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Psammetichos had formerly been a fugitive from the Ethiopian Sabacos
who had killed his father Necos； from him； I say； he had then been a
fugitive in Syria； and when the Ethiopian had departed in consequence of
the vision of the dream； the Egyptians who were of the district of Sais
brought him back to his own country。 Then afterwards； when he was king；
it was his fate to be a fugitive a second time on account of the helmet；
being driven by the eleven kings into the fen…country。 So then holding that
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he had been grievously wronged by them； he thought how he might take
vengeance on those who had driven him out： and when he had sent to the
Oracle of Leto in the city of Buto； where the Egyptians have their most
truthful Oracle； there was given to him the reply that vengeance would
come when men of bronze appeared from the sea。 And he was strongly
disposed not to believe that bronze men would come to help him； but after
no long time had passed； certain Ionians and Carians who had sailed forth
for plunder were compelled to come to shore in Egypt； and they having
landed and being clad in bronze armour； came to the fen…land and brought
a report to Psammetichos that bronze men had come from the sea and
were plundering the plain。 So he； perceiving that the saying of the Oracle
was coming to pass； dealt in a friendly manner with the Ionians and
Carians； and with large promises he persuaded them to take his part。 Then
when he had persuaded them； with the help of those Egyptians who
favoured his cause and of these foreign mercenaries he overthrew the
kings。 Having thus got power over all Egypt； Psammetichos made for
Hephaistos that gateway of the temple at Memphis which is turned
towards the South Wind； and he built a court for Apis； in which Apis is
kept when he appears； opposite to the gateway of the temple； surrounded
all with pillars and covered with figures； and instead of columns there
stand to support the roof of the court colossal statues twelve cubits high。
Now Apis is in the tongue of the Hellenes Epaphos。 To the Ionians and to
the Carians who had helped him Psammetichos granted portions of land to
dwell in； opposite to one another with the river Nile between； and these
were called 〃Encampments〃； these portions of land he gave them； and he
paid them besides all that he had promised： moreover he placed with them
Egyptian boys to have them taught the Hellenic tongue； and from these；
who learnt the language thoroughly； are descended the present class of
interpreters in Egypt。 Now the Ionians and Carians occupied these
portions of land for a long time； and they are towards the sea a little below
the city of Bubastis； on that which is called the Pelusian mouth of the Nile。
These men king Amasis afterwards removed from thence and established
them at Memphis； making them into a guard for himself against the
Egyptians： and they being settled in Egypt； we who are Hellenes know by
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intercourse with them the certainty of all that which happened in Egypt
beginning from king Psammetichos and afterwards； for these were the first
men of foreign tongue who settled in Egypt： and in the land from which
they were removed there still remained down to my time the sheds where
their ships were drawn up and the ruins of their houses。
Thus then Psammetichos obtained Egypt： and of the Oracle which is in
Egypt I have made mention often before this； and now I give an account of
it； seeing that it is worthy to be described。 This Oracle which is in Egypt is
sacred to Leto； and it is established in a great city near that mouth of the
Nile which is called Sebennytic； as one sails up the river from the sea； and
the name of this city where the Oracle is found is Buto； as I have said
before in mentioning it。 In this Buto there is a temple of Apollo and
Artemis； and the temple…house of Leto； in which the Oracle is； is both
great in itself and has a gateway of the height of ten fathoms： but that
which caused me most to marvel of the things to be seen there； I will now
tell。 There is in this sacred enclosure a house of Leto made of one single
stone upon the top； the cornice measuring four cubits。 This house then of
all the things that were to be seen by me in that temple is the most
marvellous； and among those which come next is the island called
Chemmis。 This is situated in a deep and broad lake by the side of the
temple at Buto； and it is said by the Egyptians that this island is a floating
island。 I myself did not see it either floating about or moved from its place；
and I feel surprise at hearing of it； wondering if it be indeed a floating
island。 In this island of which I speak there is a great temple…house of
Apollo； and three several altars are set up within； and there are planted in
the island many palm…trees and other trees； both bearing fruit and not
bearing fruit。 And the Egyptians； when they say that it is floating； add this
story； namely that in this island which formerly was not floating； Leto；
being one of the eight gods who came into existence first； and dwelling in
the city of Buto where she has this Oracle； received Apollo from Isis as a
charge and preserved him； concealing him in the island which is said now
to be a floating island； at that time when Typhon came after him seeking
everywhere and desiring to find the son of Osiris。 Now they say that
Apollo and Artemis are children of Dionysos and of Isis； and that Leto
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became their nurse and preserver； and in the Egyptian tongue Apollo is
Oros； Demeter is Isis； and Artemis is Bubastis。 From this story and from
no other AEschylus the son of Euphorion took this which I shall say；
wherein he differs from all the preceding poets； he represented namely
that Artemis was the daughter of Demet