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and the colossal statues the following tale； namely that Mykerinos was
enamoured of his own daughter and afterwards ravished her； and upon this
they say that the girl strangled herself for grief； and he buried her in this
cow； and her mother cut off the hands of the maids who had betrayed the
daughter to her father； wherefore now the images of them have suffered
that which the maids suffered in their life。 In thus saying they speak idly；
as it seems to me； especially in what they say about the hands of the
statues； for as to this； even we ourselves saw that their hands had dropped
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off from lapse of time； and they were to be seen still lying at their feet
even down to my time。 The cow is covered up with a crimson robe； except
only the head and the neck； which are seen； overlaid with gold very
thickly； and between the horns there is the disc of the sun figured in gold。
The cow is not standing up but kneeling； and in size is equal to a large
living cow。 Every year it is carried forth from the chamber； at those times；
I say； the Egyptians beat themselves for that god whom I will not name
upon occasion of such a matter； at these times； I say； they also carry forth
the cow to the light of day； for they say that she asked of her father
Mykerinos； when she was dying； that she might look upon the sun once in
the year。
After the misfortune of his daughter it happened； they said； secondly to
this king as follows：An oracle came to him from the city of Buto； saying
that he was destined to live but six years more； in the seventh year to end
his life： and he being indignant at it sent to the Oracle a reproach against
the god； making complaint in reply that whereas his father and uncle； who
had shut up the temples and had not only not remembered the gods； but
also had been destroyers of men； had lived for a long time； he himself；
who practised piety； was destined to end his life so soon： and from the
Oracle came a second message； which said that it was for this very cause
that he was bringing his life to a swift close； for he had not done that
which it was appointed for him to do； since it was destined that Egypt
should suffer evils for a hundred and fifty years； and the two kings who
had arisen before him had perceived this； but he had not。 Mykerinos
having heard this； and considering that this sentence had passed upon him
beyond recall； procured many lamps； and whenever night came on he
lighted these and began to drink and take his pleasure； ceasing neither by
day nor by night； and he went about to the fen…country and to the woods
and wherever he heard there were the most suitable places of enjoyment。
This he devised （having a mind to prove that the Oracle spoke falsely） in
order that he might have twelve years of life instead of six； the nights
being turned into days。
This king also left behind him a pyramid； much smaller than that of his
father； of a square shape and measuring on each side three hundred feet
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lacking twenty； built moreover of Ethiopian stone up to half the height。
This pyramid some of the Hellenes say was built by the courtesan
Rhodopis； not therein speaking rightly： and besides this it is evident to me
that they who speak thus do not even know who Rhodopis was； for
otherwise they would not have attributed to her the building of a pyramid
like this； on which have been spent （so to speak） innumerable thousands of
talents： moreover they do not know that Rhodopis flourished in the reign
of Amasis； and not in this king's reign； for Rhodopis lived very many
years later than the kings who left behind them these pyramids。 By descent
she was of Thrace； and she was a slave of Iadmon the son of
Hephaistopolis a Samian； and a fellow…slave of Esop the maker of fables；
for he too was once the slave of Iadmon； as was proved especially by this
fact； namely that when the people of Delphi repeatedly made proclamation
in accordance with an oracle； to find some one who would take up the
blood…money for the death of Esop； no one else appeared； but at length the
grandson of Iadmon； called Iadmon also； took it up； and thus it is showed
that Esop too was the slave of Iadmon。 As for Rhodopis； she came to
Egypt brought by Xanthes the Samian； and having come thither to exercise
her calling she was redeemed from slavery for a great sum by a man of
Mytilene； Charaxos son of Scamandronymos and brother of Sappho the
lyric poet。 Thus was Rhodopis set free； and she remained in Egypt and by
her beauty won so much liking that she made great gain of money for one
like Rhodopis； though not enough to suffice for the cost of such a pyramid
as this。 In truth there is no need to ascribe to her very great riches；
considering that the tithe of her wealth may still be seen even to this time
by any one who desires it： for Rhodopis wished to leave behind her a
memorial of herself in Hellas； namely to cause a thing to be made such as
happens not to have been thought of or dedicated in a temple by any
besides； and to dedicate this at Delphi as a memorial of herself。
Accordingly with the tithe of her wealth she caused to be made spits of
iron of size large enough to pierce a whole ox； and many in number； going
as far therein as her tithe allowed her； and she sent them to Delphi： these
are even at the present time lying there； heaped all together behind the
altar which the Chians dedicated； and just opposite to the cell of the
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temple。 Now at Naucratis； as it happens； the courtesans are rather apt to
win credit； for this woman first； about whom the story to which I refer is
told； became so famous that all the Hellenes without exception came to
know the name of Rhodopis； and then after her one whose name was
Archidiche became a subject of song all over Hellas； though she was less
talked of than the other。 As for Charaxos； when after redeeming Rhodopis
he returned back to Mytilene； Sappho in an ode violently abused him。 Of
Rhodopis then I shall say no more。
After Mykerinos the priests said Asychis became king of Egypt； and
he made for Hephaistos the temple gateway which is towards the sunrising；
by far the most beautiful and the largest of the gateways； for while they all
have figures carved upon them and innumerable ornaments of building
besides； this has them very much more than the rest。 In this king's reign
they told me that； as the circulation of money was very slow； a law was
made for the Egyptians that a man might have that money lent to him
which he needed； by offering as security the dead body of his father； and
there was added moreover to this law another； namely that he who lent the
money should have a claim also to the whole of the sepulchral chamber
belonging to him who received it； and that the man who offered that
security should be subject to this penalty； if he refused to pay back the
debt； namely that neither the man himself should be allowed to have burial；
when he died； either in that family burial…place or in any other； nor should
he be allowed to bury any of his kinsmen whom he lost by death。 This
king desiring to surpass the kings of Egypt who had arisen before him left
as a memorial of himself a pyramid which he made of bricks and on it
there is an inscription carved in stone and saying thus： 〃Despise not me in
comparison with the pyramids of stone； seeing that I excel them as much
as Zeus excels the other gods； for with a pole they struck into the lake； and
whatever of the mud attached itself to the pole； this they gathered up and
made bricks； and in such manner they finished me。〃
Such were the deeds which this king performed： and after h