PTOLEMETA TO MERGE. 
403 
horses, and we find that it enjoyed the same reputation in the times 
of the Arab historians. The breed has, however, (from whatever 
cause,) degenerated considerably from its original character, and the 
horses of Barca are not now to be compared with those of Arabia and 
Egypt. The origin of the ancient city of Barca, or Barce, is related 
by Herodotus (Melp. 160.), and many interesting particulars of it are 
given in detail by the same writer. He states it to have been 
founded by the brothers of Arcesilaus, King of Gyrene, (probably 
about five hundred and fifteen years before the Christian era,) who 
left him, in consequence of some dissensions, to inhabit another part 
of the country ; where, after some deliberation (says the historian,) 
they built the city which was then, as it is at present, called 
Barce. 
Others have supposed it to have been of Phoenician or Libyan 
origin, Barca being a Phoenician name well known on the northern 
coast of Africa, as we learn from Silius Italicus and other writers. 
Servius intimates that its citizens came originally from Carthage, 
which might suggest the probability that Barca, Dido’s brother, 
who accompanied her into Africa with some of his countrymen, 
established himself there and gave the name to the city and terri- 
tory by which they were afterwards distinguished. The city was 
taken and plundered by the Persians, under Amasis, after a long and 
difficult siege (related in detail by Herodotus), and many of its inha- 
bitants were sent prisoners to Darius Hystaspes, in whose reign this 
event took place, and settled by that monarch in a district of Bactria 
which was after them called Barce. The descendants of Battus 
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