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On this side then the mountain ends where I have said； and then takes a
turn back； and where it is widest； as I was informed； it is a journey of two
months across from East to West； and the borders of it which turn towards
the East are said to produce frankincense。 Such then is the nature of this
mountain…range； and on the side of Egypt towards Libya another range
extends； rocky and enveloped in sand： in this are the pyramids； and it runs
in the same direction as those parts of the Arabian mountains which go
towards the midday。 So then； I say； from Heliopolis the land has no longer
a great extent so far as it belongs to Egypt； and for about four days' sail up
the river Egypt properly so called is narrow： and the space between the
mountain… ranges which have been mentioned is plain…land； but where it is
narrowest it did not seem to me to exceed two hundred furlongs from the
Arabian mountains to those which are called the Libyan。 After this again
Egypt is broad。 Such is the nature of this land： and from Heliopolis to
Thebes is a voyage up the river of nine days； and the distance of the
journey in furlongs is four thousand eight hundred and sixty； the number
of /schoines/ being eighty…one。 If these measures of Egypt in furlongs be
put together； the result is as follows：I have already before this shown that
the distance along the sea amounts to three thousand six hundred furlongs；
and I will now declare what the distance is inland from the sea to Thebes；
namely six thousand one hundred and twenty furlongs： and again the
distance from Thebes to the city called Elephantine is one thousand eight
hundred furlongs。
Of this land then； concerning which I have spoken； it seemed to myself
also； according as the priests said； that the greater part had been won as an
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addition by the Egyptians； for it was evident to me that the space between
the aforesaid mountain…ranges； which lie above the city of Memphis； once
was a gulf of the sea； like the regions about Ilion and Teuthrania and
Ephesos and the plain of the Maiander； if it be permitted to compare small
things with great； and small these are in comparison； for of the rivers
which heaped up the soil in those regions none is worthy to be compared
in volume with a single one of the mouths of the Nile； which has five
mouths。 Moreover there are other rivers also； not in size at all equal to the
Nile； which have performed great feats； of which I can mention the names
of several； and especially the Acheloos； which flowing through Acarnania
and so issuing out into the sea has already made half of the Echinades
from islands into mainland。 Now there is in the land of Arabia； not far
from Egypt； a gulf of the sea running in from that which is called the
Erythraian Sea； very long and narrow； as I am about to tell。 With respect to
the length of the voyage along it； one who set out from the innermost point
to sail out through it into the open sea； would spend forty days upon the
voyage； using oars； and with respect to breadth； where the gulf is broadest
it is half a day's sail across： and there is in it an ebb and flow of tide every
day。 Just such another gulf I suppose that Egypt was； and that the one ran
in towards Ethiopia from the Northern Sea； and the other； the Arabian； of
which I am about to speak； tended from the South towards Syria； the gulfs
boring in so as almost to meet at their extreme points； and passing by one
another with but a small space left between。 If then the stream of the Nile
should turn aside into this Arabian gulf； what would hinder that gulf from
being filled up with silt as the river continued to flow； at all events within
a period of twenty thousand years？ indeed for my part I am of the opinion
that it would be filled up even within ten thousand years。 How； then； in all
the time that has elapsed before I came into being should not a gulf be
filled up even of much greater size than this by a river so great and so
active？ As regards Egypt then； I both believe those who say that things are
so； and for myself also I am strongly of opinion that they are so； because I
have observed that Egypt runs out into the sea further than the adjoining
land； and that shells are found upon the mountains of it； and an
efflorescence of salt forms upon the surface； so that even the pyramids are
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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
being eaten away by it； and moreover that of all the mountains of Egypt；
the range which lies above Memphis is the only one which has sand：
besides which I notice that Egypt resembles neither the land of Arabia；
which borders upon it； nor Libya； nor yet Syria （for they are Syrians who
dwell in the parts of Arabia lying along the sea）； but that it has soil which
is black and easily breaks up； seeing that it is in truth mud and silt brought
down from Ethiopia by the river： but the soil of Libya； we know； is reddish
in colour and rather sandy； while that of Arabia and Syria is somewhat
clayey and rocky。 The priests also gave me a strong proof concerning this
land as follows； namely that in the reign of king Moiris； whenever the
river reached a height of at least eight cubits it watered Egypt below
Memphis； and not yet nine hundred years had gone by since the death of
Moiris； when I heard these things from the priests： now however； unless
the river rises to sixteen cubits； or fifteen at the least； it does not go over
the land。 I think too that those Egyptians who dwell below the lake of
Moiris and especially in that region which is called the Delta； if that land
continues to grow in height according to this proportion and to increase
similarly in extent； will suffer for all remaining time； from the Nile not
overflowing their land； that same thing which they themselves said that the
Hellenes would at some time suffer： for hearing that the whole land of the
Hellenes has rain and is not watered by rivers as theirs is； they said that the
Hellenes would at some time be disappointed of a great hope and would
suffer the ills of famine。 This saying means that if the god shall not send
them rain； but shall allow drought to prevail for a long time； the Hellenes
will be