按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for restoration he caused to be brought from the stone…quarries which are
opposite Memphis； others of very great size from the city of Elephantine；
distant a voyage of not less than twenty days from Sais： and of them all I
marvel most at this； namely a monolith chamber which he brought from
the city of Elephantine； and they were three years engaged in bringing this；
and two thousand men were appointed to convey it； who all were of the
class of boatmen。 Of this house the length outside is one…and…twenty cubits；
the breadth is fourteen cubits； and the height eight。 These are the measures
of the monolith house outside； but the length inside is eighteen cubits and
five…sixths of a cubit； the breadth twelve cubits； and the height five cubits。
This lies by the side of the entrance to the temple； for within the temple
they did not draw it； because； as it is said； while the house was being
drawn along； the chief artificer of it groaned aloud； seeing that much time
had been spent and he was wearied by the work； and Amasis took it to
heart as a warning and did not allow them to draw it further onwards。
Some say on the other hand that a man was killed by it； of those who were
heaving it with levers； and that it was not drawn in for that reason。 Amasis
also dedicated in all the other temples which were of repute； works which
are worth seeing for their size； and among them also at Memphis the
colossal statue which lies on its back in front of the temple of Hephaistos；
whose length is five…and…seventy feet； and on the same base made of the
same stone are set two colossal statues； each of twenty feet in length； one
82
… Page 83…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
on this side and the other on that side of the large statue。 There is also
another of stone of the same size in Sais； lying in the same manner as that
at Memphis。 Moreover Amasis was he who built and finished for Isis her
temple at Memphis； which is of great size and very worthy to be seen。
In the reign of Amasis it is said that Egypt became more prosperous
than at any other time before； both in regard to that which comes to the
land from the river and in regard to that which comes from the land to its
inhabitants； and that at this time the inhabited towns in it numbered in all
twenty thousand。 It was Amasis too who established the law that every
year each one of the Egyptians should declare to the ruler of his district；
from what source he got his livelihood； and if any man did not do this or
did not make declaration of an honest way of living； he should be
punished with death。 Now Solon the Athenian received from Egypt this
law and had it enacted for the Athenians； and they have continued to
observe it； since it is a law with which none can find fault。
Moreover Amasis became a lover of the Hellenes； and besides other
proofs of friendship which he gave to several among them； he also granted
the city of Naucratis for those of them who came to Egypt to dwell in； and
to those who did not desire to stay； but who made voyages thither； he
granted portions of land to set up altars and make sacred enclosures for
their gods。 Their greatest enclosure and that one which has most name and
is most frequented is called the Hellenion； and this was established by the
following cities in common： of the Ionians Chios； Teos； Phocaia；
Clazomenai； of the Dorians Rhodes； Cnidos； Halicarnassos； Phaselis； and
of the Aiolians Mytilene alone。 To these belongs this enclosure and these
are the cities which appoint superintendents of the port； and all other cities
which claim a share in it； are making a claim without any right。 Besides
this the Eginetans established on their own account a sacred enclosure
dedicated to Zeus； the Samians one to Hera； and the Milesians one to
Apollo。 Now in old times Naucratis alone was an open trading…place； and
no other place in Egypt： and if any one came to any other of the Nile
mouths； he was compelled to swear that he came not thither of his own
free will； and when he had thus sworn his innocence he had to sail with his
ship to the Canobic mouth； or if it were not possible to sail by reason of
83
… Page 84…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
contrary winds； then he had to carry his cargo round the head of the Delta
in boats to Naucratis： thus highly was Naucratis privileged。 Moreover
when the Amphictyons had let out the contract for building the temple
which now exists at Delphi； agreeing to pay a sum of three hundred talents
（for the temple which formerly stood there had been burnt down of itself）；
it fell to the share of the people of Delphi to provide the fourth part of the
payment； and accordingly the Delphians went about to various cities and
collected contributions。 And when they did this they got from Egypt as
much as from any place； for Amasis gave them a thousand talents' weight
of alum； while the Hellenes who dwelt in Egypt gave them twenty pounds
of silver。
Also with the people of Kyrene Amasis made an agreement for
friendship and alliance； and he resolved too to marry a wife from thence；
whether because he desired to have a wife of Hellenic race； or； apart from
that； on account of friendship for the people of Kyrene： however that may
be； he married； some say the daughter of Battos； others of Arkesilaos； and
others of Critobulos； a man of repute among the citizens； and her name
was Ladike。 Now whenever Amasis lay with her he found himself unable
to have intercourse； but with his other wives he associated as he was wont；
and as this happened repeatedly； Amasis said to his wife； whose name was
Ladike： 〃Woman； thou hast given me drugs； and thou shall surely perish
more miserably than any other。〃 Then Ladike； when by her denials Amasis
was not at all appeased in his anger against her； made a vow in her soul to
Aphrodite； that if Amasis on that night had intercourse with her （seeing
that this was the remedy for her danger）； she would send an image to be
dedicated to her at Kyrene； and after the vow immediately Amasis had
intercourse； and from thenceforth whenever Amasis came in to her he had
intercourse with her； and after this he became very greatly attached to her。
And Ladike paid the vow that she had made to the goddess； for she had an