A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

they stormed and sacked it.
Tarentum; Marseilles 107
In the booty taken on this
occasion was the bronze colossus of Hercules, the work of
Lysippus, now on the Capitohne HiU.
It was dedicated
there as an offering by Fabius Maximus, who captured the
city.
At one time, when the government of the Tarentines Government.
had assumed a democratic form, they rose to great importance;
for they possessed the largest fleet of all the 3. 4.
states in that region, and could bring into the field an army
of 30,000 foot and 3,000 horse besides a select body of
1000 cavalry called hipparchi. They adopted, too, the
Pythagorean philosophy; and Archytas, who for a long
time presided over the government, gave it his special
support. At a later period, however, their luxury, arising
from their prosperity, so increased that their public
festivals exceeded in number the days of the year. Hence
arose an inefficient government.
IV.
Massalia (Marseilles)
Marseilles, founded by the Phocaeans, is built in a
Its founding,
stony region. Its harbor lies beneath a rock which is Strabo iv.
shaped like a theatre opening toward the south. Walls
^' "*'
protect the harbor and the whole city, which is of consider- ^"^/^"'^
[lO.
able size. Within the citadel stand the Ephesium and
the temple of the Delphian Apollo. The latter temple
is common to all the lonians. The Ephesium is the
temple consecrated to Artemis of Ephesus. It is said
that when the Phocasans were about to quit their country,
an oracle commanded them to take from Artemis of Ephesus,
a conductor for their voyage. On arriving at Ephesus,
therefore, they inquired how they might be able to obtain
from the goddess what was ordered them. The god-