From there they marched against Egypt: and when they were…
““From there they marched against Egypt: and when they were in the part of Syria called Palestine, Psammetichus king of Egypt met them and persuaded them with gifts and prayers to come no further. So they turned back, and when they came on their way to the city of Ascalon in Syria, most of the Scythians passed by and did no harm, but a few remained behind and plundered the temple of Heavenly Aphrodite. This temple, I discover from making inquiry, is the oldest of all the temples of the goddess, for the temple in Cyprus was founded from it, as the Cyprians themselves say; and the temple on Cythera was founded by Phoenicians from this same land of Syria.”[27] The idea that Aphrodite was originally an Eastern goddess appropriated by the ancient Greeks at the onset of their great cultural revolutions of the Archaic Period (ca. 8th century BCE) is one that has been corroborated by modern and ancient historians alike.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage describes how Egyptian and Syrian forces halted a Scythian incursion, noting that a Scythian group looted a temple of Aphrodite, and explains that Aphrodite’s worship originated in the East before being adopted by Greeks.
In simple terms: Scythians stopped by Egypt; they looted a temple; Aphrodite’s cult came from the East.
Key Takeaway
Recognize cultural exchange and the origins of deities.
Themes
history
culture
religion
military
migration
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
historical
educational
scholarly
When to use this quote
- archaeological research
- museum curation
- educational lectures
- tourist guides
- historical documentaries
Key Concepts
cultural diffusion
syncretism
ancient geopolitics
Questions to Reflect On
- How did trade routes influence religious exchange?
- What evidence supports Aphrodite’s Eastern origins?
A Different Perspective
The claim relies on limited sources and may overlook local variations.