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CHAPTER III.

[1] NE3T to Carmania is Persis. A great part of it extends along the coast of the Gulf, which has its name from the country, but a much larger portion stretches into the interior, and particularly in its length, reckoned from the south, and Carmania to the north, and to the nations of Media.

It is of a threefold character, as we regard its natural condition and the quality of the air. First, the coast, extending for about 4400 or 4300 stadia, is burnt up with heat; it is sandy, producing little except palm trees, and terminates at the greatest river in those parts, the name of which is Oroatis.¹ Secondly, the country above the coast produces everything, and is a plain; it is excellently adapted for the rearing of cattle, and abounds with rivers and lakes.

The third portion lies towards the north, and is bleak and mountainous. On its borders live the camel-breeders.

Its length, according to Eratosthenes, towards the north and Media,² is about 8000, or, including some projecting promontories, 9000 stadia; the remainder (from Media) to the Caspian Gates is not more than 3000 stadia. The breadth in the interior of the country from Susa to Persepolis is 4200 stadia, and thence to the borders of Carmania 1600 stadia more.

The tribes inhabiting this country are those called the Pateischoreis, the Achaemenidae, and Magi; these last affect a sedate mode of life; the Curtii and Mardi are robbers, the rest are husbandmen.

[2] Susis also is almost a part of Persis. It lies between Persis and Babylonia, and has a very considerable city, Susa. For the Persians and Cyrus, after the conquest of the Medes, perceiving that their own country was situated towards the extremities, but Susis more towards the interior, nearer also to Babylon and the other nations, there placed the royal seat of the empire. They were pleased with its situation on the confines of Persis, and with the importance of the city; besides the consideration that it had never of itself undertaken any great enterprise, had always been in subjection to other people, and constituted a part of a greater body, except, perhaps, anciently in the heroic times.

It is said to have been founded by Tithonus, the father of Memnon. Its compass was 120 stadia. Its shape was oblong. The Acropolis was called Memnonium. The Susians have the name also of Cissii. Aeschylus³ calls the mother of Memnon, Cissia. Memnon is said to be buried near Paltus in Syria, by the river Badas, as Simonides says in his Memnon, a dithyrambic poem among the Deliaca. The wall of the city, the temples and palaces, were constructed in the same manner as those of the Babylonians, of baked brick and asphaltus, as some writers relate. Polycletus however says, that its circumference was 200 stadia, and that it was without walls.

[3] They embellished the palace at Susa more than the rest, but they did not hold in less veneration and honour the palaces at Persepolis and Pasargadae.⁴ For in these stronger and hereditary places were the treasure-house, the riches, and tombs of the Persians. There was another palace at Gabae, in the upper parts of Persia, and another on the sea-coast, near a place called Taoce.⁵

This was the state of things during the empire of the Persians. But afterwards different princes occupied different palaces; some, as was natural, less sumptuous, after the power of Persis had been reduced first by the Macedonians, and secondly still more by the Parthians. For although the Persians have still a kingly government, and a king of their own, yet their power is very much diminished, and they are subject to the king of Parthia.

[4] Susa is situated in the interior, upon the river Choaspes, beyond the bridge; but the territory extends to the sea: and the sea-coast of this territory, from the borders of the Persian coast nearly as far as the mouths of the Tigris, is a distance of about 3000 stadia.

The Choaspes flows through Susis, terminating on the same coast, and has its source in the territory of the Uxii.⁶ For a rugged and precipitous range of mountains lies between the Susians and Persis, with narrow defiles, difficult to pass; they were inhabited by robbers, who constantly exacted payment even from the kings themselves, at their entrance into Persis from Susis.

Polycletus says, that the Choaspes, and the Eulaeus,⁷ and the Tigris also enter a lake, and thence discharge themselves into the sea; that on the side of the lake is a mart, as the rivers do not receive the merchandise from the sea, nor convey it down to the sea, on account of dams in the river, purposely constructed, and that the goods are transported by land a distance of 800 stadia⁸ to Susa; according to others, the rivers which flow through Susis discharge themselves by the intermediate canals of the Euphrates into the single stream of the Tigris, which on this account has at its mouth the name of Pasitigris.

[5] According to Nearchus, the sea-coast of Susis is swampy, and terminates at the river Euphrates; at its mouth is a village, which receives the merchandise from Arabia; for the coast of Arabia approaches close to the mouths of the Euphrates and the Pasitigris; the whole intermediate space is occupied by a lake which receives the Tigris; on sailing up the Pasitigris 150 stadia is the bridge of rafts leading to Susa from Persis, and is distant from Susa 60 (600?) stadia; the Pasitigris is distant from the Oroatis about 2000 stadia; the ascent through the lake to the mouth of the Tigris is 600 (6000?) stadia;⁹ near the mouth stands the Susian village (Aginis), distant from Susa 500 stadia; the journey by water from the mouth of the Euphrates, up to Babylon, through a well-inhabited tract of country, is a distance of more than 3000 stadia.

Onesicritus says that all the rivers discharge themselves into the lake, both the Euphrates and the Tigris; and that the Euphrates, again issuing from the lake, discharges itself into the sea by a separate mouth.

[6] There are many other narrow defiles in passing out through the territory of the Uxii, and entering Persis. These Alexander forced in his march through the country at the Persian Gates, and at other places, when he was hastening to see the principal parts of Persis, and the treasure-holds, in which wealth had been accumulated during the long period that Asia was tributary to Persis.

He crossed many rivers, which flow through the country and discharge themselves into the Persian Gulf.

Next to the Choaspes are the Copratas¹⁰ and the Pasitigris, which has its source in the country of the Uxii. There is also the river Cyrus, which flows through Coele Persis,¹¹ as it is called, near Pasargadae. The king changed his name, which was formerly Agradatus, to that of this river. Alexander crossed the Araxes¹² close to Persepolis. Persepolis was distinguished for the magnificence of the treasures which it contained. The Araxes flows out of the Paraetacene,¹³ and receives the Medus,¹⁴ which has its source in Media. These rivers run through a very fruitful valley, which, like Persepolis, lies close to Carmania and to the eastern parts of the country. Alexander burnt the palace at Persepolis, to avenge the Greeks, whose temples and cities the Persians had destroyed by fire and sword.

[7] He next came to Pasargadae,¹⁵ which also was an ancient royal residence. Here he saw in a park the tomb of Cyrus. It was a small tower, concealed within a thick plantation of trees, solid below, but above consisting of one story and a shrine which had a very narrow opening; Aristobulus says, he entered through this opening, by order of Alexander, and decorated the tomb. He saw there a golden couch, a table with cups, a golden coffin, and a large quantity of garments and dresses ornamented with precious stones. These objects he saw at his first visit, but on a subsequent visit the place had been robbed, and everything had been removed except the couch and the coffin which were only broken. The dead body had been removed from its place; whence it was evident that it was the act not of the Satrap,¹⁶ but of robbers, who had left behind what they could not easily carry off. And this occurred although there was a guard of Magi stationed about the place, who received for their daily subsistence a sheep, and every month a horse.¹⁷ The remote distance to which the army of Alexander had advanced, to Bactra and India, gave occasion to the introduction of many disorderly acts, and to this among others.

Such is the account of Aristobulus, who records the following inscription on the tomb. “O MAN, I AM CYRUS,¹⁸ I ESTABLISHED THE PERSIAN EMPIRE AND WAS KING OF ASIA. GRUDGE ME NOT THEREFORE THIS MONUMENT.

Onesicritus however says that the tower had ten stories, that Cyrus lay in the uppermost, and that there was an inscription in Greek, cut in Persian letters, I CYRUS, KING OF KINGS, LIE HERE. And another inscription to the same effect in the Persian language.

[8] Onesicritus mentions also this inscription on the tomb of Darius: “I WAS A FRIEND TO MY FRIENDS, I WAS THE FIRST OF HORSEMEN AND ARCHERS, I E3CELLED AS HUNTER, I COULD DO EVERYTHING.

Aristus of Salamis, a writer of a much later age than these, says, that the tower consisted of two stories, and was large; that it was built at the time the Persians succeeded to the kingdom (of the Medes); that the tomb was preserved; that the above-mentioned inscription was in the Greek, and that there was another to the same purport in the Persian language.

Cyrus held in honour Pasargadae, because he there conquered, in his last battle, Astyages the Mede, and transferred to himself the empire of Asia; he raised it to the rank of a city, and built a palace in memory of his victory.

[9] Alexander transferred everything that was precious in Persis to Susa, which was itself full of treasures and costly materials; he did not, however, consider this place, but Babylon, as the royal residence, and intended to embellish it. There too his treasure was deposited.

They say that, besides the treasures in Babylon and in the camp of Alexander, which were not included in the sum, the treasure found at Susa and in Persis was reckoned to amount to 40,000, and according to some writers to 50,000, talents. But others say, that the whole treasure, collected from all quarters, and transported to Ecbatana, amounted to 180,000 talents, and that the 8,000 talents which Darius carried away with him in his flight from Media became the booty of those who put him to death.

[10] Alexander preferred Babylon, because he saw that it far surpassed the other cities in magnitude, and had other advantages. Although Susis is fertile, it has a glowing and scorching atmosphere, particularly near the city, as he (Aristobulus?) says. Lizards and serpents at mid-day in the summer, when the sun is at its greatest height, cannot cross the streets of the city quick enough to prevent their being burnt to death mid-way by the heat. This happens nowhere in Persis, although it lies more towards the south.

Cold water for baths is suddenly heated by exposure to the sun. Barley spread out in the sun is roasted¹⁹ like barley prepared in ovens. For this reason earth is laid to the depth of two cubits upon the roofs of the houses. They are obliged to construct their houses narrow, on account of the weight placed upon them, and from want of long beams, but, as large dwellings are required to obviate the suffocating heat the houses are long.

The beam made of the palm tree has a peculiar property, for although it retains its solidity, it does not as it grows old give way downwards, but curves upwards with the weight, and is a better support to the roof.

The cause of the scorching heat is said to be high, overhanging mountains on the north, which intercept the northern winds. These, blowing from the tops of the mountains at a great height, fly over without touching the plains, to the more southern parts of Susis. There the air is still, particularly when the Etesian winds cool the other parts of the country which are burnt up by heat.

[11] Susis is so fertile in grain, that barley and wheat produce, generally, one hundred, and sometimes two hundred fold. Hence the furrows are not ploughed close together, for the roots when crowded impede the sprouting of the plant.

The vine did not grow there before the Macedonians planted it, both there and at Babylon. They do not dig trenches, but thrust down into the ground iron-headed stakes, which when drawn out are immediately replaced by the plants.

Such is the character of the inland parts. The sea-coast is marshy and without harbours; hence Nearchus says, that he met with no native guides, when coasting with his fleet from India to Babylonia, for nowhere could his vessels put in, nor was he able to procure persons who could direct him by their knowledge and experience.

[12] The part of Babylonia formerly called Sitacene, and afterwards Apolloniatis,²⁰ is situated near Susis.

Above both, on the north and towards the east, are the Elymaei²¹ and the Paraetaceni, predatory people relying for security on their situation in a rugged and mountainous country. The Paraetaceni lie more immediately above the Apolloniatae, and therefore annoy them the more. The Elymaei are at war with this people and with the Susians, and the Uxii with the Elymaei, but not so constantly at present as might be expected, on account of the power of the Parthians, to whom all the inhabitants of those regions are under subjection. When therefore the Parthians are quiet, all are tranquil, and their subject nations. But when, as frequently happens, there is an insurrection, which has occurred even in our own times, the event is not the same to all, but different to different people. For the disturbance has benefited some, but disappointed the expectation of others.

Such is the nature of the countries of Persis and Susiana.

[13] The manners and customs of the Persians are the same as those of the Susians and the Medes, and many other people; and they have been described by several writers, yet I must mention what is suitable to my purpose.

The Persians do not erect statues nor altars, but, considering the heaven as Jupiter, sacrifice on a high place.²² They worship the sun also, whom they call Mithras, the moon, Venus, fire, earth, winds, and water. They sacrifice, having offered up prayers, in a place free from impurities, and present the victim crowned.²³

After the Magus, who directs the sacrifice, has divided the flesh, each goes away with his share, without setting apart any portion to the gods; for the god, they say, requires the soul of the victim, and nothing more. Nevertheless, according to some writers, they lay a small piece of the caul upon the fire.

[14] But it is to fire and water especially that they offer sacrifice. They throw upon the fire dry wood without the bark, and place fat over it; they then pour oil upon it, and light it below; they do not blow the flame with their breath, but fan it; those who have blown the flame with their breath, or thrown any dead thing or dirt upon the fire, are put to death.

They sacrifice to water by going to a lake, river, or fountain; having dug a pit, they slaughter the victim over it, taking care that none of the pure water near be sprinkled with blood, and thus be polluted. They then lay the flesh in order upon myrtle or laurel branches; the Magi touch it with slender twigs,²⁴ and make incantations, pouring oil mixed with milk and honey, not into the fire, nor into the water, but upon the earth. They continue their incantations for a long time, holding in the hands a bundle of slender myrtle rods.

[15] In Cappadocia (for in this country there is a great body of Magi, called Pyraethi,²⁵ and there are many temples dedicated to the Persian deities) the sacrifice is not performed with a knife, but the victim is beaten to death with a log of wood, as with a mallet.

The Persians have also certain large shrines, called Pyraetheia.²⁶ In the middle of these is an altar, on which is a great quantity of ashes, where the Magi maintain an unextinguished fire. They enter daily, and continue their incantation for nearly an hour, holding before the fire a bundle of rods, and wear round their heads high turbans of felt, reaching down on each side so as to cover the lips and the sides of the cheeks. The same customs are observed in the temples of Anaitis and of Omanus. Belonging to these temples are shrines, and a wooden statue of Omanus is carried in procession. These we have seen ourselves.²⁷ Other usages, and such as follow, are related by historians.

[16] The Persians never pollute a river with urine, nor wash nor bathe in it; they never throw a dead body, nor anything unclean, into it. To whatever god they intend to sacrifice, they first address a prayer to fire.

[17] They are governed by hereditary kings. Disobedience is punished by the head and arms being cut off, and the body cast forth. They marry many women, and maintain at the same time a great number of concubines, with a view to a numerous offspring.

The kings propose annual prizes for a numerous family of children. Children are not brought into the presence of their parents until they are four years old.

Marriages are celebrated at the beginning of the vernal equinox. The bridegroom passes into the bride-chamber, having previously eaten some fruit, or camel’s marrow, but nothing else during the day.

[18] From the age of five to twenty-four years they are taught to use the bow, to throw the javelin, to ride, and to speak the truth. They have the most virtuous preceptors, who interweave useful fables in their discourses, and rehearse, sometimes with sometimes without, music, the actions of the gods and of illustrious men.

The youths are called to rise before day-break, at the sound of brazen instruments, and assemble in one spot, as if for arming themselves or for the chase. They are arranged in companies of fifty, to each of which one of the king’s or a satrap’s son is appointed as leader, who runs, followed at command by the others, an appointed distance of thirty or forty stadia.

They require them to give an account of each lesson, when they practise loud speaking, and exercise the breath and lungs. They are taught to endure heat, cold, and rains; to cross torrents, and keep their armour and clothes dry; to pasture animals, to watch all night in the open air, and to eat wild fruits, as the terminthus,²⁸ acorns, and wild pears.

[These persons are called Cardaces, who live upon plunder, for carda means a manly and warlike spirit.]²⁹

The daily food after the exercise of the gymnasium is bread, a cake, cardamum,³⁰ a piece of salt, and dressed meat either roasted or boiled, and their drink is water.

Their mode of hunting is by throwing spears from horseback, or with the bow or the sling.

In the evening they are employed in planting trees, cutting roots, fabricating armour, and making lines and nets. The youth do not eat the game, but carry it home. The king gives rewards for running, and to the victors in the other contests of the pentathla (or five games). The youths are adorned with gold, esteeming it for its fiery appearance. They do not ornament the dead with gold, nor apply fire to them, on account of its being an object of veneration.

[19] They serve as soldiers in subordinate stations, and in those of command from twenty to fifty years of age, both on foot and on horseback. They do not concern themselves with the public markets, for they neither buy nor sell. They are armed with a romb-shaped shield. Besides quivers, they have battle-axes and short swords. On their heads they wear a cap rising like a tower. The breastplate is composed of scales of iron.

The dress of the chiefs consists of triple drawers, a double tunic with sleeves reaching to the knees; the under garment is white, the upper of a variegated colour. The cloak for summer is of a purple or violet colour, but for winter of a variegated colour. The turbans are similar to those of the Magi; and a deep double shoe. The generality of people wear a double tunic reaching to the half of the leg. A piece of fine linen is wrapped round the head. Each person has a bow and a sling.

The entertainments of the Persians are expensive. They set upon their table entire animals in great number, and of various kinds. Their couches, drinking-cups, and other articles are so brilliantly ornamented that they gleam with gold and silver.

[20] Their consultations on the most important affairs are carried on while they are drinking, and they consider the resolutions made at that time more to be depended upon than those made when sober.

On meeting persons of their acquaintance, and of equal rank with themselves, on the road, they approach and kiss them, but to persons of an inferior station they offer the cheek, and in that manner receive the kiss. But to persons of still lower condition they only bend the body.

Their mode of burial is to smear the bodies over with wax, and then to inter them. The Magi are not buried, but the birds are allowed to devour them. These persons, according to the usage of the country, espouse even their mothers.

Such are the customs of the Persians.

[21] The following, mentioned by Polycletus, are perhaps customary practices:

At Susa each king builds in the citadel, as memorials of the administration of his government, a dwelling for himself, treasure-houses, and magazines for tribute collected (in kind).

From the sea-coast they obtain silver, from the interior the produce of each province, as dyes, drugs, hair, wool, or anything else of this sort, and cattle. The apportionment of the tribute was settled by Darius [Longimanus, who was a very handsome person with the exception of the length of his arms, which reached to his knees].³¹ The greater part both of gold and silver is wrought up, and there is not much in coined money. The former they consider as best adapted for presents, and for depositing in store-houses. So much coined money as suffices for their wants they think enough; but, on the other hand, money is coined in proportion to what is required for expenditure.³²

[22] Their habits are in general temperate. But their kings, from the great wealth which they possessed, degenerated into a luxurious way of life. They sent for wheat from Assos in Aeolia, for Chalybonian³³ wine from Syria, and water from the Eulaeus, which is the lightest of all, for an Attic cotylus measure of it weighs less by a drachm (than the same quantity of any other water).

[23] Of the barbarians the Persians were the best known to the Greeks, for none of the other barbarians who governed Asia governed Greece. The barbarians were not acquainted with the Greeks, and the Greeks were but slightly acquainted, and by distant report only, with the barbarians. As an instance, Homer was not acquainted with the empire of the Syrians nor of the Medes, for otherwise as he mentions the wealth of Egyptian Thebes and of Phoenicia, he would not have passed over in silence the wealth of Babylon, of Ninus, and of Ecbatana.

The Persians were the first people that brought Greeks under their dominion; the Lydians (before them) did the same, they were not however masters of the whole, but of a small portion only of Asia, that within the river Halys; their empire lasted for a short time, during the reigns of Croesus and Alyattes; and they were deprived of what little glory they had acquired, when conquered by the Persians.

The Persians, (on the contrary, increased in power and,)as soon as they had destroyed the Median empire, subdued the Lydians and brought the Greeks of Asia under their dominion. At a later period they even passed over into Greece and were worsted in many great battles, but still they continued to keep possession of Asia, as far as the places on the sea-coast, until they were completely subdued by the Macedonians.

[24] The founder of their empire was Cyrus. He was succeeded by his son Cambyses, who was put to death by the Magi. The seven Persians who killed the Magi delivered the kingdom into the hands of Darius, the son of Hystaspes. The succession terminated with Arses, whom Bagous the eunuch having killed set up Darius, who was not of the royal family. Alexander overthrew Darius, and reigned himself twelve years.³⁴ The empire of Asia was partitioned out among his successors, and transmitted to their descendants, but was dissolved after it had lasted about two hundred and fifty years.³⁵

At present the Persians are a separate people, governed by kings, who are subject to other kings; to the kings of Macedon in former times, but now to those of Parthia.

Geography. Strabo. Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator). London. 1854-1857.

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Current edition Perseus

Geography (English) (Strabo. The Geography of Strabo, Vols. 1-3. Hamilton, Hans Claude, translator; Falconer, William, translator. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1854-1857.)

Editions (1)

Γεωγραφικά Perseus (Strabo. Strabonis Geographica, Vols. 1-3. Meineke, August, editor. Leipzig: Teubner. 1877.) — 15.3 focus

[1] μετὰ δὲ Καρμανίαν ἡ Περσὶς ἔστι, πολλὴ μὲν ἐν τῇ παραλίᾳ τοῦ ἀπʼ αὐτῆς ὀνομαζομένου κόλπου, πολὺ δὲ μείζων ἐν τῇ μεσογαίᾳ, καὶ μάλιστα ἐπὶ μῆκος τὸ ἀπὸ τοῦ νότου καὶ τῆς Καρμανίας ἐπὶ τὰς ἄρκτους καὶ τὰ περὶ Μηδίαν ἔθνη. τριττὴ δʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τῇ φύσει καὶ τῇ τῶν ἀέρων κράσει. ἡ μὲν γὰρ παραλία καυματηρά τε καὶ ἀμμώδης καὶ σπανιστὴ καρποῖς ἐστι πλὴν φοινίκων, ὅσον ἐν τετρακισχιλίοις καὶ τετρακοσίοις ἢ τριακοσίοις ἐξεταζομένη σταδίοις, καταστρέφουσα εἰς ποταμὸν μέγιστον τῶν ταύτῃ καλούμενον Ὀρόατιν· ἡ δʼ ὑπὲρ ταύτης ἐστὶ πάμφορος καὶ πεδινὴ καὶ θρεμμάτων ἀρίστη τροφός, ποταμοῖς τε καὶ λίμναις πληθύει. τρίτη δʼ ἐστὶν ἡ πρὸς βορρᾶν χειμέριος καὶ ὀρεινή· πρὸς δὲ ταῖς ἐσχατιαῖς εἰσιν οἱ καμηλοβοσκοί. μῆκος μὲν οὖν ἐστι κατʼ Ἐρατοσθένη τὸ ἐπὶ τὰς ἄρκτους καὶ * τὰς Κασπίους πύλας περὶ ὀκτακισχιλίων κατά τινας προπιπτούσας ἄκρας. λοιπὴ δʼ ἐστὶν ἐπὶ Κασπίους πύλας οὐ πλεῖον ἢ τῶν τρισχιλίων. πλάτος δὲ τὸ ἐν τῇ μεσογαίᾳ τὸ ἀπὸ Σούσων εἰς Περσέπολιν στάδιοι τετρακισχίλιοι διακόσιοι, κἀντεῦθεν ἐπὶ τοὺς τῆς Καρμανίας ὅρους ἄλλοι χίλιοι ἑξακόσιοι. φῦλα δὲ οἰκεῖ τὴν χώραν οἵ τε Πατεισχορεῖς λεγόμενοι καὶ οἱ Ἀχαιμενίδαι καὶ οἱ Μάγοι· οὗτοι μὲν οὖν σεμνοῦ τινός εἰσι βίου ζηλωταί, Κύρτιοι δὲ καὶ Μάρδοι λῃστρικοί, ἄλλοι δὲ γεωργικοί.

[2] σχεδὸν δέ τι καὶ ἡ Σουσὶς μέρος γεγένηται τῆς Περσίδος μεταξὺ αὐτῆς κειμένη καὶ τῆς Βαβυλωνίας, ἔχουσα πόλιν ἀξιολογωτάτην τὰ Σοῦσα. οἱ γὰρ Πέρσαι κρατήσαντες Μήδων καὶ ὁ Κῦρος, ὁρῶντες τὴν μὲν οἰκείαν γῆν ἐπʼ ἐσχάτοις που ταττομένην, τὴν δὲ Σουσίδα ἐνδοτέρω καὶ πλησιαιτέραν τῇ Βαβυλωνίᾳ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἔθνεσιν, ἐνταῦθα ἔθεντο τὸ τῆς ἡγεμονίας βασίλειον· ἅμα καὶ τὸ ὅμορον τῆς χώρας ἀποδεξάμενοι καὶ τὸ ἀξίωμα τῆς πόλεως καὶ * κρεῖττον τὸ μηδέποτε καθʼ ἑαυτὴν τὴν Σουσίδα πραγμάτων μεγάλων ἐπήβολον γεγονέναι, ἀλλʼ ἀεὶ ὑφʼ ἑτέροις ὑπάρξαι καὶ ἐν μέρει τετάχθαι συστήματος μείζονος, πλὴν εἰ ἄρα τὸ παλαιὸν τὸ κατὰ τοὺς ἥρωας. λέγεται γὰρ δὴ κτίσμα Τιθωνοῦ τοῦ Μέμνονος πατρός, κύκλον ἔχουσα ἑκατὸν καὶ εἴκοσι σταδίων, παραμήκης τῷ σχήματι· ἡ δʼ ἀκρόπολις ἐκαλεῖτο Μεμνόνιον· λέγονται δὲ καὶ Κίσσιοι οἱ Σούσιοι· φησὶ δὲ καὶ Αἰσχύλος τὴν μητέρα Μέμνονος Κισσίαν. ταφῆναι δὲ λέγεται Μέμνων περὶ Πάλτον τῆς Συρίας παρὰ Βαδᾶν ποταμόν, ὡς εἴρηκε Σιμωνίδης ἐν Μέμνονι διθυράμβῳ τῶν Δηλιακῶν. τὸ δὲ τεῖχος ᾠκοδόμητο τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἱερὰ καὶ βασίλεια παραπλησίως ὥσπερ τὰ τῶν Βαβυλωνίων ἐξ ὀπτῆς πλίνθου καὶ ἀσφάλτου, καθάπερ εἰρήκασί τινες· Πολύκλειτος δὲ διακοσίων φησὶ τὸν κύκλον καὶ ἀτείχιστον.

[3] κοσμήσαντες δὲ τὰ ἐν Σούσοις βασίλεια μάλιστα τῶν ἄλλων οὐδὲν ἧττον καὶ τὰ ἐν Περσεπόλει καὶ τὰ ἐν Πασαργάδαις ἐξετίμησαν· καὶ ἥ γε γάζα καὶ οἱ θησαυροὶ καὶ τὰ μνήματα ἐνταῦθα ἦν τοῖς Πέρσαις, ὡς ἐν τόποις ἐρυμνοτέροις καὶ ἅμα προγονικοῖς. ἦν δὲ καὶ ἄλλα βασίλεια τὰ ἐν Γάβαις ἐν τοῖς ἀνωτέρω που μέρεσι τῆς Περσίδος καὶ τὰ ἐν τῇ παραλίᾳ τὰ κατὰ τὴν Ταόκην λεγομένην· ταῦτα μὲν τὰ κατὰ τὴν τῶν Περσῶν ἀρχήν, οἱ δʼ ὕστερον ἄλλοις καὶ ἄλλοις ἐχρήσαντο, ὡς εἰκός, εὐτελεστέροις τισίν, ἅτε καὶ τῆς Περσίδος ἠλαττωμένης ὑπό τε τῶν Μακεδόνων καὶ ἔτι μᾶλλον ὑπὸ τῶν Παρθυαίων. καὶ γὰρ εἰ βασιλεύονται μέχρι νῦν ἴδιον βασιλέα ἔχοντες οἱ Πέρσαι, τῇ γε δυνάμει πλεῖστον ἀπολείπονται καὶ τῷ Παρθυαίων προσέχουσι βασιλεῖ.

[4] τὰ μὲν οὖν Σοῦσα ἐν μεσογαίοις κεῖται ἐπὶ τῷ Χοάσπῃ ποταμῷ περαιτέρω κατὰ τὸ ζεῦγμα, ἡ δὲ χώρα μέχρι τῆς θαλάττης καθήκει· καὶ ἔστιν αὐτῆς ἡ παραλία μέχρι τῶν ἐκβολῶν σχεδόν τι τοῦ Τίγριος ἀπὸ τῶν ὅρων τῆς Περσικῆς παραλίας σταδίων ὡς τρισχιλίων. ῥεῖ δὲ διὰ τῆς χώρας ὁ Χοάσπης εἰς τὴν αὐτὴν τελευτῶν παραλίαν, ἀπὸ τῶν Οὐξίων τὰς ἀρχὰς ἔχων. παρεμπίπτει γάρ τις ὀρεινὴ τραχεῖα καὶ ἀπότομος μεταξὺ τῶν Σουσίων καὶ τῆς Περσίδος, στενὰ ἔχουσα δυσπάροδα καὶ ἀνθρώπους λῃστάς, οἳ μισθοὺς ἐπράττοντο καὶ αὐτοὺς τοὺς βασιλέας κατὰ τὴν ἐκ Σούσων εἰς Πέρσας εἰσβολήν. φησὶ δὲ Πολύκλειτος εἰς λίμνην τινὰ συμβάλλειν τόν τε Χοάσπην καὶ τὸν Εὔλαιον καὶ ἔτι τὸν Τίγριν, εἶτʼ ἐκεῖθεν εἰς τὴν θάλατταν ἐκδιδόναι· πρὸς δὲ τῇ λίμνῃ καὶ ἐμπόριον εἶναι, τῶν ποταμῶν μὲν οὐ δεχομένων τὰ ἐκ τῆς θαλάττης, οὐδὲ καταπεμπόντων διὰ τοὺς καταράκτας ἐπίτηδες γενομένους, πεζῇ δʼ ἐμπορευομένων· ὀκτακοσίους γὰρ εἶναι σταδίους εἰς Σοῦσα * λέγουσιν ἄλλοι· ἄλλοι δέ φασι τοὺς διὰ Σούσων ποταμοὺς εἰς ἓν ῥεῦμα τὸ τοῦ Τίγριος συμπίπτειν κατὰ τὰς μεταξὺ διώρυγας τοῦ Εὐφράτου· διὰ δὲ τοῦτο κατὰ τὰς ἐκβολὰς ὀνομάζεσθαι Πασίτιγριν.

[5] νέαρχος δὲ τὸν παράπλουν τῆς Σουσίδος τεναγώδη φήσας πέρας αὐτοῦ λέγει τὸν Εὐφράτην ποταμόν· πρὸς δὲ τῷ στόματι κώμην οἰκεῖσθαι τὴν ὑποδεχομένην τὰ ἐκ τῆς Ἀραβίας φορτία· συνάπτειν γὰρ ἐφεξῆς τὴν τῶν Ἀράβων παραλίαν τῷ στόματι τοῦ Εὐφράτου καὶ τοῦ Πασιτίγριος, τὸ δὲ μεταξὺ πᾶν ἐπέχειν λίμνην τὴν ὑποδεχομένην τὸν Τίγριν. ἀναπλεύσαντι δὲ τῷ Πασιτίγρει σταδίους πεντήκοντα καὶ ἑκατὸν τὴν σχεδίαν εἶναι τὴν ἄγουσαν ἐπὶ Σούσων ἐκ τῆς Περσίδος, ἀπέχουσαν Σούσων σταδίους * ἑξήκοντα· τὸν δὲ Πασίτιγριν ἀπὸ τοῦ Ὀροάτιδος διέχειν περὶ δισχιλίους σταδίους· διὰ δὲ τῆς λίμνης ἐπὶ τὸ στόμα τοῦ Τίγριος τὸν ἀνάπλουν εἶναι σταδίων ἑξακοσίων· πλησίον δὲ τοῦ στόματος κώμην οἰκεῖσθαι * τὴν Σουσιανὴν διέχουσαν τῶν Σούσων σταδίους πεντακοσίους· ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ στόματος τοῦ Εὐφράτου καὶ μέχρι Βαβυλῶνος τὸν ἀνάπλουν εἶναι διὰ γῆς οἰκουμένης καλῶς σταδίων πλειόνων ἢ τρισχιλίων. Ὀνησίκριτος δὲ πάντας φησὶν ἐκβάλλειν εἰς τὴν λίμνην τόν τε Εὐφράτην καὶ τὸν Τίγριν, ἐκπεσόντα δὲ πάλιν τὸν Εὐφράτην ἐκ τῆς λίμνης ἰδίῳ στόματι πρὸς τὴν θάλατταν συνάπτειν.

[6] ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἄλλα πλείω στενὰ διεκβάλλοντι τὰ ἐν τοῖς Οὐξίοις κατʼ αὐτὴν τὴν Περσίδα, ἃ καὶ αὐτὰ βίᾳ διῆλθεν Ἀλέξανδρος, κατά τε τὰς Περσικὰς πύλας καὶ κατʼ ἄλλους τόπους διεξιὼν τὴν χώραν, καὶ κατοπτεῦσαι σπεύδων τὰ κυριώτατα μέρη καὶ τὰ γαζοφυλάκια, ἃ τοσούτοις χρόνοις ἐξεπεπλήρωτο, οἷς ἐδασμολόγησαν Πέρσαι τὴν Ἀσίαν· ποταμοὺς δὲ διέβη πλείους τοὺς διαρρέοντας τὴν χώραν καὶ καταφερομένους εἰς τὸν Περσικὸν κόλπον. μετὰ γὰρ τὸν Χοάσπην ὁ Κοπράτας ἐστὶ καὶ ὁ Πασίτιγρις, ὃς ἐκ τῆς Οὐξίας καὶ αὐτὸς ῥεῖ· ἔστι δὲ καὶ Κῦρος ποταμὸς διὰ τῆς κοίλης καλουμένης Περσίδος ῥέων περὶ Πασαργάδας, οὗ μετέλαβε τὸ ὄνομα βασιλεὺς ἀντὶ Ἀγραδάτου μετονομασθεὶς Κῦρος. πρὸς αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ Περσεπόλει τὸν Ἀράξην διέβη· ἦν δὲ ἡ Περσέπολις μετὰ Σοῦσα κάλλιστα κατεσκευασμένη μεγίστη πόλις, ἔχουσα βασίλεια ἐκπρεπῆ, καὶ μάλιστα τῇ πολυτελείᾳ τῶν κειμένων. ῥεῖ δʼ ὁ Ἀράξης ἐκ τῶν Παραιτακῶν· συμβάλλει δʼ εἰς αὐτὸν ὁ Μῆδος ἐκ Μηδίας ὁρμηθείς. φέρονται δὲ διʼ αὐλῶνος παμφόρου συνάπτοντος τῇ Καρμανίᾳ καὶ τοῖς ἑωθινοῖς μέρεσι τῆς χώρας, καθάπερ καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ Περσέπολις. ἐνέπρησε δὲ ὁ Ἀλέξανδρος τὰ ἐν Περσεπόλει βασίλεια τιμωρῶν τοῖς Ἕλλησιν, ὅτι κἀκείνων ἱερὰ καὶ πόλεις οἱ Πέρσαι πυρὶ καὶ σιδήρῳ διεπόρθησαν.

[7] εἶτʼ εἰς Πασαργάδας ἧκε· καὶ τοῦτο δʼ ἦν βασίλειον ἀρχαῖον. ἐνταῦθα δὲ καὶ τὸν Κύρου τάφον εἶδεν ἐν παραδείσῳ, πύργον οὐ μέγαν, τῷ δάσει τῶν δένδρων ἐναποκεκρυμμένον, κάτω μὲν στερεὸν ἄνω δὲ στέγην ἔχοντα καὶ σηκὸν στενὴν τελέως ἔχοντα τὴν εἴσοδον, διʼ ἧς παρελθεῖν εἴσω φησὶν Ἀριστόβουλος κελεύσαντος τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ κοσμῆσαι τὸν τάφον· ἰδεῖν δὲ κλίνην τε χρυσῆν καὶ τράπεζαν σὺν ἐκπώμασι καὶ πύελον χρυσῆν καὶ ἐσθῆτα πολλὴν κόσμον τε λιθοκόλλητον· κατὰ μὲν οὖν τὴν πρώτην ἐπιδημίαν ταῦτʼ ἰδεῖν, ὕστερον δὲ συληθῆναι, καὶ τὰ μὲν ἄλλα ἐκκομισθῆναι τὴν δὲ κλίνην θραυσθῆναι μόνον καὶ τὴν πύελον, μεταθέντων τὸν νεκρόν, διʼ οὗ δῆλον γενέσθαι διότι προνομευτῶν ἔργον ἦν, οὐχὶ τοῦ σατράπου, καταλιπόντων ἃ μὴ δυνατὸν ἦν ῥᾳδίως ἐκκομίσαι· συμβῆναι δὲ ταῦτα, καίπερ φυλακῆς περικειμένης Μάγων, σίτισιν λαμβανόντων καθʼ ἡμέραν πρόβατον, διὰ μηνὸς δʼ ἵππον. ἀλλʼ ὁ ἐκτοπισμὸς τῆς Ἀλεξάνδρου στρατιᾶς εἰς Βάκτρα καὶ Ἰνδοὺς πολλά τε ἄλλα νεωτερισθῆναι παρεσκεύασε, καὶ δὴ καὶ τοῦθʼ ἓν τῶν νεωτερισθέντων ὑπῆρξεν. οὕτω μὲν οὖν Ἀριστόβουλος εἴρηκε, καὶ τὸ ἐπίγραμμα δὲ ἀπομνημονεύει τοῦτο ὦ ἄνθρωπε, ἐγὼ Κῦρός εἰμι, ὁ τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῖς Πέρσαις κτησάμενος καὶ τῆς Ἀσίας βασιλεύς· μὴ οὖν φθονήσῃς μοι τοῦ μνήματος. Ὀνησίκριτος δὲ τὸν μὲν πύργον δεκάστεγον εἴρηκε· καὶ ἐν μὲν τῇ ἀνωτάτω στέγῃ κεῖσθαι τὸν Κῦρον· ἐπίγραμμα δʼ εἶναι Ἑλληνικόν, Περσικοῖς κεχαραγμένον γράμμασιν ἐνθάδʼ ἐγὼ κεῖμαι Κῦρος βασιλεὺς βασιλήων. καὶ ἄλλο περσίζον πρὸς τὸν αὐτὸν νοῦν.

[8] μέμνηται δʼ Ὀνησίκριτος καὶ τὸ ἐπὶ τοῦ Δαρείου τάφῳ γράμμα τόδε φίλος ἦν τοῖς φίλοις· ἱππεὺς καὶ τοξότης ἄριστος ἐγενόμην· κυνηγῶν ἐκράτουν· πάντα ποιεῖν ἠδυνάμην. Ἄριστος δʼ ὁ Σαλαμίνιος πολὺ μέν ἐστι νεώτερος τούτων, λέγει δὲ δίστεγον τὸν πύργον καὶ μέγαν, ἐν δὲ τῇ Περσῶν διαδοχῇ ἱδρῦσθαι, φυλάττεσθαι δὲ τὸν τάφον· ἐπίγραμμα δὲ τὸ λεχθὲν Ἑλληνικὸν καὶ ἄλλο Περσικὸν πρὸς τὸν αὐτὸν νοῦν. τοὺς δὲ Πασαργάδας ἐτίμησε Κῦρος, ὅτι τὴν ὑστάτην μάχην ἐνίκησεν Ἀστυάγην ἐνταῦθα τὸν Μῆδον, καὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν τῆς Ἀσίας μετήνεγκεν εἰς ἑαυτὸν καὶ πόλιν ἔκτισε καὶ βασίλειον κατεσκεύασε τῆς νίκης μνημεῖον.

[9] πάντα δὲ τὰ ἐν τῇ Περσίδι χρήματα ἐξεσκευάσατο εἰς τὰ Σοῦσα καὶ αὐτὰ θησαυρῶν καὶ κατασκευῆς μεστά· οὐδὲ τοῦθʼ ἡγεῖτο τὸ βασίλειον, ἀλλὰ τὴν Βαβυλῶνα, καὶ διενοεῖτο ταύτην προσκατασκευάζειν· κἀνταῦθα δʼ ἔκειντο θησαυροί. φασὶ δὲ χωρὶς τῶν ἐν Βαβυλῶνι καὶ τῶν ἐν τῷ στρατοπέδῳ τῶν παρὰ ταῦτα μὴ ληφθέντων αὐτὰ τὰ ἐν Σούσοις καὶ τὰ ἐν Περσίδι τέτταρας μυριάδας ταλάντων ἐξετασθῆναι· τινὲς δὲ καὶ πέντε λέγουσιν· ἄλλοι δὲ πάντα πάντοθεν συναχθῆναι παραδεδώκασιν εἰς Ἐκβάτανα ὀκτωκαίδεκα μυριάδας ταλάντων· τὰ δὲ Δαρείῳ φυγόντι ἐκ τῆς Μηδίας συνεκκομισθέντα τάλαντα ὀκτακισχίλια διήρπασαν οἱ δολοφονήσαντες αὐτόν.

[10] τὴν γοῦν Βαβυλῶνα ὁ Ἀλέξανδρος προέκρινεν ὁρῶν καὶ τῷ μεγέθει πολὺ ὑπερβάλλουσαν καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις. εὐδαίμων δʼ οὖσα ἡ Σουσὶς ἔκπυρον τὸν ἀέρα ἔχει καὶ καυματηρὸν καὶ μάλιστα τὸν περὶ τὴν πόλιν, ὥς φησιν * ἐκεῖνος· τὰς γοῦν σαύρας καὶ τοὺς ὄφεις θέρους ἀκμάζοντος τοῦ ἡλίου κατὰ μεσημβρίαν διαβῆναι μὴ φθάνειν τὰς ὁδοὺς τὰς ἐν τῇ πόλει, ἀλλʼ ἐν μέσαις περιφλέγεσθαι, ὅπερ τῆς Περσίδος μηδαμοῦ συμβαίνειν καίπερ νοτιωτέρας οὔσης· λουτρὰ δὲ ψυχρὰ προτεθέντα ἐκθερμαίνεσθαι παραχρῆμα, τὰς δὲ κριθὰς διασπαρείσας εἰς τὸν ἥλιον ἅλλεσθαι καθάπερ ἐν τοῖς ἰπνοῖς τὰς κάχρυς· διὸ καὶ ταῖς στέγαις ἐπὶ δύο πήχεις γῆν ἐπιτίθεσθαι, ὑπὸ δὲ τοῦ βάρους ἀναγκάζεσθαι στενοὺς μὲν μακροὺς δὲ ποιεῖσθαι τοὺς οἴκους, ἀπορουμένους μακρῶν μὲν δοκῶν δεομένους δὲ μεγάλων οἴκων διὰ τὸ πνῖγος. ἴδιον δέ τι πάσχειν τὴν φοινικίνην δοκόν· στερεὰν γὰρ οὖσαν, παλαιουμένην οὐκ εἰς τὸ κάτω τὴν ἔνδοσιν λαμβάνειν, ἀλλʼ εἰς τὸ ἄνω μέρος κυρτοῦσθαι τῷ βάρει καὶ βέλτιον ἀνέχειν τὴν ὀροφήν. αἴτιον δὲ τῶν καυμάτων λέγεται τὸ ὑπερκεῖσθαι πρὸς ἄρκτον ὄρη ὑψηλὰ τὰ προεκδεχόμενα ἅπαντας τοὺς βορείους ἀνέμους· ὑπερπετεῖς δὴ πνέοντες ἀπὸ τῶν ἀκρωτηρίων μετέωροί τε τῶν πεδίων οὐ προσάπτονται, ἀλλὰ παρελαύνουσιν εἰς τὰ νοτιώτερα τῆς Σουσίδος· αὕτη δὲ νηνεμίαις κατέχεται, καὶ μάλιστα τότε ἡνίκα ἐτησίαι τὴν ἄλλην γῆν καταψύχουσιν ἐκκαομένην ὑπὸ τῶν καυμάτων.

[11] πολύσιτος δʼ ἄγαν ἐστὶν ὥστε ἑκατοντάχουν διʼ ὁμαλοῦ καὶ κριθὴν καὶ πυρὸν ἐκτρέφειν, ἔστι δʼ ὅτε καὶ διακοσιοντάχουν· διόπερ οὐδὲ πυκνὰς τὰς αὔλακας τέμνουσι· πυκνούμεναι γὰρ κωλύουσιν αἱ ῥίζαι τὴν βλάστην. τὴν δʼ ἄμπελον οὐ φυομένην πρότερον Μακεδόνες κατεφύτευσαν κἀκεῖ καὶ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι, οὐ ταφρεύοντες ἀλλὰ παττάλους κατασεσιδηρωμένους ἐξ ἄκρων πήττοντες, εἶτʼ ἐξαιροῦντες, ἀντὶ δʼ αὐτῶν τὰ κλήματα καθιέντες εὐθέως. ἡ μὲν δὴ μεσόγαια τοιαύτη· ἡ δὲ παραλία τεναγώδης ἐστὶ καὶ ἀλίμενος· διὰ τοῦτο γοῦν καὶ φησὶν ὁ Νέαρχος μηδὲ καθοδηγῶν ἐπιχωρίων τυγχάνειν ἡνίκα τῷ στόλῳ παρέπλει πρὸς τὴν Βαβυλωνίαν ἐκ τῆς Ἰνδικῆς, ὅτι προσόρμους οὐκ εἶχεν, οὐδʼ ἀνθρώπων εὐπορεῖν οἷός τʼ ἦν τῶν ἡγησομένων κατʼ ἐμπειρίαν.

[12] γειτνιᾷ δὲ τῇ Σουσίδι τῆς Βαβυλωνίας ἡ Σιτακηνὴ μὲν πρότερον Ἀπολλωνιᾶτις δὲ ὕστερον προσαγορευθεῖσα. ἀπὸ τῶν ἄρκτων δʼ ὑπέρκεινται ἀμφοῖν πρὸς ἕω Ἐλυμαῖοί τε καὶ Παραιτακηνοί, λῃστρικοὶ ἄνδρες καὶ ὀρεινῇ τραχείᾳ πεποιθότες· μᾶλλον δʼ οἱ Παραιτακηνοὶ τοῖς Ἀπολλωνιάταις ἐπίκεινται, ὥστε καὶ χεῖρον ἐκείνους διατιθέασιν. οἱ δὲ Ἐλυμαῖοι κἀκείνοις καὶ τοῖς Σουσίοις, τούτοις δὲ καὶ οἱ Οὔξιοι προσπολεμοῦσιν· ἧττον δὲ νῦν, ὡς εἰκός, διὰ τὴν τῶν Παρθυαίων ἰσχύν, ὑφʼ οἷς εἰσιν ἅπαντες οἱ ταύτῃ. εὖ μὲν οὖν πραττόντων ἐκείνων, εὖ πράττουσιν ἅπαντες καὶ οἱ ὑπήκοοι αὐτῶν· στασιαζόντων δέ, ὅπερ συμβαίνει πολλάκις, καὶ δὴ καὶ ἐφʼ ἡμῶν, ἄλλοτʼ ἄλλως συμβαίνει καὶ οὐ τὰ αὐτὰ πᾶσι· τοῖς μὲν γὰρ συνήνεγκεν ἡ ταραχή, τοῖς δὲ παρὰ γνώμην ἀπήντησεν. ἡ μὲν δὴ χώρα ἥ τε Περσὶς καὶ ἡ Σουσιανὴ τοιαύτη.

[13] τὰ δʼ ἔθη τὰ Περσικὰ καὶ τούτοις καὶ Μήδοις τὰ αὐτὰ καὶ ἄλλοις πλείοσι, περὶ ὧν εἰρήκασι μὲν πλείους, τὰ δὲ καίρια καὶ ἡμῖν λεκτέον. Πέρσαι τοίνυν ἀγάλματα μὲν καὶ βωμοὺς οὐχ ἱδρύονται, θύουσι δʼ ἐν ὑψηλῷ τόπῳ τὸν οὐρανὸν ἡγούμενοι Δία· τιμῶσι δὲ καὶ ἥλιον, ὃν καλοῦσι Μίθρην, καὶ σελήνην καὶ Ἀφροδίτην καὶ πῦρ καὶ γῆν καὶ ἀνέμους καὶ ὕδωρ· θύουσι δʼ ἐν καθαρῷ τόπῳ κατευξάμενοι παραστησάμενοι τὸ ἱερεῖον ἐστεμμένον· μελίσαντος δὲ τοῦ Μάγου τὰ κρέα τοῦ ὑφηγουμένου τὴν ἱερουργίαν ἀπίασι διελόμενοι, τοῖς θεοῖς οὐδὲν ἀπονείμαντες μέρος· τῆς γὰρ ψυχῆς φασι τοῦ ἱερείου δεῖσθαι τὸν θεόν, ἄλλου δὲ οὐδενός· ὅμως δὲ τοῦ ἐπίπλου τι μικρὸν τιθέασιν, ὡς λέγουσί τινες, ἐπὶ τὸ πῦρ.

[14] διαφερόντως δὲ τῷ πυρὶ καὶ τῷ ὕδατι θύουσι, τῷ μὲν πυρί, προστιθέντες ξηρὰ ξύλα τοῦ λέπους χωρὶς πιμελὴν ἐπιτιθέντες ἄνωθεν· εἶθʼ ὑφάπτουσιν ἔλαιον καταχέοντες, οὐ φυσῶντες ἀλλὰ ῥιπίζοντες· τοὺς δὲ φυσήσαντας ἢ νεκρὸν ἐπὶ πῦρ θέντας ἢ βόλβιτον θανατοῦσι· τῷ δʼ ὕδατι, ἐπὶ λίμνην ἢ ποταμὸν ἢ κρήνην ἐλθόντες, βόθρον ὀρύξαντες εἰς τοῦτον σφαγιάζονται, φυλαττόμενοι μή τι τοῦ πλησίον ὕδατος αἱμαχθείη, ὡς μιανοῦντες· εἶτʼ ἐπὶ μυρρίνην ἢ δάφνην διαθέντες τὰ κρέα ῥάβδοις λεπτοῖς * ἐφάπτονται οἱ Μάγοι καὶ ἐπᾴδουσιν, ἀποσπένδοντες ἔλαιον ὁμοῦ γάλακτι καὶ μέλιτι κεκραμένον οὐκ εἰς πῦρ οὐδʼ ὕδωρ, ἀλλʼ εἰς τοὔδαφος· τὰς δʼ ἐπῳδὰς ποιοῦνται πολὺν χρόνον ῥάβδων μυρικίνων λεπτῶν δέσμην κατέχοντες.

[15] ἐν δὲ τῇ Καππαδοκίᾳ (πολὺ γὰρ ἐκεῖ τὸ τῶν Μάγων φῦλον, οἳ καὶ πύραιθοι καλοῦνται· πολλὰ δὲ καὶ τῶν Περσικῶν θεῶν ἱερά), οὐδὲ μαχαίρᾳ θύουσιν, ἀλλὰ κορμῷ τινι ὡς ἂν ὑπέρῳ τύπτοντες. ἔστι δὲ καὶ πυραιθεῖα, σηκοί τινες ἀξιόλογοι· ἐν δὲ τούτοις μέσοις βωμός, ἐν ᾧ πολλή τε σποδός, καὶ πῦρ ἄσβεστον φυλάττουσιν οἱ Μάγοι· καὶ καθʼ ἡμέραν δὲ εἰσιόντες, ἐπᾴδουσιν ὥραν σχεδόν τι πρὸ τοῦ πυρὸς τὴν δέσμην τῶν ῥάβδων ἔχοντες, τιάρας περικείμενοι πιλωτὰς καθεικυίας ἑκατέρωθεν μέχρι τοῦ καλύπτειν τὰ χείλη τὰς παραγναθίδας. ταὐτὰ δʼ ἐν τοῖς τῆς Ἀναΐτιδος καὶ τοῦ Ὠμάνου ἱεροῖς νενόμισται· τούτων δὲ καὶ σηκοί εἰσι, καὶ ξόανον τοῦ Ὠμάνου πομπεύει. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν ἡμεῖς ἑωράκαμεν, ἐκεῖνα δʼ ἐν ταῖς ἱστορίαις λέγεται καὶ τὰ ἐφεξῆς.

[16] εἰς γὰρ ποταμὸν οὔτʼ οὐροῦσιν οὔτε νίπτονται Πέρσαι, οὐδὲ λούονται, οὐδὲ νεκρὸν ἐμβάλλουσιν οὐδʼ ἄλλα τῶν δοκούντων εἶναι μυσαρῶν· ὅτῳ δʼ ἂν θύσωσι θεῷ, πρώτῳ τῷ πυρὶ εὔχονται.

[17] βασιλεύονται δʼ ὑπὸ τῶν ἀπὸ γένους· ὁ δʼ ἀπειθῶν ἀποτμηθεὶς κεφαλὴν καὶ βραχίονα ῥίπτεται. γαμοῦσι δὲ πολλὰς καὶ ἅμα παλλακὰς τρέφουσι πλείους πολυτεκνίας χάριν. τιθέασι δὲ καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς ἆθλα πολυτεκνίας κατʼ ἔτος· τὰ δὲ τρεφόμενα μέχρι ἐτῶν τεττάρων οὐκ ἄγεται τοῖς γονεῦσιν εἰς ὄψιν. οἱ δὲ γάμοι κατὰ τὰς ἀρχὰς τῆς ἐαρινῆς ἰσημερίας ἐπιτελοῦνται παρέρχεται δʼ ἐπὶ τὸν θάλαμον προφαγὼν μῆλον ἢ καμήλου μυελόν, ἄλλο δʼ οὐδὲν τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην.

[18] Ἀπὸ δὲ πέντε ἐτῶν ἕως τετάρτου καὶ εἰκοστοῦ παιδεύονται τοξεύειν καὶ ἀκοντίζειν καὶ ἱππάζεσθαι καὶ ἀληθεύειν, διδασκάλοις τε λόγων τοῖς σωφρονεστάτοις χρῶνται, οἳ καὶ τὸ μυθῶδες πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον ἀνάγοντες παραπλέκουσι, καὶ μέλους χωρὶς καὶ μετʼ ᾠδῆς ἔργα θεῶν τε καὶ ἀνδρῶν τῶν ἀρίστων ἀναδιδόντες. συνάγουσι δʼ εἰς ἕνα τόπον, ψόφῳ χαλκοῦ πρὸ ὄρθρου διεγείροντες ὡς ἐπὶ ἐξοπλισίαν ἢ θήραν· τάξαντες δʼ ἀνὰ πεντήκοντα ἡγεμόνα τῶν βασιλέως τινὰ παίδων αὐτοῖς ἢ σατράπου τρέχοντι κελεύουσιν ἕπεσθαι, χωρίον ἀφορίσαντες τριάκοντα ἢ τετταράκοντα σταδίων. ἀπαιτοῦσι δὲ καὶ λόγον ἑκάστου μαθήματος, ἅμα καὶ μεγαλοφωνίαν καὶ πνεῦμα καὶ πλευρὰν ἀσκοῦντες, καὶ πρὸς καῦμα δὲ καὶ πρὸς ψῦχος καὶ ὄμβρους καὶ χειμάρρων διαβάσεις ὥστʼ ἄβροχα φυλάττειν καὶ ὅπλα καὶ ἐσθῆτα, καὶ ποιμαίνειν δὲ καὶ ἀγραυλεῖν καὶ καρποῖς ἀγρίοις χρῆσθαι, τερμίνθῳ δρυοβαλάνοις ἀχράδι¹. ἡ δὲ καθʼ ἡμέραν δίαιτα ἄρτος μετὰ τὸ γυμνάσιον καὶ μᾶζα καὶ κάρδαμον καὶ ἁλῶν χόνδρος καὶ κρέα ὀπτὰ ἢ ἑφθὰ ἐξ ὕδατος, ποτὸν δʼ ὕδωρ. θηρεύουσι δὲ σαύνια ἀφʼ ἵππων βάλλοντες καὶ τοξεύματα καὶ σφενδονῶντες. δείλης δὲ φυτουργεῖν καὶ ῥιζοτομεῖν ἀσκοῦσι καὶ ὁπλοποιεῖν καὶ λίνα καὶ ἄρκυς φιλοτεχνεῖν. οὐχ ἅπτονται δὲ τῶν θηρευμάτων οἱ παῖδες, ἀλλὰ κομίζειν οἴκαδε ἔθος. τίθεται δʼ ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ἆθλα δρόμου καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν ἐν τοῖς πεντάθλοις. κοσμοῦνται δʼ οἱ παῖδες χρυσῷ, τὸ πυρωπὸν τιθεμένων ἐν τιμῇ· διὸ οὐδὲ νεκρῷ προσφέρουσι καθάπερ οὐδὲ τὸ πῦρ κατὰ τιμήν.

[19] στρατεύονται δὲ καὶ ἄρχουσιν ἀπὸ εἴκοσιν ἐτῶν ἕως πεντήκοντα πεζοί τε καὶ ἱππεῖς· ἀγορᾶς δὲ οὐχ ἅπτονται· οὔτε γὰρ πωλοῦσιν οὔτʼ ὠνοῦνται. ὁπλίζονται δὲ γέρρῳ ῥομβοειδεῖ, παρὰ δὲ τὰς φαρέτρας σαγάρεις ἔχουσι καὶ κοπίδας, περὶ δὲ τῇ κεφαλῇ πίλημα πυργωτόν, θώραξ δʼ ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς φολιδωτός. ἐσθὴς δὲ τοῖς ἡγεμόσι μὲν ἀναξυρὶς τριπλῆ, χιτὼν δὲ χειριδωτὸς διπλοῦς ἕως γόνατος, ὁ ὑπενδύτης μὲν λευκός, ἄνθινος δʼ ὁ ἐπάνω· ἱμάτιον δὲ θέρους μὲν πορφυροῦν ἢ ἰάνθινον, χειμῶνος δʼ ἄνθινον, τιᾶραι παραπλήσιαι ταῖς τῶν Μάγων, ὑπόδημα κοῖλον διπλοῦν, τοῖς δὲ πολλοῖς χιτὼν ἕως μεσοκνημίου² διπλοῦς, ῥάκος δὲ σινδόνιόν τι περὶ τῇ κεφαλῇ· ἔχει δʼ ἕκαστος τόξον καὶ σφενδόνην. δειπνοῦσι δὲ πολυτελῶς Πέρσαι τιθέντες καὶ ὁλομελῆ καὶ πολλὰ καὶ ποικίλα· κόσμος τε λαμπρὸς στρωμνῆς ἐκπωμάτων τε καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὥστε χρυσῷ καὶ ἀργύρῳ καταλάμπεσθαι.

[20] Ἐν οἴνῳ τὰ μέγιστα βουλεύονται, καὶ βεβαιότερα τῶν ἐν νήψει τίθενται. τῶν κατὰ τὰς ὁδοὺς συναντώντων τοὺς μὲν γνωρίμους καὶ ἰσοτίμους φιλοῦσι προσιόντες, τοῖς δὲ ταπεινοτέροις παραβάλλουσι τὴν γνάθον καὶ δέχονται ταύτῃ τὸ φίλημα· οἱ δʼ ἔτι ταπεινότεροι προσκυνοῦσι μόνον. θάπτουσι δὲ κηρῷ περιπλάσαντες τὰ σώματα, τοὺς δὲ Μάγους οὐ θάπτουσιν, ἀλλʼ οἰωνοβρώτους ἐῶσι· τούτοις δὲ καὶ μητράσι συνέρχεσθαι πάτριον νενόμισται. τοιαῦτα μὲν τὰ ἔθη.

[21] ἔστι δʼ ἴσως καὶ ταῦτα τῶν ἐθίμων, ἅ φησι Πολύκλειτος. ἐν γὰρ Σούσοις ἑκάστῳ τῶν βασιλέων ἐπὶ τῆς ἄκρας ἰδίᾳ πεποιῆσθαι οἴκησιν καὶ θησαυροὺς καὶ παραθέσεις ὧν ἐπράττοντο φόρων, ὑπομνήματα τῆς οἰκονομίας· πράττεσθαι δʼ ἐκ μὲν τῆς παραλίας ἀργύριον, ἐκ δὲ τῆς μεσογαίας ἃ φέρει ἑκάστη χώρα, ὥστε καὶ χρώματα καὶ φάρμακα καὶ τρίχα ἢ ἐρέαν ἤ τι τοιοῦθʼ ἕτερον καὶ θρέμματα ὁμοίως. τὸν δὲ διατάξαντα τοὺς φόρους Δαρεῖον εἶναι³. τὸν δὲ πλεῖστον χρυσὸν καὶ ἄργυρον ἐν κατασκευαῖς εἶναι, νομίσματι δὲ οὐ πολλῷ· πρός τε τὰς δωρεὰς ἐκεῖνα κεχαρισμένα νομίζειν μᾶλλον καὶ πρὸς κειμηλίων ἀπόθεσιν· τὸ δὲ νόμισμα τὸ πρὸς τὰς χρείας ἀρκοῦν ἱκανὸν εἶναι, κόπτειν δὲ πάλιν τὸ τοῖς ἀναλώμασι σύμμετρον.

[22] τὰ μὲν οὖν ἔθη σωφρονικὰ τὰ πλείω, διὰ δὲ τὸν πλοῦτον εἰς τρυφὴν ἐξέπεσον οἱ βασιλεῖς, ὥστε πυρὸν μὲν ἐξ Ἄσσου τῆς Αἰολίδος μετῄεσαν, οἶνον δʼ ἐκ Συρίας τὸν Χαλυβώνιον, ὕδωρ δὲ ἐκ τοῦ Εὐλαίου πάντων ἐλαφρότατον ὥστʼ ἐν Ἀττικῇ κοτύλῃ δραχμῇ ἀφολκότερον εἶναι.

[23] συνέβη δὲ τοῖς Πέρσαις ἐνδοξοτάτοις γενέσθαι τῶν βαρβάρων παρὰ τοῖς Ἕλλησιν, ὅτι τῶν μὲν ἄλλων οὐδένες τῶν τῆς Ἀσίας ἀρξάντων Ἑλλήνων ἦρξαν, οὐδʼ ᾔδεισαν οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνοι τούτους οὔθʼ οἱ Ἕλληνες τοὺς βαρβάρους ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ μικρὸν μόνον ἐκ τῆς πόρρωθεν ἀκοῆς. Ὅμηρος γοῦν οὔτε τὴν τῶν Σύρων οὔτε τὴν τῶν Μήδων ἀρχὴν οἶδεν· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν Θήβας Αἰγυπτίας ὀνομάζων καὶ τὸν ἐκεῖ καὶ τὸν ἐν Φοινίκῃ πλοῦτον, τὸν ἐν Βαβυλῶνι καὶ Νίνῳ καὶ Ἐκβατάνοις παρεσιώπησε. πρῶτοι δὲ Πέρσαι⁴ Ἑλλήνων ἐπῆρξαν, Λυδοὶ δὲ ἐπῆρξαν μέν, ἀλλʼ οὔτε τῆς Ἀσίας ὅλης ἀλλὰ μέρους τινὸς μικροῦ τοῦ ἐντὸς Ἅλυος μόνον, καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐπʼ ὀλίγον χρόνον τὸν κατὰ Κροῖσον καὶ Ἀλυάττην. κρατηθέντες δʼ ὑπὸ Περσῶν, εἰ καί τι τῆς δόξης ἦν αὐτοῖς, ἀφῃρέθησαν τοῦθʼ ὑπʼ ἐκείνων. Πέρσαι δʼ ἀφʼ οὗ κατέλυσαν τὰ Μήδων εὐθὺς καὶ Λυδῶν ἐκράτησαν καὶ τοὺς κατὰ τὴν Ἀσίαν Ἕλληνας ὑπηκόους ἔσχον· ὕστερον δὲ καὶ διέβησαν εἰς τὴν Ἑλλάδα, καὶ ἡττηθέντες πολλοῖς καὶ * πολλάκις ἀγῶσιν ὅμως διετέλεσαν τὴν Ἀσίαν μέχρι τῶν ἐπὶ θαλάττῃ τόπων κατέχοντες ἕως ὑπὸ Μακεδόνων κατεπολεμήθησαν.

[24] ̔ο μὲν οὖν εἰς τὴν ἡγεμονίαν καταστήσας αὐτοὺς Κῦρος ἦν· διαδεξάμενος δὲ τοῦτον Καμβύσης υἱὸς ὑπὸ τῶν Μάγων κατελύθη· τούτους δʼ ἀνελόντες οἱ ἑπτὰ Πέρσαι Δαρείῳ τῷ Ὑστάσπεω παρέδοσαν τὴν ἀρχήν· εἶθʼ οἱ ἀπὸ τούτου διαδεχόμενοι κατέληξαν εἰς Ἄρσην, ὃν ἀποκτείνας Βαγῶος ὁ εὐνοῦχος κατέστησε Δαρεῖον οὐκ ὄντα τοῦ γένους τῶν βασιλέων. τοῦτον δὲ καταλύσας Ἀλέξανδρος αὐτὸς ἦρξε * δέκα ἢ ἕνδεκα ἔτη· εἶτʼ εἰς πλείους τοὺς διαδεξαμένους καὶ τοὺς ἐπιγόνους τούτων μερισθεῖσα ἡ ἡγεμονία τῆς Ἀσίας διελύθη· συνέμεινε δʼ ὅσον πεντήκοντα ἐπὶ τοῖς διακοσίοις ἔτη. νῦν δʼ ἤδη καθʼ αὑτοὺς συνεστῶτες οἱ Πέρσαι βασιλέας ἔχουσιν ὑπηκόους ἑτέροις βασιλεῦσι, πρότερον μὲν Μακεδόσι νῦν δὲ Παρθυαίοις.

Notes on the current edition

Geography

1. The Arosis of Arrian, now the Tab.

2. This passage is very corrupt, and many words, according to Kramer, appear to be omitted. See b. ii. c i. § 26. We read with Groskurd Media for Caspian Gates in the text: and insert 9000 stadia, here from b. ii. c. i. § 26, and, following the same authority, 3000 for 2000 stadia in the text below.

3. Persae, v. 17 and 118.

4. Pasa or Fesa.

5. Taug or Taüog, on the river Grâ.

6. The Uxii occupied the district of Asciac.

7. There seems little doubt that the Karun represents the ancient Eulaeus (on which some authors state Susa to have been situated), and the Kerkhah the old Choaspes. See Smith, art. Choaspes.

8. Groskurd adds 1000 stadia to this amount.

9. Quin. Curtius, v. 10. Diod. Sic. xvii. 67.

10. Ab-Zal.

11. Hollow Persis.

12. Bendamir.

13. The capital of Paraetacene is Ispahan.

14. Probably the Ab-Kuren.

15. Pasa or Fesa.

16. Orxines, Quint. Cur. x. c. 1.

17. For sacrifice to Cyrus. Arrian, vi. c. 29.

18. Arrian adds, Son of Cambyses.

19. Groskurd reads, ἅλλεσθαι, hops or jumps up.

20. Founded probably by the Macedonians.

21. The Elymaei reached to the Persian Gulf. Ptolem. vi. 1. They appear to have left vestiges of their name in that of a gulf, and a port called Delem.

22. The account of the Persians is taken from Herodotus, i. 131, etc.

23. According to Herodotus, the priest who sacrificed was crowded.

24. Roused the sacred fire, as the law bids, Touching the god with consecrated wand. Athenoeus xii. 40, p. 850. Bohn’s Classical Library.

25. i. e. who kindle fire.

26. i. e. places where fire s kindled.

27. B. xi. c. viii. § 4.

28. Not the same plant as mentioned above, c. i. § 10, but the pistacia terebinthus.

29. An interpolation. The Cardaces were not Persians, but foreign soldiers. Barbari milites quos Persae Cardacas appellant, (Cornel. Nepos,) without doubt were Assyrian and Armenian Carduci. See b. xvi. c. i. § 24, and 3enoph. Anab. iv. 3. Later Gordyaei or Gordyeni, now the Kurds. Groskurd.

30. Cardamum is probably the lepidum perfoliatum of Linnaeus, or the nasturtium orientale of Tournefort. 3enophon also, Expedit. Cyr. iii. 5 and vii. 8, speaks of the great use made of this plant by the Persians.

31. The length of the arms and the surname Longhand here given to Darius are assigned by others to Artaxerxes. It was in fact the latter to whom this surname was given, according to Plutarch, in consequence of the right arm being longer than the left. Therefore Falconer considers this passage an interpolation. Coraÿ.

32. This, says Gossellin, may account for the rarity of the Persian Darius, badly struck, and coined long before the time of Alexander, and appearing to belong to a period anterior to the reign of Darius Hystaspes.

33. Chalybon was the name of the modern Aleppo, but the wine of Damascus must have possessed the same qualities, and had the same name. The Chalybonean wine, Posidonius says, is made in Damascus in Syria, from vines which were planted there by the Persians. Athenoeus, b. i page 46, Bohn’s Classical Library

34. In the text ten or eleven years, which reading is contrary to all other authorities, and is rejected by Kramer.

35. This is only an approximation. From the conquest of the Medes by Cyrus to the death of Darius Codomanus, last king of Persia, is a period of 225 years.

Strabo Geography 15.3

Hans Claude Hamilton (Translator), William Falconer (Translator)

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