Fragment 1. ALexander fled out of the Fight with 500 Men to a City in Arabia, call'd Abas, to Diocles the Prince there; with whom he had before entrusted his Son Antiochus, a Child of very tender Age. Afterwards the Chief Commanders who were about Heliades (and had been with Alexander) plotting to assassinate Alexander, sent away some Messengers privately from among themselves, promising secretly to Murder him. Demetrius consenting to what they propos'd, they became both Traitors and Murderers of their Prince. We might be justly condemn'd if we should pass in silence that which happen'd before the death of Alexander, tho' for the strangeness of the thing it be scarce credible. King Alexander a little before these times, consulted with the Oracle in Silicia, where they say is the Temple of Apollo of Sarpedon: and it is reported that the Oracle made Answer, that he should take heed of that place which should bring forth a God of two shapes. This Divine Hint was then taken for a Riddle: but after the King was dead, the Truth was discover'd in this manner. For in Abas a City of Arabia dwelt one Diophantus a Macedonian. This Man Marry'd an Arabian Woman, by whom he had a Son, call'd after his own Name, and a Daughter call'd Heraides: His Son dy'd while he was young: But he gave a Portion to his Daughter when she was grown up, and Marry'd her to one Semiades, who, after he had liv'd with his Bride one year, undertook a long Journey: In the mean time (it is reported) that Heraides fell into a strange and wonderful distemper, such as is scarce credible. For she had a vehement Inflammation, and a great Swelling at the bottom of her Belly, which increas'd to that degree, that it brought her into a violent Feaver. The Physitians conceiv'd that it was an Ulcer about the neck of the Matrix; Refrigerating Medicines and Plaisters therefore were apply'd to bring down and cool those hot burning Tumors; upon the Seventh day the Humour burst, and out started from the Privy Parts of Heraides, a Man's Yard with the Testicles compleat. This hapned when neither Physitian nor any other Stranger was present, but only the Mother and Two Servants: who with the strangeness of the thing, were struck into a Maze. However, they made it their Care and Business to cure her, and kept all private to themselves. And when she was recover'd, she still wore a Womans Habit, and manag'd the Affairs of the House as Wives use to do. But those who were privy to what had hapned, suspected her to be an Hermaphrodite. And so, tho' formerly in carnal Embraces with her Husband, there might be no natural copulation, yet she had been seen frequently to have the carnal knowledge of Women. In the mean time while all things were kept secret, Semiades returns and demands his Wife, (as was very fit and reasonable.) And being continually urgent and pressing for the society of his Wife, the Father refus'd, and yet was asham'd to declare the reason, which occasion'd great dissention, so far as that the Husband resolv'd to sue the Father for his Wife: So that this wonder was expos'd to the publick view, like a Play upon the Stage, by the means of a criminal Accusation. The Person contended for was present in Court when the Matter was Banded to and fro, on either parties behalf; Upon which, the Judges were in doubt whether the Power and Authority of the Husband over the Wife, should be preferr'd before that of the Father over the Daughter. At length, when they were ready to give Sentence that the Wife should abide with her Husband, she discover'd the truth of the whole matter, and with great boldness and assurance of Mind threw off her feign'd Habit, and discover'd her self to be a Man to all that were there present, and in a surly manner utter'd these words. Can any compel one Man to Marry another? Upon which all were amaz'd, and set up a shout of Admiration at the strangeness of the thing. Heraides being now discover'd, afterwards (as is reported) chang'd her Womans Attire and put on the Habit of a young Man. And it's likewise said, that the Physitians when they saw those parts of the Woman, judg'd that the nature of the Male lay hid in the Womb of the Female (in a place in shape like an Egg) and that in the thin skarf or skin, that wrap'd about the Yard, was an unusual hole, through which the Urine pass'd. And that therefore they declar'd that the place first being pierc'd and made like an hollow pipe, should be turn'd into a green Wound, and at length brought to a Scab, and when the Yard was reduc'd to it's proper shape, that sutable Remedies should be apply'd for the cure of the Patient. Heraides was afterwards call'd Diophantus, and serv'd in the King's Camp in a Regiment of Horse, and then resided with the King at Abas. At that time therefore was the meaning of the Oracle understood, which was before dark and obscure; when 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.