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esent of one hundred and twenty talents of gold。 He also cut down the most excellent timber out of that mountain which is called Libanus； and sent it to him for adorning its roof。 Solomon also not only made him many other presents； by way of requital； but gave him a country in Galilee also； that was called Chabulon。 （13） But there was another passion； a philosophic inclination of theirs； which cemented the friendship that was betwixt them； for they sent mutual problems to one another； with a desire to have them unriddled by each other； wherein Solomon was superior to Hirom； as he was wiser than he in other respects： and many of the epistles that passed between them are still preserved among the Tyrians。 Now； that this may not depend on my bare word； I will produce for a witness Dius； one that is believed to have written the Phoenician History after an accurate manner。 This Dius； therefore； writes thus； in his Histories of the Phoenicians： 〃Upon the death of Abibalus； his son Hirom took the kingdom。 This king raised banks at the eastern parts of the city； and enlarged it； he also joined the temple of Jupiter Olympius； which stood before in an island by itself； to the city； by raising a causeway between them； and adorned that temple with donations of gold。 He moreover went up to Libanus； and had timber cut down for the building of temples。 They say further； that Solomon； when he was king of Jerusalem； sent problems to Hirom to be solved； and desired he would send others back for him to solve； and that he who could not solve the problems proposed to him should pay money to him that solved them。 And when Hirom had agreed to the proposals； but was not able to solve the problems； he was obliged to pay a great deal of money； as a penalty for the same。 As also they relate； that one淎bdemon； a man of Tyre； did solve the problems； and propose others which Solomon could not solve； upon which he was obliged to repay a great deal of money to Hirom。〃 These things are attested to by Dius； and confirm what we have said upon the same subjects before。
18。 And now I shall add Menander the Ephesian； as an additional witness。 This Menander wrote the Acts that were done both by the Greeks and Barbarians； under every one of the Tyrian kings； and had taken much pains to learn their history out of their own records。 Now when he was writing about those kings that had reigned at Tyre； he came to Hirom； and says thus： 〃Upon the death of Abibalus； his son Hirom took the kingdom； he lived fifty…three years； and reigned thirty…four。 He raised a bank on that called the Broad Place； and dedicated that golden pillar which is in Jupiter's temple； he also went and cut down timber from the mountain called Libanus； and got timber Of cedar for the roofs of the temples。 He also pulled down the old temples； and built new ones； besides this； he consecrated the temples of Hercules and of Astarte。 He first built Hercules's temple in the month Peritus； and that of Astarte when he made his expedition against the Tityans； who would not pay him their tribute； and when he had subdued them to himself； he returned home。 Under this king there was a younger son of Abdemon； who mastered the problems which Solomon king of Jerusalem had recommended to be solved。〃 Now the time from this king to the building of Carthage is thus calculated： 〃Upon the death of Hirom； Baleazarus his son took the kingdom； he lived forty…three years； and reigned seven years： after him succeeded his son Abdastartus； he lived twenty…nine years； and reigned nine years。 Now four sons of his nurse plotted against him and slew him； the eldest of whom reigned twelve years： after them came Astartus； the son of Deleastartus； he lived fifty…four years； and reigned twelve years： after him came his brother Aserymus； he lived fifty…four years； and reigned nine years： he was slain by his brother Pheles； who took the kingdom and reigned but eight months； though he lived fifty years： he was slain by Ithobalus； the priest of Astarte； who reigned thirty…two years； and lived sixty…eight years： he was succeeded by his son Badezorus； who lived forty…five years； and reigned six years： he was succeeded by Matgenus his son； he lived thirty…two years； and reigned nine years： Pygmalion succeeded him； he lived fifty…six years； and reigned forty…seven years。 Now in the seventh year of his reign； his sister fled away from him； and built the city Carthage in Libya。〃 So the whole time from the reign of Hirom； till the building of Carthage； amounts to the sum of one hundred fifty…five years and eight months。 Since then the temple was built at Jerusalem in the twelfth year of the reign of Hirom； there were from the building of the temple； until the building of Carthage； one hundred forty…three years and eight months。 Wherefore； what occasion is there for alleging any more testimonies out of the Phoenician histories ＇on the behalf of our nation＇； since what I have said is so thoroughly confirmed already？ and to be sure our ancestors came into this country long before the building of the temple； for it was not till we had gotten possession of the whole land by war that we built our temple。 And this is the point that I have clearly proved out of our sacred writings in my Antiquities。
19。 I will now relate what hath been written concerning us in the Chaldean histories； which records have a great agreement with our books in oilier things also。 Berosus shall be witness to what I say： he was by birth a Chaldean； well known by the learned； on account of his publication of the Chaldean books of astronomy and philosophy among the Greeks。 This Berosus； therefore； following the most ancient records of that nation； gives us a history of the deluge of waters that then happened； and of the destruction of mankind thereby； and agrees with Moses's narration thereof。 He also gives us an account of that ark wherein Noah； the origin of our race； was preserved； when it was brought to the highest part of the Armenian mountains； after which he gives us a catalogue of the posterity of Noah； and adds the years of their chronology； and at length comes down to Nabolassar； who was king of Babylon； and of the Chaldeans。 And when he was relating the acts of this king； he describes to us how he sent his son Nabuchodonosor against Egypt； and against our land； with a great army； upon his being informed that they had revolted from him； and how； by that means； he subdued them all； and set our temple that was at Jerusalem on fire； nay； and removed our people entirely out of their own country； and transferred them to Babylon； when it so happened that our city was desolate during the interval of seventy years； until the days of Cyrus king of Persia。 He then says； 〃That this Babylonian king conquered Egypt； and Syria； and Phoenicia； and Arabia； and exceeded in his exploits all that had reigned before him in Babylon and Chaldea。〃 A little after which Berosus subjoins what follows in his History of Ancient Times。 I will set down Berosus's own accounts； which are these： 〃When Nabolassar； father of Nabuchodonosor； heard that the governor whom he had set over Egypt； and over the parts of Celesyria and Phoenicia； had revolted from him； he was not able to bear it any longer； but co