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of land and sea and of the air； it enters again into a human body as it
comes to the birth； and that it makes this round in a period of three
thousand years。 This doctrine certain Hellenes adopted； some earlier and
some later； as if it were of their own invention； and of these men I know
the names but I abstain from recording them。
Down to the time when Rhampsinitos was king； they told me there
was in Egypt nothing but orderly rule； and Egypt prospered greatly； but
after him Cheops became king over them and brought them to every kind
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of evil： for he shut up all the temples； and having first kept them from
sacrifices there； he then bade all the Egyptians work for him。 So some
were appointed to draw stones from the stone…quarries in the Arabian
mountains to the Nile； and others he ordered to receive the stones after
they had been carried over the river in boats； and to draw them to those
which are called the Libyan mountains； and they worked by a hundred
thousand men at a time； for each three months continually。 Of this
oppression there passed ten years while the causeway was made by which
they drew the stones； which causeway they built； and it is a work not much
less； as it appears to me； than the pyramid； for the length of it is five
furlongs and the breadth ten fathoms and the height； where it is highest；
eight fathoms； and it is made of stone smoothed and with figures carved
upon it。 For this they said； the ten years were spent； and for the
underground he caused to be made as sepulchral chambers for himself in
an island； having conducted thither a channel from the Nile。 For the
making of the pyramid itself there passed a period of twenty years； and the
pyramid is square； each side measuring eight hundred feet； and the height
of it is the same。 It is built of stone smoothed and fitted together in the
most perfect manner； not one of the stones being less than thirty feet in
length。 This pyramid was made after the manner of steps which some
called 〃rows〃 and others 〃bases〃： and when they had first made it thus；
they raised the remaining stones with machines made of short pieces of
timber； raising them first from the ground to the first stage of the steps；
and when the stone got up to this it was placed upon another machine
standing on the first stage； and so from this it was drawn to the second
upon another machine； for as many as were the courses of the steps； so
many machines there were also； or perhaps they transferred one and the
same machine； made so as easily to be carried； to each stage successively；
in order that they might take up the stones； for let it be told in both ways；
according as it is reported。 However that may be the highest parts of it
were finished first； and afterwards they proceeded to finish that which
came next to them； and lastly they finished the parts of it near the ground
and the lowest ranges。 On the pyramid it is declared in Egyptian writing
how much was spent on radishes and onions and leeks for the workmen；
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and if I rightly remember that which the interpreter said in reading to me
this inscription； a sum of one thousand six hundred talents of silver was
spent； and if this is so； how much besides is likely to have been expended
upon the iron with which they worked； and upon bread and clothing for
the workmen； seeing that they were building the works for the time which
has been mentioned and were occupied for no small time besides； as I
suppose； in the cutting and bringing of the stones and in working at the
excavation under the ground？ Cheops moreover came； they said； to such a
pitch of wickedness； that being in want of money he caused his own
daughter to sit in the stews； and ordered her to obtain from those who
came a certain amount of money （how much it was they did not tell me）：
and she not only obtained the sum appointed by her father； but also she
formed a design for herself privately to leave behind her a memorial； and
she requested each man who came in to give her one stone upon her
building： and of these stones； they told me； the pyramid was built which
stands in front of the great pyramid in the middle of the three； each side
being one hundred and fifty feet in length。
This Cheops； the Egyptians said； reigned fifty years； and after he was
dead his brother Chephren succeeded to the kingdom。 This king followed
the same manner of dealing as the other； both in all the rest and also in that
he made a pyramid； not indeed attaining to the measurements of that
which was built by the former （this I know； having myself also measured
it）； and moreover there are no underground chambers beneath nor does a
channel come from the Nile flowing to this one as to the other； in which
the water coming through a conduit built for it flows round an island
within； where they say that Cheops himself is laid： but for a basement he
built the first course of Ethiopian stone of divers colours； and this pyramid
he made forty feet lower than the other as regards size； building it close to
the great pyramid。 These stand both upon the same hill； which is about a
hundred feet high。 And Chephren they said reigned fifty and six years。
Here then they reckon one hundred and six years； during which they say
that there was nothing but evil for the Egyptians； and the temples were
kept closed and not opened during all that time。 These kings the Egyptians
by reason of their hatred of them are not very willing to name； nay； they
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even call the pyramids after the name of Philitis the shepherd； who at that
time pastured flocks in those regions。 After him； they said； Mykerinos
became king over Egypt； who was the son of Cheops； and to him his
father's deeds were displeasing； and he both opened the temples and gave
liberty to the people； who were ground down to the last extremity of evil；
to return to their own business and to their sacrifices： also he gave
decisions of their causes juster than those of all the other kings besides。 In
regard to this then they commend this king more than all the other kings
who had arisen in Egypt before him； for he not only gave good decisions；
but also when a man complained of the decision； he gave him recompense
from his own goods and thus satisfied his desire。 But while Mykerinos
was acting mercifully to his subjects and practising this conduct which has
been said； calamities befell him； of which the first was this； namely that
his daughter died； the only child whom he had in his house： and being
above measure grieved by that which had befallen him； and desiring to
bury his daughter in a manner more remarkable than others； he made a
cow of wood； which he covered over with gold； and then within it he
buried this daughter who as I said； had died。 This cow was not covered up
in the ground； but it might be seen even down to my own time in the city
of Sais； placed within the royal palace in a chamber which was greatly
adorned； and they offer incense of all kinds before it every day； and each
night a lamp burns beside it all through the night。 Near this cow in another
chamber stand images of the concubines of Mykerinos； as the priests at
Sais told me； for there are in fact colossal wooden statues； in number
about twenty； made with naked bodies； but who they are I am not able to
say； except only that which is reported。 Some however tell about this cow
and the colossal statues the following tale； namely that Mykerinos was
enamoured of his own daughter and afterwards