Diodorus Siculus

BOOK XVI - The Library of History



Page 499

CHAP. IX.


Evagoras beheaded in Cyprus. Artaxerxes marches against Aegypt, and gains all Aegypt by the Policy of Mentor. Lost many of his Men at the Lake of Sorbon. Mentor advanc'd Mentor's Stratagem to subdue Hemias, Prince of Aterne. Zena raz'd by Philip. The King of Aegypt Abdicates his Kingdom, and flies to Aethiopia.


AFterward,, Apollodorus being Chief Magistrate at Athens, and Marcus Valerius and Caius Sulpitius, Roman Consuls, all the Cities of Cyprus surrender'd themselves to the Persians, excepting Salamis, which was then besieg'd by Evagoras and Phocian, and which Protogoras, King of Salamis, stoutly defended.

In the mean time, Evagoras endeavour'd to regain the Kingdom of his Ancestors, and contriv'd to be restor'd to his Ancient Right by the help of the Persian King. But being afterwards accus'd before Artaxerxes (who thereupon reliev'd Protogoras) he laid aside all hopes of being restor'd, and having afterwards clear'd himself of all that was laid to his Charge, he was intrusted with the Government of a larger Province in Asia, which he so misgovern'd, that he was forc'd to fly again into Cyprus, where being seiz'd he had his Head struck off. But Protogoras voluntarily submitting himself to the Persian King, kept the Kingdom of Salamis without any Rival for the time to come.

In the mean time, the King of Persia, after the Ruine of Sidon, being join'd with the Forces that came from Argos, Thebes, and the ancient Cities, march'd with his whole Army against Aegypt. When he came to the Great Lough or Lake, through ignorance of the Places, he lost part of his Army in the Boggs there, call'd Barrathra. But in regard we have before in the First Book, spoken of the Nature of this Lake, and the strange Things there happening, we shall now forbear to repeat them.

Having pass'd these Gulphs he came to Pelusium, the first Mouth of the River Nile, where it enters into the Sea. Here the Graecians lay close to the City, but the Persians Encamp'd forty Furlongs off.

In the mean while, the Aegyptians (in regard the Persians had given them a long time to prepare all things necessary for the War) had made strong Defences and Fortifications at all the Mouths of Nile, especially at Pelusium, because it was the First and most conveniently situated; where Five thousand Men were in Garison, under the Command of Philophoron. The Thebans, above all the Graecians, had a Desire to evidence their Valour, and to that end they first of all valiantly attempted to force the Trench, which was both Straight and Deep, and carried it; but as soon as they had gain'd it, those of the Garison made a Sally, upon which there was a sharp Engagement; insomuch as the Dispute was very hot on both sides, and continu'd all the Day, the Night scarcely putting an end to the Contest.

The next day the King divided the Greeks into three Brigades; every one had a Greek Commander, with whom was join'd a Persian Officer, such as was most esteem'd for Valour and Loyalty.

The First Brigade was of the Baeotians, under the Command of Lacrates, a Theban, and Rosaces, a Persian. This Rosaces was descended from some of those seven Persians who depos'd the Magi, and was Governor of Ionia and Lydia; He led a great Body both of Horse and Foot, all of Barbarians.

The Second Brigade was of the Argives, Commanded by Nicostratus, with whom was Aristazanes, a Persian, who was employ'd as an Envoy in all the King's special Affairs, and next to Bagoas, the Trustiest and Chiefest of his Friends: He had Five thousand Soldiers, and Fourscore Galleys under his Command.

The Third Brigade was led by Mentor, he who betray'd Sidon, who formerly commanded the Mercenaries: His Collegue was Bagoas, a bold Fellow, and none more ready in of executing any Villany, in whom the King put great Confidence. He commanded the Greeks that were the King's Subjects, and a great Body of Barbarians, besides a considerable Navy. The King kept the rest of the Army with himself, and was very careful in Managing and Overseeing the whole Concern of the War.

The Army of the Persians thus divided, Nectabanus the King of Aegypt, (though he was far short in Number) neither valu'd the Multitude, nor the Division of the Persian Troops: For he had in his Army Twenty thousand Graecian Mercenaries, as many Africans, and Threescore thousand Aegyptians, by them call'd Warriors; and besides these,


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