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to march against Apries： and Apries hearing this sent to Amasis one of the
Egyptians who were about his own person； a man of reputation； whose
name was Patarbemis； enjoining him to bring Amasis alive into his
presence。 When this Patarbemis came and summoned Amasis； the latter；
who happened to be sitting on horseback； lifted up his leg and behaved in
an unseemly manner； bidding him take that back to Apries。 Nevertheless；
they say； Patarbemis made demand of him that he should go to the king；
seeing that the king had sent to summon him； and he answered him that he
had for some time past been preparing to do so； and that Apries would
have no occasion to find fault with him； for he would both come himself
and bring others with him。 Then Patarbemis both perceiving his intention
from that which he said； and also seeing his preparations； departed in haste；
desiring to make known as quickly as possible to the king the things which
were being done： and when he came back to Apries not bringing Amasis；
the king paying no regard to that which he said； but being moved by
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violent anger； ordered his ears and his nose to be cut off。 And the rest of
the Egyptians who still remained on his side； when they saw the man of
most repute among them thus suffering shameful outrage； waited no
longer but joined the others in revolt； and delivered themselves over to
Amasis。 Then Apries having heard this also； armed his foreign
mercenaries and marched against the Egyptians： now he had about him
Carian and Ionian mercenaries to the number of thirty thousand； and his
royal palace was in the city of Sais； of great size and worthy to be seen。 So
Apries and his army were going against the Egyptians； and Amasis and
those with him were going against the mercenaries； and both sides came to
the city of Momemphis and were about to make trial of one another in
fight。
Now of the Egyptians there are seven classes； and of these one class is
called that of the priests； and another that of the warriors； while the others
are the cowherds； swineherds； shopkeepers； interpreters； and boatmen。
This is the number of the classes of the Egyptians； and their names are
given them from the occupations which they follow。 Of them the warriors
are called Calasirians and Hermotybians； and they are of the following
districts；for all Egypt is divided into districts。 The districts of the
Hermotybians are those of Busiris； Sais； Chemmis； Papremis； the island
called Prosopitis； and the half of Natho；of these districts are the
Hermotybians； who reached when most numerous the number of sixteen
myriads。 Of these not one has been learnt anything of handicraft； but they
are given up to war entirely。 Again the districts of the Calasirians are those
of Thebes； Bubastis； Aphthis； Tanis； Mendes； Sebennytos； Athribis；
Pharbaithos； Thmuis； Onuphis； Anytis； Myecphoris；this last is on an
island opposite to the city of Bubastis。 These are the districts of the
Calasirians； and they reached； when most numerous； to the number of
five…and…twenty myriads of men； nor is it lawful for these； any more than
for the others； to practise any craft； but they practise that which has to do
with war only； handing down the tradition from father to son。 Now
whether the Hellenes have learnt this also from the Egyptians； I am not
able to say for certain； since I see that the Thracians also and Scythians
and Persians and Lydians and almost all the Barbarians esteem those of
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AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
their citizens who learn the arts； and the descendants of them； as less
honourable than the rest； while those who have got free from all practice
of manual arts are accounted noble； and especially those who are devoted
to war： however that may be； the Hellenes have all learnt this； and
especially the Lacedemonians； but the Corinthians least of all cast slight
upon those who practise handicraft。
The following privilege was specially granted to this class and to none
others of the Egyptians except the priests； that is to say； each man had
twelve yokes of land specially granted to him free from imposts： now the
yoke of land measures a hundred Egyptian cubits every way； and the
Egyptian cubit is； as it happens； equal to that of Samos。 This； I say； was a
special privilege granted to all； and they also had certain advantages in
turn and not the same men twice； that is to say； a thousand of the
Calasirians and a thousand of the Hermotybians acted as body…guard to the
king during each year； and these had besides their yokes of land an
allowance given them for each day of five pounds weight of bread to each
man； and two pounds of beef； and four half…pints of wine。 This was the
allowance given to those who were serving as the king's body…guard for
the time being。
So when Apries leading his foreign mercenaries； and Amasis at the
head of the whole body of the Egyptians； in their approach to one another
had come to the city of Momemphis； they engaged in battle： and although
the foreign troops fought well； yet being much inferior in number they
were worsted by reason of this。 But Apries is said to have supposed that
not even a god would be able to cause him to cease from his rule； so
firmly did he think that it was established。 In that battle then； I say； he was
worsted； and being taken alive was brought away to the city of Sais； to that
which had formerly been his own dwelling but from thenceforth was the
palace of Amasis。 There for some time he was kept in the palace； and
Amasis dealt well with him but at last； since the Egyptians blamed him；
saying that he acted not rightly in keeping alive him who was the greatest
foe both to themselves and to him； therefore he delivered Apries over to
the Egyptians； and they strangled him； and after that buried him in the
burial…place of his fathers： thi