My iPhone 3G will not turn on?

I just bought an iPhone 3 off of ebay. The user said that the phone has not been used for at least two years. The phone looks like it is in almost perfect condition with very little scratches and there isn't any proof that the phone has been dropped.
A few hours later the phone will turn on for a few seconds/a minute, the apple will appear, but the screen is still very dark, then it will shut off again. This has happened a few times. Any ideas/help?

Yes, I have tried holding the home button, power button, both, switching the hold, etc.etc.

Have you tried a blood sacrifice? Try something small like a small rodent and work your way up till it starts working.

Try taking it to the apple store and ask them. It might help.

This might have been a jailbroken Iphone 3, so here is what to do for that:
http://www.itjungles.com/iphone-tips/iphone-4-how-to-hard-reset-on-iphone
Try plugging it into Itunes, and manually go into the Iphone (<name's> Iphone) and click restore.

If you still can't get it on, this might have been a jailbroken Iphone 3, so here is what to do for that:
http://www.itjungles.com/iphone-tips/iphone-4-how-to-hard-reset-on-iphone

Now, If the following doesn't work here is what to do; contact the seller, say the device did not work as intended and go to Ebay's Support and follow this webpage: http://pages.ebay.com/...index.html

Try some more, you may just get it! You may have an absolutely dead battery instead, so make sure you just plug it in an hour BEFORE you try anything else, just recommending.

Hope that solved your problem!

Don't Tell Ema