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regard to the gods I am not earnest to relate in full； but I shall name them
only because I consider that all men are equally ignorant of these matters：
and whatever things of them I may record I shall record only because I am
compelled by the course of the story。 But as to those matters which
concern men； the priests agreed with one another in saying that the
Egyptians were the first of all men on earth to find out the course of the
year； having divided the seasons into twelve parts to make up the whole；
and this they said they found out from the stars： and they reckon to this
extent more wisely than the Hellenes； as it seems to me； inasmuch as the
Hellenes throw in an intercalated month every other year； to make the
seasons right； whereas the Egyptians； reckoning the twelve months at
thirty days each； bring in also every year five days beyond number； and
thus the circle of their season is completed and comes round to the same
point whence it set out。 They said moreover that the Egyptians were the
first who brought into use appellations for the twelve gods and the
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Hellenes took up the use from them； and that they were the first who
assigned altars and images and temples to the gods； and who engraved
figures on stones； and with regard to the greater number of these things
they showed me by actual facts that they had happened so。 They said also
that the first man who became king of Egypt was Min； and that in his time
all Egypt except the district of Thebes was a swamp； and none of the
regions were then above water which now lie below the lake of Moiris； to
which lake it is a voyage of seven days up the river from the sea： and I
thought that they said well about the land； for it is manifest in truth even to
a person who has not heard it beforehand but has only seen； at least if he
have understanding； that the Egypt to which the Hellenes come in ships is
a land which has been won by the Egyptians as an addition； and that it is a
gift of the river： moreover the regions which lie above this lake also for a
distance of three days' sail； about which they did not go on to say anything
of this kind； are nevertheless another instance of the same thing： for the
nature of the land of Egypt is as follows：First when you are still
approaching it in a ship and are distant a day's run from the land； if you let
down a sounding…line you will bring up mud and you will find yourself in
eleven fathoms。 This then so far shows that there is a silting forward of the
land。 Then secondly； as to Egypt itself； the extent of it along the sea is
sixty /schoines/； according to our definition of Egypt as extending from
the Gulf of Plinthine to the Serbonian lake； along which stretches Mount
Casion； from this lake then the sixty /schoines/ are reckoned： for those of
men who are poor in land have their country measured by fathoms； those
who are less poor by furlongs； those who have much land by parasangs；
and those who have land in very great abundance by /schoines/： now the
parasang is equal to thirty furlongs； and each /schoine/； which is an
Egyptian measure； is equal to sixty furlongs。 So there would be an extent
of three thousand six hundred furlongs for the coast…land of Egypt。 From
thence and as far as Heliopolis inland Egypt is broad； and the land is all
flat and without springs of water and formed of mud： and the road as one
goes inland from the sea to Heliopolis is about the same in length as that
which leads from the altar of the twelve gods at Athens to Pisa and the
temple of Olympian Zeus： reckoning up you would find the difference
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very small by which these roads fail of being equal in length； not more
indeed than fifteen furlongs； for the road from Athens to Pisa wants fifteen
furlongs of being fifteen hundred； while the road to Heliopolis from the
sea reaches that number completely。 From Heliopolis however； as you go
up； Egypt is narrow； for on the one side a mountain…range belonging to
Arabia stretches along by the side of it； going in a direction from the North
towards the midday and the South Wind； tending upwards without a break
to that which is called the Erythraian Sea； in which range are the stone…
quarries which were used in cutting stone for the pyramids at Memphis。
On this side then the mountain ends where I have said； and then takes a
turn back； and where it is widest； as I was informed； it is a journey of two
months across from East to West； and the borders of it which turn towards
the East are said to produce frankincense。 Such then is the nature of this
mountain…range； and on the side of Egypt towards Libya another range
extends； rocky and enveloped in sand： in this are the pyramids； and it runs
in the same direction as those parts of the Arabian mountains which go
towards the midday。 So then； I say； from Heliopolis the land has no longer
a great extent so far as it belongs to Egypt； and for about four days' sail up
the river Egypt properly so called is narrow： and the space between the
mountain… ranges which have been mentioned is plain…land； but where it is
narrowest it did not seem to me to exceed two hundred furlongs from the
Arabian mountains to those which are called the Libyan。 After this again
Egypt is broad。 Such is the nature of this land： and from Heliopolis to
Thebes is a voyage up the river of nine days； and the distance of the
journey in furlongs is four thousand eight hundred and sixty； the number
of /schoines/ being eighty…one。 If these measures of Egypt in furlongs be
put together； the result is as follows：I have already before this shown that
the distance along the sea amounts to three thousand six hundred furlongs；
and I will now declare what the distance is inland from the sea to Thebes；
namely six thousand one hundred and twenty furlongs： and again the
distance from Thebes to the city called Elephantine is one thousand eight
hundred furlongs。
Of this land then； concerning which I have spoken； it seemed to myself
also； according as the priests said； that the greater part had been won as an
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addition by the Egyptians； for it was evident to me that the space between
the aforesaid mountain…ranges； which lie above the city of Memphis； once
was a gulf of the sea； like the regions about Ilion and Teuthrania and
Ephesos and the plain of the Maiander； if it be permitted to compare small
things with great； and small these are in comparison； for of the rivers
which heaped up the soil in those regions none is worthy to be compared
in volume with a single one of the mouths of the Nile； which has five
mouths。 Moreover there are other rivers also； not in size at all equal to the
Nile； which have performed great feats； of which I can mention the names
of several； and especially the Acheloos； which flowing through Acarnania
and so issuing out into the sea has already made half of the Echinades
from islands into mainland。 Now there is in the land of Arabia； not far
from Egypt； a gulf of the sea running in from that which is called the
Erythraian Sea； very long and narrow； as I am about to tell。 With respect to
the length of the voyage along it； one who set out from the innermost point
to sail out through it into the open sea； would spend forty days upon the
voyage； using oars； and with respect to breadth； where the gulf is broadest
it is half a day's sail across： and there is in it an ebb and flow of tide every
day。 Just such another gulf I suppose that Egypt was； and that the one ran
in towards Ethiopia from the Northern Sea； and the other； the Arabian； of
which I am about to speak； tended from the South towards Syria； the gulfs
boring in so as almost to meet at their extreme points； and passing by one
another with but a small space left between。 If then the stream of the Nile
should turn aside into this Arabian gulf； what would hinder that gulf from