no/mon. There is no hint of any such rule or law, when Cambyses
invaded Egypt (ii. 1; iii. 1), Darius Scythia (iv. 1. 83), or Xerxes
Greece, though Xerxes clearly made his uncle Artabanus viceroy
during his absence (ch. 52). On the other hand, Cyrus is said to
have named Cambyses as his successor before his last expedition
(i. 208). The fact that the monuments call Cambyses king of
Babylon in the lifetime of Cyrus (E. Meyer, F. ii. 470-2) cannot be
used as an argument, as Babylon was in a special position till the
time of Xerxes (i. 183 n.). Perhaps the question arose because
Darius was old; on this ground Artaxerxes Mnemon appointed
a successor to avoid strife (Plut. Artax. 26): or possibly Plutarch
(Mor. 488) and Justin (ii. 10), who call the eldest son Ariamenes,
are right in saying that the dispute arose after the death of Darius,
and was decided by the intervention of one of his brothers, Artabanus
or Artaphrenes.
