Ruins of Ancient Cities (Vol. 2 of 2)

Gibbon; Adam.

245

Rollin; Chandler.

246

This is Quintus Curtius’ account. Plutarch says 40,000 talents.

247

Or five thousand talents weight. Dacier calls it so many hundred-weight; and the eastern talent was near that weight. Pliny tells us, that a pound of the double-dipped Tyrian purple, in the time of Augustus, sold for a hundred crowns. – Langhorne.

248

Plutarch says, that in his time specimens were still to be seen of the same kind and age, in all their pristine lustre.

249

Rollin.

250

Fragments of earthenware, scattered in the greatest profusion, are found to the distance of twenty-six miles. – Walpole’s Travels in Turkey, vol. i. 420.

251

Nearchus, p. 415.

252

When taken prisoner by Sapor.

253

The Pagan writers lament, the Christian insult, the misfortunes of Valerian. Their various testimonies are accurately collected by Tillemont, tom. iii. p. 739, &c. So little has been preserved in eastern history before Mahomet, that the modern Persians are totally ignorant of the victory of Sapor, an event so glorious to their nation. See Bibliothèque Orientale. – Gibbon.

254

Strabo; Plutarch; Arrian; Quintus Curtius; Prideaux; Rollin; Gibbon; Vincent; Rennell; Barthelemy; Kinneir; Walpole.

255

Rollin.

256

Lempriere.

257

Lempriere; Rollin; Swinburne; Eustace.

258

Wilkinson; Malte-Brun.

259

He was, according to most historians, the son of a potter, but all allow him to have worked at the trade. From the obscurity of his birth and condition, Polybius raises an argument to prove his capacity and talents, in opposition to the slanders of Timæus. But his greatest eulogium was the praise of Scipio. That illustrious Roman being asked, who, in his opinion, were the most prudent in the conduct of their affairs, and most judiciously bold in the execution of their designs, answered, Agathocles and Dionysius. (Polyb. 1. xv. p. 1003, edit. Gronov.) However, let his capacity have been ever so great, it was exceeded by his cruelties. —Rollin.

260

Swinburne.

261

This account Mr. Swinburne suspected of exaggeration; but after spending two days in tracing the ruins, and making reasonable allowances for the encroachments of the sea, he was convinced of the exactness of Strabo’s measurement.

262

Brydone.

263

Plutarch relates, that Marcellus took the spoils of Sicily, consisting, in part, of the most valuable statues and paintings of Syracuse, purposely to adorn his triumph, and ornament the city of Rome, which, before his time, had never known any curiosity of that kind; and he adds, that Marcellus took merit to himself for being the first, who taught the Romans to admire the exquisite performances of Greece.

264

Swinburne.

265

Brydone.

266

Brydone.

267

Plutarch; Rollin; Swinburne; Brydone.

268

Saturday Magazine.

269