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[1]
Moreover, wishing to get clear information about this matter where it was possible so to do, I took ship for +Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Tyre in +Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia , where I had learned by inquiry that there was a holy temple of Heracles. 1
Moreover, wishing to get clear information about this matter where it was possible so to do, I took ship for +Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Tyre in +Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia , where I had learned by inquiry that there was a holy temple of Heracles. 1
[2] There I saw it, richly equipped with many other offerings, besides two pillars, one of refined gold, one of emerald: a great pillar that shone at night; and in conversation with the priests, I asked how long it was since their temple was built.
[3] I found that their account did not tally with the belief of the
Greeks, either; for they said that the temple of the god was founded when
Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia
Tyre
first became a city, and that was two thousand three hundred years ago. At
+Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia
Tyre
I saw yet another temple of the so-called
Thasian Heracles.
[4] Then I went to
Thasos (island), Kavalla, Macedonia, Greece, Europe
Thasos
, too, where I found a temple of
Heracles built by the
Phoenicians, who made a settlement there when they voyaged in search of
Europe (continent)
Europe
; now they did so as much as five generations before the birth of
Heracles the son of
Amphitryon in
Greece [22,39] (nation), Europe
Hellas
.
[5] Therefore, what I have discovered by inquiry plainly shows that
Heracles is an ancient god. And furthermore, those
Greeks, I think, are most in the right, who have established and practise two worships of
Heracles, sacrificing to one
Heracles as to an immortal, and calling him the
Olympian, but to the other bringing offerings as to a dead hero
2
.
Histories. Herodotus. ed. A.D. Godley. Cambridge. 1920-1925.
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