HERODOTUS. BOOK IV. MELPOMENE. I. DARIUS, after the capture of Babylon, undertook an expedition against Scythia. Asia was now both populous and rich, and he was desirous of avenging on the Scythians the injuries they had formerly committed by entering Media, and defeating those who opposed them. During a period of twenty-eight years, the Scythians, as I have before remarked, retained the sovereignty of the Upper Asia; entering into which, when in pursuit of the Cimmerians,' they expelled the Medes, its ancient possessAfter this long absence from their country, the Scythians were desirous to return, but here as great a labour awaited them as they had experienced in their expedition into Media; for the women, deprived so long of their husbands, had connected themselves with their slaves, and they found a numerous body in arms ready to dispute their progress. ors. 2 Deprive all their slaves of sight.]-Barbarous as this conduct will appear to every humane reader, although practised amongst an uncivilized race of men, he will be refined period of the Roman empire, those who were deemed the wisest and most virtuous of mankind did not scruple to use their slaves with yet more atrocious cruelty. It was customary at Rome to expose slaves who were sick, old, and useless, to perish miserably in an island of the Tyber. Plutarch tells us, in his Life of Cato, that it was his custom to sell his old slaves for any price, to get rid of the burden. They were employed, far more shocked when I remind him that in the most 1 Cimmerians.]-From this people came the proverb and frequently in chains, in the most laborious offices, of Cimmerian darkness. We reach'd old ocean's utmost bounds, Where rocks control his waves with ever-during mounds; When radiant he advances or retreats. Unhappy race! whom endless night invades, Odyss. book xi. Of this proverb Ammianus Marcellinus makes a happy use when censuring the luxury and effeminacy of the Roman nobility. "If," says he, (I use the version of Mr Gibbon) “a fly should presume to settle in the silken folds of their gilded umbrellas, should a sun-beam pene. trate through some unguarded and imperceptible chink, they deplore their intolerable hardships, and lament in affected language that they were not born in the land of the Cimmerians, the regions of eternal darkness." and for trivial offences, and not seldom on mere suspicion, were made to expire under the most horrid tortures that can be imagined.-T 3 On account of the milk.]-Of this people, Homer speaks in the following lines: And where the far-famed Hippomolgian strays, From milk innoxious seek their simple food.-II. xii. Upon this subject Larcher gives the following passage from Niebhur: "J'entendis et vis moi-meme, a Bafra, que lorsqu'un Arabe trait la femelle du bufle, un autre lui fourre la main et le bras jusqu'au coude, dans la vulva, parce qu'on pretend savoir par experience qu'etant chatouille de la sorte, elle donne plus de lait. Cette methode ressemble beaucoup a celle des Scythes."-We learn, from some lines of Antiphanes, preserved in Athenæus, that the Ovid also chooses the vicinity of Cimmeria as the pro- Scythians gave this milk to their children as soon as they perest place for the palace of the god of sleep. Est prope Cimmerios, longo spelunca recessu, The region assigned to this people in ancient geography was part of European Scythia, now called Little Tartary.-T. were born. Είτ' ου σοφοί δητ' εισιν οἱ Σκύθαι σφόδρα ; Οι γενομενοισιν ευθέως τοις παιδίοις "Do not those Scythians appear to you remarkably wise who give to their children, as soon as ever they are born, the milk of mares and cows ?"-T. which we use for our horses. portionably filled. When the milk is thus ob- | arrows, and rush upon them only with the whip tained, they place it in deep wooden vessels, Whilst they see and the slaves are directed to keep it in continual agitation. Of this, that which remains at the top is most esteemed, what subsides is of inferior value. This it is which induces the Scythians to deprive all their captives of sight, for they do not cultivate the ground, but lead a pastoral life.2 III. From the union of these slaves with the Scythian women, a numerous progeny was born, who, when informed of their origin, readily advanced to oppose those who were returning from Media. Their first exertion was to intersect the country by a large and deep trench, which extended from the mountains of Tauris to the Palus Mootis. They then encamped opposite to the Scythians, who were endeavouring to effect their passage. Various engagements ensued, in which the Scythians obtained no advantage. "My countrymen," at length one of them exclaimed, "what are we doing? In this contest with our slaves, every action diminishes our number, and by killing those who oppose us, the value of victory decreases let us throw aside our darts and our 1 Remains at the top.]-Is it not surprising, asks M. Larcher in this place, that neither the Greeks nor the Latins had any term in their language to express cream? Butter also was unknown to the Greeks and Romans till a late period. Pliny speaks of it as a common article of food among barbarous nations, and used by them as an unction. The very name of butter (BouTugo) which signifies cheese, or coagulum of cows' milk, implies an imperfect notion of the thing. It is clear that Herodo tus here describes the making of butter, though he knew no name for the product. Pliny remarks, that the barbarous nations were as peculiar in neglecting cheese, as in making butter. Spuma lactis, which that author uses in describing what butter is, seems a very proper phrase for cream. Butter is often mentioned in Scripture; see Harmer's curious accounts of the modes of making it in the East, vol. i. and iii.-T. 2 Lead a pastoral life.]-The influence of food or climate, which in a more improved state of society is suspended or subdued by so many moral causes, most powerfully contributes to form and to maintain the national character of barbarians. In every age, the im mense plains of Scythia or Tartary have been inhabited by vagrant tribes of hunters and shepherds, whose indolence refuses to cultivate the earth, and whose restless spirit disdains the confinement of a sedentary life. Gibbon. 3 Mountains of Tauris.]-This peninsula is sometimes called the Taurica Chersonesus, sometimes simply Taurus, and here, by Herodotus, the mountains of Tauris. It signifies, as I undertand, in the Chaldaic and Syriac languages, the Peninsula of Oxen. From these beasts, of which the inhabitants were celebrated feeders, Eustathius, Not. in Dion. v 306, tells us, that mount Taurus received its name. us with arms, they think themselves our equals in birth and importance; but as soon as they shall perceive the whip in our hands, they will be impressed with the sense of their servile condition, and resist no longer." IV. The Scythians approved the advice; their opponents forgot their former exertions, and fled : so did the Scythians obtain the sovereignty of Asia; and thus, after having been expelled by the Medes, they returned to their country. From the above motives Darius, eager for revenge, prepared to lead an army against them. V. The Scythians affirm of their country that it was of all others the last formed and in this manner :- -When this region was in its original and desert state, the first inhabitant was named Targitaus, a son, as they say (but which to me seems incredible) of Jupiter, by a daughter of the Borysthenes. This Targitaus had three sons, Lipoxais, Arpoxais, and lastly Colaxais. Whilst they possessed the country, there fell from heaven into the Scythian district a plough, a yoke, an ax, and a goblet, all of gold. The eldest of the brothers was the first who saw them; who running to take them, was burnt by the gold. On his retiring, the second brother approached, and was burnt also. When these two had been repelled by the burning gold, last of all the youngest brother advanced; upon him the gold had no effect, and he carried it to his house. The two elder brothers, observing what had happened, resigned all authority to the youngest. VI. From Lipoxais those Scythians were descended who are termed the Auchata; from Arpoxais, the second brother, those who are called the Catiari and the Traspies; from the youngest, who was king, came the Paralatæ. Generally speaking, these people are named Scoloti, from a surname of their king, but the Greeks call them Scythians. VII. This is the account which the Scythians give of their origin; and they add, that from their first king Targitaus, to the invasion of their country by Darius, is a period of a thousand years, and no more. The sacred gold is preserved by their kings with the great 4 Last formed.]-Justin informs us, that the Scythians pretended to be more ancient than the Egyptians.-T. 5 Paralatæ.]-This passage will be involved in much perplexity, unless for revs Easidras be read rov Basiknos' -T. 6 est care; it is every year carried with great solemnity to every part of the kingdom, and upon this occasion there are sacrifices, with much pomp, at which the prince presides. They have a tradition, that if the person in whose custody this gold remains sleeps in the open air during the time of their annual festival, he dies before the end of the year; as much land is therefore given him as he can pass over on horseback in the course of a day.' As this region is extensive, king Colaxais divided the country into three parts, which he gave to three sons, making that portion the largest in which the gold was deposited. As to the district which lies farther to the north, and beyond the extreme inhabitants of the country, they say that it neither can be passed, nor yet discerned with the eye, on account of the feathers" which are continually falling with these both the earth and the air are so filled, as effectually to obstruct the view. : VIII. Such is the manner in which the Scythians describe themselves and the country beyond them. The Greeks who inhabit Pontus speak of both as follows: Hercules, when he was driving away the heifers of Geryon," came 6 As much land is therefore given him.]-This is, beyond doubt, a very perplexed and difficult passage; and all that the different annotators have done has been to intimate their conjectures. I have followed that which to my judgment seemed the happiest. 7 On horseback in the course of a day.]-Larcher adduces, from Pliny, Ovid, and Seneca, the three following passages, to prove that anciently this was the mode of rewarding merit: Dona amplissima imperatorum et fortium civium Ruris honorati tantum tibi Cipe dedere See also Seneca : to this region, now inhabited by the Scythians, but which then was a desert. This Geryon lived beyond Pontus, in an island which the Greeks call Erythia, near Gades, which is situate in the ocean, and beyond the columns of Hercules. The ocean, they say, commencing at the east, flows round all the earth;" this, however, they affirm without proving it. Hercules coming from thence, arrived at this country, now called Scythia, where, finding himself over.. taken by a severe storm, and being exceedingly cold, he wrapped himself up in his lion's skin, and went to sleep. They add, that his mares, which he had detached from his chariot to feed, by some divine interposition disappeared during his sleep. IX. As soon as he awoke, he wandered over all the country in search of his mares, till at length he came to the district which is called Hylæa: there in a cave he discovered a female of most unnatural appearance, resembling a woman as far as the thighs, but whose lower parts were like a serpent." Hercules beheld her with astonishment, but he was not deterred from asking her whether she had seen his mares? Palæphatus says, he lived at Tricarenia; and that, being called the Tricarenian Geryon, he was afterwards said to have had three heads.-T. 10 Flows round all the earth.]—Upon this passage the following remark occurs in Stillingfleet's Origin. Sacı. book i. c. 4 "It cannot be denied but a great deal of useful history may be fetched out of Herodotus; yet who can excuse his ignorance, when he not only denies there is an ocean compassing the land, but condemns the geographers for asserting it?" Herodotus, however, neither denies the fact, nor condemns the geographers. 11 Like a serpent.]-M. Pelloutier calls this monster a Syren, but Homer represents the Syrens as very lovely women. Diodorus Siculus speaks also of this monster, describing it like Herodotus. He makes her the mistress of Jupiter, by whom she had Scythes, who gave his name to the nation.-Larcher. This in a great measure corresponds with Virgil's description of Scylla : Prima hominis facies, et pulchro pectore virgo To allure weak travellers, whom gotten they did kill. Yet did her face and former parts profess : She made answer, that they were in her cus- -The Scythian Nomades of Asia, having been tody she refused, however, to restore them, harassed by the Massagetæ in war, passed the but upon condition of his cohabiting with her. | Araxis, and settled in Cimmeria; for it is to be The terms proposed induced Hercules to observed, that the country now possessed by consent; but she still deferred restoring his the Scythians, belonged formerly to the Cimmares, from the wish of retaining him longer merians. This people, when attacked by the with her, whilst Hercules was equally anxious Scythians, deliberated what it was most adviseto obtain them and depart. After a while she able to do against the inroad of so vast a multirestored them with these words: "Your mares, tude. Their sentiments were divided; both which wandered here, I have preserved; you were violent, but that of the kings appears prehave paid what was due to my care, I have con- ferable. The people were of opinion, that it ceived by you three sons; I wish you to say would be better not to hazard an engagement, how I shall dispose of them hereafter; whether but to retreat in security; the kings were at all I shall detain them here, where I am the sole events for resisting the enemy. Neither party sovereign, or whether I shall send them to you." would recede from their opinions, the people The reply of Hercules was to this effect: "As and the princes mutually refusing to yield; the soon as they shall be grown up to man's estate, people wished to retire before the invaders, the observe this, and you cannot err; whichever of princes determined rather to die where they them you shall see bend this bow, and wear were, reflecting upon what they had enjoyed this belt' as I do, him detain in this country: before, and alarmed by the fears of future calthe others, who shall not be able to do this, you amities. From verbal disputes they soon came may send away. By minding what I say, you to actual engagement, and they happened to be will have pleasure yourself, and will satisfy my nearly equal in number. All those who perwishes." ished by the hands of their countrymen were buried by the Cimmerians near the river Tyre, where their monuments may still be seen. The survivors fled from their country, which in its abandoned state was seized and occupied by the Scythians. XII. There are still to be found in Scythia walls and bridges which are termed Cimmerian; the same name is also given to a whole district, as well as to a narrow sea. It is cer X. Having said this, Hercules took one of his bows, for thus far he had carried two, and showing her also his belt, at the end of which a golden cup was suspended, he gave her them, and departed. As soon as the boys of whom she was delivered grew up, she called the eldest Agathyrsus, the second Gelonus, and the youngest Scytha. She remembered also the injunctions she had received; and two of her sons, Agathyrsus and Gelonus, who were intain that when the Cimmerians were expelled competent to the trial which was proposed, were sent away by their mother from this country, Scytha the youngest was successful in his exertions, and remained. From this Scytha, the son of Hercules, the Scythian monarchs are descended, and from the golden cup the Scythians to this day have a cup at the end of their belts. XI. This is the story which the Greek inhabitants of Pontus relate; but there is also another, to which I am more inclined to assent: 1 This belt.]-It was assigned Hercules as one of his labours by Eurystheus, to whom he was subject, to deprive Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, of her belt. Ausorius, in the inscription which he probably wrote for some ancient relievo, mentions it as the sixth labour; Threiciam sexto spoliavit Amazona baltbeo. This labour is also mentioned thus by Martial: Whether Herodotus means to speak of this belt, I pre- their country by the Scythians, they fled to the 2 Sinope.]-There were various opinions amongst the ancients concerning this city. Some said it was built by an Amazon so called; others affirm it was founded by the Milesians; Strabo calls it the most illustrious city of Pontus. It is thus mentioned by Valerius Flaccus, an author not so much read as he deserves: Assyrios complexa sinus stat opima, Sinope There was also a celebrated courtesan of this name, from whom Sinopissare became a proverb for being very lascivious. The modern name of the place is Sinub, and it stands at the mouth of a river called Sinope.-T. XIII. There is still another account, which | above account was, we have already seen; but has obtained credit both with the Greeks and barbarians. Aristeas the poet, a native of Proconnesus, and son of Caustrobius, relates, that under the influence of Apollo he came to the Issedones, that beyond this people he found the Arimaspi, a nation who have but one eye; farther on were the Gryphins, the guardians of the gold; and beyond these the Hyperboreans, who possess the whole country quite to the sea, and that all these nations, except the Hyperboreans, are continually engaged in war with their neighbours. Of these hostilities the Arimaspians were the first authors, for they drove out the Issedones, the Issedones the Scythians: the Scythians compelled the Cimmerians, who possessed the country towards the south, to abandon their native land. Thus it appears, that the narrative of Aristeas differs also from that of the Scythians. ought not to omit what I have heard of this personage, both at Proconnesus and Cyzicus." It is said of this Aristeas, that he was of one of the best families of his country, and that he died in the workshop of a fuller, into which he had accidentally gone. The fuller immediately secured his shop, and went to inform the relations of the deceased of what had happened. The report having circulated through the city, that Aristeas was dead, there came a man of Cyzicus, of the city of Artaces, who affirmed that this assertion was false, for that he had met Aristeas going to Cyzicus," and had spoken with him. In consequence of his positive assertions, the friends of Aristeas hastened to the fuller's shop with every thing which was necessary for his funeral, but when they came there, no Aristeas was to be found, alive or dead. Seven years afterwards it is said that he re-appeared XIV. Of what country the relator of the at Proconnesus, and composed those verses 3 Aristeas.]—This person is mentioned also by Pliny and Aulus Gellius, it is probable that he lived in the time of Cyrus and Crœsus. Longinus has preserved six of his verses; see chap. 10, of which he remarks, that they are rather florid than sublime. Tzetzes has preserved six more. The account given of him by Herodotus is far from satisfactory. 4 Arimaspi.]—The Arimaspians were Hyperborean Cyclopeans, and had temples named Charis or Charisia, in the top of which were preserved a perpetual fire. They were of the same family as those of Sicily, and had the same rites, and particularly worshipped the Ophite deity which the Greeks call Arimaspian, after which he vanished a second time. XV. This is the manner in which these cities speak of Aristeas; but I am about to relate a circumstance which to my own knowledge happened to the Metapontines of Italy, three hundred and forty years after Aristeas had a second time disappeared, according to my conjecture, as it agrees with what I heard at Proconnesus and Metapontus. The inhabitants of this latter place affirm, that Aristeas having appeared in their city, directed them to construct an altar to Apollo, and near it a statue to Aristeas of Proconnesus. He told them that they were the only people of Italy whom Apollo had ever honoured by his presence, and that he himself had attended the god under the form of a crow: having said this he disappeared. The 7 Cyzicus.]-This was one of the most flourishing cities of Mysia, situate in a small island of the Propontis, and built by the Milesians. It is thus mentioned by Ovid : Inde Propontiacis hærentem Cyzicon oris Cyzicon Emoniæ nobile gentis opus. The people of this place were remarkable for their effeminacy and cowardice, whence tinctura Cyzicena be came proverbial for any dastardly character. It has now become a peninsula, by the filling up of the small channel by which it was divided from the continent.-T. 8 Going to Cyzicus.]-Upon this story Larcher remarks, that there are innumerable others like it, both among the ancients and moderns. A very ridiculous one is related by Plutarch, in his Life of Romulus :-A man named Cleomedes, seeing himself pursued, jumped into a great chest, which closed upon him; after many ineffec tual attempts to open it, they broke it in pieces, but no Cleomedes was to be found, alive or dead. 9 Under the form of a crow.]—Pliny relates this some. |