kal
p-eXeaypihag /cat d'AAa? t,(x>cx>v Ihias ^vcjeis Totg
3 )(pd)p.acn Kat iroLKiXag avyKpLaeig. 6 h avTog
Xoyog /cat /cara Tag dXXag )(d}pag Trjg yrjg rag
Kara ttjv opLoiav Kpdaiv Ketpicvag, Xeyo) h 'IvhiKrjv
Kal rrjv ^pvdpdv OdXarrav, en he At^to77tav /cat
4 Ttra p-epy] rrjg Ai^vrjg. dXXd rrjg p.ev irpog
dvaroXdg KeKXipievrjg Tnorepag ovar^g evyevearepa
Kol pieit,ova <f)veraL ^(pa* rrjg h dXXrjg act Kara
TOV rr\g dperrjg Xoyov eKaara ralg hiaOeaeai,
yewdrai .
5 'OpiOLcog he Kal rcbv hevhpcjv ol ^OLViKeg Kara piev
1 npoaKfuievas Jacoby : wpoKeifievas.
58
BOOK II. 52. 8-53. 5
generated by the heat of the sun which imparts its
■warmth to a fertile land and to water endowed uith
the generative power and thus becomes the creator
of each separate thing as it is. Consequently,
neither the white marble of Paros nor any other
stone which men admire can be compared \\ith the
precious stones of Arabia, since their whiteness is
most brilliant, their weight the hea\iest, and their
smoothness leaves no room for other stones to sur-
pass them. And the cause of the peculiar nature of
the several parts of the country is, as I have said,
the influence of the sun, which has hardened it by
its heat, compressed it by its dryness, and made it
resplendent by its light.
53. Hence it is that the race of birds also, having
received the most warmth, became flying creatures
because of their lightness,^ and of varied colour
because of the influence of the sun, this being
especially true in the lands which lie close to the
sun. Babylonia, for instance, produces a multitude
of peacocks which have blossomed out ^^ith colours
of every Idnd, and the farthest parts of Syria produce
parrots and purple coots and guinea-fowls and other
kinds of animals of distinctive colouring and of every
combination of hues. And the same reasoning applies
also to all the other countries of the earth which lie
in a similar climate, such as India and the Red Sea
and Ethiopia and certain parts of Libya. But the
eastern part, being more fertile, breeds nobler and
larger animals ; and as for the rest of Libya, each
animal is produced in form and characteristics
corresponding to the quality of the soil.
Likewise as regards trees, the palms of Libya bear
1 Cp. Book 1. 7. 5.
59
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rrjv Ai^ur^t* avxfJ^T^povs kol ^iKpovg iK(f)€povaL
KapTTOvs, rrjs Se HvpLag Kara p,kv rrjv Kot'Ar^p ol
KapvojTOL TTpouayopevoyievoi yeivcovTai, hia.(f)opoL
Kara re rrjv yXvKvrrjra /cat ro fieyeOos, ert Se
6 rovs x^P-o^?- rovrcov Se voXXo) /xet^ou? Kara rrjv
'Apa^lav Kai rrjv Ba^vXowiav opdv eart ytvope-
vovs, Kara piev ro peyedos ef SaKrvXcov ovrag,
rfj Se XP^9- '^o'^S" p-ev /XTjAtVous', rovs Se <f>OLVLKovs,
ivLovs Se Trop<l)vpil,ovras' ujoO^ vtt* avrojv ap,a
Kal rrjv oifjiv repneadaL /cat rrjv yevuLV ifjvxo.yojyet-
adaL. TO. Se areXex^] rcov <f)OiviKcov ro pikv prJKos
depiov ex^i, ttjv Se TreptcfiepeLav ifjtXr^v rravraxodev
7 p^xpf- Trjs Kopv(f)rjs. aKpoKopa S' ovra Bcacfiopous
ex^i ra? oltto rrjs Kop-qs Sta^e'creis" ra p.ev yap
TTavrr) rovs paSt/ca? ex^t rreptKexvpievovs , Kal
Kara piecrov eK rivos irepippayevros (j)Xoiov ^orpv-
(x)Srj KapTTov dvLTjCTL, rd Se e^' ev pepos exovra
KEKXipivas ras eVt rrjs Kopv(f)rjg Kopas ax'qpo.-
nopov diToreXeZ XapTrdSos dTrai-Ovaoopevrjs , evia
S' CTT dp,(f)6repa rd p-eprj TrepiKXcop-eva Kal StvrA?^
rfj Karadeaei rGiv KXddojv dp.(f)ixo.ira yLvopueva
ypa(f>LKr]v aTroreAet rrjv TrpoaoipLV.
54. Tr]s S' oX-qs Apa^las rxjv pev eVt pearjp^pLav
vevovaav EuSat/xova Trpoaayopevovai, rrjv S' ei^So-
repco KeLpevTjv veperai ttXtjOos 'Apd^ojv vop-dScov Kai
aKrjvLr-qv ^lov fjpripevcov. ovroi Se OpepLp-arorpo-
<f>ovvres dyeXas peydXas ^OGKr]p,drcov evavXtt,ovraL
2 TreStots' dperprjroLs- t) S' dvd peaov ravrrjs re
Kal rrjs EuSat/Ltovo? 'Apa^ta? epiqpos /cat dvvSpos
iarL, Kaddirep rrpoeip-qrai- rd Se Trpos Svcrpds p-^pf]
^ i.e. at the side. The lamp of Diodorus' period had its
6o
BOOK II. 53. 5-54. 2
dry and small fruit, but in Coele-Syria dates called
caryoti are produced which excel as to both sweet-
ness and size and also as to their juices. But dates
much larger than these can be seen gro\\'ing in
Arabia and Babylonia, six fingers in size and in
colour either yellow hke the quince, or dark red, or
in some cases tending to purple, so that at the same
time they both delight the eye and gratify the
taste. The trunk of the palm stretches high in the
air and its surface is smooth all over as far as its
cro%vn. But though they all have a tuft of foliage
at the top, yet the arrangement of the foliage
varies ; for in some cases the fronds spread out in a
complete circle and from the centre the trunk sends
up, as if from out its broken bark, the fruit in a
cluster like grapes, in other cases the foliage at the
crown droops down on only one side so that it pro-
duces the appearance of a lamp from which the
flame flares out,^ and occasionally they have their
fronds bent doA\Ti on both sides and by this double
arrangement of the branches show a crown of fohage
all about the trunk, thus presenting a picturesque
appearance.
54. That part of Arabia as a whole which lies to the
south is called Felix, but the interior part is ranged
over by a multitude of Arabians who are nomads and
have chosen a tent life. These raise great flocks of
animals and make their camps in plains of immeasur-
able extent. The region which lies between this
part and Arabia Felix is desert and waterless, as has
been stated ^ ; and the parts of Arabia which lie to
nozzle on the side opposite the handle, and so the comparison
is apt.
■ Cp. chap. 48.
61
DIODORUS OF SICILY
KCKXifieva ttJ? ApajSia? StetAj]77Tai TreSiot? a/it-
ynoheaiv depcoLg ro [xeyedog. Si cSt' ol rag oSoltto-
pias TTOiov/JievoL KaOdnep ol iv rot? TreAayeat
TTpog rag 0.770 TciJi' dpKTOJV CTTy/xaCTia? TTyv' SiefoSov
3 TTOiovvraL. ro 8 VTroXenrofJievov jxepos rrjg Apa-
^tas ro TTpos rr)V Hvpiav KeKXtixevov TrXrjOei
yecopycov /cat TravroSaTTCov ipLTTopcov, ot Std rds
rcov (fioprLcov evKaipovs dt'TtSdaeis' rd nap' d}x<j)ore-
potg (JTravL^opra Trpos SaiJjLXeiav raJv ^prjaLjJicov
4 hiopdovvrai. r) 8e vapd rov WK^avov 'Apa^ia
KeXrai ixkv VTrepavco rrj<; EuSat/xoi^os", TTorap-ols
he TToXXoZs Kai jxeydXoLg SLetXr^ixixevrj ttoXXovs
TTOiel roTTOVs Ai/xm^oi^ra? /cat jxeydXcov eXcov
5 TTepi/JLerpovs. rots S' e/c rdJv rrorajJLcbv erraKroZs
vSaai /cat TOt? e/c rdJv depivdjv oix^pcov yivojJiivoig
dpSevovres ttoXXtjv y^copav, /cat StTrAou? Kaprrovg
Xafx^dvovai, rpe(f>€L Se o roiTog ovros eXecfydvrwv
dydXa? /cat a'AAa ^<Sa KrjrcoSrj )(€paata ^ /cat
8tjU,o/)(/ia, rat? tSeat? i^rjXXayixdva' rrpos Se
TOUTOt? dpeixfiarcov TravroSanaJv TrXrjduei, /cat
IxdXiara ^ocbv /cat rrpo^drajv ra)V rag jxeydXag /cat
TTa)(€Lag e)(6vra)v ovpag.
6 riAetara 8e /cat Sta^opcuTara yeVry /ca/XTJAcot'
rpe^et, rajr re iptXibv /cat SacrecDt' /cat SittAow
dvaTcraKOTCDV' to /card tt^v' pdx^'V Kvprco/Jia /cat
8td rovro hirvXcov ovopiat,oix€va)v , wv at fxev yaXa
TTape-)(opL€vai /cat /cpeo^ayoy/xei^at noXXriv irap-
€-)(ovraL rots ey^cjjpioLs haipiXeiav, at 8e Trpo?
vojro^opiav i^a/CTj/xeVat irvpcov jxev dvd 8e/ca
fjbeBijJLvovs vcoro(f)opovaiv, dvdpojTTOVS 8e /cara/cet-
^ ^rjpta after ;^e/3«7ata omitted by E.
62
BOOK II. 54. 2-6
the west are broken by sandy deserts spacious as
the air in magnitude, through which those who
journey must, even as voyagers upon the seas,
direct their course by indications obtained from the
Bears. The remaining part of Arabia, which lies
towards Syria, contains a multitude of farmers and
merchants of every kind, who by a seasonable ex-
change of merchandise make good the lack of cer-
tain wares in both countries by supplying useful
things which they possess in abundance. That
Arabia which Ues along the ocean is situated above
Arabia Fehx, and since it is traversed by many
great rivers, many regions in it are converted into
stagnant pools and into vast stretches of great
swamps. And with the water which is brought into
them from the rivers and that which comes with the
summer rains they irrigate a large part of the country
and get two crops yearly. This region also breeds
herds of elephants and other monstrous land animals,
and animals of double shape which have developed
peculiar forms ; and in addition to these it abounds
in domestic animals of every kind, especially in
cattle and in the sheep with large and fat tails.
This land also breeds camels in very great numbers
and of most different kinds, both the hairless and
the shaggy, and those which have two humps, one
behind the other, along their spines and hence are
called dituloi}- Some of these provide milk and are
eaten for meat, and so provide the inhabitants \nth
a great abundance of this food, and others, Avhich
are trained to carry burdens on their backs, can
carry some ten medimni ^ of wheat and bear up five
1 " Double-humped " or " double- knobbed."
" About 14^ bushels, or 900 pounds.
63
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fxevov? iirl kXivt]? Trevre ^aard^ovaLV at 8e
avoLKOiXoL Kai Xayapai rat? auardaeai SpofidBes
elai, /cat StaretVouat TrXelarou oSov fjLrJKos, Kai
jxaXiara Trpog ra? Sta rrjs dvvSpov Kai ep-q[xov
7 avvTeXovfJievas oSotTropta?. at 8' aurat /cat Kara
Tovs TToXdfxovs els rds pid^^as e^ovaai ro^orag
dyovrai hvo dvTLKaO-qpiivovg aAAr^Aot? dvTivcoTOVS'
TOVTCDv 8e o /xei/ rovg Kara TTpoacorrov aTravTciJVTas ,
6 8e TOVS eTTLhicvKovTas dpLvverai.
Wept p,ev ovv rfjs A/aa^ta? /cat tcov ev avrfj
<f>voiX€va)v et /cat TreTrXeovdKapiev , dAA' ovv ttoAAo,
rot? (f)iXavayvcoarovcn TTpos <f)iXt]KOLav aTrqy-
yeA/ca/xev.
55. Hepi Se T'^? Kara tov ojKeavov evpedeLa'qs
vrjoov Kara ttjv fiearjpi^pLav Kai rcov /car' avrrjv
7TapaSo^oXoyov[xevcov rretpacrd/Me^a avvTopLcos 8ieA-
delv, TTpoeKdepcevoL rds alrias rrjs evpeaecos a/cpt^cu?.
2 'la/x^ouAos" TJi' e/c TratSojv TratSetav i^rjXcjKcos,
pberd 8e tt^v tou Trarpos TeXevTrjV ovtos ep.-nopov Kat,
avros eScoKev eavrov em ttjv epLTTopiav dva^aivoyv
he ■'• rrj? Apa^ta? eVt tt^i' dpcopLaro(j>opov vtto
TLVcov Xrjarcov avveXrj(f>67] pberd raJv GWoSocTTopcov.
TO /xev ow TTpcjTOV jLtcTct Ttvo? Ttov avveaXcoKOTOiV
dneSeLxS'Q vopuevs, varepov 8' urro Ttvojf KidLOTTiov
pLerd rod avvovros Xrjarevdels dir-qx^^ TTpos rrjv
3 TTapadaXdrriov rrjs AWiomas- ovrot Se avvqpTra-
^ 8ta after Se deleted by Kallenberg.
^ Perhaps Ceylon, if the unknown writer of the following
account of a fabulous people and a political Utopia localized
it in any known spot.
64
BOOK II. 54. 6-55. 3
men lying outstretched upon a couch. Others which
have short legs and are slender in build are drome-
daries and can go at full stretch a day's journey of a
very great distance, especially in the trips which
they make through the waterless and desert region.
And also in their wars the same animals carry into
battle two bowmen who ride back to back to each
other, one of them keeping off enemies who come
on them from in front, the other those who pursue
in the rear.
With regard, then, to Arabia and the products of
that land, even if we have written at too great
length, we have at any rate reported many things
to delight lovers of reading.
55. But with regard to the island ^ which has been
discovered in the ocean to the south and the mar-
vellous tales told concerning it, we shall now en-
deavour to give a brief account, after we have first
set forth accurately the causes which led to its
discovery. There was a certain lambulus ^ who from
his boyhood up had been devoted to the pursuit of
education, and after the death of his father, who
had been a merchant, he also gave himself to that
calling ; and wliile journeying inland to the spice-
bearing region of Arabia ^ he and his companions on
the trip were taken captive by some robbers. Now
at first he and one of his fellow-captives were ap-
pointed to be herdsmen, but later he and liis com-
panion were made captive by certain Ethiopians and
led off to the coast of Ethiopia. They were kid-
- Perhaps the author of the following account, which is
known only from this passage.
^ The " spice- bearing country " was usually placed in
Somaliland, but according to Strabo (1. 2. 32) it is in Arabia,
where Diodorus also apparently places it.
65
DIODORUS OF SICILY
yrjaav elg KaOapyiov rrjg x^P^S, ovreg aXXoeOvels.
v6[xi,[jLov yap -qv toZs Tfj^€ KaroiKovatv AWLOipi
TrapaSeSojJievov e/c TraAattov )(p6vcov, ')(priapLols deiov
KeKvpcojJidvov, Sia yeveojv p.kv eiKoaiv, ircov 8'
i^aKOGLcov, rrjs yeveds apiOpbovpLev-qs rpcaKovra-
erovs' Tov he Kadapfiou yLvopbivov Svatv avdpcoTTOis
•^v avTols TrXoidpLov KarecrKevaGfJievov to) jxeyedet
Gvpujierpov, rovg t ev rfj daXarrr] ■^CLiioava'S
dva^epeLV lo^^^vov /cat paSicD? vtto Svolv avdpcoTTcov
VTTrjpereladai Swdfievov els Se rovro rpo(j)rjv hvalv
dvdpcoTTOLS iKavTjv els e^ iJirjvas evOepievoi, /cat rovs
dvSpas epL^L^daavTes, TrpoaerarTov dvdyeadai Kara
rov XPV^H-^^' '^Xelv 8e SieKeXevovTO Trpog rrjv
4 fxearjp^^plav yj^eiv yap avrovs els vrjaov evhalpLova
/cat eTTLeiKels dvOpajirovs, Trap' ols fxaKaplcos
l^-qaeadaL. opiOLcos Se /cat to eavraJv eOvos e(j>aaav,
idv fJLev ol TTepi<f)devres els rr]v vrjaov SiaaajddJaiv,
e^aKoaioiv ercov elpT]vrjs Kol fiiov Kara ndv
evhaipLovos dTToXavaeiv el Se KarairXayevTes ro
jurj/co? TOV rreXdyovs els Tovmaoj TronqaovTat tov
ttXovv, (vs dae^els /cat Xupiewvas dXov tov edvovs
5 Tipicoptais TJepLTTeaetadaL rat? pLeyiaTais • tovs p-ev
ovv AWlonds (ftauL pieydXrjv iraviqyvpvv dyayelv
TTapd TTjv OdXaTTav, /cat dvuias p-eyaXoTTpeTTeis
eTTLTeXeuavTas KaTaoTeifjat, tovs aKeijjopievovs /cat
Ka6app.6v TroiTjaop.evovs tov edvovs e^aTTooTeZXai.
6 TOVTOVS Se TrXevoavTas rreXayos p-eya Kai x^ipiaa-
devTas ev pbrjal TeTTapai Trpoaevexdrjvai ttj Trpoat]-
66
BOOK II. 55. 3-6
napped in order that, being of an alien people, they
might effect the purification of the land. For among
the Ethiopians who lived in that place there was a
custom, which had been handed down from ancient
times, and had been ratified by oracles of the gods,
over a period of twenty generations or six hundred
years, the generation being reckoned at thirty years ;
and at the time when the purification by means of
the two men was to take place, a boat had been
built for them sufficient in size and strong enough
to withstand the storms at sea, one which could
easily be manned by two men ; and then loading it
with food enough to maintain two men for six months
and putting them on board they commanded them
to set out to sea as the oracle had ordered. Further-
more, they commanded them to steer towards the
south ; for, they were told, they would come to a
happy island and to men of honourable character,
and among them they would lead a blessed exist-
ence. And in hke manner, they stated, their own
people, in case the men whom they sent forth should
arrive safely at the island, would enjoy peace and a
happy Hfe in every respect throughout six hundred
years ; but if, dismayed at the extent of the sea,
they should turn back on their course they would,
as impious men and destroyers of the entire nation,
suffer the severest penalties. Accordingly, the
Ethiopians, they say, held a great festal assembly
by the sea, and after offering costly sacrifices the\
crowned with flowers the men who were to seek out
the island and effect the purification of the nation
and then sent them forth. And these men, after
having sailed over a vast sea and been tossed about
four months by storms, were carried to the island
67
DIODORUS OF SICILY
ixavdeiar] vqaco, GrpoyyvXrj [xev V7Tap)(ovar) rco
axt] fJ-O-Ti , T-qv 8e Trepiiierpov €)(ovarj arahicov cog
TTevraKLuxi'^i'Cov .
56. "HStj 8 avTa)v eyyil^ovrcov rfj vr^cfcp tcov
ey^oJpLOJv TLva? aTravrrjaavras Karayayelv to OKa-
(f)OS- rovs Se Kara rrjv vrjaov avvSpajJiovrag Bavixat,€LV
jxev rov rcJov ^evcov KarairXovv, 7Tpoaev€)(6rji'aL 8e
avTotg eTTLeiKOiS koI jierahihovai tcov Trap avTolg
2 y^prjalfjiajv. elvat 8e Tovg Tr)V vrjaov OLKOvvTas rat?
re Ttuv' aajp-dTcov tStoTTjcrt Kat Tat? aycoyals
TToXv StaAAaTTOvras' tcjv Kara ttjv rjneTepav
OLKOVfjLevrjv rravTas p-^v yap TrapaTrXr^alovs ctvai
Tolg dvaTrXdap-aat, tcjv aatpLaTOiv, /cat /caro. to
pilyeOos VTrepdyeiv Tovg TeTTapag Trrj-^eis, Ta he
OGTO. Tov acopiaTos ex^iv em iroaov KapuTTTopLeva
Kal TrdXiv aTTOKaOiaTdpLeva TrapaTrX-Qaicog TOt?
3 vevpo'jheai tottoi?. eivaL Se TOt? aa>p.aaLV avraAou?
p.ev Kad^ VTTep^oX-qv, evTOVcoTepovs Se ttoXv tow
Trap rjp.tv' Spa^ap.evojv yap avTow Tat? ^^epatv
6Sr]7TOTOvv pLTjSeva SvvaaOaL to toXs SaKTvXoig
7repLXrj(f)9ev eKTpeifjai. TpL^ag 8 ctTrAa)? p,rjBap.fj tov
aajp,aTos ^X^'-^ ttXtjv iv ttj Ke4>aXfi Kal 6(j)pvcn /cat
^Xe(f)dpoLg, eTL Se /cat TTcLycovL, Ta 8e a'AAa piepr] tov
crcopLaTos ovtco XeXa ojOTe p.rj8e tov eXdxi-crTov
4 ;^vow iv TO) crcop-aTi, (j)aivea6ai. elvat he /cat Ttp
/caAAet hLaTTpeTTei's /cat Tat? dAAat? 7re/)typa(/>ar?
TOV acop-aTOs evpvOpiovg. Kai to. p.ev ttjs dKorjs
TpTJpiaTa TToXv Tojv 77ap' rjpLLv ex^i-v evpvxojpeuTepa,
Kal KaOdirep eTnyXojTTihag avTols eK7Te(f)VKevai.
5 ihiov he TL Kal Trepl ttjv yXcoTTav avTOVs ^X^'-^> '^^
p.ev (f)vaLKa>g avTOtg avyyeyevrjpievov, to S e^
eiTLVoias <f>i,XoTexvovp.evov Sltttvxov p-ev yap avTOvg
68
BOOK II. 55. 6-56. 5
about which they had been informed beforehand ;
it was round in shape and had a circumference of
about five thousand stades.
56. But when they were now dra^\ing near to the
island, the account proceeds, some of the natives
met them and drew their boat to land ; and the
inhabitants of the island, thronging together, were
astonished at the arrival of the strangers, but they
treated them honourably and shared with them the
necessities of life which their country afforded. The
dwellers upon this island differ greatly both in the
characteristics of their bodies and in their manners
from the men in our part of the inhabited world;
for they are all nearly ahke in the shape of their
bodies and are over four cubits in height, but the
bones of the body have the abihty to bend to a
certain extent and then straighten out again, hke
the sinewy parts. They are also exceedingly tender
in respect to their bodies and yet more vigorous
than is the case among us ; for when they have
seized any object in their hands no man can extract
it from the grasp of their fingers. There is absolutely
no hair on any part of their bodies except on the
head, eyebrows and eyelids, and on the chin, but
the other parts of the body are so smooth that not
even the least down can be seen on them. They
are also remarkably beautiful and well-proportioned
in the outline of the body. The openings of their
ears are much more spacious than ours and grovvths
have developed that serve as valves, so to speak, to
close them. And they have a pecuharity in regard
to the tongue, partly the work of nature and con-
genital vnth them and partly intentionally brought
about by artifice ; among them, namely, the tongue
69
DIODORUS OF SICILY
e^etv TTjv yXcbrrav ivl ttooov, to, S evSorepco
TTpoaSiaipeLv,^ ajcrre hnrXrjv avrrjv yiveada i/xe;^pt
6 rrjs pitf]?- ^f-o Koi TTOtKiXcordTous avroug clvai, ^
raZs (f)covaLS ov piovov vdaav avd pcjTnviqv /<rai
Bi.rjp9pa>p.€vrjv SiaAe/crov pLcpiovpLevovs, dXXa Kal
rds rchv opvecov iToXv^ujvia^, /cat KadoXov rrdoav
rjxov tStorrjra Trpoteadav to Se ttolvtcov Trapaho-
^orarov, d'/xa Trpos hvo tcov evTvy^avovroiv XaXelv
ivreXajs, aTTOKpivopevovs re Kai rat? UTTO/cet/xeVai?
TTcpLordaeGLV OLKelcos opuXovvras' rfj p,ev yap
irepa tttvj^l TTpos rov eva, rfj S'd'AA?^ ttolXiv opiOLCos
TTpos Tov erepov hiaXeyeadaL.
7 ^vKparoraTov S' eti^at rov depa Trap* avrolg,
a»s" OLV Kara rov laiqpepLvov OLKOvvrag, Kai prjd
V7t6 /cau/xaro? /X't)^' vtto ifjvxovs ivoxXoupievovs.
Kal rag OTTcopas Se Trap avrols Trap oXov rov
iviavrov d/c/xd^eij^, oioirep /cat d TTOLrjri^g (f>'r]aiv
oxvT) 677* oxvr) yy]pdaKei, pirjXov 8' evrt pLrjXo),
avrdp eTTt ara^vXi] ar a^vXiq, avKov S eirl avKcp.
elvaL 8e 8td Travros Trap" avrols rrjv rjpLepav larjv
rfj WKri, /cat /card to p,eaov rrjs rjp.epas per] ylve-
adai Trap avrols crKidv pu-qSevos 8id ro Kara Kopv-
<f)rjV elvaL rou tJXlov.
57. Btow 8' avrovs Kara crvyyeveLag /cat oi;orT7^-
puara, avvr]ypLeva)v ru)V olKcioJV ov TrXeiovojv 'q rerpa-
Koaicov rovrovs 8' iv rots Xeip-coaL hiat,'rjv, TroAAd
rrjs x^P^S exovarjs Trpos Siarpo(f)rjv 8td yap rrjv
^ TrpoaSiaipeiv Schafer ; npos Biaipeaiv.
^ Kal after etvat deleted by Dindorf.
70
BOOK II. 56. 5-57. I
is double for a certain distance, but they divide the
inner portions still further, wdth the result that it
becomes a double tongue as far as its base. Conse-
quently they are very versatile as to the sounds they
can utter, since they imitate not only every articulate
language used by man but also the varied chatter-
ings of the birds, and, in general, they can repro-
duce any peculiarity of sound. And the most re-
markable thing of all is that at one and the same
time they can converse perfectly A\ith two persons
who fall in with them, both answering questions and
discoursing pertinently on the circumstances of the
moment ; for with one division of the tongue they
can converse with the one person, and likewise with
the other talk with the second.
Their climate is most temperate, we are told, con-
sidering that they hve at the equator, and they suffer
neither from heat nor from cold. Moreover, the
fruits in their island ripen throughout the entire
year, even as the poet writes,^
Here pear on pear grows old, and apple close
On apple, yea, and clustered grapes on grapes,
And fig on fig.
And with them the day is always the same length
as the night, and at midday no shadow is cast of
any object because the sun is in the zenith.
57. These islanders, they go on to say, live in
groups which are based on kinship and on political
organizations, no more than four hundred kinsmen
being gathered together in this way ; and the
members spend their time in the meadows, the land
supplying them with many things for sustenance ;
^ Odyssey, 7. 120-21, describing the land of the Phaeacians.
71
DIODORUS OF SICILY
aperrjv rrjs vrjaov Kai Tr)v evKpaatav rov depos
yewdodat rpo(f)ds avropLarov? vrAet'oys" tcov LKavcav.
2 (f)vea6ai yap Trap' avroig KoXapLov ttoXvv, (j>ipovra
KapTTOV SaipiX-fj, TTapefKJieprj rols XevKot? opo^ois.
Tovrov ovv avvayayovreg Pp€)(ovaLV iv uSart
depfio), pi^xpi civ TO pLeyeOos ax<^crt.v ojs cLov
TTepLGTepds' erreLra crvvdXdaavres /cat rplipavTes
ijjLTTeLpojs rats X^P'^'' ^'■O-vXaTTOvatv dprovs, ovs
OTTTT^cravTes airovvrai Sta^opou? ovras rfj yXv-
3 KVT-qTL. elvai 8e /cat TTTjyds vSdrcov SaipiXelg,
ras p-ev deppcov eh Xovrpd Kai kottojv d(f>aip€aLV
cvderovs, rag Se ijju)(pdL)v rfj yXvKvrrjri hia<f)6povs
Kai TTpos vyteiav avvepyeZv Svvap,evas. VTTdp)(€i.v 8e
Trap avrols /cat TratSeia? Trdarjs eTnpeXeLav, pLaXiara
i 8e dorpoXoyiag' ypdppiaaire aurou? p^pr^a^at Kara
piev rrjv Swa/xti^ ratv arip.aiv6vTa)v ei'/cocrt /cat
o/CTO) rov dpLdpLov, Kara 8e rov? x'^paKrijpag
CTTra, ajv eKacrrov rerpaxdjg pLeracf)(ripo.rit,eodaL.
ypdc^ovcjL Se rovg ari)(0vs ovk elg ro TrXdyiov
eKreivovreg, (Larrep rjpeis, dXX dvcodev Kdrco Kara-
ypd^ovres els opdov.^ TroXvxpoviovg 8' etvat
Tovs dvdpcuTTOvg KaO VTrep^oXrjv , (hg dv dxp<- Tcbv
TrevrrjKovra Kai eKarov ertov t,dJvrag Kai yivop^evovg
5 dvocjovg Kara ro irXeZarov. rov 8e 7T-qpa)6evra t)
KaOoXov n eXdrrcvpa e^ovra ev toj acupLari
pbeOiardveiv eavrov e/c rov i,T]v dvayKdt,ovaL Kara
riva vopov drroropLov. vopipov 8 avrotg eari
^ijv dxpL ercov d)piap,eva)v, Kai rov xpdvov rovrov
^ op96v transposed by Wesseling : after dnoTonov in second
sentence below.
72
BOOK II. 57. 1-5
for by reason of the fertility of the island and the
mildness of the climate, foodstuffs are produced of
themselves in greater quantity than is sufficient for
their needs. For instance, a reed grows there in
abundance, and bears a fruit in great plenty that is
very similar to the white vetch.^ Now when they
have gathered this they steep it in warm water until
it has become about the size of a pigeon's egg ;
then after they have crushed it and rubbed ^ it
skilfully with their hands, they mould it into loaves,
which are baked and eaten, and they are of surprising
sweetness. There are also in the island, they say,
abundant springs of water, the warm springs serving
well for bathing and the relief of fatigue, the cold
excelling in sweetness and possessing the power to
contribute to good health. Moreover, the in-
habitants give attention to every branch of learning
and especially to astrology ; and they use letters
which, according to the value of the sounds they
represent, are twenty-eight in number, but the
characters are only seven, each one of which can be
formed in four different ways. Nor do they A\Tite
their lines horizontally, as we do, but from the top
to the bottom perpendicularly. And the inhabitants,
they tell us, are extremely long-lived, living even to
the age of one hundred and fifty years, and experienc-
ing for the most part no illness. Anyone also among
them who has become crippled or suffers, in general,
from any physical infirmity is forced by them, in
accordance with an inexorable law, to remove him-
self from life. And there is also a law among them
that they should live only for a stipulated number of
1 Possibly a reference to rice.
^ In order to remove the husk.
73
DIODORUS OF SICILY
eKTrXrjpcouavTag eKovaio)? ixeraXXdrreLV i^rjXXay-
fxevci) davdro)' ^veadai yap Trap' avrols iSto^u':^ ^
^ordvrjv, e0' rjs orav tls KOLfXTjOfj , XeXrjdorcos Kai
TTpoar]va)s eis vttvov Kareve^^Oeis drrodvi^aKet..
58. TwaiKas 8e firj yafJietv, dXXd Koivds e;!(etv,
/cat TOWS' yevvrjOevras TratSag d)S koivovs rpecfiovrag
677 1(77]^ dyaTrdv vrjiTLcov S' ovrcov avrcov TToAAaKi?
ras Tpe<j)Ovaas StaAAarTetv Ta ^pe<j)Tq, ottcos fxiqh
at fjiTjrepes eTnyivcoaKcvGi rovg tSioyg". Sioirep
p,rjhep.Lds Trap* avroZs yLvopievrjs (^lAoTt/xta? dcrra-
cndarovs /cat ttjv oiJLOvoLav Trepl TrXeioTOV 7rotoy/xe-
vovs hiareXeZv.
2 Etvat he ■nap' avTolg /cat ^oia, fiiKpa juev to is
[JieyedetJi, Trapdho^a Se rfj <j)vaeL rou acojxarog /cat
Tjj Swdfiet, Tov atpLaTOS' elvai, yap avrd raj
a)(rijxaTL arpoyyvXa /cat TTapefKfyepeaTara rats
X^Xcovais, rrjv S' i7TL<f)dveLav Sucrt ypa/x/xat? fJLTjXi'
vais Ke^iaapiiva, e^' eKdarrjs Se a/cpa? ^X^^^
3 ocjidaXpiov /cat aropLa' Sto /cat reTrapatv ofiixaot,
pXeTTOvra Kal rols lgois OTopLaai )(pcop,eva elg eva
(Jidpvya avvdyeiv rd airia, /cat 8ta tovtov KaraTTivo-
fj-evrjs rrjs Tpo(f)r\g els fitav KOiXiav avppelv aTTavra'
op.oiojs 8e rd arrXdyxya /cat raAAa rd euros irdvra
ex^LV p-ovaxd. vroSas he vrroKeladaL kvkXco rrjs
7TepL(f>epetas ttoXXovs, 8i' cSi' 8waCT^at TTopeveadaL
4 TTpos o dv piepos ^ovXrjraL. rd 8' atjua rovrov rov
t,a)ov davp^doLOV ex^tv hvvapnv Trdv yap rd Sta-
rfXTjOev ejXTTVovv adJpLa KoXXdv napaxp'fjp-a, Kap
' IBio^vrj Dindoif: 8i.<f>vrj.
' Plato's famous theory recurs here.
74
BOOK II. 57. 5-58. 4
years, and that at the completion of this period they
should make away with themselves of their own
accord, by a strange manner of death ; for there
grows among them a plant of a peculiar nature, and
whenever a man lies down upon it, imperceptibly
and gently he falls asleep and dies.
58. They do not marry, we are told, but possess
their children in common, and maintaining the
children who are born as if they belonged to all,
they love them equally ^ ; and while the children are
infants those who suckle the babes ^ often change
them around in order that not even the mothers may
know their own offspring. Consequently, since
there is no rivalry among them, they never experience
civil disorders and they never cease placing the
highest value upon internal harmony.
There are also animals among them, we are told,
which are small in size but the object of wonder by
reason of the nature of their bodies and the potency
of their blood ; for they are round in form and very
similar to tortoises, but they are marked on the
surface by two diagonal yellow stripes, at each end
of which they have an eye and a mouth ; consequently,
though seeing with four eyes and using as many
mouths, yet it gathers its food into one gullet, and
doAvn this its nourishment is swallowed and all flows
together into one stomach ; and in like manner its
other organs and all its inner parts are single. It
also has beneath it all around its body many feet,
by means of which it can move in whatever direction
it pleases. And the blood of this animal, they say,
has a marvellous potency ; for it immediately glues
on to its place any living member that has been
^ i.e. the wet-nurses of the community.
75
DIODORUS 01 SICILY
aiTOKOTTelaa X^'-P V ofxoiov enrelv rv^Jj, 8t avrov
KoWdudai TTpoGcjydrov rrjg rojjLrjg ovcr-qs, Koi
rd'AAa Se /xep?] rov acofiaroSy oaa jxrj Kupioig tottol'S
5 Kai avvexpvGL ro l,rjv KaTe^eraL. eKaarov 8e
T(x)V ovaTrjixo.TOJV rpecj^eLv opveov evpJyeOes LBtd(,ov
rfj (fivaeL, Kai Sta rovrou Tretpa^erat rd vqTna tcov
^pecfxZv TTOias rivas e';(ei ras" ttj? ^^XV'^ SiadeaeLg'
dvaXajji^dvovoi, yap avrd irrL rd ^(pa, /cat tovtcov
7T€rop,evojv rd fxev rr]v Std rov aepos (f)opdv vrropie-
vovra rpecfiOvaL, rd Se -jrepivavTia yivopieva Koi
Odpi^ovs TrX-qpovpLeva pimovaLv, (hs ovre ttoXv-
Xpovta KadeGToJTa ovre rols dXXoLS rols rrjs
ipvxy]? XiqpLaaiv d^LoXoya.
6 'E/cdcTTOU 8e avar-qixaros o Trpecr^vrepog del rrjv
'qyep.ovLav ^X^^> KaOdirep rts" BaoiXevs, Kal rovrcp
rrdvre? rreidovrai' orav S d rrpwro'S reXeaas rd
€Kar6v Kal TrevnqKovra err) /card rov vofjiov
drraXXd^rj iavrov rov ^rjv, 6 fxerd rovrov Trpea^v-
7 raros OLaSexerat. rrjv r^yep-oviav. rj Se irepl rrjv
vfjaov OdXarra, poco8r]s ovaa Kai /xeydAa? d/XTrtorei?
/cat TrXripivpas TTOiovpievr], yXvKela rrjv yevaiv
KadearrjKe. rcvv 8e nap 'qp.lv darpcov rag dpKrovs
Kal TToXXd ^ KadoXov pL-q (j)aLveudaL. irrrd S' rjaav
avrat vrjaoL TrapaTrX-qaLai pcev rolg p.eye6eaL,
avpipierpov S' dXX-qXoji' ScearrjKVLat, Trdaat Se rot?
avroLs eOeai Kai vopiois ;\;/3ajjLtevat .
59. Yldvres 8' ot KaroLKOVvres iv avralg, Kanrep
8ai/»tAets" exovres rravrcxjv xop'qyi-as avro(j)V6Lg, o/xaj?
ovK dveS-qv ;!^paii'Tat rat? dnoXavaeaLV, dXXd rrjV
^ TToAAa E, Wesseling : noXXa to C, ttoWo. tcDv /caS' rj^ids all
other IVISS.
76
BOOK II. 58. 4-59. I
severed ; even if a hand or the like should happen to
have been cut off, by the use of this blood it is glued
on again, provided that the cut is fresh, and the same
thing is true of such other parts of the body as are
not connected with the regions which are vital and
sustain the person's life. Each group of the in-
habitants also keeps a bird of great size and of a
nature peculiar to itself, bv means of which a test is
made of the infant children to learn what their
spiritual disposition is ; for they place them upon
the birds, and such of them as are able to endure
the flight through the air as the birds take wing they
rear, but such as become nauseated and filled with
consternation they cast out, as not likely either to
live many years and being, besides, of no account
because of their dispositions.
In each group the oldest man regularly exercises
the leadership, just as if he were a kind of king, and
is obeyed by all the members ; and when the first
such ruler makes an end of his life in accordance
with the law upon the completion of his one hundred
andfiftiethyear,thenext oldest succeeds to the leader-
ship. The sea about the island has strong currents
and is subject to great flooding and ebbing of the
tides and is sweet in taste. And as for the stars of
our heavens, the Bears and many more, we are in-
formed, are not visible at all. The number of these
islands was seven, and they are very much the same
in size and at about equal distances from one another,
and all follow the same customs and laws.
59. Although all the inhabitants enjoy an abundant
provision of everything from what grows of itself in
these islands, yet they do not indulge in the enjoy-
ment of this abundance without restraint, but they
77
DIODORUS OF SICILY
XiTOTTjTa hicoKovai Kai rrjv dpKovaav Tpo(f)rjv irpoa-
<j)epovTai' Kpea 8e /cat rdXXa Trdvra ottto, Kal i^
vSaros i(f)dd aKevdt,ovaL' rcbv 8' a'AAcoi^ rcuv rots' /ia-
yeipois 7Te^Lkor€)(yr]pi€va)V ■)(yiJbcx)v Kal ttjs Kara rds
aprvcrets Trot/ctAta? dveTnvorjroL Trai^TeAcDs' etcrt.
2 ae^ovrai he deovs to TrepUxov Tidvra Kal tJXlov Kal
KadoXov Trdvra rd ovpdvia. l)(dvcov 8e TravToSaTrcov
TrXrjdo^ dXievovreg ttolklXcos Kal rdJv 7Trr]va)v ovk
3 oAiya dr^pevovai,, yiveraL Se Trap auTOt? dKpo-
8pvct)V re TrXrjdos avrop-dTcov, /cat eAatat (fivovrai Kal
djXTTeXoi, e^ d)V eXaiov re ttolovgi SaipiXes Kal
olvov. 6(f>eLg re rols pceyedeai hia^lpovras, ovhkv
8e dhiKovvras rovg dvd pcoTTOvs , e8a»St/xov e)(eLV rrjv
4 adpKa Kal yXvKvr7]ri 8ta(f)€povaav. ecrdrJTag 8e
avrovg KaraaKevd^etv e/c tlvcdv KaXdjJLCov i)(6vraiv
iv Tw jxeacp )(youv XafXTrpov Kal jxaXaKov, ov
avvdyovras Kal rot? daXarriots oarpeots crvyKeKop,-
fxevots '^ fxlayovras davixacrrd KaraaKeud^eiv lp,drLa
TTop<f)vpd. IjCpcov 8e TTap-qXXayfievas (j)vaeLs Kat 8td
TO TrapdSo^ov dmaTOVixevag.
6 UdvTa 8e 77ap' aurot? (hptapiivriv ex^iv ^ rd^tv Ta
Kara rr]v Slairav, ov)( a/xa Trdvrojv Tas rpocfyas /cat
rds avrds Xap-^avovrcov hLareTd^dai 8' 67rt rivas
(Lpiafxevas rj/Jiepag nore jxev IxOvcov ^pcoarLV, rrore
8e dpvicDV, ean 8' ore y^epaalcov, eviore he eXaicov
6 Kal rctjv Xirordrojv Trpoaoifjrjjjidrcjov. ei^aAAa^ 8e
avrovs rovs fiev aAArjAot? SLaKovelv, rov^ 8e
^ avyKeKOfifievois Reiske : avyKeKoXXr]iJ.€vois-
* e)(eLV Reiske : e^^et.
78
BOOK II. 59. 1-6
practise simplicity and take for their food only what
suffices for their needs. Meat and whatever else is
roasted or boiled in water are prepared by them,
but of all the other dishes ingeniously concocted by
professional cooks, such as sauces and the various
kinds of seasonings, they have no notion whatsoever.
And they worship as gods that which encompasses all
things 1 and the sun, and, in general, all the heavenly
bodies. Fishes of every kind in great numbers
are caught by them by sundry devices and not a few
birds. There is also found among them an abund-
ance of fruit trees growing wild, and olive trees
and vines grow there, from which they make both
olive oil and wine in abundance. Snakes also, we
are told, which are of immense size and yet do no
harm to the inhabitants, have a meat which is edible
and exceedingly sweet. And their clothing they
make themselves from a certain reed which contains
in the centre a downy substance 2 that is bright to
the eye and soft, which they gather and mingle with
crushed sea-shells and thus make remarkable
garments of a purple hue. As for the animals of
the islands, their natures are peculiar and so amazing
as to defy credence.
All the details of their diet, we are told, follow a
prescribed arrangement, since they do not all take
their food at the same time nor is it always the same ;
but it has been ordained that on certain fixed
days they shall eat at one time fish, at another time
fowl, sometimes the flesh of land animals, and some-
times olives and the most simple side-dishes. They
also take turns in ministering to the needs of one
^ i.e. the atmosphere or aether.
^ Probably cotton is meant,
79
DIODORUS OF SICILY
aXt€V€LV, Tovs Se 776/31 TO,? ri-)(yas elvai, aAAou?
Se 7T€pl d'AAa raJv xPV^^P'^^ daxoXetadat, tovs
S' CK TTepLoSov kvkXlkt]s XeLTOvpyeiv, ttXtjv tcov
7 rjhr] yeyrjpaKOTCov. kv re ralg iopraXs /cat rat?
evaJXiO-i-S ^ XiyeaOai re Koi aSeadat Trap' aurot? et?
Tous" Oeovs vpLvovs i<aL iyKcopLta, /xaAtara Se et?
Tov tJXlov, dcf)^ ^ ov rds re i^Tjcrou? /cat iavrovs
TTpoaayopevovai .
8 ©aTTTOUcri Se rous reXevr'qaavTas orav dfXirojTLS
yevrjrai Karaxcovvvvres eig rrjv dpipiov, ajare Kara
rrjv TrXrjpbvpiha tov tottov eTnxoJVVvadai. tovs Se
KaXdjxovs, i^ Sv 6 Kaprros TTJg rpocjirjs yiverai,
<f)aal aTTidaixiaiovs ^ oVra? ro rrdxos Kara rag rrjs
aeX'qvrjg dvaTrXr^pwaeis dvaTrX-qpovadaL, /cat TrdXtv
Kara rag iXarrcoaeig dvd Xoyov raTreivovcrOai,,
9 TO Se TCOV depfjiajv vrjycov vBcop yXvKv Kai vyteivov
ov * hia^vXdrrei rrjv depixauiav, /cat ovhe-noTe
tpvx^rac, idv pLrj ipvxpov vScop t) otvog avfJifXLayrjTai.
60. 'Ettto. S' err] p^ecvavrag vap avrolg rovg Trepl
TOV 'la/x^oyAov eK^Xrjdrjpai, aKovTag, dig KaKovp-
yovg Kal TTOvrjpoLg idcapiotg avvred papip^evovg .
irdXiv ovv TO irXoidpiov KaTaaKcvdcravTag auvavay-
Kaadrjvat tov ;^a»/)tcrjU,ov' TTOL-qaaadai, Kat, rpo(f)rjv
ivdepuevovg TrXevaai TrXeov r) reTTapag p^ijvag'
eKireaelv Se /caret, Tr]V ^\vhiKr]V elg dp,p,ovg /cat
2 Tei^aytuSeiS" Torrovg' /cat tov pcev ercpov avrcbv
VTTO TOV KXvhcovog Sia(l)9aprjvaL, tov Se 'lap.^ovXov
TTpog Tiva Kcop.r]v Trpoaevex^evTa vtto t(I)v eyx^jpioiv
1 ei)a>x'tais Wesseling ; evxaXs MSS., Bekker.
d^' added by Kallenberg.
^ a-ntdaixLaiovs Reiske : arc<j)aviaiovs MSS., Bekker.
* 6V added by Dindorf.
8o
BOOK 11. 59. 6-60. 2
another, some of them fishing, others working at
the crafts, others occupying themselves in other
useful tasks, and still others, with the exception of
those who have come to old age, performing the
services of the group in a definite cycle. And
at the festivals and feasts which are held among
them, there are both pronounced and sung in honour
of the gods hymns and spoken laudations, and es-
pecially in honour of the sun, after whom they name
both the islands and themselves.^
They inter their dead at the time when the tide is
at the ebb, burying them in the sand along the beach,
the result being that at flood-tide the place has fresh
sand heaped upon it. The reeds, they say, from
which the fruit for their nourishment is derived,
being a span in thickness increase at the times of
full-moon and again decrease proportionately as it
wanes. And the water of the warm springs, being
sweet and health-giving, maintains its heat and
never becomes cold, save when it is mixed with cold
water or wine.
60. After remaining among this people for seven
years, the account continues, lambulus and his
companion were ejected against their will, as being
malefactors and as having been educated to evil
habits. Consequently, after they had again fitted
out their little boat they were compelled to take their
leave, and when they had stored up provisions in it
they continued their voyage for more than four
months. Then they were shipwTecked upon a sandy
and marshy region of India ; and his companion lost
his life in the surf, but lambulus, having found his
way to a certain village, was then brought by the
^ i.e. " The Islands and Children of the Sun."
81
DIODORUS OF SICILY
dvaxOrjvai Trpo^ rov ^aaiXla els ttoXlv YlaXi^odpa,
TToAAtui' rj[jL€pa)V 686v drrexovaav rrjs daXdrr-qs.
3 ovros Se ^tAeAArj^o? rov ^aatXews /cat TraiSeia?
dvTexofJi€vov, [xeydX-qs avrov dTToSoxrjs Kara-
^Lwaaf TO Se reXevralov juera tlvos dacftaXetas
TO fiev TrpcoTOV els ttjv ITepcrtSa hLeXOelv, varepov
he els rrjv 'EAAaSa hLaaojdrjvai.
Se 'lan^ovXos ^ ravrd re dva'ypa(f>rjs rj^icoae
Kat TTepi T<ji)v Kara riqv IvStKTyi^ ovk oXiya avverd-
$aro rajv dyvoovjievcov Trapd rols dXXois. rjixels
8e rr)v ev dpxjj ttjs ^l^Xov yeyevrjjjievrjv errayyeXiav
rereXeKores avrov Trepiypdifjoixev riqvhe rrjv ^l^Xov.
^ ovTOs after 'la/xjSoCAps omitted E, all editors.
8:?
BOOK II. 60. 2-3
natives into the presence of the king at Pahbothra,
a city which was distant a journey of many days from
the sea. And since the king was friendly to the
Greeks and devoted to learning he considered
lambulus worthy of cordial welcome ; and at length,
upon receiving a permission of safe-conduct, he passed
over first of all into Persia and later arrived safe in
Greece.
Now lambulus felt that these matters deserved to
be written down, and he added to his account not a
few facts about India, facts of which all other men
were ignorant at that time. But for our part, since
we have fulfilled the promise made at the beginning
of this Book, we shall bring it to a conclusion at this
point.
83
BOOK III
TaSe evecrriv ev rfj TpLrr] tcov
^ioScopov ^L^XcDV
Ilept AWioiTiov Twv vTTip T^s Al/Svy]^ Kat Toij/ Trap
awToTs dp^aLoXoyov[X€y<j}v .
Ylfpi Twv )^vaei(ijv fxeTaXXwv Toiv iv rats ecr^^aTiars rrj^
AlyvTTTov Kol TTjs KaTacTKeT/Jjs Tou )(pv(rov.
Uepi TWV KaTOLKOVPT(i)v iOvwv TYjV TT-apaXiov ttjv irapa.
Tov Apa/3iK0V koXttov Kat KadoXov Tracrav t^v irapa tov
(jjKeavov jJL^XP'- "^^^ 'I^SikJjs- ev 8e tovtois STjAoSrat ra
Kara fiepos eOvrj Ticrt vo/Ai/iots )(prjTaL kuI Trapa riras
aiTias TToAXa Trap awrots lo-Topetrat TravTcXws i^rjXXaypieva
KOL Sto, TO 7rapd8o^ov aTnaTovp.eva.
Uepi TWV Kara, ttjv Ai/3vy]v ap)(aLoXoyovfj.evwv Kai irepl
Topyovwv Kat A/xa^ovi8wv kclI "A/^/xcdvos xai ArAaiTOS
lOTOpOUyMei'WV.
ITcpi TWV KttTtt T^v Nucrav fx.vOoXoyovp.€vwv, iy ots iart
KUL TrepL TiTavcuv Kat Atovvcrou Kat prjrpos 6fwv.
86
CONTENTS OF THE THIRD BOOK OF
DIODORUS
On the Ethiopians who dwell beyond Libya and
their antiquities (chaps. 1-11).
On the gold mines on the farthest borders of Egypt
and the working of the gold (chaps. 12-14).
On the peoples who dwell upon the coast of the
Arabian Gulf and, speaking generally, upon all the
coast of the ocean as far as India. In this connection
there is a discussion of the customs which each
people follows and of the reasons why history records
many things in connection with them which are
entirely unique and are not believed because they
are contrary to what one expects (chaps. 15-48).
On the antiquities of Libya and the history of the
Gorgons and Amazons, and of Amnion and Atlas
(chaps. 49-61).
On the myths related about Nysa, in connection
with which there is also an account of the Titans and
Dionysus and the Mother of the Gods (chaps. 62-74).
87
VOL. II. D
BIBA03: TPITH
1. Tcbv TTpo ravTTjs ^ifiXcjv hvolv ovcrcbv 17 ^ev
TTpcjorr] 7T€pL€)^ei ras" Kara ttjv AiyvTrrov Trpd^eig
Tcov ap)(aia>v ^aaiXeatv Kal ra [ivdoXoyovjjLeva Trepl
rcov Trap AiyvTrrtoLs decov, rrpos Se toutols Trepl
rod l^eiXov Kal rcbv eV avTfj <f>vofX€vcov KaprraJv re
Kai TTavrohaTTWv l,wcov, Trepi re rrjs roirodeuias
rrjs ^ AtyvTTrov Kal rcbv vopaixcov rcov Trapa rolg
2 iy^copLois Kal rcov SLKaarT]pta>v, -q Se Sevrepa rag
Kara rrjv Aai-av " iv rots ap-^aioig auvreXeaO eiaag
TTpd^eLS VTTO rcov 'Aacrvplcov, iv atg iuriv rj re
Se/xipa/xtSo? yeveats Kal av^Tjais, Kad iqv eKriae jxev
Ba^uAcuFa Kal ttoXXols d'AAa? 77oAeis", earpdreuae Se
inl rrjV IvSiktjv [leydXaig hwdyceaiv e^rjs Se rrepL
rcov XaASatcut' /cat rrjs Trap' adrols rcov darpcov
TTaparrip-qaews , Kal irepl rrjs ^Apa^ias Kal rcov iv
avrfj TTapaSo^cov, rrepi re rrjs Hkv9(jov ^aoiXeias,
Kal rrepl 'A/j-at^oviov, Kal ro reXevralov rrepl rcov
'Yrrep^opicov. iv 8e ravrrj ra avvexrj rols Trpo'Caro-
3 prjjjievoLS Trpoaridevres hie^ipLev irept AidLOTrcov Kat
roov Aif^vcov Kal rcov 6voiJial,oiJLeva}V ArXavricov
2. AWiorras roivvv laropovuL rrpcorovs dvOpconcov
drrdvrcov yeyovevai, Kal rds aTToSei^eLS rovrcov
ilxj>aveZs elvai (f>aaLv. on jxev yap ovk i-nrjXvhes
^ ovmjs after rijs deleted by Reiske.
^ Kal ras after 'Aaiav deleted by Dindorf.
88
3
BOOK III
1. Of the two preceding Books the First embraces
the deeds in Egypt of the early kings and the ac-
counts, as found in their myths, of the gods of the
Egyptians ; there is also a discussion of the Nile and
of the products of the land, and also of its animals,
which are of every kind, and a description of the
topography of Egypt, of the customs prevailing among
its inhabitants, and of its courts of law. The Second
Book embraces the deeds performed by the Ass}Tians
in Asia in early times, connected with which are
both the birth and the rise to power of Semiramis,
in the course of which she founded Babylon and many
other cities and made a campaign against India
with great forces ; and after this is an account of
the Chaldaeans and of their practice of observing the
stars, of Arabia and the marvels of that land, of the
kingdom of the Scythians, of the Amazons, and finally
of the Hvperboreans. In this present Book we shall
add the matters which are connected with what I
have already narrated, and shall describe the Ethio-
pians and the Libyans and the people known as the
Atlantians.
2. Now the Ethiopians, as historians relate, were
the first of all men and the proofs of this statement,
they say, are manifest. For that they did not come
into their land as immigrants from abroad but were
^ 'ArXavrlwy Dindorf : 'ArAavrtStov.
89
DIODORUS OF SICILY
iXdovreg, dAA' iyyevctg ovreg rrj^ ^copag BiKanos
avroxdoves ovofJid^ovTai, a)(e86v Trapa Trdai av^(f)0)-
veiadaf ^ on he rovs vtto rrjv fjLcarjiJi^pLav
oiKOVvras mdavov ean Trpcorovs vtto rfjg yrjg
i l^cooyovrj ad ai, TTpocfyaves VTrapx^iv diTacri- rrjs yap
7T€p(. Tov tJXlov OeppLauia? dva^Tjpaivovarjs ttjv yfjv
vypdv ovcrav ert ^ Krara rrjv rojv oXojv yivecriv Koi
t,ojoyovovaris y elKos elvai rov eyyvrdrct) tottov
bvra Tov r]Xiov TrpcoTov iveyKelv (^ucret? ip-tfjvxovs.
2 (f)aai Se nap avroZg TrpojroLs KaraSeLxOrjvai deovs
TLfidv /cat duGLas eTnreXeZv Kal TroixTrds /cat iravr]-
yvpeis /cat ra'AAa St' aiv dvdpcoiroi to deXov rt/zojcrf
Sio /cat rrjv Trap avTols evae^eiav SLa^e^orjadat Trapd
Trdaiv dvdpcoTTOig, /cat hoKelv rds trap' Aldioijji
dvaias juaAtCTT etrat to* 8ai[xovLa> Ke;^a/3tcr/xeVas'.
3 jxdprvpa Se rovrcou TTape^ovrat rov Trpea^urarov
axeSov /cat /xaAtara rcbv TTOL7]rd)v 6avpal,6fi€V0V Trap*
"EAAi^CTf TOVTOV yap Kara rrjv 'lAtaSa Trapetadyeiv
TOV re Ata /cat tovs dXXovs p-er avrov Oeovg
d7Tohrjp.ovvras els AWtOTTLav irpos re rag Ovaias rds
d7Tove[xoiJ.evas avroXs /car' eros /cat evcox^av KOLvrjv
Trapd Tois At^toi/d,
Zeuj yap is 'O.Keav6v /Lter' dp,vfJLovas AWtOTrrjas
Xdil,6s e^y] fxerd Satra, deol 8' ajxa TrdvTes
eTTOVTO.
4 Xeyovai he /cat t'^s" et? to Qeiov evae^eias <f)av€pdjs
avTous KopLil,eadat Ta? X^P'''''^^' P'liheTTOTe heano-
1 avfx^oiveladai Wesseling : (7v^i<j)ioveiT0u,.
^ he after en deleted by Vogel.
* i.e. " sprung from the soil itself."
go
BOOK III. 2. 1-4
natives of it and so justly bear the name of " auto-
chthones " ^ is, they maintain, conceded by practically
all men ; furthermore, that those who dwell beneath
the noon-day sun were, in all likelihood, the first to
be generated by the earth, is, clear to all ; since,
inasmuch as it was the warmth of the sun which,
at the generation of the universe, dried up the earth
when it was still wet and impregnated it ^vith life,^
it is reasonable to suppose that the region which was
nearest the sun was the first to bring forth living
creatures. And they say that they were the first
to be taught to honour the gods and to hold sacrifices
and processions and festivals and the other rites by
which men honour the deity ; and that in consequence
their piety has been published abroad among all
men, and it is generally held that the sacrifices
practised among the Ethiopians are those which
are the most pleasing to heaven. As witness to this
they call upon the poet who is perhaps the oldest
and certainly the most venerated among the Greeks ;
for in the Iliad ^ he represents both Zeus and the
rest of the gods with him as absent on a visit to
Ethiopia to share in the sacrifices and the banquet
which were given annually by the Ethiopians for
all the gods together :
For Zeus had yesterday to Ocean's bounds
Set forth to feast with Ethiop's faultless men,
And he was followed there by all the gods.
And they state that, by reason of their piety towards
the deity, they manifestly enjoy the favour of the
gods, inasmuch as they have never experienced the
a Cp. Book 1. 7. 4. » Book 1. 423-4.
91
DIODORUS OF SICILY
retag eTrr^XvSog Trelpav Xa^ovras' i^ alcovog yap
iv iXevdepLo. ixepievrjKevat, Kal rfj irpos aXX-qXovg
ofiovoLa, TToXXaJv p.kv /cat ^vvarow ioTparevKOTCov
err' avrovs, fx-qhevos 8e ttjs eTTL^oXrjs KadiKO-
fievov.
3. KapL^varjv /xev yap jxeydXr) Sum;u.et arparev-
aavra rr^v re arparLav aTTO^aXelv aTraaav Kal
avTOV rols oXots KLvBvvevaaf Tjep^ipafxtv Se, rep
fxeyedeL ra)v im^oXaJv koI rrpd^ecov Sicovop,aap.€ur]v,
iiTL ^pay^y ttjs AlOiOTrias rrpoeXOovaav aTToyvcbvai.
rrjv eiTL to avpiTrav edvos OTpareiav rovs re Trepi
Hpa/cAea /cat Aiowaov imovTag dirauav tt)v
olKovjjLevTjv pLovovs Toiis AWiOTTas Tovs virep
ALyvTTTOV pLTj Kara7ToXep.rjaaL Sta re ttjv evae^eiav
Ta)v avSpoJv /cat ro SvaKpdr-qrov rrjs eTn^oXrjs.
Oacrt Se /cat roug AlyvTTTLOug iavrcov diroLKOvs
VTTapx^LV, Ocnpt^os rjyrjoajJLevov rrjg diroLKLag.
2 KadoXov yap ttjv vvv ovaav A'iyvTTTOv Xiyovaiv
ov ^(^ujpav, dXXd OdXarrav yeyovevat Kara.
T?)v ef dpxrjs Tov KocrpLov avaracnv varepov
jLteVroi TOV Net'Aou /card rds dva^daeLg rrjv e'/c t?^?
AlOiOTTias IXvv Karac^epovTOS iK tov /car' oXiyov
TTpoG);_oja6rjvai. otl S' €gtlv avToJv rj X'^P^ irdaa
TTOTapoxataTos ivapyeaTdTrjv €)(eLV aTToSet^Lv ttjv
3 yivop.evr]v /card Tas e/c^oAds" tov NetAou* Kad e/ca-
GTOV yap €TOS del veas IXvog ddpoLt,op.ivris Trpos rd
CTTO/xara tov Trora/Ltou /ca^opdrai to p.ev TreXayos
e^a>9ovp,€Vov tols TrpocrxcopiaGLV, 7] Se X^P^ "^^
av^rjGLv Xapi^dvovaa. rd he TrXeZaTa tojv vop.Lp.ajv
Tols AlyvTTTLOLs VTrdpx^iv AWioTTLKd, Trjpovp,4v7]s
^ An account of his campaign is in Herodotus 3. 25.
92
BOOK III. 2. 4-3. 3
rule of an invader from abroad ; for from all time
they have enjoyed a state of freedom and of peace
one with another, and although many and powerful
rulers have made war upon them, not one of these
has succeeded in his undertakinfj.
3. Cambyses,^ for instance, they say, who made
war upon them with a great force, both lost all his
army and was himself exposed to the greatest peril ;
Semiramis also, who through the magnitude of her
undertakings and achievements has become re-
nowned, after advancing a short distance into Ethiopia
gave up her campaign against the whole nation ; and
Heracles and Dionysus, although they visited all
the inhabited earth, failed to subdue the Ethiopians
alone who dwell above Egypt, both because of the
piety of these men and because of the insurmountable
difficulties involved in the attempt.
They say also that the Egyptians are colonists
sent out by the Ethiopians, Osiris having been the
leader of the colony. For, speaking generally,
what is now Egypt, they maintain, was not land but
sea when in the beginning the universe was being
formed ; afterwards, however, as the Nile during
the times of its inundation carried dowTi the mud
from Ethiopia, land was gradually built up from the
deposit. Also the statement that all the land of the
Egyptians is alluvial silt deposited by the river
receives the clearest proof, in their opinion, from
what takes place at the outlets of the Nile ; for as each
year new mud is continually gathered together at
the mouths of the river, the sea is observed being
thrust back by the deposited silt and the land receiv-
ing the increase. And the larger part of the customs
of the Egyptians are, they hold, Ethiopian, the
93
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTJs TToXaias uvvqOeiag Trapa rots aTTOLKiaBeZai.
4 TO re yap rovs ^aaiXels deovg voixit^etv koL to Trepl
ras racjyas fJidXtara G7TovSdl,€LV Kal ttoAAo. roLavd^
€T€pa TTparreiv A.lQlo7tojv inrapxeLV imrrjhev [xara,
ras re raJv ayaA/xarcov tSea? Kal rovs rcov ypa/jL-
5 fxarcov rvirovs KlOlottlkovs vnapxeiv Sirrcjv ^
yap KtyvTrrioLS ovrcov ypajJiixdrcov, rd [xev SrjixcoSr]
TTpooayopevoyieva Trdvras fiavOdvetv, rd S' Upd
KaXovfieva rrapd fxev roXs AlyvTrriois [xovovs
yivcoaKeLV rovs lepels Trapd rGiV Traripoiv iu
aTToppTjroLS yiavOdvovras , Trapd Se rots KWioipiv
6 arravras rovrots XRV'^^'^'- 'toIs rvrrois. rd re
crvar'qfxara rdjv lepeojv TrapaTrXTjaiav e^x^eiv rd^iv
Trap a[ji(f)orepois rots edveai' Kadapeveiv ydp
diTavras rovs Trepi rrjv rcov decov OepaTreiav dvras,
oixoLOJS e^vprjixevovs /cat rds uroXds rds avrds
€)(Ovras Kal rov rod aKiqirrpov rvirov dporpoetSrj
Kadearcora, ov e)(ovras rovs ^aaiXets XPV^^'^'-
ttlXols fxaKpots eTrl rod Treparos dpn^aXov exovoi
/cat TTepLeaTTeLpajJ-evoLS o(j>eaLV, ovs KaXovaiv aarnSas'
rovro Se rd TTapdarjpuOV eot/ce avveiX(j)aiveLV on
rovs iTTideaOai roXpcT^aovras rd) ^aacXet avpb^rj-
7 aerai 6avarrj(f)6poLs TTepLireaetv Siyy/xaat. ttoAAo.
Se Kat d'AAa Xeyovai irepl rrjs avrdw dpxaLorrjros
Kal rrjs rcov AlyvrrrLcov diroLKias, Trepl cov ouSei'
KareTTeiyet ypd<l)eLV.
4. Ilept Se ru)v AWlottlkcov ypapuxdrcov rdJv Trap
Alyvirriois KaXovfxevcov lepoyXv(f>LKcov prjreov, Iva
^ SiTTcov Stroth : ISlwv.
1 Cp. Book 1. 81. 1 and note.
* Now commonly called the " hieratic."
94
BOOK III. 3. 3-4. I
colonists still preserving their ancient manners.
For instance, the belief that their kings are gods,
the very special attention which they pay to their
burials, and many other matters of a similar nature
are Ethiopian practices, while the shapes of their
statues and the forms of their letters are Ethiopian ;
for of the two kinds of ^^Titing ^ which the Egyptians
have, that which is known as " popular " (demotic)
is learned by everyone, while that which is called
" sacred " ^ is understood only by the priests of the
Egyptians, who learn it from their fathers as one of
the things which are not divulged, but among the
Ethiopians everyone uses these forms of letters.
Furthermore, the orders of the priests, they maintain,
have much the same position among both peoples ;
for all are clean ^ who are engaged in the service of
the gods, keeping themselves shaven, like the
Ethiopian priests, and having the same dress and
form of staff, which is shaped like a plough and is
carried by their kings, who wear high felt hats which
end in a knob at the top and are circled by the serpents
which they call asps ; and this symbol appears to
carry the thought that it will be the lot of those who
shall dare to attack the king to encounter death-
carrying stings.* Many other things are also told
by them concerning their own antiquity and the
colony which they sent out that became the Egypt-
ians, but about this there is no special need of our
writing anything.
4. We must now speak about the Ethiopian writing
which is called hieroglyphic among the Egyptians,
^ i.e. they observe certain rites and practices of purification.
* The snake was the sacred uraeus, the symbol of the
Northern Kingdom.
9S
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fjLTjSev 7TapaXi7Ta}[JL€v rojv apxo.ioXoyovfMeva)v. avfi-
^e^rjKc Toivuv rovs /xei^ tvttovs vTrapx^Lv aurcov
ofioLovs ^cpoLs TTavToSaTTOLs Kttt aKpojrrjpioLs avOpco-
TTOiv, kri 8 opyavoLs, xac jxaXiara tcktovikoI^'
ov yap €K TT]s Tcov avXXa^cov cwvdeaeojs rj ypap,-
fxaTiKT] Trap avrois top VTTOKeLfxevov Xoyov ciTToSt-
ScoCTiv, aXX' i^ ijxtfxicreojs tcov H€Taypa(f)OfJi€va)v Kol
2 fi€Ta(f>opds P'VTjijLr] avvqdXrjpievris . ypd(f>ovat yap
UpaKa /cat /cpo/cdSetAov', eVt S' 6(f>Lv Kal ra>v ^ e/c
rov acofiaros tcov dvdpwTrcov 6(f>9aXp.6v Kal X^'-P"
/cat TTpoacoTTOV KaL erepa roiavra. 6 pikv ovv
Lepa^ avToXs crrjixaLvei iravra ra o^ecos yivofxeva,
hid TO TO t,CpOV TOVTO TCOV TTTTJVCOV CT^eSoV V7Tdp)(^lV
o^VTaTov. /Lterai^epeTat re o Xoyos rat? otKetats
IJ,€Ta(f)opaLg els irdvTa to, dfea /cat to. tovtols
.3 OLK€ta TTapaTrXr^aLCjos Tols eiprjpiivoL's . d 8e KpoKO-
SetAo? arjixavTLKos ioTL Trdarjs /ca/ctaj, d 8(
6(f>9aXpids Slkt^s TT^prjTTjs /cat TravTOs tov acu/Ltaros
<f>vXa^. TCOV 8' aKpcoTTjpLcov 7] IjL€v 8e^ta tous
Sa/CTuAou? CKTeTajjievous e^ovaa arjjjiaLveL ^t'oi
TTopiapiov, rj 8' evcowjJios arvvqyixevT] TrjpiqaLV /cai
4 (f>vXaKr]v xprj/iarcot'. d 8 aurds" Adyo? /cat ctt.
TCOI^ a'AAoJV TV7TCOV TCOV e'/C TOU (JCOfJiaTOS KaL TCOl
opyavLKCov /cat tcjjv dXXcov aTrdvTcov TaZs yap ei
CKdaTOLs ivovaais €.pu<^daeaL crvvaKoXovdovvTes.
Kal pLeXeTTj TToXvxpovLco Kal p-vqixrj yvfivd^ovTCi
Tas ifju^ds, eKTLKcbs eKaaTa tcov yeypapLp-evcoi
dvayLvcooKovGL .
5. TcSr 8e 7ra/)' Kldioipi, vopbipicov ovk dXlya 8o/cei
^ Tu>v Hertlein : roy.
96
i
BOOK III. 4. 1-5 I
I order that we may omit nothing in our discussion
■their antiquities. Now it is found that the forms
' their letters take the shape of animals of every
nd, and of the members of the human body, and
' implements and especially carpenters' tools ; for
leir ^\Titing does not express the intended concept
Y means of syllables joined one to another, but by
cans of the significance of the objects which have
;en copied and by its figurative meaning which has
jen impressed upon the memory by practice. For
istance, they draw the picture of a hawk, a crocodile,
snake, and of the members of the human body — an
ye, a hand, a face, and the like. Now the hawk
gnifies to them everything which happens swiftly,
nee this animal is practically the swiftest of winged
•eatures. And the concept portrayed is then
ansferred, by the appropriate metaphorical transfer,
) all swift things and to everything to which swiftness
appropriate, very much as if they had been named,
.nd the crocodile is a symbol of all that is evil, and
le eye is the warder of justice and the guardian of
le entire body. And as for the members of the
ody, the right hand with fingers extended signifies
procuring of livelihood, and the left with the fingers
losed, a keeping and guarding of property. The
ime way of reasoning applies also to the remaining
haracters, which represent parts of the body and
nplements and all other things ; for by paying
lose attention to the significance which is inherent
1 each object and by training their minds through
rill and exercise of the memory over a long period,
hey read from habit everything which has been
Titten.
5. As for the customs of the Ethiopians, not a few
97
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TToXi) roiv TTapa tols aAAoi? hia(f>€peLV , koX fxdXicrra
ra TTepL ttjv aipeaiv rcov ^aaiXioiv. ol p.ev yap
lepels e^ avraJv roijs dplarovs TrpoKpivovaiv, €k 8e
TcDv KaraXexdevTcov, ov dv 6 6e6s Ka}p.a.t,o)V Kara.
TLva avv^deiav 7T€pL(f)€p6fX€Vos Xd^T], rovTOV to
TrXrjdos atpeiTat ^aaiXda' evdvs 8e /cat TrpoaKvveX
/cat Tt/xa Kaddirep Oeov, cos vtto ttjs tov haipioviov
2 Trpovoiag eyKe^^^eLpiajJievrjg avro) rrjs dpx'^S- 6 S'
alpedels Statr?) re XPW^'' '^fj T^Tayixevrj Kara tovs
vojjiovs /cat TaAAa irpdrrei Kara to Trdrpiov edos,
OVT evepyeoLav cure Tifxcoptav drrovepiov ovSevl
TTapd TO SeSoyixevov i^ dpxT]S Trap' auTOt? vofiLfxov
eOos S' auTOt? eCTTi firj^eva rcov VTroTerayfievcov
Oavdrcp Trept^dXXeiv, /^tjS' dv KaraSiKaadels evrt
davdrcp Tt? 4"^vfj TipLcopias a^to?, dXXd TrepLTTeiv ra)V
VTTTjpeTcov Tiva ar]p.€Lov e^ovra davdrov Trpos tov
TTapavevopiriKOTa' ovtos 8' I8d}v to avaarq jjlov , /cat
TTapaxp'TJp-o. els tyjv l^iav oiKiav aTTeXdcov, iavrov €K
TOV t,rjv pedLurrjai,. (f)evy€iv 8 e/c ^ Trjs IBiag
X<opag €Ls r7]v opopov Kal rfj peraaraacL ttjs Tra-
TptSoj Xveiv Tr]v TLpojpcav, Kadanep irapd rots
3 "EAAtjctiv, ovSapdJg cjvyKexo^pfjTai. 8to /cat ^aat
Ttva, rod 6avaTrj(f)6pov arjpeiov TTpos avrov dTToara-
XevTog VTTO tov ^aaiXecog , evrt^aAea^at pkv e/c Tr\s
AWioTTLas (f>€vyeLV, aladopev-qg Be ttjs prjrpos Kal
TTJ ^covT) TOV Tpdxf]Xov avTov a<f>Lyyovar]s , TavTrj
p.r)8e Kad* eva Tpoirov ToXprjcrai TTpoaeveyKeZv Tas
1 S' iK Vogel : Se MSS., Bekker, Dindorf.
98
BOOK III. 5. 1-3
of them are thought to differ greatly from those of
the rest of mankind, this being especially true of
those which concern the selection of their kings.
The priests, for instance, first choose out the noblest
men from their own number, and whichever one
from this group the god may select, as he is
borne about in a procession in accordance with a
certain practice of theirs, him the multitude take for
their king ; and straightway it both worships and
honours him like a god, believing that the sovereignty
has been entrusted to him by Divine Providence.
And the king who has been thus chosen both follows
a regimen which has been fixed in accordance with
the laws and performs all his other deeds in accord-
ance with the ancestral custom, according neither
favour nor punishment to anyone contrary to the
usage which has been approved among them from
the beginning. It is also a custom of theirs that
the king shall put no one of his subjects to death,
not even if a man shall have been condemned to
death and is considered deserving of punishment,
but that he shall send to the transgressor one of his
attendants bearing a token of death ; and the guilty
person, on seeing the warning, immediately retires to
his home and removes himself from life. Moreover,
for a man to flee from his own into a neighbouring
country and thus by moving away from his native
land to pay the penalty of his transgression, as is
the custom among the Greeks, is permissible under
no circumstances. Consequently, they say, when a
man to whom the token of death had been sent by
the king once undertook to flee from Ethiopia, and
his mother, on learning of this, bound his neck about
with her girdle, he dared not so much as raise his
99
DIODORUS OF SICILY
•^elpas, avTOV 8' ay)(6lxevov Kapreprjaai fJ-^XP'' '^V^
reXevTTJg, Iva [jlt] rots' crvyyeviaLv oveiSrj KaTaXLirr)
6. HdvTOiV S eCTTt TTapaSo^orarov to yLv6p€i>ou
TTepl TTjV reXevrrjv t(X)V ^aaiXlojv. Kara yap ttjv
M.€p6r]v OL TTepi ras rwv decjv depaireiag re koX
TLfxas hiarpi^ovres lepeZs, ixeyiorriv Kai Kvpicordrrjv
ra^LV exovres, eneiSdv ewt vovv avrolg ^Xdrj,
TTepLTTOVGLv dyycXov TTpos rov ^aaiXea, KeXevovres
2 aTTodv-qaKew. rovs yap deovs avrots ravra K€)(pr]-
/xart/ceVat, Kat Selv to Trpoaraypia tcov dOavaTcov vtto
dvTjTrjs </)uaea)? /XTjSa/xois' TrapopaOrjvai. Kal ere-
povs S' i7TL<l)deyyoyTai Xoyovs, olovs av ^ dTrXfj
hiavoia vpoaSe^aLTO (j)vais dp^aLa p.kv Kai Svae^-
aXetTTTq) uvvqdeia avvTedpanpevrj, Xoyov 8 ovk
k^ovaa tov evavTicoaojJievov toZs ovk avayKaiojs
3 TTpooTaTTopLevoL^ . Kara p-ev ovv rovs eirdvo) XP°~
vovs VTrrjKovov ol ^aatXels toIs LepevoLV, ovx
ottXols ouSe ^I'a KpaT-qdevTes, dXX vtt avrrjg rTJs
SeicriSaijU-ot'tas' tovs Xoyt,ap,ovs KaTLUxvopLevof Kara
8e TOP hevTepov YlToXepLalov 6 fSaatXevs Tchv
AWioTTCov ¥!ipyap.€vr^s, ixeTeax^^ Kwg 'EXX'qvLKrjs
dyojyijs Kai (j)iXoao(j)iqaas , TrpaJros eddpprjoe /cara-
4 (f>povrjaaL tov TrpooTdy pharos . Xa^ojv yap (f)p6vr]p.a
TTJg ^aaiXeias d^tov TraprjXOe /xerd tcov "" OTpa-
TLOJTciJv els TO d^aTOV, ov avve^aivev elvaL tov
Xpvoouv vaov Tcjv AWlottcov, Kal tovs pi-kv iepeis
^ av added by Dindorf.
^ TCOV omitted by D, Vogel.
^ The Greeks considered strangling a shameful death, but
it would have been a " greater disgrace" for an Ethiopian to
flee from his country.
lOO
BOOK III. 5. 3-6. 4
hands against her in any way but submitted to be
strangled until he died, that he might not leave a
greater disgrace ^ to his kinsmen.
6. Of all their customs the most astonishing is
that which obtains in connection with the death of
their kings. ^ For the priests at Meroe who spend
their time in the worship of the gods and the rites
which do them honour, being the greatest and most
powerful order, whenever the idea comes to them,
dispatch a messenger to the king with orders that
he die. For the gods, they add, have revealed this
to them, and it must be that the command of the
immortals should in no wise be disregarded by one of
mortal frame. And this order they accompany with
other arguments, such as are accepted by a simple-
minded nature, which has been bred in a custom that
is both ancient and difficult to eradicate and which
knows no argument that can be set in opposition
to commands enforced by no compulsion. Now in
former times the kings would obey the priests, having
been overcome, not by arms nor by force, but because
their reasoning powers had been put under a con-
straint by their very superstition ; but during the
reign of the second Ptolemy the king of the Ethio- 285-246
plans, Ergamenes, who had had a Greek education
and had studied philosophy, was the first to have
the courage to disdain the command. For assuming
a spirit which became the position of a king he entered
^\^th his soldiers into the unapproachable place where
stood, as it turned out, the golden shrine of the
Ethiopians, put the priests to the sword, and after
' Some of the following account is found in Strabo (17.2. 1-3,
especially § 3, tr. by Jones, in the L.C.L.).
lOI
B.O.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
a7T€(T(j)a^e, ro Se edog tovto KaraXvaas BicopdcLaaro
rrpos Tr)V iavrov TrpoatpeaLV.
7 . To 8e rrepl tovs ^t'Aous" rod ^aaiXecos vopapiov,
KatTTep ov TTapdSo^ov, Stafieveiv e^aaav leu? t<j>v
Kad^ rjpids )(p6vojv. edos yap VTrdpx^i'V Xiyovai
roZs AWLoijjtv, ivdv 6 jSacrtAei)? [xepos ri rov
aiop.aro's Trrjpojdi] 8t' rjvhrjTTorovv alriav, dvavras
TOVS avvT^deL? (jwano^aXXeLV tovto /carci irpoai-
peaiv alaxpov yap VTroXapL^dveiv tov ^acnXecos
7T€7Tr]pa>p,€vov TO GKeXos dpTLTTohas elvai tovs
<f>LXovs, Kol fJirj irdvTas iv Tals e^oSot? avveireadai
2 xp^Xovs op-OiaJS' aTOTTOV yap elvai to avp^Trevdeiv
p,kv Koi ^ GvXXvTTetoQai /cat t(x)v dXXcov ofxoicos
dyaddjv dndpTcov re /cat KaKwv Koivoivelv ttju
jSe^atav (f)iXiav, ttjs 8' els to croi/xa XvTrrjs dp.oi.pov
yiveadai. (f)aal 8e avvrjdes elvai /cat to crvvTeXevTav
eKovaiios tovs €Talpovs toIs ^aaiXevoi, /cat tovtov
elvai TOV ddvaTOV evho^ov /cat ^tAta? dXrjdLvfjs
3 p^dpTvpa. StoTrep p,7] paSccos im^ovX-qv yiveaOai
■napd ToZs AWloiIjl /cara tov ^aaiXeaJS, OJS dv twv
cf)iXojv aTrdvTCOv ^ err' iarjs -npovoovpievcov Trjs t'
e/cetVoy Kat ttjs tSta? acr^aAeiaj. raura piev ovv
Ta v6p.Lp.a TTapd tols AWloi/jlv eoTL tois ttjv
pbrjTpoTToXiv avTwv oIkovgi Kat vepLopievois ttjv re
vfjcTov TTjv M.€p6r]V /Cat T17V ^wpav ttjv ttXt]olov
AlyVTTTOV.
8. "Eart 8e /cat aAAa ydvr] rcDv AWlottcov TrapivX-qdrj,
Ttt pL€V i^ dp,(f)OTepiov Tihv piepoJv T-qv TraparroTa-
pLiov TOV Net'Aoy /carot/cowra /cat ret? ev roi
1 TO after koI deleted by Dindorf.
^ So Eichstadt : Kara tcuv (^t'Acov cos 5.v tov /SacrtAeajj kcu twv
(fyiXuyv aTTavruJV.
102
BOOK III. 6. 4-8. I
abolishing this custom thereafter ordered affairs after
his own will.
7. As for the custom touching the friends of the
king, strange as it is, it persists, they said, down to
our own time. For the Ethiopians have the custom,
they say, that if their king has been maimed in some
part of his body through any cause whatever, all his
companions suffer the same loss of their o^v^l choice ;
because they consider that it would be a disgraceful
thing if, when the king had been maimed in his
leg, his friends should be sound of limb, and if in
their goings forth from the palace they should not
all follow the king limping as he did ; for it would be
strange that steadfast friendship should share sorrow
and grief and bear equally all other things both
good and evil, but should have no part in the suffering
of the body. They say also that it is customary for
the comrades of the kings even to die with them of
their own accord and that such a death is an honour-
able one and a proof of true friendship. And it is
for this reason, they add, that a conspiracy against
the king is not easily raised among the Ethiopians,
all his friends being equally concerned both for
his safety and their own. These, then, are the
customs which prevail among the Ethiopians who
dwell in their capital ^ and those Avho inhabit
both the island of Meroe and the land adjoining
Egypt.
8. But there are also a great many other tribes of
the Ethiopians, some of them dwelling in the land
lying on both banks of the Nile and on the islands in
^ Napata.
I03
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTorafMcp VT^aovs, ra 8e rrjv ofiopov ttjs 'Apa^ia?
ve^ioixeva, ra 8' iv rotg [xeaoyeloLg rfjs Ai^urjs
2 Kadihpviieva. ol TrXetaroL Se tovtcov /cat pboXiaff'
OL TTapa Tov TTora/JLov oiKovvTes Tat? /u.ev )^p6aLS
eiat fieXaves, rat? Se tSeat? aipLoi, rots §e T/)tp^c6-
fxaaiv ovXoL. Kat rat? /Ltei^ i/jv)^aXg TravreXcos
V7Ta.p)(OvaLv aypioi Kal ro drjptioSeg ijJLcfyatvovTes,
ov)( ovTOi Se rot? dvfJLoXg ws rols iTTLrrjSevfiaatv
avxP''^pol yap ovres rots oXoig croj/xacrt rovs fxev
6w)(as em ttoXv Trap-qyjxevovs e^ovuL rots Orjpioig
TTapaTrXrjaLcos, rrjs Se rrpos aXXi^Xovs <f>iXav9poj7Tias
3 TrXeiurov ocrov a(j)earriKauL' koI ttjv fxev (^covrjv
o^eZav TTpo^dXXovres, rayv Se Trapa rots aAAoi?
i7TCTr]SevofX€V(vv els ^lov rnxepov ouS' otlovv
e)(OVTes, pbeyaXr^v ttolovgl irpos ra Kad rjpids
edrj TTjv bia(f)opdv.
4 Ka^oTrAt^oi^Tat S' aurcbv ol fjiev doTrioLv (Lfxo^ot-
vais Kal pLLKpols hopaaiv, ol Se aKOVTLOig dvayKvXois,
evLore Se ^vXlvol's to^ols rerpaTrri^^eaLV, ols ro^ev-
ovai ixev toj ttoSi TTpoa^aivovTes, avaXcodevrcov
Se rdJv olaraJv aKvrdXais ^vXtvais Staycop-i^orTat.
KaOoTrXi^ovaL Se /cat rds yvvaiKas, opit^ovTes
avrats reTayp-evqv rjXiKiav, wv rat? TrXeiarais
vofXLfXov eari )^aXKOvv KpiKov (f)epeiv iv rw ;^etAet
5 TOV arop-aTOS. eadrJTL Se rives pcev avrdjv avrAais'
ov )(pa>vrai,, yvfxvqra ^iov e^ovres St' ataji/o? /cat
TTpos pLova rd Kavp,ara 7Topit,6p.evoL ^orjQeiav
avrovpydv e/c rod TTaparreoovros- rives Se ra)v
TTpo^driov rds o^ipds arroKOTrrovres e/c rcijv omadev
KaXvTTrovai bid rovrojv rd tap^ta, Kaddrrep aiScD
104
BOOK III. 8. 1-5
the river, others inhabiting the neighbouring country
of Arabia,^ and still others residing in the interior
of Libya. The majority of them, and especially
those who dwell along the river, are black in colour
and have flat noses and woolly hair. As for their
spirit they are entirely savage and display the nature
of a wild beast, not so much, however, in their temper
as in their ways of living ; for they are squalid all
over their bodies, they keep their nails very long like
the wild beasts, and are as far removed as possible
from human kindness to one another ; and speaking
as they do with a shrill voice and cultivating none
of the practices of civilized life as these are found
among the rest of mankind, they present a striking
contrast when considered in the light of our own
customs.
As for their arms, some of them use shields of
raw ox-hide and short spears, others javelins without
a slinging-thong and sometimes bows of wood, four
cubits in length, with which they shoot by putting
their foot against them, and after their arrows are
exhausted they finish the fight with wooden clubs.
They also arm their women, setting an age limit for
their service, and most of these observe the custom
of wearing a bronze ring in the lip. As for clothing,
certain of them wear none whatsoever, going naked
all their life long and making for themselves of what-
ever comes to hand a rude protection from the heat
alone ; others, cutting off the tails and the ends of
the hides of their sheep, cover their loins with them,
putting the tail before them to screen, after a
1 The land between the Nile and the Red Sea ; cp. ^'oI. I, p.
21 7 and note.
105
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TavTTjv TTpo^aXXoixevoi' evioL 8e y^poivrai rals
Sopals Twv KT'qvaJv, elai S ol 7T€pil,a)pLaai p-expt
pbiaov ■"■ TO CTtu/Lta KaXvTTTOVaiv, e/c rcov Tpt^aJv
TrXeKOvres, (hs oiv Tojr nap avrolg Trpo^drcjov ovtojv
piT] <^€povTOiv kpia Sict TTjv tSioTTjra TT^j ;(capa?.
6 rpocf)^] 8e -x^pihvraL rwes piev Xapi^dvovres top
yewojpievov iv rots v8aai Kapirov, os avro^vrjs
dvareXXei Trepi re rds Ai'/xva? /cat rovs iXcLSeig
TOTTOVs, TLves §6 Trjs dTTaXojrdrrjs vXrjg rovs d/cpe/xo-
vas nepLKXcovres, oig /cat ra awpiara aKid^ovres vrept
rds piearjpL^plas Kara^v-xpvaiv , eVtot 8e a-neipovTe's
arjaapLov /cat Aojrdi', etat S ot Tat? pit,aLS rcov
KaXdpiOJv rals dTTaXcordrais SLaTp€(l)6pi€VOL. ovk
oXlyoi S' avrdjv /cat rat? TO^etat? evrjOXriKores
rcov TTTrjvojv eucrro^co? ttoAAo. ro^evouat, St' tSi^
•7171' TTy? (jyvaecos eVSetai^ draTrATjpouatr- ot TrAetaroi
8e TOts (XTro TcDv Po(TK7]pidrcov Kpiaai /cat ydAa/crt
/cat Tvpcp Tov Trdvra ^lov Sta^ojcrt.
9. riept 8e ^ecoi' ot /xev dvcLrepov Me/Jo?]? OLKOvvres
ewotas €)(ovaL Strrds". vrroXapi^dvovcn yap rovs
pcev avrdJv aiojvLov ep^etv /cat d<jidaprov ttjv (f)vaLV,
olov tJXlov /cat oeArjvTjv /cat tov avp^iravra KoapLov,
rovs 8e vo/xt^ouot dvqrrjs <j)vaecos KeKOivcDvrjKevat
/cat 8t' dperrjv /cat kolvtjv els dvdpcoTTovs evepyeaiav
2 rerevy^evai npidjv ddavdrcov nqv re yap ^Yaiv
/cat TOi' Ildi^a, tt/do? Se rourot? 'Hpa/cAea /cat Ata
^ (idaov Dindorf : (leaov.
^ The obscure description of this custom may be clarified
by a statement of Strabo (17. 2. 3) who apparently is greatly
condensing the same source which Diodorus has used in this
passage. Strabo writes of the Ethiopians : " . . . and some
go naked, or wear around their loins small sheep-skins or
lo6
BOOK III. 8. 5-9. 2
manner, the shameful part ^ ; and some make use of
the skins of their domestic animals, while there are
those who cover their bodies as far as the waist with
shirts, which they weave of hair, since their sheep do
not produce wool by reason of the peculiar nature of
the land. For food some gather the fruits which are
generated in their waters and which grow wild in
both the lakes and marshy places, certain of them
pluck off the foliage of a very tender kind of tree,
with which they also cover their bodies in the midday
and cool them in this way, some sow sesame and
lotus,2 and there are those who are nourished by
the most tender roots of the reeds. Not a few of
them are also well trained in the use of the bow and
bring down with good aim many birds, with which
they satisfy their physical needs ; but the greater
number live for their entire life on the meat and
milk and cheese of their herds.
9. With regard to the gods, the Ethiopians who
dwell above Meroe entertain two opinions : they
believe that some of them, such as the sun and the
moon and the universe as a whole, have a nature
which is eternal and imperishable, but others of
them, they think, share a mortal nature and have
come to receive immortal honours because of their
virtue and the benefactions which they have bestowed
upon all mankind ; for instance, they revere Isis and
Pan, and also Heracles and Zeus, considering that
girdles of well-woven hair " (tr. of Jones in the L.C.L.). When
this statement is combined with that of Diodorus, it would
appear that when the tail of the sheep was cut off a portion
of the hide was left attached to it and that this hide was put
about the loins in such a way that the tail hung down in front.
« Cp. Book 1. 34. 6.
107
DIODORUS OF SICILY
ae^ovrai, /xaAtara vofxl^ovres vtto tovtcdv ev-qpye-
Trjadai to rcov dvdpwTrojv yevos. oXiyoi Se rcbv
AidioTTcov KadoXov deovs ov vojxit^ovaLv elvai' 8i6
Kal rov TjAiov to? TToXefiLcoTarov ovra Kara rag
avaroXas ^Xau(j>T]ii-qaavres (f)evyovuL vpos rovs
eAciSSeis" rajv tottcov.
3 riaprjAAay/zeVots" S' Weai pj^pcDt-rai Kal rrepl rovs
Trap avTolg TeXevrcovras' ol jxev yap els tov
TTorafiov ^dXXovres dcjudaLv, dplarrjv rjyovfjievoL
Ta(f)7jv Tavrr]v, ol Se Treptxeavres veXov iv rats
OLKiaL'S ^vXdrrovres vopiit,ovat Sett* pLr^Te rd)v
reXevTcovrajv dyvoeZadai rds dipeig tols ovyyeveaL
I^tJt^ imXavOdveaOai rov? TrpoarjKovra? rep yivei
Tcbv TTpoacpK€LojpLevcx)V, evLOi. 8' elg oarpaKLua?
aopovs epu^dXXovres Karopvrrovai kvkXco rd>v
Lepd)V, Kal rov im rovrois yivofxevov opKov p.€yi-
arov rjyovvraL.
4 Ta? Se ^aaiXeias iyxeipl^ovaLV ol [xev rolg
evTrperreardroLS , rvx^S rjyoupevoL SdJpa dpL(f)6r€pa,
rrfv re p-ovap^^av /cat rrjv evirpeTTeiav, ol he rots'
e7np,eXeardrois Krr]vorp6(f)OLs TrapaSiSoaaL rrjv
dp)(T]v, COS" piovovs dpLcrra rcov VTToreraypievcov
(fipovriovvras , evioi he rots TrXovaicjordroig rovro
ro ripiiov dirovepovaLv, rjyovpevoi pbovovg avrovs
eiTLKOvpelv rolg o^Xols Svvaadai Sta rrjv eroLpLorrjra
rrj$ evTTopias, elal 8' ot rovg dvhpeLO. hLa<j)epovras
alpovvrai ^acrtAet?, Kptvovres rovs ev TToXep.cp
irXeZarov hvvapevovs d^lovs elvai p.6vovs rvy)(dveiv
Tcuv TTpojreiajv.
io8
BOOK III. 9. 2-4
these deities in particular have been benefactors of
the race of men. But a few of the Ethiopians do not
believe in the existence of any gods at all ^ ; con-
sequently at the rising of the sun they utter im-
precations against it as being most hostile to them,
and flee to the marshes of those parts.
Different also from those of other peoples are the
customs they observe with respect to their dead ;
for some dispose of them by casting them into the
river, thinking this to be the best burial ; others,
after pouring glass about the bodies,^ keep them
in their houses, since they feel that the countenances
of the dead should not be unknown to their kinsmen
and that those who are united by ties of blood should
not forget their near relations ; and some put them
in coffins made of baked clay and bury them in the
ground in a ring about their temples, and they
consider that the oath taken by them is the strongest
possible.
The kingship some of them bestow upon the most
comely, beUeving both supreme power and comeliness
to be gifts of fortune, while others entrust the rule
to the most careful keepers of cattle, as being the
only men who would give the best thought to their
subjects ; some assign this honour to the wealthiest,
since they feel that these alone can come to the
aid of the masses because they have the means
ready at hand ; and there are those who choose for
their kings men of unusual valour, judging that the
most efficient in war are alone worthy to receive
the meed of honour.
1 Strabo (17. 2. 3, tr. by Jones in the L.C.L.) says that these
Ethiopians lived near the torrid zone.
^ Cp. Book 2. 15 for a fuller account of this custom.
109
DIODORUS OF SICILY
10. Trjs 8e Tra/Do, tov NeiXov -^iLpag Tijs iv tjj
Ai^vri K€ifJL€vr]s iaTL rt fiepos rco KctAAei hiacfiipov
rpo4>(is re yap (j>epeL Sai/rtAet? Koi TTOiKiXas, koI
TTpos ra? Tojv KavjJLdrcov VTvep^oXas e^ei ^orjOeiag
evderovs ras iv rols eXeai Kara^uyas" Sto /cat
TT€pi}xa.-)(rjros ovrog 6 tottos yiverai rols re Ai^uau
/cat rots' AWioipL, /cat Trpo? aXXt^Xovs vrrep avrov
2 TToXejxovvres StareAoucrt. ^oira 8' els avTov /cat
vXrjOos eXecfxivrcov e/c rrjg dvco -^ajpag, cog [xev 'Ivlol
Xeyovai, Std rr^v SaipiXetav /cat rrjv rjSovrjv rrjs
vofirjs' eXr] yap davixaard TTapeKTeiverat rols
■^^eiXecn rod TTorapLov, ttoXXtjs /cat Travrotas iv
3 avrolg (f)VO[j.evr]s rpocfyrjs. SiOTiep orav yevaoivrai
rov dpvov Kal rov /caAa/xou, 8ta rrjv yXvKvriqra
rijs rpo(/)rjs fievei /cat rrjv rcbv dvdpcoTTCxJv Statrap
Kara<f)9€Lp€L' St' ^v alriav KaravayKa^ovrai (jtev-
yeiv ^ rovrovs rovs roTTOvg, ovres vop-dSes /cat
OK-qvlrai, ro avvoXov ro) (Jvp.(j)epovrL rag TrarplSag
4 opit^ovres. at 8 dye'Aat ra>v eipiqpevcov drjpioiv
rrjv jxeaoyeiov -^iLpav e/cAetTTODcrt Std GirdvLV
rpo(f>7Jg, are avvrop^cos rdJv (j)Vop.evajv iv rfj yrj
rrdvrcov avaLvofxevajv Std yap rrjv rov Kavfxaros
VTTep^oXrjv /cat rrjv Xenfjvhpiav rwv TTrjyaicov /cat
TTorapiicov vSdrojv aKXrjpds Kal GTraviovs avpi^aiveL
yivecrdai rag rpo4>dg.
5 '£lg Se riveg cjiaoLv, o^et? Oavjxaarol yivovrai ro re
fxeyeOog Kal ro ttXtjOos Kara rrjv OrjpLcoSrj KaXov-
pievrjv )^copav ovroi 8e rrept, rag avaraaetg rcov
vSdrcvv imridevrai roZg iXe^aoL, KaL rpairevreg
elg dXKTjv TTepLTrXeKOvrai ralg aTreipaig elg rd
1 e^s after <f>€vy€i.v deleted by Vogel.
no
BOOK III. lo. 1-5
10. In that part of the country which lies along
the Nile in Libya '^ there is a section which is remark-
able for its beauty ; for it bears food in great abund-
ance and of every variety and provides convenient
places of retreat in its marshes where one finds
protection against the excessive heat ; consequently
this region is a bone of contention between the
Libyans and the Ethiopians, who wage unceasing
warfare with each other for its possession. It is
also a gathering-place for a multitude of elephants
from the country lying above it because, as some say,
the pasturage is abundant and sweet ; for marvellous
marshes stretch along the banks of the river and
in them grows food in great plenty and of every kind.
Consequently, whenever they taste of the rush and
the reed, they remain there because of the sweetness
of the food and destroy the means of subsistence of
the human beings ; and becauseof this the inhabitants
are compelled to flee from these regions, and to live
as nomads and dwellers in tents — in a word, to fix
the bounds of their country by their advantage.
The herds of the wild beasts which we have mentioned
leave the interior of the country because of the lack
of food, since every growing thing in the ground
quickly dries up ; for as a result of the excessive
heat and the lack of water from springs and rivers it
comes to pass that the plants for food are rough and
scanty.
There are also, as some say, in the country of the
wild beasts, as it is called, serpents which are marvel-
lous for their size and multitude ; these attack the
elephants at the water-holes, pit their strength
against them, and winding themselves in coils about
' i.e. on the west bank.
Ill
DIODORUS OF SICILY
OKeXr], Acat Trepas eco? rovrov avvi-^ovat ^Lal,6fJi€V0L
Kai acjuyyovres roXg Sea/xolg eo)? oiv dcftpiaavra to.
dr)pLa TTearj Sta to ^dpos. eireiT ddpoi^ofJievoL ro
rreaov aapKO(f)ayovcn, paSiajs irnKparovvTes Sid
6 rrjv SvaKLvrjctav rod l,a)OV. ciTroAeiTro/xeVou S'
dTTop-q/jLaros, Sid tlv' alriav ov avveiTovrai roZg
eXe(f)aaiv elg rr)v TrpoeiprjiJLevrjv TrapaiTorayiiav
hiajKovTes rd'S cruvr]deLs rpocfids, <f)aal ^ rovs
rqXLKovrovg 6(/)€Ls rrjv fxev cTTLTreSov ri^s ^((Lpa?
(jievyeiv, Trept he ttjv VTrcLpeiav eV rat? (fidpay^i
rats €i.s ^ TO fXTJKOS dvrjKovGaLS Kai rol? aTrrjXaiois
rols TO ^d9os exovat, (7Vve-)(a)S ivavXi^eaOaL-
hioTTep Tovs CTUjU^epovras" /cat avvrjdeLs tottovs
pi/qhapLcog e/cAetVeti', auroSiSa/CTOU irpos rd TOiavra
TTJs <f>vaeoJS ovarjs drraaL rot<s ^cpoig.
Ilepl pL€V ouu AWlottcov Kal ri^s x^P^^ avrcov
Toaavra Xeyopcev.
11. riepi Se Tcov avyypa<f>ecov r^pilv ScoptaTeov,
on TToXXol (jvyyeypd<j)aai Trepi re rij'S AlyvTTTOV
Kai rrjs AldiOTria'S, a)v ol puev ifteuSel (f>'Qp-J] ireTnaTev-
Kores, OL Se Trap eavrdJv iroXXd Trjs j/ryp^aycoyta?
2 €V€Ka TTenXaKOTes , SiKalcos di^ dTTiaroLvro. 'Aya-
dapxihrj's p.ev ydp 6 KriSto? iu rfj Seurepa ^i^Xco
TCOV TTepl rrjv ^Aatav, /cat o rdg yecuypa^ta?
avvra^dpievos ^ AprepLlhcopo? o ILc^eaLos Kard ttjv
oySoTjv ^l^Xov, Kai rives erepoi rcJov ev AiyvTrrcp
KaTOiKovvrcov, IcrroprjKores rd irXeiara rdJv TTpoei-
^ Se after <f>aal deleted by Reiske.
^ els added by Wesseling, Vogel; omitted by Bekker,
Dindorf.
^ An historian and geographer of the second century b.o.
112
BOOK III. 10. 5-II. 2
their legs continue squeezing them tighter and
tighter in their bands until at last the beasts, covered
with foam, fall to the ground from their weight.
Thereupon the serpents gather and devour the flesh
of the fallen elephant, overcoming the beast with
ease because it moves only with difficulty. But
since it still remains a puzzle why, in pursuit of their
accustomed food, they do not follow the elephants
into the region along the river, which I have men-
tioned, they say that the serpents of such great
size avoid the level part of the country and con-
tinually make their homes at the foot of mountains
in ravines which are suitable to their length and in
deep caves ; consequently they never leave the
regions which are suitable to them and to which
they are accustomed. Nature herself being the
instructor of all the animals in such matters.
As for the Ethiopians, then, and their land, this is
as much as we have to say.
11. Concerning the historians, we must distin-
guish among them, to the effect that many have
composed works on both Egypt and Ethiopia, of
whom some have given credence to false report and
others have invented many tales out of their own
minds for the delectation of their readers, and so
may justly be distrusted. For example, Agathar-
chides of Cnidus ^ in the second Book of his work on
Asia, and the compiler of geographies, Artemidorus of
Ephesus,^ in his eighth Book, and certain others
whose homes were in Egypt, have recounted most of
what I have set forth above and are, on the whole,
' His work in eleven books on the lands and peoples about
the Mediterranean Sea was composed around 100 B.C.
113
DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 p-qnevcov iv Trdai crx^Sov iTnrvyxa.vovaL . koI yap
rjixels KaG* ov Kaipov Trape^aXofjiev et? AtyvnTOv,
TToXXoXs pi^v Tcov tepeojv iveTV)(op.ev, ovk oXtyots
Be /cat TTpea^evrais oltto rrjs AWioTTLas rrapovcnv
€LS Xoyovg dcfuKofxeda' Trap' (Lv aKpi^cog eKaara
TTvOofJievoL, Kal rovs Xoyovs tcov laTopiKoav i^eXey-
^avT€s, ToXs pLaXiara avpcfxxjvovaiv aKoXovdov Tr]v
avaypa^rjv TreTTOLrjpeda.
4 Ilept pev ovv AWlottcov tcov Trpog ttj Svaei
KaToiKovvTcov apKeaOrjaopeda tols p-i]delai, rrepl Se
Tojv Kara Trfv piecrqpL^piav /cat ttjv 'Epudpav
OdXaTTOV KeLp,€VOJV €v p,€p€L hii^Lpiev. hoKeZ 8'
rjp.lv dppoTTeiv TTpohieXdeZv irepl ttjs tov )(pvaov
KaTaaK€vrjs Trjg iv tovtols toIs tottols yLvop,4vr]s.
12. riept yap Tag ia)(o.Tids ttj? AlyvTTTOv /cat ttj?
op-opovarjs 'ApaySta? re /cat AldiOTrias tottos icTTLV
e^cov pieTaXXa 77oAAa /cat p.eydXa -^pvaov, cruvayo-
pievov TToXXov TToXXfj KaKOTTaOeto. T€ /cat haTrdvrj . tt]?
yap yT]s p.eXaLvrjs ovar]s ttj (jyvaei Kal Sta^yd?
/cat (jiXe^ag e^ovarjs p.app.dpou Tjj XevKOTTjTL Sta^e-
povoas Kai Trdaag Tas TreptAa/XTTO/xeVas' i^uffet?
vnep^aXXovaas tjj Xap^irpoTr^TL, ol TrpoaehpevovTes
Tols pi€TaXXiKols epyoLs to) TrXi^Bei toiv ipyaL,o-
2 pLevcov KaTacTKevd^ovaL tov xP^^°^- o^' "V^P
^acriAets' ttjs AlyvTiTov Toug em KaKovpyia Kara-
BiKaaOevTas /cat tous" /card TToXepiov alxP-o-XcoTtcj-
devTas, eTL 8e tovs dSt/cot? StajSoAat? TrepLTrearovTag
/cat Std dvpiov els ^uAa/cd? TrapaSeSopievovs, ttotc
p.ev avTOVs, ttotc Se /cat pceTa Trdcrrjg avyyeveLa<s,
ddpoiaavTes TrapaStSdacri Trpos t^v tov -^pvaov
1 The Persian Gulf.
114
BOOK III. II. 2-12. 2
accurate in all they have written. Since, to bear
witness ourselves, during the time of our visit to
Egypt, we associated with many of its priests and con-
versed with not a few ambassadors from Ethiopia as
well who were then in Egypt ; and after inquiring
carefully of them about each matter and testing the
stories of the historians, we have composed our
account so as to accord \vith the opinions on which
they most fully agree.
Now as for the Ethiopians who dwell in the west,
we shall be satisfied with what has been said, and we
shall discuss in turn the peoples who live to the south
and about the Red Sea.^ However, we feel that it
is appropriate first to tell of the working of the gold
as it is carried on in these regions.
12. At the extremity of Egypt and in the con-
tiguous territory of both Arabia and Ethiopia there
lies a region which contains many large gold mines,
where the gold is secured in great quantities with
much suffering and at great expense.^ For the
earth is naturally black and contains seams and
veins of a marble ^ which is unusually white and in
brilliancy surpasses everything else which shines
brightly by its nature, and here the overseers of the
labour in the mines recover the gold ^vith the aid of
a multitude of workers. For the kings of Egypt
gather together and condemn to the mining of the
gold such as have been found guilty of some crime
and captives of war, as well as those who have been
accused unjustly and thrown into prison because of
their anger, and not only such persons but occasionally
all their relatives as well, by this means not only
- Cp. the account of the mines in Spain (Book 5. 35 ff.).
•^ i.e. a quartz-rock; cp. below, § 5.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fieraXXeiav, d/xa fiev rifJccopLav Xafx^avovres Trapa
Tcbv KarayvcoaOevTcov, d/xa 8e Std roJv ipyal,oiX€va)v
3 yueyaAas" TrpoaoSovs XapL^dvovres . ol he TrapaSo-
devreg, ttoXXol piev to TrXrjdos ovres, Travreg Be
TTeSaig Se§e/xeVot, TrpoaKaprepovai rolg epyoLs
avve)(a)s kol p^ed^ rjpiepav kol 8l' oXtjs rrjg vuktos,
avairavaiv puev ovSepicav XapL^dvovreg, Spaapiov 8e
TTavTOS ^iXoripLOis elpyop^evoi' ^vXaKal yap eK
arparcojTcbv ^ap^dpcov Kol rats StaAe/crot? 8ia<f>6-
poLs -^ )(pa}ixevwv i(f)eaTT^KaaLV, (hare /XTjSeVa Swa-
adaL Sl' o/xiAta? rj (f>LXavd pojTrov rivos evrev^eojs
4 (f)delpai, Tiva roiv ivLarTarovvrcov. ttjs 8e rov
Xpvaov e)(ovar]g yrjs rrjv p,kv aKXr^pordrrjv Twpl
TToXXo) Kavcravres /cat TTOf^cravreg x^vvqv Trpocrd-
yovai TT]v hid rwv p^eiptDt' Karepyaaiav rrjV
8e dv€ipi€vr]v nerpav Kal p.erpia> ttovo) Svvap,ev7]v
VTTeLKeiv XaropLLKCp athiqpcp KaraTTOvovGi p.vptdhes
6 aKXripovvrojv dv9 pojTTOJV . Kat, rrjg puev oXrjs rrpay-
piareias 6 tov Xidov hiaKpivaiv re-^virris Kadrj-
yelrai Kat rols epyat,opLevoLS VTroheiKwai' rwv
8e 77/30? rrjv dTV)(Lav ravr-qv dTTohei^^devrcov ol
piev acopLaros pdypir^ Sia(f)€povre£ tuttlgl (nSrjpals
TTjV piappLaplil,ovaav Trerpav kotttovctlv , ov rexvrjv
Tols epyoLs, dAAa ^tai^ -rrpoadyovres, virovopLOv;
e oiaKOTTTOvres, ovk en evuecas, aAA cog av rj
6 hid(f)vaLg fj rrj'S dTToariXfiovarjg nerpag. ovtol
piev ovv Sta rag iv ratg Sito/au^i KapLvag Kat
aKoXiorrjTag iv aKorei SiarpL^ovreg Xv)(vovg enl
Tcjv p,€Td)7TCov 7TeTrrjypi€vovg ^ TT€pL(f>epovai' ttoX-
^ hia(j)6pois Dindorf : Bi,a(f>6pa>s.
^ So Cappa, 7T€TTpayixaT€vij,evovs all editors, TTe(f>payiievovs
ii6
BOOK III. 12. 2-6
inflicting punishment upon those found guilty but
also securing at the same time great revenues from
their labours. And those who have been condemned
in this way — and they are a great multitude and are
all bound in chains — work at their task unceasingly
both by day and throughout the entire night, enjoy-
ing no respite and being carefully cut off from any
means of escape ; since guards of foreign soldiers
who speak a language different from theirs stand
watch over them, so that not a man, either by con-
versation or by some contact of a friendly nature, is
able to corrupt one of his keepers. The gold-
bearing earth ^ which is hardest they first burn with
a hot fire, and when they have crumbled it in this
way they continue the working of it by hand ; and
the soft rock which can yield to moderate effort is
crushed ^^•ith a sledge by myriads of unfortunate
wretches. And the entire operations are in charge
of a skilled worker who distinguishes the stone ^
and points it out to the labourers ; and of those who
are assigned to this unfortunate task the physically
strongest break the quartz-rock^ with iron hammers,
applying no skill to the task, but only force, and
cutting tunnels through the stone, not in a straight
line but wherever the seam of gleaming rock may
lead. Now these men, working in darkness as they
do because of the bending and winding of the passages,
carry lamps bound on their foreheads ; and since
^ Here and below "earth" must be the equivalent of the
" marble " mentioned before.
^ i.e. picks out that which is gold-bearing.
^ Literally, " the rock which contains the marble."
CE ; cp. Agatharchides 25 (Miiller) : ovtoi fikv ovv Xvyyovs
Trpoabibffievovs toIs fieTunrois 6-)^ovt€S Xarofiovaiv.
117
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Xa)(<J^9 8e TTpos TOLS Trj? TreVpa? iSioTT^ra? iJLeraa)(T]~
liarit^ovTCs to. acajxara Kara^aXXovaiv els eSa^os'
TO. XaroixovfJieva OpavfiaTa' /cat rovro aStaAetTTTOj?
ivepyovcn irpos imardrov ^apvrr]Ta /cat TrXrjydg.
13, Ot Se dviq^oi TratSes" elcrdvofievoi 8ta rati' utto-
vojxcov ets" TO. K€KOiXojp.iva rrjs Trerpas dva^dXXovaiv
iTTLTTOvcos rrjv pLrrrovixiviqv Kara fiiKpov Trerpav /cat
7r/30? Tor e/CTO? rov gtojjllov tottov els viraidpov
d7TOKOiJLit,ovaLV. ot 8' VTrep err] rptdKovra Trapd
rovTcov XapL^dvovres wpiaftevov jxerpov rov Xarofxiq-
fiaros €V oXjJLOLs At^tvoi? rvrrrovai aiSrjpo is VTrepoLS,
o-xpi' oiv opo^ov TO fxeyedos Karepydacovrai.
2 Trapd 8e tovtojv tov opo^LT'qv Xidov at yvvaiKes /cat
ot TTpea^vrepoL rwv dvSpdJv eKhe-^ovTaL, /cat jjlvXcov
c^rjs TrXeiovojv ovrcov €ttI tovtovs i-m^dXXovaL,
/cat Trapacrrdvres dvd rpets rj 8vo Trpos ttjv kcotttjv
dX-^Oovaiv, €Cos dv els aefitSdXeojs rpOTiov rd Sodev
fxerpov KaTepydacovrai.. Trpoaovarjs S diraaiv dde-
panevaias awpLaros /cat rrjs Trjv atScD Tre piareXXovcnrjs
eaOiJTOs pLT] TTpoaovcrr]s , ovK eariv os IBojv ovk
dv eXerjoeie tovs aKX-qpovvras Sta tt]v VTrep^oXr^v
3 Trjs TaXaiTTCoplas . ov ydp Tvy)(dvei auyyvivfirjs
oi}8' dveaecos aTrXibs ovk dppwaros, ov TTeTrrjpa)-
puevos, ov yeyrjpaKOiS, ov yvvaiKos daOeveia,
Trdvres 8e TrAT^yat? dvayKdl,ovraL TTpooKaprepeZv
Tols epyoLs, P-^XP'' ^^ KaKovxovp-evoi reXevrrjcrojOLv
ev rals dvdyKaiS' hioTtep ot Svarvx^^S (f>o^epc6-
^ i.e. as the gold-bearing stratum turns in one direction and
another.
2 Agatharchides 26 (ed. Miiller), whom Diodorua ia following
here, say these workers were " under " thirty.
ii8
BOOK III. 12 6-13. 3
much of the time they change the position of theii
bodies to follow the particular character ^ of the
stone they throw the blocks, as they cut them out,
on the ground ; and at this task they labour without
ceasing beneath the sternness and blows of an over-
seer.
13. The boys there who have not yet come to
maturity, entering through the tunnels into the
galleries formed by the removalof the I'ock, laboriously
gather up the rock as it is cast down piece by piece
and carry it out into the open to the place outside
the entrance. Then those who are above ^ thirty
years of age take this quarried stone from them and
with iron pestles pound a specified amount of it in
stone mortars, until they have worked it down to the
size of a vetch. Thereupon the women and older
men receive from them the rock of this size and cast
it into mills of which a number stand there in a row,
and taking their places in groups of two or three at
the spoke or handle of each mill they grind it until
they have worked down the amount given them to
the consistency of the finest flour. And since no
opportunity is afforded any of them to care for his
body and they have no garinent to cover their shame,
no man can look upon the unfortunate wTctches
without feeling pity for them because of the exceed-
ing hardships they suffer. For no leniency or respite
of any kind is given to any man who is sick, or
maimed, or aged, or in the case of a woman for
her weakness ,3 but all without exception are com-
pelled by blows to persevere in their labours, until
through ill-treatment they die in the midst of their
tortures. Consequently the poor unfortunates be-
« Or " illness."
119
VOL. II. E
DIODORUS OF SICILY
repov dec to jxeXXov rod Trapovrog 'qyovvrai Std
T'qv VTTepf^oXrjv rrjs rLfxajpiag, TTodeLvorepov Se rov
^ijv rov ddvarov TTpoaSexovrai.
14. To Se reXevTaiov ol re^^rtrat vapaXa^ovres
Tov aXr^Xeafievov XlOov irpog rrjv oXrjv dyovat, avure-
Aeiav em yap TrXareias aavlhos puKpov iyKe-
/cAt/xen^S" rpL^ovoL rrjv KareLpyaa ixeirqv pLapfiapov
vScop eTTLx^ovres' elra ro fxev yeoohes aurijg
iKTTjKopievov Sid Tcjv vypcov Karappel Kara, rrjv
Trjs aavihos ey/cAtatv', to he xpvatov ^ ^X^^ ^'"""^
2 TOV ^vXov vapafjievet Sid to ^dpos. TToXXaKLg Se
TOVTO TTOLOvvTes, TO jxev npcoTOV rats' p^epcrtP'
iXa^poj's Tpi^ovoL, jxeTa he Tavra arroyyoLs
dpaiols KOV(f>ojs eTTidXi^ovTes to x^-^^'ov /cat yecuSe?
Stct TOVTCov dvaXap-^dvovoL, fxexpi dv otov Kadapov
3 yevrjTai to ifjrjyiJ.a tov xP^'^ov. to he TeXevTalov
d'AAot Texvirai TrapaXap-^dvovTeg fieTpco /cat aradpLO)
TO avvTjypievov els Kepap.eovg x^'^P^'^'S epL^dXXovai-
[xl^avTes he Kara to rrXrjOos dvdXoyov p^oXi^hov
^coXov /cat x^vhpovs dXajv, eVt he ^paxv KaTTiTepov,
/cat KpidiVOV TTLTVpOV TTpOOep-^dXAoVGLV dppLOUTOV
h i7Ti6r]p.a TTOL'qaavTes /cat TT~qXa) cftiXoTTOvajs irepi-
XpioavTes OTTTCJOLV ev Kap-ivco irevre 7]p.epas /cat
4 vvKTas tcra? dStaAetTTTa;?" eVetra edaavTes ^f^"
dijvai Ta)V p.ev dXXwv ovhev evpioKovaiv ev tols
dyyeioLS, tov he p(^pi'a6v' Kadapov XapL^dvovaiv
dXiyrjS dnovaLag yeyevrjpievr]s. rj p-ev ovv epyaata
TOV xp^<^ov TTepl Tag eaxaTids Trjs AlyvTTTOv yivo-
p-evT] pLerd ToaovTOJV /cat ttjXlkovtojv ttovojv
5 avvTeXelTai' avTrj ydp rj (f>v(7is, olpLat, TTOieZ
^ Vogel suggests xpv<^°v-
I20
BOOK III. 13. 3-14. 5
lieve, because their punishment is so excessivel}'
severe, that the future will always be more terrible
than the present and therefore look forward to death
as more to be desired than life.
14. In the last steps the skilled workmen receive
the stone which has been ground to powder and
take it off for its complete and final working ; for
they rub the marble ^ which has been worked down
upon a broad board which is slightly inclined, pouring
water over it all the while ; whereupon the earthy
matter in it, melted away by the action of the water,
runs down the inclined board, while that which con-
tains the gold remains on the wood because of its
weight. And repeating this a number of times, they
first of all rub it gently with their hands, and then
lightly pressing it with sponges of loose texture they
remove in this way whatever is porous and earthy,
until there remains only the pure gold-dust. Then
at last other skilled w^orkmen take what has been
recovered and put it by fixed measure and weight
into earthen jars, mixing with it a lump of lead
proportionate to the mass, lumps of salt and a little
tin, and adding thereto barley bran ; thereupon they
put on it a close-fitting lid, and smearing it over
carefully with mud they bake it in a kiln for five
successive days and as many nights ; and at the end
of this period, when they have let the jars cool off,
of the other matter they find no remains in the jars,
but the gold they recover in pure form, there being
but little waste. Tliis working of the gold, as it
is carried on at the farthermost borders of Egypt, is
effected through all the extensive labours here de-
scribed ; for Nature herself, in my opinion, makes
^ Cp. p. 115, n. 3.
121
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTpoSrjXov COS" o ^ )(pva6s yeveaiv jxev eTriiTOVOV
e^ei, ^uXaKTjv Se )(aXe7Trjv, airovSrjv he ixeyiarrjv,
XP'fjcTLV Be ava {xeoov rjhovrj? re kol Autttjs".
'H ixev ovv ra)V ixerdXXwv rovrcov evpeaig
dpxoiia navreXcos eariv, ws dv vtto rwv TraXaicov
6 ^aaiXecuv KaraBeL^^OeLaa. Trepl Be rwv iOvaJv ^
rdjv KaroiKovvTCov Tiqv re TrapdXtov rod 'Apa^Lov
koXttov /cat T pcjyoBvrLK-qv , en S' KWiOTriav rrjv
TTpds jJieGrjfx^pLav kol vorov, TreipaaofieOa Bie^ievai.
15, Ylepl TTpojTcov Be tcjv 'I)(6vo(f)dya)v ipovpiev
rwv KaTOLKovvTcvv rrjv TrapdXiov rrjv airo l^appLavcas
/cat TeBpcoGLas ews rdjv ecr^^arcui' tov jjlvxov rod
Kara rov ^Apd^Lov koXttov IBpvpievou, os els rrjv
p,ea6yeLov dvrjKOJV dinarov Bidorrjpia Bvaiv rjTTetpoLS
TTepiKXeierai Trpds rdv eKTrXovv, rfj fxev vtto rrjg
^vBaLfxovos ^Apafiias, rfj S' vtto rrjs TpcoyoBvrtKrjg.
2 rovrixjv Be ra)v j^ap^dpcov rLves p-ev yvpivoL ro
TTapdvav ^lovvres Koivdg e-^ovoL rds yvvalKas /cat
rd reKva TrapaTrXiqaLcos rat? rcov 6pep,p.arajv aye-
XaLs, rjBovrjg Be /cat ttovov rrjv (l)vaLKrjv piovov avn-
XrnJjLv TTOLOvp.evoL rGiv alay^pGiv /cat koXCjv ovBepnav
3 Xap-^dvovGLv ewoiav. rds Be OLKi^aeLs e)(ovuLv ovk
aTTcodev rrjg OaXdrriqs Trapd rds pax^OLS, KaO as
elaiv ov p.6vov ^adeZai KoiXaBes, oAAo. /cat ^dpayyes
dvci)p,aXoL /cat arrevol TravreXcos avXojves cr/coAtats'
eKrpoTTaZs vtto rrjs <f>VGea)s. BieLXr^pipLevoL. rovrcov
Be rfj XP^^'J- "^(^^ eyxojpicov vecfivKorajv app-ol^ovrajs,
rds eKrpoTTds /cat ^ Bie^oBovs avyKex^Kaai XiOoLs
^ 6 Reiske : o /xe'v.
^ TovTwv after edvaiv deleted by Dindorf.
3 For /cat Capps suggests Kara rds, "at their outlets."
122
BOOK III. 14. 5-15. 3
it clear that whereas the production of gold is
laborious, the guarding of it is difficult, the zest for
it very great, and that its use is half-way between
pleasure and pain.
Now the discovery of these mines is very ancient,
having been made by the early kings. But we
shall undertake to discuss the peoples which inhabit
the coast of the Arabian Gulf^ and that of the
Trogodytes and the part of Ethiopia that faces the
noon-day sun and the south wind.
15. The first people we shall mention are the
Ichthyophagi 2 who inhabit the coast which extends
from Carmania and Gedrosia ^ to the farthest limits
of the arm of the sea which is found at the Arabian
Gulf, which extends inland an unbelievable distance
and is enclosed at its mouth by two continents, on
the one side by Arabia Felix and on the other by the
land of the Trogodytes. As for these barbarians,
certain of them go about entirely naked and have the
women and children in common like their flocks and
herds, and since they recognize only the physical
perception of pleasure and pain they take no thought
of things which are disgraceful and those which are
honourable. They have their dwellings not far from
the sea along the rocky shores, where there are not
only deep valleys but also jagged ravines and very
narrow channels which Nature has divided by means
of winding side-branches. These branches being
by their nature suited to their need, the natives close
up the passages and * outlets with heaps of great
^ The Red Sea. ^ Fish-eaters.
* Approximately modem south-eastern Persia and Balu-
chistan.
* Or " at their outlets " ; cp. critical note.
123
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fieydXoL^, 8i (hv ^arrep Siktvojv rrjv diqpav rajv
4 L)(dva)V TTOiovvrai, orav yap r] TrXrjpLvpls ttjs
daXdrrrjs im rrjv ^(epaov ^ep-qrai Xd^pojs, o noLel
Bis TTJs ripjepas Tvepl rpLTrjv koI ivdrrjv fidXiard ttcd?
a>pav, r] fjiev ddXarra Trdaav rrjv pa^iav imKXvt,ov<7a
KaXv7TT€i, /cat Xd^ptp Kat ttoXXo) KVjxaTi avvajroKO-
jU-i^ei TTpos Tr)v ■)(€paov dmarov ttXtjOos Travrotcov
l-)(dvcov, ot TO jxev TTpcorov iv rfj TrapaXio) fievovai,
voixrjs X^P^^ TrXavcofxevoi irepi rds VTToSuaetg /cat rd
KoiXoipLara' enav S o ttjs ajXTTCoreajg eXdrj y^povos,
TO iJiev vypov e/c rov /car' oXiyov Sia rcbv Ke)(a>(jp.evajv
XlOcov Kai <j)apayyu>v anoppeX, ot 8 Ix^^^ ^^ rols
5 KoiXcLpiaai KaraXeLTTOvrat. Kara Se tovtov top
Katpov TO nXrjdog rdJv iy^copicov fxera reKvojv /cat
yvvaiKcov et? rds paxi-o-s ddpo i^erac Kaddrrep d<f)'
ivos KeXevafjiaros. ax^-t^P'^vcov Se r<ji)v ^ap^dpcov
els rd Kara pLepog avarrjpLaray irpos rovs ISlovs
e/caCTTOt TOTTOvs /xera ^orjs i^aiaiov (f^epovrai,
Kaddirep at^rtStoi; rtvo? Kvvrjyias ipLTreTTrcoKUiag.
6 et^' at pcev yuvatKes nerd rcbv iraihcov rovs iXdr-
Tovas Ta)v Lxdvcov /cat 7TXr]atov ovrag rrjg )^epaov
avXXafx^dvovaaL piTTrovaiv em ttju yrjv, ot 8e rolg
acojjLaaLv dKfxd^ovTes 7rpoG(l>epovai rds ;^et/)a? rot?
hid TO jxeyeOos SvaKaraycoviarots' eKTriTTTovcn ydp
e/c Tov TTeXdyovs VTreppieyedeLs ov [lovov OKopirioi
Kat (xvpaivai /cat Kvves, dAAd /cat (fxjtJKat /cat TroXXd
TOLavra ^eva Kat rats oipeaL Kat rat? Trpoar^yopiais.
7 ravra Se ra Qrjpia Karapid-^ovTat, re-^viKr^s fiev
ottXojv KaraaKevrjs ovSev exovres, Kepaai Se alywv
124
BOOK III. 15. 3-7
stones, and by means of these, as if with nets, they
carry on the catching of the fish. For whenever the
flood-tide of the sea sweeps violently over the land,
which happens twice daily and usually about the
third and ninth hour, the sea covers in its flood all
the rocky shore and together with the huge and
violent billow carries to the land an incredible
multitude of fish of every kind, which at first remain
along the coast, wandering in search of food among
the sheltered spots and hollow places ; but whenever
the time of ebb comes, the water flows off little by
little through the heaps of rocks and ravines, but the
fish are left behind in the hollow places. At this
moment the multitude of the natives with their
children and women gather, as if at a single word of
command, at the rocky shores. And the barbarians,
dividing into several companies, rush in bands each
to its respective place with a hideous shouting, as if
they had come unexpectedly upon some prey.
Thereupon the women and children, seizing the
smaller fish which are near the shore, throw them on
the land, and the men of bodily vigour lay hands
upon the fish which are hard to overcome because of
their size ; for there are driven out of the deep
creatures of enormous size, not only sea-scorpions^
and sea-eels and dog-fish, but also seals ^ and many
other kinds which are strange both in appearance and
in name. These animals they subdue without the
assistance of any skilful device of weapons but by
piercing them through with sharp goathorns and by
1 Perhaps the scorpaena scrofa, which is described in
Athenaeus 320 D, where Gulick (in the L.C.L.) suggests
" sculpin " as an " inexact but convenient " equivalent.
^ Perhaps the phoca monachus of Odyssey 4. 404.
125
DIODORUS OF SICILY
o^eat KaraKevrovvres kol rat? dnoppco^i, Trerpais
eTTLTeyivovTe'S' iravra yap rj ;)(peta StSaa/cet ttjv
<f>vaLv, oIk€lcos Tolg VTroKeifxevoig KaipoZs appLot,o-
16. 'E77etSar S adpoLcrcoaiv L-)(dv(x>v TravToSaniuv
TrXrjOog, jj-eracfjepovaL rovg XrjcfyOevras kol rravras
OTTTOJcnv em tcjv Trerpcov raJv iyKeKXtjxevcjov rrpog
[j.earjp.^pLav. SiaTTvpcov S ovacvv 8td rrjv rov
KavjjLarog VTTep^oXrjv , ^pa-^^vv edaavres )(p6vov
aTp€(l)OvaL, KCLTTeiTa rrjs ovpds Xan^avofxevoi aetovai
2 rov oXov oyKov. KaL at fxev adpKeg dpvTTropbevat,
8td rr]v depjxaaiav dTTOTTLTTTOvaLV , at S aKavdai
pnTTOv[xevaL irpos eva tottov [xeyav aojpov airore-
Xovoiv, dOpoit^oixevai -^peias eveKev Trepi rjs puKpov
vorepov ipovfiev. ycerd Se raura rds /xei^ crap/cas" eirt
TLvos XecjJTTeTpias KararLOepLevoi TrarovaLV imfxeXcos
icj)^ LKavov xpovov Kal KarapiiayovaL rov rod TraXiov-
3 pov Kapirov rovrov yap avvava^^pojaOevrog to
Ttdv ytVerat ;)^p7j/xa ^ /coAAoDSes" Kat So/cet rovro
Kaddnep rjSvapiaros Trap avrols ^X^*-^ rd^LV. to Se
TeXevralov to KaXcos TraTTqdev els TrXivBihas irapa-
[jL-qKeLs TVTTOvvTes TiOeaaLv et? tov t^Xlov as
aupLfierpajs ^rjpavdetaas KadioavTes KaTevoj^ovvTat,
ov jjirjv TTpos jxeTpov r) OTaOpLOV eadiovTes, aAAa
TTpos TTJV Ihiav eKdarov ^ ^ovXrjaiv, ttjv <pvaLKT]V
i dpe^tv e^ovTes ttjs dTToXavaeojs Trepiypacjiiqv aveK-
XeLTTTOLs ^ yap Kal Std TTavros erot/xots" ;!^/3ajt'Tat
rajJuevpLacTLV, djs dv rov nocretScji^oj to ttjs
A-^fjLTjrpos epyov jJLeTeLXrjcJiOTOs.
1 Xpriyio. Reiske : xpu>fj.a MSS, Bekker, Dindorf.
^ eKaoTov MSS, Bekker, Vogel : iK-acrroj Hertlein, Dindorf.
^ dve/cAetTTTOis Dindorf: dve/cAeiTTTCoj.
126
BOOK III. 15. 7-16. 4
gashing them with the jagged rocks ; for necessity
teaches Nature everything, as Nature, in her own
fashion, by seizing upon the opportunities which lie
at hand adapts herself to their hoped-for utilization.
16. Whenever they have collected a multitude of
all kinds of fish they carry off their catch and bake
the whole of it upon the rocks which are inclined
towards the south. And since these stones are red-
hot because of the very great heat, they leave the
fish there for only a short time and then turn them
over, and then, picking them up bodily by the tail,
they shake them. And the meat, which has become
tender by reason of the warmth, falls away, but the
backbones are cast into a single spot and form a
great heap, being collected for a certain use of which
we shall speak a little later. Then placing the meat
upon a smooth stone they carefully tread upon it
for a sufficient length of time and mix with it the
fruit of the Christ's thorn i; for when this has been
thoroughly worked into the meat the whole of it
becomes a glutinous mass, and it would appear that
this takes the place among them of a relish. Finally,
when this has been well trodden, they mould it into
little oblong bricks and place them in the sun ;
and after these have become thoroughly dry they
sit down and feast upon them, eating not according
to any measure or weight but according to every
man's own -wish, inasmuch as they make their
physical desire the bounds of their indulgence.
For they have at all times stores which are unfailing
and ready for use, as though Poseidon had assumed
the task of Demeter.
^ A shrub of the buckthorn family.
127
DIODORUS OF SICILY
'Ert'ore Se ttjXikovtov ck rod TreXdyovs et? rrjv
y^epoov KvXivhetTai KVfxa /cat Tag pa)(ias e^'
7^/Ltepas" TToAAds' KaraKXv^ei Xd^pov,^ (Zare firjSeva
5 SvvaaOat, rolg tottols Trpoaeyy t^eiv. SiOTrep Kara
Tovrovs rovg Kaipovs GTravL^ovreg rpo(f>rjs ro fiev
TTpoJrov rovs K6y)(ovg auXXeyovai, rrjXiKovrovs ro
fxeyeQos dJv evpuaKovraL rives rerpapivaioL' ra jxev
yap Kvrr] avvrpL^ovoi XiOovs evfieyedeis' ipu^aX-
Xovres, rrjv 8 ivros crdpKa KareaQiovaiv (Ljjlt^v,
rrjs yevaews ovcrqs TTapepL(f)€povs rol? oarpeoig.
6 €770,1^ Se Std 7-171^ avv€)(€iav rcov TTvevpidrcov im
■nXeiova )(^p6i'ov TrXijOeLV arvjji^aivr) rov diKeavov,
/cat rr]v elojdvZav Orjpav rwv l)(dvojv iKKXeior) ro
ri]s TTepiardaecog aSvvarov, cttl rovs K6y)(ovs, d)s
etprjrat, r perrovr ai. el 8e rj e/c roJv K6y)(cov rpo(f)rj
aTTavt^et, Kara<j)e'uyovaiv im rov rwv aKavdcJv
7 acopov e/c rovrov yap eKXeyovres ras iyx^Xovs
/cat Trpoa(f)drovs roJv aKav9a)v SLaipouat /car'
dpdpov, /cat rds p-^v avrodev roXs oSovai Karepyd-
t,ovraLy rds Se OKX-qpds XlOols dpavovres Kal
TTpovrrepyat,6pLevoi Kareadiovai, TraparrXriaiav Std-
deaiv e^ovres roZs (f^ajXevovai rwv drjpLcov.
17. Tt^s" fi€v ovv ^rjpa.s rpoc^rjs rov eLpr]p.evov rpoTTOV
evTTopovai,, rrjs S' vypds Trapdho^ov €)(ovaL /cat
TTavreXdJs dmarovjJievrjv rrjv -x^prjaiv. rats p-^v yap
9-qpats TrpooKaprepovaLV e(f> -qp-epas rerrapas,
evco)(ovpievoL 7TavSrjjj.ei pied iXaporrjros Kai rat?
dvdpdpoLs (vSais dXXijXovs ipV)(aya)yovvres' TTpos
he rovroLs irrLpiLayovraL rore rals yvvai^lv at?
dv rvx^JOL TratSoTTOtta? eVe/ca, Trdoiqs do)(oXias
^ For AojSjoov Vogel suggests Xd^pojs (ch. 15. 4).
128
BOOK III. i6. 4-17. I
But at times a tidal wave of such size rolls in from
the sea upon the land, a violent wave that for many
days submerges the rocky shores, that no one can
approach those regions. Consequently, being short
of food at such times, they at first gather the mussels,
which are of so great a size that some of thena are
found that weigh four minas ^ ; that is, they break
their shells by throwing huge stones at them and then
eat the meat raw, its taste resembling somewhat that
of oysters. And whenever it comes to pass that
the ocean is high for a considerable period because
of the continued winds, and the impossibility of
coping with that state of affairs prevents them from
making their usual catch of fish, they turn, as has
been said, to the mussels. But if the food from the
mussels fails them, they have recourse to the heap
of backbones ; that is, they select from this heap
such backbones as are succulent and fresh and take
them apart joint by joint, and then they grind some
at once with their teeth, though the hard ones they
first crush with rocks and thus prepare them before
they eat them, their level of life being much the same
as that of the wild beasts which make their homes in
dens.
17. Now as for dry - food they get an abundance
of it in the manner described, but their use of wet
food is astonishing and quite incredible. For they
devote themselves assiduously for four days to the
sea-food they have caught, the whole tribe feasting
upon it merrily while entertaining one another with
inarticulate songs ; and furthermore, they lie at this
time with any w^omen they happen to meet in order
to beget children, being relieved of every concern
^ About five pounds. ^ i.e. " solid."
129
DIODORUS OF SICILY
d7ToXeXvfj.evoi Sta ttjv evKOTTiav /cat ttjv iroLfJiOTrjTa
2 rrjg Tpo(f)rjs. rfj 8e TrefXTrrrj Trpog Tr)v VTTOjpeiav
€7T€Lyovrai Travhrjuei ttotov )(a.pLV, evda avppvaeis
vSdrojv yXvKeojv eicri, Trpos at? ol yo/xctSes" rds
3 dyeXag rwv OpepLpbdrcov 7TOTit,ovaiv. rj 8e ohonropia
rovTwv TTapairXriaLos yiveraL rat? dyeAat? rcbv
^ooJv, TrdvTCov <j)OJvrjv d<f)L€vrojv ovk evapdpov,
dXX' T^x^^ p-ovov diToreXovaav . rdJv 8e reKvcov rd
fxev VT^TTia TTavreXaJS at pnqrepes iv rat? dyicaAats'
<j)epovcn, rd 8e /cep^coptcr^eVa rod ydXaKTOS ol
TTarepes, rd 8' vnep Trevraerrj xpo^ov dvra Trpodyei
fierd Tcbv yoveojv ovv 7rat8ta, TrenX'qpwp.eva
Xapds, 0)s dv TTpos ttjv rjhiaTrjv diroXavaiv 6pp,a)-
4 )Lteva. Tj yap cf)vcng avrwv dSi.daTpo(l)OS ovcra
rrjv avarrX'qpcvcnv rrjs et^Seta? rjyeZraL pbiyiaTov
dyadov, ovhkv rcbv iireiaaKTcov rjSecov eVt^Tyroucra.
orav 8e rat? rdJv vop-dScov TToriarpaL? iyyiaojai
/cat rov TTOTOV TrXripajOcJoai ^ rds /coiAta?, irravep-
5 ;)(;ovTat, p.6yi.g Pahil,ovr€s ^id rd ^dpog. KaKeLvrjv
/xev r-qv rjp.€pav ovSevos yevovrac, KeZrai 8'
eKaaros inrepyep^wv /cat Svottvovs /cat ro avvoXov
7Tapep.(f)epr]s rw p^edvovri. rfj 8' e^rjs em rrjv diro
rdJv Ixdvcov TTaXtv rpo(f)rjv dvaKap-nrovai.- /cat
rovTOv rov rpoirov rj hiaira /cf/cAetrat Trap' avroZs
Trdvra rov rov ^rjv xP^^^v.
Ol jJiev ovv rr)v rrapaXiov rr]v cvros rcov arevcov
KaroLKOvvres ovrco ^lovai, voaois p-ev Std rrjv
dTrXorrjra rrjs rpo(f)rjs OTraviajs TTepLTTLirrovres ,
6X(,yoxpovt(joTepoL 8e rroXv rdJv Trap rjp.LV ovres.
18. Tois" 8e rrjv e/crds" rov koXttov KapdXiov V€p.op,€-
^ Dindorf suggests TrX-qpwawai,
130
BOOK III. 17. 1-18. I
because their food is easily secured and ready at
hand. But on the fifth day the whole tribe hurries off
in search of drink to the foothills of the mountains,
where there are springs of sweet water at which
the pastoral folk water their flocks and herds. And
their journey thither is like that of herds of cattle,
all of them uttering a cry which produces, not articu-
late speech, but merely a confused roaring. As for
their children, the women carry the babies continually
in their arms, but the fathers do this after they have
been separated from their milk, while those above
five years of age lead the way accompanied by their
parents, playing as they go and full of joy, as though
they were setting out for pleasure of the sweetest
kind. For the nature of this people, being as yet
unperverted, considers the satisfying of their need
to be the greatest possible good, desiring in addition
none of the imported pleasures. And so soon as they
arrive at the watering-places of the pastoral folk
and have their bellies filled with the water, they
return, scarcely able to move because of the weight
of it. On that day they taste no food, but everyone
lies gorged and scarcely able to breathe, quite like a
drunken man. The next day, however, they turn
again to the eating of the fish ; and their way of
living follows a cycle after this fashion throughout
their lives.
Now the inhabitants of the coast inside the Straits
lead the kind of life which has been described, and
by reason of the simplicity of their food they rarely
are subject to attacks of disease, although they are
far shorter-lived than the inhabitants of our part
of the world.
18. But as for the inhabitants of the coast outside
131
DIODORUS OF SICILY
VOLS TToWo) TOVTOJV TTapaBo^oTcpov elvai rov ^iov
avixfi€^r]K€Vy oj<s av dSiipov €)(^6vtcov /cat OLTraOfj
TTjv cjivaiv. dno yap rcov OLKovpievcov tottcov els
TTjv epripiov VTTO rrjs rvx'f]? eKreroTnapievoi rrjs [J-ev
aTTO Ta)v l)(9vajv dypag eviropovaiv, vypdv Se rpo^rjv
2 OVK eTnt^riTovaL . 7rpoa(l)€p6ixevoi yap tov IxOvv
eyxyXov, puKpdv e^ovra rajv d)p,a)V rrjv irapaXXayqu ,
ovx otov vypdv rpo<f)r]v eTnt^iqTOvaLV, dAA' ouS'
ewoiav expvaL ttotov. arepyovcjL 8e rrjv e^
dpx'TJS hiairav vtto rrjs TVxy]S avrols TrpoaKXrjpa)-
delaav, evhaijJiovLav rjyovpievoL rr]v ck ttjs evSeta?
aVTOV TOV XVTTOVVTOS V7T€^aip€aLV.
3 To Se Trdvrajv TrapaSo^orarov , diraOeia roaovrov
VTTep^dXXovuL Trdvras coure pJr] paSicos Tnarevdrjvai
TOV Xoyov. KaiTOL ye ttoXXol tojv dn AlyvTTTOV
irXeovTCOv Sta tt)? '^pvOpdg daXdTTTjs ep^rropoi
f^expi' TOV vvv, TToXXdKis TTpoaireTrXevKOTes npos
TYjv T(x)v 'IxGvocfidyajv p^dSpai', e^-qyovvTai crvpLcjiajva
Tols V(f)^ rip.cx)v etprjjxevois rrepl tcov diradajv
4 dvdpioTTcov. /cat o TpcTOS Se IlToAe/xato?, o
4>i.XoTLixrideis Ttepl ttjv Orjpav tcov eXe(f)dvTCx)V tojv
776/31 TTjV x^P^^ TavTTjv ovTOJV , e^eTTefXiffev eva
TCOV cf)iXcvv, ovofxa HiixfiLav, KaTaoKeipofievov ttjv
Xcopav ovTOs Se /Ltera Trjg dppiOTTOVcrrjs ;;^oprjyias'
dTTOGTaXels dKpi^cog, cx)s (f>r]GLV ' Ayadapx^^T^S
6 KviSto? LaTopLoypd(/)OS, e^rjTaae to. /cara Trjv
TTapaXiav edvrj. (f)7]alv ovv to tcov dTradcov AlOlottcov
1 The Epicurean doctrine. Cp. Lucretius 2. 20-1 : ergo cor-
poream ad naluravi pauca videmus esse opus omnino, quae
d&mant cumque dolorem. (Therefore we see that few things
altogether are necessary for the bodily nature, only such in
each case as take pain away " ; tr. of Rouse.)
132
BOOK III. i8. 1-4
the gulf, we find that their life is far more astonishing
than that of the people just described, it being as
though their nature never suffers from thirst and is
insensible to pain. For although they have been
banished by fortune from the inhabited regions
into the desert, they fare quite well from their
catch of the fish, but wet food they do not require.
For since they eat the fish while it is yet juicy and not
far removed from the raw state, they are so far from
requiring wet food that they have not even a notion
of drinking. And they are content with that food
which was originally allotted to them by fortune,
considering that the mere elimination of that pain
which arises from want (of food) is happiness. ^
But the most surprising thing of all is, that in lack
of sensibility they surpass all men, and to such a
degree that what is recounted of them is scarcely
credible. And yet many merchants of Egypt, who
sail, as is their practice, through the Red Sea down
to this day and have often sailed as far as the land
of the Ichthyophagi, agree in their accounts with what
we have said about the human beings who are in-
sensible to pain. The third Ptolemy ^ also, who was
passionately fond of hunting the elephants which are
found in that region, sent one of his friends named
Simmias to spy out the land ; and he, setting out with
suitable supplies, made, as the historian Agathar-
chides of Cnidus asserts, a thorough investigation
of the nations lying along the coast. Now he ^ says
that the nation of the " insensible " Ethiopians *
2 Ptolemy Euergetes I, who reigned 246-221 B.C.
* i.e. Agatharchidea, who is the chief source of Diodorua
in this section of his work; cp. Agatharchides, 41 (MiiUer).
* The Ethiopians of the east ; cp. Book 2. 22. 2 and note.
^33
DIODORUS OF SICILY
edvos TO avvoXov ttoto) fir) ^prjadai, firjSe ttjv
^vatv avriov im^rjrelv 8id ra? TrpoetpTy/xeVa?
5 atrta?. KaOoXov 8 a-no^aLveraL fJi'qr^ elg avXXoyov
epx^odai TTpos rovs dXXoeOveis , fJiT]T€ ro ^evov rrjg
oipecos TtDv TTpocjTTXeovTOjv KLvetv Tovs iyxcoptovg,
aAA efX^XeTTOvras drevoJs aTradeXg €)(^^tv /cat olkivt)-
Tovs rag alaOrjaeLg, d>s dv ^ /jurjSevos Trapovros. ovre
yap ^i(f)Os OTTaaapievov nvog /cat KaTa(j)ipovros
V7T6^€(j>vyov , ov9^ v^pLV ovSe ^ TrXrjyds inropLevovres
r^pedit^ovTOy to re irXrjOog ov crvvrjyavdKret rot?
TTacr^ovaLV, aAA ivLore reKvcov t] yvvatKOJV acfjar-
Topieva)v eV o^^aA/xot? aTraOelg rals SiaOeaeatv
epcevov, ovhepiiav ep.<j>aaiv opyfjg 7) TrdXiv iXeov
6 SlS6vt€£. KadoXov Se rols eKTrXrjKTLKcoTdroLg 8et-
vois 7TepL7TLTTTOVT€s rjpejjiaLOi Siepievov, ^Xeirovreg
[xev arevcog et? rd avvreXovp,eva, rat? 8e Ke^aAai?
Trap eKaara SLavevovreg. 8to /cat cf>acnv avTOvg
SiaAe/CTO) pcev pirj )(pfjudai, pLLpi-qTiKfj 8e SrjXcoaeL 8ta
Tojv ^eipaJv hiaaripLaiveiv e/caara rayv irpds ttjv
7 xpetav dvrjKOVTCov. /cat to TzdvTCOV davpiaaicoTaTOV,
(f)a)Kai TOt? yeveat tovtols avvhiarpi^ovcraL drjpav
TTOiovvTai Tcbv l)(Ovcov Kad' avrds TTapaTrXrjarLcog
dvdpcoTTOLg. ojJLOLws 8e /cat Trept rd's Koiras /cat
TT^v Tcov yewiqdevTCOv dG(j)dXeiav jxeyiGTrj Trtcrret Ta
ylvrj )(p7Jadai ravTa Trpog dXXrjXa' x^P''^ 7^9
dSt/CTy/Ltaros" dAAo^uAots' t.cpoi'S rj avvavaoTpocjir]
ytv€Tat jxeT elpijvrjs /cat Trdarjg euAa^et'a?. OuTog
jxev ovv 6 ^ios, Kaiirep cov TrapdSo^og, e'/c TraXat-aJv
Xpdvcov TeTTjprjTai rot? yeVecrt tovtois, €lt€ idiapLO)
^ av deleted by Vogel.
* ovBe Dindorf : ovre.
134
BOOK III. i8. 4-7
makes no use whatsoever of drink and that their
nature does not require it for the reasons given
above. And as a general thing, he relates, they have
no intercourse with other nations nor does the foreign
appearance of people who approach their shores
have any effect upon the natives, but looking at them
intently they show no emotion and their expressions
remain unaltered, as if there were no one present.
Indeed when a man drew his sword and brandished
it at them they did not turn to flight, nor, if they were
subjected to insult or even to blows, would they
show irritation, and the majority were not moved
to anger in sympathy with the victims of such
treatment ; on the contrary, when at times children
or women were butchered before their eyes they
remained " insensible " in their attitudes, displaying
no sign of anger or, on the other hand, of pity. In
short, they remained unmoved in the face of the
most appalling horrors, looking steadfastly at what
was taking place and nodding their heads at each
incident. Consequently, they say, they speak no
language, but by movements of the hands which
describe each object they point out everything they
need. And the most marvellous fact of all is that
seals live with these tribes and catch the fish for
themselves in a manner similar to that employed by
the human beings. Likewise with respect to their
lairs and the safety of their offspring these two kinds
of beings place the greatest faith in one another ;
for the association with animals of a different species
continues without any wrongdoing and with peace
and complete observance of propriety. Now this
manner of life, strange as it is, has been observed
by these tribes from very early times, whether it
135
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Sia rov xpovov e'Cre avayKaiq. XP^^9- ^'■^ ''"° KaTC-
Tcelyov rjpixoGiJievos.
19. OiKiqoeaL 8e ra eOvrj ov)(^ o/xotats" XP'l'^'^'-y ""po?
Se rag rrjs TTepiaTdaeco? IhioT-qrag StvjAAay/xeVaiS'
ifx^LOvaL. TLves ixkv yap iv airiqXaLOL's KaToiKovai
KeKXijxivois /xaAtcrra irpos ras dpKrovs, iv ols
Karaifjuxovaiv iavrovg Stct re to ^ddos rrjg GKids
Kal 8td rag TrepLTTveovaag avpag- ra jxkv yap Trpog
fxearju^plav vevovra, rolg lttvols TTapaTrXrjaiav
e^ovra rrjv deppiaaiav, aTrpoaLra rolg dvOpcoTTOig
2 iarl Std rrjv rov Kavpuarog VTrep^oXrjv. ol Se rayv
Trpos dpKrov vevovruiv aTTr]XaLa>v OTravl^ovreg
ddpoi^ovGL rag TrAeupd? roJv eK rov ireXdyovg
iKTTLTTrovrcov KT^rcov rrjg Be rovrcov SaipiXeiag
TToXXrjg ovGTjg, KarairXi^avreg e^ CKarepov p-epovg
Kvprdg Kal ^ rrpog dXX'qXag vevevKviag, ro) vpoa-
<f)drcp (f)VK€L ravrag SiaTrXeKovcn. aKe7Tat,oiJ.eurjg
ovu rrjg Kafidpag, iv ravrjj ro ^apvrarov rov
Kavp-arog dvarravovrai, rrfg Kara (jiVGLV ;^petas'
avrohihaKrov rexvr^v ixjy-qyovixivqg.
3 Tpirog Se rponog iarl roZg 'Ixdvo(/)dyoLg rrjg
aKrjvojaecog roiovrog. iXalai ^ ^vovrai irdvv TToXXal
7T€pl rovg roTTOvg rovrovg, rd fiev nepl rrjv pit,av
exovaat, TTpooKXvt,6pL€va rfj daXdrrrj, TWKval Se
rolg ^vXXd>ixaaL, rov Se Kapirov op-oiov exovaai ra>
^ Kvpras Koi ABD, Wesseling, Eichstadt ; Kvpras FGMN,
Dindorf, Bekker, Vogel.
^ e'Aaiai Casaubon, cp. Agatharchides, 43 ; Capps suggests
e'Aatai Tives for eAarai of the MSS.
1 Diodorus evidently refers to the interweaving of the
rib-ends at the top, like the poles of the tepee or wigwam of
the American Indian.
136
BOOK III. i8. 7-19. 3
has been fashioned by habit over the long space
of time or by a need imposed by necessity because
of stress of circumstances.
19. As for their dwelHng-places, those used by
these tribes are not all similar, but they inhabit
homes modified to suit the peculiar nature of their
surroundings. For instance, certain of them make
their home in caves which open preferably towards
the north and in which they cool themselves, thanks
to the deep shade and also to the breezes which blow
about them ; since those which face the south, having
as they do a temperature like that of an oven, cannot
be approached by human beings because of the
excessive heat. But others who can find no caves
facing the north collect the ribs of the whales which
are cast up by the sea ; and then, since there is a
great abundance of these ribs, they interweave them ^
from either side, the curve outwards and leaning
towards each other, and then weave fresh seaweed
through them.2 Accordingly, when this vaulted
structure is covered over, in it they gain relief from
the heat when it is most intense, the necessity
imposed by Nature suggesting to them a skill in
which they were self-taught.
A third method by which the Ichthyophagi find a
dwelling for themselves is as follows. Olive trees ^
grow about these regions in very great numbers
and their roots are washed by the sea, but they bear
thick foliage and a fruit which resembles the sweet
* Strabo (15. 2. 2) also says that their dwellings were made
of whale ribs; cp. his account (15. 2. 11-13) of the " spouting
whales " of the Persian Gulf (tr. by Jones in the L.C.L.).
^ Or " olive trees of a kind "; see critica] note. Since the
fruit is quite different the emendation seems justified.
137
DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 KaaravaLKa) ^ Kapvo). ravras dAAr^Aai? crvfXTrXi-
Kovres KaL avve)(rj oklolv TroLovvres iSta^ouCTai?
aKiqvaZs ifJL^LOvaiv djxa yap iv yfj /cat daXdrrr]
Siarpt^ovres eTnrepTTCos hie^dyovaL, rov p.kv tJXlov
(f)€vyovTes rfj Sia tcov aKpefiovcov OKia, to Se
^VOLKOV TTepl rov? roTTOvs Kaufxa rfj avvex^Z tov
KUfiaros TTpoaKXvaei hLopdovp-evoi, rat? 8e rrepi-
TTVoals rcov evKaipoiV dvepucov els paarcovqv dyovres
rd acofiara.
'Prjreov 8' rjiXLV /cai Trepl rov rerdprov fiepovs rrjg
5 GK'qvcLaeojs- €/c yap rod rravros aLoJvos aeacopevrat
rov jjLVLOv (f)6pros aTrXaros, dpei TTapepucjyeprj's-
ovros VTTO rrjs avvexovg rov KVjJiaros TrXrjyrjs
7Te7rtXr]ix€vo£ rrjv (f)vaiv e)(^€L arepefxi'iov Kal ovpi-
TTeTrXeypievrjv a/x/xoj. ei^ tovtols ovv rots dvaartj-
IxacTiv virovopiovg dvhpojxrjKeLs opvrrovres , rov fxev
Kara KopvcfyrjV rorrov iaJot arey-qv, KdrojOev 8'
auAcuP'as' TTapapL-qKeis Kol Trpos aXXi^Xovs avvrerpr]-
jxevovs KaraaKevdt,ovatv . iv Se rovroLS dvai/jv-
)(ovr€S eavTOVs dXvTTOvs KaraoKevd^ovcrt, /cat Kara
rds eTTLKXvaeis ra)v Kvpidrajv eK7nqhu)vres Trepi rrjv
dr^pav rojv l-)(9va)V daxoXovvrau- orav 8e d/JLTTCurLg
yevrjrai, Kar€Vco)(rjo6fievoL '" rd Xt]cf)devra aujxcpeu-
yovoL TrdXiv els rovs TTpoeLprjfievovs avXuJvas-
6 rovs 8e reXevri^aavras ddirrovaL Kara fxev rov
rrjs apLTTOjreoJS Kaipdv ecovres eppip-fxevovs, orav
8' Tj TrXrjjjivpLs eTreXOr), piiTTOvaLV els rrjv ddXarrav
rd aa)p.ara. hid Kal rrjv ISiav ra(l)rjv rpo(f)r]v raJv
* KaaravaCKcp Eichstadt : Kaaraivcp.
^ So Eichstadt : KaTevcoxjjadfievoi.
1^8
BOOK III. 19. 3-6
chestnut. These trees they interlace, forming in
this way a continuous shade, and live in tents of this
peculiar kind ; for passing their days as they do on
land and in the water at the same time, they lead a
pleasurable life, since they avoid the sun by means of
the shade cast by the branches and offset the natural
heat of the regions with the continual washing of the
waves against them, giving their bodies comfort and
ease by the pleasant breezes which blow about them.
We must speak also about the fourth kind of habita-
tion. From time immemorial there has been
heaped up a quantity of seaweed of tremendous
proportions, resembling a mountain, and this has
been so compacted by the unceasing pounding of
the waves that it has become hard and intermingled
\\ith sand. Accordingly, the natives dig in these
heaps tunnels of the height of a man, leaving the
upper portion for a roof, and in the lower part they
construct passage-ways connected with each other
by borings.^ As they cool themselves in these tunnels
they free themselves from all troubles, and leaping
forth from them at the times when the waves pom-
over the shore they busy themselves with the catching
of the fish ; then, when the ebb-tide sets in, they flee
back together into these same passage-ways to feast
upon their catch. Their dead, moreover, they
" bury " by leaving the bodies just as they are
cast out 2 at the ebb of the tide, and then when the
flood-tide sets in they cast the bodies into the sea.
Consequently, by making their own interment a
^ This custom and the following about the disposal of the
dead is recounted by Strabo (16. 4. 14) in connection with the
'■ Turtle-eaters."
2 i.e. without formal burial.
139
DIODORUS OF SICILY
l-^dvCOV TTOLOVfieVOL KV kXoV fJL€VOV IhiOTpOTTCDS TOV
^iov e)(ovaL Trap oXov top aicova.
20. "Ev Se yevos tcov ^l)(^9vo(j)dycov roiavras €)(€t
rag oi/CT^CTei? ware ttoXXtjv airopiav vape)(€adaL rocs
ra roiavra ^iXoripiovixevois ^T]r€iv ev yap arroKpri-
[xvoLs 4>dpay^L Kadihpvvrai rives, els a? e^ olRXV^ W
dSvvarov rrapa^aXkeiv rovs dvOpayirovs, dvwdev
/lev €TTe)(ovor]s rrerpas viprjXrjs Kal Travray^odev
drroropiov, eV TrXayicjjv he Kprjpivcov dTrpoaircjv
V(f>aLpovixeva>v rds TrapoSovs, rrjv 8e XotTrrjv rrXevpav
rov rreXdyovs opit^ovros, o ■nel,fi fxev SieXdelv
aSvvarov, crp^eStats" Se ov -x^pcxyvrai ro irapdirav,
ttXolcov re ra)v Trap rj/xlv VTrdp^ovaiv dveworjroi.
2 roiavrrjs Se aTTopias Trepl avrovs ovarjs, vnoXei-
TTerat Xeyetv avr6)(dovas avrovs VTrapx^iv, dp-)(T]v
fiev rov TTpwrov yevovs iJi'r]8efJiiav icrxfjKoras, del S'
e^ atcDi'os' yeyovoras, KaBdirep evioi rcjv (j^vaioXoyajv
TTepi TTdvroiV rdJv (f)vaLoXoyovp.evcji}v dTTe(j)rjvavro .
3 dXXd yap Trepl fiev rcbv roiovrajv dve(f>LKrov rrjs
errLvoias r^puv ovaiqs ovhev KcoXvei rovs ra TrXeZara
drro(f)r]vaiJievovs eXd^i-crra ycvcjaKeiv, (Ls dv rijs
ev rols Xoyois Tndavoriqros rrjv p.ev dKorjv TreLdovarjs,
rrjv S' dXijOetav ouSa/xcDs" evpLaKovarrjs.
21. 'Prjreov S' rjulv Kal Trepl rdJv KaXovfxevcov
\eX<xJVO<f)dyajv , ov rpoTTOv e)(ovai rrjv oXrjv SiddeaLV
rov ^Lov. vrjaoL ydp elai Kara rov (VKeavov
TrXrjaiov rrjs yrjs KeipLevai, rroXXal jxev ro vXrjOos,
fxiKpal Se rots' fxeyedeat Kal raTreivai, KapTTOV Se
ovd^ TJfxepov ovr* dypiov exovaai. ev ravrais Sta
rr^v TTVKv6rr]ra KVjxa puev ov ylverat, rov kXvSojvos
1 Cp. Book 1. 6. 2.
140
BOOK III. 19. 6-21. I
nutriment of the fish, they have a life which follows
in singular fashion a continuous cycle throughout all
eternity.
20. One tribe of the Ichthyophagi has dwellings
so peculiar that they constitute a great puzzle to
men who take a pride in investigating such
matters ; for certain of them make their homes
among precipitous crags which these men could not
possibly have approached at the outset, since from
above there overhangs a lofty rock, sheer at every
point, while on the sides unapproachable cliifs shut off
entrance, and on the remaining face the sea hems
them in, which cannot be passed through on foot,
and they do not use rafts at all, while of boats such
as we have they have no notion. Such being the
puzzle concerning them, the only solution left to us
is that they are autochthonous, and that they
experienced no beginning of the race they originally
sprang from, but existed always from the beginning
of time, as certain natural philosophers have declared
to be true of all the phenomena of nature.^ But
since the knowledge of such matters is unattainable
by us, nothing prevents those who have the most to
say about them from knowing the least, inasmuch
as, while plausibility may persuade the hearing, it
by no means discovers the truth.
21. We must speak also about the Chelonophagi,^
as they are called, and the nature of their entire
manner of life. There are islands in the ocean,
which lie near the land, many in number, but small
in size and low-lying, and bearing no food either
cultivated or wild. Because these islands are so
near to one another no waves occur among them,
^ Turtle-eaters ; cp. Strabo 16. 4. 14 ff.
141
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Opavofxevov Trepi ras aVpa? ribv vqcrcov, ;^eA60i'aip' Se
daXarrlajv 7rXi]9og evhiarpi^ei irepl roug tottovs
rovTOVs, TTavTa-)(6dev Kara^evyov Trpos Tr]v e/c
2 rijg ■yaXi^v'qs aKen-qv. avrai 8e to.? ixev vvKrag iv
^vdo) hiarpi^ovaiv a.a-)(o\ov p^evai irepl ttjv vojxrjv,
TO.? S' rjp.€pas els ttju dva jJidaov rcov vqaajv OdXar-
Tav (jyoLTCoaai KOtpicovTat pLerecopoi rot? KvrecrL
Trpos TOV tJXlOV, 7Tap€p(f)€prj TTjV TTpoaoifjLv TTOLOVaai
Tat? KarearpappievaLs d/carots" i^ataioi ydp tols
pLcyedeuLv VTrdp^ovai kol tcov iXax^crrcov dXidScov
3 ovK iXdrrovs. ol Se ra? vrjoovs KaTOiKovvres
^dp^apoi Kara rovrov rov Kaipov rjpepa irpoavr]-
Xovrai rats ^^eXcovacg- Trpos eKdrepov 8e p.€pos
TrXTjaidaavres , ot pikv Tn€t,ovaLv , ol 8' i^aipovaiv ,
4 eats dv^ vtttlov yevi^rai to l,a)ov. eVet^' ol p.ev
€^ eKarepov piepovs OLaKit,ov(n rov oXov oyKOV,
Iva p,r] Grpa(f)€V to l,a)OV Kal vrj^dpevov Ta> ttjs
<j>va€.a>s ^o-qO-qpLaTL (f)vyrj /caret, fiddovs, et? S k^ijov
pceppiOa piaKpdv Kal Brjaas ttjs ovpds VTjp^erat Trpog
TTjV yrjv Kal TrpoCTeA/cerat pueTdyajv to ^coov em Tr]V
^epaov, avp.TrapaKopil,op.€V(jov tojv e^ ^PXV^ '''V^
5 evWeaiv 7T€7TOLrjpL€va>v. OTav S' els ttjv vrjaov
eKKopiaoiOi, Ta pev ivTOS TrdvTa ^pa^xyv xpovov iv
TjXlcp TTapoTTTrjoavTes KaTeva>)(ovvTaLy tols Se
KVTeaiv ovai CT/ca^oeiSe'ai p^pcDv'Tat Trpos Te top eij
TTjV TjTretpov hidirXovv, ov TTOiovvTai ttjs vSpelas
€V€K€V, Kal Trpos Tas OK-qvcocreLS, TidivTes Trprjvels
e(f vifjrjXdJv tottcjdv, cofrre 8ok€lv tovtols ttjv
(l)VGLV Seda>prjadat, pud )(dpLTL 77oAAas' XP^'-'^^'
^ av added by Dindorf.
142
BOOK III. 21. 1-5
since the surf breaks upon the outermost islands,
and so a great multitude of sea-turtles tarry in these
regions, resorting thither from all directions to gain
the protection offered by the calm. These animals
spend the nights in deep water busied with their
search for food, but during the days they resort to
the sea which lies between the islands and sleep
on the surface with their upper shells towards the
sun, giving to the eye an appearance like that of
overturned boats ; for they are of extraordinary
magnitude and not smaller than the smallest fishing
skiffs. And the barbarians who inhabit the islands
seize the occasion and swim quietly out to the turtles ;
and when they have come near the turtle on both
sides, those on the one side push down upon it while
those on the other side lift it up, until the animal
is turned over on its back. Then the men, taking
hold on both sides, steer the entire bulk of the
creature, to prevent it from turning over and making
its escape into the deep water by swimming with the
means with which Nature has endowed it, and one
man with a long rope, fastening it to its tail, swims
towards the land, and drawing the turtle along after
him he hauls it to the land, those who had fii'st
attacked it assisting him in bringing it in. And
when they have got the turtles upon the shore of
their island, all the inside meat they bake slightly
for a short time in the sun and then feast upon it,
but the upper shells, which are shaped like a boat,
they use both for sailing over to the mainland, as
they do in order to get water, and for their dwellings,
by setting them right side up upon elevations, so
that it would appear that Nature, by a single act
of favour, had bestowed upon these peoples the
143
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tr]v yap avrrjv avrols ea^at rpo^T^y, dyyelov,
OLKiav, vavv.
6 Ov jJiaKpav Se rovrcov SiearcoTes I'Cfxourai rrjv
TrapaAtoi' ^dpl^apoi ^lov dvwpiaXov e^^ovres. Sta-
rpecfiOVTai ydp airo rcbv eKTriTTTOvrajv els ttjv
X^paov KTqrayv, TTore jxev Sai/jiXeLav Tpo(f)rjs e-^ovTes
hid rd neyeOrj rdjv evpiaKOfxevcDV 9-qpicov, rrore Se
SLaXeiixjjidrcjov yivopiivajv KaKcos dTraXXdrrovaiv
V7TO rrjs eVSeta?" KaO' ov 8r) xpdvov dvayKd^ovrai
KaTepydL,€adaL Sid rr]v airdviv tcov dp^aiojv
oarcov ^ovhpovs kol rds aKpas tcov TrXevpcbv
€K(f)Va€LS.
TcDp' pLev ovv 'l)(dvo(f)dyu)v rd yevrj rocravr*
eOTL /cat TOLOVTOis \po)vraL ^iois, co? €v K€(f>aXaiois
ecTTelv.
22. *H Se /caret rrjv Ba^vXcovlav napaXtos auvdirreL
piev rjpLepcp /cat Kara^vro) )(copa, roaovro Se
ecrrt ttXtjOos tcov 1)(6vojv rots' eyx^ujpiois ware rovs
avaXiuKovras pi-'t] hvvaodai paSicos Trepiyeveadai
2 rrjs Sa^tAetas". Trapd ydp rovs alyiaXovs lardai
KaXap-ous 7TVKVOVS /cat tt/do? dAAi^Aous" StaTreTrAey-
p.evovs, ware rr]v TrpoaoiJjLV elvai St/crJo) Trapd
OaXarrav eanqKon. /caret Se vdv to ^ epyov
V7Tdp)(ovai TTVKval dvpai, rfj piev TrXoKrj rapawheis ,
rds arpofjyds" 8 e)(ovaat npos rds et? eKarepa rd
p-epr] KLvqaeis eiXurovs. ravras 6 kXuSwv (f>ep6~
^ TO added by Dindorf.
^ aTpo(/>Ti is not known elsewhere in the sense of " hinge "
and probably arpo(f>eh (i-e. arpo^'ias) without the article,
the reading of C E, is what Diodorus actually wrote.
^ In using the term " Babylonia " Diodorus must be
thinking of the satrapj' of that name, which included the
144
BOOK III. 21. 5-22. 2
satisfaction of many needs ; for the same gift con-
stitutes for them food, vessel, house and ship.
Not far distant from these people the coast is
inhabited by barbarians who lead an irregular life.
For they depend for their food upon the whales
which are cast up on the land, at times enjoying an
abundance of food because of the great size of the
beasts which they discover, but at times, when
inten-uptions of the supply occur, they suffer greatly
from the shortage ; and when the latter is the case
they are forced by the scarcity of food to gnaAv the
cartilages of old bones and the parts which grow
from the ends of the ribs.
As for the Ichthyophagi, then this is the number
of their tribes and such, speaking summarily, are
the ways in which they live.
22. But the coast of Babylonia ^ borders on a land
which is civilized and well planted and there is such a
multitude of fish for the natives that the men who
catch them are unable readily to keep ahead of the
abundance of them. For along the beaches they
set reeds close to one another and interwoven, so
that their appearance is like that of a net which has
been set up along the edge of the sea. And through-
out the entire construction there are doors which are
fixed close together and resemble basket-work 2
in the way they are woven, but are furnished with
hinges that easily yield to movements of the water
in either direction. These doors are opened by the
north coast of the Persian Gulf and presumably extended
down the west coast of the Gulf as far as " the uninhabited
portion of Arabia " (cp. Book 18. 6. and below ch. 23. 1).
* i.e. they are closely woven, so as to offer resistance to the
water.
145
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fjievog fjiev etV rrjv yrjv Kara rov rrj? TrXrjfjiupLSog
Kaipov dvoLyeL, TraXLaavrcov Se Kara rrjv dfiTTCOTiv
3 OLTTOKXeLei. SioTTep avixf^aivei Kad^ iKaarrjv ^fiepav
7TXr]p.vpovcrr]g p.ev rrjs daXdrrrjs ck ^udov rovg
l^dvs (yvveK(f)epoix€.vovs Sia rajv dvpcjv Trapeiam-
irreiv, dva)(Cjopovcrr]g 8e pLTj Svvacrdat rot? vypoZs
avvhcappelv Sid ttj? Ta)v KaXdficov TrXoKrjs. Sto
Kai TTapd Tov wKcavov eviore aaipovs Ixdvojv
GTTaLpovTCov opdv karL yLvop-ivovs, ovs dvaXeyofievoL
cruv€xdJ9 OL TTpos TOVTOLg Terayfjuevoi Sai/rtAets"
4 dTToXavaeLs e-^ovGL /cat jxeydXag TrpoaoSovg. evioi
Se rdJv irepi rovs tottovs SiarpL^ovTOJv, TreStaSo?
re Kai raTrewrjs^ rrj? y^ujpas VTrap-^ovaqs , rd(^pous
opvTTOvaiv ano OaXdrrr^s evpetag eirl rroXXovs
arahiovs P-^XP'' '■^'■^^ iTravXecov , pa^Sojrds 8e
dvpag Itt' aKpas avrds eTnarrjaavres dua^aivovcrrjs
p.€v rrjs TrX'qp.vpiSo^ dvotyovoLv, els Se rovvavriov
p.eraTTLTnovG'qs KXeiovcnv. elra rrjg p.ev daXdrrrjs
Sid rdjv TTJg dupas dpaicopidTOJV diroppeova-qg, rcov
S IxOvcov dTToXfjcfiOevTcov iv rals Tdcf)poLg, Tapnevov-
rai Kai XapL^dvovcnv oaous dv TrpoaipcovTai Kai Kad^
ov dv xpovov ^ovXcovTat.
23. AieXrjXvOores Se Trepi rcov TrapoiKovvrcov
TTjv djTO Trjs BaySyAwvia? TrapaXiov e'co? ^Apa^lov
koXttov, TTepL rojv i^rjs tovtols i9udjv Sie'^i/nev.
/card yap rrjv ALdiOTnav rrjv VTvep AtyvTrrov napd
rov "Aaav KaXovp-evov TTorap^ov TrapoiKeZ to twv
'PitiOcjidycov edvos. e/c yap rcov TrXrja(,oxa>pcov
146
BOOK III. 22. 2-23. I
waves as they roll towards the shore at the time of
flood-tide, and are closed at ebb-tide as they surge
back. Consequently it comes about that every
day, when the sea is at flood-tide, the fish are carried
in from the deep water with the tide and pass inside
through the doors, but when the sea recedes they are
unable to pass ^vith the water through the inter-
woven reeds. As a result it is possible at times
to see beside the ocean heaps being formed of
gasping fish, which are being picked up unceasingly
by those who have been appointed to this work, who
have from their catch subsistence in abundance as
well as large revenues. And some of the inhabitants
of these parts, because the country is both like
a plain and low-lying, dig wide ditches leading from
the sea over a distance of many stades to their
private estates, and setting wicker gates at their
openings they open these when the flood-tide is
coming inland and close them when the tide changes
to the opposite direction. Then, inasmuch as the
sea pours out through the interstices of the gate
but the fish are held back in the ditches, they have a
controlled store of fish and can take of them as many
as they choose and at whatever time they please.
23. Now that we have discussed the peoples who
dwell on the coast from Babylonia to the Arabian
Gulf,^ we shall describe the nations who live next
to them. For in the Ethiopia which lies above
Egypt there dwells beside the river Asa ^ the nation
of the Rhizophagi.^ For the barbai'ians here dig
1 The Red Sea.
^ Called Astabara by Agatharchides {On the Red Sea, 50)
and Astaboras by Strabo (16. 4. 8).
^ Root-eaters.
147
DIODORUS OF SICILY
^AcDv' ^ TO,? pi^OLS Toyv KaXdjJLcov opvTTovres ol
^dp^apoi TrXvvovai ^tAortjUO)?" TTOtiqaavres he
KaOapdg kotttovgl XlOoig, P-^XP^ ^^ yevqTai to
epyov Xelov kol /coAAtDSes" eVetra TrepLTrXdaavres
X^tpoTrXrjdLaLOVs oyKovs €v rjXtco TrapoTrrcjai, koI
lavTT] xpcopLevoL Tpo(f)fj Trdvra tov ^lov hiareXovaLV.
aveKXet-TTTOVs S k')(ovTe.'5 rd's rrjs rpocfirjg rauTTj?
Sai/riAeta?, Kat rrpos dXXijXovs del elp'qvrjv dyovreg,
V7t6 ttXi^Oovs XeovTcov TToXepuovvTai' epLTTvpov yap
TOV irepi^ depos ovros eK rrjs eprjpiov Trpos avTOVs
^OLTOJai, Xeovreg CTKia? eveKev, ol he kol 6i]pag ra)v
eXarrovcov Oripiajv. hioTrep rovg eK rwv reXybdrajv
e^iovra? tcov AWlottcov vtto tovtcov tcvv drjptojv
dvaXioKeaOai ovi^LfSaiveL' dSwarovGL yap v^iara-
adai rds dA/ca? rchv XeovTOJV, ojg dv ix-qSep^iav
^orjOeiav ottXcov e)(ovTes, /cat irepag dphrjv dv
avTcbv SLecjiOdpr] to yevos, ei nrj rj ^ (f)vat'5 ri avroig
avr6p.aTOV erroi-qae ^o'^drjp.a. vtto yap rrjv dva-
ToXi]v TOV Kwos TTapaSo^oJS ^ ytvopieu-q? vqvepiLag
TTepl rovs TOTTOVs Toaovro ttXtjOos ddpoL^erai
KcuvcoTTOJV , V7repe-)(ov Bvvdp.eL tovs yvaypitjOpievovs ,
wore TOVS piev dvOpcoirovs KaTatfyvyovTas els Tas
eAcoSei? Xtp-vas pir]hev Trdo-^eLv, tovs 8e XeovTas
TrdvTas (f^evyetv eK tcov tottcov, dpia puev vtto tov
hr^ypLOv KaKov)(ovpievovs , dpia he tov aTTO ttjs
^aivrjs T^X^^ KaTaTreTrXrjypLevovs.
24. 'ETTopLevot, * 8e TOVTOis elalv ol tc ^Xo(f)dyoL
^ eXuiv added by Rhodomann but by no other editors ; yet
cp. Agatharchides (50): eV tov -nap-qKovTos 'iXovs ray p't'^ay
TCOV KoXa^ujv opvTTei ; Strabo 16. 4. 9 ; Book 2. 36. 5.
* ij added by Dindorf.
^ fi-nSenids after TrapaSo^ws deleted by Vogel, but retained
by Bekker, Dindorf, who read fxvias (AB) for vrjfievias.
148
BOOK III. 23. 1-24. I
up the roots of the reeds which grow in the neigh-
bouring marshes and then thoroughly wash them ;
and after they have made them clean they crush them
with stones until the stuff is without lumps and
glutinous ; and then, moulding it into balls as large
as can be held in the hand, they bake it in the sun
and on this as their food they live all their life long.
Enjoying as they do the unfailing abundance of this
food and living ever at peace with one another,
they are nevertheless preyed upon by a multitude
of lions ; for since the air about them is fiery hot,
lions come out of the desert to them in search of
shade and in some cases in pursuit of the smaller
animals. Consequently it comes to pass that when
the Ethiopians come out of the marshy lands they
are eaten by these beasts ; for they are unable to
\vithstand the might of the lions, since they have no
help in the form of weapons, and indeed in the end
the race of them would have been utterly destroyed
had not Nature provided them with an aid which
acts entirely of itself. For at the time of the rising
of the dog-star,^ whenever a calm unexpectedly
comes on, there swarms to these regions such a
multitude of mosquitoes, surpassing in vigour those
that are knowTi to us, that while the human beings
find refuge in the marshy pools and suffer no hurt,
all the lions flee from those regions, since they not
only suffer from their stings but are at the same time
terrified by the sound of their humming.
24. Next to these people are the Hylophagi ^
^ Sirius. * Wood-eaters.
* inoncvoi Bekker : i)(6iJ.€voi.
149
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Kai OL Utt e Pilar ocj>dyoL KaXovjJLevot. tovtcov S' ol
fxev VTTO rrjv Oepeiav rov TTLTTTOvra Kaprrov o-tto twv
Sev8pcov ovra ttoXvv aOpoit^ovreg airovcjos Siarpe-
<f)OVTaL, Kara 8e rov dXXov Kaipov rrjg ^ordvqg rrjg
ev Tats cr/cta^ojueVai? avvayKeiaig ^ (f>voiX€Viqs vpoa-
<f)€povrai TTjv 7Tpocr7]V€ardTT]v areped yap ovaa
rr]v ^voiv, /cat KavXov e^ovaa TrapaTrXi^aiov rats
Xeyofxevaig " ^owidaLv, eKTrX-qpol rrjv rijs dvayKaiag
2 Tpo(f>rjs kvBeiav. oi Se 'TAo(/>ayot pberd reKvcjv Kai
yvvaiKcov €7Tt Tct? vofxdg i^iovTes dva^aLvovacv
€7tI rd SevSpa Kai rovs ctTraAous" rcov aKpe/xovajv
TT poa(f)epovr ai. roLavr-qv 8' e/c rrjg awexovs p-eXe-
TTj's rr^v in aKpovg rovg KXdSovs dvahpopA^v ttoiovv-
rai Trdvres coare aTTtarov etrai to yivopievov Kai
yap p^eraTT-qhiJoaiv d(f)' irepov ecf)^ erepov SevSpov
opiOLOj's TOLS opveois, Kat ra? dva^daeig em tojv
XcTTTOTdTCUV AcActScOV TTOlOVVTai X^P''^ KLvSvVCOV.
3 LGxvoTrjTi ydp GojpLaros Kai KOV(f)6Tr)Ti, hiacftipovTes,
irrethdv rolg ttogl a(f)dXXcovTai, Tat? ;^epcrit' dt'TtAajLt-
PdvovTai' Kav tv^o^cfl Treaovres dcf) vifjov?, ovdep
irdaxovGL Sta ttiv Kov(l>6rrjTa' Kai Trdvra 8e
KXdhov eyxvXov tols oBovgl Karepya^opievoL TreTTOV-
4 atv evKOTTCos Tats /cotAtat?. ovtol 8 aet ^lovgl yvp-voi
fiev eGdrJTOs, KOivals Se jj^pco/xevot yvvat^lv aKoXov-
dcos Kai Tovs yewTjOevras nalSas kolvovs rjyovuraL.
Si.a7ToXep.ovGL 8e Trpos aAAT^Aous" rrepL tojv tottojv
pd^Sois (xnrXiGpievoi, Kai TavTaLS dp.vv6pLevoL tovs
evavTLOVs SiaGTToJGL tovs ;\;etpc(j0eVTa?. TeXevroJGL
8' avTcov OL TrXeLGTOL Atjuoj KaraTTOvrjdevTes , orav
' crxi!^ofj.evr]s xal after avvayKeiat.s deleted by Reiske.
^ Aeyo/ieVais Vogel : ylvo/;ie^'alJ.
150
BOOK III. 24. 1-4
and the Spermatophagi,^ as they are called. The
latter gather the fruit as it falls in great abundance
from the trees in the summer season and so find their
nourishment without labour, but during the rest of
the year they subsist upon the most tender part of the
plant which grows in the shady glens ; for this plant,
being naturally stiff and having a stem like the
bounias,^ as we call it, supplies the lack of the
necessary food. The Hylophagi, however, setting
out with children and wives in search of food, climb
the trees and subsist off the tender branches. And
this climbing of theirs even to the topmost branches
they perform so well as a result of their continued
practice that a man can scarcely believe what they
do ; indeed they leap from one tree to another like
birds and make their way up the weakest branches
without experiencing dangers. For being in body
unusually slender and light, whenever their feet slip
they catch hold instead with their hands, and if they
happen to fall from a height they suffer no hurt by
reason of their light weight ; and every juicy branch
they chew so thoroughly with their teeth that their
stomachs easily digest them. These men go naked
all their life, and since they consort with their women
in common they likewise look upon their offspring
as the common children of all. They fight with one
another for the possession of certain places, arming
themselves Nvith clubs, ^vith which they also keep off
enemies, and they dismember whomsoever they
have overcome. Most of them die from becoming
exhausted by hunger, when cataracts form upon
^ Seed-eaters, called by Strabo (16. 4. 9) Spermophagi.
* " French txiroip," Brassica Napus.
151
VOL. II. V
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tctir ofifjidrcov aTToyXavKcodevrcov ro acofia areprjdfj
TTys" avayKaias eK ravTrjs rrjs alaOiqaecxJS ;)^peia?.
25. Triv he e^TJs x^P^^ '^^^ AWlottojv eVe-
^ovaiv ot KoXovixevoL KwTjyot, avfxfxerpoi fxev Kara
TO ttXtjOo?, ^iov S' oiKetov e^ovTes rfj irpouriyopia.
OrjpiwSovs yap ovarjg rrjs ^wpas Kal TravreXcos
XvTTpds, en 8e vSdrcov pvaeis vafxarLaLcov exovcrrjs
oXiyas, Kadevhovai fxev em raJv devhpcjv Sid rov
OLTTO Tiov drjpicov (jio^ov, VTTO 8e rrjv eojOivrjv rrpos
rd? avppvaeis rcJov vhdrcov jxed^ ottXcdv ^oircjjvres
eavTovs aTTOKpv^ovcnv els rqv vXtjv /cat CKOTrevov-
2 aiv eiTL T(ji)V hevhpojv. /card Se tov rov Kavfiaros
Kaipov, ep^ofJievcov ^ooJv re aypiajv /cat rraphaXeajv
Kal rcjv d'AAoji' drjpioiv TrXi'^dovg Trpos ro TTorov,
ravra jxev 8td r'qv VTrep^oXrjv rov re Kav/jcaros /cat
Sii/fous" Xd^pojs 7Tpoa(f)eperai ro vypov, p-expi dv
efXTTXTjaOrj, ot S At^toTre?, yevopLevcxJV avribv
^apewv /cat BvaKLv^ra)v, KaranrjScovres diro rcbv
hevhpcov /cat ;^pt6/zevot ^vXois TreirvpaKrcxiiievoLS
/cat XiOoiSy en he ro^evfiaoL, pahicos Karairovovai.
3 /card he avariji-iara ravrais ;^'paj/xep'ot rat? Kvvrj-
yiat? aapKO(^ayova(, rd Xiqcjidevra, /cat anavLO)?
fiev VTTO rd)v dXKLp.cordra>v t,a)(x)V avroL Sta^^et-
povrai, rd he TToXXd hoXcp rrjv e'/c ^t'as" vrrepox^jv
4 x^Lpovvrat. edv he irore rwv KW-qyovpcevajv ^ajcui/
a7Tavil,(ji}aiy rds hopds rdJv rrporepov elXrjfjifJLevwv
Ppe^avres eTnnOeaaiv eiTL nvp dnaXov arrohi-
aavres he rds rpixo-S rd hepjxara hiaipovcn, /cat
Kareadlovres ^e^iaufievajs avaTrXrjpovoi rrjv evheiav.
rovs he dvq^ovs TraZhas yvpLva^ovaiv eVt qkottov
^ Hunters.
BOOK III. 24. 4-25. 4
their eyes and the body is deprived of the necessary
use of this organ of sense.
25. The next pai-t of the country of the Ethiopians
is occupied by the Cynegi,^ as they are called, who
are moderate in number and lead a life in keeping
with their name. For since their country is infested
by wild beasts and is utterly worthless,- and has few
streams of spring water, they sleep in the trees from
fear of the wild beasts, but early in the morning,
repairing with their weapons to the pools of water,
they secrete themselves in the woods and keep
watch from their positions in the trees. And at the
time when the heat becomes intense, wild oxen and
leopards and a multitude of every other kind of
beast come to drink, and because of the excessive
heat and their great thirst they greedily quaff the
water until they are gorged, whereupon the
Ethiopians, the animals having become sluggish
and scarcely able to move, leap down from the trees,
and by the use of clubs hardened in the fire and of
stones and arrows easily kill them. They hunt in
this way in companies and feed upon the fiesh of
their prey, and although now and then they are
themselves slain by the strongest animals, yet for
the most part they master by their cunning the
superior strength of the beasts. And if at any time
they find a lack of animals in their hunt they soak
the skins of some which they had taken at former
times and then hold them over a low fire ; and
when they have singed off the hair they divide the
hides among themselves, and on such fare as has been
forced upon them they satisfy their want. Their
boys they train in shooting at a mark and give
^ i.e. not suitable for agriculture.
^53
DIODORUS OF SICILY
^dXXeiVy Kai [lovois StSoacrt Tpo(f)rjv rot? e7TLTV)(ovai.
8t6 KaL davfJiaaroL rals evaroxi-oit-? dv8pes yivovrai,
KoXXiara SiSaaK'o/xet'ot rats' tov Xifjiov TrATyyat?.
26. TavTYjs Se rrjs x^P^^ ^^S" Ta irpos hvapids
fj-eprj TToXii StearrjKOTeg AWtoTres vvdpxovaLV 'EAe-
(l>avropid-)(pt KVvrjyoL. vepLopbcvoi yap hpyyuohcLs
Koi 7TVKV0US TOL£ ScVSpecTt TOTTOVs TTapaTT] povai
rajv eXecjydvTCov ras eiaohovs Kai ra? e/crpoTra?,
aKonds drro rwv viJjTjXoTdrcov BevSpcov ttolov-
jjicvoi,' Kai rals fxev dyeXais avrcov ovk 677 trt-
devrai Sid rd /LtfjSejLttW eATTtSa e^^LV KaropOivaeios,
TOLS Be Kad €va Tiopeuo/xeVois" evL^dXXovai, Tds
2 x^lpas, TTapaho^oig eyx^tpovvres ToXpiiqixaaiv. orav
ydp TO i,a)ov Sie^tov -"^ yev-qrai Kara rd hivhpov
iv S (TVjji^aLveL rdv aKOTrevovra K€Kpv(f>9aL, dfia
TCp TTapaXXdrreiv rdv tottov rals p-ev x^P'^'-^
iSpd^aro rrjs ovpdg, rots Se TToalv dvre^rj npos rdv
dpLcrrepdv purjpdv exo^v 8 e/c rdjv a>fjicov i^-qprrj-
fievov TTeXeKVV, KOV<f)OV pbev npog rrjv drro rrjs pads
X^ipos TTXrjyqv, d^vv Se Kad VTrep^oX-qv, rovrov Xa-
^dpievos iv rfj Se^ia x^'-P'' vevpoKonel rrjV de^idv
lyvvv, TTVKvds Karac^lpcjv TrXrjyds /cat Sta rrjs
dpiarepds ;^etp6s" OLaKi(,wv rd cSlov adjpia. napd-
So^ov 8e d^VT-qra rols epyois 7Tpoa(f)epouaLV,
oi? dv ddXou rrjs Idias ^vx'rjs eKdarcp ^ TTpoKeipLevov
t) ydp p^eiptocraCT^at rd l,a)ov r) reXevrdv avrdv
XeiTTeraL, rrjs irepLcrrdaecos ovk e7nSe;^o/xeV')]? erepov
3 drroreXeapia. rd 8e vevpoKOTrrjdev l,a)OV rrork pLev
Std rrjv hvaKLvrjaiav dSvvarouv arpec/teadai Kai
crvveyKXivopLGvov irrl rdv Trenovdora rdirov Trnrrei
^ h(.e^i6v Dindorf : Se|to'v.
* eKacrra} Reiske : eKaarov.
154
BOOK III. 25. 4-26. 3
food only to those who hit it. Consequently,
when they come to manhood, they are marvellously
skilled in marksmanship, being most excellently
instructed by the pangs of hunger.
26. Far distant from this country towards the parts
to the west are Ethiopians known as Elephant-
fighters, hunters also. For dwelling as they do
in regions covered with thickets and with trees
growing close together, they carefully observe the
places where the elephants enter and their favourite
resorts, watching them from the tallest trees ; and
when they are in herds they do not set upon them,
since they would have no hope of success, but they
lay hands on them as they go about singly, attacking
them in an astonishingly daring manner. For as the
beast in its wandering comes near the tree in which
the watcher happens to be hidden, the moment it is
passing the spot he seizes its tail with his hands and
plants his feet against its left flank ; he has hanging
from his shoulders an axe, light enough so that a blow
may be struck with one hand and yet exceedingly
sharp, and seizing this in his right hand he hamstrings
the elephant's right leg, raining blows upon it and
maintaining the position of his own body ^^^th his
left hand. And they bring an astonishing swiftness
to bear upon the task, since there is a contest between
the tw^o of them for their very lives ; for all that is
left to the hunter is either to get the better of the
animal or to die himself, the situation not admitting
another conclusion. As for the beast which has
been hamstrung, sometimes being unable to turn
about because it is hard for it to move and sinking
do\vn on the place where it has been hurt, it falls
to the ground and causes the death of the Ethiopian
155
DIODORUS OF SICILY
KOL rov AWloTTa avvaTToXXvat, ttotc Se Trpo? Trerpav
rj SevSpov aTToOXltfjav rov avdpoiTTOV ra> ^dpet me'^ei
4 ixeypi dv aTro/creiVrj. eViot Se tojv iXechavrojv
TTepLaAyeis yLvofxevoi rov [xev afxvveGoaL rov empov-
Xevaavra fxaKpav d<f>eaTiJKacn, ttjv 8e cjivyr^v Std
Tov TTeSlov TTOLovvrai, fiexpi'9 civ ov avvex<^S o ^
TTpoa^e^rjKOJS tvtttcov els rov avrov tottov rip
TreXeKCL Sia/coi/ra? Ta vevpa Troi'qar) Trdperov to
^cDov. orav 8e to l,a)ov Treaj], auvrpexovai Kara.
avaTTjpiara, /cat ^cDvto? ert repLvovres rds crap/caj
e/c Tcui' OTTLodev piepoJv evaiXpvvraL .
27. "Ertoi Se ru)V TrXrjalov KaroLKOvvrtov x^P'-^
KLvSvvojv drjpevovaL rovs eXe^avTas t^X^T) "^"^^
jSi'a? TTcpiyivopievoi. eicjoOe yap tovto to ^wov,
eVetSav' drro rrjg vopLTJs TiXrjpwdfj, irpog vttvov
KaTa(f>€p€adai, hLa(f)opdv ixovarj? rrjs vrept avro
2 Biadeaecos Ttpos to. Xonrd rwv TerpairoScov ov yap
SvvaTai, Tols yovaai Trpos rrjv yrjv ovyKadievai rov
oXov oyKov, dXXd 77/30? hivhpov dvaKXidev TTOLelrai.
Trjv 8ia tcDp" vttvcjjv dvairavoiv . SioTrep to Sevhpov
Sta TTjv yivopievrjv irpos avTO TrXeovaKis TrpoaKXiaiv
tov ^WOV T6TpLp.p.€VOV T€ icTTL Kal pVTTOV TrXijpeg,
TTpos Se TOVTOLg 6 rrepl avTO tottos i-X^f] t€ ^x^i
/cat arjp.e'ia ttoXXo,, St' iov ol to. TOiavra ipevvcovTes
AWtOTTes yvcopL^ovGL Tas Tcov eXe(f)avTOJV Konag.
3 OTOV ovv eTTtru^'cocrt tolovtco SevSpco, TTpit^ovaiv
avTO TTapd Trjv yrjv, p-^xpi' dv oXiyrjV eVi TrjV povqv
exzi "^pos TTjv TTTcJoaLV' eid ovtol piev Ta (jrjp,ela Trjg
tSta? TTapovaias d(f>avLaavT€S Tax^<os dvaXXaT-
^ o after rrpoape^rjKOJS MSS, corrected by Urainus and
adopted by Dindorf, Bekkerj Vogel reads TTpo^e^rjKws
(D)d.
156
BOOK III. 26. 3-27. 3
along with its own, and sometimes squeezing the man
against a rock or tree it crushes him with its weight
until it has killed him. In some cases, however,
the elephant in the extremity of its suffering is far
from thinking of turning on its attacker, but flees
across the plain until the man who has set his feet
upon it, striking on the same place with his axe, has
severed the tendons and paralysed the beast. And
as soon as the beast has fallen they run together in
companies, and cutting the flesh off the hind-quarters
of the elephant while it is still alive they hold a feast.
27. But some of the natives who dwell near by
hunt the elephants without exposing themselves to
dangers, overcoming their strength by cunning.
For it is the habit of this animal, whenever it has
had its fill of grazing, to lie down to sleep, the
manner in which it does this being different from
that of all other four-footed animals ; for it can-
not bring its whole bulk to the ground by bend-
ing its knees, but leans against a tree and thus
gets the rest which comes from sleep. Conse-
quently the tree, by reason of the frequent leaning
against it by the animal, becomes both rubbed and
covered with mud, and the place about it, further-
more, shows both tracks and many signs, whereby
the Ethiopians who search for such traces discover
where the elephants take their rest. Accordingly,
when they come upon such a tree, they saw it near
the ground until it requires only a little push to
make it fall ; thereupon, after removing the traces
of their own presence, they quickly depart in antici-
157
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tovrai, (f)6o.vovT€g rrjv €(f>oSov rod t,a)OV, 6 S iXe(f>ag
TTpos TTjv iaTTcpav ijXTrXriadeLS Try? Tpo(f)rjg cttc t7]V
avvijOr) KaravTo, kolttiv. /cara/cAt^et? Se ddpoo) ^
ra> ^dpei TTapa-^prjpia fxerd Trjs rod SevSpov <f)opds
em TTjv yijv KaracfyiperaL, ireadiv 8' vtttlos jtieWt Trjv
vvKTa KGLfievos Slol to TTjv Tov ocofMaTOS <f>vcnv
4 dhripLLOvpyr]Tov elvai Trpos dvdaraaLV. oi Be Trpi-
aavres ro hevhpov AWloTres dpJ rjnepa KaravrdJaL,
Kal ;^copi? klvSvvcov dTTOKreivavres ro t^ipov aKrjvo-
TTOLOvvrai Trepl rov ronov Kal 7rapa[xevovat, P'^XP''
dv ro TTerrrcoKog dvaXcoawoL.
28. Tovrojv Se rdjv yevdJv rd p,ev Trpos eairepav
fjieprj KaroLKOVOLV AWlottcs ol rrpoaayopevopievoi.
2i)Uot, rd Se rrpos /zecrTy/x^ptW KCKXip-eva vep^erai ro
2 TcDv Yir pov6o(j)dy ojv ^ yevos. eari ydp irap avrols
opviov n yevos iJieiJiLyp,evr]v e^ov rr)v <f>uaLV roi
Xepcraicp l,<pcp, Si' 'r]v rijs avvderov rerev^^ Tvpoa-
riyopias. rovro Se fieyeOei fxev ov XeiireraL rrjs
p,€yLar7]g eXd<j)OV, rov Se au;^eVa piaKpov e)(ov Kat
7Tepi(f>epeXs rds rrXevpdg /cat irrepoirds vtto rrjs
(f)vaea)S SeSrjpLiovpyrjrai. Kal KecfidXiov p.ev dadeves
e^et Kal puKpov^ p-iqpols Se /cat kcoXols vnapxet,
3 Kaprepcurarov, Sixt]Xov rrjs ^daeojs ovaiqs. rovro
^ aOpoqj Dindorf : ddpocos.
^ Bekker suggests 'ETpov9oKanr]Xo(f>a.'ywv.
^ (iiKpov Rhodomann : fxaKpov.
^ Strabo (10. 4. 10) in a similar account of the hunting of
elephants says this is because " its legs have a continuous and
unbending bone " ; cp. a similar account of how the Germans
capture the elk of the Hercynian forest in Caesar, Gallic War,
6. 27 (tr. by Edwards in the L.C.L.). J. E. Tennent, The
Natural History of Ceylon, pp. 100-106, gives examples of the
prevalence of the idea, both in antiquity and the Middle
BOOK III. 27. 3-28. 3
pation of the approach of the animal, and towards
evening the elephant, filled with food, comes to his
accustomed haunt. But as soon as he leans against
the tree with his entire weight he at once rolls to the
ground along with the tree, and after his fall he
remains there lying on his back the night through,
since the nature of his body is not fashioned for
rising.^ Then the Ethiopians who have sawn the
tree gather at dawn, and when they have slain the
beast without danger to themselves they pitch their
tents at the place and remain there until they have
consumed the fallen animal.
28. The parts west of these tribes are inhabited
by Ethiopians who are called Simi,^ but those
towards the south are held by the tribe of the
Struthophagi.3 For there is found among them a
kind of bird having; a nature which is mingled
with that of the land animal, and this explains
the compound name it bears.* This animal is not
inferior in size to the largest deer and has been
fashioned by Nature with a long neck and a round
body, which is covered with feathers. Its head is
weak and small, but it has powerful thighs and legs
and its foot is cloven. It is unable to fly in the air
Ages, that the legs of the elephant had no joints. The facts
lying back of the account in our author are that elephants,
after wallowing in pools, rub their sides against trees and that
they do often sleep leaning against rocks or trees.
2 Flat-nosed.
^ Bird-eaters ; but see the following note.
* Probably a double compound stood above, such as
" Struthocamelophagi " (cp. the critical note). The strutho-
cameli (from strouthos, "sparrow," and kamelos, i.e. the
" bird like a camel," or the " ostrich ") are described in Book
2. 50. 3.
159
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTereadai fj,€v fxerecopov ov SvvaraL Blo. to ^dpos,
Tpe)(€L 8e TTavrcov ojKTjrarov , p-iKpov aKpoig rot?
TToal rrjg yrjg eTrnpavov' pidXiara 8 oTav Kar
avipLov TTvoas i^aipr) rag Trrepvya?, inre^dyei
KadanepeL rt? vavs larLoSpopLovGa' rovs Se Sioj-
Kovras dpLvverai, Sid rajv Troha)v a7Toa(f)evSova)v ^
4 TTapaSo^ojs XlOovs ^^eLpoTrXrjBLaiovg. orav 8 ev
VTjvepiLa SicoKTjraL, Ta;^u cruvLl,ovGaji> ^ raJv rrrepvyajv
dSwarel ^pT]aaa6aL rolg rrjs ^uaecD? Trporeprj-
fxaai, Kat, pahicog Kara\apL^av6p,evov aXiaKerai.
5 rovTCov Se ra)v Lcocov dp.vd'qrcov ovratv rep irXr^Qei
Kara rrjv -^chpav, ol ^dp^apoL TravrohaTrag p.rj-)(avd's
iTTLVOOvat, Kar* avrchv rrjs d-qpas' pahicog 8e rroXkcov
dXiOKopiivaiv rals JJ^^v aap^l ^(^pcjjvrai npos Scarpo-
4>r]v, Tat? Se Sopalg Trpog iadrjra Kat, arpa)p.vrjv.
6 VTTO Se rdJv HipiUJV 6vop.al,op.evcov AWlottcov
TToAe/xoy/xevot SiaKivSuvevovoL TTpog rovs imri-de-
pLevovs, ottXols dpiVvr7]pioLs ^(pujpLevoL rots ra>v
opvyoiv Kepaaf ravra 8e fxeydXa /cat rpirjrLKa
Kadearcbra pLeydXrjv Trapey^erat ■)(peLav, Sai/rtAeta?
ovG'qs Kara rrjv ^(^ujpav hid ro ttXtjOos roJv i)(^6vrajv
auTtt L,cpa)v.
29. Bpaxv 8e rovrcov dirij^^ovres ^AKpiho^dyoL
KaroLKOVGL rd avvopil,ovra rrpog rrjv eprjpiov,
dvOpanTOL pLLKporepoi pL€v rctjv dXXcov, tcr;^t'ot Se
TOt? oyKOis, pLcXaveg Se Kad vrrep^oX-qv . Kard ydp
rrjv eapivrjv wpav Trap' avroZs l,€(j)vpoL /cat At^e?
TTapipieyedeis eKpLTrrovaiv eK rrjg ip-qpiov ttXtjOos
aKpihojv dpLvdiqrov, toi? re /xeye'^ecrt StaAAaTTOV /cat
rfj XP^^ "^"^ 7Trepd)p.aros etSe^^^es" /cat pvirapov.
^ So Wesseling : diToa(f>evhovwaa,
l6o
BOOK III. 28. 3-29. I
because of its weight, but it runs more swiftly than
any other animal, barely touching the earth with the
tips of its feet ; and especially when it raises its
wings adown the blasts of the wind it makes off like a
ship under full sail ; and it defends itself against its
pursuers by means of its feet, hurling, as if from a
sling, in an astonishing manner, stones as large as can
be held in the hand. But when it is pursued at a
time of calm, its wings quickly collapse, it is unable
to make use of the advantages given it by Nature,
and being easily overtaken it is made captive. And
since these animals abound in the land in multitude
beyond telling, the barbarians devise every manner
of scheme whereby to take them ; moreover, since
they are easily caught in large numbers, their meat
is used for food and their skins for clothing and
bedding. But being constantly warred upon by
the Ethiopians known as " Simi," they are in daily
peril from their attackers, and they use as defensive
weapons the horns of gazelles ; these horns, being
large and sharp, are of great service and are found
in abundance throughout the land by reason of the
multitude of the animals which carry them.
29. A short distance from this tribe on the edge
of the desert dwell the Acridophagi,^ men who are
smaller than the rest, lean of body, and exceeding
dark. For among them in the spring season strong
west and south-west winds drive out of the desert a
multitude beyond telling of locusts, of great and
unusual size and with wings of an ugly, dirty colour.
^ Locust-eaters.
* mjvt^ovowv Rhodomann : amnSpovaMv MSS and all editors.
161
DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 €K Tovrov SaipiXels rpo(f>a.s eyovoLv aTravra tov
^iov, ISiOTpoTTcos avTcov TTOiov/jievoL TTjv d-qpav.
napa yap rt]v -^ajpav avrcov enl ttoAAou? araStoy?
TraprjKei )(apdhpa ^ddos e)(ovGa Kal TrXdrog a^id-
Xoyov ravTTjv TrX-qpovaiv dypiag vXr]£, ovarjs
d(f)66vov Kara r^v y^ujpav CTret^' orav Ta)v TTpoeiprj-
piivcov dvepojv Trveovrcjv Trpoa^ep-qrai. rd vecf)!] rdJv
aKpiScDV, KaraStfAd/Ltevoi Trdvra tov rrjs ;^apaSpas"
3 roTTOv TTVpovai tov iv avrfj ^(oprov. iy€Lpop.€vov Be
Karrvov ttoXXov Kal Sptp.€os, at fiev aKpiSes v-nep-
TTeropevai ttjv y(^apdhpav, Kai Std ttjv tov Karrvov
BpifMVTTjTa TTviyopievai, KaTaTTLTTTOvaiv em rqv
yijv oXiyov SiaTreraCT^etcrat tottov, ttjs Se tovtojv
dncoXeLas eiri TrXeiovas rjpepag yLVO/Jiemjg pieydXoi
hiavlaTavTai crcopoL' Kal ttjs ;(t(jpa? ixovcrrjg
aXjJLVpiha ttoXXtjv, TrdvTeg Trpoa^lpova TavTTjV
ddpoois Tolg aojpoLS, Kal SiaT-q^avres otVetcos'
TTOLOvai Tiqv T€ yevaiv 7Tp6a(f>opov Kai tov
4 aTToOrjuavpLaiJiov d(jr]7TTOv Kai ^ rroXv^pdvLov. rj jiev
ovv hiaTpo(j)rj tovtols 7Tapa)(P'^p-o. Kai tov voTepov
)(^p6vov drro tovtojv tojv l^a)a>v VTrap^ei' ovTe yap
KTr)voTpo(^ovai.v ovt€ daXdTTTjs iyyvs oLKOvaiv
ovT€ dXXr]s eiTLKovpias ovSefiids Tvyxdvovai- toXs
8e acofiaaLV dvTeg kov4>ol Kal toIs ttoolv o^vTaToi
^payy^LOL TravTcXcos elaiv, a»? dv tojv TToXv^povio)-
TdTOJV Trap* avTols ovx inrep^aXXovTCov eTi] tct-
TapdKOVTa.
5 To 8e TOV ^Lov TeXos ov jjlovov rrapdSo^ov
expvaiv, dXXd Kal ttovtcov aKX-qpoTaTOV. OTav yap
TrXT]ULdl,ri TO yrjpas, ip.(f}VOVTaL tols aa)p.aai
1 aar)TTTov Koi omitted by D, Vogel ; retained by Bekker,
Dindorf.
162
BOOK III. 29. 2-5
From these locusts they have food in abundance all
their life long, catching them in a manner pecuhar
to themselves. For along the border of their land
over many stades there extends a ravine of consider-
able depth and width ; this they fill Avith wood from
the forests, which is found in plenty in their land;
and then, when the winds blow which we have
mentioned and the clouds of the locusts approach,
they divide among themselves the whole extent of
the ravine and set fire to the brush in it. And since a
great volume of pungent smoke rises, the locusts,
as they fly over the ravine, are choked by the pun-
gency of the smoke and fall to the ground after they
have flown through it only a short space, and as the
destruction of them continues over several days,
great heaps of them are raised up ; moreover, since
the land contains a great amount of brine, all the
people bring this to the heaps, after they have been
gathered together, soak them to an appropriate
degree with the brine and thus both give the locusts
a palatable taste and make their storage free from rot
and lasting for a long time.^ Accordingly, the food
of this people, at the moment and thereafter, consists
of these animals ; for they possess no herds nor do
they live near the sea nor do they have at hand
any other resources ; and light in body and very
swift of foot as they are, they are also altogether
short-lived, the oldest among them not exceeding
forty years of age.
As for the manner in which they end their lives,
not only is it astounding but extremely pitiful.
For when old age draws near there breed in their
^ A much shorter account of the same custom Ib in Strabo
(16.4. 12).
163
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTTepojToi (f)9€Lpes ov ixovov SidcjiOpoL Tols etSecriv,
dAAo. Kal rat? iSeai? dypioi Kal TravreXcog elSexd^lg.
6 ap^dpLCVOV he TO kukov drro Trjs yaarpos Kal tov
dwpaKos einvip.eTai Trdvra tov oyKov ev dXiyca
Xpovcp. 6 8e Trdaxcov to piev TvpcoTOv cu? vtto
iffdopas TLVos ipe9il,6pi€vos pL&Tpio}? oBa^dadai
^tAoTijLierrai, piepLyp,€in]v €)(ovtos tov ndOovg
dXyr]S6ai ttjv )(apdv p,eTd 8e rayra det pidXXou
Tcov eyyevopilvuiv drjpicov et? rqv e7n<f)aveLav
eKTnTTTOVTOJV CrVV€KX€tTaL TtXtJOoS IxOJpOS XeTTTOV,
TTjv 8pipLVTr]Ta TTavTeXdJs e-)(OVTO'S dvunopLovrjTOV,
7 SioTTep 6 (yvve-)(opi€vos to) rrddeL ^taiOTepov dp.vTTei
ToXg ovv^L, OTevaypovs pieydXovs Trpo'Cipievos.
Kara 8e rd? tcDv ^eipaJv i^eXKcoaeis toctovto
TrXrjdog eKTriiTTei tojv ipireTajv coCTre pnqhev dvveiv
Tovs drroXeyovTa? , (Ls dv dXXajv err dAAot? eK<f)aivo-
pjivoiv Kaddnep ck tivos dyyeiov TToAAap^d)? KaTa-
TeTpr]p.€vov. ovToi p.€V ovv els ToiavT7]v hidXvaLV
tov awparos KaTaaTp€<f)ovai tov ^lov Sucrrup^ajs",
eire 8td ttjv tStdrT^ra ttJs" Tpo(f)7Jg €lt€ Sid tov dipa
TOiavT7]s TvyxdvovTes TreptTreretas'.
30. To; 8e eOveL tovto) X'^P'^ TraprjKei /card to
piiyedos TToXXrj Kal /card rd? ttjs vopbrjg voLKiXias
dyadrj- eprjpos 8' e'crrt Kal vavTeXcog d^aro?, ovk
aTr' dpx'^9 aTravit,ovaa tov yevovg tcov dvd poj-najv ,
dXX iv TOLS VGTepov xP^vois €K Tivos eTTopL^pias
aKaipov ttXtjOos (f^aXayyicov Kal OKopTrioiv i^evey-
2 Kaaa. tooovto yap loTopovaiv eVtTToAdcrai tcDv
164
BOOK III. 29. 5-30. 2
bodies winged lice, which not only have an unusual
form but are also savage and altogether loathsome
in aspect. The affliction begins on the belly and the
breast and in a short time spreads over the whole
body. And the person so affected is at first irritated
by a kind of itching and insists on scratching himself
a bit, the disease at this point offering a satisfaction
combined with pain ; but after this stage the animals,
which have been continuously engendered more
and more in the body, break out to the surface and
there is a heavy discharge of a thin humour, the sting
of which is quite unbearable. Consequently the
man who is in the grip of the disease lacerates him-
self with his nails the more violently, groaning and
moaning deeply. And as his hands tear at his body,
such a multitude of the vermin pours forth that those
who try to pick them off accomplish nothing, since
they issue forth one after another, as from a kind of
vessel that is pierced throughout with holes. And
so these wretches end their lives in a dissolution of
the body after this manner, a miserable fate, meeting
with such a sudden reversal of fortune either by reason
of the peculiar character of their food or because of
the climate.
30. Along the borders of this people there stretches
a country great in size and rich in its varied pasturage ;
but it is without inhabitants and altogether impossible
for man to enter ; not that it has from the first
never known the race of men, but in later times, as a
result of an unseasonable abundance of rain, it brought
forth a multitude of venomous spiders and scorpions.
For, as historians relate,^ so great a multitude of these
^ Cp. Strabo 16. 4. 12; Aelian, History of Animals, 17. 40;
Pliny 8. 29.
165
DIODORUS OF SICILY
elprj^lvoiv drjpicDV TrXrjdos coore rovs KaroiKovv-
ras dvOpcoTTOVs to pikv irpayTov Travhr]fxel Kreiveiv ^
TO Tjj <f>va€L TToXefiLOV, dTTepLyevqTOV 8e tou
ttXt^Oovs ^ OVTOS Kai t(Jl>v SrjyfxaTajv o^els Tols
TrX'qyelat, tous BavaTovs eTncjiepovTaiV, aTToyvovTas
TTjv TTaTpiov yrjv re /cat hiaiTov ^vyeZv ck tcov tottojv.
ov XP^ S^ 6aviJLdC,€Lv ovSe aTnaTelv rois" Xeyofxevois,
TToAAo. TOVTiov TTapaSo^OTepa Kara Trdaav t7]v
OLKOvfjLevTjP yeyovoTa Sid ttjs dXrjdou^ laTopias
3 TTapeiXriffiOTas . TrepL yap t7]v 'iTaXtav [jlvcov TrXrjdos
dpovpatcov iyyeinnrjdeu tols TreSiois i^e^aXe TLvas
€K TTJs TTaTpiov ;)^c6pas', /cara Se ttjv MrjStav eTrnro-
XdcravTCs dpivdrjTOt, OTpovdol /cat Ta ampfiaTa
Tcbv dvOpcoTTCov d(^avil^ovTes rjvdyKacrav ei? eTepo-
yevels tottov? fieTaaTrjpai, Toug Se KaXovjxevovs
AvTapidTas pdTpaxoi Trfv dpx^yovov avaTaaiv iv
Tols ve^eai Xafx^dvovTes /cat TriTTTOVTcg dvTL ttj?
avvrjdov? j/re/cctSo? i^tdcravTO rd? iraTptSag /cara-
XtTTeLV /cat KaTa(f>vy€LV et? tovtov tov tottov ev a>
4 vvv KadihpvvTaL. /cat pL7]v tCs ovx loTopiqaev
*H/3a/cAet T(x)v VTTep t'/^s' a^at'acrta? ddXcov avvTeXe-
adevTcov eva KaTapidpiovixevov Kad 6v i^TJXaaev e/c
TTJS ljTVfl(f>aXlSoS XipLVT]? TO TtXtJOo? TCOV eTTLTToXa-
advTOiv opvidojv iv avTjj; dvdoTaTot. Se /card ttjv
Al^vtjv TToAetj TLves iyevovTO TrX'^dous XeovTcov
iireXBovTOs e/c Tr\s eprjp.ov.
TavTa fi€V ovv rjixlv elprjodco irpos tovs ain-
1 ndv M, omitted F, wavra other MSS, after Kreiveiv deleted
by Vogel.
* -nXT^dovs Hertlein : nddovs.
1 66
BOOK III. 30. 2-4
animals came to abound that, although at the outset
the human beings dwelling there united in killing
the natural enemy, yet, because the multitude of
them was not to be overcome and their bites brought
swift death to their victims, they renounced both
their ancestral land and mode of life and fled from
these regions. Nor is there any occasion to be
surprised at this statenient or to distrust it, since
we have learned through trustworthy history of
many things more astonishing than this which have
taken place throughout all the inhabited world.
In Italy, for instance, such a multitude of field-
mice was generated in the plains that they drove
certain people out of their native country ; in Media
birds, which came to abound beyond telling and
made away with the seeds sown by the inhabitants,
compelled them to remove into regions held by
another people ; and in the case of the Autariatae,^
as they are called, frogs were originally generated in
the clouds, and when they fell upon the people in place
of the customary rain, they forced them to leave their
native homes and to flee for safety to the place where
they now dwell. And who indeed has not read in
history , in connection with the Labours which Heracles
performed in order to win his immortality, the account
of the one Labour in the course of which he drove out
of the Stymphalian Lake the multitude of birds which
had come to abound in it ? Moreover, in Libya
certain cities have become depopulated because a
multitude of lions came out of the desert against
them.
Let these instances, then, suffice in reply to those
^ A people of lUyria; Justin (15. 2) also says that they
were driven out in this way.
167
DIODORUS OF SICILY
crrajs" Sta to TrapdSo^ov Trpog rag laropia? StaKrei-
{xevovs' ttolXiv S' em ra avve)(ij toIs Trpoeipry/xeVot?
fxera^rjaofxeda.
31. Ta? S' eCTp^arta? rail' rrpos [xecrrjix^pLav /JLepaJv
KaroiKovGLV diSpe^ vno fieu rajv 'KXX-qvcov koXov-
fxevoL Kura/xoAyot, Kara Se rrjv tcjv TTXriaLO)(a)p(x>v
^ap^dpajv SidXeKTOV "Ayptot. ovtol he TTcoywvas
fxev (f>epouai Tra/x/xeye^et?, kuvcjv Se rpi^'^vaiv
aypicov dyeXas rrpos ttjv tov ^iov y^peiav evderovg.
2 aTTO yap rcov Trpcorcov rpoTToJv tcov depivcbv p-^xpi-
fxeaov )(€Lfjia)vos 'IvSlkoi, jSoe? dj-ivOr^roL to ttXyjOos
€TTL(j>OLra)aiv avTOJv ttjv -^ajpav, dhiqXov rry? alrias
ovaiqs' ovo€Lg yap OLoev etc/ vtto L,cpa>v ttoAAojv /cat
aapKO(f)dya}v TToXejxoviievoi (ftevyovaiv, etre St
eVSetav TpO(l)rjg eKXeiirovTes tovs oiKeiovs tottovs
ei-re St d?C\.r]v TTepnreTeiav, rjv r] fxev irdvTa ra
7Tapd8o^a yewdjaa <J)Vgls KaTaoKeud^et, to Se t(Jjv
3 dvdpcuTTOjv yevog dSwarel tw vo) avviSelv. ov
fjLTjv dXXd TOV TrX-i'^dovs ov KaTiaxvovTes St' eavTcov
TTepiyeveaOai tovs Kvvas eVa^tacri, /cat juera
TOVTCOV TTOlOV^€VOl TrjV Ol^pOV TToXXd TTaVV TCOV
^cpcjv xeipovvTaL' Twv Se XrjcjyOevTcov a fiev rrpoa-
<f)aTa Kareadiovaiv, a Se etV aAa? avvridevTes
aTTodr^aavpi^ovai. ttoXXol Se /cat tcov dXXcov t,cpcov
Sia rrjg tcov kvvcov dA/CTj? Or^pevovTes airo Kpeo-
<f>ayias tov ^lov exovat.
4 To, jjiev ovv reAeurata yeVTy tcov rrpos pLecrripL-
^piav oIkovvtcov iv fjiop<l>als dvdpcoTTCDV rov ^iov
^ Milkers of bitches. ^ Savages.
^ Strabo (16. 4. 10) also says that the dogs hunt the cattle;
but Agatharchides (60) and Aelian [History of Animals, 16. 31)
1 68
BOOK III. 30. 4-31. 4
who adopt a sceptical attitude towards histories
because they recount what is astonishing ; and now
we shall in turn pass on to what follows the subjects
we have been treating.
31. The borders of the parts to the south are
inhabited by men whom the Greeks call " Cyna-
molgi," ^ but who are known in the language of
the barbarians who live near them as Agrii.^ They
wear great beards and maintain packs of savage dogs
which serve to meet the needs of their life. For from
the time of the beginning of the summer solstice
until mid-winter, Indian cattle, in a multitude beyond
telling, resort to their country, the reason for this
being uncertain ; for no man knows whether they
are in flight because they are being attacked by a
great number of carnivorous beasts, or because they
are leaving their own regions by reason of a lack of
food, or because of some other reversal of fortune
which Nature, that engenders all astonishing things,
devises, but which the mind of the race of men
cannot comprehend. However, since they have not
the strength of themselves to get the better of the
multitude of the cattle, they let the dogs loose on
them, and hunting them by means of the dogs they
overcome a very great number of the animals ;
and as for the beasts which they have taken, some of
them they eat while fresh and some they pack doAvn
with salt and store up. Many also of the other
animals they hunt, thanks to the courage of their dogs,
and so maintain themselves by the eating of flesh. ^
Now the most distant tribes of those peoples who
live to the south have indeed the forms of men but
add that this people drink the milk of bitches when they have
no meat.
169
DIODORUS OF SICILY
€;\;ei dr^ptcohrj' AeiTrerat Se hLeXdelv VTrep bvo
idvwv, Tcov re AidioTrajv /cat t<x)v TpioyoSvTcov.
dXXa Trepl p,€v AWlottcov dvaye'ypd<l)afx€v iv aAAot?,
7T€pL be TCOV T pci}yohvra)v vvv ipovpiev.
32. Ot roivvv T pwyohvrai Trpoaayopevovrai fiev
VTTO rdJv 'EAAt^vcdv' No/uaSe?, ^tov 8' e)(ovTes dno
dpefifjidrajv vopLaSiKov Kara avarrip.ara. rvpawovv-
rat, Kal fMCTa, rcjbv reKvcov rd? yvvalKas e-)(ovai
KOLvd's Tr\r]V puds ttjs tou rvpdwov rov Se ravrri
TTXrjaidaavTa irpooTLpiov 6 Swdar-qs Trpdrrerai
2 T€Tayp,evov dpidfiov irpo^drajv. Kara 8e rov rcbv
irrjcTLCov Kaipov yivopievcov Trap avrois opi^pcov
pieydXoiV, d(f)* alpiaros Kal ydXaKros SLarp€<f)Ovrai,
fitayovres ravra Kal ^pa^vv ')(p6vov ei/j-qaavreg.
fierd Se ravra Sid rqv rcbv Kavpidrojv VTrep^oXrjV
rrjs vofjirjs ^r]paivop,€vrjs Kara(f)€vyovmv et? rovs
cAcoSei? roTTOvs, Kal Trepl rrjs rrjs ^^iLpas vofirjg Trpog
3 aAAr^AoDS" SLap,dxovraL. rcov Se ^ooKTjpidrajv rd
TTpea^vrepa Kal voaelv dp)(op.eva KaravaXlaKovres
diTO rovrcov rov drravra -^^povov S tar p€(f)Ovr ai.
hionep rrjv rdv yovioiv Trpoa-qyoptav dvdpcoTTOjv
fiev ovSevl irpoadTrrovaL, ravpcp Se /cat ^ot /cat TraAtv
Kpio) /cat TTpo^dru)' rovrcov Se rovs p-ev varepas,
rds Se pLTjrepas KaXovai Std ro TTopil,€udaL rds
€(f)T]p.€povs rpo<l>ds del rrapd rovrcov, dAAd /xi) Trapd
rcjov yeyevvTjKoroJv. TTorat 8 ot pi,ev tSttDrat
arvyxpdJvrat TToXiovpcov ^peyp-art,, rols Se Swdaraig
dTTO rLvos dvdovs KaraaKevdt,er at rrop^a TrapairXij-
aiov rd) ■)(eipiora) nap" rjp,lv yXevKei. rat? Se
1 Much of what follows is in Strabo (16. 4. 17). The spelling
of Trogodytes, without the A, is supported by D, the oldest
170
BOOK III. 31. 4-32. 3
their life is that of the beasts ; however, it remains
for us to discuss two peoples, the Ethiopians and the
Trogodytes. But about the Ethiopians we have
WTitten in other connections, and so we shall now
speak of the Trogodytes.
32. The Trogodytes,^ we may state, are called
Nomads by the Greeks, and living as they do a
nomadic life off their flocks, each group of them has its
tyrant, and their women, like their children, they hold
in common, with the single exception of the ^vife of
the tyrant ; but if any man goes in to this woman the
ruler exacts of him a fine of a specified number of
sheep. At the time of the etesian winds, when there
are heavy rains in their country, they live off blood
and milk which they mix together and seethe for a
short while. But after this season the pasturage is
withered by the excessive heat, and they retreat
into the marshy places and fight with each other for
the pasturage of the land. They eat the older
animals of their flocks and such as are growing sick
and maintain themselves on them at all times.
Consequently they give the name of parents to no
human being, but rather to a bull and a cow, and
also to a ram and a sheep ; these they call their
fathers or their mothers, by reason of the fact that
they ever secure their daily food from them, and not
from those who had begotten them. And as a drink
the common people make use of juice from the
plant Christ's -thorn, but for the rulers there is
prepared from a certain flower a beverage like the
vilest of our sweet new wines. Following after their
MS., and Vogel (I. Ixxii) regrets that he did not adopt it. On
further grounds for this spelling cp. Kallenberg, Textkritik u.
Sprachgebrauch Diodors, I. 1.
171
DIODORUS OF SICILY
aye'Aai? tojv dpefifxaTCOV iiraKoXovdovvres aXXrjv
i^ aXXrjg )(copav €Tn7Top€vovTaL, (jyevyovrcs to
4 TOL? avToZs TOTTOLS eVStaTptjSetv. /cat yvfivol jxev
elat TrdvTes to. awfiara TrXrjv rcov Ict^^lcov, a hepjxaai
GKeTTa^ovaf ra S' atSota Trdvres ol Tpcoyohvrai
TTapaTrXTjaLCDg rots KlyvTrrioLS Tre pLrepLvovrai TrXrjV
T<x)v diTO Tov ov/jLTTrcofMaTOS 6vo[ia^ofJLevcov koXo-
fitxiv OVTOL yap p,6voL rrjv ivros rcov areviov
veiJi6[ji.evoL xojpav e/c vrjTriov ^vpolg aTToreixvovraL
irdv TO Tols dXXoLg jxepos Trepirojjirjs rvy^dvov.
33. 'O-rrXiajjiov 8' e)(OvaL rdjv Tpcoyohurcjv ol
[xev 6vofxat,6[X€voL Meya^apoi KVKXorepels (hfio-
^otvas daTTiSag /cat poTvaXov rvXovg e^ov Trepiaihiq-
povs, ol he d'AAot ro^a /cat Aoy^^a?. ra^at 8e
2 TTavTcAaJS" e^TjAAayjixeVat ^ e7rt;(a»pia^oucrf rot? yap
ra)v TTaXiovpcov Xvyoig Srycrai'Te? rdyv rereAeu-
nqKorcov rd Gcofxara Trpoadirrovai rov av-)(^eva roZg
(jKeXeaL, Qevres Se rov veKpov eTTLrivog dvaar'qiJiaros
^dXXovai Xidois -^eLpoTrXrjdeaL yeXdyvreg, p-^XP''
dv orov TOt? XlOols TrepLxcoaavres dTTOKpvifjojaL rd
acop,ara' rd Se reXevralov alyos Kepas iTTiOevres
dTToXvovrai, crvpLTrddeiav ov§ep.Lav Xapi^dvovres .
3 7ToX€p.ouaL Se 77^0? aAAT^Aoyj ov^ o/xotcos" rot?
"EAAr^crtv VTTep yrjs ^ rj rivojv dXXcjv iyKXr]-
fxdrcov, aAA' VTrep rrjs eTnyLVO p.ev7]s dei vop-ijg.
iv Se rat? (jyiXoveiKLai's ro p.ev rrpdjrov aAAT^Aou?
TOt? XiOoL-s ^dXXovai, p.expi dv rtves rpajddJOL, /cat
TO XoLTTov eirl rov rcov ro^cov dydjva Karavrojai.
TToAAot 8e iv a/capet xpovcp reXevrdjaiv, co? dv ev-
^ So Wesseling: raiais • ■ i^-qWayfievais.
* yijs Dindorf : opyijs-
172
BOOK III. 32. 3-33. 3
herds and flocks they move about from one land to
another, avoiding any stay in the same regions.
And they are all naked as to their bodies except
for the loins, which they cover with skins ; moreover,
all the Trogodytes are circumcised like the Egyptians
with the exception of those who, because of what they
have experienced, are called " colobi " ^ ; for these
alone of all who live inside the Straits ^ have in infancy
all that part cut completely off with the razor which
among other peoples merely suffers circumcision.
33. As for the arms of the Trocpodvtes, those who
bear the name of Megabari have round shields
covered with raw ox-hide and a club with iron knobs,
but the rest of them have bows and arrows and
lances. Again, the burials practised by them differ
entirely from all others ; for after binding the bodies
of the dead with \vlthes of Christ 's-thorn they tie
the neck to the legs, and then placing the corpse
upon a mound they cast at it stones as large as can
be held in the hand, making merry the while, until
they have built up a heap of stones and have hidden
the bodies from sight ; and finally they set up a
goat's horn on the heap and separate, having shown
no fellow-feeling for the dead. And they fight %vith
one another, not, as the Greeks do, for the possession
of land or because of some alleged misdeeds, but
for the pasturage as it comes up at one time and
another. In their quarrels they at first hurl stones
at each other, until some are wounded, and the rest
of the time they resort to the struggle with bows and
arrows. And it is but a moment before many are
^ The word means "mutilated" (persons vvliose sexual
organs have been removed).
* At the entrance into the Red Sea.
173
DIODORUS OF SICILY
aroxo)? /Ltev ^aXXovrcov Sia rr^v iv rovrotg adXrjaiv,
Tov 8e OKOTTov e)(6vTCx)v yvfjivov rcbv aKe-naarnqpiuiv
4 otrXiov. SiaXvovGL Se ttjv jjidxT^v rajv yvvaLKojv
at Trpecr^vrepaL, Trpo^aXXofievai ^ fxev et? to fieaov,
ivrpoTTT]^ 8e Tvy^dvovaat,' voixiyiov yap icrrLV
avTOLS ravras Kara /xrjSeVa rcov rpoTTOJV rvTrretv,
odev d'/xa Ta> (f)av'rjvaL Travovrai tov ro^eveiv.
5 ol Be 8td TO yrjpas ov hvvdfievoi. ralg TToipivais
OLKoXovdelv ^oog ovpa tov av-)(^eva TrepiCTc^tyfavres'
eavTcov (XTToXvovTai, tov ^rjv Trpodvp-ajs' tov 8e tov
ddvaTOV dva^aXXojxevov ttjv e^ovaiav 6 ^ovXo-
lievos epj^et tov Seajxov cos err* evvoia Trepidelvai /cat
6 fJ.€Td vovdeT-^creojs OTeprjcrac tov t,rjv. ofiOLCDS 8e
vop-ip-ov avTotg eoTi tovs Trr^pojOevTas t] voaoig
SvaidTOis ovv€xofi€vovs i^dyeiv e/c tou t,fjv
fieyiOTOV yap tu>v KaKcov rjyovvTai to (l)LXoipv)(elv
TOV /jLTjSev d^uDV Tou ^rjv TTpaTTCLV hvvdixevov. 8td
Kal TrdvTas " ISeXv eoTi Tovg TpcoyoBvras apTLOvs
fxev Tols acoixaaiv, la^vovTas 8' eVt Tat? -qXtKLaig,
d)S oiv fxrjhevos VTrep^dXXovTog to. i^TjKOVTa eTrj.
7 Kat 7T€pl [xev tcjv T pojyohvToyv LKavws elp-^Kafxev
et 8e Tt? Tcov dvayLvcocTKOVTCov Std toi^ ^eviafiov Kat
TO TTapdSo^ov Tcbv dvayeypap-jxevcov ^lcov dinaTriaeL
Tats loTopiaLs, dels Trpo Ti)s hiavoias Trap* dXXrjXa
TOV T€ TTcpl TTJV IjKvdtav depa Kat, tov Trepi ttjv
T pojyohvTLKiqv , /cat Tas eKaTepcov Stacpopas l8cov,
ovK aTnaTiqaei toIs LaToprjpievois.
34. Too-ai;TT7 yap TrapaXXayq tcov -nap rjfJLLV
depcov TTpos TOVS t(yTop7]fievovs cooTe Tr]v /caTa
^ So the MSS. and Bekker ; Dindorf and Vogel read -npo-
oAAo^evat ("leaping in front of").
* fxkv after jravras deleted by Dindorf.
174
BOOK III. 33. 3-34. I
deadj since they are accurate shooters by reason of
their practice in archery and the object at which they
are aiming is bare of protective armour. The fighting
is terminated by the older women, who rush into the
fray and offer themselves as a protection to the
fighters, and are the object of respect; for it is a
custom with these people that they shall in no wise
strike one of these women, and so at their appearance
they cease shooting. Those who can no longer
accompany the flocks by reason of old age bind the
tail of an ox about their own necks and so put an
end to their lives of their own free will ; and if a
man postpones his death, anyone who wishes has the
authority to fasten the noose about his neck, as an
act of good-will, and, after admonishing the man,
to take his life. Likewise it is a custom of theirs to
remove from life those who have become maimed or
are in the grip of incurable diseases ; for they con-
sider it to be the greatest disgrace for a man to cling
to life when he is unable to accomplish anything
worth living for. Consequently, a man can see
every Trogodyte sound in body and of vigorous age,
since no one of them lives beyond sixty years.
But we have said enough about the Trogodytes ;
and if anyone of our readers shall distrust our histories
because of what is strange and astonishing in the
different manners of life which we have described,
when he has considered and compared the climate
of Scythia and that of the Trogodyte country and
has observed the differences between them, he will
not distrust what has been here related.
34. So great, for instance, is the contrast between
our climate and the climates which we have described
that the difference, when considered in detail,
175
DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 fiepog BLa(f>opav amaTov elvai. ottov jikv yap 8ia
Tr]v vnep^oXrjv tou iJjuxovs TTrjyvvvraL jxev ol
jxeyLaroL TTorapioi, areyovros rov KpvardXXov
Sia^daeLg arparoTTeScov /cat dpt,a^a)v Karayofjiojv
icfioSovs, TTrjyvvraL Se o otro? /cat ra. Xoltto. tcvv
^vp.a)v (Zcrre ixay^aipais aTTorefjLveaOai, Kat rd
TOVTCov Oavfiaotcorepa, rd jxev dKpojrrjpia tCjv
dvdpwTTcov TTJs iadiJTOS 7TaparpiPovar]g Trepippel,
rd he o/x/xara dpuavpovrat, rd 8e TTvp dXetopdv ov
TTOtet, /cat )(aXKoX fiev avSpiavres priyvvvrai, /card
Se Tildas' Katpovs Std rr)v TTVKVorrjra rdJv ve^cav'
ovr€ darpaTTrjv ovre ^povrrjv yiveaOai TrepL rovs
roTTOvs (f)aai- ttoAAo, Se /cat d'AAa rovriov irapaho-
^orepa avvreXeirai, rol? fxkv dyvoovoLv aTnara,
3 rols Se TTelpav elXrj(^6(Jiv awTTOfjiovr^ra. Trepl
he rds icr^^arids rrjs AlyvTrrov Kat T pcoyohvrtK-fjs
hid rrjv VTTep^oX-qv rrjs d^^ tjXlov Beppiaaias /card
rdv rrjs pearjp^piag Katpdv ovhe crvvopdv dXXi'jXovs
ol TTapearcores hvvavrai Std rrjv Traxvrrjra rrjs TrepL
rdv depa TTVKvojaecos, x^P'-^ ^^ VTToheaews Trdvres
dhvvaroucTL ^ahlt,eLV, cos dv rols avvrrohr^roLS vapa-
4 ;^p7y/xa ^XvKrihcov yivopevcov. /card Se rd TTorov,
edv per) rrjV evheiav erotpcos a^aiprjrai, raxecos
reXeurdJaiv, d>s dv rrjs OeppLaatas rrjv raJv vypcov ev
rep aojpLari (f>vaLV o^ecos dvaXtaKOvarjs . rrpds he
rovroLs, drav rLS els ;!(aA/cow dyyelov ep^aXojv rd)v
ihcohlpuDV ohrjTrorovv ped^ vharos els rdv rjXiov 6fj,
5 raxecos ei/ferai p^copt? rrvpds /cat ^vXoiv. aXX opcos
ol KaroLKOVvres dp4>orepas rds elprjpevas x^P^^
ovx OLOv (fievyeiv ^ovXovrai rrjv vrrep^oXr^v rcov avp.-
^aivovrcov avrols KaKOjv, aAAd /cat rovvavriov
eKovaiojs npotevraL ^ rd l,rjv eveKa rov per] ^laaOrjvai
176
BOOK III. 34. 1-5
surpasses belief. For example, there are countries
where, because of the excessive cold, tlie greatest
rivers are frozen over, the ice sustaining the crossing
of armies and the passage of heavily laden wagons,
the ^vine and all other juices freeze so that they must
be cut with knives, yea, what is more wonderful still,
the extremities of human beings fall off when rubbed
by the clothing, their eyes are blinded, fire furnishes
no protection, even bronze statues are cracked open,
and at certain seasons, they say, the clouds are so
thick that in those regions there is neither lightning
nor thunder ; and many other things, more astonish-
ing than these, come to pass, which are unbelievable
to such as are ignorant of them, but cannot be en-
dured by any who have actually experienced them.
But on the farthermost bounds of Egypt and the
Trogodyte country, because of the excessive heat
from the sun at midday, men who are standing side
by side are unable even to see one another by reason
of the thickness of the air as it is condensed, and no
one can walk about without foot-gear, since bhsters
appear at once on any who go barefoot. And as for
drink, unless it is ready to hand to satisfy the need of
it, they speedily perish , since the heat s\viftly exhausts
the natural moistures in the body. Moreover,
whenever any man puts any food into a bronze vessel
along with water and sets it in the sun, it quickly boils
without fire or wood. Nevertheless, the inhabitants
of both the lands which we have mentioned,^ far
from desiring to escape from the excessive evils which
befall them, actually, on the contrary, give up their
lives of their o\vn accord simply to avoid being com-
1 i.e. Scythia and the Trogodyte land.
^ TTpotevrai. Dindorf : irpoaihxu BDG, npoievai. other MSS.
177
DIODORUS OF SICILY
6 Siatrrj? ere/aa? /cat ^lov TreipaOrjvai. ovrojs avro-
(f>V€S e;^et ti (f)LXTpov Trdaa avvrjdiqs )((jopa, Kal
TTepLyt-verai, rrjg eK tojv depojv KaKOTradeiag 6
7 "x^povo^ 6 rr)v €k vrjTTiov TrapaXa^cjv rjXLKLav. rag
Se rrjXiKavrag err aiJi<j)6T€pa hia^opas ov ttoXv
Stopi^et roTTOv StdaTr]iJLa. oltto yap Trjg MaicuTtSo?
XifivT]?, fj TTpoaoLKOvai Tives tojv ^kvOcov iv Trayei
/cat ifjux^anv vrrep^aXXovaL KadiSpvpievoi, ttoXXol
Tcov 7tXolI,oijL€vcov ovpioSpojjLovaaLs vaval (jyoprLaiv
et? jxev Pohov Se/caratot KaraTTeirXevKaaiv , i^ -^s
els ^AXe^di'SpeLav rerapraloi Karavrcoaiv, e/c he
Tavrrjs Kara, rov NetAov TrXeovres ttoXXol SeKaraioi
KaT'qvTT^Kaaiv els AlOioTriav, oiare cltto tcov /care-
i/jvyfJLev(vv jxepoJv rrjs OLKOVfievrjs eTrl rd depfxoraTa
p-eprj fjir] TrXeov e'lKoat Kal rerrdpcov r]p.epibv
etvai TOP ttXovv rots Kara to avve)(es KOjjLt^ofjievois.
8 Sioirep TTJs 8ta(^opas' Trjs tcov depcDV ev oXlycp
StaCTTT^ju.art jxeydX-qs ovcrrjs ovSev rrapdho^ov /cat Trjv
hiaiTav /cat tovs ^iovs, ert he Ta CTdj/xara ttoXv
hiaXXaTTetv tcov 77ap' rjpiZv.
35. 'Evret he tcov edvcov /cat ^Icov Ta Ke^dXaia
TCOV hoKOvvTcov elvai Tvapaho^cov hLeX7]Xv9a[xev, Trepi
TCOV ^ drjpLcov TCOV /caret Tas inroKeLfxevas x^P^^
2 €v fiepei hU^Lp-ev. eWt ydp l,cpov o /caAetrat p.ev
dno Tov avp^^e^r^KOTOs pivoKepcos, dXKrj he Kai
^L(x TTapanX'qcnov ov ^ eXecfiavTi, tco he vtfjei TaTretvo-
Tepov, Tr]v p,ev hopdv laxvpoTdTrjV e^^L, ttjv he
Xpoav TTV^oeLhij. eTrl 8' aKpcov tcov piVKTijpojv
1 ovTwv after riov deleted by Eichstadt.
2 ov added by Dindorf.
^ i.e. aa to severe cold and severe heat.
178
BOOK III. 34. 5-35- 2
pelled to make trial of a different fare and manner of
life. Thus it is that every country to which a man
has grown accustomed holds a kind of spell of its own
over him, and the length of time which he has spent
there from infancy overcomes the hardship which he
suffers from its climate. And yet countries so differ-
ent in both ways ^ are separated by no great interval
of space. For from Lake Maeotis,^ near which
certain Scythians dwell, living in the midst of frost
and excessive cold, many sailors of merchant vessels,
running before a favourable wind, have made
Rhodes in ten days, from which they have reached
Alexandria in four, and from that city many men,
sailing by way of the Nile,^ have reached Ethiopia
in ten, so that from the cold parts of the inhabited
world to its warmest parts the sailing time is not
more than twenty-four days, if the journey is made
without a break. Consequently, the difference in
climates in a slight interval being so great, it is
nothing surprising that both the fare and the manners
of life as well as the bodies of the inhabitants should
be very different from such as prevail among us.
35. And now that we have discussed the principal
facts concerning the nations and the manners of
life which men consider astonishing, we shall speak
in turn of the wild animals of the countries which we
are considering. There is an animal, for instance,
which is called, from its characteristic, rhinoceros * ;
in courage and strength it is similar to the elephant
but not so high, and it has the toughest hide known
and a colour like box-wood.^ At the tip of its nostrils
" The Sea of Azof.
* i.e. instead of by the Red Sea.
* Nose-horn. * i.e. pale yellow.
179
DIODORUS OF SICILY
<f>€p€L Kepag ro) tvtto) Gifxov, rfj Se arepeo-
3 TTjTt aiS-qpo) 7Tap€pi(f)€p€g. rovro Trepl ttjs
vofxrjs OL€L 8La(f>ep6[xevov e\l(f)avTi ro /xev Kepag
TTpos rtva ra>v TrerpaJv Orjyei,, avjJiTTeaov 8' €is
fidxrjv TCp TTpoetp-qixevo) 6-qpicp Kai VTTobvvov vtto
rrjv KoiMav avappiqrrei rip Kepari KaOdirep ^t^ei
Trjv adpKa. TCp Se tolovtco rponcp rrjs fidx^^S
Xpcofjievov e^aipa TTOieX rd drjpta /cai ttoAAo. 8ta-
(j)deip€L. orav 8e o iXe(f)ag ^^acra? rrjv vtto rrjv
KOiXiav vnoSvatv rfj Trpo^oaKiSi. TrpoKaraXd^-qrat.
Tov pivoKepcov, TTepLyLverai pahicos tvtttcov tols
oSovaL Kai rfj jSio. ttX4ov La-)(y<x}v.
4 At 8e (T(f>Lyye'S ywovrai pukv rrepL re rrjv Tpcoyo-
BvrLKTjv Kai Tr]v AidiOTrlau, raZs Se jjLopcfials
vTTdp)(ovoiv ovK dvopocot rat? ypa(f)op.evaLg, povov
8e Ttti? haavrrjai hiaXXdrrovaL, ra? 8e ijjvxds
r]p,€povg exovcrai Kai Travovpyovg eVt rrXeov /cat
8t8aCT/<:aAtat' pLedoSiKiqv emSe-^ovTaL.
5 Ot 8' 6vop.at,6p.evoL KvvoK€(f>aXoi rot? pkv acop-aaiv
dvdpojTTOLS hvaeiheai 7Tapep(f)ep€Lg etcrt, rat? 8e
(f)OJvais pLvypovs dvdpojTnvovs TrpotevTaL. aypico-
rara 8e ravra rd ^4"^ '^*^'' '^(^^t^Xois driddaevTa
Kadearcora rrjv ajTO tojv 6(f)pva)V Trpoaoifjiv avarr]-
poripav €)(€L. rat? 8e B-qXeLats L^LcoraTOV avpc^aLvei
TO rrjv pi-qrpav cktos tov craj/xaros" (jiepetv Ttdvra
TOV -^povov.
6 *0 8e Xeyopievos ktjttos (hvopLaarai pcev airo ttjs
^ i.e. bent backwards. Diodorus uses a term familiar to
the Greeks but not used of a back-pointing horn.
l8o
BOOK III. 35. 2-6
it carries a horn which may be described as snub ^
and in hardness is Hke iron. Since it is ever contest-
ing with the elephant about pasturage it sharpens its
horn on stones, and when it opens the fight with
this animal it slips under his belly and rips open the
flesh with its horn as with a sword. By adopting
this kind of fighting it drains the blood of the beasts
and kills many of them. But if the elephant has
avoided the attempt of the rhinoceros to get under
his belly and has seized it beforehand with his trunk,
he easily overcomes it by goring it with his tusks and
making use of his superior strength.
These are also sphinxes ^ in both the Trogodyte
country and Ethiopia, and in shape they are not
unlike those depicted in art save that they are
more shaggy of hair, and since they have dispositions
that are gentle and rather inclined towards cunning
they yield also to systematic training.
The animals which bear the name cynocephali ' are
in body like misshapen men, and they make a sound
like the whimpering of human beings. These
animals are very wild and quite untamable, and
their eyebrows give them a rather surly expression.
A most peculiar characteristic of the female is that it
carries the womb on the outside of its body during
its entire existence.
The animal called the cepus * has received its
* The large baboon {Papio sphinx).
' Dog-heads, the sacred dog-faced baboon {Papio Kama-
dry as).
* A long-tailed monkey. The more common form of the
word was " cebus," but the explanation of the name shows
that Diodorus used the spelling of the text {kcpos, "garden,"
was used metaphorically in the sense of " pleasure " or
" grace ").
181
DIODORUS OF SICILY
vepl Tov oyKov oXov cbpaLas Kai TTpoarjvovs i^At/cias",
TO 8e TTpoawTTOv excov ofxoiov Xeovrt to Xoirrov
awfia <f)€p€t TTdvdrjpi rrapaTrX-qmov , ttXtjv tov
fjLeyedovs, o Trapiaovrai Sop/caSt.
7 Y{dvr(x)v 8e rcjv elpr) [jievcov ^a>ajv 6 aapKO^ayo'S Tav-
pos dypnoTarog ecrri Kai navTeXcbs 8vaKaTa[J.a.xy]TOS .
TO) fxkv yap oyKcp tovto jxeL^ov cVti rcov rjixepcov
ravpwv, o^VTTjTi Se ttoScov ov XecTTOfievov Ittttov,
Tip OTopuaTi 8e SieaTTjKog o.^pi' tiov coTOiv} to Se
XP<-OfXa TTVppOV €X€L Kad' V7T€p^oX-qV, Kai TO. fJi€V
6[jip.aTa yXavKorepa XeovTO? Kai to.? vvKTas
doTpaTTTOVTa, Ta 8e KepaTa <j)vaeojs IhiOTpoTTOv
KOLVcovovvTa' TOV fxkv yap dXXov jj^/jop'Oi/ avTO.
KLvel TTapa7TXr](TLco5 toIs <hai, KaTa Se to,? jidxas
LOTTjaiv dpapoTOJS- ttjv 8e tt]s Tpixos inaywyrjv
8 e;!^ei toT? dXXois tipois ivavriav. ean Sk to
Qrjpiov dXKrj Te Kai Svvdfxei, hid^opov, cos o.v
eTTiTidiiievov tols dXKiixcordrois tcov t,a)cov Kai
TTjv Tpo(f>riv €XOV €K TTJg Twv ;^ei/3a)0eVTCot' aapKO(f)a-
yias. hia^deipei 8e /cat Tct? TTOLfivas tiov iyx<JopLcov,
Kai KaTaTrXrjKTiKCtJs dycovL^eTat, Trpos oXa ovoTrj-
9 fxaTa Tcbv noLfxevcov Kai kuvcjv dyeXas. XdyeTai
8e Kai TO Sepfjia aTpcoTOV ex^i'V ttoXXcov yovv
i7n^€^Xr]p,€vojv Xa^elv VTroxeipiov p,r]heva KaTLOxv-
Kevai. TO o €LS opvyjxa ireaov -q ot aAAr]s aira-
TTjg ;^€ip6i)^ef v7t6 tov 9up.ov yiueTaL TT^piTrvLyes,
Kai TTJs iXevdeptag ovSa/Jicbs dXXaTreTai ttjv ev T<p
TidacreveaOai (fyiXavdpcoTnav. hiOTrep eiKOTOJS ot
TpcoyoSvTai tovto to drjptov KpaTLOTOV Kpivovaiv,
(OS av T-ffs 4>vaeoJS avTio heh(x)pr]p,ivrjs dXKrjv
^ ajTOJv (Agatharchides 76) Dindorf: ofmiroiv MSS.,
Bekker.
182
BOOK III. 25- 6-9
name from the beautiful and pleasing grace which
characterizes its entire body, and it has a head like
that of a lion, but the rest of its body is like that of
a panther, save in respect to its size, in which it
resembles a gazelle.
But of all the animals named the carnivorous bull
is the wildest and altogether the hardest to overcome.
For in bulk he is larger than the domestic bulls,
in s^viftness of foot he is not inferior to a horse, and
his mouth opens clear back to the ears. His colour
is a fiery red, his eyes are more piercing than those
of a lion and shine at night, and his horns enjoy a
distinctive property ; for at all other times he moves
them like his ears, but when fighting he holds them
rigid. The direction of growth of his hair is contrary
to that of all other animals. He is, again, a remark-
able beast in both boldness and strength, since he
attacks the boldest animals and finds his food in
devouring the flesh of his victims. He also destroys
the flocks of the inhabitants and engages in terrible
combats with whole bands of the shepherds and
packs of dogs. Rumour has it that their skin cannot
be pierced; at any rate, though many men have
tried to capture them, no man has ever brought one
under subjection. If he has fallen into a pit or been
captured by some other ruse he becomes choked
with rage, and in no case does he ever exchange his
freedom for the care which men would accord to him
in domestication. It is with reason, therefore, that
the Trogodytes hold this wild beast to be the strong-
est of all, since Nature has endowed it with the
183
VOL. II. O
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fiev Xeovros, Ittttov Se ra-)(^0'5, pcofirjv Be ravpov,
TTJg Se TTavTCDV KparLar7]s oihrjpov ^vaecos ov)(^
rjrra)p,€vov.
10 '0 Se Aeyojuei^o? Trap' Aldioijji KpoKorras ju.eju.iy-
p.evrjv jxev ex^'- ^^^i-^ kvvos /cat Xvkov, rrjv S'
aypLOTTira (jyo^epcorepav d/jicjiOTepojv, rots Se oSovai.
TTOVTCOV VTrepdyeL. Trdv yap oaruiv p-eyedos avvrpc-
^€1 paSlcos, Kal TO KaraTTodev Std Ti]s KoiXias
Trerret TrapaSo^cos. tovto Se to ^<x)ov tojv ifj€vha)s
TTapaho^oXoyovvTOJV laTopovvTe^ evioi p-ip-eladai ttjv
TCJV dvdpcoTTCov hidXeKTOv r]p.ds p-ev ov Treidovcnv.
36. "0<f)€cov Se ydvTj TravToSaTrd Kac toIs p-eye-
decriv CLTTLaTa decupeladaL (f>a(nv ol ttjv TrXrjaLov ttjs
iprjpLov /cat OrjpicoSovs /carot/cowres'. eKaTov yap
TTTixyyv TO p.rJKOs iopaKevaL Tires' aTTOcJ^atvopLevoi.
St/catco? civ ovx V(f) rjp.cijv p,6vov, dXXd /cat vtto
Tcov dXXoiV aTTavTiov ipevSoXoyelv V7ToXrj(f)9etr)aav
TTpoaTideaaL yap tco SiamaTOvpieva) ttoXXo) napa-
So^orepa, XeyovTCS otl Trjs x^R^? ouarjs TreStaSo?,
OTav Tci jueytCTra rail' drjpiajv TrepicrTTeLpadfj, iroieZ
rat? iyKVKXcodeLaatg evr' aAAT^Aat? CTTretpats" dvaaTT]-
juara TToppcodev (fiaivopieva X6(f)Cp vapaTrXriaia.
2 Tcp p.ev ovv pLeyedei tcov prjOevTCov drjpLOJV ovk
dv TLS paStoi? avyKaTdOoLTO- Trept Se tcov p^eyiOTCov
drjpLcov ^ TCOV els oipiv eX'qXvdoTCov /cat Kopna-
devTCov ev Ticrtv dyyet'ot? evdeTOLs etj ttjv AAe^-
dvSpeiav iroLiqcropieda ttjv dvaypajirjv, TrpoaTiOevTes
/cat T'^s' " 9y]pas ttjv /card pcepos olKovopuiav.
^ d-qpiuov o<j)€Ci}v MSS. : 6(f>ewv deleted by Vogel, B-qpiiov
deleted by Eichstadt, Dindorf, Bekker.
^ Kara fxipos after ttjs deleted by Dindorf.
^ Probably a kind of hyena.
184
BOOK III. 35. 9-36. 2
prowess of a lion, the speed of a horse, and the might
of a bull, and since it is not subdued by the native
strength of iron which is the greatest known.
The animal which the Ethiopians call the crocottas ^
has a nature which is a mixture of that of a dog and
that of a wolf, but in ferocity it is more to be feared
than either of them, and with respect to its teeth it
surpasses all animals ; for every bone, no matter how
huge in size, it easily crushes, and whatever it has
gulped down its stomach digests in an astonishing
manner. And among those who recount marvellous
lies about this beast there are some who relate that
it imitates the speech of men, but for our part they
do not win our credence.
36. As for snakes, those peoples which dwell
near the country which is desert and infested by
beasts say that there is every kind of them, of a
magnitude surpassing belief. For when certain
\\Titers state that they have seen some one hundred
cubits long, it may justly be assumed, not only by
us but by everybody else, that they are telling a
falsehood ; indeed they add to this tale, which is
utterly distrusted, things far more astonishing, when
they say that, since the country is flat like a plain,
whenever the largest of these beasts coil themselves
up, they make, by the coils which have been wound
in circles and rest one upon another, elevations which
seen from a distance resemble a hill. Now a man may
not readily agree as to the magnitude of the beasts
of which we have just spoken ; but we shall describe
the largest beasts which have actually been seen and
were brought to Alexandria in certain well-made
receptacles, and shall add a detailed description of
the manner in which they were captured,
185
DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 *0 yap Sevrepog YlToXefxalog, Trepi re rr^v rojv
iX€(f)dvrojv KVVTjyLav (l>LXoTLfM'i]dels /cat tols rag
TTapaSo^ovg drjpas' tcov aXKificordTiov t,a)(jov ttolov-
fxevoLs [leyaXag aTTOvifxajv Scopedg, ttoAAo. Be
Xpi^p-cra SavravTycras' et? ravrrjv ttjv imdufMiav,
eXe^avras re ovx^ovg TToXeixiaTCis TrepLeTTOLrjcraTO
/cat Tojv dXXcDV ^cpcjDV ddecopijrovs /cat TrapaSo^ovs
(f)vaeis eTTOL-qaev ctj yvcouLv iXOelv tols "EAAtjcti.
4 8to /cat TLves raJv Kwqyojv, 6pa>VT€S rrjv tov
^aaiXeojs {jLeyaXoi/jux^av iv rat? Sotpeat?, avarpa-
(f>evT€s els iKavov ttXtjOos eKpivav Trapa^aXeadai
rats ipvxoiLS, /cat twv fxeydXcuv 6(f)ecov eva drjpev-
aavres dvaKopLiaai l^covTa els ttjv 'AXe^dvSpeiav
6 TTpog rov YlroXepiaZov. fieydXr)s S ova-qs koI
TTapaSo^ov Trjs eTTt^oXrjs, rj rvx^^ avvepyqaaaa
rals emvoLais avTojv /cat to tcXos OLKeiov Trepte-
7TOL7]ae TTJs TTpd^eojs. aKOTTevaavTes ydp eva tcov
6<j>eu)v TpidKovra 7T7]x<^v hiaTpi^ovTa irepi tcls
avoTdaeis tcov vSdrojv, tov p,ev dXXov xP^^'^'^
aKLVTjTOV TOV GcLfxaros TO KVKXojpLa TiqpovvTa, /cara
8e Tas iTTL(f)avetas twv Std tt]P' Siifjav l,wcov <J)01tojv-
TOJV eTTL TOV TOTTOv d(f)va) hiavLOTdpievov , /cat to)
piev CTTo/xart hiaprrdt^ovTa, tw 5e arreipdpLaTL /cara-
TrXeKOVTa tov oyKov tcov (f)avevTOJV ^wojv, cucrre
fjLrjSevL TpoTTCp hvvaadai to TrapaTreaov eKcf)vyelv — ,
TTpopL'qKovs ovv ovTOS TOV t,a)OV Kal vojdpov Ty]V
<f>vaiv eXTTiaavTes ^poxois Kal cretpat? Kvpievaeiv,
TO p.ev TTpcjTOV TTaprjcrav ert' avTO TeOappi^KOTes,
exovTes i^rjpTVfxeva uravTa Ta irpos ttjv ;)^petW,
' Ptolemj' Philadelphus, 285-246 B.C. Ptolemy's interest
in wild animals has long been known from this passage and
i86
BOOK III. 36. 3-5
The second Ptolemy,^ who was passionately fond
of the hunting of elephants and gave great rewards
to those who succeeded in capturing against odds
the most valiant of these beasts, expending on this
hobby great sums of money, not only collected great
herds of war-elephants, but also brought to the
knowledge of the Greeks other kinds of animals
which had never before been seen and were objects
of amazement. Consequently certain of the hunters,
observing the princely generosity of the king in the
matter of the rewards he gave, rounding up a con-
siderable number decided to hazard their lives and
to capture one of the huge snakes and bring it alive
to Ptolemy at Alexandria. Great and astonishing
as was the undertaking, fortune aided their designs
and crowned their attempt with the success which
it deserved. For they spied one of the snakes,
thirty cubits long, as it loitered near the pools in
which the water collects ; here it maintained for
most of the time its coiled body motionless, but at
the appearance of an animal which came down to
the spot to quench its thirst it would suddenly uncoil
itself, seize the animal in its jaws, and so entwine in
its coil the body of the creature which had come into
view that it could in no wise escape its doom. And
so, since the beast was long and slender and sluggish
in nature, hoping that they could master it with
nooses and ropes, they approached it \vith confidence
the first time, having ready to hand everj'thing which
Theocritus 2. 67-8. That he was as deeply interested in in-
troducing new breeds of domesticated animals into Egypt is
attested by a papyrus {P. Cairo Zenon I. 59,075), written in
257 B.C., in which an Ammonite chief from east of the Jordan
river says that he is sending the king a gift of horses, dogs, asses
and several specimens of cross-breeding with the wild ass.
187
DIODORUS OF SICILY
6 CO? S' eirXiqaiat^ov, ael fxdXXov i^enX-qTrovTO tw
heel, decopovvreg OjLt/xa Trvpojirov Kal XLXP-ojfJ-^vqv
TTavTT] TTjV yXcJoTTav, en 8e rfj rpa)(VTrjTi, tcov
<f>o\ih(ji)v iv rfj Std tt]s vXttjs iropeiq. /cat TTapaTpciJjeL
ipocfiov i^aiaiov KaraaKeva.t,ovTa, ro [xeyedos re ru)v
oSovTOJV V7Tep(^ves Kal arojxaros dypiav TrpoaoifjLV
7 Kat KUKXw/xaTos avaarrjixa TrapdSo^ov. hionep
ra> (f>6^cp TO. xpcoixaTa raJv Trpoaojirajv OLTTO^e^Xr]-
Kores SetAtD? erre^aXov tovs ^poy^ovs oltto ttjs
ovpdg' TO 8e drjpiov afxa ro) Trpoadi/jaadat, tov
crcofxaros rov KaXcov eTTeaTpd(^rj fxeTo. ttoAAou
(j>varipLaTOS KaTaTrXrjKriKCjg, Kal tov fxev Trpajrov
dprrd^eL Ta> aropbarL pLeTeiopiadev vnep ttJs Ke^aXi]?,
Kal TOL? adpKag eVi t,a)VTog KaTeaLTeiTO, tov Se
devTepov (jievyovra Tjj arreipa Troppcodev eTreaird-
craTO, Kal TrepieiXrjdev ea(l>iyye ttjv KoiXiav tw
SeapLcp- oi 8e Xolttol rrdvTes CKTrXayevTes 8id ttjs
(f)vyrjg TTJV acor-qpiav eTTopiuavro.
37. Ov piTjv direyvcoaav ttjv Orjpav, virep^aX-
Xoucrr]? Trjs aTTO tov ^acnXews ;!^aptTOS' Kal Sojpeds
Tovs aTTO T7]s TTeipas eyv(x>(Jixevovg Ktvhvvovs,
(fnXoTexvta 8e Kat SdAcu to rfj ^ia hvaKaTayojvLctTov
i)^€Lpc6aavTO , TOi.dv8e tlvo. pirjy^avrjv TropiadjievoL.
KaTeoKevaaav drro axoivov nvKvrjg TrepLcfiepes
TrXoKavov, tco pcev tvtto) rot? KvpTOis ep.(f)ep€s,
TO) 8e pieyeOei Kal ttj hiaXiqipei Trjg ■)(^cvpas Svvd/xevov
2 hi^aadaL tov dyKov tov d-qpiov. KaT07TT€vaavT€S
ovv TOV (j)OjXe6v avTOV Kat ttjv wpav ttjs t€ €ttI
TTjv vopiTjv i^68ov /cat TrdXiv TrJ£ iiravoSov, ws
i88
BOOK III. 36. 6-37. 2
they might need ; but as they drew near it they
constantly grew more and more terrified as they
gazed upon its fiery eye and its tongue darting out
in every direction, caught the hideous sound made
by the roughness of its scales as it made its way
through the trees and brushed against them, and
noted the extraordinary size of its teeth, the savage
appearance of its mouth, and the astonishing height
of its heap of coils. Consequently, after they had
driven the colour from their cheeks through fear,
with cowardly trembling they cast the nooses about
its tail ; but the beast, the moment the rope touched
its body, whirled about with so mighty a hissing as
to frighten them out of their wits, and raising itself
into the air above the head of the foremost man it
seized him in its mouth and ate his flesh while he still
lived, and the second it caught from a distance with
a coil as he fled, drew him to itself, and winding itself
about him began squeezing his belly with its tighten-
ing bond ; and as for all the rest, stricken with terror
they sought their safety in flight.
37. Nevertheless, the hunters did not give up
their attempt to capture the beast, the favour ex-
pected of the king and his reward outweighing the
dangers which they had come to know full well as
the result of their experiment, and by ingenuity
and craft they did subdue that which was by force
well-nigh invincible, devising a kind of contrivance
like the following : — They fashioned a circular thing
woven of reeds closely set together, in general shape
resembling a fisherman's creel and in size and
capacity capable of holding the bulk of the beast.
Then, when they had reconnoitred its hole and
observed the time when it went forth to feed and
189
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tay^iad^ wpfx-qacv errl Trjv aypav rrjv avv^drj rcbv
irepoyevcov I^cocdv, to fiev ir povrrapj^ov rov ^coAeoy
aro/xa Xidotg evfieyedeat, Kal yfj avvipKoSop.'qcrav , rov
8e TrXrjalov rrjs Xo^iir^g tottov VTrovopiOV TTOiTjaavres
Kal TO rrXoKavov els avrov ivdevres ivavriov
€7roLrjaav to OTopLLOv, cooTe e^ eroi/Aou Toi dr^pLCp
3 T'qv e'iaoSov V7Tdp)(eLv. Kara 8e ttjv eTrdvoSov tov
t,(X)OV TTapeaKevaapbivoi To^oTas Kal a<f)€vSov7jTas,
€Ti Se LTrTTeis ttoXXov?, Trpos 8e tovtols aaXmKTas
Kal TTjv dXXr]v aTracrai' ■)(opr]yiav, a/xa '^ tw rrpoa-
TTeXd^eiv TO p.€v drjplov pLeTeojpoTepov tcov LTnrewv
e^rjpe tov au;(eVa, ol 8' eVi ttjv d-qpav rjOpoiap-evoi
TTpoaeyyiaai, pukv ovk ctoA/xcov, vevovdeTTjiJievot TaZs
TTpoyeyevrjpievaLS avp,(f)opaLS, TToppcodev 8e TToAAaiS'
X^palv i(f}' eva Kal p,€yav okottov ^aAAorre?
CTvy)(avov , Kai Trj re twv LTTTreajv CTn^aveto. /cat
TrAr^^et KvvaJv aXKip^oiV, eVt 8e to) 8td tcjv aaXniyyajv
tJxV' '<O.T€7tX'QTTOV to t,(x)0V. SlOTTep VTTOXCOpOVVTOS
aVTOV ^ TTpOS TTjV OtK€iaV XoXP-T^V TOUOVTOV eTTehlOiKOV
4 cuare pLT] Trapo^vveiv eirl TrXeov. co? 8e ttjs ivwKoBo-
piTjpiivrjs <f)dpayyos rfyyioev, ddpocos ^o(f}OV pcev
TToXvv 8ta TciJv onXcov eTTolr^aav, Tapax'^jv 8e /cat
(f>6^ov 8ta TTJs Tcov oxXoiv i7Ti(f>av€ias Kal aaXTTiy-
ycov. TO 8e drjpiov ttjv fiev etaodov ovx rjupiOKe,
TTjv 8e T(x)v Kvv7]yu)v opfMTjv KaTaTrXr^TTOpievov KaTe-
(f)vy€V els TO TrXrjoiov KaT€aKevaap.evov UTopnov.
5 TTLpLTrXapLevov 8e tov rrXoKdvov ttj 8taAucret Trjs
anelpas, e(f)daaav tcov Kw-qycuv Tives TrpoaiTTTa-
pievoi, Kal irpo tov aTpa^rjvaL tov 6<f)LV ctti tt^v
^ 8e after ajxa deleted by Reiske.
* avTov deleted by Dindorf, retained by Bekker, Vogel.
190
BOOK III. 37. 2-5
returned again, so soon as it had set out to prey upon
the other animals, as was its custom, they stopped
the opening of its old hole with large stones and
earth, and digging an underground cavity near its
lair they set the woven net in it and placed the
mouth of the net opposite the opening, so that it
was in this way all ready for the beast to enter.
Against the return of the animal they had made
ready archers and slingers and many horsemen, as
well as trumpeters and all the other apparatus needed,
and as the beast drew near it raised its neck in air
higher than the horsemen. Now the company of
men who had assembled for the hunt did not dare to
draw near it, being warned by the mishaps which
had befallen them on the former occasion, but shoot-
ing at it from afar, and %vith many hands aiming at a
single target, and a large one at that, they kept
hitting it, and when the horsemen appeared and the
multitude of bold fighting-dogs, and then again
when the trumpets blared, they got the animal
terrified. Consequently, when it retreated to its
accustomed lair, they closed in upon it, but only so
far as not to arouse it still more. And when it came
near the opening which had been stopped up, the
whole throng, acting together, raised a mighty din
with their arms and thus increased its confusion and
fear because of the crowds which put in their appear-
ance and of the trumpets. But the beast could not
find the opening and so, terrified at the advance of
the hunters, fled for refuge into the mouth of the
net which had been prepared near by. And when
the woven net began to be filled up as the snake
uncoiled itself, some of the hunters anticipated its
movements by leaping forward, and before the snake
191
DIODORUS OF SICILY
e^oSov KareXd^ovTO Seafiolg to arofjiLov TTpojJirjKeg
6V Kal 7Te(f)i.XoT€'xyiqixivov Trpos ravrrjv rrjv o^vrrjTa-
i^eXKvaavres Se to rrXoKavov Kai (f)dXayyas
6 VTTodlvTes fJiereojpov ■"■ i^rjpav. to 8e drjpiov OLTrei-
Xr]jjLjJi4vov iv OLTreaT€vcup.€va) tottco Trapa ^vaiv avpiy-
fjiov i^ataLOV rjcfiUt, Kal toZs oSoucrt T'r]v Tr€pU)(Ovaav
a)(OLVOv KaTeoTTa, TravTrj 8e hiaGeiopievov irpoa-
SoKLav eTTOi-qae toIs 4>ipov(jLV cos iKTrrjSrjaov eK
Tov 7T€pL€)(ovTOS avTO (j>LXoTe)(yqiJiaTOS . Sio /cat
KaTaTrXayevTes eOeaav eirl ttjv yrjv tov 6(f)LV, Kal
TOVS 7T€pl TTjV OVpdv TOTTOVS KaTaK€VTOVVTeS dvTL-
TTepUaTTOJV TOV drjptoV TOV 0.770 TCOV 686vTWV
airapayp-ov eirl ttjv aludriaiv ToJv dXyovvTOiv jxepaiv.
7 ^ATTeveyKavTes S' els ttjv 'AXe^dvSpeiav ehayprj-
aavTO Tcp ^acriXet, rrapaSo^ov ^eajua /cat rot?
aKovaaGLV aTnaTOVjJievov. tjj 8' eVSet'a ttjs Tpo<f)ris
KaTanov^aavTes ttjv dXKrjv tov drjpLOV Tidaaov
e/c TOV /car' oXtyov eTTolrjaav, ajcrre 6av[jiaaTrjV
8 avTOV yeveaOai ttjv i^rjfxepcoaLV. 6 8e riroAe/xatos'
TOLS p-ev KVvqyoLS Tas d^ias aTreveipie Scopeds,
TOV 8' 6(f)tV €Tpe(f>€ T€TL9aa€Vp.eVOV Kal TOLS els TTjV
^aaiXeiav Trapa^dXXovai ^evoLs p-eyiaTOV Trape^o-
9 p.evov Kal napaho^oTaTOv 6eap.a. hioTrep ttjXi-
KOVTOV pLeyedovs 6<f>eo}s els difjiv kolvtjv KaTT]VTr]-
KOTOS OVK d^LOV dTTLOTeZv ToZs AldLOlpLV Ov8e
pivdov VTToXapL^dvecv to OpvXovpievov vrr' avTcov.
d7ro(f)aLvovTai yap 6 pdad at /cara Tr]v )(a)pav
avTciJv 6<f)€i,s ttjXlkovtovs to piiyeOos cSare pL7]
^ So Dindorf : iieTewporepov.
192
BOOK III. 37. 5-9
could turn about to face the entrance they closed
and fastened with ropes the mouth, which was long
and had been shrewdly devised \\ith such swiftness
of operation in mind ; then they hauled out the
woven net and putting rollers under it drew it up
into the air. But the beast, enclosed as it was in a
straitened place, kept sending forth an unnatural
and terrible hissing and tried to pull down with its
teeth the reeds which enveloped it, and by twisting
itself in every direction created the expectation in
the minds of the men who were carrying it that it
would leap out of the contrivance which enveloped
it. Consequently, in terror, they set the snake
down on the ground, and by jabbing it about the
tail they diverted the attention of the beast from its
work of tearing with its teeth to its sensation of pain
in the parts which hurt.
When they had brought the snake to Alexandria
they presented it to the king, an astonishing sight
which those cannot credit who have merelv heard
the tale. And by depriving the beast of its food they
wore down its spirit and little by little tamed it, so
that the domestication of it became a thing of wonder.
As for Ptolemy, he distributed among the hunters
the merited rewards, and kept and fed the snake,
which had now been tamed and afforded the greatest
and most astonishing sight for the strangers who
visited his kingdom. Consequently, in view of the
fact that a snake of so great a size has been exposed
to the public gaze, it is not fair to doubt the word of
the Ethiopians or to assume that the report which
they circulated far and wide was a mere fiction. For
they state that there are to be seen in their country
snakes so great in size that they not only eat both
193
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fjiovov ^ovs re Kai ravpovs Kal rcov aXXojv t,a)Cov to.
T7]XLKavTa TOLs oyKois avaXioKeiv, dAAa /cat rols
iXe(f)aaLV eis aXKrjv avviaraaOai, Kal Sia jxev Trjs
aireipas iinrXeKopievovs rots OKeXeaiv e/XTToSt^etv
rrjv Kara (f^vaiv KLvqcriv, tov S' avx^va iierecopi-
aavras VTrep ^ rrjv Trpo^oaKiha rrjv K€<f)aXrjv
ivavriav TTOielv rols ra)v eXecfxivTcov o/x/Ltacri,
8ia Se TOV TTupcoTTOV Tcov 6(f)daXpiwv daTpaTTTJ
TTapairXriaLas ^ ras XafJLTrrjhovag TTpo^aXXovras
aTTorvcjiXovv rrjv opacriv, /cat a(f)rjXavras e77t t7]V
yrjv aapKo^ayelv ra xeipajOevra rcbv ^cocov.
38. ^LevKpivqKOTes 8 dpKovvTCog to, Trepl rrjv
AWiOTTLav Kal TpcoyoSvTLKTjv Kal TTjv ravrais
avvaTTTOvaav /xe;;^pt rrj's Sia Kavfxa doLKTjTOV,
TTpos Se rauratj Trept ttj? irapaXiag TTJg Trapd ttjv
^^pvdpdv ddXarrav Kal to ^ArXarTLKov neXayos
TO TTpos fiecrrjix^pLav KeKXipievov, Trepl tov /cara-
XeXeifxpievov jxepovg, Xeyco Be tov 'Apa^Lov koXttov,
'noL7]a6pieda ttjv dvaypa(f>rjv, to. fxev e/c tcov ev
^ AXe^avhpeia ^aacXcKaJv V7TOiJivr]fxdTOJV i^eiXr)-
(f)6Tes, TO, 8e Trapd tcov avroTrrcov TreTTUcr/xeVoi.
TOVTO yap TO piepos ttjs oiKovpievqg Kai to Trepl Tag
BpeTTavLKas vi^aovs Kal ttjv dpKTOv TJKLara
TreTTTCoKev vtto Trjv Koivrjv dvOpcoTTOjv eTnyvwaiv.
dXXd TTepl piev tcov Trpos dpKTOV KCKXipievcov
pLepcbv Trjs OLKovpLevrjs rcbv avvaTTTOvrcov tjj Std
ifjv)(os doiKrjTCp Sie^Lp-ev, orav Tas Tatov Haiaapos
* vnep Reiske : vno.
^ So Dindorf : TTapanXrjaLcos-
1 The Persian Gulf and contiguous shores must be meant.
t94
BOOK III. 37. 9-38. 2
oxen and bulls and other animals of equal bulk, but
even join issue in battle with the elephants, and by
intertwining their coil about the elephants' legs they
prevent the natural movement of them and by
rearing their necks above their trunks they put their
heads directly opposite the eyes of the elephants,
and sending forth, by reason of the fiery nature of
their eyes, brilliant flashes like lightning, they first
blind their sight and then throw them to the ground
and devour the flesh of their conquered foes.
38. But now that we have examined with sufficient
care Ethiopia and the Trogodyte country and the
territory adjoining them, as far as the region which
is uninhabited because of excessive heat, and, beside
these, the coast of the Red Sea ^ and the Atlantic
deep 2 which stretches towards the south, we shall
give an account of the part which still remains — and I
refer to the Arabian Gulf ^ — drawing in part upon the
royal records preserved in Alexandria,and in part upon
what we have learned from men who have seen it
with their own eyes. For this section of the inhabited
world and that about the British Isles and the far
north have by no means come to be included in the
common knowledge of men. But as for the parts of
the inhabited world which lie to the far north and
border on the area which is uninhabited because of
the cold, we shall discuss them when we record the
* Apparently Diodorus uses the term "Atlantic," although
it is derived from the word " Atlas," and regularly designated
the western ocean, in the sense employed by the geographer
Eratosthenes, who, about 200 B.C., applied it to the entire
expanse of water which surromided the "inhabited world"
(cp. H. Berger, Geschichte der wissenschaftlicken Erdkunde der
6riechen\ pp. 323, 377, 396).
» The Red Sea.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 TTpafets" dvaypd(f)a>iX€V ovros yap rrfv 'Pcofjialajv
rjyeixoviav els eKelva rd fxeprj TToppcoTaTCo Trpo^L-
^duas Trdvra rov TTporepov dyvoovpcevov rorrov
4 eTTOLTjae Trecretv els crvvra^iv Laropias' 6 Se rrpoa-
ayopevojjievos 'Apa^to? koXttos dveaToyLOjrai pLev
els Tov Kara p-earjpil^pLav Ketpievov wKeavov,
T(p pi-qKei 8 6771 TToXXovs Trdvv TTap-qKojv araBiovs
Tov p.v)(ov ex^i' 7Tept.opL^6pi€vov rat? eaxarLals rijs
'Apa^ia? Kal TpcoyoSvrLKrjs. evpos 8e Kara p.ev
TO aropia Kal tov piv^dv VTrdpj^ei Trepl eKKaiheKa
arahiovs, diro Se Havopp^ov Xipcevos Trpos ttjv
dvTLTTepas rfTTeipov piaKpds veo)s SiojypLov rjpiepT]-
aiov. TO Se pLeyiOTOv eoTi SidaT-qpia Kara to
TvpKaiov dpos Kal MaKapiav vrjaov rreXayiav,
d)s dv Tcov rfTTeipcov ov)( opcjopLevcov drr aXXrjXcov.
5 ttTTO Se TOVTOV TO TrActTOS" del pidXXov avyKXeieTai
Kal TTji' avvaycoyrjv ey^ei p-^XP^ '^^^ OTopiaTos .
6 Se rrapdTtXovs avTOV Kara ttoXXovs tottovs
ex^i vqaovs piaKpds, OTevovs p-^v SuaSpopLovs
exovcras, povv Se ttoXvv Kal a^ohpov. r] piev
ovv Ke(f)aXatd)hrjs tov koXttov tovtov deais vrrapx^i-
ToiavTT]. rjpLels S' dno tcov eaxdrcov^ tov pLVXOv
TOTTCov dp^dp.evoi tov ecf) e/carepa ra piepn] Trapa-
ttXovv ToJv rjTTeipojv Kal ra? dtftoAoyotTaras' KaT
avTas ISLOTTjras bie^tpLev TrpcoTov Se XTjipopieda to
Be^Lov piepos, ov ttjv irapaXiav twv T pojyohvTCJV
eOvrj vep.eTai, p-expi ttj? eprjpiov.
^ Tovrov after iaxoLTcav deleted by Dindorf.
1 Cp. Book 1. 4. 7.
2 The Indian Ocean.
196
BOOK III. 38. 2-5
deeds of Gaius Caesar ; for he it was who extended
the Roman Empire the farthest into those parts
and brouffht it about that all the area which had
formerly been unknown came to be included in a
narrative of history ^ ; but the Arabian Gulf, as it
is called, opens into the ocean which lies to the south,^
and its innermost recess, w'hich stretches over a dis-
tance of very many stades in length, is enclosed by
the farthermost borders of Arabia and the Trogodyte
country. Its width at the mouth and at the inner-
most recess is about sixteen"^ stades, but from the
harbour of Panormus to the opposite mainland is a
day's run for a Marship. And its greatest wddth is
at the Tyrcaeus * mountain and Macaria, an island
out at sea, the mainlands there being out of sight of
each other. But from this point the width steadily
decreases more and more and continually tapers as far
as the entrance. And as a man sails along the coast
he comes in many places upon long islands with
narrow passages between them, where the current
runs full and strong. Such, then, is the setting,
in general terms, of this gulf. But for our part, we
shall make our beginning with the farthest regions
of the innermost recess and then sail along its two
sides past the mainlands, in connection with which
we shall describe what is peculiar to them and most
deserving of discussion ; and first of all we shall take
the right side,^ the coast of which is inhabited by
tribes of the Trogodytes as far inland as the desert.
^ Strabo (16. 4. 4) and others say the straits at Deire are
sixty stades wide (about seven miles), which is much nearer
the present width than the " sixteen " of Diodorus.
* Panormus and this mountain are otherwise unknown.
^ i.e. the western or Egyptian side.
197
DIODORUS OF SICILY
39. AtTO TToXeCDS TOLVVV 'A/OCTtTOT]? KOfXlt,0-
fxevoL? napa rrjv Se^iav rJTTeipov iKiTLTTTei Kara
TToXXovs roTTOvg eK Trerpas els ddXarrav vSara
TToAAa, TTLKpds dXuvptSos exovra yevaiv. napaSpa-
fjioVTi 8e rag irriydg ravras ^ VTrepKCLrai {xeydXov
irehiov pnXrcLhr] y^poav e^ov opos Kal rrjv opaaiv
Tcbv €7TL ttXIov drevil^ovrcov els avro XvpLaLvo-
fxevov. V7TO Se Tas ia)(aTLds rrjs VTTCjpeias Kelrai
XLjjLrjv okoXlov e^cov tov elcjirXovv, eTTcLvupLOS
2 'A^poStTTJ?. V7T€pK€LVTai Sc TOVTOV vfjaOL Tpels,
ajv Svo piev ttXtjp^ls elatv iXatcbv Kat gvokloi,
pLia he XeiTTopLevrj ra> ttX-^Ocl twv irpoeLp'qpievojv
SevSpcvv, ttXtjOos 8' exovaa rdjv 6vopial,opLevojv
3 pieXeayplhojv. pierd Se ravra koXttos earlv
evpLeyedrjs 6 KaXovpievos AKaOaprog, Kat Trpos
avTcp ^adeZa Ka9' inrep^oXrjv x^ppovrjaog, rjs
Kara rov a!3;\;eVa arevov ovra 8ta/co^t^oucri
rd aKdcfi-q irpos ttjv avrnrepas ddXarrav.
4 irapaKopLLadevrL 8e rovs roTTOvg rovrovs Kelrai
vrjaos rreXayia p-kv rep Stacrrr^/iart, rd Se
p,rJKOs elg oySorJKovra araSlovg TrapeKreivovaa,
KaXovpievr] 8e '0</>tco87j?, rj rd piev TraXatdv vnrjpxe
TrXrjpTjs TravrohaTTcLv Kal (l>o^epd)V ipTrercov, d<j>
(Lv Kal ravrrjs erv^e rrjs Trpoarjyopias, ev Se rot?
p-erayevearepoLS ;)^povots" vtto rd)v Kara rrjv
^AXe^dvhpetav ^aaiXecov ovrcos €^r]pepa)9rj ^tAo-
rlpicos ware pcrjSev en /car' avrrjv opdadat, rcbv
TTpovTTap^dvroiv t,a)cvv.
'^ ravras Eichstadt : avrds.
198
BOOK III. 39. I 4
39. In the course of the journey,^ then, from the
city of Arsinoe along the right mainland, in many
places numerous streams, which have a bitter salty
taste, drop from the cliffs into the sea. And after a
man has passed these waters, above a great plain
there towers a mountain whose colour is like ruddle
and blinds the sight of any who gaze steadfastly upon
it for some time. Moreover, at the edge of the skirts
of the mountain there lies a harbour, known as
Aphrodite's Harbour, which has a ^\inding entrance.
Above 2 this harbour are situated three islands, two
of which abound in olive trees and are thickly shaded,
while one falls short of the other two in respect of the
number of these trees but contains a multitude of the
birds called meleagrides.^ Next there is a very
large gulf which is called Acathartus,* and by it is an
exceedingly long peninsula, over the narrow neck of
which men transport their ships to the opposite sea.
And as a man coasts along these regions he comes to
an island which lies at a distance out in the open sea
and stretches for a length of eighty stades ; the name
of it is Ophiodes ^ and it was formerly full of fearful
serpents of every variety, which was in fact the reason
why it received this name, but in later times the
kings at Alexandria have laboured so diligently on
the reclaiming of it that not one of the animals which
were formerly there is any longer to be seen on the
island.
^ Strabo (16. 4. 5 £f.) follows much the same order in his
description of the Gulf.
* Strabo (16. 4. 5) says these islands lie " off," Agatharchides
(81), that they lie " in " the harbour.
' Guinea-fowls.
« i.e. " Foul."
» i.e. " Snaky."
199
DIODORUS OF SICILY
5 Ov TTapaXeLTTTeov 8 rjfxlv ov8e ttjv alriav rrjg
TTcpl TTjv rjixepcoaiv (f)iXoriiJi,ias . evpiaKerai yap
iv T7J vT^acp ravrr) to KaXovp^evov totto-I^lov, OTrep
ioTL Xidos Sta^atvd/xei'o? eTnrepTTiqs , vdXco Trapep.-
<f>€prj'S /cat 6avp.a(JTrjV eyxpvaov TTpoaoifjLu Trapexo-
6 pL€vos. hioTTep aveTTL^arog roXg aAAoi? rrjpelrai,,
davarovpievov Travros rov TrpoaTrXevaavros vtto
rcbv KaOearap.evojv in avrrjs ■^ (f>vXdKojv. ovtol 8e
Tov dpidpiov ovres oXiyoL ^lov exovaiv drvxyj.
tva p,€v yap /xi^Set? Xldog hcaKXaTrfj, ttXoZov ovk
aTroAetVerat to Trapdirav eV rr^ vr^acp- ol 8e vapa-
nXeovTes avrrjv 8 to. rov drro rod ^aaiXea)g ^o^ov
TToppojQev TTapaOeovai- rpo<f>al 8e al fiev irapaKop^i-
^d/zevat rax^co? eKXeLrrovaiv , erepai 8 iyxa)pi-oi
7 TO CTwoAov ovx VTTapxovai. ScoTrep orav rcov
airioiv oXiya KaraXeLTTrjrai, Kad-qvrai Trdvres ol
Kara rrjv Ka)p,r]v TrpoaSexop-evoL rov ra)v KopLLt,6vrcxiv
rds rpo<f)ds KardirXovv Sv ^pahvvovrojv els rds
8 iaxdras iXTTiSag auareXXovrat. 6 8e rrpoeipr]-
/xeVo? XlOos <^v6p.evos ev raXs Trerpais rrjv p.ev
rjp.ipav hid ro TrvZyos ovx dpdrai, Kparovp,evos
VTTO rov TTepi rov rjXiov (j)iyyovs, rrjg 8e vvKros
iTTLyivojJLevrjg iv UKorei 8taAa^7ret /cat TToppuidev
9 hrjXos icrriv ev (h TTor dv fj tottoj. ol 8e
vrjao(j>vXaKes KX'Qpco 8Lr]pr]p,evoL rovg rorrovg
i(f>ehp€vovoL, /cat ro) (pavevrL Xidcp TrepLrLOiaoL
arjp.eLOV x^P'-^ dyyog rrjXLKovrov tjXlkov dv fj
ro piiyeOos rov arlX^ovros Xidov rrjs 8' rjpiepag
TTepLLovres TrepLrepLvovoL rov aTqp-CLOjdivra ronov
rijs Trirpas, /cat 7rapaSt8dao-i Tot? 8ta t^? rexvrjs
SwapLevoLS e/cAeatVetv' to TrapaSodev OLK€LOiS.
^ eV avrris Hertlein : utt' avriuv.
200
BOOK III. 39. 5-9
However, we should not pass over the reason why
the kings showed diligence in the reclamation of this
island. For there is found on it the topaz, as it is
called, which is a pleasing transparent stone, similar
to glass, and of a marvellous golden hue. Conse-
quently no unauthorized person may set foot upon
the island and it is closely guarded, every man who
has approached it being put to death by the guards
who are stationed there. And the latter are few in
number and lead a miserable existence. For in
order to prevent any stone being stolen, not a single
boat is left on the island; furthermore, any who sail
by pass along it at a distance because of their fear of
the king ; and the provisions which are brought to it
are quickly exhausted and there are absolutely no
other provisions in the land. Consequently, when-
ever only a little food is left, all the inhabitants of the
village sit dowTi and await the arrival of the ship of
those who are bringing the provisions, and when
these are delayed they are reduced to their last hopes.
And the stone we have mentioned, being found in the
rocks, is not discernible during the day because of the
stifling heat, since it is overcome by the brilliance of
the sun, but when night falls it shines in the dark and
is visible from afar, in whatever place it may be.
The guards on the island divide these places by lot
among themselves and stand watch over them, and
when the stone shines they put around it, to mark the
place, a vessel corresponding in size to the chunk of
stone which gives out the light ; and when day comes
and they go their rounds they cut out the area which
has been so marked and turn it over to men who are
able by reason of their craftsmanship to polish it
properly.
201
DIODORUS OF SICILY
40. YlapaTrXevaavTi Se tovtovs rovg rorrovg
TToAAa jxev l-)(6vo<l)dya}v edviq KarotKel rrjv irapd-
Xlov, TToAAot 8e vofidSes TpojyoSvrat. Trpos Se
TOVTOL's oprj Travroia Tat? ISLorrjaLV VTrdpx^i H-^XP''
At/xeVo? Tov TTpocrayopevdevros crcor-qpias, o? erv^G
TTJs orojLiacrta? Tavrr]? aTTO rcjv TrpcLroiv TrXevadvrojv
2 KXXi^vcov Kal hiaacxiOevToyv. drro Se rovrcxiv rCdV
fxepojv apx^Tai avvayojyrjv XapL^dveiv 6 koXttos Kai
Trjv eTn<yTpo(j>rjV im rd Kara rrjv 'ApajStav /xeprj
TTOieiudai. Kal rrjv cfiuaLV Se rrjs ;^ajpa? Kal
QaXdrr-qs dXXoLav elvat av[j.^e^r]K€ Sid ttjv ISiorrjTa
3 TOJv roTTCDV 7] T€ ydp rjiretpos raTreivrj Kadopdrai,
pLrjhafxodev dvaarr^piaTog v7T€pK€L[j,€vov, 7] re SdXar-
Ttt TevaydjSrj? ovaa to ^ddos ov ttXcov evpicFKerai
rpiiov opyvLoJv, Kai rfj XP'^9- TTO-vreXcos virdpx^i
xXojpd. TOVTO S' avrfj (jtaai crvjJL^aivetv ov Std
TO TTjv Tcbv vypcov <f)vatv elvai, ToiavTTjV, dXXd Std
TO TrXrjdos TOV Sta^aii^o/xeVou Kad^ y'Saro? fiviov
4 Kal (f)VKovs. Tat? fJ-ev ovv imKiOTTOLS tojv vecov
evdero'S iaTiv 6 tottos, KXvScvva jiev ovk ck
TToXXov KvXia>v StacTTTy/xaTOS", drjpav S' Ixdvcov
dnXaTov Trap^xopievos' at Se Tovg iXe<f)avTa?
Stayoucrat, Std Ta ^dprj ^advTrXoi KadeoTcoaai /cat
Ttti? KaTaaKevaXg epi^pidels, pbeydXovs Kal heivovs
€Tn(j)€povoL Kivhvvovs ToZs cV auTat? TrXeovai.
5 hidpaeL ydp tCTrtcov diovaai Kal Std t7]v tojv
TTvevfidTcov ^lav TroAAct/ct? vvkto? (Ldov/jLevai, otc
jxev TreVpat? Trpoaveaovaat vavayovai, ttotc 8
et? Tei'aycciSetS' ladp^ovs ip^TTCTTTOvcnv ol Se t'auTat
TTapaKaTa^rjvai jLtev dSuvaTOuat Std to nXeou
1 I.e. " Safety."
202
BOOK III. 40. 1-5
40. After sailing past these regions one finds that
the coast is inhabited by many nations of Ichthyo-
phagi and many nomadic Trogodytes. Then there
appear mountains of all manner of peculiarities until
one comes to the Harbour of Soteria,^ as it is called,
which gained this name from the first Greek sailors
who found safety there. From this region onwards the
gulf begins to become contracted and to curve toward
Arabia. And here it is found that the nature of the
country and of the sea has altered by reason of the
peculiar characteristic of the region ; for the main-
land appears to be low as seen from the sea, no eleva-
tion rising above it, and the sea, which runs to shoals,
is found to have a depth of no more than three
fathoms, while in colour it is altogether green. The
reason for this is, they say, not because the water is
naturally of that colour, but because of the mass of
seaweed and tangle which shows from under water.
For ships, then, which are equipped wdth oars the place
is suitable enough, since it rolls along no wave from
a great distance and affords, furthermore, fishing in
the greatest abundance ; but the ships which carry
the elephants, 2 being of deep draft because of their
weight and heavy by reason of their equipment,
bring upon their crews great and terrible dangers.
For running as they do under full sail and often
times being driven during the night before the
force of the AWnds, sometimes they will strike against
rocks and be \\Tecked or sometimes run aground on
slightly submerged spits. The sailors are unable to
go over the sides of the ship because the water is
* A little south of this region, according to Strabo (16. 4. 7),
lay the city of Ptolemals, founded under Ptolemy Philadelphus
near the hunting-grounds for elephants.
203
DIODORUS OF SICILY
elvai TO ^ddos avSpofx-^Kovs, 8ia Se rwv kovtcov
Tcp CT/ca^et ^orjdovureg orav [xrjSev dvvcoaiv,
eK^aXXovcnv aTravra ttXtjv ttj? rpo^Tjs" ouS' ovto)
8e rrjs aTTOGrpo(f)rjs ^ rvyxdvovre? els jJieydXrjv
aTTopiav epLTTLTTTOVGi Stct TO fxrjTe vrjaov /xtjt'
aKpav rj7T€Lpov p,-qre vavv irepav TrXiqalov VTrdp-
')(Ovaav opdodaL' d^evoL yap TravreXcng ol tottoi
/cat (TTTavLovs exovreg tovs vavai hiaKop.il,oix€vovs .
6 ;)(a>pt? Se tovtojv tcjv KaKwv 6 KXvhcov iv d/capet
Xpovii) rip KvreL rrjg vewg roaovro ttXtjOos dpip.ov
TTpoa^dXXei Kat avcraajpeveL TrapaSo^cos ware rov
kvkXco tottov TTepLX(iJVvvadai /cat ro aKd(f)os
wcTTTep iTTLrrjSes evheapieveadai rfj x^P^V'
7 Ot Se TOVTCp TO) aupLTTTivpiaTL TTeptTTeaovres to p-ev
TrpdJTOV /xerptajs" obvpovrat rrpos Ka)(f)rjv eprjpiiav,
ov TTavreXws drreyvcoKores et? riXos ^ rrjv acorrjpLav
TToXXdKlS yap TOLS TOLOVrOlS iTTKJiavels 6 TTJS
vXrjpivpLSos kXv8cov e^TJpev et? vijjos, Kai rovg
iaxdrojs KivSvvevovras cvoTrepel 9e6s emcfiavelg
Ste^uAafet'' orav Se diro p.€v rojv decov 'q rrpoeipr)-
p.evrj pur] TrapaKoXovdiqarj ^oiqdeta, rd Se rrjs
Tpo(f)-fjs XiTTTj, rovg pikv dadevearepovs ol /car-
laxvovres eK^dXXovaiv els ddXarrav, ottojs rots
dXlyois rd XeiTTOpLeva ra)v dvayKaLcov TrXeLovag
■qpiepas dvrexjj, Trepas Se Trdaas rds eXniSas
i^aXelifjavTes dTToXXwrai ttoXv x^^pov rdjv TTpoano-
davovTOiV ol pLev ydp ev a/cape t xpdvcp rd irvevpia
^ So WesselJng, Vogel, Tpocfirjs MSS., Bekker, awrrjpias
Dindorf, dvauTpo^^? Bezzel, Coniecturae Diodoreae, 10 f.
* ets reXos deleted by Dindorf, Vogel, retained by Bekker.
^ The reference is to the " epiphany " of a god in tragedy,
effected by the use of a " machine " which suddenly hoisted
204
BOOK III. 40. 5-7
deeper than a man's height, and when in their efforts
to rescue their vessel by means of their punting-poles
they accomphsh nothing, they jettison everything
except their provisions ; but if even by this course
they do not succeed in effecting an escape, they fall
into great perplexity by reason of the fact that they
can make out neither an island nor a promontory nor
another ship near at hand ; — for the region is alto-
gether inhospitable and only at rare intervals do men
cross it in ships. And to add to these evils the waves
Avithin a moment's time cast up such a mass of sand
against the body of the ship and heap it up in so
incredible a fashion that it soon piles up a mound
round about the place and binds the vessel, as if of
set purpose, to the solid land.
Now the men who have suffered this mishap, at the
outset bewail their lot with moderation in the face of a
deaf wilderness, having as yet not entirely abandoned
hope of ultimate salvation ; for oftentimes the swell
of the flood-tide has intervened for men in such a
plight and raised the ship aloft, and suddenly appear-
ing, as might a deus ex machina, has brought succour to
men in the extremity of peril. ^ But when such god-
sent aid has not been vouchsafed to them and their
food fails, then the strong cast the weaker into the
sea in order that for the few left the remaining
necessities of life may last a greater number of days.
But finally, when they have blotted out of their minds
all their hopes, these perish by a more miserable
fate than those who had died before ; for whereas
the latter in a moment's time returned to Nature
him into view, that he might offer to the problems of the
tragedy a solution which was beyond the power of mortals
to foresee or bring to pass.
205
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTJ SovoT) (f)va€L ttolXiv oLTTeScoKav, ol 8' els 77oAAa?
raXaLTTCopias KarafxepLcravres rov ddvarov ttoXv-
XpovLovs ras avpL(f>opa9 e)(Ovres rrjg tov ^lov
8 Karacrrpocfyris rvyxo-vovai. ra Se GKd(f)rj ravra
Tcov eiTi^artov olKrpays arepr]6evra, KadaTTcp tlvol
K€vord<f>La, hiajxevei ttoXvv )(p6vov TTavra)(66€v
TTepix^vvvixeva, rovs 8' lcttovs Kal rag Acepata?
yiereojpovs e^ovra TToppcoOev rovs opaJvrag els
OLKTOV /cat avfjLTrddetav ayet rcov aTToXcoXorajv .
TTpoarayfJia ydp iari jSacrtAecu? idv rd roLavra
avpLTTTd>p.ara rols TrXeovat Bcaa-qnaLveiv rovs rov
9 oXedpov TrepiTTOLOvvras roTtovs. irapd he rots
rrXiqaiov KaroiKovaiv \)(dvo(f>ayoLs Trapahehorai
Xoyos, e/c TTpoyovcov exojv (j)vXarrojxevriv rrjv
<f>'q[j,riv, on fieydX-qs Tiro? yevopLevrjs dpLTTchrecos
eyedjdiq rod koXttov irds o tottos 6 nqv y(Xa)pdv
exoyv rov rvirov '^ TrpoaoipLV, jjLeraTreaovarjs rrjs
daXdrrrjs els rdvavria p^epr], Kal (fyaveiaris rrjs em
rep ^vdo) x^porov rrdXiv ineXOovaav e^aiaiov
TrX'qp.rjv diroKaraarrjaaL rov nopov eis rrjv Trpoij-
Tfdpxovoav rd^LV.
41. 'Atto 8e rovrcDV rcov rorrcov rov fxev diro
WroXepiathos TrapdnXovv ecos rcov Tavpcov aKpcorr]-
ptcov TTpoetp-qKapiev, ore UroXepLaLov rrjV rdJv
eXe<f>dvrcov Qiqpav dmqyyeiXapiev' (Xtto 8e rcov
Tavpcov e7TLarpe(j)ei p-ev 7) TrapaXios rrpos rds
dvaroXds, Kara 8e rrjV depivrjv rpoTrrjV at cr/ctat
TTLTTrovGL TTpos p.earjp.^pLav evavrtcDS rals Trap
^ TVTTOV Eichstadt : ronov.
^ The older commentators saw in this story a memory of
the miraculous passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea.
2o6
BOOK III. 40. 7-41. I
the spirit which she had given them, these par-
celled out their death into many separate hard-
ships before they finally, suffering long-protracted
tortures, were granted the end of life. As for the
ships which have been stripped of their crews in this
pitiable fashion, there they remain for many years,
like a group of cenotaphs, embedded on every side
in a heap of sand, their masts and yard-arms still
standing aloft, and they move those who behold them
from afar to pity and sympathy for the men who have
perished. For it is the king's command to leave in
place such evidences of disasters that they may give
notice to sailors of the region which works their
destruction. And among the Ichthyophagi who
dwell near by has been handed down a tale which
has preserved the account received from their fore-
fathers, that once, when there was a great receding
of the sea, the entire area of the gulf which has what
may be roughly described as the green appearance
became land, and that, after the sea had receded to
the opposite parts and the solid ground in the depths
of it had emerged to view, a mighty flood came back
upon it again and returned the body of water to its
former place. ^
41. The voyage along the coast, as one leaves these
regions, from Ptolemais as far as the Promontories
of the Tauri we have already mentioned, when we
told of Ptolemy's hunting of the elephants ^ ; and from
the Tauri the coast swings to the east, and at the time
of the summer solstice the shadows fall to the south,
opposite to what is true with us, at about the second
' Cp. chap. 18. where, however, there is no mention of
either Ptolemais or the Promontories of the Tauri.
207
DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 rjfxTv o-xpi' TTpos (Zpav hevripav. €)(€L 8e /cat
TTorapLOVs 'q y^copa, plovras ii< roJv opcov rtov
TTpoaayopevopievwv Wej^aicov. SteiAT^TTTat he Kai
TreSioLS fieydXoLs (jyepovai jj.aXdx'f]^ Kal KaphdjJLov
Kal (j)OLViKos aTTLara pLeyeOrj- €K(f)epet. Se /cai
KapTTOVS TTavTOLOVS, rrjv p.ei' yevaiv e^ovra^
3 vatBpdv, dyvoovixevovg he irap r^plv. r] he rrpos
rrjv fxeaoyetov dvareivovaa vXijpi-jg eariv eXe^dvrojv
Kal ravpcov dypicov /cat Xeovrcov Kai ttoXXojv
aXXcov TTavTohaTTcov d-qpicov dXKifJLcov. 6 he iropo?
vriaoL'5 hLeiXrjTTTai Kapirov fxev ouSe^•a ^epovaais
Tjixepov, eKTpe<f)OVGaLS S' opvecov I'Sta yevrj Kal rats
4 TTpoaoipeaL davp.aard. rj 8' e^rjs ddXarra paOela
iravreXcjs eari, Kal ki^tt) <j>epei TravrohaTrd rrapd-
ho^a roZs pceyedeaiv, ov [xevTot XvTTOVvra rovs dv-
dpdoTTOVs, edu }xrj rig aKOvaiaJS avraJv rals Ao^tats-
TTepLTTearj' ov hvvavrat yap hiojKeiv rovs TrXeovrag,
d)S dv Kara rrjv e/c ^ ttj? daXdrrrjs dpaiv ajxavpov-
pLeva>v avTOLS rdJv 6p.ixdra)v vtto tou Kara tov
rjXiov <j>eyyovs- raura p.ev ovv ra {J-eprj rrjs
TpojyohuTLKrjg ea-^ara yvojpit,eTai, TrepLypa(f)Oixeva
rat? aKpais a? 6vop.dl,ovai 'Fe^aia?.
42. To S' d'AAo [xepos TTj? dvmrepas TrapaXiov to
TTpoaKeKXifievov 'Apa^ta 77aAti' dvaXMBovres aTTo
TOV pLv^ov hie^ifxev. ovrog yap ovoiid^eTai Hocret-
hetov, Ihpvaaiievov YloGeihajvi TreXayioi ^copLov
^ ApidTCDVOs TOV TreixcfiOePTOS vtto YlToXej^iaLov
Tjpog KaTaaKOTTTjv ttjs 'ea>s d)Keavov rraprjKovaT]?
^ eV added by Wcsseling.
2o8
BOOK III. 41. 1-42. I
hour of the day.^ The country also has rivers, which
flow from the Psebaean mountains, as they are called.
Moreover, it is checkered by great plains as well,
which bear mallows, cress, and palms, all of unbeliev-
able size ; and it also brings forth fruits of every
description, which have an insipid taste and are
unknowTi among us. That part which stretches
towards the interior is full of elephants and wild bulls
and lions and many other powerful wild beasts of
every description. The passage by sea is broken up
by islands which, though they bear no cultivated fruit,
support varieties of birds which are peculiar to them
and marvellous to look upon. After this place the
sea is quite deep and produces all kinds of sea-
monsters of astonishing size, which, however, offer
no harm to men unless one by accident falls upon their
back-fins ; for they are unable to pursue the sailors,
since when they rise from the sea their eyes are
blinded by the brilliance of the sun. These, then, are
the farthest known parts of the Trogodyte country,
and are circumscribed by the ranges which go by the
name of Psebaean.
42. But we shall now take up the other side,
namely, the opposite shore which forms the coast of
Arabia, and shall describe it, beginning ^v^th the
innermost recess. This bears the name Poseideion,^
since an altar was erected here to Poseidon Pelagius ^
by that Ariston who was dispatched by Ptolemy to
investigate the coast of Arabia as far as the ocean.
^ The direction of the shadow to the south at about 7 a.m.
on June 21st shows that the place was south of the tropic
of Cancer.
'^ The Roman Posidium, the present Ras-Mohammed, at
the southern tip of the Peninsula of Sinai (cp. Strabo 16. 4. 18).
209
DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 'Apa^iaj. €^T]S Se tov [xv^ov r ottos icrrl Trapada-
Xdrrios o TLfJ-wfJievog viro rcbv eyx^ujpiojv Stat/ie-
povTcos Slol rr]u evxpf]crTLav ttjv i^ avTov. ovtos
S' op'o/Lia^erat jxev ^olvikwv, ex^i- Se ttXtjOos rovrov
tov (f)VTOV TToXvKapTTOv Kad VTTep^oXrjV Kal TTpos
3 aTToXavaiv Kal Tpv(f)r)v ^ Sta^epov. Trdaa S' 'q avv-
eyyvs X^P^ arravL^eL vapLariaiajv vhdrojv kol 8ia
rrjv TTpos fiearjix^pLav eyKXioiv efiTTvpos VTrapx^i-' Sto
Kol TOV KaTd(/)VTOV TOTTOV, iv aTTavd pOiTTOTdTOLS OVTa
pLepeat /cat xopTjyovvTa to,? Tpo(f)ds, eiKOTCos ol ^dp-
^apot KadtepdjKaai. kol yap vSaTOS ovk oXiyai
TTTjyal Kat Ai^dSe? eKVLTTTOvaiV iv avTco, ipuxpoTrjTi
X^-ovos ovhkvXeLTTopL^vaf auratS e^ e/carepa to, /xe'prj
TO. KaTa TTjv ^ yriv x^^^P^ ttolovgl /cat Trai'TeAaJS'
4 iTTLTepTTTJ. ecTL 8e /cat /Soj/zo? e/c aTepeou XiOov
TTaXaLos Tols p^pofot?, iTTLypa(f)rjv ex^ov dpxaiois
ypdpLpiaaiv dyvcoaTOis. impLeXovTat, 8e tov re/ze-
vovs dvTjp /cat yvvq, Sta ^tou ti]!^ Upcoa-vvrjv
exovres. pLaKpo^LOL 8 etatr ot TrjSe KaToiKovvTes,
Kal Tas KOLTas eTn tcov hevhpcov exovat 8td tov
dno TCOV QrjpLOJV (j^o^ov.
5 IlapaTrAeuCTap'Tt 8e tov ^oLviKcJbva ^ TTpos aKpajTY]-
pLip Trjs TjireLpov vrjaos i<7Tiv aTTO tojv evavXit^o-
pievcov iv avTjj ^wa)V Ooj/ccDi^ vijaos di^o/xa^oyLtei/r^*
ToaovTO yap ttXtjOos Toiv' drjpcajv tovtcov ivhiaTpi^eL
ToZs TOTTOLs coaTe 6avpt.dl,eLv tovs ISovTas. to Se
TTpoK€Lp.evov aKpojTrjpLov TTJs VQOOV /cetTat KaTa
TTjv KaXovpievqv HeTpav Kal ttjv HaXaiaTLvrjv '^
^ hiaTpo(jiT]v n. ^ TTJV omitted by D, Vogel.
* So Dindorf : ioiviKovvTa.
* ri]s 'Apa^Las after UaXaLOTLvrjv deleted by Vogel, placed
after Xlerpav by Salmasius, Bekker, Dindoif.
2IO
BOOK III. 42. 1-5
Directly after the innermost recess is a region along-
the sea which is especially honoured by the natives
because of the advantage which accrues from it to
them. It is called the Palm-grove and contains a
multitude of trees of this ^ kind which are exceed-
ingly fruitful and contribute in an unusual degree to
enjoyment and luxury. But all the country round
about is lacking in springs of water and is fiery hot
because it slopes to the south ; accordingly, it was a
natural thing that the barbarians made sacred the
place which was full of trees and, lying as it did in the
midst of a region utterly desolate, supplied their food.
And indeed not a few springs and streams of water
gush forth there, which do not yield to snow in
coldness ; and these make the land on both sides of
them green and altogether pleasing. Moreover, an
altar is there built of hard stone and veiy old in years,
bearing an inscription in ancient letters of an unknown
tongue. The oversight of the sacred precinct is in the
care of a man and a woman who hold the sacred office
for life. The inhabitants of the place are long-lived
and have their beds in the trees because of their fear
of the wild beasts.
After sailing past the Palm-grove one comes to an
island off a promontory of the mainland which bears
the name Island of Phocae ^ from the animals which
make their home there ; for so great a multitude of
these beasts spend their time in these regions as to
astonish those who behold them. And the promon-
tory which stretches out in front of the island lies over
against Petra, as it is called, and Palestine ; for to
^ i.e. date-palms,
a Seals.
211
DIODORUS OF SICILY
els yap ravrrjv rov re Xt^avov Kal rd'AAa (ftoprla ra
TTpos evco^Lau avqKovTa KardyovaLV, ojs Adyos",
CK rrjs dvco \eyop,ivris 'Apa^uag ol re Teppaloc Kal
MivaloL.^
43. Tr^v 8 €^rjs TTapadaXdrriov to p-ev TraXaiov
evepioVTO Mapavtrat, /xera Se ravra Vapivhavels,
6vT€s TrXTjai-o^copoL. TT^v Sc )(a)pav Kareaxov roLcohl
TLVL rpOTTO)- iv TW TTpoadeV Xe)(d€VTL ^OLVtKCJVL
avvreXoup^evr^s Travqyvpeojs TrevTa€Tr]pLKrjg e(f)oircx)v
■7TavTa-)(696v OL irepLOLKOL, KapLiqXcov ev redpapipLevcov
eKarop^^as rols eV ro) re/xeVet deols Ouaovres,
6p.otcos Se Kat, rdJv vhdrcjv tojv ef avrov KopLLOvvres
eis TOLS TTarpiSas Sia to Trapahihoadai rovro to ttotov
TTapaaKevd^eiv toI? TTpooeveyKafxevoLS ttjv vyieiav.
2 Sia St] TavTa? Tas alTtag tcov MapavLTOJv KaTav-
TiqadvTOjv elg Trjv Travqyvptv, at TapLvSaveig tovs
fiev aTToXeXeLpipievovs iv Tjj X'^P^- KO.Taa(^d^avTes ,
Tou? S' eK TTJg TTavqyvpeoJS irravLovTas iveSpevaav-
re? hilcjiOeLpav, eprjp.ojaavTe'S Se tt^v ^ajpai^ tojv
OLKT^Topcov KaTeKXiqpov)(riaav rrehia KapTTOcjyopa Kat
3 vopids Totg KTiqveaL Saj/dAei? eKTpe^ovTa. avTr] 8'
'q TTapdXios AijueVa? pi^v oXtyovs ^X^'-> 8ietA7^7TTat 8
opeoL TTVKVoXg Kal pieydXoLg, e'f (Lv TravToia? ttolkl-
Xias iJ^poj/xaTtot' e^ovaa davp.aaTr]V rrapex^TaL deav
Tols TTapaTrXeovat.
4 HapanXevaavTi 8e TavTiqv tt^v ;^6ijpar CKSe^^TaL
koXttos AaiavLTTjs, TrepioLKovpLCvos TToXXals KcapLais
^Apd^ojv TCOV 7Tpoaayop€Uop,eva>v J^a^aTalcov.
OVTOC 8e TToXXrjv p.€v TTJg TTapaXiov vepLOVTai, ovk
^ So Dindorf : Mtvvdioi
212
BOOK III. 42. 5-43. 4
this country, as it is reported, both the Gerrhaeans
and Minaeans convey from Upper Arabia, as it is
called, both the frankincense and the other aromatic
wares.
43. The coast which comes next was originally
inhabited by the Maranitae, and then by the Garin-
danes who were their neighbours. The latter
secured the country somewhat in this fashion : In
the above-mentioned Palm-grove a festival was
celebrated every four years, to which the neighbour-
ing peoples thronged from all sides, both to sacrifice
to the gods of the sacred precinct hecatombs of well-
fed camels and also to carry back to their native lands
some of the water of the place, since the tradition
prevailed that this drink gave health to such as
partook of it. When for these reasons, then, the
Maranitae gathered to the festival, the Garindanes,
putting to the sword those who had been left behind
in the country, and lying in ambush for those who
were returning from the festival, utterly destroyed
the tribe, and after stripping the country of its
inhabitants they divided among themselves the
plains, which were fruitful and supplied abundant
pasture for their herds and flocks. This coast has
few harbours and is divided by many large moun-
tains, by reason of which it shows every shade of
colour and affords a marvellous spectacle to those who
sail past it.
After one has sailed past this country the Laeanites
Gulf ^ comes next, about which are many inhabited
villages of Arabs who are known as Nabataeans.
This tribe occupies a large part of the coast and not a
^ Diodonis turns north into the modern Gulf of Akaba,
the " Aelanites " Gulf of Strabo 16. 4. 18.
213
DIODORUS OF SICILY
oXiyrjv Se /cat rrjs els ^eaoyeiov dvrjKovar)? )((x}pas,
rov re Xaov diJLv9r]TOv e-^ovres kol dpeix^xaTOjv
5 dyeAa? aTncrrovs rols TrXiqOeaLV. ot to fxkv TraAaiov
i^ijyov ^ SiKaLoavvTj ^P^f^^^oL /cat rat? 0.776 rcbv
dpeix/j-drcov rpocj^als dpKovpLevoi, varepov Se rcjv
diro TTJs AXe^avSpeias ^aaiXeojv ttXojtov rot?
ifXTTopoLg TTOLTjadvTcov Tov TTopov ToXs TC vavayovoiv
eTreridevro /cat Xr^arpLKa OKd^r] KaraaK€vdl,ovT€S
iXi^arevov rovs TrXeovras , /xi/i.ou/J.evot rds" dypiorr]-
ra? /cat 7rapavo/xta? rcov iv ro) YIovtco Tavpcov
/Lterd Se raura XrjcjiOevTe? vtto TeTpr]piKdJv GKa^cov
TreAdytoi TrpoarjKovrcos eKoXdcrOrjaav.
6 Merd Se tovtous tous tottovs vvdpx^i- X^P^
TreStds" KardppvTOSy e/crpe'^ofCTa Std rd? Trdvrrj
hiappeovcrag TT-qyas dypcoariv /cat fX7]biKiqv, eVt
Se AcoToi' dvhpoixrjKit). Std Se to ttXtjOos /cat ttjv
dperrjv rrjg vofxrjs ov jjlovov Krr]va)v TravToSaTrajv
dfJLvdrjrov iKrpe(f)et TrXrjdog, dXXd /cat KapLrjXovs
7 aypias, en o eAacpovs /cat oopKaoas. rrpos oe to
TrXrjOos TCJV evrpecjioixevcov t,(pojv (poLrcvaiv e/c t^?
eprjfiov Xeovrcov /cat Au/ca>i^ /cat 7rap8dAea)i' dye'Aat,
TTpos as OL KTiqvorpo^ovvres dvayKdt^ovrai /cat
lied^ rj/xepav /cat vvKTCop drjpLopiax^lv vnep rwv
dpefjiixdrcov ovrco to ttjs ;!^ajpa? evrvxripia tols
KaTOLKovaiv dTV^io-s aiTiov yiveTai Std to ttjv
(j)vaLV cos emvav toZs dvOpcorroLS [xeTa t(x>v dyadcov
StSoi^at Ta ^XdiTTOVTa.
44. IlapaTrAeuaav'Tt Se Td vreSta TavTa koXttos
e/c8e';)(eTat TrapdSo^ov e-^oiv tyjv cf^vaLV. avvvevet,
fjLev yap els tov pLV)(ov ttjs ;\;ajpa?, tco /Ltry/cet S
em GTaSlovs nevTaKoaiovs napeKTeiveTai, irepi-
^ 8i,^yov Cobet ; Vogel suggests Su^ijyov.
2r4
BOOK III. 43. 4-44. I
little of the country which stretches inland, and it has
a people numerous beyond telling and flocks and
herds in multitude beyond belief. Now in ancient
times these men observed justice and were content
with the food which they received from their flocks,
but later, after the kings in Alexandria had made the
ways of the sea navigable for their mei-chants, these
Arabs not only attacked the ship^\TCcked, but fitting
out pirate ships preyed upon the voyagers, imitating
in their practices the savage and lawless ways of the
Tauri of the Pontus ^ ; some time afterward, however,
they were caught on the high seas by some quadri-
remes and punished as they deserved.
Beyond these regions there is a level and well-
watered stretch of land which produces, by reason of
springs which flow through its whole extent, dog's-
tooth grass, lucerne, and lotus as tall as a man. And
because of the abundance and excellent quality of
the pasturage, not only does it support every manner
of flocks and herds in multitude beyond telling, but
also wild camels, deer, and gazelles. And against
the multitude of animals which are nourished in that
place there gather in from the desert bands of lions
and wolves and leopards, against which the herdsmen
must perforce battle both day and night to protect
their charges ; and in this way the land's good fortune
becomes a cause of misfortune for its inhabitants,
seeing that it is generally Nature's way to dispense to
men along with good things what is hurtful as well.
44. Next after these plains as one skirts the coast
comes a gulf of extraordinary nature. It runs,
namely, to a point deep into the land, extends in
length a distance of some five hundred stades, and
1 The Black Sea.
215
VOL. II. H
DIODORUS OF SICILY
KXeioixevos 8e KprjfivoL^ davfiaarioig to fjieyedos;
OKoXiov Kai hvai^LTOV ep^et ro arojxa' aXirevovs
yap TTerpas tov eiGirXovv SiaXafi^avovarjg ovr'
elaTrXevuai hvvarov iariv et? rov koXttov ovt
2 eKTrXeuaai. Kara he rag rov pov TrpoaTTraxjeLs Ka\
ras rcbv ave/iojv ptera^oXag 6 kXvSojv TrpoaTTiTTrcov
rfj poiX^'O. KaxXd^ei Kal rpaxvverai Travrrj rrepl
rr]V TTapiJKOuaav Trerpav. ol Se rrjv Kara rov
koXttov ;^ojpav vepLOfJievoi, Bavt^o/xei^et? ouofxa^o-
pcevoL, ras rpo^as exovai Kvvr^yovvreg Kal aapKO(j)a-
yovvres ra p^e/Dcrata ^oja. lepov 8' ayid>rarov
Ihpvrat, rLixcofxevov vtto Travrojv *Apd^ajv Trepir-
r ore pov.
3 'E^Tj? Se rrj Trpoeiprjpiivri TrapaXia vrjaoi rpets
eTTLKeLvrai, At/xeVa? TTOiovcrat TrXeiovs. Kal rov-
rojv rrjV fxev Trpcorr^v laropovaiv vnapx^i-v lepdv
"IctiSos", eprjjJLov ovaav, TraXaiow 8' oIkccov ex^iv
XiOivas VTToardOpias Kai ariqXas ypdiJLp.aui ^ap^api-
KOiS K€xo.payjX€vas' 6fxoia>'5 8e Kal rds aAAa?
eprjpuovs VTrapx^i-v ndaas S^ eXataig KaraTT€<f>vr€vadaL
4 hia(j)6pois ra>v Trap rjjjLtv. jJierd Se rds v^aovs
ravras alyiaXos rrapiqKeL KprjpivcaSrjs Kal Svanapd-
ttXovs 6771 arabiovs d)s ;^tAtous" ovre yap Xljxtjv
ovre udXos ctt dyKvpas VTroKeirai rots' vauriXois,
ov XV^V '^ Bvvajjievr] rolg aTTopovfxevoLS rwv TrXeov-
rcjv rr]V dvayKatav VTTohuatv Trapaaxeadai. opos
8e ravrrj TrapdKeirai Kara pikv ^ Kopucfirjv Trerpas
aTToropidbas ^xov Kai rots vipeat KaranXrjKrLKds,
VTTO Se rds pit,as amXdSas o^eias Kal TTVKvds
ivdaXdrrovs Kal KaroTTiv avrwv (f)dpayyas inrofie-
* ov xv^V Hudson : ovx v^'rj-
2l6
BOOK III. 44. 1-4
shut in as it is by crags which are of wondrous size, its
mouth is winding and hard to get out of; for a rock
which extends into the sea obstructs its entrance and
so it is impossible for a ship either to sail into or out
of the gulf. Furthermore, at times when the current
rushes in and there are frequent shiftings of the winds,
the surf, beating upon the rocky beach, roars and
rages all about the projecting rock. The inhabitants
of the land about the gulf, who are known as Banizo-
menes, find their food by hunting the land animals
and eating their meat. And a temple has been set
up there, which is very holy and exceedingly revered
by all Arabians.
Next there are three islands which lie off the coast
just described and provide numerous harbours. The
first of these, history relates, is sacred to Isis and is
uninhabited, and on it are stone foundations of ancient
dwellings and stelae which are inscribed with letters
in a barbarian tongue ; the other two islands are like-
wise uninhabited and all three are covered thick with
olive trees which differ from those we have. Beyond
these islands there extends for about a thousand
stades a coast which is precipitous and difficult for
ships to sail past ; for there is neither harbour
beneath the cliffs nor roadstead where sailors may
anchor, and no natural breakwater which affords
shelter in emergency for mariners in distress. And
parallel to the coast here runs a mountain range at
whose summit are rocks which are sheer and of a
terrifying height, and at its base are sharp undersea
ledges in many places and behind them are ravines
which are eaten away underneath and turn this way
* rrjv after /xfv omitted DF, Vogel.
217
DIODORUS OF SICILY
5 ^pco[X€vag Kal cr/coAia?. crvvTerp-qfJievojv 5' avrojv
TTpog dAAT^Aa?, Kai rrjs daXdrrrjs f^ddos ixovcrrj';,
6 kXvSojv TTore fxev elarTTLTTTCOv, rrore Se ttoXlct-
avrwv ^poixo) fieyaXo) TTapaTrXr^aiov "qx*^^ i^i-qai.
rod Se kXv8covo£ to fxev rrpos [xeydXag Trerpag
TTpoaaparropi&vov et? vijjos lararat Kai rov d<j)p6v
Oavjiaaroi' to ttXtjOos KaTaoKevd^ei,, to Se /cara-
TTivopevov KOiXayfxaai ■"■ avaapLov KaTaTrXqKTLKov
Trapex^i-, cuCTxe tous aKovaicos eyyiaavras toXs
TOTTOLS Sid TO Se'o? OLOvel 7T poairoOvrjUKeLv .
6 Tavrriv jxev ovu ttjv TvapdXiov exouatv "Apa^es
ol KaXovpievoL QapiovSr^voL' rrjv S' e^'^s' iTrex^i
koXttos evp-eyeOrj^, eTTiKeipt-evcov avTcv viqaiov UTTopa-
Siov, TYjV TTpoooxjjiv ixovGOJV op^olav Tals KaXovpce-
vat? 'E^tmat VT]aoLg. eKhexovTai Se TavT-qv ttjv
TiapdXiov dipioi dives app-ov Krard re to pirJKOs Kai
7 TO TrXdros, pieXaves ttjv xP^'^^- P-^'T'd Se tovtovs
opaTat x^PP^^V^^^ '^^'' Xip,7]v KraAAtaros' tcov ei?
loTopiav TreTTTCoKOTCov, 6vopial,6pL€vos yiappiovdas.
VTTO yap XV^V^ i^aiatov K€KXip,€vrjv TTpos l^e<pvpov
koXttos iaTLV ov pLovov /card tt^v ISeav davpiaaTos,
dXXd Kal Kara ttjv €vxp'f]crTLav ttoXv tovs dXXovs
VTrepix^^' TTaprjKei yap avrov opos avvr]p€(f)es,
KVKXovpievov 7TavTaxo9ev errl OTahiovs eKaTov,
etanXovv 8' e;;^et SiTrXeOpov, vaval Siaxi-XLai.s
8 aKXvaTOV Xipceva 7Tapexop.evos. xotpt? Se tovtojv
€vv8p6s r' iuTL Kad" vrrep^oX-qv, 7TOTap.ov pi€it,ovos
els avTOV €}x^dXXovTOS , Kal Kara p-eaov e';!^et vrjaov
evvSpov Kal 8vvapLev7]v ex^i-v K-qTrevpiaTa. KadoXov
S' €pi(f)€peaTaT6s icm tco Kara ttjv Ka^op^r^Sdva
^ So Wurm : /fot'Aw//a.
2l8
BOOK III. 44. 4-8
and that. And since these ravines are connected
by passages with one another and the sea is deep, the
surf, as it at one time rushes in and at another time
retreats, gives forth a sound resembhng a mighty
crash of thunder. At one place the surf, as it breaks
upon huge rocks, leaps on high and causes an astonish-
ing mass of foam, at another it is swallowed up wdthin
the caverns and creates such a terrifying agitation of
the waters that men who unwittingly draw near
these places are so frightened that they die, as it
were, a first death.
This coast, then, is inhabited by Arabs who are called
Thamudeni ; but the coast next to it is bounded by
a very large gulf, off which lie scattered islands which
are in appearance very much like the islands called
the Echinades.^ After this coast there come sand
dunes, of infinite extent in both length and width
and black in colour. Beyond them a neck of land
is to be seen and a harbour, the fairest of any which
have come to be included in history, called Char-
muthas. For behind an extraordinary natural break-
water which slants towards the west there lies a gulf
which not only is marvellous in its form but far
surpasses all others in the advantages it offers ; for a
thickly wooded mountain stretches along it, enclosing
it on all sides in a ring one hundred stades long ; its
entrance is two plethra A\1de, and it provides a harbour
undisturbed by the waves sufficient for two thousand
vessels. Furthermore, it is exceptionally well supplied
with water, since a river, larger than ordinary, empties
into it, and it contains in its centre an island which
is abundantly watered and capable of supporting
gardens. In general, it resembles most closely the
^ Now called the Kurtzolares, off the Gulf of Coimth.
219
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Xi^evL, TTpoaayopeuofjLevcp Se K.a)6covL, Trepi ov
TOLS Kara [xepos ev-)(priaTias iv rots OLKeioig
XpovoL^ TreLpaaopieda hieXdelv. l^Ovcjov Se ttXyjOos
eK rrjs /xeyaArj? daXdrr-qg els avTov a.dpoil,erai Sta
re TTjv vrjvepLiav /cat ttjv yXvKvrrjTa rdv el<s avrov
peovroiv uSarcDV'.
45, WapajTrXe-vaavri he rovg tottovs tovtovs
opr) TTevre SLeaTrjKora dXXnjXcov elg vifjos dvareivet,,
avvayopievas e^ovTa rds Kopv<l>ds els TrerpcoBr]
liaarov, TrapaTrX'qaiov ^avTaaiav aTToreXovvra raZs
2 /car' K'iyvTTTOV Trvpapduiv. e^rjs 8' earl koXttos
KVKXoreprjS pceydXois dKpojrrj plots Trepiexop-evos,
ov Kara jxea'qv rrjv Stdp-erpov dvearrjKe X6(f)OS
rpaTTet,oeihrjS, ecf)' ov rpeZs vaol davpuaarol rots
vifjeaiv cpKohop.'qvraL decov, dyvoovp-evcov fxev vtto
rdjv 'KXXijvcov, ripiiDpevcDV S vtto rcbv eyxooplcov
3 hia^epovrajs > p-erd Se ravra alyiaXos rrapiqKei
Kddvypos , vapLarialoLs Kal yXvKeat peiOpois 8ieiXr]p,-
pievos' ^ Kad^ ov ecrriv opos 6vopiat,6p.evov p.ev
yia^LVOV, 8pvp.OLS Se TravroBanois 7Te7TVKvojp.evov.
rrjv Se -)(^epaov rrjv ixopievrjv rijs dpeivi^s vepiovrai
4 ru)v ^Apd^cov ol KaXovpcevoi Ae)Sai. ovroi Se
Kapir]Xorpocf>ovvres rrpos dnavra ^poJvraL rd p.e-
yiara rCov Kard rdv ^iov rfj rod ^coov rovrov
Xpela' TTpds p-ev ydp rovs TvoXepnovs diro rovrcov
pid^ovrai, rds Se Kopuhds riov <j)oprloJv em rovrwv
<f)opovvres ^ paSlws dnavra avvreXovai, ro Se
yaAa TTivovres dno rovrcov hiarpe^ovrai, Kal rrjv
oXt]v xojpav TrepLTToXovcriv ern rdJv hpopidhcov
5 KapirjXcxiv. Kard Se piecnqv rrjV )(a)pav avrdjv
'■ So Wesseling : KareiXyjuixevos-
^ <f>opovvTes A, vuno(f>opovvres Other M5S., all editors.
220
BOOK III. 44. 8-45. 5
harbour of Carthage, which is known as Cothon, of
the advantages of which we shall endeavour to give
a detailed discussion in connection with the ap-
propriate time. ^ And a multitude of fish gather from
the open sea into the harbour both because of the
calm which prevails there and because of the sweetness
of the waters which flow into it.
45. After these places, as a man skirts the coast,
five mountains rise on high separated one from
another, and their peaks taper into breast-shaped
tips of stone which give them an appearance like that
of the p}Tamids of Egypt. Then comes a circular
gulf guarded on every side by great promontories,
and midway on a line drawn across it rises a trapez-
ium-shaped hill on which three temples, remarkable
for their height, have been erected to gods, which
indeed are unknown to the Greeks, but are accorded
unusual honour by the natives. After this there is
a stretch of dank coast, traversed at intervals by
streams of sweet water from springs ; on it there is
a mountain which bears the name Chabinus and is
heavily covered with thickets of every kind of tree.
The land which adjoins the mountainous country is
inhabited by the Arabs knoAvn as Debae. They are
breeders of camels and make use of the services of this
animal in connection with the most important needs
of their life ; for instance, they fight against their
enemies from their backs, employ them for the
conveyance of their wares and thus easily accomplish
all their business, drink their milk and in this way get
their food from them, and traverse their entire country
riding upon their racing camels. And down the
centre of their country runs a river which carries
1 This description was probably in Book 32.
221
DIODORUS OF SICILY
4>ep€Tai TTora/xo? rooovro ^(pvaov KaTa(j>epo}V
ifjTJyixa (fyaivopievov More Kara ra? eK^oXag rrjv
IXvv aTTOijilpeadai TTepLartX^ouaav. ol S' iyxcopLoi
rrjg jjiev epyaolas rTJs rod ■)(pvoov TravreXoos clolv
aVetpot, (f)iX6^evoi 8' VTrdpxovoiv , ov Trpos navrag
rovs a.(f)LKVovp.€VOvg , dXXa TTpo? p-ovovs rov? drro
BoicuTta? Kal IleXoTTOwqoov Sta riva TTaXaidv
d(f)' 'HpaKXeovg oiKeior'qra Trpos ro edvos, t]v
pvdiKoJs iaurovs TrapetATj^eVai rrapd rojv irpoyovcov
loropovoLv.
6 *H 8' earl's X^P^ KaroiKelrai p,ev vtto *Apd^aji>
^ AXiXaUou Kal TaaavSojv, ovk epirvpos ovoa KaOa-
rrep at TrX-qolou, dXXd /xaAa/cat? ^ Kal Saoetais
ve<l)€Xai? TToXXdKLs Karexppivq' eV 8e rovrcov
veroL '^ yivovrai Kal ;^eiju,tuves" evKaipot Kal voLovvres
rr)v depLvrjv oopav evKparov. t] re X^P^ 7Tdp.(l>opos
ion Kal Sidcfyopog Kara rrjv dperiqv, ov p.evroL
rvyxdvei rrjg evSexopevrjs eTTtpeXeias 8td Tr]V raJv
7 Xawv direLpiav. rov he xpv(^ov evpioKOvres ev rols
(jiVOiKOLS VTTOVopLOis rrjs yrjg ovvdyouoi ttoXvv, ov
rov eK rov i[j-qyp,aros ovvrrjKopevov , dXXd rov avro-
cjivrj Kal KaXovpevov drro rod ovp^e^rjKoros dnvpov.
Kara 8e ro p.eyedog eAap^taros" pev evpioKerai
TTaparrXi^OLog Trvprjvi, peyiarog Se ov rroXv Xenro-
8 p.evos ^aoiXiKov Kapvov. ^opovoL 8 avrov Trepi
re rovs Kapnovs rajv ;^eipajv arat Trepl rovs rpax'r}-
^ For jxaXaKals Bezzel suggests [leXaCyais ; for Saaeiais
Capps suggests Spoaepats (Arist. Nubes 338).
^ So Wesseling (cp. Agatliarchides 9G) : vLifxroL
222
BOOK III. 45. 5-8
down such an amount of what is gold dust to all
appearance that the mud glitters all over as it is
carried out at its mouth. The natives of the region
are entirely without experience in the working of the
gold, but they are hospitable to strangers, not, how-
ever, to everyone who arrives among them, but only
to Boeotians and Peloponnesians, the reason for this
being the ancient friendship shown by Heracles for
the tribe, a friendship which, they relate, has come
dowTi to them in the form of a myth as a heritage
from their ancestors.
The land which comes next is inhabited by Alilaei
and Gasandi, Arab peoples, and is not fiery hot, like
the neighbouring territories, but is often overspread
by mild ^ and thick clouds, from which come heavy
showers and timely storms that make the summer
season temperate. The land produces everything
and is exceptionally fertile, but it does not receive
the cultivation of which it would admit because of the
lack of experience of the folk. Gold they discover in
underground galleries which have been formed by
nature and gather in abundance — not that which has
been fused into a mass out of gold-dust,^ but the virgin
gold, which is called, from its condition when found,
" unfired " gold. And as for size the smallest
nugget found is about as large as the stone of fruit,^
and the largest not much smaller than a royal nut.
This gold they wear about both their wrists and necks,
1 The text may be corrupt; " dark and thick " and " mild
and dewy " have been suggested (cp. critical note).
- i.e. fused into artificial nuggets.
^ The word puren was used for the stone of any stone-
fruit, such as olive, pomegranate, grape, and was, therefore,
a very indefinite term of measurement; the "royal nut,"
mentioned below, however, was the Persian walnut.
223
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Aovs", T€Tprjfji€Vov ivaXXa^ XidoLS hia^aveai. /cat
Tovrov [xev rod yevovs €TnrToXal,ovTOS Trap avToZs,
■^oXkov 8e Koi aihripov OTravi^ovTOS , €7T laiqs
aXXdrTOvraL ravra to. (jiopria Trpos rovg epuTTopovs.
46. Mera 8e rovrovs VTrdpxovaiv ol ovojJLat^o-
jievoi Kap^ai, kol fxera rovrovs Sa^atot, ttoXvov-
d pixiTToraroL rcov ^ Apa^LKCJV idvcov ovres. vefiovrai,
Se rrjv evSaLfxova Xeyop.evr]v ^Apa^tav, <f>€povaav
rd TrXelara rojv irap^ rifxlv dyaOutv Kai dpep,-
jxaTcov TTavTohaTTCov eKrpei^ovaav ttXtjOos djxvdr^Tov.
evcoSla re ■*■ avTTjV Trdaav e7re;)^et (jyvaiKr] hid to
TTOvra crp^eSov rd raZs oapLals Trpajrevovra (f)veadai
2 Kara rrjv y^cLpav dveKXenrTa. /caret /xev yap Tqv
TvapdXiov (f)V€TaL to KaXovp-evov ^dXaafiov Kat
Kaala Kal rroa Tis dXXr] Ihidt^ovaav (J)Vglv ep^oucra"
avTr] Se 7Tp6a(j>aTOS [lev ovaa toIs ofXfxaoL Trpocrrjve-
aTdTTjV 7Tap4)(€Tai, Tepijjiv, ey^^^poviadeZaa Se crvvTO-
3 poo's ytVerat i^LTrjXos. /caret Se Tr]v pbeaoyeiov
V7Tdp)(OvaL hpvpLol avviqpec^eZs, /ca^' oris eart SeVSpa
peydXa Xi^avcuTOV /cat apupi'7]s, Trpos Se tovtols
(jiolvLKOS /cat KaXdp.ov /cat KLvap.cop.ov /cat tcov
dXXojv Tcov TOVTOLS opLOLav i^ovTajv rriv evcohiav
ovSk ydp e^apLdp-qaaoQai hvvaTOV rds eKdoTOjv
IhioTrjTds re /cat <f)vaeLs Std to ttXtjOos /cat ttjv
VTTep^oXrjV TTjS e/c TrdvTOJV dOpoil^opeviqs ocrpLrjs.
4 0eta ydp tls ^atVerat /cat Xoyov KpeLTTCov r] rrpoa-
^ T€ Bekker : re ydp.
224
BOOK III. 45. 8-46. 4
perforating it and alternating it with transparent
stones. And since this precious metal abounds in
their land, whereas there is a scarcity of copper and
iron, they exchange it with merchants for equal parts
of the latter wares. ^
46. Beyond this people are the Carbae, as they are
called, and beyond these the Sabaeans, who are the
most numerous of the tribes of the Arabians. They
inhabit that part of the country kno^^•n as Arabia the
Blest ,2 which produces most of the things which are
held dear among us and nurtures flocks and herds of
evei-y kind in multitude beyond telling. And a
natural sweet odour pervades the entire land be-
cause practically all the things which excel in
fragrance grow there unceasingly. Along the coast,
for instance, grow balsam, as it is called, and cassia
and a certain other herb possessing a nature peculiar
to itself; for when fresh it is most pleasing and
delightful to the eye, but when kept for a time it
suddenly fades to nothing. And throughout the
interior of the land there are thick forests, in which
are great trees which yield frankincense and myrrh,
as well as palms and reeds, cinnamon trees and every
other kind which possesses a sweet odour such
as these have ; for it is impossible to enumerate both
the peculiar properties and natures of each one
severally because of the great volume and the excep-
tional richness of the fragrance as it is gathered from
each and all. For a divine thing and beyond the power
of words to describe seems the fragrance which greets
' Here Diodorus departs radically from Agatharchides
(96), who says that thej' exchange one part of gold for three
of copper or two of iron; cp. Strabo 16. 4. 18.
^ The Arabia Felix of the Romans.
225
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTLTTTOvaa Kol KivovGa ra^ e/caaTCor aiadrjaeLS
evojhia. koI yap rovs irapaTrXeovTas , Kanrep
TToXv rrjs ;^epaoi; Kex^JopiopLevovg , ovk a/xotpou?
TTOiet TTjS roLavTTjg dnoXavaecos' Kara yap rrjv
depivrjv wpav, orav dve/xos arroyeLog yevrjTai,
avpL^aLvei rag arro ra>v aixvpvo(f>6pcx}v hivhpcov Kai
Tcov dXXa)v TcJbv TOLOvrcov OLTTOTTveoixevas eucoSia?
^UKvelaOaL Trpos rd TrXiqcriov jJiepr) rrj? daXdTTr]s'
ov yap wanep Trap rjjJLiv aTTOKeipievTqv /cat TTaXaidv
€;)^ei TTjV TCOV dpcofxaTaiv (f)vaLv, dXXd ttjv aKfxa-
^ovaav iv dvOet veapdv hvva[jiiv Kal SuKvovnevr^v
5 TTpos rd XerrroiJiepearara rij? aladiqaecos . KOfxi-
i,ovar]g yap rrjs avpas rrjV aTToppoiav rd)v evoiSe-
ardratv, rrpoaTriiTreL rols TTpoaTrXeovai rrjv rrapaXiov
TTpoarjveg Kal ttoXv, irpos 8e rovrois vyi^ivov /cat
Trapr]XXay[jL€Vov e/c rdJv dpiarcov yuypLa, ovre ^
rerpLTjixivov rod KapTTOV /cat rrjV ihcav aKjjLtjv
eKTreTTvevKOTOs , ovre rr)v aTTodeoiv k^ovros €P
erepoyeveaiv dyyeioLg, dAA' a77 avrrjs rrjs veapoira-
rrjs wpas /cat rov ^Xaarov aKepaiov TTapexopievrjs
rrjs deias 4>vaecog, ware rovg fieraXapL^avovras
rrjs ISLorrjros So/cetv aTToXaveLV rrjs [xvdoXoyov-
IxivTjS dp-^poaias Sia ro rrjv VTrep^oXrjv r-rjs
eytuSta? pLrjhefjiLav irepav evpioKeiv olKeiav irpoa-
rjyopcav.
47. Ov fjirjv oXoKXrjpov /cat iJ^ajpt? <f)96vov rrjv
evhaip^oviav rols dvOpdjTTOis rj Tvxr] TrepLeOrjKev,
dXXd rols rr]XLKovroLs Swpyjfiacn Trapel,ev^€ ro
^Xdirrov /cat vovderrjaov rovs Std rrjv avvex^iav
rojv dyadajv elojdoras Kara(f)poveLV rdv dedjv.
^ yap after ovre deleted by Dindorf.
226
BOOK III. 46. 4-47. I
the nostrils and stirs the senses of everyone. Indeed,
even though those who sail along this coast may be
far from the land, that does not deprive them of a
portion of the enjoyment which this fragrance affords ;
for in the summer season, when the wind is blowing
offshore, one finds that the sweet odours exhaled by
the myrrh-bearing and other aromatic trees penetrate
to the near-by parts of the sea ; and the reason is
that the essence of the sweet-smelling herbs is not,
as with us, kept laid away until it has become old and
stale, but its potency is in the full bloom of its strength
and fresh, and penetrates to the most delicate parts
of the sense of smell. And since the breeze carries
the emanation of the most fragrant plants, to the
voyagers who approach the coast there is wafted a
blending of perfumes, dehghtful and potent, and
healthful ^vithal and exotic, composed as it is of the
best of them, seeing that the product of the trees has
not been minced into bits and so has exhaled its own
special strength, nor yet lies stored away in vessels
made of a different substance, but taken at the very
prime of its freshness and while its divine nature
keeps the shoot pure and undefiled. Consequently
those who partake of the unique fragrance feel that
they are enjoying the ambrosia of which the myths
relate, being unable, because of the superlative sweet-
ness of the perfume, to find any other name that
would be fitting and worthy of it.
47. Nevertheless, fortune has not invested the
inhabitants of this land with a felicity which is perfect
and leaves no room for envy, but with such great
gifts she has coupled what is harmful and may serve
as a warning to such men as are wont to despise the
gods because of the unbroken succession of their
227
DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 Kara yap rovs evajhecrrdrovs SpvfJLOvs 6<f>€(jDV
VTTO.px^i' TrX-qdos, ot ro [xev XP^H-^ <f)OiVLKovv
exovai, pirjKos Se a7n6a[xrj?, h'^yp-ara Se TTOLOvvrai
TTavreXois dviara' haKvovoi Se TrpoaTT-qhcovreg /cat
oAAo/ierot irpos vi/jog atfiarrouo-t rov ;!(pcaTa.
3 ISlov 84 Tt TTapa rots' eyx'^p^'Ois avp-^aivei, irepl tovs
rjademjKorag vtto paKpdg voaov ra. acofxaTa.^
StaTTveo/xeVou yap rod acop-aros vn OLKparov /cat
rp.7)TLK7Js (f)vaea)S, /cat rrjs avyKpi,aecos roJv oyKcov
els dpaicop-a avvayop.evrjs, e/cAuatj eiraKoXovdel
hva^orjdrjTOS ' StoTiep rot? TotouTOtj dacfiaXrov
7Tapadvp.td)(JL /cat rpdyov TTCoyojva, rat? ei^avrtatj
(fivaecTL Karajxaxop-^voL rrjv VTrep^oXrjv rrjs evcoSias.
TO yap KaXov TToaorrjTi pikv /cat rafet pierpov-
pi€vov cL(f)eXel /cat repTret tovs dvOpwTTovs, dvaXoyias
hk /cat KaQ-qKovTOS Kaipov hiap-aprov dvovrjTOV
e;^€t TTjV Sojpedv.
4 Tou 8' eOi'ovs TOVTOV piiqTpoTToXis iartv rjv KaXovai
luapas, €77 opovs cpKtapLevr]. paaLAeas o e/c
yeVous" ex^' '''O'^S' StaSexo/^cVoi;?, ots" to. TrX-qdrj
TLpids aTTovepLei, p.epn,yp,4vas dyaOois /cat /caKotj.
p.aKdpiov pikv yap ^iov ^x^i'V SoKouaiv, on Trdaiv
eTTtTaTTOvre? ovheva Xoyov vrrexovaL rdJu Tvparro-
pLevcov drvx^ls Se vopiil,ovTai Kad oaov ovK
e^ecTTLV avTots ovhenoTe i^eXdelv e/c rdjv ^aaiXeiajv ,
el Be pLTj, yu'ovrai XidoXevaroL vtto tcov oxXcov
5 /caret rira XPV^I^^^ apxalov. rovro he ro edvos
^ TO. aiLnaTa deleted by Reiske.
^ 7| inches.
^ Strabo (16. 4. 19) says this was done to overcome the
228
BOOK III. 47. 2-5
blessings. For in the most fragrant forests is a
multitude of snakes, the colour of which is dark-red,
their length a span,^ and their bites altogether
incurable ; they bite by leaping upon their victim,
and as they spring on high they leave a stain of blood
upon his skin. And there is also something peculiar to
the natives which happens in the case of those whose
bodies have become weakened by a protracted illness.
For when the body has become permeated by an un-
diluted and pungent substance and the combination of
foreign bodies settles in a porous area, an enfeebled
condition ensues which is difficult to cure : consequently
at the side of men afflicted in this way they burn
asphalt and the beard of a goat,- combatting the
excessively sweet odour by that from substances of
the opposite nature. Indeed the good, when it is
measured out in respect of quantity and order, is for
human beings an aid and delight, but when it fails of
due proportion and proper time the gift which it
bestows is unprofitable.
The chief city of this tribe is called by them Sabae
and is built upon a mountain. The kings of this city
succeed to the throne by descent and the people
accord to them honours mingled with good and ill.
For though they have the appearance of leading a
happy life, in that they impose commands upon all
and are not accountable for their deeds, yet they are
considered unfortunate, inasmuch as it is unlawful
for them ever to leave the palace, and if they do so
they are stoned to death, in accordance with a certain
ancient oracle, bv the common crowd. This tribe
drowsiness caused by the sweet odours; the disease appears
to be mentioned by no other ancient writer, and presumably
was caused by the continued inhaling of these powerful scents.
229
DIODORUS OF SICILY
ov [lovov rcov nXrjaLoxojpcov 'Apa^cof, aAAo. Kat rcjv
a)\Xa>v avd pcoTTOjv Sia^epct -nXovrcp Kai rats
dXXais rals '^ Kara fxepos TroAureAetat?. iv yap
rals Twv cf>opTLCvv dAAayat? Kai rrpdaeaiv oyKOis
eAa^^icrrots' rrXeLarrjv dTro(j)€povrai nixrjv airavTOiV
dvdpcoTTCov TCx)V dpyvpiKTJg dpietifjeajs eveKa rag
6 ipLTTopias TTOiovfxevojv. hiorrep i^ alojvos airopdr]-
Tcov avTOJv yeyevrjfjLevcov Sta tov €Kro7TLap.ov,
Kai xpvaov re /cat dpyvpou ttXt^9ovs imKeKXvKoros
Trap* avrols, Kai fidXiar ev ^a^als, iv fj rd fiaaiXeia
Kelrai, ropevjxara pikv dpyvpd re Kat ■)(^pvad iravTO-
haTTOiv e/CTroj/Aarcuv exovoL, KrAtVa? 8e Kai rpiTToha?
dpyvpoTTohas, Kai Tr]v dXX-qv KaraGKevqv dmaTOV
rfj TToXvreXeLa, klovcov re dhpojv TrepiarvXa, ra
fxev etTLXpvaa, rd 8' apyvpoeihels rvrrovs em rdJv
7 KiovoKpdvcov e^ovra. rds S' opo(f)ds Kai Bvpas
Xpvcrals (f>LdXais XidoKoXXrjroig Kai irvKvalg SieiXr]-
^ores aTTaaav ri]v rcJov oIkl(X)V Kard p.epos olko^o-
filav TTeTTOL-qvrai davfxaarrjv rats TToXvreXeiais'
rd [xev ydp e^ dpyvpov Kai ;^/oyaoti, rd S e^ eAe-
(f)avros Kai rcov hiaTrpeTTecyrdrcDV XlOcov, en 8e
rdJv aAAojv rdjv riiii(X>rdra>v Trap avOpcoiroLs,
8 KareoKevaKaoLV . dAAa ydp ovroL fxev e/c ttoAAoji'
Xpovojv rrjv evSaip-ovCav dadXevrov ea)(OV 8td ro
TTavreXws drre^evcocrdai, rajv Sid rrjv tSt'av TrXeove^iav
eppuaiov riyovfjievajv rov dXXorpLov irXovrov. rj
8e Kard rovrovs ddXarra XevKrj ^aiverai rrjv
Xpoav, wad' dp-a davp.d^eLV ro TrapaSo^ov Kai
9 rr)v alriav rov avp-^aivovros eTnl,r]retv. vfjaoL 8
^ rats added by Dindorf.
230
BOOK III. 47. 5-9
surpasses not only the neighbouring Arabs but also
all other men in wealth and in their several extrava-
gancies besides. For in the exchange and sale of
their wares they, of all men who carry on trade for
the sake of the silver they receive in exchange, obtain
the highest price in return for things of the smallest
weight. Consequently, since they have never for
ages suffered the ravages of war because of their
secluded position, and since an abundance of both
gold and silver abounds in the country, especially in
Sabae, where the royal palace is situated, they have
embossed goblets of every description, made of silver
and gold, couches and tripods with silver feet, and
every other furnishing of incredible costliness, and
halls encircled by large columns, some of them gilded,
and others having silver figures on the capitals. Their
ceilings and doors they have partitioned by means of
panels and coffers ^ made of gold, set Avlth precious
stones and placed close together, and have thus made
the structure of their houses in every part marvellous
for its costliness ; for some parts they have constructed
of silver and gold, others of ivory and the most showy
precious stones or of whatever else men esteem most
highly. For the fact is that these people have
enjoyed their felicity unshaken since ages past
because they have been entire strangers to those
whose o^vn covetousness leads them to feel that
another man's wealth is their own godsend.^ The
sea in these parts looks to be white in colour, so that
the beholder marvels at the surprising phenomenon
and at the same time seeks for its cause. And there
^ i.e. certain panels were deeply recessed.
2 Literally " gift of Hermes,' as the god of gain and good
luck.
231
DIODORUS OF SICILY
evhaifjioves ttXtjctlov VTrdpxovaLv, e^ouaat TToAei?
areLx^arovs , er at? ra ^oaKtjfiaTa Travra XevKrjv
ex^i TTjv xpoa^v, koI rots dt^Xeaiv avrcov ovk
€7n(f>v€TaL TO KadoXov Kepas. et? ravra? 8'
cfjiTTopoi TrdvToOev KaraTrXeovai, pcdXiaTa S' eK ^
Hordvas, r]v 'AAefavSpo? ioKiae jrapd tov 'IvSor
TTorapiov, vavaradfiov ^x^i-v ^ovX6p,€vos rrjs irapd
TOV ojKeavov TrapaXiov.
Yiepi /xev ovv rrjs x^P'^^ '^^^ '^^^ ^^ avrfj KaroL-
Kovvrojv dpKcadrjaofjLeOa roZs elprjpievoLS.
48, riept 8e rcovKard rov ovpavov opcofxevcov Trapa-
So^cov iv TOis TOTTOLS ov TTapaXeiTTreov . davjjLaaiio-
rarov fiev ian ro irept rrjv dpKrov taropovpievov
Kai TrXeLarrjv dvopLav 7Tape;^d/xeror rot? ttXo'C-
l[,opi€voLS' aTTO yap jx-qvos ov KaXovaiv ^ ABiqvaZoi,
yiaipLaKrrjpLcova rcov irrrd rcov Kara rrjV dpKrov
darepwv ovSeva <j>aulv opdadai p.^xpi' rrjg 77/jajT7y<r
(jyvXaKTJs, rep 8e YloaeLSecbvL P-^XP'- 8euTe/3as',
/cat Acara Toy? ^^^7? ^k rod Kar oXiyov ^ TrAot-
2 ^o/LteVot? ^ ddeojprjTovs vndpx^f'V ."^ rcov 8' dXXcov
rovs ovopial,opi€vovs rrXavrjras rovs piev p,eit,ovas
rcov Trap* 'Qpiiv, Irepovs 8e pLri^e rds opLoias
dvaroXds Kal Svcreis TTOieZadaf rov 8 rjXiov ovx
^ eK Rhodomann : els-
* Kar' oXiyov, Kara Xoyov ("at the same rate") Agath-
archides, 104.
' 7TAol^o/:ieVoi? deleted by Bekker, Vogel.
* ddecDprjTovi vTTdp)(€iv after 77Aav7^Taj all MSS. but AD,
Bekker, Dindorf.
^ The adjective is that translated " Blest " in Arabia the
Blest.
'^ The fifth month of the Attic year, approximately our
November.
* The sixth month, approximately our December.
232
BOOK III. 47. 9-48. 2
are prosperous ^ islands near by, containing unwalled
cities, all the herds of which are white in colour, while
no female has any horn whatsoever. These islands
are visited by sailors from every part and especially
from Potana, the city which Alexander founded on the
Indus river, when he wished to have a naval station
on the shore of the ocean.
Now as regards Arabia the Blest and its inhabitants
we shall be satisfied with what has been said.
48. But we must not omit to mention the strange
phenomena which are seen in the heavens in these
regions. The most marvellous is that which, accord-
ing to accounts we have, has to do with the constella-
tion of the Great Bear and occasions the greatest
perplexity among navigators. What they relate is
that, beginning with the month which the Athenians
call Maemacterion,2 not one of the seven stars of the
Great Bear is seen until the first watch, in Poseideon ^
none until the second, and in the following months
they gradually drop out of the sight of navigators.*
As for the other heavenly bodies, the planets, as they
are called, are, in the case of some, larger than they
appear with us, and in the case of others their risings
and settings are also not the same ; and the sun does
* In the second century B.C., the period when Agatharchides,
from whom Diodorus has taken this statement, wrote his
work entitled On the Red Sea, at latitude 15 north, which is
the probable region of this statement, on November 1st the
sun set at approximately 5.45 p.m. and the first star {alpha)
of the Great Bear rose at approximately 8.45 p.m. Its rising
did, therefore, fall within the first watch of the night. How-
ever, the statement that on December 1st it did not rise untU
the second watch is false, since on that date it rose at ap-
proximately 6.40 p.m. ; indeed the rising of the Great Bear,
instead of receding month by month, as Diodorus states, in
fact advances.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
oiOTTep Trap •qixlv ^pa'xy irpo rrjg tSta? avaroXrjg
TTpoaTToareXXeiv to ^ojs", dAA' ert vvkto^ ovarjg
GKoralov TTapabo^cos a.j)VOi (f)avevra €KXdpi7TeLV.
3 8i6 /cat fJirjSeTTod' rjixepav jxkv iv eKeivoig tols
TOTTOts yiveudai Trpiv opadijpaL tov tjXlov, e/c [xeaov
8e TOV TTeXdyov? cf>aalv dva(l)aLv6[X€vov avTOV
opdaOai. puev dvOpaKi TrapaTrXiqaLov tco TTvpcvSeoTdTW ,
amvdrjpa? S* d^' iavTov /xeydXous drropptTTTeLV,
Kal Tw TVTTCp {XTj KcovoeLSi] ^ ^atveadai, Kaddrrep
rjixeXg So^ct^Ojitev, dXXd kLovl tov tvttov ep^eti^
i[jL<l)€prj, jxiKpov ipL^pideaTepav €)(ovti ttjv drro ttj?
Ke^aXrjg eTn<f)dv€Lav , rrpos 8e to'utois I^'>^t' avyrjv
TTOielv [JL-qr aKTLvas ^dXXeiv o-xpi- TrpwTrjs a)pOLS,
(ftaivofievov TTvpos dXajJLTTOvg iv oKOTef Seurepa?
8' dpxojJievrjs damSoeL^rj yiveadai Kai to (f>(jjs
^dXXeiv dTroTOjXov Kal nvpcoSes Kad vnep^oX-qv.
4 /card 8e T-qv BvaLV ivavTta yiveadai o-vfiTTTCofiaTa
irepl avTov SoKelv yap rot? opojai, Kaivals d/crtCTt
<f>a>TLt,€lV TOV KOOfJiOV OVK cXaTTOV ^ (hpCOV Svolv,
d)S 8' * AyaOapxtS-qs 6 Kt'tSto? dveypaifje, TpioJv.
TOVTOV 8e TOV Kaipov 7]Sl(jtov ToXg iyxcopiois
^aivecrdai, TarreLvovfievov tov KavpLaTos 8td ttjv
^vaiv TOV rjXiov.
5 Tcoi^ 8' dveficov ^€(f)VpoL piev Kai At)Se?, eVt 8
dpyiuTai Kal evpoL, Trveovai KadaTrep /cat irapd tols
dXXoLS' voTOL 8e /card pikv AWiorriav ovtg TTveovaiv
^ SioKoeiS-fj Agatharchides, 105.
^ So Rhodomann : iXarTovcuv.
^ The cause for this statement is the phenomenon of twilight,
which is dependent upon atmospheric as weU as astronomical
conditions. Its duration varies with the depth, clarity, and
density of the atmosphere, the latitude and elevation of the
234
BOOK III. 48. 2-5
not, as with us, send forth its light shortly in advance
of its actual rising, but while the darkness of night
still continues, it suddenly and contrary to all expecta-
tion appears and sends forth its light. ^ Because of
this there is no daylight in those regions before the
sun has become visible, and when out of the midst
of the sea, as they say, it comes into view, it resembles
a fiery red ball of charcoal which discharges huge
sparks, and its shape does not look like a cone,^
as is the impression we have of it, but it has the shape
of a column which has the appearance of being
slightly thicker at the top ; and furthermore it does
not shine or send out rays before the first hour,
appearing as a fire that gives forth no light in the
darkness ; but at the beginning of the second hour
it takes on the form of a round shield and sends forth
a light which is exceptionally bright and fiery. But
at its setting the opposite manifestations take place
with respect to it ; for it seems to observers to be
lighting up the whole universe with a strange kind
of ray ^ for not less than two or, as Agatharchides of
Cnidus has recorded, for three hours. And in the
opinion of the natives this is the most pleasant period,
when the heat is steadily lessening because of the
setting of the sun.
As regards the winds, the west, the south-west,
also the north-west and the east blow as in the other
parts of the world ; but in Ethiopia the south winds
place of observation, and the time of year. The Greek
navigator found less twUight as he travelled south from
Greece towards the equator, at which point, in fact, it has
its minimum duration.
^ Agatharchides (105) says " discus-shaped."
^ Agatharchides (105) says that this takes place after the
sun has already set.
235
DIODORUS OF SICILY
ovT€ yvojpL^ovTai to (jvvoXov, Kara 8e ttjv Tpcoyo-
SvrtKTjv Kai TTjv Apaftiav Oepjjiol yivovrai Kad*
VTTep^oXijv, ware /cat ras vXas eKTTvpovv Kal rcov
Karac/ievyovTcov elg ras iv rats KaXv^ais aKtag
CKXveLv TO. acofJiaTa. 6 he ^opeas SiKaicog av
apioros vopLL^OLTO, SLLKvovpievos et? TrdvTa tottov
rrjs olKOVjJLevrjg kol hiapiivcov ipvxpog.
49. Tovrcov S Tjixlv SievKpivrjjjievajv OLKelov dv
e'ir] hieXdelv irspl tcov AtjSJcov tcov rrX'qcJLOv AlyvTTTOv
KaroiKovvTCov Kal rrjs ofiopov ;)^tu/)as'. ra. yap
rrepl \^vpr]viqv Kal ra? Suprets", eVt 8e ttjv jxeao-
yeiov rrjs Kara rovg roTTOvs rovrovg )(epaov,
KarotKel rerrapa yevrj Al^vcov &v ot p.kv ovofxa-
t,6pievoL Nacra/xcov'eS" vip-ovrai ra vevovra fJ-eprj
TTpog vorov, ol 8' KvG)(laaL ra rrpog rrjv Svglv,
ot 8e Ma/3/iapt8at KaroLKOuai r'r]v fxera^v raiviav
AlyvTTrov Kal Kvpyjvrjg, [lerexovreg Kal rijg irapa-
Xlov, ol 8e Ma/cat TToXvai'Opojma rojv ofioeOvaJv
7Tpoe)(Ovres vep-OvraL rovs roTTOVS rovg Trepl rrjv
2 HvprLV. ruiv 8e Trpoeipripievcov Ai^viov yecopyol
jxev elcTLV ots vrrapx^L XciSpa Svvapievr] Kapirov
(j^epeLV SaipiXr], vofidSeg 8' oaot rtov KrrjvaJv rrjv
€7TL[jLeXeLav TTOtovpLevoi rag rpocfids e-xpvaiv oltto
roTJTCov djx(f>6r€pa Se rd yevrj ravra ^aaiXeas
€)(€L Kal ^Lov ov TTavreXcj? dypiov ovh dvdpcoTTLvrjg
Tjfxeporrjros i^rjXXaypiivov. ro 8e rpirov yeuog
ovre ^aCTtAeoJS' vvaKovov ovre rod 8tK:atou Xoyov
0)38' evvoiav €)(ov del XrjareveL, aTrpoaSoK'qrwg 8e
rd? epi^oXds eK ri^s eprjfiov TTOiovjxevov dp7Tdl,ei rd
7Taparv)(6vra, Kal ra^^ojs dvaKdjJLTTreL irpos rov
^ i.e. to the plan of Diodorus' history.
236
BOOK III. 48. 5-49. 2
neither blow nor are known at all, although in the
Trogodyte country and Arabia they are so excep-
tionally hot that they set the forests on fire and cause
the bodies of those who take refuge in the shade of
their huts to collapse through weakness. The north
wind, however, may justly be considered the most
favourable of all, since it reaches into every region
of the inhabited earth and is ever cool.
49. But now that we have examined these matters,
it will be appropriate ^ to discuss the Libyans who
dwell near Egypt and the country which borders
upon them. The parts about Cyrene and the Syrtes
as well as the interior of the mainland in these regions
are inhabited by four tribes of Libyans ; of these the
Nasamones, as they are called, dwell in the parts to
the south, the Auschisae in those to the west, the
Marmaridae occupy the narrow strip between Egypt
and Cyrene and come down to the coast, and the
Macae, who are more numerous than their fellow
Libyans, dwell in the regions about the Syrtis.^
Now of the Libyans whom we have just mentioned
those are farmers who possess land which is able to
produce abundant crops, while those are nomads who
get their sustenance from the flocks and herds which
they maintain ; and both of these groups have kings
and lead a life which is not entirely savage or different
from that of civilized men. The third group, how-
ever, obeying no king and taking no account or even
thought of justice, makes robbery its constant
practice, and attacking unexpectedly from out of the
desert it seizes whatever it has happened upon and
quickly withdraws to the place from which it had set
* The Greater Syrtis.
237
DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 avTov TOTTOV. TTavreg S ol At^ue? ovtol OrjpLtLhr]
^Lov exovaiv, viraidpLoi Sta^evovres Kal to tow
iTTLTTihevjiaTcov dypiov etrjXcoKOTes' ovtc yap
rjfiepov StaiTT]? ovt iadrJTog fi€Te)(ovaLv, dXXa
Sopals alyojv aKerrdl^ovai to. acofxaTa. tols he
BvvaaTaig avTOJv 77oAe6S" p-ev to avvoXov ov^
V7Tap)(ovGi, TTvpyoL Se TrX'qaLov tcvv vSaTcov, els
CVS diTOTidevTai to. TrXeovd^ovTa ttjs dx^eXeia^.
Tovs 8' VTroT€TayjJLevovs Xaovs /car' evLavTov
i^opKLt,ovGL 77etdap)(rjaeLV Kal tcov pukv viraKovadv-
Tcov d>s 0-vpLp.dxcov (f)povTi^ovaL, T(hv he pur] rrpoa-
e^ovTcov OdvaTOV KaTayvovTes d)g X'QOTaZg iroXe-
•i pLovatv. o h oTrXiapios avTCJV euTiv otKelos Trjg re
Xcopas Kal Tojv eTTLTrjhevpidTcov Kou<f>ot, yap oVres"
TOi? acvpiaaL Kai )(d)pav olKovvTes Kara to rrXelaTOv
TTehidha, npos tovs KLvhvvovs oppudJaL X6y)(ag e)(ovTes
rpels Kol XtOovs ev dyyeai gkutlvols- ^L(f)os S' ov
(f>opov(jLv ovhe Kpdvos ouS' ottXov ovhev eTepov, oto-
yal,6p,evoi Tov rrpoTepelv Tats evKivrjaiais ev tois
5 htcoypLols Kal TrdXiv ev Tat? dTroxojpy]0'ecrL. hioTrep
evdeTOL TTpos hpopLOV elal Kal Xido^oXiav , hiaTreTTOvrj-
KOTes Tjj pLeXeTTj Kal TJj avvrjdeia Ta ttjs (f^uaeojs
TTpoTeprjpiaTa. koOoXov he TTpos tovs dAAo^JAous'
ovTe TO hiKaiov ovTe ttjv ttlgtlv /car' ovheva Tpoirov
hiaTTipovGLv.
50. Trjs he x^P'^S V 1^^^ 6p.opos ttj K.vpT]vr]
yecohrjs eaTl Kal ttoXXovs (pepovaa Kapirovs'
ov povov yap vvdpxeL aiTO(f)6pos, dXXd Kal ttoXXtjv
dpLTTeXov, eTL h eXalav e^ec Kal ttjv dypiav vXrjv Kal
TTOTapLOVS evxpT^cTTLav Trapexop^evovg- rj S' vnep
TO voTLov p.epog virepTeivovaa, Kad^ rjv to viTpov
^veaOaL avpLJ3e^i]Kev, darropos ovaa Kal mravi-
238
BOOK III. 49. 2-50. I
out. All the Libyans of this third group lead a life
like that of the wild beasts, spending their days under
the open sky and practising the savage in their mode
of life ; for they have nothing to do with civilized food
or clothing, but cover their bodies with the skins of
goats. Their leaders have no cities whatsoever, but
only towers near the sources of water, and into these
they bring and store away the excess of their booty.
Of the peoples who are their subjects they annually
exact an oath of obedience to their authority, and to
any who have submitted to them they extend their
protection as being allies, and such as take no heed
of them they first condemn to death and then make
war upon them as robbers. Their weapons are appro-
priate to both the country and their mode of life ; for
since they are light of body and inhabit a country
which is for the most part a level plain, they face the
dangers which beset them armed with three spears
and stones in leather bags ; and they carry neither
sword nor helmet nor any other armour, since their
aim is to excel in agility both in pursuit and again in
withdrawal. Consequently they are expert in run-
ning and hurling stones, having brought to full
development by practice and habit the advantages
accorded them by nature. And, speaking generally,
they observe neither justice nor good faith in any
respect in dealing with peoples of alien race.
50. That part of the country which lies near the
city of Cyrene has a deep soil and bears products of
many kinds ; for not only does it produce wheat, but
it also possesses large vineyards and olive orchards
and native forests, and rivers which are of great
utilitv ; but the area which extends beyond its
southern border where nitre is found, being unculti-
239
DIODORUS OF SICILY
^ovaa vaixariaicov vSdrojv, rrjv rrpoaoifjiv €;^et
TreAayet TrapejK^epri- ovSe^iav Se TrapexofJievr]
TTOLKiXLav Kara rrjv ihiav ipi^pLco yfj nepiex^Tat,
TTJs VTTepKeifxevrjg ip-rjuov Svae^trov exovarjg ro
2 TTepas. hiOTTep o?3S opveov tSetv eariv, ov rerpaTTOvv
iv avrfj l^coov ttXtjv Sop/caSo? /cat ^oos, ov jj-rju
ovT€ <j)vrov ovT aXXo tcjv Swaj-ievcov ipvxo.yo}yriaai
TTjv opaoiv, CO? av rrjs els p.ea6yeLov dvrjKOvarjs
yrjs exova-qs evL to puriKos ddpoovs divas, e^'
oaov he OTTavi^eL rcov Trpos rjpiepov ^iov dvrjKovrojv ,
€7TL ToaovTO TrXrjdeL TravToiujv raZg ISeaig /cat rols
p-eyeOecriv o^eojv, paXtara 8e rcov roiovrcov ovs
TrpoaayopevovoL Kepdaras, ot to. p.€v hii]yp.ara
davariq<j)6pa rroiovvrai, rrjv Be ;^poar dpp.a) Trapa-
3 TrXrjaiav exovuL- StoTrep e^cop-oiiopevcov avr<Zv
Kara rrjV Trpoaoipiv rots viroKeip-evois e8d(j)e(nv
oXiyot p.ev eTTiyLvojaKovaiv , ol ttoXXoI S' dyvoovvres
TTarovuL /cat kivBvvols TrepLTTLTrrovaiv drrpooSoK'qroLS.
Xeyerat 8e rovrovg ro rraXaLov irreXOovras TTore
TToXXrjv rTJs AlyvTTrov iroirjaai rrjV VTTOK€Lp.€VT)v
XfJopav doLKrjrov.
4 FtWrat Se rt 6avp.daiov Trepi re ravrrjv ^ rqv
X^poov /cat rrjv ineKeLva rrjs Yivpreojs Ai^vrjv.
TTepl ydp rivas Katpovs /cat p-dXiara Kara rds
vrjvepLias avardaets opcovrai Kara rov aepa Trar-
roicov t,a)a)v Iheas ep.(paLvovaai' rovrcov 8' at p.ev
rjpep.ovaLv, at Se KLvrjatv XapL^dvovai, /cat TTork p.ev
^ T17V x^P°-^ '^'"' S'fter ravTTjv deleted by Reiske.
^ Literally, " homed serpents," or asps.
^ Cp. Aristophanes, The Clouds, 346 : " Didst thou never
espy a cloud in the sky which a centaur or leopard might be,
240
BOOK III. 50. 1-4
vated and lacking springs of water, is in appearance
like a sea ; and in addition to its showing no variety
of landscape it is surrounded by desert land, the desert
which lies beyond ending in a region from which
egress is difficult. Consequently not even a bird is
to be seen there nor any four-footed animal except the
gazelle and the ox, nor indeed any plant or an}i;hing
that delights the eye, since the land which stretches
into the interior contains nearly continuous dunes
throughout its length. And greatly as it is lacking
in the things which pertain to civilized life, to the
same degree does it abound in snakes of every manner
of appearance and size, and especially in those which
men call cerastes} the stings of which are mortal and
their colour is like sand ; and since for this reason
they look like the ground on which they lie, few men
discern them and the greater number tread on them
unwittingly and meet with unexpected perils. More-
over, the account runs that in ancient times these
snakes once invaded a large part of that section of
Egypt which lies below this desert and rendered it
uninhabitable.
And both in this arid land and in Libya which lies
beyond the S^Ttis there takes place a marvellous thing.
For at certain times, and especially when there is no
wind, shapes are seen gathering in the sky which
assume the forms of animals of every kind ^ ; and
some of these remain fixed, but others begin to move,
or a wolf or a cow? " (tr. by Rogers in the L.C.L.); and
Lucretius 4. 139—42 : " For often giants' countenances appear
to fly over and to draw their shadow afar, sometimes great
mountains and rocks torn from the mountains to go before
and to pass by the sun, after them some monster pulling and
dragging other clouds " (tr. by Rouse in the L.C.L.).
241
DIODORUS OF SICILY
V7TO(f>evyovaL, irork 8e hiatKOvai, Trdcrai 8e to
jjLeyedo? aTrXarov exovaai davjJiaaTrjv KardTrX-q^iv
5 /cat rapax'Tjv TrapaoKevd^ovai, toIs aTretpoLg. at
yap imStcoKovaaL rovg dvdpcoTTOvg eTTCL^dv Kara-
Xd^axJL, 7T€pL)(€OVTaL Tot? (Toj/xaCTt ifjuxpoi Kal
TTaXfjicoheig , (x)crr€ rovg p-ev ^evovg doruvqdeLg
ovrag hid rd Seog iKTreTrXrJxOai, rovg 8' €y)(Ojpiovg
voXXaKig GvyKeKvpr^Korag rolg TOtourot? /cara-
(f)pov€LV rod (Jvp-l^aLvovrog.
51. riapaSo^ou 8' ett'at hoKovvrog rov Trpayp-arog
Kol pivdcp 77e7rAaa/xeVa» TrapaTrXrjGLov, TreLpoJvrai
Tiveg rd)V (f)V(TLKcov alriag dirohthovaL rov yivopievov
2 TOLavrag. dvepiovg <j>aai Kard rrjv )(a)pav rovg
jxev TO ovvoXov p,rj irvelv, rovg 8e TravTeXcog
elvaL ^Xrjxpovg /cat Koxjiovg' virapx^iv 8e /cat
TTepl Tov depa TToXAaKig rjpep.tav kol 6avp.aaTrjv
aKLvrjCTLav 8ta ro p-T]"!"^ vdrrag pLTjTe avaiaovg
avXwvag TrapaKeladat, TrXr^atov p.'^re Xocfxjjv vrrdp-
X^'-v dvaar-qp,ara- TTorap-aJv re pieydXcov OTravL^eiv
Tovg TOTTOvg, /cat KadoXov ttjv avueyyvg x^P^^
diraoav aKapirov ovaav pL-qhep.iav ^x^i-v dvaOup-ta-
GLV i^ (hv dTrdvTcov elcuOevai. yevvdadai rivag
3 dpxdg /cat avardaeLg weviidrcov. hioirep ovp.7Tvi-
youg TrepLGTaaeajg ri^v x^P'^°^ €TT€xovaiqg , oTrep
6pcop.€v em Tcbv ve(j}d)v eviore avpi^alvov eu ralg
voTiaig ripLepaig, rv7TOvp.evojv Iheajv TravroBanaJv,
Tovro ylveadac /cat irepl rrjV Al^ut^v, TToXXax^yg
pLop(j)Ovpiivov TOV ovpLTTLTTTovTog aipog' ov rat?
pikv dadeveai Kal ^X-qxP'^'^^ avpaig ox^ZodaL pLereojpi-
i,6p,evov /cat iraXpiovg rroLovvTa Kal avyKpovovra
cruGT-qp-aaLV irepoig opLoioig, vr]vep.Lag 8' imXap.-
242
BOOK III. 50. 4-51. 3
sometimes retreating before a man and at other times
pursuing him, and in every case, since they are of
monstrous size, they strike such as have never
experienced them with wondrous dismay and terror.
For when the shapes which are pursuing overtake the
persons they envelop their bodies, causing a chiUing
and shivering sensation, so that strangers who are
unfamihar with them are overcome with fear, although
the natives, who have often met with such things, pay
no attention to the phenomenon.
51. Now incredible though this effect may seem
and like a fanciful tale, yet certain physical philo-
sophers attempt to set forth the causes of it some-
what as follows : The winds, they say, either blow in
this land not at all or else are altogether sluggish and
without vigour ; and often there prevails in the air a
calm and wondrous lack of movement, because of the
fact that neither wooded vales nor thickly-shaded
glens lie near it nor are there any elevations that make
hills ; furthermore, these regions lack large rivers
and, in general, the whole territory round about,
being barren of plants, gives forth no vapour. Yet it
is all these things which are wont, they explain, to
generate beginnings, as it were, and gatherings of
air-currents. Consequently, when so stifling an
atmosphere extends over the arid land the pheno-
menon which we observe taking place now and then
with respect to the clouds on humid days, when every
kind of shape is formed, occurs likewise in Libya,
they tell us, the air as it condenses assuming manifold
shapes. Now this air is driven along by the weak and
sluggish breezes, rising aloft and making quivering
motions and impinging upon other bodies of similar
character, but when a calm succeeds, it then descends
243
DIODORUS OF SICILY
^avovarjg KadlaraaQai Ttpos ttjv yrjv, ^apvv ovra
Koi T€TV7Tco[xevov (Ls €ru)(€V eVetra fxribevos ovtos
TOV crvyxdovTos Trpoa7TeXdt,€LV rols avTOfxaroiS
4 TTepiTvyxdvovdL tcjv t^cLcov. rd? 8' €(f) eKarepa
KLV^aeis avTcov ^acrt TrpoaipecTLV jj-ev pnqh^piiav
€ix(f>aiv€iv' iv a.ipux({> yo.p ahvvarov VTrapx^f-V
<f>vyr]v eKOVGLOv rj hioj^LV rd fxevroL ^oia XeXiqdorcos
atria ri]s fxerapaia? KLvqaecos yiveadai- irpoaiov-
Tcov jJLev yap avrcov rov VTTOKeLpievov aepa jLtera
^las dvaareXXeiv, Kal Std rovd^ inTO)(a)p€iv to
avveurrjKos el'SojAoi' Kal ttol€lv Trjv epi(j>acnv
VTTO(ji€vyovTOS' Tols 8' dva)(^copovGL Kara rovvav-
TLOV iTTaKoXoudelv, dvTearpafJLpLevris rrj^ airta?,
CO? dv rod Kevov Kal ttj? dpaicoaew? iTnamoixevqg.
5 StoTTe/j ioiKeuai Slcokovtl rovs VTrox^J^povvras'
eXKeadai, yap auro /cat TTpoTnTTrew et? to rrpoaQev
ddpOVV VTTO TTJ? TTaXlV pV[Ji-qS' TOVS 8 V7TO(f)eV-
yovTag, OTav eTnaTpacfxjjacv r) fjLevcocTLV, evXoycog
VTTO TOV avvaKoXovdovvTO? elSwXov ijjaveadai tols
oyKOLS' TOVTO Se Kara, rrjv rrpds to GTepejJiviov
TTpouTTTcooLV TTepidpv^eodaL, Kat 7Tai'Ta)(69ev irpoa-
■)(€6pbevov KaTaijjV)(€LV rd crca/xara TtDi^ irepLTvy-
)(av6vTOJV .
52. ToVTOivh rjlMLV SieVKpLVT^IXeVCOV OLKeloV dv €17]
Tolg TrpoeipripLevoL'5 tottol^ hieXdeXv Ta Trepl Tag
*AiJLat,6vag laTopovjxeva Tas yevojjievas to TraXaiov
Kara Trjv Al^vtjv. ol ttoXXol fxkv yap VTT€i.Xrj(j>a(JL
^ i.e. either pursuing or retreating before men; cp. chap.
50. 4 and below.
244
BOOK III. 51. 3-52. I
towards the earth by reason of its weight and in the
shape which it may chance to have assumed, where-
upon, there being nothing to dissipate it, the air
cUngs to such living creatures as accidentally come to
be in the way. As for the movements which these
shapes make in both directions,^ these, they say,
indicate no volition on their part, since it is impossible
that voluntary flight or pursuit should reside in a
soulless thing. And yet the living creatures are,
unknown to themselves, responsible for this move-
ment through the air ; for, if they advance, they push
up by their violent motion the air which lies beneath
them, and this is the reason why the image which has
formed retreats before them and gives the impression
of fleeing ; whereas if the living creatures withdraw,
they follow in the opposite direction, the cause
having been reversed, since that which is empty and
rarefied draws the shapes towards itself. Conse-
quently it has the appearance of pursuing men who
^\^thdraw before it, for the image is drawn to the
empty space and rushes forward in a mass under
the influence of the backward motion of the living
creature ; and as for those who flee, it is quite
reasonable that, whether they turn about or stand
still, their bodies should feel the light touch of the
image which follows them ; and this is broken in
pieces as it strikes upon the solid object, and as it
pours itself out in all directions it chills the bodies of
all \vith whom it comes in contact.
52. But now that we have examined these matters
it will be fitting, in connection with the regions we
have mentioned, to discuss the account which history
records of the Amazons who were in Libya in ancient
times. For the majority of mankind beheve that
245
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tas TTepi Tov QepfxwhovTa TTora^ov iv to) Hovto)
XeyofJLevas KarqjKrjKevai fxovas VTrdp^ai- to 8'
aXr]6es ovx ovrcos ^X^''' ^'■^ "^^ rroXv TrporepeZv
Tols XP^^'^'-S "^^^ Kara Ai^vriv /cat Trpd^etg d^toAo-
2 yovs iTTLTcXeGaadai. ovk dyvooviiev Se Siort
TToXXols Tcov avayivcoaKovTwv dvijKoo? (f)av€Lrai
Kol ^evrj TTavTeXays r] Trepl tovtcov luropia- ■r]<f)avLa-
fievov yap oXoax^poJs tov yevovs tcov * Apiat,oviha>v
TOVTWV TToXXals yeveaTs Trporepov tcov TpcoLKOJv,
TcDv' Se TTepL TOV QepfxcoSovTa TTOTaixov yvvaiKcbv ^
rjKjJLaKVllOV [XLKpOV 7Tp6 TOVTCxiV TcDv' XP^^^V, OVK
dXoycDS at p^eTayeveoTepai Kai jxaXXov yvcopit,6-
jjuevai TTjv So^av KeKXrjpovop.rjKaai ttjv tcov TraXaLOJv
Kat iravTeXcog dyvoovixevcov 8ta tov xpovov vtto
3 Twv TrXeLCFTCov. ov fjirjv dAA' rjjxel^ evpiuKovTes
TToXXovs P'^v TCOV apxo-t-cov TTOLrjTCJV T€ KOL ovyypa-
<f>€cov, OVK oXiyovs §€ Kat rtut' peTayeveoTcpcov
p,v)^p,r)v 7T€7TOLrjp€Vovg avTcov, dvaypd(f)€LV to.?
TTpd^eis TreLpaaopeda ev /ce^aAat'ots" aKoXovdcog
Aiovvcna) tco avvTeTaypevco to. vept tovs Apyovav-
ra? Kat tov Atovuaov Kat eTepa ttoAAci tcov iv
TOts TraAatoraTots' XP°^°''^ TrpaxOevTcov.
4 Teyove pev ovv TrXeico yevq yvvaiKcov /caret ttjv
Ai^vTjv pdx'-P'a Kat Tedavp-acrpeva peydXcos Itt* dv-
Speto,' TO Te yap TcovTopyovcov edvos,i(f) o Aeyerai
TOV Ilepaea OTpaTevaai, 7Tap€iX-i](f)apev dXKjj Sta-
* ywaiKwv omitted by E, Bekker, Dindorf, Vogel, retained
by Jacoby.
- 1 Cp. Book 2. 44-6.
^ This Dionysius, nicknamed Skytobrachion, " of the
leathern arm," lived in Alexandria in the middle of the second
centuiy B.o. and composed a mythical romance from which
246
BOOK III. 52. 1-4
the only Amazons were those who are reported to
have dwelt in the neighbourhood of the Thermodon
river on the Pontus^; but the truth is otherwise,
since the Amazons of Libya were much earlier in
point of time and accomplished notable deeds. Now
we are not unaware that to many who read this
account the history of this people will appear to be
a thing unheard of and entirely strange ; for since
the race of these Amazons disappeared entirely
many generations before the Trojan War, whereas
the women about the Thermodon river were in their
full vigour a little before that time, it is not without
reason that the later people, who were also better
known, should have inherited the fame of the
earlier, who are entirely unknovvn to most men
because of the lapse of time. For our part, however,
since we find that many early poets and historians,
and not a few of the later ones as well, have made
mention of them, we shall endeavour to recount
their deeds in summary, following the account of
Dionysius,^ who composed a narrative about the
Argonauts and Dionysus, and also about many
other things which took place in the most ancient
times.
Now there have been in Libya a number of races
of women who were warlike and greatly admired
for their manly vigour ; for instance, tradition tells
us of the race of the Gorgons, against whom, as the
account is given, Perseus made war, a race dis-
Diodorus drew the following account of the Amazons and
his description of the Atlantians (cc. 56, 57, 60, 61), of the
Dionysus bom in Libya (cc. 66. 4-73. 8), and of the Argonauts
(Book 4. 40-55). The following account is an excellent
example of the syncretism and rationalization of the old
Greek myths.
247
VOL. II. I
DIODORUS OF SICILY
(f)€pov TO yap Tov Aio? jJ^ev vlov, ra>v he Kad^
iavTov 'EAAt^i'coi^ dptarov, reXeaai fiiyiarov ddXov
rrjv irrl ravras Grpareiav reKpLiqpiov dv ns Xd^oi
TTJs TTepL rds TTpoeLprjjjievas yvvalKas VTrepox^js re
Kal Sum/xecos" rj re rdJv vvv neXXovadJv LGTopelodai.
dvSpcia TTapdSo^ov e;\;et ttjv vrrepox'^jv Trpos rds
Kad^ rjfxd? (jivaeig tow yvvaiKcov avyKpivopbevq.
53. OttCTt yap VTTap^aL rrj? Ai^vrjg iv roXg
TTpos earrepav pLepeaiv ein tols rrepaaL rrjs olkov-
[xdvrjg edvos yvvaLKOKparovpievov Kal ^iov i^rjXcoKos
ovx ojJLOLOv TO) Trap TjijLLV. rat? fiev yap yvvai^lv
edos elvai Siarrouelv rd Kard TToXejJLov, Kai )(p6vovs
(Lpiapievovs o^eiXeiv arpaTeveaOai, SiarTqpovjJievqs
T-iy? TTapdevias' hieXdovrajv he rcov erdjp rd)v rrjg
arpareias TrpoaievaL [xev rot? duhpaac TraihoTTOLias
eveKa, to.? 8' dpxd? Kal to. Koivd hioLKelv ravras
2 aTTavra. rov? h dvhpas op.oLOi's rals Trap' rjfxtv
yapberals rov KaroLKthiov e)(eLV ^iov, VTT-qperovvras
TO IS VTTO rcbv avvoLKOvauiv vpocrrarrofievoLS' fJ.rj
pierex^iv S' avrovs piijre arpareias p-rjr dpxrjs
p.rjr dXXrjs rivos ev rols kolvols Trapprjatas,
e^ rjs ep-eXXov (j>povr]p.aria9evres eTndrjoeadai rats
3 yvvai^l. Kara he rds yeveaecs rcov reKvcov rd
y.ev ^pe(f)rj TrapahihoadaL rols avhpdai, /cat rovrovs
hiarpe^eiv avrd ydXaKri Kal dXXois tlgIv eiprjpiaaiv
olKeluiS raZs Tchv vrjvlcuv rjXiKLaLS' el he rv^oL
drjXv yevvrjdev, eirLKaeadai avrov rovs p-aarovs,
^ I.e. Perseus. * Literally, " freedom of speech."
248
BOOK III. 52. 4-53- 3
linguished for its valour ; for the fact that it was the
son of Zeus,^ the mightiest Greek of his day, who
accomphshed the campaign against these women,
and that this was his greatest Labour may be taken
by any man as proof of both the pre-eminence
and the power of the women we have mentioned.
Furthermore, the manly prowess of those of whom
we are now about to ^\Tite presupposes an amazing
pre-eminence when compared with the nature of
the women of our day.
53. We are told, namely, that there was once in
the western parts of Libya, on the bounds of the
inhabited world, a race which was ruled bv women
and followed a manner of life unlike that which
prevails among us. For it was the custom among
them that the women should practise the arts of
war and be required to serve in the army for a fixed
period, during which time they maintained their
virginity ; then, when the years of their service in
the field had expired, they went in to the men for
the procreation of children, but they kept in their
hands the administration of the magistracies and of
all the affairs of the state. The men, however, like
our married women, spent their days about the
house, carrying out the orders which were given
them by their wives ; and they took no part in
military campaigns or in office or in the exercise of
free citizenship ^ in the affairs of the community by
virtue of which they might become presumptuous
and rise up against the women. When their children
were born the babies were turned over to the men,
who brought them up on milk and such cooked foods
as were appropriate to the age of the infants ; and
if it happened that a girl was born, its breasts were
249
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Lva jXT] ii€.r€Ojplt,covTai /cara rovs rrjs aKfirjs
y^povovs' efXTTohiov yap ov to tu)(6v eivat, ooKelv^
TTpos ras arpareiag tovs i^e^ovras rov awfiaros
p^aarovs' Sto /cat tovtcov auras" OLTreaTepTjp^evas
VTTO ra)v 'YjXXrjVcov ^ Ap.al,6vas TrpoaayopeveaOaL.
4 M.v6oXoyovai 8' avras ojKrj/ceVat vrjaov nrjv airo
p.€V Tov TTpos SuCTjLtds" VTTa.p-^€iv avTTjv EaTTcpav
TTpoaayopevGelaav, K€ip.evr]v S' eV rfj TpLTCovCSi
AtjLtVT^. Tavrr]v Se TrXrjaiov V7rdp)(€Lv rov Trepid-
XOVTOS TTjv yrjv coKeavou, irpocr'qyopevadaL 8
aTTO TLVOs ip,^a.XXovTOS el? avrrjv TTorap,ou Tpirtovos'
KeZaOai 8e rrjv Xip.irqv ravrr]v TrXiqaiov AldLOTnag
Kal rov TTapa. rov (VKeavov opovs, o p-eyiarov pikv
VTrapx^LV rCbv iv rols rorroLS Kal TrpoaTTeTrrajKog ^
et? rov ojKeavov, ovop.at,eadaL S' vtto rcov 'EAAi^rcui'
5 "ArXavra. r-qv he 7TpoeLprjp,evrjv vrjaov VTrdpy^eLV [xev
€V[xeye9rj Kal rrXrjprj KapTripLOJV SevSpojv iravro-
haTTWv, a.<j>' (Lv TTopit,ea9aL rds rpocj)d? rovg
iy)(a)pLOVs. e^etv 8' avrrjv Kal Kr-qvojv TrXrjdog,
alycjjv Kal rrpo^drajv, e^ cov yaXa Kai Kpea Trpos
8Larpo(f>rjv vrrdp^^eiv rots KeKrrjp,evoLS' airco Se
ro avvoXov [jlt] )^pija9aL ro edvos 8ta to p.'qTTa) rov
KapTTOv rovTOV TTji' )(peLav evpeOrjvaL Trap avroZg.
6 Ta? 8' ovv 'A/xa^ova? dA/crJ 8i,a(l)epovaag /cat
77/30? TToXep-ov (Lpp.rjp.evas ro p,ev Trpajrov rds ev
rfj vrjGcp rroXeis KaraarpecjieadaL TrXrjv rrjs ovop.a-
lop.evr]s MTyt-T]?, tepas" 8' etvat vop.it,op.evr)s,
TJv KaroiKelaOai p.ev vtt' AWiottojv l)^9vo(f)aya)Vj
e)(^eiv Se TTvpds eK(j>varip.ara pieydXa Kal Xldiov
TToXvreXoJv ttXtjOos rwv 6vop,a^op,eva)v Trap "EA-
^ BoKelv Dindorf : Soksi.
250
BOOK III. 53. 3-6
seared that tliey might not develop at the time of
maturity ; for they thought that the breasts, as they
stood out from the body, were no small hindrance
in warfare ; and in fact it is because they have been
deprived of their breasts that they are called by
the Greeks Amazons.^
As mythology relates, their home was on an island
which, because it was in the Avest, was called Hespera,
and it lay in the marsh Tritonis. This marsh was
near the ocean which surrounds the earth and received
its name from a certain river Triton which emptied
into it ; and this marsh was also near Ethiopia and
that mountain by the shore of the ocean which is
the highest of those in the vicinity and impinges
upon the ocean and is called by the Greeks Atlas.
The island mentioned above was of great size and
full of fruit-bearing trees of every kind, from which
the natives secured their food. It contained also a
multitude of flocks and herds, namely, of goats and
sheep, from which the possessors received milk and
meat for their sustenance ; but grain the nation used
not at all because the use of this fruit of the earth
had not yet been discovered among them.
The Amazons, then, the account continues, being a
race superior in valour and eager for war, first of all
subdued all the cities on the island except the one
called Mene, which was considered to be sacred and
was inhabited by Ethiopian Ichthyophagi, and was
also subject to great eruptions of fire and possessed
a multitude of the precious stones which the Greeks
1 Cp. p. 33, note 1.
^ TTpooTTeTTTojKos AB, Jacoby, TrpoTTeTTTouKos other MSS.,
Dindorf, Bekker, Vogel.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Xt^glv avdpaKcov Koi aapBicov /cat afxapdySajv jxeTa
Be ravra ttoAAoi)? tcov TrXrjaioxc^poJV Ai^vcov /cat
vofJidScov KaraTToXefjirjaaL, /cat KTcaai ttoXiv jxeyd-
Xrjv ivTog ri]? "TpLTcoviBos Xifxvrjs, rjv (xtto rod
a-)(rjixarog ovo/jLaaat ^eppom^aov.
54. 'E/c he TavTfjg opfxcofievas ey^^eiprjcraL
fieydXats eTTi^oXals , opjjLrj? avralg epLTrecrovaT]?
eireXdeZv ttoAAo. /^e/)7j Ti]s olKOvpLevT]s. errl
TTpojTOVs S' aura? aTparevaai Xeyerai tovs
ArXavTLOvs, dvhpas, r^pcepajrarovs tcov ev tols
TOTTOt? eKeivoLs /cat ^copav vepiopevovs evSalpiova
/cat TToXeis pieydXas' Trap ot? Srj pLvdoXoyeladai
(f>a(Jt rr]v tcui^ deojv yeveaiv virdp^ai Trpos tols /caret
Tov coKeavov tottois, (yvp,(j>a)V(x>s toZs Trap" "EAATjcrt
pLvdoXoyoL'S, TTepi (hv TO, Kara pLepos puKpov voTepov
hie^ipLev.
2 Tcov ovv *ApLa^6vcov Aeyerat ^autXevovcrav M.V-
pivav avoTifjaaadaL crTpaToneBov 7Tet,ii)v piev Tpia-
pivpLOJV, iTTTTecov 8e TpLa)(^LXLCDV, l,-qXovpt,evr]s Trap*
avTals TTepiTTOTepov ev tols rroXepois ttjs drro tcov
3 ITTTTecov j^/aeta?. OTrAots' Se y^prjadai GKerraaTripiois
o^ecxiv p,eydXcov Sopals, e)(Ovar]s Trjs Al^vt^s raura
TO. ^(Sa Tolg pbeyedeaiv ciTnaTa, dpbvvTrjpioLS 8e
^L(f)€aL /cat Xoyxo-i-S,^ ert 8e to^ols, ots p-T] povov
e^ ivavTLas ^dXXeiv, aAAa /cat /cara ra? <l)vyds
Tols ^i^e<7i Koi rats Ao'y;^ats all MSS. but A.
^ The anthrax was a precious stone of dark red colour,
such as the carbuncle, ruby, and garnet; the sardion included
our cornelian and sardine; the smaragdos was any green
stone.
252
BOOK III. 53. 6-54. 3
call anthrax, sardion, and smaragdos ^ ; and after this
they subdued many of the neighbouring Libyans
and nomad tribes, and founded within the mai'sh
Tritonis a great city which they named Cherronesus '
after its shape.
54. Setting out from the city of Cherronesus, the
account continues, the Amazons embarked upon
great ventures, a longing having come over them
to invade many parts of the inhabited world. The
first people against whom they advanced, according
to the tale, was the Atlantians, the most civilized
men among the inhabitants of those regions, who
dwelt in a prosperous country and possessed great
cities ; it was among them, we are told, that
mythology places the birth of the gods, in the
regions which lie along the shore of the ocean, in
this respect agreeing with those among the Greeks
who relate legends, and about this ^ we shall speak
in detail a little later.
Now the queen of the Amazons, Myrina, collected,
it is said, an army of thirty thousand foot-soldiers
and three thousand cavalry, since they favoured to
an unusual degree the use of cavalry in their wars.*
For protective devices they used the skins of large
snakes, since Libya contains such animals of in-
credible size, and for offensive weapons, swords and
lances; they also used bows and arrows, with which
they struck not only when facing the enemy but also
when in flight, by shooting backwards at their
- i.e. "Peninsula"; presumably the city lay on a ridge
of land running out into the marsh.
* i.e. the birth of the gods ; cp. chap. 56 below.
* A strange statement, in connection with so small a number
of cavalry. Perhaps the numbers should be transposed.
253
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tovs eTTLSiiJOKOvTag elg rovTnao} TO^eveiv evaro^oj^-
4 ifji^aXovaag S' avras etV rr]v rcov 'ArXavTLajv
Xcopav rovs fi^v ttjv K.epinrjv KaXovfJiev-qv OLKOvvras
TTapard^ei VLKrjcrai, Kal avveLaTTeaovua? rots <j}ev-
yovGLV evTos roJv rei')((hv KupLevaai rij? TroAecos'"
jSouAo/xeVa? 8e to* ^o^oj KaraTrXrj^aadaL rovs
TTepLOLKOvg d>p.(ji)s 7Tpocr€ve)(9rjvaL rot? dXovcn, Kai
Tovs /i.ev dvhpag rj^rjSov OLTToacfxi^aL, T€Kva §e /cat
yvvaiKas e^arSpaTroStCTa/xeVas" KaraaKonpaL Tqv
6 TToXiv. rrjs Se Trepl rovs Kepv'atoi;? GV[X(f)opds
SiaSodetar]? els rovs 6}xoe0vels, Xiyerai rovs jxev
^ KrXavriovs KarairXayivras St' o/LtoAoyia? rrapa-
SovvaL rds ttoXgls Kai ttolv ro TTpoara-)(dev TT0ir]aeiv
eTTayyeiXaaOai, rrjv Se f^acJiXiGoav l^lvpivav eiTLeLKcbs
avroLS TTpoaeveydelaav (f)i,Xi.av re avvdeadai
Koi TToXiv dvrl ri^s KaraaKatjyeiarjS 6p.ojvvjXOV
iavrrjs Kricrai' KaroiKtaai S' els avrrjv rovs re
alxi^o-Xcorovs Kai rwv eyx^^pi-fj^v rdv ^ovX6p.evov.
6 /Ltera Se ravra roJv A.rXavrLOJV ScJpd re fieya-
XoTTperrrj Sovrcov avrfj koI rLfj,ds d^LoXoyovs
KOLvfj ifjr]cf)t,aa[Jievcov, drrohe^aodai re rrjv (jiiXavOpoJ-
TTLav avrojv /cat TrpoueiTayyeiXacjd at rd edvos
7 evepyer-qaeiv. rdjv S' ey^copLijov 7Te7ToXe[x-q[ievcov
TToXXaKLs VTTo rd)v dvop.a'l^oiievojv Vopyovojv, ovad)v
TrXrjGLOxojpojv , /cat rd avvoXov e<f>ehpov exdvrojv ^
rovro rd edvos, ^aoiv d^LOjdelaav rr]v ^IvpLvav
VTTO rwv ' ArXavrlojv ifx^aXeXv els ri-jv ^cjpav rdJv
TTpoeipiqiievojv . avrira^ayievajv Se rd)V Topyovcuv
yevecjQai Kaprepdv fjidxrjv, Kal rds 'A/xa^ora? e77t
rod TTporeprjixaros yevofievas ai^eAeiv jxev rdiv
dvriraxOeiudjv TranvXr^dels, ^coyprjaaL 8 ovk
^ So Eichstadt : ixovacjv-
254
BOOK III. 54. 3-7
pursuers with good effect. Upon entering the land
of the Atlantians they defeated in a pitched battle
the inhabitants of the city of Cerne, as it is called,
and making their way inside the walls along with
the fleeing enemy, they got the city into their hands ;
and desiring to strike terror into the neighbouring
peoples they treated the captives savagely, put to
the sword the men from the youth upward, led into
slavery the children and women, and razed the city.
But when the terrible fate of the inhabitants of
Cerne became known among their felloAV tribesmen,
it is related that the Atlantians, struck with terror,
surrendered their cities on terms of capitulation and
announced that they would do whatever should be
commanded them, and that the queen Myrina,
bearing herself honourably towards the Atlantians,
both established friendship Avith them and founded
a city to bear her name in place of the city which had
been razed ; and in it she settled both the captives
and any native who so desired. Whereupon the
Atlantians presented her with magnificent presents
and by public decree voted to her notable honours,
and she in return accepted their courtesy and in
addition promised that she would show kindness to
their nation. And since the natives were often
being warred upon by the Gorgons, as they were
named, a folk which resided upon their borders, and
in general had that people lying in wait to injure
them, Mp-ina, they say, was asked by the Atlantians
to invade the land of the afore-mentioned Gorgons.
But when the Gorgons drew up their forces to resist
them a mighty battle took place in which the
Amazons, gaining the upper hand, slew great
numbers of their opponents and took no fewer than
255
DIODORUS OF SICILY
iXdrrovs Tptapj^tAtCDV tcov 8' dXXojv eiV riva
SpvfJLcoSrj roTTOv avjJLcfivyovawv eTTL^aXeadai fxev ttjv
yivpivav ifiTrpfjaai, rrjv vXrjv, airevSovaav dpSrjv
dveXelv to edvog, ov huvrjdelaav Se Kparijaai rrj's
iTTL^oXrjg eTraveXOelv eiri rovs opovs TrJ9 x^P^^
55. Tcbv S' ^Afial,6vcov vuKTog rd Trepl rds
(^uAttKa? padvpLovacbv Sta rrjv evrjpLepLav, imde-
[xivas TO.? alxp-O-Xcorihas , aTTaaap-evas Ta ^i(f>r] rdJv
SoKOvawv K€KpaTrjK€vaL TToAAa? dveXelv reXog 8e
rov ttXt^Oovs aura? TravTaxpdev TTeptxvOevros €vye-
2 vdJs pia-)(pp-€vas dTrdaag KaraKOTTTJvat. rrjv 8e
M.vpivav ddipaaav rds dvaLpeQeiaas rcbv avarpa-
revovadjv iv rpicjL Trvpalg ^^aj/xarcDV p-eydXcov
imorriaat, Td<^ovs rpels, ovs p-^XP'' '^'^^ ^^^ 'A/ia-
3 t,6vojv acopovs ovo/xa^ea^ai. rdg Se Topyovas iv
rot? varepov ;Ypoi^oiS' av^rjOeiaas vaXuv vtto
Ilepcrea)? rod Ato? KaTa7ToXep.r]drjvaL, Kad' ov
Kaipov i^aaiXevev avrcov MeSoucra* to Se reAeu-
Talov V(f)^ 'YlpaKXeovs dpBrjv dvaipedrjvai ravTag
re KaL to tcov ApLaL,6vajv edvos, Kad' ov Kaipov
Tovs TTpog earrepav tottovs erreXOajv eOeTO ra? ctti
Trjs Al^v7]s GTiqXas, BeLvov rjyovpievog, el rrpoeXo-
p,evog TO yevos Koivfj tcov dvOpcoTTcov evepyereZv
7Tepi6ifj€Tai, TLva Tcbv idvdJv yvvaLKOKpaTovp,€va.
Xiyerai Se Kat tt^v T piTcoviha XipLvqv aeLGfjicov
yevopLeviov d(/)avLad7]vai , payevTcov avTrjs Ttov irpos
Tov d)K€av6v p,epd)V KCKXipiivcov.
A Trjv Se Muptrav ^acrt Trjs re AtjSuT]? ttjv TrXeLaTfjv
eTTeXdelv, koI Trapa^aXovaav els AtyvrrTOV TTpos
256
BOOK III. 54. 7-55. 4
three thousand prisoners ; and since the rest had
fled for refuge into a certain wooded region, Myrina
undertook to set fire to the timber, being eager to
destroy the race utterly, but when she found that
she was unable to succeed in her attempt she retired
to the borders of her country.
55. Now as the Amazons, they go on to say,
relaxed their watch during the night because of
their success, the captive women, falling upon them
and drawing the swords of those who thought they
were conquerors, slew many of them; in the end,
however, the multitude poured in about them from
every side and the prisoners fighting bravely were
butchered one and all. Myrina accorded a funeral
to her fallen comrades on three pyres and raised up
three great heaps of earth as tombs, which are
called to this day " Amazon Mounds." But the Gor-
gons, grown strong again in later days, were subdued
a second time by Perseus, the son of Zeus, when
Medusa was queen over them ; and in the end both
they and the race of the Amazons Avere entirely
destroyed by Heracles, when he visited the regions
to the west and set up his pillars ^ in Libya, since he
felt that it would ill accord with his resolve to be
the benefactor of the whole race of mankind if he
should suffer any nations to be under the rule of
women. The story is also told that the marsh
Tritonis disappeared from sight in the course of an
earthquake, when those parts of it which lay towards
the ocean were torn asunder.
As for M}Tina, the account continues, she visited
the larger part of Libya, and passing over into
1 Cp. Book 4. 18.
257
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fiev ''^Q.pov TOP "IcriSo? f^aaiXevovra Tore rrjs
AtyvTTTOV (fiiXiav avvdeaOai, Trpog S' "Apa^as
hi.aTToXejJi'qaaaav Kai ttoXXovs avrcjv aveXovaav , ttjv
fjiev YiVpiav Karaarpeipaadai, rojv Se KiXlkojv
aTTavTiqadvrcov avrfj jLiera Scopcov Kal to KeXev-
6pi€vov TTon]a€iv opLoXoyovvTCDV, iXevOepovs d(f)€Lvai
Tovs eKovaccos TrpoaxojpijaavTas , ovs o-tto TavTTjs
TTj? aiTLas p'-^XP'' "^^^ ^^^ ^KXevdepoKiXiKas KaXet-
5 adai. KaTairoXepLrjaai. 8' avrrjv Kal to. irept rov
Tavpov eOvrj, hid^opa Tats aA/cai? ovTa,
Kal Sid Opuyiaj ttjs pLeydXt)? inl OdXaTTav
Kara^rjvaL' e^'^j Se Tr)v TrapadaXdrTtov ;^cupav'
TTpoaayayopievrjv opovs Oeudat ttjs OTpaTeias
6 Tov KatKov TTOTapiov. T7J? Se SopiKTTjTOU ;;^6(jpa?
eKXe^apLeinqv tovs evdcTovs tottovs et? TroXecov
KTicrets" OLKoSofirjaaL ttXclovs TToXeis, Kal tovtwv
oficovvpiov pitav eavTrj KTiaai, Tag 8' aAAa?
dno Tcov Tag r^yepiovias Tas pieyiaTa? expvacov,
l^vpL-qv, YliTdvav, Hpnjvrjv.
7 Tauras" pi€v ovv OLKiaat Trapd ddXaTTOv, dXXas
8e TrAetous' ev tols TTpog pieaoyeLOV av-qKOvai tottols-
KaTaaxelv 8' avTTjv Kal tcov vrjaoiv TLvds, Kai pid-
XiOTa TTjv Aea^ov, iv fj KTuaac ttoXlv MvtlXt^vtjv
opLcLvvpiOV TTJ pi€T€Xovarj TTJS" CTTpaTeias dSeX(f)fj.
8 eVetra Kal tu)V dXXcov vqucov TLvas KaraaTpe^o-
p,€vrjv ;)^etjLiaCT^'^vat, Kal TTOL-qaapievr^v rij pL-qTpt
Twv decov ev^ds virep rrjg aojTrjpiag TTpoa€V€X^T]vaL
vrjacp TLvl TCOV ipijpicov TavTTjv Se Kara Tiva ev
1 The Mediterranean.
" This river flows past Pergamum and empties into the
Aegean Sea.
258
BOOK III. 55. 4-8
Egypt she struck a treaty of friendship with Horus,
the son of Isis, who was king of Egypt at that time,
and then, after making war to the end upon the
Arabians and slaying many of them, she subdued
Syria ; but when the Cilicians came out with presents
to meet her and agreed to obey her commands, she
left those free who yielded to her of their free will
and for this reason these are called to this day the
" Free Cilicians." She also conquered in war the
races in the region of the Taurus, peoples of out-
standing courage, and descended through Greater
Phrygia to the sea ^ ; then she won over the land
lying along the coast and fixed the bounds of her
campaign at the Caicus River.^ And selecting in
the territory which she had won by arms sites well
suited for the founding of cities, she built a con-
siderable number of them and founded one ^ which
bore her own name, but the others she named after
the women who held the most important commands,
such as Cyme, Pitana, and Priene.
These, then, are the cities she settled along the sea,
but others, and a larger number, she planted in the
regions stretching towards the interior. She seized
also some of the islands, and Lesbos in particular,
on which she founded the city of Mitylene, which
was named after her sister who took part in the
campaign. After that, while subduing some of the
rest of the islands, she was caught in a storm, and
after she had offered up prayers for her safety to
the Mother of the Gods,'* she was carried to one of
the uninhabited islands ; this island, in obedience
^ The city of Myriua in Mysia ; cp. Strabo 13. 3. 6.
* Cybele,
259
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rots oveipoig (jiavraaiav KaOiepoJaai rfj TrpoeLprj-
fj-€vr) deep Kal ^cofiovg ISpvaacrOat /cat dvoiag
p,€yaXo7Tpe7T€LS eTTireXiaai- ovojidaai 8 avrrjv
HapboOpaKr^v, oirep elvai jJLedepfxrjvevop-evov els
rrjv '^?^rjVLKr]v StdXeKTOV lepdv vrjaov eviOL Be
TtDv LGTOpiKCOV XeyOVOL TO TTpO Tof) HdpiOV aVT7]V
KaXovpievqv vtto raJv KaroLKOvvrojv ev avrfj rrore
9 QpaKcov HafxoBpaKTjv 6vop.aadrjvaL. ov jJLrjv dXXd
Twv ^ AfJ.al,6voJV e-naveXOovacbv els ttjv TJTreipov
pLvdoXoyovoL rrjV pLrjrepa rcov decbv evapearrjdeXcrav
ri] VT]acp dXXovs re TLvas ev avrfj KaroLKLuat /cat
rovs eavrrjs vlovs rovs 6vop.aL,opL€vovs K.opv^avras'
e^ ov S' etat rrarpos ev dTTopprjrip Kara rrjv reXerrjV
TTapahiBoadai.- Karahel^ai he /cat rd vvv ev avrfj
avvreXovixeva fxvarrjpta Kal ro rep^evos dcwXov
vopioOerrjaaL.
10 Ilept he rovrovs rovs ■)(^p6vovs ^loipov rdv QpaKa,
(l>vydSa yev6p.evov vtto AvKovpyov rod ^aaiXecos
rujv QpaKcov, ep-^aXeZv els rrjv x^P*^^ '^^'^ 'Ap.a-
t,6va)v pcerd ar par ids rijs ovveKveaovaT^s avra>'
avarparevaai he Kal IIlttvXov rep }^16ifj(p rov
TiKvdrjv, 7Te(f>vyahevp.evov 6p.oLcos e/c rrjs 6p.6pov
\l rfj QpaKji l^Kvdias. yevopieviqs he napard^ecos,
Kal rcjjv TTepl rov UlttvXov Kal Moipov Trporeprj-
advrcov, riqv re ^aaiXLooav rdjv ApLat,6vcov
^IvpLvav dvaipeOrjvai. Kal rdJv dXXwv rds TrXeiovs.
rov he )(p6vov Trpo^aivovros, Kal Kara rds p.d)(as
del ra)V QpaKcJov eTTLKparovvrcov, ro reXevratov rds
TTepi.XeL^9eiaas rcov ' ApLa!l,6vcov dvaKdp-tpai TrdXiv
els Ai^VTjv. Kal rrjv p.ev arpareiav ra>v aird
Al^vtjs ^Afia^ovcov p.vdoXoyovai roiovro Xa^elv ro
vepas.
260
BOOK III. 55. 8-1 1
to a vision which she beheld in her dreams, she made
sacred to this goddess, and set up altars there and
offered magnificent sacrifices. She also gave it the
name of Samothrace, which means, when translated
into Greek, " sacred island," although some his-
torians say that it was formerly called Samos and
was then given the name of Samothrace by Thracians
who at one time dwelt on it. However, after the
Amazons had returned to the continent, the myth
relates, the Mother of the Gods, well pleased Avith
the island, settled in it certain other people, and also
her own sons, who are known by the name of Cory-
bantes — who their father was is handed down in
their rites as a matter not to be divulged ; and she
established the mysteries which are now celebrated
on the island and ordained by law that the sacred
area should enjoy the right of sanctuary.
In these times, they go on to say, Mopsus the
Thracian, who had been exiled by Lycurgus, the
king of the Thracians, invaded the land of the
Amazons with an army composed of fellow-exiles,
and with Mopsus on the campaign was also Sipylus
the Scythian, who had likewise been exiled from that
part of Scythia which borders upon Thrace. There
was a pitched battle, Sipylus and Mopsus gained the
upper hand, and Myrina. the queen of the Amazons,
and the larger part of the rest of her army were
slain. In the course of the years, as the Thracians
continued to be victorious in their battles, the
surviving Amazons finally withdrew again into
Libya. And such was the end, as the myth relates,
of the campaign whicli the Amazons of Libya
made.
261
DIODORUS OF SICILY
56. 'H/xet? S' eTreiSrj rrepl ra^v ^ KrXavriiov ifxvij-
aOrjiiev, ovk dvoLKecov rjyov[Ji€da SieXdelv ra fivdoXo-
yovneva Trap' avrols Trepl Trjg raJv decjv yeveaecog,
8ta TO fiT) TToXv SLaXXdrretv avrd tcov [ivdoXoyov-
2 jxevcov nap' "EAAtjctiv. ol roiwv KrXavrioL rovg
TTapd Tov (liKeavov tottovs KaroLKOvvreg /cat
X<jopav evSaiiJLOva vepioixevoi ttoXv ^ jxev eucrejSeia
/cat (jaXavOpajTria rfj vpos rovs ^ivovs Sokovgl
8i,a(f)€peLv TOJv TrXrjaioxo^poJV, Trjv Se yeveatv rcov
OeaJv Trap' avTols yeveadai (f>aaL. av/jLcfiOJvelv Se
TOis XeyojxevoLS vtt' avrcov Kat tov ein^avlaTaTov
TCOV Trap' "EAATyai ttoltjtojv iv ols irapeLadyet ttjv
"Hpav Xiyovaav
et/xt yap oifjop-evq TToXv(j)6p^ov Treipara yair]?,
^Q.K€av6v re Oeiov yeveoLV /cat jx-qTepa TiqOvv.
3 Mu^oAoyowCTt Se rrpcoTOV nap' avTolg Ovpavov
^aaiXevaai /cat tov<s dvOpcoTTOvg anopdSrjv OLKovvTag
avvayayelv etV TToXecog irepL^oXov , /cat Trjs /xev
dvopiLag /cat tov drjptcvSovg ^iov navaai tovs
VTTaKovovTas , €vp6vTa Tas tcov rjp^epcov Kapncov
)^p€Lag /cat irapaOeaeis /cat tow dXXcov tcov )(pr]aipicov
OVK oXlya- KaTaKTrjoaaOai S avTov /cat tt^?
OLKOVfievris ttjv TrXeiaT-qv, Kat pidXiGTa tovs npos
4 TTJV iairepav /cat ttjv dpKTOv tottovs. tcov Se
doTpcov yevopLevov eVt/xeAry 7TapaT7]p7]Tr)v ttoAAo. npo-
Xeyeiv tcov /caret tov Koap-ov pieXXovTcov ylveadai'
elcrqyrjaaaOai Se rot? op^Aot? tov p,kv iviavTov dno
TTJs TOV rjXiov Kivqaecos, tovs Se pirjvas dno Trjs ^
' TToXi) Dindorf, Bekker, woAAcu Vogel, ttoAAj MSS,
^ Tijs added by Oldfather.
262
BOOK III. 56. 1-4
56. But since we have made mention of the Atlan-
tians, we beheve that it will not be inappropriate
in this place to recount what their myths relate about
the genesis of the gods, in view of the fact that it
does not differ greatly from the myths of the Greeks.
Now the Atlantians, dwelling as they do in the
regions on the edge of the ocean and inhabiting a
fertile territory, are reputed far to excel their
neighbours in reverence towards the gods and the
humanity they showed in their dealings with
strangers, and the gods, they say, were born among
them. And their account, they maintain, is in
agreement -with that of the most renowned of the
Greek poets ^ when he represents Hera as saying :
For I go to see the ends of the bountiful earth,
Oceanus source of the gods and Tethys divine
Their mother.
This is the account given in their myth : Their
first king was Uranus, and he gathered the human
beings, who dwelt in scattered habitations, within
the shelter of a walled city and caused his subjects
to cease from their lawless ways and their bestial
manner of living, discovering for them the uses of
cultivated fruits, how to store them up, and not a
few other things which are of benefit to man ; and
he also subdued the larger part of the inhabited
earth, in particular the regions to the west and the
north. And since he was a careful observer of the
stars he foretold many things which would take
place throughout the world ; and for the common
people he introduced the year on the basis of the
movement of the sun and the months on that of the
^ Homer; the lines are from the Iliad 14. 200-1.
263
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rrjg (TeX-qinrjs, /cat ras Kar €tos eKaarov cupa?
5 StSa^at. 8l6 /cat rovs TToXXovg, dyvoovvras fiev
TTjv rajv darpcov aliovcov rd^iv, davfidl^ovTas Se
rd ytvd/x€va /card rds Trpopp-qaeis, inroXa^elv rov
TOVTiov elarjyr^rrjv Oeias ix€T€)(€lv (fyvaeojs, fJierd 8e
T-qv e^ avdpojTTOiv avrov fJuerdcrraaLv Std re rds
evepyeaias /cat rriv rcbv darpcov iTTL-yvojaiv ddavd-
rovs TLfjids aTToret/xaf nerayayelv 8' avrov rr^v
TTpoarjyopiav eVt tov /coa/xov, d'jLta p,€V toj hoKeZv
OLKetoJS €a-)(rjK€vaL Trpog rds tojv darpcov eTTiroXds
re /cat Sycret? /cat rd'AAa rd ytvofieva irepl rdv
KocrpLov, d/xa Se to) fxeyedet rdv npLCJV VTrep^dXXeiv
rds" evepyeaias, /cat 77/305' Tor alcova ^acnXia rGiV
oXojv avrov dvayopevaavras .
57. Ovpavov Se pLvOoXoyovai yevdaOai TratSa? e/c
TrAetot'cov' yvvaiKaJv Trevre irpos rot? rerrapdKovra,
/cat TOUTOJV oKrcoKaiheKa Xiyovaiv VTrdpxeiv e/c
Ttrata? oVo/ta /Ltei^ t'Stot' e^ovras eKdarovs, kolvt]
Se Trdvras drrd rrj? fxrjrpds 6vop,at,op€vovs Tirdvag.
2 rrjv Se Ttraiai', ady^pova ovaav /cat TToAAdiv'
dyadtov alriav yevopievrjv rolg Xaols, aTTodecodrj-
i^at /xerd tt^i' reXevrrjv vtto rwv ev Tradovrcov
Vriv ixerovopiaadelaav. yeveadat S' avrco /cat
dvyarepas, a)v etvai Bvo rds Trpea^vrdras ttoXv
roiv dXXiov €Tn<f)av€ardras, rijv re KaXovpbevrjv
BaCTt'Aetai^ /cat 'Pe'av rrjv vit* evicov Ylavhwpav
3 ovopiacrdelaav. rovrcuv Se rrjv piev ^aoiXeiav ,
TTpea^vrdrrjv ovaav /cat aco(f>poavvr] re /cat avveaei.
TToXv rdjv dXXcov Stacfiepovaav, eKdpeipai irdvras
rovs dheXfj)OVS Koivfj jxrirpos evvoiav Trape^opii-
264
BOOK III. 56. 4-57- 3
moon, and instructed them in the seasons which
recur year after year. Consequently the masses of
tlie people, being ignorant of the eternal arrange-
ment of the stars and marvelling at the events which
were taking place as he had predicted, conceived
that the man who taught such things partook of the
nature of the gods, and after he had passed from
among men they accorded to him immortal honours,
both because of his benefactions and because of his
knowledge of the stars ; and then they transferred
his name to the firmament of heaven, both because
they thought that he had been so intimately
acquainted N\ith the risings and the settings of the
stars and with whatever else took place in the
firmament, and because they would surpass his
benefactions by the magnitude of the honours which
they would show him, in that for all subsequent time
they proclaimed him to be the king of the universe.
57. To Uranus, the myth continues, were born
forty-five sons from a number of wives, and, of these,
eighteen, it is said, were by Titaea, each of them
bearing a distinct name, but all of them as a group
were called, after their mother, Titans. Titaea,
because she was prudent and had brought about
many good deeds for the peoples, was deified after
her death by those whom she had helped and her
name was changed to Ge, To Uranus were also
born daughters, the two eldest of whom were by far
the most renowned above the others and were called
Basileia and Rhea, whom some also named Pandora.
Of these daughters Basileia, who was the eldest and
far excelled the others in both prudence and under-
standing, reared all her brothers, showing them col-
lectively a mother's kindness; consequently she was
265
DIODORUS OF SICILY
VTjv Sto Kol ixeyaXrjv fjLrjrepa TrpoaayopevOrjvai'
/Ltero. Be ttjv tov Trarpos i^ dvdpcoTTcov els Oeovs
IxerdcTraaLV , avy)((i>povvra>v tcDv' 6)(\oiiv Kai tojv
dSe)\.<f)a)v, SiaSe^acr^at rr]v ^aariXelav rrapdevov ovaav
en ^ Kal Sid rrjv VTrep^oXrjv rrjs aa}cl)poavvr]s
ov8evl avvoLKTJaaL ^ouX-qdetaav. varepov Se ^ovXo-
jxevr^v 8taSo;^ou? ttj? ^aaiXelag dTToXLireLV vlovs,
'YTTepiovL GvvoLK7]aai, Tiov dheX(f)cbv ivi, vrpoj ov
4 OLKeiorara SteVetTO. yevofievtov S' avrfj 8vo t€K-
va>v, 'HXlov Kal HeX-qmr^g, Kal davpLa^opiivajv cttI
T€ ra> KdXXeL Kal rfj acocfypoavvrj, ^acrt roiis
a8eX(f>ovs Tavrrj p,€V iir' evreKVLo. (pOovovvras,
TOV 8 *Y7TepLova cf>o^rjddvras /xrjTrore rrjv ^aaiXeiav
els avTov TTepLcnrdcrT], Trpd^iv eTnreXeaaadai navre-
5 AcD? dvooLov. (JvviOfJLoaLav yap TroiTycra/xeVou? tov
fxev 'YnepLova /caraa^a^ai, tov S' "HXlov ovTa TratSa
Trjv rjXiKiav efx^aXovTag els tov ^Y{pi8av6v TTOTapiov
dTTOTTVL^ai,' KaTa(l)avovg 8e yevopievrjs Trjs dTV^loLS,
TTjV fiev '2ieX'nvr]v (j>LXd8eX(l)OV ovaav Kad^ vrrep^oXrjv
ttTTo TOV Teyovs eavTTjv plipai, ttjv 8e jx-qTepa
^TjTOvaav TO acbfia napd tov noTafiov avyKorrov
yeveadat, Kal KaT€ve-)(deiaav els vrrvov IBelv oifjiv,
Kad^ rjv eBo^ev einaTdvTa tov "HAtov TrapaKaXeiv
avTTjv [JLTj dprjveXv tov tcDi^ tIkvcov davaTOV tovs
fxev yap Ttrai'a? Tev^eadai ttjs Trpoo-qKovcrrjs
TL/xajplas, iavTov 8e Kal ttjv d8eX<^'iqv eis adavaTOVS
(f>vaeLS iji€Taa)cqfMaTLa6'qaeadaL deia tlvI Trpovoiq.'
ovop-aodrjaecrdaL yap vtto tcov dvOpwTTcov tJXlov
fJLev TO TTpoTepov ev ovpavcp TTvp lepdv KaXovp.evov,
' Irt Bekker: en Se.
^ The " sun " and the " moon " respectively,
266
BOOK III. 57. 3-5
given the appellation of" Great Mother; " and after
her father had been translated from among men into
the circle of the gods, with the approval of the
masses and of her brothers she succeeded to the royal
dignity, though she was still a maiden and because
of her exceedingly great chastity had been unwilling
to unite in marriage with any man. But later,
because of her desire to leave sons who should
succeed to the throne, she united in marriage with
Hyperion, one of her brothers, for whom she had
the greatest affection. And when there were born
to her two children, Helius and Selene,^ who were
greatly admired for both their beauty and their
chastity, the brothers of Basileia, they say, being
envious of her because of her happy issue of childi-en
and fearing that Hyperion would divert the royal
power to himself, committed an utterly impious
deed ; for entering into a conspiracy among them-
selves they put Hyperion to the sword, and casting
Helius, who was still in years a child, into the
Eridanus ^ river, drowned him. When this crime
came to light, Selene, who loved her brother very
greatly, threw herself do\vn from the roof, but as
for his mother, while seeking his body along the
river, her strength left her and falling into a swoon
she beheld a vision in which she thought that Helius
stood over her and urged her not to mourn the death
of her children ; for, he said, the Titans would meet
the punishment which they deserve, while he and
his sister would be transformed, by some divine provi-
dence, into immortal natures, since that which had
formerlv been called the " holy fire " in the heavens
would be called by men Helius (" the sun ") and that
■^ The Po.
267
DIODORUS OF SICILY
6 aeX'qvrjU Se ttjv firjvqv Trpoaayopevoybivqv . Sieyep-
detaav 8e Koi rots 6)(Xols tov re ovetpov /cat ra
TTepl avTTjv aTV^TjixaTa hieXdovaav a^Lcoaai tols
[Jb€v TeTeXevrrjKocriv oLTroveLjxaL rtjuas' laodeovs,
TOV 8' avT'r]s acofjiaros fJLTjKeri, fi-qSeva OiyeZv.
7 /^tera Se ravra ifMfiavTJ yevofxevqv /cat rayv rrjs
Ovyarpos naiyvicov ra hwdpieva ijjocfiov imreXetv
dprrdaaaav TrXavdaOai Kara ttjv -^^ojpav, XeXvpLeviqv ^
H€V rds Tpi^as, to) Be 8ia tcov rvfiTravcDV Kac
KVH^dXcov i/j6(f>a) ivded[,ovaav, oiore KaraTrX-qr-
8 readai tovs opcovras. Trdvrcov he ro Trepl avrrjv
Trddos eXeovvTcov, /cat tlvcov avrexofievcov tov
adtpiaTOs, emyeveadai nXrjOos op^^pov /cat avvex^ls
Kepavudjv TTTCoaeLs- evTavOa he rrjv p,ev BacriAetai'
d(f>avrj yeveadai, tovs 8' oxXovs davp,daavTas ttjv
TTepiTTeTeLav tov piev "HAtoi' /cat T-)7y TieXrivriv ttj
TTpocrrjyopta /cat rat? ri/xat? /xerayayetr em to.
kut' ovpavov dcTTpa, rrjv he pLTjTepa tovtcov deov re
vop.iaai /cat ^copLovg Ihpvaaadat, /cat rat? 8ta tcov
TVpLTrdvcov /cat Kvpi^dXcov evepyecais /cat tols a'AAot?
diraaiv aTTopupLovpievovs to, irepi avTrjv avpL^dura
dvaias Koi ra? aAAa? Tipcds dTTOveZpiai.
58. riapaSeSoTat he ttjs deov ravTrjS koX /caret
TTjV ^pvyiav yeveais. ol yap ey)(copcoL puvdoXo-
yovoL TO rraXaiov yeveaOai ^aaiXea ^pvyias /cat
' So Eusebius {Praep, Ev. 2. 2. 3U) : KaTaXeXv^iv-qv-
268
BOOK III. 57. 5-58. I
addressed as " menfe " would be called Selene
(" the moon "). When she was aroused from the
swoon she recounted to the common crowd both the
dream and the misfortunes which had befallen her,
asking that they render to the dead honours like
those accorded to the gods and asserting that no man
should thereafter touch her body. And after this she
became frenzied, and seizing such of her daughter's
playthings as could make a noise, she began to
wander over the land, with her hair hanging free,
inspired by the noise of the kettledrums and cymbals,
so that those who saw her were struck with astonish-
ment. And all men were filled with pity at her
misfortune and some were clinging to her body,^
when there came a mighty storm and continuous
crashes of thunder and lightning ; and in the midst
of this Basileia passed from sight, whereupon the
crowds of people, amazed at this reversal of fortune,
transfen-ed the names and the honours of Helius
and Selene to the stars of the sky, and as for their
mother, they considered her to be a goddess and
erected altars to her, and imitating the incidents of
her life by the pounding of the kettledi'ums and the
clash of the cymbals they rendered unto her in this
way sacrifices and all other honours.
58. However, an account is handed down also that
this goddess ^ was born in Phrygia. For the natives
of that country have the followng myth : In ancient
times Meion became king of Phrygia and Lydia ;
' Cp. the scene in Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, 1620-1,
immediately before Oedipus passes from earth in the storm :
So clinging to each other sobbed and wept
Father and daughters both.
(tr. by Storr in the L.C.L.)
^ I.e. the Magna Mater.
269
DIODORUS OF SICILY
AvStas Mfjova- yrjjxavTa 8e ALfSvixrjv yewrjaai
fiev TTaihLov drjXv, rpe(f>etv S' avro fj.r] ^ovXofxevov
els opos eKdeXvaL ro Trpoaayopevoixevov Ku^eAor.
ivravda rw TratSto) /caret riva deiav Trpovoiav rds
T€ TTapbaXeis /cat rtva tcov aXXcov rojv dXKjj 8ta-
<f>€p6vT(jt}v dripioiv TTapix^adai rrjv drjXrjV /cat
2 Siarpecfieiv, yvvaia 8e TLva Trepi rov ronov TTOi/xat-
vovTa Karihelv to yLv6fj,evov, /cat davpiaaavTa rqv
TTepiTTereLav dveXeadai. to ^pe^os, /cat wpocrayopev-
CTttt K-V^eX-qv 0.770 tov tottov. av^ofxevrjv Se ttjv
TratSa to) re /cctAAet /cat crco^poawT^ Stei^ey/ceti',
eVt 8e avveaei yeveadai OavpiaaT'qv t7]v re yap
TToXvKaXapLov avptyya Trpcorqv eTTLvofjuac /cat TJ-po?
TO.? 77-aiSta.? /cat ^opelas evpelv KVfx^aXa /cat
TVpLTrava, irpos Se Tourot? Kadapfiovs tcov vouovvtojv
KTrjvcov T€ /cat v7]TTla)V TTaihcov €L<j7]yrj(Taa9aL'
3 8i6 /cat Tcbv ^p€<l>a)v rat? eTrajSat? (J(x>t,ofxivojv /cat
TCtiv TrXeiaTOiv vtt' avTrjs eVay/caAt^o/xeVojv', Stct
TT^v et? TavTa aTTOvSrjv /cat <j>LXoaTopyLav vtto
TTOVTiov avTTjv opetav puTjTepa TrpoaayopevOilvai.
avvaaTp€(f>€adaL S' avT-fj /cat j>LXiav e^eti^ ctti
TrXeov (jiacrl Mapcruav rov <I>puya, 9avp.at,6p.evov
€tt\ avv€(7€L /Cttt aa)(f>poauvrj- /cat ttj? /xei' oxij/-
eaeojs TeKpL-qpiov Xajx^dvovaL to puii'qaacrdaL tovs
<f)d6yyovs Trjs TToXvKaXdfjiOV avpcyyos /cat /Lter-
eveyKeZv eTTC tovs avXovs Tr]v oXrjv apf-Loviav,
TTJs 8e aco(f>poavvr]g aiqixelov eLvai (f>a(n to
p-^xpi- Trjs TeXevTTJs dneipaTov yeveudai ToJv a<f)po-
StCTtCDV.
4 Trjv ovv Kv^eXrjv els dKfirjv -qXiKias iXdovaav
dyavrjaaL tcov ey)(a)picov tlvo. veavLOKov tov
270
BOOK III. 58. 1-4
and marrying Dindyme he begat an infant daughter,
but being unwilling to rear her he exposed her on
the mountain which was called Cybelus. There, in
accordance with some divine providence, both the
leopards and some of the other especially ferocious
wild beasts offered their nipples to the child and so
gave it nourishment, and some women who were
tending the flocks in that place witnessed the happen-
ing, and being astonished at the strange event took
up the babe and called her Cybele after the name
of the place. The child, as she grew up, excelled
in both beauty and virtue and also came to be admired
for her intelligence ; for she was the first to devise
the pipe of many reeds and to invent cymbals and
kettledrums with which to accompany the games
and the dance, and in addition she taught how to
heal the sicknesses of both flocks and little children
by means of rites of purification ; in consequence,
since the babes were saved from death by her spells
and were generally taken up in her arms, her devo-
tion to them and affection for them led all the people
to speak of her as the " mother of the mountain."
The man who associated ^v^th her and loved her
more than anyone else, they say, was Marsyas the
Phrygian, who was admired for his intelligence and
chastity ; and a proof of his intelligence they find in
the fact that he imitated the sounds made by the
pipe of many reeds and carried all its notes over into
the flute,^ and as an indication of his chastity they
cite his abstinence from sexual pleasures until the
day of his death.
Now Cybele, the myth records, having an-ived at
full womanhood, came to love a certain native youth
^ i.e. into a single pipe.
271
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTpoaayopevoixevov [X€v "Arrtv, varepov S' eTTLKXr]-
Oevra HaTrav crvveXOovaav S' et? opuXiav avro)
Xddpa Kal y^vop.ex'-qv eyKvov €7nyv(joadrivaL Kara
TOVTOv rov Kaipov vtto rcov yovecov. 59, SioTTep
dva)(6eLar]s avrrjg elg rd ^aaiAeta, Kal rov
TTarpos ro fX€v -npcoTOV a»s" irapOevov npoaSe-
^afxevov, fxerd Se ravra yvovros tt^v (f)6opdv,
KOI rd? re rpo^ovg Kal rov "Arriv dveXovros
Kal rd ad)[xara eKpufjavrog dra<^a, <^aal rrjv
K.v^eX-qv 8td rrjv vpog ro fxcLpdKLOv ^lXo-
aropylav Kai rrjv em rats rpo^oZs Xvtttjv eixjjiavrj
yevofievrjv etV rrjv ^(^ujpav eKTrrjSrjaaL. Kal ravrrjv
jjLev oXoXv^ovaav Kal rvinTavit,ovaav jjiovrjv errieVat
ndaav x^P'^^> XeXvfjievr^v rds rptp^a?, rov Se
Mapavav iXeovvra ro rrddos eKovalcos avrfj avva-
KoXovdeZv Kal avinrXavdaO at Sid rr^v rrpovTrdp-
2 -^ovuav (jiiXiav. Trapayei'Ojxevovg 8' avrous rrpos
Alowctov els Tr]v Nuaav KaraXa^elv rov 'AttoAAo)
rvyxdvovra p-eydX-qs d77o§o;^7^S' Std rrjv KiOdpav,
rjv 'Kpprjv evpeZv Saaiv, 'A7T6XXa>va 8e rrpaJrov
avrfj Kara rpoirov -^prjadaf epit^ovros he rov
Mapcrvou Trpo? rov AttoAAo; irepL rijs re)(^V7]s, Kai
rdjv Nucrai'top' dTToSei^^devrcDV BLKaordJv, rov p,ev
AvroAAotP'a TTpojrov KLdapicrai ipiX-qv, rov Be ^lapavav
em^aXovra rols avXoZs KaraTrXrj^ai rag aKod?
rip ^evil,ovri, Kal Std rr^v evpeXetav ^ So^at ttoXv
3 TTpoex^LV rov Trporiycoviapevov . (TvvTedeLp,eva>v S'
avrdJv Trap' dXXv^Xa roZs BiKauraZs eTTiBeLKwaOai
' Reiske suggests e/x^ue'Aeiav ("harmony").
272
BOOK III. 58. 4-59. 3
who was known as Attis, but at a later time received
the appellation Papas ^ ; with him she consorted
secretly and became with child, and at about the
same time her parents recognized her as their child.
59. Consequently she was brought up into the palace,
and her father welcomed her at the outset under
the impression that she was a virgin, but later, when
he learned of her seduction, he put to death her
nurses and Attis as well and cast their bodies forth
to lie unburied ; whereupon Cybele, they say,
because of her love for the youth and grief over the
nurses, became frenzied and rushed out of the
palace into the countryside. And crying aloud and
beating upon a kettledrum she visited every country
alone, with hair hanging free, and Marsyas, out of
pity for her plight, voluntarily followed her and
accompanied her in her wanderings because of the
love which he had formerly borne her. \Vhen they
came to Dionysus in the city of Nysa they found
there Apollo, who was being accorded high favour
because of the lyre, which, they say, Hermes invented,
though Apollo was the first to play it fittingly ;
and when Marsyas strove with Apollo in a contest of
skill and the Nysaeans had been appointed judges,
the first time Apollo played upon the lyre without
accompanying it with his voice, while Mai-syas,
striking up upon his pipes, amazed the ears of his
hearers by their strange music and in their opinion
far excelled, by reason of his melody, the first
contestant. But since they had agreed to take
turn about in displaying their skill to the judges,
^ "Papa" or "father." Attis-Papas was the supreme
god of the Phrj-giaus, occupying the position held by Zeus
in the Greek world.
273
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TT]t' T€xvy]v, Tov jxev ^ AttoXXcovol (f>aaLv em^aXelv to
Sevrepov dpixorrovaav rep /xe'Aet rijs KtOdpag cpS-qv,
Ka9^ ■^v VTrep^aXeadai rrji' TrpovTrdp^acrav tojv
auAoJi' dTToho')(iqv tov Se npoTepov dyavaKT-qaavTa
StSaa/cetv' tovs dKpoaTas otl napd rrdv to Si/caiov
avTos iXaTTOVTat' Seiv yap ytveadai Te^vq^
avyKptoLV, ov (fiajvrjs, Kad rjv 7TpocrrjK€L ttjv
dpjxoviav kol to /xeAo? i^€Tdl,ea6at Trjs Kt-Odpas
Kal Tcov ayAcDt'" xrat Trpos tovtols d'St/cov etvai
8vo T€-)(yas d'/Lta Trpo? pbiav avyKpiveadai. tov
Se 'AttoAAoj jxvOoXoyovaLv elTreiv to? ov8ev avTOV
4 irXeoveKTOLT]- Kal yap tov Mapavav to TrapaTrX-q-
aiov avT(x) TTOielv, els tovs avXovs €jX(^VGd)VTa'
heZv ovv r) tt^v i^ovalav ravTrjv laiqv diJL(f)OTepois
SiSoaOaL TTJg Kpdaecos,^ ■^ pur^SeTepov tco aTop-aTL
8iay(x>VL[,6pevov 5id iJi6va)v tcov ■)(^e.Lpa)V evhetKVV-
5 aOai TTjV Ihiav Te-xyrjv. emKpivdvTcov Se tcov
dKpoaToJv TOV 'AttoXXoj hiKatoTepa Xeyeiv, avy-
KpiOrjvai ndXiv Tas Texvag, Kal tov pev Mapavav
XeL(f)drjvaL, tov S' AttoAAcd Sid ttjv eptv iriKpo-
Tepov )(prjadp,evov eKhelpai t,(i)VTa tov rjTT7]0evTa.
Ta^xp 8e peTapeXrjdevTa Kal ^apecos enl Tolg vtt*
O.VTOV 7Tpa-)(9elaLV eveyKavTa Trjg KtOdpag CKprj^ai
TO,? ;(opSds' Kal ttjv evprjpevr^v appoviav a<f)aviaaL.
6 TavT-qs S' VGTepov Moiiaa? pev dveupeZv ttjv
peo7]v, Aivov 8e Tr]v Xi^o-vov, ^Op6ea 8e Kal
^ Kpdaeojs Eichstadt : Kplaecos-
274
BOOK III. 59. 3-6
Apollo, they say, added, this second time, his voice
in harmony with the music of the lyre, whereby he
gained greater approval than that which had for-
merly been accorded to the pipes. Marsyas,
however, was enraged and tried to prove to the
hearers that he was losing the contest in defiance
of every principle of justice ; for, he argued, it should
be a comparison of skill and not of vdice, and only
by such a test was it possible to judge between the
harmony and music of the lyre and of the pipes ;
and furthermore, it was unjust that two skills should
be compared in combination against but one.
Apollo, however, as the myth relates, replied that
he was in no sense taking any unfair advantage of
the other ; in fact, when Marsyas blew into his pipes
he was doing almost the same thing as himself ^ ;
consequently the rule should be made either that
they should both be accorded this equal privilege of
combining their skills, or that neither of them should
use his mouth in the contest but should display his
special skill by the use only of his hands. When
the hearers decided that Apollo presented the more
just argument, their skills were again compared;
Marsyas was defeated, and Apollo, who had become
somewhat embittered by the quarrel, flayed the
defeated man alive. But quickly repenting and being
distressed at what he had done, he broke the strings of
the lyre and destroyed the harmony of sounds which
he had discovered. This harmony of the strings , how-
ever, was rediscovered, when the Muses added later
the middle string, Linus the string struck with the
forefinger, and Orpheus and Thamyras the lowest
1 i.e. they were both using their breath; Marsyas to make
the pipes sound, Apollo to produce vocal notes.
275
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Qa^ivpav VTrdrrjv Kal Trapvirdrr^v . tov 8' 'AttoAAcu
4>aalv et? to avrpov rod lS.Lovvaov ttjv re Kidapav
Kal rods avXovs dvaOevra, Kal rfjs K.v^eX'qs epaadev-
ra, GvjjiTTXavr^drjvaL ravrrj p-^XP^ "^^^ 'YTvep^opecov.
7 Kara 8e rrjv (^pvyiav ip.Treaova'qs voaov rols
dvdpdjTTOLS Kal rrjs yrjs aKap-nov yevop.evrjs ,
eTTepojTrjadvrcov tojv drv^ovvrcDV rov deov ^ -nepL
TTJs Tcov KaKcJjv dTTaXXayfjs vpoora^ai ^aati^
avTOLS OdipaL ro "AttiSoj aco/xa /cat Ttpidv ttjv
K^v^eXrjv CO? Oeov. Stovrep tovs Opuya? rj(f)avL(j-
p,evov TOV CTOjpLaTO'S 8ia tov xpovov etScoAoi^ Kara-
OKevdaai tov p,€ipaKLov, Trpos (h dprjvovvras rat?
OLKeiais Tt/xat? tov Trddovs i^iXdaKecrdai. Trjv tov
Trapavop^TjOevTOS pirjvLV OTrep p-^XP'- '^'-'^ Kra^'
8 T^/xa? ^iov TTOLOvvTas avrovs SLareXeiv. ttjs 8e
Kv^eXrjg to TraXaiov ^cop.ovs lhpvoap.ivovs dvaias
eTTLreXeLV /car' eVo?- voTepov 8' ev YlLaivovvri, rrjs
^pvyias KaTaarKevdaat vewv TToXvTeXrj /cat Ttju-ct?
Kat dvcjiag /caraSei^at pLeyaXoTrpeneaTdTas , MtSoy "
Tov jSaatAecD? ets" ravra avpL(f)iXoKaXriaavTos' rco 8'
dydXpLari t'^? deov irapacrTTJaaL TrapSdXeis Kai
XeovTas 8ta to SoKelv vtto tovtcov TrpcJoTov Tpa(f>rjvaL.
Ylepl p.ev ovv p,r]Tp6s Oecov TOiavra pcvdoXo-
yetrat vrapa re rot? Opu^t /cat rot? 'ArAavrtoi?
rots TTapd rov oiKeavov oIkovolv.
^ So Dindorf : tov deov arvxovvTwv D, arvxovvrwv omitted
in Vulgate.
* Mi'Sou VVesseling : M-qhov.
^ Hermes had discovered the three-stringed lyre (cp. Book
1. 16. 1), and ApoUo had presumably added four more strings.
276
BOOK III. 59. 6-8
string and the one next to it.^ And Apollo, they say,
laid away both the lyre and the pipes as a votive
ofFerinff in the cave of Dionysus, and becoming en-
amoured of Cybele joined in her wanderings as far
as the land of the Hyperboreans.
But, the myth goes on to say, a pestilence fell
upon human beings throughout Phrygia and the
land ceased to bear fruit, and when the unfortunate
people inquired of the god how they might rid
themselves of their ills he commanded them, it is
said, to bury the body of Attis and to honour Cybele
as a goddess. Consequently the Phrygians, since
the body had disappeared in the course of time,
made an image of the youth, before Avhich they sang
dirges and by means of honours in keeping with his
suffering propitiated the wTath of him who had been
wronged ; and these rites they continue to perform
down to our own lifetime. As for Cybele, in ancient
times they erected altars and performed sacrifices
to her yearly ; and later they built for her a
costly temple in Pisinus of Phrygia, and estab-
lished honours and sacrifices of the greatest magnifi-
cence, Midas their king taking part in all these
works out of his devotion to beauty ; and beside the
statue of the goddess they set up panthers and lions,
since it was the common opinion that she had first
been nursed by these animals.
Such, then, are the myths which are told about
the Mother of the Gods both among the Phrygians
and by the Atlantians who dwell on the coast of the
ocean.
It is these additional four strings which then had to be
rediscovered.
277
DIODORUS OF SICILY
60. Mero. 8e rrjv 'Yirepiovog reXevTrjv fxvdoXo-
yovcn rovg vlovg rov Ovpavov hieXiadai rrjv
^auiXeLav, (hv VTrdpx^tv iTTKJyaveardrovs " KrXavra
Kal Kpdror. TOVT(x)v Se rov jxev "ArXavra Aa;^eri^
Tovg Trapa rov ojKeavov tottovs, /cat rovs re Xaovs
^ArXavTiovg ovopbdaai Kal to fxeyiOTov TOiv Kara.
TTjv )(^a)pav opajv ojjioicog "ArXavra Trpoaayopevaai.
2 ^aCTt S' avrov rd TrepL rrjv darpoXoyiav i^aKpL^coaai
Kal rov acjiaipLKov Xoyov els avSpcorrovs Trpcorov
i^eveyK€LV d(f)' rjs alrias ho^ai rov avpnTavra
KoapLOv €7TL rdjv "ArXavros aipicxiv o^^eladaL, rov
fjivOov rrjV rrjg acfiaipag evpeaiv Kal Karaypacfyrjv
alvirropievov. yeveadai 8 avro) TrXeiovs vlovs,
(Lv eva hievcyKeLV evae^eia Kai rfj Trpos rov?
dp-^opievovs SiKaioavvr) Kal (fyiXavOpajTria, rov
3 7Tpoaayopev6pL€Vov "KaTrepov. rovrov 8' €ttI rrjv
Kopv(f>r)v rov "ArXavrog opovg dva^aivovra koI
rd? rcbv darpcov vaparriprjaeig TTOLOvpievov i^ai(l>injg
VTio TTvevpidrcov avvapTtaylvra pLeydXcov d(f)avrov
yevioOai- 8ia Se r'tjv dperrjv avrov rd rrddos rd
TrXrjOri eXe-qaravra np-dg dOavdrovs dTTOvelp^ai Kal
rov €7TL<f)aveararov rcov Kard rov ovpavov daripojv
6pLO}Vvp.a>g eKecvo) TipoaayopevaaL.
4 'Yrrdp^ai 8' "ArXavri Kal Ovyaripas errrd, rds
Kotvcos p-ev dno rod rrarpd's KaXovp.evas ArXavri-
^ The account is resumed which was dropped at the end
of chap. 57.
" This phrase must be interpreted in the light of the con-
text and of the statement in Book 4. 27. 5, that Atlas
"discovered the spherical nature of the stars." Ancient
writers in many places refer to Atlas as the discoverer of
astronomy ; and since Diodorus is referring to the first
278
BOOK III. 60. 1-4
60. After the death of Hyperion,^ the myth relates,
the kingdom was divided among the sons of Uranus,
the most renowned of whom were Atlas and Cronus.
Of these sons Atlas received as his part the regions
on the coast of the ocean, and he not only gave the
name of Atlantians to his peoples but likewise called
the greatest mountain in the land Atlas. They also
say that he perfected the science of astrology and
was the first to publish to mankind the doctrine of
the sphere ^ ; and it was for this reason that the idea
was held that the entire heavens were supported
upon the shoulders of Atlas, the myth darkly hinting
in this way at his discovery and description of the
sphere. There were born to him a number of sons,
one of whom was distinguished above the others for
his piety, justice to his subjects, and love of mankind,
his name being Hesperus. This king, having once
climbed to the peak of Mount Atlas, was suddenly
snatched away by mighty winds while he was making
his observations of the stars, and never was seen
again ; and because of the virtuous life he had lived
and their pity for his sad fate the multitudes accorded
to him immortal honours and called the brightest ^
of the stars of heaven after him.
Atlas, the myth goes on to relate, also had seven
daughters, who as a group were called Atlantides
beginnings of astronomical thinking among the Greeks, we
have in these references to the " doctrine of the sphere "
and the " spherical nature of the stars " a memory of the
Pythagorean quadrivium, in which " ' sphaeric ' means
astronomy, being the geometry of the sphere considered
solely with reference to the problem of accounting for the
motions of the heavenly bodies " (T. L. Heath, Greek
Mathematics, 1. p. 11).
^ Hesperus.
279
VOL. II. K
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Sa?, tStot 8 GKaanqv 6vo[xat,oiX€vr]v Matay, 'HAe/<r-
rpav, Tavyerrjv, HrepoTTrjv, MepoTrrjv, 'AXKVoviqv
KOL TeXevratav KeAati/tu. ravras Se ixty^iaas tols
iTn(f)aveaTaTOL£ rjpaxyi Kai Oeols dp^'^jyovs Kara-
arrjvaL rod rrXeiGrov ■"■ yevovs rwv dvOpojTTOJV,
T€Kovaas Tovs St dperrjv deovs Kal rjpojas ovofxaa-
devras, olov rrjv TTpea^vrdrTjv Malav Ait fiiyelaav
'^ppLTJv T^KV(x)uaL, TToXXayv evperrjv yevofxevov rots
dvdpcoTTOLS' TTapaTrXrjGicos Se Kal rds dXXas
^ ArXavrihas yevrrjaac TratSa? eTTLcftaveZs , (Lv rovs
pukv eOvcbv, Tovs Se TroXecov yeveaOat, Krcarag.
5 StoTTep ov ixovov Trap eviois rcov ^ap^dpcov, dXXd
/cat TTapd TOLS "EAAt^cti tovs TrXeiarovs rojv dpxo-io-
rdrcov rjpcocov ets raura? dva(f>€peLv to yevog.
UTTap^ai S azJras" kul aa}(f)povas StacpepovTcos,
Kal /Ltero. ttjv TeXevTrjv tv^^Iv dOavaTOV Ti/jLrjg
Trap' dvdpcoTTOts Kai " KadiBpvdeLaas iv tco koo/xco
Kal TTJ TOJv YlXeidhojv rrpouiqyopia TrepiXrjcfideLaas.
eKX'qdrjaav Se at ^ ArAai'rtSe? /cat vvix(f)at. Sta to
Toiis ey-)((x>pLovs kolvjj Tas yvvalKas vvp.(j>as rrpoaa-
yopeveiv.
61. K^povov Se puvdoXoyovaiv , dheX(l>6v pL,kv "Ar-
XavTOs ovTa, Si,acf)epovTa S' dcre^eLa /cat TrXeove^La,
yrjpat, ttjv dheX(j}r]v 'Peav, e^ -qs yewrjaai Ata tov
^OXvpLTTiov VGTepov ivLKX-qdevTa. yeyovevai Se
Kat €Tepov Ata, tov dSeA^oi' [xev Ovpavov, tt]s Se
^ TrXeLOTov omitted by DF, Vogel.
^ Kal after avdpdnrois deleted by Dindorf, Bekker, Vogel.
^ at added by Reiske.
280
BOOK III. 60. 4-61. I
after their father, but their individual names were
Maea, Electra, Ta\-gete, Sterope, Merope, Hal-
cyone, and the last Celaeno. These daughters lay
with the most renowned heroes and gods and thus
became the first ancestors of the larger pai't of the
race of human beings, giving birth to those who,
because of their high achievements, came to be
called gods and heroes ; Maea the eldest, for instance,
lay with Zeus and bore Hermes, who was the dis-
coverer of many things for the use of mankind ;
similarly the other Atlantides also gave birth to
renowTied children, who became the founders in
some instances of nations and in other cases of cities.
Consequently, not only among certain barbarians
but among the Greeks as well, the great majority of
the most ancient heroes trace their descent back to
the Atlantides. These daughters were also dis-
tinguished for their chastity and after their death
attained to immortal honour among men, by whom
they were both enthroned in the heavens and endowed
with the appellation of Pleiades.^ The Atlantides
were also called " nymphs " because the natives
of that land addressed their women by the common
appellation of " nymph." ^
61. Cronus, the brother of Atlas, the myth con-
tinues, who was a man notorious for his impiety and
greed, married his sister Rhea, by whom he begat that
Zeus who was later called " the 01}'Tnpian." But there
had been also another Zeus, the brother of Uranus
^ It has been conjectured that the name is derived from
the verb "to sail " {Pled), since this constellation rose at the
beginning of the sailing season.
* i.e. in addressing their women they did not distinguish
between the married and unmarried, as most Greeks did.
281
DIODORUS OF SICILY
K.p'qrrjs ^aoiXevaavra, rfj So^tj ttoXv Xenronevov
Tov fj-erayevearepov. rovrov jxev ovv ^aoLXevcrai
rod avyLTTavro's koujjlov, tov Se Trpoyeviarepov ,
hwaarevovra rrjg 7TpoeLp-qiJ.evrjg vrjaov, SeVa TratSa?
yewrjaaL rovs ovop^aadevras KoupTjras" rrpoaayo-
pevaraL Se Kal ttjv vrjaov oltto rfjs yvvaLKOs I8aiar,
iv fj Kal reXevTijaavTa ra(f)'fjvai, heiKvvp.evov tov
T-qv Ta(f)rjv Se^apevov tottov P^XP'- '^^^ Ka9'
'Qpids XP^^^^- ^^ P'W o^ y^ K.prjTes opoXoyov-
pieva TOvroLs p^vdoXoyovai,^ rrepl (Lv ^pel^ iv
roLS TTepl KpT^TT}? TO. Kara pepos dvaypaipopev
Swaarevaat 8e ^aat rov Kpovov Kara JliKeXiav /cat
Ai^uTjv, en Se rrjv 'IraXlav, Kal to avvoXov ev tols
TTpos iairepav tottols auGT'^aacrdai ttjv ^aaiXetav
Trapa Trdai 8e (f>povpals ScaKaTex^tv ra? aKpoiro-
Aet? Kal Tovs oxvpovs tujv tottojv ^ dcf)' ou Sr]
P^Xpi' TOV VVV XPOVOV KaTO. T€ TTjV HiKeXiav Kal
TO, TTpos iairepav vevovTa p-^prj ttoXXovs tcov vifjr]Xa>v
TOTTCov (xtt' €K€lvov Kpowtt TTpooayopeveadat.
Kpdroy 8e y€v6pi€vov vlov Ata tov ivavTtov to)
iraTpl ^iov l^-qXcoaai, Kal Trap^xopevov iavTov
TToiaiv iTTceLKTJ Kal (fyiXdvd pcoTTOv VTTO TOV TrXrjdovs
TraTepa TrpoaayopevdrjvaL. 8ta8e^aa^at 8 avTov
cfjaai, TTjV ^aoiXeiav ol pev eKOVGLcvs tov Trarpo?
7Tapax<J^P'^(yojVTO£ , ol 8' vtto tcjv oxXojv aupe-
devTa Sid TO ptao? to TTpos tov TTaTepa- CTTtaTpa-
T€vaavTOS 8' eV avTov tov K/Dot'ou jaera twv
TtTttP-cov KpaTTJaai ttj pdxi] tov Ata, Kal Kvpiov
yevopevov tcJov oXcov eTreXOelv aTraaav Trjv olkov-
pev-qv, evepyeTovvTa to yevos tojv dvOpajvajv.
^ I.Lv9oXoyovai ABD, laropovai II, Jacoby.
* TovTwv after tottcov deleted by Dindorf.
282
BOOK III. 6i. 1-4
and a king ot Crete, who. however, was far less
famous than the Zeus who was born at a later time.^
Now the latter was king over the entire world,
whereas the earlier Zeus, who was lord of the above-
mentioned island, begat ten sons who were given the
name of Curetes ; and the island he named after his
wife Idaea, and on it he died and was buried, and the
place which received his grave is pointed out to our
day. The Cretans, however, have a myth which
does not agree with the story given above, and we
shall give a detailed account of it when we speak of
Crete.2 Cronus, they say, was lord of Sicily and
Libya, and Italy as well, and, in a word, established
his kingdom over the regions to the west ; and
everywhere he occupied with garrisons the com
manding hills and the strongholds of the regions,
this being the reason why both throughout Sicily and
the parts which incline towards the west many of
the lofty places are called to this day after him
Cronia.
Zeus, however, the son of Cronus, emulated a
manner of life the opposite of that led by his father,
and since he showed himself honourable and friendly
to all, the masses addressed him as " father." As
for his succession to the kingly power, some say that
his father yielded it to him of his own accord, but
others state that he was chosen as king by the masses
because of the hatred they bore towards his father,
and that when Cronus made war against him with
the aid of the Titans, Zeus overcame him in battle,
and on gaining supreme power visited all the
inhabited world, conferring benefactions upon the
1 i.e. " the Olympian.'" ^ i^ Boq]. 5^ q^ q
283
DIODORUS OF SICILY
5 Stevey/cetv 8' avrov Kal crcLixaros pcofJ-J] Kal ralg
d'AAat? airdaais aperals, Kal 8ta rovro rayv
KvpLov yeveadaL rod av[X7Tavros koujxov. KadoXov
S' avrov rrjv aTraaav arrovSr^v €)(^eLv elg KoXaoLv
[JL€V Tcoi' dae^ojv /cat vovqpcov, evepyeaiav Se
6 TcJJv 6)(\a)v. dv6' Sv fierd ttjv e^ dvdpojTTOJv
pLerdaTacTLV ovojJLaaOrjvat jxev "Lrjva Std to SoKetv
Tov KoXaJs ^'fjv a'lrLov yeveudai roig dvOpojiroLg,
KaOiSpvdfjvaL S €V TO) Koajxcp rfj rcov ev TraOovrwv
TLfifj, Trdvrcov irpod'upiojs avayopevovrojv 9e6v Kal
KvpLov els TOV aldJva tov avpLiravTos Koap-ov.
Tcui' /xev ovv rrapd tols ArXavTiois deoXo-
yovpcevcov ra Ke^aAata raur eanv,
62. 'H/zets' S' e77€t TTpoeipiqKaiiev iv Tolg AlyvTTTLa-
KOLS rrepl ttjs tov Alovvctov yeveaews /cat Toav vtt
avTOV TTpa)(9evTcov dKoXovOcos rats' ey)(^cjipioLS
loTopiais, OLKeiov etvaL SiaXap^^dvopLev TrpoadeXvai
Ta jJivOoXoyovpieva Trepl tov deov tovtov rrapd tols
2 "EAAtjcti. tcov Se TraXaicvv piv6oypd(f)a)v Kat TTOL-qToJv
TTepl Alovvoov yeypa(p6TOJV aXXr^XoLs aavp-^cova
Kal TToXXovs Kal TepaTwSeis Xoyovs KaTaf^e^X-q-
piivcov, Svax^pes eoTiv vnep rrjs yeveaeojs tov Oeov
TOVTOV Kal TCOV TTpd^eojv KaOapdJs eiTrelv. ol p.ev
yap eva Alovvgov, ol be TpeZs yeyovevai TrapaSeSoj-
KaaLV, elal 8' ol yevecnv p.ev tovtov dvd pcx}7T6yLop(l>ov
jjiXj yeyovevai to Trapdvav d7ro<f>aLv6p.evoL, ttjv 8e
1 This is another form of the name "Zeus," and also the
infinitive of the verb "live."
284
BOOK III. 6i. 5-62. 2
race of men. He was pre-eminent also in bodily
strength and in all the other qualities of virtue and
for this reason quickly became master of the entire
world. And in general he showed all zeal to punish
impious and wicked men and to show kindness to
the masses. In return for all this, after he had passed
from among men he was given the name of Zen,^
because he was the cause of right " living " among
men, and those who had received his favours showed
him honour by enthroning him in the heavens, all
men eagerly acclaiming him as god and lord for ever
of the whole universe.
These, then, are in summary the facts regarding
the teachings of the Atlantians about the gods.
62. But since -we have previously made mention,
in connection with our discussion of Egypt, of the
birth of Dionysus and of his deeds as they are
preserved in the local histories of that country ,2 we
are of the opinion that it is appropriate in this place
to add the myths about this god which are current
among the Greeks. But since the early composers
of myths and the early poets who have written
about Dionysus do not agree with one another and
have committed to writing many monstrous tales, it
is a difficult undertaking to give a clear account of
the birth and deeds of this god. For some have
handed down the story that there was but one
Dionysus, others that there were three,^ and there
are those who state that there w^as never any birth
of him in human form whatsoever, and think that
2 Cp. Book 1.23.
^ Cicero {Uu the Nature oj the Gods, 3. 58) said there had been
tive.
285
DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 Tov OLVov SoGLV AiovvGov clvai voixil,ovTeg . hioTrep
rj[ji€LS rcov Trap' e/caaroi? XeyajJievcov to, Ke^ctAaia
vetpaGOfjieOa avvrop^cos eTTiSpajxelv.
01 Toivvv ^vaioXoyovvres Trepl tov 6eov rov-
TOV Kal TOl' OLTTO TTJS dflTTeXoV KapTTOV AloVVCOV OVO-
piat,ovres (f)a(JL rrjv yrjv avropLarois p-era ra>v a/\Aa>v
(jiVTcJijv iveyKelv rrjv dp,7TeXov, dXX ovk ef ctpX'^^
4 VTTO TLVOS evperov (j)VTevdrjvac . reKp.-qpLov S eivai
TOVTOV TO P'^XP'' "^^^ ^^^ ^^ TToXXotS TOTTOtS" ay/DtO?
dpLireXovs ^veadai, koI Kapiro^opelv avTas Trapa-
TrXrjalajg rat? vtto Trjg dvOpcxJTTcvrjg ipLTreipias ;)^et-
5 pov pyov pevais . hipiqTopa Se tov Alovvoov vtto
TOiv TTaXaicbv (hvop.dadai, puds p^v /cat TrpojTrjs
yeveaeojs dpidpovpevrjg otov to (f)VTOV eig ttjv yfiv
Tedkv Xap^dvT] ttjv av^-tqaiv, hevTepas S' OTav ^p'Orj
Kal Tovs ^oTpvs TTeTTaivrj, cucrre ttjv pL€v ck yrjs, Tqv
S' e/c TTJ's dpLTTeXov yeveoLv tov deov vop.Ll,ea9aL.
6 TTapabeSojKOTivv Se tcov pvdoypa(f)ajv /cat rptrr^v
yeveaLV, /ca0' rju <f>aaL tov deov e/c Aio? /cat \7]p.r^-
Tpos T€Kvo)divTa hiaaTTaadrjvai pev vtto tcov yiqye-
vwv /cat Kadeifjijd-qi'ai., ttoXlv S' vtto ti^s A'qprjTpO'S
TOiv pLeXdJv avvappLocrOevTOJV i^ oipXl^ veov yevvrj-
OrjvaL, els (f)VcnKds TLvas atrt'a? pLeTdyovoc toi)s"
7 TOLOVTOvg Xoyovs. Ato? p,€v yap Kal ArjpirjTpos
avTOV Xeyeadai 8ta to ttjv dpLTreXov e/c re yijs Kal
opc^pcov XapL^dvovaav ttjv av^rjaiv KapTTOtj^opelv tov
e/c TOV ^OTpvos dTTodXi^op-evov olvov TO S' VTTO Tcbv
yrjyevcbv veov oVra hLaaTTaadrjvaL SrjXovv ttjv vtto
' "Twice-born."
^ i.e. the Titans, or " sons of earth."
286
BOOK III. 62. 2-7
the word Dionysus means only " the gift of wine "
(pinou dosis). For this reason we shall endeavour to
run over briefly only the main facts as they are given
by each ^vriter.
Those authors, then, who use the phenomena of
nature to explain this god and call the fruit of the
vine " Dionysus " speak like this : The earth brought
forth of itself the vine at the same time with the
other plants and it was not originally planted by
some man who discovered it. And they allege as
proof of this the fact that to this day vines grow wild
in many regions and bear fruit quite similar to that
of plants which are tended by the experienced hand
of man. Furthermore, the early men have given
Dionysus the name of " Dimetor," ^ reckoning it as
a single and first birth when the plant is set in the
ground and begins to grow, and as a second birth
when it becomes laden with fruit and ripens its
clusters, the god, therefore, being considered as
ha\ing been born once from the earth and again from
the vine. And though the ^vriters of myths have
handed down the account of a third birth as well, at
which, as they say, the Sons of Gaia ^ tore to pieces
the god, who was a son of Zeus and Demeter, and
boiled him, but his members were brought together
again by Demeter and he experienced a new birth
as if for the first time, such accounts as this they
trace back to certain causes found in nature. For
he is considered to be the son of Zeus and Demeter,
they hold, by reason of the fact that the vine gets
its growth both from the earth and from rains and
so bears as its fruit the ^vine which is pressed out
from the clusters of grapes ; and the statement that
he was torn to pieces, while yet a youth, by the
287
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tcov yccxipyayv GvyKO[xidr]v rcov KapTTOiv} ttjv Se
Kadeifj-qaLv raJv fxeXoJv fiefjivdoTroirjcrdaL Sta ro rovg
TrXelarovg eipetv rov olvov Kal jXiayovTag evcoSeare-
pav avTov /cat ^eXriova ttjv <J)Vglv KaraoKevdi^eLV
TO Se ra ^ vtto tcui^ yriyevcbv XvpLavdevra rdv fieXoJv
dpfxocrdevTa TrdXtv im ttjv 7Tpoyeyeviqp.iviqv (f>vcnv
aTTOKaOLaraadaL TTapep.<f>aiv€Lv otl ttoXiv tj yij ttjv
rpvyrjdelaav dpLTreXov Koi rfirjOelaav rat? /car' erog
wpatg eis ttjv TrpovTrdp^aaav iv rep Kap7TO(f)opeZv
aK[JL7]v dTTOKaOiaTr^GL. KadoXov yap vtto tcov ap-
■)(aLa>v TTOLTjTOJv Kal pivdoypd(f)cov r-qv A.r]p,rjTpav yrjv
8 pbTjrepa Trpoaayopevecrdai. avp.(f)a)va Be rovrots
€ivaL Ttt T€ SrjXovpieva 8td rcbv 'Op</>iK'cDv voL7]p.aTOJV
/cat rd TTapeLaayopLeva Kara rd? reXerds, irepi (hv
ov depits Tot? dpLvqroLS laropelv rd Kard p-epos.
9 O/xotco? Se Kal Trjv e/c ILepLeXrjg yeveaiv et?
<f)vaLKds dpxdg dvayovatv, d7TO(f>aLv6p,evoL QvcLvrjv
VTTO Tcbv dp)(aioiv ttjv yijv d)vop,dcrdaL, Kal redeXadat
T7]v TTpoarjyopLav ^ Se/xe'Arjv p,€v (XTro rod aepLvr^v
€LvaL TTJs Oeov ravT-qs rrjv iTTipieXeiav Kai Ti,pi.rjv,
Qvwvrjv S' aTTO tcov dvopievcov avrij dvaLCJv /cat
10 dvqXcov. Sis S' avTOV rrjv yeveaiv e/c Aio? Trapahe-
hoaOaL Std to hoKelv jLterd tojv dXXojv iv rep Kara
Tov AevKaXLa)va KaraKXvap.a> (j)0aprjvai Kat, rovrovs
^ Sta TO Tovs dvdpcoTTOVS rriv y^v AijfiTjTpav vo/xi^etv after
KapTTuyv deleted by Reiske.
^ TO Se rd Dindorf : rd S'.
^ Kal after npoorjyopLav deleted by Eichstadt.
^ An epithet of the Giants, who were the sons of Gaia
"Earth").
2 Literally, the "workers of the earth." Here the MSS.
288
BOOK III. 62. 7-10
" eai-th-born " ^ signifies the harvesting of the fruit
by the labourers,- and the boihng of his members
has been worked into a myth by reason of the fact
that most men boil the wine and then mix it, thereby
improving its natural aroma and quality. Again, the
account of his members, which the " earth-born "
treated vvith despite, being brought together again
and restored to their former natural state, shows
forth that the vine, which has been stripped of its
fruit and pruned at the yearly seasons, is restored
by the earth to the high level of fruitfulness which it
had before. For, in general, the ancient poets and
vvTiters of myths spoke of Demeter as Ge Meter
(Earth Mother). And with these stories the teach-
ings agree which are set forth in the Orphic poems
and are introduced into their rites, but it is not
lawful to recount them in detail to the uninitiated.
In the same inanner the account that Dionysus
was born of Semele they trace back to natural
beginnings, offering the explanation that Thuone ^
was the name which the ancients gave to the earth,
and that this goddess received the appellation
Semele because the worship and honour paid to her
was dignified (semne), and she was called Thuone
because of the sacrifices (thusiai) and burnt offerings
(thuelai) which were offered (thuomenai) to her.
Furthermore, the tradition that Dionysus was born
twice of Zeus arises from the belief that these fruits
also perished in common with all other plants in the
flood at the time of Deucalion, and that when they
interpolate the explanation ' ' because men consider the earth
to be Demeter "; cp. Book 1. 12. 4.
^ Thyone was the name which was given Semele after she
was received into the circle of the gods (cp. Book 4. 25. 4).
289
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rovs KapTTOvg, kol fxera rrjv eTTOjji^pLav ttolXlv
dva(f)VVTa>v ojaTrepel hevrepav €7TL(f)dv€Lav ravr-qv
VTrdp^ai rod deov Trap* dvdpdoTTOLg, Kad' t]V e/c rov
Aios pL-qpov yeveaOai ttoXlv tov deov ^ piep.vdoTTOt.'fj-
adai. ol p.€v ovv ttjv ;)^peiW /cat SvvapLLv rov Kara
rov otvov evprjpiaros d'no<j>aLv6pi€VOL Aiovvaov
VTrdpxei'V roiavra Trepl avrov pivdoXoyovai.
63. TcDj/ Se pAjQoypd^ojv ol aajpLaroeihi] rov deov
vapetadyovres rrjv fiev evpecfiv ri]? dp-TreXov /cat
<j>vreiav /cat Trdaav rrjV Trepl rov olvov TTpayp-areiav
(Tvp,(l)d)va)s avrcp TrpoadTrrovai, Trepl 8e rod TrXeiovs
2 yeyovevaL Aiovvaov? dp.(l>LG^r]rovaLV. evtot /Ltev
yap eva /cat rov avrov dTro(l>aivovrai yeveaOai rov
re Karahei^avra rd Kara rag olvoTTOuas /cat
cruy/co/xtSa? rdJv ^vXlvojv KaXovp.eva>v KapTTCov /cat
rov arparevadp-evov CTrt Trdaav rrjV OLKOvp^evrjV,
eri, Se rov rd p.vGrT]pia /cat reXerds /cat ^a/c;^etas'
elaT^yyjadp.evov eVtot Se, KaOarrep TrpoelTTOv, rpels
V7TO(Trr]adp.€voi, yeyovevaL Kard StecrTTj/coras' XP^~
vovs, eKdcrrcp TrpoodTrrovaiv tota? TTpageig.
3 Kat (f)aoL rov p.ev dp^aiorarov ^Ivhov yeyovevaL,
/cat riis xojpas avrop-drajs Sta ttjv evKpaoLOV
(^epovaris ttoXXtjv dp^rreXov Trpcorov rovrov dTTodXlipaL
^orpvas /cat rrjv ;;^petav' rrjs TrepL rov olvov ^vaeajg
^ TovTov after deov omitted CD, Vogel.
1 Cp. Book 2. 38. 4, and chap. 62 below. The story of the
birth of Dionysus from the thigh of Zeus is partly etymo-
logical, Dio- from Dios, the genitive form of the nominative
Zeus.
* The " mythographi " appeared in Greek literature
290
BOOK III. 62. 10-63. 3
sprang up again after the Deluge it was as if there
had been a second epiphany of the god among men,
and so the myth was created that the god had been
born again from the thigh of Zeus. ^ However this may
be, those who explain the name Dionysus as signifying
the use and importance of the discovery of wine
recount such a myth regarding him.
63. Those mythographers,^ however, who repre-
sent the god as having a human form ascribe to him,
with one accord, the discovery and cultivation of the
vine and all the operations of the making of wine,
although they disagree on whether there was a
single Dionysus or several. Some, for instance, who
assert that he who taught how to make wine and to
gather " the fruits of the trees," ^ as they are called,
he who led an army over all the inhabited world,
and he who introduced the mysteries and rites and
Bacchic revelries were one and the same person ;
but there are others, as I have said, who conceive
that there were three persons, at separate periods,
and to each of these they ascribe deeds which were
peculiarly his own.
This, then, is their account : The most ancient
Dionysus was an Indian, and since his country,
because of the excellent climate, produced the \ine
in abundance without cultivation, he was the first
to press out the clusters of grapes and to devise the
use of wine as a natural product, likewise to give the
towards the close of the fourth century B.C. By that time the
myths tended to drop out of sober historical writing and to
become the subject of separate treatises, the writers of such
works being called by the Greeks " mythographi."
' This was a vernacular term used to include wine, fruit,
olive-oil, etc., as opposed to cereals (" dry fruit ").
291
DIODORUS OF SICILY
eTTLVorjaaL, ojioiojs Se koL ^ raJv gvkojv i<ai row
aXXcov oLKpohpvcov Trjv KadrjKovaav eTTLjxeXeLau
TTOLTjaaaOai., /cat KadoXou ra rrpos rrjv avyKO-
[XLSrjv /cat TrapdOeuLV ^ toutojv tcov KapTTOJV eTrtvorj-
CTat.'^ Tov avTOV §e /cat Karairwyajva Xeyovcn
yeviodai, 8ta to rot? 'IrSot? vojxliiov eLvat /xe;^/3t
rrjs reXevTTJs iTTLjxeXctJs vTTorpe<^€Lv rous TTcoyojvas.
4 TOV 8' ovv Alovvctov irreXdovTa [xera arparoTreSov
Trdaav rrjv olKovjxevqv StSa^ai rr^v re ^uretav rrjs
d/u-Tre'Aou /cat r-qv iv raZs Xtjvols drroOXiipLV rcov
^orpvojv d<f>^ ov Arjvalov avrov ovojJiaadrjvaL.
opLOLOis Se /cat rtov dXXcjv evp-qp-drow fxerahovra
rrdai rv)(€LV avrov [xerd rr]v i^ avdpajTTcov (xera-
oraaiv ddavdrov nixing rrapd rots ev rraOovGLV.
5 heiKwaQai he irap' 'IrSot? P^^XP'- '^^^ ^^^ '^°^ '^^
roTTOV ev o) avvefSr] yeveaBac rov deov /cat rrpoar]-
yopias TToXecov drr^ "* avrov Kara rrjv row ey^ajpLajv
hidXeKrov /cat ttoAAo. erepa Sta/xeVetr d^toAoya
reKpu-qpia rrjs Trap' 'Ii'Sot? yeveaeojs, vrept cJjv
pcaKpov dv e'lrj ypd(f)etv.
64. Aevrepov Se pLvOoXoyovcn yeveoOai Aiovvaov
e/c Aids /cat OepGe(f)6vr]s, d)S he rives, e'/c A-^pcrjrpos.
rovrov he Trapeiadyovai, rrpaJrov jiovs vtt dporpov
l^ev^ai, rd rrpd rod raZs X^P^'' '^^^ avdpd)7TOJV rrjv
yrjv Karepyat,o[xeva)v. rroXXd he /cat dAAa (jaXo-
rexvojs eTTLVorjaai rcov vpds rrjv yeojpyiav xP'^cripLajv ,
hi (Lv dTToXvdrjvai rovs dxXovs rrjs rroXXijs KaKorra-
2 deias' dvd^ a>v rovg ev rradovras drrovelixai rifxds
^ T7]v after Kal deleted by Dindorf .
* Kal TTapadeaiv added by Dindorf (cp. 2. 38. 5 ; 3. 56. 3).
' Here the MSS. add 8i6 Kal X-qvalov oi'onaadijvai, which
editors omit as an interpolation ; cp. § 4 below.
292
BOOK III. 63. 3-64. 2
proper care to the figs and other fruits which grow
upon trees, and, speaking generally, to devise what-
ever pertains to the harvesting and storing of these
fruits. The same Dionysus is, furthermore, said to
have worn a long beard, the reason for the report
being that it is the custom among the Indians to
give great care, until their death, to the raising of a
beard. Now this Dionysus visited with an army all
the inhabited world and gave instruction both as to
the culture of the vine and the crushing of the clusters
in the wine-vats (lenoi), which is the reason why the
god was named Lenaeus. Likewise, he allowed all
people to share in his other discoveries, and when he
passed from among men he received immortal honour
at the hands of those who had received his bene-
factions. Furthermore, there are pointed out among
the Indians even to this day the place where it came
to pass that the god was born, as well as cities which
bear his name in the language of the natives ; ^ and
many other notable testimonials to his birth among
the Indians still survive, but it Mould be a long task
to write of them.
64. The second Dionysus, the Avriters of myths
relate, was born to Zeus by Persephone, though some
say it was Demeter. He is represented by them as
the first man to have yoked oxen to the plough,
human beings before that time having prepared the
ground by hand. Many other things also, which are
useful for agriculture, were skilfully de\ised by him,
whereby the masses were relieved of their great
distress ; and in return for this those whom he had
1 Cp. Book 1. 19. 7.
* an Dindorf : vir'.
293
DIODORUS OF SICILY
laodeovs avrcp /cat dvaias, Trpodvficog (XTravTcuv
avdpwTTCov 8ia to jxeyedos rrjs evepyeaiag aTTOveLjxdv-
T(ov rrjv ddavaatav. 7Tapdarj[xov 8' avrcp TroLrjuat
Kepara rovs KaraaK€va.l,ovras rds ypa(f)d? tj rovs
avSpLavras, dp-a p.ev SrjXovvras erepav Alovvgov
<j>vaLV, dpa Se (iTro rrj^ vrept to dporpov evpeaecos
ipL(f)ai.vovTas to p^eyeOog ttjs eTnvo-qOeLarjs rot?
yetopyols evxp'rjcyT^o.S.
3 TpiTOv he yeveaOai i^iovvaov (f>aaLV iv GrJ^at?
rat? BoiojriaLs eK Atos Kal HepieXrjs Trjs KaSyuoy.
jivdoXoyovaL yap epaadevTa Ata p,LyrjvaL TrXeo-
vaKLS avTTJ hid to KdXXos, ttjv 8 "Hpav ^rjXo-
TUTTOvaav Kal ^ovXopievrjv Tipoipia Trepi^aXelv
TTjv dv6pa)7Tov, opLoicodrjvaL p,ev tlvl tojv d7ToSo)(rjs
Tvyxo-vovacbv Trap* avTrj yvvacKcov, TrapaKpovoaudai
4 8e Tr]v SejueArjv eiTTeZv ydp Tvpos avTTjv oVt Kadrj-
Kov rjv Tov Ata pLerd ttjs avrrjs imcfiavetas re Kal
TLpirjg TTOLeladat TTyv' opuXiav fjTrep xpdraL /cara ttjv
TTpos TTjv "Hpai^ avpTTepi^opav. 8to /cat tov pev
Ata, TTj? '^ep.eXrjs d^LOvarjs Tvy^dveLV twv 'iaojv
"Hpa Tipidjv, TTapayevlaOai p-erd ^povTcov Kal
KepavvdJv, TTjv 8e HepeX-qv ovx v7Top.€Lvaaav to
pidyedos TTJs TTspLGTdaeojs TeXevTrjcrai Kai to ^p€(j)Os
6 iKTpdjGai 77/30 TOV KadrjKovTOS ;\;poi'ou. /cat tovto
p,ev TOV Ata Tap^ecoj els tov iavTOV prjpdv iyKpvipai'
pierd 8e raura rod Kara (f)vaLV ttjs yeveaecos
Xpdvov TTJV reAetav av^rjGLV TTOir^GavTOS airevey-
6 Kelv TO ^pi^os €19 Nyaav TrjS 'Apa^iag. ivTavda
8' VTTO vvp.(f)djv Tpa(f)evTa tov Tratha Trpoaayopevdrj-
vai pukv diTo TOV rraTpos K'at tov tottov Alovvgov,
294
BOOK III. 64. 2-6
benefited accorded to him honours and sacrifices hke
those offered to the gods, since all men were eager,
because of the magnitude of his service to them, to
accord to him immortaUty. And as a special symbol
and token the painters and sculptors represented
him N\ith horns, at the same time making manifest
thereby the other nature of Dionysus and also
showing forth the magnitude of the service which
he had devised for the farmers by his invention of
the plough.
The third Dionysus, they say, was born in Boeotian
Thebes of Zeus and Semele, the daughter of Cadmus.^
The myth runs as follows : Zeus had become en-
amoured of Semele and often, lured by her beauty,
had consorted with her, but Hera, being jealous and
anxious to punish the girl, assumed the form of one
of the women who was an intimate of Semele 's and
led her on to her ruin ; for she suggested to her that
it was fitting that Zeus should lie with her while
having the same majesty and honour in his outward
appearance as when he took Hera to his arms.
Consequently Zeus, at the request of Semele that
she be sho%\'n the same honours as Hera, appeared
to her accompanied by thunder and lightning, but
Semele, unable to endure the majesty of his gran-
deur, died and brought forth the babe before the
appointed time. This babe Zeus quickly took and
hid in his thigh, and afterwards, when the period
which nature prescribed for the child's birth had
completed its growth, he brought it to Nysa in
Arabia. There the boy was reared by nymphs and
was given the name Dionysus after his father (Dios)
and after the place (Nysa) ; and since he grew to be
^ Cp. the other accoxmt of this Semele in Book 1. 23. 4f.
295
DIODORUS OF SICILY
yevofxei'ov he rep /caAAet 8ta</>o/50i' to fxev Trpiorov
iv )(opeLais Kai yvvaiKaJv didaot's kol TravrohaTrfj
rpv(f>fj Kai TratSta StareAetv /xera 8e ravra
arparoTTeSov ii< rojv yvvaiKa>v avvayayovra /cat
dvpaoLs KadoTrXiuavra arpareiav em irdaav ttoltj-
7 aaadai rrjv OLKovixev-qv. /caraSet^at 8e /cat to,
TTepi ras reXerds Kai piera8ovvat rajv (xvorripicov
TOLS evae^eui ruJv dvOpcvTTCov /cat St/caiov ^lov
auKovcTL, TTpos §€ TOVTOt-s TTavTaxov TTavrjyvpeis
dyeiv Kai piovcriKov'S dycDi^as" avvTeXeZv, /cat to
avvoXov avXKvovra rd ^ veiKrj rdJv eOvcov Kai
TToXecov avTL T(ji)v ardaecDV /cat rayv TToXejJiajv
opiovoiav Kai iroXXr^v elp-qvrjv KarauKevdt^eiv ,
65. Sta^oTj^etCTT]? 8e /caret rravra tottov rrj^ rov
6eov TTapovatag , Kai Stort Trdaiv e-meLKCos TTpoa(j>ep6-
/xevos TToXXd avpL^aXXerai rrpos rrjv e^rjjxepojaLV
rod KOLvov ^tov, TravhrjixeL avvavrdv avrw Kai
2 TTpoahe)(eadai pcerd iroXXrjg ■)(apds- oXiyayv 8'
ovTOJv Tiov St vTTeprj^aviav Kai daef^eiav Kara-
(f)povovvrojv /cat (fyaaKovrcov rds fJiev ^dK)(ag 8t'
dKpaaiav avrov TrepLayeadat, ras" 8e reAera? /cat
rd iivorrjpia (f)dopds eveKa tcov aXXorpLcov yvvaiKcbv
KaraheLKvueiv, KoXdt,eadai rovs tolovtovs vtt'
3 avTOV TTapaxp'^p-o-- evLore ydp rfj rijs Betas
(f)VGea)s VTTepoxfj XP^l^^^^^ Tip,a)peladaL rous
dae^eZs, TTore piev avTols epb^dXXovra pcaviav, TTore
he rat? riov yvvaiKoJv X^P^'' C'^J^'^o.^ 8tajU,eAt-
l,ovTa- evLore he Kai 8ta rrjs orpaTr^yLKrjs eTnvoLas
^ TO. Bekker : rd re.
1 Wands wreathed in ivy and vine-leaves with a pine-cone
at the top.
296
BOOK III. 64. 6-65. 3
of unusual beauty he at first spent his time at dances
and with bands of women and in every kind of luxury
and amusement, and after that, forming the women
into an army and arming them with thyrsi,^ he made
a campaign over all the inhabited world. He also
instructed all men who were pious and cultivated a
life of justice in the knowledge of his rites and
initiated them into his mysteries, and, furthermore,
in every place he held great festive assemblages and
celebrated musical contests; ^ and, in a word, he
composed the quarrels between the nations and
cities and created concord and deep peace where
there had existed civil strifes and wars.
65. Now since the presence of the god, the myth
goes on to say, became noised abroad in every region,
and the report spread that he was treating all men
honourably and contributing greatly to the refine-
ment of man's social life, the whole populace every-
where thronsred to meet him and welcomed him with
great joy. There were a few, however, who, out of
disdain and impiety, looked down upon him and
kept saying that he was leading the Bacchantes
about with him because of his incontinence and was
introducing the rites and the mysteries that he might
thereby seduce the wives of other men, but such
persons were punished by him right speedily. For
in some cases he made use of the superior power
which attended his divine nature and punished the
impious, either striking them with madness or causing
them while still Uving to be torn limb from limb by
the hands of the women ; in other cases he destroyed
such as opposed him by a military device which took
^ e.g. tlae " Dionysia."
297
DIODORUS OF SICILY
napaSo^cog dvaxpetv tovs ivavTCOTrpayovvTas . dva-
SiSovat yap ralg ^aK^o-iS dvri rajv dvpaoiv Adyp^a?
Toj KLTTch K€KaXvixp.€vas Tr]v dKfjirjv rod athrjpov Sto
Kal TCJV ^aaiXecov Sta ttjv dyvoiav KaTacfipovovvrcov
(hs dv yvvaiKOiv t /cat Std tovt arrapaaKevaJV ovrcov,
4 dueXTTLGTCos iTTLTLdejJLevov KaraKOVTil,eLV. rwv 8e
KoXaadevrcov vtt' avrov </>aaiP' eTTL(j>av€araTOVS eivat
Ilevdea p.ev Trapd roig "KXXrjaL, ^Ivppavov Se rov
^acrtAea Trap' 'I^'Sots', AvKovpyov Se napd rot?
Qpa^L pLvdoXoyovai yap rov Alovvcov e/c rrjs
'Aata? jLieAAovra rrjv hwafxiv Sia^t^d^eLV els rrfv
Kvpcovrjv, ovvOdcrdaL (juXiav Trpog AuKovpyov rov
QpaKrjs ^aatAe'a rrj'S i(f>' 'EAATjaTrdi^TO)* SiajSt^a-
aavros Se avrov Trpcorag rds ^aK^as (vs els 4>iXiav
■)(^u}pav, rov fxev AvKovpyov TrapayyetXai rols
arpanwrais vvKros imdeadac Kal rov re Aiowaov
Kal rds piaivdSas Trdaas dveXeiv, rov 8e Aiovvaov
TTapd nvos ruJv eyxojpLOJV, os eKaXeZro yidpoifj,
fiaOovra rrjv eTTi^ovXrjv KaraTrXayrjvat Sid ro rrjv
SvvafMiv iv rep irepav elvai, TravreXcos 8' oXlyovs
5 avrcp rdv (ftiXojv avvdia^e^r]Kevat. hioTrep Xddpa
rovrov StaTrXevaavros Trpos ro a^erepov arparo-
TTeSov, rov jjiev AvKOvpyov ^acriP' emdejievov rats
liaivdaiv iv rip KaXovjxevip Nuatti; rrdaas diroKrel-
vat, rov 8e Alowgov nepaLcoGavra rds 8vvdp.eis
pidxi) KparrjaaL rdJv QpaKwv, Kat rov AvKovpyov
^wypijaavra rvcjjXdJaal re Kat Trdaav aiKLav
6 elaeveyKdjxevov dvaaravpoJaat. p.erd 8e ravra rip
jjcev \dpoTTi. X^P'-^ drrohLSovra rrjs evepyeaias
vapaSovvai. rrjv rdJv QpaKcov ^aaiXeiav Kai StSdfai
rd /card rds reXerds dpyia- X.dpo7Tos 8' vlov yevo-
298
BOOK III. 65. 3-6
them by surprise. For he distributed to the women,
instead of the thyrsi, lances whose tips of iron were
covered \vith ivy leaves ; consequently, when the
kings in their ignorance disdained them because they
were women and for this reason were unprepared,
he attacked them when they did not expect it and
slew them with the spears. Among those who were
punished by him, the most renowned, they say, were
Pentheus among the Greeks, Myrrhanus the king of
the Indians, and Lycurgus among the Thracians.
For the myth relates that when Dionysus was on
the point of leading his force over from Asia into
Europe, he concluded a treaty of friendship with
Lycurgus, who was king of that part of Thrace which
lies upon the Hellespont. Now when he had led
the first of the Bacchantes over into a friendly land,
as he thought, Lycurgus issued orders to his soldiers
to fall upon them by night and to slay both Dionysus
and all the Maenads, and Dionysus, learning of the
plot from a man of the country who was called
Charops, was struck with dismay, because his army
was on the other side of the Hellespont and only a
mere handful of his friends had crossed over with
him. Consequently he sailed across secretly to his
army, and then Lycurgus, they say, falling upon the
Maenads in the city knowai as Nysium, slew them all,
but Dionysus, bringing his forces over, conquered
the Thracians in a battle, and taking Lycurgus alive
put out his eyes and inflicted upon him every kind
of outrage, and then crucified him. Thereupon, out
of gratitude to Charops for the aid the man had
rendered him, Dionysus made over to him the king-
dom of the Thracians and instructed him in the secret
rites connected with the initiations ; and Oeagrus,
299
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fxevov Otaypov napaXa^eli' Tiqv re ^aaiAetav Koi
ras €v TOt? ixvanipioL? irapa^ehoixevas reXerd?,
a? varepov Opcf>ea rov Oldypov p,a96vra Trapd rov
TTarpos, KUL (f)VG€L Kol TTaiheio. rojv aTravrcov
SteveyKovra, ttoAAo, jJceraOe tvai rcov iv rolg opyiois'
8i6 /cat rds VTTo rov Atovuaou yevojxivas reXerds
Op^t/ca? TTpoaayopevOrjvaL.
7 Tow 8e TTOtrjTCov tlv€s, ojv ioTL Kal AvrLfxaxos,
aTTOcfyaivovraL rov AvKovpyov ov QpaKrjg, dXXd
TT^S" 'Apa^ta? yeyovevaL ^aaiXea, Kal ro) re Ato-
vvcTcp Kal rats ^dK-^ais tt^v eTriOeuLv iv rfj Kara
Tr]v 'Apa^tav NJcttj rreTTOLrjadaL. rov S oiv
Alowgov (j)aaL KoXdaavra pcev rov? due^els, imeL-
Kcos 8e 7Tpoa€ve)(6evra rot? dXXoLg dvdpwTrotg,
eft: T'/]? ivoiKi^s €7T eAe<pavrog rrjv et? \yy]pag eTra-
8 vohov TTOL-qaauOai. rpieroug Se hLayeyevrjixevov
rov avfiTTavrog )(p6vov, (j^aul rov? "EAAT^i^a? diTO
ravr7]s ttjs air la? dyeiv rdg rpienqpihas . fxvOoXo-
yovGL 8 avrov Kal Xa(f)vpcov rjOpoiKora TrXrjdos
ct>s" dv cxTTO r7]XLKavr'q£ urpareias, Trpcurov rd>v
drrdvrcov Karayayelv dpiajx^ov et? ttjp" Trarpiha.
66. Avrai fxkv ovv at yevecreL? av jX(j)a>vovvraL fid-
Xtara rrapd roZs TraXaiols' diJL(f)L(y^T]rovaL Se Kal
TToAet? ovK oXtyai 'EAAT^vtSe? rrjs rovrov reKvco-
aeojs' Kal yap 'HAetot /cat Na^tot, rrpos Se rovroL?
ol rds 'EAeu^epa? OLKovvres Kal Ti^tot /cat TrXeiovs
2 erepoi Trap' iavrols aTTOcjiaLVOvr ai reKvojOrjvai. Kal
TTjtot /xev reKpLTipLov (pepovai rrjg rrap avroXs yeve-
aecos rov deov rd p-^XP'- "^^^ ^^^ rerayp-evoig ;)(/Doi'ots'
300
BOOK III. 65. 6-66. 2
the son of Charops, then took over both the king-
dom and the initiatory rites which were handed
doN\Ti in the mysteries, the rites which afterwards
Orpheus, the son of Oeagrus, who was the superior
of all men in natural gifts and education, learned
from his father ; Orpheus also made many changes
in the practices and for that reason the rites which
had been established by Dionysus were also called
" Orphic."
But some of the poets, one of whom is Antimachus,^
state that Lycurgus was king, not of Thrace, but of
Arabia, and that the attack upon Dionysus and the
Bacchantes was made at the Nysa which is in Arabia.
However this may be, Dionysus, they say, punished
the impious but treated all other men honourably,
and then made his return journey from India to
Thebes upon an elephant. The entire time consumed
in the journey was three years, and it is for this reason,
they say, that the Greeks hold his festival every
other year. The myth also relates that he gathered
a great mass of booty, such as would result from such
a campaign, and that he was the first of all men to
make his return to his native country in a triumph.
66. Now these accounts of the birth of Dionysus
are generally agreed upon by the ancient writers ;
but rival claims are raised by not a few Greek cities
to having been the place of his birth. The peoples
of Elis and Naxos, for instance, and the inhabitants
of Eleutherae and Teos and several other peoples,
state that he was born in their cities. The Teans
advance as proof that the god was born among them
the fact that, even to this day, at fixed times in their
^ Antimachus of Colophon lived in the latter part of the
fifth centurj' B.C. in the period of the Peloponnesian War.
301
DIODORUS OF SICILY
€v rfj TToXei Trrjyrjv avTOfJidrojg €K rrj? yrjs olvov peiv
evcoota OLa(f)€povrog' tcov S' d'AAcDV ol fxev lepav
Aiovvaov SeLKvuovai ttjv )(copav, ol 8e vaovs Kal
T€p.evr] hia^epovTco's e/c jraXaLuyv )(^p6vajv avro) Kadc-
3 Spvp^eva. KadoXou S' iv ttoXXols tottols ttjs oIkov-
fx,evrjs aTToXeXoLTTOTOS rov 6eov arjpieZa rrjs Ihias
evepyeatag afxa Kal TTapovalas, ovSev TrapdSo^ov
eKaoTOVs vopiL^eiv oLKeLOTTjrd TLva yeyovevai to) Ato-
vvao) irpos ttjv lavroJv ttoXlv re /cat -^uypav. p-ap-
rvpeZ Se rols ixf)' rjp,a)v Xeyop,€vois Kal 6 iroi'qTrjs
iv TOLS vpLvois, X4yojv TTepl Tojv dp(j)La^rirovvT(X)v
Tr\s TOVTOV yeviaeois Kai dp.a TeKvcoOrjvai Trapeia-
dy ojv avTOV iv rfj Kara rfjv 'Apa^lav Nvcrr),
OL p,ev yap ApaKdvoj ct', ol 8 'iKdpco 'qvejjLoeaaj]
<f)da' ,^ OL 8' iv Na^ojj Slov yevos, elpa(f>La)ra,
OL 8e C7 eTT AA^eio; Trora/xa) ^adv^LvqevrL
KVcrapLevqv ^epiX-qv rcKeeLV Alt repTTLKepavvco,
dXXoL 8 iv Qij^rjacv, dva^, ae XeyovaL yeveadaL,
ipevSopevoL- ae 8' erLKre Trarrjp dvSpoJv re Oeojv re
TToXXov an avdpcoTTCov KpvTrrajv XevKOiXevov "HpTjv.
>/ O / AT / w if 3 n / f/\
ecrrt be tls \\va'q, vnarov opos, avueov vAj),
T7]Xov ^OLVLKr]s, ox^Bov AlyvTTTOLO podojv.
1 (^aa' Rhodomann : (jtaaiv.
^ Archaeological evidence that a miraculous flow of wine
was caused by the priests of a temple (of Dionysus?) of
the fifth century B.C. in Corinth is presented by Campbell
Bonner, " A Dionysiac Miracle at Corinth," Am. Journal of
Archaeology, 33 (1929), 368-75.
2 Homeric Hymns, 1. 1-9.
302
BOOK III. 66. 2-3
city a fountain of -svine,^ of unusually sweet fragrance,
flows of its own accord from the earth ; and as for
the peoples of the other cities, they in some cases
point out a plot of land which is sacred to Dionysus,
in other cases shrines and sacred precincts which
have been consecrated to him from ancient times.
But, speaking generally, since the god has left behind
him in many places over the inhabited world evidences
of his personal favour and presence, it is not sur-
prising that in each case the people should think that
Dionysus had had a peculiar relationship to both
their city and country. And testimony to our
opinion is also offered by the poet in his Hymns ,2
when he speaks of those who lay claim to the birth-
place of Dionysus and, in that connection, represents
him as being born in the Nysa which is in Arabia :
Some Dracanum, wind-swept Icarus some,
Some Naxos, Zeus-born one, or Alpheius' stream
Deep-eddied, call the spot where Semele
Bore thee, Eiraphiotes,^ unto Zeus
Who takes delight in thunder ; others still
Would place thy birth, O Lord, in Thebes. 'Tis
false ;
The sire of men and gods brought thee to light.
Unknown to white-armed Hera, far from men.
There is a certain Nysa, mountain high,
With forests thick, in Phoenice afar,
Close to Aegyptus' streams.
' Of the seven explanations offered in antiquity for the
origin of this name for Dionysus the most probable is that
which derives it from the Greek word eripkos ("kid"), on
the basis of the myth that Zeus changed the infant Dionysus
into a kid which Hermes took to Nysa and turned over to
the Nymphs.
303
DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 OvK dyvoco 8' on koI tcov rrjv AL^vrjv vefxo^evcov
ot TTapa Tov (I)K€av6v oIkovvtcs ajxtfua^riTOVciL rrjg
Tov 6eov yevecrecos , Kal Trjv Nucrav Koi rdXXa rd
TTept, avTov iJLvdoXoyovjjieva Trap' eavrols SeiKvvovai
yeyevrjixeva, Kal ttoXXo. reKfX'QpLa tovtcov p-^XP'' "^^^
Kad rjp,dg ^iov Stap.€V€Lv Kara rrjv x^jpav ^aai'
TTpos 8e TOUTOt? on TToXXol Tcbv TTaXaidJi' Trap* "EA-
XrjGL pLvdoypdfjiUiv Kal ttol'qtcov avp,(l)a)vovijLeva
TOVTOLS laropovGL Kal Twv ixerayevearepojv avy-
5 ypa(f>€a)v ovK dXiyoi.. hioirep, Iva [i-qSev rrapa-
XnTiop^ev rdJv Laroprjp,€vajv irepi AtoruCTOu, Steft/xet'
iv KecjiaXaiOLg rd irapd rotg Al^ugl Xeyopieva Kal
rtov *l£tXX7]VLKa>v avyypa<f>eo)v oaoi tovtois avfitfxjova
yeypd(j)a(n Kal Aiovvauo tco avvTa^ajxevcp rd?
6 TTttAaid? p,v6o7TOLLag . ovtos ydp rd re Trepl tov
Aiovvaov Kal ret? ^Ap.al,6vas, en Se rovs 'A/ayo-
vavras Kal rd /card rov 'lAia/cdv TToXepiov Trpa^-
devra Kai ttoXX erepa avvreraKrai, TrapariOels
rd TTOiripiara rdJv dp)(o.ioii' , rcbv re pLvdoX6ycx>v Kal
ra)v TTOLTjrwv.
67. Otjo-i roivvv Trap' "EAArjot vpaJrov evperrjv
yeviadai Aivov pvOjJicov Kal jxeXovg, en Se KdSjuou
Kopiiaavros e/c ^owLKrjs rd KaXovp,eva ypdp.p.ara
TTpdJrov els TTjv 'KXXyji'LKrjv fieradelvat hLaXeKrov,
Kal rds TTpoarjyopLag eKaarcp rd^ai Kal rovs X'^P^'
Krrjpag StaruTTcuoai. kolvjj jxev ovv rd ypap-pLara
^oiVLKeia KXrjOrjvaL 8id rd rrapd rovs "^XXrjvas iK
^OLVLKcov fJierevexOrjvai, lSlo. Se rojv TleXaaycbv
TTpcorcov j^pr^oa/xeVoJi^ rols ixeraredelai X'O-po.Krripai
304
BOOK III. 66. 4-67. I
I am not unaware that also those inhabitants of
Libya who dwell on the shore of the ocean lay claim
to the birthplace of the god, and point out that
Nysa and all the stories which the myths record are
found among themselves, and many witnesses to this
statement, they say, remain in the land do^vn to our
own lifetime ; and I also know that many of the
ancient Greek writers of myths and poets, and not
a few of the later historians as well, agree with this
in their accounts. Consequently, in order not to
omit anything which history records about Dionysus,
we shall present in summary what is told by the
Libyans and those Greek historians whose writings
are in accord with these and with that Dionysius ^
who composed an account out of the ancient fabulous
tales. For this Avriter has composed an account of
Dionysus and the Amazons, as well as of the Argo-
nauts and the events connected with the Trojan
War and many other matters, in which he cites the
versions of the ancient writers, both the composers
of myths and the poets.
67. This, then, is the account of Dionysius :
Among the Greeks Linus was the first to discover
the different rhythms and song, and when Cadmus
brought from Phoenicia the letters, as they are called,
Linus was again the first to transfer them into the
Greek language, to give a name to each character,
and to fix its shape. Now the letters, as a group,
are called " Phoenician " because they were brought
to the Greeks from the Phoenicians, but as single
letters the Pelasgians were the first to make use of
the transferred characters and so they were called
1 Gp. p. 246, n. 2.
305
DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 UeXaaycKOL vpoaayopevdi^vai. rov Se A.lvov ctti
TTOirjTLKfj Kai fxeXcphia davfxaadevra fxad'qras a)(eLV
TToAAous", €7n<j)ave(JTarov? Se rpels, 'Hpa/cAea, 0a/xu-
pav} *Op(f)€a. Tovrcov Se rov fiev 'Hpa/cAea Kida-
ptl^et-v fiavdavovra Sta tt]^ ttj? ipvxT]? ^paSvrrjra [xr]
Svvacrdai he^aadai ttjv fiddrjaLv, eTrei.9 vtto tou
Aivov TTXiqyais eTTLripirjOivTa BiopyiaOrjvaL /cat rfj
KiOdpa rov hihaoKaXov Trard^avra OLTTOKretvaL.
3 QajJ-vpav 8e (f>vareL Sta^opo) Kexopriyqixevov eKTrovrj-
aat ra Ttepl rrjv (xovglkt^v, Kal Kara rrjv iv ro) pbcXco-
heZv VTTepox'^v ^doKeiv iavrov raJv ISlovcrtov e/x/.te-
Xearepov aSeiv. Sto /cat rds deds avrco )^oXcodeiaas
rrjv re iJ.ovoLKrjv d(j>€.X€a9 ai Kal Tr-qpcbaai rov dvhpa,
Kaddrrep Kal rov "Opuqpov rovroLS TTpoap-aprvpelv
Xdyovra
€vda re Moucrat
avropievai. Qdfivpcv rov Qp-qiKa Travaav doi,hr\s,
/cat en
at Se ■)(oXojadjxevaL Trr^pov deaav, avrdp doL^r^v
QeaTTecrirjv d<j>iXovro Kal eKXeXaOov Kidapiarvv,
4 TTept Se ^Op<f)ecos rov rpirov /JLadrjrov ra ^ Kara p.epos
dvaypdipofjiev, orav ra? Trpd^eis avrov Ste^-tco/xet'.
^ Qdnvpiv CF. ^ TO. added by Dindorf.
^ As our knowledge of the historj' of the development of the
Greek letters has increased in recent years and as early
Phoenician and Semitic inscriptions have come to light, all
the evidence confirms the Greek tradition that their alphabet
was derived from the Phoenician. The question now is,
How early did the Phoenician letters appear on the Greek
mairdand? The "palace" of Cadmus, if Cadmus is an
historical figure, has been discovered in Thebes, and may be
roughly dated around 1400-1200 B.C.; and "letters" were
306
BOOK III. 67. 1-4
" Pelasgic." ^ Linus also, who was admired because
of his poetry and singing, had many pupils and
three of greatest renown, Heracles, Thamyras, and
Orpheus. Of these three Heracles, who was learning
to play the lyre, was unable to appreciate what was
taught him because of his sluggishness of soul, and
once when he had been punished with rods by Linus
he became violently angry and killed his teacher
with a blow of the lyre. Thamyras, however, who
possessed unusual natural ability, perfected the art
of music and claimed that in the excellence of song
his voice was more beautiful than the voices of the
Muses. WTiereupon the goddesses, angered at him,
took from him his gift of music and maimed the man,
even as Homer also bears witness when he writes ^ :
There met the Muses Thamyris of Thrace
And made an end of his song ;
and again :
But him, enraged, they maimed, and from him took
The gift of song divine and made him quite
Forget his harping.
About Orpheus, the third pupil, we shall give a
detailed account when we come to treat of his deeds.^
found in it, but they were not of Semitic origin. See Rhys
Carpenter, " Letters of Cadmus," A7n. Journ. of Philoloqij,
56 (1935), 5-13. The present evidence appears to indicate
that the Greeks took over the Phoenician letters around 800
B.C. Arguments for this view, an excellent brief discussion of
the more recent literature, and two Tables showing the forms
of Semitic letters between the thirteenth and eighth centuries
B.C. and of the earliest Greek letters, are given by John Dav,
in The Classical Weekly, 28 (1934), 65-9 (Dec. 10), 73-80
(Dec. 17).
2 Iliad 2. 594-5, and 599-600 below. ^ Cp. Book 4. 25.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tov 8' ovv Alvov (f)aol toIs YleXaaycKoZs
ypdfJijJLaaL avvra^dyLevov rds rov irpajrov ^lovvgov
TTpd^eis Kol rds dXkas p-vdoXoyias aTToXivelv iv
5 Tols VTTOixvrjixacjiv . o/JLOiaJS Se tovtol? )(pr]aacrdat,
rols UeXaayLKolg ypdfxjjiaat, rov 'Op(f>ea Kal
UpovaTTiSrjv rov 'O/xTjpof SiSdaKaXov, €vcl>urj yeyo-
vora jxeXoTTOLov Trpos Se rovroLS Qvjxoirirjv rov
Qvp-otrov rov Aaofiehovrog, Kara rrjv rjXiKLav
yeyovora rr]v 'Op^eo;?, ov ^ TrXavrjdrjvai Kara
TToXXovs roTTOVs rrjg olKovfievris, Kal Trapa^aXelv rrjg
AL^vr]s et? rrjv Trpos eoTrepav )(copav ^ ecog ojKeavov'
dedaaaOai Se /cat r'T]v Nucrav', eV 7) pLvOoXoyovaiv
at iyxcj^pioL apxaloi ^ rpa(l)'fji^aL rov Aiovvaov, Kal
rds Kara p-epos rov 6eov rovrov irpd^eis puaOovra
TTapd rojv Nuaae'cuv avvrd^aadat, rrjv (^pvyiav ovo-
[xal,opL€vrjv rroLrjaLV, apxalKoig ^ r^ re StaAe'/crai Kal
rols ypdpLp,aaL XPV^^I^^^'^^'
68. Or^at S' ovv "Ap^picova ^aaiXevovra rov pipovs
rrjs Al^vtjs Ovpavou yrjpiai Ovyarepa rrjv Trpoua-
yopevopLevr^v 'Pe'ai^, dheX^irjV ovaav Kpovov re Kal
rdJv dXXojv Tirdvajv. irnovra Se rrjV ^aacXetav
evpelv ttXtjolov rdjv ]iepavvta)v KoXovp-evajv opdjv
TTapdevov ro) KaAAet hiacfyepovaav ^Ap.dX6eiav
2 6vop.a. epaodevra S avrrjs Kat TrXrjaLdaavra
yewrjaaL TratSa ru) re KdXXei /cat rfj pcopir] dav-
fiaarov, Kal rrjv puev 'ApidXdeiav (XTroSetfat Kvpiav
rov avveyyvs rorrov iravrog, bvros ro) (j)(rjp.ari
TTapaTrXiqaiov Kepari ^oos, dcj) rjs atrtaj EcTTrepou
* ov added by Jacoby.
^ TTJs oiKovfievrjs after ;fajpav deleted by Rhodomann.
3 dpxaloL deleted by Jacoby.
* dp)^a'iKols Dindorf : ap^aiKios-
308
BOOK III. 67. 4-68. 2
Now Linus, they say, composed an account in the
Pelasgic letters of the deeds of the first Dionysus
and of the other mythical legends and left them
among his memoirs. And in the same manner use
was made of these Pelasgic letters by Orpheus and
Pronapides who was the teacher of Homer and a
gifted writer of songs ; and also by Thymoetes, the
son of Thymoetes, the son of Laomedon, who lived
at the same time as Orpheus, wandered over many
regions of the inhabited world, and penetrated to
the western part of Libya as far as the ocean. He
also \-isited Nysa, where the ancient natives of the
city relate the myth that Dionysus was reared there,
and, after he had learned from the Nvsaeans of the
deeds of this god one and all, he composed the
" Phrygian poem," as it is called, wherein he made
use of the archaic manner both of speech and of
letters.
68. Dionysius, then,^ continues his account as
follows : Ammon, the king of that part of Libya,
married a daughter of Uranus who was called Rhea
and was a sister of Cronus and the other Titans.
And once when Ammon was going about his king-
dom, near the Ceraunian Mountains, as they are
called, he came upon a maiden of unusual beauty
whose name was Amaltheia. And becoming en-
amoured of her he lay with the maiden and begat
a son of marvellous beauty as well as bodily vigour,
and Amaltheia herself he appointed mistress of all
the region round about, which was shaped like the
horn of a bull and for this reason was known as
^ The narrative of Dionysius is apparently resumed from
the end of chapter 61.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Kepas TTpoaayopevdrjvai' Sta 3e rrjv dperrjv Trjs
)((vpas etvai TrArypi^ vavroBaTTrjg ajXTreXov /cat roju
dXXcov Sev8pcDV Tcov rjixepov? (f)€p6vro)v Kapirovs.
3 Trjs §e TTpoeiprjiJievrj^ yvvat-Kog rrju Swacrreiav
7TapaXa^ovar]s , oltto ravrrjs rrjv y^copav 'A/xaA^eia?
Kepas ovoixaadrjvai' Sto Acat tov'; [xerayevearepovs
dvdpwTTOvs §ta rr)v TTpoeiprjixevriv alriav rrjv
Kpariarriv yijv /cat TravroSaTTolg KapTToXg TrXiqOovcjav
ojaavrcvg 'A/itaA^etas' Kepag TTpoaayopeveiv.
4 Tov" 8' ovv "Ajxpicova <f>o^ovjJLevov ttjv rrjs 'Pea?
l^rjXorvTTLav KpvifjaL to yeyovos, /cat rov TratSa
XdOpa jJiereveyKeLV et? rtra TrdAtP' Nuaav, pLaKpdv
5 aTT* iK€Lva>v rwv tottcov aTnqprrjiiivrjv . KelaOat, 8e
ravTTjv €v rtvt vqcrcp Trepiexopievr] jxev vtto tov
TpLTOJVOs TTOTayiov, TTepiKprjpLvo) Se /cat Kad*
€va TOTTOV ixovcrr) OTevas elu^oXds, as (Lvofidudat
TTvXas NuCTtas". etrat S eV avTrj ■)(^ix>pav evhatfiova
Aet/xojcrt re jCxaAa/cots" SLeLXTjUfievr^v /cat TTiqyaioLS ^
vhaatv dpSevofxevr^v SaifjiXeai, SeVSpa re Kapno-
(f>6pa TTOVToZa /cat ttoXXtjv ajXTreXov avTO(j)VT],
G /cat TavTTjg Tr)v TrXeiaTTju dvaSevSpdSa. UTrapp^eti'
8e /cat TrdvTa tov ^ tottov evTTVovv, €tl 8e /ca^' vnep-
^oXrjV vyieivov Kal Sta tovto tovs ev avTO) /carot-
/cowra? jJiaKpo^LcoTaTovs VTrdpx^eLv tow TrX-qaioxoi-
pojv. elvai Se ttjs vqaov ttjv fxev TrpcoTrjv ela^oXrjv
avXan'oeiSi] , uvoklov viprjXols Kac ttvkvoIs SeVSpeatr,
tScrre tov 7JX1.0V pir] TravTairaai StaAa/XTretv 8td ttjv
crvvdyK€iav, avyr^v Se p-ovrjv opdadau (pojTOS.
69. HdvTT) Se Kara, ra? rrapodovs irpox^iadai
^ nriyaiois Dindorf : KrjTTiois D, Krjirelois C, K-qTrelais F.
^ TOV added by Dindorf.
310
BOOK III. 68. 2-69. I
Hesperoukeras ^ ; and the region, because of the
excellent quaUty of the land, abounds in every variety
of the vine and all other trees which bear cultivated
fruits, WTien the woman whom we have just men-
tioned took over the supreme power the country
was named after her Amaltheias Keras ^ ; conse-
quently the men of later times, for the reason which
we have just given, likewise call any especially
fertile bit of ground which abounds in fruits of every
kind " Amaltheia's Horn."
Now Ammon, fearing the jealousy of Rhea, con-
cealed the affair and brought the boy secretly to a
certain city called Nysa, which was at a great distance
from those parts. This city lies on a certain island
which is surrounded by the river Triton and is pre-
cipitous on all sides save at one place where there is
a narrow pass which bears the name " Nysaean
Gates." The land of the island is rich, is ti-aversed
at intervals by pleasant meadows and watered by
abundant streams from springs, and possesses every
kind of fruit-bearing tree and the wild vine in
abundance, which for the most part grows up trees.
The whole region, moreover, has a fresh and pure
air and is furthermore exceedingly healthful ; and
for this reason its inhabitants are the longest lived
of any in those parts. The entrance into the island
is like a glen at its beginning, being thickly shaded
by lofty trees growing close together, so that the
sun never shines at all through the close-set branches
but only the radiance of its light may be seen.
69. Everywhere along the lanes, the account con-
^ " Horn of Hesperus."
* " Horn of Amaltheia."
VOL. IT. L
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTrjyag vSarcov ttj yXvKvrrjTL SLa(j)6pcov, (Zirre rov
roTTOv €LvaL Tolg ^oyXofxivots eVStaTpti/rat Trpoarjvea-
rarov. e^rjs S' V7Tdp)(eLv avrpov rep pikv o-x'^piari
KVKXorepes, rip 8e pceyedei /cat rw KaXXei dav-
piaarov. VTrepKeZaOai yap avrov Travraxj] Kprjpbvov
Trpo? vijjog i^ataiov, Trerpag e)(ovra roig y^pajp-aai
hia<j)6pov'5- ivaXXa^ yap OLTToartX^eiv ra? p-ev
daXarria 7Top(f)vpa rrjv xpoav €)(ovaa<; TraparrXiqaLov ,
ra? 8e Kvavcp, rLvas S' dXXaig (j>vaecn TrepiXap^TTO-
pLevatg, oiore prq^kv elvai )(pa)p.a row €a>pap.eva)v
2 Trap a.v9p(x}TTOL<s irept rov rorrov aOecvprjrov. irpo 8e
TT^? etVdSou 7T€(f)VK€vat Sevhpa davpiaara, ra pcev Kap-
TTcpa, ra 8e aetOaXfj, irpos avrrjv pLovov rrjv arro rrjs
dea<; repi/jLv vtto tt^? (f>v(T€a)s hehrfpnovpy-qpieva' iv Se
rovroL^ ivveorreveiv opvea vavrohaTra rat? ^voeaiv,
a rrjv xpoav ex^i-v eTTLrepTrfj Kai rrjv pieXcp^Lav
TTpocrrjveardrrjv. Sto Krai iravra rov roTTOv VTrapx^iv
pcrj pbovov deoTTpeTTTJ Kara rrjv TrpoaoxpLV, aXXd Kai
Kara rov rj^ov, oi? av rrjs avro^LSoLKrov yXvKv^o)-
vias vLKcoarjg rrjv ivapp-ovLov rrjs re^vr^s pLeXcpBtav.
3 SteXdovrt 8e rrjv eiaohov OewpeladaL puev avrpov
dva7T€Trrap,evov Kai rrj Kara rov rjXtov avyfj rrept-
XapLTTop^evov, dv6r] Se TravroSavd vecfiVKora, Kai
pLaXtara rrjv re Kaatav Kai rdXXa rd duvdpieva 8i'
eviavroiv hi,a(f>vXdrr€LV rrjv evoiSiav opdaOat Be
Kai vvpi(f)cov €vvdg iv avrcp irXeiovs i^ dvdcbv
TTavroBaTTcov , ov )(eLpo7TOLyjrovs , aXX vn avrrjs
4 rrjs (fivaeois dveLpcevas deovpeTTcog. Kara Trdvra 8e
rov rrjs 'nepi(j>epeias kvkXov ovr^ dvOos ovre (f)vXXov
7T€7Tra>K6s opdaOai. 8to /cat rot? 6€a>pevois ov
pLOVov imrepTTrj cf>aivea6aL rrjv TTpoaoipiv, dXXd Kai
T7)^' eva>hiav TTpoarjveardrrjv,
312
BOOK III. 69. 1-4
tinues, springs of water gush forth of exceeding
sweetness, making the place most pleasant to those
who desire to tarry there. Further in there is a
cave, circular in shape and of marvellous size and
beauty. For above and all about it rises a crag of
immense height, formed of rocks of different coloui's ;
for the rocks lie in bands and send forth a bright
gleam, some like that purple which comes from the
sea,^ some bluish and others like every other kind of
brilliant hue, the result being that there is not a
colour to be seen among men which is not visible in
that place. Before the entrance grow marvellous
trees, some fruit-bearing, others evergreen, and all of
them fashioned by nature for no other end than to
delight the eye ; and in them nest every kind of
bird of pleasing colour and most charming song.
Consequently the whole place is meet for a god, not
merely in its aspect but in its sound as well, since
the sweet tones which nature teaches are always
superior to the song which is devised by art. When
one has passed the entrance the cave is seen to widen
out and to be lighted all about by the rays of the
sun, and all kinds of flowering plants grow there,
especially the cassia and every other kind which has
the power to preserve its fragrance throughout the
year ; and in it are also to be seen several couches
of nymphs, formed of every manner of flower, made
not by hand but by the hght touch of Nature herself,
in manner meet for a god. Moreover, throughout
the whole place round about not a flower or leaf is
to be seen which has fallen. Consequently those
who gaze upon this spot find not only its aspect
delightful but also its fragrance most pleasant.
^ i.e. the purjjle derived from the mollusc Murex brandaris.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
70. Et? TOVTO ovv TO dvrpov Tov "Afx/Jicova irapa-
yevofxevov TrapaBeadai rov TraZha Koi irapahovvai
rp€(f)eLV ^varj, pna roJv ^ Apiaralov dvyarepcDV ein-
ardrrjv 8' avrov rd^ai rov ^ KpiaraZov , dvhpa <jv-
viaet Koi aaxfypouvvrj Kal Trdar) TraiSeto, 8La(l)epovTa.
2 77/30? 8e rag oltto rrjs iJirjrpvLds 'Pea? eTn^ovXds
<j)vXaKa rov irachos KaraarrjaaL rrjv AOrjvdv, puKpov
7Tp6 rovrcov rcov ^povcov yrjyevrj ^avelaav €ttl rov
Tpircovos TTorafxov, 8t' ov Tp^rcovLBa Trpoar^yopev-
3 adai. ixvdoXoyovui Se rrjv deov ravrrjv €Xop.ev7]v
rov irdvra -)(^p6vov rrjv Trapdeviav GCL>(f)poavvrj re
hieveyKelv Kal rag TrXeiorag rdv reyvGiV i^evpelv,
dyx^vovv ovaav Kad^ VTTep^oXrjV' l,rjXa)Gai Be /cat rd
Kara rov iroXepiov, dXKrj Be Kal po^p-XJ Bi.a(f>epovaav
dXXa re TToXXd irpd^ai p.vqp^rjg d^ia Kal rrjv AlyiBa
7Tpoaayopevop.evr]v dveXelv, Orjpiov n KaraTrXrjKrL-
4 Kov Kal TravreXdJg BvaKaraycLviarov . yiqyeveg yap
V7Tdp)(ov Kal (f)vaLKU)g eK rov ar6p.arog aTrXarov
eK^dXXov (fiXoya ro p,ev TrpdJrov (f)avrjvaL Trepi rrjv
^pvyiav, Kal KaraKavaai rrjv -^copav, rjv p-expt
rov vvv KaraKeKavpievrjv ^ pvy lav 6vop,dl,eadaL-
eTTeir eTreXdelv rd Trepl rov ^avpov opt] avvex^Jg,
Kal KaraKavaai rovg e^rjg Bpvp.ovg p.expi' rrjg
^IvBiKrjg. p.erd Be ravra TrdXiv em OdXarrav rrjv
eTrdvoBov TTOLr]adp.evov uepl piev rrjv ^oivtKrjv
epLTTprJGai, rovg Kara rov Ai^avov Bpvpbovg, Kal Bl
AlyvTTrov TTOpevdev em rrjg Ai^vrjg BieXOeZv rovg
■nepl rijv earrepav roTTOvg, xal ro reXevraZov etg
* Cp. Book 1. 12. 8 for the explanation of the name
"Tritogeneia " for Athena.
BOOK III. 70. 1-4
70. Now to this cave, the account runs, Ammon
came and brought the child and gave him into the
care of Nysa, one of the daughters of Aristaeus ; and
he appointed Aristaeus to be the guardian of the
child, he being a man who excelled in understanding,
and in self-control, and in all learning. The duty of
protecting the boy against the plottings of his step-
mother Rhea he assigned to Athena, who a short
while before had been born of the earth and had
been found beside the river Triton, from which she
had been called Tritonis.^ And according to the
myth this goddess, choosing to spend all her days in
maidenhood, excelled in virtue and invented most of
the crafts, since she was exceedingly ready of ■wit;
she cultivated also the arts of war, and since she
excelled in courage and in bodily strength she per-
formed many other deeds worthy of memory and slew
the Aegis, as it was called, a certain frightful monster
which was a difficult antagonist to overcome. For it
was sprung from the earth and in accordance wth
its nature breathed forth terrible flames of fire from
its mouth, and its first appearance it made about
Phrygia and burned up the land, which to this day
is called " Burned Phrygia " ; ^ and after that it
ravaged unceasingly the lands about the Taurus
mountains and burned up the forests extending from
that region as far as India. Thereupon, returning
again towards the sea round about Phoenicia, it sent
up in flames the forests on Mt. Lebanon, and making
its way through Egypt it passed over Libya to the
regions of the west and at the end of its wanderings
^ Strabo (12. 8. 18-19) says that this area of Phrygia was
occupied by Lydians and Mysians, and that the cause of the
name was the frequent earthquakes.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tovs irepi ra Kepawta hpvjjiovs iyKaraaKrjifjai.
5 e7TL<f)X€'yoiJi€vr]g Se t'^s' ^ojpa? Travrr], Kal tcov
avdpojTTCov Tcov fjLev oiTToXXvfjievcov, Tcov Se Std rov
(f>6^ov eKXenTOVTCov ra? TrarpiSas Kal [xaKpav
eKTOTTL^onevcov, TTjv ^AOrjvdv (f)a<Ji, ra [xev avveaei
ra 8 dXKrj Kal pcjojxrj TrepLyevopievrjv dveXelv
TO diqpioVy Kai rrjv Sopdv avrov 7r€piaijjap,€vrjv
cf)opeLV TO) GTiqdeLy afxa jxev aKeiriqs €V€Ka Kal ttjs
^vXaKT^s Tov acLfxarog irpos tovs varepov klvSv-
vovs, djj.a S' dperrjg VTTOjjivrjpia Kal Si/caia? So^r^g.
6 Tiqv Se [Xiqrepa tov drjpLov Trjv dpyiadelaav dvelvai
Tovs ovopal^opievovs ViyavTas dvTLTrdXovs tols
deoZ'S, ovg VGTepov vtto Ato? dvaLped-rjvai, avva-
yoiVL^ofJievrjs Adrjvdg Kal Atovvaov /xeTa tojv
dXXojv dedjv,
7 Ou fxrjv dXXd tov Alovvgov ev tjj Nuctt^ Tpe^o-
jxevov Kal fieTexovTa tcov KaXXloTcov imTrjSevfxaTcov
fXT] ixovov yeveaOai toj KraAAet Kal ttj pojfxrj Sta-
(f)opov, dXXd Kal (jyiXoTe-xyov Kal rrpos Trdv to -x^piqai-
8 pLOv evpeTLKOv. emvofjoai yap avTOV €tl iraZha tyjv
rjXiKiav ovTa tov jxev o'tvov ttjv (fyvaiv re Kal
■^peiav, aTToOXii/javTa ^OTpvs t'^s' avTO<f)Vovs dfirre-
Xov, Tix>v S cLpaiwv Ta Swdp-eva ^ ^iqpaiveadaL
Kai vpos dTToOrjaavpLapiov ovTa XP''1^''I^'^> P-^'T'd
Se TavTa Kat Tag eKaaTOJV /caro. Tporrov (j)VTeias
€vpeLV, Kal povXrjdrjvaL tco ydvei tcov dvOpcoTTcov
pbeTahovvai tcov ISlcov evpr^piaTCOv, iXTTiaavTa Std to
piiyeOos TTJs evepyeatas dOavaTCOv Tev^eadai Tipicov.
II. 1 7JS" oe 7T€pL avTOV apeTr]s re /cat oogr]? ota-
SiSopievr^S, Ae'yerat ttjv *PeW opytadeXaav "Ap.picovi
^ fiiv after Swa/xeva D, Vogel, Jacoby, omitted Vulgate,
Bekker, Dindorf.
316
BOOK III. 70. 4-71. I
fell upon the forests about Ceraunia. And since the
country round about was going up in flames and the
inhabitants in some cases were being destroyed and
in others were leaving their native countries in their
terror and removing to distant regions, Athena, they
say, overcoming the monster partly through her
intelligence and partly through her courage and
bodily strength, slew it, and covering her breast with
its hide bore this about with her, both as a covering
and protection for her body against later dangers,
and as a memorial of her valour and of her well-
merited fame. Ge (Earth), however, the mother of
the monster, was enraged and sent up the Giants,
as they are called, to fight against the gods ; but they
were destroyed at a later time by Zeus, Athena and
Dionysus and the rest of the gods taking part in
the conflict on the side of Zeus.
Dionysus, however, being reared according to the
account in Nysa and instructed in the best pursuits,
became not only conspicuous for his beauty and
bodily strength, but skilful also in the arts and quick
to make every useful invention. For while still a
boy he discovered both the nature and use of wine,
in that he pressed out the clusters of grapes of the
vine while it still grew wild, and such ripe fruits as
could be dried and stored away to advantage, and
how each one of them should be planted and cared
for was hke^vise a discovery of his ; also it was his
desire to share the discoveries which he had made
\nih the race of men, in the hope that by reason of
the magnitude of his benefactions he would be
accorded iminortal honours.
71. ^Vllen the valour and fame of Dionysus became
spread abroad, Rhea, it is said, angered at Ammon,
317
DIODORUS OF SICILY
<f>LXoTLfMr)6rjvac Xa^elv inTOX^^ptov top ALOvvaov
ov Svva/JLevrjv Be Kparrjaai rrjs iTn^oXijs tov jxev
"AjJLjXiova KaraXiTTelv , aTToXXayelaav Se Trpos tovs
d8eX(f>ovs TiTavag cruvoiKrJGaL J^povo) tco a.8eX(f>a).
2 TOVTOv 8' VTTo TTJs 'Pctt? TTeiadevTa arpaTevaai {xera
Tcbv Tltolvcov €7r' "AiXfJicova, Kal yevopievqs Trapa-
rd^ecos tov jxev }^p6vov em rod TTporeprjixaros
VTrdp^at, TOV S' "ApLpicova aiToheia 7n€t,6pi€vov
(fyvyelv els K.p'qTTjv, Kal yrjp,avra tcov' t6t€ ^aaiXevov-
Tcov K.ovp'qTcov ivos dvyaTepa }^p-qT7]v SwaoTevaai
T€ TciJV TOTTCOV /fttt TO TTpO TOV TTjV vfjCTOV 'IStttaV
KaXovpL€vr)v (xtto ttjs yvvaiKos ovopidaat, J^p'^Trjv.
3 TOV 8e Kpovov pivdoXoyovai Kpar'^aavra tcov
^ApLpUOvicOV rOTTCOV TOVTCOV pukv dp)(€lV TTLKpoJS}
6776 Se rrjv Nucrav /cat tov Aioiwaov aTpaTevaai
pLeTOi ttoAAt^? SwdpuecDS. tov Se Aiovvaov 7Tv66p,evov
Td T€ TOV TTaTpos iXaTTCopLaTa Kai ttjv tcov TiTavcov
€17* avTov avvSpopLTjv, ddpoluai aTpaTiojTas e/<r
TTjS Nucnjs", &v €LvaL avvTp6(f>ovs hiaKoaiovs,
hia^opovs TTJ re dXKjj Kal ttj Trpog avTOV evvoLa'
TTpoaXa^eadaL §e Kal Ta)v TrXrjcrLoxcopcj^v tovs re
Al^vag Kal Tas 'A/xa^oi^as', Trepl cLv Trpoeip-qKapiev
on SoKovaiv dXKrj SceveyKelv, Kal TrpcoTOV piev
OTpaTeiav VTrepoptov OTeiXaadai, TToXXrjv Se Trjs
4 olKovpulv-qs Tols ottXois KaTaaTpeipaadai. pidXiara
8' avTds cf>aaL rrapoppirjaat Trpos ttjv avp/xaxi-av
'Adrjvdv Sia tov opLoiov TrjS Trpoaipiocois C'^^°^>
(1)5 av TOiv ^ Ap.at,6vtov dvTexopevcov em ttoXv ttjs
dvhpelas Kal Trapdevlas- hLrjpiqp.evt]s Se tt^s Bvvd-
318
BOOK III. 71. 1-4
strongly desired to get Dionysus into her power ;
but being unable to carry out her design she forsook
Ammon and, departing to her brothers, the Titans,
married Cronus her brother. Cronus, then, upon
the solicitation of Rhea, made war with the aid of
the Titans upon Ammon, and in the pitched battle
wliich followed Cronus gained the upper hand,
whereas Ammon, who was hard pressed by lack of
supplies, fled to Crete, and marrying there Crete,
the daughter of one of the Curetes who were the
kings at that time, gained the sovereignty over those
regions, and to the island, which before that time
had been called Idaea, he gave the name Crete after
his wife. As for Cronus, the myth relates, after his
victory he ruled harshly over these regions which
had formerly been Amnion's, and set out with a
great force against Nysa and Dionysus. Now
Dionysus, on learning both of the reverses suffered
by his father and of the uprising of the Titans against
himself, gathered soldiers from Nysa, two hundred
of whom were foster-brothers of his and were dis-
tinguished for their courage and their loyalty to
him ; and to these he added from neighbouring
peoples both the Libyans and the Amazons, regard-
ing the latter of whom we have already observed
that it is reputed that they were distinguished
for their courage and first of all campaigned
beyond the borders of their country and subdued
with arms a large part of the inhabited world.
These women, they say, were urged on to the
alliance especially by Athena, because their zeal for
their ideal of life was hke her oAvn, seeing that the
Amazons clung tenaciously to manly courage and
virginity. The force was divided into two parts,
319
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fj.€a>s, Kal Twv fJLev dvSpcov arpar-qyovvrog ^lovvoov,
Tcbv Se yvvaLKoJv Tr]v rjyejxoviav i)(ovcrr]s ^A6r]vds,
TTpoaTreaovras p-erd rfjs ur par ids rols TirdCTt cruvd-
ifjaL pdx'QV. yevopevTjs Se TTapard^eoJS lu-)(ypds, /cat
TToX\a)v Trap' dp.<f>OT€pois TreaovrcDV, rpcodrjvai. pkv
rdv \^p6voVj evLKpaTrjaaL Se rov Aiovvaov dptarev-
6 aavra Kara rrjv pd)(7]v. perd Se ravra rovg pkv
Tirdvas (j>vyelv els rovs KaraKTrjdevTas vtto tcjv
Tvepl rdv "Appcova tottovs, tov Se Aiovvaov dOpoi-
aavra 7TX'f]6os alxpaXcjTcov eTraveXOeiv els rrjv
Nvaav. ivravda Se ttjv hvvapiv Trepiarrjoavra
KadcDTrXiapevTjv rois dXovai KarrjyopLav TTOi-qaaadaL
Ttbv Tirdvcov, Kai Tvdaav vnovoiav KaraXnreiv ojs
peXXovra KaraKOTrreiv rovs alxpo-XwTOVs . aTTO-
XvaavTos S' avrovs rd)v eyKXrjpdrcvv Kal ttjv
e^ovaiav Sovros e'lre avarpareveiv e'lre dirievai
^ovXoiVTOy TTOvras eXeadai crvurpareveiv Sid Se
TO Tiapdho^ov ttjs aojrripias TrpoaKvveiv avrovs
6 cos deov. rdv Se Aiovvaov irapdyovra Kad^ eva
rdjv alxpo.Xa)rojv Kai StSovra aTTovSrjv otvov jrdvras
e^opKcoaai avarparevaeiv ^ dSoAcD? /cat P^^XP'-
reXevrrjs /Se^atcu? Staycu^teta^af Sto /cat rov-
rcov rrpcorcov VTroarrovScuv ovopaadevrcov rovs pera-
yevearepovs drropipovpevovs rd rore Trpa^Oevra
rds eV rots' TToXepiois hiaXvaeis arrovhds npoaa-
yopeveiv.
72. Tov S' ovv Aiovvaov peXXovros arpareveiv
em rdv Kpdrov /cat rrjs dvi'dpeojs e'/c rrjs l^varjs
i^iovarjs, pivdoXoyovaiv Apiaraiov rov eTTiardrrjv
avrov dvaiav re Trapaarrjaai Kai Trpcorov avdpd)-
TTOJV d)s d^o) dvaai. avarparevaai Se (paai Kal
^ So W'esseling : avaTpareveiy.
320
BOOK III. 71. 4-72. I
the men having Dionysus as their general and the
women being under the command of Athena, and
coming %^ith their army upon the Titans they joined
battle. The struggle having proved sharp and many
having fallen on both sides, Cronus finally was
wounded and victory lay with Dionysus, who had
distinguished himself in the battle. Thereupon the
Titans fled to the regions which had once been pos-
sessed by Ammon, and Dionysus gathered up a
multitude of captives and returned to Nvsa. Here,
drawing up his force in arms about the prisoners, he
brought a formal accusation against the Titans and
gave them every reason to suspect that he was going
to execute the captives. But when he got them
free from the charges and allowed them to make their
choice either to join him in his campaign or to go
scot free, they all chose to join him, and because their
lives had been spared contrary to their expectation
they venerated him like a god. Dionysus, then,
taking the captives singly and giving them a libation
(sponde) of wine, required of all of them an oath that
they would join in the campaign without treachery
and fight manfully until death ; consequently, these
captives being the first to be designated as " freed
under a truce " (hypospondot), men of later times,
imitating the ceremony which had been performed
at that time, speak of the truces in wars as
spondai.
72. Now when Dionysus was on the point of setting
out against Cronus and his force was already passing
out of Nysa, his guardian Aristaeus, the myth relates,
offered a sacrifice and so was the first man to sacrifice
to him as to a god. And companions of his on the
campaign, they say, were also the most nobly born
321
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tiov Nucraifor rovs evyeveaTorovs , ovs ovofid^ecrdaL
2 TieiXrjvovs ?■ Trpwrov yap rojv arravrcov ^aaiXevaai
^aai TTjS ^varjs ^ ILeiXr^vov, ov ^ to yivos odev riv
VTTO TTOLVTCov ayvoeZodaL 8ta Tr]v dpxo.iOTrjTa. e^ov-
Tos 8' avrov Kara ttjv 6a<f>vv ovpdv, SiareAeaai
KOL Tovs eKyovovs TO TTapdar]fxov rovro (f>opovvras
8ta rrjv rrjs <l>vaecos KoivojvLav.
Tov 8' ouv Alovvgov dval,€v^avra pLerd rrjs Svvd-
pLCOis, Koi hieXdovTa ttoXXtjv pLev dvvBpov ■)(copav,
ovK oXtyrjv 8' eprjpbov Kal OrjpicoSr], Karacrrparo-
TTeSevaai Trepl ttoXlv At^vKTjv rrjv 6vopia^opi.€vr]v
3 Tjd^ipvav . TTpos 8e ravrr) yriyeve^ virdp^ov drjpiou
/cat TToXXous dvaXioKov rcbv iyxiopi'iov, tyjv ovopia^o-
pLevTjv J^dpLTT'qv, dveXelv /cat pieydXrjs rvx^iv So^rjs
€77* dvhpeia Trapd rols eyxojp^oi?. TTOt-fjaai, 8'
avrov /cat x^P'^ Trapcpieyedes eVi rto cf>ov€v6€vri
drjplo), ^ovX6pL€vov dddvarov dTToXiTrelv VTTopLvrjpLa
rrjs tSta? dperrjs, ro /cat hiapLelvav p-^XP'- "^^^
4 veojrepcov xpovcov. eVetra rov pcev Aiovvaov Trpod-
yeiv TTpos rovs Ttrai^a?, evrdKrcos TTOLOvp-evov rds
ohoirropias xal rrdai rols eyxojpiois (f)iXavdpa)TTCos
7Tpoa<f)€p6pL€VOV KOL ro ovvoXov iavrov aTTO^aivo-
pcevov arpareveiv inl KoXdaei piev rojv acrejScuv,
evepyeaia 8e rov kolvov yevovs rdjv av9pa)7Tajv.
revs Se AtjSya? davpid^ovras rrjv evra^iav koX
ro rrjs ^^XV^ pieyaXoTTpeTTes, rpo(f)as re napex^-
adai rols dvOpcoTTOLs SaifjiXels Kal avarpareveiv
TTpodvpLorara.
5 Hvveyyit,ov(jr]s Se rrj? ^wdp-eois rfj TToXei rwv
'ApLpicovLOJV, rov Kpovov TTpo rov reixovs irapa-
1 HiXrjvovs D, StAiVous C, SiAtjvous other MSS. ; all editors
but Jacoby emend to SeiAiji'ous (op. 4. 4. 3).
322
BOOK III. 72. 1-5
of the Nysaeans, those, namely, who bear the name
Seileni. For the first man of all, they say, to be king
of Nysa was Seilenus, but his ancestry was unknown
to all men because of its antiquity. This man had a
tail at the lower part of his back and his descendants
also regularly carried this distinguishing mark be-
cause of their participation in his nature.
Dionysus, then, set out with his army, and after
passing through a great extent of waterless land, no
small portion of which was desert and infested with
wild beasts, he encamped beside a city of Libya
named Zabirna. Near this city an earth-born monster
called Campe, which was destroying many of the
natives, was slain by him, whereby he won great
fame among the natives for valour. Over the
monster which he had killed he also erected an
enormous mound, wishing to leave behind him an
immortal memorial of his personal bravery, and this
mound remained until comparatively recent times.
Then Dionysus advanced against the Titans, main-
taining strict discipline on his journeyings, treating
all the inhabitants kindly, and, in a word, making it
clear that his campaign was for the purpose of punish-
ing the impious and of conferring benefits upon the
entire human race. The Libyans, admiring his
strict discipline and high-mindedness, provided his
followers with supphes in abundance and joined in
the campaign with the greatest eagerness.
As the army approached the city of the Ammon-
ians, Cronus, who had been defeated in a pitched
^ TTJs NuaTjy omitted D, Dindorf, Vogel.
" ov Vulgate, all editors ; ovtos D, Jacoby,
323
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rd^ei Xei^divra Tr]v jjiev ttoXlv vvktos ij-ivprjaaiy
GTTevSovTa elg reXos Kara^OeZpai ^ rod AtovJcTou ra
TTarpcpa ^aaiXeta, avrov S' dvaXa^ovra rrjv yvvatKa
'Pear /cat TLvas tcov avvrjycovLapievoiv ^iXcov XaOelv
CK rrj? TToXecos SiaBpdvra. ov pirjv top ye Atovvaov
op^oiav €.-x^€LV TOVTO) TTpoaipeaLV Xa^ovra yap rov
re Ys.p6vov Kai rrjv 'Peat" al-^piaXcorovs ov piovov
d(f)elvai row iyKXr]p.drojv Sia rr]v crvyyevetav, dXXd
Kol TTapaKaXeaai rov Xolttov xP^^^^ yoveojv e^etv
rrpos avrov evvotdv re koX rd^iv /cat avi^ijv nput)-
6 pLevovs vrr' avrov pudXiora Trdvrcov. rrjv pcev ovv
'Peav StareAecrat irdvra rov ^lov d)s vlov dyaTTcoaav,
rov Se l^povov vrrovXov e^eiv rr]v evvoiav. yeve-
aOai 8' avroZs Trepl rovrovs rovs ;y/°oi'ous' vlov,
ov TTpoaayopevOrjvat Ata, rLpi7]67]vat Se /xeyaAco?
V7t6 rov AtoTOCToy, /cat St dperr]v ev roZs varepov
XpovoLs yeveadai Trdvrcov ^aaiXea.
73. Toil' Se Al^vcov elprjKorcov avrip Trpo rrj?
pudyj]? on Kad' ov Katpov e^eireaev e/c rr]? /SacrtAeta?
"ApLpiCJV, roLS iyxiopioLS TTpoeiprjKo)? etr] reray-
pievois ;YPorot? Tj^eiv vlov avrov lS.L6vvaov, /cat rrjv re
TTarpcpav dvaKrrjaeadai. ^acrtAetav /cat 7TduT]s rrjs
OLKOvpiev-qs Kvpievaavra 6e6v vopucrO-qaeadaL, vrro-
Xa^(hv dXrjOrj yeyovevai pidvriv ro re -y^pi^arr^pLov
ISpvcraro rov rrarpos xal rrjv ttoXlv dvoLKO^opLijaas ^
ripids (Zpiaev ws Oew /cat rov^ eTnpLeXijaopLevovs rod
pLavreLov Karearrjae. rrapaSeSoadaL Se rov 'A/x-
pLcova e)(€LV Kpiov Kecl)aXrjv rervTTOjpieviqv, TTapda'qp.ov
^ Kara<j>d€Zpai Vulg., biacfideipai. D, Jacoby.
2 So Dindorf : qlKoBo(j,7]aas MSS., Bekker, Vogel.
324
BOOK III. 72. 5-73. I
battle before the walls, set fire to the city in the
night, intending to destroy utterly the ancestral
palace of Dionysus, and himself taking with him his
wife Rhea and some of his friends who had aided
him in the struggle, he stole unobserved out of the
city. Dionysus, however, showed no such a temper
as this ; for though he took both Cronus and Rhea
captive, not only did he waive the charges against
them because of his kinship to them, but he entreated
them for the future to maintain both the good-will
and the position of parents towards him and to live
in a common home with him, held in honour above all
others. Rhea, accordingly, loved him like a son for
all the rest of her life, but the good- will of Cronus
was a pretence. And about this time there was born
to both of these a son who was called Zeus, and he
was honoured greatly by Dionysus and at a later
time, because of his high achievements, was made
king over all.
73. Since the Libyans had said to Dionysus before
the battle that, at the time when Ammon had been
driven from the kingdom, he had prophesied to the
inhabitants that at an appointed time his son
Dionysus would come, and that he would recover his
father's kingdom and, after becoming master of all
the inhabited world, would be looked upon as a god,
Dionysus, believing him to have been a true prophet,
established there the oracle of his father,^ rebuilt
the city and ordained honours to him as to a god,
and appointed men to have charge of the oracle.
Tradition also has recorded that the head of Aramon
was shaped like that of a ram, since as his device he
^ The great oracle of Ammon; cp. Book 17. 49 ff. for the
famous viijit of Alexander to this shrine.
325
DIODORUS OF SICILY
€gx'>]k6tos avTOV TO '^ Kpdvos Kara ras arpareias.
2 etat §' ol [xvOoXoyovvres aura) rrpog dXijOeLav yevd-
adai Kad eKarepov fiepos tcjv KpoTd(f)a)V Kepdria'
8io Kal Tov Alovvgov, vtov avrou yeyovora, rrjv
ofioLav ^x^i-v TTpoaoifjLv, Kat rots emyLVO[Ji€voLS rcov
dvOpwTTCDV TTapahehoaOai rov deov rovrov yeyovora
K€ par Lav.
3 Mera S ovv rrjv rrjg rroXecog OLKoSopLLav Kal
rrjv TTcpi ro ■^^prjarripiov Kardarautv Trpcorov (f>aaL
rov biiovvaov ^(p-^aaaOai rev deep rrepl rrjg arpa-
reiag, Kal Xa^elv rrapd rov rrarpos XPV^I^^^ °''''
rovg dvOpcoTTOvg evepyeraJv rev^erat. rrjs dOavaata?.
4 8io Kal jxerewpiadevra rfj ipv^fj to fiev Trpcorov inl
rrjv AtyvTTrov arparevaai, Kat rrjs ;\;ajpas' Kara-
Grrjaat /SacriAea Ai'a rov J^povov Kal 'Pea?, TratSa
rrjv rjXiKLav ovra. TrapaKaraarrjaai S' avro) Kal
eTTLordr'qv "OXvpnTOV, d<j> ov rov Aia Traihevdivra
Kal TTpiorevaavra Kar* dperrjv OXvpuinov irpoaa-
5 yopevdrjvai,. rov 8' ovv Aiovvaov Xeyerai StSa^at
rov? AlyvTrriovs rrjv re rry? djXTreXov ^vreiav Kal
rrjv ;^p7j(7tv /cat rr]v TrapdOecriv rov re o'lvov Kal rcov
dKpoSpvcov Kat rcov dXXcov KapTTcov. Trdvrrj 8e 8ta-
SiSopevrjs rrepl avrov (fyripL-qs dyadrjs jxrjBeva Kadd-
vep rrpos TToXepnov dvrirdrreadat, Trdvrag Be rrpoOv-
jjicog VTrojcovovras iuaLvoLS Kai Ovcnais cLs deov
6 Tijjidv. rep 8' avrcp rpoircp <f)acnv eneXOeLV ttjv
OLKOvpievrjv, e^rjixepovvra jxev rrjv xcLp'^^ rals
(jivreiaLS, evepyerovvra 8e rovs Xaovs p.eydXais
Kal rifJiCais ^ ;^aptai npos rov alcova. 8t6 /cat ndvras
^ For TO Capps suggests roiovro.
^ Kal Ti/itiats suggested by Vogel for n/xals Kai, MSS. ;
ScDpeals for rifiais Rhodomann.
326
BOOK III. 73. 1-6
had worn a helmet of that form in his campaigns.
But there are some writers of myths who recount
that in very truth there were Uttle horns on both
sides of his temples and that therefore Dionysus also,
being Ammon's son, had the same aspect as his father
and so the tradition has been handed down to succeed-
ing generations of mankind that this god had horns.
However this may be, after Dionysus had built the
city and established the oracle he first of all, they
say, inquired of the god A«th regard to his expedition,
and he received from his father the reply that, if he
showed himself a benefactor of mankind, he would
receive the reward of immortality. Consequently,
elated in spii'it at this prophecy, he first of all directed
his campaign against Egypt and as king of the
country he set up Zeus, the son of Cronus and Rhea,
though he was still but a boy in years. And at his
side as his guardian he placed Olympus, by whom
Zeus had been instructed and after whom he came
to be called " Olympian," when he had attained
pre-eminence in high achievements. As for Diony-
sus, he taught the Egyptians, it is said, both the
cultivation of the vine and how to use and to store
both wine and the fruits which are gathered from
trees, as well as all others. And since a good report
of him was spread abroad everywhere, no man
opposed him as if he were an enemy, but all rendered
him eager obedience and honoured him like a god
with panegyrics and sacrifices. In like manner as
in Egypt, they say, he visited the inhabited world,
bringing the land under cultivation by means of the
plantings which he made and conferring benefactions
upon the people for all time by bestowing upon them
great and valuable gifts. For this reason it comes
327
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tovs avOpcoTTovs €v Tat? TTpos Toi)? dXXovg deovs
TLfxals ov-)(^ ojJiolav €)(ovras Trpoacpeaiv aAAryAots'
ax^^ov 6771 [xovov Tov Alovvgov avpi^tovovpieirqv
aTToheLKvveLv pLaprvpiav ttjs dOavaalas' ovheva
yap ovd' 'KXXijvcov oure ^ap^dpajv dpuoipov elvai
rrjs rovTOV Scupea? Kal x'^pLros, aXXd /cat rovg
dTnqypLOiixivrjv exovras x^P*^^ V "^po? (f^vreiav
dpLTriXov TTavreXd)S d7n]XXorpLcajj.eirqv fxadeZu to
KarauKevaC^opLevov e'/c tcjv Kpidwv TTopia ^paxv
XeLTTopievov ri^g Trepl tov otvov eycuStas'.
7 Tov- 8' ovv Alovvoov (^acrt ttjv KaTd^aatv
e/c Trjg IvStKTJg enl ttjv OdXaTTav 7TOLTqadp.evov KaTa-
Xa^elv dnavTas tovs TtTaj^a? rjOpoLKOTas Swdpcets
/cat SLa^e^r^KOTas els KpT^ri^v eV "ApipLcova.
TTpoa^e^o-qdr] KOTOS Se '<^cit tov Alos e/c Trjs AlyvTTTOv
TOLS 7T€pl TOV "ApLpicxjva, /Cat TToXcpLov pieydXov
ovveaTCJTOs iv ttj vqaco, Tax^cos /cat Toils' Trepl tov
Aiovvaov /cat tt]v 'Adrjvdv Kal TLvas Tcav dXXcov
8 dedjv vopLLodevTOJv avvhpap.elv els }s.pii]Tr]v. yevo-
p-evqs Se vapaTd^ecus p.eydXr]s evLKpaTrjaaL tovs
TTepl TOV Alovvgov Kal TrdvTas dveXelv tovs TtTava?.
jLteTct 8e TauTa "ApipLOJVos Kal Alovvgov pceTaGTdv-
Tojv e/c TTJs dv6pa)7TLvrjs (j)VGeojs eis ttjv ddavaoiav,
TOV Aia (f)aal /SaatAeucrat tov avpLTravTOS Koapiov,
KeKoXaap.evcov tojv TtTdvoiv, Kal pnqhevos ovtos tov
ToXpLi^aovTOS St' dae^eiav dpLcjiLa^-qTTJaaL ttjs dpxrjs.
74, Tov piev ovv TTpdJTOv Alovvgov ef "Ap-pLcvvos
Kal AfxaXdeias yevop-evov ToiavTas ol At^ye?
LGTopovGLv eTTLTeXeGaodaL rrpd^eis' tov §€ Seu-
Tepov (f)aGtv ef 'lous" tt^s 'Ivdxov Att yevopLevov
1 Cp. Book 1. 20. 4.
328
BOOK III. 73. 6-74. I
about that, although not all men are of one belief
with one another concerning the honours which they
accord to the other gods, in the case of Dionysus
alone we may almost say that they are in complete
agreement in testifying to his immortality ; for there
is no man amonff Greeks or barbarians who does not
share in the gift and favour which this god dispenses,
nay, even those who possess a country which has
become a wilderness or altogether unsuited to the
cultivation of the \ane learned from him how to
prepare from barley a drink which is little inferior
to wine in aroma. ^
Now Dionysus, they say, as he was marching out
of India to the sea,^ learned that all the Titans had
assembled their united forces together and had
crossed over to Crete to attack Amnion. Already
Zeus had passed over from Egypt to the aid of
Ammon and a great war had arisen on the island,
and forthwith Dionysus and Athena and certain
others who had been considered to be gods rushed
over in a body to Crete. In a great battle which
followed Dionysus was victorious and slew all the
Titans. And when after this Ammon and Dionysiis
exchanged their mortal nature for immortaUty,
Zeus, they say, became king of the entire world,
since the Titans had been punished and there was
no one whose impiety would make him bold enough
to dispute with him for the supreme power.
74. As for the first Dionysus, the son of Ammon
and Amaltheia, these, then, are the deeds he
accomplished as the Libyans recount the history of
them; the second Dionysus, as men say, who was
born to Zeus by lo, the daughter of Inachus, became
' The Mediterranean.
329
DIODORUS OF SICILY
^acnXevaaL fxev T-fjs AlyvTTTOv, KaraBel^ai Se to.?
reXerds' reXevralov Se rov eK Aio? /cat Se/xeAij?
reKvcoOevra Trapd roZs "EAAtjcti t,7]Xcorr]v yeveadai
2 TU)V TTporepcov. ra? S dfJicfiOTepcov TrpoaipeaeLS
liilxr]adp.€VOv arparevaai fxev eTrl Trdaav rrjv
olKovfxevTjV, arTJXas 8' ovk oXiyag dTToXnrelv rcov
opcov Tr]s arpareias' koI ttjv fi€v p^oj/jav i^rjpiepovv
rats (f)VT€Lais, arparicoTLSag 8' eTnXe^aadai yvval-
Kas, Kaddirep koI 6 TraXaios rds Afial^ovas.
ivepyrjaai, 8 ctti rrXeov Kai rd Trept rovs opyia-
ap-ovs, Kal TeXerds as pev pieTadelvai rrpos to
3 KpcLTTOv, dg 8' iTTLVorjaai. 8ta 8e to ttXtjOos rov
Xpovov TOJV Trporepojv evperajv dyvofjdevTOiV vtto
Tcov TToXXcov, rovTov KXrjpovoprjaai rrjv rcov irpo-
yevecrrepcov irpoaipecjiv re Kal So^av. ovk em
rovrov 8e povov crvpi^ijvaL rd TrpoeLpiqpivov, dAAa Kal
4 jLterd ravr e<f>^ 'HpaKAeous". hvoZv ydp dvroiv rcov
TTpoyevearepcDV rdJv rrjv avTr]v ia)(r]K6rojv Trpoarj-
yopiav, rov pev dp^oLiorarov 'H/aaicAea p.v9oXo-
yeladai yeyovevai Trap AtyvTTrLOLS, /cat ttoXXtjv rijg
OLKOvpevrjg rot? ottXols Karaurpeijjdp-evov deadai
rrjV irrl rijs Ai^v-qs arri]Xrjv, rov Se Sevrepov e/c
KpT^TTy? €va rdJv ISaiojv ovra AaKrvXcov Kal
yevopevov y6r]ra Kat arparrjyLKOv crvari^aaaOai
rov 'OXvpLTTLKOv dydjva' rov 8e reXevratov piKpdv
TTpd rcov TpcoiKcov ef 'AXKp.T^v-r]s Kal Aio? rcKvo)-
Qivra TToXXrjv eTTeXOelv rrjs olKovp,€V7}s, tnrrjperovvra
5 roZs ^vpvaOews TTpoardypLaaiv. eTnrvxdvra Se
Tracrt rots' ddXois diadai p,ev Kal arajXr^v rrjv cttl rrjs
BOOK III. 74. 1-5
king of Egypt and appointed the initiatory rites of
that land ; and the third and last was sprung from
Zeus and Semele and became, among the Greeks, the
rival of the first two. Imitating the principles of
both the others he led an army over all the inhabited
world and left behind him not a few pillars to mark
the bounds of his campaign ; the land he also brought
under cultivation by means of the plantings which he
made, and he selected women to be his soldiers, as
the ancient Dionysus had done in the case of the
Amazons. He went beyond the others in developing
the orgiastic practices, and as regards the rites of
initiation, he improved some of them, and others he
introduced for the first time. But since in the long
passage of time the former discoverers had become
unknown to the majority of men, this last Dionysus
fell heir to both the plan of life and the fame of his
predecessors of the same name. And this Dionysus
is not the only one to whom has happened that which
we have related, but in later times Heracles likewise
experienced the same fortune. For there had been
two persons of an earlier period who had borne the
same name, the most ancient Heracles who, according
to the myths, had been born in Egypt, had subdued
with arms a large part of the inhabited world, and
had set up the pillar which is in Libya, and the
second, who was one of the Idaean Dactvls of Crete
and a wizard with some knowledge of generalship,
was the founder of the Olympic Games ; but the
third and last, who was born of Alcmene and Zeus a
short time before the Trojan War, visited a large
part of the inhabited world while he was serving
Eurystheus and carrying out his commands. And
after he had successfully completed all the Labours
DIODORUS OF SICILY
KvpcoTTrjs, hia Se rrjv ofxcomjfJiLav /cat rr^v rrjg Trpoaipe-
(T€iog 6[Jioi6rr)ra xpovcov eTnyevojxevojv reXevr-^-
aavra KXrjpovofxrjaai rag rajv apxatorepcov Trpd^eis,
(x)S ivos 'Hpa/cAeous' yeyovoros iv Tiavrl rw rrpo-
Tepov aloJVL.
6 'Yrrep Be rov irXeiovs Atovvaovs yeyovevai gvv
aAAat? oLTToSei^eaL TTeipchvrat (j>ep€iv ttjv Ik ttjs
TLTavofJLa)(Las' avp.(f)Ojvov[Ji€vov yap Trapa rrdcnv
OTL AiovuGos TO) Alt avvqyojvLaaTO rov irpos rovs
TLToivas TToXep.ov, ovSafxaJs TrpeireLV (f>aaL rr^v rcov
Ttravcov yeveav rtOevai Kara rovs rrjs llefJieXrjs
Xpovovg ov8e KaS/xot" rov Kyrjvopos a7ro(^aiveadai,
TTpea^vrepov etvat rcov OXvp^Tricov Oeojv.
Ot p.€v ovv Aleves TTepL Aiovvaov roiavra fxvOoXo-
yovaiv rjiJL€LS Se ttjv ev dpxfj Trpodeoiv rereXeKores
avTOU 7T€piypdi/joiJi€v ■"• rr]v rpinqv ^ifiXov.
^ So Wesseling : TTapaypdaJjcofiev.
33^
BOOK III. 74. 5-6
he also set up the pillar which is in Europe, but
because he bore the same name as the other two and
pursued the same plan of life as did they, in the course
of time and upon his death he inherited the exploits
of the more ancient persons of the name, as if there
had been in all the previous ages but one Heracles.
To support the view that there were several of
the name Dionysus the effort is made to cite, along
with the other proofs, the battle waged against the
Titans. For since all men agree that Dionysus
fought on the side of Zeus in his war against the
Titans, it will not do at all, they argue, to date the
generation of the Titans in the time when Semele
lived or to declare that Cadmus, the son of Agenor,
was older than the gods of Olympus.
Such, then, is the myth which the Libyans recount
concerning Dionysus ; but for our part, now that
we have brought to an end the plan ^ which we
announced at the beginning, we shall close the
Third Book at this point.
' (Jp. chap. 1. 3.
233
BOOK IV
TctSe eveoTLv ev rfj Terdprrj rcov AioScopov
\a)v
YLpooi/JLLov Trept twv fxvdoXoyov/xevwv irapa. rots IcnopLo-
ypd(f)Oi<;.
HepL Aiovv(TOv KOI TipLOLTrov Koi Ep/xa0poSirov Kai
Movicrwv.
Ilept HepaKAous kol twi' SwScKa aOXwv koX riav aXkii>v
Twv 7rpa)(6epT(j)i' vrr ulitou fJ^^XP^ '^V'' aTTO^eojaew?.
ITepi Toiv ApyovavTwv kol MT^Set'as Koi tu>v IleAt'ou
Ovyarepuiv.
riepi Twv aTToyorajv toD Hpa/cAeous.
Ilept @y](rews /cat twv aO\wv avrov.
Hepl Twv eTTTO, eTTi ©^/3as.
Tlept Twv eTTiyovcoi' rwv cttto. CTrt 0>;/3tts.
Ilept Nt^Xews /cat twi/ aTToyorwv avToi).
Ilept A.a.TTiO<x)V Kai K.evTavpwv.
Ilept AcTKAT^TTtou Kttt rwv aTroyovojv at'Toi),
Ilept Twv AcrtoTTOi) 6vyaTepoiV Kai rwv AlaKui yevo/xevcov
uioiv.
Ilept Ile'AoTros Kai TavraXov kul Olvop.aov kol Ntd/^Tys.
Ilept AttpSavou Kat Toil' aTToyovwv avrov p-f-XP^ IIptap,ou.
Ilept AatSaAoi; /cat MtvojTai^poi; /cat t^? MtVw CTTpareias
CTTt Kw/caAoi' Tov /3a(TL\ea.
Ilept ApujTaiov Kat Aac^vtoos Kat EpwKOs, ert 8c
Qpt(')ros.
^ i.e. immediate descendants.
CONTENTS OF THE FOURTH BOOK OF
DIODORUS
Introduction on the myths recounted by the
historians (chap. 1).
On Dionysus, Priapus, Hermaphroditus, and the
Muses (chaps. 2-7).
On Heracles and the twelve Labours, and the
other deeds of his up to the time of his deification
(chaps. 8-39).
On the Argonauts and Medea and the daughters
of Pehas (chaps. 40-56).
On the descendants of Heracles (chaps. 57-58).
On Theseus and his labours (chaps. 59-63).
On The Seven against Thebes (chaps. 64-65).
On the Epigoni ^ of The Seven against Thebes
(chaps. 66-67).
On Neleus and his descendants (chap. 68).
On the Lapiths and Centaurs (chaps. 69-70).
On Asclepius and his descendants (chap. 71).
On the daughters of Asopus and the sons born to
Aeacus (chap. 72).
On Pelops, Tantalus, Oenomaus, and Niobe (chaps.
73-74).
On Dardanus and his descendants as far as Priam
(chap. 75).
On Daedalus, the Minotaur, and the campaign cf
Minos against the king Cocalus (chaps. 76-80).
On AristaeuSj Daphnis, Eryx, and Oi'ion (chaps.
81-85).
337
BIBA02 TETAPTH
1. Oj3/< dypoco jjiev on roig rag iraAata? fxv9o^o-
yta? avi'TaTTOfievois avfJi^aLvet Kara ttjv y/aac/iTyv
iv TToAAot? iXarrovadai. rj jxev yap row avaypa<j>o-
jxevoiv dpxaLorrjs Suuevperos ovcra ttoXAtjv diropLav
Trapex^rai roZg ypd<^ovaLV, rj 8e tcov xP^voiv drray-
yeXta tov aKpL^eararov eXeyxov ov Trpoahexopi^vrj
Kara4>poveZv TTOieZ rrjg laropcag rovs dvaytvcoaKov-
ras' TTpos 8e rovrois rj Troi/ctAta /cat to ttXtjOos ra>v
yeveaXoyovpievaiV rjpcocov re /cat rjp.L6ea)v Kal rojv
dXXa>v dv8pa)v hv(je(f)iKrov e^et rr]v drrayyeXiav'
TO 8e piiyiarov Kal TrdvTCov dToncoTaTOV , on
ovpL^aLvet Tovs avayeypa^oTas ra? dp^aioTaras
TTpd^eis Te Kai pLvdoXoy las davpi<^iovovs etvai irpo'S
2 dXXriXovs- SioTTep rayv ixeTayevearepoiV laropLo-
ypd(j)a}v OL Trpojrevovres rfj So^r] rrjs piev dp^aiag
pLvdoXoyias d-neor-qaav hid rrjv Svax^p^i-av, rag
Se veojTepas rrpd^eis dvaypd(j)€iv e7re;)^eip7^CTav'.
.*? "E(f)opos /i€v yap 6 Ku/xatos", laoKpdrovg a)V
p.adrjT'qg, VTroorr^adpevos ypd(f)€LV rds Koivds
TTpd^eis, Tct? pev TraXaids pbvOoXoyias VTrepe^r],
rd S' ttTTo TTJs 'H/aa/cAetSoiv KaOoSou Trpaxdevra
avvra^dpievos ravrr^v dpx'i]v iTTOi'QGaro rrjs tcrro-
338
BOOK IV
1. I AM not unaware of the fact that those who
compile the narratives of ancient mythology labour
under many disadvantages in their composition.
For, in the first place, the antiquity of the events
they have to record, since it makes record difficult,
is a cause of much perplexity to those who
would compose an account of them ; and again,
inasmuch as any pronouncement they may make of
the dates of events does not admit of the strictest
kind of proof or disproof, a feeling of contempt for
the narration is aroused in the mind of those who
read it ; furthermore, the variety and the multitude
of the heroes, demi-gods, and men in general whose
genealogies must be set down make their recital a
difiicult thing to achieve ; but the greatest and most
disconcerting obstacle of all consists in the fact that
those who have recorded the deeds and myths of
the earliest times are in disagreement among them-
selves. For these reasons the %vriters of greatest
reputation among the later historians have stood
aloof from the narration of the ancient mythology
because of its difficulty, and have undertaken to
record only the more recent events. Ephorus of
Cyme, for instance, a pupil of Isocrates, when he
undertook to write his universal history, passed
over the tales of the old mythology and commenced
his history with a narration of the events which took
place after the Return of the Heracleidae. Like-
339
DIODORUS OF SICILY
pia'5. ojioLOJS Se TOVTOJ KaAAtCT^eV-)]? Kai 0eo-
TTOfXTTOS, Kara rrjv avrr]v rjXiKiav yeyovores ,
4 a.TT4(7Tr]oav rcbv TraXaLwv /jLvOcov. rjjJLelg 8e rrjv
ivavriav tovtol? KpluLv e^ovreg, /cat top eV rrjs
dvaypa(f)T]g ttovov VTrocrravre? , rr]v Trdaav €7n/xe-
Xeiav iiroLT^crdneOa rrjg dp^o-t-oXoyias . ixeyiurai
yap KOL TrXelaraL avvereXeaSrjcrav Trpd^eis vtto
Tcjv rjpcoajv re Kal rjixideajv koL ttoXXcov dXXojv
dvBpojv ayadcov (hv 8id rag KOLvdg evepyeaias
OL {jLerayeveaTepoL rovs fJ-ev LaoOeoLS, rovs S
r^pcoiKals dvuiaLS eriixriaav, Trdvrag S' o ttjs
laropias Xoyos toIs KaOriKovoLV eTratVot? els tov
alojva KaOufivrjcrev.
5 'Ev [lev ovv raZs Trpo ravT'qg ^l^Xols rpialv
dveypdipafiev rag irapd roZs ct'AAois' edveuL p.vdoXo-
yovpcevas Trpd^eis /cat rd nepi Oecov Trap avroZs
icrropovfieva, rrpos Se tovtols rds rovodeaLag
TTJs Trap' eKdaroL? ■)(^u)pas Kal to. </>ud/Lteva Trap
avTols dir]pia /cat rd'AAa t^cpa /cat KadoXov Trdvra
rd jxv'qiJ.iqg d^ia /cat TrapaSo^oXoyovfxeva Bie^Lovres,
€V ravTTj 8e rd Trapd rots "KXXrjaLv laropovpieva
Kara rovs dp)(aLovs ;!^povoy? Trepl rdJv €Tn(f>ave-
ardrwv 'qpojojv re /cat rjixcOecov /cat KaOoXov rdJv
/card TToXejJLOv d^LoXoyov n Kareipyaapievajv , op^oiajs
he /cat ra)v ev eiprjvrj ri -^piqcnixov irpos rov kolvov
6 ^iov evpovroiv rj vop-odemquavrcov . TTOL-qaopieda
Se rrjv dp)(r]v drro Aiovvcrov Std ro Kal TraXaLou
etvai G(f)6Spa rovrov Kal p-eyiaras evepyecnas
Kararedecadat ro) yevei, rd)v dvdpdjTTCjjv.
340
BOOK IV. I. 3-6
wise Callisthenes and Theopompus, who were con-
temporaries of Ephoriis, held aloof from the old
myths. We, however, holding the opposite opinion
to theirs, have shouldered the labour which such a
record involves and have expended all the care
within our power upon the ancient legends. For
very great and most numerous deeds have been
performed by the heroes and demi-gods and by
many good men like\vise, who, because of the
benefits they conferred which have been shared by
all men, have been honoured by succeeding genei-a-
tions with sacrifices which in some cases are like
those offered to the gods, in other cases like such as
are paid to heroes, and of one and all the appropriate
praises have been sung by the voice of history for all
time.
Now in the three preceding Books we have re-
corded the deeds of mythological times which are
found among other nations and what their histories
relate about the gods, also the topography of the
land in every case and the wild beasts and other
animals which are found among them, and, speaking
generally, we have described everything which was
worthy of mention and was marvellous to relate ;
and in the present Book we shall set forth what the
Greeks in their histories of the ancient periods tell
about their most renoAvned heroes and demi-gods
and, in general, about all who have performed any
notable exploit in war, and likewise about such also
as in time of peace have made some useful discovery
or enacted some good law contributing to man's social
life. And we shall begin with Dionysus because he
not only belongs to a very ancient time but also con-
ferred very great benefactions upon the race of men.
341
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Et/JT^rai fxev ovv r)fj.tv ev rat? TTpociprjixivai<;
jSt^Aoi? OTL TLveg Tojv ^ap^dpcov avTiTTOLOvvrai
rrjs yevecreajs rod deou tovtov. KlyvrrrLoi [lev
yap rov Trap avTolg Oeov "Oaiptv 6voiJLat^6p.ev6v
<j)aaLv etvai rov nap "EAAtjcti ^lovvctov KaXovfievov.
7 TOVTOV Se fjivdoXoyovcnv erreWelv arTaaav ttjv
oiKovixevqv, evpeTrjv yevofxevov tov o'ivov, Kal ttjv
(f>VTeLav SiSa^ai ttj? dfnreXou Tovg dvdpcoTTOvg,
Kai 8ta TavTiqv ttjv evepyeaiav tv)(€lv crvfMcfycovov-
jjiivqg adavaaiag. opLoicog Se tovs 'IvSovs tov
deov tovtov Trap' iavTolg d7TO(f>aLvea6ai yeyovivai,
/cat Ttt TTepi TTjV (jiVTeiav Trjg dpuTreXov ^tAore;^v7^-
aavTa [xeTaSovvaL Trjg tov otvov y^prjaecu'; rot?
KaTO. TTjv OLKovfxevrjv dvdpcoTTOig. "qpLels Se to.
KaTO, fxepog Trepl tovtcov elprjKOTeg vvv to. Trapd
Tots "EiXXrjCFL Xeyoiieva Trepl tov deov tovtov
Ste^tjLtev.
2. KaS/LtoP' [lev yap <j)a<JL tov 'Ayqvopog Ik Ooivt-
KTjs VTTO TOV ^acrtAeo)? dTToaTaXrjvai irpo? t^riTiqcnv
Trj'S ^vpd>TTr]s, evToXds Xa^ovTa r) ttjv napdevov
dyayelv ^ r] firj dvaKapuTTTeLv et? ttjv ^OLVLKr]v .
€7TeXd6vTa 8e TToXXrjv ■)(a}pav, Kal fir] Swafxevov
dvevpelv, dTToyvcovai ttjv el? olkov dvaKOiJLiSrjV'
KaTOVTr^aavTa 8' el? ttjv Bottortav' Kara tov
TTapaSeSofxevov )(p-qap.6v /crtcrat to.? 0T^^a?. iv-
Tavda Se KaTOLKi^aavTa yrjfxaL fiev ' ApjxovLav
TTjv 'A(f>poSLTrjg, yewrjcraL 8' e^ avTrjg He[xeXr]v
/cat Ivco /cat Avtovot]v /cat Ayavrjv, ctl oe
2 IloXvSajpov. TTJ Se HefJueXTj Sta to KaAAo? Ai'a
fjLLyevTa Kal jxed' rjcrvxla-S TToiovpievov Taj o/xiAia?
^ Vogel suggests ava.Yei.v.
34*
BOOK IV. I. 6-2. 2
We have stated in the previous Books that certain
barbarian peoples claim for themselves the birth-
place of this god. The Egyptians, for example, say
that the god who among them bears the name
Osiris is the one whom the Greeks call Dionysus.^
.'Vnd this god, as their myths relate, visited all the
inhabited world, was the discoverer of -svine, taught
mankind how to cultivate the vine, and because of
this benefaction of his received the gift of immor-
tahty with the approval of all. But the Indians
likewise declare that this god was born among them,
and that after he had innreniouslv discovered how to
cultivate the vine he shared the benefit which wine
imparts with human beings throughout the inhabited
world. 2 But for our part, since we have spoken of
these matters in detail, we shall at this point recount
what the Greeks have to say about this god.
2. The Greek account of Dionysus runs like this :
Cadmus, the son of Agenor, was sent forth from
Phoenicia by the king to seek out Europe, under
orders either to bring him the maiden or never
to come back to Phoenicia. After Cadmus had
traversed a wide territory without being able to
find her, he despaired of ever returning to his home ;
and when he had arrived in Boeotia, in obedience to
the oracle which he had received he founded the
city of Thebes. Here he made his home and marry-
ing Harmonia, the daughter of Aphrodite, he begat
by her Semele, Ino, Autonoe, Agave, and Poly-
dorus. Semele was loved by Zeus because of her
beauty, but since he had his intercourse with her
secretly and without speech she thought that the
1 Cp. Book 1. 15. 6 S., and Vol. 1. p. 71 and note.
« Cp. Book 1. 19. 7 f.
VOL. II. M
343
DIODORUS OF SICILY
So^at KaTa(f)pov€lv aur'^s" SioTrep vir avrrjg irapa-
KXrjOrjvai rag eTmrXoKag ofjiOLag TTOieludai ralg
3 TTpos TTjv "Upav avfiTTepi^opals. rov p.kv ovv
Ata TTapayevojxevov deovpeTTcos fxera fipovrajv Kai
darpaTTivv eTn^avws iroielaOai ttjv avvovatav
rr]i' 8e HepLeXrjv eyKVOv ovaav Kal to [xeyedog
rrjg 7T€pLGTdaea>s ovk iveyKaaav to puev ^pe(j)OS
eKTpcoaaL, vtto 8e rov irvpos avrrjv reXevrrjaai.
eTreira to TraiSiov dvaXa^ovra tov Ata irapahovvai
TU) 'Eip^jj, Kal Trpoard^at rovro jxev drroKopLLaaL
TVpOS TO dvTpOV TO €V Tfj ISvGTj , KeLjjievov jjieTa^v
OoLVLKrjg Kal Net'Aou, Tal? Se vvpi<j)ais vapaBovvaL
Tp€(f)€iv Kal juera 7ToXXrJ£ ottovSt^s 677t/LteAetat'
4 avTou TTOieladai ttjv dploTrjv. Sio Kal Tpa<j)evTa
TOV HS^LovvGov iv TT) NucTT] Tvx^^v TTJg TTpoarjyopLas
TavTTjs diTO Alo? Kal ISlvoTjs. Kal tov "Op.T]pov
Be TOVTOLs piapTvprjaai iv toIs vfxvois eV ots Aeyet
eoTi oe Tts" iNuCTTy, vrraTov opos, avoeov vAj],
TTjXov ^oivLKrjS, (TxeSov AlyuTTTOLo podojv.
5 Tpa</>eWa S' avTov vtto tiov vvpb(f>chv iv ttj
NuCTT] (f)aalv evpeTiqv re tov olvov yeviaOai Kal
T7]v <f)VT€Lav BiSd^aL Trjg dfiTreXov tovs dvOpcoTTOVS-
iTTiovTa Be G)(eB6v dX'qv ttjv OLKOvjxevriv ttoXXtjv
Xcopav i^rjjjLepcoGaL, Kal Bid tovto Tvxelv napd
TTaGL jxeyioTCxiv TtjJicov. evpelv S' avTov Kal to iK
TTJs KpiOrjs KaTaGKevat,6iievov TTopia, to vpouayo-
pevopLevov [xev vtt ivLOJV ^v9os, ov ttoXv Be AetTTo-
(Mevov T7]s TTepl TOV olvov evcjoBias. tovto Be BiBa-
1 Cp. Book 3. 69.
344
BOOK IV. 2. 2-5
god despised her ; consequently she made the re-
quest of him that he come to her embraces in the
same manner as in his approaches to Hera. Accord-
ingly, Zeus visited her in a way befitting a god,
accompanied by thundering and lightning, revealing
himself to her as he embraced her ; but Semele,
who was pregnant and unable to endure the majesty
of the divine presence, brought forth the babe
untimely and was herself slain by the fire. Thereupon
Zeus, taking up the child, handed it over to the
care of Hermes, and ordered him to take it to ihe
cave in Nysa,^ which lay between Phoenicia and
the Nile, where he should deliver it to the nymphs
that they should rear it and with great solicitude
bestow upon it the best of care. Consequently,
since Dionysus was reared in Nysa, he received the
name he bears from Zeus and Nysa.^ And Homer
bears witness to this in his Hymns ,^ when he says :
There is a certain Nysa, mountain high,
With forests thick, in Phoenice afar.
Close to Aegyptus' streams.
After he had received his rearing by the nymphs
in Nysa, they say, he made the discovery of wine
and taught mankind how to cultivate the vine.
And as he visited the inhabited world almost in its
entirety, he brought much land under cultivation
and in return for this received most high honours at
the hands of all men. He also discovered the drink
made out of barley and called by some zythos, the
bouquet of which is not much inferior to that of
wine. The preparation of this drink he taught to
^ i.e. Dio- (from Dios, the genitive form of the nominative
Zens) and -n^jsus {Nysa); cp. Book 1. 15. 6.
^ Homeric Hymns 1. 8-9.
345
DIODORUS OF SICILY
^at Tovs x^P^^ exovrag fx-rj Swafxevrju €7n8e-
6 ;^€cr^at rr^v rrjg dfiTreXov 4>vreiav. Trepidyeadai 8'
avTOV Kai urparoTTeSov ov [jlovov dvdpcov, aAAa
/cat yvvaiKcbv, /cat tovs dSiKovg Kal dcrefSels rojv
avdpcoTTCov KoXdl,€Lv. /cat Kara jxev rrju Boia>TLav
dTToSiSovTa TTj TTarpihi ^dptras eXevdepcoaai Trdaas
rds TToXeiSy /cat Kriaai ttoXiv eTTcLvvpbov rrjs
avTOVopLLas, rjv EAeu^epa? vpoaayopevaaL.
3. ^rparevaavra 8 et? rrjv 'IvStKTjv rpteret
Xpovcp Tfjv eiravohov et? rrjv Botojrtai^ iroLiqaaadaL,
KoixL^ovra jxev Xa^vpoiv d^coXoyov TrXrjdog, Kar-
ayayelv Se Trpcorov TciJv aTrdvrcov Opiap^^ov eV
2 iXecJiavrog IvStKov. /cat tou? /xev Boicarous" /cat
TO?)? a'AAous' "EAAi^ya? Kal ©pa/ca? drroiJivrjpovevov-
ras rijs Kara rrjv 'IvSiKrjv arparela'S /caraSetfat
ras" T/aterTyptSa? dvacas Alovvgoj, Kal rov deov
vopit^eiv Kara rov XP^^^'^ rovrov TTOieladaL rds
3 irapd rots avdpajTTOis ein^aveLas. 8t6 /cat vapd
TToXXats Tcbv 'JLXXrjvlScov TToXeojv 8ta rptdjv ircbv
jSa/c;^eta re yvvaiKaJv ddpoL^eaOai, Kal rals
TTapOevois vopip^ov elvai dvpaocfyopeiv Kal ovvev-
dov(7idt,€iv evatjOvaais Kal rtpcoaais rov deov
rds 8e yvvalKas Kara Gvariqpara dvaidl,€iv rw
Oecp Kal ^aKX€V€iv Kal KaOoXov rrjv rrapovcriav
vpvelv rod Aiovvaov, pip,ovpivas rds loropov-
jLteVa? rd TraXaiov irapehpeveiv rco deep paivdhas.
1 t.e. " City of Freedom."
^ i.e. after one year had intervened.
' Literally, "every three years," since the Greeks in
reckoning from an event included the year in which it took
place.
* Scholars have wondered why Dionysus, who was originally
BOOK IV. 2. 5-3. 3
those peoples whose country was unsuited to the
cultivation of the vine. He also led about with
himself an army composed not only of men but of
women as well, and punished such men as were un-
just and impious. In Boeotia, out of gratitude to
the land of his birth, he freed all the cities and
founded a city whose name signified independence,
which he called Eleutherae.^
3. Then he made a campaign into India, whence
he returned to Boeotia in the third year ,2 bringing
with him a notable quantity of booty, and he was
the first man ever to celebrate a triumph seated on
an Indian elephant. And the Boeotians and other
Greeks and the Thracians, in memory of the cam-
paign in India, have established sacrifices every
other year^ to Dionysus, and believe that at that
time the god reveals himself to human beings.
Consequently in many Greek cities every other
year * Bacchic bands of women gather, and it is
lawful for the maidens to carry the thyrsus and to
join in the frenzied revelry, crying out " Euai ! "
and honouring the god; while the matrons, forming
in groups, offer sacrifices to the god and celebrate
his mysteries and, in general, extol with hymns the
presence of Dionysus, in this manner acting the part
of the Maenads ^ who, as history records, were of
old the companions of the god. He also punished
a vegetation god, should have had his special festival only
every other year. L. R. Farnell {The Cults of the Greek
States, 5. 181) suggests that the Thracians, from whom the
worship of Dionysus came to the Greeks, " may have shifted
their corn-land every other year," and so stood in special
need of the vegetation god for the new soil only after this
interval.
B Cp. Book 3. 65. 4.
347
DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 KoXdcrai S' airov ttoXXous fiev kol a'AAou? Kara
TTaaav Trjv OLKovfiem^v rovg SoKovvra^ dae^etv,
€7TL(f)aveaTdrov£ hk Ylevdea /cat AvKovpyov. rrjs
he Kara, tov olvov evpeaeois Kal Scoped^ Ke-)(^apia-
jxevqg roXg dvdpcoTTOis Kad^ VTrep^oXrjv Sid re rrjv
rjSovTjv Trjv e'/c rod ttotov /cat 8ta to ToXg ac6p.aaiv
evTOvcorepovs yiveudai rovg tov olvov TrivovTag,
(f>acnv €7n tcov Sclttvcjov,^ oTav d'/cparos' olvos
eTTtStStDrat, TrpocreTTiXeyetv dyadov haipiovos' OTav
8e jJiCTa TO SeLTTvov StScDrat /ce/cpa/xeVo? uSart,
Atos" (yojTTJpog imcfxjoveLv. tov yap olvov aKpaTov
[xev mvopievov jxavLcjoheLg Siadeaeig dvoTeXelv,
TOV S' drro Ato? dp-^pou pnyevTog Tr)v pcev Tepifjtv
Kal TTjv TjSovTjv pLevcLV, TO Se TTJg jjLavtas /cat
5 TTapaXvaecog ^XdrvTOV hiopOoucrOaL. KaOoXou 8e
jxvdoXoyovai. tcov 6ed>v pieyLcrTrjs d7To8o)(r]g Tvy-
)(dveLv Trap dv9pa)7TOLS tovs rat? evepyeaiaLg
VTTep^aXojJLevovs Kara ttjv evpeaiv tojv dyadcjv
IS.l6vv(j6v t€ Kal ^rjixTjTpav, tov p.ev tov Trpoa-qve-
uTdTOV TTOTOV yev6p.evov evpeTi^v, tt^v Se ttj^
^rjpdg Tpo(l)rjs T7]v KpaTLaTTqv rrapahovaav Ta> yevei
TCOV avd pdjTTOJV .
4. ^ivOoXoyovoL Be TLveg Kal cTepov Aiovvaov
yeyovevai ttoXv toZs ;)^pdvots' rrpoTepovvTa tovtov.
(f)aal yap eV Ato? /cat ^epae(j)6viq'S Aiovvaov
yeveadai tov vtto tlvojv lla^dt^iov 6voiJial,6iJLevov,
ov TTjv Te yevecnv Kal Tas dvcnag Kal Ti/xd? ru/cre-
^ TU}v SeiTTvcov F, Bekker, Dindorf, to Sel-nvov D, Vogel.
^ The Attic custom, as given by the scholiasts on Aris-
tophanes, Knights, 85; Peace, 300, was shghfly different:
The toast to the " Good Deity " was given in unmixed wine
34S
BOOK IV. 3. 4-4. I
here and there throughout all the inhabited world
many men who were thought to be impious, the
most renowned among the number being Pentheus
and Lycurgus. And since the discovery of wine
and the gift of it to human beings were the source
of such great satisfaction to them, both because of
the pleasure which derives from the drinking of it
and because of the greater vigour which comes to
the bodies of those who partake of it, it is the custom,
they say, when unmixed wine is served during a
meal to greet it with the words, " To the Good
Deity! " but when the cup is passed around after
the meal diluted with water, to cry out, " To Zeus
Saviour! " ^ For the drinking of unmixed wine re-
sults in a state of madness, but when it is mixed
with the rain from Zeus the delight and pleasure
continue, but the ill effect of madness and stupor is
avoided. And, in general, the myths relate that
the gods who receive the greatest approval at the
hands of human beings are those who excelled in
their benefactions by reason of their discovery of
good things, namely, Dionysus and Demeter, the
former because he was the discoverer of the most
pleasing drink, the latter because she gave to the
race of men the most excellent ^ of the dry foods.
4. Some writers of myths, however, relate that
there was a second Dionysus who was much earlier
in time than the one we have just mentioned. For
according to them there was born of Zeus and Perse-
phone a Dionysus who is called by some Sabazius
and whose birth and sacrifices and honours are
after the dinner was over and the table removed, that to
■• Zeus Saviour" just before the guests went home.
« Wheat.
349
DIODORUS OF SICILY
pivag KOL Kpv4>Lovg TrapeLaayovai. Sta rr]v alaxvvr)v
2 rrjv e/c rrj? avvovatas eTraKoXovOovaav. Xeyovai
8 avrov ayx^Lvoia hieveyKcZv, koL Trpcorov cttl-
)(eLprJGai ^ovs t,€vyvveiv Kal 8ta tovtcjuv tov
OTTopov TCx)v KapTTOJv iTTLTeXelv d(f) ov Srj Kal
KepaTLav avTOv Trapeiadyovat,.
Kat TOV fjiev €K ^epLeXrjg yevopievov iv tols
veojrepoLs y^povois (f)aal rep crcu/xart. yevecrdat, rpv-
<f>€p6v Kal TravTeXcjg OLTraXov, evTrpeTreia 8e ttoXv
rcov dXXojv hieveyKelv Kat 77p6s' ras" d(l)pohiGLaKa.s
r^hovd'S evKard^opov yeyovevai, Kara Se rds
arpareias yvvaiKcav ttXtjOos TrepidyeaOai KadwirXia-
3 fjLevcjv Xoyxcts reOvpacopievaLS. (f^acrl 8e /cat rds
Movaas avTcp avvaTToBrjpieLv, Trapdevovs ovaa?
/cat TTeTTaiSevpievas Siacfiepovrcos' ravras Be Bid
T€ TTJg /xeAcoSta? Kal tcov opxTqcrcwv, eri, 8e tojv
dXXojv rcov iv TratSeta KaXa>v ifjvxaycuyelv rov
6e6v. (f)aal Be Kal TraiBayajyov Kal rpo^ea
avveTTeadai Kara rag arpareias avrto ^eiXiqvov,
elarjyrjTTjv Kal BiBdoKaXov yivopcevov rdJv KaXXi-
arojv eTTLTiqBevpidrcjv , /cat pLeydXa avpL^dXXeadai
4 rd) ALOvvao) Txpos dperr^v re /cat 8o^ap'. /cat /cara
piev rag iv roXg 7roXep.ois p.dxo.S ottXols avrov
TToXepLLKolg KeKoapirjaOaL Kal Bopalg TrapBdXecov,
Kara Be rag iv elpijvr] TraviqyvpeLg koX eoprdg
iadrjaiv dvdeivalg Kal /cara rrjv p-aXaKorrjra rpv-
(jiepalg XPV'^^'^'" "^pog Be rdg iK rod irXeovd-
t,ovrog otvov Kec^aXaXyiag rolg rrivovaL yivo-
pLevas BiaBeBeaOaL Xeyovatv avrov piirpa ^ r'qv
^ ixirpa Wesseling, following Eusebius : fMiTpr].
35°
BOOK IV. 4. 1-4
celebrated at night and in secret, because of the
disgrace resulting from the intercourse of the sexes.
They state also that he excelled in sagacity and
was the first to attempt the yoking of oxen and by
their aid to effect the sowing of the seed, this being
the reason why they also represent him as wearing
a horn.
But the Dionysus who was born of Semele in more
recent times, they say, was a man who was effeminate
in body and altogether delicate ; in beauty, how-
ever, he far excelled all other men and was addicted
to indulgence in the delights of love, and on his
campaigns he led about with himself a multitude of
women who were armed with lances which were
shaped like thyrsi.^ They say also that when he
went abroad he was accompanied by the Muses,
who were maidens that had received an unusually
excellent education, and that by their songs and
dancing and other talents in which they had been
instructed these maidens delighted the heart of the
god. They also add that he was accompanied on
his campaigns by a personal attendant and care-
taker, Seilenus, who was his adviser and instructor
in the most excellent pursuits and contributed greatly
to the high achievements and fame of Dionysus.
And in the battles which took place during his wars
he arrayed himself in arms suitable for war and in
the skins of panthers, but in assemblages and at
festive gatherings in time of peace he wore garments
which were bright-coloured and luxurious in their
effeminacy. Furthermore, in order to ward off the
headaches which every man gets from drinking too
much wine he bound about his head, they report,
1 Cp. p 206, n. 1.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
K€(f)aXrjV, acf)' ■^g alrlag koI iX(.Tpr](f)6pov ovofjA-
^€(j9aL- OLTTO Se ravTTjg ri]? [xirpag vcrrepov irapa
TOt? ^aaiXevGL KaTah€L)(dT]vaL to hidhrjiia. (f)0.ai-
5 St-jXT^Topa S avTOV TrpoaayopevOrjuai XlyovaL Sto,
TO TTaTpog jJLev €v6s VTTcip^aL Tous Svo Aiovvaovg,
IxrjTepcov Se hvoZv. KeKXiqpovoixrjKevaL 8e tov
vecoTepov /cat to.? tov TrpoyeveaTepou Trpd^eis'
SioTrep T0V5 jxeTayeveaTepoug dvO pcjTrovs , dyvo-
ovvTag jxev Tokrjdi's, vXavrjOevTag Se Sta ttjv
o/xajvfjUtav, eVa yeyovevaL vopiiaaL Atovycrov'.
6 Tov Se vdpOrjKa TrpoadTTTOvaiv avTO) Sta rti'a?
TOtaura? atVt'a?. Kara ttjv i^ '^PXV'^ evpeaiv tou
o'lvov iirjTTOJ TTJs TOV vSaTOS Kpaaeojs evprj/JiivQg
CLKpaTOV 7TLV€LV TOV OLVOV KaTO. Se Tag TCOV
(f>iXa>v avvavaaTpo<l>ds Kai evaj)(Lag tovs avveop-
Tdt,ovTag SaiptXi] tov aKpaTOV €iX(f)oprjaaiJ.evovg
fxaviioSeLg ylveaOai, /cat rat? ^aKTrjpiat.g ^vXtvaig
7 ^pco/ieVou? rauTat? dXX'qXovg tvittglv. Sto /cat
TLV(x)V [xev Tpavp.aTit,opilva)v , tlvwv Se /cat TeXevTcov-
Ta>i' e/c Tcvv /cat/Dttuv Tpavp.dTOiv, TrpooKoipavTa tov
Alovvoov rat? TOiavTaig irepiaTaaeaL to fiev
aTToaTTJaaL tov rriveiv SaipiXrj tov aKpaTOv aTToSo-
KLfxdaaL Std ttjv rjSovrjv tov ttotov, /caraSet^at
Se vdp9rj^L ■^(^prjaQai /cat /xt^ ^vXivaLg ^aKTrjpiaig .
5. ^^TTiowixiag S' avTco Tovg dvOpcoirovg -noXXag
TTpoadipaL, Tag acfyopfiag ajro tcov Trept avTov
eTTiTrjhevp.dTCxJV Xa^ovTag. BaK^^elov fiev yap aTTo
^ " Wearer of a mitra."
BOOK IV. 4. 4-5. I
a band (rnitra), which was the reason for his receiving
the name Mitrephorus ^ ; and it was this head-band,
they say, that in later times led to the introduction of
the diadem for kings. He was also called Dimetor,^
they relate, because the two Dionysi were born of
one father, but of two mothers. The younger one
also inherited the deeds of the older, and so the
men of later times, being unaware of the truth and
being deceived because of the identity of their
names, thought there had been but one Dionysus.
The narthex ^ is also associated ■with Dionysus for
the following reason. When wine was first dis-
covered, the mixing of water with it had not as yet
been devised and the wine was drunk unmixed ;
but when friends gathered together and enjoyed
good cheer, the revellers, filling themselves to
abundance with the unmixed wine, became like
madmen and used their wooden staves to strike one
another. Consequently, since some of them were
wounded and some died of wounds inflicted in vital
spots, Dionysus was offended at such happenings,
and though he did not decide that they should
refrain from drinking the unmixed wine in abund-
ance, because the drink gave such pleasure, he
ordered them hereafter to carry a narthex and not a
wooden staff.
5. Many epithets, so we are informed, have been
given him by men, who have found the occasions
from which they arose in the practices and customs
which have become associated with him. So, for
instance, he has been called Baccheius from the
^ " Of two mothers " ; but see Book 2. 62. 5 for a different
explanation of the name.
^ i.e. the reed which formed the staff of the thyrsus.
353
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rGiv Gvve7ToiJ.evcov ^aK)(cov ovoyiAaai, Aiqvaiov Se
(XTTO rod TTarTJaai ras Gra(f>vXas iv Xrjvco, Bpo/xtov
8' o.TTo rod Kara rrjv yevecnv avrov yevo/j-evov
^pojjiov ofJiOLOJS 8e Kal Trvpiyevrj Sta rr^v oyLoiav
2 air Lav (hvofxdaOaL. Qpiayi^ov h avrov ovofxa-
adrjvai <f>aaiv oltto tov Trpcorov rcijv pLvrjixovevopievcDV
Karayayelv aTTO rrjs arpareias dpiapi^ov ets" rrjv
irarpiha, rrjv i^ IvScDt' rroL-qadpLevov eTrdvoSov
jjierd TToXXcjv Xaipvpcov. TTapaTrXrjcricos 8e Kal rd<5
XoiTTas TTpoorjyopiag imOeriKas avro) yeyevrj-
adai, TTepl d>v fiaKpov av etrj Xeyetv /cat rijs vttok€1-
fievT)? laropias dvoiKeiov .
AL[jLopcj)ov 8' avrov SoKelv inrdp^^eiv Sta ro Svo
Alovvgovs yeyovevaL, rov jxev iraXaLOV KaraTTCoyajva
Slol ro rovs apxctovg rrdvras 7TO)ya)vorpo(f)elv,
rov 8e vecorepov cLpaXov Kai rpv(f>ep6v /cat vlov,
3 Kadori TTpoeipiqraL. eVtot 8e Xeyovaiv ori, rcbv
jjLedvovrcov Strra? Sta^e'cret? €)(6vrwv, Kal rojv fiev
IXapwv, rcov Se opyiXcov yivofJLevcjv, 8i.jjiop(f)Ov
(LvofxdaOaL rov deov. Kal Harvpovg Se cfiaaiv
avrov TTeptdyeaOaL, Kal rovrovs iv rat? opxi^creaL
Kal rals rpayojhiais repifjLV Kal TToXXrjv ■qhovrjv
4 7Tape)(€a9aL rip deep. KadoXov he rds {xev M-Ovaas
rolg eK rrjs rraihetag dyaOols oj(f)eXovGa£ re /cat
repTTOvaas, rovs he Harvpovs rots rrpos yeXcora
avvepyovaiv emrr^evp^aai -y^poipLevovs , irapaaKevd-
t,eiv rip Atovucroj rov evhatpLova /cat Keyapia-
jxevov ^iov. KadoXov he rovrov raJv dvp^eXiKcov
^ Chap. 4. 2. But in Book 3. 63. 3 the long beard is
explained as due to the fact that the first Dionysus was an
Indian.
354
BOOK IV. 5. 1-4
Bacchic bands of women who accompanied him,
Lenaeus from the custom of treading the clusters of
grapes in a mne-tub (lenos), and Bromius from the
thunder (hromos) which attended his birth ; hkewise
for a similar reason he has been called Pyrigenes
(" Born-of-Fire "). Thriambus is a name that has
been given him, they say, because he was the first of
those of whom we have a record to have celebrated
a triumph {thriambos) upon entering his native land
after his campaign, this having been done when he
returned from India with great booty. It is on a
similar basis that the other appellations or epithets
have been given to him, but we feel that it would
be a long task to tell of them and inappropriate to
the history which we are writing.
He was thought to have two forms, men say,
because there were two Dionysi, the ancient one
having a long beard, because all men in early times
wore long beards, the younger one being youthful
and effeminate and young, as we have mentioned
before.^ Certain \vriters say, however, that it was
because men who become drunk get into two states,
being either joyous or sullen, that the god has been
called " two-formed." Satyrs also, it is reported,
were carried about by him in his company and
afforded the god great delight and pleasure in con-
nection \vith their dancings and their goat-songs. ^
And, in general, the Muses who bestowed benefits
and delights through the advantages which their
education gave them, and the Satyrs by the use of
the devices which contribute to mirth, made the
life of Dionysus happy and agreeable. There is
general agreement also, they say, that he was the
* The Greek word usually translated "tragedies."
355
DIODORUS OF SICILY
ayd)von> (^aalv evperrjv yeveadai, /cat dearpa i<ara-
bel^ai, /cat fiovacKMV aKpoajxdrcov avaTrjixa TTotiq-
aaadaL' 77/30? Se rovrois dXeirovpyrJTOVs TroLrjaaL
/cat ^ Tovs iv rat? arpareiai's ^eTap(;etpt^o/xeVoy?
Tt T7^? [xovaLKTJs imar'qfjirjs- dcf)^ (Lv tovs fieraye-
vearepovs [xouuikols crvvoSovs avarrjaaadai rojv
776/51 TOV AlOVUGOV Te)(VLTCOV, /Cttt dreAct? TTOLTJaaL
rovg rd roiavra iTnrrjhevovrag .
Kat 77ept p,ev Aiovvaov kul tojv Trepi avrov
fivdoXoyovpievcov apKeaO-qaopieOa rot? pr]6eLai. aro-
Xa^ojJievoL rr\s (7vp.pi€rpLas.
6. riept 8e npta770i; /cat ra)v jJ-vOoXoyovfj-evcov
irepl avTOU vvv Sie^ijjiev, oiKelov opdjvres rov Trepl
rovrov Xoyov rat? Aioruata/cai? larropCaLg. jxvdo-
Xoyovaiv ovv ol TToXaiol rov Ylpiairov vldv [xev
etvat Aiovvaov Kat A(f>pohLTrjs, Tndavcos t7]v yeveaiv
TavTTjv e^-qyovpievoi' tovs ydp olvojdevrag ^ucrt/ccu?
2 evreTaarOaL Trpog ra? d<f)po8LcnaKds rjSovas. rtve?
Se ^acrt to alboXov TtDt' dvOpcoTtojv tovs TraXatovs
pivOcoBdJs dvopidl,etv ^ovXopidvovs npta770V' Trpoaa-
yopevaai. eVtot Se Xeyovai to yewrjTiKov piopiov,
aLTLOv V7Tdp)(ov TTJs yeveoecos tojv avOpajiroiv
Kat SLap.ovTJs et? aVavra tov alcova, TV)(€lv ttjs
^ Kal deleted by Bekker.
1 The ihymele was the altar of Dionysus -which stood in the
centre of the orchestra of the theatre, and so the adjective
" thymeHc " came to signify the action of the chorus as
opposed to that of the actors. " Thymelic " contests in-
cluded non-dramatic performances, such as the singing of
songs, dancing, jugglery, and the like.
^ From the fourth century B.C. onward for at least eight
centuries these "Artists of Dionysus" were members of
BOOK IV. 5. 4-6. 2
inventor of thymelic ^ contests, and that he intro-
duced places where the spectators could witness the
shows and organized musical concerts ; furthermore,
he freed from any forced contribution to the state
those who had cultivated any sort of musical skill
during his campaigns, and it is for these reasons
that later generations have formed musical associa-
tions of the artists of Dionysus ^ and have relieved
of taxes the followers of this profession.
As for Dionysus and the myths which are related
about him we shall rest content with what has been
said, since we are aiming at due proportion in our
account.
6. We shall at this point discuss Priapus and the
myths related about him, realizing that an account
of him is appropriate in connection with the history
of Dionysus. Now the ancients record in their
myths that Priapus was the son of Dionysus and
Aphrodite and they present a plausible argument for
this Uneage ; for men when under the influence of wine
find the members of their bodies tense and inclined to
the pleasures of love. But certain wTiters say that
when the ancients wished to speak in their myths of
the sexual organ of males they called it Priapus.
Some, however, relate that the generative member,
since it is the cause of the reproduction of human
beings and of their continued existence through all
powerful guilds which bore that title together with the name
of the city in which their headquarters were situated. These
guilds made contracts with cities in their territories for furnish-
ing theatrical exhibitions of every description and their
members in many cases enjoyed freedom from military service
and similar privileges, as well as the exemption from taxation
mentioned below.
357
DIODORUS OF SICILY
3 ddavdrov rt/xi]?. ol S* AlyvTTTiot rrepl rov ITpict-
7701; ixvOoXoyovvres ^acrt to TraXaLov rous TLrdvas
iTTL^ovXevaavras 'OatpiSi rovrov jxev dveXelv,
TO 8e G(jj[xa avrov SieXovras elg taag fxepiSas
eavToZs Koi Xa^ovras dTreveyKelv ck ttjs OLKeias
XaOpaLcos, ixGvov Be to aiSolov et? rov 7Tora[x6v
plipai Sta TO pLTjSei'a ^ovXeaOai tovto dveXeadai.
Trjv Be 'laiv tov (Jiovov tov dvBpos dvaL,'qTovuav,
Koi Tovs fiev TiTavag dveXouaav, tu Be tov acopiaTOS
piepr] TTepLTrXduaaav els dvdpcoTrov tvttov, raura
piev Bovvai, Odipac toIs lepevGi kol Ttp-dv irpoGTa^aL
(hg deov TOV "OaipLv, to Be alBolov piovov ov Bvva-
pievrjv dvevpelv /caraSet^at Tip-dv cu? deov /cat
dvadelvai /card to lepov ivTeTapievov. rrepl puev
ovv TTJs yeveaecos tov YlpLaTTov /cat TTJg TLpirjs
TOtavTa pivdoXoyeLTai irapd rot? TraAatots Tcijv
AlyVTTTLCOV.
4 TovTOV Be TOV deov Tcves p-ev ^I9v(l>aXXov dvop-d-
^oucrt, Ti.ves Be Tu;(a)va. Tas Be Tip.ds ov piovov
/card ttoXlv dTTOvepiOvaiv avTco ev Tolg lepoZs^
dXXd Koi /card Tas dypoLKias 07TOjpo(f)vXaKa
tCjv dp,TTeXcova>v drroBeiKvvvTes /cat tcjv K-qTTOJV,
ert Be vpos tovs ^acTKalvovTds tl tojv KaXd>v
TOVTOV KoXacjTTjv TTapeLodyovTes . ev re rat? reAe-
rat? ov piovov rat? Aiot'uata/cats', dAAd Kat Tat?
dAAats" (Jx^Bov dirduais ovtos d deos Tvyxo-vei tivos
TCpLTJs, /xerd yeXooTOS /cat TratStd? Trapeiaayop^evos
ev rat? dvaiaLs.
^ iv TOLs lepols deleted by Vogel.
1 Cp. Book 1 . 21-2, where the murderer of Osiris is Typhon
not the Titans.
BOOK IV. 6. 2-4
time, became the object of immortal honour. But
the Egyptians in their myths about Priapus say that
in ancient times the Titans formed a conspiracy
against Osiris and slew him, and then, taking his
body and dividing it into equal parts among them-
selves, they slipped them secretly out of the house,
but this organ alone they threw into the river, since
no one of them was willing to take it ^vith him.^
But Isis tracked down the murder of her husband,
and after slaying the Titans and fashioning the
several pieces of his body into the shape of a human
figure,^ she gave them to the priests with orders
that they pay Osiris the honours of a god, but since
the only member she was unable to recover was the
organ of sex she commanded them to pay to it the
honours of a god and to set it up in their temples
in an erect position.^ Now this is the myth about
the birth of Priapus and the honour paid to him, as
it is given by the ancient Egyptians.
This god is also called by some Ithyphallus, by
others Tychon. Honours are accorded him not only
in the city, in the temples, but also throughout the
countryside, where men set up his statue to watch
over their vineyards and gardens, and introduce
him as one who punishes any who cast a spell over
some fair thing which they possess. And in the
sacred rites, not only of Dionysus but of practically
all other gods as well, this god receives honour to
some extent, being introduced in the sacrifices to
the accompaniment of laughter and sport.
^ According to the account in Book 1. 21. 5 Isis used spices
and wax to build each piece up to the size of a human body.
' Diodorus is equating Priapus with the Egj'ptian god ilin,
a deity of fertility, wliose statues were ithyphallic.
359
DIODORUS OF SICILY
5 na/jaTrAi^crtcos' Se to) YlptaTTCo nve^ fiv9o-
XoyovcTL yeyevrjuOai rov ovoyiat^oyiGvov '^pfxacfypohi-
rov, ov ef 'Ep/xou Kal ^ K(j>pohir'r]s y€WT]devra
rvx^lv rrjs i^ ap.(j>oripoiv rcbv yovicov avure-
deiarjs TrpoarjyopLag. rovrov 8 ot fxev <j)aaLv
elvai Qeov Kai Kara rtvag ;)^povous' (f>aiV€adaL
Trap' dv9pd)7TOLS, /cat yevvdadai rrjv rov crcofxaTog
cl)vaLV e^ovTa ix€pLLypievT]v ef avhpos Kal yvvaiKos'
Kal rr]v piev evTrpeireiav /cat piaXaKorrjra rov
acop-aros €.-)(^eiv yvvaiKl 7Tapepi(l)€prj, to S' appevoi-
TTOv Kal SpaariKov dvSpos ex^LV ^ eVtot 8e to.
roLavra yeviq rats' c/)va6cnv dTTO^aivovrai repara
VTrdpxeiv, Kal yevvajp^eva aiTavicos 7Tpoarjp,avTLKd
yiveadai irore p,ev KaKUJv TTore 8' dyadcbv. koI
776/31 piev TOJv roLovrojv d'At? rjpblv e^^eVo).
7. Ilepl 8e Tcov M^ovaojv, iireih-qTrep ip,vijcrdrjp,€v
€V rat? rov A^iovvaov Trpd^eaiv, oiKeXop du eLrj
SceXdeiv iv /ce^aAat'ots'. ravTas yap ot TrAetCTroi
Tajj/ pLvdoypd^cov Kal pLaXiara SeSo/ct/itacr/xeVot
0aat duyarepa? etvai Ato? /cat M.vrjp,oavvr]s'
oXiyoL Se tojv TTOirjrcov, iv ols ecrrt /cat AA/c/xat",
2 dvyarepas dirocfyaivovTaL Ovpavov /cat Ftj?. op,oLcos
Se Kal Kara rov dpidpuov hia^iovovaLV ot pcev yap
rpels Xeyovaiv, ol 8' ivvea, /cat K€Kpdrr]K€v 6
rajt" ivvea dptdpLog vtto rwv iirL^aveararajv dvSpdJv
^e^aiovpievos, Xeyco 8e 'OpLTjpov re Kai Hato8ou
/cat rcJov dXXoiv rcjv roiovroiv. "Opirjpos piev yap
Xeyei
MouCTat 8' ivvea Trdaai dp.ei^6pievai ottI KaXfj'
^ TO. Se <f>voLKa. fjLopia avyyewdadai tovtoj Kai yvi>aiKos Kai
avSpos (" and he is born with the physical organs both of a
woman and of a man ") after f;^eiv BD.
360
BOOK IV. 6. 5-7. 2
A birth like that of Priapus is ascribed by some
writers of myths to Hermaphroditus, as he has been
called, who was born of Hermes and Aphrodite and
received a name which is a combination of those of
both his parents. Some say that this Hermaphro-
ditus is a god and appears at certain times among
men, and that he is born with a physical body which
is a combination of that of a man and that of a
woman, in that he has a body which is beautiful and
delicate like that of a woman, but has the mascu-
line quality and vigour of a man. But there are
some who declare that such creatures of two sexes
are monstrosities, and coming rarely into the world
as they do they have the quality of presaging the
future, sometimes for evil and sometimes for good.
But let this be enough for us on such matters.
7. As for the Muses, since we have referred to
them in connection with the deeds of Dionysus, it
may be appropriate to give the facts about them in
summary. For the majority of the WTiters of myths
and those who enjoy the greatest reputation say
that they were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne ;
but a few poets, among whose number is Alcman,
state that they were daughters of Uranus and Ge.
Writers similarly disagree also concerning the number
of the Muses ; for some say that they are three, and
others that they are nine, but the number nine has
prevailed since it rests upon the authority of the
most distinguished men, such as Homer and Hesiod
and others like them. Homer ,^ for instance, writes :
The Muses, nine in all, replying each
To each with voices sweet ;
^ Odyssey 24. 60.
361
DIODORUS OF SICILY
'HctioSo? 8e Kol TO. ovofiara avTOJV a.7T0<f>aLV€TaL
Xeyojv
KAeita T EiUTepTTT) re SaXetd re MeATTOjue'i^ re
Tepi/jL)(opr] T Eiparo) re YloXv/xvLd r Oupavlrj re
KaAAtOTTTy 9 , -q a^eoiv TTpo(})epeaTdrri iarlv
dvaaecov.
3 TovTcov S' eKaarr] TrpooaTTTOvai ras olKeias
hiadeaeis roJv Trepi jjLovcrLKrjv imr-qSevjjidToov,
oiov 7TOLr]TLK7]v, fxeXcp^Lav, op-^iqaeLs Kal p^o/jet'as',
darpoXoyiav re /cat ret Xoltto. roJv imT-qSeviJidTOJV .
Trapdevov? 8 auras' ol TrXelcrTOL ■"■ pivdoXoyovai Sid
TO ra^ Kara, ttjv Txaiheiav dperds d(f)d6povs SoKetv
4 elvai. M.ovaag 8 auras d)vo[xda9aL aTTO rov
jjivetv rous dudpcL-rrovs, rovro 8' earlv diro rov
8t8aaK€tv ra KaXd Kai avjjirf^epovra Kal vtto tojv
aTTaLhevrcDV ayvooujJieva. CKdarr] 8e TTpoarjyopiq.
rov OLKeZov Xoyov aTTOvepiovres <j>aoLV (l>vop.dadai
rrjv pikv YiXeioj 8td ro rov e/c t'^s' TTOLrjaeojs rwv
eyKCopn.aiC^opilvoL>v eTratvov pieya kX4os TrepnToieZv
roZs iiraLvovpLevoLs , EvrepTrrjv 8 aTTO rov ripneiv
rovs aKpooipbevovs rots avro rrjg TratSeia? dyaOols,
QdXeiav 8 aTTO rov ddXXeiv cttl ttoXXovs )(p6vovs
rov? Sid rcbv TTOirjpLarcov ey/coj/Liia^o/xeVoi;?, MeA-
TTopuevrjv 8 arro rrjg /i.eAa)8ia?, 8i' t)? rov£ aKovovrag
ijjV)(aya>y€ZoOaL, Tepipix^PW 8 (XTro rov repireiv
rovs aKpoards roZs eV TraiSeia? TrepiyLvopidvoLS
^ yeyovdvai, after TrXelaroi omitted by D.
362
BOOK IV. 7. 2-4
and Hesiod ^ even gives their names when he writes :
Cleio, Euterpe, and Thaleia, Melpomene,
Terpsichore and Erato, and Polymnia, Urania,
Calliope too, of them all the most comely.
To each of the Muses men assign her special
aptitude for one of the branches of the liberal arts,
such as poetry, song, pantomimic dancing, the round
dance with music, the study of the stars, and the
other liberal arts. They are also believed to be
virgins, as most writers of myths say, because men
consider that the high attainment which is reached
through education is pure and uncontaminated.
Men have given the Muses their name from the
word muein, which signifies the teaching of those
things which are noble and expedient and are not
known by the uneducated.^ For the name of each
Muse, they say, men have found a reason appro-
priate to her : Cleio is so named because the pi-aise
which poets sing in their encomia bestows great
glory (kleos) upon those who are praised ; Euterpe,
because she gives to those who hear her sing delight
(terpein) in the blessings which education bestows ;
Thaleia, because men whose praises have been sung
in poems flourish (thallein) through long periods of
time ; Melpomene, from the chanting (inelodid) by
which she charms the souls of her listeners ; Terpsi-
chore, because she delights (terpein) her disciples
with the good things which come from education ;
1 Theogony 77-9.
* But muein means " to close " the eyes or mouth; Plato,
Cratylus 406 a, derives the word from (.LwaOai. which he ex-
plains as meaning " searching and philosophy." There is no
agreement among modern scholars on the etymology of the
word "Muse."
DIODORUS OF SICILY
dyaOots, 'Eparco 8' oltto tov tovs TraiSevOevTag
TTodetvovg Kol iiTepdaTovs aTToreXelv, HoXviiviav
8 aTTo TOV 8id TToXXrjs v/jiv^aeojg eTn<j)aveZs /cara-
aK€va.t,€iv Tovs 8ta raJv TToirnjidrcjv dTradavari-
iI^ojjlIvovs TTJ So^Tj, Ovpaviav 8' diro tov tovs
TTaiSevdevTas vtt' avrrjs i^alpeadaL Trpo? ovpavov
Tji yap ho^Tj Kal rots" (fipovrjfiaai ixeTeajpit^eodai
Tas tfrv)(ds etV vfpo? ovpdviov KaAAtoTiT^v 8' diro
TOV KaXrjv OTTtt TTpoteodai, tovto 8' eart TJj eveTreia
hidifyopov ovaav drroSox'^S Tvyxdvetv vtto tcov
dKOVOVTCOV.
TovTcov 8' rjixLV dpKovvTCiis etp-qixevwv jxeTa-
^iPdaofxev tov Xoyov em Tag 'Hpa/cAeof? Trpd^eis.
8. OvK dyvodj 8' OTt TToXXd Sv(JXpf]crTa avpL^atvei
ToX<; luTopovGi Tag TraXatdg jJivOoXoylag, Kal fid-
Aicrra ras" Trepl 'UpaKXeovs. toj jxev yap jxeyeOei
Tiov KaTepyaaOevTcov 6[jLoXoyov[xevcog ovTog irapa-
hehoTai TrdvTas tovs ef alwvog VTrepapat Trj jjivqixr^
TTapaBooevTag' Svaecf^LKTOV ovv eaTL to Kara ttjv
a^Lav eKaoTov tojv TTpa)(d€VTa)v ajrayyelXaL /cat
TOV Xoyov i^LOOJoaL roi? T-qXtKovToig epyoLS, ois
2 8ta TO fieyedos erraOXov -^v rj dOavaoia. 8ta 8e
TTjv TraAatOTTjra /cat to irapdho^ov tojv njTopov-
ixevojv TTapd ttoAAoi? dTriGTOvjievajv tojv j-ivOojv,
dvayKalov iq TrapaXiTTOVTag to. jxeyLcrTa tujv
7Tpa)(devTa>v Kadaipelv tl Trjg tov deov 86^rjg rj
1 " The lovely one."
" The following account of Heracles is generally considered
to have been drawn from a Praise of Heracles by Matris of
Thebes, who is otherwise unknown and appears to have
omitted nothing that would redown to the glory of the
greatest Greek hero.
BOOK IV. 7. 4-8. 2
Erato,^ because she makes those who are instructed
by her men who are desired and worthy to be loved ;
Polymnia, because by her great (polle) praises {hum-
nesis) she brings distinction to Avriters whose works
have won for them immortal fame ; Urania, because
men who have been instructed of her she raises
aloft to heaven (ouranos), for it is a fact that
imagination and the power of thought lift men's
souls to heavenly heights ; Calliope, because of her
beautiful (kale) voice (ops), that is, by reason of the
exceeding beauty of her language she wins the
approbation of her auditors.
But since we have spoken sufficiently on these
matters we shall turn our discussion to the deeds of
Heracles. 2
8. I am not unaware that many difficulties beset
those who undertake to give an account of the
ancient myths, and especially is this true with re-
spect to the myths about Heracles. For as regards
the magnitude of the deeds which he accomplished
it is generally agreed that Heracles has been handed
down as one who surpassed all men of whom memory
from the beginning of time has brought down an
account ; consequently it is a difficult attainment
to report each one of his deeds in a worthy manner
and to present a record which shall be on a level
with labours so great, the magnitude of which won
for him the prize of immortality. Furthermore, since
in the eyes of many men the very early age and
astonishing nature of the facts which are related
make the myths incredible, a wi'iter is under the
necessity either of omitting the greatest deeds and
so detracting somewhat from the fame of the god,
or of recounting them all and in so doing making
365
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TToivTa Sie^Lovrag rrjv laropiav TTOielv aTnarovfjLevrjv .
?> eviOL yap rcjv dvayiVcocrKovnov ov Si/cato. ■)(pd)ii€VOi
Kpiaei TOLKpL^ks €77 Ll,rjTOvaiV iv rats ap)(aiaLS
pLvOoXoyLai's ctt' terras' toZ'S TrparTopbepois ev rots
Kad^ rjixds )(^p6voLS, Koi tcl Sicrra^d/xeva Ta>v
'dpycxiv Sio, TO fxeyedos e/c tov Kad^ avrovs jStou
reKiiaipofxevoL, rrjv 'HpafcAeoy? hvvapnv €K rrjg
dcrOeveias riov vvv dvOpcoTTCov decopovaiv, (Lare Sta
rrjv VTTep^oXrjv rod jxeyedovs rojv kpyoiv aTnareZ-
4 adai rrjv ypa^-qv. KaOoXov jxev yap iv rat? jJivdoXo-
yovjjievais Laropiais ovk ck Travrog rpoirov mKpaJs
rrjv dX'qOeiav i^eraareov. /cat yap iv rot? dedrpois,
7T€7Tei(TfJi€VOL [JiT]T€ K.€vravpovg Siffiveis i^ irepoyevcbv
(jojixdrcov VTrdp^ai [xrjre Trjpvovr^v rpLGcojJiaTOV,
oficog TTpoohej^pixeda ra? roiavrag pbvOoXoytas,
Kal rats CTrtCTT^/xaaiat? avvav^ofxev rrjv tov 9eou
5 TLjJiriv. /cat yap oltottov 'Hpa/cAea fiev en /car
dvdpdiTTOVS ovra rot? tStot? ttovols i^r][iepa)aaL
TTjv olKovjJLevrjv, Tovs 8' dvdpwTTOVS eTTiXadofxivovs
TTjS KOLvrjs evepyeaias avKo^avTeiv tov €7tl rot?
/caAAt'ffTot? epyois enatvov,^ /cat rovg fiev Tipoyo-
vovs 3td Tr]v VTrep^oXrjv Trjs dpeTTJs ojJioXoyovpiviqv
avTO) avy)(^copr](yai ttjv dOavaaiav, rjjxds 8e irpos
TOV Oeov jLtTjSe tt^v TraTpoTrapdSoTOV evai^eiav
Sta^uAarretv. aAAa yap rcbv tolovtojv Xoya)v
dcfiijjievoi Ste^t/xei^ avrov Tas Trpa^eig air o.p)(rjs
aKoXovOcos rotg TraAatorctTots' ToJv TTOiiqrcbv tc Kai
fJivdoXoycov.
^ eTTaivov D, ivepo)(i]v Vulgate.
366
BOOK IV. 8. 2-5
the history of them incredible. Fo.r some readers
set up an unfair standard and require in the accounts
of the ancient myths the same exactness as in the
events of our own time, and using their own Ufe as
a standard they pass judgment on those deeds the
magnitude of which throw them open to doubt, and
estimate the might of Heracles by the weakness of
the men of our day, ^vith the result that the exceed-
ing magnitude of his deeds makes the account of
them incredible. For, speaking generally, when
the histories of myths are concerned, a man should
by no means scrutinize the truth with so sharp an
eye. In the theatres, for instance, though we are
persuaded there have existed no Centaurs who are
composed of two different kinds of bodies nor any
Geryones with three bodies, we yet look \\ith favour
upon such products of the myths as these, and by
our applause we enhance the honour of the god.
And strange it would be indeed that Heracles, while
yet among mortal men, should by his o^\'n labours
have brought under cultivation the inhabited world,
and that human beings should nevertheless forget
the benefactions which he rendered them generally
and slander the commendation he receives for the
noblest deeds, and strange that our ancestors should
have unanimously accorded immortality to him
because of his exceedingly great attainments, and
that we should nevertheless fail to cherish and
maintain for the god the pious devotion which
has been handed down to us from our fathers.
However, we shall leave such considerations and
relate his deeds from the beginning, basing our
account on those of the most ancient poets and
writers of myths.
367
DIODORUS OF SICILY
9. Tijg ^AKpcaLou tolvvv Aavdr)? koI Aid? <f>aaL
yeveaOai Yiepaea' tovtco 8e ixiyeZaav rrjv K.7^(f)e(xjs
AvbpojJLeSav 'HXcKrpvcova yewrjaaty eneiTa tovtco
TTjv rieAoTTo? KvpvSLKrjv avvoLKijaaaav 'AA/c/iTji/rjv
TeKvaJaai, Kat, TavTr] Ata /xtyeVra Si' dTTaTrjg 'Upa-
2 /cAea yevvrjcrai. ttjv ^lev ovv oXrjv tov yevovs
pi^av o.'u dfxcjiOTepcjov tcov yovecov et? tov fxiyiaTOv
Tcjjv decov dvacjiipetv XeyeTai tov €lpr]fievov Tpoirov.
TTjv Be yeyevqjjLevrjv Trepl avTov dpeTrjv ovk iv Tat?
TTpa^eai decop-qOrjvat, piovov, dXXd Kat Trpo ttjs
yeveaecos yivdyuKeadai. tov yap Ata pnayopevov
AAKpi-qvy] TpnrXaaiav ttjv vvKTa TroiT^aat, /cat to)
TrX'qdeL TOV TTpos TTJV TTaiSoTTOiLav dvaXojdevTos
Xpovov Trpoarjprjvat, ttjv virep^oX-qv tt]? tov yevvrj-
'■\ drjuopivov pcoprjg. KaOoXov Se Trjv opiXiav TavTrjv
OVK ipcDTLKrjs einOvpLas eveKa TTOirjaaadai, KaOaTrep
im TCOV dXXcov yvvaLKCov, dXXd to ttXcov ttjs TraiSo-
TTOua? )(^dpLV. 8i6 Kal ^ovXopevov tt^v eTTLTrXoKrjv
vopLpov 7TOLrjaaa6aL l^idcraaOaL pev pur] ^ovXrjOrjvaL ,
7T€iaat 8' ouSap-cos iX7Tit,eLV Sta ttjv aco^poavviqv
rqv dTTaTTjv ovv irpoKpivavTa Sta TavT7]9 Trapa-
Kpovaaadai ttjv 'AXKpip'Tjv, 'ApcfytTpvcovL KaTO. ndv
6poico9evTa.
4 AieXBovTos 8e tov KaTa cf)vaiv ^(^povov rati'
eyKvois, TOV piev Ata TTpos ttjv 'Hpa/cAeou? yeveoLv
ev€)(d^VTa TTJ Siavoicj. TTpoenrelv irapovTcov dirdvTcov
TCOV decov OTt TOV KaT* eKetvTjv ttjv rjpepav Ylepaeihajv
yevvcopevov Troirjaet, ^acnXea, ttjv S' "Yipav t,rjXo-
TVTTOvaav Kal avvepyov e^ovaav EtAet^utav ttjv
368
BOOK IV. 9. 1-4
9. This, then, is the story as it has been given
us : Perseus was the son of Danae, the daughter of
Acrisius, and Zeus. Now Andromeda, the daughter
of Cepheus, lay with him and bore Electryon, and
then Eurydice, the daughter of Pelops, married him
and gave birth to Alcmene, who in turn was wooed
by Zeus, who deceived her, and bore Heracles.
Consequently the sources of his descent, in their
entirety, lead back, as is claimed, through both his
parents to the greatest of the gods,^ in the manner
we have shown. The prowess which was found in
him was not only to be seen in his deeds, but was
also recognized even before his birth. For when
Zeus lay with Alcmene he made the night three
times its normal length and by the magnitude of
the time expended on the procreation he presaged
the exceptional might of the child which would be
begotten. And, in general, he did not effect this
union from the desire of love, as he did in the case
of other women, but rather only for the sake of
procreation. Consequently, desiring to give legality
to his embraces, he did not choose to offer violence
to Alcmene, and yet he could not hope to persuade
her because of her chastity ; and so, deciding to use
deception, he deceived Alcmene by assuming in
every respect the shape of Amphitryon.
When the natural time of pregnancy had passed,
Zeus, whose mind was fixed upon the birth of Heracles,
announced in advance in the presence of all the gods
that it was his intention to make the child who
should be born that day king over the descendants
of Perseus; whereupon Hera, who was filled mth
jealousy, using as her helper Eileithyia ^ her daughter,
^ The goddess who assisted in travail.
369
DIODORUS OF SICILY
dvyarepa, rijs ^^v ^AXKix-qvYj? TrapaKaraax^LV ras
(hSlvas, TOP S' ^vpvadea irpo rov KaOrjKovro';
5 xpoi'ov TTpos TO (jxjjg dyayelv. rov 8e Ata Kara-
arparrjy-qOevra ^ovXrjOrjvai rr]v re viroax^aiv
jSe^aioJCTat /cat Trjs 'Hpa/cAeoy? eTTt^aveia? Tvpovor]-
Qrjvav Sto <f>a(Tcv avrov rrjv pukv "Vipav Trelaat
avyxcop'fjo'o.i' ^aaiXea fiev virdp^ai Kara rrjv tStai'
VTToaxecnu ^vpvadea, rov 8 'H/aa/cAea reraypcevov
VTTo rov Yivpvadia reXiaai SoJSe/ca ddXovg ovs
dv 6 YivpvaOevs Trpoard^j], /cat rovro Trpd^avra
6 rvx^^v rrj? ddavaatag . 'AA/c/xtjvt^ 8e reKovaa /cat
<f)0^rjd€L(ja rrjv rrjs "Upag ^r^XorvTriav, i^dOrjKe ro
^p4(f)OS elg rov rorrov og vvv dir^ eKeivov /caAetrat
TTehiov *H/3a/cAeiov. /ca0' ov brj XP^'^^'^ ^Adrjvd
p.€rd rrjs "Hpa? TTpoaiovaa,^ /cat daupdaaaa rov
TTaihiov rrjv <f)uaLV, auveTreicre rrjV "Hpav vttoctx^^v
rrjv drjX'qv. rov Se TratSo? VTrep rrjv rjXiKLav ^Lato-
repov iTTLCTTTaaapievov rrjv drjXiqv, rj pkv "Hpa
StaAyTycracra ro ^pecffog kppiipev, AOiqvd 8e Kopiictaoa
avro TTpds rrjv pirjrepa rpecfyeiv TrapeKeXevaaro.
7 davpidaai 8 dv rt? eLKorcos ro rrjg TrepLTrereiag
TTapdBo^ov rj pikv yap arepyeiv d^eiXovoa prjrr]p
ro lSlov reKVOV dTTcvXXvev, r] 8e pLr^rpvidg exovoa
fitaos 8t dyvoiav ecro^^e ro rfj (^vaei TToXepiov.
10. Mera 8e raura rj pcev "Hpa Bvo SpdKovras
aTTeareiXe rovs dvaXwaovras ro ^p€(j)os, 6 8e
Trat? ov KararrXayei'S eKarepa rcov ^^etptDv rov
au;^eVa a(j)Ly^as dTrerrvL^e rovs SpdKovrag. htorrep
^ npoatovaa ABD, npotovaa II, Trapiovaa Bekker.
BOOK IV. 9. 4-10. I
checked the birth-pains of Alcmene and brought
Eurystheus ^ forth to the light before his full time.
Zeus, however, though he had been outgeneralled,
wished both to fulfill his promise and to take thought
for the future fame of Heracles ; consequently, they
say, he persuaded Hera to agree that Eurystheus
should be king as he had promised, but that Heracles
should serve Eurystheus and perform twelve Labours,
these to be whatever Eurystheus should prescribe,
and that after he had done so he should receive the
gift of immortality. After Alcmene had brought
forth the babe, fearful of Hera's jealousy she exposed
it at a place which to this time is called after him
the Field of Heracles. Now at this very time
Athena, approaching the spot in the company of
Hera and being amazed at the natural vigour of the
child, persuaded Hera to offer it the breast. But
when the boy tugged upon her breast with greater
violence than would be expected at his age, Hera
was unable to endure the pain and cast the babe
from her, whereupon Athena took it to its mother
and urged her to rear it. And anyone may well be
surprised at the unexpected turn of the affair ; for
the mother whose duty it was to love her own oflF-
spring was trying to destroy it, while she who
cherished towards it a stepmother's hatred, in
ignorance saved the life of one who was her natural
enemy.
10. After this Hera sent two serpents to destroy
the babe, but the boy, instead of being terrified,
gripped the neck of a serpent in each hand and
strangled them both. Consequently the inhabitants
^ Descendant of Perseus by another line and later king of
Argos.
371
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Apyeloi TTvdofJievoL to yeyovos YipaKXea vpoarjyo-
pevaav, on 8t ' Yipav eo-p^e /cAeos", 'AA/catoi' Trpo-
repov KaXovfxevov. rols pev ovv d'AAot? ol yovels
TouVo/xa TTcpLTideaaL, tovtco Se fiovco rj dperrj rrjV
TrpocrrjyopLav eOero.
2 Mero. Se ravra 6 pev 'Ap(f>iTpvcov (^vyahevdels €k
TLpvvdos percpKYjaev et? 07]^a?' o 8' 'HpaKXij^
Tpa(f>ei's Kat irai^evOeis koI pdXiar iv rolg yvpva-
aiois SiaTTOVTjOels iyevero pd)pij] re acoparos ttoXv
Trpoe)(^UL>v rojv dXXa>v d-navrajv koL ifjvx'^? Xaptrpor'qTi
TTepL^oTqros , o? ye rrjv iqXLKiav e^iq^os o^v TipaJrov
pi€V TjXevOdpcjae rds Qi^^as, dvobiSovs oi? TrarptSt
3 rds 7Tpoa7]Kovaas )(dpLrag. vrroreraypievcov yap
TOJv Qr^^aicov Eipyivo) rep ^auiXel rwv Mivvcov,
Kal /car' iviavrov (hpidpevov? (f>6povs reXovvrcov,^
ou KaraTrXayeis rrjv rojv heSovXcopdvcov V7Tepo)(7]V
iroXpLrjae Trpd^iv eTTireXeuaL TrepL^orjrov rovs yap
TTapayevopievovs rcbv M.lvvow em ttjv dTrairrjcnv
Tcbv BaapdJv Kai ped v^pews etaTTparropevovs
4 dKpwrrjpidaas e^e^aXev e/c rrj'S TToXecJS- ^pyivov
8' e^aiTOVvros tov atriov, Kpecuv ^acjiXevajv ra)V
Qiq^aicov, KaTairXayets to ^dpos t'^s e^ovaias,
eTOLpos rjv eKSiSovaL tov a'iTtov tojv eyKXiqpidTOJV.
6 8' 'H/)a/<A'^s- TTelaas tovs rjXiKLcoTas eXevdepovv
TTjV TrarpiSa, KaTearraoev eV tcov vacbv ras" vpoar]-
^ /L/f^' rPne':'<; after TeXnvvT'ov dpleted hy Bekker.
^ Cp. Book 1. 24. 4. But Heracles M'on his fame, not
through Hera, but through his own achievements; and so
many philologists derive the first part of his name, not from
Hera, but from ■^pa (" service ").
* Literally, an "ephebus," in Athens at the age of eighteen.
372
BOOK IV. 10. 1-4
of Argos, on learning of what had taken place, gave
him the name Heracles because he had gained
glory (Jdeos) by the aid of Hera,^ although he had
formerly been called Alcaeus. Other children are
given their names by their parents, this one alone
gained his name by his valour.
After this time Amphitryon was banished from
Tiryns and changed his residence to Thebes ; and
Heracles, in his rearing and education and especially
in the thorough instruction which he received in
physical exercises, came to be the first by far in
bodily strength among all the rest and famed for
his nobility of spirit. Indeed, while he was still a
youth - in age he first of all restored the freedom
of Thebes, returning in this way to the city, as though
it were the place of his birth, the gratitude which
he owed it. For though the Thebans had been
made subject to Erginus, the king of the Minyans,
and were paying him a fixed yearly tribute, Heracles
was not dismayed at the superior power of these
overlords but had the courage to accomplish a deed
of fame. Indeed, when the agents of the Minyans
appeared to require the tribute and were insolent
in their exactions, Heracles mutilated^ them and
then expelled them from the city. Erginus then'
demanded that the guilty party be handed over to
him, and Creon, the king of the Thebans, dismayed
at the great power of Erginus, was prepared to
deliver the man who was responsible for the crime
complained of. Heracles, however, persuading the
young men of his age to strike for the freedom of
their fatherland, took out of the temples the suits
of armour which had been affixed to their walls,
* i. e. cut off their hands and their feet.
373
DIODORUS OF SICILY
AcOjUeVa? TravoTrAia?, a? ol irpoyovoi OKvXa rots
deols rjcrav avareOeiKores' ov yap rjv €vpelv Kara
rrjv -noXtv ISlcotlkov ottXov Sta to tovs M.LVvag Tvapco-
TrXiKevai rrjv ttoXiv, Iva firjSejJLLav Xajx^dvcocnv ol
Kara ra? 07^jSa? OLTroardaecos evvoiav. 6 S' 'Hpa-
kXtjs TTvdopievos Yjpylvov rov ^acriAea rwv yiivvcLv
TTpoaayeiv rfj TroAet [xerd arparcajTcov, OLTravrT^aag
avrtp Kara riva arevoxcjoptav, /cat ro ixiyedos Tr^s
rcbv TToXep-tcov Swajxecos d-x^prjarov TTOi-qaas, avrov
re Tov EipyXvov dvelXe /cat rovs jxer' avrov axeSov
aTTOvras aTreKreivev. d(j)va) Se TrpoaTreudjv rfj
TToXei Tcov Op-)(opLevLOJV /cat 7Tapeia7T€ud)v ivrog
rdJv TTvXdJv rd re ^aaiXeia rcbv ^Ilwcov eveTrp-qae
/cat rr]V ttoXlv KareoKaipe.
6 Yiepi^OTjrov Se rrj? Trpd^ecog yevo{xev7]s Ka9*
oXrjv rrjv 'EAAaSa /cat Trdvrojv 6aviJ,at,6vra)v ro
rrapdho^ov, 6 fiev ^acriAei)? K-pecov davpuduas
rrjv dperrjv rov veaviuKov rrjv re dvyarepa M^eydpav
avvipKLOev avra> /cat KaddTrep vlco yvrjOLOj rd Kara
rrjv ttoXlv eTrerpei/jev, ^vpvaOevs 8' o rrjv ^aaiXeiav
e^oiv rrjs Apyeias vrrorrrevaas rrjv 'H/oa/cAeous'
av^rjaiv jxereirejiTTero re avrov koI Trpoaerarre
7 reXelv dOXovs. ovx vnaKOVOvros Se rod 'Hpa-
/cAe'ous", Zeu? [xev aTreareiXe Sia/ceAeuo/xevos' VTTOvp-
yetv ^vpvadet, 'WpaKXijs Se TrapeXdcov etj AeX(f)Ovs
/cat TTepl rovrcov eTrepcorijaas rov deov, eXa^e
XpTjajJLOv rov SrjXovvra Siort rots OeoZs Se'So/crai
ScoSeKa dOXovs reXeaai npoardrrovros ^vpvadeojs,
/cat rovro rrpd^avra rev^eadai rrjs adavaacas.
374
BOOK IV. lo. 4-7
dedicated to the gods by their forefathers as spoil
from their wars ; for there was not to be found in
the city any arms in the hands of a private citizen,
the Minyans having stripped the city of its arms in
order that the inhabitants of Thebes might not
entertain any thought of revolting from them. And
when Heracles learned that Erginus, the king of
the Minyans, was advancing with troops against the
city he went out to meet him in a certain narrow
place, whereby he rendered the multitude of the
hostile force of no avail, killed Erginus himself, and
slew practically all the men who had accompanied
him. Then appearing unawares before the city of
the Orchomenians and slipping in at their gates he
both burned the palace of the Minyans and razed
the city to the ground.
After this deed had been noised about through-
out the whole of Greece and all men were filled
with wonder at the unexpected happening, Creon
the king, admiring the high achievement of the
young man, united his daughter Megara in marriage
to him and entrusted him with the affairs of the city
as though he were his lawful son ; but Eurystheus,
who was ruler of Argolis, viewing with suspicion the
growing power of Heracles, summoned him to his
side and commanded him to perform Labours. And
when Heracles ignored the summons Zeus despatched
word to him to enter the service of Eurystheus ;
whereupon Heracles journeyed to Delphi, and on
inquiring of the god regarding the matter he re-
ceived a reply which stated that the gods had
decided that he should perform twelve Labours at
the command of Eurystheus and that upon their
conclusion he should receive the gift of immortality.
375
VOL. II. N
DIODORUS OF SICILY
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eveTTeaev ei? ddvfXLav ov rrjv TV)(ovcrav to ts yap
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dTToXvQeis, /cat ernyvovs ttjv IStav dyvoiav, irepLoX-
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TCLS TOiV dvdpCOTTCJV OpLlXiaS T€ /Cat dTTaVTrjOeLS'
tIXos Se TOV ■)(^p6vov TO TTados vpavvavTos
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l^vpvadea.
3 Kat rrpojTOV pukv eXa^ev ddXov dTroKTetvat, tov
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Trjs /card X^^P^ ^La^opLevrjs TrpoaeSelTO dvdyK-qs.
SieTpi^e Se /xdAtara /xerafu MuK-qvaJv /cat Ne^uea?
7T€pl OpOS TO KaXovp,€VOV dnO TOV OVpi^e^rjKOTOS
TprjTov et^e yap irepl ttji^ pil,av Bicopvxa SLrjvcKrj,
4 /ca^' t]v elcodei <f)a>Xev€iv to diqpLov. 6 S' 'H/aa/cA'^S
^ TTpoaTaxdevTwv Wesseling.
^ eTTenefxipev Reiske.
1 "Perforated."
BOOK I\'. II. 1-4
11. At such a turn of affairs Heracles fell into
despondency of no ordinary kind ; for he felt that
servitude to an inferior was a thing which his high
achievements did not deserve, and yet he saw that
it would be hurtful to himself and impossible not to
obey Zeus, who was his father as well, ^^^lile he
was thus greatly at a loss, Hera sent upon him a
frenzy, and in his vexation of soul he fell into a
madness. As the affliction grew on him he lost his
mind and tried to slay lolaiis, and when lolaiis made
his escape but his own children by Megara were
near bv, he shot his bow and killed them under the
impression that they were enemies of his. When
he finallv recovered from his madness and recognized
the mistake he had made through a misapprehension,
he was plunged in grief over the magnitude of the
calamity. And while all extended him sympathy
and joined in his grief, for a long while he stayed
inactive at home, avoiding any association or meet-
ing with men ; at last, however, time assuaged his
grief, and making up his mind to undergo the
dangers he made his appearance at the court of
Eurystheus.
The first Labour which he undertook was the
slaying of the lion in Nemea. This was a beast of
enormous size, which could not be wounded by iron
or bronze or stone and required the compulsion of
the human hand for his subduing. It passed the
larger part of its time between Mycenae and
Nemea, in the neighbourhood of a mountain which
was called Tretus ^ from a peculiarity which it
possessed ; for it had a cleft at its base which ex-
tended clean through it and in which the beast was
accustomed to lurk. Heracles came to the region
377
DIODORUS OF SICILY
KaTavrriaag em rov tottov Trpoae^aXev avrco,
Koi Tov 6r]pLov av[Ji(j}vy6vrog els rrjv hi.copv)(a
(jvvaKoXovdwv avrco /cat to erepov rcJov aTopiicxiv
€fi(l)pd^as avveTrXaKT] , /cat rov av-^lva a(f>iy^ag rots'
^pa)(^ioaLV dTTeTTVi^e. rrjV he hopdv avrov Trepide-
[jLCVos, /cat Std ro fieyedog ciTrav ro Ihiov aoijua
TreptAajSaji/, et^e aK€TTaarrjpiov rojv jxerd ravra
Ktvhvvcov.
5 Aevrepov 8' eXa^ev dOXov diroKreLvai rrjV Aep-
vaiav vhpav, 7)9 e^ eVo? acopLarog eKarov au;^eVe?
e)(ovres Ke(f>aXdg o^ecov hierervTTOivro ?■ rovrcov
8' et jLtta 8ta(f)dapeirj, SnrXacnag 6 rpnqdeis dvUi
roTTOs' 81 rjv air lav diqrr'qros VTrdpy^eiv htelXiqTrro,
/cat Kara Xoyov ro yap )(etpa>d€v a'drrjg p^lpos
6 8t7rAaCTtov' direhlhov ^o-qdrjpia. npo? Se rrjv hvarpa-
"TTeXeiav ravr'qv imvo-qaag ri <j)LXor€yyrip.a vpoai-
ra^ev 'loAaoi Xap-Trdhi Kaopievrj ro aTrorpL-qdev
/Ltepo? irrtKaeLV, tva rr]v pvaiv €7tl(jxJ] tov atfiarog.
ovrco? ovv x^Lpa)adpi€V09 ro l,cpov el? r'qv )(oXr]v
aTTe^airre rd? a/ctSa?, ti^a to fiXiqOev ^eXog exj]
rrjv e/c rrjg d/ctSo? TrXrjyr^v dviarov.
12. Tplrov 8e rrpouraypLa eXa^ev eveyKeiv rov
*KpvpLdv9Lov Kdirpov l,u}vra, og hierpi^ev - ev rfj
Aap^TTela rfjs ^ApKahlag. eBoKei. Se ro Trpoaraypia
rovro TToXXrjv ex^i-v hvax^peiav e8et yap rov aycovi-
l,6p.evov roiovro) drjplo) roaavrrjv e)(^eLV vepLovalav
ware err' avrrjs rrj? p.d^'^S dKpL^cos aroxdaaadai
rov Kaipov. eVi p-ev yap lax^ovra d(f>eLS avrov diro
^ So Dindorf : Steriin-ouvTo.
^ So Dindorf : hUrpi^e fiev.
1 Cp. Strabo 8. 3. 10.
BOOK IV. II. 4-12. I
and attacked the lion, and when the beast retreated
into the cleft, after closing up the other opening he
followed in after it and grappled with it, and winding
his arms about its neck choked it to death. The
skin of the lion he put about himself, and since he
could cover his whole body A^ith it because of its
great size, he had in it a protection against the
perils which were to follow.
The second Labour which he undertook was the
slaying of the Lernaean hydra, springing from
whose single body were fashioned a hundred necks,
each bearing the head of a serpent. And when
one head was cut off, the place where it was
severed put forth two others ; for this reason it was
considered to be invincible, and with good reason,
since the part of it which was subdued sent forth
a two-fold assistance in its place. Against a thing
so difficult to manage as this Heracles devised an
ingenious scheme and commanded lolaus to sear
with a burning brand the part which had been
severed, in order to check the flow of the blood.
So when he had subdued the animal by this means
he dipped the heads of his arrows in the venom, in
order that Avhen the missile should be shot the
wound which the point made might be incurable.
12. The third Command which he received was
the bringing back alive of the Erymanthian boar
which lived on Mount Lampeia ^ in Arcadia. This
Command was thought to be exceedingly difficult,
since it required of the man who fought such a
beast that he possess such a superiority over it as
to catch precisely the proper moment in the very
heat of the encounter. For should he let it loose
while it still retained its strength he would be in
379
DIODORUS OF SICILY
roiv ohovroiv dv eKLvSvvevcre, TrXeov ^ Be rod Seovrog
KaraTToXeiJiT^aag aneKTeivev, ojare tov ddXov vnap-
2 x^^^ davvTeXearov. o[xcog 8e Kara rrjv ixdxrjv
rafjLLevadjJievos aKpi^cbs rrjv cryju/LterptW dTT-qveyKe
TOP KaTTpov t,a>VTa Trpos ^EivpvaOea' ov Ihcbv 6
^aaiXevs ein rcov cu/xcoi^ ^Ipovra, koL (f>oj3rjd€Ls,
eKpvipev eavTOV els xciA/cow ttlOov.
3 "A/xa 8e TOVTOLg TTparrojJLevoLg 'Hpai<Xrjs Karrj-
ycDVLuaro tous 6vo[Jia^o[Jievovg K.evTavpov5 8ia rot-
avrag atrta?. OoAo? rjv K.evravpos, a^' ov crvve^-q
TO TrXrjdLov opos ^oX6r]v ovoixaaOrjvai' ovtos
^evLois Sexopievog UpaKXea rov KaraKe)((Daixevov
o'ivov TTtdov aveoi^e. rovrov yap jJivdoXoyovai to
TTaXaiov ^LovvGov TTapareOeiadaL tlvl K.evTaupa),
/cat Trpoarafat TOTe dvol^ai oTav 'UpaKXrjg 77a/oa-
yevTjTai. Sionep voTepov TeTrapat yeveals em-
^eviodevTog avrou fxvqadrjvai tov ^oXov t'^?
4 Aiovvaov TTapayyeXias . dvoL)(devTos ovv tov ttlOov,
Kol TTJs euotSia? Sta ttjv TraXaLor-qra Kat Svvafiiv
TOV OLVOV npooTTecrova-qg rot? TrX-qaiov oiKovai
l^evravpoig, avve^rj SioLOTp'qOrjvaL Tovrovg- 8t6
Kol rrpooTveaovres dOpooi rfj oiKiqaeL rod OoAou
5 KaTanX'qKTLKcos coppirjaav irpo? dpTray-qv. 6 piev
ovv OoAos" (f>o^Tqdels eKpvijjev eavrov, 6 8' 'HpaKXrjg
TTapaSo^ws avveirXaKiq toIs ^Lat,ofievoLg' eSei
yap Siaycovil,e(j6ai rrpog tovs dno piev p,r]Tp6s
ovTag deovSy to 8e Ta^os e^ovrag Ittttcdv, pcopir)
8e 8taco/xaToy? drjpag, epTreipLav he kol ouve-
^ So JDindorf : TrXeicu.
380
BOOK IV. 12. 1-5
danger from its tushes, and should he attack it more
violently than was proper, then he would have killed
it and so the Labour would remain unfulfilled.
However, when it came to the struggle he kept so
careful an eye on the proper balance that he brought
back the boar alive to Eurystheus ; and when the
king saw him carrying the boar on his shoulders, he
was terrified and hid himself in a bronze vessel.
About the time that Heracles was performing
these Labours, there was a struggle between him
and the Centaurs, as they are called, the reason
being as follows. Pholus was a Centaur, from whom
the neighbouring mountain came to be called Pholoe,
and receiving Heracles with the courtesies due to a
guest he opened for him a jar of wine which had
been buried in the earth. This jar, the writers of
myths relate, had of old been left with a certain
Centaur by Dionysus, who had given him orders
only to open it when Heracles should come to that
place. And so, four generations after that time,
when Heracles was being entertained as a guest,
Pholus recalled the orders of Dionysus. Now when
the jar had been opened and the sweet odour of
the wine, because of its great age and strength,
came to the Centaurs dwelling near there, it came
to pass that they were driven mad ; consequently
they rushed in a body to the dwelling of Pholus and
set about plundering him of the wine in a terrifying
manner. At this Pholus hid himself in fear, but
Heracles, to their surprise, grappled with those who
were employing such violence. He had indeed to
struggle with beings who were gods on their mother's
side, who possessed the swiftness of horses, who had
the strength of two bodies, and enjoyed in addition
381
DIODORUS OF SICILY
aiv exovrag dvSpoJv. tcov Se K.€VTavp(jov ol fiev
7T€VKag avToppLt,ovs €)(ovr€g iTTjjaav, ol Se Trdrpas
fieydXag, TLves Se AajUTTCtSa? "qpLfxivag, erepot Se
6 ^ov<f)6vov'5 TreAe/cei?. o S a/caraTrAi^/CTaJS' vnoardg
d^iav rcjv TTpoKaretpyaafievajv crvveuT-quaro fxdxfjv.
avvriyo}VLt,&TO S avTols rj jx-^riqp Ne^e'Ary ttoXvv
ojji^pov eKx^ovaa, St ov roug jxev rerpaaKeXelg ovk
e^Xarrre, rep Se hvatv -qpeiajjieva) OKcXecrL rrjv ^daiv
oXiadrjpdv KareuKevat^ev . dXX opaog rovg roiov-
roLs TTporeprjp.aaL TrXeoveKTOvvras 'Hpa/cA?^? rrapa-
So^cDS Karr]ycovLaaTO , Kat rovs fJ-^v TrXeiarovs dire-
7 KT€Lve, Tovs S' VTToXeicjydevrag (j>vyeZv rjvdyKaae. rcov
8' dvaipeOevroiv Y<>.evravpa)v VTrrjpxov €7n<f>avearaToi
Adejivig /cat ApyeZog /cat Aii(j>iojv, eVt Se '\7nTori(X)v
/cat "Opetos" /cat 'IctottAt)? koI MeAay;)^atT7^S", Trpo? Se
rovroLs Qrjpevs /cat Aovttcov /cat ^pi^og. rajv Se
Sia(f)vy6vT<x)v Tov klvSvvov varepov eKaaros Tipux)-
pias rj^LwOrj- "OfxaSog jxev yap iv 'Ap/caSta tt^v
EupuCT^e'oj? dSeA^T]!' AA/cuon^v ^lal^opievos dvrjpedr].
i(f)^ CO crvve^Tj davfiaaOrjvai rov 'Hpa/cAe'a hia^e-
p6vTC09' TOV p.€V yap ixdpov /car' iStW iixLarjcre,
TTjV S v^pLt,oiJievqv iXeoJv eTrtet/cei'a 8t,a(f>ep€iv
VTreXdpi^avev.
8 "IStor Se Tt avve^Tj Kai irepl tov Hpa/cAe'ou?
(f>i,Xov TOV ovo[JLal,6iJievov ^oXov. ovtos yap Sta
T'qv avyyevetav ddTrrcov tovs TreTrTco/cdra? K.€vrav-
povs, /cat ^eXog e/c rti'os" i^aipojv, vtto ttjs d/ctSo?
GTrXiqyrj, /cat to Tpavfia e^ojv avtarov eTeXevrrjaev.
^ The word means a " cloud.'
* i.e. Eurystheu-s.
82
J
BOOK IV. 12. 5-8
the experience and ^\^sdom of men. The Centaurs
advanced upon him, some with pine trees which
they had plucked up together with the roots, others
with great rocks, some with burning firebrands, and
still others with axes such as are used to slaughter
oxen. But he withstood them without sign of fear
and maintained a battle which was worthy of his
former exploits. The Centaurs were aided in their
struggle by their mother Nephele,^ who sent down
a heavy rain, by which she gave no trouble to those
which had four legs, but for him who was supported
upon two made the footing slippery. Despite all
this Heracles maintained an astonishing struggle
with those who enjoyed such advantages as these,
slew the larger part of them, and forced the sur-
vivors to flee. Of the Centaurs which were killed
the most renowned were Daphnis, Argeius, Amphion,
also Hippotion, Oreius, Isoples, Melanchaetes, and
Thereus, Doupon, and Phrixus. As for those who
escaped the peril by flight, every one of them later
received a fitting punishment : Homadus, for in-
stance, was killed in Arcadia when he was attempting
to violate Alcyone, the sister of Eurystheus. And
for this feat it came to pass that Heracles was
marvelled at exceedingly ; for though he had private
grounds for hating his enemy,^ yet because he
pitied her who was being outraged, he determined
to be superior to others in humanity.
A peculiar thing also happened in the case of him
who was called Pholus, the friend of Heracles. While
he was burying the fallen Centaurs, since they were
his kindred, and was extracting an arrow from one
of them, he was wounded by the barb, and since the
wound could not be healed he came to his death.
383
DIODORUS OF SICILY
ov Hpa^A"^? {JLeyaXoTTpeTTO)^ Odipag vtto to opog
edrjKev, o arijXrjg ivho^ov yeyove Kpetrrov OoAotj
yap 6vop.al,6pLevov Sto. rrj? eTTcvvvpilag pLTjvvet.
Tov racj^evra /cat ou 8t imypa(f)rjg. opLoio)? 8e
KoX \eLpcova rov em rfj larpiKfj davpLal,6p.€Vov
OLKOvaLios To^ov ^oXfj 8i€(f)deip€. KaL TTepi, p,€v rcbv
K.evravpwv LKavaJs 'qp.lv elp-qaOco,
13. Mera Se rauT eXa^e TrpoaraypLarriv^pvGOKe-
pojv pev ovaav eXatj^ov, rdx^i 8e Sia^e'poucrav, dya-
yelv. TOVTOv Se tov ddXov avvreXcvv rrjv inLVOLav
eax^v ovK d)(priaroT€pav tt^? Kara, to crcop.a p<i)p,r]g.
at pLev ydp (f>a(JLV avrrjv dpKvaLV eXeZv, ol 8e 8ia
T^? CTTt^eta? )(_eLpdiaaGdaL KadevSouaav, TLve? 8e
avvex^Z hicoypiCp KaTaTTOvrjaai- TrXrjv dvev ^ias Kal
KLvhvVCOV 8ta TTj? KaTO, TTjV l/jV^T^V dyp^tVOta? TOV
ddXov TOVTOV KaTeipydoaTO .
'0 8' 'YipaKXrjs TTpoGTaypa Xa^ow rds" €K ttjs
2Ti;^(/)aAtSos' Xipiv-qg 6pvi.6ag i^eXdaai, Te'p^i^ Kal
eTTLVOLo. paSicos avv€TeXeae tov ddXov. eTreTToXaae
ydp, to? €oiK€Vy dpviOojv TrXrjOos dpv6r]Tov, Kal
Tovs iv Tjj TrX-qoLov X^P9- KapTTOv's iXvp,aLveTO. ^ia
pev ovv obvvaTOV rjv x^ipcoaaaO at Ta l,cpa 8td ttjv
vrrep^oXrjv tov ttXtJOov?, (f)LXoT€)(vov 8 eTTivotag
7] trpd^is TTpoaeheiTO. SiOTrep KaTaaKevdaa? X'^^'<V^
TrXaTayrjV , Kal 8id TavTTjg e^aiaiov KaTauKevdiojv
ilj6(f)OV, e'fe^djSei rd ^cpa, Kal rrepas ttj avvex^ia
384
BOOK IV. 12. 8-13. 2
Heracles gave him a magnificent funeral and buried
him at the foot of the mountain, which serves better
than a gravestone to preserve his glory ; for Pholoe
makes known the identity of the buried man by
bearing his name and no inscription is needed.
Likewise Heracles un^vittingly by a shot from his
bow killed the Centaur Cheiron, who was admired
for his knowledge of healing. But as for the Centaurs
let what we have said suffice.
13. The next Command which Heracles received
was the bringing back of the hart which had golden
horns and excelled in swiftness of foot. In the
performance of this Labour his sagacity stood him
in not less stead than his strength of body. For
some say that he captured it by the use of nets,
others that he tracked it down and mastered it
while it was asleep, and some that he wore it out by
running it down. One thing is certain, that he
accomplished this Labour by his sagacity of mind,
^\^thout the use of force and without running any
perils.
Heracles then received a Command to drive the
birds out of the Stymphalian Lake, and he easily
accomplished the Labour by means of a device of
art and by ingenuity. The lake abounded, it would
appear, ^ith a multitude of birds without telling,
which destroyed the fruits of the country round-
about. Now it was not possible to master the
animals by force because of the exceptional multi-
tude of them, and so the deed called for ingenuity
in cleverly discovering some device. Consequently
he fashioned a bronze rattle whereby he made a
terrible noise and frightened the animals awav, and
furthermore, by maintaining a continual din, he
385
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rov KpoTOV paSictJ? eKTroXiopK-qcrag KaOapav eTTOiTjae
TTjv Xipivqv.
3 TeAeaas" Se koL tovtov rov aOXov eXa^e "nap
Kvpvadecjjg Trpourayfxa rrjv avXrjv ttjv Avyeov Ka-
ddpai, fjLTjhevog ^orjdovvros' avrrj 8 ck ttoXXcov
Xpovcov rjdpoLGfJievrjv Koirpov eL)(€V aTrXarov, ■r]v
v^peojs eveKCV Eupycr^ey? npoaera^e Kaddpai. 6
S' 'Hpa/cA'^? TO [JLev rots dj/xot? i^eveyKelv ravTqv
aTTeBoKLfiacrev, ckkXivcov ttjv Ik rrjs v^pecos ala)(v-
jrqv' irrayayajv Se rov AX(f>€t6v KaXovfxevov TTora-
fJLOV em TTjv avX-qv, /cat Std rov pevfxaros eKKaddpas
avTrjV, ■^(copl^ v^pecog o-vvereXeae rov adXov iv
Tjixepa /xta. Sco /cat davjJidaaL rt? du ttjv int-voiav
TO yap VTrepri<^avov tov TrpoaTdyixarog p^copt?
al(j)(vv7]£ eTTeTeXeaev, ovBev VTropbeivas dvd^iov rrjs
ddavaoias.
4 Mera 8e raura AajScoi' ddXov tov e'/c KpT]T7]s
Tavpov dyayelv, ov Y[aaL(f)dr]v epaaOrjvai ^aai,
TrXevaas et? Tr]v vrjaov, koX MtVco tov ^aaiAe'a
avvepyov Xa^cov, rjyayev avTov ei? UeXoTTOvvqaov,
TO TrjXiKovTov TTeXayog ctt' avTco vavcrToXrjOetg.
14. TeAe'aa? Se tovtov tov ddXov tov OAu/mtti/cov
dyd>va crvvecTT'qoaTO , KdXXiUTOV tcov tottcjov •npo's
TrjXLKavTrjV Travqyvpiv TTpoKpiva? to rrapd tov
AX(f)€(,6v TTorapLOV TT^biov, iv (h TOV dydjva tovtov
TO) Alt T(h TTaTpicp Kadiepioae. aTe(f)avLTrjv 8 avTOV
^ Usually known as the filinotaur, "bull of ilinos"; cp.
chap. 77.
386
BOOK IV. 13. 2-14. I
easily forced them to abandon their siege of the
place and cleansed the lake of them.
Upon the performance of this Labour he received
a Command from Eurystheus to cleanse the stables
of Augeas, and to do this without the assistance of
any other man. These stables contained an enormous
mass of dung which had accumulated over a great
period, and it was a spirit of insult which induced
Eurystheus to lay upon him the command to clean
out this dung. Heracles declined as unworthy of
him to carry this out upon his shoulders, in order
to avoid the disgrace which would follow upon the
insulting command ; and so, turning the course of
the Alpheius river, as it is called, into the stables
and cleansing them by means of the stream, he
accomplished the Labour in a single day, and with-
out suffering any insult. Surely, then, we may well
marvel at the ingenuity of Heracles ; for he accom-
plished the ignoble task involved in the Command
without incurring any disgrace or submitting to
something which would render him unworthy of
immortality.
The next Labour which Heracles undertook was
to bring back from Crete the bull ^ of which, they
say, Pasiphae had been enamoured, and sailing to
the island he secured the aid of Minos the king and
brought it back to Peloponnesus, having voyaged
upon its back over so wide an expanse of sea.
14. After the performance of this Labour Heracles
established the Olympic Games, having selected for
so great a festival the most beautiful of places,
which was the plain lying along the banks of the
Alpheius river, where he dedicated these Games to
Zeus the Father. And he stipulated that the prize
387
DIODORUS OF SICILY
€7TOirjG€U, on /cat avros evrjpydrTqcre to yevos rcov
2 dvOpcoTTOjp ovBeva Xa^ojv fxtadov. ra 8' d^Ar^/xara
TTOura avTos dhrjpircog ivLKrjae, fxr^Sevog roXfirjaav-
TOS" avTw uvyKpLdijvaL 8td rr^v vnep^oX-qv tt^?
dperrjs, KatTvep rcov ddX-qixdrcov evavrioiv dAAi^Aots'
oVroiV rov yap TrvKriqv r^ 7TayKpaTiaarr)v rod
crTaSteco? BvgkoXov Trepiyeveodai, /cat TrdXtv rov
iv TOLS Kov(f)Ois ddXrjixaaL npajrevovra ^ rovs iv
roZs ^apecTLv v7Tepe)(ovrag Suax^p^S KaraTTOvfjaai .^
Siorrep et/cdrcD? iyevero rip.nLraro's dTTOvrctiv rcov
dycovcov ovrog, rr]v dp)(T]v dir' dyaOov Xa^iuv.
3 OvK d^Lov Se TTapaXtTTeLV ovBe rag vtto rcov
Oecbv avrcp Sodeiaag Sojpea? 8ta rrjv dperiqv. drro
yap rcov TToXejjicov rpajrevrog avrov vpog dveueig re
/cat Travrjyvpeis , eVt S' eoprd? /cat dyaJvag, eripLrjaav
avrov Scopeatg olKeiaig eKaarog rcov Oecbv, 'AOi^vd
jxev rr€7rXcp, "H^atcTTO? §e porrdXco /cat OcopaKW
/cat TTpog dXX-qXovg icfiLXorLpL-qd-qaav ol rrpocLpiqixevot,
deal Kara rag re^vag, rrjg fxkv rrpog elp-qvLK-qv
dTToXavGLV /cat repifjLv, rov §e Trpog rrjv rcov TToXe-
liLKcbv Kivhvvcov do (jidXeLav . rcov S dXXcov riocrei-
hcov jjiev LTTTTOvg ehcoprjoaro, 'ILppirjg 8e ^c^og,
^ AttoXXcov 8e ro^ov re eScoKe Kai ro^eveiv e8t8afe,
Arjp.'qr'rjp 8e Tvpog rov KaOapjxov rov J^evravpcov
cf)6vov rd jJLLKpd ixvanqpia avvearrjuaro, rov
'Hpa/cAe'a rip.6Jaa.
^ Karayoiviaaad ai after TrpoiTewvra deleted by all editors
but Vogel.
* KaraTTOvijaai II, all editors, KaTavoijaaL ABD, Vogel.
* The contest in boxing and wrestling.
^ The famous foot-race, 606| feet long.
388
BOOK IV. 14. 1-3
in them should be only a crown, since he himself
had conferred benefits upon the race of men without
receiving any monetary reward. All the contests
were won by him without opposition by anyone else,
since no one was bold enough to contend -with him
because of his exceeding prowess. And yet the
contests are very different one from another, since
it is hard for a boxer or one who enters for the
" Pankration " ^ to defeat a man who runs the
" stadion," - and equally difficult for the man who wins
first place in the light contests to wear down those who
excel in the heavy. Consequently it was fitting that
of all Games the Olympic should be the one most
honoured, since they were instituted by a noble man.
It would also not be right to overlook the gifts
which were bestowed upon Heracles by the gods
because of his high achievements. For instance,
when he returned from the wars to devote himself
to both relaxations and festivals, as well as to feasts
and contests, each one of the gods honoured him
with appropriate gifts ; Athena with a robe, Hephaes-
tus with a war-club and coat of mail, these two gods
vying with one another in accordance with the arts
they practised, the one with an eye to the enjoy-
ment and delight afforded in times of peace, the
other looking to his safety amid the perils of war.
As for the other gods, Poseidon presented him with
horses, Hermes with a sword, Apollo gave him a
bow and arrows and taught him their use, and
Demeter instituted the Lesser Mysteries ^ in honour
of Heracles, that she might purify him of the guilt
he had incurred in the slaughter of the Centaurs.
^ These were celebrated at Agrae, south-east of the Acro-
polis, ou the Ilissus, the " Greater Mysteries" at Eleusis.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 "ISlov Se TL avve^rj kol Kara Trjv yeveaiv rov
deov TOVTOV avvTeXeaOrjvai . Zeus" yap Trpcorr]
jjLev ifxiyr] yvvaiKi Ovqrfj Nio^Stj rfj ^opcoveco?,
iaxo-TT) 8' 'AA/cju.tJp't^ • ravrrjv 8' oltto Nio^tj?
eKKaiheKarriv ol pLv9oypa.<j)OL yeveaXoyovaiv cocrre
rod ^ yevvdv avdpcoTTOVs ck [xev ra)V ravrrjs irpoyo-
voiv rjp^aro, €ls avrr^v Se raunqv KareXrj^ev ev
ravTT) yap rag Trpos dvT]rr)V OjU.tAias' KareXvae,
Kal Kara rovs varepov p(;poi^ous' ovSiva tovtcov
yevvrjcteiv a^iov eX7Til,cov ovk i^ovX'qOr] rols Kpeir-
Toaiv eTTeiadyeiv to. )(€ipco.
15. Mera 8e ravra rGiv nepl rrjv YlaXXi^vrjv yiydv-
Tiov iXofxevoiv ^ rov Trpos rovs dOavdrovs TToXefXOV,
'UpaKXrjs rots Oeols <TVvayo}VLad[X€Vos koI ttoXXovs
dveXd)^ roJv yrjyevojv aTToSox'^'S ervx^ Trj? p,eyLcrrr]s.
Zeu? yap rovs pi^v avvaycovtoap^evovs rojv decjv
piovovs (hvopiaaev ^0Xvp,7Tiovs, tva rfj ravr-qs Tipifj
6 dyados Koap,7]9els eTTCovvp^La hia<j)€pr^ rod ;\;et-
povos' rj^Lojae 8e ravrrjg rrjs TTpoar^yopias r€)V
eK Ovrjrojv yuvaiKcbv yevopievajv Alovvgov Kal
'UpaKXea, ov p,6vov on Trarpog rjoav Ato?, aAAd
8ioTt Kai rrjv Trpoaipeaiv opioiav kaxov, evepyert]-
aavres pceydXa rov ^lov rGiv dvOpcoTTcov.
2 Zeu? Se, Ylpop,rj6ea)s irapahovrog ro rrvp roXs
dvdpcoTTOLS, SeapiOLs KareXd^ero Kal Tvapearrjaev
derov rov iaOtovra ro -qnap avrou. 'UpaKXijs 8
opwv rrjs ripnopLas avrov ruy^dvovra Std rrjv rcov
dvdpcoTTOJV evepyeaiav, rov pikv derov Karero^evare,
^ ware rov Dindorf : els Se to.
^ Dindorf conjectures aveXoixivwv.
390
BOOK IV. 14. 4-15. 2
A peculiar thing also came to pass in connection
with the birth of this god. The first mortal woman,
for instance, with whom Zeus lay was Niobe, the
daughter of Phoroneus, and the last was Alcmene,
who, as the writers of myths state in their genealogies,
was the sixteenth lineal descendant from Niobe.
It appears, then, that Zeus began to beget human
beings with the ancestors of this Alcmene and ceased
with her ; that is, he stopped with her his inter-
course with mortal women, since he had no hope
that he would beffet in after times one who would
be worthy of his former children and was unwimng
to have the better followed by the worse.
15. After this, when the Giants about Pallene
chose to begin the war against the immortals,
Heracles fought on the side of the gods, and slaying
many of the Sons of Earth he received the highest
approbation. For Zeus gave the name of " Olym-
pian " only to those gods who had fought by his
side, in order that the courageous, by being adorned
by so honourable a title, might be distinguished by
this designation from the coward ; and of those who
were born of mortal women he considered only
Dionysus and Heracles worthy of this name, not
only because they had Zeus for their father, but
also because they had avowed the same plan of
life as he and conferred great benefits upon the
life of men.
And Zeus, when Pi'ometheus had taken fire and
given it to men, put him in chains and set an eagle
at his side which devoured his liver. But when
Heracles saw him suffering such punishment because
of the benefit which he had conferred upon men,
he killed the eagle with an arrow, and then persuad-
391
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tov 8e Ai'a TTclaas Xrj^oLi rrjs opyrjg eacoae tov
KOLVov evepyinqv .
Merd 8e ravra eXa^ev ddXov dyayeXv ras Ato-
/XTjSous" TOV QpaKos Ittttovs. avrai 8e x'^Xko.s jjiev
(fxiTvag etxov 8td Trjv aypior-qTa, aXvaeuL Se ctiSt^-
pat? 8td. Tr]v Ig^vv iheafxevovTO, Tpo(j)rjv 8' iXdp.-
fiavov ov TTjv €K yfjg (jyvojJLevrjv, dXXd rd rcbv
^evwv jJLeXrj SiaipoufjievaL rpo(f)rjv etxov rrjv avpu^opdv
TOiv dKXripovvTcov . ravras 6 'HpaKAry? ^ovXo-
fjLevos xeipojaaaOai rov Kvpiov AiofJLt^Srjv irapi-
^aXe, Kal rat? tov irapavopieZv StSd^avro? aap^lv
eKTrXrjpujaas ttjv eVSeiav' rajv ^oxjov evTreiQels
eax^v. ^vpvadevs 8' d;^^etcra»^ upog avrov rcov
LTnrojv ravras p-ev tepd? iTTOirjaev "Upas, cSt" rr^v
€myovr]v awe^rj Siapelvac p.^XP'' '^V^ ^AXe^dv8pov
rov Ma/ceSdi^os" ^acriAeta?.
Tovrov 8e rov ddXov eTTtreXiuas per' 'Idaovog
avve^eTrXevae avarparevucov errl ro xP^'^^paXXov
Sepos els l^oXxovs. dXXd rrepl pev rovrojv iv rij
rcov 'Apyovavrcbv arpareta rd /card p,epos Sie^tpev.
16. 'UpaKXrjs 8e Xa^d)v 7Tp6arayp.a rov 'Itttto-
Xvrr]s rijs Apa^ovos iveyKetv ^axrrfjpa, rrjv inl
rds 'Apa^ovas arpareiav iTTOirjoaro. TrAeuCTa? ovv
els rov Kv^eivov utt' ^ eKeivov KXrjdevra Uovrov,
Kai KararrXevaas inl rds eK^oXds rov Qeppiohovros
TTorapLov, ttXtjolov QepioKvpas TToXecos Karearparo-
trehevaev, iv fj rd ^aaiXeia rwv ' Apal,6vcov vTrfjpxe.
Kal ro p.ev npcorov jjret rrap avraJv rov irpoareray-
^ v-n suggested by Vogel : drr'.
* In chaps. 41-50.
392
BOOK IV. 15. 2-16. 2
ing Zeus to cease from his anger he rescued him
who had been the benefactor of all.
The next Labour which Heracles undertook was
the bringing back of the horses of Diomedes, the
Thracian. The feeding-troughs of these horses were
of brass because the steeds were so savage, and they
were fastened by iron chains because of their strength,
and the food they ate was not the natural produce
of the soil but they tore apart the limbs of strangers
and so got their food from the ill lot of hapless men.
Heracles, in order to control them, threw to them
their master Diomedes, and when he had satisfied
the hunger of the animals by means of the flesh of
the man who had taught them to violate human
law in this fashion, he had them under his control.
And when the horses were brought to Eurystheus
he consecrated them to Hera, and in fact their
breed continued down to the reign of Alexander of
Macedon.
When this Labour was finished Heracles sailed
forth with Jason as a member of the expedition to
the Colchi to get the golden fleece. But we shall
give a detailed account of these matters in connection
with the expedition of the Argonauts.^
16. Heracles then received a Command to brincr
back the girdle of Hippolyte the Amazon and so
made the expedition against the Amazons. Accord-
ingly he sailed into the Pontus, which was named
by him Euxeinus,^ and continuing to the mouth
of the Thermodon River he encamped near the city
of Themiscyra, in which was situated the palace of
the Amazons. And first of all he demanded of
them the girdle which he had been commanded
i.e. " hospitable to strangers."
393
DIODORUS OF SICILY
jjievov t^coar-qpa' cos S' ov^ vttt^kovov, crvvrjipe
[xax^QV avralg. to jxev ovv a'AAo ttXtjOos avrojv
avTerdxOr] rols TToXXolg, at 8e rLixLojTarat Kiar'
avrov ra)(9eL(7aL rov 'YipaKXea jid)(rjv Kaprepdv
avvearrjaavTO . Trpajrn] fxev yap avTip avvdipaaa
[xax'Qv AeAAa,-*^ 8ta ro rd^os Tavrrjs T€Tev)(VLa rrjs
TTpoa-qyopLas, o^vrepov evpev avri^g rov dvTLrax-
devra. Beurepa Se OiAtTTTrt? €v6vs eK rrjs Trpcorr^g
(jvardaeajs Kaipico TrXrjyfj irepLTreaovaa Bi€(f>ddprj.
fierd 8e ravra YlpoOorj crvvrjipe iJLd)(rjv, r]v e/c
TTpoKXiqcreojg €.<j)aaav eTTraKig vevLK-qKevai tov dvTL-
ra^apievov. Treaovarjs Se /cat ravrnqs, rerdpTrjv
ex^LpcnaaTO rrjv 6vop,at,opi4vr]v Ept^otai^. avrr]
Se Sid TTjv €v ToXg TToXepuKols dyojaiv dvhpayaOiav
KaV)(^cxjpLev-q pirjSevos ;\;peiav ^x^iv ^orj9ov, ipevS-fj rrr^v
CTTayyeXiav ea^e KpeirTOvi Trepnreaovaa. fxerd Se
ravras KeAaii^oj Kal Kvpv^ia /cat ^ol^tj, ttjs Apre-
fjiiSos ovaaL (TvyKvvrjyol /cat Stct Travros evGr6)(a}s
dKovrit,ovaaL, tov eva gto^^ov ovk eTpcoaav, dAA'
iavTals (Jvvaa7Tit,ovaaL TOTe irdaai KaTeKOTnqaav .
jLterd Se rayra? ATjtdi/etpav /cat 'AaTeptav /cat Mdp-
7T7]V, €Tt Se TeKfiTjaaav /cat 'AA/ciTTTn^r e)(€Lpa)craro .
avrq S' opioaaaa Trapdevos hiapievelv tov [xev
opKov ecpvAage, to oe Qrjv ov oieTrjprjaev.'^ rj oe
rrjv aTpaTTjytav e^ovaa tcjv ' ApLal^ovojv MeXaviTnrr)
/cat 6avpLa[,op,evrj /xdAtcrra St' dvhpeiav diri^aXe ttjv
■qyepLOviav. 'Hpa/cAT^? Se Tag €TrL(f>aveuTdTa? tcov
^ Apial,oviha>v dveXuiv /cat to Xolttov ttXtjOo? (f>vy€lv
' Koi after "AeAAa deleted by Vogel.
^ i<f>vXa4e D, Vogel, hieT-Qp-qai CF, Dindorf, Bekker.
^ hiiTripT]aev D, Vogel, Ste^v'Aafev CF, Dindorf, Bekker.
394
BOOK IV. i6. 2-4
to get; but when they would pay no heed to him,
he joined battle with them. Now the general mass
of the Amazons were arrayed against the main
body of the followers of Heracles, but the most
honoured of the women were drawn up opposite
Heracles himself and put up a stubborn battle.
The first, for instance, to join battle with him was
Aella,^ who had been given this name because of
her swiftness, but she found her opponent more
agile than herself. The second, Philippis, encounter-
ing a mortal blow at the very first conflict, was slain.
Then he joined battle with Prothoe, who, they said,
had been victorious seven times over the opponents
whom she had challenged to battle. When she
fell, the fourth whom he overcame was known as
Eriboea. She had boasted that because of the
manly bravery which she displayed in contests of
war she had no need of anyone to help her, but she
found her claim was false when she encountered
her better. The next, Celaeno, Eurybia, and
Phoebe, who were companions of Artemis in the
hunt and whose spears found their mark invariably,
did not even graze the single target, but in that
fight they were one and all cut down as they stood
shoulder to shoulder with each other. After them
Deianeira, Asteria and Marpe, and Tecmessa and
Alcippe were overcome. The last-named had taken
a vow to remain a maiden, and the vow she kept,
but her life she could not preserve. The com-
mander of the Amazons, Melanippe, w'ho was also
greatly admired for her manly courage, now lost her
supremacy. And Heracles, after thus killing the
most renowned of the Amazons and forcing the
remaining multitude to turn in flight, cut down the
395
DIODORUS OF SICILY
(TVvavayKaaas , KaT€Koijje ra.'S nXeLGrag, ojare navre-
AcD? TO edvos avrcov avvrpt^rjvai. rcJbv 8' ah^ixaXco-
rihtov ^ AvTLonrjv /xev eScopTjaaro QrjaeX, M.eXavL7T7T-qv
8' OLTTeXvrpcoaev avTiXa^cbv rov ^coarrjpa.
17. ^vpvadecos 8e TTpoara^avros dOXov SeKarov
TOL? Vrjpvovov ^ovs ayayelv, as vefieudai avve^atve
rrjg 'l^rjpias iv tols irpos rov (VKeavov KeKXt[xevoi£
fxepecTLV, 'UpaKXrjs decopcov rov rrovov rovrov
[jieydXrjs TrpoaBeop-evov TrapaaKevijs Koi KaKOTra-
Qeias, avveoTrjdaro aroXov d^LoXoyov /<rat TrXrjdog
arparca)Ta)v a.^i6)(p€a>v eTrl ravnqv t7]v arpareiav.
2 Sie^e^orjTO yap Kara Trdaav rrjv olKoviJi4vr]v on
\pvadcx}p 6 Aa^cov aTTO rod TrXovrov rrjv Trpoa-qyo-
piav ^acnXeuei p-kv drrdar]? 'I^-qpias, rpels 8' €)(€L
avvaycoviards vlovs, hia(f>€povras rals re pco/xat?
ra)v acop^drojv Kal rals iv roZs TToXepuKols dydjaiv
avSpayadiats, rrpos 8e rovroLS on rojv vlcov
e/cacTTOS' p.€ydXas €;^et hwdpLeig avvearcoaag i^
iOvcjv jU,a;)^ijU-a)v • Sv Brj xaptv o fiev Kvpvadevs
vopLL^cov hva€<f)LKrov elvac rrjv em rovrovs arparelav,
3 TTpoaererdx^L rov TrpoeLprjfievov ddXov. 6 8'
'HpaKXrjs dKoXovdojs rals TvpoKareLpyaafievais
TTpd^eat, reOapprjKorcos VTrearrj rovs Kiv8vvous.
Kal rds p-ev Svvdp.eLS rjdpoLaev els K.py^rr]v, KeKpiKcos
CK ravrrjs rroLeloOaL rrjv opixrjv ac^oSpa yap
ev<j)va)s Tj vrjaos avrrj Kelrai irpos rds 6^' oXr]v rrjv
OLKOvpevqv arparelas. Trpo 8e rrjs dvaya)yrjs
npLiqdels vtto ra>v eyp^coptcoi' p^eyaXoTrpeiraJs , Kal
^ovXopLevos rols Uprjal -^apicyaadai, Kadapdv eTTolrjae
rrjv vT]aov rajv diqpiojv. hioTrep ev rols varepov
1 " He of the Golden Sword."
BOOK IV. i6. 4-17. 3
greater number of them, so that the race of them
was utterly exterminated. As for the captives, he
gave Antiope as a gift to Theseus and set Melanippe
free, accepting her girdle as her ransom.
17. Eurystheus then enjoined upon him as a tenth
Labour the bringing back of the cattle of Geryones,
which pastured in the parts of Iberia which slope
towards the ocean. And Heracles, realizing that
this task called for preparation on a large scale and
involved great hardships, gathered a notable arma-
ment and a multitude of soldiers such as would be
adequate for this expedition. For it had been noised
abroad throughout all the inhabited world that
Chrysaor,^ who received this appellation because of
his wealth, was king over the whole of Iberia, and
that he had three sons to fight at his side, who
excelled in both strength of body and the deeds of
courage which they displayed in contests of war ;
it was known, furthermore, that each of these sons
had at his disposal great forces which were recruited
from warlike tribes. It was because of these reports
that Eurystheus, thinking any expedition against
these men would be too difficult to succeed, had
assigned to Heracles the Labour just described. But
Heracles met the perils ^^^th the same bold spirit
which he had displayed in the deeds which he had
performed up to this time. His forces he gathered
and brought to Crete, having decided to make his
departure from that place ; for this island is especially
well situated for expeditions against any part of the
inhabited world. Before his departure he was
magnificently honoured by the natives, and wishing
to show his gratitude to the Cretans he cleansed the
island of the wild beasts wliich infested it. And this
397
DIODOKUS OF SICILY
•)(p6voi^ ovhev en rcbv dypicov l,a)cov VTrrjpxev
ev Tjj VTqacp, olov dpKrtov, Xvkcov, otpewv rj rcbv
dXXojv rcjjv roLovTCov. ravra 8' evpa^ev OLTroaefivv-
voiv nqv vfjaov, ev ■fj fxvdoXoyovai Kal yeviadai
Kol rpa<j)rjvaL rov At'a.
4 WoLrjodpievos ovv rov €k ravrr)? ttXovv Karrjpev
els Tr)v Al^vt^v, Kal rrpaJrov pLev 'Avralov rov
pcopirj GcopLaros Kal TraXaiarpa? epLTTetpia Sta^e-
^O'qp.evov Kai rovs v-n avrov KaraTraXaiaOevras
^evovs aTTOKTetvovra ^ TtpoKaXeadpievos els pid-)(T)v
Kal avpLTiXaKeLS hLecjyQeipev. dKoXovdoJS Se rovrois
rrjv piev Ai^vrjv TrXt^dovaav dypicx>v ^coajv, ttoAAo, tojv
Kara tt]v epripiov ^(^dypav ^^eipcoadpievos, e^rjpie-
pcoaev, ware /cai yecopytais Kal rals d'AAat?
(j>vreLais rais rovs Kapvovs 7rapaGKevat,ovaaLS
TrXiqpojdrjvaL ttoXXtjv piev dpi7TeX6(f>vrov ^copav,
TToXXrjv S' eXaiocpopov KadoXov he rrjv Ai^vr]v
8ta ro rrXrjdos roJv Kara rr]v -^cLpav drjpiu>v doLKr}-
rov rrporepov ovaav e^iqpiepcoaas eTToirjcre pirjBepiids
5 ^wpas ev8aipiovLa XeiTreaOat. op-olcos Be Kal rovs
TTapavopiovvras dvOpojirovs rj Svvdaras V7Teprj(f)dvovs
diTOKreivas rds rroXeis erroL-qaev evSatpiovas . p,v9o-
Xoyovai S' a'urov 8td rovro pnarjaaL Kal TToXepbrjoai
ro yevos rdjv dypicov drjpLcov Kal Trapavopicxjv
dvSpdJv, on TTaiSl piev dvn vqTricp avve^rj rovs
6(f>eLS eTTL^ovXovs avro) yeveudai, dvhpojdevn he
ireaeZv vtt' e^ovaiav xnrep'f]<\>dvov koX dSiKov
piovdpxov rov rovs dOXovs rrpoardrrovros .
18. Merd 8e rov 'Avraiov ddvarov napeXddjv els
* So Bekker : dTTOKTelvavTa MSS., Dindorf, Vogel.
1 Cp. Book 1.21. 4.
BOOK IV. 17. 3-18. I
is the reason why in later times not a single wild
animal, such as a bear, or wolf, or serpent, or any
similar beast, was to be found on the island. This
deed he accomplished for the glory of the island,
which, the myths relate, w'as both the birthplace and
the early home of Zeus.
Setting sail, then, from Crete, Heracles put in at
Libya, and first of all he challenged to a fight
Antaeus,^ whose fame was noised abroad because of
his strength of body and his skill in wrestling, and
because he was wont to put to death all strangers
whom he had defeated in wrestUng, and grappling
with him Heracles slew the giant. Following up this
great deed he subdued Libya, which was full of wild
animals, and large parts of the adjoining desert,
and brought it all under cultivation, so that the whole
land was filled with ploughed fields and such plantings
in general as bear fruit, much of it being devoted to
vineyards and much to olive orchards ; and, speaking
generally, Libya, which before that time had been
uninhabitable because of the multitude of the wild
beasts which infested the whole land, was brousrht
under cultivation by him and made inferior to no
other country in point of prosperity. He likewise
punished with death such men as defied the law or
arrogant rulers and gave prosperity to the cities.
And the myths relate that he hated every kind of
wild beast and lawless men and warred upon them
because of the fact that it had been his lot that while
yet an infant the serpents made an attempt on his
life, and that when he came to man's estate he
became subject to the power of an arrogant and
unjust despot who laid upon him these Labours.
18. After Heracles had slain Antaeus he passed into
399
DIODORUS OF SICILY
KiyvTTTOv dvetAe Boyaiptr tov ^aatAea ^evoKTO
vovvra Tovg TTapemhrjjjiovvras. Sie^iajv Se rrjv
avvhpov rrjg AtjSJrjs", xal TTepirv)^a}v X^P^ Karap-
pvTCp Kat KapTTO(f)6pcp, ttoXlv eKTLoe davfxaGTriv tcD
pbeyeOei, ttjv ovoixat^opievriv 'Y^KaropiTTvXov , fj edero
rrjv TTpoarjyopLav oltto tov ttXtjOovs tu>v /car' aurrjv
TTvXoJv. 8LaiX€jJievrjK€ 8e i) ravTrjg rrjs TToXecos
evSaifJiovLa fi^XP'' '^'^^ vecorepcov icaipcov, iv ot?^
K.apx'TjSovi.oi SwajxeaLV d^toAoyot? /cat arpanqyoZs
dyadols crrpaTevaavres evr avTrjV KvpioL Kare-
OTTjaav. 6 S' 'Hpa/cAT^? ttoXXtju rrjs Aifiv-qg iireX-
6<hv TTapfjXdev €7tI tov 7Tp6<5 TaheLpoLs coKeavov,
Kal aTijXas eOeTO Ka6 eKaTepav twv rjTretpcov.
uvpiTTapaTrXeovTO? 8e tov otoXov Sta^d? ei? t7]v
']^r)pLav, Kal KaTaXa^ojv Tovg \pvadopos vlov'
Tpicrl hwdfjiecn jxeydXats KaTeuTpaTOTreSevKOTo
eK hiauTiqixaTos , TrdvTa? rovg -qyepiovas eK irpoKXirj-
aecos dveXojv Kal t7]v l^rjpiav ^^etpaicrd/zet'os"
dm^Aaae rd? SicovopLaafievag tcdv ^ocjv dye'Aa?.
hie^LUiv Se tt^v tcov ^l^-qpcov x^P^^> '<^ci.' TifirjOels
VTTO TLVos ToJv iyxcDpLcov ^aGiXeoJS , dv8p6g evuef^eta
Kal 8t,KaLoavvr] hia<f>epovTos , KaTeXnre p.4pos tcov
^ocbv ev ScopeaXs tco ^aaiXel. 6 8e Xa^chv drrdaas
KaOtepcoaev 'Hpa/cAet, KaL /car eviavTov Ik tovtcjv
edvev avTO) tov KaXXiaTevovTa Tthv Tavpojv
TCL? Se ^ovs TTjpovixlva? avve^Tj lepas Sta/netJ/ac
KaTO, TTjv ^l^rjplav pi^XP^ ^^ '^'^^ tiP-S-s Katpajv.
'H peels 8' €7766 TTepl Twv ' II paxXeovg (jT7]Xa>v
CfXvqcrOrjpiev, OLKelov elvai voj-iil^opiev rrepi avTOJV
^ ols Hertlein : ofj /cat.
1 Cp. Book 1.88. 5.
400
BOOK IV. i8. 1-4
Egypt and put to death Busiris,^ the king of the
land, who made it his practice to kill the strangers who
visited that country. Then he made his way through
the waterless part of Libya, and coming upon a land
which was well watered and fruitful he founded a
city of marvellous size, which was called Hecatompy-
lon,2 giving it this name because of the multitude
of its gates. And the prosperity of this city continued
until comparatively recent times, when the Car-
thaginians made an expedition against it with notable
forces under the command of able generals and made
themselves its masters. And after Heracles had
visited a large part of Libya he arrived at the ocean
near Gadeira,^ where he set up pillars on each of the
two continents. His fleet accompanied him along the
coast and on it he crossed over into Iberia. And
finding there the sons of Chiysaor encamped at some
distance from one another with three great armies,
he challenged each of the leaders to single combat and
slew them all, and then after subduing Iberia he
drove off the celebrated herds of cattle. He then
traversed the country of the Iberians, and since he
had received honours at the hands of a certain king of
the natives, a man Avho excelled in piety and justice,
he left with the king a portion of the cattle as a
present. The king accepted them, but dedicated
them all to Heracles and made it his practice each
year to sacrifice to Heracles the fairest bull of the
herd ; and it came to pass that the kine are still
maintained in Iberia and continue to be sacred to
Heracles down to our owm time.
But since we have mentioned the pillars of Heracles,
we deem it to be appropriate to set forth the facts con-
» " Of a Hundred Gates." » Cadiz.
401
DIODORUS OF SICILY
BteWelv. 'HpaKXrjg yap Trapa^aXojv et? ras
aKpas rojv rjireipcov rag Trapa rov oiKeavov Keipevas
rris re Al^vt]? Kal rrjg FjvpwTrrjs eyvco rrjs crrparetas'
deadaL arrjXag ravras. ^ovXap-evog S' aeipurqarov
kpyov €77 avT(x> avvreXeuai, (jyaal ras aKpas
5 a[ji(f)OTepag cttI ttoXv rrpop^cDcrai' 8io Kal Trporepov
8tear7]KVLag ari aXXr]Xojv ttoXv StaarTj/xa, crvvaya-
yeZv rov rropov elg arevov, ottoj? aXirevov'; koX
arevov yevofxevov KOjXvrjrat ra p-eyaXa K-q-rq
dLeKmirreiv e/c rod d)Keavov npos rrjv ivros ddXar-
rav, afxa Se Kal Std ro fxiyedo'S tcov epyojv p-€vrj
deLfJLvqGTog rj Sofa rov KaraaKcvduavro^' d)5
Se Tive? (haaL, ro'uvavrLov ra)v rjireipcov dp.(f>or€pcov
(Tvvel,€vy[Ji€vajv SiaarKaipaL ravra?, Kal rov iropov
avoi^avra TToirjcrai rov djKeavov fxiayeaOai rfj
Kad TjiJids OaXdrrrj. aAAa TrepL jxkv rovrcov
efecrrat OKOTrelv cus" dv eKaarog eavrov Tretdj].
To TTapairX-qGLov Se rovrois errpa^e Trporepov
Kara rrjv 'EAAaSa. vepc fiev yap rd KaXovfieva
Tep-TTiq rrjs 77e8taSos' ;;^ajpa? evL rroXvv roTTOv
XLixvat,ovarj<; SteaKaipe rov avve)(fj ronov, Kal Kard
rrjs Sicopvxo? Se^dp^evos aTrav rd Kard rrjv XipLvrjv
vha>p eTTOLTjae rd TreSia cf)avrjvaL rd Kard rr)v
7 SerraXiav napd rov Il7]vei6v TTorap-ov iv Se
rfj BotcoTt'a rovvavriov €p(f>pd^as rd rrepl rov
yiivveiov 'Opxop-evdv peWpov inoLrjae Xipval^eiv
rrjv )(^u)P'^^ '^'^l 'f'^aprjvaL rd Kar avrrjv dnavra.
dXXd rd pev Kard rrjv QerraXiav eirpa^ev evep-
^ The Straits of Gibraltar are twelve miles wide and for
eight miles the average depth is 250 fathoms.
^ The reference is to Lake Copais.
402
BOOK IV. i8. 4-7
cerning them. When Heracles arrived at the farthest
points of the continents of Libya and Europe which He
upon the ocean, he decided to set up these pillars to
commemorate his campaign. And since he wished
to leave upon the ocean a monument which would be
had in everlasting remembrance, he built out both
the promontories, they say, to a great distance;
consequently, whereas before that time a great
space had stood between them, he now narrowed the
passage, in order that by making it shallow and
narrow ^ he might prevent the great sea-monsters
from passing out of the ocean into the inner sea, and
that at the same time the fame of their builder might
be held in everlasting remembrance by reason of the
magnitude of the structures. Some authorities,
however, say just the opposite, namely, that the two
continents were originally joined and that he cut a
passage between them, and that by opening the
passage he brought it about that the ocean was
mingled with our sea. On this question, however,
it ■will be possible for every man to think as he may
please.
A thing very much like this he had already done in
Greece. For instance, in the region which is called
Tempe, where the country is like a plain and was
largely covered with marshes, he cut a channel
through the territory which bordered on it, and
carrying off through this ditch all the water of the
marsh he caused the plains to appear which are now in
Thessaly along the Peneius river. But in Boeotia he
did just the opposite and damming the stream which
flowed near the Minyancity of Orchomenus he turned
the country into a lake ^ and caused the ruin of that
whole region. But what he did in Thessaly was to
403
DIODORUS OF SICILY
y€.TGiv rov<s "EAATyi^a?, to. Se /card rr^v BoiCDTtav
Ti\ioipla.v Xaj^if^dvcov irapa rcov rrjv M^LvvdSa Karot-
KOVVTOJV Std Tr]v rojv Grj^aLcov KaraSovXtoaiv .
19. '0 8 'UpaKXrj? Tujv jxev l^i^pojv rrapeScoKe
TTjv ^acriXeiav rots dpiarois tojv iy)(Ojpnov, auros" S'
dvaXa^obv rrjv hvvapLLv /cat Karavrrjaas elg Tr)v
K-eXTiKT^v Kal irdaav iireXOchv KareXvae pieu rd?
avvTqdeLs Traparo/xta? /cat ^evoKTOvias , rroXXov
he TrXrjdovs dvdpojTTCov e^ dnavros edvovs eKoucrlajs
avarparevovTOs e/crtae ttoXlv evpLeyed-q rrjv ovo-
piaaOeXaav (xtto ttj? /caret rrjv arpareiav dXr^';
2 'AXrjatav. voXXoug §e /cat rdJv ey)^a)pLa}v dve-
pLL^ev els TTjv ttoXlv ojv eTTLKpaTrjadvTcov ra>
TrXridei Trdvras rovg evoiKOVvras eK^ap^apojdrjvaL
crvve^rj. ol 8e KeArot pie)(pL rcbvSe rtov Kaipcov
TLpidJaL rauTr]v ttjv voXlv, co? aTraarjs rrjs KeArt/ciy?
ovaav iariav /cat pirjrpoTToXLv. StepLetve 8' avrrj Trdvra
rov d^' 'Hpa/cAeou? XP^^^^ eXevdepa kul d-nopdiq-
ros fi^xpi- Tov Kad^ r)pids XROvov to Se TeXevratov
VTTO Fatby Katcra/Jo? tov Std to pLeyedog tojv
Trpd^eoiv deov TTpoaayopevOevTos e/c ^ta? dAouaa
avvrjvayKdaOrj jLterd TrdvTcov Totv dXXoiv KeArcDt'
3 vTTOTayqvaL 'Pa)/xatots". d S 'UpaKXrjg ttjv e/c
TTJg KeArt/c^S" TTopelav em ttjv IraAtai' iroiovpLevog,
/cat Ste^tdji' Trfv opeLvrjV ttjv /card Tag "AXireLg,
(jjhoTToirjae ttjv TpaxvTr]Ta Trjg 68ov /cat to Bvcr-
^aTov, woTe SvvaaOaL CTTpaTOTreSoig Kal rat? tojv
4 v7Tot,vyi(x}v diToaKevaZg ^doipLOv eivai. tujv he
TTjv 6peLV7]v TavT'T]v KaTOLKOvvTOiv ^ap^dptov eloi-
doTUiV TO. hie^LovTa tcov GTpaTOTTehcov TrepiKOTTTetv
404
BOOK IV. i8. 7-19. 4
confer a benefit upon the Greeks, whereas in Boeotia
he was exacting punishment from those who dwelt
in Minyan territory, because they had enslaved the
Thebans.
19. Heracles, then, delivered over the kingdom of
the Iberians to the noblest men among the natives and,
on his part, took his army and passing into Celtica
and traversing the length and breadth of it he put an
end to the lawlessness and mui'dering of strangers to
which the people had become addicted ; and since a
great multitude of men from every tribe flocked to his
army of their own accord, he founded a great city
which was named Alesia after the " wandering "
(ale) on his campaign. But he also mingled among
the citizens of the city many natives, and since these
surpassed the others in multitude, it came to pass
that the inhabitants as a whole were barbarized.
The Celts up to the present time hold this city in
honour, looking upon it as the hearth and mother-
city of all Celtica. And for the entire period from the
days of Heracles this city remained free and was never
sacked until our own time ; but at last Gains Caesar,
who has been pronounced a god because of the
magnitude of his deeds, took it by storm and made it
and the other Celts subjects of the Romans. ^ Hera-
cles then made his way from Celtica to Italy, and as
he travei'sed the mountain pass through the Alps he
made a highway out of the route, which was rough
and almost impassable, with the result that it can
now be crossed by armies and baggage-trains. The
barbarians who inhabited this mountain region had
been accustomed to butcher and to plunder such
^ In 52 B.C. ; the account of the siege and capture of
Alesia is in Caesar, Tht Gallic War, 7. 68 ff.
405
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Kai Xr]aTevetv iv ratg dva)(copLaig, )(€Lpco(TdfX€vog
aTTavras Kat rovs rjyeybovas rrj^ TTapavoyiia? d^'eAcoi-'
€7TOt,7]aev a(j(j)aXi] rots jJierayevearepoig ttjv oSot-
TTopiav. ^LeXdojv 8e Tag "AXttcls koI rrjg vvu
KaXovfxevrjg TaXartas ttjv TreStaSa Sie^LOJU eTroiTj-
aaro nqv Tropetav Sia t'^S' AiyuariKT^?.
20. Ot Se TavTTjv TTjv ^(^ciipav oLKovures Aiyves
ve/jiovraL yijv rpa)(^elav /cat TravreAtDs' Xvirpdv
Ta>v 8 ey^ojpLOJV rals ipyacriaig Kal rat? rrjg
KaKoiradeias VTTcp^oXais <^epeL Kaprrovs Trpos
^iav oXiyovs. Sto /cat rot? oy/cot? etcrt avvecrraX-
pL€voL /cat 8ta TTjv avvex'fj yufjivaacav evrovof
rrjg yap Kara ttjv Tpv(j>riv paarcjvqs ttoXv Kexojpia-
puivoL eXacfypol jxev rat? evKiviqaiaLS elaiv, iv 8e rot?
2 TToXepuKols dyaJGL raXg dA/cat? hidcjiopoi. KadoXov he
ra>v TTXT]aLO)(copa)v to TTOvetv avve^'^^ rjcrKrjKorcov,
/cat rrjs )(copag TToXXrjg ipyaulas TrpocrSeo/xeVi^?,
eWiKaari rds yvvaiKas rcjv KaKOTTadeicov rcov iv
rals epyactiai? koivojvovs TTOLeladai. fiicrOov Se
Trap* dAArjAot? €pyat,opieva>v raJv re dvSpcov /cat
Tcbv yvvatKcov, lSlov tl /cat TrapdSo^ov Kad*
3 r)p.dg avve^r] nepl piiav yvvalKa yeveaOat,. eyKvos
yap ovaa /cat /xerd tojv dvSpcov ipya^ofievT] p,La6ou,
fxera^v avvexop-evrj rals (Lhlcnv aTrrjXdev e'is
TLvas 6dp,vovg ddopv^ojs' iv ot? reKovaa, kul to
TTaihiov (f)vXXois iveiX'qaacra, rovro p,ev ^ dneKpui/jev,
avrrj 8e avp^p^i^aaa rolg ipyat,op.ivoLg rrjv avrrjv
iK€Lvoig virip^eive KaKOTrdOeiav, ouSev hrjXojaaaa
Trepl rod aup^^e^rjKoros. rod ^pe(j)OV? Se KXavdpLV-
^ eij Tifas 9dfj.vov£ after fih deleted by Bekker.
^ Cisalpine Gaul.
406
BOOK IV. 19. 4 20. 3
armies as passed through when they came to the
difficult portions of the way, but he subdued them all,
slew those that were the leaders in lawlessness of this
kind, and made the journey safe for succeeding
generations. And after crossing the Alps he passed
through the level plain of what is now called Galatia ^
and made his way through Liguria.
20. The Ligurians who dwell in this land possess a
soil which is stony and altogether ^\Tetched, and, in
return for the labours and exceedingly great hard-
ships of the natives, produces only scanty crops which
are wrung from it. Consequently the inhabitants
are of small bulk and are kept vigorous by their
constant exercise ; for since they are far removed from
the care-free life which accompanies luxury, they are
light in their movements and excel in vigour when it
comes to contests of war. In general, the inhabitants
of the region round about are inured to continuous
work, and since the land requires much labour for its
cultivation, the Ligurians have become accustomed
to require the women to share in the hardships which
the cultivation involves. And since both the men
and the women work side by side for hire, it came to
pass that a strange and surprising thing took place
in our day in connection with a certain woman. She
was with child, and while working for hire in company
with the men she was seized by the labour-pains in
the midst of her work and quietly withdrew into a
thicket ; here she gave birth to the child, and then,
after covering it with leaves, she hid the babe there
and herself rejoined the labourers, continuing to
endure the same hardship as that in which they were
engaged and giving no hint of what had happened.
And when the babe wailed and the occurrence be-
407
VOL. II. O
DIODORUS OF SICILY
piX,oiiivov , Koi rrjg irpd^ecos (f^avepds yevon^vrjs, 6
fxev €(f>eGTrjKa)S ov8a[xcos r]8vvaro TrelaaL rravcjaaOai,
Tcbv kpycov Tj S' ov TTporepov OLTrecrrT] rrjs KaKorra-
deiag, ews 6 ixiadayadpievos eXer^aas Kal rou jxiadov
anoBovs aTTeXvae Tcjv epycov.
21. UpaKXrjg he SieXOcbv riqv re Ta)V Kiyvcov
Kac rrjV tojv TvpprjvoJv -^wpav, KaravTiqaa? vpos
Tov Tt^epLv TTOTapLOV KarecrrparoTTeSevaev ov vvv t)
Pcopir] iariv. dXX avrr] jxev TroAAat? yeveals
varepov vtto 'Pco/xuAou tov "Apeog eKriadr], rore
8e rives tojv ey^^ojpLcov KarcpKovv ev rep vvv
KaXovpievo) naAartoj, p.iKpdv rravreXaJs ttoXcv
2 oLKOvvreg . ev ravrrj he tojv enL^avcdv ovres dvhpwv
Ka/ctos' Kol Tlivdpios ihe^avro rov 'HpaKXea
^evLOLS d^LoXoyois Kal hcopealg Ke)(apLa p^evais
irLp,r]aav Kal rovrcov rcov dvhpoJv vTrop^vr^pLara
fiexpi- Tcovhe rdJv Kaipojv hiap-evei Kara rr]v
'PaJ/xT^v. rdJv yap vvv evyevdjv dvhpoJv ro rcov
YlLvapicov 6vop.al,o[xeva)v ^ yevos hLajxevet rrapd rots
*Pcop.aiOLS, dig V7Tdp)(ov dp^o-iorarov , rov he
KaKiou ev ru) naAartcu Kard^aaig eariv e^ovaa
Xidivrjv /cAt/xaKa rrjv 6vop.a^oixev7]v (xtt' eKeivov
Ka/ctW, ovaav TrX-qaiov rrjg rore yevopievrjg olKiag
3 rod KaKiou. o S' ovv 'YipaKXrig drrohe^dp^evog
rrjv evvoiav rdJv ro TlaXanov OLKOvvrojv, TrpoeZrvev
avrolg on perd rrjV eavrov pberdaraatv elg deovg
rolg ev^apevotg eKheKarevaetv HpaKAet rr]v ovaiav
crvpL^iqaeraL rov ^iov evhaip,ovearepov ex^t-v.^ o
Kal Gwe^rj Kara rovg varepov xP^vovg hiapieZvai
^ So Hertlein : 6vofia!^6[j.evov.
^ ex^iv Hertlein : e^eiv.
408
BOOK IV. 20. 3-21. 3
came known, the overseer could in no wise persuade
her to stop her work ; and indeed she did not desist
from the hardship until her employer took pity upon
her, paid her the wages due her, and set her free
from work.^
21. After Heracles had passed through the lands of
the Ligurians and of the Tp-rhenians ^ he came to the
river Tiber and pitched his camp at the site where
Rome now stands. But this city was founded many
generations afterwards by Romulus, the son of Ares,
and at this time certain people of the vicinity had
their homes on the Palatine Hill, as it is now called,
and formed an altogether inconsiderable city. Here
some of the notable men, among them Cacius and
Pinarius, welcomed Heracles with marked acts of
hospitality and honoured him with pleasing gifts ;
and memorials of these men abide in Rome to the
present day. For, of the nobles of our time, the geris
which bears the name Pinarii still exists among the
Romans, being regarded as very ancient, and as for
Cacius, there is a passage on the Palatine which leads
downward, furnished with a stairway of stone, and is
called after him the " Steps of Cacius," ^ and it lies
near the original house of Cacius. Now Heracles
received with favour the good-will shown him by
the dwellers on the Palatine and foretold to them that,
after he had passed into the circle of the gods, it
would come to pass that whatever men should make a
vow to dedicate to Heracles a tithe of their goods
would lead a more happy and prosperous life. And in
fact this custom did arise in later times and has
^ A similar story of women of Liguria is told by Strabo
(3. 4. 17), on the authority of Posidonius.
^ Etruscans. ^ The scalae Caci.
409
DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 fxexpi' ToJv Kad rjiJids ■)(^p6vojv ttoXXovs yap Tcbv
'PcjfjiaLcov ov [Movov rcov avpLiierpovs ovaias K€Krr]-
jjidvcoVy aAAa /<at rwv fxeyaXonXovTcov tlvcl^ eufa-
fjbevovs iKbeKareuacLv 'Hpa/cAet, /cat fjiera ravra
yevofxevous evhaifjiovas, eKSeKareuaaL rd? ovaiag
ovaas raXdvrcov TerpaKLGy^LXicov . AevKoXXos yap
6 TcDv Kad avTOV PoinaLouv ax^^ov tl TrXovaLoiraros
cov hcaTifi'qcrdpievos rrjv Ihiav ovcriav KareOvae rco
6ea> Trduav ttjv Se/carryv, evco)(Las ttolcov avvexets
/cat TToXvSaTrdvovs . KareuKevaaav Se Kat 'PcD/xatot
rovTcp TO) Oecp Trapd tov Ti^epiv lepov d^ioXoyov,
iv (S vojjitt,ovGL avvTeXeiv rds ^k Trjs SeKdr-qs 9vaia<s.
5 'O S' ovv 'YipaKXrj's diro rod Ti^epeajs dva^ev^as ,
/cat bLe^Lcov rrjv TtapaXiov rrjs vvv 'IraAta? ovofia-
l^o/Jievqs, KaTqvTTiuev els to Ku^Liatot' TreStoi', iv (L
pLvdoXoyovaLv dvSpag yeviadai rdls re pcop.aLs rrpo-
e^ovTas /cat errl Trapavop^ia SicovopiaGpievovs, ovs
6vop.dl,€adai yiyavTas. wvoixaadai Se /cat ro
TTeScov rovTO ^Xeypalov dvo rod Xo(f>ov rod ro
TToXaiov iK(f)vad)vros drrXarov rrvp TTaparrXirjULcos
rfj Kara rrjv ZltK-eAtW Acrvrj- /caAetrat Se vvv 6
X6(f>os ^ OveaouLos ,^ ex<i>v ttoAAo. arjp.€La rod
6 K€KadadaL Kara rovs dp^aiovs xP^^'^'us. rovs 8'
ovv ytyavrag rrvdop^evovs rrjv 'Hpa/cAeou? Trapovcriav
ddpoiadrjvai Tvdvras koI Trapard^aodai rco Trpoetprj-
pLevcp. davp,aarijs Se yevop.evr^£ p.dx'^'5 /caret re
rrjv p(x)pbir]v /cat ttjv dXKrjv rajv yiyavrcov, </)aCTt rov
'Hpa/cAea, avpipiaxovvrojv avra> rdJv dedjv, Kparrjuat
rfj pidxj), /cat TOWS' TrXeiarovs dveXovra rrjv p^cupaj/
* \6(f>o$ Dindorf : toVoj.
* Oveoovios (cp. Strabo 5. 4. 8), Oveaqvqvios Bekker, Dindorf,
Vogel, ovioovaios MSS.
4IO
BOOK IV. 21, 3-6
persisted to our own day ; for many Romans, and not
only those of moderate fortunes but some even of
great wealth, who have taken a vow to dedicate a
tenth to Heracles and have thereafter become happy
and prosperous, have presented him ^^^th a tenth of
their possessions, which came to four thousand talents.
Lucullus, for instance, who was perhaps the wealthiest
Roman of his day, had his estate appraised and then
offered a full tenth of it to the god, thus providing
continuous feastings and expensive ones withal.
Furthermore, the Romans have built to this god a
notable temple on the bank of the Tiber, with the
purpose of performing in it the sacrifices from the
proceeds of the tithe.
Heracles then moved on from the Tiber, and as he
passed down the coast of what now bears the name of
Italy he came to the Cumaean Plain. Hei-e, the
myths relate, there were men of outstanding strength
the fame of whom had gone abroad for lawlessness
and they were called Giants. This plain was called
Phlegraean (" fiery ") from the mountain which of
old spouted forth a huge fire as Aetna did in Sicily ;
at this time, however, the mountain is called Vesuvius
and shows many signs of the fire which once raged in
those ancient times. Now the Giants, according to
the account, on learning that Heracles was at hand,
gathered in full force and di-ew themselves up in
battle-order against him. The struggle which took
place was a wonderful one, in view of both the strength
and the courage of the Giants, but Heracles, they
say, with the help of the gods who fought on his
side, gained the upper hand in the battle, slew most
of the Giants, and brought the land under cultivation.
411
DIODORUS OF SICILY
7 egr^fxepwaai. ^vdoXoyovvrai 8' ol yiyavres yrjye-
vels yeyovevai, Sto. rrjv vjrep^oXrjv tov Kara to
crtD/xa fieyeOovs. Kal Tre pi pukv tojv iv OAe'ypa
(f>ov€v9evTcov yiydvrcov roiavra yivdoXoyovoi rive's,
OLS /cat Ti/xato? o avyyparjyev? rjKoXovOrjaev.
22. *0 S' 'Hpa/cAT^? eK TOV ^Xeypaiov TreStov
KaTeXOojv em ttjv ddXaTTav KareaKevaaev epya vepl
rrjv "Aopvov 6vo[xa^o[Jiev7jv Xifxvrjv, lepdv Se ^€pae<f)6-
vTjg vop.il,oixevr]v }■ KeZrai fxev ovv rj Xlpivrj fiera^v
MtcTTji'oi; Kai ^iKaLap)(^eLcov , TrXrjaLov rojv depficov
vBarcjv, e^^L §e tt]!^ /xev rrepiiierpov oi? TreVre
arahicov, to he ^ddos dinaTov e)(ovaa yap vScop
KaOapcoraTOV ^aiverai tj] xpoa Kvavovv Sid ttjv
2 VTTep^oXrjv tov ^ddovs. jxvdoXoyovui. §e to fiev
TTaXaiov yeyevrjaOai, veKVOjxavTeZov Tvpos avTrj, o
ToTs VGTepov xpo^ois KaTaXeXvaOai (jiaoiv. dvane-
TTTa/xevT^? Se ttjs Ai/xvt]? els Trjv ddXaTTav, tov
'Hpa/cAea Xeyerai tov fiev eKpovv ey^coaai, ttjv S'
oSov TTjv vvv ovaav Trapd OdXaTTav KaTaoKevdaai ,
TTjv drr^ eKeivov KaXovpLeviqv 'Hpa/cAetai'.
'i TavTa fxev ovv enpa^e rrepl eKeivovs tovs t6-
TTOvs. evTevOev 8' dvat,ev^as Kar'qvTrjcre ttjs ITo-
aeiSojviaTOJV )(a)pas Tipos Tiva Tverpav, Trpos fj
pLvdoXoyouaiv lSlov tl yeveadai Kal TrapdSo^ov.
TOJV yap ey-^ojpiojv Tivd Kvvqyov ev tols Kara ttjv
^ So Stephanus : ovofia^ofievrjv.
^ Timaeus of Tauromenium in Sicily was bom about 350
B.C. and is reputed to have lived to the age of ninety-six.
His greatest work was a history of Sicily and the West from
the earliest times to 264 b,c.
412
BOOK IV. 21. 6-22. 3
The myths record that the Giants were sons of the
earth because of the exceedingly great size of their
bodies. With regard, then, to the Giants who were
slain in Phlegra, this is the account of certain writers
of myths, who have been followed by the historian
Timaeus ^ also.
22. From the Phlegraean Plain Heracles went
down to the sea, where he constructed works about
the lake which bears the name Lake of Avernus and
is held sacred to Persephone. Now this lake lies
between Misenum and Dicaearcheia - near the hot
waters,^ and is about five stades in circumference and
of incredible depth ; for its water is very pure and
nas to the eye a dark blue colour because of its very
great depth. And the myths record that in ancient
times there had been on its shores an oracle of the
dead which, they say, was destroyed in later days.
Lake Avernus once had an opening into the sea, but
Heracles is said to have filled up the outlet and
constructed the road which runs at this time along
the sea and is called after him the " Way of
Heracles."
These, then, ai*e the deeds of Heracles in the
regions mentioned above. And moving; on from there
he came to a certain rock in the country of the people
of Poseidonia,* where the myths relate that a peculiar
and marvellous thing once took place. There was,
that is, among the natives of the region a certain
^ The Roman Puteoli.
^ The hot springs of Baiae, the famous summer resort of
the Romans, which, according to Strabo (5. 45), " were
suited both to the taste of the fastidious and to the cure of
disease " (tr. of Jones in the L.C.L.).
* The Roman Paestum, modern Pesto.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
diqpav dvhpayaOrjiJLaaL SLajvofxaunevov iv p,ev rots'
epLTTpoudev ^povoLs elojdevaL rojv Xr](f>devrojv dripLCJV
ra.'S K€(f)aXas kol rovs TTohag avandevai rfj Apre-
jU-iSt Kal Trpoar^Xovv rot? SeVSpecrt, rore S ovv
VTTepcjivi^ Kairpov xeLpcoadpLevov, to? ^ rrjs deov Kara-
(jipovquavra, elirelv on rrjv Ke^aXrjv rod drjpLov
iavTO) dvarldriai, Kal toZs Xoyois aKoXovdcos €k
Tivos Sevhpov KpepbdaaL ravrrjv, avrov Se, Kavfxarco-
Sovs TTepiardaeajs ova-qg, Kara fiea-qpL^pLav els vrrvov
rpaTrrjvaL- Ka9' ov Sr) ^^povov rod SeapLov XvOevros
avTopidrcDS Treaelv rrjv KetfyaXrjV irrt rov KoipuLpievov
4 Koi hia^delpai. dXXd yap ovk dv tl? davpidueie
TO yeyovos, on rrjg Oedg ravTrjs TtoXXal TrepiordcreL's
pLVTj pLoveuovrai TrepU^^ovaai rrjv Kara rcbv dae^cbv
rLpLcopiav. rip 8' 'Hpa/cAet Sta rrjV evae^eLav
5 rovvavriov avvl^-q yeveadai.. KaravriqGavrog yap
avrov TTpog rd p.e66pta rrjg 'Prjyivrjs /cat Ao/cpiSo?,
Kal Sta rov Ik rrjs ohoLrropias kottov dvairavopievov ,
cfyaalv VTTo rajv rerrCycov avrov €vo)(Xovp.€vov
ev^audai rolg Oeols dcftavelg yeveadai rovs ivo-
)^Xovvras avrov Kal Std rovro, rcvv OedJv ^ef^aioj-
odvrwv rrjV evxi^^, p-'^ piovov Kara rd rrapov
d(f)avels yeveadai rovrovg, dXXd Kal Kara rov vare-
pov xpovov dvavra pi-qhlva remya ^aiveadai Kard
rrjV xd)pav.
6 '0 S' 'HpaKXrjg Karavrrjoag eVt rov vopOpLov
Kard rd arevcorarov rrjg OaXdrr-qg rdg pL€v ^ovg
€7Tepaia>aev elg rrjv St/ceAtav, avrog Se ravpov /ce-
pojg Xa^6pL€vog hieviq^aro rov TTOpov, dvrog rod Sta-
ar-qparog arahiojv rpidJv Kal SeVa, wg TipLatog
' els Capps : /cat.
414
BOOK IV. 22. 3-6
hunter, the fame of whom had gone abroad because
of his brave exploits in hunting. On former occasions
it had been his practice to dedicate to Artemis the
heads and feet of the animals he secured and to nail
them to the trees, but once, when he had over-
powered a huge wild boar, he said, as though in
contempt of the goddess, " The head of the beast I
dedicate to mvself," and bearing out his words he
hung the head on a tree, and then, the atmosphere
being very warm, at midday he fell asleep. And
while he was thus asleep the thong broke, and the
head fell down of itself upon the sleeper and killed
him. And in truth there is no reason why anyone
should marvel at this happening, for many actual
occurrences are recorded which illustrate the venge-
ance this goddess takes upon the impious. But in the
case of Heracles his piety was such that the opposite
happened to him. For when he had arrived at the
border between Rhegine and Locris ^ and lay down
to rest after his wearying journey, they say that he
was disturbed by the crickets and that he prayed to
the gods that the creatures which were disturbing
him might disappear ; whereupon the gods granted
his petition, and not only did his prayer cause the
insects to disappear for the moment, but in all later
times as well not a cricket has ever been seen in the
land.
When Heracles arrived at the strait ^ where the
sea is narrowest, he had the cattle taken over into
Sicily, but as for himself, he took hold of the horn of
a bull and swam across the passage, the distance
between the shores being thirteen stades, as Timaeus
says.
^ In the toe of Italy. * The Strait of Messina.
415
DIODORUS OF SICILY
23. Mera §e ravra ^ovXofJLevog iyKVKXcoOrjvai
Trdaav HiKeXiav , eiroLelro rrjv Ttopeiav airo Trj<? IleAct)-
pidhos 6771 Tov "E/JU/ca. Ste^tovTO? S' avrov rrjv nap-
dXiov rrjg vhjgov, jjLvOoXoyovai rag Nu/Li^a? dvelvai
Qepfxd Xovrpd rrpog rr]v dvaTravcnv rrjg Kara rr]v
ohoiTTopiav ayroi yevoiiivrjs KaKOTradeiag. tovtojv
S' ovTOJV SiTTCov, rd fjiev 'I/xepaia, ra S EyeCTrata
TTpoaayopeverai, rrjv ovopiauiav k^ovra ravrrjv drro
2 TOJv TOTTOJV. TOV 8' 'Hpa/cAcous' TrXrjGidaavTog rolg
Kara rov "JLpvKa tottoi'S, TrposKaXeaaro avroi'
"Epuf els TrdXrjv, vlos ^ d)V ^AcjipoSiTrjs Kal Boura tou
Tore ^aaiXevovTos rojv tottojv. yevofjievrjg he rrjs
<f>LXorifxia'S [xerd TTpoarijjLov, /cat rod jxev "KpvKog
hiSovros rrjv x^P<^^> '^ov 8' 'Hpa/cAeou? rds ^ovs,
to fieu TTpaJrov dyavaKreZv rov ' Epu/ca, Stori
TToXv Xemovrai rrj'; d^ias at ^oe?, avyKpivofievrjs
Trj<; )((x)pas Trpos avrds' npog ravra oe rov 'Hpa-
kXIovs dTTO^aivop^evov 8toTt, ravrag dv dTTO^dXrj,
orepriaerai rrjg ddavaaias, evhoK-qaas 6 "Epuf
rfi GVvOrjKri Kal TtaXaiaa'S eXetcjiBr^ Kal rrjv
3 ^copav drre^aXev. 6 8' 'HpaKXijg rr]v fxev x^P°-^
TTapeOero rots iyxcoploLS, avyx(Jop-qaag avrolg
Xapi^dveLV rovs Kapirovs, p-expi- dv tls tcjv eKyovcov
avrov TTapayevofJievos dTraiTTJarj- orrep /cat avve^rj
yeveaOai. rroXXals yap varepov yeveals Acopievs
6 AaKeSaijJLovLos Karavrijcrag et? rr^v HiKeXiav Kal
* fiev after vlos deleted by Bekker.
^ i.e. from the eastern extremity of the north coast to the
western.
2 Cp. Aristophanes, The Clouds, 1051 : " Where, pray,
did you ever see Baths of Heracles ('Hpa/cAeta \ovTpd) that
416
BOOK IV. 23. 1-3
23. Upon his arrival in Sicily Heracles desired to
make the circuit of the entire island and so set out
from Pelorias in the direction of Eryx.^ While
passing along the coast of the island, the myths
relate, the Nymphs caused warm baths ^ to gush
forth so that he might refresh himself after the toil
sustained in his journeying. There are two of these,
called respectively Himeraea and Egestaea, each of
them having its name from the place where the baths
are. As Hei-acles approached the region of Eryx,^ he
was challenged to a ^\Testling match by Eryx, who
was the son of Aphrodite and Butas, who was then
king of that country. The contest of the rivals
carried with it a penalty, whereby Eryx was to
surrender his land and Heracles the cattle. Now at
first Eryx was displeased at such terms, maintaining
that the cattle were of far less value as compared wth
the land ; but when Heracles in answer to his argu-
ments showed that if he lost the cattle he would
likewise lose his immortality, Eryx agreed to the
terms, and A^TCstling with him was defeated and lost
his land. Heracles turned the land over to the
natives of the region, agreeing with them that they
should gather the fruits of it until one of his descend-
ants should appear among them and demand it
back ; and this actually came to pass. For in fact
many generations later Dorieus * the Lacedaemonian
were cold ? " All naturally hot apringa were commoiily called
" Heracleia " by the Greeks.
^ i.e. Mount Eryx, at the north-west comer of Sicily,
now Mt. San Giuliauo.
* The chequered career of Dorieus, of the royal line
of Sparta and so a Heraclid, is given in some detail in
Herodotus 5. 41-8.
417
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTjv )(d)pav OLTToXa^cbv eKTiae ttoXlv 'Hpa/cAetav.
Ta)(v 8' avrr]? av^ofj-evqg, ol Yi.apyrq^ovLoi (j)dovri-
aavreg ajxa koI (fyo^rjOivres yLrjirore ttXIov luyru-
aaaa Trjg }^apx^86vos d(f)eXrjTaL tcov ^olvlkcov
rrjv r^yefxoviav , arparevaavres err avrrjv pieyd-
Aat? hvvdpieuL Kal Kara Kpdros eXovreg KareaKaipav.
dXXd Tvepl p-ev tovtcov rd Kara p-lpos iv rot?
olKeiois ■)(^p6voi.'; dvaypdipopiev.
4 Tore S' o 'HpaKXrjs iyKVKXovp.€vos rrjv TiiKeXtav,
KaravTifjaa? els rrjv vvv ovcrav rojv HvpaKoaicjv
TToXiv Kal TTudopievos rd pivOoXoyovpLeva Kara ttjv
rrjs K.6pr]s dp7Tay'r]v, edvae re rat? deals pieyaXonpe-
TTws Kal elg rrjv Kuai^v rdv KoXXiarevovra rcov
ravpcov Kadayiaas Karehei^e OveLV rovs eyy^LopLovs
Kar iviavrov rfj KopT^ /cat Trpos rfj Kvdvj] Aa/x-
5 TTpcjs dyeiv Trav-qyvpiv re /cai dvaiav. avrds Se
puerd rojv ^ooJv hid ttjs" p.eaoyeiov hie^Lcxjv, Kal rcov
iy^copicov ^iKavcov p.eydXais hvvdpieaiv dvrira^a-
p,evcov, ivLKTjaev e7TL(f)avel rrapard^ei Kai voXXovs
dTteKreivev, ev oXs pLvdoXoyovai rives /cat arparrj-
yous eTTLffyavels yeyevrjadai rovs P-^XP'' '''^^ ^^
rjpcxJLKrjs npLTJs rvy^dvovras, AevKaamv Kal IleSta-
Kpdr'qv Kal Bou^oi'av /cat FAu^^aTav, en he Buratav
/cat KpvrtSav.
24. Mera Se ravra hieXdajv rd Keovrlvov TreBiov,
rd piev KdXXos rrjs ^copa? edavp-aae, irpds Se rovs
rtpidjvras avrdv ot/cetoJS" SiariOepievos aTreAtrre Trap'
^ No account of this is in the extant portions of Diodorus.
This Heracleia in the region about Mt. Eryx is not to be
418
BOOK IV. 23. 3-24. I
came to Sicily, and taking back the land founded the
city of Heracleia. Since the city grew rapidly, the
Carthaginians, being jealous of it and also afraid that
it would grow stronger than Carthage and take from
the Phoenicians their sovereignty, came up against
it with a great army, took it by storm, and razed it
to the ground. But this affair we shall discuss in
detail in connection A\ith the period in which it falls. ^
WTiile Heracles was making the circuit of Sicily at
this time he came to the city which is now Syracuse,
and on learning what the myth relates about the Rape
of Core he offered sacrifices to the goddesses ^ on a
magnificent scale, and after dedicating to her the
fairest bull of his herd and casting it in the spring
Cyane ^ he commanded the natives to sacrifice each
year to Core and to conduct at Cyane a festive
gathering and a sacrifice in splendid fashion. He
then passed with his cattle through the interior of the
island, and when the native Sicani opposed him in
great force, he overcame them in a notable battle and
slew many of their number, among whom, certain
writers of myths relate, were also some distinguished
generals who receive the honours accorded to heroes
even to this day, such as Leucaspis, Pediacrates,*
Buphonas, Glychatas, Bytaeas, and Crytidas.
24. After this Heracles, as he passed through the
plain of Leontini, marvelled at the beauty of the
land, and to show his affection for the men who
confused with the well-known Heracleia Minoa in the
territory of Agrigentum. The date of its destruction is not
known.
^ Core ("The Maiden," i.e. Persephone) and Demeter.
•* Cp. Book 5. 4 for an account of the connection of this
spring with the myth of Core.
* Called Pediocrates by Xenagoras, Frg. 21 (Jacoby).
419
DIODORUS OF SICILY
avTots aOavara iivr^xeia ttjs eavrov Trapouala?.
tSiov 8e Tt avve^T] yeveadai Trepl rrjv ttoXiv rcjjv
^Ayvpivaicov. ev ravrrj yap rifMrjOelg iir* Larjg tols
OXvjXTTLOis Oeols 7Tavqyvp€<JL /cat Ovaiais XafiTrpals,
KaLTTep Kara rovs efXTrpoaOev )(p6vovs ovhep-iav
dvaiav Trpoahexopievos , rore irpcLraJS crvvevSoKrjae,
Tov SaLjJiovLOV rrjv aOavauiav avrcp Trpoar-qpLaivovros .
2 68ov yap ouarjg ovk aTTOjOev rrjg 77oAeai? Trerpo)-
Sous", at ^oe? ra tx^V KaOairep iirl Krjpov tlvos
OLTTervTrovvTO . opiolats Se /cat avrqj rep 'Hpa/<Aet
rovTOV uvix^aivovTOs, Kai tov ddXov Se/cctrou re-
Xovfxevov, vofxLGag rjSrj rt Xaix^aveiv rijs ddava-
Gias, TTpoaeSex^TO rag reXoufxiva's vtto ra>v iy^io-
3 picov /car' eviavrov dualas. htoTrep rols euSo-
KovpLevoLS ^ ras ^dpirag (ZTroStSous', Trpo p.kv rrjg
TToXeoJS KareaKevaae Xtpbinju, exovcrav rov irepi^oXov
arahiixiv rerrdpcov, t]v irrwvvpiov avrcp KaXelaOaL
TTpocrera^ev ojaavrcog Se /cat rcjv ^ouJv rols
dTTorvTTOjdelcnv Lxveai rrjv icf)" eavrov TrpoarjyopLav
€7ndeis, r€pi€vos KareaKevacrev -qpcoL Trjpvovp,
o P'^XP'' "^^^ ^^^ ripidrai irapa rols eyx^jptoLS.
4 'loAaoy re rov a§eA(/>tSo{; avarparevovros repLevos
d^LoXoyov eTTOLTjcre, /cat npidg /cat Ovatag Kare-
Sei^ev avro) yiveaOai /car' evLavrov rds P-^XP'-
TOV vvv rrjpovjxevas' rravres yap ol Kara ravrrjv
TTjv TToXiv OLKOvvres e/c yeverrjs rds Kopias ^
'loActoj rpecpovaL, p-^xpt- dv orov dvaiais pieyaXo-
' So Dindorf : evSoKifxovfievois-
" Upas after Ko/ias omitted D, Vogel ; retained by Bekker,
Dindorf.
* The native city of Diodorus.
420
BOOK IV. 24. 1-4
honoured him he left behind him there imperishable
memorials of his presence. And it came to pass that
a peculiar thing took place near the city of Agyrium.^
Here he was honoured on equal terms with the
Olympian gods by festivals and splendid sacrifices,
and though before this time he had accepted no
sacrifice, he then gave his consent for the first time,
since the deity was giving intimations to him of his
coming immortality. For instance, there was a
road not far from the city which was all of rock,
and yet the cattle left their tracks in it as if in a waxy
substance. Since, then, this same thing happened in
the case of Heracles as well ^ and his tenth Labour
was likewise coming to an end, he considered that
he was already to a degree participating in immor-
tahty and so accepted the annual sacrifices which
were offered him by the people of the city. Conse-
quently, as a mark of his gratitude to the people who
had found favour with him, he built before the city a
lake, four stades in circumference, which he ordained
should be called by his name ; and he likewise gave
his name to the moulds of the tracks which the cattle
had left in the rock and dedicated to the hero
Geryones a sacred precinct which is honoured to this
day by the people of that region. To lolaiis, his
nephew, who was his companion on the expedition,
he likewise dedicated a notable sacred precinct, and
ordained that annual honours and sacrifices should be
offered to him, as is done even to this day ; for all
the inhabitants of this city let the hair of their
heads grow from their birth in honour of lolaiis,
until they have obtained good omens in costly sacri-
' i.e. Heracles also left his footprints in the rock.
421
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTp€7T€ai KoXXieprjuavres rov Oeou tXecov Kara-
5 aKevaacoat. roaavrr] S earlv ayveia koL aejxvoTrj^
TTepL TO rejjievog (Zure rovg fir] reAowra? ras eWicr-
fxevas dvoias nalhas dc/)a)vovs yiveadai. kol toZs
reTeXevrrjKoaiv oixoiovs. dAA' ovtol jtxeV, orav
ev^-qrai tls (XTToScoaeiv rrjv dvaiav /cat €v4)(vpov rfjs
dvaias dvaSei^T) rco Oew, Trapay^prjpLa oiTTOKadLGra-
adai (f)aai rovg rfj TrpoetprjjjLevr] voao) Kare)(0-
6 fxevovs. OL 8' ovv eyx^djpLOt tovtols (XKoXovOios
rrjv fxev ttvXtjv, 77/36? fj rag o.TravT'qGeLg /cat dvatag
TO) deep Trapear-qaav , 'Hpa/cAetav Trpoa-qyopevaav,
ayujva Se yvp^viKov /cat lttttlkov /ca^' eKaarov
kros pcera TTaarjs Trpodvpnas ttolovgl. Travh-qfiov
Be T-fjs a.TToSox'rjs iXevdepcuv re /cat SovXcov yivop.ivrjs,
KareSeL^av /cat rovg ot'/ceVa? tSta TLpLcovrag tov
deov didaovs re avvdyeiv /cat avviovra? evcox^o.? Te
/cat dvaia's rco deep avvreXeXv.
7 '0 8 'Hpa/cA?^? fxerd rcjv ^owv Trepaicodel? et?
T'r]v 'IraAtav Trporjye 8ta rrjs TrapaXiag, /cat Aa/ctvtor
p-kv KXeirrovra tojv ^oajv dvelXe, K.poTCova Se
d/coyCTtoj? dTTOKreivag edaipe p^eyaXoTrperrcbs Kai
Td(f)OV avrou KareaKevaae' TrpoelTte 8e /cat rot?
eyxojptois OTi /cat /card rovs varepov xpdvovs eWat
TToAt? eTTLarjpLos opicovvpios T<f» rereXevr-qKOTL.
25. Auto? 8' eyKVKXcodeis tov 'ASpiav Kai irel^fj
TrepLeXdd)v rov 7Tpoei.prjpt.evov koXttov Kar-qvrtjaev els
rrjv "HTTeLpov, e^ rjs 7Topev9elg els TrjV IleXoTTOv-
vrjcrov, /cat rereAe/coj? rov SeKarov ddXov, eXa^e
TTpoaraypia Trap' ISivpvadeojg rov i^ aSov \\ep^epov
TTpos ro (j)cos dyayelv. rrpos Se rovrov rov ddXov
422
BOOK IV. 24. 4-25. I
fices and have rendered the god propitious. And
such a holiness and majesty pervade the sacred
precinct that the boys who fail to perform the
customary rites lose their power of speech and become
like dead men. But so soon as anyone of them who
is suffering from this malady takes a vow that he will
pay the sacrifice and vouchsafes to the god a pledge to
that effect, at once, they say, he is restored to health.
Now the inhabitants, in pursuance of these rites, call
the gate, at which they come into the presence of the
god and offer him these sacrifices, " The Heracleian,"
and every year with the utmost zeal they hold games
which include gymnastic contests and horse-races.
And since the whole populace, both free men and
slaves, unite in approbation of the god, thev have
commanded their servants, as they do honour to
him apart from the rest, to gather in bands and when
they come together to hold banquets and perform
sacrifices to the god.
Heracles then crossed over into Italy with the
cattle and proceeded along the coast ; there he slew
Lacinius as he was attempting to steal some of the
cattle, and to Croton, whom he killed by accident, he
accorded a magnificent funeral and erected for him a
tomb ; and he foretold to the natives of the place
that also in after times a famous city would arise
which should bear the name of the man who had died.
25. But when Heracles had made the circuit of
the Adi-iatic, and had journeyed around the gulf
on foot, he came to Epirus, whence he made his
way to Peloponnesus. And now that he had per-
formed the tenth Labour he received a Command
from Eurystheus to bring Cerberus up from Hades to
the light of day. And assuming that it would be to
423
DIODORUS OF SICILY
VTToXa^ojv Gwoiaeiv avro), TraprjXdev et? ra?
^Kdrjva'S Kal ixereaxe tcJov ev ^¥^\evalvi ixvorrjpicov,
Moyaatou rod Opfjyeojs vlov t6t€ TTpoeuTT] kotos
rrjs reXerrjs.
2 'Ettci S' Opi^eco? ijxvqadrifxev , ovk dvoiKeiov
idTL TTapeK^dvras ^pa^^o. irepl avrov SieXOelv.
OVTOS yap TjV vlos fxev Oldypov, Qpa^ Se ro yevos,
TTatSeta Se /cat /xeAojSta Kal TTOL-qaei ttoXv rrpoe^ajv
rcjv ixvqjxovevop.ev(x>v /cat yap TTOLrnxa auverd-
^aro 6avixat,6jJL€Vov Kai rfj ^ Kara rrjv cbSrjV
evfxeXeLa hia^epov. em roaovro he —poe^rj rfj
86^rj (Zare doKelv rfj [xeXcohLa deXyetv rd re diqpia
3 Kal rd SevSpa. rrept. 5e TratSeLav da)(oXr]9els Kal
rd Tvepl rrjs OeoXoyias p-vdoXoyovjieva jxadajv,
aTreSijpLTjae piev els AtyuTrrov, KaKel iroXXd irpoae-
TTipiaOcov pieyiaros iyevero rwv 'EAAtji^oiv ev re
rals OeoXoyiais Kai rats reXerais Kai TTonjpLaoL Kal
4 pLeXcpSiaig. auvearparevaaro Be Kal rolg 'Apyo-
varjrais, Kat hid rdv epcvra rov rrpos rrjv yvvaiKa
Kara^rjvaL jxev eis a8ov TrapaSo^cus eroXpLTjae, rr]v
8e ^epa6(f)6vrjv 8ta rrjs evjxeXeLag ifjvxayojyrjaag
erreLcre avvepyrjaai rals eTndvjilais Kal ovyx^jpTJcraL
rrjv yvvaiKa avrov rereXevri^Kvlav dvayayelv e'f
aSoy TrapaTrXrjaLws raJ Aiovvacp' Kai ydp eKelvov
fivdoXoyovaiv dvayayelv rrjv pLrjrepa HepieXrjv i^
aSov, Kal /seraSovra rrjs ddavauias Qvcomjv
jjierovofiduai.
'H/zer? S' enel rrepl 'Op^eoj? hieXiqXvdapLev,
[xera^rjaop^eOa irdXiv eirl rdv 'WpaKXea,
26. Ovros ydp Kard rovs Trapahehofievovs pLvdovg
Kara^ds els rovs Ka9^ aSov ronovs, Kai rrpoahe-
^ rrj added by Dindorf.
424
BOOK IV. 25. 1-26. I
his advantage for the accomplishment of this Labour,
he went to Athens and took part in the Eleusinian
Mysteries, Musaeus, the son of Orpheus, being at
that time in charge of the initiatory rites.
Since we have mentioned Orpheus it will not be
inappropriate for us in passing to speak briefly about
him. He was the son of Oeagrus, a Thracian by
birth, and in culture and song-music and poesy he far
surpassed all men of whom we have a record ; for he
composed a poem which was an object of wonder and
excelled in its melody when it was sung. And his
fame grew to such a degree that men believed that
with his music he held a spell over both the wild
beasts and the trees. And after he had devoted his
entire time to his education and had learned what-
ever the myths had to say about the gods , he journeyed
to Egypt, where he further increased his knowledge
and so became the greatest man among the Greeks
both for his knowledge of the gods and for their rites,
as well as for his poems and songs. He also took part
in the expedition of the Argonauts, and because of the
love he held for his wife he dared the amazing deed
of descending into Hades, where he entranced Per-
sephone by his melodious song and persuaded her to
assist him in his desires and to allow him to bring up
his dead wife from Hades, in this exploit resembling
Dionysus ; for the myths relate that Dionysus
brought up his mother Semele from Hades, and that,
sharing with her his owTi immortality, he changed her
name to Thyone.
But now that we have discussed Orpheus, we shall
return to Heracles.
26. Heracles, then, according to the myths which
have come down to us, descended into the realm of
425
DIODORUS OF SICILY
)(6€l? VTTO TTj's ^epae^ovqs OJS av aSeAc/xas, Qiqaea
fxev avqyayev €K SeafxaJv [xera YleLptdov, ^apiua-
fX€vr]s TTJg KopTjs", Tov Se Kvva vapaXa^cov SeSe-
ixivov TTapaho^cos arnqyaye Kai (I)avep6v Kare-
arrjoev av9 pojTTOLs •
2 TeXevraZov 8' ddXov Xa^chv eveyKelv ra rcov
'KcnrepiScov xpvud pirjXa, ttolXlv eirXevaev et? t7]v
Ai^vr]v. irepl Se raov jjL-qXcov rovrcov hiaTTe(j>CL>vrj-
Kaacv ol jxvdoypa(j)Oi,, /cat rive? ixiv (j^auiv ev
TLUL KrjTTOL^ Tojv 'KaTTeplScov VTTOLp^ai KaTOL rrjv
Al^vtjv fjLr]Xa xpvad, T-qpovfJieva avv€)(ios vtto
rivog hpa.KOVTO's (jyo^epcordrov, nves Se Xeyouat,
TToiixvas Trpo^aTiov KaXXei hia^epovaas KeKTrjcrdai
rds 'l^cnreplSas, p^puad Se p.r\Xa 0.716 rod KaXXovs
chvojJidadaL 7tol7]tlkoj£, waTTcp Kai rr]V Acfpobir-qv
3 XP^^W KO-Xetadai §td rrjv euTrpe-Tretav. evioi Se
XeyovGLV •"■ TO, -npo^ara rrjv ^poav iSid^ovcrav
e^ovra Kal Trapofioiov y^pvao) rerev^evaL ravrrjg rrjs
TTpoarjyopiag, ApaKovra Se rajv TToipivihv iTTifxeXiq-
rrjv K(i9eoTapi€vov , /cat p<^p-J] crcofxarog Kai dXKrj
hia^epovTa, rrjpelv rd Trpo^ara Kal tovs XrjareveLv
avrd roXjxcovTag aTTOKreiveLV . aAAd Trept p,€V tovtcdv
e^earai SiaXajx^dveLv a>? dv eKaarog iavrov TTetdr).
4 o 8' 'HpaKXfjg TOV (f>vXaKa twv jxijXojv dveXcov,
Kal ravra aTTOKopiLoag Trpog KvpvaOea, Kal roi)?
ddXovs diTOTeTeXeKws , TrpoaeSexero rrjs dOavaaias
rev^eadai, Kaddrrep 6 AttoXXojv k)(^prja€v.
^ oTi after Aeyouffiv deleted by Dindorf, Bekker, retained
by Vogel.
426
BOOK IV. 26. r-4
Hades, and being welcomed like a brother by Perse-
phone brought Theseus and Peirithoiis back to the
upper world after freeing them from their bonds.
This he accomplished by the favour of Persephone,
and receiving^ the doff Cerberus in chains he carried
him away to the amazement of all and exhibited him
to men.
The last Labour which Heracles undertook was the
bringing back of the golden apples of the Hesperides,
and so he again sailed to Libya. With regard to these
apples there is disagreement among the WTiters of
myths, and some say that there were golden apples in
certain gardens of the Hesperides in Libya, where
they were guarded without ceasing by a most for-
midable dragon, whereas others assert that the
Hesperides possessed flocks of sheep which excelled
in beauty and were therefore called for their beauty,
as the poets might do, " golden apples," ^ just as
Aphrodite is called " golden " because of her loveli-
ness. There are some, however, who say that it was
because the sheep had a peculiar colour like gold that
they got this designation, and that Dracon
(" dragon ") was the name of the shepherd of the
sheep, a man who excelled in strength of body and
courage, who guarded the sheep and slew any who
might dare try to carry them off. But with regard to
such matters it will be every man's privilege to form
such opinions as accord with his own belief. At any
rate Heracles slew the guardian of the apples, and
after he had duly brought them to Eurystheus and
had in this wise finished his Labours he waited to
receive the gift of immortality, even as Apollo had
prophesied to him.
^ The word /i^Aof means both " sheep " and " apple."
427
DIODORUS OF SICILY
27. 'H/xtv S' ov 7TapaXet7TT€0v ra Trept " ArXavTO?
fivOoXoyovjxeva /cat to. Trept rod yevovs twv
'EaTTeptScDV'. /cara yap rrjv 'FjaTreplriv dt'o^a^o-
fxevTjv x^P^^ (fiaalv a.h€X<f>ov? hvo yeveaOai ho^rj
SLcovofxaanevovs, "EaTrepov' /cat ArAat'Ta. rovrovg
Se KCKTrjadaL irpo^ara rev [xev KaXXeL Stai^opa,
TT^ Se Xpoo. ^av9a /cat ;)^pt)CToeiS7y' di;^' ■^s" alrias
Tovg TTOLrjrag ra Trpo^ara jjLTjXa KoXovvra? ovojxd-
2 <Tat ;!^pyo-a jjirjXa. rov fxev ovv "^arrepov dvyarepa
yewiqaavra rrjv 6voixat,oiievTqv EcTTreptSa avvoiKiaaL
rdSeXc^o), d(/>' rjs tyjv x^P^^ '^aireplrLV ovopiacr-
drjvai- rov S' "ArXavra e/c ravrrjs iTrrd yewf^aai
dvyarepag, a? aTid p,ev rou narpo? 'ArXavrCSag,
aTTO Se T'^? pirjTpog 'EcTTreptSas" ovopLaadrjvaL.
TOVTcov Se TtDi' 'ArAat'TtScov /cdAAet /cat aaxjypoavvrj
Sta(/>epouaaiv, Xeyovau Boucrtptt' rdi' ^aatAea rtDi^
AlyvTTTicov eTnOvpLTjaaL raJv TrapOlvcov iyKparfj
yeveaOaL' Std /cat Xrjards ^ Kara. OdXarrav aTToarei-
Xavra Sta/ceAeucraa^at ra? /cdpa? dprrdaaL /cat
Sta/cop-tcrat rrpos" eaurov.
3 Kara. Se toutop' toi^ Kaipov rov HpaKAe'a
reAowra rot" vararov ddXov \vralov pLev dveXelv
ev rfj Ai^vr] rov avvavayKdt^ovra rovs ^evovg
htaTTaXaL€iv , Bo'JCTtptr Se /card n^r AtyuTrrov' rep
Att ^ a<f>ayLdl,ovra rov^ 7Tape7TLSr)piovvras ^evovs
rrjs 7TpoarjKovar]g rtpiwplag /carafttuaat. p-erd Se
raura dm Tdp" NetAoi^ 77Aei;CTai^Ta et? n^t' AWio-
rriav rov ^aoiXevovra raJv AWlottojv 'HpiaOlajva
Kardpxovra p.dx'rjs dnoKreZvaL, ro S' vararov
4 eTrdveXdeXv ndXiv €ttI rov ddXov. rov? 8e Xrjards
1 eV auTaj after X-Qoras omitted D, Dindorf, Vogel, retained
by Beliker.
428
BOOK IV. 27. 1-4
27. But we must not fail to mention what the
myths relate about Atlas and about the race of the
Hesperides. The account runs like this : In the
country kno'WTi as Hesperitis there were two brothers
whose fame was kno^\'n abroad, Hesperus and Atlas.
These brothers possessed flocks of sheep which ex-
celled in beauty and were in colour of a golden yellow,
this being the reason why the poets, in speaking of
these sheep as mela, called them golden mela. Now
Hesperus begat a daughter named Hesperis, whom he
gave in marriage to his brother and after whom the
land was given the name Hesperitis ; and Atlas
begat by her seven daughters, who were named after
their father Atlantides, and after their mother,
Hesperides. And since these Atlantides excelled
in beauty and chastity, Busiris the king of the
Eg}"ptians, the account says, was seized with the
desire to get the maidens into his power ; and
consequently he dispatched pirates by sea with
orders to seize the girls and deliver them into his
hands.
About this time Heracles, while engaged in the
performance of his last Labour, slew in Libya
Antaeus, who was compelling all strangers to wrestle
with him, and upon Busiris in Eg}'pt, who was sacri-
ficing to Zeus the strangers who visited his country,
he inflicted the punishment which he deserved. After
this Heracles sailed up the Nile into Ethiopia, where
he slew Emathion, the king of the Ethiopians, who
made battle \\\i\\ him unprovoked, and then returned
to the completion of his last Labour. Meanwhile the
/coAAtepeti' after Au deleted by JJiiidorf.
429
DIODORUS OF SICILY
€v KrjTTCo TLVL TTat^ouCTa? TOLS Kopas avvapTTacTaL ,
Kal Ta)(V <f)U'y6vTa? et? ra^ vav^ dnoTrXeLv. Tovrotg
8' eVt TLVOS OLKTrjg SetTrvoTTOLoufievoLg eTnaravra
rov 'Hpa/cAea, /cat Trapa raJv rrapdevaiv jxaOovra ro
avfi^e^r^Kos, rovg piev X-Qaras aTravras OLTroKTelvaL,
ra? Be Kopag airoKopiLaaL irpo's ' ArXavra rov
TTarepa' dv6' (Lv rov " ArXavra X^P'-^ "^V^ evep-
yeaias aTrohL^ovra purj fiovov BovvaL rd Trpos rov
dOXov KadrjKovra TrpoOvpiajg, dXXd Kal rd Kara rrjv
5 darpoXoyiav d(f)96u(jos StSa^at. TrepLrrorepov yap
a'UTOV rd Kard ttjv darpoXoyiav eKTreTTOvrjKora Kal
rrjv rwv darpcov a<f>aZpav (f)LXoT€)(vcog evpovra ^
€)(eLv vTToXrjijjLv CO? rov Koapiov oXov inl rcbv
copnov (f>opovvra. TrapaTrXrjcnajs Se Kal tou 'Hpa-
KXeovs i^eveyKavros elg rovs "EAAyji'a? rov a^atpi-
Kov Xoyov, So^Tj? ixeyaXfj'S TV)(eZv, oi? StaSeSey-
ixevov rov ' ArXavriKov Kocrfxov, alvLrropievcov rwv
dvdpwTTaiv rd yeyovo?.
28. Tou S' 'Hpa/<Aeou? Trepl ravr ovros <f>aal rds
VTToXeLcfyOelaas 'A/i.a^oi'a? TTepl rov Qepp-coBovra
TTorajxdv ddpoiaOeiaa? TravhiqpLeL GTrevaat rovs "EA-
Xrjvas dp,vvacr6ai, rrepl (Lv 'HpaKXrjg arparcvaag
hieipydaaro. Stacj^opdyrara he rovg 'AdrjvaLovs
i<j)iXorLiJiOVvro KoAaaat "^ Sid ro rov Qrjaea KaraSe-
SovXajadai rrjv -qyep-ova raJv ApLal,6vcov AvrioTrqv ,
2 (hs S' evLoi ypd4>ovaLV, 'IttttoAutt^v. avarparevadv-
rcov Se rdJv HkvOwv rat? 'A^a^oat cruve^r] 8wa/xtv
* evpoiTa Dindorf : e^ovTa.
^ KoXdaat, added by Kallenberg to govern 'AOrjvaiovs,
43°
BOOK IV. 27. 4-28. 2
pirates had seized the girls while they were playing
in a certain garden and carried them off, and fleeing
swiftly to their ships had sailed away with them.
Heracles came upon the pirates as they were taking
their meal on a certain strand, and learning from the
maidens what had taken place he slew the pirates to
a man and brought the girls back to Atlas their
father ; and in return Atlas was so grateful to
Heracles for his kindly deed that he not only gladly
gave him such assistance as his Labour called for,
but he also instructed him quite freely in the know-
ledge of astrology. For Atlas had worked out the
science of astrology to a degree surpassing others
and had ingeniously discovered the spherical nature
of the stars ,^ and for that reason was generally
believed to be bearing the entire firmament upon his
shoulders. Similarly in the case of Heracles, when
he had brought to the Greeks the doctrine of the
sphere, he gained great fanie, as if he had taken over
the burden of the firmament which Atlas had borne,
since men intimated in this enigmatic way what had
actually taken place.
28. While Heracles was busied uith the matters
just described, the Amazons, they say, of whom there
were some still left in the region of the Thermodon
river, gathered in a body and set out to get revenge
upon the Greeks for what Heracles had done in his
campaign against them. Tliey were especially
eager to punish the Athenians because Theseus had
made a slave of Antiope, the leader of the Amazons,
or, as others wTite, of Hippolyte, The Scythians had
joined forces with the Amazons, and so it came
^ Or the phrase may mean "the spherical arrangement of
the stars " ; but cp. p. 278, n. 2.
431
DIODORUS OF SICILY
d^ioXoyov dOpoiaOfjvaL, fxeO' ?)? at TrporjyouixevaL
T<JL)V AjJiaCoviScov TTepat-ojOelaaL tov ^tjiiiepiov
^oa-nopov Trporjyov Sta rrj? QpaKrjg. reXog Se
TToXXrjv TT]? KvpcoTrqg iireXOovaaL Kar-qvrrjaav et?
rrjv Attlk7]v, Kai KareaTpaTOTreSevaav ottov vvv
iari TO KaXovjJievov cxtt' eKelvow ^ Aixat^ovelov .
3 Qrjaevs Se 7Tv66jxevos rrjv rajv Afxal^ovcov ecfiodov
i^o-qOeL ralg ttoXltlkoX? Bvvdjxecnv, €)(cx)v p-ed'
eavTov TTjv 'Ap,al.ovL8a AvTLOTrrjv, i^ rjs tjv TreTracSo-
7TOL-qp.€vos vlov 'IttttoXvtov. avvdipas 8e p.dxT^v
raXg 'AjU-a^oCTt, Kal rcbv AQ-qvaiajv vvepexovrajv
ralg dvhpayaOiaL's, IviKiquav ol Trept rov Qrjada,
Kal Tojv dvTLTaxOeLGwv Ap.al,ovL8ajv a? p.€v
KareKoifjav, a? S' eV rrjg 'ATTLKrjg i^e^aXov.
4 auve^r) Se Kal Tr]V ^AvrioiT-qv avvaycoviaap-evqv
rdvSpl 07]aet, Kal Kara rrjv p.d)(rjv dpiarevovaav,
rjpiOLKO)? KaraarplijjaL rov ^iov. at S vTToXeL(j}deZ-
oai rcov ^ Apiat,6v<x>v drroyvovaai rriv Trarpcoav yrjv,
€7Tav7jX9ov pierd rdjv TiKvOcov elg rrjv ^Kvdiav Kal
/xer' €KeLVCov KarcLKiqaav.
'H^et? 8' dpKOTJvrco? rrepL tovtojv hLeXrjXvOore?
iTTavLp-ev TrdXiv ivl rds 'UpaKXeovs vrpa^et?.
29. TereXeKOTOS yap avrov rovs dQXov;, /cat rod
Oeov ;)Cp7]crai^TOS' uvp.(j)€peiv irpo rrjs etg Oeovs /zer-
aXXayrjs dTTOiKLav els SapScb TTepi/jai Kal Tovg e/c
Tcov Qea-TTidSajv avra> yevop-evovg vlovg -qyepovas
TTOLrjaaL ravrrjg, eKpive tov dSeAcitSow loXaou €k-
TTefiifjai pierd tcov TraiBojv Std to TravTeXdJs veovs
^ The Strait of Kertch, which connects the Sea of Azof
with the Black Sea.
* This spot was probably on the slopes of the Areopagus,
Cp. Aeschylus, Eumenides, 685 fE. : "And this hill of Ares,
BOOK IV. 28. 2-29. I
about that a notable army had been assembled, with
which the leaders of the Amazons crossed the Cim-
merian Bosporus ^ and advanced through Thrace.
Finally they traversed a large part of Europe and
came to Attica, where they pitched their camp
in what is at present called after them " the
Amazoneum."^ WTien Theseus learned of the
oncoming of the Amazons he came to the aid of the
forces of his citizens, brincrinff with him the Amazon
Antiope, by whom he already had a son Hippolytus.
Theseus joined battle with the Amazons, and since
the Athenians surpassed them in bravery, he gained
the victory, and of the Amazons who opposed him.
some he slew at the time and the rest he drove out of
Attica. And it came to pass that Antiope, who was
fighting at the side of her husband Theseus, dis-
tinguished herself in the battle and died fighting
heroically. The Amazons who survived renounced
their ancestral soil, and returned -with the Scythians
into Scythia and made their homes among that people.
But we have spoken enough about the Amazons,
and shall return to the deeds of Heracles.
29. After Heracles had performed his Labours,
the god revealed to him that it would be well if,
before he passed into the company of the gods, he
should despatch a colony to Sardinia and make the
sons who had been born to him by the daughters of
Thespius the leaders of the settlement, and so he
decided to send his nephew lolaiis Avith the boys, since
■whereon the Amazons had their seat and pitched their tents,
what time they came, embattled, in resentment against
Theseus, and in those daj-s built up this new citadel with lofty
towers to rival his, and sacrificed to Ares . . ." (tr. of Smyth
in the L.C.L.).
433
DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 €LvaL. avayKatov S rjfitv (^atVerat TrpohieXdelv
TTepi rrjs yeveaeojs tojv TTaiBcov, tva rov Trepl rrjg
aiTOLKLag Xoyov Kadapcorepov eKOeaOaL hvvrfiojpiev.
Qeamog -qv dvrjp ro yevos im(f>avrjg €k tcjv
Adrjvcov, vtog ^RpexO^cos, ^aaiXevcov Se rrjs oficovu-
fj-ov )(<x)pag iyewTjaev eV TrXeiovcov yvvaLKcov
3 dvyarepag TrevTT^Kovra. 'UpaKXeovs 8' ert TraiSo?
ovTOs TTjv -qXiKLav, /cat fx^p-Xl o-co/^aros' V7T€p(f)Vov'5
ovTos, e^iXoTLpLTjOri ras dvyarepag eK rovrov
reKVOTTOtijaacrdai. 8to KaXeaag avrov iiTL riva
QvaLav Koi XapLTrpaJg icmdaag, aTreWeiAe Kara
fjLiav ra)v dvyarepcov at? aTiacrat? /xiyeLg Kal
TTOi-^aas iyKvovs iyevero Trarrjp vlajv TrevrrjKovTa.
(bv Xa^ovTcov TTjv KOLVTjV TTpoarjyopLav oltto Toyv
QeaTTidScov, Kal yevofievcDV iirqXLKcov, eKpLvev
eKTre/jLTTeiv rovrovs els Tr]v diroiKiav tt]v elg
4 SapSot-a Kara rov XPI^H-^^' rjyovjjievov 8e rod
OToXov TTavrog 'loAaou, Kal avvearpaTevixevov
a-^ehov d-ndaa? ra? Grpareias, eTrerpeipev avrco
TO. TTepL Tous ©eaTTtaSa? Krat rrjv aTTOLKiav. rcov
Se TrevTi^KOVTa Tjaihcxtv hvo p-ev Karej^Leivav eV
rats' Qrj^ais, &v tous drroyovovs (f)aal p-^XP'- "^^^
vvv Tip-dadaiy eTTTO. 8' eV ©eo'Trtats', ovs 6vop.dt,ovaL
hrjpLOVxovs , (Lv Kal tovs aTToyovovs riyqaaadai
* The territory of the city of Thespiae in Boeotia.
^ This was done, according to some ancient writers, on
fifty successive nights; according to others, on seven nights
when seven daughters lay with Heracles each night, one
refusing and being sentenced by him to lifelong maidenhood.
434
BOOK IV. 29. 1-4
they were still quite young. Now it seems to us
indispensable that we should speak first of the birth
of the boys, in order that we may be able to set forth
more clearly what is to be said about the colony.
Thespius was by birth a distinguished man of
Athens and son of Erechtheus, and he was king of the
land which bears his name ^ and begot by his wives,
of whom he had a great number, fifty daughters. And
when Heracles was still a boy, but already of extra-
ordinary strength of body, the king strongly desired
that his daughters should bear children by him.
Consequently he invited Heracles to a sacrifice, and
after entertaining him in brilliant fashion he sent his
daughters one by one in to him ; and Heracles lay
with them all,^ brought them all with child, and so
became the father of fifty sons. These sons all took
the same name after the daughters of Thespius,^
and when they had arrived at manhood Heracles
decided to send them to Sardinia to found a colony,
as the oracle had commanded. And since the
expedition was under the general command of
lolaiis, who had accompanied Heracles on practically
all of his campaigns, the latter entrusted him with
the care of the Thespiadae and the planting of the
colony. Of the fifty boys, two continued to dwell in
Thebes, their descendants, they say, being honoured
even to the present day, and seven in Thespiae,
where they are called demouchi,^ and where their
But some writers (e.gr. Pausanias, 9. 27. 7, Gregorius Nazian-
zenus, Orat. IV, Contra Julianum I (Migne, S. Gr. 35. 661))
state that this deed was accomplished by Heracles in one
night and counted as his thirteenth Labour.
^ i.e. each took the name Thespiades. " son of Thespius."
* The word means " protector of the people."
435
DIODORUS OF SICILY
(f)a(7t rrjs TToXecog fJ-^XP^ '^'^^ veiorepcov Kaipcov.
5 Tovs Se Xoivovs aTTavras loXaog dvaXo.^d)v /cat
TToXAoVS dXXoVS TOVS ^OvXojjLeVOVS KOLl'iDVelv Trjs
aiTOiKias, eTrXevaev et? Trjv Haphova. Kparrjaag
Se lio-XU "^^^ ey)(copicov , KareKXrjpovxrjae to koX-
Xlotov ri]? vrjcjov, koL juaAiara tt]v Trehidha ^^pav,
6 Tjv li^XP^ ''"^^ ^'^^ KaXelaOai 'loXaelov. i^-qfiepw-
aas Se rrjv x^P*^^ '^'^'' KaracfiVTevaas hevSpeai
KapTTipiOLS KareaKevaae Treptjjidx'rjTOV' im roaovTO
yap rj vrjaos SLcovojxdadr] rfj rdJv Kaprrchv d(f)9ovia.
doare K.apx'Q^ovLovs vorepov av^rjOdvrag iTndvjJirjaai
TTJg vrjGOVy KOL TToXXovs dyoji'a? /cat Kivhvvovs
VTrkp avrrjs avabe^aoOai. dXXd rrepL piev rovrwv
iv rot's ot/cetot? ;^povot? dvaypdipofxev.
30. Tore S o loAao? KaraariqGds rd rrepi rrjv
dvoLKLav, /cat rov AalSaXov e/c rrjg St/ceAtas" /xera-
7T€ [-Lipdpievos , KareaKevaaev cpya 77oAAa /cat pie-
ydXa fi^XP'' "^^^ ^^^ KaipdJv hiapevovra /cat diro
rod KaraaKevdaavros AatSaAeta KaXovp.eva. coko-
SopiTjae Be /cat yvpivdaia pceydXa re Kal TToXvreXrj,
/cat hiKaarrjpia KarearrjGe Kal rdXXa rd rrpog rrjv
2 evSatpioviav avvreivovra. (hvopiaae he Kal rovs
Xaovs 'loAaet?/ a^' eavrou Bepievog rrjv Trpoarjyo-
piav, cruyxojp'qodvrojv rdJv QeaTTcaScov, Kal Bovrwv
avrcp rovro ro yepas KadaTrepel rivi Trarpi. Sta yap
rrjv TTpds avrov<s airovSrjv eVt roaovr evvoiag Trpo-
rixd'r](yo.v ujar e7rd)VVpLO}' avrqj TTepiOeLvat, rrjv rod
yoveojs TTpoaiqyopiav hioirep ev rols varepov xpdvois
1 'loAaet? (cp. Strabo 5. 2. 7), 'loXaovs MSS, 'loXaxiovs
Wesseling and editors.
436
BOOK IV. 29. 4-30. 2
descendants, they say, were the chief men of the city
until recent times. All the other Thespiadae and
many more who wished to join in the founding of the
colony lolaiis took with him and sailed away to
Sardinia. Here he overcame the natives in battle
and divided the fairest part of the island into allot-
ments, especially the land which was a level plain
and is called to this day lolaeium. When he had
brought the land under cultivation and planted it \vith
fruit-bearing trees he made of the island an object
of contention ; for instance, it gained such fame
for the abundance of its fruits that at a later time
the Carthaginians, when they had gro\vn powerful,
desired the island and faced many struggles and perils
for possession of it. But we shall \vrite of these
matters in connection with the period to which they
belong.^
30. At the time we are considering, lolaiis estab-
lished the colony, and summoning Daedalus from
Sicily he built through him many great works which
stand to this day and are called " Daedaleia " after
their builder. He also had large and expensive
gymnasia constructed and established courts of
justice and the other institutions which contribute
to the prosperity of a state. Furthermore, lolaus
named the folk of the colony lolaeis, calling them after
himself, the Thespiadae consenting to this and
granting to him this honour as to a father. In fact
his regard for them led them to entertain such a kindly
feeling towards him that they bestowed upon him as
a title the appellation usually given to the progenitor
of a people ; consequently those who in later times
^ This is not found in the extant portions of Diodorus.
437
DIODORUS OF SICILY
ol ra? dvaiag reXovureg rovro) t<x> dew Trpoa-
ayopevovGLv avrov 'loXaov Trarepa, Kaddirep ol
Ylipaai Tov ¥>.vpov.
Mera Se ravra 6 [xev loAao? eTravicov et? rrjv
'EAAaSa, Kal TrpoaTrXevaag rfj HiKeXia, ouk oXiyov
)(p6vov hUTpiijjev iv rfj viqcTOi. /ca^' ov Sr) xpoi'ov
/cat TLves rajv avvaTroSr] jjlovvtcov avro) Sia to
KaXXos rrjg p^ojpa? /care/xeivav iv rfj St/ceAta,
Kai TOLS HLKavols KaTafjLiydvTeg iv ravrrj Kar-
wK'qaav, TLfjicLfxevoL hLa<j)€p6vT(i}'5 vtto tcov iy)(copiojv.
6 S loXaos fxeydXr]5 OLTTobox'rj? Tvyxdivcov kol
TToXXovg evepyerajv ev TToXXals tcov TToXecov ert-
fXT^dr] refjiiveaL Kal Tifiats rjpcoiKats. tSiov Se rt
/cat TTapdSo^ov avve^rj yeveadai /cara Trfv dnoLKiav
ravT7]v 6 fiev yap Oeog e^prjaev avTots ore Trdvres
ol rrjs aTTOt/cta? TavTrjS jxeTaaxovTes Kal ol tovtojv
eKyovoL StaTeXecTovcnv drravTa tov alwva hiafxivov-
res iXevdepoL, to S' aTToreAeCT/xa tovtojv aKoXovOcD^
TCp -x^piqapLip Ste/xeife p-ixP'^ '''^^ /ca^' ripids KaipaJv.
ol fxev yap Xaol Sta to ttXtjOos tov xpdvov, TrXeio-
voiv tcov ^ap^dpcov ovtcov tcov [xeTecyx^jKOTCov Trjg
aTTOiKLas, i^€^ap^apco9r]crav, Kai fxeTaoTavTes et?
TrjV opeLVTjv iv rat? hvaxcoplo.i's KaTcoK-qaav,
iOtaavTeg 8 eavTOVs Tpi^eadai ydXaKTL Kal
KpiaoL Kai, TToAAd? dyeXag KT'qvcov Tp€(f)ovT€9 ovk
irreSeovTO aiTov KaTauKevdaavTes 8' OLKTjaeLS
iavTols KaTayeiovs Kal ttjv tov ^lov hu^aycoy'qv iv
Tols OpvypLaai 7TOLOVpi€VOL TOVS iK TCOV TToXe/xcov
KLvSvvovg i^€(j)vyov. 8t6 Kal TrpoTepov pikv l^ap^r]-
8d;'tot, /x6Ta he raura 'Poj/xatot TroAAa/ct? TToXejJiT]-
aavTeg tovtols ttjs Trpodeaecos hi-qfiapTov.
438
BOOK IV. 30. 2-6
offer sacrifices to this god address him as " Father
lolaiis," as the Persians do when they address Cyrus.
After this lolaiis, on his return to Greece, sailed
over to Sicily and spent a considerable time on that
island. And at this time several of those who were
visiting the island in his company remained in Sicily
because of the beauty of the land, and uniting with
the Sicani they settled in the island, being especially
honoured by the natives. lolaiis also received a
great welcome, and since he conferred benefits
upon many men he was honoured in many of the
cities with sacred precincts and with such distinctions
as are accorded to heroes. And a peculiar and
astonishing thing came to pass in connection with this
colony in Sardinia. For the god ^ had told them in
an oracle that all who joined in this colony and their
descendants should continually remain free men for
evermore, and the event in their case has continued
to be in harmony with the oracle even to our own
times. For the people of the colony in the long course
of time came to be barbarized, since the barbarians
who took part in the colony about them outnumbered
them, and so they removed into the mountainous part
of the island and made their home in the rough and
barren regions and there, accustoming themselves to
live on milk and meat and raising large flocks and
herds, they had no need of grain. They also built
themselves underground dwellings, and by spending
their lives in such dug-out homes they avoided the
perils which wars entail. As a consequence both the
Carthaginians in former davs and the Romans later,
despite the many wars which they waged with this
people, did not attain their design.^
1 Apollo in Delphi. « Cp. Book 3. 15.
439
VOL. II. P
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Kai TTepl jXev loXdov Kal QeamaScov, en Se
rrjg arroLKLag rrjg et? "EiapSova yevojJidprjg dpKeaOrjao-
fxeOa Tot? prjOeiaL, irepl 8' 'HpaKXeovs rd avv€)(T]
Tolg TTpoeLp-qpievoLg TrpoaOiqaopLev.
31. TeAeaa? yap rovg dOXovs ttjv fxev eavrov
yvvaiKa Meyapav avvcoKLaev 'loXdcp, Std rrjv Trepl
rd T€Kva avn(f)opdv VTTOTrrevadfxevog rrjv i^
eKeLviqs TraLhoTTodav , erepav S it^rjreL Trpo? tIkvcjv
yeveaiv avv-rroTrrov . htoTrep ifxvrjaTevaev loXrjv
2 TT]v ^vpvrou Tov Svvaorevaavros Oi;^aAias". o
S KupvTog 8id T-Tjv €K TTj'; Meyapa? yevopiivqv
drvx^iav evXa^rjOelg, aTreKpiOiq ^ovXevaeadaL Trepl
TOV ydfjiov. 6 8' d7roTV)(^d)v rrjs piV'r]UTeiag 8ta Tr]V
3 drifJiiav i^ijXaae rag lttttovs tov ^vpvrov. 1(^ltov
Be TOV EupuTOU TO yeyovos vnoTTTevaavTog /cat
TTapayevofxevov Kara ^t^t-jjctiv tcov 'imrajv els Tt-
pvvOa, TOVTOV p,ev dva^i^daas 6 'HpaKXrjs ^
eTTi TLva TTvpyov vtprjXdv eKeXevaev d^opdv pn^ ttov
vep.6p.evaL Tvy)(dvovaLV ov Suvap,evov Se KaTavorj-
aai TOV ^I(f>LTOV, (firjaag avrdv if/evSws KaTTjTLdadai
TTjv kXotttjv KareKp-qpiVLaev airo tov irvpyov.
4 Aia 8e TOV tovtov ddvarov Hpa/cA'^S" voarjaas
TTaprjXOev els HvXov Trpds NrjAea, Kai irapeKaXecrev
avTOV Kaddpai tov (f)6vov. 6 p.ev ovv NrjXevs
^ovXevadp-evos /xera rdjv vlcov eXa^e rravras ttXtjv
NeWopos" TOV vecordrov avyKarawovvras p.r] irpoa-
^ 6 'H/ja^A^s omitted by DF, \'ogel.
440
BOOK IV. 30. 6-31. 4
As regards lolails, then, and the Thespiadae and
the colony which was sent to Sardinia, we shall rest
satisfied with what has been said, and we shall con-
tinue the story of Heracles from the point at which
our account left off.
31. After Heracles had completed his Labours he
gave his o%\ti %\ife Megara in marriage to lolaiis,
being apprehensive of begetting any children by her
because of the calamity which had befallen their other
offspring, and sought another wife by whom he
might have children ^vithout apprehension.^ Con-
sequently he wooed lole, the daughter of Eur}i:us
who was ruler of Oechalia. But Eurytus was hesitant
because of the ill fortune which had come in the case of
Megara and replied that he would deliberate concern-
ing the marriage. Since Heracles had met with a
refusal to his suit, because of the dishonour which had
been sho\\Ti him he now drove off the mares of
Eui-ytus. But Iphitus, the son of Eurytus, har-
boured suspicions of what had been done and came
to Tiryns in search of the horses, whereupon Heracles,
taking him up on a lofty tower of the castle, asked
him to see whether thev were bv chance g-razinff
anywhere ; and when Iphitus was unable to discover
them, he claimed that Iphitus had falsely accused him
of the theft and threw him do-wn headlong from the
tower.
Because of his murder of Iphitus Heracles was
attacked by a disease, and coming to Neleus at Pylus
he besought him to purify him of the blood-guilt.
Thereupon Neleus took counsel with his sons and
found that all of them, with the exception of Nestor
who was the youngest, agreed in advising him that he
' Cp. chap. 11.
441
DIODORUS OF SICILY
5 Be^aaOai rov KaOapjiov 6 8' 'UpaKXr^g t6t€ /xev
TTapeXdojv npog ^rjicpo^ov rov 'IttttoXvtov Kal Tretaa?
avTov eKaddpOr], ov BvvdjJLevog 8' diroXvOrjvaL rrjg
voaov €7rr]pd)Tr](Te rov AttoXXco Trepl rrjg depaTreiag.
rovrov 8e xp-qcravros on paov ovrcog dTroXvdr^aerai
rrjg voaov, el TrpaOelg SLKalcog rrjv eaurov ripir^v
aTToSoLrj rolg \(j)irov Traiaiv, dvayKal,6p.€vos rrei-
deodaL ^ ro) "^prjGfxcp fxerd rivcov (jiiXow eirXevaev elg
rrjv 'AoLav. eKel 8' vnopieLvag iKovaiojs vrro
rivog roJv (JiLXcov eTrpdOiq, Kal vapOevov SovXog
iyevero '0/u.^aArj? rrjg ^lapBdvov, ^aaLXeuovarjg
Tiov rore M-acovcDV, vvv 8e Avhcbv ovopia!^o[Jt,evojv.
6 Kal rrjv [xev rijjirjv 6 aTToBofievog rov 'Hpa/cAea
rolg l(l)Lrov rraLalv direhcoKe Kara rov )(prjGp.6v,
6 8' 'YlpaKXrjs vyiaaOelg Kal SovXevcov rfj ^OjxcpdXrj
7 rovg Kara tt]v )(a)pav Xjjarevovrag eKoXaae. rovg
fiev yap 6vop.at,op.€vovg K.epKa)Trag, Xrjcrrevovrag
Kal TToXXd KaKOL Siepya^opLevovg , ovg jxev dneKreL-
v€i, ovs 8e l,ojyprjaas SeSep-evovg rrapeSwKe rfj
^OfX(f>dXr) ■ HvXea 8e rovg irapLovrag ^evovg avvapTrd-
l^ovra Kal rovg dpLTreXcbvag OKarrreLV avayKd^ovra
rep aKa<f)eLcp nard^ag arreKreLvev Ircovcvv 8e
XerjXarovvrcov rroXXrjv rrjg vtto ^Op-cjidXr] ^copag,
rrjv re Xeiav d<f)eiX€ro Kai rr]v ttoXlv, e^ ■^s'
€7TOiovvro rrjv oppLrjv, eKTTopOrjaag i^rjvhpaTTohicraro
8 Kal KareoKaipev. rj 8' ^OfKpdXr] drrohe-)(op.evr] rrjv
avSpetav rrjv 'Hpa/cAeou?, /cat rrvdopLevrj rig iari
Kal rivcov, iOavpacre rrjv dperrjv, iXevOepov 8'
' VTTO T^s voaov after Trtideadai deleted by Dindorf, Vogel,
retained by Bekker.
442
BOOK IV. 31. 4-8
should not undertake the rite of purification.
Heracles then went to Deiphobus, the son of Hippo-
lytus, and prevailing upon him was given the rite of
purification, but being still unable to rid himself of
the disease he inquired of Apollo how to heal it.
Apollo gave him the answer that he would easily rid
himself of the disease if he should be sold as a slave
and honourably pay over the purchase price of him-
self to the sons of Iphitus, and so, being now under
constraint to obey the oracle, he sailed over to Asia in
company \\'ith some of his friends. There he willingly
submitted to be sold by one of his friends and became
the slave of Omphale, the daughter of lardanus, who
was still unmarried and was queen of the people who
were called at that time Maeonians, but now Lydians.
The man who had sold Heracles paid over the pur-
chase price to the sons of Iphitus, as the oracle had
commanded, and Heracles, healed now of the disease
and serving Omphale as her slave, began to mete out
punishment upon the robbers who infested the land.
As for the Cercopes, for instance, as they are called,
who were robbing and committing many evil acts,
some of them he put to death and others he took
captive and delivered in chains to Omphale. Syleus,
who was seizing any strangers who passed by and
forcing them to hoe his \ineyards, he slew by a blow
\Wth his own hoe ; and from the Itoni, who had been
plundering a large part of the land of Omphale,
he took away their booty, and the city which they
had made the base of their raids he sacked, and
enslaving its inhabitants razed it to the ground.
Omphale was pleased -with the courage Heracles
displayed, and on learning who he was and who had
been his parents she marvelled at his valour, set him
443
DIODORUS OF SICILY
a^€iaa Kal avvoiKrjaacra avro) Adfiov iyimrqae.
TTpovTTrjpxe Se raJ HpaKrAet Kara rov rrjg SouAeta?
Kaipov €K SovXr^g vlog KAedSatos'.
32. Merd 8e ravra eiraveXdajv els YleXoirowriaov
earpdrevaev et? "IXiov, iyKaXoju AaofxehovTi to)
^auiXei. ovTos yap 'HpawrAeou? arparevovTos
pL€rd Ydaovos eVt ro )(pva6[Jia}\Aov Sepo?, Kal ro
KTJTOs dveXovTog, aTTeariprjae rojv (hixoXoyrjpievcxiv
ITT7TOJV, Trepl (Lv iv rolg ^Apyovavraig rd Kara
2 fxepos fiLKpov varepov SLe^cpiev. Kal rore fiev
Sid TTjv pier 'Idcrop-o? arpareiav da)(^oXr]deLs,
varepov Se Aa^tot" Kaipov em rr^v Ypoiav earpd-
revaev, cu? p.ev rives (f>aai, vaval piaKpais oKrco-
KaiSeKa, a»? Se "Op.r]pos yeypa(j)ev, e^ rais arrdaais,
ev ois TTapeiadyei rov viov avrou TXrjTToXepiov
Xeyovra
dAA o'lov rivd <^a(Ji ^ir]v 'HpaKXrjei'qv
ett'at, efjiov rrarepa 6pa<yvp.epLvova, 6up,oXeovra,
OS TTore Sevp eXOchv evex ivttojv AaopieBovros
ef o'lrjs <yvv vqvdl Kal dvhpdui TravporepoiGiv
\Xiov e^aXd-na^e ttoXiv, x-qpojae S dyvids.
3 'OS ouv 'UpaKXrjs KararrXevaas els rrjv TpcpdSa
avros P'Sv piera rajv apiarojv nporjyev em rrjv
TToXiv, em Se ra)v vecov direXnTev -qyep^ova rov A/i-
(j)iapdov vlov OtVAe'a. Aaop^eScov S airpoaho-
Kiqrov rrjs irapovaias raJv TToXep-iajv yevop.evr]s
SvvapLiv d^ioXoyov uvvayayeiv e^eKXeiadiq Std rrjV
o^vrTqra ra)v Kaipajv, ddpoiaas S' oaovs e8uvaro,
'■ This story is told below in chap. 42.
2 Iliad 5. 638-42.
444
BOOK IV. 31. 8-32. 3
free, and marrying liim bore him Lamus. Already
before this, while he was yet a slave, there had been
born to Heracles by a slave a son Cleodaeus.
32. After this Heracles, retm'ning to Peloponnesus,
made war against Ilium, since he had a ground of
complaint against its king, Laomedon. For when
Heracles was on the expedition with Jason to get
the golden fleece and had slain the sea-monster,
Laomedon had withheld from him the mares which
he had agreed to give him and of which we shall
give a detailed account a little later in connection
with the Argonauts.^ At that time Heracles had
not had the leisure, since he was engaged upon
the expedition of Jason, but later he found an
opportunity and made war upon Troy with eighteen
ships of war, as some say, but, as Homer writes, with
six in all, when he introduces Heracles' son
Tlepolemus as saying ^ :
Ave, what a man. thev sav. was Heracles
In might, my father he, steadfast, with heart
Of lion, who once came here to carry off
The mares of King Laomedon, with but
Six ships and scantier men, vet sacked he then
The city of proud Ilium, and made
Her streets bereft.
When Heracles, then, had landed on the coast of
the Troad, he advanced in person with his select
troops against the city and left in command of the
ships Oecles, the son of Amphiaraus. And since the
presence of the enemy had not been expected, it
proved impossible for Laomedon, on account of the
exigencies of the moment, to collect a passable army,
but gathering as many soldiers as he could he advanced
445
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fiera tovtojv -qWev em ra.'s vavs, eXTTiC,a>v, et ravra?
ifjLTTp-qcreie, reXog irndT^aeLV toj TToXiyict). rov
he OlKXdovs aTTavTqcravTOS , 6 jxev arpariqyos
OIkXtjs eneaeVf ol he Xolttol avvhicuxdevres et?
ras vavs e(f)dauav avarrXevaavres airo rrjs y^S-
4 AaofJ-ehcov S' eTraveA^oji/ /cat 7rp6? rfj TToXei roZs
[xed^ 'Hpa/cAeous' avfJi^aXojv avros re evrecre /cat
TLov avvayayviljOpievojv ol TrXeiovs' 'Hpa/cA?^? he
TTjv ttoXlv eXwv Kara Kpdros Kal ttoXAovs ev -^eLpcuv
vojjLcp KaraCTc/ia^as', Il/Dta/Ma) rr^v ^aaiXeiav oltt-
5 ehajKe rcov ^IXtahajv Std ttjv hLKaioavvrjV ovros
yap pLOvos Tojv vlojv rov Aaop.ehovro'S evavriov-
pievos TO) TTarpl ras lttttovs (XTrohovvaL crvve^ov-
Xeuaev rep 'Hpa/cAet Kara rag enayyeXias- o
8' 'HpaKXrjs eare<f)dva>ae TeXajxawa dpiareioLS,
Sou? avrtp TTjv AaopLehovrog duyarepa 'Hcnoi^v
ovros yap Kara rrjv TToXtopKiav Trpcjros ^taadpievog
elaeTTeaev els rrjv ttoXlv, 'HpaKXeovs rrpoafiaXovros
Kara, ro Kaprepcorarov p^epos rov rei^ovs ri^s aKpo-
7ToXea>s.
33. Mera he ravra 'HpaKXrjs p-ev eiraveXdiov els
YleXoTTovmqaov earpdrevaev eir Avyeav hid rrjV
aTToarep-qaLV rod paadov- yevop.evr]s he p-dx^jS Trpos
rovs 'HXelovs, Tore p,ev dirpaKros eTravrjXOev eis
"Q,Xevov TTpos Ae^apievov t'^s" he rovrov dvyarpos
'iTTTToXvrrjs GWOiKil^opievris A^av't, avvheLTwayv
'YipaKXrjS Koi deaadpcevos ev rols ydp-ots v^pi-
t,ovra rov Y^evravpov ^vpvnoiva Kal rrjv IttttoXv-
2 rrjv ^la^opLevov, aTieKreivev. els Tipvvda he
'HpaKXeovs enaveXdovros, Kvpvadevs alriaad-
^ Augeas had agreed to give Heracles one-tenth of his
herds in payment for the cleansing of his stables.
446
BOOK IV. 32. 3-33. 2
wth them against the ships, in the hope that if he
could burn them he could bring an end to the war.
Oecles came out to meet him, but when he, the
general, fell, the rest succeeded in making good their
flight to the ships and in putting out to sea from the
land. Laomedon then withdrew and joining combat
with the troops of Heracles near the city he was
slain himself and most of the soldiers with him.
Heracles then took the city by storm and after
slaughtering many of its inhabitants in the action he
gave the kingdom of the Iliadae to Priam because of
his sense of justice ; for Priam was the only one of the
sons of Laomedon who had opposed his father and
had counselled him to give the mares back to
Heracles, as he had proinised to do. And Heracles
crowned Telamon with the meed of valour by bestow-
ing upon him Hesione the daughter of Laomedon,
for in the siege he had been the first to force his way
into the city, while Heracles was assaulting the
strongest section of the wall of the acropolis.
33. After this Heracles returned to Peloponnesus
and set out against Augeas, since the latter had de-
frauded him of his reward.^ It came to a battle
between him and the Eleans, but on this occasion
he had no success and so returned to Olenus ^ to
Dexaraenus. The latter 's daughter Hippolyte was
being joined in marriage to Azan, and when Heracles,
as he sat at the wedding feast, observed the Centaur
Eurytion acting in an insulting manner towards
Hippolyte and endeavouring to do violence to her,
he slew him. \\Tien Heracles returned to Tiryns,
Eurystheus charged him with plotting to seize the
^ A city of Achaea.
447
DIODORUS OF SICILY
fxevo? avTov eTn^ovXeveiv rfj ^acrtXeLo. rrpoa-
era^ev aTreXOeiv e/c Tipvvdo'S aurov re Kal ttjv
*AXi<fn]inr}v /cat 'I^t/cAea Kal 'loXaov. Siovep
dvayKacrdels e(f)vye [xera tovtcov /cat KarwKrjae
3 rrjs 'ApKahiag iv Oeveoi. evrevOev Se opfico-
IJ,€Vos, Kal TTvdonevog e^ "HAtSo? TTopLiTrjv arroorcX-
XeaOai IlocreLScJovi ei? laOfjLou, Kal ravrr^s ({(pTjyel-
adai YiVpvTOV rov Avyeov, TrpoGTreacov a<f>vo)
rov EivpvTov aTTeKTeive rrepL lOecom?, evda vvv
4 iuTLV lepov 'YipaKXiov?. fj-era Se ravra urparev-
cra? em rrjv ^HXiv rov re ^acriXea ifjiovevdev
Avyeav, Kal rrjv ttoXlv e'Acot' Kara Kpdrog OyAea rov
Avyeov [xereTTepuJjaro, Kai rovrco rrjv ^aaiXeiav
TTapehcoKev riv yap vtto rov narpo? rrecfivyahev-
fxevos Kad' ov Kaipov 8iKaarr]g yevofievog roj rrarpl
TTpos 'WpaKXea irepl rod fitadov ro viKrjpia dnehco-
Kev 'Hpa/cAet.
5 Merd he ravra 'Ittttokocov fiev ecpvydSevaev €K
rrjs ^Trdprrjs tov dSeX(f)6v TvvSdpeojv, Ola)v6v
Se rov AiKvpLVLOV (^lXov ovra YipaKXeovs ol viol
rod 'iTTTTOKocovros eLKoat rov apidpLov ovres drr-
eKreLvav e(j) ols ayayaKrrjaas 'HpaKXrjg earpd-
revaev eV avrov'S' fJ.eydXrj Se /-"-dxT] VLKrjaag rrafj,-
TrXrjOeis drreKreive. rrjv 8e UTrdprrjv eXd)v Kara
Kpdros, Kariqyayev cttl rrjv ^aaiXetav TvvSdpecov
rov rrarepa rcov AioaKopajv, Kai rr)v ^aaiXeiav
cos SopLKrrjrov Tvv8dpea) rrapedero, Trpoard^as
C rots' d^' eavrov yevopLevois (f>vXdrreLV. eireuov
8' ev rfj pidxu rcov fj.ev fxed^ 'HpaKrAeou? oAtyoi
rravreXoJs, iv olg rjaav errK^avels dvSpeg "I(I)LkXos
Kal K'q(f)ev'; Kal KTj^e'ojs" ftot rov dpidjxov ovreg
e-nraKaiheKa- rpels ydp drro rcov ■"• etKoat (jlovov
448
BOOK IV. S3- 2-6
kingdom and commanded that he and Alcmene
and Iphicles and lolaiis should depart from Tiryns.
Consequently he was forced to go into exile along
with these just mentioned and made his dwelling in
Pheneus in Arcadia. This city he took for his head-
quarters, and learning once that a sacred procession
had been sent forth from Elis to the Isthmus in honour
of Poseidon and that Eurytus, the son of Augeas, was
at the head of it, he fell unexpectedly upon Eurytus
and killed him near Cleonae, where a temple of
Heracles still stands. After this he made war upon
Elis and slew Augeas its king, and taking the city by
storm he recalled Phyleus, the son of Augeas, and
gave the kingdom into his hands ; for the son had
been exiled by his father at the time when he had
served as arbitrator between his father and Heracles
in the matter of the reward and had given the decision
to Heracles.
After this Hippocoon exiled from Sparta his
brother Tyndareiis, and the sons of Hippocoon,
twenty in number, put to death Oeonus who was the
son of Licymnius and a friend of Heracles ; whereupon
Heracles was angered and set out against them, and
being victorious in a great battle he made a slaughter
of every man of them. Then, taking Sparta by storm
he restored Tyndareiis, who was the father of the
Dioscori, to his kingdom and bestowed upon him the
kingdom on the ground that it was his by right of
war, commanding him to keep it safe for Heracles'
own descendants. There fell in the battle but a
very few of the comrades of Heracles, though among
them were famous men, such as Iphiclus and Cepheus
and seventeen sons of Cepheus, since only three of his
^ Twv deleted by Kallenberg.
449
DIODORUS OF SICILY
oieacod'qaav' raJv 8' evavricov avros tc o 'Itttto-
Koojv Kai fjier avrov 8e/ca jjiev vloi, rcov 8' dXXcov
7 Hv-aprLarcov nTafXTTX-qdeis. oltto 8e Tavrrjs rrjs
arpareias eiravLajv els ttjv 'Ap/caStav, Kal Kara-
Xvcrag irapa "KXeco tco ^aaiXet, rfj Ovyarpl tovtov
Xd9pa /Ltiyet? Avyrj Kai ravrrjv TioiT^cra? eyKVov els
8 llrvpL(f)aXov iTravrjXOev. "AXews 8' dyvoojv to ttc-
TTpayjievov, ws 6 rrjg yaarpos oyKos €p,7Jvv(y€ t7]v
(j)dopav, et,iqreL rov ^Qeipavra. rijs 8' Avyrjs oltto-
(fjaLvofJLevrjs on ^LaaaLTO avrrjv 'HpaKXijs, oiTnaTT]-
aas roLS vtto ravrrjs Xeyo/xevois ravTiqv fxev rrap-
e'SojKe NauTrAio) ^iXco KaOearaJri, Kal vpoaeTa^e
9 KaraTTOVTiaai. Avyq 8' dTTayojJLevr} els ^avvXtav,
Kal yevoj^evq Kara to Ylapdeviov opos, vtto TOiv
(hhlvaiv KaTa^apovfjievr} TraprjXdev els rrju vX-qulov
vXrjV COS CTTt Tiva ^peiav dvayKaiav reKovaa 8e
TTaiSlov dppev dveXiTTe to ^pe(j)os e'is nvas ddfxvovs
Kpvifjaaa. /Ltera 8e raura Avyq [xev dTTrjXXdyq
TTpos rov ^avirXiov, Kal KaravrrjGaaa rfjs Apyeias
els Tov ev NauTrAta At/xeVa rrapaho^ov acoriqpLas
10 ervx^v- 6 yap NauTvAtos" KaraTTOVTiaai p-ev avrrjv
Kara rds evroXds ovk eKpive, ^evois 8e tlol
KapCTtv dvayopLevoLS els rrjv 'AcriW SajpijoraaOai-
ovroL 8' drrayayovres els rrjv Aaiav dTreoovro
Ty]v Avyrjv ru) ^aaiXeZ rrjs Muo-tas- TevQpavri.
11 TO 8' dTToXei<l)8ev ev ro) IlapOevlcp ^pe(f)OS vtto
rrjs Avyrjs ^ovkoXol nves Kopu^ou rou ^aoiXecos
evpovres vtto tlvos eXa<f)OV rep paarco rpecf^opievov,
ehoipriaavTO ro) heoTTorr]. 6 8e Kopypo? TTapa-
Xa^div TO Traihiov dapevcos cu? 'iStov vlov erpe(f>€,
TTpoaayopevaas TrjXecftov aTTo rrjs rpe(f)ovar]s eXd-
(f)OV. TriXe(}>os 8' dvhpa)dels Kal Tr]v pnqrepa
450
BOOK IV. 3^. 6-1 1
twenty sons came out alive ; whereas of the opponents
Hippocoon himself fell, and ten sons along with him,
and vast numbers of the rest of the Spartans. From
this campaign Heracles returned into Arcadia, and
as he stopped at the home of Aleos the king he lay
secretly with his daughter Auge, brought her with
child, and went back to Stymphalus. Aleos was
ignorant of what had taken place, but Avhen the bulk
of the child in the womb betrayed the violation of his
daughter he inquired who had violated her. And
when Auge disclosed that it was Heracles who had
done violence to her, he would not believe what she
had said, but gave her into the hands of Nauplius
his friend with orders to drown her in the sea. But as
Auge was being led otfto Nauplia and was near Mount
Parthenium, she felt herself overcome by the birth-
pains and withdrew into a near-by thicket as if to
perform a certain necessary act ; here she gave birth
to a male child, and hiding the babe in some bushes
she left it there. After doine this Aug-e went back
to Nauplius, and when she had arrived at the harbour
of Nauplia in Argolis she was saved from death in an
unexpected manner. Nauplius, that is, decided not
to drown her, as he had been ordered, but to make a
gift of her to some Carians who were setting out for
Asia ; and these men took Auge to Asia and gave her
to Teuthras the king of Mysia. As for the babe that
had been left on Parthenium by Auge, certain herds-
men belonging to Corythus the king came upon it as
it was getting its food from the teat of a hind and
brought it as a gift to their master. Corythus re-
ceived the child gladly, raised him as if he were his
own son, and named him Telephus after the hind
(elaphos) which had suckled it. After Telephus had
451
DIODORUS OF SICILY
[xaOelv anevScov., TraprjXdev et? AeXcfiOvg, Kal
XP'qcrfjiov e'AajSe nXelv elg ttju Mvcrlav Trpos
12 Tevdpavra rov ^aacXia. dvevpcov Se rrjv jxrjTepa,
KUL yvcoadeis nvog rjv Trarpog, aTToSox'^S iruy-
XO-ve Trjs pLeyLarr)?. 6 Se TevOpag aTrats" cbv
dppevcov TTalScov ^ tt]v dvyarepa 'ApyLonr^v crvvcp-
Kicre TO) TrjXecjiO), /cat StdSoxov aTreSei^e rrjs
^adiXeia's .
34. 'Hpa/cA'T^? Se /nera Ty]v iv Oeveoi KaroiK-qaiv
eVet TTepLTTTO), ^vcr^opajv ettl tco rereAeuTT^AceVat
Olcovov rov AiKvpuvLov Kal "l(f>LKXov rov dSeA^dv'j
dTTTjXOev eKovaiojs i^ Ap/caSta? /cat Trdarjs IleAo-
TTOvvi](jov. avvaveXdovTcov 8' avro) iroXXchv e/c
rrj<5 'A/3/caSta?, aTTT^A^e t'^? AtrajAtas" et? KaAuSoii^a
/cd/cet KaripK-qaev. ovk ovtcov S' avrw Tralhcov
yvTjaLCov ovSe ya/xerTj? yuv'at/cd?, eyrjpLG Arjtd-
vecpav TTjV Olvecos, rereXevrrjKoro? rjSr] MeAed-
ypov. OVK dvoLKetov § etvaL vopiLt,op.ev ^po-xv
TTapeK^dvras rjpLas drrayyetAat rrjv irepl rov
yieXeaypov TrepLTTeTCiav .
2 Olvevs ydp, yevopLevqg evKapmas avruj rov
GLTov, rot? p.ev d'AAot? deols ireXeae Ovaiag,
pLoviis Se rrj'S 'Aprep-iSos chXiycopr^aev St' rju
alriav tj 9e6s avrco p.rjviaaaa tov hLa^efiorjpiivov
KaAuSoji'tov vv dvrJKev, V7T€p<f>vrj to p-lyedog.
3 ouros Be rrji' avveyyug x^P*^^ KaTacftdeipcov rds
KTTjcreLs eAy/xatVero • hioirep MeAeaypo? 6 Olviojs,
Tqv pikv -qXiKiav pidXiara dKpidt,u)v, p^jopirj Se /cat
dvSpeia SLa<f)€pcov, rrapeXa^e rroXXous tcov apiarajv
€7tI TTJV rovTov KuvTjyLav. TTpcoTOV 8e MeAedypou
TO d-qpiov dKOVTiaavTOS, 6p,oXoyovpi€vov avTO) to
1 naiSiov added by Wesseliug.
452
BOOK IV. S3. 11-34. 3
come to manhood, being seized with the desire to learn
who his mother was, he went to Delphi and received
the reply to sail to Mysia to Teuthras the king.
Here he discovered his mother, and when it was
kno^vn who his father was he received the heartiest
welcome. And since Teuthras had no male children
he joined his daughter Ai'giope in marriage to
Telephus and named him his successor to the
kingdom.
34. In the fifth year after Heracles had changed
his residence to Pheneus. beincr grieved over the
death of Oeonus, the son of Licymnius, and of
Iphiclus his brother, he removed of his free will
from Arcadia and all Peloponnesus. There with-
drew with him a great many people of Arcadia and
he went to Calydon in Aetolia and made his home
there. And since he had neither legitimate children
nor a lawful wife, he married Deianeira, the daughter
of Oeneus, Meleager being now dead. In this con-
nection it would not, in our opinion, be inappro-
priate for us to digress briefly and to speak of the
reversal of fortune which befel Meleager.
The facts are these : Once when Oeneus had an
excellent crop of grain, he offered sacrifices to the
other gods, but neglected Artemis alone ; and
angered at him for this the goddess sent forth
against him the famous Calydonian boar, a creature
of enormous size. This animal harried the neigh-
bouring land and damaged the farms ; whereupon
Meleager, the son of Oeneus, being then in the
bloom of youth and excelling in strength and in
courage, took along with himself many of the bravest
men and set out to hunt the beast. Meleager was
the first to plunge his javelin into it and by general
453
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Trpcoretov CTVV^-^copiqdrj- rovro B rjv 7) 8opa tov
4 t,(Lov. ixerexovcrrjg Se ri^g Kvvriyia<; AraXdvTrjs
rrjs Hi-)(OLV€ojg , epaadeLs aurrjs 6 MeAeaypo? Trap-
excoprjae rrjs Bopdg koI tov Kara rr^v dpLoreiav
eTTaivov. ctti 8e rot? Trpa^^deZaw ol Qeanov
TraiSe? ovyKVirqyovvres rjyavaKTrjaav, otl ^evrjv
wvaLKa TTpoeTLpirjaev avrcov, TTapairepufja? rqv
oLKCLorr^Ta. hiOTiep aKvpovvreg tov MeXedypov
TTjv Scopedv evi]hpevaav ATaXdvrrj, Kal Kara ttjv
els 'ApKaSiav eTrdvoSov emdepevoi ttjv Sopdv
5 d^eiXovTO. MeAeaypos" Se Sta re tov 77/30? ttjv
^AraXdi'Trjv epcora Kal Sid ttjv dripiiav Trapo^vvOeis,
i^otjOrjae Tjj 'AraXdvTTj. Kal to p.ev npajrov
TTapeKdXei tou? rjpTraKOTa? aTToSovvat ttj ywaiKl
TO SoOev dpLarelov ojs § ov irpoael-^ov, drre-
Kreivev avrovg, ovra? Trjs AA^aia? dSeA^ou?.
SiOTTep 7] pev AXdaia yevopiviq TT€pi.aXyrj$ cttI ttj
Tujv opalpojv dvaLp€(7€L dpdg eOcTo, Kad dg rj^iojcrev
aTToOavelv ^leXeaypov Kal Tovg dOavdrovg vnaKov-
aavTag eireveyKelv avrcp ttjv tov ^lov KaTaGTpo(j)r]v.
"Et'tot Se pLvOoXoyovaiv otl Kara ttjv MeXedypov
yiveaiv ttj ^AXdaia ra? Mo/pa? Kad^ vttvov eTnoTd-
aag eiTrelv otl tots TeXevT-qoei MeAeaypo? o uto?
auTTj?, orav 6 SaAo? KaTaKavdfj . Siorrep TeKovarav,
Kal vopiaaaav iv ttj tov BaXov (f)vXaKfj ttju awTrjpiav
tov tckvov KelaOaL, tov 8aX6v iTTLfieXws Trjpetv.
'■ The mother of Meleager.
454
BOOK IV. 34. 3-6
agreement was accorded the reward of valour, which
consisted of the skin of the animal. But Atalante,
the daughter of Schoeneus, participated in the hunt,
and since Meleager was enamoured of her, he re-
Unquished in her favour the skin and the praise for
the greatest bravery. The sons of Thestius, how-
ever, who had also joined in the hunt, were angered
at what he had done, since he had honoured a
stranger woman above them and set kinship aside.
Consequently, setting at naught the award which
Meleager had made, they lay in wait for Atalante,
and falling upon her as she returned to Arcadia
took from her the skin. Meleager, however, was
deeply incensed both because of the love which he
bore Atalante and because of the dishonour shoAvn
her, and espoused the cause of Atalante. And first
of all he urged the robbers to return to the woman
the meed of valour which he had given her ; and
when they paid no heed to him he slew them, although
they were brothers of Althaea.^ Consequently
Althaea, overcome ^\^th anguish at the slaving of
the men of her oAvn blood, uttered a curse in which
she demanded the death of Meleager ; and the
immortals, so the account runs, gave heed to her
and made an end of his life.
But certain writers of myths give the folloMing
account : — At the time of the birth of Meleager the
Fates stood over Althaea in her sleep and said to
her that her son Meleager would die at the moment
when the brand in the fire had been consumed.
Consequently, when she had given birth, she believed
that the safety of her child depended upon the
preservation of the brand and so she guarded the
brand with every care. Afterward, however, being
455
DIODORUS OF SICILY
7 varepov S eVt rco (f)6vco rajv d8eX(f)a>v Trapo^vv-
delaav KaraKavaaL rov SaAoi' /cat ro) MeXedypcp
rfjg reXevTTJg alriav KaraaTTJvai,' aet 8e [xdXXov em
Tolg TTevpayiiivoLg XvTTOVfievrjv ro reXog dyxovjj rov
^iov Karaarpeipai.
35. "Ajjia 8e rovrois TrparrofxevoL^ 'Yttttovovv ev
QXivco TTpog T7]v Ovyarepa UepLJSoLav, ^daKovaav
avTTjv i^ "Apeo? VTrdpx^i-v eyKvov, Sievexd^vra
77e/zi/rat ravTTjv et? AlrajXiav TTpos Olvea kol
TtapaKeXevaaadaL ravrrjv dtfiavLaai rrjv TaxLaTTjv.
2 o 8' Olvevs diToXajXeKdjs TTpoa(j)dra)'s vldv kol yu-
vaiKa, ro fiev drroKreZvai rrjv YlepL^oiav dTreyvco,
y-qixas 8 avrrjv iyewqaev vlov TvSea. rd fxkv
ovv rrepl MeAeaypov /cat AA^aiar, ert 8 Olvea
roiavriq? €rv)(e Sie^oSov.
3 'Hpa/cAT^? Se Tot? KaAySojvtot? ^ovXafievo^
XapLGaaOai rov A^eXcoov TTorafxov drrearpetpe,
/cat puGLV dXXrjv KaraaKevdaag dneXa^e x^P'^^
TToXXrjv /cat rrd/jLcfiopov, dpBevofxevrjv vtto rov
4 7TpoeLpr][xevov peWpov. 8i6 kol rcjv voL-qrajv
rtvas fivOoTTOLTJaaL ro vpaxdev TTapeiaijyayov
yap rov 'Hpa/cAe'a Trpo? rov 'A^eXcpov avvdifjat
[xd^T^v, cLj^ioioiixevov rov vorajj-ov ravpw, Kara 8e
rrjv avjjLTrXoKrjv ddrepov rdJv Kepdrcov KXdcravra
ScjpijaacrdaL rolg AtVojAots", o rrpoaayopevaat
Kepas 'A/xaA^eta?. iv w TrXdrrovai TrXrjdos vrrdp-
X€LV nrdoris OTTOjpLvrjs (Zpag, ^orpvwv re /cat pnqXwv
Kal rcov dXXwv roJv roiovrojv, alvirrojxevojv rdJv
7Toir]rdJv Kepas fxev rov Ax^Xcpov ro Bid rrj?
hidypv^os (^^epofxevov peldpov, rd 8e p.rjXa Kal rd?
poag Kal rovg ^orpvs BrjXovv rrjv KapTTorpopov xf^pcv
rijv VTTO rod TTorayiov dpSevojxevrjv Kal ro TrXrjdos
456
BOOK IV. 34. 7-35- 4
deeply incensed at the murder of her brothers, she
burned the brand and so made herself the cause of
the death of Meleager ; but as time went on she
grieved more and more over what she had done and
finally made an end of her life b}' hanging.
35. At the time that these things were taking
place, the myth continues, Hipponoiis in Olenus,
ang-ered at his daughter Periboea because she
claimed that she was •with child bv Ares, sent her
away into Aetolia to Oeneus with orders for him to
do away with her at the first opportunity. Oeneus,
however, who had recently lost his son and ^vife,
was un^villing to slay Periboea, but married her
instead and begat a son Tydeus. Such, then, is the
way the story runs of Meleager and Althaea and
Oeneus.
But Heracles, desiring to do a service to the Caly-
donians, diverted the river Acheloiis, and making
another bed for it he recovered a large amount of
fruitfull and which was now irrigated by this stream.
Consequently certain poets, as we are told, have
made this deed into a myth ; for they have intro-
duced Heracles as joining battle \\ith Acheloiis, the
river assuming the form of a bull, and as breaking
oflF in the struggle one of his horns, which he gave
to the Aetolians. This they call the " Horn of
Amaltheia," and represent it as filled with a great
quantity of every kind of autumn fruit, such as
grapes and apples and the like, the poets signifying
in this obscure manner by the horn of Acheloiis the
stream which ran through the canal, and by the
apples and pomegranates and grapes the fruitful
land wliich was watered by the river and the multi-
457
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Ta)v Kap7TO(f)opouvTcov <f)VT6jv 'A/xaA^eta? 8'
elvaL Kepas olovei rivos dixaXaKiarLas, 8t' rjg rrjv
evTOVLav rod KaraaKevdaavros SrjXovadat.
36. 'HpaKXrjs Se rols l^aXvScovLOLs auarparevaas
inl QeuTTpajTovs ttoXlv re 'Kcl>vpav Kara Kpdros eiAe
/cat OyAe'a rov ^aaiXea tojv QeaTrpoiTOJv aTreKTeLve.
Xa^ojv Se alxp-dXcorov ttjv dvyarepa rod C^uAeo;?
2 eTTepLLyrj ravrrj Kal ereKvojae TX-qTToXejjLov. /xerd
Se rov Arjiaveipas ydfxov rpLulv varepov ereai
SeiTTvoJv Trap OlveX, BiaKovovvTos Eypuro/xou tov
' Apxt'TcXovg vlov, TratSo? ttjv rjXLKLav, dfiaprdvovros
8 iv raj diaKOveiv, rrard^ag KovhvXo), Kal ^apvre-
pag rrjs TrXrjyrjs yevopievrjs, dTreKreivev aKovaioy'S
3 rov TratSa. vepLaXyrj^ 8e yevofxevos ctti ra> vdOei
TTaXiv €K rrJ9 KaAuScDi'os' eKovaicog €(f)vy€ fierd rrjs
yvvaiKos A-qcaveipag Kal "TAAoy rov e/c radnqg,
TratSos" ovros rrjv TjXiKLav. irrel 8e TTOpevopbevog
TjXde rrpos rov Eivrjvov Trorafiov, KareXa^e Neaaov
rov KeVraupoi/ ixluOou Sta^t^a^ovra rov Trorap.6v.
4 ovros Se Trpcorrjv Sta^i/Sacra? rrjv Arjidveipav, Kal
Sid ro /caAAo? epaadeig, iTrexetpr^ae ^cdaaaOai
ravrijv. eVf^oajyueVrj? 8 avTTJs rov dvhpa, 6
[xev 'UpaKXrjg ero^evae rov K.evravpov, 6 Se Necrcro?
jxera^v fiLayofJievog, Kal Sid rrjv o^urr]ra ri]s
TrXrjyrjs evdvs drroOvqaKcov, e(f)r]a€ rfj ArjLavelpa
hdiueiv (j>iXrpov, ottojs firj^ep-La rdJv dXXcvv yvvaiKcov
^ i.e. the idea of Heracles' strength is suggested both by the
name Amaltheia, the first part of which is the same as that of
amalakistia (" hardness ") and by the hard thing a horn is —
458
BOOK IV. 35. 4-36. 4
tude of its fruit-bearing plants. Moreover, they say
that the phrase " Anialtheia's Horn " is used as of
a quaUty incapable of being softened (a-malaMstid),
whereby is indicated the tense vigour of the man
who built the work.^
36. Heracles took the field with the Calydonians
against the Thesprotians, captured the city of
Ephyra by storm, and slew Phyleus the king of the
Thesprotians. And taking prisoner the daughter of
Phyleus he lay with her and begat Tlepolemus.
Three years after his marriage to Deianeira Heracles
was dining in the home of Oeneus and Eurynomus,
the son of Architeles, who was still a lad in years,
was serving him, and when the boy made some
slip in the service Heracles gave him a blow with his
fist, and striking him too hard he unintentionally
killed the lad. Overcome \n\h grief at this mis-
fortune he went again into voluntary exile from
Calydonia along with his -wife Deianeira and Hyllus,
his son by her, who was still a boy in years. And
when in his journeying he arrived at the Euenus
river he found there the Centaur Nessus who was
conveying travellers across the river for a fee.
Nessus carried Deianeira across first, and becoming
enamoured of her because of her beauty he tried
to assault her. But when she called to her husband
for help Heracles shot the Centaur -with an arrow, and
Nessus, struck even while he was having intercourse
Avith her and because of the sharpness of the blow
being at once on the point of death, told Deianeira
that he would give her a love-charm to the end that
Heracles should never desire to approach any other
a most fanciful conception. For another explanation of the
origin of the phrase " Amaltheia's Horn " cp. Book 3. 68.
459
DIODORUS OF SICILY
5 'Hpa/cA^S" deX-qar] 7TXrjat,dcraL. TrapeKeXevaaTO ouu
Xa^ovaav tov e^ avrov ireuovra yovov, koI tovtco
TTpoa/jit^aaav eXaiov Kal to oltto rrjg aKiSog airoard-
t,ov alfxa, ■)(^plGaL tov p^trait'a tov WpaKXlov?.
ovTos fi€V ovv TavTTjv TTjv vttoOtJktjv Sovg Tfi
ArjLaveipa Trapaxprjjjia e^eirvevaev. rj Se /cara
TTjv yevo/xevrjv vtto tov Ncctctou TvapayyeXiav els
dyyog dvaXa^ovaa tov yovov, Kal ttjv a/ctSa ^dipaaa,
Xddpa TOV 'Hpa/cAeous" e^vXaTTev. 6 Se StaySd?
TOV TTOTapiov KaTrjvT7]ae irpos Yi.iqvKa tov ttjs
Tpa)(ivos ^aaiXea, /cat pLCTa tovtov KaTWK-qaev,
e-)(Oiv Tovs del avaTpaTevovTas tcov ApKaScov.
37. Merct Se raura OvXavTog tov ApvoTTcov ^aat,-
AecD? Bo^avTOS et? to iv AeXcfioXg lepov Trapavevojxrj-
K€vai, crrpareucra? pLeTa M'/jAtecut' tov re ^aaiXea tcov
ApvoTTCov dveiXe koI tovs dXXovg €k Trjg ^(^copas
e^avaaTT^aas MryAteucri rrapeScoKe ttjv )(a)pav
TTjv Se OvXavTos dvyaTepa Xa^ojv alxp-dXojTOV koI
piiyeig avTrj vlov Avtio^ov iyewqaev. eTeKvcoae
Se Kal eV Trjg Arjiavelpag vecoTepovs tov "TAAou
2 VLOVs Svo, FXrjvea Kal 'OSLTrjv. tcov S' eKneaovTcov
ApvoTTCov ol pLev ei? ttjv Kv^oiav KaTavTrjaavTeg
eKTiaav ttoXlv K.dpvaTOV, ol S' et? l^virpov ttjv
vfjaov TrXevoavTes Kal tols iyxcoplois dvapn-^Oev-
T€s ivTavda KaTcuKiqaav , ol Se XolttoI tcov Apv-
OTTcov KaTa<j>vy6vTeg im tov Kvpvodea ^orjdeiag
€TV)(ov hid T7]v €xOpav TTjv TTpog 'H/ja/cAe'a*
^ This differs slightly from the account in Sophocles,
Women of Trachis, 572 ff., where Nessus enjoins upon
Delaneira : "If thou gatherest with thy hands the blood
clotted round my wound, at the place where the Hydra,
Lerna's monstrous growth, hath tinged the arrow with black
460
BOOK IV. 36. 4-37. 2
woman. He urged her, accordingly, to take the
seed which had fallen from him and, mixing it with
olive oil and the blood which was dripping from the
barb of the arrow, to anoint with this the shirt of
Heracles.^ This counsel, then, Nessus gave Deianeira
and at once breathed his last. And she put the
seed, as Nessus had enjoined upon her, into a jar
and dipped in it the barb of the arrow and kept it
all unknown to Heracles. And he, after crossing
the river, came to Ceyx, the king of Trachis, and
made his dwelling wth him, having with him the
Arcadians who always accompanied him on his
campaigns.
37. After this, when Phylas, the king of the
Dryopes, had in the eyes of men committed an act
of impiety against the temple of Delphi, Heracles
took the field against him in company with the
inhabitants of Melis, slew the king of the Drj^opes,
drove the rest of them out of the land, and gave it
to the people of Melis ; and the daughter of Phylas
he took captive and lying with her begat a son
Antiochus. By Deianeira he became the father of
two sons, younger than Hyllus, Gleneus and Hodites.
Of the Dryopes who had been driven from their
land some passed over into Euboea and founded
there the city Carystus, others sailed to the island
of Cyprus, where they mixed with the natives of
the island and made their home, while the rest of the
Dryopes took refuge with Eurystheus and won his
aid because of the enmity which he bore to Heracles ;
gall — this shall be to thee a charm for the soul of Heracles,
so that he shall never look upon any woman to love her more
than thee " (tr. of Jebb). And the incident takes place
while Heracles is taking Deianeira home as his bride.
461
^o
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TovTOV yap avrolg avvepyovvros rpelg TroAet?
(pKLaav iv HeXoTTOwijaaj, 'AaLvqv /cat 'Kpfjuovrjv,
€Tt, S' 'Htdt'a.
3 Mera Se r-qv ApvoTTiov dvdaracrtv, TToXepjDV
avvearoJTOs rots AajptevaL tols ttjv 'Eo-TtatcuTir
KaXovjJiemjv olkovolv, chv e^auiXevev KlyijXio^,
Koi Tols AaTTidaLg rols Trepl rov "OXvfiTTOv iSpu-
fievois, <x)v iSvvdareve J^opojvos 6 Kaivecog,
V7T€pe)(6vrojv Be tcjv KamOcov ttoXv rals Swajjueaiv,
ol AcvpLeXs Karecj)vyov irrl rov 'Hpa/cAe'a, Kal avp,-
fxaxov avTOV eKoXeoav im rpLTO) /Lte'pet rrjg
AcopiBos )(^ojpa? /cat Trj'S ^acrtAeia?" Treiaavres Se
Koivfj TTjv em Toj)? AaTit^a? crrpareLav e7Toa]aavTO.
6 S' 'HpaKA'^S' exi^v det tovs jxeQ eavrov crrparev-
aavrag 'ApKahag, /cat [lera rovrcov ;^et/5a)crajLiei'o?
TOVS Aarrldag, avrov re tov ^acnXea Yi^opcovov
dvetAe /cat tojv dXXcov rovs TrXeiarovs KaraKoipas
rji'dyKaaev eKxcoprjcroLL rrjs diJi(f>ia^riTrjaLjxov x^P^^'
4 Tovrojv he Trpaxd^vTCOv, AlyLp-loj ytev to euL^dXXov
Trjs p^copa? TpiTov fiepos TrapedeTO /cat vrape/ce-
XevaaTo ^vXdTTeiv Tolg dir avTOV' eTiavLcbv 8 et?
Tpax^va, Koi 7TpoKXrj6elg vtto Ku/crou tov " Apeos,
TOVTOV jxev direKTeivev , e'/c he ttjs Itojvov rropevo-
jxevos Kol hid ttjs UeXaayicvTioos yrjs ^ahLi^wv
^Opixevioj TCp ^aaiXel avvepn-^ev , ov ttjv dvyaTepa
ep-vrjOTevev ^AoTvhdfxeLav ov TrpoaexovTog h
avTOV hid TO e';)^eti^ avTov yap.eTrjv Arjidveipav
T-r)v Olveojs, UTpaTevaas err' avTov ti]v t€ ttoXlv
eiAe /cat tov dTreiOovvTa ^aaiXea direKTeive, rqv
8' ^AaTvhdp,€iav alxp-dXcoTOV Xa^ojv, Kai p-tyeis
5 avTjj, KTT^crtTTTTO^ vlov iyevvrjae. TavTa be 8ta-
462
BOOK IV. 37. 2-5
and with the aid of Eurystheus they founded three
cities in Peloponnesus, Asine, Hermione, and Eiion.
After the removal of the Dryopes from their land
a war arose between the Dorieis who inhabit the
land called Hestiaeotis, whose king was Aegimius,
and the Lapithae dwelling about Mount Olympus,
whose king was Coronus, the son of Caeneus. And
since the Lapithae greatly excelled in the number
of their forces, the Dorieis turned to Heracles for
aid and implored him to join with them, promising
him a third part of the land of Doris and of the
kingship, and when they had won him over they
made common cause in the campaign against the
Lapithae. Heracles had with him the Arcadians
who accompanied him on his campaigns, and master-
ing the Lapithae with their aid he slew king Coronus
himself, and massacring most of the rest he com-
pelled them to withdraw from the land which was
in dispute. After accomplishing these deeds he
entrusted to Aegimius the thii-d part of the land,
which was his share, with orders that he keep it in
trust in favour of Heracles' descendants. He now
returned to Trachis, and upon being challenged to
combat by Cycnus, the son of Ares, he slew the
man ; and as he was leaving the territory of Itonus
and was making his way through Pelasgiotis he fell
in with Ormenius the king and asked of him the hand
of his daughter Astydameia. When Ormenius re-
fused him because he already had for lawful wife
Deianeira, the daughter of Oeneus, Heracles took
the field against him, captured his city, and slew the
king who would not obey him, and taking captive
Astydameia he lay with her and begat a son Ctesip-
pus. After finishing this exploit he set out to
463
DIODORUS OF SICILY
7Tpa^dfX€VOS icrrpdrevaev els ttjv Ot;\;aAiW im rovs
EupuTOU TraiSas", on r-qv loXrjv p-vrjarevaag
direTV^e' avvaycxivit^oyievoivh avrco tcov Api«iSajv,
rrjv re ttoXlv eiAe koL rovg JLvpvrov TraiSag oltt-
€KTeive, To^ea /cat yioXiova Kai KXvtlov.^ Xa^cov
Se Kal Trjv loAryv alxi^'d.XcoTov OLTrrjXde TTJg Kv^olos
€771 TO OLKpOJTljpLOV TO KaXovpi€VOV KT^l/atOJ^.
38. Ei^rau^a Se Ovaiav imreXaJi' oLTTearetXe Alxo-v
Tov VTTTjpeTr^v els Tpa^^va Trpos rrjv yvvaiKa Atjl-
dveipav tovtcu Se Trpoarerayixevov -qv alrrjaai
■)^tT<ji}va /cat LpLaTiov, ols eLd)9ei. ^prjadat Trpos ras
dvaias. Tj Se ArjidveLpa Trvdojxevrj rod Ai'p^a rr^v
Trpos ^loXriv ^iXocTTopylav Kal ^ovXajxevrj ttXIov
eavTrjv dyandaOaL, tov )(CTa)va e^^piae tco irapd tov
Kevraupou SeSo^eVo) Trpos dTTOjXeiav ^lArpo).
o /xev ovv Aixo-S dyvodJv Ttepl tovtcov dTrrjveyKe
T7]v eadrJTa Trpos ttjv dvaiav 6 S' 'HpaKXrjs evSus
TOV KexpLjxevov )(LTa>va, Kal /car' oXlyov ttjs tov
ar]TTTLKOv (f)apixdKov Swdfiecos ivepyovon-js, Trepc-
€TTeae avpL(l>opa ttj fieyiaTj]. ttjs yap aKiSos tov
e/c Try? ix^^vrjs lov dveiX-q(f)Vias, Kal Sta tovto tov
Xi'Twvos Sta TTJV depjxaaiav tyjv adpKa tov awpiaTOS
XvpLaivopievov , TrepiaXyrjs yevopievos 6 HpaKXrjs
TOV pi€V SiaKov-qcravTa Atyat' dTreKTeive, to Se
CTTpaTOTTeSov aTToXvaas evavrjXdev els ttjv Tpax^va.
'Aet Se (.laXXov ttj vooco ^apwofievos avTos
fiev aTTeGTeiXev els AeA^ou? KiKvp^vLov Kai \6Xaov
eTrepojT-qaovTas tov ^ATToXXojva rt XPV '^^P'- '^V^
voaov TjpdTTetv, Arjidveipa Se to pceyedos ttjs
'HpaKXeovs avpc<l>opds KaTaTreTrXrjyiJLevr], /cat aw-
^ So Burmaim : Tvtiov U, Alyvimov D.
464
BOOK IV. 37. 5-38. 3
Oechalia to take the field against the sons of Eurytus
because he had been refused in his suit for the hand
of lole. The Arcadians again fought on his side
and he captured the city and slew the sons of Eurytus,
who were Toxeus, Molion, and Clytius. And taking
lole captive he departed from Euboea to the promon-
tory which is called Cenaeuni.
38. At Cenaeon Heracles, Av-ishing to perform a
sacrifice, dispatched his attendant Lichas to Deianeira
his wife, commanding him to ask her for the shirt
and robe which he customarily wore in the celebra-
tion of sacrifices. But when Deianeira learned from
Lichas of the love which Heracles had for lole, she
wshed him to have a greater affection for herself
and so anointed the shirt with the love-charm which
had been given her by the Centaur, whose intention
was to bring about the death of Heracles. Lichas,
then, in ignorance of these matters, brought back
the garments for the sacrifice ; and Heracles put on
the shirt which had been anointed, and as the
strength of the toxic drug began slowly to work he
met with the most terrible calamity. For the
arrow's barb had carried the poison of the adder,^
and when the shirt for this reason, as it became
heated, attacked the flesh of the body, Heracles
was seized with such anguish that he slew Lichas,
who had been his servant, and then, disbanding his
army, returned to Trachis.
As Heracles continued to suffer more and more
from his malady he dispatched Licymnius and lolaiis
to Delphi to inquire of Apollo what he must do to
heal the malady, but Deianeira was so stricken by
the magnitude of Heracles' misfortune that, being
^ i.e. of the Lernaean Hydra ; cp. chap. 11.5.
465
DIODORUS OF SICILY
€Lhula eavrfj rrjv dfJiapTLav, ay^ovr^ rov fiiov Kai-
earpeipev. 6 §e deos expy]cre KoixLadrjvaL rov *Hpa-
^Aea juera T-rjg TToXeixLKrjg SiaaKevrjs el? ttjv Oirrjv,
KaraaKevdaai Se TrXrjaiov avrov TWpdv evixeyedrj-
4 7T€pl 8e Tcov XoLTTWv €(f>rja€ All jj.eX'qaeLV. tcov Se
TTepl TOP 'IdAaov 7Toi7]advTa>v rd Trpoareraypieva Kal
€K SiaarT]iJiarog aTTodecupovvriuv to dTro^-qaopiei'ov ,
6 [xev 'UpaKXrjs aTToyvovs rd Kad iavrov, Kal vapeX-
Owv et? TTjv TTvpdv, TTapeKdXei tov aet Trpocnovra
xx^dipaL rr)v TTvpdv. ovhevds 8e toX/jlcovtos inraKOV-
crat pLovo's ^iXoKT'^Trjs eTreiaO-q- Xa^div 8e rrj's
VTTOvpyias X^P'-^ '''W '^^^ ro^cov Scopedv fjilie
rrjv TTvpdv. evdvg Se /cat K€pauv6jv eK tov rrepi-
exovTog rreaovTcov, rj irvpa rrdaa KaT€(f>X€xd'r]-
5 jLtera Se rayra ol pikv Txepl tov \6Xaov iXdovTes em
TYjV doToXoyiav, koI pi-qSev oXcos ootovv evpovTe?,
uTTcXa^ov TOV 'HpaKXea toZ? xPV^I^^^^ aKoXovOio?
i^ dvdpwTTOJV els deous pLedeaTaadai.
39. ALOTTep CO? rjpcoi noi-qaavTes dyiapiovs Kal
XCiopiaTa KaTaGKevdaavTes dn'qXXdyrjcrav elg Tpa-
X^va. pueTa Se tovtovs ^levoLTtos 6 ' A-KTopo?
vlos, ^t'Ao? d)v 'HpaarAet, Kairpov Kal Tavpov Kal
Kpiov ducras to? -qpaiL KaTeSet^e /car evtavTov iv
^Ottouvti, dveiv Kal Tipidv a>? rjpoja tov 'Hpa^Aea.
TO vapaTrXrjaLov Se Kal tcov Qiq^aicov TTOirjadvTcov ,
^ KdrjvaZoL TTpdJTOt TuJv dXXojv a»? dedv eTLpuqaav
dvaiais TOV 'Hpa/<Ae'a, Kal tol? a'AAot? avOpcLiroLS
TTapdSeLypia Trjv eavTOJv et? tov deov evae^eiav
aTToSel^avTes TrpoeTpeipavTO to piev TrpdoTOV dVap'Tas'
466
BOOK IV. 38. 3-39. I
conscious of her error, she ended her life by hanging
herself. The god gave the reply that Heracles
should be taken, and A\ith him his armour and
weapons of war, unto Oete and that they should
build a huge pyre near him ; what remained to be
done, he said, would rest with Zeus. Now when
lolaiis had carried out these orders and had Avith-
drawn to a distance to see what would take place,
Heracles, having abandoned hope for himself,
ascended the pyre and asked each one who came up
to him to put torch to the pji'e. And when no one
had the courage to obey him Philoctetes alone was
prevailed upon ; and he, having received in return for
his compliance the gift of the bow and arrows of
Heracles, lighted the pyre. And immediately light-
ning also fell from the heavens and the pyre was
wholly consumed. After this, when the companions
of lolaiis came to gather up the bones of Heracles
and found not a single bone anywhere, they assumed
that, in accordance with the words of the oracle,
he had passed from among men into the company
of the gods.
39. These men, therefore, performed the offerings
to the dead as to a hero, and after thromng up a
great mound of earth returned to Trachis. Follow-
ing their example Menoetius, the son of Actor and
a friend of Heracles, sacrificed a boar and a bull
and a ram to him as to a hero and commanded that
each year in Opus Heracles should i-eceive the sacri-
fices and honours of a hero. Much the same thing
was like^^^se done by the Thebans, but the Athenians
were the first of all other men to honour Heracles
with sacrifices like as to a god, and by holding up
as an example for all other men to follow their own
467
DIODORUS OF SICILY
"KXXrjvag, fxera Se ravra /cat rovs Kara, rrjv
OLKOu[jLeviqv avdpcoTTOvs a.TTavra's cos deov nixdv rov
'Hpa/cAea.
2 Ylpoadereov S' rjjjilv roZg elprjuevoLS on fiera
TTjv OLTTodecoaiv avrou Zeu? "Hpav /xev eTreiaev
vloTTOLTJaaaOai rov 'Hpa/cAea Kal ro Xolttov elg
Tov aTTavra )(p6vov fXT^rpos euvoiav Trapex^crOaL,
TTjv Se r€KvojaLV yeviaOai <f)aal roLavrrjv rrjv
"Hpai' dva^daav eVt kXlvtjv Kal tov 'Hpa/cAea
TTpooXa^opievrjv irpog to awp,a 8ta tcov ivSvixaTOJV
d^etp-at TTpos TTjV yrjv, fxcpovjJievrjv ttjv dX-qdLvrjv
yevecnv orrep p-^XP'- "^^^ ^^^ TTOieZv tovs ^ap^dpovs
3 OTav OeTOv vlov Trotetcr^at ^ovXcovrai. ttjv S
"Upav /xera ttjv TeKvcoGLV pvOoXoyovai avvoiKL-
aai TYjv "H^rjv tco 'Hpa/cAet, Trepi rjs Kai. tov
TTOiTjTrjv TedeiKevaL Kara ttjv NeKvtav
etScoXov, avTOS Se p.eT ddavaTOiai Oeolai
TepireTai iv OaXiais Kal ex^i- KaXXLa(f)vpov "H^-qv.
4 TOV 8' ovv 'Hpa/cAea Xdyovcn KaTaXeyopievov vtto
TOV Aio? et? Toijs hojheKa Oeovs p-r] TrpoaSe^aaOaL
TTjv Tip,r]v TavTTjv dSvvaTOv yap rjv tovtov /cara-
Xexdrjvac p,rj rrpoTepov ivos tcov ScoSe/ca Oetov
CK^X-qdevTOS' (Ltottov ovv eivai TrpoaSe^aadai
Tip-qv eTepcp deep (f)ipovaav dTtp^iav.
Yiepl pev ovv 'YipaKXiovs el Kal TreirXeovaKapev ,
dAA' ovv ovhev TOJv p,vdoXoyovp,evcov nepl avTov
TTapaXeXoLTTapev .
40. Hepl 8e TCOV ^ ApyovavTcov , eTreihr] toutoi?
468
BOOK IV. 39. 1-40. I
reverence for the god they induced the Greeks first
of all, and after them all men throughout the in-
habited world, to honour Heracles as a god.
We should add to what has been said about
Heracles, that after his apotheosis Zeus persuaded
Hera to adopt him as her son and henceforth for all
time to cherish him ^\•ith a mother's love, and this
adoption, they say, took place in the following
manner. Hera lay upon a bed, and drawing Heracles
close to her bodv then let him fall throu2:h her
garments to the ground, imitating in this way the
actual birth ; and this ceremony is observed to this
day by the barbarians whenever they wish to adopt
a son. Hera, the myths relate, after she had adopted
Heracles in this fashion, joined him in marriage to
Hebe, regarding whom the poet speaks in the
" Necyi'a " ^ :
I saw the shade of Heracles, but for
Himself he takes delight of feasts among
Th' immortal gods and for his ^vife he hath
The shapely-ankled Hebe.
They report of Heracles further that Zeus enrolled
him among the twelve gods but that he would not
accept this honour ; for it was impossible for him
thus to be enrolled unless one of the twelve gods
were first cast out ; hence in his eyes it would be
monstrous for him to accept an honour which involved
depriving another god of his honour.
Now on the subject of Heracles if we have dwelt
over-long, we have at least omitted nothing from
the myths which are related concerning him.
40. As for the Argonauts, since Heracles joined
' Odyssey 11. 602-3.
469
DIODORUS OF SICILY
HpaKXrjg cruvecTrpdrevaev, oiKeZov av eli) hLeXdelv
TTepi avTciJv.
Idoova yeveaOaL Xiyovcnv vlov fxev A'iaovos,
aheXtjuhovv he IleAtou rod GerraAajv ^aatXecos,
pooixr] Se GcvuaTOS Kal ipvxrjs XapLTrpoTqTL hieviy-
Kavra rcuv iqXLKLOjrcJjv eTTtOvfirjaai. tl Trpd^ai
2 ixvrjfxrj'; d^Lov. opcovra Se rcuv ^ irpo avrov
Ilepaea Kal rwas dXXoug Sia rag vvepoplovs
(npareias /cat rd irapd^oXov rdJv ddXojv ho^rjs
acLpv-qarov Terev^ora'S , t,T]X(jL)aaL ra? TrpoaLpecreig
avTcbv. 8to Kal ttjv iin^oXrjv dvaKOivcoadpevov
Tw ^aaiXel ra-^eios Xa^eXv avrov crvyKdraivov,
ovx ovroi rov ITeAtoy GTrevSovrog Trpoayayelv
€LS €7TL(f>dveLav rov veaviaKov cog iXTril^ovro's iv
3 rals rrapa^oXoLs arparetais SiacfiOapijaeaOaL- avrov
[xev yap e/c ^vaecj? iareprjadai Traihcov dppevcov,
rov S' dSeX<^6v evXa^eladat, p-^nore avvepydv
e^ojv rov vlov cTTLO-qrai rfj jSacrtAeta. Kpvrrrovra
Se r'r]v VTTOijsiav ravrrjv, Kal rd Trpog rrjv crrparetav
XP'Tjoipa y^opriyiqaeLv eTTayyeiXdp-evov, napaKaXelv
dOXov reXecrai areiXdpevov rov ttXovv els K.oXxovs
em ro Sca^e^orjpevov rov Kptov hepos xP^'^dpaXXov.
4 rov Be Ilovrov /car' eKelvovs rovg ;\;poi'ous' rrepLoi-
Kovpevov VTTO e6vd)v ^ap^dpa>v /cat TravreXdJs
dyplwv "A^evov rrpoaayopeveaOaL , ^evoKrovovvrcov
6 ruiv iyxojpliov rovs KaraTrXeovras . 'lacrova Se
Bd^r^g opeyopevov Kal rov ddXov SvaechiKrov
p.ev, ov Kara rrdv 8' dhvvarov Kplvovra, Kal Std
^ Tojv Dindorf : rov.
^ " Hostile to strangers ; " ep. p. 393, n. 2.
470
BOOK IV. 40. 1-5
them in their campaign, it may be appropriate to
speak of them in this connection.
This is the account which is given : — Jason was
the son of Aeson and the nephew through his father
of Pehas, the king of the ThessaUans, and excelling
as he did above those of his years in strength of body
and nobility of spirit he was eager to accompUsh a
deed worthy of memory. And since he observed
that of the men of foi'mer times Perseus and certain
others had gained glory which was held in ever-
lasting remembrance from the campaigas which
they had waged in foreign lands and the hazard
attending the labours they had performed, he was
eager to follow the examples they had set. As a
consequence he revealed his undertaking to the
king and quickly received his approval. It was not
so much that Pelias was eager to bring distinction
to the youth as that he hoped that in the hazardous
expeditions he would lose his life ; for he himself
had been deprived by nature of any male children
and was fearful that his brother, with his son to aid
him, would make an attempt upon the kingdom.
Hiding, however, this suspicion and promising to
supply everything which would be needed for the
expedition, he urged Jason to undertake an exploit
by sailing to Colchis after the renowned golden-
fleeced skin of the ram. The Pontus at that time
was inhabited on all its shores by nations which were
barbarous and altogether fierce and was called
" Axenos," ^ since the natives were in the habit of
slaying the strangers who landed on its shores.
Jason, who was eager for glory, recognizing that the
labour was difficult of accomplishment and yet not
altogether impossible, and concluding that for this
471
VOL. II. Q
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TOVTO juaAAov' avTov eincfiaviarepov caeadai Sia-
Xan^dvovra, TrapaaKevdaaadai to, Trpo? ttjv eVt-
41. Kat TTpoJTOV p,€v 7T€pl TO JJ-qXiov vavTTrjyqaa-
adai cr/ca^os", ttoXv rco pbeyeOeL Kal ttj Xonrfj Kara-
CTKevfj Tr)v t6t€ avvrideiav VTrep^aXXov, Sia to
ap^eStat? TrXeZv tovs t6t€ dvOpcoTTOvs Kal niKpols
TTavreXcos d/cartoi?. Sto /cat rcov Ihovrcov avro rore
KaraTTXrjrrofxevcov, Kal rrj? (fi-qixrjg Si.aSodeLarj5 Kara
rr]v EAAaSa Trept re rov dOXov ^ Kal rrj? Kara rrjv
vavnrjyiav eTn^oXrj?, ovk oXlyovs tcjv iv virepoxals
veavLOTKcov eTndvixrjaai. pLeraax^Zv rrjg crrpareta?.
2 'Idaova Se KadeXKvaavra to GKd(f)og Kal Koapirj-
aavra Trdat tols dvrjKovcn npog €K7tXt]^iv XapLTrpdj?,
e/cAefat Tcijv opeyopevcov ttj^ avTrjg TTpoaipeaecos
Tovg €TTL(j)av€aTdTOV's dpiGTeis, a}(JT€ avv avTcp
TOVS d-TTavTas elvai TrevTrjKovTa Kal TCTTapag.
TOVTCOV 8 VTrdp-)(^eLv evSo^OTaTovg Kacrropa Kal
HoXvSevKiTjv, €TL 8 'Hpa/cAe'tt Kal TeXapcova,
TTpos 8e TOVTOLg '0/3<^ea Kal ttjv Tixoivecos 'Ara-
XdvTTjv, €TL 8e TOVS QeGTTLov 7rat8as" Kal avTOU tov
3 UTeXXopevov tov ttXovv em ttjv KoA;)(t8a. Trjv 8e
vavv 'Apyd) TTpoaayopevOrjvai Kara p-ev TLvag
Tcbv p,vdoypd(j}Cov dvo tov to aKd^os dpxi-TeKTOvq-
aavTO? "Apyov Kal avpirXevaavTOS eveKa tov
depaTTCveiv del Ta irovovvTa p-eprj Trjg vews, co? 8
eviOL Xeyopaiv drro Trjs Trepi to Ta^os VTrep^oXrjg,
U)S dv Tcov dpxo.iO)v dpyov to Taxv Tvpooayopevov-
Toxv. TOVS 8' ovv dpioTetg ovveX96vTas eXeadai
a(l)d)v avTcJbv uTpaTrjyov 'H/aa/cAe'a, TvpoKpivavTas
KaT dvhpeiav.
^ So Dindorf : -npos t« to aBXov.
472
BOOK IV. 40. 5-41. 3
very reason the greater renown would attach to
himself, made ready everything needed for the
undertaking.
41. First of all, in the vicinity of Mount Pelion
he built a ship which far surpassed in its size and in
its equipment in general any vessel known in those
days, since the men of that time put to sea on rafts
or in ver}' small boats. Consequently those who
saw the ship at the time were greatly astonished,
and when the report was noised about throughout
Greece both of the exploit and of the enterprise of
building the ship, no small number of the youths
of prominence were eager to take part in the expe-
dition. Jason, then, after he had launched the ship
and fitted it out in brilliant fashion with everything
which would astonish the mind, picked out the
most renowned chieftains from those who were eager
to share his plan, with the result that the whole
number of those in his company amounted to fifty-
four. Of these the most famous were Castor and
Polydeuces, Heracles and Telamon, Orpheus and
Atalante the daughter of Schoeneus, and the sons of
Thespius, and the leader himself who was setting
out on the voyage to Colchis. The vessel was called
Argo after Argus, as some writers of myths record,
who was the master-builder of the ship and went
along on the voyage in order to repair the parts of
the vessel as they were strained from time to time,
but, as some say, after its exceeding great swiftness,
since the ancients called what is swift argos. Now
after the chieftains had gathered together they
chose Heracles to be their general, preferring him
because of his courage.
473
DIODORUS OF SICILY
42. "ETretr' eV ri^^ ^IcoXkou rov eKvXovv TTOLrjcra-
/xeVous", Kal TTapaXXd^avras rov re "Adco Kal Sa/no-
OpaKTjv, )(eiiJi<jjvL TrepLTTecxetv, Kal TTpoaevex^rjvai
Trjg TpcpdSos Trpos Zltyetov. ivravda S' aurcov ttjv
diTofiaaLV TroirjaaiJievcjjv , evpedrjvai ^aai TrapOevov
SeSejjLevTjv irapd rov alyiaXov Std roiavras atVias".
2 Aeyerat rov' Iloo'etStDv'a Sto. tt)i' jxvOoXoyovfxdvrjv
ribv TpcoiKcov TCLXfJ^v KaraaKevrjV fx-qvcaavra Aao/xe-
Sov'Tt TO) ^acriAet ktjtos dveZvai Ik rod TreXdyovs
TTpos rrjv ^(^ujpav' vtto Se rovrov rovs re Trapd rov
alyiaXov hiarpl^ovra's /cat rovs yecopyovvrag rrjv
TTapadaXdmov TrapaSo^co? avvapTrdt^eadaL' rrpos
8e rovroLS Xolixov epbireaeZv els to, TrX-qdr) /cat
KapTTOJv TTavreXrj ^dopdv, ojare irdvrag eKTrXr^r-
3 readat ro fxeyedos rrjs Treptardaecug. 8t6 /cat
cruvrpe)(ovra>v rcov 6)(Xa)v els eKKXiqaiav /cat
tjirovvroiv aTTaXXayrjp rcov drvxTjixdraov , Aeyerat
rov ^aaiXea Trefxifjai Trpos rov 'AttoAAo; tows'
eTTepioriqaovras rrepl ra)v avjJi^e^iqKorajv. e/C77e-
Govros ovv xp-qa/Jiov [xtjvlv inrdpxeLV YioaeLScovos,
/cat rore ravrrjv Xrj^eiv orav ol TpoJes ro Xa^ov rojv
reKVOJV eKouaicos TrapaScvat ^opdv rco Krjrei,
(f)acrlv aTrdvrojv els tov KXfjpov epL^aLvovrcov
eTTaveXdelv els 'Hcnovr^v rrjv rov ^aaiXeoJS dvya-
4 repa. BcoTrep rov Aao/xeBovra avvavayKaadevra
TTapahovvai rrjV napOei'ov /cat Seaiio is KaraXa-
5 P6[xevov aTToXLTTeLV TTapd rov alytaXov. evravda
474
BOOK IV. 42. 1-5
42. After they had sailed from lolcus, the account
continues, and had gone past Athos and Samothrace,
they encountered a storm and were carried to
Sigeium in the Troad. When they disembarked
there, it is said, they discovered a maiden bound in
chains upon the shore, the reason for it being as
follows. Poseidon, as the story runs, became angry
^\-ith Laomedon the king of Troy in connection ^^'ith
the building of its walls,^ according to the mythical
story, and sent forth from the sea a monster to
ravage the land. By this monster those who made
their living by the seashore and the farmers who
tilled the land contiguous to the sea were being
surprised and carried off. Furthermore, a pestilence
fell upon the people and a total destruction of their
crops, so that all the inhabitants were at their wits'
end because of the magnitude of what had befallen
them. Gansequently the common crowd gathered
together into an assembly and sought for a deliver-
ance from their misfortunes, and the king, it is
said, dispatched a mission to Apollo to inquire of
the god regarding what had befallen them. When
the oracle, then, became known, which told that the
cause was the anger of Poseidon and that only then
would it cease when the Trojans should of their free
will select by lot one of their children and deliver
him to the monster for his food, although all the
children submitted to the lot, it fell upon the king's
daughter Hesione. Consequently Laomedon was
constrained by necessity to deliver the maiden and
to leave her, bound in chains, ujDon the shore. Here
^ Poseidon and Apollo had been compelled by Zeus to labour
for Laomedon for hire, but when they had built the walls of
Troy Laomedon refused to pay them.
475
DIODORUS OF SICILY
8e rov fxev Hpa/cAea /xera rcbv ^ Apyovavrajv ttjv
dno^aaiv noLr^crdiJievov, /cat fxadovTa Trapd tt^?
Koprjs TTjv TTepiTTereLav , dvapprj^ai fxev rovs vepl
TO aojfxa SeCT/xoy?, dva^avra S' et? ttjv ttoXiv
iTTayyeiXaadat rep jSaatAet Siac^Oepelv to ktjtos.
6 Tov 8e AaopeSovTog drroSe^afxevov tov Xoyou
Kai hcopeav Scoaeiv eTrayyeiXapevov ra? dvLKTjTovg
iTTTTovs, <f>aal TO pev ktjtos ixfy" 'Hpa/cAeou? dvaipe-
Orjvai, Tjj 8 'Hatovrj SoOrjuai Trjv i^ovuiav etre
^ovXoLTO p.€Td TOV GcooavTos dTTeXOelv etre /xerd
Twv yovecov KaTapeveiv eu ttj naTpihi. ttjv pkv
ovv Koprjv eXeaOai tov peTa tov ^evov ^iov, ov
piovov TTjv evepyeaiav Trjs avyyeveias irpoKplvacrav,
dXXd Kai (f)0^ovpevr)V p.rj TrdXiv (f>av€VTOS kt^tovs
TTpos TT]v opoiav V7TO Tcov ttoXltojv eKTedfj Tipajpiav.
7 TOV 8 Hpa/cAea Scvpotg Kai toXs TrpoaiqKovcn
^evcoLS XapiTTpcog TLjxr]6evTa ttjv 'Hcnovrjv /cat rd?
17T7TOVS TTapadeadai tco Aao/xeSovrt, avvTa^d-
p,evov peTa ttjv e/c KoA^^coi' iirdvoSov dTToXi^ipea-dai,
avTov 8 di^a;^^7^t'at pieTo. tojv ' ApyovavTcov /card
aTTOvhiqv ein tov TrpoKetpievov ddXov.
43. ^KTTiyevopevov 8e p-eyaXov )(€i.pa)vog, /cat tcov
dpiUTea)v diroyLvcoaKovTcov ttjv aojTrjpiav , <f)acjlv
'0/5^ea, T7\s TeXeTTJg povov tcov avpTrXeovTcov peT-
eaxTjKOTa, TTOirjoaadai rot? HapioOpa^L Tas virep Trjg
2 GcoTTjptag ev)(ds- evdvg 8e tov TTvevpcaTOS €vS6v-
TOS", /cat Suotv dcTTepcov inL Tag tcov Atocr/copcov
K€(f)aXdg eTTLTreaovTcov, dvavTas pev eKTrXayfjvat,
TO TTapdSo^ov, vTToXa^elv 8e decov rrpovoLa tojv kiv-
^ i.e. the Cabeiri. ^ i.e. Castor and Polydeuces.
476
BOOK IV. 42. 5-43. 2
Heracles, when he had disembarked with the Argo-
nauts and learned from the girl of her sudden change
of fortune, rent asunder the chains which were
about her body and going up to the city inade an
offer to the king to slay the monster. When Lao-
medon accepted the proposal and promised to give
him as his reward his invincible mares, Heracles,
they say, did slay the monster and Hesione was
given the choice either to leave her home with her
saviour or to remain in her native land with her
parents. The girl, then, chose to spend her life
with the stranger, not merely because she preferred
the benefaction she had received to the ties of kin-
ship, but also because she feared that a monster
might again appear and she be exposed by the
citizens to the same fate as that from which she had
just escaped. As for Heracles, after he had been
splendidly honoured with gifts and the appropriate
tokens of hospitality, he left Hesione and the mares
in keeping with Laomedon, having arranged that
after he had returned from Colchis, he should receive
them again ; he then set sail with all haste in the
company of the Argonauts to accomplish the labour
which lay before them.
43. But there came on a great storm and the
chieftains had given up hope of being saved, when
Orpheus, they say, who was the only one on ship-
board who had ever been initiated in the mysteries
of the deities of Samothrace.^ offered to these deities
the prayers for their salvation. And immediately the
wind died down and two stars fell over the heads of
the Dioscori,^ and the whole company was amazed
at the marvel which had taken place and concluded
that they had been rescued from their perils by an
477
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Svvojv iavrovs OLTTrjXXdxO ai. 8to Kat rots eiTLyivo-
fjievots TTapaSoaifxov yeyevrjijievr]? rrjg vepLTTereLag,
del rov9 ;^ei/xa^o/>ieVous' rcbv nXeovraJv ei))(0i9 /xev
riQeaOai rots Hafiodpa^i, to,? §e rwv darepcov
napovoLas dvaTT€p,7T€iv els ttjv rwv AioaKopajv
i7n(f)dv€Lav.
3 Ov fxrjv aAAo, rore X-q^avros rov y^eipboyvog
dTTO^rjvai jiev rovs dpiareXg rrjg QpaKTjg ei? ttjv
v7t6 (^Lvecos PaaiXevojjievqv )(cupav, TrepLireaeZv 8e
hval veaviaKoig eirl TLpaopia BLcopvypievoLS Kal pid-
ari^L TrArjyd? uvvey^el'S XapL^dvovai' rovrous S'
VTrdpx^eiv ^i.vico's vlovs Kai KAeoTrarpa?, r^v (fyaaiv
i^ 'Q.p€idvLag rrjg 'Epe;^^ea»s' yewrjOrjvaL Kal
Bopeov, Sid 8e ^ pnqrpvLd's roXpiav /cat Bia^oXds
j/feuSet? rvy)(dvovTas vtto rod rrarpos dSt/ca*? rrjs
4 Trpoeipr]p.evrjg ripLcopLag. rov yap Otrea yeyajxiq-
Kora 'ISaiW rrjv AapSdvov rod ^kvOcou ^acrtAecos'
dvyaripa, Kal Std rov Trpdg avrrjv epara ndvra x^P*-'
t,6pLevov, TTiarevaai Stdrt rfj p.iqrpvLa ^iav i(f)'
v^pei TTpocrriyayov oi irpoyovoL, ^ovXopievoi rfj
5 fXTjrpl ;!^apt'^ecr^ai. rajv Be irepl rov 'Hpa/cAea
TTapaSo^cos err L(j>av evr ojv , (f>aaL rovs piev ev ratg
dvdyKaLS ovrag evLKaXecraaOaL Kadarrep deovg rov?
dpiareZs, Kal rds alriag hiqXwaavras rrjs rov
^ Se deleted by Vogel, retained by Bekker, Diiidorf,
Jacoby.
^ The Gemini, the appearance of which was believed to
have a quieting influence on the sea; thus Horace {Odes,
1. 3. 2) prays to "Helen's brethren, stars of light," safely
478
BOOK IV. 43. 2-5
act of Providence of the gods. For this reason, the
story of this reversal of fortune for the Argonauts
has been handed down to succeeding generations,
and sailors when caught in storms always direct
their prayers to the deities of Samothrace and
attribute the appearance of the two stars ^ to the
epiphany of the Dioscori.
At that time, however, the tale continues, when
the storm had abated, the chieftains landed in
Thrace on the country which was ruled over by
Phineus. Here they came upon two youths who by
way of punishment had been shut within a burial
vault where they were being subjected to continual
blows of the whip ; these were sons of Phineus and
Cleopatra, who men said was born of Oreithyia,
the daughter of Erechtheus, and Boreas, and had
unjustly been subjected to such a punishment because
of the unscrupulousness and lying accusations of
their mother-in-law. For Phineus had married
Idaea, the daughter of Dardanus the king of the
Scythians, and yielding to her every desire out of
his love for her he had believed her charge that his
sons by an earlier marriage had insolently offered
vaolence to their mother-in-law out of a desire to
please their mother. And when Heracles and his
friends unexpectedly appeared, the youths who
were suffering these tortures, they say, made suppli-
cation to the chieftains as they would to gods, and
setting forth the causes of their father's unlawful
to bring to Greece the ship which bears Vergil. Cp. Macaulay,
The Lays of Ancient Rome :
Safe comes the ship to haven,
Through billows and through gales,
If once the Great Twin Brethren
Sit shining on the sails.
479
DIODORUS OF SICILY
TTarpos napavofJiLag Selcrdai raJv arvxruJiaTcov
avTovg i^eXeaOai.
44. Tov Se Oti^e'a vLKpcog aTravrrjaavra rolg
^evois TTapayyeXXaL fi-qSev rajv Kad iavrov ttoXv-
Trpaypiovelv pnqheva yap rrarepa Xa^eXv Trap vlwv
Ikovuluos TLjxcxjpLav, €L /XT] TO) p^eyddcL Tcbv ahiK-qpLO.-
Tcov V7T€pdoLvro Tijv (j)uaLKi]i> Ta)v yoveojv et?
2 reKva (jyiXooropyiav . ivravOa av pLTrXeovras toij
TTepl rov 'HpaKXea rovg eTTLKaXovfievovs fiev
BopeaSa?, d8eX(f)OVs § ovras l^eoTTdrpas, Xeyerat
8ta TTjv Gvyy eveiav irpajTOVS 6pp.rjaaL irpos rrju
^o-qOeiav, /cat Toys' /xev TrepLKeLjjievovs rols veavi-
GKOLs heap^ovg TrepLpprj^ai,, rovs 8 ivavrLOVfievovg
3 TciJv ^ap^dpojv drroKrelvai. oppLrjaavros 8e rov
Oti/ecD? TTpog pidx'>]v, Kal rod ttXtJOovs rwv QpaKcov
cjuvSpap-ovrog, (f>aul rov 'WpaKXea irdvrcov dpiara
SiaycovLordpievov avrov re rov Oivea /cat rcbv dXXcov
ovK oXiyoug dveXeiv, ro Se reXevratov Kpar-q-
aavra raJv ^aGiXeicov rrjv pikv ViXeorrdrpav e/c ^
rr]s (f)vXaK'fjg rrpoayayelv, rots Se OtretSat? drro-
KaraarrjaaL rrjv narpcpav dp^^tjv ^ovXopLevcvv 8'
avrctjv rrjV pirjrpvLav p,er' at/cta? aTroKrelvaL, Tretcrat
rrjs p^ev rip-copias ravrrjs dTToarrjvaL, rrpos he
rov rrarepa rrepupavras els rrjv TiKvOiav eKelvov
vapaKaXeaaL rcov eis avrovs dvopiiqpidrwv Xa^eZv
4 KoXacTLv. ov yevr]6evro£ rov puev TiKvO-qv rrjg
dvyarpog Karayvcovai ddvarov, rovg S' e/c rrjs
YiXeorrdrpas vlovs aTreveyKaadai irapd rots &pa^l
86^av eineiKeias .
OvK dyvoaj Se Stdri rti^e? rcov p.v9oypd(f)Oiv
rv(j)Xa)9rjvai </iaat rovs OtvetSa? vtto rod rrarpos, /cat
^ Ik Vulgate, Bekker, Jacoby, omitted D, Diudorf, Vogel.
480
BOOK IV. 43. 5-44. 4
conduct implored that they be deUvered from their
unfortunate lot.
44. Phineus, however, the account continues, met
the strangers with bitter words and ordered them
not to busy themselves with his affairs ; for no
father, he said, exacts punishment of his sons of his
free will, unless they have overcome, by the magni-
tude of their crimes, the natural love which parents
bear towards their children. Thereupon the young
men, who were known as Boreadae ^ and were of
the company which sailed with Heracles, since they
were brothers of Cleopatra, and because of their
kinship with the young men, were the first, it is
said, to rush to their aid, and they tore apart the
chains which encircled them and slew such bar-
barians as offered resistance. And when Phineus
hastened to join battle with them and the Thracian
multitude ran together, Heracles, they say, who
performed the mightiest deeds of them all, slew
Phineus himself and no small number of the rest,
and finally capturing the royal palace led Cleopatra
forth from out the prison, and restored to the sons
of Phineus their ancestral rule. But when the sons
wished to put their stepmother to death under
torture, Heracles presuaded them to renounce such
a vengeance, and so the sons, sending her to her
father in Scythia, urged that she be punished for
her wicked treatment of them. And this was done;
the Scythian condemned his daughter to death, and
the sons of Cleopatra gained in this way among the
Thracians a reputation for equitable dealing.
I am not unaware that certain writers of myths
say that the sons of Phineus were bUnded by their
1 " Sons of Boreas."
481
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rov ^Lvea rrjs o/iOLas rvx^LV crvjji(f)opdg vtto Bopeou,
5 ofjiOLcos Se KaL tov 'H/)a/<rAe'a riveg TrapaSeScuKacn
TTpos vhpeiav i^eXdovra Kara ttjv 'Aatav vtto rcav
Kpyovavrojv im ttjs ^cbpas a.7ToXeL(f)6'qvai. Ka6-
oXov 8e Tovg TraXaiovg fivdovs ovx dTrXrjv ovSe
avp,7T€(f)a>vripi€vqv laropiav ex^i-v avix^e^rjKe- Sioirep
() ou XPV 6avp.di^eiv, idv riva tojv dpxo.LoXoyovp.e-
vwv pL-q avpi(j>a)vcx}S aTracrt roZ's voL-qraLS Kal avy-
ypa(j)€vui, GvyKpLVcop-ev.
Ov p,r]v dXXd Kal rovs Otrei'Sa? Xeyerat rrjv
^aaiXeiav TrapaSovrag rfj p.rjTpl KAeoTrarpa avarpa-
7 reucrat toZ^ apLarevcnv. dvaxd^.vra'S 8 aurou?
e/c TT]? QpaKTjs KaL KopLLadevrag elg tov Uovrov
Trpoaaxelv ■*■ rfj TavpLKrj, ttjv dypLorrjra rcijv
eyx<JipL(JOV dyvoovvrag- vopLipov yap etrat tol? ttjv
Xfiipo-v ravTTjv oIkovcl ^ap^dpoLg 6v€lv Aprep-L^L
TavpoTToXcp Tovs KaraTrXeovrag ^evovg- Trap
olg ^aat riqv l(f)Ly€veLav ev rolg varepov xRo^^l?
lepeiav ri^g €Lprjp.evrjg 9eov KaraaraOetaav OveLV
rovg dXLCTKopLevovg.
45. 'ETTt^T^TOucrr]? Se rrjg laroptag rag rrjg ^evo-
KTOviag alriag, dvayKaiov ^pax^a SLeXdelv, dXXcog
re Kal rijg TrapeK^daecog oLKelag iaop.evr]g raZg
Tcbv ^ApyovavTcvv irpd^eaL. (fyaal yap 'HXlov Svo
yeveaOaL rralhag, Alrj-rqv re Kal Yiepaiqv rovrojv
Se TOV p,€v ALTjTrjv ^aaiXevaaL Trjg J^oXxL^og, tov S
€T€pov TTJg TavpiKTJg, dp.(f>OTepovg he SLeveyKelv
2 co/xoT-nri. Kal Ylepaov pcev 'KKdr-qv yeviadai
dvyaTepa, ToXpLrj Kal Trapavop-La rrpoexovaav tov
^ TTpoaaxe^v Eichstadt, Trpoax^^'' (irpoaexei-v D*) MSS.,
editors.
482
BOOK IV. 44. 4-45. 2
father and that Phineus suffered the like fate at
the hands of Boreas. Likewise certain writers have
passed down the account that Heracles, when he
went ashore once in Asia to get water, was left
behind in the country by the Argonauts. But, as
a general thing, we find that the ancient myths do
not give us a simple and consistent story ; conse-
quently it should occasion no surprise if we find,
when we put the ancient accounts together, that in
some details they are not in agreement ^vith those
given by every poet and historian.
At any rate, according: to these ancient accounts,
the sons of Phineus turned over the kingdom to
their mother Cleopatra and joined ^vith the chief-
tains in the expedition. And after they had set
sail from Thrace and had entered the Pontus, they
put in at the Tauric Chersonese, being ignorant of
the savage ways of the native people. For it is
customary among the barbarians who inhabit this
land to sacrifice to Artemis Tauropolus the strangers
who put in there, and it is among them, they say,
that at a later time Iphigeneia became a priestess
of this goddess and sacrificed to her those who were
taken captive.
45. Since it is the task of history to inquire into
the reasons for this slaying of strangers, we must
discuss these reasons briefly, especially since the
digression on this subject will be appropriate in
connection with the deeds of the Argonauts. We
are told, that is, that Helius had two sons, Aeetes
and Perses, Aeetes being king of Colchis and the
other king of the Tauric Chersonese, and that both
of them were exceedingly cruel. And Perses had a
daughter Hecate, who surpassed her father in bold-
483^
DIODORUS OF SICILY
-narpos (fiiXoKvyriyov 8' ovaav ev raZs OLTTorvx^di-S
av6p<jo7TOVs dvrl tcjv Biqpicov KaraTO^eveiv . ^lXo-
rex^ov S et? ^appLaKcov OavaaLfxcov crvvdeaeis
yevojjievqv ro KaXovjjievov aKovLTOv i^evpelv, Kol
TTJs eKaarov hwdp-ecos Trelpav Xap-f^dveLV jxiayovaav
Tat? SiSoyueVais" toi? ^evotg rpocjialg. ijjLTreipLav
Se fieydXiqv iv rovroLg expvuav TrpoJTOv fxev rov
Trardpa (j^appudKcp SiacfideLpaL /cat StaSe^aaOai -rqv
^aatXelau, cTTetr' 'Apre/xtSo? Upov l^pvaap^iinqv /cat
Tous" KarairXeovras ^evovs dveadai rfj deep /caraSet-
3 ^aaav Itt d)p.6Tr]Tt BLOvop.acr9rjvai,. pLerd Se
raura cruvoLKrjaaaav Act^ttj yewfjaai 8vo dvyarepag,
KlpKTjv re Kol }\\rjheiav, ert 8' vldv AlyiaXea.
Kai TTjv p.ev K.LpKrjv et? <f>app.dKa)v 7TavTo8aTTa)v
inivoLav CKTpaTrelaav i^evpeZv pil^ujv TravTOiag
(jivaeis /cat SvvdpLeLg dmarovpievag- ovk oAtya
piev yap vtto rrjg pL-qrpd's 'E/ccitt^s" SiSaxdrjuat, ttoXv
Be TrXeico Sta rrj's Ihias empLeXeias i^evpovcxav
pLTjSepLLav vTTep^oXrjv dTroXnTeXv erepa npos eTTLVOiav
4 <f>app.aKeLa£. hoOrjvaL 8' avr-qv els ydpLOV rat
^aatXel toov Happiardjv, ovs evLot llKvBas irpoa-
ayopevovGL. Kal ro p.ev TrpoJrov rov dvhpa <j)ap-
p-dKOLS dveXeZv, p.erd he raura Tr]v ^aatXeiav
Stahe^apLevTjv TToXXd Kara row ap^op-evajv ajp,d
5 rrpd^ai Kal ^t'ata. hioTrep eKTreaovaav rrjs ^acrt-
Aeta? Kara p.ev rivas ro)v pcvdoypd^ojv <f)vyelv eVt
rov (VKeavov, Kal vrjaov eprjpLov KaraXa^opievrjv
^ According to Ovid, Metmnorfhoses, 7. 408 fF., the plant
which gave aconite came from the foam which dropped from
the jaws of Cerberus when Heracles brought him out of Hades.
484
BOOK IV. 45. 2-5
ness and lawlessness ; she was also fond of hunting,
and when she had no luck she would turn her arrows
upon human beings instead of the beasts. Being
Ukewise ingenious in the mixing of deadly poisons
she discovered the drug called aconite ^ and tried
out the strength of each poison by mixing it in the
food given to the strangers. And since she possessed
great experience in such matters she first of all
poisoned her father and so succeeded to the throne,
and then, founding a temple of Artemis and com-
manding that strangers who landed there should be
sacrificed to the goddess, she became known far and
wide for her cruelty. After this she married Aeetes
and bore two daughters, Circe and Medea, and a
son Aegialeus.
Although Circe also, it is said, devoted herself to
the devising of all kinds of drugs and discovered
roots of all manner of natures and potencies such as
are difficult to credit, yet, notwithstanding that she
was taught by her mother Hecate about not a few
drugs, she discovered by her own study a far greater
number, so that she left to the other woman no
superiority whatever in the matter of devising uses
of drugs. She was given in marriage to the king of
the Sarmatians, whom some call Scythians, and first
she poisoned her husband and after that, succeeding
to the throne, she committed many cruel and violent
acts against her subjects. For this reason she was
deposed from her throne and, according to some
wTiters of myths, fled to the ocean, where she seized
a desert island, and there estabUshed herself with
For this reason the plant was reputed to grow near Heraclea
on the Black Sea where the entrance to Hades was pointed
out.
485
DIODORUS OF SICILY
evravda fjiera. rcov avix^vyovaow yvvaiKiov KaOi-
Bpvdrjvai, Kara Se rwas rcov luropiKOJv eKXnrovaav
Tov HovTov KaroiKrjCTaL rrjg 'IraAias" aKpojrrjpLOV
TO p-^xpL TOV vuv o.tt' lK€lvt]<; Kt/D/<ratov ^ 6vo[xat,6-
jj-evov.
46. Trjv Se Mj^SeLav laropovoL ^adeZv irapd re TfjS
fjLTjTpos KaL rrjs aSeA^Tyj aTrdaag rds rcov (jjapfxaKOiV
8vva.fX€L£, TrpoaipeaeL S' ivavncordrrj ^^pT^oOai'
StareXeLv yap rovs KaravXeovras tcjv ^dvcov
i^atpovfJLevrjv €k rcov klvSvvojv, Kal ttotc fjuev Trapd
rou TTarpos alreladai herjuet /cat ^(apirL rrjv rcov
fxeXXovrajv aTToXXvaOaL acorrfpiav, irore 8' avrrjv e/c
rrjs ^vXaKris d(j)LeZaav rrpovoeladaL rrjs rcov drvx'
ovvrojv aCTc/iaAeias" rov yap Al'qrrjv rd jxev hid
rr]v Ihiav ojjjiorrjra, rd 8' vtto rijg yvvaiKog 'E/ca-
T7JS" TreiaOevra, TrpoaSe^aadai ro rijg ^evoKrovtag
2 vopupLOV. dvrLTTparrovarjs 8e ri]? MT^Setas" del
jidXXov rfj TrpoaipeaeL rcov yovecov, <f)aal rov
Ai,i^rr]v vrroTTreuaavra rrjV eK rrjg Ovyarpog cttl^ov-
Xrjv els eXevOepav avrrjv dTTodeoOai (f)vXaKrjv
TTjV he Islrjheiav hiaSpdaav Kara<j)vyeiv e'is tl
3 refjievos 'HAi'ou Kelfievov rrapd OdXarrav. Kad
6v Brj )(p6vov rovs ^ Apyovavrag drro rrjs TavpLKrjs
Kopbiadevras vvKros KaraTrXevGai rrjs KoA;^tSo?
eis rd TTpoeiprijxevov re/xevos. evda brj irepirvx-
ovras rfj MT^Seta rrXavoj (.Levrj rrapd rov alyiaXov,
KaL jxadovras rrap' avrrjs ro rrjs ^evoKrovias
vopLL/jiov, dirohe^aadai jxev rrjV rjixeporrjra rrjs
TTapdevov, SrjXwaavras 8' avrfj rrjv eavrcov em-
■'■ KlpKeiov II, Jacoby.
^ In early times the southern boundary of Latium.
486
BOOK IV. 45. 5-46. 3
the women who had fled with her, though according
to some historians she left the Pontus and settled
in Italy on a promontory which to this day bears
after her the name Circaeum.^
46. Concerning Medea this story is related : —
From her mother and sister she learned all the
powers which drugs possess, but her purpose in using
them was exactly the opposite. For she made a
practice of rescuing from their perils the strangers
who came to their shores, sometimes demanding
from her father by entreaty and coaxing that the
Uves be spared of those who were to die, and some-
times herself releasing them from pi-ison and then
devising plans for the safety of the unfortunate men.
For Aeetes, partly because of his own natural
cruelty and partly because he was under the influ-
ence of his wife Hecate, had given his approval to
the custom of slaying strangers. But since Medea
as time went on opposed the purpose of her parents
more and more, Aeetes, they say, suspecting his
daughter of plotting against him consigned her to
free custody-; Medea, however, made her escape
and fled for refuge to a sacred precinct of Helius on
the shore of the sea. This happened at the very
time when the Argonauts arrived from the Tauric
Chersonese and landed by night in Colchis at this
precinct. There they came upon Medea, as she
wandered along the shore, and learning from her of
the custom of slaying strangers they praised the
maiden for her kindly spirit, and then, revealing to
her their own project, they learned in turn from
^ The libera custodia of the Romans, which corresponded
in general to our release on bail or on parole, a citizen frequently
assuming responsibility for the person of the prisoner.
487
DIODORUS OF SICILY
^oXrjV TrdXiU Trap' eKeivrjg fiadelv rov vnap^ovra
aVTTJ KLvSvVOV OLTTO ^ TOV TTaTpOS StCt TTIV TTpOS TOVS
4 ^evovs €VG€^€iav. KOLvov Se rov avp.<f>epovros
(f>avevTOS, TTjv fiev M'qSei.av eTrayyeLXaadai avvep-
yqaeiv avTols p-^XP^ ^^ (JwreXeaooaL rov rrpoKei-
p.€vov adXov, TOV 8' ^Yaaova 8ta rcov opKcov Sovvai
TTtarcLs OTL y-qpas avrr^v e'^et avpi^cov anavra
5 TOV TOV t,rjv xpovov. p^eTO. 8e raura tovs Apyo-
vavTas OLTToXiTTovTas (f>vXaKas Trjs vecos, wktos
opprjaai pLeTO. ttjs MTjSeta? em to ;;^/)ycrd/xaAAot'
8epos" vepl ov to." Kara pLepos oIk€lov civ e'ir]
hieXdelv, Iva pL-qSev tcov dvrjKovTcov els ttjv vttok€L-
pievT]V laroptav ayvorJTaL,
47. O/oi^ov TOV ^AddpavTOS puudoXoyovai Sta to.?
(XTTO Tr\s pL7]Tpvids e77i^ouAd? dvaXa^ovra t7]v a8eA-
(f)r)V "EXXrjv (j)vyelv e/c ttJ's 'EAAaSo?. vepaiov-
pbivcov 8' avrdjv Kard TLva decbv irpovoiav €K ttjs
Eu/DcoTTTj? els Tr]V ^Aaiav em Kpiov xP^^opd?^ov,
TTjv pev Trapdevov aTTOTreaelv els ttjv ddXarrav,
rjv cxtt' eKeivrjs 'l^XX-qoTTOVTOv ovopiaadr]vaL, rov
he ^pi^ov els rov Yiovrov rropevdevra Karaxdi^vaL
puev TTpos rrjv KoA;)^t8a, Kara Be n Xoyiov dvaavra
rov Kpiov dvadeZvai ro Sepos eis to rod ' Apeos
2 lepov. perd 8e ravra ^aaiXevovros rrjs KoA;^i8o?
Al-qrov xPV^H-^^ eKrreaelv on rore Karaarpeipei,
rov ^iov orav ^evot KaravXevaavres ro ;;^pucrd-
paXXov hepos dTreveyKCoai. 8kx Srj ravras rds
alrias Kal Bid ^ rr)v ISlav wporrjra Karahel^ai
dveiv TOVS ^evovs, Iva hLaBodelarjs rrjs <l>'qP''rjs els
^ diTO Wesseling : vm.
* Ta Hertlein : omitted D, to Vulgate.
^ 8ia omitted by D, Vogel.
488
BOOK IV. 46. 3-47. 2
her of the danger which threatened her from her
father because of the reverence which she showed
to strangers. Since they now recognized that it
was to their mutual advantage, Medea promised to
co-operate uith them until they should perform the
labour which lay before them, while Jason gave her
his pledge under oath that he would marry her and
keep her as his life's companion so long as he lived.
After this the Argonauts left guards to watch the
ship and set off by night with Medea to get the
golden fleece, concerning which it may be proper
for us to give a detailed account, in order that
nothing which belongs to the history which we have
undertaken may remain unknown.
47. Phrixus, the son of Athamas, the myths re-
late, because of his stepmother's plots against him,
took his sister Helle and fled with her from Greece.
And while they were making the passage from Europe
to Asia, as a kind of Providence of the gods directed,
on the back of a ram, whose fleece was of gold, the
maiden fell into the sea, which was named after her
Hellespont,^ but Phrixus continued on into the Pontus
and was carried to Colchis, where, as some oracle
had commanded, he sacrificed the ram and hung up
its fleece as a dedicatory offering in the temple of
Ares. After this, while Aeetes was king of Colchis,
an oracle became known, to the effect that he was
to come to the end of his life whenever strangers
should land there and carry off the golden fleece.
For this reason and because of his own cruelty as
well, Aeetes ordained that strangers should be
offered up in sacrifice, in order that, the report of
489
DIODORUS OF SICILY
anavra tottov irepi rrj? l^oXxiJOV dypLOTTjros
jjL'qhel? TOJV ^evcov eTTil^rjvai roXjJL-qar] rrjg )(a)pas.
TTepL^aXeiv Se Kal rco refxevei, relxos Kat ^uAa/ca?
TToWovs eTnarrjcraL rcov Ik rrjg TaupLKrj?' acf}
cLv Kal reparoiSet? Trapa rolg "EAArjat TrXaadrj-
3 vai jxvOovg. Sia^e^orjadaL yap otl TTvpnrvooi Tavpoi
irepl TO rejJLevos U7Trjp)(ov, SpaKajv S' avrrvos ^
errjpei to Sepos, oltto p.kv twv Tavpa)u /xerere-
■)^9eiarjs Trj? 6jj.ajvviJ.La9 im ttjv tcov ^oojv La^vu,
OLTTO Be TTJg KaTCL TTjV ^€VOKTOVLaV d)flOT7]TOS
TTvpTTvelv ^ Tov^ Tavpovs ixvQoXoyrjdevTO'S' Tvapa-
ttXt^ulojs 8e Tov T-qpovvTOS to Tepievos ApaKovros
ovopba^opLevov, pLeTevTjvo^evaL Toug TrotT^ra? ctti to
4 TepaTcoSeg Kal KaTaTrXiqKTLKov tov t,a)ov. Trjg
opLOias he pLvdoXoytas e)(ea9aL Kal to. TTepc tov
^pi^ov Xey6p.eva. StaTrAeucrat yap avTov ^aoLV
ol fxev eTTL vedjg TTpoTOpurjv inl ttj^ Trpwpas e)(ovurjs
KpLov, Kal TTjv "EAAt^v hva^opovuav irrl Trj vavTta,
Kal Sta TOVT* eTrl tov tol^ov ttjs ueaj? ckkv-
5 TTTOvaav, elg ttjv OdXaTTOv npoTTeaelv. evioi hi
(f>aaL TOV ^aaiXea twv HkvOcov, ovTa yap-^pov
Al-^TOV, TTapa TO eg K.6X)(OLg eTnhrjpirjaaL Kad^
ov Kaipov aAcDrat avve^-q tov ^pi^ov p,eTa tov
TTaihayoiyov , epojTtKwg he a^ovTa tov TratSo?
Xa^elv avTOv iv hojpea Trap' AtTjrou, Kal Kaddrrep
vlov yvrjGLOv dyaTrrjaavTa KaTaXiTreXv avTto ttjv
^aaiXetav. tov he Trathayojyov ovopia^opievov K.pi6v
Tvdrjvat Tols deoLS, Kal tov aajpuaTOs eKha-
^ dvTTvos Vogel : avrols- ^ So Dindorf : irvp nveiv.
490
BOOK IV. 47. 2-5
the cruelty of the Colchi having been spread abroad
to every part of the world, no stranger should have
the courage to set foot on the land. He also threw
a wall about the precinct and stationed there many
guardians, these being men of the Tauric Cher-
sonese, and it is because of these guards that the
Greeks invented monstrous myths. For instance,
the report was spread abroad that there were fire-
breathing bulls (tauroi) round about the precinct and
that a sleepless dragon (drakon) guarded the fleece,
the identity of the names having led to the transfer
froin the men who were Taurians to the cattle
because of their strength and the cruelty shown in
the murder of strangers ha\ing been made into the
myth of the bulls breathing fire ; and similarly the
name of the guardian who watched over the sacred
precinct, which was Dracon, has been transferred
by the poets to the monstrous and fear-inspiring
beast, the dragon. Also the account of Phrixus
underwent a similar working into a myth. For, as
some men say, he made his voyage upon a ship
which bore the head of a ram upon its bow, and
Helle, being troubled vriih sea-sickness, while lean-
ing far over the side of the boat for this reason,
fell into the sea. Some say, however, that the king
of the Scythians, who was a son-in-law of Aeetes,
was visiting among the Colchi at the very time when,
as it happened, Phrixus and his attendant were
taken captive, and conceiving a passion for the
boy ^ he received him from Aeetes as a gift, loved
him like a son of his own loins, and left his kingdom
to him. The attendant, however, whose name was
Crius (ram), was sacrificed to the gods, and when his
^ i.e. Phrixus.
491
DIODORUS OF SICILY
pivTos TTpoGTjXajdrjvai ro) veo) ^ to Sep/xa Kara tl ^
6 vofxiixov. fxera he ravra Airji-r] yevofxevov XPV'
ofiov, Kad^ ov €crrjfjLaiv€TO rore ^ reXevTiqaeLV avrov
orav ^eVot KaraTrXevaavres to tov Kptou Sepos
oLTreveyKcoat, tov ^aaiAea ^aat T€L)(LaaL to Tefxevos
Koi <j)povpav iyKaTadTTJaaL, irpog Se tovtols
)(pvaioaaL to Sepog, Iva 8td ttjv €Tn(f>dveLav vtto
Twv GTpaTLcoTcov iTTifxeXeaTa.T'qs d^LOjdfj (f>vXaKijg.
TavTa fjLev ovv e^ecrrat tovs avayLvaxjKOVTas
Kpiveiv TTpog Tag iSt'a? eKaaTov Trpoatpecret?.
48. T-qv Se ^{-qSeiav loTopovaL Kadrjyrjaaadai rot?
^ ApyovavTais ^ rrpos to tov "Apeos Tefxevos,
dTT€)(ov e^hopurjKOVTa OTahiovs o-tto Trjg TToXecus,
Tjv KaXeZadai jxev Hv^aptv, e^^i-v Se to. ^aaiXeia
Tcbv K.6X)(wv. TTpoaeXdovaav Se rat? nvXaig
/ceK^Aei/xeVat? vvktos ttj TavpLKrj StaAeVroj npocr-
2 (fxjovrjaai Tovg <f)povpovs .^ twv Se aTpaTioJTcJjv
dvoi^dvTOjv TTpodvjJLOJS cu? dv ^aaiXiois dvyaTpi,
(f>a(jl Tovs ApyovavTas elaveaovTas ecTTaa/xeVot?
Tols ^i(j)€aL TToXXovs jxev (f>ovevaaL tcov ^ap^dpojv,
Tovs S' dXXovs hid TO rrapdho^ov KaTaTrXri^ap-ivovs
eK^aXelv €K tov Tefievovs, /cat to Sepos dvaXa^ovTas
3 TTpog TTjv vavv eTTeLyeadaL /cara ctttouSt^p'. rrapa-
TrXrjaLojg Se tovtois /cat ttjv Mr^Setai^ ev TCp re^eVet
TOV ixvOoXoyovpLevov dvTTVov hpdKovTa TrepieoTTeLpa-
fxevov TO Se'po? rot? (/>ap/Lta/cots dTTOKTetvai, /cat
jxeTa Idaovos ttjv em ddXaTTav KaTa^auLV ttoltj-
4 aaadaL. tcov Se hta^vyovTcov Tavpojv drrayyei-
XdvTCDV TO) ^aaiXel ttjv yevopLevrjv eTrideoLv, ^acrt tov
^ vew Dindorf : dea>.
^ TL II, Bekker, Dindorf, Vogel, to ABD, Jacoby.
^ t6t€ added by Dindorf, eajj/iaiVero d deos Jacoby.
492
BOOK IV. 47. 5-48. 4
body had been flayed the skin was nailed up on the
temple, in keeping with a certain custom. And
when later an oracle was delivered to Aeetes to the
effect that he was to die whenever strangers would
sail to his land and carry off the skin of Crius, the
king, they say, built a wall about the precinct and
stationed a guard over it ; furthermore, he gilded
the skin in order that by reason of its brilliant
appearance the soldiers should consider it worthy of
the most careful guarding. As for these matters,
hoAvever, it rests with my readers to judge each in
accordance with his own predilections.
48. Medea, we are told, led the M-ay for the
Argonauts to the sacred precinct of Ares, which was
seventy stades distant from the city which was
called Sybaris and contained the palace of the rulers
of the Colchi. And approaching the gates, which
were kept closed at night, she addressed the guards
in the Tauric speech. And when the soldiers readily
opened the gates to her as being the king's daughter,
the Argonauts, they say, rushing in with drawn
swords slew many of the barbarians and drove the
rest, who were struck with terror by the unexpected
happening, out of the precinct, and then, taking
with them the fleece, made for the ship with all
speed. Medea likewise, assisting the Argonauts,
slew with poisons the dragon which, according to
the myths, never slept as it lay coiled about the
fleece in the precinct, and made her way with Jason
down to the sea. The Tauri who had escaped by
flight reported to the king the attack which had
* Tou? ' Apyoi'avTas Jacoby.
* So Hertlein, Vogel, rots 4>povpols D, Dindorf, Bekker,
Jacoby.
493
DIODORUS OF SICILY
AL'qrrjv fxera tcov Trepl avrov arpaTLcoraJv Sico^aura
rovs "EiXXrjva? Kar'aXa^eiv TrXrjaLov rrjg daXdrriqs'
e^ €(f)68ov Se Gvvdi/javra jidx'Qv dveXetv eva rajv
ApyovavTOJv "l(f)LTOV top l^vpvudecos dSeXcfiov rod
Tovs ddXovs 'WpaKXeZ Trpoard^avrog, eVeiTa rot?
a'AAois" TO* TrAr^^ei rajv uvvaycji)vit,opi€vaiv TTepi^v-
devra /cat ^laiorepov iyi<€ifxevov vtto MeAeaypou
5 (f)Ovev6rji'ai, . evda Srj ttcuovtos tov ^aaiXecos /cat
TCOV ^?[X'qva)v eTrapdevrcvv, rpanrjuaL npos (f>vyrjv
Tovs K.6Xxovs, /cat /card tov hicoypLOV tous rrXei-
OTOvs avTa)V avaLpedrjvaL. yeveadai Se /cat tcov
dpiGTecov TpavfjiaTcav 'Idaova /cat AaepTrjv, cti S'
'ATaXdvTTjv /cat Tovg QeamdSas Trpoaayopevo-
fxevovg. TOVTOVS iiev ovv (j>aaLV vtto ttj? Mr^Seta?
€V oAtyat? ■qixepai'S pt^at? Kat ^OTavat? •"■ riat depa-
TTevdrjvaL, Tovg 8 ApyovavTag eTnatTLGapiivovs
eKTrXevaai, Kat, pieaov rjhrj to YIovtlkov TreXayos
€)(0VTas TTepLTT€cr€U' ^eipiajvL TTavTeXoJs eTTt/ctv-
6 Svvq). TOV S Op4>€a)<5y KadaTrep /cat TTpoTepov,
€V)(ds TroLrjaapidvou tols ^ap.69pa^i,, Xij^at /xev
TOUS' dvepiovg, (pavrjvaL Se TrXrjcnov Trjg vecbs tov
TTpoaayopevop^evov OaXdTTLOv TXavKov. tovtov
§' eTTt 8vo vvKTas Kat Svo rjpiepas avvex<^9 Tjj viqi
uvpLTtXevaavTa TrpoeiTrelv p.ev 'Hpa/cAet vepi tcov
ddXojv /cat TTJg ddavacTLag, rots' Se TuvSaptSats', ort
TTpoaayopevOt^crovTat fiev AioaKopoi, Tifirj? S'
7 luodeov Tev^ovTai napd Trdatv avdpojTTOLS. KaOoXov
8' e^ dvd/xaros Trpoacfyajv-qaavra TrdvTas tovs
^ApyovavTas etVetJ^ cos Std rets Opcfteajs eu;^ds'
^ Koi PoTOLvcus deleted by Dindorf.
494
BOOK IV. 48. 4-7
been made upon them, and Aeetes, they say, took
with him the soldiers who guarded his person, set
out in pursuit of the Greeks, and came upon them
near the sea. Joining battle on the first contact
with them, he slew one of the Argonauts, Iphitus, the
brother of that Eurystheus who had laid the Labours
upon Heracles, but soon, when he enveloped the
rest of them with the multitude of his followers and
pressed too hotly into the fray, he was slain by
Meleager. The moment the king fell, the Greeks
took courage, and the Colchi turned in flight and the
larger part of them were slain in the pursuit. There
were wounded among the chieftains Jason, Laertes,
Atalante, and the sons of Thespius, as they are
called. However they were all healed in a few
days, they say, by Medea by means of roots and
certain herbs, and the Argonauts, after securing
pro\isions for themselves, set out to sea, and they
had already reached the middle of the Pontic sea
when they ran into a storm which put them in the
greatest peril. But when Orpheus, as on the former
occasion,^ offered up prayers to the deities of Samo-
thrace, the wind^s ceased and there appeared near
the ship Glaucus the Sea-god, as he is called. The
god accompanied the ship in its voyage without
ceasing for two days and nights and foretold to
Heracles his Labours and immortality, and to the
Tyndaridae that they should be called Dioscori
(" Sons of Zeus ") and receive at the hands of all
mankind honour like that offered to the gods. And,
in general, he addressed all the Argonauts by name
and told them that because of the prayers of Orpheus
he had appeared in accordance with a Providence
1 Cp. chap. 43. 1.
495
DIODORUS OF SICILY
6€(x)v TTpovoia (jiavei^ avrols arjixaLvei ra jxeXXovra
yeviqaeadaL- avfx^ovXeveLV ovv avrols, orav rrjg
yrjg dipcovTai, rag eu;^a? OLTTohovvaL toIs deoXg,
8t' ovg reTev)(a<yi. St? rj^y] Trjg crcorrjpiag.
49. "ETTftTa Tov fX€V TXavKOf Swat ttolXlu els to
TTcXayog, rovg S' ^Apyovavrag Kara arofia rod
Yiovrov yevoyievovg TrpocnrXevaai rfj yfj, ^aaiXevov-
rog rore rrjg p^ajpa? Bv^avrog, d<f)' ov Kal rrjv
2 ttoXlv rGiv Bvt,avrioiv (LvopLaaOaL. ivravOa Se
^copovg iSpvaapevovg Kal rolg Oeolg rag evx^g
OLTToSovrag KadiepayaaL rov roirov rov en Kat
3 vvv rip.a>p,evov vtto ribv TrapaTrXeovrcov . pcerd Se
ravra dva)(9evrag, /cat SiaTrXevaavrag riqv re
WpoTTOvriha /cat rov 'EAAt^o-ttovtov, Trpocrevexdrivai.
rfj TpojaSt. ivravda 8' 'HpaKXeovg irepufjavrog
elg TTjV ttoXlv "XcJ^lkXov re rov dheX(j)6v /cat TeXapitova
rdg^ re iTTTrovg Kal rrjv 'HcrLovrjv aTraLrijaovrag ,
Xeyerai rov AaopeSovra rovg pev rrpea^evrdg elg
<f)vXaKr]v aTTodeaOai, rolg S' a'AAot? ^Apyovavraig
St' iveSpag ^ovXevaai ^ ddvarov Kal rovg pev
dXXovg vlovg ex^tv rfj rrpd^ei avvepyovg , Xlpiapov
Se p.6vov ivavriovpayovvra' rovrov yap aTTO(f>if]-
vaudai Selv ra rrpog rovg ^evovg St/cata riqpelv,
Kal rr]V re dheX(f>'r]v Kal rag wpLoXoyiqpevag LTnrovg
4 a77oSi8dvat. ovSevog S' auroi irpoaexovrog, (/)acnv
elg rrjv (f)vXaKr]v Suo ^1^17 rrapeveyKavra Xddpa
Bovvai rolg Trepl rov TeXap,u)va, /cat rrjV rov Trarpog
rrpoaipeaiv i^rjyqadpevov aiTiov yeveadai rijg
' rds Eichstadt : tovs. ^ PovXevaaaOai DF, J acohy.
^ This was on the Asiatic side and was called by Polybius
(4. 39. 6) the " Holy Place, where they say Jason on his voyage
496
BOOK IV. 48. 7-49. 4
of the gods and was sho-\ving forth to them what was
destined to take place ; and he counselled them,
accordingly, that so soon as they touched land they
should pay their vows to the gods through the inter-
vention of whom they had twice already been
saved.
49. After this, the account continues, Glaucus
sank back beneath the deep, and the Argonauts,
arriving at the mouth of the Pontus, put in to the
land, the king of the country being at that time
Byzas, after whom the city of Byzantium was named.
There they set up altars, and when they had paid
their vows to the gods they sanctified the place,'^
which is even to this day held in honour by the
sailors who pass by. After this they put out to sea,
and after sailing through the Propontis and Helles-
pont they landed at the Troad. Here, when Heracles
dispatched to the city his brother Iphiclus and
Telamon to demand back both the mares and Hesione,
Laomedon, it is said, threw the ambassadors into
prison and planned to lay an ambush for the other
Argonauts and encompass their death. He had the
rest of his sons as willing aids in the deed, but Priam
alone opposed it ; for he declared that Laomedon
should observe justice in his dealings with the
stranarers and should deliver to them both his sister
and the mares which had been promised. But when
no one paid any heed to Priam, he brought two
swords to the prison, they say, and gave them
secretly to Telamon and his companions, and by
disclosing the plan of his father he became the cause
back from Colchis first sacrificed to the twelve gods " (tr.
of Paton in the L.C.L.).
497
DIODORUS OF SICILY
5 aojTrjpia'5 avrolg. evdvs yap roug rrepL rov
T eXafxcova (jyovevaai p.ev row (jyvXaKOiv rovs avre)(o-
fxevovs, <f>vy6vra? 8' em OdXarrav aTTayyelXai ra
Kara jxlpog tols ^ Apyovavrais . hioTrep tovtovs
fjL€V iroifxov? yevofxevovg Trpos /J-O-XV^ aTravrrjcrai
TOig eK Trjs TroAecDS' eKxeopiivoLs jJiera rov ^acnXewg.
6 yevop.€Viq£ he fxax"^? laxvpdg, /cat raJv apiareajv Std
rds d.perd'S ernKparowrcov, fJivdoXoyovcrL rov Hpa-
K^Aea TrdvTcov dpiara hiaycxjviaaaOai- rov re yap
Aaojxehovra ^ovevcrai, /cat rr^s TToXeuj? e^ e(f>68ov
Kparrjaavra KoXduai fiev rovs p-eraaxovras rep
jSaatAet rrjg eTn^ovXr]?, YlpLapicp Se Sta rr)v Si/cato-
crvvrjv TrapaSovvac rrjv ^acrtAetav, /cat <f>iXi,av
avvOepievov eKTrXevaai p.erd rojv ApyovavroJv.
7 eviot Se raJv apxaicov Troir^rcbv TrapaSehdoKamp
ov [xerd rcov ^Apyovavrcov, dXX tSta arparevaavra
rov 'Hpa/cAea vavalv e^ eVe/ca rdjv lttttojv eXelv rrjv
Tpoiav TTpoofJiaprvpelv he rovrois /cat "Ofx-qpov iv
rolabe rols eTreaiv,
aAA' olov rivd ^acrt ^trjv 'Hpa/cAi^etT^t'
eti'at, epLov irarepa 9pa(Tvp,ep,vova, du/xoXeovra,
OS TTore Sevp* eXdcbv evex Ittttcdv AaopieSovros
€^ OLTjs crvv vrjval /cat dvBpdat iravporepoLcnv
'lAt'ou e^aXdira^e ttoXlv, x''QP^^^ ^' dyvids.
8 rovs S' * Kpyovavras ^acrlv e/c tt;? Tpcodhos
dvax^ivras els llap.odpdKrjv KopnaOrjvaL, /cat rot?
jLteyctAots" deols rds evxds dnoSovras TraXiv ava-
detvaL rds (fyidXas els ro refxevos rds en /cat vvv
Biafievovaas.
^ Iliad 5. 638-42; quoted before, chap. 32.
498
BOOK IV. 49. 4-8
of their deliverance. For immediately Telamon and
his companions slew such of the guards as offered
resistance, and fleeing to the sea gave the Argonauts
a full account of what had happened. Accordingly,
these got ready for battle and went out to meet the
forces which were pouring out of the city with the
king. There was a sharp battle, but their courage
gave the chieftains the upper hand, and Heracles,
the myths report, performed the bravest feats of
them all ; for he slew Laomedon, and taking the city
at the first assault he punished those who were
parties with the king to the plot, but to Priam,
because of the spirit of justice he had shown, he
gave the kingship, entered into a league of friend-
ship wath him, and then sailed away in company
with the Argonauts. But certain of the ancient
poets have handed down the account that Heracles
took Troy, not with the aid of the Argonauts, but
on a campaign of his own with six ships, in order to
get the mares ; and Homer also adds his witness to
this version in the follow ing lines ^ :
Aye, what a man, they say, was Heracles
In might, my father he, steadfast, with heart
Of lion, who once came here to carry off
The mares of King Laomedon, with but
Six ships and scantier men, yet sacked he then
The city of proud Ilium, and made
Her streets bereft.
But the Argonauts, they say, set forth from the
Troad and arrived at Samothrace, where they again
paid their vows to the great gods and dedicated in
the sacred precinct the bowls which are preserved
there even to this day.
499
DIODORUS OF SICILY
50. Trjg 8e twv apiaricov dvaKOfXLBrjs dyvoovixevrjs
€rL Kara, rrjv QerraXiav, </>aCTt TrpoGTrecrelv ^^t^/xtjv
OTL TTGLvres oi fX€Ta lauovos arparevaavreg iv rot?
Kara rov Tlovrov TonoLg aTroXcoXacn. StoTrep rov
HeXiav Kaipov €)(eLV viroXapL^dvovra rovg e(l)4hpovs
rrj'S ^ttCTiAeta? vavras dphiqv dveXelv, rov [xev
TTarepa rov laaovos avayKaaai, meXv alpua ravpov,
rov S d8eX(f)6v Ylpofiaxov, nalSa rrjv -qXiKLav
ovra, <f>ov€VGai,. ^ Kp.(f)Lv6pirjv he ttjv fxrjTepa
fieXXovoav dvaipelaQai <f>auLv enavSpov /cat ^vt^ju-tj?
d^iav iTTireXeuaadaL irpd^iv Karacf)vyovaav yap
CTTL Tiqv ioTLav rov /SaoriAeo)? /cat Karapaaajxevqv
TTadelv avrov d^ia rcov dae^rjijidrajv, ^Lcf>et, irard-
^acrav iavrrjs ro trrfjOos rjpcoiKcog Karaarpdipai rov
^Lov. rov 8e IleXiav rovro) rep rponcp rrdaav rrjv
'lacrot'o? avyyeveiav dphrjv dveXovra ra^v rrjv
TTpoaiJKOvuav rot? dae^rjp.aai Kopnaaadai ripLcopiav.
rov yap Idcrova KaraTrXevaavra vvKros rrj';
QerraXlas els oppLov ov fiaKpdv piev rijs 'IojA/cou
Kecp-evov, ddewprjrov 8e rot? e/c rijs noXecos, p-adelv
vrapa rivos rcov Kara rrjv ■)(^cx}pav rd yevopLeva TTepl
rovs avyyevels drv)(rjpiara. rrdvru)v he rajv
dpiareoiv eroipuvv ovrojv j^oiqdelv ra> 'lacrovt /cat
vavra klvSvvov dvahexecrdat, -nepl rr^s eTndeaeojs
epLTreaeZv auroXg dpi(f)i,a^T]rr]ULv rovs p.ev yap
avp,^ovXeveLv TTapa)(^pr\p.a ^LaaapLevovg els rrjv
ttoXlv dTTpoahoK-qrois irrLdeaOai rip fiaaiXeZ, rivds
8' aTTO^iaiveadai heZv arpariojras dird rrjs ISias
Trarplhos eKaurov avXXe^avra kolvov dpaadai
TToXepLov dhvvarov yap elvai nevr-JKovra /cat
i Cp. chap. 40.
500
BOOK IV. 50. 1-4
50. While the return of the cliieftains was as yet
not kno\\Ti in Thessaly, a rumour, they say, went
the rounds there that all the companions of Jason
in the expedition had perished in the region of the
Pontus. Consequently Pelias, thinking that an
occasion was now come to do away Avith all who
were waiting for the throne, ^ forced the father of
Jason to drink the blood of a bull,^ and murdered
his brother Promachus, who was still a mere lad in
years. But Amphinome, his mother, they say,
when on the point of being slain, performed a manly
deed and one worthy of mention ; for fleeing to the
hearth of the king she pronounced a curse against
him, to the effect that he might suffer the fate which
his impious deeds merited, and then, striking her
own breast \vith a sword, she ended her life heroically.
But as for Pelias, when he had utterly destroyed in
this fashion all the relatives of Jason, he speedily
received the punishment befitting his impious deeds.
For Jason, who had sailed that night into a road-
stead which lay not far from lolcus and yet was not
in sight of the dwellers in the city, learned from one
of the country-folk of the misfortunes which had
befallen his kinsmen. Now all the chieftains stood
ready to lend Jason their aid and to face any peril
on his behalf, but they fell into dispute over how
they should make the attack ; some, for instance,
advised that they force their w'ay at once into the
city and fall upon the king while he was not expecting
them, but certain others declared that each one of
them should gather soldiers from his own birthplace
and then raise a general war ; since it was impossible,
^ According to Aristotle, Hisiorin Animalivm (3. 19), the
blood was supposed to coagulate and choke the drinker
501
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rpLorlv dvSpdai nepLyeveadai ^aaiXecos 8waju.tv
5 exovros t<al ttoXcls d^toAoyof?. Toiavrrjg S'
ovarjg iv avroZs a.TTOpia';, Xeyerai ttjv Mi^Setav
iTTayyeiXaaOat St eavrrjs rov re YleXiav aTTOKre-
velv ^ SoAoj /cat rd ^acrt'Aeta TrapahiLaeiv rot?
6 dpLGTevaiv aKLvhvvcj's . evravda Trdvrcov Oavfia-
advTow TOP Xoyov /cat rov rponov ttjs eTTi^ovXrjs
fjiadelv t,rjrovvTUJV , elirelv ort Koplt,€.i fxe9' iavrrjg
TToXXdg /cat 7Tapa86^ovs SvvdfxeLg (f>apiJidKcov eupr]-
fjievas VTTo re rrjs fJ^r]Tp6$ 'E/carT^? /cat rrjg dSeX(j)rjs
Ys.ipK-q'S' /cat ravrais fxkv jjir]S€7TOTe xprjaOat TTpo-
repov irpd'S dirajXeiav dvdpcoTTCov, wvl Se St' avrajv
7 djJivv€La6aL paStoj? rovg d^Lovg rL[j.copia9. Trpoei-
TTOvaav Se rot? dpiarevcn rd /card jxepos rrjs
iTTideaeoj?, e/c rajp ^aatXetajv avrolg eTrayyetA-
aaOai (j-qpiavetv ^ rrjs pikv rjixepas Kanvcp, rrjs Se
vvKTos TTVpL, TTpos TTjv vTTepKeLjjLevrjv TTJ? daXdrrrjs
GKOTT'qV.
51. Avrrjv Se KaraaKevdaacrav A/OTe/xtSo? et-
BcdXov kolXov, els p-ev rovro TTavroSarrds (f)ucret.s
^apfxdKCov KaraKpvtpaL, eavrrjs Se rd? p-ev rplxo-s
SwdpLeal TLGL xpiaaaav voirjaai TToXidg, to Se npocr-
coTTOv /cat TO aaJpLa puTiScov nXrjpes, cucrre tous
ISovrag SoKelv eivai TLva TravTeXdjs Trpea^urtv to
Se reAeuratot' dvaXaf^ovaav rrjv deov hLeaKevaap.evrjV
KaTaTrXr^KTiKajg els oxXcuv SetatSat/xoi'iat', et?
2 TT^v ttoXlv ela^aXelv dpi rjpiepa. ivOea^ova-Qs S'
avrrjs, Kal rov 7tXt]6ovs /card rds 68ovs avvrpe)(0v-
^ So Hertlein : aTTOKTelvai..
502
BOOK IV. 50. 4-51. 2
they maintained, for fifty-three men to overcome a
king who controlled an army and important cities.
While they were in this perplexity Medea, it is
said, promised to slay Pelias all alone by means of
cunning and to deliver to the chieftaiixs the royal
palace without their running any risk. And when
they all expressed astonishment at her statement
and sought to learn what sort of a scheme she had
in mind, she said that she had brought with her
many drugs of marvellous potency which had been
discovered by her mother Hecate and by her sister
Circe ; and though before this time she had never
used them to destroy human beings, on this occasion
she would by means of them easily wreak vengeance
upon men who were deserving of punishment.
Then, after disclosing beforehand to the chieftains
the detailed plans of the attack she would make,
she promised them that she would give them a
signal from the palace during the day by means of
smoke, during the night by fire, in the direction of
the look-out which stood high above the sea.
51. Then Medea, the tale goes on, fashioning a
hollow image of Artemis secreted in it drugs of
diverse natures, and as for herself, she anointed her
hair with certain potent ointments and made it
grey, and filled her face and body so full of wrinkles
that all who looked upon her thought that she was
surely an old woman. And finally, taking with her
the statue of the goddess which had been so made
as to strike with terror the superstitious populace
and move it to fear of the gods, at daybreak she
entered the city. She acted like one inspired, and
as the multitude rushed together along the streets
VOL. II.
* So Heitlein : arjfiatveiv.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Tog, TTapayyeXXeiv Trdui Sep^ea^ai ttjv deov evae^wg'
Trapetvai yap a'urrjv i^ 'Yncp^opecjjv lii dyaOco
3 SaLfxovL rfj re TroAei Trdcrr) Kai rip jSaaiAet. Trdvrcov
Be 77 poaKvvovvrojv /cat rifJicovTaiv tyjv 6e6v Ovaiai^,
Koi TO avvoXov rrjg TroXecos aTrdarrjs avvevdeat^ovcriqs ,^
elcr^aXelv rrjv Mi^Setai' et? rd ^aaiXeia, Kal rov re
ricAtap' €1? 8eiCTi8ai/i,oi^a Siddeaiv ipi^aXeLV Kal rag
dvyarepag avrov Sid rrjg repareiag elg roiavrrjv
/caret 77 Ary^tj/ dyayecv ware Tnarevaai Stdrt Trdpeariv
7] deog evSaipiova Troiiqaovoa rov olkov tov ^acrt-
4 Xecog. dTTe<j>aivero ydp iirl hpaKovroiv oxovpievrjv
TTjV "AprepiLv St' depog VTrepTreraadrjvaL TioAAa p-^pr]
ri]g oLKovpLevrjg, /cat irpog Kadihpvcnv eavrrjg /cat
Tipidg alojvLovg eKXeXe^Oat tov eiae^eararov aTrdv-
TCDV ra)v ^aaiXecov TrpocTTerax^vai 8 avrfj /cat to
yrjpag d(f>eXovaav ^ to IleAtou Sia tlvwv hvvdpiecDV
veov TTavreXwg rroLrjaat to aajp-a /cat 77oAAa erepa
TTpog /xa/cctptov /cat deo(f)LXr\ ^lov ScopyjcraaOaL.
5 ^KKTrXrjTTopiei'ov 8e tov ^aacXdajg to napd-
ho^ov Tcov X6y(x)v, eTTayyeiXaadai tyjv MrjSeiav
TTapaxp'TJP'-a ctti tov acopiaTog iavTrjg Tag tovtojv
TTtWet? TTape^eaOai. €L7Tovaav ydp pud tcov IleAtou
Ovyarepojv KaOapdv €V€yK€LV vhcop, Kai Trjg
napdevov to p-qdkv evdvg iirl rdXog ayayovcrrjg,
(f>a<jlv elg oIklctkov Tivd avyKXeiaaoav iavTrjv /cat
jreptvulfapLevrjv to croj/xa Tidv dTTOKXvaaodai rdg
^ So Reiske : awdtalovarfs Vulgate, omitted by D.
" So Stephanus : d(/if Advra.
504
BOOK IV. 51. 2-5
she summoned the whole people to receive the
goddess with reverence, telling them that the
goddess had come to them from the Hyperboreans
to bring good luck to both the whole city and the
kinff. And while all the inhabitants were rendering
obeisance to the goddess and honouring her with
sacrifices, and the whole city, in a word, was, along
with Medea herself, acting like people inspired, she
entered the palace, and there she threw Pelias into
such a state of superstitious fear and, by her magic
arts, so terrified his daughters that they believed
that the goddess was actually there in person to
bring prosperity to the house of the king. For she
declared that Artemis, riding through the air upon
a chariot drawn by dragons, had fliown in the air
over many parts of the inhabited earth and had
chosen out the realm of the most pious king in all
the world for the establishment of her own worship
and for honours which should be for ever and ever ;
and that the goddess had commanded her not only
to divest Pelias, by means of certain powers which
she possessed, of his old age and make his body
entirely young, but also to bestow upon him many
other gifts, to the end that his life should be blessed
and pleasing to the gods.
The king was filled with amazement at these
astonishing proposals, but Medea, we are informed,
promised him that then and there, in the case of
her owTi body, she would furnish the proof of what
she had said. Then she told one of the daughters
of Pelias to bring pure water, and when the maiden
at once carried out her request, she shut herself
up, they say, in a small chamber and washing
thoroughly her whole body she made it clean of the
505
DIODORUS OF SICILY
rojv (jiapiiaKcov 8um/xei?. dTTOKaraaTaOelaav S'
€1? TT^v TTpovTTaxpovcrav hiadeaiv Acat ^avelcrav tu>
^aaiXeZ KaraTrXij^aaOaL rovg opcovra?, /cat So^ai
Tivl Oeuyv TTpovoLo. pierr]X\ax^voLL to yrjpag elg
C TTapOevov veonqra koL koXXos Trepi^XeTrrov. ttoltj-
aai 8' avrrjv /cat Sta tlvcov cf)apiJLdKcov etScuAa
(f>ai'Taa6rjvat. tcov SpaKovrojv, €(/>' cbv dTTO^aiveadai
TTjv deov Kopnadelaav St depos i^ 'YTrep^opecuv eiTL-
^evcoOrjvai rep OeAta. tcjv 8 ivepyrjp.drojv vjrep
TT^v dvOpcoTTLvrjv (jiVGLv ^avevTcov , /cat rod ^autXecos
pLeydXrjg dTToBoxijs d^LOVVTOS ttjv Mr^Seiav /cat to
avvoXov TTLcrrevcravrog dXrjdrj XeyeLV, ^aat,v avi-qv
Kara p-ovag ivrv^ovaav rep DeAto. napaKaXecrai
rat? Ovyarpdcri SiaKeXevaaadac avvepyelv /cat
TTpdrreiv drrep dv avrals TTpoardrrrj' TrpoarjKetv yap
TO) Tov ^aaiXecos awfiarL p,rj SouAt/cat? ;^epcrtV,
dAAa rats' tcov reKvcov depaTrevdevTa rv)(^eZv Trjg
7 vapd decov evepyeaiag. SioTTep tov IleAtou rat?
dvyaTpdai hLapprjhrjv etTTovro^ rravTa irpaTTeiv
ocra dv t] M7y8eta TrpocrraTTr) Trepc to acop,a tov
TTaTpog, Tct? pi^v TTapdivovs eToipLOVs elvai ^ to
KeXevop-evov eTTLTeXelv.
52. T-qv Se Mr^Setai^ vvKTog eTTLyevop-evrjs /cat tov
IleXtov TTpos VTTVov Tpa7T€VTog XeyeLv a»? dvayKalov
€v Xe^TjTi Kadeifjrjaai. to ad)p.a tov IleAtou. rrpocr-
dvTCos ^ 8e Tujv TvapBivcov Se^apLevcov tov Xoyov,
€T€pav avTTjv imvorjaaL ttlotlv tojv vtt avTrjg
XeyopLevcov Tpe(f>opLivov yap Kptov TroAuerou? /cara
TTjv OLKiav, eTTayyeiXaaOai rat? Kopatg tovtov
TTpoTepov KaOeiprjaeiv /cat TronqaeLv an o.p)(rjs
1 e'vai Dindorf : ovoas MSS, Vogel.
* So Dindorf : Trpoarjvcos-
506
BOOK IV. 51. 5-52. I
potent influences of the drugs. Being restored,
then, to her former condition, and showing herself
to the king, she amazed those who gazed upon her,
and they thought that a kind of Providence of the
gods had transformed her old age into a maiden's
youth and striking beauty. Also, by means of
certain drugs, Medea caused shapes of the dragons
to appear, which she declared had brought the
goddess through the air from the Hyperboreans to
make her stay with Pelias. And since the deeds
which Medea had performed appeared to be too
great for mortal nature, and the king saw fit to
regard her with great approval and, in a word,
believed that she was telling the truth, she now,
they say, in private conversation with Pelias urged
him to order his daughters to co-operate with her
and to do whatever she might comn:iand them ; for
it was fitting, she said, that the king's body should
receive the favour which the gods were according
to him through the hands, not of servants, but of
his own children. Consequently Pelias gave explicit
directions to his daughters to do everything that
Medea might command them with respect to the
body of their father, and the maidens were quite
ready to carry out her orders.
52. Medea then, the story relates, when night
had come and Pelias had fallen asleep, informed
the daughters that it was required that the body of
Pelias be boiled in a cauldron. But when the
maidens received the proposal vdth hostility, she
devised a second proof that what she said could be
believed. For there was a ram full of years which
was kept in their home, and she announced to the
maidens that she would first boil it and thus make
507
DIODORUS OF SICILY
2 dpva. uvyKaTaBeyLevcov 8' avrcov, /JivOoXoyovcri
TTjv MT^Setai' Kara fieXr] SieXovaav to crcD/xa rov
Kptov KadeiprjaaL, /cat Sid tlvcov (ftap/xaKajv rrapa-
KpovaapbevTjv i^eXelv eV rov Xe^-qro? dpi'6^ etSojXov.
ivravda rcov Trapdevcov KaranXayeLaaJv , Kal vriaret?
TTj? eTTayyeXiag riyrjaap-evcov et'Se;)^o/xeVa? ^X^*-^'
VTTOvpyrjuai rol^ Trpoardyfxacn. Kal ra? fiev
dXXag drraaas rov narepa rvTrrovaa? dnoKrelvaL,
ixovrjv 8 AXK-qarLV 8t euae^et'as' vnep^oXrjv
drroaxeadaL rov yevm^crauro? .
3 Mera 8e ravra rrjv MT^Seidv ^acri rov piev to
crcu/xa KaraKonreLV t] KadeipeLv dTToarrjvaL , npoa-
TTOiT^aapievqv 8e 8^11^ irporepov €V)(d9 TTOCijaaadai
TTJ aeXrjVTj, ra? pikv TrapOevovg dva^i^daai puerd
XapLTrdSaiv enl ro pLerewporarov reyog rdiv ^aai-
XeiojVy avTTjv Se rfj K.oX)(l8i StaAeVroj KaT€V)(r}v
riva piaKpdv hiep^opLlinqv iyxpovL^eiv, dvaarpo(f)r]v
SiSova-av roLS p.eXXovai TroieXadai rriv eTrWecnv.
4 Sto Kal Tovs 'Apyovavras dvo rrjg crKOTrrjs Kara-
p.adovra'S to rrvp, Kal vopiiaavras avvrereXeadai
TTjv dvaip€Giv rod ^acnXecos, oppLrjaai hp6p.cp vpos
TTjV ttoXlv, TrapeLueXdoi-rag S' ivros rod reL-)(Ovg
€aTTaap.€V0LS rolg ^i(j)€aLV €tV rd ^aaiXeia Karaurrj-
aai Kal rovs evavnovpievovs rojp (f>vXdKa>v dveXelv.
rd's 8e rov YieXiov dvyarepag dpri Kara^e^r^Kvlas
aTTO rod reyovs rrpos rrjv KaOeipr^atv, Kal irapa-
ho^ojs iv ToZ? ^aatXeioLS ISovcras rov re Idaova
Kal rovs dpioreZs, nepLaXyelg €ttI rfj (Tvp.<^opa
yeveadaf ovre ydp dpLvvaaOat ttjv ^sXrjheiav
clxov i^ovoiav ovre ro TTpax^^v avralg p-vaog Si
5 dTrdriqv Siopdcoc/aadat. hioirep ravras pckv oppLrj-
508
BOOK IV. 52. 1-5
it into a lamb again. When they agreed to this,
we are told that Medea severed it apart limb by
limb, boiled the ram's body, and then, working a
deception by means of certain drugs, she drew out
of the cauldron an image which looked like a lamb.
Thereupon the maidens were astounded, and were
so convinced that they had received all possible
proofs that she could do what she was promising
that they carried out her orders. x\.ll the rest of
them beat their father to death, but Alcestis alone,
because of her great piety, would not lay hands
upon him who had begotten her.
After Pelias had been slain in this way, Medea,
they say, took no part in cutting the body to pieces
or in boiling it, but pretending that she must first
offer prayers to the moon, she caused the maidens
to ascend with lamps to the highest part of the roof
of the palace, while she herself took much time
repeating a long prayer in the Colchian speech, thus
affording an interval to those who were to make the
attack. Consequently the Argonauts, when from their
look-out they made out the fire, believing that the
slayingof the kinghad been accomplished, hastened to
thecity on the run, and passing inside the walls entered
the palace with drawn swords and slew such guards
as offered opposition. The daughters of Pelias, who
had only at that moment descended from the roof
to attend to the boiling of their father, when they
saw to their surprise both Jason and the chieftains
in the palace, were filled with dismay at what had
befallen them ; for it was not within their power to
avenge themselves on Medea, nor could they by
deceit make amends for the abominable act which
they had done. Consequently the daughters, it is
509
DIODORUS OF SICILY
aai XeyeraL arepiaKeLV avrag rov trfv, rov 8
'lacrova KaTeXerjaavTa to. nddr] 7TapaKaTaa)(€tv
avrdg, /cat dappelv TrapaKaXeaavra heiKvv€i.v d)s
€K KaKLa? p.kv ovhev rjixaprov, aKovaiajs Se St'
dTrdrrjv rjrvx'rjcrav .
53. Ka^oAoy 8e ndcn toi? crvyyevcaLV inayyeLXd-
fievov eTTteiAca)? Krat fjieyaXoipv-)(cog TTpou€V€)(drj-
aeodai, avvayayelv els eKKXiqGLav rd rrX-qOrj.
dTToXoyrjadpLevov Be irepi roJu TTeTrpayixevojv , /cat
SiSa^arra Stort rovs TTpoaSiK-qcravras 'qpLVvaro,
TLfxajpiav eXdrrova Xa^ojv dw avrds TreTTOvOev,
^AKdarcp jJiev tco IleAtou ttjv Tvarpcpav ^aatXeiav
TTapaSovvai, rdJv Se rod ^acriXecog dvyarepcov
2 dftcuCTat avTOv ^ i^povriha TTon^aaadai. /cat irepas
avvreXeaaL ttjv vnoax^cnv avrov ^acrt pierd riva
^povov avvoLKLGavra vraaa? TOt? e7n(f>aveaTaTOi's .
"AA/CTjcrrtv piev yap rrjv Trpecr^urdr-qv eKhovvat
Trpog yd^ov AS/xt^toj toj ^eprjTog QerraXcp,
'Aju</>ti^d/x7}v Se 'Ai'SpalpLoi'L Aeovreojg dSeXtpio,
EuaSi^i^ Se K.dvr) ro) Ke^aAou, Ocu/ce'ojr Tore
^acnXevovrL. ravra p-ev avrou varepov irpd^aL,
Tore Se puerd rdJv dpiorecjjv et? \adp.dv rov ev
YleXoTTOwrjaoj -rrXevaavra dvaiav CTrtreAe'crat ro)
rioCTetSaii^t /cat KadtepojaaL rrjv 'Apyoj rev Oew.
3 aTToBo^rj'; Se p,eydXr]s rvy^dvovra vapd rep ^aaiXel
rdJv ]s.opLv6La)v Kpeovrt p-eraa^^eZv rrjs rroXireias
Kal rov XoLTTOV xpovov ev rfj KoptV^o) KaroLKijaai.
^ avTov D, Vogel, ain-ov II, Bekker, Dindorf.
BOOK IV. 52. 5-53. 3
related, were about to make an end of their lives.
but Jason, taking pity upon their distress, restrained
them, and exhorting them to be of good courage,
showed them that it was not from evil design that
they had done wTong but it was against their \vi]\
and because of deception that they had suffered
this misfortune.
53. Jason now, we are informed, promising all his
kindred in general that he would conduct himself
honourably and magnanimously, summoned the
people to an assembly. And after defending himself
for what he had done and explaining that he had
only taken vengeance on men who had wronged him
first, inflicting a less severe punishment on them
than the evils he himself had suifered, he bestowed
upon Acastus, the son of Pelias, the ancestral king-
dom, and as for the daughters of the king, he said
that he considered it right that he himself should
assume the responsibilitv for them. And ultimately
he fulfilled his promise, they say, bv joining them all
in marriage after a time to the most renowned men.
Alcestis, for instance, the eldest he gave in marriage
to Admetus of Thessaly, the son of Pheres, Amphi-
nome to Andraemon, the brother of Leonteus,
Euadne to Canes, who was the son of Cephalus and
king at that time of the Phocians. These marriages
he arranged at a later period ; but at the time in
question, sailing together with the chieftains to the
Isthmus of Peloponnesus, he performed a sacrifice
ta Poseidon and also dedicated to the god the ship
Argo. And since he received a great welcome at
the court of Creon, the king of the Corinthians, he
became a citizen of that city and spent the rest of
his days in Corinth.
511
DIODORUS OF SICILY
4 MeAAoi^cot' Se rayv ApyouavTwu etV ra? Trarpt-
Sa? 8ta;^a)pi^€CT^at, (^acrt Toi' 'Hpa/cAea avfji^ouXev-
crai TOi? apiCTTevai vpog ra irapdho^a rrjg tvx^S
dXX'qXoLS opKOVS hovuat, avjJiiJLa^cqaetv, idv ng
^oTjdeias TTpoaSerjdfj- eKXe^aadai Be /cat rrj^
'EAAaSo? TOV €TTL<f)aV€(TTaTOV TOTTOV €1? OLycovcov
deaiv Kal TravqyupLv KOLvqv, Kal KadiepcuaaL rov
dyojva Ta> fieyLarcp rwv decov Att ^OXvjxttlu).
5 cTVVopLoadvTOJV 8e rcDv apLcrreojp nepl rrj^ avixpa^^iag,
Kal TTjv BiaTa^LV rijov dyojvcov imrpeilidurcov
'H/Da/cAet, (jiacrl toutov^ tottov npoKpLvat npog
rqv TTaviqyvpiv rrj^ raJv HXeiajv )(u)pag rov Trapd
TOV AX(f)€i6v. 8to Kal T7]v TTapaTTOTajJiLai' KaQiepoj-
aavra rw /xeyicrroj rcou deihv, OXvinriau cxtt'
€K€Lvov TTpocrayopevaat. VTToariqaap.evov 8 lttttl-
Kov ay(jL)va /cat yvpLViKov, ra re Trept tCov ddXojv
Stard^ai /cat decopovs dTTOGrelXat roi)? rat? TroAecri
6 TTpoepovvrag rqu Beav rajv dycouoju. 8ta Se
TT^i' napd Tols ' Apyoi'avraLs yevopievr^v ciTro-
8oxf]^ avTov Kara ttjv arpar^iav ov perptajg
So^aaOevTog, TrpocryevecrdaL ttjv e/c rrjg '0Xup,7TLKT^g
TTavqyvpea)^ Bo^av, coare TrdvTcov tojv 'YLXXiqvcov
€7Tt(f)aveaTaTOv VTTap)(€Lv /cat Trapd rat? 77Aet(7Tat?
TToXecn yvojuOevra ttoXXovs e'x^'^ eTndvprjrds Trjs
^tAta?, ovg TTpodvpovs elvai peraa-^elv Travrdg
7 KLvhvvov. Ta)(u 8' in dvhpeia Kal arpanqyia
davpaadivra arparoTreSov re KpdrLOTov avarrj-
aaadai Kal rrdaav eTreXdelv rrju oiKovpieinqv evep-
^ TOV after rovrov deleted by Hertlein.
512
BOOK IV. 53. 4-7
When the Argonauts were on the point of separat-
ing and departing to their native lands, Heracles,
they say, proposed to the chieftains that, in view of
the unexpected turns fortune takes, they should
exchange oaths among one another to fight at the
side of anyone of their number who should call for
aid; and that, furthermore, they should choose out
the most excellent place in Greece, there to insti-
tute games and a festival for the whole race, and
should dedicate the games to the greatest of the
gods, Olympian Zeus. After the chieftains had
taken their oath concerning the alliance and had
entrusted Heracles with the management of the
games, he, they say, picked the place for the festival
on the bank of the Alpheius river in the land
of the Eleans. Accordingly, this place beside the
river he made sacred to the greatest of the gods
and called it Olympia after his appellation. When
he had instituted horse-races and gymnastic con-
tests, he fixed the rules governing the events and
then dispatched sacred commissioners to announce
to the cities the spectacle of the games. And
although Heracles had won no moderate degree of
fame because of the high esteem in which he was
held by the Argonauts throughout their expedition,
to this was now added the glory of having founded
the festival at Olympia, so that he was the most
renowned man among all the Greeks and, known
as he was in almost every state, there were manv
who sought his friendship and who were eager to
share with him in every danger. And since he was
an object of admiration because of his bravery and
his skill as a general, he gathered a most powerful
army and visited all the inhabited world, conferring
5U
DIODORUS OF SICILY
yerovvra to yevog tojv dvdpwTTwv dv9* ow TV^eTv
avTOV aviX(f>a)VOVfJi€vr]g ddavaaiag . rovg Se TTOLrjrd^
Bid rrjv avvTJdrj reparoXoyiav fivdoXoyrjaai fjLovov
Tov 'Hpa/cAea /cat yv^Lvdv ottXcov reXeaaL rous
redpvXrjfjievovg ddXovs.
54. 'AAAo. TTepl jjLev TOV deov tovtov Ta fivdoXoy-
ovpieva TTavTa Si-qXdoixev, vvvl 8e Trpoadereov rjpilv
/cat VTT€p ^\d(Jovo9 TOV VTroXeLTTOfxevov Xoyov. (j^acn
yap avTOV iv KoptV^oj KaTOiKovvTa Kal ovjjL^ia)-
aavTa SeKaeTTJ ^povov Mr^Seta yevvrjaat 7ral8a^
€^ avTTJ?, Tovs jxkv TTpecj^VTaTovs hvo SlSJ/XOUS"
QeTToXoV T€ Kal ^AXKLjJLevrjV, TOV Se TpiTOV TToXv
2 vecoTepov tovtwv Ttaavhpov. tovtov [xev ovv
TOV -x^povov LGTopovGLv ttTToSo;^?^? d^LcoO-fjvaL TrjV
MTJSelap' VTTO TOV dvhpos Sta to fir] [xovov /caAAet
hi.a<j)€p€LV avTr]v, dXXd Kal aaxfypoavvr] Kai rats*
aAAat? d/DeTat? KeKoapLrjodav jxeTa Se raura aet
[xdXXov TOV xpovov TTjv (f>vaLKrjv €V7Tp€7T€tav ac^aipov-
fjLcvov, Aeyerat tov ^Idaova TXavKr^g epaodevTa
Tr]9 ].\p€ovTOs dvyaTpds pLvrjOTcvGai ttjv napOevov.
3 avyKaTaOejjievov 8e tov naTpds Kat, Td^avTO^ rjp.epav
TOLS ydfjLOLs, TO jj-ev TTpcoTOV iTTijSaXeaOaL (^aocv avTOV
TTeWcLV TTJV Mt]8eLav eKovaLws TrapaxojpijoaL ttj?
avp^^Lcoaecos' ^ovXeaOai yap avTrjv^ yafxelv ovk
drrohoKipidaavTa ttjv Trpds avTTjv opuLXlav, dXXd ^
TOLS T€Kvois arrevhovTa avyyevij tov tov ^acnXeojs
4 OLKOV voi-fjoai. dyavaKTOVcrr]^ 8e tt^s" yvvaiKos
Kal deovs iJ.apTvpo[j.€V7]g tovs eiroTTTa? yevofievovs
TOJv opKcov, (f>acrl tov 'Idcrova KaTa(f>povrjaavTa tojv
1 avTTiv MSS, Bekker, aXXr^v Dindorf, avTov Vogel, deleted
by Jacoby. " koX after dAAa deleted by Dindorf.
^ i.e. Heracles.
BOOK IV. 53. 7-54. 4
his benefactions upon the race of men, and it was in
return for these that with general approval he re-
ceived the gift of immortahty. But the poets,
following their custom of giving a tale of wonder,
have recounted the myth that Heracles, single-
handed and without the aid of armed forces, per-
formed the Labours which are on the lips of all.
54. But we have now recounted all the myths
which are told about this god,^ and at this time
must add what remains to be said about Jason.
The account runs like this : — Jason made his home
in Corinth and living with Medea as his wife for
ten years be begat children by her, the two oldest,
Thessalus and Alcimenes, being twins, and the
third, Tisandrus, being much younger than the
other two. Now during this period, we are informed,
Medea was highly approved by her husband, because
she not only excelled in beauty but was adorned
with modesty and every other virtue ; but after-
ward, as time more and more diminished her natural
comeliness, Jason, it is said, became enamoured of
Glauce, Creon's daughter, and sought the maiden's
hand in marriage. After her father had given his
consent and had set a day for the marriage, Jason,
they say, at first tried to persuade Medea to with-
draw from their wedlock of her free-will ; for, he
told her, he desired to many the maiden, not because
he felt his relations with Medea were beneath him,
but because he was eager to establish a kinship
between the king's house and his children.^ But
w^hen his wife was angered and called upon the gods
who had been the witnesses of their vows, they say
that Jason, disdaining the vows, married the daughter
* The plea urged by Jaaon in Euripides, Medea, 551 S.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
opKOiv yrj/jLat ttjv tov jSaCTiAe'cos" dvyarepa. rrjv 8e
5 Mr^Secar i^eXavvoixevrjv eV riy? 77dAecDS", xal
fjLiav Tjfxepav irapa rov Kpeovros Xa^ovaav et? ttjv
rijg (fyvyrj'S TrapaaKevrjV, etV pL€v to. fiaaiXeia vvkto^
etaeXdeZv aXXoicoaaaav roXg (f>appLaKOLS ttjv avrrjs!
oipLV, Kat T'fjv OLKtav V(f)dipaL, pi^iov tl TrpoadeZaav,
€uprjp.evov jiev vtto K-LpKrjg rrjs dSeX<^r]g, SvvapLv
8' ^X^^> irrdv i^a(l>dfj, SvaKarda^eaTOV . d(j)vco he
<f>Xeyo fxevajv rcov ^aaiXeiajv, rov fxev ^\daova
Ta;^eaj? iKTTTjSrjaai, ttjv 8e TXavKrjv Kal rov
}^p€ovra rod nvpos rrepiKaraXa^ovros hLa<j)dapr\vai.
6 Tildes' 8e ra>v avyypa(f)€cov (fyaal rovg p-kv vlovs
rrjs M^TjSeiag ScDpa Kopiaai rfj vvp(l)rj (f^appaKois
Ke^pi'peva, rrjv 8e TXavKrjv Se^apevrjv Kal rip
acopari TTcptdepevrjv avrrjv re avp(f)opa TTepLTTeaelv
Kai rov TTarepa ^or]6ovvra Kai rov crcu/xaro? dtpd-
pcevov reXevrrjcrai.
7 Tt]^ 8e M7^8€tai' e7nrv)(ov(jav rot? Trpcoroig iyyet-
prjpaatv ovk aTTourrji'aL rijg ^Idaovog ripcopias.
em roaovro yap vpoeXOelv avrrjv opyrjs dpa Kal
t^rjAorVTrLas, en o ojp,orr]ros, cjugt errei otecpvye
rov perd rrjg vvpL(f>rjg klvSvvov, rfj a^ayfj rdJv
Koivcbv reKvcov ep^aXetv avrdv elg rds p-eyiuras
avp(f>opds' irXrjv yap evos rov SLacj^vyovros rovs
dXXovs vlovs dvTOCT^a^at ^ Kal p,erd rdJv Tnarordriov
^ Kai ra awixara tovtcov €v tw ttj? Hpas refievfi daifjai after
aTToa<j>a^<u deleted by Vogel, Jacoby.
^ i.e. from the territory of Corinth.
* This is the manner of Glauce's death in the Medea of
Euripides. His version also differs from the account which
follows, in that there are only two sons of Jason and Medea,
and after slaying them Medea carries off their bodies so that
BOOK IV. 54. 4-7
of the king. Thereupon Medea was driven out of
the city, and being allowed by Creon but one day
to make the preparations for her exile, ^ she entered
the palace by night, having altered her appearance
by means of drugs, and set fire to the building by
applying to it a little root which had been discovered
by her sister Circe and had the property that when
it was once kindled it was hard to put out. Now
when the palace suddenly burst into flames, Jason
quickly made his wav out of it, but as for Glauce
and Creon, the fire hemmed them in on all sides
and they were consumed by it. Certain historians,
however, say that the sons of Medea brought to the
bride gifts which had been anointed with poisons,
and that when Glauce took them and put them
about her body both she herself met her end and
her father, when he ran to help her and embraced
her body, likewise perished.^
Although Medea had been successful in her first
undertakings, yet she did not refrain, so we are
told, from taking her revenge upon Jason. For
she had come to such a state of rage and jealousy,
yes, even of savageness, that, since he had escaped
from the peril which threatened him at the same
time as his bride, she determined, by the murder
of the children of them both, to plunge him into the
deepest misfortunes ; for, except for the one son
who made his escape from her, she slew the other
sons and in company with her most faithful maids
Jason may not even give them formal burial, and that Jason
does not commit suicide. The fountain of Glauce has been
found (cp. Am. Journ. of Archaeology, 4 (1900), 458-75;
14 (1910), 19-50), but not as yet the tomb of the children
which was pointed out to Pausanias (2. 3. 6).
DIODORUS OF SICILY
depaTraiviSajv en vuktos jJLearjg (jivyeZv e«r rrjs
KopLvdov, Kal 8i,€K7TeaeLV els Q'q^as npo? 'HpawrAea*
Tovrov yap jxeair-qv yeyovora tojv 6p.oXoyu7w
iv KdA;(ot? eTT-qyyeXdai ^orjd'qaeLv avrfj jrapa-
GTTOvBoVfJLei'T).
55. 'Ev TOcrovTip 8e tov jxev Idaova areprjOevra
T€Kvcov Kal yvvaLKos Sd^at Tracrt StKrata TrenovdevaL'
Sto Kal jjiTj bvvdfxevov eveyKelv to p,eyedos rrjs
crv[J.(f)opds €K TOV ^rji' iavrov /xeraa-nyaat. rovs
he K-opLvOiovs eKTreTrXrJxOaL fiev rrjv heLvdrrjTa
TTJ? TTepLTTereia's, fxaXiara S diTopeZv Trepi Trjg
Ta(f>rjg tcov nalScov. Sionep drroGreiXavTajv avTwv
rif^aiSe rov? eTTepojrrjaovras rov deov ottoj?
)(pr]areov earl Tolg adypiauL twv Traihojv, TTpoard^ai
rT]v YlvOiav ev ro) rep-evei rrj'S "Hpa? avrovs
2 Odipai Kal Tip-cbv rjpajiKayv avrov'S d^iovv. ttoly]-
advTcov he rujv Yi.opivQla>v to TrpouTayQiv, ^aal
QeTToXov fxev tov hta<f>vy6vTa tov dno T-fjs [xrjTpos
(f>6vov ev Kopivdcp Tpa(f>evTa fieTa raura eTraveXdeZv
els ^\ojXk6v, ovaav ^Ydaovos TraTpiSa- ev fj /cara-
Xa^ovTa TTpo(J<l)dTios "AKaoTOV tov HeXiov TereAeu-
TTjKOTa TTapaXa^elv Kara yevo? TTpoarjKovaav t7]v
^aaiXeiav, Kal Tovg u^' eavTov TeTayp,evovs
3 d^' eavTOV TTpoaayopevaai QeTTaXovs. ovk ayvoGi
he hioTi Ttepl Tr\q tojv QeTTaXdJv rrpocrqyopLas ov
TavT-qv pLovqv ttjv laTopiav, dXXd /cat hi.a(j)(x)Vovs
^ i.e. that Jason would wed Medea and "keep her as hia
life's companion so long as he lived " (cp. chap. 46. 4).
518
BOOK IV. 54. 7-55. 3
fled in the dead of night from Corinth and made her
way safely to Heracles in Thebes. Her reason for
doing so was that Heracles had acted as a mediator
in connection with the agreements ^ which had been
entered into in the land of the Colchians and had
promised to come to her aid if she should ever find
them violated.
55. Meanwhile, they go on to say, in the opinion
of everyone Jason, in losing children and wife, had
suffered only what was just; consequently, being
unable to endure the magnitude of the affliction,
he put an end to his life.^ The Corinthians were
greatly distressed at such a terrible reversal of
fortune and were especially perplexed about the
burial of the children. Accordingly, they dispatched
messengers to Pytho to inquire of the god what
should be done with the bodies of the children, and
the Pythian priestess commanded them to bury the
children in the sacred precinct of Hera and to pay
them the honours which are accorded to heroes.
After the Corinthians had performed this command,
Thessalus, they say, who had escaped being murdered
by his mother, was reared as a youth in Corinth and
then removed to lolcus, which was the native land
of Jason ; and finding on his arrival that Acastus,
the son of Pehas, had recently died, he took over
the throne which belonged to him by inheritance
and called the people who were subject to himself
Thessalians after his o^vn name. I am not unaware
that this is not the only explanation given of the
name the Thessalians bear, but the fact is that the
other accounts which have been handed down to us
* According to Euripides (Medea, 1386), a beam of wood fell
from the rotting Argo upon Jason and killed him.
519
VOL. II. S
DIODORUS OF SICILY
irepas TrapaSeSoaOai av/jL^e^-qKe, irepl (Lv ev
oiKeiorepoLS jxvrjad-qGoixeOa KaipoZg.
4 T'r]V 8' ovv yiiqheLav iv ©r^^ais' cf)aarl KaraXa^-
ovaav 'H/aaAcAea ^lavLKCo Trddei avve^opi^vov Koi
rovs vlovg a-neKTayKora, <^ap/xa/cots" avrov Idaa-
adai. Tov S' Kvpvadecog €TnK€Lp.evov toZs Trpoardy-
fiacTiv, oLTToyvovaav rrjv Kara to irapov e/c tovtov
^O'^deLav Kara<l)vy€LV els ^h.drjvas Trpos Atye'a tov
5 Havhlovos. ivTavda 8' ol fxev (f>acrLV avTrjv
Alyel avvoLKrjaaaav yevvrjaai M.ijSov tov vuTepov
yi-qhias ^acriXevcravTa, rtve? 8' loTopovcnv i5^'
'Ittttotov tov l^peovTOS i^aiTOVjxevrjv TV^elv Kplaecos
6 Koi TOJv iyKXr^fioLTCov aTToXvOrjvaL . fxeTO. 8e raura
(d-qaeois eTraveXdovTog eV TpoLl,7Jvos et? Tag
^Adrjvas, iyKXrjdelcrav im (j)app.aKeia (fyvyelv
CK TTJs voXecos' SovTos 8' Alyeois tovs Trapa-
TTe/JUpovTag els rjv ^ovXoiTO ■)(^chpav, els ttjv ^olvIk7]v
7 KOfXKrdijvai. ivTevdev 8' els tovs o-vcxi tottovs
TTJs 'Aaias" dva^daav avvoiKrjaaL tlvl tcov Ittl-
<l>avu)v ^aaiXeajv, ef ov yevvijaai TralSa Mi]Bov
Kal TOV ^ TralSa fieTa ttjv tov iraTpos TeXevrqv
SiaSe^dfxevov ttjv ^aaiXeiav davjxaadrjvaL re /card
TTjv dvhpeiav kol tovs Xaovs ^ d(f>' eavTOV M-qSovs
ovofidaaL.
56, K.a66Xov 8e Std tt^p' tojv Tpaya}8a)V TepaTeiav
ttolkIXt] Ti? Kal hid<f>opos laTopia Trepl MrjSeias
e^evqveKTai, Kal TLves ■xo.pil,ea6aL ^ovXofievoi
Tols *Adr]vaiOLs (f>aalv avT-rjv dvaXa^ovaav tov
^ TOV Bekker : tov nev. * Xaovs Rhodomann : dXXovs-
^ This is not in the extant portions of Diodorus.
^ Cp. chap. 11.
520
BOOK IV. 55. 3-56. I
are likewise at variance with one another, and con-
cerning these we shall speak on a more appropriate
occasion. 1
Now as for Medea, they say, on finding upon her
arrival in Thebes that Heracles was possessed of a
frenzy of madness and had slain his sons ,2 she re-
stored him to health by means of drugs. But since
Eurystheus was pressing Heracles with his com-
mands,^ she despaired of receiving any aid from him
at the moment and sought refuge in Athens with
Aegeus, the son of Pandion. Here, as some say,
she married Aegeus and gave birth to Medus, who
was later king of Media, but certain writers give
the account that, when her person was demanded
by Hippotes, the son of Creon, she was granted a
trial and cleared of the charges he raised against
her. After this, when Theseus returned to Athens
from Troezen, a charge of poisoning was brought
against her and she was exiled from the city ; but
by the gift of Aegeus she received an escort to go
with her to whatever country she might wish and
she came to Phoenicia. From there she journeyed
into the interior regions of Asia and married a certain
king of renown, to whom she bore a son Medus ;
and the son, succeeding to the throne after the
death of the father, was greatly admired for his
courage and named the people Medes after himself.
56. Speaking generally, it is because of the desire
of the tragic poets for the marvellous that so varied
and inconsistent an account of Medea has been
given out ; and some indeed, in their desire to win
favour ^vith the Athenians, say that she took that
' i.e. with the Labours which Heracles had to perform for
him.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
€^ Alyecos }Arjhov els K.6X)(OVS BLaaivOrjvaf
Kara 8e tovtov tov xpovov Al-^rrjv €K rrjg ^aaiXeias
VTTO rdSeA^oy Ylepaov ^tato)? eKTreirrcoKOTa rrjv
dp)(r]v avaKTifjaaadaiy Mt^Sou tov MTjSeta? aveXovTos
TOV Wepcnqv juera 8e raOra Svvd[xecos iyKpaTrj
yevojjievov tov M.rjSov TToXXrjv iireXdeZv Trjg vnep tov
HovTOV 'Acrtas-, /cat KaTau)^elv ttjv an' €Keivov
2 MT^Stai' TTpoaayopevOelaav. dXXd yap to Tracra?
TCLS dTTO<f>daeis tcov Trepl ttj'S MT^Seta? [XvOoXoyr]-
advTOiv dvaypd(f)eiv ovk dvayKatov dfxa Kal
pLaKpov etvaL KplvovTes to. /caraAetTro/xet'a ttjs irepl
Twv 'ApyovavTcbv IcjTOpias Trpoadrjaopiev.
3 Ovk oXtyoL yap tcjv re dp^atcov crvyypacjieojv Kal
Tcbv p.eTay€V€aT€pa)v , wv gotl koI Tiyu-ato?, ^aat
Tovs ' ApyovavTas p-eTa ttjv tov hipovs dpTrayqv
7Tv6opi€Vovg V7t' Altjtov 7TpoKaT€iXrj(f>9aL vaval TO
CTTO/xa TOV YiovTOV, TTpd^LV eTTLTeXiaaadaL Trapd-
So^ov Kal pvT^pirjg d^iav. dvarrXevaavTa? yap
avTOVS Bid TOV TamiSo? TTOTapiov em Tag irqyd's,
Kal /card tottov Tivd tt^v vavv SLeXKvaavTag,
Ka9' CTepov TrdXiv TTOTapiov ttjv pvaiv e)(ovTOs
els TOV (liKeavov KaTarrXevaaL Tvpos ttjv ddXaTTav,
drro Be tcjv dpKTCJV eirl ttjv Bvatv Koptadrjvai ttjv
yfjv e^ovTas e^ evcovvp,a)v, Kai irXiqaLov yivop,evous
TaSeipcov els ttjv Kad' rj/jLag ddXaTTav elarrXevaaL .
4 aTToSet^ets" Se tovtcov <j)epovaL, BeiKvvvTes tov9 Trapd
TOV cvKeavov KaTOiKovvTas KeArou? ue^opevovs
pdXiaTa Toiv dewv tovs AiooKopovs' TrapaBo-
(Tipiov yap avToiis ^x^i-v €k TraAatoit' XP^^^^ "^^
TOVTCOV TCOV decov TTapovaiav e/c tov (vKeavov
1 Cp. p. 412, n. 1. == The Don.
522
BOOK IV. 56. 1-4
Medus whom she bore to Aegeus and got off safe
to Colchis ; and at that time Aeetes, who had been
forcibly driven from the throne by liis brother Perses,
had regained his kingdom, Medus, Medea's son,
having slain Perses ; and that afterwards Medus,
securing the command of an army, advanced over a
large part of Asia which lies above the Pontus and
secured possession of Media, which has been named
after this Medus. But since in our judgment it is
unnecessary and would be tedious to record all the
assertions which the writers of myths have made
about Medea, we shall add only those items which
have been passed over concerning the history of the
Argonauts.
Not a few both of the ancient historians and of
the later ones as well, one of whom is Timaeus,^ say
that the Argonauts, after the seizure of the fleece,
learning that the mouth of the Pontus had already
been blockaded by the fleet of Aeetes, performed
an amazing exploit which is worthy of mention.
They sailed, that is to say, up the Tanais river ^ as
far as its sources, and at a certain place they hauled
the ship overland, and follo\\'ing in turn another
river which flows into the ocean they sailed dow^^
it to the sea ; then they made their course from the
north to the west,^ keeping the land on the left, and
when they had arrived near Gadeira (Cadiz) they
sailed into our sea.* And the \\Titers even offer proofs
of these things, pointing out that the Celts who dwell
along the ocean venerate the Dioscori above any
of the gods, since they have a tradition handed down
from ancient times that these gods appeared among
' i.e. south-west. * The Mediterranean .
523
DIODORUS OF SICILY
yeyevrjfievrjv. etvai 8e Kol ttjv Trapa rov oiKeavov
■)(Ojpav ovK oAtyas" e^ovaav Trpoarjyopla? cltto re roiv
5 ^ApyovavTcov Kal twv AtoaKopojv. TTapaTTXrjaiojg
8e Kal rrjv ivrog TaSetpcov -rjneipov e^ett' e/u,^ai^7^
arjixela rrjg rovrcov dvaKOjJLLhrjs- rrepl fiev yap
Trjv Tvppr]vi,av KaraTrXevaavrag avrov? et? vijaov
TTjV ovofial,o[Ji€vrjv AiOdXeiav tov iv avrfj Ai/zeVa,
KaXXiarov ovra ra)v iv eKetvoL^ rot? tottols, ^ hpya)ov
CLTTO rrj? veios TrpoaayopevaaL, Kal pi^XP'- "^^vhe ra)v
fi Xpovojv 8ia/xeVetv avrov ttjv Trpoarjyopiav. Trapa-
TrXrjaioJS Se Tot? et/DT^/LteVoi? Kara fiev rrjv Tvpprjviav
dno arahiajv oKraKoaiojv r-fj? 'Paj/XT^? ovofidaat
At/xeVa TeXap^aJva, Kara Se ^opfiLas rrjg 'IraAia?
Alt]Tr]v TOV vvv KaL'qTTjv npoaayopevofxevov. Trpog
8e TOVTOL? VTT dvlfioiv avrous eKpL(f>€VTa? et? rd'S
Tivprei?, Kai p.ad6vTa? Trapa Tpirojvo'S rov rare
^aaiXevovrog rijg Ai^vrjs Trjv ISiorrjTa tt^? daXdr-
T7]g, Kal TOV KLvSvvov iK^vyovra^y hcoprjaaaOai
XoXkovv TpiTToSa TOV ap)(aloLS piev K€)(o.payp.€vov
ypdpLfxaoL, pt-^xpi- 8e Ta)v veojrepcov xpovwv SiapceLv-
avTtt Trapa rot? EuecrTreptrat?.
7 Ov TTapaXeLTTTeov 8 ■qp.tv dve^eXeyKTOV ttjv
LOTopiav TOJV dTTO(f)r]va[ji€va>v tovs 'Apyovavrag
dvd TOV "IcTTpov TrXevaavra? p-^XP^ "^^^ Trrjyajv /car-
evexdi^vat 8ta rrjg avTiTrpoacoTTOv pvcreajg Trpos tov
8 AhpiariKov koXttov. tovtovs yap 6 xpovos rjXey^ev
VTToXa^ovTag rov iv rco Hovro) TrXeioai aropiaaiv
i^epevyopLevov "lurpov Kal rov els tov 'ASpiav
CK^dXXovra rrjv pvaiv ^x^t^v (xtto raJv avroJv tottojv.
' Elba.
^ The Roman Portus Argous, the harbour of the present
capital of the island, Portoferraio.
BOOK IV. 56. 4-8
them coming from the ocean. Moreover, the
country which skirts the ocean bears, they say, not
a few names which are derived from the Argonauts
and the Dioscori. And likewise the continent this
side of Gadeira contains visible tokens of the return
voyage of the Argonauts. So, for example, as they
sailed about the Tyrrhenian Sea, when they put in at
an island called Aethaleia ^ they named its harbour,
which is the fairest of any in those regions, Argoon ^
after their ship, and such has remained its name to
this day. In like manner to what we have just
narrated a harbour in Etruria eight hundred stades
from Rome was named by them Telamon, and also
at Phormia 3 in Italy the harbour Aeetes, which is
now known as Caeetes.* Furthermore, when they
were driven by winds to the Syrtes and had learned
from Triton, who was king of Libya at that time, of
the peculiar nature of the sea there, upon escaping
safe out of the peril they presented him with the
bronze tripod which was inscribed with ancient char-
acters and stood until rather recent times among
the people of Euhesperis.^
We must not leave unrefuted the account of those
who state that the Argonauts sailed up the Ister ^
river as far as its sources and then, by its arm which
flows in the opposite direction, descended to the
Adriatic Gulf. For time has refuted those who
assumed that the Ister which empties by several
mouths into the Pontus and the Ister which issues
into the Adriatic flow from the same regions. As a
^ Formiae. * Gaeta.
^ The most western city, later called Berenice, of the
Pentapolis in CjTene.
* Danube.
525
DIODORUS OF SICILY
'PcoiJiaicDV yap KaTaTToXefJLrjadvTajv to twv "larpcov
Wvos, evpedr] rag Trrjya? excov 6 TTora/u.os' o.tt6 t€t-
rapoLKOvra arahicov rrjg ^aAarxTy?. dXXa yap rot?
avyypa<jievGLv alriav rrjg TrAai^? ^aal yeveadat.
rrjv opuovupiiav rajv TroTaficov.
57. 'H/xtv S' dpKovvTcog i^eipyaajjievoig ttjv vepl
tG)v ^ApyovavTcov luTopiav Kal rd V(f>^ 'HpaKXeovs
TTpaxdevra oiKelov dv etrj Kara rqv yevofievr^v
eVayyeAta^ avaypdipai rag raiv vtcjv avrov Trpd^eig.
2 Merd rrjv 'Hpa/<:Aeou? tolvvv dTToOecoaiv ol
TratSe? avrov KarcoKovv ev Tpa)(lvL napd Ki^y/ct
TO) ^acrtAet. fierd Se ravra "TAAou KaL tlvojv
erepcov dvSpcodevTcov, EvpvcrOevs (f>o^T]deLg p-r)
TrdvTiov €V7]Xi,Kajv yevopevcov iKTreaji r-fjg iv Muktj-
I'atS' fiaaiXeias , eyvoj rovs 'HpaarAetSa? e^ oAt^? tt^S"
3 'EAAaSo? (jivyaSeuaaL. Sto Kt^u/ci pcev rep /3acrtAet
Trporjyopevae rovs re 'HpaAcAet'Sa? /cat rovg
A-iKvpviov TratSa? eK^aXelv, en Se 'loXaov /cat
TO avarr]p,a rdjv 'ApKaBcov rcov 'Hpa/cAet avvearpa-
revKorojv, rj ravra p.r) TTOiovvra TToXepLov av'a-
4 he^aodai. ol 8' *Hpa/cAetSat /cat ot /Lier auroii'
Oeojpovvres avrovs ovk d^Lopid)(ovg ovras Eypu-
aOel TToAe/xetv, eyvcoaav eKovatcog (f)evyei,v e/c t-?]?
Tpa;^tt'os" eTTtoi'Tes' Se ra>v dXXcov TToXeojv rag
d^LoXoycordrag eBeovro Se^aadai a<^dg avrovg cwv-
OLKOvg. p,rjhep,idg 8e roXp-coarjg VTroSe^aadau, p^ovoi,
row dXXcov ^ KOrjvaloi Std rr]v epi(f)vrou vap avroZg
eTTLeiKeiav Trpoaehi^avro rovg 'Hpa/cAetSas'" Karcp-
^ Strabo (1. 3. 15) mentions the same erroneous belief, and
in language which shows that he knew no river of that name
in T stria.
526
BOOK IV. 56. 8-57. 4
matter of fact, when the Romans subdued the nation
of the Istrians it was discovered that the latter
river has its sources only forty stades from the sea.
But the cause of the error on the part of the his-
torians was, they say, the identity in name of the
two rivers.^
57. Since we have sufficiently elaborated the
history of the Argonauts and the deeds accompUshed
by Heracles, it may be appropriate also to record,
in accordance with the promise we made, the deeds
of his sons.
Now after the deification of Heracles his sons
made their home in Trachis at the court of Ceyx
the king. But later, when Hyllus and some of the
others had attained to manhood, Eurystheus, being
afraid lest, after they had all come of age, he might
be driven from his kingdom at Mycenae, decided to
send the Heracleidae into exile from the whole of
Greece. Consequently he served notice upon Ceyx,
the king, to banish both the Heracleidae and the
sons of Licymnius,^ and lolatis as well and the band
of Arcadians who had served with Heracles on his
campaigns, adding that, if he should fail to do these
things, he must submit to war. But the Heracleidae
and their friends, percei\'ing that they were of
themselves not sufficient in number to carry on a
war against Eurystheus, decided to leave Trachis of
their own free vdll, and going about among the most
important of the other cities they asked them to
receive them as fellow-townsmen. WTien no other
city had the courage to take them in, the Athenians
alone of all, such being their inborn sense of justice,
extended a welcome to the sons of Heracles, and
* A half-brother of Alcmene and so an uncle of Heracles.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Kiaav 8e avrovs {jlcto. ra>v crviJi(f>vy6vTC0v etV
TpiKopvdov ttoXlv, rjTLS icrrl jxia rrj£ 6vo[JLa^o[Ji€V'qs
5 rerpaTToXeai^. jxera Be riva xpoi'ov aTrdvTCJV rojv
'Hpa/cAeou? TTaiScov rjvhpcoiievoM', koI <^povq-
/xaros" ep.(f)VOiX€vov rot's veavioKOLg 8ia ttju a(f>
'Hjoa/cAeou? ho^av, V(f)opd)fX€vo'5 avrcjv ttjv av^-qcrtv
^vpvadevs icTTpdrevaev €7t avrou? fierd ttoAA'^S"
6 Suva/xecos". ol 8' 'H/oa/vAeiSat, ^orjOovvrcov avroXg
Tiov ^AdT]vaLa)v, ■npo(JT'qaa.p,€VOL rov 'Hpa/cAeoys"
aSeA^tSow ^loXaov, /cat tovtco re /cat QrjaeX /cat
"YAAoj T~qv arparrjyiav TrapaSovreg , evLKrjaav rrapa-
rd^€t, Tov l^vpvadea. Kara 8e rrjv ixd-)(rjv TrAetarot
(lev rcov pier KvpvcrOecos KareKorrrjaav , avros 8'
o ^vpvadevs, rod dpp.aro£ Kara rrjv (f)V'yrjv avvrpi-
^evros, VTTO "YAAou rov 'Hpa/cAeou? dvrjpedrj-
opLoiiDS 8e /cat ol viol rov ^vpvadeojg Trdvreg Kara
TTJV fidx'QV ereXevrrjaav.
58. Mera 8e raura ol p,ev 'Hpa/cAeiSat Trdvres
TTepi^orjrcp p-dxjl veviKrjKores rov ^vpvcrdea, /cat
8ia rrjv evrjfxepLav avpL,p,dxojv eviroprjaavres, iarpd-
revaav eirl rrjv HeXoTTOwrjaov "TAAou arpar'qyovv-
2 ros. ^Arpevs Se p,erd rrjv ^vpvadecog reXevrrjV
KaraXa^opuevo? rrjv ev M^VK-qvais ^aaiXeiav, /cat
rrpoaXa^opLevos avppdxovs Teyedrag /cat riva?
3 aAAous", dmjvr'qcre rols 'Hpa/cAet8ats'. Kara he
rov 'laOpiov rdJv arparoTreSojv aOpoiadevrcov,
"TAAo? piev 6 'Hpa/cAeou? els piovopiaxto.v rrpoeKa-
^ A union of four cities in Attica of which Marathon was
the most important.
528
BOOK IV. 57. 4-58. 3
they settled them and their companions in the
flight in the city of Tricorythus, which is one of the
cities of what is called the Tetrapolis.^ And after
some time, when all the sons of Heracles had attained
to manhood and a spirit of pride sprang up in the
young men because of the glory of descent from
Heracles, Eurystheus, vie'ning -svith suspicion their
growing power, came up against them with a great
army. But the Heracleidae, who had the aid of
the Athenians, chose as their leader lolaus, the
nephew of Heracles, and after entrusting to him
and Theseus and Hyllus the direction of the war,
they defeated Eurystheus in a pitched battle. In
the course of the battle the larger part of the army
of Eurystheus was slain and Eurystheus himself,
when his chariot was wrecked in the flight, was
killed by Hyllus, the son of Heracles ; hkewise the
sons of Eurystheus perished in the battle to a man.-
58. After these events all the Heracleidae, now
that they had conquered Eurystheus in a battle
whose fame was noised abroad and were well sup-
plied with allies because of their success, embarked
upon a campaign against Peloponnesus with Hyllus
as their commander. Atreus, after the death of
Eurystheus, had taken over the kingship in Mycenae,
and having added to his forces the Tegeatans and
certain other peoples as allies, he went forth to meet
the Heracleidae. When the two armies were
assembled at the Isthmus, Hyllus, Heracles' son,
challenged to single combat any one of the enemy
'^ Euripides' drama, The Children of Heracles, centres about
the persecution of the children by Eurystheus find about the
war with Argos which Athens undertakes in defence of the
refugees.
529
DIODORUS OF SICILY
Xeaaro rcbv TroAe/xiaiv rov ^ovXofievov, ojxoXoyias
dejjievos TOiavTas, et ixkv "TAAo? viKrjaeie ^ rov
avTLraxQivTa, irapaXa^eiv 'HpaKAetSa? Tr)v Eupu-
addcos ^acriXeLav, et S "TAAo? Aet^^etTy, /xi^ KarUvat
Tovs 'H/aa/cAetSas" et? ITeAoTroi^Tjcrov ei^ro? ircbu
4 TTevTTjKOVTa. Kara^avros S' et? tt^i' ttpokXtjolv
'E;^e/xou Tou fiaaiXioJS rcbv Teyearcui^, /cat ttJ?
fxovonax^o.s yevofievqs , 6 jxev "TAAo? dvrjpedrj, ol
8' 'Hpa/cAetSai /cara rag oixoXoyias dirdanqGav rrjs
KadoSov /cat 7-171' et? TpiKopvdov e-ndvohov irroLTJ-
5 crai'TO. /xera 8e rit'as" ;^pot'ous' At/cu/xvio? ^uei^
/xera rajv iraihajv /cat TXrjTToXeixov rod 'Hpa/cAeou?,
e/cou(Tta>S" TcDi' Apyeicov avrovg Trpoahe^apLevajv,
iv "Apyei KaripKrjaav ol 8' a'AAot Trdvreg iv
TpiKopvdcp KaroLKrjaavreg,^ d)S ^ 6 TrevrrjKovraerrjg
)(p6vos BLrjXde, KarrjXdov et? YVeXoTTOvvqcrov d>v
rds 7Tpd^€LS dvaypdi/jofjiev, orav els eKeivovs rovs
\p6vovs TTapayevrjdoiixev .
6 'AA/c/XT^vry 8' els Q'j^as Karavr-qaacra, /cat /xera
rauT d(f)avros yevo/Jieurj, rLfxcov laodeojv erv)(^ irapd
rots Qrj^aiois. rovs 8' dXXous 'H/oa/cAetSa?
<f>acrlv iXdovrag Trap' Alylfiiov rov Awpov rrjv
TTarpcLav rrjs )(d)pas TrapaKaradrjKTjV dTrairrj-
7 aavras fxerd Acopiecov KaroLKyjaai. TXTjiroXep^ov
8e rov 'H/oa/cAeou? dv "Apyet KaroiKovvra Xeyovcnv
dveXelv AiKvpiViov rov 'WXeKrpvojvos ipiaavra nepC
rivojv, hid 8e rov (f)6vov rourov e'f "Apyovs (j)vy6vra
els 'P680V fieroLKrjcjaf '^ rrjv 8e vrjaov ravrrjv rore
'■ viKTjaete Bekker, viK^qaai Vogel, vLK-qaeL MSS, Dindorf.
* KaTcfK-qaav ABD, deleted by Vogel.
^ Se after a>s omitted Vulgate.
^ So Hertlein : KaroiK-rjacu.
BOOK IV. 58. 3-7
who would face him, on the agreement that, if
Hylhis should conquer his opponent, the Heracleidae
should receive the kingdom of Eurystheus, but that,
if Hyllus were defeated, the Heracleidae would not
return to Peloponnesus for a period of fifty years.^
Echemus, the king of the Tegeatans, came out to
meet the challenge, and in the single combat which
followed Hyllus was slain and the Heracleidae gave
up, as they had promised, their effort to return and
made their way back to Tricorythus. Some time
later Licymnius and his sons and Tlepolemus, the
son of Heracles, made their home in Argos, the
Argives admitting them to citizenship of their own
accord ; but all the rest who had made their homes
in Tricorythus, when the fifty-year period had
expired, returned to Peloponnesus. Their deeds we
shall record when we have come to those times. ^
Alcmene returned to Thebes, and when some time
later she vanished from sight she received divine
honours at the hands of the Thebans. The rest of
the Heracleidae, they say, came to Aegimius, the
son of Dor us, and demanding back the land which
their father had entrusted to him ^ made their home
among the Dorians. But Tlepolemus, the son of
Heracles, while he dwelt in Argos, slew Licymnius,
the son of Electryon, we are told, in a quarrel over a
certain matter, and being exiled from Argos because
of this murder changed his residence to Rhodes.
This island was inhabited at that time by Greeks
1 Herodotus (9. 26) says " one hundred " years and the
statement of Thucydides ( 1 . 12) would suggest about the same
number.
^ This is not in the extant portions ot Uiodorus.
3 Cp. chap. 37. 4.
DIODORUS OF SICILY
KaTOiKOVV "EAAtJVCS' ol VTTO TpiOTTtt TOV ^Op^aVTOS
8 KaroLKiadevres . rov 8 ovv TXrjTToXejJLov Koivfj
fiera tojv iyxcopicDV rpifxepij TTOLrjaac rrjv 'PdSov,
Koi rpeis iv avrrj Karaarrjaai TroAet?, AivSov,
^I'qXvaov, K-dfieipov ^aaiXevaai 8 avrov navroiv
rtov 'Vohioiv 8ia Tr]v rov rraTpos WpaKXeovs
So^av, /cat Kara rovs varepov )(^p6vov's ju.€t'
'Aya/Lte'/xvovos- em t^v Tpoiav arparevaai.
53«
BOOK IV. 58. 7-8
who had been planted there by Triopas, the son of
Phorbas. Accordingly, Tlepolemus, acting with the
common consent of the natives, divided Rhodes into
three parts and founded there three cities, Lindus,
lelysus (lalysus), and Cameirus ; and he became king
over all the Rhodians, because of the fame of his
father Heracles, and in later times took part with
Agamemnon in the war against Troy.
533
A PARTIAL INDEX OF PROPER
NAMES 1
ABARIS, 39 t.
Acastus, 511
Acheloiis, 457 f.
Achilles, 37
Admetua, 511
Aeetes, 483-95 passim, 523
Aegeus, 621
Aegimiua, 463, 631
Aegis, 315 f.
Aethaleis, 525
Aetna, 411
Agatharchldes, 113, 138 f., 235
Agenor, 333, 343
Agjrium, 421 f.
Alcestis, 509 f.
AJcimenes, 515 (.
AJcman, 361
Alcmen^, 369 f., 391, 449, 531
Alcyone, 383
Aleos, 451
Alesia, 406
Alexander of ilacedon, 11 233. 303
Alilaei, 223
AJpheius, 303, 387
Althaea, 455 f.
Amaltheia, 309 f.
" Amaltheia, Horn of," 311, 457 1.
Amazoneum, 433
Amazons, 31-7, 319, 245-61, 393-7,
431 f.
Ammon, 309-29 passim
Amphinom^, daughter of Pelias, 511
Amphinom§, mother of Jason, 601
Amphitryon, 369, 373
Andromeda, 369
Antaeus, 399, 429
Antimachus, 301
Antiope, 397, 431 f.
Aphrodite, 357, 361, 417, 427
Aphrodite's Harbour, 199
ApoUo, 39 f., 273 £f., 389
Arabia, 41-65 passim, 115-23, 237
Arabia Felix, 47-61, 123, 226-33
Arcadians, 463 f., 627
Arcturus, 5
Argives, 531
Argo, 473, 511
Argonauts, 469-616, 623-7
Argus, 473
Arimaspi, 29
Aristaeus, 316, 321
Ariston, 209
Arsinoe, 199
ArtemJdorus, 113
Artemis, 413 f., 453
Artemis Tauropolus, 35, 483
Assyrians, 29, 43
Astvdameia, 463
Atalante, 465,473
Athena, 315 f., 329, 371, 389
Athenians, 39, 431 f., 467 f., 627 1.
Atiantians, 263 f., 263-9, 279-85
Atlantic Ocean, 195
Atlantides, 279 f., 429
Atlas, 279 f., 429 f.
Atreus, 629
Attis, 271 f., 277
Aug§, 461
Augeas, 387, 447 f.
Auschisae, 237
Autariatae, 167
Azan, 447
Babylonia, 59 f., 145 t.
Bacchantes, 297 £E.
Baccheius, 363 f.
A complete Index will appeal in the last volume.
535
INDEX
Banizomenes, 217
Basileia, 265-9
Boeotia, 403 f.
Boeotians, 223
Boreadae, 41, 481
Boreas, 479, 483
BromiuB, 355
Buphonas, 419
" Burned Phrygia," 315
Busiris, 401,429f.
Butas, 417
Bytaeas, 419
Byzas, 497
Cabeiri, 479
Cacius, 409
Cadmus, 295, 305, 333, 343
Caeetes, 525
Caesar, 0. Julius, 197, 405
Calliope, 363
Callisthenes, 341
Oambyses, 93
Campg, 323
Carbae, 225
Cannania, 123
Carthage, 221
Carystus, 461
Castor, 473
Celaeno, 281, 395
Celts, 523 f.
Centaurs, 367, 381-5
Cepheus, 369, 449
Cerberus, 423-7
Cercopes, 443
Ceyx, 461, 527
Chabinus, 221
Charmutbas, 219
Charops, 299
Cheiron, 385
Cberronesus, 253
" Children of the Sun," 69-81
Chrysaor, 397, 401
Cillcians, 259
Circaeum, 487
CircS, 485 f.
Oleic, 363
Cleopatra, 479 f.
Colobi, 173
Core, 419
Corinthians, 519
Coronus, 463
Corybantes, 261
Cothon, 221
Oreon, 373 f., 611, 515 f.
Crete, 397 f.
CriuB, 491 f.
" Cronia," 283
Cronus, 281 f., 319 f., 323
Croton, 423
Curetes, 283, 319
Cyan§, 419
OybelS, 259 f., 269-77
Oybelus, 271
Cym6, 259
Cyrene, 237 f.
Cyrus, 31
Dactyls, 331
" Daedaleia," 437
Daedalus, 437
Dardanns, 479 f.
Dead Sea, 43 f.
Debae 221
Delaneira, 395, 453, 459 f., 465 f.
Delphobus, 443
Delians. 39
Demeter, 127, 287 fit., 349, 389
Deucalion, 289
Dimetor, 287, 353
Dindyme, 271
Diodorus, 113f., 341
Diomedes, 393
Dionysius, 247, 305
Dionysus, 13 ff., 93, 273, 285-333
passim, 343-57 passim, 381, 391, 426
Dioscori, 449, 477, 496, 623 f.
Dorieis, 463
Dorieus, 417 f.
Doris, 463
Dracanum, 303
Dracon, 427, 491
Dryopes, 461 f.
Echemus, 531
Echinades, 219
Egestaea, 417
Egypt, 93, 113-23 passim, 401, 426
Egyptians, 93 f.
Eileithyia, 369
Eiraphiotes, 303
Eleutherae, 301, 347
Emathion, 429
Ephorus, 339
Erato, 363 f.
Erechtheus, 435
Ergamenes, 101 f.
Erginus, 373 f.
Eryx, 417
Ethiopia, ya, 113-93 passim
Ethiopians, 67, 89-113 passim, 133
536
INDEX
Euadnfe, 811
EuhesperiB, 526
Eurydicfi, 369
Eurystheus, 371^63 passim, 627 t.
Eurytus, 441, 449, 465
Euterp§, 363
" Field of Heracles," 371
Gadeira, 401, 523 f.
Gandaridae, 9 f.
Ganges, 9 f.
Garindanes, 213
Gaaandi, 223
G§, 317, 361
Gedrosia, 123
G6 Meter, 289
Gemini, 479
Gerrhaeans, 211 t.
Geryonea, 367, 397, 421
Gibraltar, Straits of, 403
GlancS, 616 f.
Glaucus, 495 t.
Gleneus, 461
Glvchatas, 419
Gorgona, 247f., 255 f.
" Great Mother," 265-77 passim
Greater Phrygia, 259
Halcyons, 281
Hebe, 469
Hecataeua, 37 £.
Hecate, 483 f.
Hecatompylon, 401
Helius, 267 f., 483
Helie, 489
Hellespont, 489
Hephaestus, 389
Hera, 295, 369 f., 377, 393, 469
Heracleia, 419
Heracleidae, 339, 449, 527-33 passim
Heracles, 17 f., 35, 93, 107, 167, 223,
257, 307, 331 f., 365-513 passim
Hermaphroditus, 361
Hermes, 273, 281, 345, 361, 389
Hesiod, 361 f.
HesionS, 447, 475 f.
Hespera, 251
Hesperides, 427 f.
Hesperis, 429
Hesperitis, 429
Hesperoukeras, 311
Hesperus, 279, 429
Himeraea, 417
HippocoOn, 449
Hippolyt^ 35, 393 f., 431, 447
Hlppolytus, 433, 443
Hipponolis, 457
Hippotes, 521
Histiaeotis, 403
Homer, 91, 307 f., 345, 361, 445,469,
499
Horus, 259
Hvdaspes, 11
HyUus, 459, 529 f.
Hypanis, 11
Hyperboreans, 37^1, 277
lambulus, 65-83 passim
Icarus, 303
Ichthvophagi, 123-41 passim, 203.
207,251
Idaea, 283, 319, 479 f.
Ihum, 445 f.
India, 3-27 passim, 347
Indus river, 3, 11, 233
lo, 329
lolaeis, 437
lolaeium, 437
lolatis, 377-467 passim, 62
loie, 441, 465
Iphicles, 449
Iphiclus, 449, 497
Iphigeneia, 433
Iphitus, 441, 495
Isis, 107, 217, 25U, 359
" Islands of the Sun," 65-83
Isocrates, 339
Ister, 526 f.
Istrians, 527
IthyphaUus, 359
Itoni, 443
Jason, 471-519 passim
Lacinius, 423
Laeanites Gulf, 213
Lake Copals, 403
Lampeia, 379
Laomedon, 309, 446 f., 476 f., 497 £.
Lapithae, 463
Lenaeus, 293, 355
Leontini, 419 f.
Lesbos, 259
Leto, 39
Libya, 237-45, 399
Lichas, 465
Licymnius, 449, 465, 527, 631
Liguria, 407 f.
Linus, 275, 306 f., 309
537
INDEX
Lacullas, 411
Lycurgus, 261, 299 f., 349
Nysa, 295, 303, 305, 311 f., 316, 346
Nysaeaos, 273 f.
Macae, 237
Macaria, 197
Maemacterion, 233
Maenads, 299, 347
Maeonians, 443
Maranitae, 213
Marmaridae, 237
Marsyas 271 £E.
Massagetae, 29
Medea, 485-521 passim
Medes, 43, 521
Medus, 521 f.
Medusa, 267
Megabari, 173
Megara, 375 f., 441
Melon, 269
MelanippS, 395 f.
Meleager, 483-7, 495
Melis, 461
Melpomenfi, 363
Men6, 251
Menoetiu3, 467
Meroe, 101 f.
Meroa, 15
Midas, 277
Minaeans, 211 f.
Minos, 387
Minotaur, 387
Minyans, 373 f.
Mitrephorus, 353
Mityleng, 259
Mnemosynfi, 361
Mopsus, 261
" Mother of the Mountain," 271
Musaeus, 425
Muses, 275, 351, 355, 361-5
Myrina, 253-61 passim
Myrrhaaus, 299
Nabataeans, 41 £., 213 f.
Napae, 27
Napata, 103
Napes, 27
Nasamones, 237
Nauplius, 451
Naios, 301
Neleus, 441 f.
Nephel&, 383
Nessus, 459 t.
Nestor, 441
Niobe, 391
Oeagras, 299 f., 425
Oecles, 446 f.
Oeneus, 449, 453. 457
Oet«, 467
" Olympian,' 391
Olympic Games, 331, 387, 613
Olympus, 327
Omphal^, 443 f.
Ophiodes, 199 t.
Orchomenus, 403 f.
Ormenius, 463
Orpheus, 275, 301, 307, 309, 425, 473,
477, 495
Osiris, 93, 343, 359
Palatine Hill, 409
Pali 27
Palibothra, 17 f.. 83
Palus, 27
Pan, 107
Pandora, 265
Panormus, 197
Pappas, 273
Pasiphafi, 387
Peirithoiis, 427
Pelasgians, 305
Pelias, 471, 501-11
Pelops, 369
Peneius, 403
PenthesUeia, 37
Pentheus, 299, 349
Periboea, 467
Persephone, 293, 349, 413, 425 ■.
Parses, 483, 523
Perseus, 247 f., 267, 369
Petra, 43, 211 f.
Philoctetes, 467
Phineus, 477-83 passim
Phiegra, 413
Phlegraean Plain, 411
Phocae, 211
Pholo6, 381, 385
Pholus, 381-5
Phrixuo, 383, 489 {.
Phylas, 461
Phyleus, 449, 469
Pinarii, 409
Pinarius, 409
Pisinns, 277
Pleiades, 281
Polydeuces, 473
538
INDEX
Polynmla, 363 f.
Pontus, 393, 471
Poseideion, 209
Poseideon, 233
Poseidon, 127, 209, 389, 475
Potana, 233
Priam, 447, 497
Priapos, 357 f.
Priene, 259
Prometheus, 391 f.
Pronapides, 309
Ptolemais, 207
Ptolemy Euergetes, 133, 207
Ptolemy Philadelphus, 187 ff., 193
Pyrigenes, 355
Red Sea, 195-237 passim
Bhea, 265, 281, 309, 317 f., 325
Rhodes, 179, 631 t.
Rome, 409 f.
Romulus, 409
Sabae, 229, 231
Sabaeans, 225-33
Sabazius, 349 f.
Sacae, 3, 29
Samos, 261
Samothrace, 261
Sardinia, 433-41
Satyrs, 355
Sauromatae, 29
Scythes, 27
Scythia, 175 ff.
Scythians, 27 ff., 431 f,
Seileni, 323
Seilenus, 323, 351
Selene, 267 f.
Semele, 289, 295, 331, 343 f., 425
Semiramis, 93
Sicani, 439
Silla river, 13
Simi, 159 f.
Simmias, 133
Sipylus, 261
Soteria, Harbour of, 203
Sparta, 449
" Steps of Cacius," 409
Stymphahan Lake, 386
Sybaris, 493
Syleus, 443
Syracuse, 419
Syria, 59, 259
Tanals river, 27, 523 f.
Tauri, 216
Tauri, Promontories of the, 207
Tauric Chersonese, 483
Telamon, 447, 473, 497
Telephus, 451 f.
Tempe, 403
Teos, 301 f.
Terpsichore, 363
Teuthras, 451 f.
Thaleia, 363
Thamudeni, 219
Thamyras, 275 £., 307
Thebes, 303, 373 f., 406
Themiscyra, 33, 393
Theopompus, 341
Thermodon, 31, 247, 393
Theseus, 427, 431 f.
Thespiadae, 435^1, 473
Thespius, 433 £.
Thesprotians, 459
Thessalians, 519 f.
Thessalus, 515, 519
Thestius, 455
Thymoetes, 309
Thyonfe, 289, 425
Thriambus, 355
Timaeus, 415, 523
Tisandrus, 515 f.
Titaea, 265
Titans, 265 £., 287, 319 ff., 329, 369
Tlepolemus, 445, 469, 631 f.
Triopas, 531 f.
Triton river, 251, 311
Tritonis, 261, 267, 315
Trogodytes, 123, 171-203 passim
Tychon, 359
Tydeus, 467
Tyndareiis, 449
Tyrcaeus, 197
Urania, 363 f.
Uranus, 263 f., 309, 361
Vesuvius, 411
" Way of Heracles," 413
Zabima, 323
Zeus, 27, 91, 107, 281-7, 295, 325-9,
349, 361, 369, 375, 387, 391, 469
539
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Apollonitjs Rhoditts. R. C. Seaton.
The Apostolic Fathers. Kirsopp Lake. 2 Vols.
Appian: Roman History. Horace White. 4 Vols.
Aeattjs. Cf. Callimachtjs.
Aristophanes. Benjamin Bickley Rogers. 3 Vols. Verse
trans.
Aristotle: Art of Rhetoric. J. H. Freese.
Aristotle: Athenian Constitution, Eudemian Ethics,
Vices and Virtues. H. Rackham.
Aristotle: Generation of Animals. A. L. Peck.
Aristotle: Histobia Animalium. A. L. Peck. Vol. I.
Aristotle: Metaphysics. H. Tredennick. 2 Vols.
Aristotle: Meteorolooica. H. D. P. Lee.
Aristotle: Minor Works. W. S. Hett. On Colours, On
Things Heard, On Physiognomies, On Plants, On Marvellous
Things Heard, Mechanical Problems, On Indivisible Lines,
On Situations and Names of Winds, On Melissus, Xenophanes,
and Gorgias.
Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics. H. Rackham.
Aristotle: Oeconomica and Magna Moralia. G. C. Ann-
strong; (with Metaphysics, Vol. II.).
Aristotle: On the Heavens. W. K. C. Guthrie.
Aristotle: On the Soul. Parva Natubalia. On Breath.
W. S. Hett.
Aristotle: Categories, On Interpretation, Prior
Analytics. H. P. Cooke and H. Tredennick.
Abistotle: Posterior Analytics, Topics. H, Tredennick
and E. S. Forster.
Aristotle: On Sophistical Refutations.
On Coming to be and Passing Awaj', On the Cosmos. E. S.
Forster and D. J. Furley.
Abistotle: Pabts of Animals. A. L. Peck; Motion and
Peoqression of Animals. E. S. Forster.
4
Aristotle: Physics. Rev. P. Wicksteed and F. M. Comford.
2 Vols.
Aristotle: Poetics and Longintjs. W. Hamilton Fyfe;
Desteteius on Style. W. Rhys Roberts.
Aristotle: Politics. H. Rackham.
Aristotle: Problems. W. S. Hett. 2 Vols.
Aristotle: Rhetobica Ad Alexaudbum (with Problems.
Vol. II.) H. Rackham.
Aeriau: History of Alexander and Indica. Rev. E. Iliffe
Robson. 2 Vols.
Athenaeus: Deipnosophistae. C. B. Gulick. 7 Vols.
Babbius and Phaedrus (Latin). B. E. Perry.
St. Basil: Letters. R. J. Deferrari. 4 Vols.
Callimachus : Fragments. C. A. Trj-panis.
Callimachus, Hjinns and Epigrams, and Lycophron. A. W.
Mair; Aeatus. G. R. Mair.
Clement of Alexandria. Rev. G. W. Butterworth.
COLLUTETOS. Cf. OpPIAN.
Daphnis and Chloe. Thornley's Translation revised by
J. M. Edmonds; and Parthenius. S. Gaselee.
Demosthenes I. : Olynthiacs, Philippics and Minor Ora-
tions. I.-XVII. AND XX. J. H. Vince.
Demosthenes II.: De Corona and De Falsa Legatione.
C. A. Vince and J. H. Vince.
Demosthenes III.: Meidias, Androtion, Aristocrates,
TiMOCRATEs and Aristogeiton, I. and II. J. H. Vince.
Demosthenes IV.- VI.: Private Orations and In Neaebam.
A. T. Murray.
Demosthenes VII. : Funeral Speech, Erotic Essay, Exordia
and Letters. N. \V. and N. J. DeWitt.
Dio CASsrcjs: Roman History. E. Cary. 9 Vols.
Dio Chbysostom. J. VV. Cohoon and H. Lamar Crosby. 5 Vols.
DiODORus SicuLUs. 12 Vols. Vols. I.-VI. C. H. Oldfather.
Vol. VII. C. L. Sherman. Vol. VIII. C. B. Welles. Vols.
IX. and X. R. M. Geer. Vols. XI.-XII. F. Walton,
General Index, R. M. Geer.
Diogenes Laeritius. R. D. Hicks. 2 Vols.
DiONYsrus OF Halicabnassus : Roman Antiquities. Spel-
man's translation revised by E. Cary. 7 Vols.
Epictetus. W. a. Oldfather. 2 Vols.
Euripides. A. S. Way. 4 Vols. Verse trans.
EusEBius: Ecclesiastical History. Kirsopp Lake and
J. E. L. Oulton. 2 Vols.
Galen : On the Natural Faculties. A. J. Brock.
The Greek Anthology. W. R. Paton. 5 Vols.
Greek Elegy and Iambus with the Anacreontea. J. M.
Edmonds. 2 Vols.
5
The Geeek Bucoijc Poets (Theocbitds, Bion, Moschus).
J. M. Edmonds.
Geeek Mathematical Woeks. Ivor Thomas. 2 Vols.
Heeodes. Cf. Theopheastus : Chaeactees.
Heeodotus. a. D. Godley. 4 Vols.
Hesiod and The Homeeic Hymns. H. G. Evelyn Whit«.
HippocEATEs and the Feagments of Heeacleitus. W. H. S.
Jones and E. T. Withington. 4 Vols.
Homee: Iliad. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols.
Homee: Odyssey. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols.
IsAEUS. E. W. Forster.
IsocEATEs. George Norlin and LaRue Van Hook. 3 Vols.
St. John Damascene: Baelaam and Ioasaph. Rev. G. R.
Woodward, Harold Mattingly and D. M. Lang.
JosEPHUS. 9 Vols. Vols. I.-IV.; H. Thackeray. Vol. V.;
H. Thackeray and R. Marcus. Vols. VI.-VII.; R. Marcus.
Vol. VIII.; R. Marcus and Allen Wikgren. Vol. IX. L. H.
Feldman.
Julian. Wilmer Cave Wright. 3 Vols.
LucLAN, 8 Vols. Vols. I.-V. A. M. Harmon. Vol. VI. K.
Kilbum. Vols. VII.-VIII. M. D. Macleod.
Lycopheon. Cf. Caiximachus.
Ly'ea Geaeca. J. M. Edmonds. 3 Vols.
Lysias. W. R. M. Lamb.
Manetho. W. G. Waddell: Ptolemy: Teteabiblos. F. E.
Robbins.
Maecus Aueelius. C. R. Haines.
Menandee. F. G. Allinson.
MiNOE Attic Oeatoes (Antiphon, Andocides, Lycuegus,
Demades, Dinaechus, Hypeeides). K. J. Maidment and
J. O. Burrt. 2 Vols.
NoNNOs: DiONYSiACA. W. H. D. Rouse. 3 Vols.
Oppian, Colluthus, Teyphiodoeus. a. W. Mair.
Papyei. Non-Litebaey Selections. A. S. Hunt and C. C.
Edgar. 2 Vols. Liteeaey Selections (Poetry). D.L.Page.
Paethenius. Cf. Daphnis and Chloe.
Pausanias : Desceiption of Gbeece. W. H. S. Jones. 4
Vols, and Companion Vol. arranged by R. E. Wycherley.
Philo. 10 Vols. Vols. I.-V.; F. H. Colson and Rev. G. H.
Whitaker. Vols. VI.-IX.; F. H. Colson. Vol. X. F, H.
Colson and the Rev. J. W. Earp.
Philo: two supplementary Vols. {Translation only.) Ralph
Marcus.
PniLOSTEATCS : ThE LlFE OF APOLLONIUS OF TyANA. F. C.
Conybeare. 2 Vols.
6
PHiLosTBATrs : Imagines; Callistratus : Descriptions. A.
Fairbanks.
Phuosthatus and Eunapius : Lives of the Sophists. Wilmer
Cave Wright.
Pindar. Sir J. E. Sandys.
Plato: Chabmides, Axcibiades, Hippabchus, The Lovers,
Theaoes, Minos and EpiNOiiia. VV. R. M. Lamb.
Plato: Cbatylus, Pakmenides, Greater Hippias, Lesser
HiPPiAs. H. N. Fowler.
Plato: Euthypheo, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedbus.
H. N. Fowler.
Plato : Laches, Pbotaqobas, Meno, Euthydemus. W. R, M.
Lamb.
Plato: Laws. Rev. R. G. Bury. 2 Vols.
Plato: Lysis, Symposium, Gorqias. W. R. M. Lamb.
Plato: Republic. Paul Shorey. 2 Vols.
Plato: Statesman, Philebus. H.N. Fowler; Ion. VV. R. M.
Lamb.
Plato: Theaetetus and Sophist. H. N. Fowler.
Plato: Timaeus, Critias, Clitopho, Menexenus, Epistulab.
Rev. R. G. Bury.
Plotinus: a. H. Armstrong. Vols. I.-III.
Plutarch: Moralia. 15 Vols. Vols. I.-V. F. C. Babbitt.
Vol. VI. W. C. Helmbold. Vols. VII. and XIV. P. H. De
Lacy and B. Einarson. Vol. IX. E. L. Minar, Jr., F. H. Sand-
bach, W. C. Helmbold. Vol. X. H. N. Fowler. Vol. XI.
L. Pearson and F. H. Sandbach. Vol. XII. H. Cherniss and
W. C. Helmbold.
Plutarch: The Paballel Lives. B. Perrin. 11 Vols.
PoLYBius. W. R. Paton. 6 Vols.
Peocopius : Histoby of the Wabs. H. B. Dewing. 7 Vols.
Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos. Cf. Manetho.
QuTNTUs Smybnaeus. A. S. Way. Verse trans.
Sextus Empieicus. Rev. R. G. Bury. 4 Vols.
Sophocles. F. Storr. 2 Vols. Verse trans.
Strabo: Geography. Horace L. Jones. 8 Vols.
Theophrastus : Chabactebs. J. M. Edmonds. Hebodes,
etc. A. D. Ivnox.
Theophrastus: Enquiby into Plants. Sir Arthur Hort,
Bart. 2 Vols.
Thucydides. C. F. Smith. 4 Vols.
Tbyphiodobus. Cf. Oppian.
Xenophon: Cybopaedia. Walter Miller. 2 Vols.
Xenophon : Hellenica, Anabasis, Apology, and Symposium.
C. L. Brownson and O. J. Todd. 3 Vols.
Xenophon : Memobabilia and Oeconomicus. E. C. Marchant.
Xenophon: Sceipta Menoba. E. C. Marchant and G. W.
Bowersock.
7
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