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All these fortifications Deioces caused to be raised for himself and
his own palace. The people were required to build their dwellings
outside the circuit of the walls. When the town was finished, he
proceeded to arrange the ceremonial. He allowed no one to have direct
access to the person of the king, but made all communication pass
through the hands of messengers, and forbade the king to be seen by his
subjects. He also made it an offence for any one whatsoever to laugh
or spit in the royal presence. This ceremonial, of which he was the
first inventor, Deioces established for his own security, fearing
that his compeers, who were brought up together with him, and were of
as good family as he, and no whit inferior to him in manly qualities,
if they saw him frequently would be pained at the sight, and would
therefore be likely to conspire against him; whereas if they did not
see him, they would think him quite a different sort of being from themselves.
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