Histories

Moreover, wishing to get clear information about this matter where it was possible so to do, I took ship for +Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Tyre in +Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia, where I had learned by inquiry that there was a holy temple of Heracles.[*](The Tyrian god Melkart.)

There I saw it, richly equipped with many other offerings, besides two pillars, one of refined gold, one of emerald: a great pillar that shone at night; and in conversation with the priests, I asked how long it was since their temple was built.

I found that their account did not tally with the belief of the Greeks, either; for they said that the temple of the god was founded when Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, AsiaTyre first became a city, and that was two thousand three hundred years ago. At +Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Tyre I saw yet another temple of the so-called Thasian Heracles.

Then I went to Thasos (island), Kavalla, Macedonia, Greece, EuropeThasos, too, where I found a temple of Heracles built by the Phoenicians, who made a settlement there when they voyaged in search of Europe (continent)Europe; now they did so as much as five generations before the birth of Heracles the son of Amphitryon in Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas.