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hey maintain that they are the aboriginal inhabitants of the part of the mainland where they now dwell； and never had any other name than that which they still bear； and in proof of this they show an ancient temple of Carian Jove in the country of the Mylasians； in which the Mysians and Lydians have the right of worshipping； as brother races to the Carians： for Lydus and Mysus； they say； were brothers of Car。 These nations； therefore； have the aforesaid right； but such as are of a different race； even though they have come to use the Carian tongue； are excluded from this temple。 The Caunians； in my judgment； are aboriginals； but by their own account they came from Crete。 In their language； either they have approximated to the Carians； or the Carians to them… on this point I cannot speak with certainty。 In their customs； however； they differ greatly from the Carians； and not only so； but from all other men。 They think it a most honourable practice for friends or persons of the same age； whether they be men； women； or children； to meet together in large companies； for the purpose of drinking wine。 Again； on one occasion they determined that they would no longer make use of the foreign temples which had been long established among them； but would worship their own old ancestral gods alone。 Then their whole youth took arms； and striking the air with their spears； marched to the Calyndic frontier； declaring that they were driving out the foreign gods。 The Lycians are in good truth anciently from Crete； which island； in former days； was wholly peopled with barbarians。 A quarrel arising there between the two sons of Europa； Sarpedon and Minos； as to which of them should be king； Minos； whose party prevailed； drove Sarpedon and his followers into banishment。 The exiles sailed to Asia； and landed on the Milyan territory。 Milyas was the ancient name of the country now inhabited by the Lycians： the Milyae of the present day were； in those times； called Solymi。 So long as Sarpedon reigned； his followers kept the name which they brought with them from Crete； and were called Termilae； as the Lycians still are by those who live in their neighbourhood。 But after Lycus； the son of Pandion； banished from Athens by his brother Aegeus had found a refuge with Sarpedon in the country of these Termilae； they came； in course of time； to be called from him Lycians。 Their customs are partly Cretan； partly Carian。 They have； however； one singular custom in which they differ from every other nation in the world。 They take the mother's and not the father's name。 Ask a Lycian who he is； and he answers by giving his own name； that of his mother； and so on in the female line。 Moreover； if a free woman marry a man who is a slave； their children are full citizens； but if a free man marry a foreign woman； or live with a concubine； even though he be the first person in the State； the children forfeit all the rights of citizenship。 Of these nations； the Carians submitted to Harpagus without performing any brilliant exploits。 Nor did the Greeks who dwelt in Caria behave with any greater gallantry。 Among them were the Cnidians； colonists from Lacedaemon； who occupy a district facing the sea； which is called Triopium。 This region adjoins upon the Bybassian Chersonese； and； except a very small space； is surrounded by the sea； being bounded on the north by the Ceramic Gulf； and on the south by the channel towards the islands of Syme and Rhodes。 While Harpagus was engaged in the conquest of Ionia； the Cnidians； wishing to make their country an island； attempted to cut through this narrow neck of land； which was no more than five furlongs across from sea to sea。 Their whole territory lay inside the isthmus； for where Cnidia ends towards the mainland； the isthmus begins which they were now seeking to cut through。 The work had been commenced； and many hands were employed upon it； when it was observed that there seemed to be something unusual and unnatural in the number of wounds that the workmen received； especially about their eyes； from the splintering of the rock。 The Cnidians； therefore； sent to Delphi； to inquire what it was that hindered their efforts； and received； according to their own account； the following answer from the oracle：…
Fence not the isthmus off； nor dig it through… Jove would have made an island； had he wished。
So the Cnidians ceased digging； and when Harpagus advanced with his army； they gave themselves up to him without striking a blow。 Above Halicarnassus and further from the coast； were the Pedasians。 With this people； when any evil is about to befall either themselves or their neighbours； the priestess of Minerva grows an ample beard。 Three times has this marvel happened。 They alone； of all the dwellers in Caria； resisted Harpagus for a while； and gave him much trouble； maintaining themselves in a certain mountain called Lida； which they had fortified； but in course of time they also were forced to submit。 When Harpagus； after these successes； led his forces into the Xanthian plain； the Lycians of Xanthus went out to meet him in the field： though but a small band against a numerous host； they engaged in battle； and performed many glorious exploits。 Overpowered at last； and forced within their walls； they collected into the citadel their wives and children； all their treasures； and their slaves； and having so done； fired the building； and burnt it to the ground。 After this； they bound themselves together by dreadful oaths； and sallying forth against the enemy； died sword in hand； not one escaping。 Those Lycians who now claim to be Xanthians； are foreign immigrants； except eighty families； who happened to be absent from the country； and so survived the others。 Thus was Xanthus taken by Harpagus； and Caunus fell in like manner into his hands； for the Caunians in the main followed the example of the Lycians。 While the lower parts of Asia were in this way brought under by Harpagus； Cyrus in person subjected the upper regions； conquering every nation； and not suffering one to escape。 Of these conquests I shall pass by the greater portion； and give an account of those only which gave him the most trouble； and are the worthiest of mention。 When he had brought all the rest of the continent under his sway； he made war on the Assyrians。 Assyria possesses a vast number of great cities； whereof the most renowned and strongest at this time was Babylon； whither； after the fall of Nineveh； the seat of government had been removed。 The following is a description of the place：… The city stands on a broad plain； and is an exact square； a hundred and twenty furlongs in length each way； so that the entire circuit is four hundred and eighty furlongs。 While such is its size； in magnificence there is no other city that approaches to it。 It is surrounded； in the first place； by a broad and deep moat； full of water； behind which rises a wall fifty royal cubits in width； and two hundred in height。 （The royal cubit is longer by three fingers' breadth than the common cubit。） And here I may not omit to tell the use to which the mould dug out of the great moat was turned； nor the manner wherein the wall was wrought。 As fast as they dug the moat the soil which they got from the cutting was made into bricks； and when a sufficient number were completed they baked the bricks in kilns。 Then they set to building； and began with bricking the borders of the moat； after which they proceeded to construct the wall itself； using throughout for their cement hot bitumen； and interposing a layer of wattled reeds at every thirtieth course of the bricks。 On the top； along the edges of the wall； they constructed buildings of a single chamber facing one another； leaving between them room for a four…horse chariot to turn。 In the circuit of the wall are a hundred gates； all of brass； with brazen lintels and side…posts。 The bitumen used in the work was brought to Babylon from the Is； a small stream which flows into the Euphrates at the point where the city of the same name stands； eight days' journey from Babylon。 Lumps of bitumen are found in great abundance in this river。 The city is divided into two portions by the river which runs through the midst of it。 This river is the Euphrates； a broad； deep； swift stream； which rises in Armenia； and empties itself into the Erythraean sea。 The city wall is brought down on both sides to the edge of the stream： thence； from the corners of the wall； there is carried along each bank of the river a fence of burnt bricks。 The houses are mostly three and four stories high； the streets all run in straight lines； not only those parallel to the river； but also the cross streets which lead down to the water…side。 At the river end of these cross streets are low gates in the fence that skirts the stream； which are； like the great gates in the outer wall； of brass； and open on the water。 The outer wall is the main defence of the city。 There is； however； a second inner wall； of less thickness than the first； but very little inferior to it in strength。 The centre of each division of the town was occupied by a fortress。 In the one stood the palace of the kings； surrounded by a wall of great strength and size： in the other was the