cules and of Astarte. He
first built Hercules's temple in the month Peritus, and that of Astarte
when he made his expedition against the Tityans, who would not pay him
their tribute; and when he had subdued them to himself, he returned
home. Under this king there was a younger son of Abdemon, who mastered
the problems which Solomon king of Jerusalem had recommended to be
solved." Now the time from this king to the building of Carthage is
thus calculated: "Upon the death of Hirom, Baleazarus his son took the
kingdom; he lived forty-three years, and reigned seven years: after him
succeeded his son Abdastartus; he lived twenty-nine years, and reigned
nine years. Now four sons of his nurse plotted against him and slew him,
the eldest of whom reigned twelve years: after them came Astartus,
the son of Deleastartus; he lived fifty-four years, and reigned twelve
years: after him came his brother Aserymus; he lived fifty-four years,
and reigned nine years: he was slain by his brother Pheles, who took the
kingdom and reigned but eight months, though he lived fifty years: he
was slain by Ithobalus, the priest of Astarte, who reigned thirty-two
years, and lived sixty-eight years: he was succeeded by his son
Badezorus, who lived forty-five years, and reigned six years: he was
succeeded by Matgenus his son; he lived thirty-two years, and reigned
nine years: Pygmalion succeeded him; he lived fifty-six years, and
reigned forty-seven years. Now in the seventh year of his reign, his
sister fled away from him, and built the city Carthage in Libya." So
the whole time from the reign of Hirom, till the building of Carthage,
amounts to the sum of one hundred fifty-five years and eight months.
Since then the temple was built at Jerusalem in the twelfth year of the
reign of Hirom, there were from the building of the temple, until the
building of Carthage, one hundred forty-three years and eight months.
Wherefore, what occasion is there for alleging any more testimonies out
of the Phoenician histories [on the behalf of our nation], since what
I have said is so thoroughly confirmed already? and to be sure our
ancestors came into this country long before the building of the temple;
for it was not till we had gotten possession of the whole land by war
that we built our temple. And this is the point that I have clearly
proved out of our sacred writings in my Antiquities.

19. I will now relate what hath been written concerning us in the
Chaldean his