herodotus

itself at a spot opposite the island, called Aziris, which is enclosedby most fair woods on both sides and a river flows by it on one side.158. In this spot they dwelt for six years; and in the seventh yearthe Libyans persuaded them to leave it, making request and saying thatthey would conduct them to a better region. So the Libyans led themfrom that place making them start towards evening; and in order thatthe Hellenes might not see the fairest of all the regions as theypassed through it, they led them past it by night, having calculatedthe time of daylight: and this region is called Irasa. Then havingconducted them to the so-called spring of Apollo, they said,"Hellenes, here is a fit place for you to dwell, for here the heavenis pierced with holes."159. Now during the lifetime of the first settler Battos, who reignedforty years, and of his son Arkesilaos, who reigned sixteen years, theKyrenians continued to dwell there with the same number as[142] whenthey first set forth to the colony; but in the time of the third king,called Battos the Prosperous, the Pythian prophetess gave an oraclewherein she urged the Hellenes in general to sail and join with theKyrenians in colonising Libya. For the Kyrenians invited them, givingpromise of a division of land; and the oracle which she uttered was asfollows:"Who to the land much desirèd, to Libya, afterwards cometh,After the land be divided,[143] I say he shall some day repent it."Then great numbers were gathered at Kyrene, and the Libyans who dweltround had much land cut off from their possessions; therefore theywith their king whose name was Adicran, as they were not only deprivedof their country but also were dealt with very insolently by theKyrenians, sent to Egypt and delivered themselves over to Apries kingof Egypt. He then having gathered a great army of Egyptians, sent itagainst Kyrene; and the men of Kyrene marched out to the region ofIrasa and to the spring Theste,[144] and there both joined battle withthe Egyptians and defeated them in the battle: for since the Egyptianshad not before made trial of the Hellenes in fight and thereforedespised them, they were so slaughtered that but few of them returnedback to Egypt. In consequence of this and because they laid the blameof it upon Apries, the Egyptians revolted from him.160. This Battos had a son called Arkesilaos, who first when he becameking made a quarrel with his own brothers, until they finally departedto another region of Libya, and making the venture for themselvesfounded that city which was then and is now called Barca; and at thesame time as they founded this, they induced the Libyans to revoltfrom the Kyrenians. After this, Arkesilaos made an expedition against