into Syria, was well received by the Phoenicians,
and commenced the siege of some of the Syrian cities. Persia might
have suffered considerable loss in this quarter, had not the internal
quarrels of the Egyptians among themselves proved a better protection to
her than her own armies. Two pretenders to the throne sprang up as soon
as Tachos had quitted the country, and he was compelled to return to
Egypt in order to resist them. The force intended to strike a vigorous
blow against the power of Artaxerxes was dissipated in civil conflicts;
and Persia had once more to congratulate herself on the intestine
divisions of her adversaries. A few years after this, Artaxerxes died,
having reigned forty-six years, and lived, if we may trust Plutarch,
ninety-four. Like most of the later Persian kings, he was unfortunate
in his domestic relations. To his original queen, Statira, he was indeed
fondly attached; and she appears to have merited and returned his love,
but in all other respects his private life was unhappy. Its chief curse
was Parysatis, the queen-mother. This monster of cruelty held Artaxerxes
in a species of bondage during almost the whole of his long reign, and
acted as if she were the real sovereign of the country. She encouraged
Cyrus in his treason, and brought to most horrible ends all those who
had been prominent in frustrating it. She poisoned Statira out of hatred
and jealousy, because she had a certain degree of influence over her
husband. She encouraged Artaxerxes to contract an incestuous marriage
with his daughter Atossa, a marriage which proved a fertile source
of further calamities. Artaxerxes had three sons by Statira--Darius,
Ariaspes, and Ochus. Of these Darius, as the eldest, was formally
declared the heir. But Ochus, ambitious of reigning, intrigued with
Atossa, and sought to obtain the succession by her aid. So good seemed
to Darius the chances of his brother's success that he took the rash
step of conspiring against the life of his father, as the only way of
securing the throne. His conspiracy was detected, and he was seized and
executed, Ariaspes thereby becoming the eldest son, and so the natural
heir. Ochus then persuaded Ariaspes that he had offended his father,
and was about to be put to a cruel and ignominious death, whereupon that
prince in despair committed suicide. His elder brothers thus removed,
there still remained one rival, whom Ochus feared. This was Arsames, one
of his half-brothers, a