THE ASSYRIAN HISTORY

S. 1:

2.1.4–28.8:

Assyrian expansion under Ninus:

(2.1.4) In ancient times, then, Asia was ruled by native kings, of whom no memory either of a notable deed or of a personal name has been preserved. The first to be transmitted to history and memory for us as somebody who achieved great deeds is Ninus, king of the Assyrians: of him we shall now try to give a detailed account. Since he was by nature a warlike man and eager for aretē, he gave arms to the strongest of the young men, and he trained them for a long time to become accustomed to every hardship and all the dangers of war. And after he thus had collected a notable army, he made an alliance with Ariaeus, the king of Arabia, a country which in those times seems to have abounded in brave men. Now, in general, this nation loves freedom and submits on no condition to a Persian ruler. Therefore, neither the kings of the Persians at a later time nor those of the Macedonians, though they were the most powerful rulers of their days, were ever able to reduce this nation to slavery. For Arabia is, in general, a difficult country for an enemy army to campaign in, part of it being desert and part of it waterless and supplied at intervals with wells which are hidden and known only to the natives. Thus Ninus, the king of the Assyrians, went to war with a great force and in alliance with the ruler of the Arabians, against the Babylonians whose country bordered his. In those times the present city of Babylon had not yet been founded, but there were other notable cities in Babylonia. After he had easily subdued the inhabitants because they were inexperienced in the dangers of warfare, he taxed them with the annual payment of fixed tributes. The king of the conquered, however, whom he took captive along with his children, he put to death. Then he invaded Armenia5 with a large army and after he had ruined some of its cities, he struck terror into the inhabitants.