Page 340 Army, concluded (as the thing was in truth) that they were likeliest first to feel and undergo the pressure and weight of the War; and therefore determin'd that all the Corn and other Fruits of the Field, and every thing else that was valuable, should be brought out of the Country into the City: For at that time both the City and Country of the Agrigentines were very rich; of which it will not be inconvenient to say something here more largely. Their Vineyards were large and very pleasant, and most part of the Country abounded with Olives, so much as that they were transported and sold at Carthage. For inasmuch as Africa at that time was not planted with this sort of Fruit, the Agrigentines grew very rich by their Trading with the Lybians. Many Marks of their great Wealth remain to this very Day; to speak a little of which, I conceive will not be a digression from the present Subject.
And First, The stately. Buildings and Ornaments of their Temples, especially the Temple of Jupiter, do sufficiently witness the Grandeur and Riches of the Men of that Age. The rest of the Sacred Buildings, are either burnt or destroy'd by the frequent Stormings of that City. When the Temple of Jupiter Olympus was near to the laying on the Roof, a stop was put to the Building by the War; and the City being afterwards sackt, the Agrigentines were never able (from that time to this Day) to finish it. This Temple at Agrigentum was Three Hundred and Forty Foot in length, Threescore in breadth, and in height (besides the Foundation,) an Hundred and Twenty. It's the greatest in the Island, and for the largeness of its Foundation, may compare with any other elsewhere: For though the Design was never finished, yet the ancient Platform is still visible; for whereas some build up their Temples only with Walls, or compass them round with Pillars, this is built both with the one and the other; for together with the Walls, there rise lofty Pillars round on the outside of the Wall, and Foursquare within. The Compass of every one of these Pillars on the outside, are Twenty Foot, and so far distant one from another, as that a Man may well stand between each; within they are of the compass of Twelve Foot. The largeness and height of the Portico's are wonderful; on the East Side of which, is carv'd the Giants War; of exquisite and incomparable Workmanship. On the West Side is carv'd the Destruction of Troy, where may be seen all the brave Heroes and Commanders in their proper Habits, most admirably represented. In those former times likewise there was a Pond out of the Walls of the City cut by Art, Seven Furlongs in Compass and Twenty Cubits in depth: Into this, with wonderful Art, were drawn Currents of Water, by which they were abundantly supply'd with all sorts of Fish ready for their use, at all publick Entertainments. Upon this Pond likewise fell Multitudes of Swans and other Fowl which entertain'd the Spectators with great Delight.
The Grandeur of the City was likewise apparent, by the stateliness of the Sepulchers, some of which were adorn'd with the charging Horses of the Heroes there interr'd; others with those little Birds that the Children, both Girls and Boys fed and bred up in their Parents Houses. All which, Timeus affirms he saw in his time. In the Ninety Second Olympiad there were no less than Three Hundred Chariots of Agrigentum all with white Horses, that attended upon Exenetus, the Victor at the Olypmick Games, and brought him mounted in a stately Chariot with great Pomp into the City. Their nice and delicate way of Living (till it came to their very Children) both as to their Food and Raiment, was to that degree, that they wore Garments of Cloth of Gold, and had their Water-Pots and Boxes of Ointment, of Gold and Silver. There was one Gellias the Richest Man of all the Agrigentines, at that time, who built several Rooms for publick Entertainment in his own House, and plac'd Porters at his Gates, charging them to invite all Strangers that pass'd by, to come in to be his Guests. Many others of the Agrigentines imitated his Example, who made it their business (after the ancient manner) to converse freely and courteously with them they thus invited. And therefore Empedocles says thus of them—
The Histories of Herodotus written in 440 BC is considered to be the founding work of history in Western literature. His history included stories and fables but he claimed to have traveled extensively and learned about many countries through direct observation.
The thesis of Stolen Legacy is that the Egyptians created what is wrongly called Greek philosophy. Dr. James argues that the African origin of Greek Philosophy is well known but rarely discussed. Ancient Greek historians such as Herodotus and Diodorus the Sicilian wrote in significant detail about the contributions of Egypt. Egyptian technology and libraries were unmatched and Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato studied there. The contribution of Africa to the intellectual foundation of modern knowledge is tremendous but unacknowledged.
The Library of History by Diodorus the Sicilian is one of the most highly regarded universal histories in antiquities. His work includes the history of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece and Europe. His book is a must read for research of ancient history.
Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.