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when I speak of the lake itself。 He； they said； produced these works； but of
the rest none produced any。
Therefore passing these by I will make mention of the king who came
after these； whose name is Sesostris。 He （the priests said） first of all set out
with ships of war from the Arabian gulf and subdued those who dwelt by
the shores of the Erythraian Sea； until as he sailed he came to a sea which
could no further be navigated by reason of shoals： then secondly； after he
had returned to Egypt； according to the report of the priests he took a great
army and marched over the continent； subduing every nation which stood
in his way： and those of them whom he found valiant and fighting
desperately for their freedom； in their lands he set up pillars which told by
inscriptions his own name and the name of his country； and how he had
subdued them by his power； but as to those of whose cities he obtained
possession without fighting or with ease； on their pillars he inscribed
words after the same tenor as he did for the nations which had shown
themselves courageous； and in addition he drew upon them the hidden
parts of a woman； desiring to signify by this that the people were cowards
and effeminate。 Thus doing he traversed the continent； until at last he
passed over to Europe from Asia and subdued the Scythians and also the
Thracians。 These； I am of opinion； were the furthest people to which the
Egyptian army came； for in their country the pillars are found to have been
set up； but in the land beyond this they are no longer found。 From this
point he turned and began to go back； and when he came to the river
Phasis； what happened then I cannot say for certain； whether the king
Sesostris himself divided off a certain portion of his army and left the men
there as settlers in the land； or whether some of his soldiers were wearied
by his distant marches and remained by the river Phasis。 For the people of
Colchis are evidently Egyptian； and this I perceived for myself before I
heard it from others。 So when I had come to consider the matter I asked
them both； and the Colchians had remembrance of the Egyptians more
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than the Egyptians of the Colchians； but the Egyptians said they believed
that the Colchians were a portion of the army of Sesostris。 That this was so
I conjectured myself not only because they are dark…skinned and have
curly hair （this of itself amounts to nothing； for there are other races which
are so）； but also still more because the Colchians； Egyptians； and
Ethiopians alone of all the races of men have practised circumcision from
the first。 The Phenicians and the Syrians who dwell in Palestine confess
themselves that they have learnt it from the Egyptians； and the Syrians
about the river Thermodon and the river Parthenios； and the Macronians；
who are their neighbors； say that they have learnt it lately from the
Colchians。 These are the only races of men who practise circumcision； and
these evidently practise it in the same manner as the Egyptians。 Of the
Egyptians themselves however and the Ethiopians； I am not able to say
which learnt from the other； for undoubtedly it is a most ancient custom；
but that the other nations learnt it by intercourse with the Egyptians； this
among others is to me a strong proof； namely that those of the Phenicians
who have intercourse with Hellas cease to follow the example of the
Egyptians in this matter； and do not circumcise their children。 Now let me
tell another thing about the Colchians to show how they resemble the
Egyptians：they alone work flax in the same fashion as the Egyptians； and
the two nations are like one another in their whole manner of living and
also in their language： now the linen of Colchis is called by the Hellenes
Sardonic； whereas that from Egypt is called Egyptian。 The pillars which
Sesostris king of Egypt set up in the various countries are for the most part
no longer to be seen extant； but in Syria Palestine I myself saw them
existing with the inscription upon them which I have mentioned and the
emblem。 Moreover in Ionia there are two figures of this man carved upon
rocks； one on the road by which one goes from the land of Ephesos to
Phocaia； and the other on the road from Sardis to Smyrna。 In each place
there is a figure of a man cut in the rock； of four cubits and a span in
height； holding in his right hand a spear and in his left a bow and arrows；
and the other equipment which he has is similar to this； for it is both
Egyptian and Ethiopian： and from the one shoulder to the other across the
breast runs an inscription carved in sacred Egyptian characters； saying
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thus； 〃This land with my shoulders I won for myself。〃 But who he is and
from whence； he does not declare in these places； though in other places
he had declared this。 Some of those who have seen these carvings
conjecture that the figure is that of Memnon； but herein they are very far
from the truth。
As this Egyptian Sesostris was returning and bringing back many men
of the nations whose lands he had subdued； when he came （said the priests）
to Daphnai in the district of Pelusion on his journey home； his brother to
whom Sesostris had entrusted the charge of Egypt invited him and with
him his sons to a feast； and then he piled the house round with brushwood
and set it on fire： and Sesostris when he discovered this forthwith took
counsel with his wife； for he was bringing with him （they said） his wife
also； and she counselled him to lay out upon the pyre two of his sons；
which were six in number； and so to make a bridge over the burning mass；
and that they passing over their bodies should thus escape。 This； they said；
Sesostris did； and two of his sons were burnt to death in this manner； but
the rest got away safe with their father。 Then Sesostris； having returned to
Egypt and having taken vengeance on his brother employed the multitude
which he had brought in of those who whose lands he had subdued； as
follows： these were they drew th