按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
came to pass； for after a space of two years had gone by； during which the
shepherd went on acting so； at length； when he opened the door and
entered； both children fell before him in entreaty and uttered the word
/bekos/； stretching forth their hands。 At first when he heard this the
4
… Page 5…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
shepherd kept silence； but since this word was often repeated； as he visited
them constantly and attended to them； at last he declared the matter to his
master； and at his command he brought the children before his face。 Then
Psammetichos having himself also heard it； began to inquire what nation
of men named anything /bekos/； and inquiring he found that the Phrygians
had this name for bread。 In this manner and guided by an indication such
as this； the Egyptians were brought to allow that the Phrygians were a
more ancient people than themselves。 That so it came to pass I heard from
the priests of that Hephaistos who dwells at Memphis； but the Hellenes
relate； besides many other idle tales； that Psammetichos cut out the
tongues of certain women and then caused the children to live with these
women。
With regard then to the rearing of the children they related so much as
I have said： and I heard also other things at Memphis when I had speech
with the priests of Hephaistos。 Moreover I visited both Thebes and
Heliopolis for this very cause； namely because I wished to know whether
the priests at these places would agree in their accounts with those at
Memphis； for the men of Heliopolis are said to be the most learned in
records of the Egyptians。 Those of their narrations which I heard with
regard to the gods I am not earnest to relate in full； but I shall name them
only because I consider that all men are equally ignorant of these matters：
and whatever things of them I may record I shall record only because I am
compelled by the course of the story。 But as to those matters which
concern men； the priests agreed with one another in saying that the
Egyptians were the first of all men on earth to find out the course of the
year； having divided the seasons into twelve parts to make up the whole；
and this they said they found out from the stars： and they reckon to this
extent more wisely than the Hellenes； as it seems to me； inasmuch as the
Hellenes throw in an intercalated month every other year； to make the
seasons right； whereas the Egyptians； reckoning the twelve months at
thirty days each； bring in also every year five days beyond number； and
thus the circle of their season is completed and comes round to the same
point whence it set out。 They said moreover that the Egyptians were the
first who brought into use appellations for the twelve gods and the
5
… Page 6…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
Hellenes took up the use from them； and that they were the first who
assigned altars and images and temples to the gods； and who engraved
figures on stones； and with regard to the greater number of these things
they showed me by actual facts that they had happened so。 They said also
that the first man who became king of Egypt was Min； and that in his time
all Egypt except the district of Thebes was a swamp； and none of the
regions were then above water which now lie below the lake of Moiris； to
which lake it is a voyage of seven days up the river from the sea： and I
thought that they said well about the land； for it is manifest in truth even to
a person who has not heard it beforehand but has only seen； at least if he
have understanding； that the Egypt to which the Hellenes come in ships is
a land which has been won by the Egyptians as an addition； and that it is a
gift of the river： moreover the regions which lie above this lake also for a
distance of three days' sail； about which they did not go on to say anything
of this kind； are nevertheless another instance of the same thing： for the
nature of the land of Egypt is as follows：First when you are still
approaching it in a ship and are distant a day's run from the land； if you let
down a sounding…line you will bring up mud and you will find yourself in
eleven fathoms。 This then so far shows that there is a silting forward of the
land。 Then secondly； as to Egypt itself； the extent of it along the sea is
sixty /schoines/； according to our definition of Egypt as extending from
the Gulf of Plinthine to the Serbonian lake； along which stretches Mount
Casion； from this lake then the sixty /schoines/ are reckoned： for those of
men who are poor in land have their country measured by fathoms； those
who are less poor by furlongs； those who have much land by parasangs；
and those who have land in very great abundance by /schoines/： now the
parasang is equal to thirty furlongs； and each /schoine/； which is an
Egyptian measure； is equal to sixty furlongs。 So there would be an extent
of three thousand six hundred furlongs for the coast…land of Egypt。 From
thence and as far as Heliopolis inland Egypt is broad； and the land is all
flat and without springs of water and formed of mud： and the road as one
goes inland from the sea to Heliopolis is about the same in length as that
which leads from the altar of the twelve gods at Athens to Pisa and the
temple of Olympian Zeus： reckoning up you would find the difference
6
… Page 7…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
very small by which these roads fail of being equal in length； not more
indeed than fifteen furlongs； for the road from Athens to Pisa wants fifteen
furlongs of being fifteen hundred； while the road to Heliopolis from the
sea reaches that number completely。 From Heliopolis however； as you go
up； Egypt is narrow； for on the one side a mountain…range belonging to
Arabia stretches along by the side of it； going in a direction from the North
towards the midday and the South Wind； tending upwards without a break
to that which is called the Erythraian Sea； in which range are the stone…
quarries which were used in cutting stone for the pyramids at Memphis。
On this side then the mountain ends where I have said； and then takes a
turn back； and