Page 681 into a suddain and unexpected misfortune through an inevitable necessity. For the Greeks exposing the Prisoners they took abroad in the Fields, to be Marks to their own fellow Citizens, they were constrain'd either to fall into the Enemies hands, by sparing their Townsmen, or unmercifully to kill a great number of miserable Creatures in defending of the City; as in truth it happen'd. For while they repuls'd the Enemy with all sorts of Darts and Arrows, and other Weapons, the same time as they wounded and gall'd them that manag'd the Engine, at the same time they wounded the Citizens that hung at it, shooting some through, and fastning others with their Darts and Arrows as with Nails, to that part of the Machine towards which the Body happen'd to move, so that their Ignominy and Misfortune resembled that of the Cross. And thus some suffer'd (as Fortune order'd it) by the hands of their near Relations and Friends; Extremity and Necessity not allowing any Consideration of natural Relation.
Agathocles perceiving the Townsmen to defie all danger, and throw off all Regard and Affection to their Countrymen, begirt the City round, and made a violent Assault upon a part of the Wall where it was weakest, and there broke through into the City; upon which, some fled into their Houses, and others into the Temples: Agathocles being enrag'd, fill'd all places with Blood and Slaughter: Some were kill'd in heat of Fight, others that were taken pris'ners were hang'd up afterwards; and those that fled to the Temples and Altars were altogether frustrated of their hopes. After he had rifl'd and plunder'd the Town, he left a Garrison in it, and march'd to the Cittadel call'd the Horse-Castle, naturally defended by a Lough adjoyning to it: But he took it by Storm after a close Siege, and a sharp Fight with the Inhabitants upon the Water with his Gallies. Thus having subu'd the Cities, he brought most of the Sea Coasts, and those that inhabited in the heart of the Country, under his own Power; except the Numidians, part of whom made Peace with him, and the rest were in continual expectation to fight it out to the last.
Africa was at that time divided into four sorts of Inhabitants, That is to say, The Poeni, who inhabited Carthage. The Libyan Poeni who had many Cities upon the Tracts lying to the Sea Shoar; who being conjoyn'd in Affinity by Marriages with the Carthaginians, were call'd by this Name that imported the Denomination of both People. The most Ancient Inhabitants, and most numerous of all the rest were call'd Africans, who hated the Carthaginians to the death, by reason of the severity of their Government. The last are the Numidians, who hold a vast Tract of Lybia as far as to the very Desarts.
But Agathocles, tho' he was now, by the help of his Confederates, and the Valour of his own Army, Conqueror over the Carthaginians, yet being much concern'd for the Affairs of Sicily, he built some open Vessels, and Skiffs, row'd with Fifty Oars apiece, and put on board Two thousand Soldiers, and loos'd from Africa with his whole Fleet towards Sicily, leaving his Son Archagathus Chief Commander and Governor of Lybia.
While these things were acting Xenodocus General of the Agrigentines having freed many of the Cities, and rais'd the hopes of the Sicilians that they should all be restor'd to their Ancient Liberties throughout the whole Island, led out his Forces against Agathocles his Captains, having with him above Ten thousand Foot, and almost a Thousand Horse. Leptines and Demophilus on the other hand, having got together as great an Army as possibly they could out of Syracuse, and the neighbouring Garrisons, encamp'd against him with Eight thousand and Two hundred Foot, and Twelve hundred Horse. At length there was a sharp Engagement between the two Armies, in which Xenodocus was routed, and lost Fifteen hundred of his Men, and was forc'd to fly to Agrigentum. The Agrigentines weaken'd by this loss, left off their Honourable Design, and frustrated the hopes wherewith they had fill'd the Hearts of the Confederates. Presently after the Battle, Agathocles landed at Selinunt in Sicily, and shortly forc'd the Heracleots, who had regain'd their Liberty, to stoop again to his Government: Thence marching into another part of the Island he brought under the Thermites, (whose City was held by a Carthaginian Garrison) and receiv'd Hostages of them. Then he took Cephaloedium, and made Leptines Governor. Then marching up into the heart of the Country, he attempted to have enter'd Centorippa in the night by the help of a Faction he had in the City: But the Treachery being discover'd the Garrison Soldiers fell in upon him and drave him out of the Town, with the loss of above Five hundred of his Men. After this, some of the Apolloniats sent to him, and promis'd to deliver up their City; whereupon he forthwith made thither. But the Traitors being apprehended and punished, he made nothing of it the first Day; but the next, after many hardships, and the loss of many of his Men, he at length with much ado gain'd the place; and putting multitudes of the Apelloniats to the
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.