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their ships were drawn up and the ruins of their houses。
Thus then Psammetichos obtained Egypt： and of the Oracle which is in
Egypt I have made mention often before this； and now I give an account of
it； seeing that it is worthy to be described。 This Oracle which is in Egypt is
sacred to Leto； and it is established in a great city near that mouth of the
Nile which is called Sebennytic； as one sails up the river from the sea； and
the name of this city where the Oracle is found is Buto； as I have said
before in mentioning it。 In this Buto there is a temple of Apollo and
Artemis； and the temple…house of Leto； in which the Oracle is； is both
great in itself and has a gateway of the height of ten fathoms： but that
which caused me most to marvel of the things to be seen there； I will now
tell。 There is in this sacred enclosure a house of Leto made of one single
stone upon the top； the cornice measuring four cubits。 This house then of
all the things that were to be seen by me in that temple is the most
marvellous； and among those which come next is the island called
Chemmis。 This is situated in a deep and broad lake by the side of the
temple at Buto； and it is said by the Egyptians that this island is a floating
island。 I myself did not see it either floating about or moved from its place；
and I feel surprise at hearing of it； wondering if it be indeed a floating
island。 In this island of which I speak there is a great temple…house of
Apollo； and three several altars are set up within； and there are planted in
the island many palm…trees and other trees； both bearing fruit and not
bearing fruit。 And the Egyptians； when they say that it is floating； add this
story； namely that in this island which formerly was not floating； Leto；
being one of the eight gods who came into existence first； and dwelling in
the city of Buto where she has this Oracle； received Apollo from Isis as a
charge and preserved him； concealing him in the island which is said now
to be a floating island； at that time when Typhon came after him seeking
everywhere and desiring to find the son of Osiris。 Now they say that
Apollo and Artemis are children of Dionysos and of Isis； and that Leto
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became their nurse and preserver； and in the Egyptian tongue Apollo is
Oros； Demeter is Isis； and Artemis is Bubastis。 From this story and from
no other AEschylus the son of Euphorion took this which I shall say；
wherein he differs from all the preceding poets； he represented namely
that Artemis was the daughter of Demeter。 For this reason then； they say； it
became a floating island。
Such is the story which they tell； but as for Psammetichos； he was king
over Egypt for four…and…fifty years； of which for thirty years save one he
was sitting before Azotos； a great city of Syria； besieging it； until at last he
took it： and this Azotos of all cities about which we have knowledge held
out for the longest time under a siege。
The son of Psammetichos was Necos； and he became king of Egypt。
This man was the first who attempted the channel leading to the
Erythraian Sea； which Dareios the Persian afterwards completed： the
length of this is a voyage of four days； and in breadth it was so dug that
two triremes could go side by side driven by oars； and the water is brought
into it from the Nile。 The channel is conducted a little above the city of
Bubastis by Patumos the Arabian city； and runs into the Erythraian Sea：
and it is dug first along those parts of the plain of Egypt which lie towards
Arabia； just above which run the mountains which extend opposite
Memphis； where are the stone…quarries；along the base of these
mountains the channel is conducted from West to East for a great way； and
after that it is directed towards a break in the hills and tends from these
mountains towards the noon…day and the South Wind to the Arabian gulf。
Now in the place where the journey is least and shortest from the Northern
to the Southern Sea （which is also called Erythraian）； that is from Mount
Casion； which is the boundary between Egypt and Syria； the distance is
exactly a thousand furlongs to the Arabian gulf； but the channel is much
longer； since it is more winding； and in the reign of Necos there perished
while digging it twelve myriads of the Egyptians。 Now Necos ceased in
the midst of his digging； because the utterance of an Oracle impeded him；
which was to the effect that he was working for the Barbarian： and the
Egyptians call all men Barbarians who do not agree with them in speech。
Thus having ceased from the work of the channel； Necos betook himself
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to raging wars； and triremes were built by him； some for the Northern Sea
and others in the Arabian gulf for the Erythraian Sea； and of these the
sheds are still to be seen。 These ships he used when he needed them； and
also on land Necos engaged battle at Magdolos with the Syrians； and
conquered them； and after this he took Cadytis； which is a great city of
Syria： and the dress which he wore when he made these conquests he
dedicated to Apollo； sending it to Branchidai of the Milesians。 After this；
having reigned in all sixteen years； he brought his life to an end； and
handed on the kingdom to Psammis his son。
While this Psammis was king of Egypt； there came to him men sent by
the Eleians； who boasted that they ordered the contest at Olympia in the
most just and honourable manner possible and thought that not even the
Egyptians； the wisest of men； could find out anything besides； to be added
to their rules。 Now when the Eleians came to Egypt and said that for
which they had come； then this king called together those of the Egyptians
who were reputed the wisest； and when the Egyptians had come together
they heard the Eleians tell of all that which it was their part to do in regard
to the contest； and when they had related everything； they said that they
had come to learn in addition anything which the Egyptians might be able
to find out besides； which was juster than this。 They then having consulted
together asked the Eleians whether their own citizens took part in the
contest； and they said that it was permitted to any one who desired it； to
take part in the contest： upon which the Egyptians said that in so ordering
the games they had wholly missed the mark of justice； for it could not be
but that they would take part with the man of their own State； if he was
contending； and so act unfairly to the stranger： but if they really desired； as
they said； to order the games justly； and if this was the cause for which
they had come to Egypt； they advised them to order the contest so as to be
for strangers alone to contend in； and that no Eleian should be permitted to
contend。 Such was the suggestion made by the Egyptians to the Eleians。
When Psammis had been king of Egypt for only six years and had
made an expedition to Ethiopia and immediately afterwards had ended his
life； Apries the son of Psammis received the kingdom in succession。 This
man came to be the most prosperous of all the kings up to that time except
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only his forefather Psammetichos； and he reigned five…and…twenty years；
during which he led an army against Sidon and fought a sea… fight with the
king of Tyre。 Since however it was fated that evil should come upon him it
came by occasion of a matter which I shall relate at greater length in the
Libyan history； and at present but shortly。 Apries having sent a great
expedition against the Kyrenians； met with correspondingly great disaster；
and the Egyptians considering him to blame for this revolted from him；
supposing that Apries had with forethought sent them out to evident
calamity； in order （as they