Text
The historical kernel in the account lies in the fact that Nineveh fell before the combined attacks of the Median Cyaxares and the Chaldean Nabopolassar. The name Belesys might be a corruption of Nabopolassar.
Diodorus Siculus 2.24:
A certain Arbaces, a Mede by race, and conspicuous for his bravery and nobility of spirit, was the general of the contingent of Medes which was sent each year to Ninus. And having made the acquaintance during this service of the general of the Babylonians, he was urged by him to overthrow the empire of the Assyrians. Now this man’s name was Belesys, and he was the most distinguished of those priests whom the Babylonians call Chaldeans. And since as a consequence he had the fullest experience of astrology and divination, he was wont to foretell the future unerringly to the people in general; therefore, being greatly admired for this gift, he also predicted to the general of the Medes, who was his friend, that it was certainly fated for him to be king over all the territory which was then held by Sardanapalus. Arbaces, commending the man, promised to give him the satrapy of Babylonia when the affair should be consummated. … And the conclusion of the matter was that he formed a conspiracy with Belesys, whereby he should himself move the Medes and Persians to revolt while the latter should persuade the Babylonians to join the undertaking and should secure the help of the commander of the Arabs, who was his friend, for the attempt to secure the supreme control. … And after a year’s time all these leaders gathered a multitude of soldiers and came with all their forces to Ninus, ostensibly bringing up replacements, as was the custom, but in fact with the intention of destroying the empire of the Assyrians. Now when these four nations had gathered into one place the whole number of them amounted to four hundred thousand men, and when they had assembled into one camp they took counsel together concerning the best plan to pursue.
Source (list of abbreviations)
Diodorus Siculus 2.24
Bibliography
| Oldfather 1960, I 428-431 | Oldfather, C. H. Diodorus of Sicily. 12 Vols. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, London: Heinemann 1960. |
Links (external links will open in a new browser window)
Cf. The fall of Nineveh/Babylon (2)
Amar Annus
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