Posted by COJ [COJ] on March 30, 1999 at 03:12:34 {.Oe37V.qjQEQYbG2EmDogBxZ1OC1i2}:
In Reply to: *****ANSTEY'S CHRONOLOGY DEAD # 2 posted by J.H. on March 29, 1999 at 09:42:47:
March 30, 1999
Hi Jan,
You are quite correct! I don�t know how many times Gary has been nagging about Cyrus� being born before his mother, despite the fact that I pointed out that his argument was just based upon one of Herodotus� entertaining but conflicting stories about Cyrus� birth. Over three months ago I posted the following information (I don�t know if you read it, but there may be others who may find it interesting):
�No scholar today would use any of Herodotos' stories about Cyrus' birth to establish any part of the chronology of the Neo-Babylonian era. This is simply foolish. I will just quote one passage from Dr. Edwin M. Yamauchi�s work, Persia and the Bible (1990), who says on page 78:
�Herodotus was above all a raconteur of entertaining stories. The fact that he himself did not believe the account did not deter him from relating an interesting tale. At times he gives several contradictory stories. This was the case, for example, in his description of Cyrus' birth and youth, the variant versions of which contain patently legendary motifs. On the other hand, scholars have been impressed with Herodotus's reliability in recounting the career of Cyrus."
Herodotus knew of four legendary versions of Cyrus' youth. It is true that Cyrus was the son of Cambyses I, who is said to have married Mandane, the daughter of Astyages, who was the ruler of Media from 585 to 550 BC. Some have doubted that Mandane was Cyrus' mother, however. But even if she was, we don't know exactly when she was born. Based on one of Herodotus' stories, Gary seems to hold that she was born after Astyages became king. But as I said, this is just one of the legends recounted by Herodotus.�
Gary actually admitted this, although with some characteristic reservations. Here is what he said:
Posted by Gary on December 15, 1998 at 16:49:55 {MWI..8PVPLcMY}:
In Reply to: �GARY�S
PSEUDO-CHALLENGE� posted by COJ on December 15, 1998 at 05:04:46:
�Hi Carl,
Thanks for clearing that up. I've been resisting getting Yamauchi's book and I know I should. I've heard such great things about it, especially since my focus
is on Persian History. I need to check out the latest.
As far as the secular historians go, from Josephus to Herodotus, one way to encrypt secret references was by storytelling. Something you can't relate directly you can insinuate in
a story.
But there was a distinct pattern used by Herodotus to do this and once you realize this, you know he was what I call a "rebel" historian, because, like Josephus, he played both sides of the chronology fence.� (etc.)
I hope
you two feel fine!
Carl