Page 771 this Man Till'd a large compass of Land, and had a vast Stock of Cattle, initiated the Luxury and Cruelty of the Italians towards their Slaves. For being carry'd in a Coach drawn with stately Horses, he travers'd the Country up and down, guarded with a company of Arm'd Slaves; he carry'd likewise about with him continually many beautiful Boys, Flatterers and Parasites; and in the City and Villages had his Silver Vessels curiously wrought, and all sorts of Purple Carpets of very great value; and made Magnificent Feasts and Entertainments, after the State and Grandeur of a King, in Pomp and Expence far surpassing the Persian Luxury, and as much as all other Men in Pride and Arrogancy. For being rude, and never bred up with Learning, or any liberal Education, and having heap'd up a great deal of Wealth, and himself left to a licentious Liberty, without controul; he first from fulness and plenty became insolent, and at last was a plague to himself, and occasion of bringing many Miseries and Calamities upon the Country. For having bought many Slaves, he abus'd them in the highest degree; And those that were Free born in their own Country, and taken Captives in War, he stigmatiz'd in their Cheeks with the sharp points of Iron Pins, some of which he sent bound in Fetters to the Goals, and to others that were order'd to look after the Cattle in the Fields, he neither allow'd Cloaths, nor Food sufficient to satisfie Nature.
5. The Barbarity and Cruelty of this Damophilus was such, that never a day pass'd wherein he scourg'd not his Slaves, without the least cause or occasion. And his Wife Megallis was as cruel as himself, towards the Maid-Servants, and other Slaves that fell into her Hands. The Slaves therefore being thus provok'd by the cruelty of their Master and Mistriss, concluding they could not be brought into a worse condition than they then were, rose up all on a sudden.
6. In Sicily Demophilus had a young Daughter of a very gentle and courteous Disposition, who made it her business to relieve and heal those Slaves that had been abus'd and scourg'd by her Parents, and to bring Meat to them that were in prison; so that she was wonderfully belov'd by all the Servants, insomuch, as in remembrance of her former Kindness, all had compassion of her, and were so far from offering any violence or injury to the young Maid, that every one of them made it their business to preserve her Chastity unviolated; and chose some out of their own company, the most expeditious amongst them to conduct her to Catana to some of her Friends.
7. After Eunus was declar'd King, he put many to death, and spar'd only those that for the sake of his Prophecies commended him at their Feasts, to which his Master Antigenes us'd to bring him to make sport; those likewise that were so kind as in a jest to give him part of the Dainties with them, he preserv'd; so that the strange turn of Fortune was to be admir'd, and that Kindness shew'd to such mean and inconsiderable Persons should occasion so great Favour and Respect, at a time when it was so welcome and seasonable.
8. About the same time broke out another Rebellion of the Slaves; one Cleon a Sicilian near Mount Taurus inur'd to Robberies from a Boy, being appointed to look to the Horses in their Pastures in Sicily, beset the High Ways, and committed hainous Murders up and down the Country. This Fellow hearing of the good Fortune of Eunus and his Followers, having persuaded some of the neighbouring Slaves to join with him, on a sudden Revolted, Wasted and Spoil'd the City Agrigentum, and all the neighbouring Country round about.
9. In Asia, Attalus being newly come to the Crown, began to manage Affairs in a way far different from all the former Kings; for they by their Clemency and Kindness to their Subjects, Reign'd prosperously and Happily themselves, and were a Blessing to the Kingdom; but this Prince being of a Cruel and Bloody Disposition, oppress'd his Subjects with many Slaughters, and grievous Calamities: Suspecting that some of his own Relations that were Potent, and Men of Interest, were Plotting against him, he resolv'd to rid himself of them; to that end he pickt out some of the most Covetous and Bloody Fellows from among his Barbarian Mercenary Soldiers, and hid them in certain Vaults in the Palace; and then sending for such of his Friends and Kindred as he was most jealous of, when he had them there, he cut all their Throats by those bloody Executioners of his Cruelty, and forthwith ordered their Wives and Children to be put to death after the same manner.
The rest of his Father's Friends that either had Command in the Army, or were Governors of Cities, he either caus'd to be treacherously Assassinated, or seizing them, Murther'd them and their Families together. Being therefore hated not only by his Subjects, but by all the neighbouring Nations, all within his Dominions, endeavour'd as much as they could to bring about a Revolution and Change of Government.
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.