Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-07-01
seems on all occasions to decry them too

much.
The Persian dominion extended from the
Indus to the Euxine and the Mediterranean,
and from the JaXartes and the Caspian sea
to Ethiopia, Arabia, and the Persian Gulf.
Babylon, of course, became a principal city
of the Persian monarchy, Cyrus havin3nade.
himself master of it by turning the course of
the Euphrates. 1t may not be amiss to men
ton here, what might have been more pro-
perry inserted under the description of the
AsSyrian monarchy, namely, that in the time
OF Semiamis or of her immediate successors,
two magnificent palaces, erected on the OPP
posite shores of the Euphratcs, communica-
ted with each other by subterranean vault
constructed under the river: in enc Of these
palaces were TO be found those suspended
gardens, SO famous among the Greeks. SUI
sa, Ecbatana, and Persepclis, were celebra-
ted cities of Persia, and occasionally the re-
sidence of the royal family. Passagada was
the place where the kings were usually
crowned.
The chief occurrences of Persian history,
exclusive of the expeditions OF Darius and
Aerxes into Greece, and the retreat OF the
ten thousand Greeks under Xcnophon, (Which
have already noticed) are the incidents con-
nected with life of the founder Cyrus one of
which was the overthrow and captivity OF
Cresus, the most wealthy OF mankind, who
marched with 1900 infantry and 60 600
cavalry to oppose Cyrus, who had only 2O0,-
900 under his command, with which he de-
featcd Cresus and condemned him to be burnt
alive, but afterwards reversed his sentence
and made Cresus his friend on the captive's
having recited to Cyrus certain observations
OF Scion relative to human happiness
Ezf,cdition Of .flerander--DEaceGo
Monarchy.
The Persian empire became extinct by
the death of Darius Codomanus, who was
attacked by Alexander the Great: 1t was
succeeded by the Macedonian monarchy,
which was founded by Alexander. This
conqucror was the son of Philip, king of Ma.
cedon, and ofOlympias his wife. Philip was
sagacious, artful, intriguing, and valiant
prince; and by fraud and force had subjuga-
ted the states of Greece, to his control. 1t
was against the Vaccinations of Philip that
Demosthenes, the illustrious Athenian ora
tor, distinguished himself. He reused his
fellow-citizens to a sense of their danger;
and, if his courage had been equal to his elo-
quence, he mighty perhaps, have saved the
sinking fortunes. has country: But in the
battle OF Cheroneahe fed like a coward, and
the Greeks lost nseir independence The
ambition of Philip was the cause of some of
the best orations of Demosthenes, which are
hence called Philifftics. This prince had
prepared to invade Asia at the head of an
army CT Macedonians and Greeks, when h.
was suddenly slain by an assassin at the in
stigation, as has been supposed, of his wife
Olympias, who was jealous of him. Alexan-
der, who succeeded Philip, determined to
prosecute the projected enterprize of his ia
Their, and at an age not exceeding twenty
five, he undertook that expedition which has
inspired posterity with so much admiration
on account of its brilliancy and extent He
LETT the shores of Greece, accompanied BY
only $4,000 foot and 1000 horse, one months
provisions, and seventy talents, or about fifty
thousand dollars. Such were the means
with which he sailed forth to conquer the
richest and most powerful empire of the
world.
The first exploit of the Macedonian hero
was the passage of the Granicus, which-riv-
er he crossed in the face of 10000 Persi-
ans, commanded by Memnon of Rhodes, the
wisest and the most able of the generals of
Darius. Twenty thousand of the enemy fell
IN the action and Asia Minor became the
fruit of this first victory. Sardis, Ephesus.
Miletus, and Halicarnassus, were taken or
submitted: He entered Gordium, where il
is said he cut the celebrated knot, upon
which, according 70 the oracle, depended
the dominion of the World. Traversing
Phrygia and Cappadocia, he marched upon
Iarsus, where he was seized with danger
Gus malady in consequence of his having.
when over-heated, bathed in the river Cyd-
nus. 1t was on this occasion that he exhibi-
ted that celebrated trait of magnanimity in an
interview with his physician Philip, when he
took with confidence and without hesitation
the unknown potion which Philip offered to
him, notwithstanding he had been previous
ly apprizal that it was intended to poison
him. The battle of the Granicus took place
in the year 3S4 before Christ.
Alexander had scarcely recovered when
he pursued Darius, who had re-assembled
an immense force, and gained over the Per-
sian king the renowned battle of Issus, in the
dehles Of Cilicia, which separate Asia Mi
nor from Syria. II is said that the Persians
lost in this action 100000 men the mother.
the wife, and the children of Darius being
made prisoners, and himself escaping with
difficulty from the hands of the conoueror.
After this victory Alexander marched thro'
Syria /; took Damascus, full Of the immense
treasures OF Darius ; destroyed Tyre, which
he carried by assault after difficult siege
OF seven months entered Jerusalem sacked
GAIA compelled Egypt to submit visited
in the desert the Temple of Jupiter Ammon.
where he caused himself by brbng the
priests to be acknowledged as the son OF
that god; and founded the wel-known CITY