punished. There was also Anaxagoras, who, although he was
of Clazomente, was within a few suffrages of being
condemned to die, because he said the sun, which the
Athenians thought to be a god, was a ball of fire. They also
made this public proclamation," That they would give a talent
to any one who would kill Diagoras of Melos," because it was
reported of him that he laughed at their mysteries.
Protagoras also, who was thought to have written somewhat
that was not owned for truth by the Athenians about the
gods, had been seized upon, and put to death, if he had not
fled away immediately. Nor need we at all wonder that they
thus treated such considerable men, when they did not spare
even women also; for they very lately slew a certain priestess,
because she was accused by somebody that she initiated
people into the worship of strange gods, it having been
forbidden so to do by one of their laws; and a capital
punishment had been decreed to such as introduced a strange
god; it being manifest, that they who make use of such a law
do not believe those of other nations to be really gods,
otherwise they had not envied themselves the advantage of
more gods than they already had. And this was the happy
administration of the affairs of the Athenians! Now as to the
Scythians, they take a pleasure in killing men, and differ but
little from brute beasts; yet do they think it reasonable to
have their institutions observed. They also slew Anacharsis, a
person greatly admired for his wisdom among the Greeks,
when he returned to them, because he appeared to come
fraught with Grecian customs. One may also find many to
have been punished among the Persians, on the very same
account. And to be sure Apollonius was greatly pleased with