# Herodotus and the Empires of the East

THE VANDERBILT ORIENTAL SERIES EDITED BY Herbert Cushing Tolman and James Henry Stevenson
HERODOTUS
AND
THE EMPIRES OF THE EAST
BASED ON
NIKEL'S HERODOT UND DIE KEILSCHRIFTFORSCHUNG
BY HERBERT GUSHING TOLMAN, Ph. D. AND JAMES HENRY STEVENSON, Ph. D. Professors in Vanderbilt University
NEW YORK: CINCINNATI: CHICAGO: AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY
Copyright, 1899, by Herbert Cushing Tolman and James Henry Stevenson
TO
William J. Vaughn, LL. D.
ἀνδρὶ ἀγαθῷ τετραγώνῳ, ἄνευ ψόγου τετυγμένῳ
PREFACE.
The aim of the present work is to furnish the classical student such material as will enable him to appreciate the fascinating narrative of Herodotus respecting the nations of Western Asia.
Herodotus has been criticised unjustly, we think, by some modern scholars. A well-known Assyrioiogist has even gone so far as to call Herodotus a mere λογόποιος, who "pilfered freely and without acknowledgment,"who "assumed a knowledge he did not possess," who "professed to derive information from personal experience and eyewitnesses which really came from the very sources he seeks to disparage and supersede," and who "lays claim to extensive travels which are as mythical as those of the early philosophers." Such extreme views are as harmful as they are unfair. While we do not profess to claim for Herodotus absolute historical accuracy, yet we are convinced that recent investigations in the native literature of the Eastern nations have confirmed the trustworthiness of many statements which were formerly ​regarded as absurd, and have established on a firmer basis the reputation of the great historian.
If this volume can add to the charm of the simple style of Herodotus an appreciation of the historical value of his statements, the purpose of the editors will be fulfilled.
Herbet Gushing Tolman, James Henry Stevenson.
December 24, 1898.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
* Introduction.
* Page
* The Greek Sources of the Assyro-Babylonian History................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
* The Greek Writings in the Light of Assyriology................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
* Topography.
* The Fruitfulness of Babylonia................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
* Geography of Babylonia................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................17
* The Size of Babylon................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................20
* The Basin of Sippara................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
* The Citadel and "Temple of Zeus Belos"................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................36
* History of the Empires of Western Asia.
* Semiramis and Nitocris................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................43
* The Duration of the Assyrian Power in Western Asia................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................52
* The Founding and Duration of the Median Empire................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................58
* Sennacherib's Expedition Against Egypt................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................70
* The Fall of Nineveh................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................71
* The Genealogy and the National Descent of Cyrus.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................73
* The Decline of the Median Power................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................79
* The Fall of Babylon................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................81
* Darius................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................86
* Customs, Religion, and Language.
* Worship of Ishtar................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................90
* Babylonian Dress................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................90
* The Woman Market................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................91
* Commerce on the Euphraies................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................92
* The Seals of the Babylonians................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................92
* The Religious Tolerance of Cyrus and Cambyses................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................93
* The Language of the Persians................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................95
* The Customs of the Persians................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................97