Histories

Thus was the first knowledge of Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya gained. The next story is that of the Carthaginians: for as for Sataspes son of Teaspes, an Achaemenid, he did not sail around Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya, although he was sent for that purpose; but he feared the length and loneliness of the voyage and so returned without accomplishing the task laid upon him by his mother.

For he had raped the virgin daughter of Zopyrus son of Megabyzus; and when on this charge he was to be impaled by King Xerxes, Sataspes' mother, who was Darius' sister, interceded for his life, saying that she would impose a heavier punishment on him than Xerxes;

for he would be compelled to sail around Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya, until he completed his voyage and came to the Persian Gulf [53.83,25.583] (gulf), AsiaArabian Gulf. Xerxes agreed to this, and Sataspes went to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt where he received a ship and a crew from the Egyptians, and sailed past the Pillars of Heracles.

Having sailed out beyond them, and rounded the Libyan promontory called Solois,[*](Probably Cape Cantin, in the latitude of Madeira.) he sailed south; but when he had been many months sailing over the sea, and always more before him, he turned back and made sail for Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt.

Coming to King Xerxes from there, he related in his narrative that, when he was farthest distant, he sailed by a country of little men, who wore palm-leaf clothing; these, whenever he and his men put in to land with their ship, left their towns and fled to the hills; he and his men did no harm when they landed, and took nothing from the people except cattle.

As to his not sailing completely around Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya, the reason (he said) was that the ship could move no farther, but was stopped. But Xerxes did not believe that Sataspes spoke the truth, and, as the task appointed was unfulfilled, he impaled him, punishing him on the charge first brought against him.

This Sataspes had a eunuch, who as soon as he heard of his master's death escaped to +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, with a great hoard of wealth, of which a man of +Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos got possession. I know the man's name but deliberately omit it.