The second Messenian war begins, and continues 14 years, to the taking of Ira, after a siege of 11 years. About this time flourished the poets Tyrtæus and Archilochus 685 The government of Athens intrusted to annual archons 684 Alba destroyed 665 Cypselus usurps the government of Corinth, and keeps it for 30 years 659 Byzantium built by a colony of Argives or Athenians 658 Cyrene built by Battus 630 The Scythians invade Asia Minor, of which they keep possession for 28 years 624 Draco established his laws at Athens 623 The canal between the Nile and the Red sea begun by king Necho 610 Nineveh taken and destroyed by Cyaxares and his allies 606 The Phœnicians sail round Africa, by order of Necho. About this time flourished Arion, Pittacus, Alcæus, Sappho, &c. 604 The Scythians are expelled from Asia Minor by Cyaxares 596 The Pythian games first established at Delphi. About this time flourished Chilo, Anacharsis, Thales, Epimenides, Solon, the prophet Ezekiel, Æsop, Stersichorus 591 Jerusalem taken by Nebuchadnezzar, 9th of June, after a siege of 18 months 587 The Isthmian games restored and celebrated every first and third year of the Olympiads 582 Death of Jeremiah the prophet 577 The Nemæan games restored 568 The first comedy acted at Athens by Susarion and Dolon 562 Pisistratus first usurped the sovereignty at Athens 560 Cyrus begins to reign. About this time flourished Anaximenes, Bias, Anaximander, Phalaris, and Cleobulus 559 Crœsus conquered by Cyrus. About this time flourished Theognis and Pherecydes 548 Marseilles built by the Phocæans. The age of Pythagoras, Simonides, Thespis, Xenophanes, and Anacreon 539 Babylon taken by Cyrus 538 The return of the Jews by the edict of Cyrus, and the rebuilding of the temple 536 The first tragedy acted at Athens on the waggon of Thespis 535 Learning encouraged at Athens, and a public library built 526 Egypt conquered by Cambyses 525 Polycrates of Samos put to death 522 Darius Hystaspes chosen king of Persia. About this time flourished Confucius the celebrated Chinese philosopher 521 The tyranny of the Pisistratidæ abolished at Athens 510