2. During the times of Cambyses II, many Persians were accusing him of being a lunatic. He
was massacring people to no end. His message bearer, Prexaspes, confronted him on the
issue and Cambyses II made a wager out of anger. He took Prexaspes' son as an archery
target, and told the message bearer that if he shot an arrow aimed at his son and missed,
then he would accept the opinion that he was insane. But if he didn't miss, then that would
make him sane. Unfortunately, the arrow hit the boy's heart. (Left: Cambyses II | Right: An
Achaemenid soldier holding a Persian bow)
3. The son (Pheros) of the Egyptian king Sesostris was afflicted with an eye disease that made
him blind. The cause of it was because of a sacrilege he committed during the flooding of the
Nile River. The accident happened as follows… The flowing body of water rose by eight
metes in height and wind passing through it created turbulence. Out of boredom, Pheros
threw a spear in the swirling river and contracted the malady as a result. After ten years of
suffering, an oracle from Buto told him that his punishment was served and he could be
cured. But he had to wash his eyes with the urine of a woman who had only slept with her
husband and no other men if he ever wanted to see again. And that was what he did! His eye
disease was remedied immediately after finding the right woman. (Left: King Sesostris | Right:
A map of the locations of towns and cities on the Nile Delta)
4. In Scythia everyone must pray for the health of the king. If he falls sick, three diviners are
sent to find people who did not wish the ruler good health (as it's thought that this is the
reason for the ailments). If someone is accused of committing this “crime” by the diviners and
they can prove the person is guilty, then he/she will be put to death. But if they can't, then
they shall be put to death. (Left: Map of the Scythian kingdom | Top: A willow – the source of
wood for wands used by Scythian diviners | Bottom: Cannabis – an entheogen used by
Scythians)
