#herotodus

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original post

probably the original consipracy theorist

"This, it is said, was the first outrage which Cambyses committed. The second was the slaying of his sister, who had accompanied him into Egypt, and lived with him as his wife, though she was his full sister, the daughter both of his father and his mother. The way wherein he had made her his wife was the following: - It was not the custom of the Persians, before this time, to marry their sisters - but Cambyses, happening to fall in love with one of his, and wishing to take her to wife, as he knew that it was an uncommon thing, called together the royal judges, and put it to them, 'whether there was any law which allowed a brother, if he wished, to marry his sister?' Now the royal judges are certain picked men among the Persians, who hold their office for life, or until they are found guilty of some misconduct. By them justice is administered in Persia, and they are the interpreters of the old laws, all disputes being referring to their decision. When Cambyses, therefore, put his question to these judges, the gave him an answer which was at once true and safe - 'they did not find any law,' the said, 'allowing a brother to take his sister to wife, but they found a law, that the king of the Persians might do whatever he pleased.' And so they neither warped the law through fear of Cambyses, nor ruined themselves by over stiffly maintaining the law; but they brought another quite distinct law to the king's help, which allowed him to have his wish."

"The following is the way in which the loss of Smyrna happened. Certain men of Colophon had been engaged in a sedition there, and being the weaker party, were driven by the others into banishment. The Smyrnaens received the fugitives, who, after a time, watching their opportunity, while the inhabitants were celebrating a feast to Bacchus outside the walls, shut to the gates, and so got possession of the town."

f*ck off with your martyr complex Cawkwell

friends are telling me that he’s among the easiest but whatever. im translating Actual Herotodus you can’t shit on my mood

Here's cheering you on! Personally I'm looking forward to the bit about Masistius' corpse. See you on the other side. xxx