[529] e. g. Diod. 2, 24; Amyntas in Athenæus, p. 529.
[530] If we assume that the 28 years of the Scythian dominion have already been deducted from the 128 years, and must therefore be added to them, 714 B.C. (= 558 + 156) is the beginning of the Median dominion. In the other case this must have commenced in the year 658 (558 + 100) B.C. Since Herodotus represents Phraortes as first conquering Asia, and represents him as ascending the throne in 655 B.C., the duration of the Median empire is not even 100, but only 79 years. We shall soon see that it was even shorter.
[531] Deioces reigned 53 years, Phraortes 22, Cyaxares 40, Astyages 35. Each pair of rulers makes up a total of 75 years.
[532] Zeph. i. 1.
[533] Jerem. i. 1; xxv. 3.
[534] Jerem. iv. 6.
[535] Jerem. vi. 1.
[536] 2 Maccab. xii. 29. Strabo, p. 763; Joseph. "Antiq." 5, 1, 22, etc. Pliny, "Hist. Nat." 5, 16; Steph. Byzant. Σκυθόπολις.
[537] Justin, 1, 2-5.
[538] Syncell. "Chron." p. 405, ed. Bonn.