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'Around this time (255 BCE), a recruiter of foreigners sailed to Carthage, from the ones who were sent to Greece before, bringing many soldiers, among them someone Xanthippos the Lacedaemonian, a man of Laconian upbringing with symmetric military experience. Hearing of the faultiness of the event, and why and how it had happened, and superimposing the military preparations, including the large numbers of the horse-riders and elephants, he immediately concluded and communicated to his friends that the defeat of the Carthaginians was not due to the Romans but to themselves, result of the inexperience of the generals. Immediately, because of the critical situation, the words of Xanthippos were spread to the crowds and generals and the leaders decided to summon him and hear what was said. And he, himself, brought in the hands of the potentiates his conclusions and from what mistakes they are now being worsted; and being convinced by him that if they use the plain lands in their marches and encampements and battle-orders, they could easily care for their safety and defeat the enemy. And the generals accepting what was said and believing, immediately they entrusted the forces to him.' From Polybios' The Histories. Book 1:32(2-6),

I visited Babylon about 25 years ago... I would like to visit there again.

Efectivamente..., Un saludo, Zeo

'And most of the customs among the Egyptians are Ethiopian, the colonists observing the old manners. That the thinking of the kings as gods and the studious attention to the burials, and many other similar practices are Ethiopian ways; and the patterns of the statues and the types of writings are Ethiopian. For the Egyptian types of letters being double, the one called popular demotic everybody learns, while the other called sacred hiera from the Egyptians only the priests know having learnt them from their parents in absolute secrecy, while this type is used by all the Ethiopians. From Diodoros' of Sicily Library of History. Book 3:3(3-6).

'And this deed having been resounded throughout all Greece and everybody admiring the astonishing event, king Creon having admired the virtue of the young man, united in marriage his daughter Megara to him and entrusted him as a genuine son the affairs of the city; but Eurystheus, having the kingdom of Argos, suspecting the growing power of Heracles, sent messengers to him ordering to perform the Labours. Heracles not obeying, Zeus sent word to enter the service of Eurystheus. Heracles, going to Delphi, and inquiring the god about these matters, he received a reply which stated that it was declared by the gods that he should perform the twelve Labours ordered by Eurystheus, and having completed them he will achieve immortality. From Diodoros' of Sicily Library of History, Book 4:10(6-7).

'To them, the hawk means everything that is happening swiftly, because this animal is almost the swiftest among the birds. And the meaning is transferred, through the appropriate ways to everything swift and related to swiftness; the same as the spoken word. The crocodile is the symbol of everything bad, while the eye is a warden of justice and guardian of the boby. Regarding the arms, the right one having the fingers extended signifies procurement of livelyhood, while the left with fingers closed , preserving and guarding the money. The same reasoning applies to the other types of human parts, all living beings and everything else. For by following the concept inherent to everything, and through very long study and memorizing they exercise the souls and by habit they read everything drawed.' From Diodoros' of Sicily Library of History. Book 3:4(2-4).

'The Libyans having told him before the battle that during the time that Ammon fell from the kingship, he fortold the locals that in cartain times his son Dionysos will arrive, and he will regain the paternal kingdom and, after conquering all the inhabited world, he will be judged god; believing that Ammon was a genuine soothsayer he founded the oracle of his father, rebuilt the city and ordained honours to him as god and appointed people in charge of the oracle.' From Diodoros' of Sicily Library of History. Book 3:73(1).

'Of all the customs, the most astonishing takes place in relation to the death of the kings. In Meroe, the priests occupied with the the worship and rites of the gods, being the most powerful and most important class, whenever it comes to their mind, they send a messenger to the king commanding that he die...................During the reign of the second Ptolemy, Ergamenes, the king of the Ethiopians, who had Greek upbringing and trained in philoshophy, first dared to disregard this command. Having acquired a spirit worthy of the kingship, passed with his soldiers over the unsteppable, where was the golden temple of the Ethiopians, and by killing the priests he abolished this custom and rectified his own pre-ordained death.' From Diodoros' of Sicily Library of History. Book 3:6(1&4).

'They say that it is customary for the friends to die voluntarily with the kings and that this death is glorious and proof of true friendship. For this reason it is not easy for the Ethiopians to conspire against the life of the king because all the friends guard the security of the king as well as their own.' From Diodoros' of Sicily Library of History. Book 3:4(3-4).

'At fisrt, the priests from among themselves select the best, and then from the selected, the one that the god prefers is borne about in a procession according to some custom; this one the crowd elects as a king and, immediately, worships and honours as a god, like the kingship was given by the divine providence.' From Diodoros' of Sicily Library of History. Book 3:5(1-2).