Histories

Herodotus

Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).

It is a thirty days' journey for an unencumbered man from the Maeetian lake[*](The Maeetian lake is the Sea of Azov .) to the river Poti [41.683,42.183] (inhabited place), regions under republican jurisdiction, Georgia, Asia Phasis and the land of the Colchi; from the Colchi it is an easy matter to cross into Media: there is only one nation between, the Saspires; to pass these is to be in Media.

Nevertheless, it was not by this way that the Scythians entered; they turned aside and came by the upper and much longer way, keeping the Caucasian mountains on their right. There, the Medes met the Scythians, who defeated them in battle, deprived them of their rule, and made themselves masters of all Asia (continent)Asia.

From there they marched against Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt: and when they were in the part of Syria [38,35] (nation), Asia Syria called Palestine [35.333,31.916] (region (general)), Asia Palestine, Psammetichus king of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt met them and persuaded them with gifts and prayers to come no further.