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CHAPTER XV.
"Then indeed the destroying host of the Galati shall cross the narrow passage of the Hellespont, marching to the flute, and shall lawlessly make havoc of Asia. And the god shall even afflict more grievously all those that dwell near the sea shore. But Cronion shall verily soon raise up a helper, the dear son of a Zeus-reared bull, who shall bring a day of destruction to all the Gralati." By the bull Phaennis meant Attalus the king of Pergamus, who was also called bull-horned in the oracle. 2 The statues of cavalry leaders seated on horseback were offered to Apollo by the Pheraeans, when they had routed the Athenian cavalry. And the bronze palm and gilt statue of Athene on the palm were dedicated by the Athenians for the victory at the Eurymedon on the same day both on land and river. I noticed that some of the gold on this statue was plucked off. I put this down to the cupidity of sacrilegious thieves. But Clitodemus, the oldest writer on Athenian Antiquities, says in his account of Attica that, when the Athenians were making preparations for the expedition to Sicily, an immense number of crows came to Delphi, and with their beaks knocked off and tore away the gold off the statue. He also says that they broke off the spear, the owls, and all the fruit on the palm in imitation of real fruit. Clitodemus relates also other prodigies to deter the Athenians from the fatal expedition to Sicily. The people of Cyrene also placed at Delphi a figure of Battus in his chariot, who took them by ship from Thera to Libya. Cyrene is the charioteer, and Battus is in the chariot and Libya is crowning him, the design is by the Cretan Amphion the son of Acestor. And when Battus built Cyrene, he is said to have found the following remedy for an impediment in his speech. As he was travelling in the remote parts of Cyrene which were still unoccupied he chanced to see a lion, and his terror at the sight made him cry out loud and clearly. 3 And not far from Battus the Amphictyones erected another statue of Apollo, out of the proceeds of the fine imposed on the Pkocians for their impiety to the god. 1 i.6, Prohibitor of corn-growing (on the sacred land)- 2 The words of the oracle were as follows : Tharsei Tavrokeros, exeis basileida timen kai paidon paides.touton ge men ouketi paides 3 So the son of Croesus found his tongue from sudden fright. See Herodotus i, 85.
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