CHAPTER II. 

EGYPT AND GREECE. 

B.C. 484 

Xerxes assumes the crown.--His message to Artobazanes.--Question of the succession again debated.--Advice of Atossa.--Decision of Artabanus.--Unfinished wars of Darius.--Egypt and Greece.--Character of the Egyptians.--Character of the Greeks.--Architecture.--Monuments of Greece.--Egyptian architecture.--Form of Egypt.--Delta of the Nile.--Fertility of Egypt.--No rain in Egypt.--Rising of the Nile.--Preparations for the inundation.--Gradual rise of the water.--Appearance of the country during an inundation.--The three theories.--Objections to the first.--Second and third theories.--Reasons against them.--Ideas of the common people in regard to the inundation.--Story of King Pheron.--His punishment.--Sequel of the story of King Pheron.--Nilometers.--Use of Nilometers.--Enormous structures of Egypt.--Comparative antiquity of various objects.--Great age of the Pyramids.--Egypt a mark for the conqueror.--Its relation to Persia.--Xerxes resolves to subdue Egypt first.--The Jews.--The Egyptians subdued.--Return to Susa. 

The arrangements which Darius had made to fix and determine the succession, before his death, did not entirely prevent the question from arising again when his death occurred. Xerxes was on the spot at the time, and at once assumed the royal functions. His brother was absent. Xerxes sent a messenger to Artobazanes[C] informing him of their father's death, and of his intention of assuming the crown. He said, however, that if he did so, he should give his brother the second rank, making him, in all respects, next to himself in office and honor. He sent, moreover, a great many splendid presents to Artobazanes, to evince the friendly regard which he felt for him, and to propitiate his favor. 

[Footnote C: Plutarch, who gives an account of these occurrences, varies the orthography of the name. We, however, retain the name as given by Herodotus.]  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What is the name of Xerxes brother?
2. Who is Xerxes male sibling?
3. 
Q2:
1. What is the name of Xerxes father?
2. What man is Xerxes the son of?
3. 
Q3:
1. What did Xerxes inform his brother of?
2. What information did Xerxes relay to his brother?
3. 
Q4:
1. What did Xerxes inform his brother of, in addition to the death of their father?
2. What information did Xerxes relay to his brother, besides that their father had passed?
3. 
Q5:
1. Did Xerxes send anything to his brother?
2. Did Artobazanes receive any gifts from his brother?
3. 
Q6:
1. Why did Xerxes send his brother presents?
2. What was Xerxes reasoning for sending Artobazanes gifts?
3. 
Q7:
1. Did the father of Xerxes and Artobazanes decide who would take over the throne before he died?
2. Prior to his death, had Darius made a decision regarding who would succeed him?
3. 
Q8:
1. Where was Xerxes when his father died?
2. What was Xerxes location at the time of his father's death?
3. 
Q9:
1. Did Xerxes assume the crown immediately after his father's death?
2. Did Xerxes assume power right after his dad died?
3. 
Q10:
1. Was Xerxes brother present when he assumed the throne?
2. Was Artobazanes there when his brother took over the role functions?
3. 
Q11:
1. Did Xerxes message to his brother state that he had already decided to take the throne?
2. Did Xerxes message to Artobazanes say that he had already made a decision to assume royal functions?
3. 
Q12:
1. What would Xerxes do with his brother if he accepted Xerxes message?
2. What could Artobazanes do if he was okay with his brother's missive?
3. 
Q13:
1. What would being in second rank mean?
2. What would be the implications of being second rank?
3. 
Q14:
1. Did anyone ask questions after Darius passed?
2. Were there any inquiries following the death of Darius?
3. 
