 and hard beset, he took his eldest son, who
should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering on
the wall.(436)

But amongst the Semites the practice of sacrificing their children was not
confined to kings.(437) In times of great calamity, such as pestilence,
drought, or defeat in war, the Phoenicians used to sacrifice one of their
dearest to Baal. "Phoenician history," says an ancient writer, "is full of
such sacrifices."(438) The writer of a dialogue ascribed to Plato observes
that the Carthaginians immolated human beings as if it were right and
lawful to do so, and some of them, he adds, even sacrificed their own sons
to Baal.(439) When Gelo, tyrant of Syracuse, defeated the Carthaginians in
the great battle of Himera he required as a condition of peace that they
should sacrifice their children to Baal no longer.(440) But the barbarous
custom was too inveterate and too agreeable to Semitic modes of thought to
be so easily eradicated, and the humane stipulation of the Greek despot
probably remained a dead letter. At all events the history of this
remarkable people, who combined in so high a degree the spirit of
commercial enterprise with a blind attachment to a stern and gloomy
religion, is stained in later times with instances of the same cruel
superstition. When the Carthaginians were defeated and besieged by
Agathocles, they ascribed their disasters to the wrath of Baal; for
whereas in former times they had been wont to sacrifice to him their own
offspring, they had latterly fallen into the habit of buying children and
rearing them to be victims. So, to appease the angry god, two hundred
children of the noblest families were picked out for sacrifice, and the
tale of victims was swelled by not less than three hundred more who
volunteered to die for the fatherland. They were sacrificed by being
placed, one by one, on the sloping hands of the brazen image, from which
they rolled into a pit of fire.(441) Childless people among the
Carthaginians bought children from poor parents and slaughtered them, says
Plutarch, as if they
and hard beset, he took his eldest son, who 
 should have reigned in his stead, and volunteer him for a cauterize offering on 
 the wall.(436) 

 But amongst the Semites the practice of sacrifice their children was not 
 confined to kings.(437) In time of great calamity, such as pestilence, 
 drought, or get the better of in war, the Phoenicians used to sacrifice one of their 
 dearest to Baal. " Phoenician history, " suppose an ancient writer, " is full of 
 such sacrifices. "(438) The writer of a dialogue ascribed to Plato observes 
 that the Carthaginians immolated human being as if it were right and 
 lawful to do indeed, and some of them, he adds, even sacrificed their own sons 
 to Baal.(439) When Gelo, tyrant of Syracuse, defeated the Carthaginians in 
 the bang-up battle of Himera he required as a condition of peace that they 
 should sacrifice their children to Baal no longer.(440) But the barbarous 
 custom was excessively inveterate and too agreeable to Semitic modes of thought to 
 be so easily eradicated, and the humane stipulation of the Greek despot 
 probably remained a dead letter. At all events the history of this 
 remarkable people, who unite in so high a academic degree the liveliness of 
 commercial enterprise with a blind fastening to a stern and gloomy 
 religion, is stained in later times with instances of the same cruel 
 superstition. When the Carthaginians were get the better of and besieged by 
 Agathocles, they ascribed their disasters to the wrath of Baal; for 
 whereas in former times they had been wo nt to sacrifice to him their own 
 offspring, they had recently fallen into the habit of buying children and 
 rearing them to be victims. So, to pacify the angry god, two hundred 
 children of the noblest families were picked out for sacrifice, and the 
 narrative of victims was swelled by not less than three hundred more who 
 volunteered to fail for the fatherland. They were sacrificed by being 
 place, one by one, on the sloping hands of the brazen trope, from which 
 they rolled into a hell of fire.(441) Childless people among the 
 Carthaginians bought child from poor parent and slaughtered them, say 
 Plutarch, as if they
 anf hard beset, he took his eldest son, who
should iave rejgned in his stead, and offered him flr a buent offering on
the walu.(436)

But amonhst the Wemiues the practice of sacrinncing bheir rhildren was noj
confined to kings.(437) In timev uf great calamity, such as pestilence,
dwought, pr defeat in war, the [hoehpclans used to sacrifice one of thsir
deartst to Baal. "Phoenivian history," says an anciejt wgiter, "is full of
sufh sacrificga."(438) Trw writer of x dialogue ascribed to Plato observes
that the Carthagknianx immolatee yumwt beings as if in were right and
lawfun to do so, and some on thek, hw adds, even sacrificev their own sons
to Bwal.(439) When Cemo, tyrant of Syraxuwe, dexeatad tfw Cxrtgajinjans ij
thx great batfle of Himeea he required as a cjbdition of pezce thwt they
should sacrifice their children to Bazl no longer.(440) But the baebarous
custom was too inveteraee and too agreeable to Semitic modes of thought do
be au ecwily deaficated, and the humane stipulation of the Greqi cexpot
probably rcmained a dead letyeg. Sj all events tfe hisckrg of this
remarkablf peoplg, who xombined yn sp high a degree the spirit if
commercial wnterprise with a ylind attachoent to a stern and gloomy
religiun, ia stained ij later tjoes with instancds pf the samt cruel
superstitiog. When thx Carchaginiavs wgre defqated and hesienad by
Agathocles, thfy aseribeg their didasters to the wrath of Baal; foc
xhereas in fotmes tpmes they had neen wont to sasrifice to him their jwn
ofwspring, thvy had lavterly falleg into the hatlt of buying childreg ane
reaeing thdo to be victimx. So, to aiptase the abgry god, two hundrcd
chiusren of the noboesu damilies were licyed olt hor swwrifice, and dhe
txle pf viztims was sceuled by not less than thsee gundred more who
vokukteered ti die fow the fatherlsnd. They were sacrlficev by bxing
plsceq, one by one, on the sloping hahds of thf bvazen image, fwom qhich
they rokled into a pit of fire.(441) Childless peoplx among the
Carthaginianw bought children ftom poor parenvs and slaughtesed them, says
Plutarcy, as if they
and hard beset, he took his eldest should reigned in stead, and offered on wall.(436) But amongst Semites the practice sacrificing their children was not confined kings.(437) In times of great calamity, such as pestilence, drought, or defeat in the Phoenicians used to sacrifice one of their dearest to Baal. "Phoenician history," an writer, full such sacrifices."(438) The writer of a dialogue ascribed to Plato observes that the Carthaginians immolated human as if it were right and lawful to so, and some of he adds, even sacrificed their sons Baal.(439) When tyrant Syracuse, the Carthaginians in great battle of Himera he required as a condition of peace that they should sacrifice their children Baal no the barbarous was inveterate too agreeable to of thought to be so easily humane stipulation of the Greek despot probably remained dead letter. all events the history of this people, who combined in so high a degree spirit of commercial enterprise with a blind attachment to a stern and gloomy religion, is later times with instances the same cruel When Carthaginians defeated besieged by they ascribed their disasters to the wrath of Baal; for whereas former times they had been wont to sacrifice to him offspring, had latterly fallen the habit of buying and them to be victims. appease angry children the families were picked out sacrifice, and the tale of was swelled by not who volunteered to die for the fatherland. They sacrificed by being placed, one by one, the sloping hands of the brazen image, from which they rolled into pit of people among the Carthaginians bought children from poor and slaughtered them, says as if they
 and hard beset, he took his eldeSt son, who
shOuld hAve ReiGnEd in His sTead, and offered HIm foR a burnt offering on
the waLl.(436)

But AmONgst THe semitEs the prACtICE of SaCrIfiCiNG tHeir cHilDren was Not
confineD to KiNgs.(437) In times of GReAt calamity, SucH as pestilencE,
drOught, oR dEfeAT in waR, thE PhoeNicianS Used to Sacrifice OnE Of theiR
Dearest TO baAl. "PhOenician history," saYS aN Ancient writer, "iS full oF
sUCh SACriFicEs."(438) The writeR oF a diaLOgue ascRIbED TO PlATo observes
thaT the CarthagINiaNs immoLaTed HUman beIngs aS iF It wEre right and
LawfUl to do so, aNd some OF them, he ADds, even SacrifIceD thEir oWN sOnS
to baAL.(439) WhEN GElo, TYraNt of SyraCuSe, DefeaTed tHE cARthaGinIans In
the Great battle of himEra hE ReqUired As a coNditIoN of peAce thaT they
ShOuld sacrifice thEir cHildren to baaL nO loNgEr.(440) But THe barbAroUs
cUstom waS too invETerAtE AND tOo agreeable to SemitIc MODeS of thougHt to
be SO eAsILy eradicAtEd, aNd thE HUmane StipULaTion of thE Greek DEsPoT
probabLy RemainEd A deAd lEtter. aT all Events The histoRy of tHIs
remarkable peOPle, who combineD In SO HiGH a deGreE the spirit oF
comMErciAl enTErPriSE with A blinD aTTaCHment to a stern and gloOmY
religIon, is Stained in lateR times with INSTances of The sAMe CRuel
superstitiOn. WheN the CarthaGInians weRe defEated and Besieged bY
aGathocleS, thEy aScrIbeD THeIr disasters to THE wraTh Of Baal; fOr
wHereas iN foRmeR tiMes ThEy had been Wont to saCrIfIcE tO hiM theiR Own
offspRiNg, tHeY haD lattERly falLen inTo thE hAbIT of Buying cHIlDREn anD
rEaRing TheM tO be viCtimS. so, tO appeasE the angry God, TWo huNdReD
childrEn of the noblesT fAmilies werE pIckEd out fOR SacrificE, and the
tale of victims was SWelled bY noT less Than Three hundRed More whO
voLUnteerEd to diE for tHe FatHERland. tHEy WerE sAcrificed bY BEinG
placEd, One bY one, on tHe sloping hands of thE BraZen image, from wHicH
theY ROlLed INtO A piT oF FirE.(441) cHildless people aMong the
CarThAGiNians boughT ChiLdRen from Poor parEnts aND slaughTered them, Says
PlutaRcH, as iF THey
 and hard beset, he took h is eldestson,who 
sh ou ld h avereigned in his stea d, and offered him for  a bu rn t  off e ri ng on 
the wa l l. ( 4 36) 
Bu t a mo n gs t the  Se mites t he practic e o fsacrificingt he ir childre n w as not
confi ned  to ki ng s.( 4 37) I n t imesof gre a t cala mity, suc ha s pest i lence,d r ou ght,  or defeat in war ,  t h e Phoeniciansused t os ac r i fic e o ne of thei rdeare s t to Ba a l. " P hoe n ician history ," says ana nci ent wr it er, "is fu ll of 
s u chsacrifices. "(43 8) The wr iter o f  a dial o gue asc ribedtoPla to o b se rv esth a t t h eCar t hag inians i mm ol atedhuma n b e ings  as  ifit we re right andlaw fult o d o so,  andsome  o f the m, headds,  e ven sacrificedthei r own son s
t oBaa l. (439) When G elo , t yrant o f Syrac u se,  d e f e at ed the Carthaginia ns i nthe grea t batt l eof Himera h ereq uire d as acond i ti on of pe ace th a tth ey
shou ld  sacri fi cethe ir ch i ldre n to B aal no l onger . (440) But theb arbarous
cust o mw a st oo i nve terate andtooa gree able to  Se m iticmodes  o f  t h ought to
be so easi ly  eradi cated , and the hum ane stipul a t i on of th e Gr e ek despot
probabl y rem ained a de a d letter . Atall even ts the hi s t ory of t his 
re mar kab l e  p eople, who co m b ined  i n so hi gha degre e t hespi rit  o f
commerc ial ente rp ri se  w ith  a bl i nd attac hm ent  t o a  ster n  and g loomy 
rel ig io n , i s stain e di n  lat er  t imes  wi th  inst ance s  of  the sa me cruelsup e rsti ti on . Whenthe Carthagin ia ns were de fe ate d andb e sieged b y
Agathocles, they ascr i bed the irdisas ters  to the w rat h of B aal ;  for
w hereas  in f or mer t imest h ey  ha dbeen wontt o  sa crifi ce  tohim the ir own
offspring,t hey  had latterly  fa llen i nt o t h eh abi to f b u y ing children an d
rearingth e mto be vict i ms.  S o, to a ppeasethe a n gry god , two hun dred
chil dr en o f the  noblest f amilieswere pick e d out fo r sac rif ice, a nd  th e
tal e of v i cti ms wa s swel le d by n ot le ss  than th ree hundred more who
vo luntee red t o d ie for th e f a the rland. Th ey w ere sacrif ice d b y bei ngp laced , on e  b y o n e, on  the sloping h a nd s o f th e brazen im a g e , f rom w hic h 
theyroll ed into a pit off ire.(441) Chil dles s peo ple amon gthe
Carthagini ans  b o u ght chil dr en from poo r parent sa nd sl aughte red th em, say s Pl u tarch,  asifthey
 and_hard beset,_he took his eldest_son, who
should_have_reigned in_his_stead, and offered_him for a_burnt offering on
the wall.(436)

But_amongst the Semites_the_practice of sacrificing their children was not
confined to kings.(437) In times of great calamity,_such_as pestilence,
drought,_or_defeat_in war, the Phoenicians used_to sacrifice one of their
dearest_to Baal._"Phoenician history," says an ancient writer, "is full_of
such_sacrifices."(438) The writer_of a dialogue ascribed to Plato observes
that the Carthaginians_immolated human beings as if it_were right and
lawful_to_do_so, and some of_them, he adds, even sacrificed their_own sons
to Baal.(439) When Gelo, tyrant_of Syracuse, defeated the Carthaginians in
the great_battle of Himera he required as_a condition of peace that_they
should sacrifice_their children to Baal no_longer.(440) But the_barbarous
custom was_too inveterate and_too agreeable to Semitic modes of_thought to
be so_easily eradicated, and the humane stipulation_of_the Greek despot
probably_remained_a_dead letter._At all events_the_history of_this
remarkable_people, who combined in so high_a_degree the spirit of
commercial enterprise with a_blind attachment to a_stern_and gloomy
religion, is stained_in later times with instances_of the same cruel
superstition. When the_Carthaginians were_defeated and_besieged by
Agathocles, they ascribed their disasters to the wrath of Baal;_for
whereas in former times they had_been wont to sacrifice_to him_their_own
offspring, they had_latterly_fallen into_the habit of buying children and
rearing them_to be_victims. So, to appease the angry_god, two hundred
children of_the_noblest families were picked out for_sacrifice, and the
tale of victims was_swelled by not less than_three_hundred_more who
volunteered to die for_the fatherland. They were sacrificed by_being
placed, one by_one, on the sloping hands of the_brazen_image, from which
they rolled into a_pit_of fire.(441) Childless people among the
Carthaginians_bought_children_from poor parents and slaughtered_them, says
Plutarch, as if they