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number than any other land； and works too it has to show as much as any
land； which are beyond expression great： for this reason then more shall be
said concerning it。
The Egyptians in agreement with their climate； which is unlike any
other； and with the river； which shows a nature different from all other
rivers； established for themselves manners and customs in a way opposite
to other men in almost all matters： for among them the women frequent
the market and carry on trade； while the men remain at home and weave；
and whereas others weave pushing the woof upwards； the Egyptians push
it downwards： the men carry their burdens upon their heads and the
women upon their shoulders： the women make water standing up and the
men crouching down： they ease themselves in their houses and they eat
without in the streets； alleging as reason for this that it is right to do
secretly the things that are unseemly though necessary； but those which are
not unseemly； in public： no woman is a minister either of male or female
divinity； but men of all； both male and female： to support their parents the
sons are in no way compelled； if they do not desire to do so； but the
daughters are forced to do so； be they never so unwilling。 The priests of
the gods in other lands wear long hair； but in Egypt they shave their heads：
among other men the custom is that in mourning those whom the matter
concerns most nearly have their hair cut short； but the Egyptians； when
deaths occur； let their hair grow long； both that on the head and that on the
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chin； having before been close shaven： other men have their daily living
separated from beasts； but the Egyptians have theirs together with beasts：
other men live on wheat and on barley； but to any one of the Egyptians
who makes his living on these it is a great reproach； they make their bread
of maize； which some call spelt： they knead dough with their feet and clay
with their hands； with which also they gather up dung： and whereas other
men； except such as have learnt otherwise from the Egyptians； have their
members as nature made them； the Egyptians practice circumcision： as to
garments； the men wear two each and the women but one： and whereas
others make fast the rings and ropes of the sails outside the ship； the
Egyptians do this inside： finally in the writing of characters and reckoning
with pebbles； while the Hellenes carry the hand from the left to the right；
the Egyptians do this from the right to the left； and doing so they say that
they do it themselves rightwise and the Hellenes leftwise： and they use
two kinds of characters for writing； of which the one kind is called sacred
and the other common。
They are religious excessively beyond all other men； and with regard
to this they have customs as follows：they drink from cups of bronze and
rinse them out every day； and not some only do this but all： they wear
garments of linen always newly washed； and this they make a special
point of practice： they circumcise themselves for the sake of cleanliness；
preferring to be clean rather than comely。 The priests shave themselves all
over their body every other day； so that no lice or any other foul thing may
come to be upon them when they minister to the gods； and the priests wear
garments of linen only and sandals of papyrus； and any other garment they
may not take nor other sandals； these wash themselves in cold water twice
in a day and twice again in the night； and other religious services they
perform （one may almost say） of infinite number。 They enjoy also good
things not a few； for they do not consume or spend anything of their own
substance； but there is sacred bread baked for them and they have each
great quantity of flesh of oxen and geese coming in to them each day； and
also wine of grapes is given to them； but it is not permitted to them to taste
of fish： beans moreover the Egyptians do not at all sow in their land； and
those which they grow they neither eat raw nor boil for food； nay the
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priests do not endure even to look upon them； thinking this to be an
unclean kind of pulse： and there is not one priest only for each of the gods
but many； and of them one is chief…priest； and whenever a priest dies his
son is appointed to his place。
The males of the ox kind they consider to belong to Epaphos； and on
account of him they test them in the following manner：If the priest sees
one single black hair upon the beast he counts it not clean for sacrifice；
and one of the priests who is appointed for the purpose makes
investigation of these matters； both when the beast is standing upright and
when it is lying on its back； drawing out its tongue moreover； to see if it is
clean in respect of the appointed signs； which I shall tell of in another part
of the history： he looks also at the hairs of the tail to see if it has them
growing in a natural manner； and if it be clean in respect of all these things；
he marks it with a piece of papyrus； rolling this round the horns； and then
when he has plastered sealing…earth over it he sets upon it the seal of his
signet…ring； and after that they take the animal away。 But for one who
sacrifices a beast not sealed the penalty appointed is death。 In this way
then the beast is tested； and their appointed manner of sacrifice is as
follows：they lead the sealed beast to the altar where they happen to be
sacrificing； and then kindle a fire： after that； having poured libations of
wine over the altar so that it runs down upon the victim and having called
upon the god； they cut its throat； and having cut its throat they sever the
head from the body。 The body then of the beast they flay； but upon the
head they make many imprecations first； and then they who have a market
and Hellenes sojourning among them for trade； these carry it to the
market…place and sell it； while they who have no Hellenes among them
cast it away into the river： and this is the form of imprecations which they
utter upon the heads； praying that if any evil be about to befall either