Page:Herodotus and the Empires of the East.djvu/64

58 for five hundred and twenty-six years. Here then is mentioned an epoch of Assyro-Babylonian history which lasted five hundred and twenty-six years and dated from the year 1273. This period is about the same as that which Herodotus gives for the Assyrian sovereignty over Western Asia. Accordingly we may conjecture a close correspondence between the sources of Herodotus and those of Berossus. From Berossus were derived the statements of Alexander Polyhistor preserved by Eusebius. But it is somewhat remarkable that there exists such a great discrepancy regarding the date of Semiramis. Alexander Polyhistor places her in the thirteenth century, but Herodotus at the end of the eighth century. Doubtless the views of Alexander Polyhistor concerning Semiramis were influenced by the fabulous accounts of the earlier Greek writers, while his chronological statements were based on Berossus.

According to Herodotus, the Median races, until the middle of the eighth century B. C., were subject to the Assyrians. After they had gained their independence the Median tribes, which were formerly separated, began to unite. The first chief of the united Medes was Deïoces (699–646). To him Herodotus ascribes the building of Ecbatana. Dei'oces' son, Phraortes (646–624), extended the empire, subdued the Persians and