CONTENTS OF VOL. VIII.

BOOK XXII.

THE HISTORY OF STRACUSE,

ARTICLE I.

Pags

SECT. I. Hiero the second chosen captain-general by the Syra-

cusans, and soon after appointed king. He makes an alliance

with the Romans in the beginning of the first Punic war

SECT. II. Hiero's pacific reign. He particularly favours agricul

ture. He applies the abilities of Archimedes his relation to the

service of the public, and causes him to make an infinite num

ber of machines for the defence of a besieged place. He dies

very old, and much regretted by the people

ARTICLE II.

SECT. I. Hieronymus, grandson of Hiero, succeeds him, and

causes him to be much regretted by his vices and cruelty. He

is killed in a conspiracy. Barbarous murder of the princesses.

Hippocrates and Epicydes possess themselves of the govern-

ment of Syracuse, and declare for the Carthaginians, as Hiero-

nymus had done

SECT. II. The consul Marcellus Besieges Syracuse. The consi-

derable losses of men and ships, occasioned by the dreadful

machines of Archimedes, oblige Marcellus to change the siege

into a blockade. He takes the city at length by means of his

intelligence within it. Death of Archimedes, killed by a sol-

dier, who did not know him

ARTICLE III.

SECT. I. Tomb of Archimedes discovered by Cicero

SECT. II. Summary of the history of Syracuse

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SECT. III. Reflections upon the government and character of the

Syracusans

BOOK XXIII.

THE HISTORY OF PONTUS.

SECT. I. Mithridates, at twelve years of age, ascends the throne

of Pontus. He seizes Cappadocia and Bithynia, having first

expelled their kings. The Romans re-establish them. He

causes all the Romans and Italians in Asia Minor to be put to

death in one day. First war of the Romans with Mithridates,

who had made himself master of Asia Minor and Greece, and

had taken Athens. Sylla is charged with this war. He be

sieges and retakes Athens. He gains three great battles

against the generals of Mithridates. He grants that prince

peace in the fourth year of the war. Library of Athens, in

which were the works of Aristotle. Sylla causes it to be

carried to Rome

SECT. II. Second war against Mithridates, under Murena, of only

three years' duration. Mithridates prepares to renew the war

He concludes a treaty with Sertorius. Third war with Mith-

ridates. Lucullus the consul sent against him. He obliges

him to raise the siege of Cyzicum, and defeats his troops. He

gains a complete victory over him, and reduces him to fly into

Pontus. Tragical end of the sisters and wives of Mithridates.

He endeavours to retire to Tigranes, his son-in-law. Lucul

lus regulates the affairs of Asia

Lucullus

He gains a se-

SECT. III. Lucullus causes war to be declared with Tigranes,

and marches against him. Vanity and ridiculous self-suffi

ciency of that prince. He loses a great battle.

takes Tigranocerta, the capital of Armenia.

cond victory over the joint forces of Tigranes and Mithridates.

Mutiny and revolt in the army of Lucullus

SECT. IV. Mithridates, taking advantage of the discord which

had arisen in the Roman army, recovers all his dominions.

Pompey is chosen to succeed Lucullus. He overthrows Mith-

ridates in several battles. The latter flies in vain to Tigranes,

his son-in-law, for refuge, who is engaged in a war with his

own son. Pompey marches into Armenia against Tigranes,

who comes to him and surrenders himself. Weary of pursu-

ing Mithridates to no purpose, he returns into Syria, makes

himself master of that kingdom, and puts an end to the empire

of the Seleucidæ. He marches back to Pontus. Pharnaces

makes the army revolt against his father Mithridates, who kills

himself. That prince's character. Pompey's expeditions into

Arabia and Judea, where he takes Jerusalem. After having

reduced all the cities of Pontus, he returns to Rome, and re-

ceives the honour of a triumph

BOOK XXIV.

THE HISTORY OF EGYPT.

SECT. I. Ptolemæus Auletes having been placed upon the throne

of Egypt in the room of Alexander, is declared the friend and

ally of the Roman people, by the influence of Cæsar and Pom-

pey, which he purchases at a very great price. In conse-

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quence, he loads his subjects with taxes. He is expelled the

throne. The Alexandrians make his daughter Berenice queen.

He goes to Rome, and, by money, obtains the voices of the

heads of the commonwealth for his re-establishment. He is

opposed by an oracle of the Sibyl's, notwithstanding which,

Gabinius sets him upon the throne by force of arms, where he

remains till his death. The famous Cleopatra, and her brother,

very young, succeed him

SECT. II. Pothinus and Achillas, ministers of the young king,

expel Cleopatra. She raises troops to re-establish herself.

Pompey, after having been overthrown at Pharsalia, retires

into Egypt. He is assassinated there. Cæsar, who pursued

him, arrives at Alexandria, where he is informed of his death,

which he seems to lament. He endeavours to reconcile the

brother and sister, and for that purpose sends for Cleopatra,

of whom he soon becomes enamoured. Great commotions

arise at Alexandria, and several battles are fought between the

Egyptians and Casar's troops, wherein the latter have almost

always the advantage. The king having been drowned in fly-

ing after a sea-fight, all Egypt submits to Cæsar. He sets

Cleopatra, with her younger brother, upon the throne, and

returns to Rome

SECT. III. Cleopatra causes her younger brother to be put to

death, and reigns alone. The death of Julius Cæsar having

made way for the triumvirate formed between Antony, Le-

pidus, and young Cæsar, called also Octavius, Cleopatra de-

clares herself for the triumvirs. She goes to Antony at Tarsus,

gains an absolute ascendant over him, and brings him with her

to Alexandria. Antony goes to Rome, where he espouses

Octavia. He abandons himself again to Cleopatra, and after

some expeditions returns to Alexandria, which he enters in

triumph. He there celebrates the coronation of Cleopatra

and her children. Open rupture between Cæsar and Antony.

The latter repudiates Octavia. The two fleets put to sea.

Cleopatra determines to follow Antony. Battle of Actium.

Cleopatra flies, and draws Antony after her. Cæsar's victory

is complete. He advances some time after against Alexan-

dria, which makes no long resistance. Tragical death of An-

tony and Cleopatra. Egypt is reduced into a province of the

Roman empire

Conclusion of the Ancient History

The Chronological Table

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