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follows： these were they drew the stones which in the reign of this king
were brought to the temple of Hephaistos； being of very good size； and
also these were compelled to dig all the channels which now are in Egypt；
and thus （having no such purpose） they caused Egypt； which before was
all fit for riding and driving； to be no longer fit for this from thenceforth：
for from that time forward Egypt； though it is plain land； has become all
unfit for riding and driving； and the cause has been these channels； which
are many and run in all directions。 But the reason why the king cut up the
land was this； namely because those of the Egyptians who had their cities
not on the river but in the middle of the country； being in want of water
when the river went down from them； found their drink brackish because
they had it from wells。 For this reason Egypt was cut up： and they said that
this king distributed the land to all the Egyptians； giving an equal square
portion to each man； and from this he made his revenue； having appointed
them to pay a certain rent every year： and if the river should take away
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anything from any man's portion； he would come to the king and declare
that which had happened； and the king used to send men to examine and to
find out by measurement how much less the piece of land had become； in
order that for the future the man might pay less； in proportion to the rent
appointed： and I think that thus the art of geometry was found out and
afterwards came into Hellas also。 For as touching the sun…dial and the
gnomon and the twelve divisions of the day； they were learnt by the
Hellenes from the Babylonians。 He moreover alone of all the Egyptian
kings had rule over Ethiopia； and he left as memorials of himself in front
of the temple of Hephaistos two stone statues of thirty cubits each；
representing himself and his wife； and others of twenty cubits each
representing his four sons： and long afterwards the priest of Hephaistos
refused to permit Dareios the Persian to set up a statue of himself in front
of them； saying that deeds had not been done by him equal to those which
were done by Sesostris the Egyptian； for Sesostris had subdued other
nations besides； not fewer than he； and also the Scythians； but Dareios had
not been able to conquer the Scythians： wherefore it was not just that he
should set up a statue in front of those which Sesostris had dedicated； if he
did not surpass him in his deeds。 Which speech； they say； Dareios took in
good part。
Now after Sesostris had brought his life to an end； his son Pheros； they
told me； received in succession the kingdom； and he made no warlike
expedition； and moreover it chanced to him to become blind by reason of
the following accident：when the river had come down in flood rising to a
height of eighteen cubits； higher than ever before that time； and had gone
over the fields； a wind fell upon it and the river became agitated by waves：
and this king （they say） moved by presumptuous folly took a spear and
cast it into the midst of the eddies of the stream； and immediately upon
this he had a disease of the eyes and was by it made blind。 For ten years
then he was blind； and in the eleventh year there came to him an oracle
from the city of Buto saying that the time of his punishment had expired；
and that he should see again if he washed his eyes with the water of a
woman who had accompanied with her own husband only and had not had
knowledge of other men： and first he made trial of his own wife； and then；
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as he continued blind； he went on to try all the women in turn； and when
he had at least regained his sight he gathered together all the women of
whom he had made trial； excepting her by whose means he had regained
his sight； to one city which now is named Erythrabolos； and having
gathered them to this he consumed them all by fire； as well as the city
itself； but as for her by whose means he had regained his sight； he had her
himself to wife。 Then after he had escaped the malady of his eyes he
dedicated offerings at each one of the temples which were of renown； and
especially （to mention only that which is most worthy of mention） he
dedicated at the temple of the Sun works which are worth seeing； namely
two obelisks of stone； each of a single block； measuring in length a
hundred cubits each one and in breadth eight cubits。
After him； they said； there succeeded to the throne a man of Memphis；
whose name in the tongue of the Hellenes was Proteus； for whom there is
now a sacred enclosure at Memphis； very fair and well ordered； lying on
that side of the temple of Hephaistos which faces the North Wind。 Round
about this enclosure dwell Phenicians of Tyre； and this whole region is
called the Camp of the Tyrians。 Within the enclosure of Proteus there is a
temple called the temple of the 〃foreign Aphrodite；〃 which temple I
conjecture to be one of Helen the daughter of Tyndareus； not only because
I have heard the tale how Helen dwelt with Proteus； but also especially
because it is called by the name of the 〃foreign Aphrodite；〃 for the other
temples of Aphrodite which there are have none of them the addition of
the word 〃foreign〃 to the name。
And the priests told me； when I inquired； that the things concerning
Helen happened thus：Alexander having carried off Helen was sailing
away from Sparta to his own land； and when he had come to the Egean
Sea contrary winds drove him from his course to the Sea of Egypt； and
after that； since the blasts did not cease to blow； he came to Egypt itself；
and in Egypt to that which is now named the Canobic mouth of the Nile
and to Taricheiai。 Now there was upon the shore； as still there is now； a
temple of Heracles； in which if any man's slave take refuge and have the
sacred marks set upon him； giving himself over to the god； it is not lawful
to lay hands upon him； but this custom has continued still unchanged from
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the beginning down to my own time。 Accordingly the attendants of