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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
AN ACCOUNT OF
EGYPT
By Herodotus
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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
NOTE
HERODOTUS was born at Halicarnassus； on the southwest coast of
Asia Minor； in the early part of the fifth century； B。 C。 Of his life we know
almost nothing； except that he spent much of it traveling； to collect the
material for his writings； and that he finally settled down at Thurii； in
southern Italy； where his great work was composed。 He died in 424 B。 C。
The subject of the history of Herodotus is the struggle between the
Greeks and the barbarians； which he brings down to the battle of Mycale
in 479 B。 C。 The work； as we have it； is divided into nine books； named
after the nine Muses； but this division is probably due to the Alexandrine
grammarians。 His information he gathered mainly from oral sources； as he
traveled through Asia Minor； down into Egypt； round the Black Sea； and
into various parts of Greece and the neighboring countries。 The
chronological narrative halts from time to time to give opportunity for
descriptions of the country； the people； and their customs and previous
history； and the political account is constantly varied by rare tales and
wonders。
Among these descriptions of countries the most fascinating to the
modern； as it was to the ancient； reader is his account of the marvels of the
land of Egypt。 From the priests at Memphis； Heliopolis； and the Egyptian
Thebes he learned what he reports of the size of the country； the wonders
of the Nile； the ceremonies of their religion； the sacredness of their
animals。 He tells also of the strange ways of the crocodile and of that
marvelous bird； the Phoenix； of dress and funerals and embalming； of the
eating of lotos and papyrus； of the pyramids and the great labyrinth； of
their kings and queens and courtesans。
Yet Herodotus is not a mere teller of strange tales。 However credulous
he may appear to a modern judgment； he takes care to keep separate what
he knows by his own observation from what he has merely inferred and
from what he has been told。 He is candid about acknowledging ignorance；
and when versions differ he gives both。 Thus the modern scientific
historian； with other means of corroboration； can sometimes learn from
Herodotus more than Herodotus himself knew。
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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
There is abundant evidence； too； that Herodotus had a philosophy of
history。 The unity which marks his work is due not only to the strong
Greek national feeling running through it； the feeling that rises to a height
in such passages as the descriptions of the battles of Marathon；
Thermopylae； and Salamis； but also to his profound belief in Fate and in
Nemesis。 To his belief in Fate is due the frequent quoting of oracles and
their fulfilment； the frequent references to things foreordained by
Providence。 The working of Nemesis he finds in the disasters that befall
men and nations whose towering prosperity awakens the jealousy of the
gods。 The final overthrow of the Persians； which forms his main theme； is
only one specially conspicuous example of the operation of this force from
which human life can never free itself。
But； above all； he is the father of story…tellers。 〃Herodotus is such
simple and delightful reading；〃 says Jevons； 〃he is so unaffected and
entertaining； his story flows so naturally and with such ease that we have a
difficulty in bearing in mind that； over and above the hard writing which
goes to make easy reading there is a perpetual marvel in the work of
Herodotus。 It is the first artistic work in prose that Greek literature
produced。 This prose work； which for pure literary merit no subsequent
work has surpassed； than which later generations； after using the pen for
centuries； have produced no prose more easy or more readable； this was
the first of histories and of literary prose。〃
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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
When Cyrus had brought his life to an end； Cambyses received the
royal power in succession； being the son of Cyrus and of Cassandane the
daughter of Pharnaspes； for whose death； which came about before his
own； Cyrus had made great mourning himself and also had proclaimed to
all those over whom he bore rule that they should make mourning for her：
Cambyses； I say； being the son of this woman and of Cyrus； regarded the
Ionians and Aiolians as slaves inherited from his father； and he proceeded
to march an army against Egypt； taking with him as helpers not only other
nations of which he was ruler； but also those of the Hellenes over whom
he had power besides。
Now the Egyptians； before the time when Psammetichos became king
over them； were wont to suppose that they had come into being first of all
men； but since the time when Psammetichos having become king desired
to know what men had come into being first； they suppose that the
Phrygians came into being before themselves； but they themselves before
all other men。 Now Psammetichos； when he was not able by inquiry to
find out any means of knowing who had come into being first of all men；
contrived a device of the following kind：Taking two new… born children
belonging to persons of the common sort he gave them to a shepherd to
bring up at the place where his flocks were； with a manner of bringing up
such as I shall say； charging him namely that no man should utter any
word in their presence； and that they should be placed by themselves in a
room where none might come； and at the proper time he should bring them
she…goats； and when he had satisfied them with milk he should do for them
whatever else was needed。 These things Psammetichos did and gave him
this charge wishing to hear what word the children would let break forth
first after they had ceased from wailings without sense。 And accordingly it
came to pass； for after a space of two years had gone by； durin