the Scythians of Harran, coincide with the third year of
Nabonidus, or the year 553-2 B.C. But it is only the date of
the commencement of hostilities between Cyrus and Astyages
which is here furnished, and this manner of interpreting the
text agrees with the statement of the Median traditions
handed down by the classical authors, that three combats
took place between Astyages and Cyrus before the final
victory of the Persians.

*** This equality of the two peoples is indicated by the
very terms employed by Darius, whom he speaks of them, in
the _Great Inscription of Behistun_. He says, for example,
in connection with the revolt of the false Smerdis, that
"the deception prevailed greatly in the land, in Persia and
Media as well as in the other provinces," and further on,
that "the whole people rose, and passed over from Cambyses
to him, Persia and Media as well as the other countries." In
the same way he mentions "the army of Persians and Medes
which was with him," and one sees that he considered Medes
and Persians to be on exactly the same footing.

The change effected was so natural that their nearest neighbours, the
Chaldaeans, showed no signs of uneasiness at the outset. They confined
themselves to the bare registration of the fact in their annals at the
appointed date, without comment, and Nabonidus in no way deviated from
the pious routine which it had hitherto pleased him to follow. Under
a sovereign so good-natured there was little likelihood of war, at all
events with external foes, but insurrections were always breaking out in
different parts of his territory, and we read of difficulties in Khume
in the first year of his reign, in Hamath in his second year, and
troubles in Plionicia in the third year, which afforded an opportunity
for settling the Tyrian question. Tyre had led a far from peaceful
existence ever since the day when, from sheer apathy, she had accepted
the supremacy of Nebuchadrezzar.*

* All these events are known through the excerpt from
Menander preserved to us by Josephus in his treatise
_Against Apion_.

Baal II. had peacefully reigned there for ten years (574-564), but after
his death the people had overthrown the monarchy, and various _suffetes_
had followed one another rapidly--Eknibaal ruled two months, Khelbes ten
months, the high priest Abbar three months, the two brothers Mutto