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to go down while some few of the priests are occupied with the image of
the god； the greater number of them stand in the entrance of the temple
with wooden clubs； and other persons to the number of more than a
thousand men with purpose to perform a vow； these also having all of
them staves of wood； stand in a body opposite to those： and the image；
which is in a small shrine of wood covered over with gold； they take out
on the day before to another sacred building。 The few then who have been
left about the image； draw a wain with four wheels； which bears the shrine
and the image that is within the shrine； and the other priests standing in the
gateway try to prevent it from entering； and the men who are under a vow
come to the assistance of the god and strike them； while the others defend
themselves。 Then there comes to be a hard fight with staves； and they
break one another's heads； and I am of opinion that many even die of the
wounds they receive； the Egyptians however told me that no one died。
This solemn assembly the people of the place say that they established for
the following reason：the mother of Ares； they say； used to dwell in this
temple； and Ares； having been brought up away from her； when he grew
up came thither desiring to visit his mother； and the attendants of his
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mother's temple； not having seen him before； did not permit him to pass in；
but kept him away； and he brought men to help him from another city and
handled roughly the attendants of the temple； and entered to visit his
mother。 Hence； they say； this exchange of blows has become the custom in
honour of Ares upon his festival。
The Egyptians were the first who made it a point of religion not to lie
with women in temples； nor to enter into temples after going away from
women without first bathing： for almost all other men except the
Egyptians and the Hellenes lie with women in temples and enter into a
temple after going away from women without bathing； since they hold that
there is no difference in this respect between men and beasts： for they say
that they see beasts and the various kinds of birds coupling together both
in the temples and in the sacred enclosures of the gods； if then this were
not pleasing to the god； the beasts would not do so。
Thus do these defend that which they do； which by me is disallowed：
but the Egyptians are excessively careful in their observances； both in
other matters which concern the sacred rites and also in those which
follow：Egypt； though it borders upon Libya； does not very much abound
in wild animals； but such as they have are one and all accounted by them
sacred； some of them living with men and others not。 But if I should say
for what reasons the sacred animals have been thus dedicated； I should fall
into discourse of matters pertaining to the gods； of which I most desire not
to speak； and what I have actually said touching slightly upon them； I said
because I was constrained by necessity。 About these animals there is a
custom of this kind： persons have been appointed of the Egyptians； both
men and women； to provide the food for each kind of beast separately； and
their office goes down from father to son； and those who dwell in the
various cities perform vows to them thus； that is； when they make a vow to
the god to whom the animal belongs； they shave the head of their children
either the whole or the half or the third part of it； and then set the hair in
the balance against silver； and whatever it weighs； this the man gives to
the person who provides for the animals； and she cuts up fish of equal
value and gives it for food to the animals。 Thus food for their support has
been appointed and if any one kill any of these animals； the penalty； if he
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do it with his own will； is death； and if against his will； such penalty as the
priests may appoint： but whosoever shall kill an ibis or a hawk； whether it
be with his will or against his will； must die。 Of the animals that live with
men there are great numbers； and would be many more but for the
accidents which befall the cats。 For when the females have produced
young they are no longer in the habit of going to the males； and these
seeking to be united with them are not able。 To this end then they contrive
as follows；they either take away by force or remove secretly the young
from the females and kill them （but after killing they do not eat them）； and
the females being deprived of their young and desiring more； therefore
come to the males； for it is a creature that is fond of its young。 Moreover
when a fire occurs； the cats seem to be divinely possessed； for while the
Egyptians stand at intervals and look after the cats； not taking any care to
extinguish the fire； the cats slipping through or leaping over the men； jump
into the fire； and when this happens； great mourning comes upon the
Egyptians。 And in whatever houses a cat has died by a natural death； all
those who dwell in this house shave their eyebrows only； but those in
which a dog has died shave their whole body and also their head。 The cats
when they are dead are carried away to sacred buildings in the city of
Bubastis； where after being embalmed they are buried； but the dogs they
bury each people in their own city in sacred tombs； and the ichneumons
are buried just in the same way as the dogs。 The shrewmice however and
the hawks they carry away to the city of Buto； and the ibises to
Hermopolis； the bears （which are not commonly seen） and the wolves； not
much larger in size than foxes； they bury on the spot where they are found
lying。
Of the crocodile the nature is as follows：during the four most wintry
months this creature eats nothing： she has four feet and is an animal
belonging to the land and the water both； for she produces and hatches
eggs on the land； and the most part of the day she remains upon dry land；
but the whole of the night in the river； for the water in truth is warmer than
the unclouded open air and the dew。 Of all the mortal creatures of which
we have knowledge this grows to the greate