Greek Texts & Translations

39

What truth there may be in these things I cannot say; they have at least been regarded and believed as true by mankind. Hence prophets received so much honour as to be thought worthy even of thrones, because they were supposed to communicate ordinances and precepts from the gods, both during their lifetime and after their death; as for example Teiresias, to whom alone Proserpine gave wisdom and understanding after death: the others flit about as shadows.
Od. xix. 494. Such were Amphiaraus, Trophonius, Orpheus, and Musaeus: in former times there was Zamolxis, a Pythagorean, who was accounted a god among the Getae; and in our time, Decaeneus, the diviner of Byrebistas. Among the Bosporani, there was Achaicarus; among the Indians, were the Gymnosophists; among the Persians, the Magi and Necyomanteis, ^note and besides these the Lecanomanteis ^note and Hydromanteis; ^note among the Assyrians, were the Chaldaeans; and among the Romans, the Tyrrhenian diviners of dreams. ^note

Such was Moses and his successors; their beginning was good, but they degenerated. 40

When Judaea openly became subject to a tyrannical government, the first person who exchanged the title of priest for that of king was Alexander. ^note His sons were Hyrcanus and Aristobulus. While they were disputing the succession to the kingdom, Pompey came upon them by surprise, deprived them of their power, and destroyed their fortresses, first taking Jerusalem itself by storm. ^note It was a stronghold, situated on a rock, well fortified and well supplied with water ^note