Histories

In these verses the poet shows that he knew of Alexander's wanderings to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt; for +Syria [38,35] (nation), Asia Syria borders on Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, and the Phoenicians, to whom +Sidon [35.366,33.55] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Sidon belongs, dwell in +Syria [38,35] (nation), Asia Syria.

These verses and this passage prove most clearly that the Cyprian poems are not the work of Homer but of someone else. For the Cyprian poems relate that Alexandrus reached +Troy [26.25,39.95] (deserted settlement), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Ilion with Helen in three days from Sparta [22.416,37.83] (inhabited place), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece, Europe Sparta, having a fair wind and a smooth sea; but according to the Iliad, he wandered from his course in bringing her.

Enough, then, of Homer and the Cyprian poems. But, when I asked the priests whether the Greek account of what happened at +Troy [26.2833,39.9167] (Perseus) Troy were idle or not, they gave me the following answer, saying that they had inquired and knew from Menelaus himself.