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otherwise they would not have attributed to her the building of a pyramid
like this； on which have been spent （so to speak） innumerable thousands of
talents： moreover they do not know that Rhodopis flourished in the reign
of Amasis； and not in this king's reign； for Rhodopis lived very many
years later than the kings who left behind them these pyramids。 By descent
she was of Thrace； and she was a slave of Iadmon the son of
Hephaistopolis a Samian； and a fellow…slave of Esop the maker of fables；
for he too was once the slave of Iadmon； as was proved especially by this
fact； namely that when the people of Delphi repeatedly made proclamation
in accordance with an oracle； to find some one who would take up the
blood…money for the death of Esop； no one else appeared； but at length the
grandson of Iadmon； called Iadmon also； took it up； and thus it is showed
that Esop too was the slave of Iadmon。 As for Rhodopis； she came to
Egypt brought by Xanthes the Samian； and having come thither to exercise
her calling she was redeemed from slavery for a great sum by a man of
Mytilene； Charaxos son of Scamandronymos and brother of Sappho the
lyric poet。 Thus was Rhodopis set free； and she remained in Egypt and by
her beauty won so much liking that she made great gain of money for one
like Rhodopis； though not enough to suffice for the cost of such a pyramid
as this。 In truth there is no need to ascribe to her very great riches；
considering that the tithe of her wealth may still be seen even to this time
by any one who desires it： for Rhodopis wished to leave behind her a
memorial of herself in Hellas； namely to cause a thing to be made such as
happens not to have been thought of or dedicated in a temple by any
besides； and to dedicate this at Delphi as a memorial of herself。
Accordingly with the tithe of her wealth she caused to be made spits of
iron of size large enough to pierce a whole ox； and many in number； going
as far therein as her tithe allowed her； and she sent them to Delphi： these
are even at the present time lying there； heaped all together behind the
altar which the Chians dedicated； and just opposite to the cell of the
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temple。 Now at Naucratis； as it happens； the courtesans are rather apt to
win credit； for this woman first； about whom the story to which I refer is
told； became so famous that all the Hellenes without exception came to
know the name of Rhodopis； and then after her one whose name was
Archidiche became a subject of song all over Hellas； though she was less
talked of than the other。 As for Charaxos； when after redeeming Rhodopis
he returned back to Mytilene； Sappho in an ode violently abused him。 Of
Rhodopis then I shall say no more。
After Mykerinos the priests said Asychis became king of Egypt； and
he made for Hephaistos the temple gateway which is towards the sunrising；
by far the most beautiful and the largest of the gateways； for while they all
have figures carved upon them and innumerable ornaments of building
besides； this has them very much more than the rest。 In this king's reign
they told me that； as the circulation of money was very slow； a law was
made for the Egyptians that a man might have that money lent to him
which he needed； by offering as security the dead body of his father； and
there was added moreover to this law another； namely that he who lent the
money should have a claim also to the whole of the sepulchral chamber
belonging to him who received it； and that the man who offered that
security should be subject to this penalty； if he refused to pay back the
debt； namely that neither the man himself should be allowed to have burial；
when he died； either in that family burial…place or in any other； nor should
he be allowed to bury any of his kinsmen whom he lost by death。 This
king desiring to surpass the kings of Egypt who had arisen before him left
as a memorial of himself a pyramid which he made of bricks and on it
there is an inscription carved in stone and saying thus： 〃Despise not me in
comparison with the pyramids of stone； seeing that I excel them as much
as Zeus excels the other gods； for with a pole they struck into the lake； and
whatever of the mud attached itself to the pole； this they gathered up and
made bricks； and in such manner they finished me。〃
Such were the deeds which this king performed： and after him reigned
a blind man of the city of Anysis； whose name was Anysis。 In his reign the
Ethiopians and Sabacos the king of the Ethiopians marched upon Egypt
with a great host of men； so this blind man departed； flying to the fen…
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country； and the Ethiopian was king over Egypt for fifty years； during
which he performed deeds as follows：whenever any man of the
Egyptians committed any transgression； he would never put him to death；
but he gave sentence upon each man according to the greatness of the
wrong…doing； appointing them to work at throwing up an embankment
before that city from whence each man came of those who committed
wrong。 Thus the cities were made higher still than before； for they were
embanked first by those who dug the channels in the reign of Sesostris；
and then secondly in the reign of the Ethiopian； and thus they were made
very high： and while other cities in Egypt also stood high； I think in the
town at Bubastis especially the earth was piled up。 In this city there is a
temple very well worthy of mention； for though there are other temples
which are larger and build with more cost； none more than this is a
pleasure to the eyes。 Now Bubastis in the Hellenic tongue is Artemis； and
her temple is ordered thus：Except the entrance it is completely
surrounded by water； for channels come in from the Nile； not joining one
another； but each extending as far as the entrance of the temple； one
flowing round on the one side and the other on the other side； each a
hundred feet broad and shaded over