_, and in
conjunction with _Belesis_ a _Babylonian_ overcame him, and caused him to
set fire to his palace and burn himself: but he is contradicted by other
authors of better credit; for _Duris_ and [371] many others wrote that
_Arbaces_ upon being admitted into the palace of _Sardanapalus_, and seeing
his effeminate life, slew himself; and _Cleitarchus_, that _Sardanapalus_
died of old age, after he had lost his dominion over _Syria_: he lost it by
the revolt of the western nations; and _Herodotus_ [372] tells us, that the
_Medes_ revolted first, and defended their liberty by force of arms against
the _Assyrians_, without conquering them; and at their first revolting had
no King, but after some time set up _Dejoces_ over them, and built
_Ecbatane_ for his residence; and that _Dejoces_ Reigned only over _Media_,
and had a peaceable Reign of 54 years, but his son and successor
_Phraortes_ made war upon his neighbours, and conquered _Persia_; and that
the _Syrians_ also, and other western nations, at length revolted from the
_Assyrians_, being encouraged thereunto by the example of the _Medes_; and
that after the revolt of the western nations, _Phraortes_ invaded the
_Assyrians_, but was slain by them in that war, after he had Reigned twenty
and two years. He was succeeded by _Astyages_.

Now _Asserhadon_ seems to be the _Sardanapalus_ who died of old age after
the revolt of _Syria_, the name _Sardanapalus_ being derived from
_Asserhadon-Pul_. _Sardanapalus_ was the [373] son of _Anacyndaraxis_,
_Cyndaraxis_, or _Anabaxaris_, King of _Assyria_; and this name seems to
have been corruptly written for _Sennacherib_ the father of _Asserhadon_.
_Sardanapalus_ built _Tarsus_ and _Anchiale_ in one day, and therefore
Reigned over _Cilicia_, before the revolt of the western nations: and if he
be the same King with _Asserhadon_, he was succeeded by _Saosduchinus_ in
the year of _Nabonassar_ 81; and by this revolution _Manasseh_ was set at
liberty to return home and fortify _Jerusalem_: and the _Egyptians_ also,
after the _Assyrians_ had harrassed _Egypt_ and _Ethiopia_ three years,
_Isa._ xx. 3, 4. were set at liberty, and continued under twelve
contemporary Kings of their own nation, as above. The _Assyrians_ invaded
and conquered the _Egyptians_ the first of the three years, and Reigned
over them two years more: and these two years are the interregnum which
_Africanus_, from _Manetho_, places next before the twelve Kings. The
_Scy