A Manual of Ancient History Part 39

II. CHRONOLOGY OF THE a.s.sYRIAN EMPIRE.

The dominion of the a.s.syrians over Asia, or their empire, ended with the revolt of the Medes (Herodotus, I. 95.); although the existence of their state did not then end, but terminated with the capture of Nineveh by Cyaxares, B. C. 597.

B. C.

Revolt of the Medes, as above 717.

The dominion of the a.s.syrians had endured five hundred and twenty years (Herodotus, I. 95.) The a.s.syrian empire lasted therefore from 1237-717.

As Herodotus intended to write the history of this empire in a separate work (I. 184.), he only casually mentions (I. 7.) its founder Ninus, who began to reign 1237; and afterwards Sennacherib and his expedition (II.

141.); and the last king, Sardanapalus (II. 150.).

The mention of Sennacherib and his expedition furnishes a point of time for comparing the chronology of Herodotus with that of the Bible, or the Jews. According to the latter, Sennacherib's expedition took place B. C.

714. (see above, p. 26.); his death takes place immediately after, and he has for his successor Esar-haddon, 2 Kings, xix. 37. Here then is certainly a contradiction, since, according to Herodotus, the a.s.syrian dominion had ceased three years before, namely, 717. M. Volney endeavours to reconcile this difficulty by the restoration of an ancient reading in the sacred text; according to which Amon, king of Judaea, reigned twelve years instead of two (2 Kings, xxi. 10.); from which it would follow, that the expedition of Sennacherib took place in 724. As this would leave seven years after his death for his successor Esar-haddon, who agrees both in time and name with the Sardanapalus of the Greeks (the Greek name being formed from Esar-haddon-pal, i. e.

Esar, the lord, son of Pal), the two chronologies are thus made to agree exactly. But even in following the ancient usual reading, the greatest difference between the two statements is only ten years; quite as little as can be reasonably expected under such circ.u.mstances.

With regard to the a.s.syrian chronology of Ctesias, M. Volney has satisfactorily shown that it is full of contradictions, and unworthy of any credit.

III. CHRONOLOGY OF THE LYDIAN EMPIRE.

The arrangement of the Lydian chronology rests upon the settlement of two princ.i.p.al facts: first, the great eclipse of the sun under Alyattes, foretold by Thales (Herodotus, I. 74.); and secondly, the conquest of Sardes, and overthrow of the empire under Croesus, by Cyrus; both of which Herodotus certainly mentions, but without a.s.signing any precise date. But by a careful comparison of all the data it has been proved, that the great eclipse in Asia Minor (according to the Tables of Pingre) happened in the year 625; and the conquest of Sardes, and the end of the Lydian empire, B. C. 557, or in the fourth year of Cyrus. Therefore:

B. C.

End of the Lydian empire 557.

It subsisted under three houses; under that of the Atyadae (fabulous and uncertain); under that of the Heraclidae, five hundred and five years (Herodotus, I. 7.); and under the last, that of the Mermnadae, one hundred and seventy years.

The Heraclidae and Mermnadae, then, reigned altogether six hundred and seventy-five years. Therefore:

B. C.

Commencement of the reign of the Heraclidae, with Agron the son of Ninus (I. 7.) 1232.

End of this house with the murder of Candaules, by Gyges 727.

By fixings the time of Agron, son of Ninus, Herodotus verifies himself (I. 7.); as, by the preceding data, Ninus began his reign in a.s.syria, 1237; consequently, it must have been in the fifth year of his reign that he conquered Lydia, and placed his son Agron upon the throne.

B. C.

Dominion of the Mermnadae, one hundred and seventy years, under kings of that house 727-557.

Gyges, thirty-eight years (Herodotus, I. 14.) 727-689.

Ardys, forty-nine years (Herodotus, I. 16.) 689-640.

First irruption of the Cimmerians 670.

Sadyattes, twelve years (Herodotus, I. 16.) 640-628.

Alyattes, fifty-seven years (Herodotus, I. 25.) 628-571.

War with Cyaxares, ending with the great eclipse, and second irruption of the Cimmerians 625.

Croesus, fourteen years and fourteen days (Herodotus, I. 86.) 571-557.

IV. CHRONOLOGY OF THE BABYLONIANS.

For this as well as for the Egyptians there is no evidence to guide us, the data being very scanty, and taken from Herodotus alone. The chronology of the Babylonians, according to the canon of Ptolemy, begins with Nabona.s.sar, 747, who was succeeded by twelve kings (mentioned in the same canon), down to Nabopola.s.sar; (see above, p. 28.)

B. C.

Nabopola.s.sar 627-604.

Nebuchadnezzar 604-561.

Evil-Merodach 561-559.

Neriglissar 559-555.

Labynetus 555-538.

Conquest of Babylon by Cyrus 538.

V. CHRONOLOGY OF THE EGYPTIANS.

M. Volney very properly commences this with the dodecarchy--as of the earlier periods only the time of Sesostris, 1365, is ascertained;--and arranges it in the following manner.

B. C.

Dodecarchy 671-656.

Psammetichus's sole dominion thirty-nine years 656-617.

Reign of Neco, sixteen years 617-601.

-------- Psammis, six years 601-595.

-------- Apries, twenty-five years 595-570.

-------- Amasis, forty-four years 570-526.

Psammenitus, six months 525.

Conquest of Egypt by Cambyses