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not suffer the serpents to go by but kill them。 On account of this deed it is
（say the Arabians） that the ibis has come to be greatly honoured by the
Egyptians； and the Egyptians also agree that it is for this reason that they
honour these birds。 The outward form of the ibis is this： it is a deep black
all over； and has legs like those of a crane and a very curved beak； and in
size it is about equal to a rail： this is the appearance of the black kind
which fight with the serpents； but of those which most crowd round men's
feet （for there are two several kinds of ibises） the head is bare and also the
whole of the throat； and it is white in feathering except the head and neck
and the extremities of the wings and the rump （in all these parts of which I
have spoken it is a deep black）； while in legs and in the form of the head it
resembles the other。 As for the serpent its form is like that of the
watersnake； and it has wings not feathered but most nearly resembling the
wings of the bat。 Let so much suffice as has been said now concerning
sacred animals。
Of the Egyptians themselves； those who dwell in the part of Egypt
which is sown for crops practise memory more than any other men and are
the most learned in history by far of all those of whom I have had
experience： and their manner of life is as follows：For three successive
days in each month they purge； hunting after health with emetics and
clysters； and they think that all the diseases which exist are produced in
men by the food on which they live： for the Egyptians are from other
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causes also the most healthy of all men next after the Libyans （in my
opinion on account of the seasons； because the seasons do not change； for
by the changes of things generally； and especially of the seasons； diseases
are most apt to be produced in men）； and as to their diet； it is as follows：
they eat bread； making loaves of maize； which they call /kyllestis/； and
they use habitually a wine made out of barley； for vines they have not in
their land。 Of their fish some they dry in the sun and then eat them without
cooking； others they eat cured in brine。 Of birds they eat quails and ducks
and small birds without cooking； after first curing them； and everything
else which they have belonging to the class of birds or fishes； except such
as have been set apart by them as sacred； they eat roasted or boiled。 In the
entertainments of the rich among them； when they have finished eating； a
man bears round a wooden figure of a dead body in a coffin； made as like
the reality as may be both by painting and carving； and measuring about a
cubit or two cubits each way； and this he shows to each of those who are
drinking together； saying： 〃When thou lookest upon this； drink and be
merry； for thou shalt be such as this when thou art dead。〃 Thus they do at
their carousals。 The customs which they practise are derived from their
fathers and they do not acquire others in addition； but besides other
customary things among them which are worthy of mention； they have one
song； that of Linos； the same who is sung of both in Phenicia and in
Cyprus and elsewhere； having however a name different according to the
various nations。 This song agrees exactly with that which the Hellenes
sing calling on the name of Linos； so that besides many other things about
which I wonder among those matters which concern Egypt； I wonder
especially about this； namely whence they got the song of Linos。 It is
evident however that they have sung this song from immemorial time； and
in the Egyptian tongue Linos is called Maneros。 The Egyptians told me
that he was the only son of him who first became king of Egypt； and that
he died before his time and was honoured with these lamentations by the
Egyptians； and that this was their first and only song。 In another respect
the Egyptians are in agreement with some of the Hellenes； namely with
the Lacedemonians； but not with the rest； that is to say； the younger of
them when they meet the elder give way and move out of the path； and
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when their elders approach； they rise out of their seat。 In this which
follows however they are not in agreement with any of the Hellenes；
instead of addressing one another in the roads they do reverence； lowering
their hand down to their knee。 They wear tunics of linen about their legs
with fringes； which they call /calasiris/； above these they have garments of
white wool thrown over： woolen garments however are not taken into the
temples； nor are they buried with them； for this is not permitted by religion。
In these points they are in agreement with the observances called Orphic
and Bacchic （which are really Egyptian）； and also with those of the
Pythagoreans； for one who takes part in these mysteries is also forbidden
by religious rule to be buried in woolen garments； and about this there is a
sacred story told。
Besides these things the Egyptians have found out also to what god
each month and each day belongs； and what fortunes a man will meet with
who is born on any particular day； and how he will die； and what kind of a
man he will be： and these inventions were taken up by those of the
Hellenes who occupied themselves about poesy。 Portents too have been
found out by them more than by all other men besides； for when a portent
has happened； they observe and write down the event which comes of it；
and if ever afterwards anything resembling this happens； they believe that
the event which comes of it will be similar。 Their divination is ordered
thus：the art is assigned not to any man but to certain of the gods； for
there are in their land Oracles of Heracles； of Apollo； of Athene； of
Artemis； or Ares； and of Zeus； and moreover that which they hold most in
honour of all； namely the Oracle of Leto which is in the city of Buto。 The
manner of divination however is not established among them according to
the same fashion everywhere； but is different in d