It has already been shewn that a Tyrian navy was built for KingSolomonnearly four hundred years before this period, and that it returned from India in safety. Of the size of those vessels there is no record; but from the character of the Voyage, conclusions may be formed, as also of those employed in the Expedition now under consideration. From the following data a satisfactory deduction will be obtained: viz.—The Galley in whichSt. Paulembarked at his reshipment, and that, too, belonging to the Tyrian side of the Mediterranean, contained two hundred and seventy-six human beings,—consequently it was from 400 to 500 tons burden. "And we were in all, in the ship, two hundred, three score, and sixteen souls." [Acts xxvii. 37.]
The Tyrian Galleys, as we have shewn, had notonly large sails, but many Rowers,—so that calm weather was no hindrance to their progress. The "hundred oars" took the place of Steam, as now employed upon the Ocean, to be used in all weathers, and consequently independent of the sail,—the latter being used as the wind would permit. The Sail was generally employed only before the wind, or slightly on the quarter,—otherwise the pressure of the wind upon the sail would heave one side of the vessel down, and consequently drown the oars, while the opposite rowers would be useless, from their oars being out of water. The great force with which the ancient rowers could propel their Galleys, may be gathered from the naval engagement of Salamis (the "Nile" of the Greeks), where their prow-beaks were driven into the sides of the Persian vessels,—and thus grappled, they boarded the invaders, and fought hand to hand; while many of the Persian Galleys were run down, and instantly sunk by the force and impetuosity of the Rowers, who, be it remembered, were like the Tyrians, not "slavesat the oar," but thefreemenof their respective nations.
The vessels were also capacitated to carry sufficient provisions for long voyages; and in this Expedition, which was to circumnavigate the Continent of Africa, the Tyrians would consequently keep in sight of land,—for bycoastingonly, could their peculiar object be accomplished; and therefore the food to be obtained by fishing (their favourite pursuit) near the shores would alone have been ample. Fresh water, also, fromthe coasting character of the voyage, would be always within their reach.
Thus it has been shewn that the Pilots and Mariners were competent, the Galleys capacious, strong, and swift, and provisions and water abundant. The King of Egypt had wished for the expedition; Eth-baal of Tyrus, had furnished the material; both Monarchs threw into the scale of inclination the weight of their wealth and power; and in the indomitable pride of the Tyrians was the security that it would be accomplished. Herodotus states, that it was successful. His assertion is notdeniedby any Historian, and from what has been quoted in regard to his accuracy, it cannot be impeached. We shall now proceed to a description of the Voyage, and the production of additional proofs,—the supposed track of the expedition, and the discoveries,—and for convenience of reference, modern terms will be generally employed.
As in the delineation of this celebrated Voyage, the East-Wind will be alluded to; the reader will bear in mind its locality upon the diurnal hemisphere,—viz.: extending to 30 degrees North and South of the Equator. Now, in consulting the Map, it will be found that 30 degrees North passes directly through Suez, at the extreme North-East point of the Red Sea. From this place then (Suez), it is probable that the Tyrianshoisted sail and plied their oars. They therefore commenced the Voyage under the minor influence of this Easterly Wind.
609B. C.] They begun their Voyage, therefore, by leaving Suez; and sailing along the shores of the Red Sea, and through the Straits of Babelmandeb, they doubled Cape Guardatoy, passing between that point and the Island of Socatra. This Isle (subsequently hallowed by the foot ofSt. Thomas) was probably seen by the Tyrians ages before, during the various voyages of their ancestors to India and Ceylon. The present adventurers, however, had now entered a new track, and hugging the Eastern shore of Africa, coasted past the lands of Adel and Ajan, and so to the Equator of the Indian Ocean. Having crossed the equinoctial line, they reached the first river of importance, the Zebe; and near toMelinda, they must have observed the "incident" of Nature, and have had every feeling of awe and superstition aroused at the sight. Herodotus was so much surprised when he first heard of it, that it caused the only doubt in his mind concerning the Voyage: but it was seen by the Tyrians, and is visible at this day, and has been from Creation's dawn, and will be for ever! This will be explained as we proceed. Following the coast of Zanzibar, they passed through the Channel of Mozambique, the now inner passage to India from America and Europe. Leaving the Island of Madagascar on the left, they reached Port Natal. At this point is the termination of 30 degrees Southlatitude on theIndianOcean; having sailed in all from Suez, 60 degrees of latitude. Now during this part of the Expedition, the East-Wind had blown themtowards the land, and so favoured their enterprise, which was commenced for the purpose ofcoastingthe African Continent, and consequently they would use every endeavour to keep the land in sight,—to Port Natal, Nature had befriended them. Continuing on 10 degrees of Southern latitude, they reached the Cape of Good Hope. Here the constant wind, which had accompanied them as a friendly convoy from Suez to Natal, now deserted them, and the fierce currents of air rushed as enemies from every quarter to oppose their further progress; and terrible indeed must have been the passing of that stormy Cape to mariners for the first time; they had no previous report of the dangers, but had to meet the foe, as it were, in ambush,—they had no North-Star or Compass to guide them,—their astro-beacons upon the Mediterranean had been theUrsaConstellations; but even those, perhaps, were now obscured by their locality, or by the rising and gathering storm-clouds.
608B. C.] Having doubled the Cape of Good Hope (probably at the end of the first year) and sailing northward along the western coast of Africa 10 degrees towards the Equator, brought them to the minor river of Namquois,—at this point is the thirty degrees of South latitude on theAtlanticocean, and the commencement of the East-Wind blowingfromAfrica, and with much greater force than from the IndianOceantowardsAfrica, and for the reason previously stated, viz., that both the Sun and the hot sands of the Desert join their united powers in producing the fierce air-currents,—and consequently this strong wind thus blowing from Africa, has a direct tendency to drift vessels from the coasting of the shores into the broad Atlantic,—and in the present case of the Tyrians, they would have to struggle continually against the power of this East-Wind to keep in sight of land; it was accomplished only by the skill and strength of the Rowers, and this was especially required when they reached the Equator at the Gulf of Guinea,—for here without doubt they encountered the terrific effects of the Equinoctial hurricanes;—all their skill and courage were now demanded,—their Rowers had reached the broad and raging waters of untracked seas,—here their fleet may have sundered, and many a galley have been dismasted, or "broken," and so foundered. We believe that this was the case at this point of their Voyage, for in the words of the ProphetEzekiel, who (as will be proved) was speaking of this Expedition by the Tyrians, and of the peculiar Wind causing these disasters,—not spoken as a Prophecy, but as a cause accomplishing the disasters:—
"Thy Rowershavebrought thee (Tyrus) intogreat waters: theEast-windHATHbroken thee in the midst of the Seas!"
If at this period they had hadsailsonly, they would have been cast abroad upon the Atlantic Ocean, and so have been driven to America;—but we willnot avail ourselves of apossibility, when we are possessed of aprobabilityandtruthas to the cause and means of their reaching the Western Hemisphere, which the subsequent pages will, (we believe) prove and establish. In this voyage their object was apparent, and upon losing masts and sails, still the power of the Rowers would accomplish that object,—viz., of coasting the African shores, and consequently prevent the drifting of a Galley to America. Their determination was to reach that home where their king and countrymen were waiting with open arms to receive the adventurous "spirits of the vasty deep,"—Egypt, also, was waiting to give her welcome, and to announce the victory of Science. We are anxious to destroy even any apparent possibility (however remote) of their reaching the Western Hemisphere during this voyage. We desire this History to rest upon the more lasting basis of strong and apparent truth and probability,—but, even if a Galley had drifted across the Atlantic, an absolutecauseexists against even thepossibilityof theirpopulatingAmerica at this time. Of this hereafter,—if the ingenious reader has not already guessed the reason.
Having escaped from the hurricanes of the Equator, and having "crossed the line," the, to them, phenomenon of Nature again appeared, but in a different aspect, exciting again their fears and alarm,—yet mingled with recovering joy, for it appeared the same as when they, at Tyrus, gazed upon the rising Sun, and knelt in prayer to the Apollo of their ancestors! Wewill not anticipate this "phenomenon," although the ingenuity of the reader may—we retain it for our final proof that this Expedition was accomplished.
Having passed the Equator they followed the Gold and Ivory coasts,—doubled the Capes Palmas and Verd,—passing between the latter and the Island of the same name,—doubled Capes Blanco and Barbas,—and having reached nearly thirty degrees of North latitude they must have seen with some astonishment a snow-crowned peak, rising like a sparkling Pharos of the Ocean. They could not (within the scope of probability) have passed between it and the Continent and not have seen it, as they must have been several days in reaching the base of so elevated a land-beacon; and having witnessed so conspicuous an object they would not pass without landing. The ocean and silver-crested giant attracting the attention of the Tyrians, was the now renowned Peak of Teneriffe, upon the Island of the name; and forming the principal of a group of thirteen, now called the Canaries, but known in ancient geography as the Fortunate Isles. They are all within the thirty degrees of North latitude, and consequently within the influence of the East-Wind. This fact is of importance, and will again be brought forward,—we mention this to impress the fact upon the mind of the reader.
The Tyrians in all probability landed at Teneriffe,—"replenished," refitted, and repaired all damages, for a continuation of the voyage;—of its remaining distance as yet they could have no intelligence. They were,however, within ten degrees of the Herculean Gates of that Sea, which their fellow-countrymen claimed to be their own! As the entire expedition occupied three years in its accomplishment they probably landed at the Isle of Teneriffe in about two and a half years from the time of their leaving Suez. [606½B. C.]
It appears certain that none of the Tyrians would leave the Galleys for the purpose of becoming the Aborigines of the Island at this time,—for they knew not of the future dangers of the voyage, therefore "all hands" were required. Again,—the peculiar character of the Expedition would not permit it,—and having been so long from their native land, together with the pride of receiving the National applause attendant upon their Nautical triumph,—would be against any supposition that the Tyrians would remain from choice, or as exiles and outcasts. This slight review of the apparent impossibility of any of the voyagers remaining upon the Islands after the departure of the Galleys, is required in order to establish in the future pages, when the Phœnicians did land and dwell there, and so account for the ancient Mummies found at this day in the rocky caverns of Teneriffe;—and of which, allusion and comparisons have been made, in investigating the Tyrian and Mexican analogies. [Vol. i., Book i., ch. vii., § 4.] We considered it established, therefore, that no settled residence would take place at any period of this Expedition: and apart from all other reasons, there is one that would render it absolutely impossible,—viz., They had not with them that lovely portion of Nature, withoutwhich life itself is but a desert Isle or a desolation,—viz.,Woman! This fact, also, produced an incontrovertible argument against even thepossibility(as before hinted) that the foundations of the Aboriginal family were laid in Ancient America during any period of this Expedition. This part of the argument must appear to every reader as irrefragable. The custom of not permitting the Wives to accompany the mariners, and especially on a Voyage of Discovery, is practised even at this day. This arises not only from physical reasons, but from mental causes;—for in the hour of storm or wreck, the courage of the mariner would be divided from his duty, remembering that his affections were in danger; and in contemplating the proverbial solicitude and devotion of Woman, for the safety of her husband or her child, he would be compelled to turn from the general rescue, to aid her resolution, and selfishly (though naturally) confront danger for themselves alone.
By thus proving the impossibility of Ancient America having been founded during this Expedition, and for the above reason,—we bring down upon ourselves the responsibility of proving, that when the Western Continent was first reached,Women were the associates of the Voyage! We bring this proposition forward for the purpose of proving to the reader, that it is not intended to establish this Romance of Time (i. e.Truth) upon idle or visionary grounds.
The group of Islands now left by the Tyrians were of a character, from their locality and natural produce, (and especially that one possessing the snow-crownedPeak,) not to be forgotten by the voyagers in relating "the dangers they had passed."
They now coasted along the shores of Morocco and Fez, and entering the Straits of Gibraltar, passed the Pillars of Hercules, and floated on the waters of their native Sea,—thus proving for the first time that the boundary Columns of Alcides had been erected in vain;—and also, that human ingenuity and perseverance will conquer, and bear down all the barriers erected by Superstition as the landmarks of human Intellect!
In their triumphant passage along the shores of the Mediterranean, Carthage would not be passed unvisited by the descendants of the same race, who had followed the fortunes of a Tyrian Princess, when driven from her own land by treachery and cruelty. Leaving the Republic of Carthage, (in which commercial storehouse they must have seen the germs of a future rival,) with what pride and joy must they have reached the Delta of the Nile?—and beyond those feelings, when Tyrus was seen from the round-top of a galley-mast,—or when from their native shore they received the united voice of a gladdened nation?
Three years of danger and unyielding courage, upon an extended field of Science, preserved the fame of Egypt's King, and gave new and brilliant glory to the Tyrians and their Sovereign.
Pharaoh-Necho had achieved his wish by the circumnavigation of the Continent, of which Egypt was the Capital, and this being the only object of the Egyptian, all discoveries of Islands, as forming no part of theAfrican Continent, would therefore be claimed by the Tyrians as their own. The Fortunate Isles (i. e.Canaries) for instance,—and consequently Ithobalus and his successors, would be the rightful "Kings of those Islands" discovered during this voyage, and situated "beyond the Sea,"—and to be reached by passing through the Gates of Gades,—i. e.Straits of Gibraltar.
Even if Pharaoh had claimed the Isles discovered, it would have been useless, for he had no navy (if opposed by Tyrus) to support that claim. It is not probable that he would attempt it,—but even the supposition is set at rest, for the King of Babylon conquered Pharaoh-Necho and Egypt, onlyseven yearsafter this voyage, for compelling him to raise the first Siege of Jerusalem. Pharaoh was receiving his annual tribute from the Jews: Nebuchadnezzar, therefore, instantly left Judæa and turned his warfare upon the Egyptians, [599B. C.] captured all the treasure of the Nile, and returned triumphant to the Euphrates.
This Section will be concluded by producing the authority of Scripture (with the incident of Nature) to support the statement of Herodotus: and although the Prophets will be quoted, in this instance Prophecy itself has no bearing upon the subject,—their words upon this direct investigation only refer to thatwhich had taken place, and consequently only of past record, and not for predictions of a future. This was the case withJeremiahandEzekiel, but,—not withIsaiah,—and upon this fact do we rest the Scriptural record of the successful accomplishment of this Voyage.Our argument is as follows,—viz., In the Prophecy byIsaiahalready quoted [Book ii., ch. v.] there is no allusion whatever to this Expedition, and for the reason,—thatIsaiahwrote of the doom of Tyrus 106 yearsbeforethe period of this Voyage,—consequently the absence of all notice by this Sacred writer (the subject not being prophetical) proves at least that the naval enterprise was undertakenafterthe time in which he prophecied the downfall of the Tyrian Nation:—Following out this train of reasoning, any Prophet, therefore, who cameafterthe Expedition, and in speaking, or writing, of Tyrus,should allude to itas having taken place,—for it would form another item in the gathered glory of Sidon's Daughter, and would be included in that long list of pride about to be cancelled by the Babylonian Conquest. The reader will find that the later Prophetsdidallude to this Voyage, and, also, to the cluster of Isles of which Teneriffe is the principal.
The first of these isJeremiah, who prophesied the destruction of several offending Nations, in the first year of the reign of the King of Babylon, and the fourth of Jehoiakim, Monarch of Judæa,—this was in the beginning of the year 606B. C.Now supposing that the Voyagers left Suez in the commencement of the year 609B. C.and occupying three years in the enterprise,—would bring the defined period to the end of 607B. C.—consequentlyJeremiahwrote his wordsonly a few Monthsafter the triumphant issue, and discovery of "the Isles beyond the Sea,"—the account ofwhich would speed through Judæa and the surrounding nations, as it had through Egypt and Tyrus. It is a remarkable circumstance, that in tracing back the history of this Voyage nearly 2500 years, that it should be found to have been alluded to only a few months,—perhaps weeks—after its accomplishment, and in the sacred page of Scripture: and it is still more singular, that writers upon this subject of record by Herodotus, should have passed it unheeded; as, also, the allusion byEzekiel.
The Prophecy byJeremiahconcerning Judæa, as well as of Tyrus, will be quoted in order to shew the character of the approaching destruction. The last lines contain the allusion mentioned, having reference to the discovery of the Fortunate Isles.
"For thus said the LordGodof Israel unto me,—Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it: and they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them. To wit,—Jerusalem and the Cities of Judæa and the Kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse: as it is at this day.And all the Kings of Tyrus, and all the Kings of Sidon,—andthe Kings of the Isles which areBEYONDthe Sea." [xxv.]
Now "the Sea" mentioned, means (as it does throughout the Bible) theMediterranean, and especially when Tyrus is written of,—several proofs of this are found in the Book ofEzekiel.
"It (Tyrus) shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst ofthe Sea."
"Then all the princes ofthe Seashall come down from their thrones," &c.
"How art thou destroyed, that was inhabited of sea-faring men,—the renowned City,—which was strong inthe Sea," &c.
"Now shall the Isles tremble in the day of thy fall: yea, the Isles that arein[not "beyond"]the Sea, shall be troubled at thydeparture."
When Pharaoh's fatal Sea is spoken of, it is called by its name in full,—i. e.The Red Sea:—the Asphaltine Sea covering the crime-smitten Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, is calledthe Dead Sea,—and so of others,—but "the Sea" defines it to be the Mediterranean.
The Islands referred to byJeremiahare stated to be "beyond the Sea"—i. e.Isles beyond the mouth of the Mediterranean, reached by passing through the Straits of Gibraltar; and the language, therefore, alludes distinctly to the Fortunate Isles discovered by the Tyrians during the voyage. "The Kings of Tyrus" were, also, by right of discovery the actual "Kings of the Isles which are beyond the Sea." That these are the Islands referred to, may be gathered from the fact, that the last quotation fromEzekielproves that the Isles of the Mediterranean are spoken of as being "inthe Sea," in direct contradistinction to those "beyondthe Sea." The same defined locality is found inIsaiah.
"Wherefore glorify ye theLordin the fires [Hebrew, "valleys"] even the name of theLord Godof Israel, in the Islesof the Sea." [xxiv. 15.]
The Prophet here refers to Cyprus, Crete, Sicily, and Sardinia, for these are "IslesOF" or "IN" the Mediterranean,—while the Fortunatæ Insulæ are those denominated "beyond" the same Sea,—Britain and Hibernia were not yet discovered by the Tyrians;—and the only Islands at this time known to them "beyond" theMare Internum, were those discovered during this celebrated Expedition;—truly so, for being alluded to by the Sacred writers, proves the importance attached to it in the days of Prophecy. The Islands discovered, and claimed by the Tyrians, were additional causes for their fatal pride,—and are, therefore, the only part of the enlarging Kingdom referred to byJeremiah,—from the apparent fact, that the terrible prediction in alluding to a recent geographical discovery, would attract the instant attention, and arouse the fears of the Judæans as well as the Tyrians.
Ezekieluttered his celebrated Prophecy concerning Tyrus 588B. C., consequently onlyeighteenyears after the Voyage. He should, therefore, allude to it, if our previous argument is founded upon just grounds in reference toIsaiah'snotwriting of it.
Ezekielin issuing his malediction against Tyrus, its King, Prince, and People, gathers in his catalogue of their united powers all that had made them great, and unrivalled among the nations of the earth. He commences by stating their knowledge of Shipbuilding andNavigation,—then the various Kingdoms receiving their Commercial commodities, and the riches given in return,—progressing in his description in apparent chronological order,—for this singular fact is arrived at,—viz., that the last verse referring to the deeds of the Tyrians, covers distinctly this very Voyage,—and which took place only 18 years before the Prophecy, and was, therefore, probably their last great action, before they were besieged and conquered by the King of Babylon; and which event was only three years after the prediction ofEzekiel,—who, in alluding to the last effort for fame by the Tyrians, and causing additional pride of heart, says—
"ThyROWERShave brought thee(Tyrus)intoGREATwaters[i. e.the Atlantic]—theEast-Windhath broken thee in the midst of theSeas." [xxvii.]
The word "Sea" in the singular number, and without any pre-nomen asDead Sea, &c., has already been shewn, and from the same writer, to have direct reference to the Mediterranean. In the above quotation he evidently means larger, and collective bodies of "great waters,"—i. e.Seas,—(plural).—Again,—In the same chapter he writes:
"And thou wast replenished [at the Insulæ?] and made very glorious in the midst of theSeas."
He even seems to define the boundary of Tyrus in the Atlantic, forIslandsare distinctly alluded to.
"Thybordersare in themidst of the Seas."
And as a distinct contrast of locality; he says of the Capital of the Mediterranean,—
"What City is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of theSea."
The Capital, at this time, was partly on the Island, but principally on the mainland. It is submitted that bothJeremiahandEzekielalluded to this Voyage and its discoveries.
We have reserved a positive, a conclusive proof, of the accomplishment of the Expedition until this time, that it might remove all doubts upon the subject. It, also, brings direct evidence against the supposition that in reaching Ophir (the locality of which is not yet defined) the Tyrian ships ofSolomoncould have passed around the Cape of Good Hope,—for if they had,—leagues before they reached there, they would have observed the same (to them) strange "incident" of Nature, and consequently have recorded it.
Herodotus in writing of this Voyage (and which he firmly believed) had his doubts upon one point only,—viz., the strange reports of the Pilots and Mariners upon their return to Tyrus, which were,—that during the Voyage theirShadows(as they looked at the Sun's rising) fell upon, or from theirright-hand,—they (the Shadows) having consequentlychangedfrom thelefthand, as they remembered them to fall at Phœnicia and the Mediterranean;—and a greater wonder still,—that their Shadows changed back again, as they continued their voyage, from right to left!
The Greek Historian viewed this report with astonishment and disbelief; and without doubt, it was originally regarded and laughed at as a mariner's storyby both Tyrians and Egyptians,—for it was not likely, in their Theory of the Solar System, (this was before Pythagoras,) that any of the Ancients could be convinced that the Sun would alter its course or nature, so as to meet the result reported by the home-returned mariners, but which was given by them as an attested fact. The Ancients [606B. C.] believed that the Earth was a Globe, because they believed that the Sun daily travelledaroundit,—but of the revolving character of the Earth, or of its measurement, they had no conception. Even Herodotus, therefore, looked upon the shadow-report as
"The baseless fabric of a vision,"
and regarded it not only with incredulity, but as an entire fiction of the Tyrian voyagers.
But modern Science proves the absolutetruthof the Tyrian report,—viz.,their Shadows changing from left to right, &c.; and this, as a necessity, was occasioned bytheir having crossed the line of the Equator!
If the story of the Pilots and Marinershad notbeen given to their countrymen upon their return, it would at this day be a strong presumptive proof that the Expedition wasnotaccomplished; but having rendered the "incident" of Nature upon their arrival, it is a conclusive and undeniable proof that the Voyage was successfully completed, and during the time mentioned by Herodotus. Having sailed from the Red Sea,and crossed the line of the Equator, and looking East, their Shadows must have changed from left to right, andbe perceptible at, or near, Melinda; and having doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and passed the Equator of the Atlantic, their Shadows would again change from right to left, near the Gulf of Guinea, and appear the same as when sailing upon the Mediterranean.
The statements of Herodotus concerning the "shifting of the shadows," and the manner of "extracting the brain" previous to Embalming; and with the foregone proofs of their accuracy both from science and ocular demonstration, are without their parallels for supporting the authenticity of an Ancient Historian—and truly may he be called theFatherof History—for Nations were his children, and justly he wrote of them. Time has become his executor, and renders him ample justice in return for his valuable legacy to posterity!
We have been anxious to establish the accomplishment of this celebrated Voyage, the first mentioned having reference to the circumnavigation of a Continent;—but, more especially have we been solicitous to prove thatthe Fortunate Isles were known to the Tyrians during this Expedition;—for those Islands form an important feature in the great event to follow. In the endeavour to confirm these propositions, we have pursued a path of research and reasoning, we believe, untrodden, or attempted by any writer upon the subject. The Greek Historian is supported by his own accuracy of character and delineation,—and he is directly confirmed by Holy-Writ.Jeremiahwrote of it only a few months after the Expedition.Ezekiel18 years subsequently, and Herodotus 122 years after the enterprise. The later (and jealous) Romans only are silent:—they do not deny it,—which they would naturally have done, if they would not also have been liable to have been contradicted.
We now submit the subject to the reader's opinion, upon a review of the evidence, facts, and reasoning upon the entire proposition; and shall proceed with the History of Tyrus and the Migration, in the belief that the decision is in the affirmative;—and that consequentlythe Fortunate Isles(i. e.the Canaries) are admitted to have been discovered, and claimed, by the Tyrians during this first great Voyage around the Continent of Africa, and between the years 609-606 before the Christian Æra; and that from thenaturalreason stated,—viz., the absence of Woman—the Founding of Ancient America could not have taken place at that time.
ITHOBALUS THE SECOND—TO SISINNES.
THE FIRST SIEGE OF TYRUS, &c.—FULFILMENT OF THE PROPHECY BY JEREMIAH AND EZEKIEL,—AND OF THE FIRST AND SECOND PROPHECY BY ISAIAH.
THE FIRST SIEGE OF TYRUS, &c.—FULFILMENT OF THE PROPHECY BY JEREMIAH AND EZEKIEL,—AND OF THE FIRST AND SECOND PROPHECY BY ISAIAH.
During the war upon Egypt by the King of Babylon, (and which occurred only seven years after the Voyage around Africa,) it is probable that the King of Tyrus would assist Pharaoh-Necho against the invasion of the Nile by Nebuchadnezzar. The attack by Pharaoh, at the solicitation of Judæa [Ezekiel xvii. 15], (which nation was still paying the annual tribute to Egypt,) had compelled the Babylonian to raise the siege of Jerusalem:—in this movement, also, the Tyrians may have aided by countenance or wealth. In these apparent probabilities, we find thepoliticalcause why Nebuchadnezzarturned his fury upon Tyrus, after his conquest of Egypt, and his second and successful invasion of Judæa, and the captivity of the Jews,—which latter event took place 588B. C.
The fall of Judæa gave the monopolizing and pride-stricken Tyrians great cause for rejoicing,—not from malice against the afflicted People,—but because their ownTradingpropensities would be increased,—as it would (in their minds) by the downfall of any aspiring Nation. A few years before they had witnessed the conquest of Egypt,—and now of Judæa,—both of which were causes of peculiar joy to the Tyrians; for those Nations had latent sparks within them, from which the fire of Science might be created, and so illumine their own path towards the attainment of Navigation, and thence rest upon their own exertions for Commercial prosperity. Jerusalem had evinced this spirit as early as the time ofSolomon,—and also Egypt, only seven years before her present downfall. This was the point causing the National rejoicing of Tyrus;—it was a Commercial gladness,—thence (with them) apoliticalone:—less rejoicing, or its entire absence, would have been "love of neighbour,"—and which, when it affected their interest, the Tyrians never had;—extended joy,—as if Jerusalem had fallen for the express purpose of their own prosperity, and so sanctioned by their Gods,—became blasphemy! They evinced this impiety to its full extent;—therefore, the King of Babylon, in resenting his own wrongs, was but an instrument of retribution in the hand ofGod, to punish those, who insavage triumph rejoiced at the chastening, and captivity of a neighbour-Nation.
Ezekielthus describes theReligiouscause why Tyrus (in her want of charity to a fallen neighbour) should become desolate. [xxvi.] He prophesied, 588B. C.,
"The word of theLordcame unto me, saying, Son of Man,becausethat Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, 'Aha! she is broken that was the gates of the People: she is turned untome; I shall be replenished, nowsheis laid waste!'"—
The Prince of Tyrus, also, uttered this blasphemy in his triumph:—
"I am a God! I sit in the seat of God!" [xxviii.]
"Therefore," continuesEzekiel, "thus saith theLord God: Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many Nations to come up against thee, as the Sea causeth his waves to come up. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will scrape her dust from her and make her like the top of a rock.It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the Sea; [how truly fulfilled!] for I have spoken it, saith theLord God: and it shall become a spoil to the Nations. And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain with the sword; and they shall know that I am theLord. For thus saith theLord God:—Behold I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, a King of Kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people," &c.
The remaining part of the Prophecy is not required,—the cause is shewn,—the punishment and the avenger. The Prophecy was uttered byEzekielin the year in which Jerusalem was destroyed (the Temple of which the Tyrians of a former age had erected and adorned), and consequently three years before the commencement of the Siege of Tyrus by the Babylonian. The doom of Tyrus was also foretold byIsaiahandJeremiah; and by the former, that the Nation should cease forseventy years. He prophesied one hundred and twenty-seven years, andJeremiahtwenty-one years before the Siege by the King of Babylon. It was strictly fulfilled. The investment commenced in the reign of Ithobalus [i. e.Eth-baal] the Second, and lastedthirteenyears—the longest Siege on record. Troy was onlyten; the Roman Siege of Veii, by Camillus, occupied the same period.
It has already been shewn, upon the authority ofIsaiahandEzekiel, that theIslandof Tyrus must have been partly inhabited, for they distinctly allude to the "Isle." The metropolis proper, with its Temples and splendour, was on the mainland,—and this was theCitybesieged by the Conqueror of Egypt and Judæa. The Island he could not reach from the want of Galleys; his force consisting of Chariots, Cavalry, and Infantry. It was impossible, therefore, to take Tyrus (one side being on the Sea) as he had captured Jerusalem, through the terrific means of Famine,—the horrors of which are so powerfully depicted in the Lamentations ofJeremiah; and in reference to Judæa,foretold by the first Lawgiver nearly nine centuries before!
The Tyrians, through the means of their shipping, continually supplied the Capital with provisions,—thence the duration of the Siege, and Nebuchadnezzar had not the genius of the subsequent and final Conqueror of Tyrus—the heroic Macedonian.
The Babylonian had therefore to erect his forts and mounds, and with his engines of war make a breach into the mainland City. During the several years, thousands were slain on either side; those of the Tyrians were replaced by her "wise-men" of the Ocean,—her pilots and mariners; and as they left their vessels for the Metropolis, the Galleys were sunk at Sea to prevent their falling into the enemy's hands, and thereby enable them to turn upon the Island, the only place of Tyrian retreat. After a Siege of thirteen years, and more than three-quarters of the male population destroyed, breaches were made in the walls,—for men were no longer there to defend them,—the Metropolis was entered by the foe, and every part destroyed; Temples, Palaces, and houses laid in ashes, or razed to the ground, and the inhabitants slain, excepting those that had fled to the Island. These consisted principally of Women and Children; and to the rescue of the great proportion of the former, and thus preventing Rapine and Slaughter by the besiegers, may reasonably be attributed the cause of the rapid increase of the Tyrian population upon theIsland, and which has always confoundedwriters upon this Siege, and led some to doubt the fulfilment of the Prophecy.
The Babylonian could not reach these fugitives for the reason stated,—viz., the want of navigable means. And besides, the Metropolis was destroyed, and that was his intent; and that accomplished, he would be willing to receive a tributary capitulation from the Islanders. In the course of the Siege, the King of Tyrus died, and also the Prince. [These deaths were prophesied byEzekiel.] The Tyrian Monarch was succeeded by Baal, a branch of the Royal House. Nebuchadnezzar finding that the Island could not be subdued [572B. C.], offered terms to Baal,—they were accepted, and Baal was appointed his tributary Viceroy, and remained the vassal king of Tyrus for ten years, and died 562B. C.The shadowy dignity of Viceroy was then abolished, and Magistrates were appointed to administer Justice, and preside over the affairs of State. This Magisterial Government continued only for six years, when it was abolished, and the Sovereignty restored in the person of Balator, but still depending on the Assyrian Monarch for all power and authority. [556B. C.] This vassalage of the Tyrians was continued to the time of Sisinnes, regal governor of Phœnicia, who, by the command of Darius, King of Babylon, assisted by the Tyrians, materially aided in building theSecondTemple of Jerusalem, upon the restoration of the House of Judah; and in the same spirit as Hiram the Great aided Solomon king of Israel.
515B. C.] The Second Temple was finished and dedicated in the year 515 before Christ. Now taking the Prophecy ofIsaiah, to commence at thebeginningof the Siege of Tyrus (for Tyrus had then ceased to be free,i. e.as a Nation), which was in 585B. C., the "seventy years" will beexactly accomplishedat the dedication of the Second Temple.
Thus were the first and second Prophecies byIsaiahfulfilled,—viz., the fall and subsequent freedom,—for the destruction did take place, and at the termination of "seventy years" the Lord of Mercydid"visit Tyrus," and made her again a Nation;—for her scorn and boast upon the destruction of Jerusalem had been forgotten and forgiven, in her stretching forth her hand again to aid the building of the Sacred Temple to The One and OnlyGod!
As an instance of Divine Justice, it may be observed, that the freedom of Tyrus did not take placebeforethe restoration of Judæa,—and that the former nation had to endure the remorse of knowing that the latter from her new throne of liberty, could behold the manacles of thraldom upon that country, which (in prosperity) had shouted in impious triumph uponherdesolation!
SISINNES TO STRATO.
AND FROM THE FIRST TYRIAN REVOLUTION TO AZELMIC.
At the termination of the siege by Nebuchadnezzar, we have stated, that the remaining Tyrians fled to the Island, opposite to the ancient metropolis destroyed by the Babylonian. The inhabitants never rebuilt the Capital upon the ruins on the mainland, but upon the Island which had received and sheltered them, they had for the last half-century turned all their attention;—this was now renewed with redoubled energy,—upon it they erected their new, and in time, gorgeous Temples,—especially that dedicated to Hercules-Apollo, the tutelary God of the Tyrians. They also surrounded the Island with a sea-wall, 150 feet in height, and of proportionate thickness,—and from there being no approach to it but by water, the new metropolis was considered impregnable. Upon the mainland they erected many buildings of a minor character, such as are usually found in the environs ofa City;—and a great proportion of the labouring classes dwelt there; as, also, the strangers visiting Tyrus in pursuit of traffic or merchandise. Many years were employed in bringing the Island-Capital to a state of complete defence, owing to the diminished numbers of the male population immediately after the siege. Tyrus must now be viewed as only on theIsland, which was about 800 yards from the shore,—somewhat less than half a mile.
From the time of Sisinnes the Nation continued to increase in wealth and power. The former cause of her pride and glory—Navigation—was revived with all the energy and perseverance for which their ancestors in the time of Hiram had been so justly renowned. As in her days of ancient fame, Tyrus had loaned and built fleets and navies for Israel and Egypt, she now did the same for the Persian Monarch in his war upon Greece. A double motive caused this,—not only the pride of being able to furnish a navy, but her spirit of monopoly had again risen, and begun to stalk abroad,—for Greece had already aroused the jealousy of the Tyrians, and any means to crush or destroy the harbour of the Peiræus, would advance their wishes. From the Persian they could entertain no fears of commercial rivalry, for he had no river or port upon the Mediterranean.
The honour of Tyrus, as a Nation, however, was shewn in refusing to loan or man a navy, intended by a foreign king (who at first concealed his intent) forcarrying on a war against Carthage, and which denial led to the abandonment of the proposed warfare. It will be remembered that Carthage was originally founded by a Tyrian Princess and her countrymen. The Patriotism of the Tyrians was as powerful as their knowledge of Science was universal.
For thirty-five years Tyrus enjoyed the freedom of an independent nation, when all Phœnicia was laid under contribution by the Monarch of Persia:—He was content, however, with a mere nominal tribute from the Tyrians in return for their aid against the Greeks,—and perhaps from a distant belief that that assistance might again be required. In furtherance of this design or policy, he did not depose the reigning king, but recognised in him the exercise of full powers (except the tribute) as a monarch of an independent nation.
480B. C.] This nominal tribute was during the reign of Marten. The king and nobles were willing to flatter the vanity of the Persian by the nominal payment, for by his forbearance from any further action against the Islanders, it enabled them to increase their power, and retain their "places" both at home and abroad;—they, therefore, could well afford to spare from their rich and overflowing treasury of Pride, so small a portion of a superfluity.
Zechariahwrote [ch. ix.] "And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold [the Island-Citadel], and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the street;"—but her Pride was as subtle, "as broad andgeneral as the casing air,"—it was in and around her,—it was her nature,—to have been otherwise would have destroyed her identity and nationality. It was, however, upon one occasion, exerted as a noble spirit, and atoned for her errors past,—it proved that Freedom was not dead within the walls of Tyrus;—and the now noble exertion of the only Pride justifiable in any country,—that of National Freedom,—led to the first and only Revolution in the annals of the Tyrians in Asia. [475B. C.]
Justin states that it was an insurrection among theSlaves! We do not presume to contradict the record of any Historian, but would rather use every effort to support their statements by facts and evidence, as in the instance of Herodotus concerning the first Voyage around Africa;—but the record of Justin cannot be founded in truth, so far as relates to the supposed class of human beings rising against their Monarch and his Council. Tyrus had noSlaves, in the usual acceptation of the word,—for she had no foreign conquests,—and her subjects were too proud to allow of any but themselves to pilot or man their galleys,—either for merchandise or warfare;—nor would she allow foreigners to live within her walls, especially of the lower ranks of life, lest they should obtain the secret of ship-building, and so convey intelligence to other nations bordering upon the Mediterranean. But ancient writers have generally viewed thetiers état,—or the third class of despotic Empires and Kingdoms asSlaves, and so have written of them. Even to so latea period as half a century ago, the same was done in France, till her Revolution (although it moved in blood and tyranny, and brought to light human-monsters) established that the People were to enjoy rights and liberties; in analogy with those claimed and exercised by the Islanders of Britain, or their descendants in the Western Hemisphere. The great National lesson was first taught the World by the Rebellion of the Patriot,—Jeroboam, and the Ten Tribes,—from the "whip" and "scorpion" Son of Solomon!
The Rebellion of Jeroboam was but 500 years before this period, [475B. C.] and from the great intercourse between the Judæans and Tyrians, the event must have been familiar to the latter, and may have had its natural influence, therefore, in forwarding a similar action of their own.
It is more than probable that the People disapproved of the payment of the nominal tribute (which was more degrading than any other), and made a remonstrance to the Throne upon the subject,—for their just pride had been aroused, and while they continued to pay to the Persian for mere political existence, theyceasedto be a Nation ofFreemen,—and Justin might consequently have written thatallthe Tyrians,—King, Nobles, and People, wereSlaves,—for they were so, while their golden manacles rattled, and echoed along the distant shores of the Euphrates. Tyrus was, also, safe now from any attack by land,—and by water the Capital defied apparently both man and elements. The tribute had been originally imposed and leviedupon the National weakness,—it was now to be thrown off in its day of strength. The King who would cowardly surrender, and continue to submit a Nation's liberty to a foreign yoke, while he had power to be free,—and yet was willing to wear and hold the mere shadows of a Crown and Sceptre,—must have been, at heart, no fit guardian, or steward, of a People's honour or prosperity;—and especially, when in the very rank of life, the rights of which he continued to betray,—there was a Spirit—like the Sun—ready to disperse the clouds lowering upon, and obscuring his Country's freedom! This Tyrian Patriot wasStrato,—who, upon the successful issue of the Rebellion, and breaking of the foreign yoke imposed by Persia, was instantly elected Sovereign,—the Royal title continued to his descendants, even to the last King of the Tyrians.
475B. C.] From this time forward, Tyrus continued not only to enlarge her Navigation, but to increase herinlandcommerce. One of the chief complaints made by the ProphetNehemiahagainst his countrymen was,—that their Sabbath was desecrated by buying merchandise of the Tyrians upon the Holy-Day.Nehemiahcaused the traffickers to be thrust out of Jerusalem more than once, and the Gates to be closed upon them; but they still lingered around the walls in order to sell their commodities on the Jewish Sabbath,—upon which the Chief Ruler of the restored House of Judah, instantly threatened to have recourse to violence, and drive the Tyrian merchants from their locality. Thisevent [434B. C.] was forty-one years after the accession of the new dynasty.
It was no sin in the estimation of the Tyrians tosellupon the Sabbath Day of Israel, for they being heathens they did not esteem that Seventh day:—the crime was, that ofbuyingby the Jews upon their own Sacred Sabbath.—In this manner is it justly reproved byNehemiah: viz.—
"There dwelt men of Tyrus also therein [i. e.in Jerusalem], which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the Children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath Day? And it came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants [guards] set I at the gates, that there should be no burden brought in on the Sabbath Day. So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of ware[i. e.the Tyrians] lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, 'Why lodge ye about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands upon you!' From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath." [Jeremiah xiii. 16—21.]
Jerusalem is about 80 miles from Tyrus, and the Merchants of the latter Capital must have had communication with the former by land conveyance only,—orthey may have landed at Joppa [Jaffa], as in the days of Hiram, and from thence by Camel conveyance to Jerusalem. In either case the words ofNehemiahprove that Tyrians themselves were at the Holy-City as merchants and traders; and that consequently their commercial intercourse, at this time, was by land, as well as by water, with distant countries.
The same spirit of Monopoly which had actuated the early Tyrians, was still professed and practised by their descendants;—but, with Sidon, their Parent,—and Carthage, their Daughter, were they on terms of friendship and reciprocity. This continued throughout the following century, when the sympathy and gratitude of both Nations were evinced upon the last solemn occasion of Tyrian Nationality in Asia. With every other country, and especially with Rome, they betrayed their envy and growing jealousy. The incident related [Vol. i., Book ii., ch. iii.] in reference to the ingenious stratagem of the Tyrians in entrapping the Roman Galley, whereby it and the crew were totally lost, while they themselves were saved, and the secret of their discovery secured,—is but one of many proofs of the National character. This same feeling would naturally lead them to conceal from all foreign countries their previous discovery of the Fortunate Isles,—they were their own,—and none but the Tyrians knew of their locality;—which knowledge gave them the means of finding a temporary resting-place, from the devastating effects of an approaching whirlwind.
335B. C.] Allowing twenty years as the average reign of the Sovereigns,Azelmicwould be the eighth king in the present family, includingStrato, the original founder of the last line of Tyrian Monarchs.
We have now approached to the great National event, which led a portion of the Asiatic family to become the Aborigines of the Southern (or Mexican) division of the Western Hemisphere.
As we believe that the reader will have admitted that the Tyrians are identified as the original Builders of the ruined edifices in America,—and that this was sufficiently established in the first Book of this Volume,—the chief circumstances then to be established, are thetimeandmeansin which, and whereby, they reached the Western Continent. And, also, is it essentially required to prove a sufficientcauseleading to these eventful incidents in a Nation's History. In the following chapters we believe that the Veil of Mystery—woven even by the hands of the Prophets—will be raised from that creatingcause,—and by so doing, it will not only unfold Time's Romance in Ancient America, but uphold the truth of Prophecy, and therefore of thepast: explain the latest wonder of thepresentage; and we would feign indulge the hope, that, with the preceding pages, and those to follow,—not without some beneficial reflections for that of thefuture.
AZELMIC,
THE LAST OF THE TYRIAN MONARCHS.
REVIEW OF THE KINGDOM OF TYRUS,ATTHE INVASION OF ASIA BY ALEXANDER OF MACEDON.
THE INVESTMENT OF TYRUS, &c.
We have now to investigate and delineate the most remarkable Siege in ancient record,—not remarkable from its duration of time, but from its important consequences,—the ingenuity employed in its final success,—the courage of the attack and defence,—and from the demoniac horrors and cruelties practised by the Conqueror upon its eventful termination. The destruction of Jerusalem by Titus was 400 years after this total annihilation of Tyrus as a Nation,—and, therefore, to the period of which we are now writing, Alexander's Siege of Tyrus stands unequalled for courageous assault, heroic resistance, and for refined cruelty practised uponthe defeated. Upon this great National event is founded the essential basis of this History,—it is the absolute commencement of the Annals of Ancient America.Isaiah, Plutarch, and Arrian are our authorities,—the description of the Invasion and the Siege,—however humble the delineation, is our own;—we mention this, that in case it should fail to reach the full imagination of the reader, that the demerits may fall upon the right party,—or should it be the reverse, there may then be an inclination to render the opposite tribute of justice—not to the writer,—but to the reader,—that from the horrors of War, he may turn with a Christian's feeling to contemplate the Divine blessings of Peace,—and as a consequence, practical good-will and deeds to all men.
It will be necessary to present a review of the political and commercial position of Tyrus at the time that Alexander of Macedon (at the age of 20!) commenced his victorious march from his throne in Europe, through the great capitals of Asia and Africa. 336—5B. C.
335B. C.] Azelmic, the descendant of Strato, wielded the Sceptre with patriotic energy and justice, and at this period Tyrus was at the very height of splendour and renown. The "Queen of the Sea" had extended her navigation beyond any other period of her past history. Her throne being now upon the Island only,—which was citadelled and bastioned, with the Mediterranean itself for a water-moat, (and that nearly half a mile in width,) and flowing between the mainlandand the outward walls, and they proudly rising to an elevation of one hundred and fifty feet,—this combination for defence caused her to defy every assault from man, or even the warfare of elements!
Upon the Island arose her gorgeous Palaces and Edifices, and conspicuous above them all, soared the lofty and brilliant Temple of Hercules-Apollo, the chosen Deity of the Tyrians. In the centre of the Mansion of their Religion, stood a Statue of pure and beaten gold, sacred to the glowing Sun-God; in the front of Apollo's image was the Altar of the Country, composed of precious stones and metals,—of engraved and sparkling gems,—sculptured gold and silver,—wrought by the descendants of the Hiramic artists, whose renowned works gave extended and lasting fame to the truly Sacred Temple of Jerusalem. Upon the authority of the foredooming Prophet,—Ezekiel—who spoke of Tyrus two centuries and a half prior to this period, her Commerce (and which now was of the Phœnix character,—and from which fact writers have traced her name of Phœnice)—her Commerce and Shipbuilding were as renowned as her adventurious spirit was proverbial.
Even in that time her builders had perfected her beauty. The Tyrian Galleys were of peculiar strength and elegance, and their "means and appliances" are especially dwelt upon by the Prophet. Senir furnished the fir-wood for planks and decks,—Lebanon the cedar for masts, yards, and timber,—Bashan the oak for the powerful oars,—the Rowers' benches were of Ivoryfrom Ethiopia and India,—the sails were of embroidered fine linen from Egypt,—and the awning canopies of blue and purple cloths, tinted with the renowned colour of her robes of royalty. Mariners were constantly received from Sidon and Arvad,—the important business of the caulkers was confined to the "wise men" of Gebal,—but the builders and pilots were Tyrians only. To all the Nations enumerated byEzekielfrom whence riches were received in exchange for merchandise, are now [335B. C.] to be added the Islands in, and the capitals bordering upon, the Mediterranean,—viz., Rhodes, Sardinia, Sicily, Melita, Corsica, and the Baleares; Ægina, Crete, Candia, Cyprus, Corcyra, and all the Grecian and Ionian Isles; the newly-discovered lands of Britain and Hibernia, the former being named by the Tyrians;—every Port from the mouth of the Menander to the "Pillars" at Gibraltar; from the borders of Dalmatia to the opposite shores of the Adriatic;—from the shores of Gaul and Iberia to the harbours of Etruria,—and to all these commercial tributaries of Tyrus, are to be added those giants of antiquity, Athens, Rome, and Carthage! Truly, then, in the language of the inspired writer,Zechariah,—
"Tyrus did build herself a strong hold; and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the street."
The same false Commercial policy was pursued by the Tyrians, as in their more ancient days, when Pride and Envy were their injurious counsellors. Their handswere raised against every nation seeking to enrich itself through the means of Navigation;—those countries were viewed by the Tyrians as the mere instruments of their own advancement. Sidon and Carthage were alone excepted from the National jealousy; and even this exception to the rule was founded upon selfishness, arising from the memory of blood and kindred, and not from any sentiment of liberal policy. The Metropolis being now on the Island, they felt safe from the approach of an enemy by land,—while their surrounding walls rendered them "quiet and secure" from every assault by Naval warfare as then practised. In this imperial state of confident security, founded upon Pride, locality, but above all by commercial Monopoly, stood the Island-Kingdom of Tyrus, as her death-knell was sounded from afar by the rising Monarch of Macedonia.
Throughout the surrounding Nations the Islanders had "sown the wind,"—they were now, as a consequence, "to reap the whirlwind," and no one to check, or blight, the pride-harvest of the hurricane!
Alexander commenced his triumphant march in the year 336B. C., and not having a sufficient cause for his foreign invasions (Persia and Media excepted), may be justly looked upon, at this day, as the human Juggernaut of Antiquity! The ProphetDaniel, two centuries before the period of which this event treats, stigmatized this vaunted hero, when comparing him with the Kings of Media and Persia,—the latter to the horns ofthe Ram, while the former is likened unto the brute Goat of the mountains.
"And the rough goat is the King of Grecia." [Daniel viii. 21.]
It is not necessary to trace the progress of Alexander in Asia, only so far as it may have had an influence upon the fate and fall of Tyrus.
After the Passage of the Granicus, and in the next year, the great victory at Issus, whereby the Persian kingdom was shaken, the lesser nations begun to contemplate the increasing power of Alexander with alarm, and to reflect upon the best means of averting impending ruin. The only alternative from battle was to become tributary, or to obtain the special favour of the Invader.
Sidon made application, through ambassadors, to Alexander for his protection, and was thus saved from destruction by anticipating the conflict through a tributary surrender:—and which voluntary act satisfied the Macedonian, who stipulated, however, that he should place a new King upon the throne. This was agreed to, and Byblos and Aradnus joined in the humiliating surrender.
In compliment to his favourite,—Hephæstion,—the Conqueror allowed him to appoint whom he pleased for King of Sidon. Hephæstion, thereupon, selected a poor man of the Capital by the name of Strato, and instantly raised him to the dignity of Sidonian Sovereign. The mendicant was a remote branch of theRoyal House, but had been unjustly degraded by the reigning Monarch. When the new-raised King had his first interview with Alexander, his grateful remark was—"I pray that Apollo will enable you, Alexander, to bear prosperity with the same fortitude, with which I have struggled with adversity!"
The Macedonian highly applauded the philosophical point of the remark, and secured him in his new possession.
As no great gift can be without a referential motive, either to the past, or for the future,—the donation by Hephæstion, where no past service had deserved it (and there were nearer branches of the Royal House than Strato), must have had, therefore, some deep meaning. It is only long after historic events are passed and analyzed, that they can be calmly or correctly judged; and in tracing Alexander's approach to the celebrated "Daughter of Sidon," this donation of a throne,—and to the party receiving it,—was in direct flattery to Tyrus; as in like manner, at a subsequent period, Marcus Antonius presented provinces to Egypt to secure the sun-clad and voluptuous Cleopatra!
The subjugation of Tyrus bypolicywas one of the schemes of Alexander,—for avoiding its destruction,—he would then be sure of Navies, Pilots, and Mariners, to carry his warfare, at a later period, to the river Tiber and to Rome itself;—for his thirst of Conquest,—had it not been allayed by the poison-draught in Asia,—could only have been quenched within the great Capital of Italy. Alexander, therefore, flatteredthe Tyrians by raising to the throne of Sidon, a man who bore the same name,—(Strato) and was of the same family as the Founder of the present dynasty at Tyrus; and consequently, remotely related to Azelmic, whom Alexander endeavoured (by this act of apparent generosity) to circumvent and overthrow bypolicy, not warfare. Historians have applauded the justice of Hephæstion,—they should have analyzed the deep-laid scheming of his Master,—who merely employed his favourite, to mask his own deep intent upon the great Commercial emporium of the World. The Tyrians, however, were practicalmerchant-princes, and were not to be deceived by any species ofexchange, although Kings were the commodity.
334B. C.] The unforeseen capitulation of Sidon,—the Mother-land,—aroused the Tyrians to a sense of their own position,—Sidon, Byblos, and Aradnus, had surrendered,—these Capitals, therefore, could not aid the Merchant-Metropolis. To increase the apprehension of the Tyrians, it was reported through the continued policy of Alexander, that he was, also, attended by a fleet of Galleys to cover any retreat,—or to land, and reconvey his troops from, or to any point, from the Bosphorous to the Nile,—or from thence to Carthage. The Conqueror had, however, in reality, dismissed his fleet before the victory of Issus, in order to inspire his troops with additional courage, from the then apparent fact, that they had no means of retreat from the enemies' country by the means of Galleys. He must have remembered that that feeling of safety of retreatlost the Persians the Battle of Marathon. [490B. C.] The Macedonian had another motive in reporting that his fleet was approaching,—viz., To take the Tyrian attention from any land defence, by enforcing the belief that the attack would be by means of the Navy. He knew, also, that Azelmic and his People had no extensive knowledge ofMilitaryScience,—for they could have no occasion for its exercise, occasioned by their Island locality,—their high-reared walls being their bulwarks:—and they consequently commenced, as he expected, preparations for a Naval Conflict:—but, unknown to Alexander they had formed a masterly design, viz., to attack him both by land and sea, and that simultaneously; thence, if the Macedonian lost a land battle, and his fleet dispersed, (no difficult matter for the Tyrians) it would be easy to arouse other nations to crush the Invader. Tyrus, however, had no army fit to cope with Alexander, in any general engagement, and especially with his Phalanx and Cavalry. Azelmic, therefore, secretly despatched special Envoys to his only remaining ally,—viz., Carthage,—for no other nation could be with safety applied to in any emergency,—except Sidon,—for the treatment by the Tyrians to other countries had alienated every sentiment of National friendship. In their pride and prosperity they had forgotten that adversity may come! Sidon had capitulated, and received nearly an alien King,—Carthage, therefore, alone remained. Azelmic's ambassadors were received by the Tyro-Carthaginians with every demonstration of respect, as beingdue to a Nation from which they themselves had sprung. The answer to the application for an Army to oppose the advance of Alexander upon Tyrus, could only be divulged by, and within the Senate of the Republic; the Envoys were, therefore, courteously dismissed with presents and honours, together with the assurance that a speedy reply should be sent to the Island-Capital.
In the mean time, the policy of Azelmic was still further employed to circumvent that of Alexander's,—for during the absence of the Envoys he endeavoured to flatter the wily Macedonian in his own manner; and thereupon sent as a present to him a splendid golden Crown, as a friendly compliment:—this was received with apparent feelings of amity, and in return, Philip's Son desired tohonourTyrus by worshipping in person, (with his Officers,) in the Temple of Hercules-Apollo! Azelmic sarcastically replied to this effect, on behalf of Tyrus,—viz., that thehonourintended by Alexander inentering the Metropolis, and worshipping, with his followers, (for hissuitewould have been the entire Army) in the Chief Temple of the Nation was duly appreciated, and more than theydeserved, or were desirous ofreceiving,—that since the Hero of Macedon only desired to pay his tribute of respect to the Temple of Hercules-Apollo, that could be done amid the Ruins of theOld Temple on the Mainland; and that from the summit of the walls of the Island-City,—Azelmic, his Nobles, and People, would witness the ceremony! Alexander, of course, declined the offer,—at once perceivingthat his scheme of entering Tyrus was frustrated: and he, also, almost simultaneously with this invitation to worship in the Ruined Temple, received intelligence of the important embassy secretly sent to Carthage. Alexander, therefore, instantly found that he had cause to view in Azelmic and his People, foes whose forethought and consequent judgment, might replace any deficiency that might be apparent from the want of an organised Army. The two rival Monarchs awaited with anxiety the reply of Carthage. In the mean time the Republican Senate [333B. C.] held the final conference upon the subject of the Tyrian solicitation,—and thereupon, deputed thirty of the chief Citizens of Carthage as a delegation, to convey to Azelmic the following unlooked for reply: viz.—That the Senate viewed with deep condolence the present, and approaching condition of the home of their ancestors:—but, upon contemplation of the position of Carthage itself, they deeply regretted to find, that it precluded even the remote possibility of sending troops or succour to Tyrus!