Bab-el-Mandeb (i. e., the “Gate of Tears”) is the strait which connects the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean. It derives its name from the dangers attending its navigation, or according to an Arabic legend, from the numbers who were drowned by the earthquake which separated Asia and Africa.
394. What philosopher thought the sun was a huge fiery stone?
Anaxagoras (500–428 B. C.) taught that the heavens consisted of a solid vault of stones, elevated above the earth by the surrounding ether, and that the sun was a huge fiery stone about the size of the Morea, the southern part of Greece. For this theory he suffered banishment, as the Greeks thought it impious thus to rob the sun, which they believed to be Apollo, of his divinity.
395. Who was Zopyrus?
This distinguished Persian, noted for his remarkable stratagem, was the general of Darius Hystaspis. After his master had besieged Babylon, which had revolted from him for twenty months in vain, Zopyrus resolved to gain the place by the most extraordinary self-sacrifice. Accordingly, one day he appeared before Darius, with his body mutilated in the most horrible manner; both his ears and his nose were cut off, and his person otherwise disfigured. After explaining to Darius his intentions, he fled to Babylon as a victim of the cruelty of the Persian king. The Babylonians gave him their confidence, and placed him at the head of their troops. He soon found means to betray the city to Darius, who severely punished the inhabitants for their revolt, and appointed Zopyrus satrap of Babylon for life, with the enjoyment of its entire revenues.
396. How did the swallow obtain its name?
According to Scandinavian tradition, this bird hovered over the cross of our Lord, crying “Svala! svala!” (“console! console!”) whence it was called svalow, the bird of consolation.
There is a curious story that this bird brings home from the sea-shore a stone that gives sight to her fledglings.
“Seeking with eager eyes that wondrous stone which the swallow
Brings from the shore of the sea to restore the sight of its fledglings.”