[200] The legend about people sleeping preternatural lengths of time has an honored place in the folklore of many nations in both the East and the West. We have already noted the traditions concerning the long sleeps of Barbarossa, Charlemagne, Napoleon, and other distinguished characters. But many other instances might be enumerated showing the prevalence of similar tales in many lands from the sleepers of Sardis, mentioned by Aristotle, to Rip Van Winkle, immortalized by Washington Irving.
[201] Cf. Strabo, XIV, 5; and Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander, II, 5. For an account of Asurbanipal, in the light of recent Assyrian discoveries, see Graven in the Rock, Chap. XIV (by S. Kinns, London, 1891).
Talk of our souls and realms beyond the grave,
The very boys will laugh and say you rave.
[203] History of Greece, Vol. X, p. 311 (by W. Mitford, London, 1810).
[204] The Greek word for pinion is tarsos.
[205] Cf. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, I. 6; VIII. 7. 2. The Jewish historian was probably misled by the similarity of sounds of the two words and ventured to solve what has always been a riddle to historians and Scripture commentators.
[206] “Oppidum autem Britanni vocant,” says Cæsar, referring to the capital of Cassivellaunus, now London, “cum sylvas impeditas vallo atque fossa munierunt, quo incursiones hostium vitandæ causa convenire consuerunt.” De Bello Gallico, Lib. V, Cap. 21.
[207] Strabo, Geography, XIV, 51.