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watersnake； and it has wings not feathered but most nearly resembling the
wings of the bat。 Let so much suffice as has been said now concerning
sacred animals。
Of the Egyptians themselves； those who dwell in the part of Egypt
which is sown for crops practise memory more than any other men and are
the most learned in history by far of all those of whom I have had
experience： and their manner of life is as follows：For three successive
days in each month they purge； hunting after health with emetics and
clysters； and they think that all the diseases which exist are produced in
men by the food on which they live： for the Egyptians are from other
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causes also the most healthy of all men next after the Libyans （in my
opinion on account of the seasons； because the seasons do not change； for
by the changes of things generally； and especially of the seasons； diseases
are most apt to be produced in men）； and as to their diet； it is as follows：
they eat bread； making loaves of maize； which they call /kyllestis/； and
they use habitually a wine made out of barley； for vines they have not in
their land。 Of their fish some they dry in the sun and then eat them without
cooking； others they eat cured in brine。 Of birds they eat quails and ducks
and small birds without cooking； after first curing them； and everything
else which they have belonging to the class of birds or fishes； except such
as have been set apart by them as sacred； they eat roasted or boiled。 In the
entertainments of the rich among them； when they have finished eating； a
man bears round a wooden figure of a dead body in a coffin； made as like
the reality as may be both by painting and carving； and measuring about a
cubit or two cubits each way； and this he shows to each of those who are
drinking together； saying： 〃When thou lookest upon this； drink and be
merry； for thou shalt be such as this when thou art dead。〃 Thus they do at
their carousals。 The customs which they practise are derived from their
fathers and they do not acquire others in addition； but besides other
customary things among them which are worthy of mention； they have one
song； that of Linos； the same who is sung of both in Phenicia and in
Cyprus and elsewhere； having however a name different according to the
various nations。 This song agrees exactly with that which the Hellenes
sing calling on the name of Linos； so that besides many other things about
which I wonder among those matters which concern Egypt； I wonder
especially about this； namely whence they got the song of Linos。 It is
evident however that they have sung this song from immemorial time； and
in the Egyptian tongue Linos is called Maneros。 The Egyptians told me
that he was the only son of him who first became king of Egypt； and that
he died before his time and was honoured with these lamentations by the
Egyptians； and that this was their first and only song。 In another respect
the Egyptians are in agreement with some of the Hellenes； namely with
the Lacedemonians； but not with the rest； that is to say； the younger of
them when they meet the elder give way and move out of the path； and
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when their elders approach； they rise out of their seat。 In this which
follows however they are not in agreement with any of the Hellenes；
instead of addressing one another in the roads they do reverence； lowering
their hand down to their knee。 They wear tunics of linen about their legs
with fringes； which they call /calasiris/； above these they have garments of
white wool thrown over： woolen garments however are not taken into the
temples； nor are they buried with them； for this is not permitted by religion。
In these points they are in agreement with the observances called Orphic
and Bacchic （which are really Egyptian）； and also with those of the
Pythagoreans； for one who takes part in these mysteries is also forbidden
by religious rule to be buried in woolen garments； and about this there is a
sacred story told。
Besides these things the Egyptians have found out also to what god
each month and each day belongs； and what fortunes a man will meet with
who is born on any particular day； and how he will die； and what kind of a
man he will be： and these inventions were taken up by those of the
Hellenes who occupied themselves about poesy。 Portents too have been
found out by them more than by all other men besides； for when a portent
has happened； they observe and write down the event which comes of it；
and if ever afterwards anything resembling this happens； they believe that
the event which comes of it will be similar。 Their divination is ordered
thus：the art is assigned not to any man but to certain of the gods； for
there are in their land Oracles of Heracles； of Apollo； of Athene； of
Artemis； or Ares； and of Zeus； and moreover that which they hold most in
honour of all； namely the Oracle of Leto which is in the city of Buto。 The
manner of divination however is not established among them according to
the same fashion everywhere； but is different in different places。 The art of
medicine among them is distributed thus：each physician is a physician of
one disease and of no more； and the whole country is full of physicians；
for some profess themselves to be physicians of the eyes； others of the
head； others of the teeth； others of the affections of the stomach； and
others of the more obscure ailments。
Their fashions of mourning and of burial are these：Whenever any
household has lost a man who is of any regard amongst them； the whole
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number of women of that house forthwith plaster over their heads or even
their faces with mud。 Then leaving the corpse within the house they go
themselves to and fro about the city and beat themselves； with their
garments bound up by a girdle and their breasts exposed； and with them go
all the women who are related to the dead man； and on the other side the
men beat themselves； they too having their garments bound up by a girdle；
and when they have done this； they then convey the body to the
embalming。 In this occupation certain persons employ themselves
regularly and inherit this as a craft。 These； whenever a corpse is conveyed
to them； show to those who brought it wooden models of corpses made
like reality by painting； and the best of the ways of embalming they say is
that of him whose name I think it impiety to mention when speaking of a
matter of such a kind； the second which they show is less good than this
and also less expensive； and the third is the least expensive of all。 Having
told them about this； they inquire of them in which way they desire the
corpse of their friend to be prepared。 Then they after they have agreed for
a certain price depart out of the way； and the others being left behind in the
buildings embalm according to the best of these ways thus：First with the
crooked iron tool they draw out the brain through the nostrils； extracting it
partly thus and partly by pouring in drugs； and after this with a sharp stone
of Ethiopia they make a cut along the side and take out the whole contents
of the belly； and when they have cleared out the cavity and cleansed it
with palm…wine they cleanse it again with spices pounded up： then they fill
the belly with pure myrrh pounded up and with cassia and other spices
except frankincense； and sew it together again。 Having so done they keep
it for embalming covered up in natron for seventy days； but for a longer
time than this it is not permitted to embalm it； and when the seventy days
are past； they wash the corpse and roll its whole body up in fine linen cut
into ba