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.] 
what did he inform his brother?
informing him of their father's death