BABYLON AND PERSIA

422 MEDIA, BABYLON, AND PERSLA.arms of their enemies, and make of the skin whichis stripped off with the nails hanging to it " (as we doof lions' and tigers' skins), " a covering for theiiquivers."Such tilings are entirely foreign and, onewould think, repugnant to Greek culture, which isgenerally mild and temperate; yet Herodotus merelyobserves that "the skin of a man is thick and glossy,and would in whiteness surpass almost all otherhides I "Nor does he express any horror at theirway of using their enemies' skulls asdrinking-cups,at feasts, receptions of guests, and other solemn oc¬casions, after casing them on the outside withleather, and if rich enough lining the inside withgold.True, he remarks in one place, that " theircustoms are not such as he admires," a blamewhich probably is meant to cover these traits, andsome others far more objectionable, because imply¬ing cruelty to the living.Such were their humansacrifices and especially the funerals of their kings.Not only they put to death and burned with him atleast one of his wives and all his chief body-servantstogether, with his favorite horse or horses, but aftera year had elapsed, strangled fifty more youths fromamong his best attendants, and as many of the finesthorses, and disposed them around the mound, themen astride of the horses, in ghastly imitation of amounted guard of honor.Stakes passed throughthe bodies inaintain them in the required position.7. Such were the country and nation whichDareios, surely somewhat lightly, determined to in¬vade, never doubting but that he would, withoutany very uncommon difficulty, add it to his empire.