PREFACE

Where the published manuscripts mistakenly read "War of Belus" original Latin: Beli belli, the most noble hero Isaac Scaliger Joseph Justus Scaliger (1540–1609), a leading scholar of the Renaissance who revolutionized historical chronology first pointed out in Book VI of On the Correction of Time that this was a corruption. Here you have spices, altars, the sacred fire, sacrificial victims, Magi (or Priests), and the King himself as he strikes a treaty, tilting the offering-vessel original Greek: ἐλοχοϊον (elokhoion) or small vase (containing the sacrificial cakes original Greek: ἐλοχύται (elokhýtai) or salted meal mola salsa: a mixture of coarse-ground, toasted spelt flour and salt used in Roman sacrifices with which he would make an offering), and calling upon Belus The Babylonian deity Marduk/Bel and Mithra The Persian god of light and covenants according to the Chaldean rite. In these matters, nothing is so foreign to Greek or Roman custom.

Wherever there are Greek terms or those wrapped in Eastern dialects, I have everywhere added an English translation The author originally provided Latin versions for these; for this edition, they are rendered in English in a smaller font, or at least provided the equivalent through preceding or following words. I intended this so as not to present difficulties for the reader who might not be equally versed in those tongues. I offer nothing of doubtful reliability from the writings of others, nor do I present the work of others as my own; for it has always been a point of conscience for me not to draw from the streams secondary sources except where it was impossible to reach the fountains primary sources. I have exercised such a choice of authors as to avoid not only forgeries—such as those "Annian" Referring to Annius of Viterbo (1432–1502), a friar notorious for forging historical texts he claimed were by ancient authors like Berossus versions of Berossus and Metasthenes and others of that most foul medley—but also those other triflers who sometimes impose a burden on truly learned and great men. (To these men, how much these compositions could rightly owe...