BTW I find it funny when you commented I understand you just did a google books search If you look at the Toynbee quote in context you will see that Persian province of Assyria is in scare quotes referring to a misunderstanding on the part of Herodotus Would it be too much to ask of you to research this on your own Because I get the feeling it will be left to me once again to find out the truth of the matter once more while you stand by idly shouting Assyria Assyria from time to time and then come back with Ilya Gershevitch 1985 states it is now certain that Athura can not have been an administrative unit in the Persian Empire 13 As if you done something different then me